Abner called to Joab, “Must the sword consume forever? Do you not understand that a bitter taste will result in the end? How long will you refuse to command the people to withdraw from chasing their brothers?” 2 Samuel 2:26
Saul had perished, and Ish-Bosheth his son arose to the throne to rule Israel. Hod had already chosen the line of David to replace Saul. This would be forever.
The two factions went to war. Abner installed Ish-Bosheth as king and led the Benjamites, and Joab led David’s valiant men. The bloodshed was real. The fighting intense among Israelis… Brothers.
Joab pursued Abner. Abner stopped and his men assembled on a hilltop. This would be the last stand. Abner asks three seeming normal questions.
Must the sword consume forever?
No. The point was that this fighting would destroy all until it was gone. This question also has a practical application. Jesus came just to ensure that the aword, that is death, would not consume forever.
For since death came by man, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the first fruits; afterward, those who are Christ’s at His coming. Then comes the end when He will deliver up the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He will reign until He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. 1 Corinthians 15:21–26
Death is the last enemy to be defeated.
Abner continued… Do you not understand that a bitter taste will result in the end?
Yes. There would be bitterness for the families who lost loved ones. Abner would end up with 18 times more casualties more than David. This has echoes back to the previous account where all of Israel pursued and almost wiped out the tribe of Benjamin. All of the tribe of Benjamin would understand the bitterness of the devastating casualties.
Yet as before, this question has a broader scope of application in the answer. Death would consume the entirety of Adam’s race. Death would bring judgment, and all condemned in it.
Jesus has defeated death by giving the gift of eternal life to anyone who wants it. For those who have not availed themselves of this free gift, that bitter taste will come when standing before the judgement of Jesus as an infidel. Knowing He is King and this is regrettably the consequences of your own choice.
As it is appointed for men to die once, but after this comes the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many, and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin but to save those who eagerly wait for Him. Hebrews 9:27–28
It does not have to be that way.
Abner finally asked… How long will you refuse to command the people to withdraw from chasing their brothers?
The questions caused Joab to call off the not-so-civil war.
Abner had just as much culpability in the fight as Joab and his brothers. But Joab was hotly pursuing Abner to avenge the brutal death of Asahel. Joab would not have stopped pursuit of judgment.
Again, the answer has a practicality that transcends the time and place. Joab could have rightly pursued judgment, but to what end?
It could not replace what was already lost. That is the same futility every human has when they understand the perfection required to gain eternal life with God. No amount of obedience can rectify past disobedience.
If you fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as sinners. For whoever shall keep the whole law and yet offend in one point is guilty of breaking the whole law. For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not kill.” Now if you do not commit adultery, yet you kill, you have become a lawbreaker. James 2: 8–11
Abner sought mercy from certain death. Joab relented. Just as is necessary for any human to seek mercy from the justice due for sins… Death. Sin pursues, bringing the bitterness of death. God offers mercy from that judgment.
Just as the brother of Jesus wrote… There is another way.
So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. For he who has shown no mercy will have judgment without mercy, for mercy triumphs over judgment. James 2:12–13
Just as we have been granted mercy, we should freely give it to others.
Be like Abner, seek mercy.
Be like Joab, freely give mercy.
