1 Samuel 26:14
And David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, Answerest thou not, Abner? Then Abner answered and said, Who art thou that criest to the king?
1 Samuel 26:14
David’s cry to Abner—“Answerest thou not, Abner?”—is a public accusation issued from a place of moral clarity. Abner’s abrupt, defensive reply (Who art thou that criest to the king?) shows how leadership can be insulated by power and insulated from accountability. The scene turns into a public moment of testimony and challenge, warning that the king’s circle is not beyond scrutiny.
The verse underscores the legitimacy of calling leaders to account, even when they sit in the royal seat. It reinforces the biblical pattern that moral courage sometimes requires courageous confrontation and public witness against corruption or harm.
In governance, churches, or families, it’s appropriate to raise concerns respectfully when leadership oversteps boundaries. Practical steps: gather evidence, choose an appropriate forum, and speak truth with humility and courage. The aim is restoration and justice, not humiliation or revenge.
Cross-References: Esther 7:3-4; 2 Samuel 12:7-9; Ezekiel 3:17-21; Proverbs 27:5-6