2 Samuel 3
The transfer of power over Israel to David, who is currently the king of Judah, begins with the attempted undermining in the remnant of Saul’s administration. Abner, a respected commander of Israel who served Saul throughout his reign, is rumored by Saul’s son Ish-Bosheth to have slept with Saul’s concubine. Understandably, this frustrated Abner, so much so he decided to hurry up with this process of David becoming his king. Not only does this expose the frustrating functionality in what is left of Saul’s line to reign, but is one of vital growing pains the people witness as Judah and Israel unite under the reign of David.
Abner goes on to do much more of David’s bidding than David could have asked for. Rallying the elders and the Benjamites passionately, he recalls God’s promise to Israel to them, “Now do it! For the Lord promised David, ‘By my servant David I will rescue my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from the hand of all their enemies’” (1 Samuel 3.18). David is known by the leadership staff of Israel as their eventual militaristic savior, at the very least, which would later become a widely accepted understanding of who the religious leaders thought Jesus was going to be. David doesn’t act with his military in response to what happens, but we have some ground to cover before we get there.
Coming to David with the message of Israel’s approval to come under his leadership, it appears as if the move is all but official. So Abner is told to go rally all the people necessary to make it so, and he goes in peace. This is vital, as the war between the house of Saul and the house of David was a long one, and only really benefitted David in the end (v.1-5). Abner’s high position in the opposition’s ranks granted significant weight to these negotiations between him and David. Everything is moving in the right direction for Judah and Israel to finally be united in peace. However, a previous feud between Abner and one of David’s men, Joab, sparks some opposition to the plan which ultimately results in Abner, still at peace with the situation, getting murdered by Joab. Joab spoke outwardly of his motivation to protect David, but in reality he sought only to avenge his brother who was killed by Abner out of defense.
It’s complicated, political, and heavily tainted by the selfish deeds of significant players in the national leadership spectrum for both Judah and Israel. Yet what the enemy intends for evil, God uses for good. These acts only propel this process of unity. But how? The first instance between Saul’s son and Abner causes Abner to pursue the fulfillment of God’s promise to Israel. This act by Joab, upon hearing such news, causes David to respond mournfully. Yes, instead of killing Joab, repaying blood for blood, David proclaims the innocence of his kingdom, and asks that he and all the people pay respect to Abner.
“Then David said to Joab and all the people with him, ‘Tear your clothes and put on sack cloth and walk in mourning in front Abner.’ King David himself walked behind the bier. They buried Abner in Hebron, and the king wept aloud at Abner’s tomb. All the people wept also. The king sang this lament for Abner: ‘Should Abner have died as the lawless die? Your hands were not bound, your feet were not fettered. You fell as one falls before wicked men.’ All the people wept over him again” (v.31-34).
This emphatic response of sorrow actually wins the favor of the Israeli people. They want David as their king even more because of his compassion for one of the most respected commanders in Israel in reflection of his unruly murder.
Unity between the nations is what is ultimately at stake in this narrative, and its unity that still requires a bold fight from God’s people to achieve even now being under Christ . We can reflect on this passage in a number of ways, but what if we were to reflect on our unity to Christ Himself. What if we pondered our sanctification in light of this narrative and considered what the Lord is drawing out in us.
Questions:
What does being unified with Christ mean to you? Or better yet, what parts of your flesh do you refuse to surrender in ultimately union with Christ? Reflect on Galatians 2:20.
What role does compassion and a pursuit of God’s glory play in your pursuit of being more like Christ and pursuing God’s will in your life? Reflect on on 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8.
