The Messy Middle | The Incredible Life of King David, Part 6

The Messy Middle | The Incredible Life of King David, Part 6

The Messy Middle – The space between where we were and where we hope to be.

Most of the “finish lines” of life turn out to be starting lines for something new that God wants to do.

How to Live Well in the Messy Middle:

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1. Much of life is spent in the messy middle

2 Samuel 2:1-4a

After this David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?” And the Lord said to him, “Go up.” David said, “To which shall I go up?” And he said, “To Hebron.” 2 So David went up there, and his two wives also, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 3 And David brought up his men who were with him, everyone with his household, and they lived in the towns of Hebron. 4 And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah.

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2 Samuel 2:8-11

But Abner the son of Ner, commander of Saul’s army, took Ish-bosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim, 9 and he made him king over Gilead and the Ashurites and Jezreel and Ephraim and Benjamin and all Israel. 10 Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David. 11 And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.

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2 Samuel 2-4: 7 1/2 years…. 

12 dudes from Israel and 12 dudes from Judah stab each other at the same time and die. This sets off a civil war in Israel. David’s men clean house in the first battle. (2:12-17)

Joab’s brother, Asahel (Joab was David’s army general) chases down Abner on foot. Abner tells him to back off. He doesn’t. So Abner stabs him with the butt end of a spear and runs it out his back. (2:18-23)

Ish-bosheth accuses Abner of sleeping with one of Saul’s concubines. Abner is upset so he makes a covenant with David to unite the kingdom under David. (3:6-25)

Joab doesn’t like David’s covenant with Abner so he kills Abner. (3:26-30)

Ish-bosheth is assassinated in his sleep and decapitated by two of his own army captains who then bring the head to David (4:1-11)

David has these two men executed and has their hands and feet cut off and hung by a pool at Hebron (4:12)

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“I have learned to kiss the wave that throws me against the Rock of Ages.” – Charles Spurgeon

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“Once we…”

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2. God’s plan prevails through the messy middle

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2 Samuel 5:1-3

Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, we are your bone and flesh. 2 In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the Lord said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel.’” 3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel.

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2 Samuel 5:12

And David knew that the Lord had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.

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Romans 8:28

in all things God is working together for the good of those who love him.

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