Sermons

Where will you be when the lights go out?

28 February 2010

II Samuel 2:10-3:1
The clouds of strife and conflict fill the spiritual skies over the ancient land of Israel.
A civil war was rising from a rivalry between 2 kings… David, whom God ordained as King…
and Ishbosheth whom Abner had made king after the death of his father Saul.
Notice we are talking about a civil war.
Notice the conflict was among God’s people!
Both sides were Hebrews!
We’re not talking about a conflict with enemies outside the kingdom but within the kingdom.
It was an internal conflict.
When this situation arises, the losers are God’s people & Satan is the only winner!
How about some examples…
a) Conflicts within a church
We’ve had them even here within our own church where disagreement led to a splitting of the congregation nearly 30 years ago.
Church conflicts happen all the time and have to do with everything from what color the wall should be painted to what is said or preached from the pulpit to how, when, where, why & how the money is spent.
b) Conflicts between denominations
Some denominations denounce or ridicule other denominations for their views or stances on some topics which at times are more political than biblical.
Socially active denominations are derided by other denominations for being too political.
Socially active denominations deride other denominations for not being active enough.

c) Conflicts within a believer
Romans 7:23 refers to a war inside the believer.
“But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me.” (NLT)
Let’s introduce…
I. The chief players in this tragic conflict
A. Abner
Abner was Saul’s former commander of the military.
He had family ties to the house of Saul.
He was Saul’s uncle... a strong, influential & powerful leader.
He named Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, as Saul’s successor.

B. Joab
Joab was the commander of David’s army.
He was a powerful & ambitious man.
He was David’s nephew.
Alexander White, a great biblical scholar, states, “Even the King himself was afraid of his commander-in-chief.”

II. The Clash
The predictable happened!
The opposing armies met on the battlefield.
They met at the pool of Gibeon, just 6 miles from Jerusalem.
As the opposing forces faced each other, it was decided that 12 of each side were selected as champions to engage in battle.
II Samuel 2:14 “Abner challenged Joab, ‘Put up your best fighters. Let’s see them do their stuff.’” (The Message)
II Samuel 2:16 “And each one grasp his opponent by the head and thrust his sword in his opponent’s side; so they fell down together. Therefore that place was called the Field of Sharp Swords, which is in Gibeon.” (NKJV)
With the issue unresolved, a full scale battle erupts.
Things were quickly getting out of hand, which is a lesson to all of us that ‘Sin will always take you farther than you intended to go’.
v.17 “So there was a very fierce battle that day, and Abner and the men of Israel were beaten before the servants of David.” (NKJV)
Abner flees from the battlefield.
Joab’s younger brother, Asahel, follows Abner and overtakes him.
Abner recognizes Asahel.
Remember, they were more than mere acquaintances.
Abner tries to reason with Asahel to turn back… to take another’s armor as his prize, but to no avail.
Abner tries to gain to dissuade Asahel, he keeps coming.
Finally, Asahel charges Abner, who in self-defense, strikes Asahel with the blunt end of his spear.
The blow kills Asahel!

III. God’s law of vengeance
In this ancient world, the family of a slain man had the opportunity to avenge their loss.
Not only did they have the right, but it was expected that they would avenge the blood of the dead family member by killing the slayer.
Joab pursues Abner for killing Asahel.
God’s law of vengeance will apply.
Abner is under penalty of death & is a lot like us for we all have sinned.
Romans 3:23 “…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” (NKJV)
Isaiah 53:6 “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” (NKJV)
Romans 3:10 “As the Scriptures say, ‘No one is righteous – not even one.’” (NLT)
We also need to know the penalty of sin:
Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death…” (NKJV)
Ezekiel 18:4 “The soul who sins shall die.” (NKJV)

Death now stalks Abner, as it does every sinner.
But, there is a…
IV. Cities of refuge
While there was a law of vengeance, God had also provided cities of refuge.
When the Hebrews moved into the Promised Land God provided a place where one could flee to & be safe from the law of vengeance.
Numbers 35:11-16, 19 “…designate cities of refuge to which people can flee if they have killed someone accidentally. These cities will be places of protection from a dead person’s relatives who want to avenge the death. The slayer must not be put to death before being tried by the community.
Designate 6 cities of refuge for yourselves, three on the east side of the Jordan River and three on the west in the land of Canaan. These cities are for the protection of Israelites, foreigners living among you, and traveling merchants. Anyone who accidentally kills someone may flee there for safety. But if someone strikes and kills another person…the murderer must be executed. The victim’s nearest relative is responsible for putting the murderer to death. When they meet the avenger must put the murderer to death.” (NLT)
We have a city of refuge in Christ Jesus…
II Samuel 3:17-34
After some time had passed, Joab no longer pursues Abner.
Abner crossed the Jordan & found sanctuary.
More time passed & Abner asked David for a “truce”.
Abner desires to stop the civil war.

