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8 June 2007
2 Samuel 2 v 8-11
Abner son of Ner was the commander of Saul's army. Abner took Saul's son Ish-Bosheth to Mahanaim and made him king of Gilead, Ashuri, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin, and all Israel. Saul's son Ish-Bosheth was forty years old when he became king over Israel, and he ruled two years. But the people of Judah followed David. David was king in Hebron for seven years and six months.
At this point in book our readings descend into a bloody and chaotic mess. In fact, the mess lasts for seven years and six months until David is confirmed as king over all of Israel.
And you know what, I put it to you, that responsibility for this rests on Abner's shoulders. He takes Ish-Bosheth and makes him king, it isn't Ish-Bosheth that asserts his claim to the throne. This causes a power struggle between the families of Saul and David, where Abner is the leader of Saul's family's resistance. In the end, after 7 and a half years of in-fighting, its Abner that unifies Israel by deciding in then end to stand with David (2 Samuel 3).
What if he had wanted peace in the first place? He had such authority in Israel that they would have followed his lead (See 2 Samuel 3:9 for when he uses that authority to unite Israel).
However, again, things just aren't that easy. He felt he was supporting the God-ordained royal family of Israel into their rightful inheritance, and suddenly we have a kind of religious war, where both sides believe they are following the will of God. Sounds all too familiar.
As I write this, Fatah and Hamas police forces have just declared that they are uniting forces to deal with the violence and lawlessness in the Gaza strip. I wouldn't pretend to know what to pray for, or what is 'right' politically - I'll leave that to you and God! But how about we pray that the people trapped in the middle are made more safe, are brought a taste of peace.
Written by Laurence Keith
2 Samuel 2 v 8-11
Abner son of Ner was the commander of Saul's army. Abner took Saul's son Ish-Bosheth to Mahanaim and made him king of Gilead, Ashuri, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin, and all Israel. Saul's son Ish-Bosheth was forty years old when he became king over Israel, and he ruled two years. But the people of Judah followed David. David was king in Hebron for seven years and six months.
At this point in book our readings descend into a bloody and chaotic mess. In fact, the mess lasts for seven years and six months until David is confirmed as king over all of Israel.
And you know what, I put it to you, that responsibility for this rests on Abner's shoulders. He takes Ish-Bosheth and makes him king, it isn't Ish-Bosheth that asserts his claim to the throne. This causes a power struggle between the families of Saul and David, where Abner is the leader of Saul's family's resistance. In the end, after 7 and a half years of in-fighting, its Abner that unifies Israel by deciding in then end to stand with David (2 Samuel 3).
What if he had wanted peace in the first place? He had such authority in Israel that they would have followed his lead (See 2 Samuel 3:9 for when he uses that authority to unite Israel).
However, again, things just aren't that easy. He felt he was supporting the God-ordained royal family of Israel into their rightful inheritance, and suddenly we have a kind of religious war, where both sides believe they are following the will of God. Sounds all too familiar.
As I write this, Fatah and Hamas police forces have just declared that they are uniting forces to deal with the violence and lawlessness in the Gaza strip. I wouldn't pretend to know what to pray for, or what is 'right' politically - I'll leave that to you and God! But how about we pray that the people trapped in the middle are made more safe, are brought a taste of peace.
Written by Laurence Keith
