AS WE SOW SO SHALL WE ALSO REAP

PROCLAMATION

“Joab and his brother Abishal murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.”  2 Samuel 3:30 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

The war between the house of Saul in the northern kingdom and the house of David in the southern kingdom lasted a long time, and the house of David was slowly winning the war even though they were outnumbered. (2 Samuel 3:1)  Abner, the son of Ner, had been the commander of the army under Saul and he was primarily responsible for Ish-Bosheth, Saul’s son, being made king over the northern kingdom. (2 Samuel 2:8)  Abner was in the battle at Gibeon between the northern and southern kingdoms, and he and the Israelites were defeated by David and his men. (2 Samuel 2:17)  As Abner fled the scene he was chased by Asahel, the brother of Joab.  Asahel continued to pursue him until Abner stopped running, faced him, fought him, and killed him by thrusting a spear into his stomach, through him, that came out of his back. (2 Samuel 2:23)  Joab and his brother Abishal continued to pursue Abner until the men of Benjamin rallied behind Abner. (2 Samuel 2:24-25)  Some time later, as this civil war continued, Abner fell out with Ish-Bosheth and he decided to help David unify the two kingdoms. (2 Samuel 3:8-10)  Abner met with the elders of Israel to discuss this and then later met with David. (2 Samuel 3:17-21)  When Joab, the commander of David’s army, learned of this meeting he was upset. (2 Samuel 3:23-25)  Then Joab sent for Abner, under the pretense of having another meeting with David, called him aside and killed him, to avenge his brother Asahel, by stabbing Abner in the stomach (2 Samuel 3:27) as he did to his brother.

APPLICATION

As Abner killed Asahel, so Joab killed Abner.  What Abner did was done to him.  As we sow, so shall we also reap. (Job 4:8 and Galatians 6:7)  We should treat all people like we would like to be treated.  As children, believers are taught to obey “the golden rule”.  We are to do unto others as we would have them to do unto us. (Luke 6:31)  At some point in our lives we lose track of this Biblical principal and the influence of the world seems to overtake us.  We need to let The Holy Spirit of God direct our behavior.  He that sows to the flesh shall reap corruption; but he that sows to The Spirit shall reap everlasting life. (Galatian 6:8)  He that sows sparingly will reap sparingly; but he that sows bountifully will reap bountifully. (2 Corinthians 9:6)  As we sow, so shall we also reap.