Friday, September 16, 2011

End Game

Reflections on 2 Sam. 3:28-39


In chess, the end game begins when the opposing armies have been depleted and one or both kings begin to face repeated threats to their safety. So it was in Israel. There were two kings, and over a period of two years, David’s forces had gained strength while Ish-bosheth’s had weakened. Ish-bosheth was in serious danger of losing his authority over the northern tribes because his military commander, Abner, had decided to deliver those tribes to David.

BIG BLUNDER. The northern tribes sent Abner to David as an emissary to propose making David their king. An agreement had apparently been reached between David and Abner when Joab murdered Abner to satisfy a personal desire for revenge. Suddenly, the allegiance of the northern tribes was no longer assured. They could not be sure that David would treat them justly or that there would be no further bloodshed. Joab’s action seemed to guarantee that hostilities would continue.

DAMAGE CONTROL. David had to assure the northern tribes that he would treat them justly, so he had to deal with Joab. David could not punish him for exercising his legal right to avenge the blood of his brother, but Joab’s motive had been evil, and his method devious. Therefore, David could and did heap upon Joab the curses that God placed on those who did not keep the law (compare 2 Sam. 3:29 with Lev. 26:14-39 and Deut. 28:15-68). Then David shamed Joab by forcing him to participate in the funeral for Abner, while David lavished great honor upon Abner both in burying him in the royal city and by composing a lament for him. Thus, David assured the northern tribes that he and his kingdom were innocent of the blood of Abner, and that evil would not be tolerated even when it was not punishable by law. He and his kingdom would abide by both the letter and the spirit of the law.

TURNING WEAKNESS TO STRENGTH. This section ends with David saying something that is understandable but perplexing when read in the KJV or NIV. He said that though he was king he was actually weak and that Joab and Abishai were too hard for him (v. 39 KJV) or stronger than he was (NIV). The statement is understandable in that David’s hands seem to have been tied in dealing with Joab and his brother, but it is perplexing because it would be unsettling to the northern tribes. How could they hope for security under David if Joab was stronger than the king? While there may have been a hint of frustration in David’s statement, he may have been saying something much more profound. The English Standard Version translates verse 39 this way:

And I was gentle today, though anointed king. These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are more severe than I. The Lord repay the evildoer according to his wickedness!
David was assuring the northern tribes that he was not a severe or cruel monarch like the sons of Zeruiah would have been. God would repay them. Instead, he had conducted himself with gentleness and compassion toward Abner, his former enemy, and he would deal with the northern tribes with the same gentleness and compassion (see Bergen, 1996, p. 315). God would bless that gentleness, so David turned weakness to strength. Everything David did pleased the people.

We often forget that gentleness is stronger than severity. Jesus said, “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matt. 5:5 NASB). Jesus, our king, is a gentle monarch. Matt. 12:18-21 (NIV) says of him,

Here is my servant whom I have chosen,
the one I love, in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him,
and he will proclaim justice to the nations.
He will not quarrel or cry out;
no one will hear his voice in the streets.
A bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out,
till he leads justice to victory.
In his name the nations will put their hope.

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