Vengeance, Deceit, Murder, and Mourning

2 Samuel 3:22-39
    22 At that moment the servants of David and Joab came from a raid and brought much spoil with them. But Abner was not with David in Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace. 23 When Joab and all the troops that were with him had come, they told Joab, saying, “Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he sent him away, and he has gone in peace.” 24 Then Joab came to the king and said, “What have you done? Look, Abner came to you; why is it that you sent him away, and he has already gone? 25 Surely you realize that Abner the son of Ner came to deceive you, to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you are doing.”
    26 And when Joab had gone from David's presence, he sent messengers after Abner, who brought him back from the well of Sirah. But David did not know it. 27 Now when Abner had returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him privately, and there stabbed him in the stomach, so that he died for the blood of Asahel his brother.  28 Afterward, when David heard it, he said, “My kingdom and I are guiltless before the LORD forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner. 29 Let it rest on the head of Joab and on all his father's house; and let there never fail to be in the house of Joab one who has a discharge or is a leper, who leans on a staff or falls by the sword, or who lacks bread.” 30 So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.
    31 Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, “Tear your clothes, gird yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn for Abner.” And King David followed the coffin. 32 So they buried Abner in Hebron; and the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept. 33 And the king sang a lament over Abner and said:

      “Should Abner die as a fool dies?
      34 Your hands were not bound
      Nor your feet put into fetters;
      As a man falls before wicked men, so you fell.” 

Then all the people wept over him again.

    35 And when all the people came to persuade David to eat food while it was still day, David took an oath, saying, “God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else till the sun goes down!” 36 Now all the people took note of it, and it pleased them, since whatever the king did pleased all the people. 37 For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it had not been the king's intent to kill Abner the son of Ner. 38 Then the king said to his servants, “Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel? 39 And I am weak today, though anointed king; and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too harsh for me. The LORD shall repay the evildoer according to his wickedness.”

Vengeance, Deceit, Murder, and Mourning.  These are all seen here as Abner sincerely came to David to support him and leave the old loyalty to Saul’s house behind, but Joab the son of David's sister Zeruiah and general of David's army had other plans.  He sought vengeance for his brother’s death by Abner in battle (2 Samuel 2:18, 22-23), putting that anger above the greater good of having Abner align with David in battle against their enemy.  David mad It clear that he did not order nor condone this execution, and the people were pleased with the sincerity of mourning for an enemy turned ally who was wickedly murdered for revenge; he even made it clear that those of Zeruiah (of whom Joab was one of the three sons) would be recompensed by the LORD for their evil deeds.  Joab was given a special proclamation of God’s curse on him and his descendants for this treacherously evil action.  God hates murder, deceit, and vengeance, and judgment waits for the perpetrators of these thoughts and deeds.  We also find that it is good and right to lament those who turn from evil to do good, who transform from the enemies of the Lord to His allies.  We should especially honor and love all those who turn from wicked lifestyles to sincere followers of Jesus Christ, not recalling past sins, but showering love and acceptance with fellow sinners in the New Covenant.  Vengeance belongs to the Lord (Deuteronomy 32:35, Romans 12:19), and we are to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44) even before they are regenerated as we have been (Romans 5:10) and mourn when they are spitefully treated or even killed.  Mercy triumphs over judgment as James 2:13 reminds us of our responsibility to live love as mercy in action; it is the Lord alone who is responsible to judge others.