Murder to Gain Favour

The sermon centers on the assassination of Ish-bosheth and David's response, highlighting the contrast between human ambition and divine sovereignty. It emphasizes that while wicked men like Rechab and Baana sought to advance God's purposes through murder, David, as a man after God's own heart, refused to take matters into his own hands, even when it would have served his ambition. The passage reveals the spiritual blindness of the assassins, who mistook their sin for divine service, illustrating the necessity of the new birth for true spiritual discernment. Yet, despite their evil deed, God sovereignly used the event to unite Israel under David, demonstrating that His purposes are fulfilled through both good and evil, without compromising His holiness. Ultimately, the sermon calls believers to trust in God's providence, knowing that all things—even sin and suffering—serve His glory and the good of His people.