Word of Salvation – Vol.38 No.40 – October 1999
The Hard Sons Of Zeruiah
Sermon: by Rev. M. Geluk on 2Samuel 3:39
Readings: 2Samuel 3:22-39 1Timothy 6:11-16
Congregation, beloved in Christ,
We want to open the Word of God in the Old Testament taking us to the time of King David. But we will not so much as look at King David. No, our focus of attention will be on Joab, David’s commander-in-chief of the army.
I wonder how many of you know of Joab? If you have read through the Bible book of 2Samuel, then you will know where Joab fits in the history of God’s Old Testament covenant people. But the habit of reading a Bible book right through from beginning to end is not so popular anymore. Many of the Lord’s people today tend to read Bible passages and texts in bits and pieces from all over the place, thus making the Bible seem rather disjointed. So let’s look at the life of Joab and learn valuable lessons that I believe are there for Christians today. And why don’t you in your own quiet time read through 2 Samuel and find out for yourself what the Bible has to say about Joab?
- Family background and Joab’s rise to power.
Who exactly was Joab? He was the son of Zeruiah who was David’s sister or half-sister. So Joab was David’s nephew. Joab had an older brother called Abishai and a younger brother called Asahel. These three sons of Zeruiah were hard men. When David complains in our text that the sons of Zeruiah were too strong for him, then it is these three he is referring to. Although when David said this only Abishai and Joab were actually left, because Asahel had been killed not long before he spoke those words. And even though David was Joab’s uncle, he and the three sons of his much older sister, Zeruiah, were all about the same age.
The first time we come across Joab’s name in the Bible is in 1Samuel 26 where an account is given of a daring exploit of David and one of his mighty warriors who, under cover of darkness, ever so quietly stole into the camp of Saul. It was Saul who was king before David, and who chased David around the countryside in order to kill him. Careful not to arouse the guards, the two men crept into Saul’s tent and took his spear and water jug. They then went to the nearest hill and at daybreak David yelled out Saul’s name and made him realise that at some time in the night his life had been in David’s hand. The name of this other warrior was Abishai and the Bible identifies him as the brother of Joab.
During the many years that David was on the run from Saul, he had gathered around him a bunch of fighting men who were daring, fearsome and superbly trained with the weapons of that time. Most likely Zeruiah’s sons had joined David early in the piece. They were part of a group know specifically as David’s mighty men, or ‘The Thirty’. Abishai, Joab’s brother, was the leader of this élite group. The Bible tells us that they were able to shoot arrows, or sling stones right-handed of left-handed (1Chronicles 12:2). Some of these fellows came from families where their men could sling a stone at a human hair and not miss (Judges 20:16). We know from the way David felled Goliath that he too was deadly accurate with his slingshot. David’s men were brave warriors, says the Bible, ready for war and able to handle the shield and spear. They were extremely fit and could move very fast through mountainous terrain. Asahel, was very fleet-footed, as a wild gazelle. (1Samuel 2:18).
So these are the kind of tough warriors we’re talking about. It was said of them that the least of them could take on 100 men, and the greatest of them could take on a 1000. (1Chronicles 12:8, 14).
Early in his reign, David had surrounded Jerusalem whose original inhabitants taunted and defied David and his men. David had promised that whoever of his soldiers would be the first to enter the city and kill a Jebusite, he would become the commander of David’s army. It became increasingly obvious in the process of time that Joab was the one who wielded the real power in David’s kingdom.
Joab has been variously described as a stern, haughty, imperious, revengeful man. He was very loyal to David and never wavered in this. He made short work of anyone who was false to the king. But he was also extremely shrewd and used David to fulfil his own selfish ambitions. In fact, many observed that Joab gradually spun a web around David until the king was virtually in Joab’s power. Joab was clever, an excellent general and statesman. Yet, he could be crude and inconsiderate to the king, deny him and trample on his feelings. Joab was very much his own man, having no regard for either the king or God. One could also say that there were times in David’s kingdom that, were it not for Joab’s firm hand, the situation would have got out of control. He knew when to act decisively. David wore the crown but one could be excused for thinking that Joab was king. All these things become more obvious when one examines Joab’s life as presented to us in Scripture.
- Reasons for preaching on Joab and his place in the history of salvation.
Yes, why do we in the preaching of the Word turn to Joab? In preaching we have to observe the good rule to focus on the works of God rather than on the works of men. We must not merely talk about Joab. We want to hear about God and how He keeps His people. Joab won’t help us, but God can. Furthermore, we must learn about Christ who came to reveal God’s will for our lives. So what is there about Joab that can teach us valuable lessons about how to live as God’s people in the world?
