What a Title cannot do

 1 Samuel 3:1-17

A divided house is what you find, not God’s will but the will of men, and that is what we see in Israel and Judah, for there was a long war between the two nations.  And David’s house grew stronger while the house of Saul became weaker. 

We have the account of David’s sons being born to him at Hebron, and it is recorded that David ruled there for seven years and six months.  Do you recall that Abner was the one that makes Ish-bosheth the son of Saul king of Israel?  Unlike David who had the anointing of God, Ish-bosheth had the anointing of a man, Abner.  But in Israel, it became clear to all that it was Abner who had the power and not the king.

Often, the one with the title is not the leader, and yet they begin to believe they are, that is what happened with Ish-bosheth.  We find the account in verses 7-11, “Now Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. And Ish-bosheth said to Abner, “Why have you gone into my father's concubine?” Then Abner was very angry over the words of Ish-bosheth and said, “Am I a dog's head of Judah? To this day I keep showing steadfast love to the house of Saul, your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not given you into the hand of David. And yet you charge me today with a fault concerning a woman. God do so to Abner and more also if I do not accomplish for David what the Lord has sworn to him, to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.” And Ish-bosheth could not answer Abner another word because he feared him.”

We find Abner is a man of his word, and he sent messengers to David, and we find that in verses 12-16 is David’s reply. “And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, “To whom does the land belong? Make your covenant with me, and behold, my hand shall be with you to bring over all Israel to you.” And he said, “Good; I will make a covenant with you. But one thing I require of you; that is, you shall not see my face unless you first bring Michal, Saul's daughter, when you come to see my face.” Then David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, saying, “Give me my wife Michal, for whom I paid the bridal price of a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.” And Ish-bosheth sent and took her from her husband Paltiel, the son of Laish. But her husband went with her, weeping after her all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go, return.”  And he returned.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice