Romans 13:4 For he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not carry the sword in vain. He is God’s servant, an agent of retribution to the wrongdoer.
A ruler has the job of finding out bad people and going after them. But every single bad person cannot be dealt with in just one tenure or under one government. It may take multiple governments to bring a bad person to book.
An example can be seen in King David’s administration. David had a relative called Joab who was the commander of his army. Joab was an awesome warrior, who fought with him, stood by him during his days in the wilderness, fought many battles for him, and helped to consolidate his Kingdom (2 Samuel 11:1, 1 Chronicles 20:1-3).
However, in multiple instances, Joab did bad things that David did not approve of.
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The Errors of Joab
First, Joab killed Abner who had come to meet with David to help him set up his throne over all Israel. David had met with Abner and sent him on his way in peace, but Joab went after Abner and murdered him.
2 Samuel 3:22-29 … David was unaware of it. … When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab pulled it him aside into the gateway, as if to speak to him privately, and there Joab stabbed him in the stomach. So Abner died on account of the blood of Joab’s brother Asahel.
Afterward, David heard about this and said, “I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the LORD concerning the blood of Abner son of Ner. May it whirl over the heads of Joab and the entire house of his father…” (2 Sam 3:28-29)
Next, Joab killed David’s son, Absalom, despite the clear instructions that David had given to the contrary. Joab still disobeyed the king.
2 Samuel 18:5, 10-14 Now the king had commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains orders concerning Absalom… The man replied, “Even if a thousand shekels of silver were weighed out into my hands, I would not raise my hand against the son of the king. For we heard the king command you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘Protect the young man Absalom for my sake. If I had jeopardized my own life nothing is hidden from the king-you would have abandoned me.”
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But when David was restored as King, he planned to replace Joab with Amasa, another nephew of his from his sister Abigail. But Joab killed Amasa also.
2 Samuel 19:13 And say to Amasa, ‘Aren’t you my flesh and blood? May God punish me, and ever so severely, if from this time you are not the commander of my army in place of Joab!’
2 Samuel 20:9-10 “Are you well, my brother?” Joab asked Amasa. And with his right hand, Joab grabbed Amasa by the beard to kiss him.
Amasa was not on guard against the dagger in Joab’s hand, and Joab stabbed him in the stomach and spilled out his intestines on the ground. And Joab did not need to strike him again, for Amasa was dead. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba, son of Bichri.
Joab and his brothers were too much for David to handle (2 Samuel 3:39), but he knew that Joab had to be judged for his acts of rebellion which continued.
The question is, what did David do to Joab for all these acts? The answer seems to be nothing. Or, is it, Nothing – yet?
He did nothing to Joab directly or immediately, and this could be for a number of reasons:…
Next week.
READ ALSO: WHAT ARE GOVERNMENTS FOR (PART 3)