RTW 2022

But Joab replied, “May the Lord increase the number of his people a hundred times over! But why, my lord the king, do you want to do this? Are they not all your servants? Why must you cause Israel to sin?”
1 Chronicles 21:3

David suffered from a bad case of the “if onlys.” If only he had listened to the counsel of the leader of his army.

David and the Census

Interesting facts about Joab

• His name means “Jehovah is father”
• He was the son of David’s sister Zeruiah.
• He isn’t mentioned again until 1 Kings 1:7 as David is passing the baton to Solomon. Joab goes against the King’s desire and supports someone else.

But regardless of his future wrong choices, he made the difficult and brave choice today to warn David that he was making a mistake.

• Speak truth to me, in love and from a heart that wants the best for me.
• Stand with me, even when I don’t heed their advice.
• Stay committed to the relationship, after the bad decision.

Truths about a real friend

• A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
  Proverbs 17:17 (ESV)
• A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
  Proverbs 18:24 (ESV)
• Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.
  Proverbs 27:9 (ESV)
• Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow.
  Ecclesiastes 4:9 (ESV)
• Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
  John 15:13 (ESV)
• Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
  1 Thessalonians 5:11 (ESV)

Sometimes we have to be Joab, and sometimes we have to be David. True friendships survive these moments because both people know and trust the other is looking out for their best interest.

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God sent fire from heaven to light the fire.

David built an altar there to the Lord and sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings. And when David prayed, the Lord answered him by sending fire from heaven to burn up the offering on the altar.
1 Chronicles 21:26

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Be a real friend. Praise God that He is a real friend. He speaks truth to me, He stands with me when I don’t take His counsel, and He is committed to our relationship for eternity.