Abner is invited to the city of Hebron to settle the issue.
Now, you need to know Hebron was a city of refuge.
Abner will be safe there…
the law of vengeance will be lifted…
When Joab finds out what David & Abner have agreed to, he is livid & filled with rage.
Without David’s knowledge, Joab invites Abner to meet with him in Hebron.
Abner agrees to meet because he knows he will be safe in Hebron.
Abner meets with Joab under the pretense of a friendly meeting…maybe King David wanted to give Abner further instructions.
As the two seem to restore their former friendship, they walk to the city gate.
The great historian Josephus writes “Joab received him in the gate, received him in the kindest manner, as if he were Abner’s most benevolent acquaintance and friend.”

In other words, forgive & forget…let’s walk together…
I know Asahel’s death was self-defense, etc.
Oddly enough, the city of Hebron in Hebrew meant “brotherhood” or “friend”.
Wycliffe wrote – “(The) City gate, the most public spot in the city is not the place for a ‘quiet’ word with anyone. Joab suggests they step aside (outside) the gate where it would be cooler & quieter.”
So Joab, perhaps with an arm on Abner’s shoulder, and with a warm smile says “It’s good to be with you here” & then Joab pulls out his dagger & plunges it into Abner’s mid section.
Before Abner’s terrified eyes, Joab deals the fatal blow. Abner dies in a pool of blood.

V. Abner died just outside the city gate
I wonder if the fatally wounded Abner attempted to crawl back inside the city of refuge… if he tried, it was far too late.
Some of us here today have come to Christ…
maybe He is your city of refuge…
but maybe you have been lured just outside the gate.
We remain close, but not in.
We must abide in Him!
He is our refuge.

We must abide in Christ
I John 2:28 “And now little children, abide in Him…” (NKJV)
John 15:4 “Abide in Me, and I in you.” (NKJV)
John 15:6 “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out…” (NKJV)
When Abner was inside the city of refuge, he was safe.
But he did not remain there… & he paid the price.

VI. Died Abner a fool
II Samuel 3:33 “And the King (David) lamented over Abner, and said, ‘Died Abner as a fool dieth.’”

He died just outside the gate!
Numbers 35:26-27 “But if the slayer ever leaves the limits of the city of refuge, and the avenger finds him outside the city and kills him, it will not be considered murder.” (NLT)

v. 28 Abner died a fool because he should have remained in his city of refuge…
Joab could not make Abner leave, but Abner was deceived and stepped out.

v. 27 Abner found himself outside the limits of the city
John 15:10a “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love…” (NKJV)
I John 3:6 “Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.” (NKJV)
II John 6 “This is love, that we walk according to His commandments.” (NKJV)
II John 9 “Anyone who wanders away from this teaching has no relationship with God. But anyone who remains in the teaching of Christ has a relationship with both the Father and the Son.” (NLT)

Notice that Abner was not forced outside the city
II Samuel 3:33-34 “Then the king sang this funeral song for Abner: ‘Should Abner have died as fools die? Your hands were not bound; your feet were not chained.’” (NLT)
Abner was not forcibly taken out of city of refuge.
If we choose to enter the city of refuge, we have free will to leave if we want.
v.34 ‘you were a free man, free to go and do as you wished.’ (The Message)
Here is what I believe about eternal security:
We will not be…cannot be… forcibly removed from Christ, just as Abner could not be forced to leave his city of refuge.
Romans 8:35a + 38, 39 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (NKJV)
Nothing can bind our hands & feet & force us outside the gate, but we can freely chose to step outside.

VII. What Satan (Joab) cannot do by force, he uses by deceit, lies and cunning
“Give me your birthright for a bowl of beans” – Jacob said to Esau
“You shall not surely die” – Satan said to Eve
John 8:44 “For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (NLT)

Outside the city of refuge, the devil, who is the father of lies, wants to entice us just outside the gates.
Like Abner, if he can get us to take one step out, we might be lost forever.

If we abide in Christ, we have nothing to worry about.
We have an assurance of our faith as long as we stay inside the city of refuge.
Today is a similar theme to last week where the key to faith is staying connected with Christ.
As long as we abide in Him, He will abide in us.
And as long as we’re connected to Him, we won’t be tempted to wander outside our city of refuge.
I have to tell you, that for me, I want to stay safe & secure in our city of refuge, Jesus Christ.
I’ve been on the outside of those gates of grace before & it is not a good place to be, knowing that at any minute, if I breathed my last, I would not be right with God…knowing that the choices I was making, freely of my own choosing, no one making me or forcing me, had moved me outside the city gate.
I have to tell you that it is a lot better inside the gate…safe & secure & saved…God’s law of vengeance has been removed & I have a blessed assurance of where I am & where I am going.
Safe & secure in the arms of Jesus.
No one has to stay outside the family of faith.
No one has to be unsure of their eternal home.
No one has to stay disconnected from God.
The choice is yours.

Will you accept today’s sermon as a word of caution?
All Abner had to do was stay in the city.
But he died a fool just steps outside the city gate.
Don’t let it happen to you.
Where will you be when the lights go out?
Will you be safe inside the city of refuge?
Jesus Christ our Lord & Savior?
Or will you be just steps outside the city…lost forever?
The choice is up to you.

Topics: Heaven, justification, obedience, sin

Books Referenced: 1 John, 2 John, 2 Samuel , Ezekiel, John, Romans

Names Referenced: Abner, David, Ishbosheth, Joab, Satan, Saul