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protecting our reputations

2 Samuel 3:22-39 (JDV)

2 Samuel 3:22 Notice David’s servants and Joab returned from a raid and brought a large amount of plundered goods with them. Abner was not with David in Hebron because David had dismissed him, and he had gone in peace.
2 Samuel 3:23 When Joab and his whole army arrived, Joab was informed, “Abner son of Ner came to see the king, the king dismissed him, and he went in peace.”
2 Samuel 3:24 Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Look here, Abner came to you. Why did you dismiss him? Now he’s getting away.
2 Samuel 3:25 You know that Abner son of Ner came to deceive you and to find out about your military activities and everything you’re doing.”
2 Samuel 3:26 Then Joab left David and sent messengers after Abner. They brought him back from the well of Sirah, but David was unaware of it.
2 Samuel 3:27 When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab pulled him aside to the middle of the city gate, as if to speak to him privately, and there Joab stabbed him in the stomach. So, Abner died in revenge for the death of Asahel, Joab’s brother.
2 Samuel 3:28 David heard about it later and said: “I and my kingdom are forever innocent before Yahveh concerning the blood of Abner son of Ner.
2 Samuel 3:29 May it hang over Joab’s head and his father’s whole house and may the house of Joab never be without someone who has a discharge or a skin disease, or a man who can only work a spindle, or someone who falls by the sword or starves.”
2 Samuel 3:30 Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner because he had put their brother Asahel to death in the battle at Gibeon.
2 Samuel 3:31 David then ordered Joab and all the people who were with him, “Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn over Abner.” And King David walked behind the coffin.
2 Samuel 3:32 When they buried Abner in Hebron, the king wept aloud at Abner’s tomb. All the people wept,
2 Samuel 3:33 and the king sang a lament for Abner: Should Abner die as a fool dies?
2 Samuel 3:34 Your hands were not bound, your feet not placed in bronze shackles. You fell like one who falls victim to criminals. And all the people wept over him even more.
2 Samuel 3:35 Then they came to urge David to eat food while it was still day, but David took an oath: “May God punish me and do so severely if I taste bread or anything else before sunset!”
2 Samuel 3:36 All the people took note of this, and it pleased them. In fact, everything the king did pleased them.
2 Samuel 3:37 On that day all the troops and all Israel were convinced that the king had no part in the killing of Abner son of Ner.
2 Samuel 3:38 Then the king said to his soldiers, “You must know that a great leader has fallen in Israel today.
2 Samuel 3:39 As for me, even though I am the anointed king, I have little power today. These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too fierce for me. May Yahveh repay the evildoer according to his evil!”

protecting our reputations

David saw in Abner not only a great warrior, but also a means by which the long war between David’s men and Saul’s could have been shortened. Joab’s vengeance ruined those hopes. It also put David’s reputation in Danger. David was wise to spend extra time and effort proving that Abner’s death was not at David’s command. If he had not, the gains made by Abner before his death would have been complete losses.

Protecting our reputations is important, but it should never happen just to cover up the truth. The first priority is being persons of integrity. If we have faults, we should confess them. But if something happens to give the impression that we did wrong, we should not ignore the misunderstanding.

LORD, give us wisdom to protect our reputations, so that your name is not blasphemed.