2 Samuel 2:12-32
Today's Passage: 2 Samuel 2:12-32
Here in chapter 2 we see the start of the war between King David and the son of Saul, King Ish-bosheth. The commander of the army for Ish-bosheth is Abner, and the commander of David’s army is Joab. Joab, Abishai, and Asahel were the sons of Zeruiah, David’s sister, meaning they are his nephews.
In the beginning of the battle Abner insists on a limited number of each army competing, but Joab’s men prevail. Asahel pursues Abner, who is now trying to convince Asahel to go and take the spoils from a soldier that would be easier to defeat. Asahel was apparently ambitious, so he continued to pursue Abner, but it was his downfall. He was killed by Abner, and was one of the twenty men who were killed in that battle. The side of Ish-bosheth lost 360 men.
At the end of this battle, the very one who had instigated the start, Abner, is the one proposing that they cease. Verse 26 says, “Then Abner called to Joab, ‘Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that the end will be bitter? How long will it be before you tell your people to turn from the pursuit of their brothers?’”
Though a cease-fire occurred, this battle and then what is illustrated in chapter 3 shows that these two armies couldn’t just get along, and that there could be no peace until the rightful king, David, was on the throne instead of the imposter king, Ish-bosheth. This reminds me of how we put ourselves on the throne of our hearts instead of King Jesus! It is much better to submit to the rule and reign of the rightful King, and avoid a long and bitter war.
How have you put yourself on the throne of your heart instead of Jesus? What is a step you can take today to allow Jesus to be in His rightful place?
Written By: Kaitlin White
Here in chapter 2 we see the start of the war between King David and the son of Saul, King Ish-bosheth. The commander of the army for Ish-bosheth is Abner, and the commander of David’s army is Joab. Joab, Abishai, and Asahel were the sons of Zeruiah, David’s sister, meaning they are his nephews.
In the beginning of the battle Abner insists on a limited number of each army competing, but Joab’s men prevail. Asahel pursues Abner, who is now trying to convince Asahel to go and take the spoils from a soldier that would be easier to defeat. Asahel was apparently ambitious, so he continued to pursue Abner, but it was his downfall. He was killed by Abner, and was one of the twenty men who were killed in that battle. The side of Ish-bosheth lost 360 men.
At the end of this battle, the very one who had instigated the start, Abner, is the one proposing that they cease. Verse 26 says, “Then Abner called to Joab, ‘Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that the end will be bitter? How long will it be before you tell your people to turn from the pursuit of their brothers?’”
Though a cease-fire occurred, this battle and then what is illustrated in chapter 3 shows that these two armies couldn’t just get along, and that there could be no peace until the rightful king, David, was on the throne instead of the imposter king, Ish-bosheth. This reminds me of how we put ourselves on the throne of our hearts instead of King Jesus! It is much better to submit to the rule and reign of the rightful King, and avoid a long and bitter war.
How have you put yourself on the throne of your heart instead of Jesus? What is a step you can take today to allow Jesus to be in His rightful place?
Written By: Kaitlin White
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