The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 11 July 2025
Daily Fountain Devotional 11 July 2025 TOPIC: Do Not Ignore the Advice of Elders
SCRIPTURE READING – 2 Samuel 2:12-24(NKJV)
2:12. Now Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.
2:13. And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out and met them by the pool of Gibeon. So they sat down, one on one side of the pool and the other on the other side of the pool.
2:14. Then Abner said to Joab, “Let the young men now arise and compete before us.” And Joab said, “Let them arise.”
2:15. So they arose and went over by number, twelve from Benjamin, [followers] of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve from the servants of David.
2:16. And each one grasped his opponent by the head and [thrust] his sword in his opponent’s side; so they fell down together. Therefore that place was called the Field of Sharp Swords, which [is] in Gibeon.
2:17. So there was a very fierce battle that day, and Abner and the men of Israel were beaten before the servants of David.
2:18. Now the three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab and Abishai and Asahel. And Asahel [was as] fleet of foot as a wild gazelle.
2:19. So Asahel pursued Abner, and in going he did not turn to the right hand or to the left from following Abner.
2:20. Then Abner looked behind him and said, “[Are] you Asahel?” He answered, “I [am.”]
2:21. And Abner said to him, “Turn aside to your right hand or to your left, and lay hold on one of the young men and take his armor for yourself.” But Asahel would not turn aside from following him.
2:22. So Abner said again to Asahel, “Turn aside from following me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How then could I face your brother Joab?”
2:23. However, he refused to turn aside. Therefore Abner struck him in the stomach with the blunt end of the spear, so that the spear came out of his back; and he fell down there and died on the spot. So it was [that] as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died, stood still.
2:24. Joab and Abishai also pursued Abner. And the sun was going down when they came to the hill of Ammah, which [is] before Giah by the road to the Wilderness of Gibeon.
Anglican Daily Fountain Devotional 11 July 2025 STUDY:
Today’s passage reveals to us that ignoring advice from a superior is very dangerous, especially when such a person is experienced. As Abner who defected from the camp of Saul to the camp of David left the contest between him and general Joab, Asahel, the swift-footed soldier and the younger brother of Joab pursued him.
Abner was reluctant in killing him and warned him to turn back from the pursuit him, but Asahel would not listen. When Asahel drew near to him and closed the gap, then Abner used his own spear to kill him on the spot. Beloved, do not ignore the advice of elders because what an elder would see while sitting, a young man cannot see it even if he climbs to the top of a mountain.
Many young people have lost their lives as a result of rebellion. God is the Supreme Being and anyone who ignores his instructions ignores life. Asahel ignored the advice of Abner and died (vv. 21-23). King Saul ignored the instruction of God through Prophet Samuel and God took the kingdom away from him and he died as a common man on the battle field.
The sons of Prophet Eli ignored the warning of their father and died prematurely. They could not fulfil God’s mandate upon their lives. Do you have the attitude of ignoring wise counsel? God wants you to change today, because in the multitude of counsel, there is safety.
PRAYER: Dear Lord, help me not to ignore the wise counsel of the elders around me, Amen!
THOUGHT FOR TODAY: God says “I give good gifts to My children when they ask. Matthew 7:11”