Well, Joab can easily become a character of our time. Yes, he fought with bow and arrow, spear and sword and slingshot. But even if our weapons are different, we too can be as manipulative and scheming as Joab was. We can bully people around as much as he did. We can cleverly use other people to further our own ends. We may know details about other people’s private sins and use that knowledge as a means for keeping those people in our power. Yes, in our day to day lives, what kind of people are we? Are we like Christ and have the fruit of His Spirit at work in us, or are we Christian in name only and are really like Joab?
We can be hard like Joab and his brother Abishai. David on many occasions was all heart and at times it got him into serious trouble. Meaning that we can be too soft for situations where the love of Christ should make us considerate and compassionate.
Joab will even be admired by some of you. The young men in the congregation may even look up to him in a similar way as the men who served under him. Joab’s soldiers gave their commander the worship of a hero. He was tough, resilient, resourceful; which young man doesn’t want those admirable traits? But the Word of God may remind you of another passage where we are called to be soldiers of Christ, bearing spiritual weapons and fighting sin and Satan, around us and in us.
Joab was sometimes the agent of injustice in David’s government. Oh yes, there were times when he acted for the honour of God and the king. But only when it suited him. Joab could also show an utter disregard for God and king. How well we know what that means in our own day! People in high places wield their influence to promote justice but at times the same people side with injustice. Examples easily come to mind. White men in South Africa’s government publicly strive for justice and equality among the races but secretly also set up black against black. High officials in the Italian government call for action against the Mafia but also kiss the cheeks of powerful god-fathers. Top-ranking policemen in Australia apply the force of the law but also receive protection money from criminals. Yes, men like Joab have been and will always be around. There is nothing new under the sun.
How must we see Joab’s place in the history of salvation? He is not just a small fry whose name fleetingly appears on the pages of Scripture, never to be heard of again. Joab was a big shot. Commander-in-chief of the army of King David, the Lord’s appointed. Indeed, God promised to protect His covenant people from the enemies round about, so that each Israelite could sit under the shade of his own fig-tree and eat the vegetables from his own plot of land. That called for a capable army general. Joab was that man.
God removed Saul from Israel’s throne because he failed and gave the kingship to David. To protect his chosen king, to help him be a fair judge in Israel and thus make him a type of Christ, to have God be all that, God watched over him. And David needed a good chief of staff and gave the job to Joab. God, in His sovereign control over all things, permitted it.
Somehow, Joab also comes under the rule and control of God, as all men do. God used this hard son of Zeruiah to fulfil His own will and achieve His own purposes in His plan of salvation. And we must learn to see where God makes this visible for us. Where He doesn’t, there we have to still trust Him that He as our Sovereign Lord always executes His will for the well-being of His covenant people throughout the ages. So somehow, we have to look at Joab in the light of God keeping watch over His people.
- Joab’s murder of Abner and the inaction of David the king and judge.
Roundabout this time David was king only over Judah. Just one tribe, and Ish-Bosheth, the son of Saul, was king over the rest of Israel. Friction between the house of David and the house of Saul caused the men of Israel and Judah to confront each other. Civil war was looming. Abner was the army general of Judah. The last thing David wanted was Abner murdered. Yes, what Joab did was plain murder. Abner killed Joab’s brother, Asahel, during a battle in which soldiers are bound to die. Joab killed Abner after peace had been declared.
David publicly declared his innocence about Abner’s death. He pronounced a curse over Joab’s descendants (verse 29) and organised a state funeral for Abner. David forced Joab and Abishai, who had been in on the murder, to walk in front of the coffin, whilst David followed behind. David managed to convince all the people and all Israel that he had no part in the murder of Abner. The king said to his men, ‘Do you not realise that a prince and a great man has fallen in Israel this day? And today, though I am the anointed king, I am weak, and these sons of Zeruiah are too strong for me. May the Lord repay the evildoer according to his evil deeds!’ (verse 38,39).
Several questions remain for us. Did David go over the top in his praise of Abner? Was he genuine, or were his words an attempt to win the people over to him? In any case, Joab stood condemned. There was no excuse for his murdering Abner. Joab had acted like an IRA terrorist. It was pure revenge. It was more. Joab probably saw in Abner a rival. Abner was as capable as Joab. David had sent him around the nation as a peace envoy. That would make Abner popular with the people who were tired and weary of fighting each other. Joab’s position as commander-in-chief was not threatened, for David had secured it. But in Joab’s reckoning, Abner would have too much influence, and be too close to the king. Joab could not stand that. He could not, in peacetime, extend the hand of peace to someone who killed his brother in battle.
