Re:Verse passage – 2 Samuel 18 (day seven)
There are two unexpected moments of David in our text for today. 1) David tells his military commanders to be “gentle” (v.5) on his son Absalom even though Absalom is the enemy. 2) When David hears that his enemy has been slain he weeps over the loss of his treasonous son (v.33). In these moments David seems to care more about his villainous son than his own kingdom.
David was in a no win situation facing untold guilt in either outcome. In those days, when there is no where else to turn, turn to God: Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you. (James 4:8-10)
We all may sympathize with David’s emotional status as a father to his son and in his role as a king. In real life, we may have heard or seen similar situations like David’s among immediate or distant family members. Personal ambition without strong family foundation and good moral principles will surely lead to evil paths!
Unfortunately, David placed emotion over critical thinking. He failed to see Absalom as a traitor and a rebel, whose actions had caused a great deal of harm to the stability and welfare of his kingdom and his nation and had caused a great deal of pain for his own family as a whole. However, I am certain many parents may get stuck in the same conflicting position and would feel a good deal of sympathy with David’s viewpoint. Failure to prevent and to manage conflicts head on will lead to many destructive paths down the road for sure.