LESSON 8   
   November 13 - 19   
   Joab: David's Weak Strongman   
      
   SABBATH AFTERNOON   
      
   Read for This Week's Study:   
      
   2 Sam. 2:17-23, 3:23-27, 11:15-25, 20:7-1l, 1 Kings 1.   
      
   Memory Text:   
      
   "All a man's ways seem right to him, but the Lord weighs the heart" (Proverbs   
   21:2, NIV).   
    Joab's story is a story of power politics, intrigue, misguided loyalties,   
   jealousy, and stubbornness; Joab's time is a time where survival is not   
   guaranteed by a strong central administration and a comprehensive retirement   
   plan. Strong people survive; weak people quickly seem to fade away. It is   
   during Joab's tenure as David's strongman and caretaker that Israel truly   
   becomes a nation. After the clan feuds and tribal rivalry that characterized   
   the period of the judges, it is the figure of the king (beginning with Saul   
   and later on, to a much stronger degree, with David and Solomon) that unites   
   Israel, even though the Bible makes it clear that centuries of clan thinking   
   will not be done away with in a matter of thirty or forty years. Joab's life,   
   as depicted in the Bible, is marred by wars, feuds, and even genocide.   
      
   Though we might not be involved in the kind of things that Joab was, we may   
   come to face some uglier sides of our own character when we look at his story.   
   It is here that, through the negative example of Joab--the weak strongman of   
   David--we may be able to identify some of our own character faults and seek   
   the only answer to them: Jesus.   
      
   *Study this week's lesson to prepare for Sabbath, November 20.   
   SUNDAY   
   November 14   
      
   A Family Affair   
      
   Even though Joab, linked to David's family (see 1 Chron. 2:13-17) had the   
   responsibility of being in charge of David's troops, we get a glimpse of his   
   true character for the first time in 2 Samuel 2. Saul and Jonathan had been   
   killed in battle. Judah readily appointed David as king. Joab's counterpart in   
   King Saul's army was Abner, who somehow survived the battle in which Saul and   
   his sons had fallen.   
      
   Abner and David had a history. It was Abner who had led Saul's troops on   
   numerous manhunts for David. Abner was not about to accept as king the man he   
   had been hunting. Accordingly, Abner puts Ishbosheth (vss. 8,9), the fourth   
   son of Saul, who was not in the battle, on the throne of Israel and starts a   
   war against Judah and David. Although Israel was numerically stronger, David's   
   kingdom went on from strength to strength.   
      
   Read 2 Samuel 2:17-23 and summarize what takes place.   
      
   During the skirmish, Joab's younger brother unwisely chases Abner. Abner warns   
   him off repeatedly, but the rash young man won't hear of it, and Abner kills   
   him in self- defense. Joab never forgets this event.   
      
   After a while, Abner realizes that things are going nowhere under Ishbosheth,   
   who is a very weak king. And so he defects to David and offers to bring over   
   the other tribes (2 Sam. 3:1-22). Meanwhile, Joab has been away. On returning   
   home he learns of these new developments, which greatly unsettle him.   
      
   How does Joab cope with this change that he did not initiate? 2 Sam. 3:23-27.   
   Contrast what Joab says to David and the reason why Joab ultimately kills   
   Abner. See also 2 Sam. 3:30. How does Joab attempt to portray Abner's motives?   
   What does this reveal about him?   
      
   Perhaps Joab truly believed he was acting in David's best interest when he   
   killed Abner. This brings out an important point: think about your actions.   
   What are the real reasons for some of the things you do, as opposed to reasons   
   you use to justify them in your own mind? How can you learn to know the   
   difference between the two when they are, indeed, different?   
      
      
   MONDAY   
   November 15   
      
   The Cost of Sin   
      
   It seems that David is not in a position to do anything about the murder of   
   Abner at the time, even though he publicly mourns for Abner and rebukes Joab's   
   actions (see 2 Sam. 3:28-35). To avoid future reprisals, Joab tries to   
   ingratiate himself as closely as possible with David. He sets about to make   
   himself indispensable. He is ready to do the dirty work for David. But   
   striving to make oneself indispensable rather than focusing on doing the right   
   thing often involves violating one's conscience. If that happens again and   
   again, the voice of our conscience becomes duller and duller, until we are   
   unable to stand up when it really counts.   
      
   Sin also breaks credibility. We see this principle repeated several times in   
   the life of David. Because of his sin with Bathsheba and against Uriah, David,   
   even though he has been forgiven, is unable to discipline his sons. When his   
   oldest son rapes his half-sister (2 Samuel 13), and his second son becomes a   
   murderer (2 Sam. 13:23-39), David stands helplessly by, knowing that he is   
   guilty of similar sins.   
      
   Read 2 Samuel 11:15-25. What does this passage tell us about Joab?   
      
