Asahel

One Sin Leads to Another

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22 Just then the servants of David arrived with Joab from a raid, bringing much spoil with them. But Abner was not with David at Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace. 23 When Joab and all the army that was with him came, it was told Joab, “Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has let him go, and he has gone in peace.” 24 Then Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you. Why is it that you have sent him away, so that he is gone? 25 You know that Abner the son of Ner came to deceive you and to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you are doing.”

26 When Joab came out from David’s presence, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern of Sirah. But David did not know about it. 27 And when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him privately, and there he struck him in the stomach, so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother. 28 Afterward, when David heard of it, he said, “I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the Lord for the blood of Abner the son of Ner. 29 May it fall upon the head of Joab and upon all his father’s house, and may the house of Joab never be without one who has a discharge or who is leprous or who holds a spindle or who falls by the sword or who lacks bread!” 30 So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had put their brother Asahel to death in the battle at Gibeon. – 2 Samuel 3:22-30 ESV

Committing sin is really quite simple. For most of us, it comes far easier than we would like to admit. We can find ourselves committing sins as the result of the slightest temptation or provocation. But the ramifications of sin are rarely simple or easy. Sin can be addictive and habit-forming, with one sin leading to another in a seemingly endless wave that increases in intensity and frequency over time.

That happens to be the case concerning David, as recorded in chapter 3 of 2 Samuel. David, in his desire to have his first wife Michal returned to him, made an unwise decision that was unsanctioned by God. In exchange for Michal and the allegiance of the rest of the tribes of Israel, David made an alliance with Abner, the former commander of Saul’s army. This was the same man who had convinced Saul’s son, Ish-bosheth, to claim the throne as Saul’s rightful heir. Without God’s counsel or approval, Abner appointed Ish-bosheth king of the Benjaminites and all the other tribes of Israel. In doing so, he stood against not only David but God, who had chosen David to be Saul’s replacement. It’s clear that Abner did not act in ignorance because he told the elders of Israel:

“For some time past you have been seeking David as king over you. Now then bring it about, for the Lord has promised David, saying, ‘By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines, and from the hand of all their enemies.’” – 2 Samuel 3:16-17 ESV

His decision to make Ish-bosheth king of Israel was an act of rebellion; he refused to accept God’s choice of David as the next king of Israel. Yet, David, in his desire to get his wife back and in hopes of solidifying the kingdom, made an agreement with Abner – without seeking God’s input or approval.

When Joab, a commander in David’s army, returned from battle with his troops, he was stunned to hear what David had done. He immediately confronted David, saying, “What have you done? What do you mean by letting Abner get away? You know perfectly well that he came to spy on you and find out everything you’re doing!” (2 Samuel 3:24-25 NLT). Joab was not only appalled by David’s naiveté but with his insensitivity. Abner had brutally murdered Joab’s brother, Asahel. From Joab’s perspective, David should have executed Abner as an insurrectionist and murderer.

The news that Abner had been allowed to walk away unpunished for his sins left Abner incensed and committed to taking matters into his own hands. Unwilling to accept David’s unholy alliance with his brother’s murderer, Joab sent troops to find Abner. This entire scenario took place in the city of Hebron which was one of the six cities of refuge established by God (Joshua 20:7-8).

“When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, designate cities of refuge to which people can flee if they have killed someone accidentally. These cities will be places of protection from a dead person’s relatives who want to avenge the death. The slayer must not be put to death before being tried by the community.”  – Numbers 35:10-12 NLT

These six cities were intended to serve as sanctuary cities, providing protection to anyone who had committed murder. In those days, Israel had no police force and revenge killing was a common occurrence. The Mosaic Law clearly prohibited murder and the punishment for taking another man’s life was the death penalty. Typically, the sentence was carried out by a relative of the deceased. This individual was referred to as the go’el ha-dam, the blood-avenger.

The murderer must surely be put to death. The avenger of blood [go’el ha-dam] himself must kill the murderer; when he meets him, he must kill him. – Numbers 35:18-19 NLT

But God knew there would be cases of unpremeditated murder. Accidents would happen. Unintentional deaths would take place, leaving the perpetrator at the mercy of the blood-avenger. To provide protection for these individuals, God designated the cities of refuge to serve as sanctuaries where the murderer could receive protection and the guarantee of a fair and impartial trial.

It is no coincidence that Abner came to David in Hebron, one of the six sanctuary cities. But Abner’s murder of Asahel had not been an accident; it was premeditated and particularly violent. He had run Asahel through with the butt-end of a spear. Yet, Abner, knowing that Joab would seek vengeance for the death of his brother, sought refuge in Hebron.

Once again, our sins have a way of not only multiplying but of infecting those around us. David’s lust for Michal, who had remarried and was therefore off-limits for David, caused him to make an unwise allegiance with Abner. Rather than punish him for his murder of Asahel, David rewarded him with freedom. This decision caused Joab to take matters into his own hands. He did what David had been unwilling to do, and what he did was in keeping with the commands of God. Consider carefully what God had said about the matter:

“But if he struck him down with an iron object, so that he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall be put to death. And if he struck him down with a stone tool that could cause death, and he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall be put to death. 18 Or if he struck him down with a wooden tool that could cause death, and he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall be put to death. The avenger of blood shall himself put the murderer to death; when he meets him, he shall put him to death. And if he pushed him out of hatred or hurled something at him, lying in wait, so that he died, or in enmity struck him down with his hand, so that he died, then he who struck the blow shall be put to death. He is a murderer. The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when he meets him.” – Numbers 35:16-21 ESV

Abner deserved death for what he had done, not a get-out-of-jail-free card from the king. So, Joab faithfully fulfilled his role as the blood-avenger and put Abner to death. This act, while fully in keeping with God’s command, did not sit well with David. He was so angry he actually put a curse on Joab and his family.

“May his blood whirl over the head of Joab and the entire house of his father! May the males of Joab’s house never cease to have someone with a running sore or a skin disease or one who works at the spindle or one who falls by the sword or one who lacks food!” – 2 Samuel 3:29 NLT

Throughout his life, David showed a disinclination to deal with those whose actions deserved judgment. When his son, Amnon, raped his half-sister, Tamar, David did nothing to punish him. When Tamar’s brother, Absalom, arranged for the murder of Amnon, David refused to take action. Years later, after David had allowed Absalom to return to Jerusalem unpunished, Absalom fomented a rebellion against his own father. And what did David do? He abandoned the city. He gave up. He walked away.

If David truly believed what Joab did to Abner was wrong, he did nothing about it. Rather than punish Joab, he pronounced a curse. By placing all the blame on Joab, David attempted to himself from any responsibility. This was wise political policy since David was attempting to establish his kingdom. He feared how the Benjaminites would respond when they heard of Abner’s death. But David’s curse on Joab appears to be completely uncalled for and without divine authorization. Abner had been a traitor and a murderer. He had led an insurrection against the God-ordained king of Israel. Rather than face capture, he had brutally murdered his pursuer and, according to the command of God, he deserved death. In fact, David had violated the very word of God by making his agreement with Abner. In essence, he allowed Abner to purchase a pardon he did not deserve, an action God had clearly prohibited

“Also, you must never accept a ransom payment for the life of someone judged guilty of murder and subject to execution; murderers must always be put to death. And never accept a ransom payment from someone who has fled to a city of refuge, allowing a slayer to return to his property before the death of the high priest.” – Numbers 35:31-32 NLT

The truly fascinating thing about all of this is David’s reaction to the death of Abner. As the rest of the chapter reveals, David ordered a national day of mourning for Abner. We will never know how much of it was based on political posturing. Was David simply attempting to win over the northern tribes by assuring them of his love for Abner? Only David and God know for sure. But suffice it to say that David showed far more sadness over the death of Abner than he did of Asahel, one of his own men. There is no record of David having mourned Asahel’s death. No tears were shed. No memorial service was held. Yet, David will go out of his way to memorialize and eulogize the death of a traitor and a murderer.

Sin has a way of metastasizing like cancer. Unchecked, it can spread, infecting our lives and destroying our spiritual health. Not only that, it can contaminate those around us. Sin is never static and it is almost impossible to control. We are deluded and naive if we think we have a handle on our sin and can manage it. Sin is dangerous and deadly, and when we attempt to apply logic to our sins to rationalize our behavior, we run the risk of opening the door to additional and even more deadly forms of rebellion against God.

The apostle John gives us some sobering counsel regarding the sin in our lives:

If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts. – 1 John 1:8-10 NLT

David’s reign was off to a less-than-stellar start. The man after God’s own heart was displaying his propensity to crack under pressure and make unwise decisions that would produce unwelcome outcomes. Small compromises, subtle sins, and convenient alliances would end up producing long-term ramifications for David and his kingdom.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Futility of Fighting God’s Will

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18 And the three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Now Asahel was as swift of foot as a wild gazelle. 19 And Asahel pursued Abner, and as he went, he turned neither to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner. 20 Then Abner looked behind him and said, “Is it you, Asahel?” And he answered, “It is I.” 21 Abner said to him, “Turn aside to your right hand or to your left, and seize one of the young men and take his spoil.” But Asahel would not turn aside from following him. 22 And Abner said again to Asahel, “Turn aside from following me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How then could I lift up my face to your brother Joab?” 23 But he refused to turn aside. Therefore Abner struck him in the stomach with the butt of his spear, so that the spear came out at his back. And he fell there and died where he was. And all who came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died, stood still.

24 But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner. And as the sun was going down they came to the hill of Ammah, which lies before Giah on the way to the wilderness of Gibeon. 25 And the people of Benjamin gathered themselves together behind Abner and became one group and took their stand on the top of a hill. 26 Then Abner called to Joab, “Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that the end will be bitter? How long will it be before you tell your people to turn from the pursuit of their brothers?” 27 And Joab said, “As God lives, if you had not spoken, surely the men would not have given up the pursuit of their brothers until the morning.” 28 So Joab blew the trumpet, and all the men stopped and pursued Israel no more, nor did they fight anymore.

29 And Abner and his men went all that night through the Arabah. They crossed the Jordan, and marching the whole morning, they came to Mahanaim. 30 Joab returned from the pursuit of Abner. And when he had gathered all the people together, there were missing from David’s servants nineteen men besides Asahel. 31 But the servants of David had struck down of Benjamin 360 of Abner’s men. 32 And they took up Asahel and buried him in the tomb of his father, which was at Bethlehem. And Joab and his men marched all night, and the day broke upon them at Hebron. – 2 Samuel 2:18-32 ESV

As this chapter closes, we are given a glimpse into what will become a long-standing issue for the nation of Israel. With Saul’s death, each tribe was left to fend for itself and determine its own fate. Abner, Saul’s former military commander and fellow Benjaminite, took it upon himself to crown Saul’s youngest son Ish-bosheth as the king of “all Israel” (2 Samuel 2:9). David had already been appointed king by his own tribe, the tribe of Judah, but Abner refused to give his endorsement and support.

Suddenly, the nation was divided into factions and their differences quickly escalated. Forces led by Abner and consisting primarily of his own kinsmen did battle with David and the people of Judah. Abner and his men were routed and pursued by the Benjaminites. Asahel, who happened to be “as swift of foot as a wild gazelle”, took it upon himself to catch Abner. Everyone, including Ashahel, knew that Abner was the driving force behind the battle. Ish-bosheth, the newly crowned king of Israel, is not even mentioned as being at the battle. But while Asahel’s zeal and fleet-footedness allowed him to catch the slower Abner, the encounter didn’t end as he had hoped. The battle-hardened and more experienced Abner thrust the butt of his spear through Asahel’s stomach with such force that it came out the other side, resulting in the young man’s death. When Joab and Abishai the body of Asahal, they took up the pursuit of Abner to avenge their brother’s death.

