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17 June 2007
2 Samuel 3 v 31-39
Then David said to Joab and to all the people with Joab, "Tear your clothes and put on rough cloth to show how sad you are. Cry for Abner." King David himself followed the body of Abner. They buried Abner in Hebron, and David and all the people cried at Abner's grave.
King David sang this funeral song for Abner.
"Did Abner die like a fool?
His hands were not tied.
His feet were not in chains.
He fell at the hands of evil men."
Then all the people cried again for Abner. They came to encourage David to eat while it was still day. But he made a promise, saying, "May God punish me terribly if I eat bread or anything else before the sun sets!"
All the people saw what happened, and they agreed with what the king was doing, just as they agreed with everything he did. That day all the people of Judah and Israel understood that David did not order the killing of Abner son of Ner.
David said to his officers, "You know that a great man died today in Israel. Even though I am the appointed king, I feel empty. These sons of Zeruiah are too much for me. May the Lord give them the punishment they should have."
Abner's funeral was a public affair. It sounded like a state funeral where some prominent government figure would be mourned by a nation. I suppose the closest I have seen something of this nature in my days would be watching the television broadcast of Princess Diana's funeral, where I saw an extraordinary display of public grief.
It looks like David had insisted that Joab attended the funeral. David even sang a funeral song in memory of Abner. It also becomes clear that David's public display of grief had convinced all Israel and Judah that he played no part in the murder of Abner (v 37).
I think David thought Abner was a great man (v 38) even over Joab and his brothers because they seemed to have caused him a lot of unnecessary distress. David also knew that God would eventually punish them for their deeds. Joab must have thought he had escaped justice but once King Solomon had taken the throne after David's death Joab would then be put to death by the sword on Solomon's strict orders (1 Kings 2:28-34).
Funerals can be difficult places to be. Death is often not talked about openly in some societies. I think there are many people who have a real fear of death, and don't know where to go for the answers.
I am writing this last Bible Reflection on the Wednesday of Holy Week. I am personally journeying with Jesus towards the cross where he died and that is a time of great sadness. However it is not the end of the story because on Easter Day I will be celebrating that Jesus is alive and has conquered death once and for all. That brings hope to my life and to millions of other people around the world.
Heavenly Father, Thank you that you sent your only Son, Jesus Christ, not to condemn the world but to save it and that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen
Written by Stephen Fox
2 Samuel 3 v 31-39
Then David said to Joab and to all the people with Joab, "Tear your clothes and put on rough cloth to show how sad you are. Cry for Abner." King David himself followed the body of Abner. They buried Abner in Hebron, and David and all the people cried at Abner's grave.
King David sang this funeral song for Abner.
"Did Abner die like a fool?
His hands were not tied.
His feet were not in chains.
He fell at the hands of evil men."
Then all the people cried again for Abner. They came to encourage David to eat while it was still day. But he made a promise, saying, "May God punish me terribly if I eat bread or anything else before the sun sets!"
All the people saw what happened, and they agreed with what the king was doing, just as they agreed with everything he did. That day all the people of Judah and Israel understood that David did not order the killing of Abner son of Ner.
David said to his officers, "You know that a great man died today in Israel. Even though I am the appointed king, I feel empty. These sons of Zeruiah are too much for me. May the Lord give them the punishment they should have."
Abner's funeral was a public affair. It sounded like a state funeral where some prominent government figure would be mourned by a nation. I suppose the closest I have seen something of this nature in my days would be watching the television broadcast of Princess Diana's funeral, where I saw an extraordinary display of public grief.
It looks like David had insisted that Joab attended the funeral. David even sang a funeral song in memory of Abner. It also becomes clear that David's public display of grief had convinced all Israel and Judah that he played no part in the murder of Abner (v 37).
I think David thought Abner was a great man (v 38) even over Joab and his brothers because they seemed to have caused him a lot of unnecessary distress. David also knew that God would eventually punish them for their deeds. Joab must have thought he had escaped justice but once King Solomon had taken the throne after David's death Joab would then be put to death by the sword on Solomon's strict orders (1 Kings 2:28-34).
Funerals can be difficult places to be. Death is often not talked about openly in some societies. I think there are many people who have a real fear of death, and don't know where to go for the answers.
I am writing this last Bible Reflection on the Wednesday of Holy Week. I am personally journeying with Jesus towards the cross where he died and that is a time of great sadness. However it is not the end of the story because on Easter Day I will be celebrating that Jesus is alive and has conquered death once and for all. That brings hope to my life and to millions of other people around the world.
Heavenly Father, Thank you that you sent your only Son, Jesus Christ, not to condemn the world but to save it and that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen
Written by Stephen Fox
