The Makings of a Good Man, and the Provocation of Fools.

Intro

We live in an age of increasing polarization. Because we have a two-party political system, it means we often divide on two-party lines. We signal which party we are most aligned with by our views on certain issues. But the problem with this stereo-typing is it often misconstrues good verses bad people. So, for instance, you will hear people on the right speak of those on the left as evil, wicked, or bad; and the same can be said for the left. But people are much more complicated than that. There are good people on the left and right, and there are skunks on either side too.

In our text this evening, that is on full display. Abner Saul's uncle, and the commander of His army, has the makings of a good man. Whereas Joab, David's nephew and commander of his army, has all the makings of a fool. And in the course of the next few weeks will prove this to be true. As the stage is set for a conflict between the house of Saul and David, we get a fascinating character study.

2 Samuel 2:12-32

A Good Man is Hard to Find.

It's clear from David's action since Saul's death, and even before when he was being chased by Saul, that he will not seize the throne. David wants not the slightest appearance that his kingship is anything other than God-given. So although Ish-bosheth has been setup as king in the north, David doesn't go and attack him, probably reasoning that civil war would not be the best way to begin his reign. But as we'll soon find out, civil war will come. But the text makes it clear not by David.

V. 12 begins with Abner, strategically trying to move his base of operations further south. We have indications that Saul may have wanted Gibeon to be his capitol city. Again, its hard to know motives, we can infer from the rest of Abner actions what kind of man he was, and the same can be said of Joab. And the text invites us then to see Joab as the one seeking provocation.

Joab is David's nephew, the Son of Zeruiah, David's sister. He is one of three brothers, who are servants of David. But you can see that this is a conflict between two houses, one on the rise, and with the Lord's blessing, and one having just collapsed under the judgement of the Lord, but with efforts to prop it up anyway. So knowing that Abner has come down to Gibeon, Joab goes up to meet him.

Conflict is not a forgone conclusion. They are two tribes of Israel, and therefore brothers. War is not really to Abner's advantage, especially given the extent of the rest of Israel's loyalty to Ish-bosheth is probably pretty slight. So Abner proposes a contest between twelve of his men and twelve of David's men. The actual word is play, and it would seem that Abner did not intend for this to end in death.

This episode reminds me of the scene in Troy with Brad Pitt, where Agamemnon calls Achilles to come and fight Boagrius, and whoever wins that contest is the victor. Boagrius was a giant, but Achilles takes him down in one blow. Reminiscent of David and Goliath.

But in this contest there is 12 vs. 12, "And each caught his opponent by the head and thrust his sword in his opponent’s side, so they fell down together." The text clarifies that when it comes to civil war, there are no winners. We'll return to this in a moment.

What immediately follows this is a "fierce battle" with the servants of David emerging as clear winners. As the servants of Saul retreat, Abner is pursued by the youngest of the Zeruiah boys, Asahel, who was swift as a Gazelle. He's a young hot-head, confident in his cause, but not so experienced in battle. Whereas Abner is a seasoned warrior who has fought (and survived) many many battles. So Abner warns the boy to get his spoils of war from someone his own age (and competency), for he knows this is not a fair contest for Asahel. But being young and dumb, Asahel persists. Abner warns him again, for he is concerned that the death of Asahel will only provoke Joab more. This may be a sign that Abner knows of Joab's short temper. Again Asahel persists. The way Asahel dies, with the butt of the spear going through his stomach, suggests that Joab didn't even turn around to fight him. It's as if he just stops suddenly holding his spear back and Asahel's momentum impales him.

Abner presses on while the gruesome sight of Asahel's death becomes a rally point for the servants of David, until Joab and the oldest brother, Abishai, press through in pursuit of him. Having gained the high ground, Abner and the servants of Ish-bosheth, take a stand, but Abner calls out to Joab, saying, “Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that the end will be bitter? How long will it be before you tell your people to turn from the pursuit of their brothers?”

Surprisingly, Joab listens to the voice of reason, and the two parties go their separate ways. But not without consequence. For David's men lost twenty, including Asahel, and Ish-bosheth lost 360, and all of them brothers.

Notice the prudence of Abner, when on three different occasions in this brief episode, he suggests options that could have led to different outcomes. The contest could have ended the conflict with no bloodshed; Asahel could have survived the fight; and Joab could have had much worse losses had he kept pursuing Abner, especially since they had the advantage of high ground. Abner was a prudent warrior, with no taste for civil war, who will soon realize that his loyalty to Saul and His house will not be rewarded.

The Provocation of Fools

On the other hand, Joab is beginning to show himself as a fool, and a part of a family of hot-heads. He seems keen to fight and only gives up when it's not clearly to his advantage to continue. His brother, Asahel's action, proves the family traits of arrogance, recklessness, and a divisive spirit. For he refused to take sound council from Abner and it cost him his life. It was his brother's death coupled with his hot temper that eventually lead to his disfavor with David, and to this curse: “I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the LORD for the blood of Abner the son of Ner. May it fall upon the head of Joab and upon all his father’s house, and may the house of Joab never be without one who has a discharge or who is leprous or who holds a spindle or who falls by the sword or who lacks bread!” (2 Sam. 3:28-29).

So we learn that it is not the cause that makes men good or bad, but their character. And the bad character of one can tarnish a good cause, where the good character of one, can make the cause somehow seem good. The point being character matters.

I have seen this play out in bad ways in reformed churches, especially those who have only lately recovered patriarchy, and the importance of covenant nurture. They ride out for the cause of Christ (usually on Facebook) but with the character of Joab, and the results are the same. And the character trait that most embodies Joab is anger. Which is the sin most apt to cloud your judgement, rob you of prudence, and cause you to make bad decisions.

Sure align yourself with good causes, press for the crown-rights of Christ in every area of life, but not at the expense of developing Christ-likeness. Our success for the kingdom of God will not come because we do things we think King Jesus wants us to do, but our success will come when we have the character of Christ and do the things he has called us to do. Its character and cause, not just cause. Joab thought he had a righteous cause but he lacked character and so the whole thing is undermined, whereas Abner has character, but is wrapped up in the wrong cause, but nonetheless his actions serve to leave the scene a little better than it could have been without character. So you must choose character first, and then pursue a righteous cause. Amen.