SCRIPTURE: 2 SAMUEL 3
The war between the house of Saul and the house of David continued for a long period. The house of David grew stronger while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.
ABNER GOES OVER TO DAVID (vs. 6-21)
Abner conferred with the elders of Israel to make David their king. So he with 20 men came to David at Hebron to make an agreement to bring all Israel to him. David prepared a feast for him and his men and then sent Abner away in peace.
JOAB MURDERS ABNER (vs. 22-39)
David’s men and Joab just returned from a raid. When they arrived and knew that Abner came, he sent messengers to Abner and brought him back from the well of Sirah without David’s knowledge. Then Joab stabbed Abner in the stomach to avenge the blood of his brother Asahel. Later, when David heard about this, he wept aloud at Abner’s tomb. And all the Israel knew that the king had no part in the murder of Abner.
THOUGHTS:
Joab took revenge for the death of his brother instead of leaving justice to God. But that revenge backfired on him under the reign of King Solomon. Refrain from rejoicing when your enemies suffer and don’t try to get revenge. Seeking revenge will ruin your own peace of mind and increase the chances of further retaliation.