Three Deadly Darts of Satan

590 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 2Sa 18:14-17, “ Then Joab said, "I cannot linger with you." And he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through Absalom's heart, while he was still alive in the midst of the terebinth tree. 15 And ten young men who bore Joab's armor surrounded Absalom, and struck and killed him. 16 So Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing Israel. For Joab held back the people. 17 And they took Absalom and cast him into a large pit in the woods, and laid a very large heap of stones over him. Then all Israel fled, everyone to his tent. (2 Sam 18:14-17) The soldier who found Absalom hanging in the tree had reminded Joab that the king gave strict orders to take him alive. But Joab says, “I don't have time for this” and thrust Absalom through with three spears. Then his armor bearers added insult to injury brutally finishing the job. With the death of Absalom, there was no need to continue fighting, so Joab blows the trumpet signifying the end of the conflict. Absalom's body is taken from the tree and cast into a pit where a large pile of stones was heaped upon him. The first thing that catches my attention here is Joab's use of three spears to pierce the heart of Absalom. Why three? My thought is that Absalom was ultimately done in by three things: The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. We read about these three deadly fixations in 1Jo 2:15-17, “ Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. Absalom gave place to all three and let them take the place of what should have been the love of his father. In the end Absalom is tossed into the pit, and that is the end for all who reject the love of our heavenly Father through the refusal to receive His Son Jesus Christ. This world has many attractions, but we must fight to never give them the space that rightly belongs to the Father.