Articles, Bible Questions and Discipleship Guides

We need to take an honest assessment of the current state of the American church. 

While I believe that the vast majority of pastors are faithful, relatively unknown local shepherds, and while I’m grateful that there are still thousands of faithful, godly churches throughout this nation, I’m deeply concerned by the reputations of the most prominent and visible spiritual leaders in our country. 

It stains the image of the Christian church when influential leaders are motivated by their greed for power and lust for popularity—when their image takes precedence over their integrity. 

Likewise, I’ve observed Christian leaders who seem more concerned with who occupies the White House than they are with the Lord who sits on the throne of heaven. 

In recent years, I’ve watched televangelists flaunt lavish lifestyles while their followers hope to gain God’s “blessing” through donations. These men and women influence thousands of people to focus more on earthly gain than eternal life. 

The secular world scoffs when church leaders call on them to repent while they turn a blind eye to sin in their own lives or within their own church. 

The contrast between King David and General Abner in 2 Samuel 2-4 highlights the same contrast we see in our world today: the difference between faithful shepherds and ambitious wolves in sheep’s clothing. 

When David was initially crowned as king, his kingdom only included Judah. He was ruling over only a small percentage of the total kingdom that King Saul had led. 

Abner, who was Saul’s military commander, acted swiftly after the death of Saul to make Ish-bosheth, son of Saul, king over all the rest of Israel. 

It would have been easy for David to complain to God by saying: This this isn’t what You promised me. You anointed me king over all of Israel, but I’m stuck here in Judah while that false imposter Ish-bosheth rules over the rest. When are You going to give me the rest of what I’m owed? 

Who knows, maybe David did pray some of his frustrations to God in this period of waiting. But through his public actions and leadership, David demonstrates tremendous patience and trust that God’s plan would be fulfilled according to God’s perfect timing. 

The same can’t be said of Abner. This ambitious general is plotting and scheming to elevate his own personal status. 

He even leads Israel into civil war. 

The first major battle takes place between General Abner and the army of Israel, and General Joab and the army of Judah at Gibeon. At first, the two generals agree to decide the conflict through 12-on-12 hand to hand combat. But when each army sends out their twelve champions, they all end up dead! 

A fierce battle ensues, resulting in 360 casualties for Israel while only 20 soldiers from the army of Judah were killed. 

The biblical narrator informs us that “There was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. And David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul became weaker and weaker” (2 Samuel 3:1). 

As David gains the upper hand in this war, Abner’s true priorities become clear. He isn’t a leader; he simply sets his sails whichever way the wind blows. 

Eventually, General Abner approaches David with an offer to change sides. He tells David that he can turn the elders of Israel away from Ish-bosheth and unify the nation under the rule of King David. Over dinner, Abner promises David, “‘I will arise and go and will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may reign over all that your heart desires.’ So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace” (2 Samuel 3:21). 

This seems like a successful alliance that will assure David’s victory—but there’s a catch! David’s general, Joab, distrusts Abner. When he finds out about this covenant, he tells David, “‘You know that Abner the son of Ner came to deceive you and to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you are doing’” (2 Samuel 3:25). 

Adding to the tension, Joab holds a deep grudge against Abner for killing his brother Asahel during an earlier battle. 

So, Joab tricks Abner into returning to David’s camp for a private meeting, and Joab strikes down Abner. 

In a final tragedy, when Ish-bosheth found out about Abner’s death, he knew the war was lost. Two of his own soldiers assassinate him, and bring his severed head to King David, assuming he will reward them. Instead, just as David had done earlier to the Amalekite man, David ordered these two soldiers put to death. 

After all this drama, intrigue, tragedy and bloodshed, David finally emerges as the king of a united kingdom. 

Before we move on to examine his long and lasting kingship, let’s not neglect these two vital principles of application: 

GODLY PATIENCE PROMOTES UNITY. 

Israel’s civil war was provoked by the proud ambition of Abner, who did not trust God’s plan and timing, but took matters into his own hands. When we trust God’s will for our lives, we have no need to walk over other people or promote disunity in order to advance our own agendas. Let’s ask ourselves the question, “Do our actions drive people apart or bring people together?” 

GODLY LEADERSHIP REQUIRES COURAGE. 

Abner is what we would call in today’s world a “grifter”—an unprincipled man who inserts himself wherever he has the best chance to promote his own ambition and power. 

For the Christian leader, we should not be identified by our ambition, but by our faithfulness. Self-seeking, glory-hungry, fortune-hunting false shepherds are easy to spot—and let’s avoid them. In the meantime, let’s thank God for all those humble-hearted, biblically faithful, servant-leaders who honor Christ as true shepherds over His flock.