A LONG WAR. 2nd Samuel 3 Seven and a half years of murder and mayhem is a long time for blood lust and sexual lust to run unchecked in an unstable society. Even though David and the men of Judah were gradually gaining in power and winning in battles, those who followed Abner and Ishbosheth's leadership did not stop fighting. In those times, the problem of uncontrolled lust seems to be greater than at other times when people are living everyday lives.
Conflicts, strife, and disagreements can cause division and defeat among God’s people. Often, they are simply because of different personalities who look at things from a different perspective. Those differences are usually personal opinions passed on in some form from the forebearers of various people who may have a different culture or come from a different historical or national background.
In assemblies of God’s people, the variety of personalities, culture, and heritage is set aside, and as “new creatures in Christ Jesus,” we begin a new kind of life in the family of God. Differences and potential strife fade when we focus our minds, hearts, spirits, souls, and bodies on the person of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit gives a new perspective of life when we are born again by the spirit who then lives in us. Peace has been made between us and God through the blood of Christ that was shed at the cross, and peace in the family comes when we let the peace of God rule in our hearts and we are truly thankful for everything.
The division between the families of Saul and David had not been settled while Saul was alive; therefore, it continued for a “long time.” It deteriorated into a “long war” contesting power and loyalty. The question had to be settled as to who was the legitimate king of Israel. Both Saul and David had been designated and anointed to be king. But did Saul’s anointing mean it extended to his family or not? That was the question that had to be addressed. Did God choose David to be king, and did he have the right to take over all Israel and rule by force? David knew he was to be king and had established himself politically and militarily as one who had been given divine authority.
In God's purposes, he had to show himself as one who trusted God to do his will in His way as His chosen servant. This had to be shown unmistakably in battle, not compromise. So, the first battle was just a foretaste of the years of civil war between those committed to Saul and his family and David and his family, who replaced the disobedient house of Saul.
Strife costs opposing sides dearly and occurs when we lose sight of all we have in common and focus on a few differences instead. Whenever differences arise among God’s people, we must go to the same source of all wisdom and understanding – our Gracious God, and learn from Him through His word how we must unite as unified people. We must step back from what causes conflict and consider what we have in common. Then, given all those things, determine whether the differences are of such significance that the only course is separation. When the common goals are much bigger than the differences, our appeal is to those things to settle differences.
Some things are pretty plain and require separation. 2nd Corinthians 6 teaches us the danger of unequal yokes between believers and unbelievers, those who are not committed to scriptural living, and those who live by the literal teaching of the Bible. There is no question that the children of God and the children of the devil do not mix. As believers, we “Strive together for the faith of the Gospel.” When pressured to conform to the world, we “Return to our own company (companions)” and tell them what happened. Then we “Raise our voice to God with one accord.” We are those who have one heart, one mind, and one desire to please our Lord Jesus Christ and walk worthy of Him.
Judah and Israel had lost sight of what God wanted. They had been told to settle the land, drive out the Canaanites, and obey the laws of God. Instead of joining together and carrying out God's word, united as a powerful force under divine protection and guidance, they became two groups uniting behind Saul and David. Those who followed David increased in strength, and Saul’s family weakened, but seven years of war and conflict cost many lives for no good reason.
David took four more wives by whom he had children. Abner didn't hesitate to claim Saul's house for himself, including Rizpah, Saul's concubine. Uncontrolled lust does not always bring trouble at first, but David's lack of good judgment, even though polygamy was accepted in that society, led to murder, rebellion, greed, rape, and national disgrace. The wrongful desire of a moment may bring a snowball effect that creates mayhem in a family and a society.
We cannot always discern the motivation behind a person's actions when there are differences of opinions or a divisive spirit among God’s people. When you know your opinions and actions are based on solid scriptural precepts and perhaps biblical illustrations the Spirit of God has given for our guidance, don’t let yourself be talked out of what you know is right in God’s sight. Stand firm, hold tight to God’s will, and, if necessary, oppose what is wrong by pointing it out to offenders from the word of God.
Lack of moral strength in leaders plagued Israel for four hundred years following. There were only four "good" kings out of all who followed David and Solomon. We must reject and stand up against that behavior when something is wrong. When something is correct, we must promote it and uphold it even when popular opinion goes in the opposite direction. Moral weakness often goes from one generation to another because of the failure of the original model. Courage and convictions go together when facing opposition because of that which is morally wrong.
