What role does obedience play in the events of 2 Samuel 2:12? Text at a Glance “Now Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, had gone from Mahanaim to Gibeon with the men of Ish-bosheth son of Saul.” (2 Samuel 2:12) Backdrop: Competing Thrones • Saul has died (1 Samuel 31); David has already been anointed by Samuel (1 Samuel 16:1, 13). • David, after asking the LORD, settles in Hebron where Judah crowns him king (2 Samuel 2:1–4). • Abner installs Saul’s son Ish-bosheth over the northern tribes (2 Samuel 2:8–9). • Two rival kingdoms now exist; Abner’s march to Gibeon initiates the first military clash between them. Abner’s Obedience: Loyalty to the Wrong Throne • Abner obeys Ish-bosheth’s orders, defending Saul’s dynasty. • That obedience directly contradicts God’s earlier declaration: “The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you this day and has given it to a neighbor of yours who is better than you” (1 Samuel 15:28). • By siding with Ish-bosheth, Abner shows zeal, discipline, and military skill—yet none of those virtues compensate for ignoring God’s revealed plan. • His march is thus a case of sincere but misdirected obedience: loyal to a human authority, disloyal to divine authority. David’s Obedience: Waiting on the LORD • David refuses to take the throne by force; he waits for God’s timing. • “David inquired of the LORD… ‘Go up… to Hebron’” (2 Samuel 2:1). • Instead of amassing armies against Ish-bosheth, David remains in Hebron, ruling only Judah until the rest of Israel willingly comes (2 Samuel 5:1–3). • David’s obedience looks passive but is actually wholehearted submission to God’s word. Obedience as Alignment with God’s Revealed Will • Genuine obedience is measured by agreement with God, not merely with the nearest authority figure. • Abner eventually admits this: “May God punish Abner… if I do not do for David what the LORD has sworn to him—to transfer the kingdom… to David” (2 Samuel 3:9–10). • Scripture consistently links blessing to obedience that aligns with divine revelation (Deuteronomy 28:1–2; Psalm 119:60). Immediate Outcomes: What Misplaced Obedience Produced • Civil war erupts at the pool of Gibeon (2 Samuel 2:13–32). • Twenty-four young warriors die in the opening contest; the battle escalates, costing hundreds more. • The house of Saul grows “weaker and weaker” while David’s house grows “stronger and stronger” (2 Samuel 3:1). Long-Term Outcomes: God Honors Right Obedience • Abner’s forces suffer steady decline until he switches allegiance to David (2 Samuel 3). • Israel’s elders later confirm, “The LORD promised David, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel’” (2 Samuel 5:2). • David is anointed king over all Israel; peace and national unity follow (2 Samuel 5:3–5). Takeaway Principles for Today • Obedience must prioritize God’s explicit word over personal loyalties or cultural pressures. • Sincerity cannot sanctify disobedience; right motives must be joined to right alignment. • Waiting on God may appear inactive, yet it is active faith that He will fulfill His promises. • Misplaced obedience breeds conflict; God-centered obedience yields lasting stability and blessing. |
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