But the whole affair ended in an awkward truce. As the two parties faced off once again, with Abner and the Benjaminites on one side and the forces of Judah on the other, Abner called out, “Must we always be killing each other? Don’t you realize that bitterness is the only result? When will you call off your men from chasing their Israelite brothers?” (2 Samuel 2:26 NLT).

The battle had not been going Abner’s way; he had already lost more than 300 men, while David’s troops had lost only 20. He could see that things were not going his way, so he appealed to Joab to accept a cease-fire. “So Joab blew the trumpet, and all the men stopped and pursued Israel no more, nor did they fight anymore” (2 Samuel 2:28 ESV).

The battle ended, but the hostilities between the northern and southern tribes of Israel were far from over. In fact, the 12 tribes of Israel would experience ongoing hostilities for generations to come. It’s interesting to recall the blessings that Jacob gave each of his 12 sons, the very men from whom the 12 tribes of Israel descended. In particular, Jacob said of Benjamin:

“Benjamin is a ravenous wolf,
    devouring his enemies in the morning
    and dividing his plunder in the evening.” – Genesis 49:27 NLT

And here were Abner and the men of Benjamin, attempting to devour David and the men of Judah, refusing to accept David as their king.

Of Judah, Jacob said:

“Judah, your brothers will praise you.
    You will grasp your enemies by the neck.
    All your relatives will bow before you.
Judah, my son, is a young lion
    that has finished eating its prey.
Like a lion he crouches and lies down;
    like a lioness—who dares to rouse him?
The scepter will not depart from Judah,
    nor the ruler’s staff from his descendants,
until the coming of the one to whom it belongs,
    the one whom all nations will honor.” – Genesis 49:8-10 NLT

“All your relatives will bow before you.” Well, that’s not exactly how things turned out at this point in the story. Abner and the Benjaminites were having a difficult time giving up what they believed to be their right to be the ruling tribe. King Saul had been one of theirs and it only made sense to them that one of his sons should be the next king. But the only problem was that Ish-bosheth was not God’s choice.

Jacob, under divine inspiration, had clearly communicated that all the tribes would bow down to Judah. But that fact was unacceptable to Abner and his fellow Benjaminites. They had what they believed to be a better plan. But their agenda was driven by selfishness and self-centeredness. Abner enjoyed the power and prominence that came with his role as the commander of the king’s armies, and he knew there was little chance that David would retain his services. He could care less for Ish-bosheth. He was simply using Saul’s son as a means to maintain his own power and prestige. Abner was accustomed to being a man of influence and importance and the thought of having that taken away from him was unacceptable.

Upon closer examination, Abner and the men of Benjamin were not doing battle with David and the forces of Judah; they were fighting God. They were opposing God’s will and attempting to use force to achieve their own preferred agenda.

But the actions of Abner and his fellow Benjaminites should not surprise us. Each of us can end up doing battle with God when we find His will for our lives to be less than enjoyable and in opposition to our desires. Far too often, we make the fateful decision to reject God’s will because we find it distasteful and unacceptable, and rationalize a way to replace it with a plan of our own. Even if it results in conflict with our brothers and sisters in Christ, we stubbornly stick to our guns, justifying our actions as right and just. But in the end, our battle is with God and that is a fight we will never win.

Accepting the idea that God’s will is always best is difficult; especially when it stands in conflict with the plans we have made for our life. Abner couldn’t imagine a kingdom without him in its leadership. The thought of losing his prestigious position was unacceptable and he was willing to oppose anybody, including God, to preserve the status quo. Abner couldn’t accept the idea that he would not be a part of this phase of God’s plan.

Self-importance and an inflated sense of self-worth can cause any of us to react to God’s will in self-destructive ways. Rather than accept David as king, Abner was willing to risk it all for one last chance at glory. His actions left 381 men dead and a nation divided. Demanding his way and asserting his will resulted in unnecessary destruction. Abner preserved his life, but his stubborn refusal to accept God’s will produced pain, suffering, division, jealousy, and broken relationships.

