Strongholds

Posted by Christina Scovone on Tuesday, April 12, 2011

King James Bible Study: Strongholds

For: Tuesday April 12, 2011
Chapters: II Samuel 3-5
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-april-12

Details of Today's Reading: Abner deserts Ishbosheth and makes peace with David, Joab murders Abner, Ishbosheth us murdered, David becomes king over all of Israel, a war begins with the Philistines and David does as God commands.

Hello My Friend/Guest,
God wants the best for His children, yet oddly enough many Christians have strongholds in their lives that keep Him from giving us the best. A stronghold is a group, person, or thing that is the center of all that we do, Personal strongholds suggests secret thoughts and desires that keep Christ from becoming Lord of our lives and receiving the blessings God has in store for them. Christ's strongholds keep us in the will of God and anything we do will be prosperous as we keep Christ at the center of all things. “The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.” - Nahum 1:7.

From the time David was anointed by Samuel to be the next king of Israel to his death David knew one thing was certain, walking in the Spirit was prosperous, walking in the flesh was disastrous. After the death of Saul, David was rightfully to be the king of all of Israel, but under circumstances, he was only king of one tribe, Judah. If he wanted to be king of all Israel he knew two things needed to happen, one, had to wait upon God's instructions, two, he had to win the respect and trust of the other tribes. The people's stronghold was Abner, the powerful commander of Saul's armies, who proclaimed Saul's son Ishbosheth king of Israel.

“But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, took Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim; And made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel. Ishbosheth Saul's son was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David. And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months. And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.” - II Samuel 2:8-12.

Abner's motive, he desired to be in control of Israel and since his was not a son of Saul, the next best thing would be to be next in command. People that go over God's commands think they have won and are in control of their own destinies, but they fail to realize that God is always in control and sooner or later all will reap what they sow. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” - Galatians 6:7,8.

The civil war between the house of Saul and the house of David lasted seven years, through it all the house of David grew stronger and stronger. Quickly things for the house of Saul began to crumble, when Ishbosheth found out that Abner was deceiving him a fierce quarrel began between the two of them. Abner tried to take control of the situation by threatening to dethrone Ishbosheth.

“Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker...And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ishbosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father's concubine? Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, Am I a dog's head, which against Judah do shew kindness this day unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou chargest me to day with a fault concerning this woman? So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD hath sworn to David, even so I do to him; To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba.” - II Samuel 3:1,7-10.

Abner conceitedly reminds Ishbosheth that he was the one that made him king, admitting also that he knew that David rightfully was chosen by God Himself to be the king. What he was really saying was that he went over God's head and succeeded so he had the right to do whatever he wanted. Abner sent word to David that he could make the army that David was fighting into an allied army, under David. David accepted the amazing offer. "So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men that were with him a feast. And Abner said unto David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel unto my lord the king, that they may make a league with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thine heart desireth. And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace. And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace." -II Samuel 3:20-22.

Abner as well as Joab and Ishbosheth would soon find out that all their wickedness to be at the top would be to their destruction. A short time after Abner met with David, he was murdered by Joab, the commander of David's army, soon after that Ishbosheth was assassinated by two of his own guards. No one can escape going against God, He will even use their own wickedness to His advantage. “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” - Romans 12:18-21.

David's first anointing was by Samuel, his second was when anointed king of the Southern Kingdom, Judah and his third was by the Northern Kingdom, uniting the two kingdoms. This marked one of the greatest days in Israel's history, all of Israel reigned under one king. David's first act was to become head of his army and lead the war against the stronghold of the Jebusites. The Israelites defeated them and Jerusalem became the capital of the United Kingdom.

“And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither. Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David. And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind that are hated of David's soul, he shall be chief and captain. Wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house. So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward. And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him.” - II Samuel 5:6-10.

One day there will come a time when all of God's people will reign under one King, that King, is Jesus Christ, and it will be the greatest day in all heaven and earth. “For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.” - Romans 5:17,18.

Many people have personal strongholds that are harming not only themselves, but their relationship with God and others as well. There may be a place hidden from human view that is the center of the heart, this can be physical improvement, a career, a forbidden love, or a habit that one has never surrendered over to God. We can all be in the will of God and see great blessings, but we must first examine ourselves and ask ourselves if we need to let go of any personal strongholds keeping us from allowing Christ to be our stronghold. "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." -I John 2:15-17.

Jesus Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through David, the anointed king over Israel. God anointed Jesus to be King of all. “Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;” - I Timothy 6:15.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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