   Joab has the same problem. Having the blood of Abner on his hands makes him   
   unable to react appropriately and help save a good man's life. And so Joab   
   adds to his list of crimes by becoming, in effect, Uriah's assassin. Notice in   
   2 Samuel 11:17 that Uriah is not the only vic tim. Joab sends some other men   
   along on this foolhardy expedition in order to make the whole thing look more   
   authentic. Although we know from the life of David that God is merciful and   
   forgives us when we repent, the consequence of a ruined credibility and a lack   
   of integrity is still something that we will have to carry with us.   
      
   In the previous example, Joab obeyed David's orders. Now read 2 Samuel   
   18:5-15. What does his action here tell us about him? How might he have   
   rationalized this deed, as well?   
      
   It is interesting to note that Joab follows David's orders even when they   
   violate God's commands, but he has no trouble disobeying the king's express   
   orders when he stands to gain personally. After all, had Absalom succeeded in   
   his revolt, Joab probably would have been killed himself (2 Sam. 19:5, 6).   
   Joab seems to be looking out for no one but himself.   
      
   How easy to fall into the same trap, isn't it?   
      
      
   TUESDAY   
   November 16   
      
   Joab the Politician   
      
   Second Samuel 13 tells the story of Absalom's premeditated murder of his   
   half-brother Amnon. Absalom flees the country and bides his time. David is   
   once again in a difficult situation. Amnon was guilty of the rape of his   
   half-sister Tamar, Absalom's sister. It seems that David--paralyzed by the   
   memory of his own sin--is unable to administer justice. By taking things into   
   his own hands, Absalom avenges the rape of his sister and restores the family   
   honor. (Honor and shame were two very important elements of the value system   
   during the time of David.) Second, and as a nice benefit, once Amnon, David's   
   oldest son, is dead, Absalom is now in line to inherit the throne. David's   
   heart is torn between his grief for his dead son, his love for Absalom, and   
   the keen knowledge that all of this mess is somehow rooted in his own sin.   
      
   Amid all this, Joab decides to become involved. However, since he does not see   
   a direct way to put this item on the agenda of King David, he resorts to   
   cunning and uses a wise woman of Tekoah.   
      
   Read 2 Samuel 14. What does the woman of Tekoah's story communicate about   
   God's love and forgiveness? At the same time, what does this passage also tell   
   us about Joab?    
   The story that Joab put into the mouth of the woman suggests that Joab knew   
   about God's great love toward the sinner. His theology was correct.   
   Unfortunately, for Joab this remained head knowledge only. His own life   
   continued to be characterized by revenge and a lack of forgiveness. Joab had   
   become immune to God's love in his own life. For him, everything, even   
   religion, had a political end and could be used for self-promotion. Joab   
   recognized Absalom's potential and wanted to begin to ingratiate himself with   
   the future king. It seems, however, that Joab met his match in Absalom. Joab   
   receives no thank-you notes for his initiative in bringing Absalom home.   
   Absalom simply wants to use him and quickly shows Joab that he can be every   
   bit as cunning and dangerous as Joab can be. He did this by burning Joab's   
   fields in order to force him to arrange a meeting with David (2 Sam.   
   14:28-33). The point is that thanks to Joab's interference, the stage was now   
   being set for an awful rebellion that would lead to civil war.   
   How easy is it to let personal ambition, pride, and desire for self-supremacy   
   motivate your actions? How can you learn to recognize these things in   
   yourself? How can you through God's grace defeat them before they lead to your   
   ruin?    
   WEDNESDAY   
   November 17   
      
   Living by the Sword   
      
   Read 2 Samuel 20. What role do we find Joab in again? How was Joab's treachery   
   justified?   
      
      
   Amasa and Joab were cousins (2 Sam. 17:25). Amasa was commander of Absalom's   
   forces. After Joab disobeys David's orders in the case of Absalom (2 Sam.   
   18:5, 14), David wishes to rid himself of Joab and promises Amasa the high   
   command of his army (2 Sam. 19:13). After all, it was Joab's scheming and   
   planning that set the stage for the rebellion. Obviously, David's design is   
   not motivated only by anger toward Joab (who had consciously disobeyed the   
   king's order and killed his son). Amasa's appointment was also a political   
   move that would signal reconciliation to the rest of the pro-Absalom forces.   
      
   What does 2 Samuel 20:1, 2 tell us about the political situation in Israel?   
      
      
   David ignores Joab, for he has promised the command to Amasa, and now he sends   
   Amasa to round up the troops in order to deal with new revolt. Amasa is not   
   able to do this in time. David then sends for Abishai, the brother of Joab,   
   and turns to him rather than to Joab in this time of crisis. Joab and Amasa   
   finally meet and, borrowing a leaf from Abner's assassination, Joab murders   
   Amasa. The biblical writer emphasizes the total unexpectedness of the attack   
   (2 Sam. 20:8-10). Joab cooly murders his cousin, simply because he has been   
   passed over and is no longer number one.   
      
