There
in the large stone of Gibeon, Joab stabbed the unguarded Amasa. That one stab
was enough to cause the victim’s innards to ooze out. And Amasa was left
wriggling in the middle of the road reeling in a pool of his own blood. It was
indeed a gruesome sight that left Abishai and the men standing still, watching.
Just then a young soldier called out to those who were loyal to David to follow
Joab’s leadership. Obviously, this soldier was in favor of Joab to take the
lead.
When
that soldier saw that no one moved, he took Amasa’s struggling body from
the middle of the road and laid in the field beside the road. Then he threw a
garment over the ghastly body to cover that horrible sight. Meanwhile, Joab
quickly assumed the leadership, with the people taking his lead in pursuit of
Sheba. Led by Joab they pursued Sheba throughout Israel and finally came to
Abel at Beth-maacah. There they besieged the city, laying a siege ramp against
the wall so that they could scale it to enter the city. They were standing on
top of the rampart and what they did was fast destroying the wall of the city.
We
come back to scrutinize the life of Joab again. It is puzzling to note one so
loyal to David yet would act so out of character with that loyalty. He had
violated the instructions and desires of the king a few times already. Yet
unlike Absalom or Sheba, he was not in rebellion. By and large, he was seen to
be for David. Why did Joab behave in such a brazen disregard for the king? Here
is the secret. Joab held some secrets of David’s past. He was the one who had
executed the king’s order and had Uriah murdered by remote. That knowledge of
David's sinful past gave him a hold over the king, and he would use that secret
to his advantage. Joab probably knew that David would not do to him what he
otherwise would have done if not for the secrets he possessed concerning him.
Though forgiven by God, the blotch on David’s life made it difficult for him to
deal with the tricky Joab. This is true in life. We can be held captive to one
who possesses some secrets of our past. Walking in integrity is the best way to
conduct life. When we do that, we need not live in fear that our past will
catch up with us. Because of a sinful mistake, David had to tread gingerly with
Joab. Don’t put ourselves in such a predicament. Choose to walk in integrity.
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