Day 153 – 2 Samuel 19:9-15
Scripture Review
2 Samuel 19:9-15
"And all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king saved us out of the hand of our enemies, and he delivered us out of the hand of the Philistines; and now he is fled out of the land for Absalom."
(2 Samuel 19:9)
The people of Israel were arguing, debating, and contending with one another. The nation is not settled. Absalom is dead, but the confusion he caused is still alive. The people begin to remember David's past. They say, "The king saved us out of the hand of our enemies, and he delivered us out of the hand of the Philistines." In the excitement of Absalom's rebellion, they forgot what kind of king David had been. Now that the rebellion has collapsed, memory begins to wake up. People can be swept away by a popular movement and forget years of faithful service. Absalom had charm, beauty, speeches, and promises, but David had a record of deliverance. When the dust settles, character speaks longer than charisma.
"And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back?"
(2 Samuel 19:10)
The people are admitting they had turned from David and followed Absalom. Now Absalom is dead, and they are left with the consequences of their choice. Then they ask, "Why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back?" They know David should return, but they are slow to act. Guilt can do that. Shame can make people hesitate to restore the very relationship they helped damage.
"And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak unto the elders of Judah, saying, Why are ye the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, even to his house."
(2 Samuel 19:11)
David sends word through Zadok and Abiathar his spiritual and trusted messengers to speak to the elders of Judah. David asks Judah a piercing question: "Why are ye the last to bring the king back to his house?" Judah was David's own tribe. They should have been first, but they were last. That makes me stop. Sometimes those closest to us are the slowest to help restore what has been broken. Familiarity, guilt, fear, politics, or pride can make family hesitant when they should be leading the way.
"Ye are my brethren, ye are my bones and my flesh: wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king?"
(2 Samuel 19:12)
David appeals to his relationship with the people. He says, "Ye are my brethren, ye are my bones and my flesh." He is pretty much saying, "You are my own family, my own people, my own tribe." David does not threaten Judah. He does not shame them with military force. He speaks the language of kinship. He reminds them of who they are to him. This is wise. After a civil war, a hard hand might deepen the wound. David chooses an appeal to family. He is not just trying to recover a throne; he is trying to recover hearts.
"And say ye to Amasa, Art thou not of my bone, and of my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually in the room of Joab."
(2 Samuel 19:13)
David sends a special message to Amasa. Amasa had been connected with Absalom's army, but he was also David's own flesh and blood. David asks, "Art thou not of my bone, and of my flesh?" Then David makes a surprising promise. He says Amasa will be "captain of the host" before him continually "in the room of Joab." "In the room of Joab" means in Joab's place. He is trying to win Judah, heal the rebellion, and reduce Joab's power after Joab had ignored his command concerning Absalom. This is pretty risky if you ask me. Mercy toward former enemies must be joined with discernment. David is trying to rebuild a divided kingdom, and that requires more than punishing everyone who was wrong.
"And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as the heart of one man; so that they sent this word unto the king, Return thou, and all thy servants."
(2 Samuel 19:14)
David's words work. The Bible says he "bowed the heart" of all the men of Judah. That means he turned, bent, or moved their hearts. They became united "as the heart of one man." That is a beautiful phrase after so much division. Judah had been hesitant, but now their heart is brought together. They send word to David: "Return thou, and all thy servants." This teaches me that wise words can move hearts where force might only harden them. David does not force Judah into submission. He appeals, reasons, and invites them to do what is right.
"So the king returned, and came to Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to conduct the king over Jordan."
(2 Samuel 19:15)
David returns to Jordan, the river he crossed when he fled. Now he returns to that same boundary, but he does not cross alone. Judah comes to Gilgal to meet him and "conduct" him or to escort, guide, or bring him across. He had crossed Jordan in sorrow when he was fleeing Absalom. Now he comes back with Judah escorting him home. The place of painful departure becomes the place of restoration. Gilgal also carries a strong memory in Israel's story. It was near the place where Israel first entered the land after crossing Jordan. Now, in David's life, it becomes a place of return after judgment and division.