INTERESTING FACTS : "THE EXISTENCE OF THE BIBLE, AS A BOOK FOR THE PEOPLE, IS THE GREATEST BENEFIT WHICH THE HUMAN RACE HAS EVER EXPERIENCED. EVERY ATTEMPT TO BELITTLE IT IS A CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY." --  IMMANUEL KANT

 

DAILY READING : 2 SAMUEL 1 - 3

 

TEXT : 2Sa 3:26  And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, which brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not. 2Sa 3:27  And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother. 2Sa 3:28  And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner: 2Sa 3:29  Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father's house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread. 2Sa 3:30  So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle. 2Sa 3:31  And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier. 2Sa 3:32  And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.

 

THEME : MERCY

 

David is now the king of Israel, and ascends to the throne although not without trouble and turmoil. As we have seen, there was war between David and the servants of Saul for a prolonged period of time chiefly lead by Abner one of Saul's mighty warriors. After an insult, which we may consider providential, Abner rallies the people of Israel to take David as their king.

 

It is interesting to observe Abner knew the prophecy of Samuel and that he anointed David as the next king, yet it takes an insult to turn him away from war. How men resist the Word of God. He initially appoints Saul's son Ishbosheth and makes him king. This begs the question, if Abner knew the prophecy of God, why does he fight David and his men? I believe we find the answer in the heart of Man.

 

All of us relinquish our idols reluctantly [if at all] in order to acknowledge the Lordship of Christ over our lives. In Abner's case, it was power and position - and perhaps no small measure of pride - that causes him to resist what he evidently knew about David. Yet, the heart of Man is resistant to the ways and Word of God. We prefer our own will to God's will. Again, even more interesting is God having His plan and prophecy fulfilled in the insult given by Ishbosheth when Abner took Rizpah [one of Saul's concubines] to wife. War did not deter Abner from seeking his own will. Yet, an insult from the king he appointed did. How curious is the nature of sinful men. Hardship and privation may not cause us to bow the knee to the Lordship of Christ, but an affront to our character will. In other words, Abner preferred having his body wounded rather than his pride. Surely, this is the nature of all of us to one degree or another.

 

When Joab slays Abner, ostensibly for the death of his brother at Abner's hand, his motive may not have been entirely pure as John Gill observes.

 

"for Abner's shedding his brother's blood - but this was not the only reason, and perhaps not the chief; but, as Josephus (h) observes, because he was fearful if Abner was received into the friendship of the king, he would be preferred unto him, and take his place as general of the army, as being an older and more experienced officer; so Procopius Gazaeus, and Theodoret."

 

Therefore, assuming this is true; we see the pretense of revenge by Joab used as a cover for the same sin that possessed Abner - a desire to stay in a position of power. David greatly opposes Joab's murder of Abner, and pronounces a curse on him. Yet, there is something we need to note in David as well.

 

When David rises to power, his first order of business is to take back Michal his wife whom Saul gave to another man - Phaltiel. This man evidently loved Michal much, since we see him following her and weeping as Abner takes her to David. Now, the question is - was David right in taking her from her [2nd] husband? As we have seen, Michal once loved David so much; she braved her father's wrath in hiding David and helping him to escape. Later, as we shall see, Michal will distain David for his dancing in the street on the Ark's return.

 

This lends to the suggestion that if a woman would risk her own life to save David's at one point in time, she [may have] resented being pulled from Phaltiel to be given back to David. We will see this as she scolds David, and David puts her away for the rest of her life, never to bear children. Certainly, whether we consider David or Michal, their behavior toward one another does not represent the love of a husband and wife as God ordained it. We have already noted her love for David at one time. Yet, after she returns to him having been given to another man, and considering his response to her objection to his dancing we can safely say there is no more love between them.

 

Further, where there is no love, there is no God, for God is love. [1 Jn 4:7 - 8] Thus, we may surmise that perhaps David's motive in taking Michal from her husband may not have been entirely pure either. It may be he was more interested in correcting the "insult" of having his wife given to another man, than he was taking her back for love. The fact is, she was established in a home where her husband loved her deeply. Also, David has six wives already with more to be added. With David, we have a complex individual who can be prophet, poet, king, adulterer, murderer, or bloody warrior. He is not a simple personality as the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia shares.

 

"To form a correct opinion of anyone is much more difficult than to state the facts of his life; to form an opinion which will be generally accepted is impossible. Of David's character the most opposite estimates have been formed. On one hand, he is extolled as a saint, and yet few men have committed worse crimes. The character of David must remain, like that of everyone, an insoluble enigma. A person is to be judged by his motives rather than by his actions, and one's true motives are unknown even to oneself (Jer_17:9). There are several sides of David's nature in regard to which there cannot be two opinions."

 

TRUTH FOR TODAY : THE MERCIFUL SHALL RECEIVE MERCY!

 

When it comes to David, regardless of his conduct that at times is contrary to the Law of God, we can safely say the predominant motive of his heart was mercy. We see this is his treatment of Saul, and even his own son Absalom. In both cases he did not want to see any harm come to them, though both of them desired his death. Even in his sin with Bathsheba and her husband, though he conceals his sin, when it is exposed by God, he repents. It appears David is a sensitive soul, perhaps overly so at times, which lent itself to sentimentalism and romantic emotionalism. Still he is a man after God's own heart [Acts 12:22] as the Scriptures declare. In this respect, mercy is His most godlike quality.

 

Reaping and sowing is an inviolable Law of God as are all His Laws. What we want to grow, we must plant. As the seed is, so shall the fruit be. It is common sense that what you plant in the ground will grow in the air. A child can understand this simple concept.

 

We then must be careful what we plant with regard to mercy. The reason is obvious. As we see with Biblical characters, they are not flawless individuals. They have good points and bad except in the case where men are thoroughly wicked. Other than that, the best of God's people have sin dwelling in them that comes to the surface from time to time. Therefore, being a merciful man or women is required if we are to receive mercy.

 

Jesus said -

 

"Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy." [Mat 5:7] In the exercise of showing mercy we are most like God. Albert Barnes notes -

 

"Nowhere do we imitate God more than in showing mercy. In nothing does God delight more than in the exercise of mercy, Exo_34:6; Eze_33:11; 1Ti_2:4; 2Pe_3:9. To us, guilty sinners; to us, wretched, dying, and exposed to eternal woe, he has shown his mercy by giving his Son to die for us; by expressing his willingness to pardon and save us; and by sending his Spirit to renew and sanctify our hearts. Each day of our life, each hour, and each moment, we partake of his undeserved mercy. All the blessings we enjoy are proofs of his mercy. If we, then, show mercy to the poor, the wretched, the guilty, it shows that we are like God. We have his spirit, and shall not lose our reward. And we have abundant opportunity to do it. Our world is full of guilt and woe, which we may help to relieve; and every day of our lives we have opportunity, by helping the poor and wretched, and by forgiving those who injure us, to show that we are like God. See the notes at Mat_6:14-15."

 

David had his faults as all men in the Bible and the Church do. However, let all of us be men and women after God's own heart in showing mercy to others. When we do this, we live in love and become like Christ, which is the call of every disciple.

 

"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy." 1Pe 2:9 - 10]