Spend time in prayer and silence with God asking him to meet you and speak to you.
CONTEXT
After the death of Saul, David had been crowned king of Judah. Saul’s son, Ish-bosheth,had been installed as king of the rest of Israel by Abner, commander of Saul’s army. Then there was war.
Bible Reading
While there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was making himself strong in the house of Saul. Now Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. And Ish-bosheth said to Abner, “Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?” Then Abner was very angry over the words of Ish-bosheth and said, “Am I a dog’s head of Judah? To this day I keep showing steadfast love to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not given you into the hand of David. And yet you charge me today with a fault concerning a woman. God do so to Abner and more also, if I do not accomplish for David what the LORD has sworn to him, to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.”And Ish-bosheth could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him.
And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, “To whom does the land belong? Make your covenant with me, and behold, my hand shall be with you to bring over all Israel to you.”
And Abner conferred with the elders of Israel, saying, “For some time past you have been seeking David as king over you. Now then bring it about, for the LORD has promised David, saying, ‘By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines, and from the hand of all their enemies.'” Abner also spoke to Benjamin. And then Abner went to tell David at Hebron all that Israel and the whole house of Benjamin thought good to do. When Abner came with twenty men to David at Hebron, David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him. And Abner said to David, “I will arise and go and will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may reign over all that your heart desires.” So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.
– 1 Samuel 3:6-12,17-21
Devotion
Like his father before him, Ish-bosheth didn’t trust the people close to him. Saul was afraid of David’s greatness, now Ish-bosheth pushes Abner away with false accusations.
Abner quickly proved himself to be trustworthy to David. Abner did what he told David he would do. However, not everyone in David’s camp was pleased with Abner. Two of David’s warriors and close companions were Joab and Abishai. Their brother, Asahel, had been killed by Abner during the civil war (see 2 Samuel 2:17-27). This led to Abner’s death at the hands of Joab (see 2 Samuel 3:26-27).
The Big Question
Do you have bitterness over past hurts? How does that bitterness affect your emotions, your thoughts and your actions? How would you feel if your bitterness led to actions that hurt someone close to you?
Conclude in prayer and silence reflecting on what you’ve learned.