QT 2/7/2023 2 Sam 2:18-23, God created men, we need to be the good thing God created

2 Samuel 2:18–23 (ESV) —

18 And the three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Now Asahel was as swift of foot as a wild gazelle. 19 And Asahel pursued Abner, and as he went, he turned neither to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner. 20 Then Abner looked behind him and said, “Is it you, Asahel?” And he answered, “It is I.” 21 Abner said to him, “Turn aside to your right hand or to your left, and seize one of the young men and take his spoil.” But Asahel would not turn aside from following him. 22 And Abner said again to Asahel, “Turn aside from following me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How then could I lift up my face to your brother Joab?” 23 But he refused to turn aside. Therefore Abner struck him in the stomach with the butt of his spear, so that the spear came out at his back. And he fell there and died where he was. And all who came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died, stood still.

 

NOTE: The story reminds me of stories from the American civil war where Generals and Commanders who had attended West Point Military Academy faced each other on opposite sides of the battlefield. There were relationships and friendships between the men, yet they still had to fight each other to the death. It seems so foolish. Probably because culturally we think differently. Obedience to a side or a cause was more important than friendship. It is hard to imagine. Yet, Abner does place the relationship above the mission. I don't think Abner intended to kill Asahel. I think he probably aimed for Asahel's chest. If he had intended to kill him, he would have used the other side of the weapon. Then again, maybe the butt of the weapon caught Asahel off guard. Abner kills Asahel fairly. Later, after Abner secures a peace treaty with David and an end to the war, Joab (Asahel's brother) kills Abner deceitfully.

 

What do we make of these stories? It is what happened. It is a far cry from how David dealt with people except almost in the case of Nabal. I think this is "base" man -- kill or be killed. Masculinity does mean something and I believe it is an important element that is being lost in our culture. But the extreme side of masculinity is war. It is when we take our desire to protect and our ability to be aggressive and misuse it. I think sports is the last acceptable place, outside of war, where this aspect of masculinity is seen. But there are other aspects of masculinity, our desire to build, to lead, to provide, and to make things grow. Jesus was a man, fully masculine. He did not step back from confrontation, but neither did he ever take a swing. A masculine man can be firm, a protector, and gentle. But we must have a basis to stand upon -- not a worldly cause but truth. And truth portrayed in the correct manner.

 

1 Peter 3:15 (ESV) — 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

 

Do it as a man.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I appreciate how God created me as a man? Do I standup as a man for his truth?

 

PRAYER: Father, As men, we have certain unique characteristics. And whatever the world may say, they are different from woman. Both sexes are being abused by Satan to turn from how God has created them. And to add to the confusion, Satan has added additional genders. Our brains are being rewired by technology in ways we never imagined. Media influences our thought. Science is abused to batter us into submission to ideas that are not even true. But we know one thing for sure. Jesus Christ, the God-man, died for our sins to set us free from death and to create in us new creatures. But we must believe, there is no hope without repentance and belief. Help us, who are men, stand up for truth.