Return of the King - 2 Samuel 19

The Return of the King        2 Samuel 19:1-15

Can you remember a time in your life when you received the wisest advice? Perhaps some counsel, either from a close friend or even a stranger, that you took on board and it changed the direction of your life. I had situation 15 years ago where a comment made me act instantly with respect to pastoring.

We had some friends over who we had known for quite a few years and they had made a decision to go into the ministry. They were about 50 at the time and they said “you know what, we should have done this 10 years ago.” We are actually ten years too late. I remember where we were and when it was said: January 2007. He was starting bible college and registering as a Pastor. I was approaching 40 at the time. So, I was that 10 years earlier.

What about you? What life changing, character changing advice have you received that created a major pivot point for you?

As we considered last week, sometimes others see things in us that we don’t see, or refuse to see in ourselves. Last week, it was Nathan who skilfully pointed out David’s blind spot. Well, this week it is Joab, the commander of the army, who is pointing out another blind spot in David.
Absalom had died in battle, ironically killed by Joab, the man who was trying to make David see sense. Absalom was a usurper, an elder son of David. He swayed the hearts of the people to follow after him and eventually David had to flee from him. There was a war. Absalom got caught by his hair after his donkey walked on, and Joab killed him. The war was over. There should have been rejoicing, but David started weeping after hearing the news of his son. Admittedly, David had told Joab not to kill his son, Absalom.

Joab, I think shrewdly, ignored the advice. If Absalom had lived, he would have been a constant thorn in the side of his father, destabilising the throne. He was happy to kill his father; he had no respect for the Lord’s will in David being anointed as king. He needed to be taken out.

Absalom was killed and there is little doubt that this was another tragic consequence of David’s immoral failure with Bathsheba, just as the prophet Nathan said there would be, and the guilt was no doubt palpable.

David’s emotions overruled him and his concern was for his lost son, forgetting that many faithful servants had laid down their lives for him. In fact, 20 000 died. He was not lamenting over them. He certainly didn’t lament the life of Uriah the Hittite when he was taken. Yet the son that usurped him and was seeking his life, David wept over. Such was David’s guilt and his blindness to the situation.

Joab used a slightly different tact than the one Nathan used on David. Joab reversed the tables and said if his wives, concubines and his army who defended him all died and Absalom lived you would be happy. Now you have stolen the joy of the victory away and we are like thieves skulking back into Jerusalem like it’s a tragic thing, because of your tears over your rebellious son.

He then put it very bluntly. If you remain this way, if you don’t snap out of it and present yourself victorious at the gate, by the end of the day “I swear by the LORD, if you do not go, not a man will stay with you this night, and this will be worse for you than all the evil that has come upon you from your youth until now." That was no idle threat by Joab. He would have led the charge and would have been justified in doing it.

Family ties can bind us and blind us to making the wise choice. We see it in the New Testament when Barnabas wanted to take Mark on the mission trip. Paul said no, the guy is flaky, he left us last time. He’s not coming. Paul made the right choice at the time I believe, but Barnabas did not accept the decision, why – well Mark was his younger cousin and family ties bind and blind to reason and common sense.

We can do this with our children, can’t we? I think we naturally think our kids are better than everyone else’s. Simply not true.

Damage control. While David didn’t like doing it, he took Joab’s advice. (verse 8) “Then the king arose and took his seat in the gate. And the people were all told, "Behold, the king is sitting in the gate." And all the people came before the king.” This was only all the people who went back with him from his army, but the country was at this point deeply divided. The verse goes on, “Now Israel had fled every man to his own home.

The other tribes got invited back, but the divisions were deep. (verses 40-43) “All the people of Judah, and also half the people of Israel, brought the king on his way. Then all the men of Israel came to the king and said to the king, "Why have our brothers the men of Judah stolen you away and brought the king and his household over the Jordan, and all David's men with him?" All the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, "Because the king is our close relative. Why then are you angry over this matter? Have we eaten at all at the king's expense? Or has he given us any gift?" And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, "We have ten shares in the king, and in David also we have more than you. Why then did you despise us? Were we not the first to speak of bringing back our king?" But the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.” Israel was in a family dispute.

So, the king was back in Jerusalem, but there were divisions within the nation. We continue to see that in the next chapter.

The quality and style of the senior leader in a country, a company, a church or a family determines the ongoing health and viability of the entity. The best leaders are honest with themselves and ask others to help them see their weaknesses and always strive for improvement.

David would have this happen to him by force. Joab gave the advice David needed in the season and it spared him the loss of his throne and kingdom.

Unfortunately, David needed this type of correction, even up to his last days of his life and rule. But there is a better way. I asked what comment, situation or advice changed the direction of your life.

The best life advice, of course, comes from Jesus. “For God so loved the world that whoever believes in Him shall have everlasting life” This advice changes your destiny for eternity.

Have you taken His advice? Maybe you have at one point in your past, but you are not listening to Him on a daily basis. You are ignoring His daily counsel for you. Change that from today. Read His word and pray. Be disciplined in it. You have everything to gain. The only loss being ignorance and pride. I think we can all afford to lose that.

Make yourself accountable to someone for the ongoing discipline and counsel the Lord gives through His word.