2 Samuel 3:26 And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, which brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not.
2 Samuel 3:27 And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.
One thing we must be sensitive to is the ability to quickly distinguish between genuine care and concern from selfish motives. Many people have lost true friends due to the inability to easily decipher a genuine concern from a fake one. The scriptural text above is quite a fascinating story. Abner, Saul's army general sought to work for David after Saul's demise, however David would give him a condition before allowing him work for him. Now, Joab, one of David's mighty men had "unsettled scores" with Abner, Abner had killed his brother Asahel. So Joab nursed this grudge, and waited for a perfect day to have his vengeance. Now, Abner had come to visit David, and after David was done with him, and discharged him, Joab came in to David and said this 2 Sam 3:25 "Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest." Anyone who heard Joab talk this way would think he genuinely had care for David at that particular time. Shortly after he had said this, he went out and followed Abner, got him and slew him. Then the people said David had begun his vengeance on the house of Saul, now David being an honorable man who had huge respect for Saul and even royalty, put on sackcloth and would not even eat all day, then the people knew David had no hand in Abner's death. It later was found that Joab had killed Abner.
This is quite remarkable, there are still many Joab's out there even today, who seek a medium to exercise the axe of their vendetta. You must be sensitive to such people. Do have a very beautiful weekend ahead.
(Daily nuggets with Tobi Adebayo)
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