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Bible Commentaries
2 Samuel 4

Bell's Commentary on the BibleBell's Commentary

Verses 1-12

  1. INTRO:
    1. News Item: Somali Pirates Kill 2 American couples. [Whats your thoughts?]
      1. Scott & Jean Adam (Vessel/Quest) St. Monica’s Church in Santa Monica.
      2. Scott was a master of divinity graduate from Fuller Theological Seminary & received his master of theology last year.
      3. With their bible distribution they said, part of their travels include “friendship evangelism” which he defined as “finding homes for thousands of bibles”.
      4. Craig Detweiler, a prof at Pepperdine, who went to school w/Scott said, “They acknowledged that they were navigating a global hot spot, but it was not like them to shy away.”
      5. My question: Wouldn’t you rather die doing what you love & feel called to, then live a life wondering if?
        1. Great stories go to those who don’t give in to fear.
        2. Yes fear can guide us in keeping us safe; but it also can manipulate us into living a boring life!
        3. What’s the most repeated commandment in the bible, “do not fear” (over 200 x’s).
        4. I’m obviously not advocating recklessness, but everyone that knew them, knew they weren’t reckless individuals. I don’t think they were choosing to die, but they did choose how they’d live, even if it involved risk!
      6. I say, way to go Scott & Jean Adam, & Phyllis Macay & Bob Riggle. Way to live out a great story! [combining retirement, a hobby, faith, missions]
        1. May you rest in peace & shine in glory!
  2. ISHBOSHETH’s Coup de Grâce! (Ch.4)
    1. ​​​​​​​Coup de grâce = a final blow or shot given to kill a wounded person or animal.
      1. This was Ishbosheth’s coup de grâce for his ailing kingdom.
    2. THE ACCIDENT! (1-4)
    3. There is a short digression in our assassination plot, regarding Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son, who becomes crippled when he is accidentally dropped by his nurse as she flees from the Philistines.
      1. We’ll meet Mephibosheth again in ch.9.
    4. THE ASSASSINATION! (5-7)
    5. Simply cold blooded murder.
    6. THE AVENGING! (8-12)
    7. The 2 brothers bring the severed head of Ishbosheth to David, hoping to be rewarded, or I guess you can say they were just trying to get ahead! :)
    8. What terrible things people do in the name of the Lord, thinking to please Him.
      1. God’s people do not do evil that good may come (Rom.3:8); Rather, we are to overcome evil with good (Rom.12:21).
    9. I wonder if I ever seek to be rewarded for doing the wrong thing? Sure I do.
      1. Anytime I gossip to one friend about another, I’m hoping to win their deeper friendship (i.e. “Look what I would share with you, about him/her”)
Bibliographical Information
Bell, Brian. "Commentary on 2 Samuel 4". "Bell's Commentary". https://studylight.org/commentaries/eng/cbb/2-samuel-4.html. 2017.
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