Don't Let Sin Fester

431 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from: 2Sa 3:28,29, “Afterward, when David heard it, he said, "My kingdom and I are guiltless before the LORD forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner. 29 "Let it rest on the head of Joab and on all his father's house; and let there never fail to be in the house of Joab one who has a discharge or is a leper, who leans on a staff or falls by the sword, or who lacks bread." (2 Sam 3:28,29) David washes his hands of this cold-blooded murder carried out at the hands of Joab. One has to wonder, why he didn't do something about it. This shepherd boy had taken down Goliath in battle, yet he claims he is too “weak” to deal with these “sons of Zeruiah.” (v 39) This weakness was not a personal weakness but rather David felt that he did not have the political power to pull it off. I guess we can just say that David is only human. This lack of fortitude on his part in dealing with Joab would come back and haunt him later on, as Joab would commit further grievous acts. David never forgot this ruthless act of Joab's and one of his last instructions to his son Solomon was to execute justice in this matter. We read about it in , 1Ki 2:5 "Moreover you know also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, and what he did to the two commanders of the armies of Israel, to Abner the son of Ner and Amasa the son of Jether, whom he killed. And he shed the blood of war in peacetime, and put the blood of war on his belt that was around his waist, and on his sandals that were on his feet. 6 "Therefore do according to your wisdom, and do not let his gray hair go down to the grave in peace.” As Joab did not honor the peace that David had bestowed upon Abner, David commands Solomon to not allow Joab to die in peace. The lesson for all of us is twofold. First of all we must not be like Joab, unwilling to forgive others, lest God not forgive us. Jesus said in Mt 6:15 "But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Secondly we must learn to deal with that great disrupter of peace in our own lives.....sin. If we don't it will continue to rise up and bite us causing more problems for us and those around us. Take your sins to the cross today and every day. Let Jesus deal with them so you can live in peace now and forever. Father, help us to not let sin of any type fester in our lives.