Fri.’s Devo - Abner and Joab

Read: 2 Samuel 2:12-3:39; John 13:1-30; Psalm 119:1-16; Proverbs 15:29-30 Ishbosheth’s army commander was Abner who had been Saul’s uncle and commander. Joab was David’s nephew and commander of Judah. Abner and Joab met and decided to have a duel. Twelve of each of their best warriors would fight in man to man combat while they watched. They killed one another and no-one survived, so a battle ensued as a result. Joab, David’s commander had two brothers named Abishai and Asahel. The youngest one, Asahel ran after Abner relentlessly. Abner tried to get him to leave him alone so he wouldn’t have to kill him but Asahel kept chasing him. Finally, Abner thrust the butt end of his spear into Abner’s stomach and killed him. *** Abner’s troops stopped on the top of a hill and shouted down to Joab that they needed to stop this needless killing. Joab agreed and they stopped chasing them. Joab took the body of his brother and his troops back home where they buried Asahel in Bethlehem. *** The country was divided between those loyal to Saul and those loyal to David. David’s side got stronger and stronger while Saul’s dynasty got weaker and weaker. *** David had six sons born in Hebron. *** In Saul’s camp, Ishbosheth, the king accused Abner of sleeping with one of Saul’s concubines. Abner became so enraged for being called out, especially after all he had done for Ishbosheth that he decided to take all his support and give it to David. He sent a message to David saying he would like to join his side. David told him he would receive him if he would bring his wife back to him as a test he was loyal to him. Abner went and took Michal from her new husband, Palti who mourned her leaving. *** Abner went to the leaders of Israel and told them he was going to help them make David their king which was what they had wanted to do for a long time. *** Abner met David at Hebron and had a great celebration. Meanwhile, as Abner was leaving, Joab and his troops were coming home with plunder from the battles they had fought. When Joab heard of what had just happened, he sent for Abner to return and meet with him. When they met secretly, he stabbed Abner in the stomach for stabbing his brother in the stomach. *** David was so upset at Abner when he found out that he put a curse on every generation of Joab’s family to have open sources or leprosy, be crippled, die by the sword, or live in poverty. *** Then David had a great funeral honoring Abner and his life. He wrote a song for Abner and sang it at his funeral. All Israel saw that David had nothing to do with Abner’s death. *** David turned Joab and Abishai over to God to repay them for what they had done. *** In John, Jesus knew that this Passover he would die, so he took off his robe and washed the disciple’s feet. Peter started to protest when he came to him, but when Jesus explained that if he didn’t, Peter wouldn’t belong to him. Then Peter wanted Jesus to wash his hands and his head also. Jesus explained that a person who bathes his whole body, only needs to wash his feet. What he was referring to was when we are saved, we are totally cleansed. Then as we walk though life, we get little sins on us in our daily “walk” and we just have to wash off our feet to be clean again. He gave them the command to wash other’s feet - in other words, forgive them. *** Jesus told them that there was one with them who ate with them who would betray him. When this is all over, they would believe that he was the Messiah. He gave Judas the bread he dipped in the bowl and sent him out to do his dirty deed. This flew over the disciple’s head, but they understood later. *** So many battles could be stopped if people would just forgive. Asahel and Abner would have lived out their days if they had either forgiven or been forgiven. *** Lord, may we forgive like you forgive. May we not throw stones at people, but live in the fear of the Lord. May we be like David who turned those who were stronger than him over to the Lord to do as he sees fit.