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 2:8-9,
"Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul's army, had taken Ish-Bosheth son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim. He made him king over Gilead, Ashuri and Jezreel, and also over Ephraim, Benjamin and all Israel."
Abner was aware that the Lord had chosen David to succeed Saul on the throne of Israel. Yet, as the commander of the dead king's army, instead of accepting David as the new king, he placed Saul's son, Ish-Bosheth, as king over the northern territories of Israel.
Possibly due to David fleeing Israel and finding safe harbor among the Philistines (enemies of Israel) as Saul pursued David to kill him, Abner thought David was no longer in the picture. However, I suspect he had more devious motives for doing so: motives born of selfish ambition.
We read in 2 Samuel 3:6, "Abner had been strengthening his own position in the house of Saul." Next we read of Ish-Bosheth confronting Abner with news that Abner had been sleeping with one of Saul's concubines. To sleep with the dead king's woman was tantamount to seizing the throne for himself.
Having been caught in the midst of plotting against his own placeholder on the throne (Ish-Bosheth) that he had manipulated into place, he responded by turning against Ish-Bosheth and attempted to align himself with David. Now he would attempt to manipulate David into the throne over all of Israel.
However, this was God's choice and God's plan. God would do it his own way and not in a way to facilitate Abner's own ambitions. Abner confesses he knew all along the Lord wanted David to replace Saul when he had manipulated Ish-Bosheth on to the throne of the northern territories. He told the elders of Israel, "For some time you have wanted to make David your king. Now do it! For the Lord promised David...". 2 Samuel 3:17-18a.
As I read of the account, I am mindful that there are many who pursue their own ambitions, apart from, and at times, contrary to what they know the Lord intends. The insanity of pursuing what we may desire in opposition to what God desires is illustrative of our sinful and fallen nature. Given over to that nature, we find ourselves doing the unthinkable.
Such, I believe, was the case for Abner, and it causes me pause to ask myself how I might be pursuing things in contradiction to what I know what the Lord desires.
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
"Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul's army, had taken Ish-Bosheth son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim. He made him king over Gilead, Ashuri and Jezreel, and also over Ephraim, Benjamin and all Israel."
Abner was aware that the Lord had chosen David to succeed Saul on the throne of Israel. Yet, as the commander of the dead king's army, instead of accepting David as the new king, he placed Saul's son, Ish-Bosheth, as king over the northern territories of Israel.
Possibly due to David fleeing Israel and finding safe harbor among the Philistines (enemies of Israel) as Saul pursued David to kill him, Abner thought David was no longer in the picture. However, I suspect he had more devious motives for doing so: motives born of selfish ambition.
We read in 2 Samuel 3:6, "Abner had been strengthening his own position in the house of Saul." Next we read of Ish-Bosheth confronting Abner with news that Abner had been sleeping with one of Saul's concubines. To sleep with the dead king's woman was tantamount to seizing the throne for himself.
Having been caught in the midst of plotting against his own placeholder on the throne (Ish-Bosheth) that he had manipulated into place, he responded by turning against Ish-Bosheth and attempted to align himself with David. Now he would attempt to manipulate David into the throne over all of Israel.
However, this was God's choice and God's plan. God would do it his own way and not in a way to facilitate Abner's own ambitions. Abner confesses he knew all along the Lord wanted David to replace Saul when he had manipulated Ish-Bosheth on to the throne of the northern territories. He told the elders of Israel, "For some time you have wanted to make David your king. Now do it! For the Lord promised David...". 2 Samuel 3:17-18a.
As I read of the account, I am mindful that there are many who pursue their own ambitions, apart from, and at times, contrary to what they know the Lord intends. The insanity of pursuing what we may desire in opposition to what God desires is illustrative of our sinful and fallen nature. Given over to that nature, we find ourselves doing the unthinkable.
Such, I believe, was the case for Abner, and it causes me pause to ask myself how I might be pursuing things in contradiction to what I know what the Lord desires.
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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