July 29, 2010
David arrives at Mahanaim. While there, three men arrive with provisions for the people. Barzillai was one of them. Absalom was still in pursuit. David got busy preparing his army for battle in order to defend himself. David was willing to go into battle but was asked by his officers to wait behind. David did what they asked.
As David sends them out to battle he asks for them to be gentle with Absalom for "my sake." David felt no anger or revenge. Absalom was still in pursuit when he "happens" to meet David's troops. The mule he is riding goes under the thick branches of an oak tree and Absalom's hair becomes stuck in the tree. The next phrase is horrifying. "His mule ran out from under him, and Absalom was left hanging above the ground."
First of all, Absalom was the aggressor. He thought he was in total control and yet he "happened" to run into David's troops. You have to think that he directed his mule to go under the thick branches of the oak tree as a means of hiding from David's troops. The very thing he thought would hide him is what trapped him. "The mule went out from under him." He was caught by his hair, the very thing he was the most proud of. The very thing!! Absalom was in control one moment, and out of control with NO control the next. The panic. The fear. The desperation. The helplessness. The hopelessness. The sheer agony Absalom must have felt as his mule left him and he was suspended above the ground; he was caught by what he was so proud of. Utterly defenseless in a hopeless situation. God used the very thing Absalom was most proud of to destroy him.
One of the men in David's army reports to Joab what he has seen. Joab asks him why he didn't kill Absalom because he would have received money and an award. His response was, "I wouldn't touch the King's son even if you gave me twenty-five pounds of silver." So, Joab took three spears and stabbed Absalom in the heart. Ten other young men also gathered around him, striking him and killing him. Joab blew the trumpets and the troops stopped chasing. While everyone is glad the threat is over, they also realize that the king's son is dead.
They run to tell David the news. "Blessed be the name of the LORD. The LORD has defeated those against you! The second runner arrives and says, "Good news! Today the LORD has punished those against you." And while David was thankful, his main concern was Absalom. "Is young Absalom all right?" And then again, "Is young Absalom all right?"
David was very upset and cried loudly. Absalom was the one who was trying to kill him, but David found no joy in the death of Absalom; only sadness. David finally understood that he needed to focus on the victory God gave; not the sadness he felt for Absalom.
David returns to his land. Shimei, who had jumped on the band wagon to attack David when he thought David was being defeated, now realizes his mistake and wants forgiveness. David doesn't seek revenge. Mephibosheth went to meet David as well. David asks why he didn't join him and Mephibosheth says that Ziba tricked him. Ziba had helped David by bringing supplies on one hand but evidently tricked Mephibosheth on the other. David was too focused on what God had done to get bogged down by what was done in the past, so he split the land evenly between Ziba and Mehpibosheth.
David was grateful for the help Barzillai gave him. He wanted Barzillai to go with him. Barzillai was a very rich man. He told David he was too old to go, but he escorted David across the river. David blessed and kissed him, then Barzillai returned home.
I can so relate to this account of David, Absalom, Shimei, and Barzillai. Jane was our Barzillai. The help Jane gave us was immeasurable. We are so grateful. Jane was rich in what matters in life. I wish she could have traveled the whole way with us as we navigated "the storm," but that wasn't God's plan. Jane went to her eternal home in May of 2008. Thank you, Jane. The memory of our special time together will forever live in our hearts. You're home Jane, you're home. Blessed be the name of the LORD.) See: Her Name Was Jane.
Next Entry: II Samuel 20:1–26
David arrives at Mahanaim. While there, three men arrive with provisions for the people. Barzillai was one of them. Absalom was still in pursuit. David got busy preparing his army for battle in order to defend himself. David was willing to go into battle but was asked by his officers to wait behind. David did what they asked.
As David sends them out to battle he asks for them to be gentle with Absalom for "my sake." David felt no anger or revenge. Absalom was still in pursuit when he "happens" to meet David's troops. The mule he is riding goes under the thick branches of an oak tree and Absalom's hair becomes stuck in the tree. The next phrase is horrifying. "His mule ran out from under him, and Absalom was left hanging above the ground."
First of all, Absalom was the aggressor. He thought he was in total control and yet he "happened" to run into David's troops. You have to think that he directed his mule to go under the thick branches of the oak tree as a means of hiding from David's troops. The very thing he thought would hide him is what trapped him. "The mule went out from under him." He was caught by his hair, the very thing he was the most proud of. The very thing!! Absalom was in control one moment, and out of control with NO control the next. The panic. The fear. The desperation. The helplessness. The hopelessness. The sheer agony Absalom must have felt as his mule left him and he was suspended above the ground; he was caught by what he was so proud of. Utterly defenseless in a hopeless situation. God used the very thing Absalom was most proud of to destroy him.
One of the men in David's army reports to Joab what he has seen. Joab asks him why he didn't kill Absalom because he would have received money and an award. His response was, "I wouldn't touch the King's son even if you gave me twenty-five pounds of silver." So, Joab took three spears and stabbed Absalom in the heart. Ten other young men also gathered around him, striking him and killing him. Joab blew the trumpets and the troops stopped chasing. While everyone is glad the threat is over, they also realize that the king's son is dead.
They run to tell David the news. "Blessed be the name of the LORD. The LORD has defeated those against you! The second runner arrives and says, "Good news! Today the LORD has punished those against you." And while David was thankful, his main concern was Absalom. "Is young Absalom all right?" And then again, "Is young Absalom all right?"
David was very upset and cried loudly. Absalom was the one who was trying to kill him, but David found no joy in the death of Absalom; only sadness. David finally understood that he needed to focus on the victory God gave; not the sadness he felt for Absalom.
David returns to his land. Shimei, who had jumped on the band wagon to attack David when he thought David was being defeated, now realizes his mistake and wants forgiveness. David doesn't seek revenge. Mephibosheth went to meet David as well. David asks why he didn't join him and Mephibosheth says that Ziba tricked him. Ziba had helped David by bringing supplies on one hand but evidently tricked Mephibosheth on the other. David was too focused on what God had done to get bogged down by what was done in the past, so he split the land evenly between Ziba and Mehpibosheth.
David was grateful for the help Barzillai gave him. He wanted Barzillai to go with him. Barzillai was a very rich man. He told David he was too old to go, but he escorted David across the river. David blessed and kissed him, then Barzillai returned home.
I can so relate to this account of David, Absalom, Shimei, and Barzillai. Jane was our Barzillai. The help Jane gave us was immeasurable. We are so grateful. Jane was rich in what matters in life. I wish she could have traveled the whole way with us as we navigated "the storm," but that wasn't God's plan. Jane went to her eternal home in May of 2008. Thank you, Jane. The memory of our special time together will forever live in our hearts. You're home Jane, you're home. Blessed be the name of the LORD.) See: Her Name Was Jane.
Next Entry: II Samuel 20:1–26
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