Leadership without Authority

2 Samuel 3:17-39

One of the most dangerous places a leader can occupy is having a title with another person pulling the strings.  Abner had Ish-bosheth in the office of King of Israel, and he asked himself this question; if he can place me on the throne he can also remove me?  After Ish-bosheth’s run-in with Abner over his dad’s concubine, Abner had his fill of propping up this weak king and said, I’m going to give the kingship of Israel to David.

First, he goes to the elders of Israel to remind them they wanted David as King over them, we do not know at what time this happened, but it may have been a time when they were unhappy with Saul’s leadership, or after he is killed in battle.

But this is the close Abner put on the elders of Israel, and it is found in verse 18.  “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 does not get the blessing of the elders, he also goes to the Benjaminites and then to Hebron to inform David about all that was agreed on by the whole house of Benjamin.  How does David respond to Abner and twenty men showing up, he has a banquet in Abner’s honor?  Now we have Abner leaving to go back home and he brings the Kingship of Israel over to David.  I’m not sure what his plans were for Ish-bosheth, but it was not good, you can bet on that.

You do recall that Asahel was the younger brother of Joab and that Abner had to kill him to save himself, and Joab was not into forgiveness.   He and his other brother Abishai were looking to the day they could get even.  So what were the consequences when he returned home from a raid and found that David had a banquet in Abner’s honor? 

First, Joab went to David and said, are you so foolish not to understand that Abner came to deceive you and to find out your plans and activities?  Hate has not the ability to realize the truth, for the only truth it wants is revenge.  He and his brother came up with a plan to tell him that David wanted to speak with him and he returned to Hebron, and at the gateway Joab makes a gesture as if he wants a private word with Joab, and stabbed him in the stomach, and he died.

Now, this was David’s response when he got the news; “Afterward, when David heard of it, he said, “I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the Lord for the blood of Abner, the son of Ner. May it fall upon the head of Joab and upon all his father's house, and may the house of Joab never be without one who has a discharge or who is leprous or who holds a spindle or who falls by the sword or who lacks bread!” So Joab and Abishai, his brother killed Abner because he had put their brother Asahel to death in the battle at Gibeon.”

What a contrast between the two Kings, David is not in fear of Joab, for he understands who has placed him in his role as leader and it was not a man.

We also see David leading his country in mourning for Abner and referring to Joab and his brother as criminals for the way they killed Abner.  David fasted the rest of the day in mourning for Abner.  This action persuaded all the troops and all Israel that David had no part in Abner’s death.  In fact, David takes his case to his soldiers, telling them they must know that a great leader has fallen in Israel today.  He goes on to humble himself and tells them even though I am the anointed king I have little power today.  And it ends in this way, “These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too fierce for me.”  May the Lord repay the evildoer according to his evil.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice