2 Samuel 4:4-8 – No Mercy In The Kingdom of Darkness
It wasn’t just Abner who thought that Ish-bosheth was expendable. Two of Abner’s own special forces felt the same. They’re introduced in the opening verses as Baanah and Rechab. They belong to the tribe of Benjamin – just like Saul and his son. But as we see from v4 onwards, that doesn’t stop them executing one of their own in cold blood.
Ish-bosheth, as people tend to do in hot countries, was having a rest in the middle of the day. These two came to the house, pretending to get wheat. They kill him and then behead him as he lies on his bed. Then they take his head to David, thinking that he’ll be impressed with them.
Why do they do it? It’s pure self-interest. Just like the Amalekite in chapter 1 who claimed to have killed Saul, they doubtless saw the writing on the wall. They realised that David was only going to get stronger, and so they wanted to align themselves with him, and use the fact that they’d killed one of his enemies as leverage to get a good government job. And so Ish-bosheth is murdered in cold blood. The message coming across loud and clear is – don’t expect mercy or grace in the kingdom of darkness. Despite all the talk there may be of equality or kindness or generosity or diversity in the world, much of it is just skin deep. At the end of the day, life outside the kingdom of God is cruel, harsh, self-centred and unforgiving. Ish-bosheth had outlived his usefulness. So he’s now expendable. The people you’d expect to be there for him – men from his own tribe, his trusted soldiers – literally stick the knife into him. What a contrast to life in the kingdom of God! Or at least to what life should be like in the kingdom of God. Because if in the world you find disloyalty where you’d expect loyalty. In God’s kingdom you find kindness and friendship where you’d expect the opposite. I think that contrast is at least hinted at here by the reference to Mephibosheth in v4. David would have been expected to hunt down and kill any remaining members of Saul’s family. He does seek out Mephiboseth – but rather than to kill him, it’s to show kindness to him.
Question
- What do these verses tell us about the kingdom of darkness?
Prayer Points
- Give thanks that there is kindness in God’s Kingdom.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.