The young man confessed to killing Saul, the King of Israel. However, his confession was a lie because Saul killed himself. The man was lying in order to make himself great in the eyes of David
(I Samuel 31:4).
- Are there any places in your life where you might be tempted to seek the approval of another person by lying or withholding the full truth?
- Ultimately lying brings about the death of our relationships with others. Have you given any thought to what will happen if your lie is exposed?
Saul was a wicked king that tried to murder both David and his own son Jonathan. David chose to live in submission Saul, God's anointed king. When Saul finally died in battle David decided to focus on what Saul did right.
Proverbs 17:9 reads, "Whoever conceals an offense promotes love but whoever gossips about it separates friends."
- Why does God desire us to show mercy when we could force justice on our enemies?
- How did it make you feel when you were shown mercy for a mistake or sin?
- Are you dealing with a situation where talking about an issue seems more fun than forgetting it and letting it go?
Abner was King Saul's greatest commander and refused to acknowledge God's hand was no longer on the kingdom of Saul. Abner was a man living in the past. His refusal to move forward will eventually cost many lives.
- Do you know anyone that refuses to move forward from their past?
- What part of your life do you find difficult to leave behind? When you find yourself dwelling in the past what can you do to remind yourself God wants you to move forward?
- What promises of a great future has Jesus given to those willing to leave their past behind?
The brutality of the Old Testament often shocks modern readers. It is always good to remember what you are reading was not the plan of God but rather what happens when humankind tries to set up earthly kingdoms outside the will of God.
- On a scale of 1-10, how dependent is your inner peace on the outcomes of debates, election, or laws being passed by legislators?
- How much do you have to agree with a candidate for you to vote for him or her?
- How does it make you feel to know every nation's flag will be burned when Jesus destroys the earth with fire and creates a new heaven and new earth?
- If that last question bothered you, ask why?
The key verse in this passage is 3:1, "During the long war between the house of Saul and the house of David, David was growing stronger and the house of Saul was becoming weaker." When the power of God is in us we tend to realize it. The power of God comes through obedience to the Holy Spirit. When we obey Him He empowers us, He guides our conversations, He places us in situations to be used by Him and there is NOTHING better than confidently knowing that "it is well with my soul."
- Search your heart today and write down any known sin. Pray a prayer of repentance and then rip the paper up and throw it away. Why? Because that is what God has done.
