The Topic of Deeper Life Daily Manna Devotional for 14th November 2021 Is “Justice Delayed“

Horace Gray, former associate justice of the US supreme court once told a man who had appeared before him in a lower court and had escaped conviction on a technicality: “I know that you are guilty and you know it. And I wish you to remember that one day you will stand before a better and wiser judge, and that there you will be dealt with according to justice and not according to law.”

The passage under consideration reveals King David’s reaction to the revengeful killing of Abner, the son of Ner, captain of the host of Israel, by Joab and his brother, Abishai. Abner was murdered for killing Asahel their brother. Abner had visited David in Hebron with the intention of unifying all Israel under his kingship.

When on his way back, Joab sent messengers to bring him back under pretense and had him stabbed to death.

David wanted all Israel to know that the order to kill Abner did not come from him; he therefore ordered all present to accompany Abner’s remains to the grave, with himself joining the funeral procession and making lamentations over him with fasting. Joab, according to the law, should have been put to death for this fragrant violation. But he escaped because of his power and influence as commander of the army at this time. David could not enforce the law because Joab and his brothers were too strong for him. Any attempt to bring Joab to justice could spark a division in the army and destabilize the nascent regime of David.

But justice delayed is not justice denied. The long arm of the law eventually caught up with Joab who was executed by the hand of Benaiah through the order of Solomon (1 Kings 2:29-34). No matter how long it takes, those who do evil cannot escape divine justice. The only way out is genuine repentance and restitution.