Welcome to Fellowship! We're glad you're here! Please fill out our CONNECT CARD.

More info here: https://subspla.sh/rq45c37

Celebrate Recovery is a safe place with kind people who are working together to deal with hurts, habits, and hangups. Have questions? Contact our CR Leader - Tim Hughey

Check our website for upcoming events and over lots of past teachings on many different topics.

Help us forward the mission of Fellowship to share Jesus with young and old, with people across the street and people across the ocean. GIVE ONLINE or at the Giving Boxes at each exit.

David’s return to Judah forces Israel to choose sides and decide which king they will serve. In the same way, Jesus confronts us with a searching question: WHO—or WHAT—really reigns over our lives?

Since Saul was dead and no longer hunting David, David has asked Yahweh about moving from Ziklag (in Philistine territory) and moving back to Judah, the southern part of the kingdom. Since Yahweh had anointed David as king, and since King Saul was now dead, this should obviously lead to David stepping onto the throne.

But rather than just make the move and try to take over, David continues to rely on Yahweh rather than himself. David - the man who is to be KING over all of Israel - SEEKS Yahweh and OBEYS Him. 

• This is the man of whom it had been said, “Yahweh has found a man after his own heart, and… has appointed him as ruler over his people, because you have not done what Yahweh commanded.” (1 Samuel 13:14)

What a great example for US to follow! 

• When’s the last time you you paused and asked God for HIS GUIDANCE regarding your future decisions?

Two wives. This is a DESCRIPTION of what DID happen, not a PRESCRIPTION of what SHOULD happen. David brought the men who were with him, a group of men that numbered 600 (1 Sam 27:2-3) - along with their families - likely an exodus of several thousand people.

Hebron is a super significant place - the city of Abraham, where Yahweh appeared to Abraham with the message that, despite his old age, he would be given a son through elderly Sarah (Gen 18:1-15). Hebron is where Sarah died and was buried (Gen 23:2, 23:19). Hebron is where Abraham & Isaac (Gen 25:9-10; 35:27-29), Rebekah, Jacob, and Leah were all buried too (Gen 49:31; 50:13). 

David’s move in Hebron forever links him with Abraham and God’s promise to Abraham that…

Judah is the tribe that David is from. He grew up in Bethlehem, just over 16 miles north of Hebron. And now, probably somewhere around 15 years after David had been privately anointed king, he is now PUBLICLY anointed as king over his tribe.

This is kind and gracious, but also wise, befriending an important city NOT within the tribe of Judah. With their support, David will be one step closer to ruling over not just Judah, but all of Israel. And while Saul considered David his enemy, David did not allow himself to consider Saul his enemy. Therefore, he didn’t view the people who had supported Saul as his enemies either. 

While these people might have once viewed David as an enemy, due to their affection with Saul as their lord - their authority, David now extends GRACE to them and invites them to now follow him as their lord - their authority.

• We were once enemies of the Lord Jesus, as we were committed to another lord, yet Jesus extends US His GRACE and invites us to follow Him as the ultimate Lord over our lives!

Ish-bosheth did not die in the battle with his father & 3 brothers. He is 40 years old (see v10) so he could have fought.

It is possible that he was exempt for just such a catastrophic outcome - leaving one son of Saul alive to take the throne.

So, Abner put that plan into action.

• Ish-bosheth is likely not a real name, meaning “man of shame”. 

Abner had been the commander of Saul’s army. 

• Abner presented young David to King Saul right after David killed Goliath (1 Sam 17:55,57). Abner was in the room when David was grasping Goliath’s decapitated head!
• Abner shared a place at Saul’s table with David on a regular basis (1 Samuel 20:25).

Abner presented young David to King Saul right after David killed Goliath (1 Sam 17:55,57). Abner was in the room when David was grasping Goliath’s decapitated head!

When David and his men entered King Saul’s encampment, taking his spear and water jug, David taunted Abner for not protecting King Saul. 

Now, for the first time since all Israel had their 1st king - Saul, Israelites were divided over who would be their king.

And the 12 tribes of Israel were having to make a decision to CHOOSE WHOM TO SERVE. They couldn’t choose both Ish-bosheth & David. 11 tribes chose & served Ish-bosheth versus the 1 tribe & the people of Jabesh who chose & served David.

• You and I have the opportunity to choose who we serve too. There are many voices & vices that compete to be LORD over our lives - people, prestige, money, & power.

1,000 years after this decision to follow Ish-bosheth or David, the Lord Jesus says these powerful and challenging words:

Money can’t be my God.

My family can’t be my God.

MySELF can’t be my God.

Feet to Faith 

Seek Jesus in the scriptures. 

Serve & Share Jesus with our culture.