Day 110: Mourning Enemies and Enemies as Friends

Today we read 2 Samuel 3-4 and 1 Chronicles 3-4, and Psalm 24. This story teaches us something important about David that the author seems to want us to know based on the pattern and the two stories back to back regarding the response to enemies. There is wisdom in wanting to make our enemies friends and mourning our enemies, not celebrating their demise. The point is not about giving trust to someone who is not worthy, but to keep or allow a door to be open for the “if” or “when” an enemy may want to come home. They too might come to a place where they want to be reconciled and forgiven by God. To do this and to know how requires God’s wisdom. This story is about forgiveness, ending a cycle of violence, and recognizing there may be God’s wisdom in making an enemy who shows signs of being trustworthy and a softening heart, to become a friend, as was the case with David and Abner. The point about ending cycles of violence, mourning an enemy, and following God’s way is also emphasized in the story about David’s response to the murder of Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son.

Resources:

Father Mike Schmitz and Jeff Cavins: Day 122 and 123, The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz) on Apple Podcasts - The Death of Ish-bosheth and Abner is Killed.

Credits:

Podcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.