September 9
2 Samuel 3
One of the greatest strengths of God’s people is the relationships we form with one another. United in Christ, we can bond with one another over the deepest cultural differences and partner together for His cause. It’s beautiful. After all - isn’t that how we boil down Christianity - as a relationship with God?
And yet . . . Good things have their underbellies. It is also true that relationships can be one of the greatest stumbling blocks to righteousness and justice among God’s people. We see this most vividly with David, in 2 Samuel 3.
There is a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David, and David is winning (1). The story turns - twice - as so often has happened in history, over two men and one woman. First, Saul’s son Ish-bosheth confronts Saul’s general Abner over his sexual relationship with one of Saul’s concubines (7). Among other things, this was an act of deep disrespect.
Abner takes offense at Ish-bosheth’s offense (8), and he determines to give Israel to David (10; at this point, David is only king of Judah and Benjamin, not the other ten tribes). David welcomes the offer from Abner, under one condition: that his own honor be restored. After all, Saul had promised his daughter Michal in marriage to David, and David had fulfilled the terms of that offer (1 Samuel 18). But Saul had reneged on the offer - though Michal loved David - and gave Michal to someone else. So then, Abner takes Michal from her weeping, pleading husband and gives her to David (16).
The sordid affairs continue. Joab, David’s most trusted general, saw his brother killed in the war, during “just” and open combat, by Abner. He then takes revenge, assassinating Abner (27). For the same offense by lesser men, David will later dismember and hang the offenders (see 1 Samuel 5 on September 10). But this time, since it’s Joab, he throws up his hands (39).
Among God’s, especially among leadership, the strength of relationships - especially those forged in battle - must not be allowed to trump righteousness and justice. It is not unreasonable that the men David would soon hang heard and saw what Joab did and were only following his example. Whether in matters of women, honor or family ties, God’s Word must reign as the standard.