OK.. Truce is over and a long war ensues between the house of Saul and the house of David. Ishbosheth (Saul's heir)insults Abner, the commander of his troops, over a woman, a concubine. Abner's a little irritated, so he figures he's going to show Ishbosheth who really has the authority and power and it's not Ishbosheth. After all wasn't it Abner who set Ishbosheth up as a king in the first place? Abner goes to David proposing a covenant. Now that he helped to divide the people, Abner's going to bring them together under David this time. They strike a bargain again verifying that what Abner wants or orders is what Abner gets. Abner promises to ensure that David is finally accepted as king over all people of Israel and he gets him his wife Michal (Saul's daughter) back as well - much to the disappointment of her new husband.
The annointed King David and Abner, the commander of Saul's house, make peace and Abner departs.
Well, there is another commander to contend with and he's been out on a raid while David and Abner were conferring. He's been left out of the negotiations. Joab is not happy! Abner had killed Joab's brother and now it is Joab's time to avenge his brother. He kills Abner.
David's angry and curses Joab. But, with all this war and peace and war and peace, I can't help but wonder what David's motivation for being angry with Joab really was.
1. Was it really because Joab struck Abner in a time of
peace?
2. Was it because David recognized Abner's power and
authority with the people and needed him so that he
could win over all the people and be genuine king?
3. Was it because of sentiment, because of Abner
delivering his wife, Michal, whom he loved, back to
him?
Lots of stuff go into the decision making process of a leader. Abner was surely loved by many, but there are just too many factors to make me think that all of David's grieving over Abner was because of his love of Abner. Rather, I think he knew deep down that it was politically advantageous for him to grievously grieve for Abner, in order to win Abner's followers to him. For this great man, Abner, had in fact divided the house of Israel. Abner had led an army against David and David's followers killing many, including the brother of David's commander, Joab.
Politics and war and peace... notice that this whole mess is pretty much about politics and not faith. It seems to me that God has been conspicuously quiet lately. It is about what men want and not so much about what God wants and it is a mess. When men (and women) start manipulating others to get what they want - to show their power and authority - it usually ends up in a mess.
Not our will, Lord, but yours be done on earth as it is in heaven.
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