A MOST acute political crisis had been reached in Israel, when, King Saul and his three sons being slain on Mount Gilboa, David’s claim to the throne was contested by Ishbosheth, another son of the deceased monarch.
Ishbosheth was strenuously, though fatally, supported by Abner, the general-in-chief of the forces of his late father; and, so far as numbers and worldly influence were concerned, his hopes of ultimate success were very well founded. He had the favor of all the tribes, except that to which his rival belonged―the royal tribe of Judah; and he carried the prestige of direct descent from the king. Everything seemed auspicious. A brief struggle would, no doubt, terminate in his favor, and he should wear his father’s crown.
But God had ordered otherwise. David had already been anointed in secret by Samuel the prophet, whilst Judah had recognized in him the coming king; as, indeed, he was the man after God’s own heart.
And wonderful it is to trace the gradual accomplishment of God’s purposes. Thy must be fulfilled, though long opposed. His mills grind slow but sure.
And so in the case before us. It happened thus. Ishbosheth preferred a grossly false charge against the honor of his general, who at once resented by forsaking him, and going over to David. This was, of course, a terrible blow to the cause of Ishbosheth, and proved its destruction.
By the way, what irreparable mischief is oft-times brought about by false accusations, and groundless charges! One of them cost Ishbosheth his throne. A thousand pities for him that he had not held his tongue; or, at the very least, sifted the story to the bottom before making such a charge. Abner, cut to the quick, deserted his standard, and offered his sword to a better master.
A happy change for Abner! To espouse a cause that is radically wrong, because divinely discountenanced, is the part of a madman; yet, in the truest sense, it is deplorably common. Who would embark in a foundering ship? Who, with his eyes open, and possessed of ordinary sanity? Yet I am guilty of no breach of charity when I say that the majority follow the loadings of the god of this world―the devil―who is conducting them, in a thousand different ways, straight down to hell. And are their eyes not open? Are they not sinning with a high hand in broad daylight?
Ah! these are serious matters! May the reader be disillusioned! Charity speaks the truth, and would disclose error.
Abner, then, flings over the ill-starred cause of Ishbosheth, whose very name is suggestive. It means, the “man of shame,” and a shame it were to support such a man.
He had interposed himself between Abner’s conscience and David far too long; and Israel, too, had been beguiled in like manner. They had opposed themselves to the divinely ordered enthronement of David―a serious position to take!
Now, however, the crisis was reached, and Abner “had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past to be king over you, now then do it.”
He calls for decision for David. In times past, he says, ye sought him; but, alas, he was forsaken for the man of shame.
When you all saw the fair stripling-shepherd stand in God-given triumph over Israel’s mighty foe, and win such a victory as silenced the Philistine, delivered the trembling ranks of Israel, and caused its daughters to sing that “David had slain his tens of thousands,” then ye sought him to be king; then he stood unrivaled and peerless before you; then naught was too good for David; but, alas, another claimant was soon preferred, and David allowed to shift for himself, and wander from cave to forest alone!
And the result to yourselves? Only shame! You followed a man of shame to your confusion and loss and dishonor!
That is, the “times past.” It has been a wretched, shameful past. You have sown to the wind and reaped the whirlwind. So do all who prefer Ishbosheth to David; all, in other words, who choose the world instead of Christ, and sin instead of obedience to God. “The world passeth away, and the lust thereof, but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.”
Yes, time was when ye sought for David—happy moment soon forgotten, followed by a dark and dismal interval―a humbling period―but another gracious opportunity dawns, another gladsome occasion is granted. Once more, and perhaps never again, sounds the plaintive call, “Now then do it.”
David or Ishbosheth―nay, David or death and destruction! Who? Which? David the beloved, or Ishbosheth the man of shame―which? Love or shame! Come, which? Divine favor, or shame and everlasting contempt, which?
Oh! decide for David—for Jesus. And why? Soon Ishbosheth died in cold blood―murdered by two of his quasi-followers, and his cause perished, while that of David prospered continually until it reached the zenith of favor.
He was a wise man who sided with David―nor do I think, dear reader, that I am writing in a parable, or in words difficult of application.
Ask your own conscience if there never was a time when you almost decided to be a Christian; perhaps at the deathbed of some loved one, when you witnessed the power of Christ over the great enemy, and when your loved one passed away in songs of triumph; perhaps in some warm evangelistic meeting, when you heard of the dying love of Jesus, and His glorious victory over death and Satan, and you were “almost persuaded”; but, alas, some wretched man of shame interposed, you yielded, you resisted the Spirit; you refused salvation; and oh! the dark, dreary interval!
But, thank God, grace is again calling you. Your conscience is afresh awakened. Sins rise as a very mountain before you. You have reached, as Israel had, a crisis in your spiritual history. Things cannot remain as they are. You would like to be pardoned, and made right with God.
Again, thank God for such grace. You would like! “Now then do it!” Now is the accepted time―now is the day of salvation. DECIDE FOR CHRIST! You are welcome still; and it is Christ or judgment, salvation or damnation, one or other―which?
Ah! come; let your desire of times past be gratified now; let every unfortunate mistake of the past be obliterated by a complete and final committal of yourself to Jesus now. His blood can cleanse. He is (I say reverently) the coming man; God’s anointed King―eternal Son and perfect Saviour! His cause must triumph―His enemies perish―His name and fame prevail for evermore! Every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess to Him.
Now then, yes; “Now then do it.”
“Decide for Christ today,
And God’s salvation see;
Yield soul and body, heart and will,
To Him who died for thee.”
J. W. S.