Theological Commentary: Click Here
As we
continue our study of David, we see another blunder when it comes to David’s personal
life. David chooses to mourn the loss of
his son rather than rally around the troops.
Of course, don’t get me wrong.
What parent is going to feel joy when it comes to the death of a child? I am not saying that David should be elated
that Absalom has died. He’s not going to
feel excitement that his son has died.
At the same
time, how many thousands of men went out to fight for David’s life and his
right to rule? How many thousands of men
went out to protect David and to protect God’s plan? These men have just won a great victory, a
victory for the kingdom!
David should
have been able to go out and encourage the men.
He should have been able to go out and thank his men for his
service. He should have been able to go
out and make plans for reclaiming the throne.
But instead David mourns. David
shames his warriors by caring more about the loss of his son than the people
who actually fought for him.
In the end,
Joab his general has the right words. If
David doesn’t go out and be with his men and thank them for their service after
risking their life for him, they will desert and leave him. Joab isn’t saying that David can’t be sad
about Absalom internally. But David must
go out and make sure that his men are properly encouraged, appreciated, and
shown that their choice to stick with David was a good one. After all, as it stands David is sending the
message that he’d rather have his son alive than be with the people who literally
put their lives on the line for him.
David needs to make the right decision and put his personal life aside
to do the right thing.
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