Godly fathers-ungodly sons-31
While we continue with the sad reality of David and his sons, we must not forget all those who lived before him. We did not study the sons of Adam, Noah, or Abraham to name just a few. There is a vacuum of any good examples of godly fathers having godly sons. Oh they can have one godly son, but all have an ungodly son as well. What came next to the story of David’s sons?
2 Samuel 19:1 Then it was told Joab, "Behold, the king is weeping and mourns for Absalom." 19:2 The victory that day was turned to mourning for all the people, for the people heard it said that day, "The king is grieved for his son." 19:3 So the people went by stealth into the city that day, as people who are humiliated steal away when they flee in battle. 19:4 The king covered his face and cried out with a loud voice, "O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!"
This may be difficult for any of us to truly understand. How can David mourn for Absalom who was going to kill him? How could he put the death of this evil son above the lives of those who fought for him? How could he forsake thanking them? Instead of rejoicing in restoring David, they felt ashamed and forgotten.
19:5 Then Joab came into the house to the king and said, "Today you have covered with shame the faces of all your servants, who today have saved your life and the lives of your sons and daughters, the lives of your wives, and the lives of your concubines, 19:6 by loving those who hate you, and by hating those who love you. For you have shown today that princes and servants are nothing to you; for I know this day that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today, then you would be pleased. 19:7 "Now therefore arise, go out and speak kindly to your servants, for I swear by the LORD, if you do not go out, surely not a man will pass the night with you, and this will be worse for you than all the evil that has come upon you from your youth until now.
Joab was not an empathetic man, but a warrior and killer of men. He did not think twice of killing Absalom, who was in reality the leader of a revolt against David. We would not necessarily go to him for advice, but in this example he was right.
19:8 So the king arose and sat in the gate. When they told all the people, saying, "Behold, the king is sitting in the gate," then all the people came before the king. Now Israel had fled, each to his tent. 19:9 All the people were quarreling throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, "The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies and saved us from the hand of the Philistines, but now he has fled out of the land from Absalom. 19:10 "However, Absalom, whom we anointed over us, has died in battle. Now then, why are you silent about bringing the king back?"
There is an honor and duty for someone to escort the king back to Jerusalem. There are two factions, Judah the tribe from which David belongs, and the northern tribes which eventually became known as Samaria.
19:11 Then King David sent to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, saying, "Speak to the elders of Judah, saying, 'Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house, since the word of all Israel has come to the king, even to his house? 19:12 'You are my brothers; you are my bone and my flesh. Why then should you be the last to bring back the king?'
David chose Judah to accompany him back to Jerusalem. With that he did not choose Israel of the northern tribes.
19:13 "Say to Amasa, 'Are you not my bone and my flesh? May God do so to me, and more also, if you will not be commander of the army before me continually in place of Joab.'" 19:14 Thus he turned the hearts of all the men of Judah as one man, so that they sent word to the king, saying, "Return, you and all your servants." 19:15 The king then returned and came as far as the Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal in order to go to meet the king, to bring the king across the Jordan.
So David is saved. He is returning to his throne in Jerusalem. He is accompanied by the men of Judah. David hinted that Joab would soon be replaced by Amasa. Joab was now both a liability, due to his part in the death of Uriah, and an ‘enemy’ for killing Absalom.
Are David’s worries all gone? No, he will die with the many consequences of his poor decisions. Especially those with the raising or his not raising his sons.
More next Saturday.