Day Twenty-Three -- Spare the rod and spoil the child?
2 Samuel 12:11 to 2 Samuel 22:18
Just when we think that things might settle down for David and the kingdom he united, a threat to his rule arises from within his own house. One of his sons, Absalom, conspires to ingratiate himself with the tribes and to supplant his father David as king. Was anyone else surprised that David the great military leader, was forced to flee Jerusalem in the face of this threat from his son? And where did David head? To the east across the Kidron Valley, up and over the Mount of Olives, and then down and across the Jordan (probably passing through Jericho) and into the wilderness. Really? The wilderness? It seems like a step backward in God's plan. After some good trickery and insider intrigue initiated by David his forces defeat the rebellious army of Absalom, who finds himself hung up by his vanity. Although David had said "Be gentle with the young man Absalom for my sake" [s Sam 18:5], the military commander Joab is not so inclined to show Absalom any mercy, and later chastises David to put his loyalties in order or risk the total loss of his kingdom.
In the end, David is brought back across the Jordan by the people who are quick to try and make things right with the king. Although the LORD does appear to have a hand in some of this it felt like the people and tribes were being left to fight a lot of this out on their own. Maybe they can never be God's people until they can attain some earthly unity amongst themselves. The loyalties of the people seems terribly fragile. Perhaps this is why David begins his song of praise with the clear statement: "The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn or my salvation - from violent people you save me." I might add: 'Even from those closest to us.'
Just when we think that things might settle down for David and the kingdom he united, a threat to his rule arises from within his own house. One of his sons, Absalom, conspires to ingratiate himself with the tribes and to supplant his father David as king. Was anyone else surprised that David the great military leader, was forced to flee Jerusalem in the face of this threat from his son? And where did David head? To the east across the Kidron Valley, up and over the Mount of Olives, and then down and across the Jordan (probably passing through Jericho) and into the wilderness. Really? The wilderness? It seems like a step backward in God's plan. After some good trickery and insider intrigue initiated by David his forces defeat the rebellious army of Absalom, who finds himself hung up by his vanity. Although David had said "Be gentle with the young man Absalom for my sake" [s Sam 18:5], the military commander Joab is not so inclined to show Absalom any mercy, and later chastises David to put his loyalties in order or risk the total loss of his kingdom.
In the end, David is brought back across the Jordan by the people who are quick to try and make things right with the king. Although the LORD does appear to have a hand in some of this it felt like the people and tribes were being left to fight a lot of this out on their own. Maybe they can never be God's people until they can attain some earthly unity amongst themselves. The loyalties of the people seems terribly fragile. Perhaps this is why David begins his song of praise with the clear statement: "The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn or my salvation - from violent people you save me." I might add: 'Even from those closest to us.'
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