But the one who endures to the end will be saved. —Matthew 24:13
9 And next to him among the three mighty men was Eleazar the son of Dodo, son of Ahohi. He was with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel withdrew. 10 He rose and struck down the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clung to the sword. And the LORD brought about a great victory that day, and the men returned after him only to strip the slain. 11 And next to him was Shammah, the son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines gathered together at Lehi, where there was a plot of ground full of lentils, and the men fled from the Philistines. 12 But he took his stand in the midst of the plot and defended it and struck down the Philistines, and the LORD worked a great victory. —2 Samuel 23:9–12
Why is Joab not listed among the 37 mighty men of King David?
Mighty = Faithful
1. Carrying out revenge doesn’t produce faithfulness.
So, Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had put their brother Asahel to death in the battle at Gibeon. —2 Samuel 3:30
2. Acting on jealousy doesn’t produce faithfulness.
Now Absalom had set Amasa over the army instead of Joab. Amasa was the son of a man named Ithra the Ishmaelite, who had married Abigal the daughter of Nahash, sister of Zeruiah, Joab’s mother. —2 Samuel 17:25
3. Becoming an accomplice to a crime doesn’t produce faithfulness.
14 In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah. 15 In the letter he wrote, “Set Uriah in the forefront of the hardest fighting, and then draw back from him, that he may be struck down, and die.” —2 Samuel 11:14–15
4. Watching out for number one doesn’t produce faithfulness.
5 Now Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I will be king.” And he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. 6 His father had never at any time displeased him by asking, “Why have you done thus and so?” He was also a very handsome man, and he was born next after Absalom. 7 He conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest. And they followed Adonijah and helped him. —1 Kings 1:5–7
“Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.” —1 Corinthians 10:11
What produces faithfulness?
The Apostle Paul may have said it best: But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. —Acts 20:24