Topic: Reward For The Wicked [November 21, 2016]
Text: 2 Samuel 4:1-12
Key Verse: “And David commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up over the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth, and buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron” (2 Samuel 4:12).
The Roman leader, Julius Caesar was planning a military expedition against the vast Partian Empire when some senatorial conspirators, led by Marcus Brutus stabbed him 23 times, killing him on March 44 BC. The conspirators then met their own death in the battle that followed their brutal murder of Caesar. The tragedy in our text is beyond imagination.
The issues that eventually led to the divided kingdom of Israel started after the inglorious death of Saul, their first king. Closely following the revengeful killing of Abner, the captain of Israel’s host in Hebron, Ishboshet, the son of Saul was brutally murdered in his sleep by his two servants, Baanah and Rechab, who were captain of bands. When they finally came to David with the severed head of Ishboshet, expecting a reward, he commanded them to be killed as punishment for their unprovoked brutality.
The reasons for the savage and chilling multiple killings during this period in Israel’s history was the desperate and inordinate desire for rewards and privileges. Abner, the captain of the hosts of Israel was killed because Joab wanted to consolidate his position as captain and to avenge the death of his brother, Asahel in war. Ishboshet was murdered by these two servants because they hoped to get some rewards from David for avenging his desperation enemies.
Inordinate desire and for promotion and rewards is behind the many incidents of conspiracy and murder we hear in our homes and workplaces today. All acts of wickedness will be judged on the final day. All evil people will, one day, have their day in the end-time court.
Thought for the day: All evil men will have their day in court.
Bible Reading in one Year: Ezekiel 36-38
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
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