2nd Samuel chapter 3.
The commander of Israel's army, Abner, seems to have had a change of heart against Israel and for David's kingship. As a result he helped King David gain support from other tribes. David's Commander, Joab, was very bitter and hateful toward Abner because Abner had killed Joab's brother in the past. Even though Abner did not want to kill Joab's brother, Joab was very bitter towards Abner. As a result Joab and his other brother killed Abner.
Bitterness and unforgiveness is the fruit of hate which results into destruction. It is within us to want to get revenge. People kill people for their wrongdoing and their mindset is, “They deserve it.”
If God operated toward us the way we operate toward others then we also deserve death for our wrongdoings daily against the Lord. But rather God has shown us mercy and grace through a relationship with Jesus. He loves and forgives us rather than retaliate, hate or show unforgiveness. Therefore let us seek to love and forgive others which is the best approach especially if you want to win someone over to the Lord.
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Even though David had kept from doing any harm to Saul when Saul was alive, it certainly wasn’t a peaceful transition of leadership from Saul to David after Saul’s death. There was division, anger and fighting that included those like Joab who sought and got revenge. Politics doesn’t actually look any prettier to me in our day. Man’s ways are never going to be perfect as how God’s ways are. I think it’s just another reason that those of us who are followers of Jesus can be looking forward so much to going to be with Him in heaven someday.
God’s kingdom can’t be shaken as we see in Hebrews 12:25-29.
“See that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused Him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject Him who warns from heaven. At that time His voice shook the earth, but now He has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.”