May 14, 2012
Joab had not joined Absalom's earlier rebellion, but he had joined Adonijah's rebellion. So when Joab heard about Adonijah's death, he ran to the sacred tent of the Lord and grabbed on to the horns of the altar. -- 1Kings 2: 28 (NLT)
Joab is an interesting yet sad character in the Bible and in the life of King David. Joab was actually the nephew of King David and rose through the military ranks to become general at one point. He was trusted, so much that he took part in the murder of Uriah with David to cover up his sin with Bathsheba. He led David's army to great and many victories. But Joab had a few problems we all can fall victim to -- he occasionally thought he knew better than the King. He occasionally disobeyed the King. And he did not finish strong.
Joab was instrumental is defending David during the rebellion of his son Absalom. This rebellion was one of the prices David had to pay for his sin involving Bathsheba, where coveting and lust turned into adultery and murder. Sin always takes us farther than we intended to go. But after Absalom was defeated and killed, King David wept bitterly. Perhaps it was because he knew that this was borne directly from his own sin and disobedience. Perhaps simply because he loved his son regardless of his rebellion -- sound familiar? Regardless, Joab was not pleased and thought he knew better:
Then Joab went to the king's room and said to him, "We saved your life today and the lives of your sons, your daughters, and your wives and concubines. Yet you act like this, making us feel ashamed of ourselves. You seem to love those who hate you and hate those who love you. You have made it clear today that your commanders and troops mean nothing to you. It seems that if Absalom had lived and all of us had died, you would be pleased. Now go out there and congratulate your troops, for I swear by the Lord that if you don't go out, not a single one of them will remain here tonight. Then you will be worse off than ever before." -- 2Samuel 19: 5-7 (NLT)
This is the servant talking to the Master. The subject talking to the King. Yet how often do we slip into the same bad habits. We think that we know how something should have turned out and when it doesn't we can rebuke God like Peter tried to when he didn't like the plan of the cross as laid out to him by Jesus. We wanted a relationship to work out but God said no. We wanted a promotion at work but God said no. We wanted to lead that certain ministry but God said no and despite the fact that He sees all time and is working all things out for our good, we petulantly think that we know better.
Secondly, the problem of thinking we know better is that we then start to excuse our own disobedience. In the case of Joab, David had given clear instructions that Absalom was not to harmed. When Joab's men found Absalom stuck in a tree, they at least remembered the instructions of the King and correctly saw what would happen if they disobeyed:
"I would not kill the king's son for even a thousand pieces of silver," the man replied to Joab. "We all heard the king say to you and Abishai and Ittai, "For my sake, please spare young Absalom.' And if I had betrayed the king by killing his son--and the king would certainly find out who did it--you yourself would be the first to abandon me." "Enough of this nonsense," Joab said. Then he took three daggers and plunged them into Absalom's heart as he dangled, still alive, in the great tree. Ten of Joab's young armor bearers then surrounded Absalom and killed him. -- 2Samuel 18: 12-15 (NLT)
Note the stark difference between the two sides here. To the ones who had spared Absalom, the only thing that mattered is what the King said -- nothing else. No faith in man, even their own general Joab over the orders of the King. But to Joab, the notion of sparing Absalom's life was "nonsense." He knew as the other men what the orders of the King was, but the fact that he felt the King was wrong, led him to be disobedient -- and brazenly so. We too can fall into this faulty thinking. We can think simply that we know better than God. Not that we would say it out loud or be as brash as plunging three daggers into the heart of God's plans but any disobedience is essentially the same anyway. You may say to yourself that this does not apply to you but realize the Bible is the King's orders. The Bible is directly from the mouth of God Himself. Yet how often do we plunge three daggers into what God has expressly told us to do and not to do? We too like Joab can think we know better. We too can be disobedient.
Lastly, Joab did not finish strong. He could have sided with Absalom in the first rebellion but he made the right choice. He led Israel to great victories. But as our key verse intimates, while he correctly chose the right side in the Absalom rebellion, he chose the wrong side in the rebellion of Adonijah. This was another of David's sons who tried to usurp the throne while David was dying in old age. But David named Solomon King. Joab sided with Adonijah. Perhaps he was still bitter over the actions of David in weeping for Absalom. Perhaps it was just political gamesmanship. Either way, this once proud general of David's army was struck down and killed holding on to the horns of the altar. He is a stark reminder to us all that prior correct decisions do not mean all future decisions will be righteous. Prior obedience to God does not automatically mean obedience in the future. What God starts in us He expects us to stay faithful to:
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me--the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. -- 2Timothy 4: 7-8 (NLT)
Joab did not finish the race. He did not remain faithful. He did not finish strong. I have seen it happen today as well. Good men and women of God, not finishing strong and it is so sad. Good men and women of God falling away, falling for the latest church growth fad, chasing after myths. Yesterday's successes do not promise tomorrow. The only thing that matters is today and what the King has said.
Rev. Anthony
