Scriptures: 1 Kings 2:5-6, 1:5-7, 1:11-13, 2 Samuel 5:6-10, 3:20-22, 3:26-17, 18:5-15, 5:33, 1 Chronicles 11:6, Matthew 6:14-15, 7:21, 1 John 3:14, 2 Peter 1:10, 2 Corinthians 13:5

Joab spent his entire life as the Commander in Chief of the armies of the Nation of Israel. He was David's handpicked general. Joab served David all of his life only to be slain, at the command of David, at the end of his life. Joab's downfall can be attributed to one simple truth. He had loyalty to David, but he did not have real love for David. In this message you are going to see that Joab loved the kingdom, but he did not love the king. He had a loyalty to David, but not a true love for David. You see, what man conceals, God reveals. There were at least three incidents in the life of Joab that revealed his true character. Dr. Merritt details the heart of Joab, and how his examples serves as a warning to us to day on true love, loyalty, faithfulness and forgiveness.

"If a man will not forgive others it is proof positive he has never experienced the forgiveness of God. Whatever God does for you, God also wants to do through you. God saved you so that He might through you save others. God has blessed you so that He through you might bless others. God has forgiven you so that He through you might forgive others. You better remember that when you get to the end of life's journey it doesn't matter one whit what people have done to you. The only thing that matters is what you have done for God." --Dr. Merritt

Keywords: Joab, David, traitor, heart, king, Israel, Jebusite, Absalom, Zeruiah, Samuel, sovereign, shepherd, protection, soldier, leadership, Abner, Adonijah, Abiathar, Haggith