By the pool of Gibeon, a fierce battle is in progress. Three fierce fighters are in the front of the fray, leading the men of Judah against Abner and the Benjaminites.
The three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Now Asahel was as swift of foot as a wild gazelle.
Suddenly Abner, the oldest of the Benjaminites, breaks and runs in retreat for the regroup site. Across the crashing swords and shields, Asahel sees Abner retreat, and makes a single-minded vow that he will not get away.
Asahel pursued Abner, turning neither to the right nor to the left as he followed him.
At first, Asahel is too far behind for Abner to be sure. Who is this man?
Then Abner looked back and said, "Is it you, Asahel?"
Asahel is not a man of many words.
He answered, "Yes, it is."
Abner keeps running, but when he looks back, he’s shocked. He thinks, “He’s already that much closer? This guy is fast!”
And Abner said to him, "Turn to your right or to your left, and seize one of the young men, and take his spoil."
But Asahel would not turn away from following him.
Asahel isn’t talking. Asahel is running. Now he is close enough that the features on his face are clear to Abner.
Abner said again to Asahel, "Turn away from following me; why should I strike you to the ground? How then could I show my face to your brother Joab?" But he refused to turn away.
Asahel doesn’t want to hear anything that Abner has to say. He’s heard enough words from this silver-tongued old rascal. The real reason for this chase is to silence that smooth talk. Then he can take the old man’s spear and deliver it to David. Surely that will prod David into taking some of that bounty that comes with being a king and sharing it with Asahel and his brothers. Just a few more steps …
So Abner struck him in the stomach with the butt of his spear, so that the spear came out at his back. He fell there, and died where he lay. And all those who came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died, stood still.
Like so many young people, Asahel makes a rash decision. He commits to an idea because he is sure of how things will end, and fails to see that the story may have more than one ending. He sees the weakness of his enemy, but is clueless to his own vulnerability. He is certain in his knowledge of the way that the world works, yet doesn’t understand anything about what this old man would call wisdom. He is going to take what he wants; there is absolutely no need to negotiate.
Does this story sound familiar to us? Do we know any young people who chase after life like this? I think that this is a condition so common to youth that it is almost proverbial.
Yet, in reality, we all need to be careful about being too single-minded. Too often we rush through to carry out our plans because we are too sure that we are right. But the confirmation of what is right comes from wisdom. The surest wisdom comes from conversation. The wisest conversation comes from a community of discernment: from people of diverse skills, experiences, backgrounds, and ages who seek to follow the leading of the Spirit toward the will of God.
That’s why we spend so much time talking at Westview. We want to avoid the error of being rash, single-minded people. Our hope, our prayer, is to be a community of godly discernment that will love our boys into our community and toward an eternity with God.
Be wise.
Blessings,
Ron
2 Samuel 2:18-23 – NRSV
