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Soon after Abner's death, there
was another sad murder in Israel. Ish-bosheth was killed in his bed,
by two men who came into his house pretending to get corn. The
wicked murderers cut off the head of Ish-bosheth, and brought it to David,
and said, "See, here is the head of the son of thine enemy
Saul." The men thought this would please David; but he
commanded that the murderers should be slain; so David's servants killed
the two wicked men, and hung them up in Hebron; but the head of
Ish-bosheth they buried honorably in Abner's tomb. David was right
to punish the men who killed Ish-bosheth, because God has commanded that
murderers shall be put to death. Who
reigned over Israel after Ish-bosheth was dead? David. The
tribes of Israel all came to him, and asked him to be their king.
David now ruled over a large country, and had great possessions.
Some years before, he was a poor shepherd boy; now he was a great king. God
loved David, and he gave him honor; but God does not always honor those He
loves in this world. Sometimes His people are poor, and have no
possessions; perhaps they have not even food and clothing. He sees
it best not to give riches and honors to all His people here: and He
known that riches and honors cannot make them happy. But God has
riches to give to all His people in heaven. He will give them there
crowns of glory, and an everlasting inheritance in His happy kingdom. What
was the first thing King David did? His enemies, the Jebusites, had
possession of Jerusalem, and he went there and smote them, and took the
city. David then began to feel safe, and his power grew greater and
greater every day; for God blessed David in all things, and gave him
victory, and strength, and riches. It is God who gives us all the
good things we have. Let us thank Him for His kindness, and ask Him
to give us His blessing too, because that alone can make us truly happy. The
Philistines now came again to fight against David. He remembered
that God had promised to protect him; so before he began to fight against
the Philistines, he asked God, "Shall I go up against the
Philistines? Wilt thou deliver them into my hand?" And
God said, "Go up, I will deliver them into thy hand." Then
David went, and did as God commanded him; and soon he gained the victory
over his enemies. This may
teach you something. When you are in trouble, go and pray to God,
and ask Him to tell you what to do. God is as willing to help you,
as He was willing to help David. He will help you to conquer worse
enemies than the Philistines; He will help you to conquer your own sinful
tempers, and to resist Satan when he tempts you to sin.
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