We all knew that kid - maybe you were (or still are) that kid. The kid that was ultra-competitive on the schoolyard and was physically nauseated by the idea of losing a game... the same kid that would grab his ball and run away when the event did not go his way. That kid was the one who made the teams uneven when the clock dwindled down, jumping to the winning side before the buzzer sounded. A selfish actor only focused on his own glory and the shallow affirmation that he wasn’t a loser like the team he left behind. I am reminded of a quote from The Office (of course), where one character refers to himself in the third person: “Andy Bernard does not lose contests, he wins them... or he quits them because they are unfair.”
Abner is that sore loser. Saul’s old number 2 has continued the war against God’s rightful King David, propping up a puppet king (Ish-bosheth). At the drop of the hat, Abner chooses to switch sides, after Ish-bosheth musters some courage to call him out on a breech of faithfulness. After trading sides, Abner is murdered by the brothers of a man he had previously killed. David, having made some mistakes in this chapter, shows his underlying integrity by mourning his fallen frenemy (friend-enemy).
Read 2 Samuel 3
1. In what ways do you take matters into your own hands when you think God, or others are being unfair? Can you think of an example?
2.Read John 16:33... Why do you think we are surprised when things do not go the way we want them to? How would Jesus have you act when things seem unfair? Why does He want that?
3. Read 1 Peter 2:15-25... In what ways is God calling you to keep your integrity high, even if it means suffering unjust consequences? What are you going to do to stay faithful as God calls you to this? What excuses and lies do you need to squash in order to do this well? (ex. they don’t deserve my love, it’s not fair, I’ve done enough, etc.)