2 Samuel 3:1–11 (ESV)

There was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. And David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul became weaker and weaker.

And sons were born to David at Hebron: his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam of Jezreel; and his second, Chileab, of Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; and the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; and the sixth, Ithream, of Eglah, David’s wife. These were born to David in Hebron.

While there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was making himself strong in the house of Saul. Now Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. And Ish-bosheth said to Abner, “Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?” Then Abner was very angry over the words of Ish-bosheth and said, “Am I a dog’s head of Judah? To this day I keep showing steadfast love to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not given you into the hand of David. And yet you charge me today with a fault concerning a woman. God do so to Abner and more also, if I do not accomplish for David what the LORD has sworn to him, to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.” And Ish-bosheth could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him.

This passage seems curiously sexual—in the sense of alpha males having more mating opportunities.

David is blessed with many sons, but the house of Saul is in conflict. Abner is obviously the alpha male when Ish-bosheth asks him, “Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?”

Beta males aren’t supposed to question alpha males. Ish-bosheth doesn’t “know his place.”

So Abner throws a tantrum and announces he’s leaving. He’s decided to hitch his wagon to a bigger star.

Abner’s actions and allegiances aren’t based on any first principles. He’s governed by desire and temper. One little slight and everything changes. There’s a great lesson in that.

The Latin poet Virgil (70–19 BC) wrote, “Felix, qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas,” which translates to, “Fortunate, who was able to know the causes of things.”

https://academic.oup.com/qjmed/article/104/2/179/1579085

Virgil is pointing out the value of understanding things in terms of first principles. It’s one of the chief things that separates man from the animals. We do things for reasons, not because of feelings.

This includes confessing Christ. We should be familiar with the first principles underlying the faith we profess. Faith is emotional, but faith that’s rooted in emotion is as unstable as our emotions. Thus, here’s a four-week DEEP series that gives the first principles reasoning undergirding Christianity:

https://www.ailbe.org/resources/item/14728-faith-in-what

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These weekday DEEPs are written by Mike Slay. The Saturday ones are written by Matt Richardson. To subscribe to the DEEP click here:  https://www.ailbe.org/resources/community

The weekly study guides, which include questions for discussion or meditation, can be downloaded here: https://www.ailbe.org/resources/itemlist/category/91-deep-studies

Scripture taken from the English Standard Version. © Copyright 2001 by Crossway. Used by permission. All rights reserved.