Day 5

THE AFTERMATH OF CIVIL WAR

"Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved: but he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once." Proverbs 28:18

Joab was intensely loyal to David. Several times he jolted the king out of his inability to react saving both king and people from further anguish. He knew it was necessary for Absalom to die if Israel was to return to peace.

David was almost crushed by his grief for his hating and rebellious son. He must have been all too aware of the way his own sin had infected his household and led to the awful crimes of Amnon and Absalom. Such was his sense of loss that even his subjects turned from rejoicing to mourning. Joab faced the king with harsh, even cruel, words of rebuke. Nevertheless he spoke the truth and David knew it (2 Sam. 19:1-7). He shocked the king into action. The slaughter had been great but the king's faithful army had won. The people needed to rejoice, praise their king and give thanks to God. Again Joab saved the day.

The king intended to win the loyalty of defectors when he replaced Joab with Amasa 2 Sam. 19:11-14 and he succeeded (v14,15). Amasa had been Absalom's commander so perhaps he also wanted to honour his son's memory. But it came very near to rewarding treachery and punishing loyalty!

Was David making a mistake in appointing Amasa? Look at 2 Sam. 19:13-43 to see how he handled his once disloyal servants and the trouble it caused.

Joab did not accept David's decision. David, struggling to bring unity between Israel and Judah, sent troops after the usurper Sheba. Amasa, Abishai and Joab all went and Joab simply killed Amasa and stepped back into his old position! (2 Sam. 20:9,10,22-26).

Was Joab justified in his revenge? Was he dedicated to David's service? David never forgot or forgave his action (1 Kings 2:5,6).