As the fighting continued between David’s forces and the forces loyal to Saul’s family, Abner became more and more powerful among Saul’s followers. One day Ishbosheth son of Saul accused Abner of sleeping with Saul’s concubine Rizpah…
It’s as if touching someone’s wife touches the husband – usurps something from him (2 Samuel 16:20-22; 20:3; 1 Kings 2:13-35) – authority? power?
This made Abner furious. “Do you think that I would betray Saul? …From the very first I have been loyal to the cause of your father Saul… yet today you find fault with me about a woman! The Lord promised David that he would take the kingdom away from Saul and his descendants and would make David king of both Israel and Judah, from one end of the country to the other. Now may God strike me dead if I don’t make this come true!”
So fully knowing what the Lord promised, why did it take this for Abner to turn on Ishbosheth?
Ishbosheth was so afraid of Abner that he could not say a word.
All Israel (minus Judah) put their trust in Abner (2 Samuel 4:1). Everyone everywhere looks for a hero to put their trust in (1 Samuel 14:4-7). In who or in what do I really put my trust? May it truly be in you, Father.
David answered. “I will make an agreement with you on one condition: you must bring Saul’s daughter Michal to me when you come to see me.”
Here again another example of the connection between a man and his wife although this time, David doesn’t sequestre her (2 Samuel 6:20-23). What’s the difference here? One thing is certain, the effects of sexual relations go well beyond the physical act (1 Corinthians 7:12-16; 1 Corinthians 6:18).
Abner went to the leaders of Israel and said to them, “For a long time you have wanted David to be your king.”
So Abner wasn’t the only one who wanted to see David king. The reluctance to act must be due to loyalty or a sense of obligation – much like Jonathan who believed one thing (1 Samuel 23:16-17) but lived another (1 Samuel 31:1-2).
“Now here is your chance. Remember that the Lord has said, ‘I will use my servant David to rescue my people Israel from the Philistines and from all their other enemies.’”
How did they hear this? From a prophet in Israel? And for us to act, Lord? For me? Is now our chance – the moment to act?