Endless Human Greed

David returns to his palace once the war with Absalom is over. Israel and Judah quarrel over which of them was first to welcome the king back, and a man named Sheba rises up and turns Israel away from David. David gives orders for Sheba to be captured, but Joab kills Amasa, the man appointed to replace him, and takes command of the army once again.

Around David stand both those who choose betrayal even after being forgiven and those who choose to serve to the very end. Joab was capable, but because he had never been born again, he went on heaping up the sin of betraying God and David. David did not cut him off at once; he made use of him for the sake of the kingdom and left judgment to God’s appointed time. The wise woman of Abel saved many lives, not by the power of the world but by the wisdom of the Word.

Those who hold an office in the church and give themselves to its work still remain chaff rather than wheat if they cannot tell God’s will apart from human greed. Like David, God’s people must wait patiently and trust the God who uses evil for good, and like the woman of Abel, they need to seek the wisdom to live holding fast to the Word.