It Must End

“Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren?” (2Sa 2:26 AV)

At some point, this war has to stop.  This is Abner’s point.  Total destruction is not the point of war.  This reminds me of Paul’s words in Galatians.  “But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.” (Ga 5:15 AV) Paul’s point was valid.  If there is a disagreement among God’s people, sometimes it has to be worked out.  The process may be a bit uncomfortable and maybe even a little volatile.  But it needs to be worked out.  When it is, though, be sure all are left standing.  Abner was stating the same thing.  Joab was pursuing Abner because Abner killed Joab’s brother Asahel in self-defense.  This killing has to stop.  If not, it will only end in bitterness.  This ought not to be so.

I have had my share of experiences in churches that seemed to be in the state of dysfunction.  It is necessary, sometimes, for disagreements to elevate to a level of volatility for the sake of a concrete position on the issue causing confrontation to rise to the top and become the dominate position.  This does not mean the end result was God’s intention.  All it reveals is the general feeling or position of the strongest subgroup of a larger group.  It does not prove who was right and who was wrong.  All it does is clarify.  There are two observations we can make here.  First, the problem was created because there were two loyalties.  One to the house of Saul.  The other to David.  Peace did not come until there was unity around a single leader.  Right or wrong, disagreements abate when there is a central authority that can unite both sides.  This is why the Bible instructs us to submit to those who have the rule over us.  Pastoral authority is essential to church unity.  The church that does not believe in pastoral authority is the church that often suffers strife.  The second is equally important.  If strife continues, bitterness become the end result.  At some point, the strife must cease.  If it does not, there will be nothing left but hard feelings.

The Bible tells us, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Ps 133:1 AV) This is impossible when all want to lead and no one wants to follow.  David was the ordained king of Israel.  Ishbosheth was not.  He believed he was entitled by right of succession.  The problem is God’s will.  The people had their way.  The result was Saul.  Now, God gets His way.  When these battles occur, whether in a church or family, let us be sure we understand there is a point of no return.  A point when one too many shots are fired and it will only result in bitterness without any hope of healing.