When Saul’s son Ish-bosheth heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he gave up, and all Israel was dismayed. (2 Samuel 4:1)
It’s interesting to me that the name Ish-bosheth means “man of shame”.
His name was originally “Esh-baal” which means “man of the Lord. (1 Chronicles 8:33)
But this “man of the Lord” became a “man of shame” because like his father Saul, he didn’t put his trust in God. And so when his world collapsed, instead of seeking God and his will, he simply gave up.
I was wondering this morning, “Had his brother Jonathan lived, what would have happened? What would he have done?”
He had told David, “You will be king of Israel and I will be second to you.” (1 Samuel 23:17)
Would he have so easily ceded the throne to David? I kind of think he would have. Because Jonathan was a man who trusted the Lord and desired to follow his will. He truly was a man of God.
That’s what I want to be.
Lord, let me be your man, trusting you, and following your will, moment to moment, day to day.
Moment to Moment (Bible blog) 