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17 July 2007
2 Samuel 4 v 5-12
Recab and Baanah, sons of Rimmon from Beeroth, went to Ish-Bosheth's house in the afternoon while he was taking a nap. They went into the middle of the house as if to get some wheat.
Ish-Bosheth was lying on his bed in his bedroom. Then Recab and Baanah stabbed him in the stomach, killed him, cut off his head, and took it with them. They escaped and travelled all night through the Jordan Valley. When they arrived at Hebron, they gave his head to David and said to the king, "Here is the head of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, your enemy. He tried to kill you! Today the LORD has paid back Saul and his family for what they did to you!"
David answered Recab and his brother Baanah, the sons of Rimmon of Beeroth, "As surely as the LORD lives, he has saved me from all trouble! Once a man thought he was bringing me good news. When he told me, 'Saul is dead!' I seized him and killed him at Ziklag. That was the reward I gave him for his news! So even more I must put you evil men to death because you have killed an innocent man on his own bed in his own house!" So David commanded his men to kill Recab and Baanah. They cut off the hands and feet of Recab and Baanah and hung them over the pool of Hebron. Then they took Ish-Bosheth's head and buried it in Abner's tomb at Hebron.
What a complete mess! Revenge, murder, mutilation, and all in the name of God!
Recab and Baanah don't just think they are doing David a favour when they kill Ish-Bosheth. By saying 'Today the Lord has paid back Saul and his family for what they did to you', they show that they also think they are handing out God's justice. It would be easy to use this passage to point the finger at today's religiously motivated terrorism. People who use their faith to validate gross and immoral acts around the world. However the problem this passage shows is also found closer to home.
Recab and Baanah sinned because they took matters that should have been left to God into their own hands. They thought they were being righteous, that they were doing the right thing, but they were blind to the fact their real motivation was revenge.
So why, if killing in revenge is wrong, does David then kill Recab and Baanah and cut off their hands and feet to hang up in a public place? We have to admit from our place in history this does look cruel and shocking. I believe David knew that revenge is never ending. Instead each act of revenge leads to new hurt, anger and resentment. Each act of revenge plants new seeds of revenge in the victims and in the fullness of time grow into more pain and misery. David's punishment of Recab and Baanah, however strange to us, was a lawful act of the king, not a personally motivated attack. His punishment broke the cycle of revenge and acted as a warning to others not to take the law into their own hands.
Lord show me where the seeds of revenge are growing in my heart. Please give me the grace to let go of the hurts I carry and forgive those who caused me pain. Instead of my revenge please plant your Holy Spirit in my heart today. Amen
Written by David Booker
2 Samuel 4 v 5-12
Recab and Baanah, sons of Rimmon from Beeroth, went to Ish-Bosheth's house in the afternoon while he was taking a nap. They went into the middle of the house as if to get some wheat.
Ish-Bosheth was lying on his bed in his bedroom. Then Recab and Baanah stabbed him in the stomach, killed him, cut off his head, and took it with them. They escaped and travelled all night through the Jordan Valley. When they arrived at Hebron, they gave his head to David and said to the king, "Here is the head of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, your enemy. He tried to kill you! Today the LORD has paid back Saul and his family for what they did to you!"
David answered Recab and his brother Baanah, the sons of Rimmon of Beeroth, "As surely as the LORD lives, he has saved me from all trouble! Once a man thought he was bringing me good news. When he told me, 'Saul is dead!' I seized him and killed him at Ziklag. That was the reward I gave him for his news! So even more I must put you evil men to death because you have killed an innocent man on his own bed in his own house!" So David commanded his men to kill Recab and Baanah. They cut off the hands and feet of Recab and Baanah and hung them over the pool of Hebron. Then they took Ish-Bosheth's head and buried it in Abner's tomb at Hebron.
What a complete mess! Revenge, murder, mutilation, and all in the name of God!
Recab and Baanah don't just think they are doing David a favour when they kill Ish-Bosheth. By saying 'Today the Lord has paid back Saul and his family for what they did to you', they show that they also think they are handing out God's justice. It would be easy to use this passage to point the finger at today's religiously motivated terrorism. People who use their faith to validate gross and immoral acts around the world. However the problem this passage shows is also found closer to home.
Recab and Baanah sinned because they took matters that should have been left to God into their own hands. They thought they were being righteous, that they were doing the right thing, but they were blind to the fact their real motivation was revenge.
So why, if killing in revenge is wrong, does David then kill Recab and Baanah and cut off their hands and feet to hang up in a public place? We have to admit from our place in history this does look cruel and shocking. I believe David knew that revenge is never ending. Instead each act of revenge leads to new hurt, anger and resentment. Each act of revenge plants new seeds of revenge in the victims and in the fullness of time grow into more pain and misery. David's punishment of Recab and Baanah, however strange to us, was a lawful act of the king, not a personally motivated attack. His punishment broke the cycle of revenge and acted as a warning to others not to take the law into their own hands.
Lord show me where the seeds of revenge are growing in my heart. Please give me the grace to let go of the hurts I carry and forgive those who caused me pain. Instead of my revenge please plant your Holy Spirit in my heart today. Amen
Written by David Booker
