|
|
"Shock horror" - would be the headlines.The King, guilty of adultery and the murder of the woman's husband.That would be enough to keep the papers busy for years and years, what with "The Inside Exclusive Story"; "The Marriage of Shame"; "This Woman Will Never be Accepted"; "Love Child Dies".
Of course there were no 'tabloid journalists' in King David's day, but one wonders nevertheless what made for such a moral calamity in the life of one of the world's best-loved men. Well, all Bible readers, even Sunday School children know the facts of David's life. We all know of David and Goliath - David the outlaw - then King David, bringing the nation of Israel under one rule and taking and establishing his capital at Jerusalem, a thousand years B.C. The Bible contains a masterful sub-plot to all this. It is really the two faces of David.
There were two men who were very close to David and they influenced him deeply, quite apart from all other influences. One of those two was called Joab. He was David's nephew - son of Zuruiah, David's sister. Uncle David recognised Joab's ruthless, blind loyalty, and called him to be one of his army generals, and strategy consultants. But Joab had his own agenda. He obeyed the King when it suited him and ignored his orders when it didn't. He ruthlessly stamped out opposition to David's (and therefore his own) position. David's political enemies were mercilessly put down by Joab. His brilliant strategy and courage produced some astonishing military victories: but he had far too much power. He deliberately disobeyed David's express order to spare the rebel Prince Absalom, who was suspended helplessly by his hair in a tree. Instead of taking him down and bringing him to David (as ordered) he plunged 3 javelins through Absalom's heart.
When David had fallen to his lust for Bathsheba and she found that he'd got her pregnant, who did David send for? Why Joab, his hit man. Joab's plan worked. He got the husband killed in an impossible battle situation and David added the young, pregnant widow to his royal harem.
Through all those and other terrifying revelations one can see the face of Joab grinning through the guilty face of David, who never punished his frightening friend and follower. If Joab had been the only influence on David what tragedy would have ensued. Thankfully there was another face, of which we'll think tomorrow. For now, this is from "A Psalm of David".
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For you know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, and you only, have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight. Psalm 51:1-4
A Prayer:
Lord, even if I have not sinned like David, help me to repent as he did.
Now read II Samuel, Chapter 18:1 to 19:8.
Top of Page
|
|
|
|
Click
here to play audio file