But why then did David, who was also judge, fail to punish Joab there and then? God’s law said: ‘Anyone who strikes a man and kills him shall surely be put to death.’ (Exodus 21:12). David the king was well aware of God’s will for individuals and the nation as a whole. In his own Psalms, David had written: ‘I will cut off the horns of all the wicked but the horns of the righteous will be lifted up.’ (75:10). ‘I will cut off every evildoer from the city of the Lord.’ (101:8). Later on Solomon wrote in his Proverbs what David surely knew already: ‘When the king sits on the throne to judge, he winnows out all evil with his eyes.’ (20:8). ‘Remove the wicked from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established through righteousness.’ (25:5).
By letting Joab get away with it, David was making his first compromise over against his army commander. But having done it once, David unwittingly opened the door for other compromises to follow. Joab gained a victory over the king. Having discovered a weakness in David, he would at the next opportunity exploit that same weakness again and again.
Isn’t it easy for us to criticise David the kind! But you realise of course, that by picking on the weaknesses of David, we are also admitting our own weaknesses. We can talk about heads of governments allowing strong men to wield too much power. We all know what the Mafia has done to Italy’s governments. We all know what corruption can do when it’s working at top levels in the police force. We all know that strong, hard men like Joab, have always to be watched and kept under control, lest they get out of hand and get away with murder. We also know that leaders with too much heart, or not having enough strength, like David, also cause problems. Romans 13:4 speaks about the governing authorities being God’s servants to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. The ruler does not bear the sword for nothing, it says. But the death penalty has been removed, big crimes are rewarded with small punishments, and nations reap an increase in crime, violence and bloodshed. When justice is weakened, many Joabs rise to power.
But are we not all in the same boat? Tarnished with the same brush? Parents who are either too harsh or too weak? Teachers letting the kids get away with too many things and thus adding to their inability to keep the class under control. Office-bearers in God’s church who make mistakes by either being too authoritarian or too timid. Oh yes, Joab’s actions and David’s inactions have been re-enacted many times over in all kinds of situations.
It’s all summed up in David’s confession about him being ‘weak’ and the sons of Zeruiah being ‘too strong’. Instead of taking the right action and trusting the Lord, David looked too much at Joab and his men and feared he might have them against him if he were to punish their leader. David worked at his political options and forgot about God. And confessing to his weakness in front of the people and admitting that the sons of Zeruiah were too strong for him, didn’t do much good for him either. Had the Lord not put him on the throne of all Israel? And had not the Lord told him to rule with justice and righteousness and not fear the people?
How we need the strength of the Lord when we are weak and powerless. In times of indecision we need to look at God’s Word and seek the guidance of His Spirit. God is the only One who is never weak. He is always just and right, therefore we can depend on Him. With the Lord at our side, whom do we need to fear? And when we are young, and therefore, inexperienced and indecisive, then we need to look for wise counsellors who also fear the Lord and know His word. They may give us wisdom and a push in the right direction.
- The curse of Joab.
There is nothing unkind or unscriptural about David’s curse on Joab. He is simply saying what God has always said to any evildoer. The soul who sins will die! It’s pure biblical teaching that says that the trouble you cause will recoil on your own head (Psalm 7:16). It is said of God, ‘Surely you will reward each person according to what he has done.’ (Psalm 62:12). Nor is this something we find only in the Old Testament. In the New Testament Paul writes to Timothy, ‘Alexander the metal worker did me great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him according to what he has done.’ (2Timothy 4:14). David had the power to let justice have its way with Joab. Many victims of injustice and wickedness are powerless to get the law to act for them. But the Lord will execute His justice on all evildoers. None will get away with it. Joab didn’t either. At the end of Joab’s life, justice caught up with him. But even if evildoers die in a peaceful way, then they will surely face God the judge. The Bible says of God, ‘I will not acquit the guilty.’ (Exodus 23:7).
Do we realise enough that every human being is under God’s condemnation? ‘For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.’ (Romans 3:23). David’s curse, ‘May the Lord repay the evildoer according to his evil deeds!’ is upon everyone. Maybe we should hear the curse of God upon sin a bit more, for then at least we would be taking Christ a bit more seriously. For isn’t it right here that we see our need for Jesus the Saviour? Why is Christ so little seen as the One we need to bear the curse of our sin, and that only through Him can we be made right with God?
Joab heard from David what every sinner should hear from God. It is only by God’s grace that we can be saved from His curse. Joab’s tragedy consists of his not wanting God enough to save him personally. He was hard for others and hard on himself. But let us take God’s curse on sin seriously and thus learn to take Christ seriously. Too often people see Christ as just a nice Person to have around, a wonderful Friend who will be your best Friend. Yes, He truly is all of that. But that’s not the most important side of Him. We need to believe in Him as the One who saves us from God’s curse upon sin. Only after we have seen and confessed Him in that way, will Christ be to us a Friend and a Comforter.
AMEN