#20 The Saga of David: David and Joab

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At the end of the last episode we saw that the war was over and Absolom was dead. Remember that before the battle, David was willing and wanting to risk his life and lead his troops into battle. He wanted to do this for two reasons, first off, it was what kings did, lead their troops into battle. And secondly, he hoped that if he could enter the battle it would help save his son Absolom’s life. David’s warriors though, especially his commander in chief Joab thought differently. Joab was convinced that David must stay alive for his kingdom to continue. If he entered the battle and a stray arrow accidentally pierced him he would be dead and Absolom’s forces would most assuradly take over and they would crown Absolom as king. Joab knew that David’s life was essential to the cause to keeping his kingdom alive so he knew he could not enter the battle he had to say out but Joab also believed that it was crucial that Absolom be killed. There could not be two kings of Isreal, the rebellion had gone too deep. Absolum must die and David must be kept safe. Politically it was too late for reconciliation between father and son, Absolom had to die.

The truth is this. During this entire affair wtih David he had not acted as a King, he acted as a doating father. This is kind of ridiculous when you look at his reactions. He did not treat Absolom’s rebellion as a rebellion at all. He treated it like a small minor domestic affair that could be settled with a nice group hug between the patries involved. He failed to see Absolom’s as a traitor, a rebel who has caused tons of a pain, hurt and suffering to David, his family and the entire nation at large. And that is to say nothing for the 20 thousand men who had just died in a fierce battle in the Woods of Effram.

The death of Absolom was good news to the Nation of Isreal, it was good news for David the King, but it was the worst kind of news for David the Father. We remember David’s statement from last episode where he said, “Would I had died instead of you Absolom my son, my son.” These were the words of a bereaved and tormented father. The loss of another son, his third son, deeply hurt David and gave him intense sorrow. Yet he was the king, he could not forget his duty, his responsibility to his people, there had been a huge loss, a huge battle, a rebellion, an insurrection in his own kingdom. It was time for reconciliation, it was time to bring the kingdom back together, it was time to be king, to step up and be the king that all his valiant warriors who had just died had fought for, to be that king. Much had to be done and a lot of bitterness had to be taken care of.

Joab, who had personally killed Absolom, was frustrated with the way David was acting, he did not like it, and in fact he calls out David to his face. This will be the topic of Pastor Harris’s message.

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