Chapter 19 And 20

June 23, 2016

Chapter 19 deals with the follow up to the war. It involves healing wounds and making political decisions.Before any of that can happen David mourns for his dead son Absalom. He does it to such an extent that Joab, the leader of the army, confronts him and tells him he is disrespecting the men who had given him this great victory. This confrontation shows how powerful Joab was. He was rebuking the king and threatening him by saying if he did not show his thanks to the people, there would be trouble !  David listened and showed much appreciation to the people. Then David started to make political decisions to get his kingdom back and unite the 12 tribes. He appointed the leader of Absalom's army in a high position in his army, and forgave another man, named Shimei, who admitted he made a mistake and asked for forgiveness. He also restored half of the land to Mephibosheth. This was a poor decision because David had taken away all of his land when he thought he had been disloyal. He was always loyal !!!And for his loyalty he got only half returned to him.Yet David was actively trying to restore peace and unity in Israel. For the most part he was successful.

Chapter 20 tells of yet another rebellion happening in David's kingdom.Sheba, a Benjamite, was leading a rebellion and David recognized how dangerous this one was. He now makes the call he refused to make against Absalom. He got 12,000 men together and started chasing this man down to kill him. They had chased him into a fortified city and began laying siege works against this city. When a woman spokesman yells out and promises to deliver this one man if they will leave the city alone !  Sure enough they threw the head of Sheba over the wall. They had beheaded him !!! David's army kept their word and left the city alone.

Through this all we can see that God is keeping his word to David that he would never have peace in his family or kingdom. Yet God continues to watch over and protect David and still calls him a man after his own heart !! Praise God.