THE PERILS OF REVENGE
JUNE 16, 2025
TEXT*: _“Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone?”_ (2 Samuel 3:24)
In today’s world, people often disguise their evil intentions behind innocent appearances. Their seemingly harmless actions are actually driven by corrupt minds with secret plans. These selfish motives, which are caused by immoral behaviour, are disguised by polite behaviour and can destroy the foundations of our society. Given the aforementioned tendencies of people to hide their true motives, it is imperative for believers to exercise caution and carefully reflect upon the requests of others, even if those requests appear to be made with the best interests of the believers in mind. Believers must be wary and aware that those who present themselves as allies may in fact be motivated by their own desires, and their actions may not be as beneficent as they appear.
In our passage, Joab, David’s army commander, was furious after learning that Abner, Saul’s military leader who had prevented David from becoming king, had visited David in Hebron and made a deal with him. Joab’s arrogance and insolence were evident as he boldly confronted the king, claiming that Abner’s intentions were deceitful. What Joab failed to comprehend or dismissed as implausible was the truth that Abner had recognised his inability to further impede David’s rise to power over all Israel. As a result, Abner had earnestly sought a peaceful avenue to unite all Israel under David’s rule, a reality that eluded Joab’s comprehension. Joab’s single-minded focus on his own interpretation of Abner’s motives blinded him to the nuances of the situation, leading to a potentially dire consequence. Essentially, Abner’s intentions were in alignment with David’s, aiming to peacefully unite the nation under his leadership.
However, Joab’s enduring bitterness towards Abner, stemming from the loss of his brother at Abner’s hands, clouded his judgement, incensing him to the point where the idea of David welcoming his sworn enemy drove him to madness. Joab’s spite and deception ultimately led to the treacherous assassination of Abner, a moment of brutal vengeance that unleashed a curse that would blight his lineage for generations.
As believers, we must remain vigilant against the allure of bitterness and anger, for they can obscure our loyalty to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Furthermore, we must resist the temptation to allow our own biases and grudges to prevent others from reconciling with God by accepting Christ. Instead, let us be guided by a spirit of forgiveness and love, radiating outward from our hearts, and offering others the light of Christ’s truth, so that they too may find solace in His grace. True children of God do not harbour malice or bitterness in their hearts towards others, regardless of any past transgressions. The price for allowing grudges to linger is high, even for those who profess to walk in the light of God. For to carry bitterness within oneself is to poison the soul, and to present oneself as a child of God while harbouring such resentment is to deceive both oneself and others. Thus, let us walk in the way of Christ, whose boundless love offers salvation and peace.
SEARCHLIGHT: Give no room for vengeance. Allow God.
PRAYER: Almighty God, help me to resist the poison of revenge and embrace Your truth and love. May I act with integrity, humility, and honesty in all my interactions, never succumbing to the temptation to harm others. Lead me, O Lord, in the way of forgiveness and reconciliation.
BIBLE READING:
Psalms 41-43, Hebrews 7
PASTOR MICHAEL OMOLE
