II Samuel 3:26 When Joab came out from David's presence, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern of Sirah. But David did not know about it. 27 And when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him privately, and there he struck him in the stomach, so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother. 28 Afterward, when David heard of it, he said, “I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the Lord for the blood of Abner the son of Ner. 29 May it fall upon the head of Joab and upon all his father's house, and may the house of Joab never be without one who has a discharge or who is leprous or who holds a spindle or who falls by the sword or who lacks bread!”
We saw yesterday that there was a lot of bitterness that had built up between the followers of Saul and of David. Many were able to move on and work together. For those who did not, things did not go well. As the general for Saul, Abner had a long record of faithfulness and victory. Joab had faithfully served David throughout the years. But when his brother died in battle, Joab struggled and never forgave. His revenge did not satisfy his bitterness; it only brought further pain on his family. David goes on to mourn over Abner, despite his part in Saul's pursuit of David. How deep does bitterness reside in our hearts and minds?
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