Key Verse: Verse 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.”
Key Words: but David knew it not
It has been said that, “Joab was the first person to be thought of in Joab’s mind.”
As you read the chronicles of Joab it becomes easy to see that Joab loved Joab. Alexander Whyte, the great pastor of years ago, said in regard to Joab, “Had it not been for David, Joab would have climbed up onto the throne of Israel.”
This we do know about Joab: he was a skilled general, proven by his numerous victims (II Samuel 2:12-32, 10:7-11:1, 12:26- 29, 20:4-22; I Chronicles 11:6-9).
He was ruthless, often carrying out his own will over the will of others (II Samuel 3:27, 18:14, 20:9-10).
The life of Joab could be summed up with one word: self-serving. How sad, but how true.
I wonder today how many people are described by this one word: self-serving!!
I remember as a young boy going to the filling station. For those who may not be familiar with the term “filling station,” today it is called the service station or gas station. Anyway, I remember seeing for the first time a sign at the filling station that read “Self Service.”
I looked at my dad and asked, “What exactly does that mean?”
My dad gave a great answer – he said, “Self service means you do everything for yourself.” The closer we get to the Lord’s return, the more Joab’s we seem to have - everyone doing what they do for themselves.
What to do:
✞ Do what you do for God and for the glory of God!
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