Read: 2 Samuel 2:12-3:39; John 13:1-30; Psalm 119:1-16; Proverbs 15:29-30
Abner was the commander of Ish-bosheth’s army and Joab was the commander of David’s. Ish-bosheth ruled Israel and David ruled Judah. Both armies had a showdown where twelve from each side fought one another. All twenty-four of them died so a battle followed and Abner’s side lost. Joab’s brother, Asahel ran after Abner to kill him. Abner warned him to stop because he didn’t want to kill Asahel, but Asahel wouldn’t give up so Abner had to kill him. After this, Abner and Joab called a truce and stopped the battle. David’s army had killed 390 men and Abner had only killed 20 of theirs.
That battle ended but the war between the house of Saul and the house of David continued for years. David’s house got stronger and Saul’s weaker.
David moved to Hebron and had six sons by six different wives. Saul’s house started to weaken from within. Saul had had a concubine named Rizpah who Abner had taken. Ish-bosheth rebuked him for doing this which made Abner extremely mad - so mad that he deflected to David’s side.
David saw this as a good time to demand his wife, Michal, back. It is amazing how women were used as pawns of power and prestige while they were treated like property.
Abner talked to all his men and they agreed to follow David so Abner went to David to make peace and make plans to follow him. David agreed and sent him home in peace. When Joab came back from a war and heard the truce David had made with Abner, he was furious. Joab and his other brother, Abishai secretly pursued Abner and killed him in his own land to avenge the blood of their brother, Asahel. David was so sorrowful over Abner’s death that the people realized he had nothing to do with his death. David wanted to bring two nations together, not rip them further apart.
In John, Jesus knew this would be his last supper with his disciples. He washed their feet then sent Judas out. If I was Jesus, I would have sent Judas out before I washed feet, but not Jesus. He wanted to show Judas he loved him no matter what he was about to do.
Lord, your plan is always best. Help us to rest in your plans for our lives especially when we don’t understand.
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