The
story of Abner and Ishbosheth eventually took the usual turn it will normally
take when we rely on men to take us to the top, to be our godfathers in a bit
to get you to the top. When Isbosheth challenged Abner as regard’s his father;
Saul’s concubine, the battle line was drawn and Abner deflected to David. Abner
only wanted Ishbosheth as a stooge under his control, but the moment Ishbosheth
demanded right things fell apart between them. Is this not the same scenario that
we seeing our world today. The so called kingmakers or powers that be, install
their stooges and expert, Demand loyalty at all cost. Leaders and
administrators learn to wait on God and not on men, the arm of flesh will fail
you, you dare not trust your own.
After the fallout,
Abner came to David and David received him, even though Abner was the captain
of Saul’s army all the time when Saul was hunting for David, He worked
alongside Saul to destroy David. Yet David forgot the past and was willing to
build bridges, however in a bid of revenge for his brother’s life, Joab killed
Abner. The way David mourned and buried Abner showed that it was not his
intention to get Abner killed. This also shows the magnimunity of David and his
interest to unite Israel. To crown it all, Ishbosheth (king of the rest of Israel)
and son of Saul were assassinated by his servants. These servants’s came to
David with Ishbosheth’s head thinking they will be rewarded; unfortunately they
met their waterloo because David did not reason like other men.
LESSON:
David never rejoiced in the downfall of his enemies. He was willing to
reconcile with Abner. He was willing to wait on God to work out his promise and
not to diverse a means to accomplish God’s purpose. He could have planned Ishbosheth’s
death himself since Ishbosheth was his only obstacle from becoming king as
already promised by God. David displayed integrity and dependence upon God, he
waited for God to make his enemies his footstool. How many administrators today
wait on God today? So many go out of their way to scheme and to possess what
God has not promised them. God promised David but David was not in a hurry, he
waited and God made it beautifulin his own time. David was eventually crowned
king over all of Israel after waiting for 7years and 6months as king over
Judah. His reign became a reference point in the history of Israel, all because
he was patient and he obeyed God. He knew that God was particular not only
about the end but also about the means. Many would say “the end justifies the
means” but that was not in the dictionary of David. All leaders should
surrender both the means and the end to God who alone can establish them. The
Lord was with David and he went on and became great 2samuel 5:10. However great
David was, he also had weaknesses that were obvious. Verse 13 of 2samuel 5 laid
the foundation of what eventually became a snare to David. He married more
wives and took more concubines. Every human being has weaknesses and loopholes.
For a leader, it is more obvious because you are lifted up above your people
and so everybody can see those weaknesses. The love of women was an obvious
weakness in David’s life and this was what led to his great fall later in life.
David again enquired of
the Lord when the Philistines came against Israel, he did not delight in the
power of his might or become self conceited because he conquered Goliath. The
Lord instructed him to go ahead and the Philistines were defeated. Even when
they regrouped again, David still enquired of the Lord before going against
them and God gave him the strategy to use. Again he gained victory.
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