Abner had stayed with the house of Saul because he was a Benjamite like Saul, and there were family ties. He knew Ishbosheth was incapable of ruling Israel without him. He also knew David was God’s chosen leader of the whole nation. He could see the part of the nation he was associated with was failing, so he made an agreement with David to deliver the tribes he led to David’s kingship. Then, in a way that was favorable to his own plans, he presented himself to David and submitted to his authority.
Even though he was the commander of those who followed the house of Saul, Abner could see how things were going. When Ishbosheth, who was weak morally, spiritually, and emotionally, challenged the action of Abner, he had his opportunity to stop the war and, at the same time, gain a position of authority under David's leadership. They had probably served together in Saul's army in past years, and each knew the other and their strengths.
Overcoming jealousies and uniting the country and the tribes under David's rule was helped by the influence of Abner. He knew the leadership qualities of David and how Israel had gained victory over the Philistines by the power of God through David. He also knew he was on the losing side of the long civil war. On the other hand, David knew that if Michal, the daughter of Saul, were given back to him, those who followed Saul's family would see evidence of David's position being strengthened because he had no longstanding animosity toward the family of Saul.
When we know each other well, it is wisdom not to seek to take advantage of another's weaknesses but to use their strengths to reach a goal that will benefit the common good. However, we know that even when a wrong is corrected, there will be a negative effect that we will have to live with. Sin does have wages no matter who is involved. The use of deception, even in a small way, undermines the character of a man or woman and leaves them with a question mark over their head from then on. A person deceived once will find it hard to be trusted by those who have been tricked.
Joab, David's nephew and the commander of his troops was an aggressive, hard-hearted military leader who did not hesitate to act independently when he felt it was justified. This fierce leader had his agenda and goals and would have considered the coming of Abner, who had killed his brother, a threat to his leadership position. There is no question that Joab was a skilled military leader. Because he was from David's tribe and David's family, he was secure in the role he filled. Deception was not regarded as wrong nor beyond his use to obtain his ends.
Abner may not have been as aware of Joab's character as he could have been, but perhaps he was overconfident after meeting with David. His death at the hands of Joab and Abishai was because of his careless, self-assured thought that he had made a shrewd and successful decision. He had not considered that he was considered a threat by others and that actions taken in the past are not easily forgotten. The result was he died as a fool (lawless) person without discernment and awareness of the consequences of his actions. Joab and his men had to lead the funeral procession wearing sackcloth, but the threat had been removed.
David, who followed the casket, made sure it was obvious to all who looked on that he had nothing to do with the death of Abner. He did not speak against him because of the seven years of opposition. He did not demean Abner’s character in any way but referred to him as a prince and a great man. The attitude he took toward those who opposed him made the Israelites appreciate him and opened the way for him to be the king of the united nation.
We have enemies seen and unseen, of which we should be aware. The world, the flesh, and the devil are unseen enemies who are always near, waiting to deceive us with apparently innocent attractions that appeal to us but can ruin our lives and testimonies quickly. Those we see may be people who want to take advantage of our self-confidence or weaknesses through subtle suggestions and appeals to our exalted opinions of our intellectual abilities. It is of extreme importance that we keep in fellowship with our Lord so that humility is not affected but is real.
"He that is down need fear no fall, He that is low no pride. He that is humble shall ever have, God to be his guide."
It is not unheard of that one in pettiness laid a false charge against another person they know, which is foolish because jealousy is often the cause. Deception can take many faces and forms as it raises its head in any and all places and before other people. It may start someplace with a false accusation and end its cruel journey at the end of a friendship, hindrance of a work of God, and, in the case of those men in this chapter, the death of a family's reputation. When it starts, one thing leads to another, and often, it ends with brother against brother.
Though a false word and smile may seem genuine, they can create a terrible rift that time cannot heal. Insincere conversations can seem fitting initially, but they ultimately leave a trail of broken hearts. Smooth talk that melts like butter in the mouth sends signals of danger lurking about. Watch the eyes to see if they are furtive or kind. They often reveal what is deep in the mind and signal that all is not well.
Hands also send messages when they move too much with gestures that make no point. They are letting us know that nefarious things are happening that we must never touch. Sweat on a forehead, when the weather is cool, may give a warning that the purpose is different from what the words just told. Be careful when one seems over-friendly to you. There usually are ulterior motives that are trying to get through. Don’t be challenging, but be cautious and watchful of what appears to be a hidden agenda, aware of the danger deception uses to catch the unsuspecting person. God gives us wisdom and the ability to use common sense to avoid deception before it reaches us. When we are receptive to the guidance of the Spirit of God, we can generally avoid most deceptive things.