Our story today takes us to the banks of the Jordan River. David’s men had successfully stopped the Absalom rebellion and David was free to return as rightful king of Israel. But David didn’t just return to Jerusalem when his son was brought down. Instead, he waited on the banks of the Jordan River.
Why?
Because David wanted to ensure that his people wanted him back! He waited for the people to assemble to escort him home!
But David did other things while waiting. You see he wasn’t sure that Absalom’s followers would want him to be their king, so the first thing he did was to appoint Amasa, the commander-in-chief of Absalom’s army, as his own commander-in-chief. It was a great political move, for the Bible tells us that: “he swayed the hearts of all the men of Judah, just as the heart of one man, so that they sent this word to the king: ‘Return, you and all your servants!'” (2 Sam 19:14 NKJV)
David was also met on the road by some of the very people who had mocked him on his flight from Jerusalem. He now had it in his power to punish these bad-mouthing delinquents. But he didn’t. Instead, against political advice of his advisors, David forgave them: “‘Shall any man be put to death today in Israel? For do I not know that today I am king over Israel?’ Therefore the king said to Shimei, ‘You shall not die.’ And the king swore to him.” (2 Sam 19:22-23 NKJV)
Even Shimei came to David to ask for forgiveness, and he didn’t come alone. Along with him were a thousand men of Benjamin (See 2 Sam 19:17), and in his single act of forgiveness, David won the hearts of these men as well.
And David didn’t forget the kindness of those who had helped him either. The Bible tells us: “Now Barzillai was a very aged man, eighty years old. And he had provided the king with supplies while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a very rich man.” (2 Sam 19:32 NKJV) And what does David do? “And the king said to Barzillai, ‘Come across with me, and I will provide for you while you are with me in Jerusalem.'” (2 Sam 19:33 NKJV)
And in this manner, he also won the unswaying allegiance of Barzillai and his household.
In fact, the people of Israel were so won over to David’s side that it started a fight amongst them! The people of Judah, being David’s tribe, thought it was their sole right to escort the king. Unfortunately this didn’t sit well with the rest of the tribes, and a loud, heated argument ensued: “So all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, ‘Because the king is a close relative of ours. Why then are you angry over this matter? Have we ever eaten at the king’s expense? Or has he given us any gift?’ And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, ‘We have ten shares in the king; therefore we also have more right to David than you. Why then do you despise us – were we not the first to advise bringing back our king?’ Yet the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.” (2 Sam 19:42-43 NKJV)
Now the outcome of this particular argument is the subject of yet another two LESSONS FROM DAVID’S FALL (join us for parts 12 and 13), but the point is, the rightful king returned to the throne, with much of Israel back on his side.
This whole story reminds me of the plan of salvation.
You see, Jesus is the rightful heir to the earthly throne. But just like in David’s story, an impostor, Lucifer by name, came along and set himself up as lord of this Earth. Just like Absalom, he did so by deceiving the people into following him.
Jesus could have put up a fight. But He didn’t. He wanted His subjects to serve Him out of love and to follow Him freely, without hesitation, so Jesus allowed the impostor to rule this Earth until He could prove Himself to His people. And He did so, beautifully, but laying down His life at the cross. There can be no stronger image of love than to lay down your life for another!
And just like David won the conflict with Absalom, Jesus has won the cosmic battle. But just like David waited on the other side of the Jordan for the people to willingly come to His side, Jesus also waits. He invites us to willingly come to His side. Oh, He will return one day, as King of the universe, but He will do so when the time is right, for He does not wish for any to perish: “Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.” (Matt 18:14 NKJV)
And in the meantime, just like David, Jesus woos us to Him. He provides us with gifts, with forgiveness, with healing, with peace, with help in time of trouble.
But there will come a day friends, when it will be all over. Jesus will reclaim His rightful throne, and those who still choose to follow the usurper, the devil, will be destroyed.
Who will you follow? The rightful King? Or the liar that keeps you ensnared in his evil, vile plans?
I hope and pray that you will make the declaration of Joshua with me today: “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!” (Joshua 24:15)
Please join us next Saturday for LESSONS FROM DAVID’S FALL, Part 11: What we can Learn from Mephibosheth
In His love,
Lyn
Lyn Chaffart, Speech-Language Pathologist, mother of two teens, Author and Moderator for The Nugget, a tri-weekly internet newsletter, and Scriptural Nuggets, a website devoted to Christian devotionals and inspirational poems, www.scripturalnuggets.org, with Answers2Prayer Ministries, www.Answers2Prayer.org.
(To access the entire “Lessons From David’s Fall” mini-series, please click here.)