Date: 04-18-2021

Title: Revenge Leads To Trouble

(S) cripture:
    2 Samuel 3:31-39 (NLT2) Then David said to Joab and all those who were with him, “Tear your clothes and put on burlap. Mourn for Abner.” And King David himself walked behind the procession to the grave. 32 They buried Abner in Hebron, and the king and all the people wept at his graveside. 33 Then the king sang this funeral song for Abner: “Should Abner have died as fools die? 34 Your hands were not bound; your feet were not chained. No, you were murdered— the victim of a wicked plot.” All the people wept again for Abner. 35 David had refused to eat anything on the day of the funeral, and now everyone begged him to eat. But David had made a vow, saying, “May God strike me and even kill me if I eat anything before sundown.” 36 This pleased the people very much. In fact, everything the king did pleased them! 37 So everyone in Judah and all Israel understood that David was not responsible for Abner’s murder. 38 Then King David said to his officials, “Don’t you realize that a great commander has fallen today in Israel? 39 And even though I am the anointed king, these two sons of Zeruiah—Joab and Abishai—are too strong for me to control. So may the LORD repay these evil men for their evil deeds.”

(O) bservation:
    Abner had killed Joab’s brother in battle. When Joab heard that Abner had visited with David and been sent on his way he was incensed. Joab then plotted and killed Abner in revenge. David rebukes Joab and pronounces a curse on him and his men for the evil they had done.

(A) pplication:
    Revenge never accomplished God’s purposes and most often leads to trouble for the one seeking the revenge. Today I will allow God to exercise judgment on evildoers. He does not need my help or input on the matter. I will seek to live a peaceable life that honors and trusts the Lord.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, help me to trust you to deal with those that wrong me. Help me not to seek revenge but to trust and follow you. Amen