2 Samuel 3:31
‘Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, “Tear your clothes and put on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner.” And King David walked behind the bier.’
David was king and he knows Joab killed a major defector from his enemy. No doubt Joab is feeling very uncomfortable. David is making no secret of his disappointment with him. Joab is a very powerful man. He commands David's armies. A person in this role has used his power to defeat kings. David shows no fear of him.
David can do this because he is a military leader himself and the army sees this as well and respects David. But more so David fears God.
We've said many times that "the fear of man is a snare". David knows this well. He serves God without fear of the repercussions of people. We've seen this before in him. Two times Saul appeared to be given into David's hand. Both times his army pressured him to kill Saul. He wouldn't. He respected God more than man.
Saul is someone who feared man more than God. I Samuel 15:24-26 tells of one of the examples that caused him to lose his job. He admitted that he feared the people over God. Samuel said to him that because he rejected God, so God has rejected him. Saul lost the thing he prized the most, his job.
Another reason to fear God over man is that it breeds respect. Saul was waffling all over the place. He was able to be pressured into things, because of his fear of people. It also caused Saul to be suspicious of David which prompted attempts at murder. It was when the people said, "Saul has killed his thousands, but David his ten thousands." True, this would be difficult to hear. We would bring these thoughts to God and ask him to help us with the jealousy. He would answer that prayer and we could let it go.
As is seen, to fear man brings up problems in multiple ways. It's far simpler to fear God. He is able to deal with everything else. Jesus said, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all else will be added to you", (Matthew 6:33). The "all else" is everything.
Are there areas where we could do better? Probably. David helps us with what to do here. He says in Psalm 139:23,24, "Search me, God, and know my heart; Put me to the test and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there is any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way." This brings up some anxiety, as we can fear what He'll say. We can trust Him. It's for our best. We can say what one said in Mark 9:24, 'Immediately the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe; help my unbelief!”' He will do that.
Lord, thank You for the example of David and how he feared You. Help us to do lay our lives before You for inspection. Thank You for wanting the best for us.