In Galatians 5, Paul writes, “When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear” (Galatians 5:19 NLT). Then he includes the following:

…hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division… – Galatians 5:20 NLT

Divisiveness is destructive because it is a byproduct of our sinful nature that causes us to place our own priorities over the needs of others. Unity is essential for God’s people. It was God’s desire to unite the 12 tribes under a single banner and led by one man. Even today, God desires the unity of His people. On the night that He was betrayed by His own people, Jesus prayed the following prayer for His followers.

“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.” – John 17:20-21 NLT

Unity requires humility. Self-importance and pride are antithetical to God’s will for His people. Living for God requires dying to self. To experience His blessing both personally and corporately we must submit to His will, whether we like it or not and whether He chooses to use us or not. Abner had a choice to make and he opted to prioritize his will over that of God’s; a decision that would have long-lasting implications. As the following chapter states, “There was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. And David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul became weaker and weaker” (2 Samuel 3:1 ESV). Abner could choose to oppose God’s will but he would never prevent it from happening.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Complexity of Sin.

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Just then the servants of David arrived with Joab from a raid, bringing much spoil with them. But Abner was not with David at Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace. When Joab and all the army that was with him came, it was told Joab, “Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has let him go, and he has gone in peace.” Then Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you. Why is it that you have sent him away, so that he is gone? You know that Abner the son of Ner came to deceive you and to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you are doing.”

When Joab came out from David’s presence, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern of Sirah. But David did not know about it. And when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him privately, and there he struck him in the stomach, so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother. Afterward, when David heard of it, he said, “I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the Lord for the blood of Abner the son of Ner. May it fall upon the head of Joab and upon all his father’s house, and may the house of Joab never be without one who has a discharge or who is leprous or who holds a spindle or who falls by the sword or who lacks bread!” So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had put their brother Asahel to death in the battle at Gibeon. – 2 Samuel 3:22-30 ESV

Sin is simple to commit. For most of us, it comes far easier than we would like. We can find ourselves committing sins as the result of the slightest temptation. But the ramifications of sin are rarely simple or easy. Sins can be addictive and habit-forming, with one leading to another, then another. And our own sins can lead others to sin. That happens to be the case in these verses concerning David, Abner and Joab. David, in his desire to have Michal, his first wife, returned to him, made an unwise decision that was non-sanctioned by God. In exchange for Michal and the allegiance of the rest of the tribes of Israel, DAvid made an alliance with Abner, the former commander-in-chief of Saul’s army. This was the very same man who had convinced Saul’s son, Ish-bosheth, to claim the throne as the rightful heir of Saul. Abner, without God’s counsel of approval, appointed Ish-bosheth king of the Benjaminites and all the other tribes of Israel. In doing so, he stood against not only David, but God, who had chosen David to be Saul’s replacement. Abner did not do what he did in ignorance, because he had told the elders of Israel:

“For some time past you have been seeking David as king over you. Now then bring it about, for the Lord has promised David, saying, ‘By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines, and from the hand of all their enemies.’” – 2 Samuel 3:16-17 ESV

His decision to make Ish-bosheth king of Israel was an act of rebellion, against the God-ordained choice of David as king. And yet, David, in his desire to get his wife back and in hopes of solidifying the kingdom, made an agreement with Abner.

When Joab, a commander in David’s army, returned from battle with his troops, he heard the news of what David had done and was shocked. He even confronted David, saying, “What have you done? What do you mean by letting Abner get away? You know perfectly well that he came to spy on you and find out everything you’re doing!” (2 Samuel 3:24-25 NLT). Joab was not only appalled by David’s naiveté, but with his insensitivity to what Abner had done to his brother, Asahel. From Joab’s point of view, David should have been seeking to punish Abner for murder, not making alliances with him. And it’s interesting to note that Abner, upon leaving David’s company, made his way to Hebron, a city of refuge. God had commanded that the Israelites establish six cities of refuge within the promised land.

