Defeat out of a great victory

 2 Samuel 19:1-9

A kingdom is restored but the price is such a cost to David, and it is my opinion the sorrow is more profound than losing a son.  While David has been on the run from Absalom and mainly waiting for the results of the battle with his son's army, he has had a lot of time to reflect.  And the same accuser, the one Jesus calls a liar and deceiver is doing a number on David.  He is reminding him of every spear-throwing contest that he was too busy to attend, and how he dropped the ball when his son Amnon raped Tamar, the sister of Absalom.

Yes, David is fair game for the devil and so are you and I when we are removed from the battle and sitting wondering if God is going to come through once more?  Now you may be thinking David is an easy target because he a mess; if those are your thoughts we all dropped the ball, we have all fallen short in many areas of our life.  When engaged by the evil one, run to Jesus, for in Him you stand and ask Jesus to fight the accuser for you, you are of great value to Him.

The following nine verses of 2 Samuel 19, give us the account of what took place after David was informed of Absalom’s death.  “It was told Joab, “Behold, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.” So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the people, for the people heard that day, “The king is grieving for his son.” And the people stole into the city that day as people steal in who are ashamed when they flee in battle. The king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, “O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!” Then Joab came into the house to the king and said, “You have today covered with shame the faces of all your servants, who have this day saved your life and the lives of your sons and your daughters and the lives of your wives and your concubines, because you love those who hate you and hate those who love you. For you have made it clear today that commanders and servants are nothing to you, for today, I know that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today, then you would be pleased. Now therefore arise, go out and speak kindly to your servants, for I swear by the Lord, if you do not go, not a man will stay with you this night, and this will be worse for you than all the evil that has come upon you from your youth until now.” Then the king arose and took his seat in the gate. And the people were all told, “Behold, the king is sitting in the gate.” And all the people came before the king.”

As the army is returning to the city after a great victory and genuinely saving David and his family and his kingship, they are greeted with a King who is only mourning over his son’s death.  Joab has often confronted David, and this may be the boldest and wisest Joab ever was, with his king.

He understood that the men were coming back as victors and now they were faced with a king who was mourning over a traitor.  We should stop and ponder over how the enemy has brought defeat out of a great victory.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice