Joel M Bradshaw

26Abner called out to Joab, “Must the sword devour forever? Don’t you realize that this will end in bitterness? How long before you order your men to stop pursuing their fellow Israelites?”–2 Samuel 2

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. (Ephesians 4:31)

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. (Romans 12:18)

1. Saul had just died, and David was the next anointed king. But generals still loyal to Saul decided instead to play politics.
2. This made the kingdom more about loyalties and the choice of man than about faithfulness and the choice of God.
3. Thus, the armies of Saul attacked the armies of David.
4. Abner’s line about bitterness stood out to me today.
5. This is the same word, marah, that Naomi used in the book of Ruth to describe herself regarding God.
6. Bitterness is anger that has been slow-cooking deep within you for far too long. Is bitterness present it in your relationships?
7. Can you instead show grace to an enemy in your life? Bitterness leads to nowhere healthy, my friends.–JMB