God has spoken ... so what?

It is good to have confidence that the Bible is God's Word to us. But Dale Ralph Davis reminds us that so often, that is simply not good enough.

Commenting on the account of Abner, the late King Saul's command-in-chief, in 2 Samuel 2:12-3:39, Davis highlights the irony that Abner, though knowing full well that God had promised the kingdom to David, persisted to establish an alternate kingdom under Saul's son Ishbosheth and waged ongoing military campaigns against David and his people (though as the story unfolds, he was actually labouring to solidify his own power!).

Abner knew clearly what God had spoken ... but so what?

Davis' comments are very insightful:

Since Abner clearly knew that Yahweh had promised David the kingship 93:9-10, 17-18), his armed resistance seems baffling. But for anyone who looks at humanity and history through the doctrine of original sin, it is not baffling at all. Only perverse.

Davis goes on to relate an incident in Germany during World War II as related in Albert Speer's Inside the Third Reich:

Abner's resistance reminds me of an anecdote about Hermann Goering, head of German's Luftwaffe in World War II. Sometime in 1942-43 Goering was upset with General Galland, commander of his fighter planes, for reporting to Hitler that several American fighter planes had been shot down over Aachen. Galland told Goering it was a true report. Goering was obstinate: That is simply not true. It's impossible. Galland challenged Goering to go to Aachen and see for himself - the downed planes were there. Goering then tried a more diplomatic approach, urging Galland to admit he had made a mistake. But Galland wouldn't budge, so Goering ended the debate: 'I officially assert that the American fighter planes did not reach Aachen.' Galland entered one last eye-witness objection: 'But, sir, they were there!' Goering lost all self control as he pontificated, 'I herewith give you an official order that they weren't there! Do you understand? The American fighters were not there!' Off he stalked.

Davis observes,

Never mind evidence. Never  mind facts. Never mind testimony. Goering will believe what he wants to believe. Never mind Yahweh's promise to David. Never mind that Abner himself can quote the promise.! Never mind that Yahweh has already established David as king in Judah. Abner will try to impose his own authority. It is absurd; it is, in a word, sin.

Davis concludes with these sobering words:

Abner is not far from any one of us. We share an Abner-nature that harbors sin's stupidity, perversity, and twistedness. Let Abner preach to you. Let him tell you that it is possible to know the truth but not embrace the truth, to quote the truth but not submit to the truth, to hold the truth and yet assault the truth. And so Abner joins all the other anti-christs who strut around and say, 'I will be king' (1 Kings 1:5).

 We'd do well to take this to heart and cling on tightly to the mercies of our God through Christ Jesus our Saviour King.