Pride Does Not Relent

Pride does not rest or take a break, so it must be killed. #daybydaylw Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!   ~~~   In 2 Samuel 3: 6-11 we have a change of scenery, which indicates a scene change, a new topic, if you will. And we come across our main character of chapters 2-3, Abner, the commander of Saul’s, and now Ish-bosheth’s army. We learned in verse one that the house of Saul was growing weaker, but we read here in verse 6 that Abner, “was making himself strong in the house of Saul.” We already have seen how Abner was the puppet master over Ish-bosheth, but it appears that Abner is doing even more to increase his influence and authority and power in the house of Saul. So much so is Abner’s strength growing that a bold accusation is made against Abner by Ish-bosheth. What we don’t know is if the accusation is true, but it seems like, with the comment of Abner’s growing strength, that it probably is. And the accusation is that Abner has seduced one of Saul’s concubines to sleep with him, which is equivalent to Abner saying to Ish-bosheth, “I am now taking over the throne.” This was a power play on Abner’s part to force Ish-bosheth’s hand to either bow out altogether, or to give Abner a reason to revolt. Abner knew that his side was decreasing in strength and popularity; he also knew that David’s team was gaining strength and popularity, and Abner was not going to be a part of another losing battle. So Ish-bosheth confronts Abner, which gives Abner the reason he is looking for to throw his weight around even more by declaring that he will end Ish-bosheth by taking over to David’s side all of Israel. This was Abner’s strength, to seduce, and another part of his pride making its way to the surface of his life. Pride doesn’t rest. Pride does not take a break. It must be killed. The crosshairs of the gospel must be placed on it and pride must be mortified.