Let Go, Let God: Giving Control to God, Trusting His Love, He Fights For You
THERE WAS a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. But David grew stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker. While there was war between the houses of Saul and David, Abner was making himself strong in the house of Saul. Now Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah daughter of Aiah. And Ish-bosheth said to Abner, Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine? Then Abner was very angry at the words of Ish-bosheth and said, Am I a dog’s head [despicable and hostile] against Judah? This day I keep showing kindness and loyalty to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and his friends, and have not delivered you into the hands of David; and yet you charge me today with a fault concerning this woman! May God do so to Abner, and more also, if I do not do for David what the Lord has sworn to him, To transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and set the throne of David over Israel and Judah from Dan to Beersheba. And Abner sent messengers to David where he was [at Hebron], saying, Whose is the land? Make your league with me, and my hand shall be with you to bring all Israel over to you. And David said, Good. I will make a league with you. But I require one thing of you: that is, you shall not see my face unless you first bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see me. And David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, saying, Give me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines. 2 Samuel 3:1, 6-10, 12, 13 14AMPC
What you see happening here is the struggle for power between the house of Saul and the house of David. In addition to the battles, alliances, and treaties you expect to see between competing kingdoms, you also see how wives and concubines were used as political pawns in establishing treaties as well as claiming a throne.
Abner is gaining strength in Saul’s house, Saul’s son Ish-bosheth, possibly feeling threatened accuses Abner of being with his father’s concubine, Rizpah. Rizpah would have been Ish-bosheth’s property upon succeeding his father Saul to the throne. Abner in retaliation aligns himself with David. In order to grant a face to face David, in turn, demands his wife Michal back from the house of Saul, as a political statement of power over the house of Saul. Saul had given Michal, perhaps out of spite, to another man after David fled from Saul for his life.
When you belong to the kingdom of God, you can set aside the strategies and manipulations so often associated with maintaining and retaining power. God has your best interests at heart. He is trustworthy. He is a strong defender. His strength is made perfect in weakness. His eye is on the sparrow.
Allow Him to be your strong tower.
For,
Your right hand, O Lord, is glorious in power; Your right hand, O Lord, shatters the enemy. Exodus 15:6 AMPC
Your hand shall find all Your enemies; Your right hand shall find all those who hate You. Psalm 21:8 AMPC
Yes,
The right hand of the Lord is exalted; the right hand of the Lord does valiantly and achieves strength! Psalm 118:16 AMPC
Yes, He is for you and fights for you.
3898 lacham a prim. root. to feed on: fig to consume: by impl. to battle (as destruction) – devour, est, x ever, fight (ing), overcome, prevail, (make) war (-ring)
Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you, 1 Peter 5:6 AMPC
And
Trust Him – dwell in your hearts thru faith, rooted and established in love, having power with all the saints to grasp how wide, long, high and deep is His love.
For this reason [seeing the greatness of this plan by which you are built together in Christ], I bow my knees before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, For Whom every family in heaven and on earth is named [that Father from Whom all fatherhood takes its title and derives its name]. May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality]. May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love, That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God’s devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it]; [That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]! Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]– To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen (so be it). Ephesians 3:14-21 AMPC