Seeing Spooks

2 Sam. 2: 10 Then Abner was very angry at the words of Ishbosheth

The top guy is not always the most powerful guy. Sometimes the one who put him there is more powerful. That’s what happened with Ishbosheth. Ishbosheth was the son of Saul, the first king of Israel. When Saul died, David was to become king and God instructed him to take over the kingdom, but Abner, a high-ranking officer in Saul’s army and a powerful man in Israel took Ishbosheth and “made him king”. Even though David was chosen by God, Abner wanted his “party” to be in power. He felt that with David as king he would lose his position and his prestige. Managing power has always been dangerous for people.

What Abner did caused problems. It divided the kingdom and led to war. Ishbosheth was not chosen by God and he knew it, but pride and a lust for power kept him going the wrong way. He had powerful supporters, but he did not feel secure; not only because David was a mighty warrior and very popular, but also, deep down in his heart he felt that he did not have God’s support. He always needed Abner’s support and felt compelled to do what he told him to.

Pride and lust for power led to bad choices and those led to guilt, insecurity and a sense of obligation. He felt he could lose his position just as easily as he had got it. He became suspicious of everyone, “seeing spooks”, imagining threats where there were none, being afraid of his own shadow. That is what made him accuse Abner wrongfully of having an affair with his father’s widow. But when he touched Abner, he touched the wrong man. Abner had put him there and Abner would take him down. His suspicious mind and false accusation made him lose his strongest supporter and eventually caused his defeat and his death.

A suspicious mind, constantly expecting the worst from people, is an awful thing, especially in a leader, but it happens so often when one is not confident that he is chosen by God to be where he is. It is so much easier when we commit our lives to God, do things right and let him put us where He wants us to be.

Dear Lord, guide my life now and always, so that I can live confidently, being free from fear and suspicion, in Jesus’ name I pray, amen.