Despite having walked alongside David and, as his army commander, becoming a legend by defeating great enemies, Joab, the king's nephew, failed to learn about his king's character and his dependence on the Lord. Undoubtedly, David had a lot of grief with many who walked alongside him, and Joab was one of those who frustrated him by not learning the king's way of serving God!

No one should seek for themselves something that God has not given them, nor should they act wrongly in order to hold on to a position. If they do the right thing, they will be blessed by the Lord. But if their heart is not sincere before Heaven, they will achieve nothing. Whoever the leader raised up by the Most High is, never rebel against him. In fact, the sovereign Lord is the one who raises up or dismisses anyone, so don't try to harm anyone.

David was not a vengeful man, but as the leader of Israel, he could not help but rebuke Joab for the injustice committed against Abner (read 2 Samuel 3.22 and other verses). The Lord was behind the army commander's decisions, because until then, Ishbosheth, Saul's son, had been the heir to the kingdom, judging by natural decision. Abner resented him and sought out Jesse's son to give him the kingdom, but he was treacherously killed by Joab.

For David, the deaths of Abner and Amasa were sinful acts committed against himself, since Abner wanted to give him back the kingdom that was his by decision of the Lord, long before Saul died (1 Kings 20:10ff). Between the lines, David was warning Solomon to do justice to Joab when he became king, because those two crimes could not go unpunished. We must be careful what we do against people. God judges! The Savior warned: But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. (Matthew 12.36)

If we love the Lord and His position as Sovereign over the Church and our lives, we can never use our ministerial authority to overlook someone's mistake. To fail to rebuke someone guilty of a bad act is to collaborate with the devil and his demons in their work of destruction. Rebuke can save a life (Proverbs 19:18).

Joab's crime should be judged; after all, the Word of the Lord forbade it in Israel (Exodus 20:13). Deliberate sin for personal and futile reasons should not be tolerated, and whoever covers it up is equally guilty. Fear God and live well!

Beware of adultery! If you commit this sin, you will never be considered innocent. Respecting your neighbor's home is the least you can do, because it was God who brought the couple together (Matthew 19:6). Those who cheat will not be saved if they don't repent. Get right with the Lord while there's still time!

          In Christ, with love,

           R. R. Soares