Sun.’s Devo - Abner and Joab

Read: 2 Samuel 2:12-3:39; John 13:1-30; Psalm 119:1-16; Provers 15:29-30 Abner was Ishbosheth’s army commander and Joab was David’s. They met up with only a brook between them and decided to pit their best 12 warriors against each other. They grabbed their opponent’s hair and stabbed one another killing all 24 in a matter of minutes. A fierce battle then ensued. Joab had two brothers who fought with him. The youngest, Asahel chased Abner relentlessly. Abner tried to persuade him to stop but Asahel continued untill finally Abner thrust his blunt end of his spear through Asahel’s chest. When Joab heard that Abner had killed his brother he was out for revenge. He met Abner, and Abner was able to offer peace so the battle ended. Each went to their homes. Joab’s army had only 19 casualties where Abner’s men had 360. The war went on for years with David’s side becoming stronger and stronger while Ishbosheth’s became weaker and weaker. Six sons were born to David while he lived in Hebron. One day Ishbosheth accused Abner of sleeping with one of his father’s concubine, Rizpah. Abner got so offended he swore he would go to David’s side and help him win all of Israel. He did go to David and promise to help him. David said he would believe he was loyal if he returned his wife, Michal, to him. Michal was Saul’s daughter who had been promised to him. Abner went and took her from her husband and brought her to David. Amazing how these two women were used as pivotable pawns in the story of Israel. Abner persuaded Israel to follow David and help his prophecy come true. Then he went to tell David that all Israel was behind him. David entertained Abner and his men and they made a covenant of peace. Abner left to go back home as Joab was returning from winning a battle. When he found out what Abner had done he was upset. He told David that it was just a trick. He could only see Abner as the murderer of his brother and his heart was bent on revenge. He ended up following after Abner and stabbing him. When David found out what Joab had done, he was upset. He declared his innocence and cursed Joab and his family with open sores or leprosy or being crippled or poor. (I wonder if the man from Acts 14:8 was one of his descendants.) David mourned for Abner and wrote his funeral song. All Israel knew that David was innocent of his death. David also knew that if Joab and his other brother, Abishai was allowed to live, he would always be dangerous. He asked God to repay them for their evil deeds. In John, Jesus was with his disciples for the last time. He washed their feet to represent their baptism. He was also putting on them his authority to walk as he had walked on the earth. After he had washed their feet he declared that not all of them was clean, speaking of Judas. What he did was a physical action but it could not clean the heart. He explained that he had washed their feet as an example of what they must do for others. He told them that one of them would betray him and even demonstrated who it was. Jesus wanted us to know that Satan didn’t get away with anything. Lord, it is so comforting to know that You know everything and are not worried or taken by surprise. We trust in Your plan.