Today we begin 2nd Samuel Chapter Four.
For the Complete Jewish Bible, click HERE.
For the King James version, click HERE.
“When Ish-Boshet the son of Sha’ul heard that Avner had died in Hevron, his courage failed; and all Israel became alarmed.”– 2 Samuel 4:1
The scene now shifts to Mahanaim, north of David, across the Jordan, where the weak and effeminate Ishbosheth sits on his throne.
Keep in mind that what we’re reading about here is taking place at the same time as the events at the end of chapter 3
While Avner’s funeral is taking place, and David is grieving, Ishbosheth and the people in the north have already caught wind of Avner’s murder.
News traveled quickly back then.
Probably no more than 24 hours passed before the people in the north heard about the assassination of their great warrior leader.
We’re told in verse 1 “all Israel” was quaking in their boots.
Again, “all Israel” in this context refers only to the northern tribes, not all of Israel.
So why were the people of the north so frightened?
They feared David would now take revenge for all the years they had fought against him.
Ishbosheth likely felt the same fear.
He also probably had mixed feelings.
On one hand, the man who made no bones about taking over his kingdom was now dead.
On the other hand, that same man (Avner) controlled the military and was the glue that held the northern tribes together.
Ishbosheth didn’t possess the charisma or diplomatic skills to lead on his own or to deal with the tricky relationships between clans, tribes, and other nations.
He realized he was in a far worse position without Avner.
With Avner, he was safe and treated well—but without him, boy, he was in a dangerous spot, and he knew it.
So here’s the takeaway coming to me today.
Just as Ishbosheth secretly resented Avner but knew he needed him, don’t we often feel the same way about the authority figures in our lives?
We resent our bosses…
But if they hadn’t been bold and taken a great risk in starting the business, we wouldn’t have jobs.
Instead of feeling grateful, we act like spineless wussies complaining about trivial things like having to do a bit of overtime every once in a while.
Or how about how immature kids resent their parents?
They cry because they don’t like what’s being served for dinner…
Or they complain about going to bed early because of school the next day…
But they don’t realize that without Daddy working hard every day, they wouldn’t have food to eat or a warm bed to sleep in at night in the first place.
And here’s the thing:
Isn’t our relationship with our Creator the same?
Just as the Israelites grumbled in the desert after being rescued from Egypt…
We, too, complain about the sexual and dietary commandments that restrict our lives, not realizing our Father in Heaven knows best.
Ya feeling me here.
See ya all next time.
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