2 Samuel 3:28

2 Samuel 3:28 says, And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner:   When David heard of the death of Abner, he pronounced his kingdom and himself innocent of his death.  Since David and Abner had opposed each other in the past, people may have assumed that David had used their making peace as a ruse to have Abner killed while his guard was down, but David said neither he nor anyone acting under his orders was responsible for his death.  People still may at times use the name of Christian leaders to attempt to get their way, even if it is not God's way.  Verse twenty-nine adds, Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father’s house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread.  David said that the consequences of killing Abner should fall on not only Joab but his whole house as well.  Though Matthew Henry seems to say that this was a delayed justice which hurt even more, we know that no one else is punished for our sins nor are we punished for theirs.  Verse thirty adds, So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.  David said Joab and Abishai had slain Abner to avenge their brother's death, though we aren't really told that Abishai was involved.  As followers of Christ, we should never act out of revenge toward our fellow believers, and we certainly should never want them dead.  I believe this should apply not just to our fellow Christians, but to everyone.  We are called to share the gospel and love our neighbors.  Verse thirty-one states, And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier.  David told Joab to sincerely mourn the death of Abner, even though he was the one who had killed him.  We should always mourn the death of a fellow Christian, and Abner and Joab were both a part of the nation of Israel, God's chosen people.  David joined in the mourning.  Verse thirty-two adds, And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept. When Abner was buried, David lifted up his voice in mourning and wept, and the people joined him.  We need to mourn the death of our fellow believers today, especially those who have been great warriors in God's army.  Verse thirty-three says, And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth?  As David lamented Abner, he asked if he had died as a fool.  Verse thirty-four adds, Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: as a man falleth before wicked men, so fellest thou. And all the people wept again over him.  David said that Abner did not die as a fool nor as one deserving of death but as one who put his trust in someone who was supposed to be an ally.  Hopefully, we will never be betrayed by our fellow Christians, especially if it is done as revenge for some perceived harm wechave done to them.  Verse thirty-five states, And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down.  The people tried to get David to eat, but he said let God strike him down as well if he ate anything before the sun went down.  His mourning of Abner was not just for show but was sincere.  We should always be sincere when we mourn for people and not just go through the motions for show.  Verse thirty-six adds, And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people.  The people took notice of David's sincere mourning and were pleased by it.  Verse thirty-seven continues, For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner.  Matthew Henry says this convinced them that David was in no way involved in Abner’s death, though that wasn't why he did it.  Verse thirty-eight states, And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?  David asked if the people didn't know that a great man of Israel had fallen that day.  Even though they had their differences in the past, David recognized the loss of a great warrior for Israel who had been killed by the betrayal of one of his supposed allies, if not friend.  No matter if we have been at odds with our fellow believers in Christ, we should be saddened by their passing, especially if they are unjustly slain.  This should apply to Christians everywhere who die unjustly and not just those who are closest to us. Verse thirty-nine adds, And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.  David said though he was anointed king, he was made weak by the treachery of Joab and Abishai and that God would deal with them.  We should never seek revenge on our but should leave any punishment for sin up to God.