BRINGING THE KING BACK. 2nd Samuel. We can understand David’s grief because most older people have experienced the same thing to some degree. However, indulgently expressing grief can have a negative effect on those around us who know we are Christians. Trusting God in times of sorrow can be a very solid testimony of faith and trust in God's will in our lives. Enduring and absorbing soul suffering is hard to hide, but there is a time when, for the sake of our Christian testimony, we need to confine our outward grief to times when we are alone with God. Our personal acquaintance with the sovereign God as our Father enables us to cast our burdens on Him, knowing He will sustain us. Then we need to get on with life and the work to which He has called us.
David needed to hear and heed what Joab said, even though Joab was a hard man and had given him a bold rebuke. David had allowed his personal grief to hinder him from expressing appreciation to those who had hazarded their lives to preserve him and his place on the throne. It was necessary for him to be seen publicly and for him to acknowledge the loyalty of those who had risked their lives for him.
Middle age brings a lot of unforeseen complications to our lives that we did not expect. We anticipate being able to enjoy fellowship and friendship with our adult sons and daughters, and we find it hard to accept when they reject what we have taught them and choose a whole new lifestyle. When they change their minds and beliefs about God and the Bible, it becomes even harder to maintain family fellowship. Middle-aged people are also usually the ones who cause divisions in assemblies and make changes that affect the Lord’s people for good or bad.
As we get older and unable to do what we once did, we are in danger of becoming critical of those who are younger and frustrated when they don’t do things the way we think they should. During those changes in life, we need to demonstrate grace, express gratitude, speak words of love and compassion, and quietly accept what we cannot do anything about. Others have to answer to the Lord for what they do, their attitudes, and their actions – and so do we! Old age is not an excuse for being crotchety, complaining, and critical. It should be a time of gratitude, grace, giving, and goodness.
The war is over, and Absalom is dead! The handsome son with a heart so willful and self-centered has come to his end of life. All such things are usually found in their portion after all is said and done. The grief is real because his death was so unnecessary, untimely, and humiliating. But for all of that, it is time to look ahead and see where we go from here. How can the damage done be repaired enough that life can go on and kingdom business needs to start again? There are breaches to repair, hearts and homes to mend, lawlessness lurks in every tribe, and this cycle will continue unless the king comes back.
When David finally took his place in the city gate, the confusion caused by neglect had allowed the defeated Israelites to run away and the victors to wonder what they had been fighting for. When David got over his self-pity and grief enough to realize things were getting out of hand, he sent word to the priests to get the elders of Judah to take the initiative in bringing him back to the place of leadership and the throne of Israel.
The second wise thing he did was to put Amasa as leader of the military in the place of Joab even though Amasa had led the forces of Absalom. In that way, he dealt with Joab for going against his word and for his arrogant ways of dealing with the people. Both men were nephews of his, though they were different in leadership. The people of Judah saw the grace of David. And their hearts were immediately won again to be loyal to him because of his forgiveness and graciousness toward those who rebelled against him. This resulted in a united tribe of Judah that went to meet David when he returned from Mahanaim.
The priests are so slow that they don’t seem to care that the worship they oversee is interrupted. Maybe they like the rest from daily, holy duty. Maybe they are glad to be in the limelight rather than in the shadow of their kinsman-king. Come now, we can’t do what we want but what the anointed of the Lord would have us do. Bring the king back!
Amasa, come now, man; time is wasted! There’s work to do! There are still those whose minds are disaffected. They want another king, another leader who perhaps will give them a place they long have coveted. Unless order is restored completely and maintained, trouble is yet to come. Bring the king back!
Shimei, you rascal! What you said and did was totally wrong. You now should die. Get up on your feet! Get off the ground and stand and die as enemies of the king should die. The executioner is there to do his work. But listen now! The king speaks loud and clear. “The war is over. I know I am king. I don’t need fallen enemies to remind me of my work and the need to start anew, a day of new beginnings. Thou shalt not die. I give you my word.” The king comes back!
Mephibosheth, the lame man who could not walk but called for a donkey to ride on from Ziba, his unfaithful servant, now comes to meet the king on his return. Where were you when the king was gone? Why did you not join him at whose table you sat daily? Did you not know you owe him your very life? Limitations not self-imposed had stopped this grateful, humble man from joining him who had grace and kindness shown to him when he was far away. “Now, what can I say.” I don’t deserve any rights at all. These crippled legs and the subtle, deceiving servant had stopped my course. I have nothing to say- except, “I’m glad the king is back!”
Barzillai, the aged man who brought the great provision to feed and care for the king and all his people in the king’s rejection, comes to conduct with honor his regent across the river to where he belongs. How shall the king honor such a man? “Come with me, and I will feed thee at my house and home from my provisions.” The older man, with years now past, will dwell at home, in places more familiar, and die in peace among his own. He is glad the king is back!
And so, it is with me; there’s strife in the land, and the King is gone. There are skirmishes around, but the war is over. The King won a mighty victory, and the good of it is mine now and forever. But he’s not here, not now, not yet, but He is coming, His throne to ascend and fill with righteous justice and reign in peace. I look to see Him any day; I want to do what’s needed to bring the king back!
It is strange that a short time before, the people of ten tribes of Israel rallied around Absalom and despised the king, but now after they had fought and lost the war, they were slow to act. Until others from Judah and those who had remained loyal to David brought the king back, they reserved their commitment to the king. When the rightful sovereign had been brought back to his place, they pretended, with angry words so full of complaint, that they were anxious to see his face. They were trying to regain the favor of the one they hated and fought against.
Repentance must be genuine, although sometimes it is hard to tell whether what one says is true. When one says they are sincere and claims to believe in Christ, there must be more than words. Words often fail to tell the whole story of whether one has personally received Christ as their Savior. We look for a change in attitude and acts to see whether one has truly turned from sin, been born again, and become a “new creature (creation) in Christ Jesus.” We cannot trust words that are only after facts because one can copy what he has seen and heard from others.
A work of grace changes one who believes within. There is genuine humility that is not hard to see as you watch and listen to him. When he begins to express the change that has come to him, there will be original ways of expressing his faith. God will have become real to him, not just words after the fact. There will be words of appreciation that show a change in his heart and mind when he speaks of Christ and God's grace. You will know he is glad when the King welcomes him back.