Payback Time

2 Samuel 19:22, 23

“David replied, ‘What do you and I have in common, you sons of Zeruiah? This day you have become my adversaries! Should anyone be put to death in Israel today? Do I not know that today I am king over Israel?’ So the king said to Shimei, ‘You shall not die.’ And the king promised him on oath.”

In her tender age of two, my little girl knows she can’t win against his big brother. She quietly resigns when he’s first to take hold of a toy, moves aside when he’s first to choose a disc to play, and looks from behind when he’s first to ask for the iPad. There’s no way she could outran and overpower him. But she can outsmart him. Like a predator on the lookout, she waits for her brother to let down his defense  -- his pee break for example -- and before he can even realize it, she already had the grab. Kjaran even wakes up earlier than everyone or hurriedly finishes her meal to have that priority number. She’s so funny, witty and amusing. I just don’t know if it’s because of her genes or gender, haha :>

From approximately 976 to 972 BC, David and his men were outcasts because of Absalom. I could say it’s the second lowest point of David’s life, the first being his sins to Uriah. Physically, he had zero comforts and the psalm even mentioned him gravely ill in bed, and emotionally, his son betrayed him and soon died in the hands of his trusted men. But he took it all in. As we all would when our past guilts haunt us. He fully surrendered to God’s justice. But not the Zeruiah’s. In their hearts, Joab and Abishai kept a list of the insults they heard and the inconvenience they suffered from their enemies. And so when they had the chance, even if it’s against the king’s wishes, they took Absalom’s life.  When they had their power back, at the sight of the Shimei, regardless if his posture was repentance, death was their verdict. David rebuked them for these. First, God has already avenged their cause. Shall they repay vindication with further vengeance? It’s but an insult to God’s finished work. Second, God has been merciful in forgiving David of his sins.  Shall he not be first to forgive others? Third, God has granted them favor and be restored back to the people. Shall they instill terror to the welcome party? These brothers were rebuked for thinking that reinstatement meant power back for pay back.  David wanted them to see that they’re merely favored to be back to give back.

When I was growing up, I hated my dad and my uncles for lording over the family’s television set, watching their favorite basketball or boxing matches. I vowed to myself that when I’m old enough, I’d buy my own set, lock it in my room and have the time of my life. It never happened, haha! But the attitude lingered. Bitter brags of ‘Wait til I’m better, or prettier, or smarter than all of you’ were quite beyond a handful. Praise God He knows better than answer those vain hopes. His purpose in lifting us from people’s insults and deep pits is not so we could get even or push them down. Isn’t freedom and favor enough? Isn’t gratitude the best payback?

Who's Deciding For You?

2 Samuel 14:21

“The king said to Joab, ‘Very well, I will do it. Go, bring back the young man Absalom.”

Are women really fickle-minded? That we say one thing and in a second does another thing differently? That we are so ruled by our emotions? That we’re so indecisive, unpredictable and unreasonable? We go to a department store and exhaust all its racks for hours for the right shade, the exact size, the best deal possible and yes, still go home without a buy. We agree to a date but would readily cancel it for a pimple pop or a hairdryer malfunction, haha :>

Tris sometimes gets irritated, oftentimes amused, whenever he gives me the floor to decide where to eat and what to order and I’d make a total shift, mood included, at his slightest comment or suggestion - - which I solicited by the way. Yes, we can get away with it. But it doesn’t mean we’re right.

Joab’s scheme to bring the banished Absalom back to Jerusalem was successful. He used a witty, wise woman of Tekoah to pretend as a widow and persuade the king to give his word of protection for his treacherous son. He knew how David longed for his son and he worked around that affection to manipulate him to a decision. What pushed David more was the argument that it was God who allowed Absalom to continue to live, despite his sins, meaning mercy is still applicable to him. Joab further added it was also the pulse of the people to have this handsome young man around. And so David gave his order to fetch his son from Geshur. But he did not let him come to him. The law has been clear about murder. In not serving justice, David had to make it appear he’s not blind to his son’s crime. But even if he’s sincere in teaching his son a lesson here, there was no mention that he inquired of the Lord for HIS, not his, decision. God has already given his piece to them. David could have at least begged Him for pardon and mercy. It wasn’t his call. Not even the king was above God’s law. The chapter ended with David giving in again to Joab’s word, who was himself trapped in Absalom’s wishes. Now ungrounded and grip-loosened, David himself paved the way for the soon conspiracy of his son.

In arriving at a decision, who’s voice sound loudest to you? David consulted his feelings, and it felt right. He interpreted the situation, and it looked logical enough. He listened to the people, and they sounded… majority. He forgot Who dictates it all. He lost grip of God’s standard and so was easily swept by the dictates of everyone, including himself. We all are, not just women, indecisive, unpredictable and unreasonable because we are limited. We want but we don’t know what’s best for us. That’s why He gave us His Word and His Spirit to guide us. That’s why He invites us to a relationship with Him. That’s why we have to pray. Yes, we can choose to get away with life without Him. But we’ll never make it right. He alone can.