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 3:9-10,
"May God deal with Abner, be it ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the Lord promised him on oath and transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and establish David's throne over Israel and Judah from Dan to Beersheba."
These words were spoken by Abner, the commander of Israel's troops, when he was confronted by King Ish-Bosheth for sleeping with one of the king's father's concubines. Whether he did so, the text doesn't say, but this is the response from Abner. The response shook Ish-Bosheth, to the point where Ish-Bosheth feared Abner and dropped the matter, "Ish-Bosheth did not dare to say another word to Abner, because he was afraid of him." Verse 11.
Abner was an ambitious man. "During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner had been strengthening his own position in the house of Saul." Verse 6. As it turns out, Abner, as the commander of the army of late King Saul, was the person responsible for Ish-Bosheth's ascendance to the throne of Israel, "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." 2 Samuel 2:8-9.
As I say, Abner was a man of ambition, and his move to place Ish-Bosheth on the throne of Israel when he knew quite well that David had been appointed by God to replace Saul as king shows that he was not necessarily a man who feared God.
Yet, throughout this account we see God achieving his purposes and accomplishing what he desired through those who did not fear him. Such is our God. He does everything he desires to and he doesn't just use those who fear him, who have placed their faith in him. He uses anyone, including sinners, evil people, the weak, the unbelieving. He uses both the godly and the ungodly. All of the acts of Abner eventually led to David taking the throne.
Paul makes this point when he proves that God is free to make his own choices and does whatever he wants through whomever he wants, "For Scripture says to Pharaoh: 'I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.'" Romans 9:17. We see the Lord using Satan in Job's life for his purposes, Job 1:12, "The Lord said to Satan, 'Very well, then, everything he [Job] has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.'"
The Lord seems to transcend anything we may feel we understand about him - but he does want us to know him and he has revealed to us much about himself, what he is doing in the world, his agenda and his designs for us. I love this proverb: "The Lord works out everything to its proper end— even the wicked for a day of disaster." Proverbs 16:4.
The account of Abner and how it plays into the hands of the Lord's purposes for David to assume the throne of Israel reminds me that this is just like the Lord..
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
"May God deal with Abner, be it ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the Lord promised him on oath and transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and establish David's throne over Israel and Judah from Dan to Beersheba."
These words were spoken by Abner, the commander of Israel's troops, when he was confronted by King Ish-Bosheth for sleeping with one of the king's father's concubines. Whether he did so, the text doesn't say, but this is the response from Abner. The response shook Ish-Bosheth, to the point where Ish-Bosheth feared Abner and dropped the matter, "Ish-Bosheth did not dare to say another word to Abner, because he was afraid of him." Verse 11.
Abner was an ambitious man. "During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner had been strengthening his own position in the house of Saul." Verse 6. As it turns out, Abner, as the commander of the army of late King Saul, was the person responsible for Ish-Bosheth's ascendance to the throne of Israel, "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." 2 Samuel 2:8-9.
As I say, Abner was a man of ambition, and his move to place Ish-Bosheth on the throne of Israel when he knew quite well that David had been appointed by God to replace Saul as king shows that he was not necessarily a man who feared God.
Yet, throughout this account we see God achieving his purposes and accomplishing what he desired through those who did not fear him. Such is our God. He does everything he desires to and he doesn't just use those who fear him, who have placed their faith in him. He uses anyone, including sinners, evil people, the weak, the unbelieving. He uses both the godly and the ungodly. All of the acts of Abner eventually led to David taking the throne.
Paul makes this point when he proves that God is free to make his own choices and does whatever he wants through whomever he wants, "For Scripture says to Pharaoh: 'I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.'" Romans 9:17. We see the Lord using Satan in Job's life for his purposes, Job 1:12, "The Lord said to Satan, 'Very well, then, everything he [Job] has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.'"
The Lord seems to transcend anything we may feel we understand about him - but he does want us to know him and he has revealed to us much about himself, what he is doing in the world, his agenda and his designs for us. I love this proverb: "The Lord works out everything to its proper end— even the wicked for a day of disaster." Proverbs 16:4.
The account of Abner and how it plays into the hands of the Lord's purposes for David to assume the throne of Israel reminds me that this is just like the Lord..
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
No comments:
Post a Comment