2 Sam. 3 - Abner - the church needs you or you need the church?

by Jimmy Lau

2Sa 3:8  Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, Am I a dog's head, which against Judah do shew kindness this day unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou chargest me to day with a fault concerning this woman? 

What kind of a person was Abner?
 
1. Ambitious and Cunning. Abner was a very capable soldier and administrator. Why would such a talented man stick with a useless Ishbosheth? One reason could be he knew only with Ishbosheth he would be the most powerful man in the kingdom. The weak Ishbosheth needed Abner. Abner was using Ishbosheth to achieve his ambition.
 
2. Proud. His pride and self-esteem are apparent in his haughty answer to Ishbosheth (v.8). His answer to Ishbosheth is akin to saying this: “I've always been loyal to your father's family and to his relatives and friends. I haven't turned you over to David. And yet you talk to me as if I've committed a crime with this woman” (v.8, CEV). He is telling his master that without him, he is finished.
 
3. Lack Integrity. He lacked moral integrity when he slept with his former master’s wife. He lacked loyal integrity when he jumped ship at the spur of a moment. He even told his current boss to the face that he would hand the kingdom over to David just as God has promised him (v.9, 10). Imagine an employee telling his boss to the face he is going to sell the company to his rival. Well, that’s what Abner said; he was disloyal.
 
4. Hypocrite. If Abner knew that David was God’s choice for king, why did he fight against him before this? Why did he crown Ishbosheth king after Saul’s death? Clearly, Abner served his own agenda and not the king. Ishbosheth was just his pawn. With David, he would be nothing.
 
5. Selfish. Abner changed course when he realized he had no future with Ishbosheth. It shows his selfishness, that he served his own interest and not of his master. Abner did the right thing in joining David’s side but he did it for the wrong reason; he was looking for greener pasture.
 
What kind of employee are you? Abner was a bad employee. He thought he was indispensable. He was proud and selfish. What about you? Do you think the church needs you or you need the church?
 
(JY: It is two sides to me. We need each other.)

“For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith” (Romans 12:3).