"when one told me, saying, "Behold, Saul is dead," and thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and killed him in Ziklag, which was the reward I gave him for his news. How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteous man in his own house on his bed, shall I not now require his blood from your hand, and destroy you from the earth?" (verse 9,10)
Message: Justice for Ish-Bosheth
Time: Second Samuel is set in the land of Israel during the reign of David and follows the course of his forty years as king of Israel (1011–971 BC). It chronicles the establishment of the Davidic dynasty and the expansion of Israel under God’s chosen leader.
What the Lord is Saying: In Chapter 3, Abner died and David grieved his death. And now in Chapter 4 Ish-Bosheth has heard of Abner dying and "he lost courage and all Israel was disturbed." Saul's sons Baanah and Rechab are mentioned and that they fled to Gittaim. Mephibosheth, Jonathan's crippled son is mentioned. Then Baanah and Rechab come to Ish-bosheth and struck him in the belly. Then they struck him while lying on his bed and took his head, bringing it to David. David responded, "As the Lord lives who has redeemed my life from all distress." The one who killed Saul thought he was doing something good, but David killed him. And now these men "have killed a righteous man in his own house on his bed" and so David had them killed, "and hung them beside the pool in Hebron." And then they buried the head of Ish-bosheth.
Ish-bosheth came to prominence by Abner, not on his own. Abner, the commander of Saul's army, simply proclaimed him to be the rightful heir to be king of Israel even though it seems to have been very clear by Samuel that David was to be the king. There is really nothing special or good about the future of Israel, just in terms of Saul's descendants. And there is no mention of any of these men being men of God. Only Jonathan was one that trusted God and he willingly stepped aside for David to be king before he met his own demise. Mephibosheth is also mentioned, but he is crippled.
And then Baanah and Rechab, two of the commanders of Saul's army decided that David would probably want Ish-bosheth killed so they went and killed him in his own home. But David had no grievance with Saul or with Ish-bosheth. And so he carried out capital punishment on Baanah and Rechab. And these tried to claim they had done the will of God. We can't force the hand of God to defend our selfish actions.
Summary: Ish-bosheth hears of Abner's death and two commanders of Saul go and kill Ish-bosheth in his home, wanting a reward from David, but end up being killed as a judgment for their actions.
Promise: Let us not use the pretense of service to Christ to justify acts of evil, thinking that good ends justify evil means.
Prayer: O God, you are God and sovereign and we need to be a people that submits and surrenders to You at all times, you the Righteous One and Righteous King. Help me to honor you with my words and actions and do things in my life that are pleasing to You. I need to seek You and surrender to You first, not after I have done something, expecting you to bless it. Help me to prioritize you above all, first and foremost. Be glorified. I praise You.
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