David’s Lament Over Abner. Then David said to Joab and to all the people with him, “Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner.” And King David walked behind the bier. They buried Abner in Hebron; and the king raised his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept. 2Sa 3:31-32
THE REIGN OF DAVID
INTRODUCTION
The Second Book of Samuel is devoted entirely to the reign of David. His coronation, first by Judah and then by all of the tribes, his wars and conquests, his care for the religious life of the people, his sins, and the calamities he suffered, are impartially set forth in vivid and convincing narrative.
“A very notable thing in the books of Samuel,” says James Robertson, “is the prominence given to music and song. There is in these books an unusual number of poetical pieces ascribed to this period, and all the indications put together give ample justification for the fame of David as the sweet singer of Israel, and for the ascription to him of the origin of that volume of sacred song which never ceased in Israel, and has become embodied in the Psalms.”
9. How did David show his feelings toward Abner?
DAVID’S LAMENT OVER ABNER
DAVID MOURNS ABNER
Then David said to Joab and to all the people with him, “Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner.” And King David walked behind the bier.
They buried Abner in Hebron; and the king raised his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept.
And the king sang a dirge (funeral song) over Abner and said, “Should Abner [the great warrior] die as a fool dies?
“Your hands were not bound, nor your feet put in fetters; As a man falls before the wicked, so you have fallen.” And all the people wept again over him.
All the people came to urge David to eat food while it was still day; but David took an oath, saying, “May God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun sets.”
And all the people took notice of it and it pleased them, just as everything that the king did pleased all the people.
So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it had not been the will of the king to put Abner the son of Ner to death.
Then the king said to his servants, “Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel?
Today I am weak, though anointed king; these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too difficult for me. May the LORD repay the evildoer [Joab] in accordance with his wickedness!”
DAVID’S LAMENT OVER ABNER
DAVID MOURNS ABNER
It was a noble spectacle when David followed the bier of Abner and wept at his grave. He forgot that this man had been his persistent foe, and remembered only his great personal qualities. The chaplet of elegiacs that he wove for Abner’s grave, was only second to that which he prepared for Saul’s. It is not strange that all the people took notice of it and that it pleased them. We should be particularly careful to disavow all complicity in the evil doings of those with whom we happen to be associated, and to stand clear of the wreckage that floats around us. The honor of God’s cause must be dearer to us than life.
The cultivation of a noble and generous spirit, like that which David manifested toward Saul and Abner, is an aim to which we should set ourselves with patient care. It is the outgrowth of years of self-discipline, of prayer, of fellowship with God. Life is too short to allow it to be consumed by evil and vindictive thoughts. Hand over to God all thoughts of retaliation! Certainly you must withstand the wrong-doer, when the weak and defenseless are in jeopardy; but for yourself, love and conquer!
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