Today our readings begins with David’s response to the death of his son, Absalom. Absalom had deviously torn the kingship from his hands and forced David and his family to flee Jerusalem, and to add insult to injury, Absalom, slept with David’s ten concubines in public in a very calculated move to further disgrace his father. In spite of this, David is devastated by his son’s death to the point that those who were battling on David’s behalf had to return quietly to their home ‘as if in shame’. While we can understand and sympathize with David, this behavior doesn’t seem very leader-like and it must have had a defeating effect on those who were putting their lives on the line for David. Joab manages to convince David to ‘get back in the saddle’, and he does so, but there is another contender for the throne.
In an effort to unify the kingdom, David appoints Amasa as the commander of the united armies. While this may have been a wise strategy, Joab, David’s faithful commander was no doubt bitter when relegated to a secondary role. So when Amasa was slow to respond to David’s orders to subdue Sheba, a revolutionary trying to gain control of the kingdom, Joab murders Amasa. As a side note, Amasa was David’s nephew as was Joab – so Amasa and Joab were first cousins – so much for blood being thicker than water. Joab moves into the commander role, but as we will read in future chapters, there are consequences for his actions.
What consequences do you face for your actions? This is a good question to contemplate. It’s easy for us to point to sin in the lives of others, but sometimes we go through trials that may be the direct result of our transgressions.
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