Village Schools of the Bible

A Devotional Study of 2 Samuel 2
by Max Frazier, Jr.

So, how about some thoughts from Second Samuel 2, where the focus is on the struggle between those loyal to David and those loyal to Saul's family.

I. David anointed king over Judah (vs. 1-7)

II. Ish-Bosheth, son of Saul, made king in Israel (vs. 8-11)

III. The battle at Gibeon (vs. 12-17)

IV. Abner kills Asahel (vs. 18-23)

V. The truce between Abner and Joab is declared (vs. 24-32)

When I was a young boy I would join with some friends in my neighborhood and we would play "king of the hill." The lot across the street from our house had a nice hillside, and so we would don our battle gear and try to take the hill from the king. Now we soon learned that there was room on the hill for only one king. Whoever could depose the king by pushing him off the hill became the new king. But you had to be on your guard lest you too be pushed off. As I look back decades later upon that game, I remember the turmoil that went with it, much like those events described in this chapter. Israel was a divided nation with two kings, two armies, two different loyalties. There would not be any sense of quiet until the nation resolved the question of who would be "king of the hill."

Many times my life could be described by scenes from this chapter. Like Paul describes in Romans 7, there is a constant battle for the control of my life. Two different kings desire the control of my life. Each day and, yes every hour of the day, I must decide who I will let reign as the "king of my hill." Sadly, I must confess, that too often I let the king of self reign rather than Jesus Christ. How I need to be more careful in my choosing. "Lord, it is the desire of my heart to be close to you. Give me the wisdom and courage to always make you my 'king of the hill.'"

In Abner and Joab, and I might add Joab's brothers - at least Asahel, We see a contrast in leadership sytles. Joab and Asahel were aggressive. No matter the consequences they forced the fight. Joab and his men faced an insurmountable challege in trying to assault the well-defended positions of Abner, and in trying they would have brought much Bloodshed upon the battlefield. Abner, on the other hand, appears to be more diplomatic. He twice warned Asahel to stop his pursuit. And he was the negotiator of the cease-fire with Joab. It would appear that Abner, as a leader, was able to see the bigger picture, while Joab had a much more narrow focus. "Lord, I want to develop the qualities of an Abner. Help me to see the bigger picture."

Return to the Table of Contents 2Samuel 3