The Sin of Men: 2 Samuel 4:1-12
Those who take the place of God have a higher power to answer for their crimes. This is the essence of the first commandment given to Moses. The Lord is God, and He is a jealous God. We have no other gods before Him.
With Abner dead and the elders of Israel pacified by David’s innocence in Abner’s death, nothing can stop David from becoming king over all the Hebrew people. David need only wait for God to indicate when. David patiently waited for God during Saul’s pursuit of him; there would be little trouble waiting to become king now.
Baanah and Rechab, two of Ish-bosheth’s commanders accustomed to leading raiding parties, see it differently. As raiders, they know about the Canaanite people around them. They knew the Canaanites saw what was happening in Ish-bosheth’s land and knew the people would be easy to defeat. Baanah and Rechab grew concerned about the safety of their land with Abner gone.
These two men see an opportunity. Should Ish-bosheth die, the only remaining male descendant of Saul would be Jonathan’s crippled son Mephibosheth. Knowing the country would not follow Mephibosheth, they get rid of Ish-bosheth. As the people who got rid of Ish-bosheth so David can become the king, they would be heralded as heroes.
Unfortunately, David sees it differently. When they bring Ish-bosheth’s head to David and seek his favor, David condemns them. If David killed the Amalekite who claimed to kill Saul, why wouldn’t he kill the people who killed Ish-bosheth? He has them executed. Like criminals, David has their hands and feet removed. He then honors Ishbosheth as much as he can by placing his head in the same tomb as Abner.
There is no surprise with David’s action. He treats Baanah and Rechab the same way as the Amalekite. However, given the last few stories about his forgiveness with Abner and Joab, it is easy to ask why David’s forgiveness evaporated. How can David forgive Abner and Joab, who killed plenty of people in battle, yet David cannot forgive Baanah and Rechab for their sin?
The answer lies with God. Abner’s killings were in time of war. Joab’s killings were also in war, and the murder of Abner was an offense against humankind. David can forgive them.
When Baanah and Rechab murder Ish-bosheth, it is a direct offense against God. God may not have appointed Ish-bosheth as king, but Baanah and Rechab absolutely mess with God’s timing for David becoming king. Instead of waiting on God’s timing, these two men take matters into their own hands and force God’s agenda to conform to their timing. They manipulate God’s timing for their own benefit.
David has these men killed because they play God. David patiently waited for God throughout all his life; these men intervene and force God’s hand. David forgave Abner’s and Joab’s actions as sins against humankind. Those who take the place of God have a higher power to answer for their crimes.
