2 Sam
3:6-12 (ESV) While there was war between the house of Saul and the house of
David, Abner was making himself strong in the house of Saul. 7 Now Saul had a
concubine whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. And Ish-bosheth said to
Abner, "Why have you gone in to my father's concubine?" 8 Then Abner
was very angry over the words of Ish-bosheth and said, "Am I a dog's head
of Judah? To this day I keep showing steadfast love to the house of Saul your
father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not given you into the
hand of David. And yet you charge me today with a fault concerning a woman.
9 God do so to Abner and more also, if I
do not accomplish for David what the Lord has sworn to him, 10 to transfer the
kingdom from the house of Saul and set up the throne of David over Israel and
over Judah, from Dan to Beersheba." 11 And Ish-bosheth could not answer
Abner another word, because he feared him.
12 And
Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, "To whom does the
land belong? Make your covenant with me, and behold, my hand shall be with you
to bring over all Israel to you."
NOTE: Abner was the
one who put Ish-bosheth (henceforth, Ish) on the throne, and without Abner, Ish
would be nothing. Of course, Abner gained too. With Ish, a legitimate heir to
the throne, Abner retained his power and position. Without Ish, Abner may not
have done as well in an Army with most of the leaders coming from Judah and
David's band of men. But Ish's real problem is that he was not the legitimate
rule and Abner was wrong to perpetuate a lie. He knew David was the true ruler
as evidenced by verse 9. Ish's rule is almost like a puppet. When he rebukes
his commander, his commander rails back at him. His fear is justifiable since
the whole structure is but a house of cards. When Abner leaves, everything will
fall apart. And apparently a failing war and a rebuke from a puppet-king causes
Abner's loyalty to falter. Abner begins a behind-the-scenes effort to give the
kingdom to David. Abner will die because of Joab's treachery, but Abner's
action are hardly self-less. The correct course of action should have been to
accept David's rule immediately, rather than to have spent seven years fighting
against David.
So what are the
things that I fight against? What are the areas that I refuse to give up? Where
am I being foolish?
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