What A Mess

Abner was furious. “Am I some Judean dog to be kicked around like this?” he shouted. “After all I have done for your father, Saul, and his family and friends by not handing you over to David, is this my reward—that you find fault with me about this woman? [2 Samuel 3.8]

It is worth noting that we have no evidence that exonerates Abner of the offense he was accused of.

As the story develops, Abner goes to David promising the allegiance of all Israel to him, reaches an agreement with David (that also involved David getting Michal back from another husband), and was murdered in revenge by Joab.

What a mess. And yet, in this mess, we might see a glimpse into our own lives and times. 

Relationships are complicated these days. Many people live their lives in offenses, bitterness, and vengeance. There are hurts on top of hurts, offenses so complicated the root of which is often forgotten. People view other people with suspicion by default - and necessarily so for self-preservation. Angst with others has become 'en vogue' with society viewing an attitude of independence from others as the "high road" with self-preservation as priority #1.

The problem with all this is clear from the Scriptures. God's gift to mankind is His forgiveness (manifest in the person of Jesus). God's requirement of mankind is forgiveness of others as the contingency for being forgiven.

Forgiveness has nothing whatsoever to do with self-preservation. In fact, self-preservation is the driving force behind unforgiveness. Self-preservation, by the way, is nothing more than pride.

One of the most proud statements we often hear today is, "I'm done with you!" And, with little or no argument people cheer one another on in this arrogant mindset. And yet, the essence of what is being said in this setting is, "I judge you 'lesser' than me, I am better than you, and therefore, you are not worth my time and effort." This attitude hardly reflects one "taking up his cross" as Jesus instructed (bearing the penalty of baseless insults and false accusations).

Christians have a lot of un-learning to do as we have been just as indoctrinated in the world's erroneous mindset as anyone else. The only way to accomplish this un-learning is to shut off the source of erroneous thinking and displace it by flushing it out with God's true Word. There is simply no other way.

But we don't have time for that, do we?

Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority. [Colossians 2.8-10]

We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. [2 Corinthians 10.4-5]

...and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. [Ephesians 6.17]

Father, help me to flood my soul and spirit with the weapon we are given, Your Word, to purge the mess of human reasoning and false arguments from my life.