When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, designate cities of refuge to which people can flee if they have killed someone accidentally. These cities will be places of protection from a dead person’s relatives who want to avenge the death. The slayer must not be put to death before being tried by the community.  – Numbers 35:10-12 NLT

Notice the very important qualifier: “if they have killed someone by accident.” This had not been the case in Abner’s killing of Asahel. He had run Asahel through with the butt-end of a spear. There was nothing about it that had been accidental. And yet, Abner, knowing that Joab would be seeking vengeance for the death of his brother, sought refuge in Hebron. Once again, our sins have a way of not only expanding, but of infecting those around us. David’s lust for Michal, who had remarried and was therefore off limits for David, caused him to make an unwise allegiance with Abner. Rather than punish him for his murder of Asahel, David rewarded him with freedom. Which then caused Joab to take matters into his own hands. He did what David had been unwilling to do. And what he did was in keeping with the commands of God. Consider carefully what God had said about the matter:

But if he struck him down with an iron object, so that he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall be put to death. And if he struck him down with a stone tool that could cause death, and he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall be put to death. 18 Or if he struck him down with a wooden tool that could cause death, and he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall be put to death. The avenger of blood shall himself put the murderer to death; when he meets him, he shall put him to death. And if he pushed him out of hatred or hurled something at him, lying in wait, so that he died, or in enmity struck him down with his hand, so that he died, then he who struck the blow shall be put to death. He is a murderer. The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when he meets him. – Numbers 35:16-21 ESV

Abner deserved death for what he had done, not a get-out-of-jail-free card from the king. Joab did what David should have done. But in his life, David showed a disinclination to deal with those whose actions deserved judgment. When Amnon raped his half-sister, Tamar, David did nothing to punish him. When Absalom, Tamar’s brother, arranged for the murder of Amnon, David did nothing. Years later, after David had allowed Absalom to return to Jerusalem, unpunished, Absalom fomented a rebellion against his own father. And what did David do? He abandoned the city. He gave up. He walked away.

It’s interesting to note that, if David believed what Joab did to Abner was wrong, he did nothing about it. Rather than punish Joab, he pronounced a curse on he and his family, saying:

“Joab and his family are the guilty ones. May the family of Joab be cursed in every generation with a man who has open sores or leprosy or who walks on crutches or dies by the sword or begs for food!” – 2 Samuel 3:29 NLT

David placed all the blame of Joab. He distanced himself from what had just happened. This was probably great political policy, since David was attempting to establish his kingdom, and he feared the reactions of the Benjaminites when they heard of Abner’s death. But David’s curse on Joab appears to be completely uncalled for and without divine authorization. Abner had been a traitor and a murderer. He had led a rebelli0n against the God-ordained king of Israel. Rather than face capture, he had brutally murdered his pursuer, Asahal. And according to the command of God, he deserved death. In fact, David had violated the very word of God by making his agreement with Abner. In essence, he had allowed Abner to buy his way out of his guilt. Listen to what God has to say about that:

Also, you must never accept a ransom payment for the life of someone judged guilty of murder and subject to execution; murderers must always be put to death. And never accept a ransom payment from someone who has fled to a city of refuge, allowing a slayer to return to his property before the death of the high priest. – Numbers 35:31-32 NLT

The truly fascinating thing about all of this will be David’s reaction to the death of Abner. How much of it is based on political posturing, we will never know. Was David simply attempting to win over the northern tribes by assuring them of his love for Abner? Only David and God know for sure. But suffice it to say that David showed far more sadness over the death of Abner than he did of Asahel, one of his own men, who had been murdered by Abner. There is no record of David having mourned Asahel’s death. No tears were shed. No memorial service was held. And yet, we will see David go out of his way to memorialize and eulogize the death of a traitor and a murderer.

Sin has a way of growing, like a cancer. Unchecked, it can spread, infecting our life and destroying our spiritual health. Not only that, it can contaminate those around us. It is never simple or easily controlled. We may think we have a handle on our sin and are able to manage it, but we are deluded and naive. Sin is dangerous and deadly. And when we attempt to apply logic to our sins in order to rationalize our behavior, we run the risk of opening the door to additional and even more deadly forms of rebellion against God.

The apostle John gives us some sobering counsel regarding the sin in our lives:

If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts. – 1 John 1:8-10 NLT

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Message (MSG)Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson