The King Who Hates Division
David makes a bold move here in 2 Samuel 3. His kingdom is pretty much assured after his greatest threat, Abner has been put to death by Joab out of revenge for his brother's murder. Yet instead of cheering this event accomplished by his closest ally, David is saddened and mourns his loss. He mourns so much the people seek to care for him.
2 Samuel 3:35–37 (ESV) Then all the people came to persuade David to eat bread while it was yet day. But David swore, saying, “God do so to me and more also, if I taste bread or anything else till the sun goes down!” 36 And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them, as everything that the king did pleased all the people. 37 So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it had not been the king’s will to put to death Abner the son of Ner.
The death David is mourning is that of a former enemy and right-hand assistant to Saul - the man who desperately wanted David dead. This episode beautifully expresses the kind of heart David has which makes him the fit king of Israel. He is not rejoicing that his adversaries are dead. He is not celebrating his assumption to the most powerful position in the kingdom. David is distressed over the loss of a fellow Israelite no matter what their history was.
To be fair, Abner had defected to David earlier in the chapter. But when we read the details we see this defection was rooted in an offense Abner took at Ish-Bothseth for suggesting he slept with one of his concubines. We are left to wonder if Abner's defection was self-motivated. Did Abner simply see the writing on the wall and assume jumping on David's bandwagon was in his best interest? We could very rightly suppose this is the case. But it is not the point of the story. The point of the story is that David embraces of his enemies. He opens his life up to those who were once out to get him. You could say he won over his enemy and made him his friend.
The Proverb teaches us this is the heart of God. He hates division in His people:
Proverbs 6:16 (ESV) There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him... 19 a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.
Now the people noticed this action of David and it pleased them greatly (2 Samuel 3:36). It is the kindness of leaders that attracts people, not the small-minded attacks and silly political accusations they throw at each other. David is bringing a divided house of Israel together by exemplifying who Israel was called to be for the nations - a kingdom that rightly represented the character of the God who saved them.
Joab is the antithesis of David. He kills Abner out of revenge for Abner's killing of his brother, Asahel. Mind you, Abner sought not to kill Joab's brother. He warned him to stop pursuing but Asahel would not listen (see 2 Samuel 2). Also, Abner killed him in battle. It was not cold-blooded murder but self-defense in wartime.
What's interesting to note about this chapter is that Joab is nothing like David here. He is making the Lord's work a personal matter and holding grudges and seeking out justice for himself. Now I ask you this question: How often can we as followers of Jesus be just like Joab? Instead of seeking to bring people together we seek to separate and divide. Instead of forgiving and moving forward toward greater unity, we attack each other and demean one another and slander our brothers.
We Christians claim to serve the King who took up the wash basin and cleansed the feet of men who would soon run from Him, deny Him and betray Him (YES, Judas' feet were washed as well). Yet we act as if everyone owes us something and our personal feelings are more important than the glory of Christ exhibited in the unity of His Church.
David has stern words for Joab after this event:
2 Samuel 3:29 (ESV) May it fall upon the head of Joab and upon all his father’s house, and may the house of Joab never be without one who has a discharge or who is leprous or who holds a spindle or who falls by the sword or who lacks bread!”
David has no tolerance for personal vendettas in God's work. Neither should we. When we learn to separate the results of our ministry or calling from our inward quest for self-vindication, we learn to become like Christ. When we open our hands and love and forgive, we show the world what He is like.
Let's do this more. The world needs it.
2 Samuel 3:35–37 (ESV) Then all the people came to persuade David to eat bread while it was yet day. But David swore, saying, “God do so to me and more also, if I taste bread or anything else till the sun goes down!” 36 And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them, as everything that the king did pleased all the people. 37 So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it had not been the king’s will to put to death Abner the son of Ner.
The death David is mourning is that of a former enemy and right-hand assistant to Saul - the man who desperately wanted David dead. This episode beautifully expresses the kind of heart David has which makes him the fit king of Israel. He is not rejoicing that his adversaries are dead. He is not celebrating his assumption to the most powerful position in the kingdom. David is distressed over the loss of a fellow Israelite no matter what their history was.
To be fair, Abner had defected to David earlier in the chapter. But when we read the details we see this defection was rooted in an offense Abner took at Ish-Bothseth for suggesting he slept with one of his concubines. We are left to wonder if Abner's defection was self-motivated. Did Abner simply see the writing on the wall and assume jumping on David's bandwagon was in his best interest? We could very rightly suppose this is the case. But it is not the point of the story. The point of the story is that David embraces of his enemies. He opens his life up to those who were once out to get him. You could say he won over his enemy and made him his friend.
The Proverb teaches us this is the heart of God. He hates division in His people:
Proverbs 6:16 (ESV) There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him... 19 a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.
Now the people noticed this action of David and it pleased them greatly (2 Samuel 3:36). It is the kindness of leaders that attracts people, not the small-minded attacks and silly political accusations they throw at each other. David is bringing a divided house of Israel together by exemplifying who Israel was called to be for the nations - a kingdom that rightly represented the character of the God who saved them.
Joab is the antithesis of David. He kills Abner out of revenge for Abner's killing of his brother, Asahel. Mind you, Abner sought not to kill Joab's brother. He warned him to stop pursuing but Asahel would not listen (see 2 Samuel 2). Also, Abner killed him in battle. It was not cold-blooded murder but self-defense in wartime.
What's interesting to note about this chapter is that Joab is nothing like David here. He is making the Lord's work a personal matter and holding grudges and seeking out justice for himself. Now I ask you this question: How often can we as followers of Jesus be just like Joab? Instead of seeking to bring people together we seek to separate and divide. Instead of forgiving and moving forward toward greater unity, we attack each other and demean one another and slander our brothers.
We Christians claim to serve the King who took up the wash basin and cleansed the feet of men who would soon run from Him, deny Him and betray Him (YES, Judas' feet were washed as well). Yet we act as if everyone owes us something and our personal feelings are more important than the glory of Christ exhibited in the unity of His Church.
David has stern words for Joab after this event:
2 Samuel 3:29 (ESV) May it fall upon the head of Joab and upon all his father’s house, and may the house of Joab never be without one who has a discharge or who is leprous or who holds a spindle or who falls by the sword or who lacks bread!”
Let's do this more. The world needs it.
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