2 Samuel chapter 4 reminds me that selfishness ambition can blind us to our own misguided actions. The chapter begins, “When Ish-Bosheth son of Saul heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he lost courage, and all Israel became alarmed“. Remember this illegitimate son of Saul was a reluctant king put in place by General Abner. He seemed to just going along doing what others expected him to do. Without Abner he was aimless. Next we learn about “two men who were leaders of [Abner’s] raiding bands. One was named Baanah and the other Recab“. These guys were the designated doers; they did the heavy lifting for General Abner. They were always ready to take on the enemy in battle. With the death of Abner, I suspect they saw their opportunity to make things right. “Recab and Baanah… set out for the house of Ish-Bosheth, and they arrived there in the heat of the day while he was taking his noonday rest. They went into the inner part of the house as if to get some wheat, and they stabbed him in the stomach“. Finally, their mission is clear, “After they stabbed and killed him, they cut off his head. Taking it with them, they traveled all night… They brought the head of Ish-Bosheth to David at Hebron“. I’m sure they were confident they were doing the Lord’s work and they were about to be greatly rewarded for their efforts.
They stood before King David and said “Here is the head of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, your enemy, who tried to take your life. This day the Lord has avenged my lord the king against Saul and his offspring“. They were ready for their ticker-tape parade and celebration feasts, but instead David answered them, “When a man told me, ‘Saul is dead,’ and thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and put him to death in Ziklag. That was the reward I gave him for his news! How much more when wicked men have killed an innocent man in his own house and on his own bed should I not now demand his blood from your hand and rid the earth of you!” Like the first profiteer, these men were immediately killed for their crime. These two men did not know King David’s heart. They sought judgment where David sought reconciliation. They were motivated by pride, where David was motivated by a desire to honor God. They clearly misrepresented the king in their actions.
Some of us, in our zealous desire to please God, condemn those that are living contrary to God’s law. We are quick to point out their failures and even nod in approval when they receive the consequences of their actions. But our God of mercy does not take any joy when the lost suffer. Jesus told a parable of a man that was forgiven a great debt in Matthew 18. The king asked an important question. “I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?” Listen to the heart of the Savior when He spoke of those that are hurting. “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance” (Mark 2:17). Romans 14:15 goes a step further by reminding us of our responsibility to put other people first. Jesus chewed out those that were selfishly enjoying Christian liberty while their weaker brothers struggled. “If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died.” How are you representing the King to those for whom Christ died?