2 SAMUEL 3
Trusting in the Lord, David went “from strength to strength” (Ps. 84:7). He was God’s anointed and knew that God would fulfill His promise and make him king over all Israel. When you walk by faith, you can wait on Him.
Abner also grew in strength (v. 6), not the strength of the Lord but political power. He had more authority than the king, for he had made Ishbosheth king. Abner’s use of power to please himself was his downfall.
David’s way of life was reconciliation; he was a peacemaker. But Abner and Joab lived by retaliation: “All who take the sword will perish by the sword” (Matt. 26:52). Abner had murdered Asahel, and his sin had found him out. But Joab’s deed was wicked, and David dissociated himself from it. Imagine Joab avenging his brother’s blood at Hebron, a city of refuge!
David was strong, yet he was weak (v. 39)! When we are weak in ourselves, the Lord can be strong through us (