2 Samuel 4:1-12 (CLICK HERE FOR BIBLE VERSES)
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is 2 Samuel 4:1-12. As usual, I encourage you to open your Bible and read the passage yourself first. See what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help. Then read the GAME sharing below. Let’s go!
2 Samuel 4:1-12 (NIV)
1 When Ish-Bosheth son of Saul heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he lost courage, and all Israel became alarmed.
2 Now Saul’s son had two men who were leaders of raiding bands. One was named Baanah and the other Recab; they were sons of Rimmon the Beerothite from the tribe of Benjamin–Beeroth is considered part of Benjamin,
3 because the people of Beeroth fled to Gittaim and have lived there as aliens to this day.
4 (Jonathan son of Saul had a son who was lame in both feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up and fled, but as she hurried to leave, he fell and became crippled. His name was Mephibosheth.)
5 Now Recab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, 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.
6 They went into the inner part of the house as if to get some wheat, and they stabbed him in the stomach. Then Recab and his brother Baanah slipped away.
7 They had gone into the house while he was lying on the bed in his bedroom. After they stabbed and killed him, they cut off his head. Taking it with them, they traveled all night by way of the Arabah.
8 They brought the head of Ish-Bosheth to David at Hebron and said to the king, “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.”
9 David answered Recab and his brother Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, “As surely as the LORD lives, who has delivered me out of all trouble,
10 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!
11 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!”
12 So David gave an order to his men, and they killed them. They cut off their hands and feet and hung the bodies by the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-Bosheth and buried it in Abner’s tomb at Hebron.
On verses 1-12: In the book of 2 Samuel, David must contend with men who think they are helping David establish his kingdom by doing some very evil things. For example, in 2 Samuel 3, Joab tells David that he does not trust Abner and then murders Abner. Here in 2 Samuel 4 we see two brothers called Baanah and Recab who do something horrendous in the name of “building David’s kingdom”.
Baanah and Recab were mercenaries and brothers who served Ish-Bosheth, the current king of Israel and one of Saul’s two remaining male descendants (v2-3). (Saul’s other remaining male descendant was Mephibosheth, whose tragic story is described in verse 4). Wanting to help David become the undisputed king of Israel, Baanah and Recab take it upon themselves to eliminate Ish-Bosheth, son of Saul. They decide to betray Ish-Bosheth in the worst way. They go into Ish-Bosheth’s house while he is taking a nap. They stab him in the stomach and cut off his head (v5-7). They bring the head of Ish-Bosheth to David and give God the credit for their evil work: “This day the LORD has avenged my lord the king against Saul and his offspring” (v8). Understandably, David is appalled and enraged by Baanah and Recab’s actions — first, by how they would kill an innocent man in his sleep, and second by how they thought that their killing Ish-Bosheth would please David (v9-11). Just as David did with the Amalekite in 2 Samuel 1:13-16, David orders the execution of Baanah and Recab (v12).
What can we learn from this? Baanah and Recab thought they were doing something to help David and advance his kingdom when in fact they were doing the exact opposite. Likewise, when you try to advance Christ’s kingdom through evil or sinful means, you’re not pleasing Christ or helping His cause. God’s kingdom will never be built on people’s wicked deeds, whether they be terrorism, genocide, murderous crusades, abusive residential schools, lying or stealing, to name a few. As James 3:13-17 says:
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.
15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil.
16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
Father, I pray that the things I do today would be done with wisdom that comes from heaven. May the things I do be pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. For this is the type of raw material You delight to use to advance Your kingdom. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
Lord Jesus, I don’t want to be blinded and destroyed by bitterness. Today I come into your presence and seek Your help. Help me to forgive those who hurt me. Set me free from bitterness. In Jesus’ name I pray, AMEN!
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