I Will Put My Trust In God Alone

Synopsis     2Sam 3:32-4:4     11/21/2018 

David mourned and fasted over Abner’s death. And because of his lament and public grief, all Israel knew that he was innocent. David also expressed his frustration with Joab. And he prayed for the Lord to repay Joab for his ruthlessness. 

Soon enough, Ishbaal heard about Abner’s death. The news made him despondent. His mental state was so affected that the whole nation became anxious.  

Ishbaal Put His Trust In Abner Alone 

Ishbaal had put his trust in Abner. And he did this not without reason. Abner was a great man. He was a legendary leader in Israel. And he was the one who had actually crowned Ishbaal king in the first place.  

So, it made sense that Ishbaal would seek Abner to continue to assist in leading the nation. But Ishbaal had empowered Abner beyond mere assistance. In fact, he had given over power in exchange for the prestige of the throne and the guarantee of his personal safety. His trust in Abner was an unhealthy dependency that left him helpless once Abner had died.  

I Will Put My Trust In God Alone 

It’s been a year of lessons for me.  

People die – they don’t live forever. And when they’re gone, the role they filled in my life is unavoidably affected. And the extent to which I was relying on that other person is exposed.  

It’s not just grief at the loss. Feeling the sadness is right. It’s appropriate. And it’s necessary. 

But despondency and the inability to go on is more than grief. It’s a calling out. For God created me capable of meeting the challenges of my life. It’s only in my misplaced trust in another person, or in my misguided abdication of personal responsibility, that I feel vulnerable.  

None of this is from God. And so I have a decision to make.  

“Trust in the Lord O my soul” – it’s not a euphemism. It’s the decision I have to make.  

“Thus says the LORD: Cursed is the man who trusts in human beings, who makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD. He is like a barren bush in the wasteland that enjoys no change of season, But stands in lava beds in the wilderness, a land, salty and uninhabited. Blessed are those who trust in the LORD; the LORD will be their trust. They are like a tree planted beside the waters that stretches out its roots to the stream: It does not fear heat when it comes, its leaves stay green; In the year of drought it shows no distress, but still produces fruit.” Jer 17:5-8