Parable (again)


2 Samuel 14:1-33
Take the time to follow the link to the Bible reading for today or look it up in your own Bible. The story is rather detailed and the devotion will make more sense if you understand what happens in the chapter.
http://www.esvbible.org/2 Samuel 14:1-33

Apparently David is a sucker for a good story. This is the second time that a parable or story has been used to get his attention about an situation in his own life. While it would be a stretch to compare Joab (the commander of David’s army) to Nathan (the prophet David listens to), they use the same foil to accomplish their goals. Maybe Joab learned it from Nathan. At any rate, Joab hires an actress to come in and move David’s heart to let Absalom back into Jerusalem. The story they use on David allows him to reach out to someone with grace and mercy, not knowing that his own son would be the recipient of the forgiveness. While David does allow Absalom back into the capital city, he is basically under house arrest, and David refuses to see his son and remains estranged from him. Absalom presses Joab into service again (albeit in a coercive manner) in order that father and son might be reunited for real.

One might ask, in reading this story, why Joab cares about Absalom’s return to favor with David. What we are possibly seeing is Joab's attempt at being a king-maker. Absalom stands to gain the throne if he is in good favor with the king, for he is next in line for the crown. Joab appears to enjoy the power struggles that go on inside of a government. Remember, each of the actions we see played out on these pages points to the character and substance of the people who are living out these events. What is described in this chapter points to Joab as a power broker and to Absalom as a prideful person who isn’t above burning another man’s field in order to get his way. Neither of these guys are very nice people, lest you want to cast them in the role of hero. They won’t wear the role well.

Here is a story that proves that our actions are the result of who we are on the inside. Our character will always squeeze out in the end. When you look back over your day as it draws to a close, what did your actions display about your character? Were they the product of a heart that loves the Lord and seeks to serve others? Or maybe there was a little bit of self-preservation going on and you served yourself all day. Either way, your character is sticking out! Were your words kind and uplifting or were they filled with gossip. Either way, your character is sticking out! We will find in the next few chapters that the negative aspects of Joab and Absalom’s personality will take over and attempts will be made to crush David, perpetrated by those whom he trusts.

All of us have personality warts – those aspects of our true selves that are not very attractive. But the Good News is always the same every day; God forgives all of those things in the blood of Jesus and we are spared from the punishment that we deserve because Jesus already bore it. As you review the day, hold it all up to God and ask His forgiveness where your “warty” self stuck out. He is faithful and will show you only grace!

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