The Death of Ishbosheth

This passage deals with the murder of Saul's son Ishbosheth by his own officials. Hearing of Abner's death, Ishbosheth trembled with fear and relied entirely on Baanah and Rechab, who were supposed to protect him. But the two officials, judging that Ishbosheth was of no more use to them, betrayed him and took his head to David. They thought David would rejoice that his enemy had been killed and that they would be rewarded.

But David did not tolerate what they had done; instead he was very angry. David knew that killing Ishbosheth in his bed was a wicked act. Baanah and Rechab had killed the king only to satisfy their own greed, not for God. God regards the process and the heart as more important than the result. God does not accept formal devotion or false loyalty. God wants honest faith and sincerity.

The death of Ishbosheth shows the tragic results that human will and greed bring. David, by contrast, did not take revenge on his enemy himself but left it to God. David was patient, trusting that God would repay on his behalf. This faith of David's became the occasion for God to establish him as king. We must look back on the heart with which we serve God. We must distinguish whether our faith is truly directed toward God or toward our own interests. We are led to think about what God wants and how we should live.