   One of Joab's men tries to legitimize Joab's actions by linking Joab to King   
   David. The people are being led to believe that loyalty to David means loyalty   
   to Joab (even though the king has explicitly distanced himself from Joab), and   
   being loyal to Joab means that Joab's right to be judge, jury, and executioner   
   in the case of Amasa cannot be questioned.   
   Look at Joab's duplicity in how he betrayed Amasa. How careful we need to be   
   that we don't betray someone who trusts us, using that trust to do them dirty.   
   How easily Matthew 7:12 should apply here.    
   THURSDAY   
   November 18   
      
   Joab's Last Stand   
      
   The timing seems to be perfect. David is a very old man now, who cannot keep   
   warm at night. A beautiful young woman is found who becomes King David's   
   personal attendant. The biblical author specifically emphasizes the fact that   
   David has no sexual relations with her (1 Kings 1:1-4), which further   
   underlines the feeble state of the king. David does not "know"--not only young   
   Abischag but also what's happening in his kingdom. Adonijah, as the oldest   
   remaining son, now decides that it is time to arrange his coronation.   
      
   Read 1 Kings 1. What is Joab up to now? What more does this tell us about him?   
      
   1 Kings 1:7 makes it clear that Joab is one of the key players in this coup   
   attempt. Joab, as he has done several times before, simply goes ahead and   
   acts, thinking that old King David will be powerless to do anything about it.   
   However, this time David, with the help of Bathsheba and the prophet Nathan,   
   does act. He foils Joab's and Adonijah's plans by publicly declaring Solomon   
   as his co-regent.   
      
   Joab seems to take God completely out of the equation. While he may have all   
   of the theological knowledge about God, God doesn't seem to have relevance in   
   his life. Joab thinks that he always can live as he pleases and escape the   
   consequences. He forgets that God is not David. God cannot be fooled; even   
   though retribution may not come immediately, it will one day come, if not in   
   this life then in the final judgment. However, often at the end of the day in   
   this life, even a very long day, "a man reaps what he sows" (Gal. 6:7, NIV).   
      
   Before final judgment, there always is mercy. Joab gets a last chance, in that   
   Solomon does not punish him for his scheming with Adonijah and allows him to   
   retain his position. However, Joab shows no remorse and makes no apology, and   
   he is involved in a second coup attempt. When this does not work, Joab finally   
   realizes the gravity of his situation. He flees to the sanctuary and takes   
   hold of the horns of the altar. Joab forgets, however, that the altar provides   
   asylum only for those who have killed unwittingly (Exod. 21:14). Joab's   
   unconfessed past has finally caught up with him. The man who lived by the   
   sword now dies by the sword (1 Kings 2:28-35).   
      
   However scheming, ambitious, and deceitful Joab was, everything he did could   
   have been forgiven by the Lord had Joab come to God in faith, humility, and   
   repentance. What about you and your defects? Forgiveness is there, if you are   
   willing to claim it for yourself.    
   FRIDAY   
   November 19   
      
   Further Study:   
      
      
   "We should not only take hold of the truth, but let it take hold of us; and   
   thus have the truth in us and we in the truth. And if this is the case, our   
   lives and characters will reveal the fact that the truth is accomplishing   
   something for us; that it is sanctifying us, and is giving us a moral fitness   
   for the society of heavenly angels in the kingdom of glory. The truth we hold   
   is from heaven; and when that religion finds a lodgement in the heart, it   
   commences its work of refining and purifying; for the religion of Jesus Christ   
   never makes a man rough or rude; it never makes him careless, or hard-hearted;   
   but the truth of heavenly origin, that which comes from God, elevates and   
   sanctifies a man; it makes courteous, kind, affectionate, and pure; it takes   
   away his hard heart, his selfishness and love of the world, and it purifies   
   him from pride and ungodly ambition."--Ellen G. White, Signs of the Times,   
   vol. 1, p. 66.    
   Discussion Questions:   
      
      
     How far should we go in our expression of loyalty to our families,   
   employers, and country? What are the limits to these important relationships?    
    Reread the Ellen White quote in Friday's lesson study. What evidence can you   
   see in your own life that the truth has taken hold of you? While it's   
   important to focus on Christ and not on ourselves, we also need to be honest   
   with ourselves about where we stand in regard to the faith (2 Cor. 13:5).    
     Many evil acts have been done throughout history by those who said, "I was   
   only following orders." How are we as Christians to deal with situations when   
   we are ordered to do things that we know are wrong? More important, how can we   
   develop the kind of faith we need to stand firm, even when it means defying   
   orders, when it could be very costly to ourselves and to our loved ones?    
    Is it practical or even possible to forgive and forget when we have been   
   hurt? What principles can we learn from this week's study about forgiveness,   
   lack of forgiveness, and the consequences of not forgiving?    
    Oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller used unscrupulous business practices in order   
   to buy out competitors. He would justify his actions by telling competitors   
   that they needed to sell their companies to him and let him take on the risks   
   of the oil business for them. "Get into the ark," he would tell them, making   
   it sound like he was doing something charitable for them when, in fact, he was   
   swallowing them up. What lessons can we learn from this about how easy it is   
   to justify immoral deeds?    
      
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