Giftedness Can Be Gory

Everyone in God’s kingdom has been gifted with skills to serve Him. #daybydaylw Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!   ~~~   24 young men fall to the ground dead, and then a civil war begins. We are told in verse 2 Samuel 2:17 that Joab and his men defeat Abner and his men in the ensuing battle. And then we read of a particular instance between Asahel and Abner. Asahel is the brother of Joab, the nephew of David, the son of David’s sister Zeruiah. And what is it that we learn about Asahel—he is a fast as a wild gazelle. And we also learn that Asahel is diligent, that he doesn’t turn to the right or the left as he chases down none other than Abner, the commander of the forces. And as Asahel is chasing Abner, and as Abner is fleeing, they carry on a conversation, and I want you to notice with me that we are told two more times about this diligence, this obsession Asahel has in pursuing Abner. 2:21 “Abner called out, ‘Turn aside to your right hand or your left…but Asahel would not turn aside.” 2:22 ”Turn aside from following me…But he refused to turn aside.” Now, we might think this is a brave characteristic of Asahel. He is resolved! He doesn’t give up! He is going to finish what he starts! Well, as good as those characteristics can be, that is not what the writer wants to communicate. Remember, the position of the men of Judah was to be a defensive position, not one of aggression. David’s kingdom is to move to the other tribes by the announcement of good news and grace. And this looks nothing like grace. Notice also the other comments being made… Abner says in verse “seize one of the young men and take his spoil.” Here we have an indication of what Asahel is really after—he is after the prestige of being the one who captured the great Abner, commander of Ish-bosheth’s army! He is after fame! He is after glory! Even though he is in David’s army, there is no concern for the right representation of David’s kingdom. There is no concern for his fellow Israelite brothers. There is only one thing one his mind, and it is planting his foot in Abner’s dead chest and raising his arms in victory over him. He wouldn’t turn aside. And it ends with his own death, a death caused by his gift. He runs so fast that runs up on the blunt end of Abner’s spear. (Vss. 23). Verse 23 says that all who came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died, stood still. I think it would be good for us to stand still and consider what is taking place. Pride seeks personal glory with personal gifting, not godliness.—Asahel Asahel was using a god-given skill, his speed, and he was using it to chase personal glory. Each of us within God’s kingdom have been blessed with a gift. Each of us as humans also have skill in some areas. And we can use those gifts and those skills in ways that bring God glory, or ourselves glory.