Tuesday of Week 4 – 2 Sam 18:9-10,14,24-25,30-19:3; Mark 5:21-43
A sight that spoils the view from the windows of the palace of success and prosperity
But shouldn’t we see precisely this above all?
Absalom was David’s son – but not his only son. Still, he rebelled against his father, driven by the ambition to seize the throne for himself. David, forced to flee, never wished his son harm. Knowing it was his own child he was up against, he sought a gentler way to resolve things, hoping to avoid bloodshed at all costs.
Joab, on the other hand, David’s trusted officer, saw the situation differently. For him, an enemy was simply an enemy. Given a moment of opportunity, he killed Absalom without a second thought. Two distinct approaches, rooted in two very different relationships: Joab’s direct, ruthless action contrasts with David’s determination to preserve his son’s life, even in the face of betrayal.
It leads me to wonder about myself. Do I pursue my goals at any cost, stepping over people in the process? Or do I value the human element, remembering to treat others with dignity – no matter the conflict? Because in the end, while the goal might matter, the people around us always matter more.
