Judgement and Justice

Listen to sermon here.

Sermon Outline

1. The story

• The end is near (vs 1-3)
  • Isbhosheth hears of Abner's death (vs 1)
  • Introduction of the assassins (vs 2-3)
• Saul's family survives (vs 4)
  • Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son, survives
  • No attempt to name Mephibosheth king
• The assassination of Ishbosheth (vs 5-7)
  • Baanah and Recahb enter the palace (vs 5)
  • Baanah and Rechab assassinate Ishbosheth (vs 6-7)
• Judgement and Justice (vs 7-12)
  • Baanah and Rechab flee to David (vs 7-8)
  • David judges the wicked men (vs 9-12)

2. David's judgement

• David follows Israel's civil law in chapter 4 (Ex 21:12, Lev 24:17)
• David does not follow Israel's civil law in chapter 3 after Joab murders Abner (Lev 19:15, Deut 1:17)

3. Justice

• Did Abner or Ishbosheth receive true justice?
• Judgement and justice today - in the world, in the church, in our own lives - is it better?
• King Jesus, the just judge
  • The Christian hope of the rule and reign of King Jesus in the new heaven and earth
  • Jesus will return again to judge the living and the dead (Acts 10:42)
  • Jesus will rule with perfect justice, eternally (Psalm 72)

Takeaways

• In Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit, judge righteously
• Pray for your leaders
• Be willing to give and receive feedback, humbly.
• Pray for God's kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven
• Think about Jesus' return