2 Samuel 19:11-13
Verse 11 King David sent this message to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests: “Ask the elders of Judah, ‘Why should you be the last to bring the king back to his palace, since what is being said throughout Israel has reached the king at his quarters?
While the men in Jerusalem were wondering if King David would even forgive them for following Absalom, word of their discussions reached across the Jordan to the king. Having seen the loving devotion of his men the king was coming around to understanding Absalom’s death was not the end of the world, nor was it the end of David’s reign.
David knew the people wouldn’t reach out to him on their own and the reconciliation had to happen if God’s people were going to be one nation again. With that understanding the king sent word to the priests who had gone back as his spies when Absalom was marching into Jerusalem to take over the palace. He knew these men were still loyal to him and he appealed to them as spiritual leaders. He needed them to talk to the elders and point out the need for God’s people to accept the king God had appointed over them.
The king doesn’t stop his plea with the basic, “get the elders to bring me home” speech. He was also reminding them he wasn’t some foreign king who had taken over the kingdom, he was one of their own. He was their flesh and blood. By not yet calling him back to the palace they were acting as they were rejecting him and that wasn’t something they should do to a relative. Especially one who had been so good to them in the past.
Then there was the part about Amasa. David shows by bringing up the name of Absalom’s commander that he wasn’t going to keep the army divided. He knew it was important to show those who had followed his son, he wasn’t going kick them out of the kingdom. They needed to know their king was still their king, that he still valued them.
It wasn’t enough to bring up Amasa, it was also important for all in the nation to understand he was replacing Joab with his son’s commander. This was more than a step at trying to repair the fractured kingdom it was also a way of saying Joab had lost favor with the king because of his disobedience regarding Absalom. It also stood as a bold reminder to all the men in the army how the king would deal with disobedience among his ranks.
Making It Personal
When have you needed to get back to proper standing with others? What steps were you willing to take to get the relationship righted? Are there relationships which need some mending in your life?
Making It Personal Kids
When have you have a break of friendship with someone? Did you try to mend it? What things can you do to help fix a broken relationship?
Closing Prayer
Father, thank You for being the Great Reconciler. Help us understand the lengths we need to go in reconciling with those we are estranged from and give us the courage and desire to do the needed work to make it happen. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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