This short chapter describes the murder of King Ish-bosheth and David’s initial reaction.
“And they said to the king [David], ‘Here is the head of Ish-bosheth… your enemy…. The Lord has avenged my lord the king this day on Saul and on his offspring.’ But David answered… ‘As the Lord lives, who has redeemed my life out of every adversity, when one told me, “Behold, Saul is dead,” and thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and killed him… which was the reward I gave him for his news. How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteous man… shall I not now require his blood at your hand and destroy you from the earth?’ And… they killed them… and hanged them beside the pool at Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-bosheth and buried it in the tomb of Abner at Hebron.” (v8-12 abr)
David has a knack for loving his enemies, and even avenging their deaths. He killed the man who ‘killed Saul’ (assisted his suicide), and also the two men who killed Ish-bosheth. Despite the fact Ish-bosheth was a pretender king, and wanted David dead, David still calls him ‘a righteous man’. Despite the fact Saul fell to evil influences and wanted David dead, he still called Saul ‘God’s anointed’. David has the utmost respect for those in authority, even when that authority is misused. He even buried Abner and Ish-bosheth, which was another form of respect for his fallen enemies.
Paul also has a great deal to say about honoring authority: “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.” (Rm 13:1-2,7 see v1-7 for full context)
David, like Paul, believes that people of authority are allowed to be in those roles by God Himself. By dishonoring our authorities, we are dishonoring God. Of course you could try justifying your opposition to an authority on the grounds of their morality (or lack of morality), but David does not seem to make that distinction. David honored Saul and Ish-bosheth regardless of whether they honored God. The key is he honored them, without necessarily agreeing with them or condoning their actions.
I find it interesting that David punishes the killers of these authorities – Paul states that those who resist the authorities God appoints will incur judgement upon themselves. Defying those God has placed into authority is sin, and there will be consequences.
Today’s challenge is to analyze our attitudes toward the authorities in our lives – our pastors, mayors, teachers, bosses, parents, spouses, premiers, governors, prime ministers, presidents, kings, etc. Whatever the structure of authority around us is, we are commanded to honor those in authority over us. Honoring them doesn’t necessarily mean condoning poor moral choices or agreeing with incorrect decisions – but honoring them does mean we speak well of our authorities and not rebel against them, even if we’re not in agreement.
I also encourage us to pray for those in authority over us. One key way we can honor them is to pray for them. I struggle to pray for some of the authorities in my life, especially some of the ones whom I did not choose. So I need encouragement in this area as well.
Father God, our Sovereign King, You are the absolute authority of all creation. Thank you for appointing authorities over us in Your great wisdom. We ask for Your help Father, in leading us to honor and pray for those in authority over us. Would You please help us to love them like Jesus would, and respect them, even if we don’t agree with them. Please gently remind us to learn this pattern of honoring and respecting them, because they are appointed by You and created in Your image, so they are worthy of honor. We ask this in the name of Jesus, our Savior and King, amen.
~ Conqueror in Training