The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Samuel 4:1,
"When Ish-Bosheth son of Saul heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he lost courage, and all Israel became alarmed."
Ish-Bosheth didn't last long. He only held the throne of the northern tribes of Israel for two years (2 Samuel 2:10) and was then murdered. It was precisely through his lack of trust and faith in the Lord that he foolishly placed himself in a position where he was doomed.
I note that when Ish-Bosheth heard the commander of his military, Abner, had been killed that he "lost courage". And, not just him but the rest of Israel. In spite of the fact that Abner had placed Ish-Bosheth on the throne (when God had appointed David for that), and that Abner had attained a powerful position within Israel, it was not to Abner Ish-Bosheth should have taken his confidence in, his courage in, his refuge in.
We read in Proverbs 11:7, "Hopes placed in mortals die with them; all the promise of their power comes to nothing." Ish-Bosheth maintaining his confidence in Abner was a personal mistake and a personal tragedy.
Ish-Bosheth can be contrasted to David who said, "In the Lord I take refuge. How then can you say to me: 'Flee like a bird to your mountain. For look, the wicked bend their bows; they set their arrows against the strings to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart. When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?'"
Consider what David had to say in Psalm 18:1-2, "I love you, Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."
What about us today? Do we place our faith, our trust in wealth, in success, in our spouse, in our friends, in ourselves, in some political outlook? Or, as David, have we placed our faith and trust where it belongs, where our Creator intended - in the Lord himself?
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
"When Ish-Bosheth son of Saul heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he lost courage, and all Israel became alarmed."
Ish-Bosheth didn't last long. He only held the throne of the northern tribes of Israel for two years (2 Samuel 2:10) and was then murdered. It was precisely through his lack of trust and faith in the Lord that he foolishly placed himself in a position where he was doomed.
I note that when Ish-Bosheth heard the commander of his military, Abner, had been killed that he "lost courage". And, not just him but the rest of Israel. In spite of the fact that Abner had placed Ish-Bosheth on the throne (when God had appointed David for that), and that Abner had attained a powerful position within Israel, it was not to Abner Ish-Bosheth should have taken his confidence in, his courage in, his refuge in.
We read in Proverbs 11:7, "Hopes placed in mortals die with them; all the promise of their power comes to nothing." Ish-Bosheth maintaining his confidence in Abner was a personal mistake and a personal tragedy.
Ish-Bosheth can be contrasted to David who said, "In the Lord I take refuge. How then can you say to me: 'Flee like a bird to your mountain. For look, the wicked bend their bows; they set their arrows against the strings to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart. When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?'"
Consider what David had to say in Psalm 18:1-2, "I love you, Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."
What about us today? Do we place our faith, our trust in wealth, in success, in our spouse, in our friends, in ourselves, in some political outlook? Or, as David, have we placed our faith and trust where it belongs, where our Creator intended - in the Lord himself?
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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