What happens when vengeance speaks louder than mercy? In 2 Samuel 3, just as peace seems possible between David and the house of Saul, Joab murders Abner in cold blood. It’s a personal act masked as loyalty—but it fractures the hope of unity. David mourns not only Abner’s death but the setback to reconciliation. This moment is a warning: unchecked anger, even when justified, can sabotage what God is trying to build. Our desire for justice must never outpace our obedience. The kingdom God is forming in and through us isn’t rooted in retaliation, but in mercy, restraint, and truth. When betrayal wounds us, we’re tempted to strike back—but God calls us to a higher path. Like David, we grieve, we wait, and we let God be the judge. That’s the only way to build something that lasts.