2 Samuel Chapter 2

Do you know what pleases your king? 

The people of Judah in 2 Samuel chapter 2 certainly did.

After anointing David to be king of Judah, they showed that they sincerely regarded him as their king.

How can we tell this is most likely so? Because they told David that it was the men of Jabesh-Gilead who buried Saul (verse 4). They knew that David’s heart towards Saul was not one of enmity and hostility, but a heart of respect, honor, and even love for Saul (see 2 Sam 1:23) as the Lord’s anointed.

Therefore, they knew that it would please David to learn that there were valiant men of Jabesh-Gilead who retrieved Saul’s body, and that he would want to thank them.

The people of Judah knew David’s heart and acted according to his heart.

On the other hand, Abner, commander of Saul’s army, continued to defy the will of God, the true king.

It was open, common knowledge that God had anointed David to be the king of Israel. As we will see in the following chapter, Abner clearly knew about this as well, but he defied God’s will and installed Ish-bosheth as king.

He didn’t do what pleased God. Rather, he did what pleased himself.

Why did Abner install Ish-bosheth as king? Likely it was to protect himself and secure his own position. In fact, Abner was his own king. 

Maybe something we can reflect on today is whether we truly regard God as our king.

If we truly do, then our first priority should be to do the things which pleases God, rather than things which pleases ourselves. We know the commandment well: we must love God with all our heart, all our soul and with all our might (Deut 6:4).

We need to keep this in our hearts, at all times.  

Further, from Abner’s actions, we can see the harm one can do to others in the kingdom of God, when one esteems himself rather than God.

Due to Abner’s opposition, so many young men senselessly, needlessly died.

While we may be able to say Joab also contributed to the senseless deaths, it was undoubtedly at the root, because of Abner’s opposition to David.

Today, if in church we esteem ourselves and work for ourselves (whether consciously or subconsciously) rather than work to please God, we may bring significant harm to others around us as well.

May God help us.

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