Abner and Ishbosheth die in our reading today. Those who lead the northern kingdom are now out of the way, and it would make sense for David to celebrate this fact. He would reign over all of Israel, which was his destination in the first place. He was anointed king of Israel by Samuel many years earlier, and when Saul died, he should have ascended to that position. But Abner and Ishbosheth set up the northern kingdom, and Israel was divided. This is just what David needed to happen in order to fulfill what Samuel told him. Wasn;t it time to celebrate?
Not for David. David was disturbed that Joab had killed Abner. Joab killed him out of revenge for his brother Asahel, and did not know that he had come in peace. He only knew that David had sent him away in peace. Joab, without telling the king, went out and murdered Abner. David was distraught, and spoke words of condemnation concerning all those of Joab’s family. Then he told all of Judah to mourn the death of Abner. Abner was a gr3eat warrior, and had done nothing wrong in David’s eyes.
As for Ishbosheth, the king of the northern kingdom, two of the men who were Saul’s commanders plotted against him and killed him. They took his head and brought it to David, thinking they would get a reward, or be placed in a high position because of their devotion to David. But David tells them that, just as he had done to those who delivered the news of Saul’s death, they would die also. So he took off their hands and feet, and then hung them for all to see. Can you even imagine one hand, and then the other being cut off. And then having one foot and then the other being cut off. All this while you are still alive. This is a brutal punishment.
What does this say to me? I look at David and see his integrity. He does not rejoice at others’ calamity, but mourns. I think of the verse “Rejoice with those the=at rejoice, and weep with those who weep” and think of David. His humility once again shows here. David did not do everything right in hismmlifel, but he was a humble man who kept his integrity intact through most of his life. And even when he did mess up, which we will read later, he repented swiftly and put his life in God’s hands once again.
This is a powerful lesson for all of us. We should never be glad when oru enemy is defeated, and we should maintain our integrity in all situations. I am not talking here about the enemy of our souls, but the enemies that we have made in life. Those who give us a hard time, or speak evil of us, or treat us unfairly. Even though they treat us badly, we should rejoice when they rejoice and weep when they weep. Let us go forth and live courageously,. as David did. May we never give in to the urge to be glad when our enemy is injured or hurt, but treat them always with the utmost respect. After all, they could be won to Christ by our lack of retaliation for their mean spirited treatment of us. Romans 12:2w0 says treating our enemy with respect will heap coals of fire on their head. Matthew Henry says this means that they may melt into repentance. I like that! But he also says that those who seek revenge are the conquered, and those who forgive are the conquerors, I like that even better. Let us always forgive, and not seek revenge. David did not seek revenge, and this example should be one we always take with us.
God's Maintenance Man 