How does 2 Samuel 2:20 demonstrate the importance of recognizing God's anointed leaders? Setting the Scene • After Saul’s death, God has unmistakably anointed David as king (1 Samuel 16:13; 2 Samuel 2:4). • Abner backs Saul’s son Ish-bosheth and leads Israel’s troops; Joab, Abishai, and Asahel serve David. • A clash erupts at Gibeon. Asahel, “as fleet-footed as a gazelle” (v. 18), zeroes in on Abner. The Turning Point in Verse 20 “Then Abner turned and asked, ‘Is that you, Asahel?’ ‘It is,’ he replied.” (2 Samuel 2:20) Key Observations • A moment of recognition—Abner turns, slows, and calls Asahel by name. • Two armies, two loyalties, two claims to leadership meet face to face. • The verse spotlights an underlying issue: Which side rightly recognizes the king God has chosen? Lessons on Recognizing God’s Anointed • Failure to acknowledge God’s chosen leader breeds conflict – Abner’s allegiance to Ish-bosheth ignores God’s earlier, public anointing of David (1 Samuel 16:1-13). – The pursuit and the fatal outcome that follows (vv. 23-24) flow from that misplaced loyalty. • Recognition brings alignment with God’s purposes – Asahel serves David without hesitation, illustrating wholehearted support for the one God appointed (2 Samuel 2:32). – Psalm 2:12 urges, “Kiss the Son… lest you perish in your rebellion,” a timeless call to submit to God’s chosen King. • Respect for God-ordained authority protects life and unity – Abner begs Asahel to turn aside (v. 21), implicitly admitting the deadly cost of the wrong allegiance. – Romans 13:1—“There is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been appointed by God.” Ignoring that fact leads to needless bloodshed. Cross-References • 1 Samuel 24:6—David refuses to harm Saul because he is “the LORD’s anointed,” modeling reverence for God-given office. • 1 Chronicles 12:23—Those who “came to David at Hebron to turn Saul’s kingdom over to him” recognized God’s hand and helped end the division. • Hebrews 13:17—“Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls,” echoing the principle across Testaments. Personal Takeaways • Ask: Am I discerning whom God has set over me—in church, family, or civic spheres? • Align willingly with God-appointed leadership to enjoy His protection and blessing. • Guard against the Abner-like impulse to cling to personal loyalties once God’s will is clear. |