Daily Devotional for Thursday, August 24

The Betrayal of Abner

“And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying also, Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee,” 2 Samuel 3:12.

Benedict Arnold is a name synonymous with being a traitor because he changed sides during the Revolutionary War. He had the trust and admiration of General George Washington but felt he was being overlooked for promotion and treated wrongly by Congress. He felt he would be better rewarded and more appreciated by the British army, and that he could help them win the war. Unfortunately for him, he had to flee to England where he was not very popular to some in power because of all he had done when he was the enemy. He later moved to Canada where he was very unpopular and then back to London where he died ten years later. His betrayal did not work out as he thought it might. The same can be said of Abner’s betrayal of Ish-bosheth, king of Israel.

Abner had made an agreement with David to bring all of Israel to David as their king. The problem was that Joab, who was the head of David’s armies, was not in on this plan and hated Abner for killing his brother (2 Samuel 2:23, 24). Joab did not trust Abner and decided to kill him to avenge his brother (2 Samuel 3:26, 27). The one who had betrayed had also been betrayed himself, though David was innocent in his death and had mourned his death. ”And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth” (2 Samuel 3:33).

REFLECTION: Judas paid a high price for his betrayal of Jesus Christ. He tried to return the reward for his betrayal, but it did not turn out as he had hoped. “And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself” (Matthew 27:5).

Tim Chambers