1. powerpoint presentation designed by claro ruiz vicente http://clarovicente.weebly.com Adult Bible Study Guide Oct Nov Dec 2010 Adult Bible Study Guide Oct Nov Dec 2010

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4. Background Characters in the Old Testament Contents 1. Story and History 2. Caleb: Living With the Wait 3. Hannah: Learning to Be Someone 4. Jonathan: Born for Greatness 5. Abigail: No Victim of Circumstances 6. Uriah: Faith of a Foreigner 7. Abiathar: The Priest 8. Joab: David’s Weak Strongman 9. Rizpah: The Influence of Faithfulness 10. The Man of God: Obedience is Not Optional 11. The Widow of Zarephath: The Leap of Faith 12. Gehazi: Missing the Mark 13. Baruch: Building a Legacy in a Crumbling World

5. Background Characters in the Old Testament Our Goals {181} T o “learn things that can help us to write a different and better story for ourselves.” To “read Scripture afresh, looking beyond the obvious to discover the joy of learning new truths from God’s Word.” To “remember the power of our own lives and examples.”

6. Background Characters in the Old Testament Lesson 8, November 20 Background Characters in the Old Testament Lesson 8, November 20 Joab: David’s Weak Strongman

7. Key Text Proverbs 21:2 NIV A ll a man’s ways seem right to him, but the Lord weighs the heart.”

8. Joab: David’s Weak Strongman Initial Words {274} T hough 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.

9. Joab: David’s Weak Strongman Quick Look 1. Joab’s POLITICAL ROOTS (1 Chronicles 2:13-16) 2. Joab’s POLITICAL ROUTINES (2 Samuel 14:19-21) 3. Joab’s POLITICAL RUIN (1 Kings 2:5-6)

10. Joab: David’s Weak Strongman 1. Joab’s Political Roots 1 Chronicles 2:13-16 NKJV J esse begot … David the seventh. Now their sisters were Zeruiah and Abihail. The sons of Zeruiah were Abishai, Joab, and Asahel—three.”

11. 1.Joab’s Political Roots A Family Affair {275} E ven though Joab, linked to David’s family, 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. During the skirmish Joab’s younger brother unwisely chases Abner. Abner warns him off repeatedly, and Abner kills him in self- defense. Joab never forgets this event.

12. 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. Meanwhile, Joab has been away. On returning home, he learns of these new developments, which greatly unsettle him. 1.Joab’s Political Roots A Family Affair {275}

13. David publicly mourns for Abner and rebukes Joab’s actions. 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. 1.Joab’s Political Roots The Cost of Sin {277}

14. Sin also breaks credibility. 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. Joab sends some other men along in order to make the whole thing look more authentic. 1.Joab’s Political Roots The Cost of Sin {277}

15. Joab: David’s Weak Strongman 2. Joab’s Political Routines 2 Samuel 14:19-21 NKJV T hen the king…said to the woman…‘Is the hand of Joab with you in this?’ And the woman answered…‘To bring about this change of affairs your servant Joab has done this thing.’ And the kings said to Joab…‘Go therefore, bring back the young man Absalom.’ ”

16. 2. Joab’s Political Routines Self-serving {279} T he 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.

17. Amasa and Joab were cousins. Amasa was commander of Absalom’s forces. After Joab disobeys David’s orders in the case of Absalom, David wishes to rid himself of Joab and promises Amasa the high command of his army. After all, it was Joab’s scheming and planning that set the stage for the rebellion. 2. Joab’s Political Routines Self-serving {281}

18. David ignores Joab, for he has promised the command to Amasa, and now he sends Amasa to deal with a 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 murders Amasa. Joab coolly murders his cousin, simply because he has been passed over and is no longer number one. 2. Joab’s Political Routines Self-serving {281}

19. 1 Kings 2:5-6 NKJV Y ou know what Joab…did to me, and…to Abner…and Amasa…whom he killed. Therefore do…not let his gray hair to go down to the grave in peace.’ ” Joab: David’s Weak Strongman 3. Joab’s Political Ruin

20. His Last Stand {283} F irst Kings 1:7 makes it clear that Joab is one of the key players in this coup attempt. Joab simply goes ahead and acts, thinking that old King David will be powerless to do anything about it. Joab gets a last chance, in that Solomon does not punish him 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.

21. 3. Joab’s Political Ruins His Last Stand {283} Joab seems to take God completely out of the equation. Joab thinks that he always can live as he pleases and escape the consequences. Even though retribution may not come immediately, it will one day come—if not in this life, then in the final judgment. “A man reaps what he sows.”

22. Signs of the Times May 9 1878 Final Words {285} W e 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.”