Speak up for peace! (2 Samuel 2.1ff)

The division with Israel that followed David's sin mirrors the division that occurs within churches. Paul described this in 1 Corinthians, "..one says, 'I follow Paul,' and another, 'I follow Appolos...'" Where does it start? Usually with people who lose sight of their relationship with God and one another in pursuit of some selfish end. When Abner, Saul's military commander, mobilized his supporters in opposition to the new King, David, the battle was on! Never mind that Saul had long since been deposed by God Himself (1 Samuel 16), Abner pursues his goal of keeping alive the House of Saul and makes Ishbosheth its king.

The consequences of such selfishness is always the undoing of God's plan for His people: peace, fellowship and life. In place of these, Israel witnessed war, enmity and death. We read that the battle raged that day ("the battle was very fierce that day") until Abner, the original perpertrator, had the sense to call for an end to it all: "Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that the end will be bitter? How long will it be before you tell your people to turn from the pursuit of your brothers?"

"Blessed are the peacemakers," Jesus said - and He was talking to His disciples! Sometimes it only takes one person to shame many into the truth. Sometimes one voice can silence an angry crowd bent on destruction. Blessed is the peacemaker! Even Abner's arch-enemy, Joab, acknowledged this: "If you had not spoken, surely the men would not have given up the pursuit of their brothers until morning."

Which of us has the courage to stand against division within our churches? It only takes one of us to make peace.