Last week, we learned that Avner, the military leader who held the real power behind King Ishbosheth, created a situation to remove Ishbosheth from the throne and hand the northern kingdom to David.
How did he do this?
By sleeping with Rizpah, a woman from Ishibosheth’s harem of wives he had inherited from his father.
In those days, this was how blasphemous disrespect was shown to the current ruler and how to announce that a new leader was about to take over.
This was also just the excuse Avner needed to challenge Ishbosheth and take action to turn Saul’s kingdom over to David.
Avner had a few devious reasons for doing what he did, even though his public declarations sounded noble.
Avner claimed he was giving the kingdom to David because God had announced David was to be king over all of Israel.
In other words, Avner was merely claiming to follow God’s will.
But that was all surface BS.
It was Avner’s personal and selfish agenda that was driving him.
On top of that, many leaders from the northern tribes were already making it clear they preferred David to Ishbosheth.
Ishbosheth was a weak king who paled in comparison to the charismatic David.
I know that sounds cold and callous.
But that’s the way tribal societies operated…
And the truth be told, things ain’t that much different today.
It’s the norm to support the current leader…
But loyalties can switch real quick if a stronger leader emerges.
By now, it was clear David was that stronger leader.
All the northern tribes needed was just a little push to switch their loyalty to him.
It was also obvious Avner was in a similar position.
He was the commander-in-chief of the army in the north and was well aware that David would soon win and become king of all Israel.
He also knew the top army commander was usually placed second in command to the king.
The only problem was David already had a strong commander, Joab (David’s nephew).
So if David took over, Avner would be out of a job.
But Avner thought that if he went to David with an offer to give him the rulership over the northern tribes peacefully, he might be able to work out a deal to become David’s second-in-command and outdo Joab.
That’s how the wheels were spinning in Avner’s head.
Don’t you just love all this political intrigue emerging?!
So what’s the takeaway for today?
The lesson to be gleaned is that there are many religious leaders like Avner in the world today.
They pay lipstick to God…
But the truth is they could care less for the things of the Lord.
They love the spotlight and flaunting to the world how Godly they are…
But it’s all a show to feed their fragile egos.
Yeshua never hesitated to call out these hypocritical modern-day Avners.
CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
“Beware of practicing your righteousness
before others to be seen by them;
for then you have no reward
from your Father who is in heaven.
So whenever you give alms,
do not sound a trumpet before you,
as the hypocrites do in the synagogues
and in the streets, so that they may
be praised by others.
Truly I tell you, they have
received their reward.”
— Matthew 6:1-2
“And whenever you pray,
do not be like the hypocrites;
for they love to stand and
pray in the synagogues and
at the street corners,
so that they may be seen by others.
Truly I tell you,
they have received their reward.”
— Matthew 6:5
“They do all their deeds to be seen by others;
for they make their phylacteries
broad and their fringes long.
They love the place of honor at banquets
and the best seats in the synagogues,
and to be greeted with respect
in the marketplaces,
and to have people call them rabbi.”
— Matthew 23:5-7
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!
For you are like whitewashed tombs,
which on the outside look beautiful,
but inside they are full of the bones
of the dead and of all kinds of filth.
So you also on the outside look righteous
to others, but inside you are full
of hypocrisy and lawlessness.“
— Matthew 23:27-28
“As he taught, he said, ‘Beware of the scribes,
who like to walk around in long robes,
and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces,
and to have the best seats in the synagogues
and places of honor at banquets!
They devour widows’ houses and
for the sake of appearance say long prayers.
They will receive the greater condemnation.'”
— Mark 12:38-40
“Two men went up to the temple to pray,
one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
The Pharisee, standing by himself,
was praying thus, ‘God, I thank you that
I am not like other people:
thieves, rogues, adulterers,
or even like this tax collector.
I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’
But the tax collector, standing far off,
would not even look up to heaven,
but was beating his breast and saying,
‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’
I tell you, this man went down to
his home justified rather than the other;
for all who exalt themselves will be humbled,
but all who humble themselves will be exalted.”
— Luke 18:10-14
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