Politics & power (2 Samuel 3)
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Today’s reading is 2 Samuel 3
While there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was making himself strong in the house of Saul.
2 Samuel 3:6
Reflect ❤️
This third chapter could be summed up in two words: power and politics. Continuing from our first two chapters, the focus is on the rise of David’s household and the fall of Saul’s. Today, let us notice the difference between those who take matters into their own hands and those who trust God.
Take for instance Abner. The general of Saul’s army, Abner is a powerful man, instrumental in establishing Ish-Boseth, Saul’s son, as a rival King (2:8). But while this King is weak, Abner himself is getting stronger and stronger (3:6). And then he does something unthinkable - he seems to have slept with one of King Saul’s concubines (3:7).
While as modern readers we first notice the sexual immorality (which is surely there), to sleep with a dead king’s wife is to make a claim on his throne. In other words, Abner has his eyes on the crown. When accused he swiftly changes his allegiance and supports David. Politically he is stabbed in the back. Things only get darker.
Joab, David’s own commander, harbours a bitter vengeance against Abner. In the heat of battle, Abner had killed his brother (2:23) and so Joab was looking for revenge. Despite Abner offering David everything he was waiting for, all tribes of Israel recognising him as King (3:17-19), Joab could not accept working with this man. And so now Joab takes matters into his own hands. If Abner politically stabbed Ish-Bosheth in the back, it is now Joab who very violently stabs Abner (3:27).
Abner and Joab were constantly manoeuvring. Yet David is different. David waits for the Lord. He has learnt in the years and years between his anointing and his coronation, he has learned that God is in control, he is not.
And so while Abner, Joab, and others wreak havoc playing power politics, David is firmly established as King (3:36). And he does this without compromise. (Though we will see, David too falls to similar temptations later on).
Pray 🙏
Are we taking matters into our own hands? Are we worrying that God is moving too slowly? Let us bring our hearts back to a place of faith in him.
Lord Jesus, thank you that your timing is perfect. Forgive us when we take matters into our own hands out of a place of fear. Teach us that you are faithful and your timing is perfect. Amen