Review Of 2Samuel 4

– by Victor Fawole

Yesterday, we read about Abner, the strong man behind Ishbosheth’s throne. He defected to David’s camp only to meet his “waterloo” in the hands of Joab. Though David distanced himself from the murder, Abner’s fall left the house of Saul trembling. With this, I welcome everyone to 2 Samuel Chapter 4. 

Without further ado, let us review…

THE TROUBLES OF LOSING ONE’S GODFATHER

2Sam. 4:1 When Saul’s son heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he lost heart, and all Israel was troubled.

When Ishbosheth heard about Abner’s death, he knew that his godfather was gone. Without his chief general and political strategist, Ishbosheth’s courage evaporated like mist before the sun. The throne that seemed firm yesterday suddenly looked like sinking sand today. Israel was thrown into turmoil, without a commanding general and with a disheartened king. The nation was adrift. 

The truth is simple: Ishbosheth never knew how to lean on God. Just like his father Saul, the moment a crisis arose, he lost heart. His dependence was on men, not on God. He trusted in Abner to secure his crown, so when Abner was gone, he knew his crown would soon follow. A heart that leans on man will always melt in crisis. “Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the Lord.” (Jer. 17:5). Ishbosheth’s throne was built on shifting sand.

Meanwhile, David’s throne, though smaller at first, grew steadily stronger because it was rooted in God’s covenant. The contrast could not be clearer. Ishbosheth had a kingly title but no kingly strength. David, on the other hand, had the strength of God before he even wore the crown. There are two key lessons for us as believers:

• i. The danger of misplaced trust: If your confidence rests on men, status, or networks, you will be shaken when those things are shaken.
• ii. The power of divine establishment. What God establishes cannot be shaken. “The counsel of the Lord stands forever” (Ps. 33:11).

The death of Abner was not just the collapse of a political alliance; it was the unmasking of a faulty foundation. Israel was troubled because its leadership was troubled. But the house of David was strengthened by God and steadily advanced towards its destiny. Ishbosheth trusted in his godfather, but David trusted in the Father of all. And that’s the only way to thrive!

THE TRAVAILS OF LOSING ONE’S GOOD FATHER

2Sam. 4:4 Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son who was lame in his feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel; and his nurse took him up and fled. And it happened, as she made haste to flee, that he fell and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth.

One might wonder why this single verse is placed in this chapter, and I believe it is the Holy Spirit’s way of zooming in on some details for us to pay attention to. Right in the middle of the political chaos of the collapse of the house of Saul, we are told of a child. He was Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son. Throwback to the last chapter of 1st Samuel… While kings fought and soldiers bled, a little boy lost not only his father but also his future. Jonathan had been a good father, a noble and loyal man of faith. But with Jonathan dead on Mount Gilboa, his son became vulnerable. The trauma of losing a good father was compounded by his nurse’s carelessness while she attempted to flee with him. But as she hurried away, she dropped him, and he became crippled. He became crippled for life.

There is a hidden (and sometimes obvious) pain that comes with the loss of one’s good parents. Most times, we see families broken, children orphaned, and futures marred. Mephibosheth’s story tells of the tragedy of losing an inheritance, not by his own fault, but by the storm surrounding him. He began his life as a prince, but suddenly became a crippled orphan in hiding. Mephibosheth became weak because of circumstances beyond his control.

Dear Gogolights, permit me to draw some parallels here, so we can take some moment to appreciate the salvation we enjoy in Christ:

• Like Mephibosheth, we have fallen (Rom. 3:23). Sin crippled us from the fall of Adam (Rom. 5:12). We may not be physically lame, but spiritually, we are unable to stand before God on our own.
• Like Mephibosheth, we were orphans. Sin separated us from the good Father. We were without hope and without God in the world (Eph. 2:12).
• Like Mephibosheth, we were hiding. Fear, shame, and guilt drove us into hiding from the King of kings.

But as we will learn later in Chapter 9, beauty of Christ was revealed through David:

• Just as David sought out Mephibosheth “for Jonathan’s sake” (2 Sam. 9:1), God sought us out and forgave us for Jesus’ sake (Eph. 4:32).
• David did not destroy Mephibosheth as a rival. Instead, he restored him as a son at his table. Likewise, Jesus does not destroy sinners who deserve death, but by grace, He makes us sons and daughters of God, seating us at His table of mercy (John 1:12; Rev. 19:9).
• Mephibosheth remained lame in his feet, yet honoured at the king’s table. So too, even in our weaknesses and imperfections, grace covers us. Our place at God’s table is not based on our strength but on Christ’s faithfulness.

Mephibosheth is a poster child of redemption. He was crippled by the fall, orphaned by sin, hiding in fear… yet he was sought, found, and restored by David. What Mephibosheth lost in Jonathan, he gained in David. What we lost in Adam, we gained in Christ. God’s grace redeems what life cripples. Though men drop us, God lifts us. 

THE TRESPASS OF LOSING ONE’S GOOD SENSE

2Sam. 4:8 And they brought the head of Ishbosheth to David at Hebron, and said to the king, “Here is the head of Ishbosheth, the son of Saul your enemy, who sought your life; and the Lord has avenged my lord the king this day of Saul and his descendants.”

When people lose their good moral sense, they mistake treachery for triumph. Remember the Amalekite that falsely boasted about killing Saul, hoping to get a reward from David? Yes. David executed him. Here again, we see two guys who murdered Ishbosheth, beheaded him, and brought his head as a trophy to David. Same story, same outcome. Rechab and Baanah thought David would be pleased to see the head of Ishbosheth. They underestimated David’s loyalty to God and the house of Saul. David was loyal to his pledge to honour and preserve Saul’s family and descendants (1Sam. 24:20-22). He knew that Saul and his descendants were not his enemies in the same way that Philistines were his enemy.

David would not accept their evil actions, even though it seemed to serve a good purpose. It would unify Israel under David’s reign as king. However, it was not a story of triumph but of treachery. Baanah and Rechab chose betrayal as their path to power. They murdered Ishbosheth while he slept, the very thing David wouldn’t do to Saul. They lacked discernment and common sense, assuming that David who spared Saul twice in the wilderness would suddenly rejoice at betrayal against Saul’s son. It was opportunistic and vengeful. David again distanced himself from bloodshed done in his name. He understood that God’s throne cannot be built on man’s schemes. Instead of celebrating them, he judged them. Instead of rewarding them, he punished them. He was determined that his throne would not be stained with innocent blood.

Dear Gogolights, this story reminds us that _God’s prepared throne must be gained by God’s right way._ The end does not always justify the means. We don’t need to sin in order to win. Whatever begins with compromise will crumble in corruption. When Satan tempted Jesus (the greater Son of David) in the wilderness with the kingdoms of the world, offering Him a shortcut to the throne, Jesus refused. Instead, He chose obedience unto death, even the death of the cross (Phil. 2:8). Jesus has lived the exemplary life that shows that God’s promises do not require our trespasses to be fulfilled. Don’t grasp what God has promised by ungodly means. Don’t build your future on shortcuts. The crown that comes God’s way will be free of regret and secure in righteousness. Only God’s way leads to God’s throne.

Thank you for reading and also sharing your reflections.

See you tomorrow, beloveds.

Grace to you, Church!