Clinging to more than the altar

 This week's verses are 1 Kings 2:28-34:

When the news reached Joab (for Joab had supported Adonijah, although he had not supported Absalom), he ran to the tent of the Lord and grabbed hold of the horns of the altar. When King Solomon heard that Joab had run to the tent of the Lord and was right there beside the altar, he ordered Benaiah son of Jehoiada, “Go, strike him down.” When Benaiah arrived at the tent of the Lord, he said to him, “The king says, ‘Come out!’” But he replied, “No, I will die here!” So Benaiah sent word to the king and reported Joab’s reply. The king told him, “Do as he said! Strike him down and bury him. Take away from me and from my father’s family the guilt of Joab’s murderous, bloody deeds. May the Lord punish him for the blood he shed; behind my father David’s back he struck down and murdered with the sword two men who were more innocent and morally upright than he—Abner son of Ner, commander of Israel’s army, and Amasa son of Jether, commander of Judah’s army. May Joab and his descendants be perpetually guilty of their shed blood, but may the Lord give perpetual peace to David, his descendants, his family, and his dynasty.” So Benaiah son of Jehoiada went up and executed Joab; he was buried at his home in the wilderness. 

 These verses take place during the period of bloodshed and turmoil that happened when David's sons were all trying to take the throne. David named Solomon as his successor, but Solomon's brother Adonijah twice tried to usurp his position. This time, David's former general Joab was one of the traitors, so Solomon gives the order to execute him immediately.

Joab runs to the tent and grabs the altar of God. He is expecting to get mercy like Adonijah did when his first attempt to steal the throne was revealed. But when it is clear that isn't going to happen, he calls Solomon's bluff, gambling that he would be unwilling to make a mess in the sanctuary by killing him and getting blood all over the altar. He is trying to manipulate his way to mercy. It doesn't work.

Do we ever grab hold of the horns of the altar ourselves, trying to manipulate mercy for something we're not sorry for? It's a scary thought.

Joab could have come to the altar at any time before he was found out. He could have repented before the king after either of the murders he committed. He could have presented himself to King Solomon and asked for a second chance. But he didn't want to change. He used the altar as his insurance policy, his get out of jail free card, his last resort if his dastardly plan didn't work out.

Do we use God as our last resort, our plan B, our "break glass in case we're caught" insurance policy? Do we delay repentance with the idea that we can wait until the very last minute and then cash in?

People used to try to do that in the middle ages, delaying sacraments until their deathbed so that they could live life as libertines until the very last minute. Often it didn't work out as they'd hoped. Death is not always something we have the luxury of preparing for.

Better to be sorry now, when you have that luxury of being able to change your ways, than to be sorry later and find yourself like Joab with no time and no hope left. God won't be manipulated any more than Solomon was, so take advantage of this season when you have his favor. Repent early, repent often. Waiting until you're good and ready is likely to be too late.

God knows our hearts the same as Solomon knew Joab's. He knows if we mean it. He knows our general attitude towards sin and obedience. He knows if we respect him, or if he's just being used. Instead of just making a religious display, approach him and have a conversation. It isn't the cold religious structure of an altar that will save you, but the God it points to, whose relationship makes all the difference. Embrace the person, not a thing.

Joab made bad decisions and had wrong ideas and didn't know how deceived he was until it was too late. We have the chance to do better. Obviously, do your best not to become a backstabbing murderer and a scoundrel. But more importantly, don't count on some future religious act to save you from the consequences of the sins you've already committed. Settle accounts now, before it is too late.