Lead the Way (2 Samuel 19:9-43)
When the revolt by Absalom, David’s son, has been put down and Absalom has been killed, David has the arduous task of returning to Jerusalem. It’s difficult because the northern tribes generally supported David throughout his exile, while the southern tribes did not. David initiates peace by reaching out to Judah, part of the southern tribes, and telling them, “You should be leading the process of my return to Jerusalem, after all, you are my kin, my tribe, my people.” Judah agrees, but it creates even greater tension because the northern tribes feel they should have a greater role in David’s return to Jerusalem. So there is tenuous peace that would only last less then 50 years, but still, a lot of conflict between the northern and southern tribes.
But David does not stop there. He appoints Amasa, one of his nephews and the commander in chief of the rebel forces, to replace Joab, who has been David’s commander in chief for decades and also one of his nephews. Joab, of course, doesn’t like that and as the story unfolds, kills Amasa, as Joab is prone to do.
Even more, Shimei, who cursed David as he was forced into exile, now meets David with a thousand other Benjamites. This indicates that Shimei, as well as the tribe of Benjamin, also a southern tribe, was part of the rebellion, but he is now looking for forgiveness. Abishai, one of David’s personal warriors and also a nephew, says, “I should have killed this guy in the first place. Can I kill him now?” David says, “No. There will be no more bloodshed in Israel today.”
One more example of David’s conciliatory tone, is his meeting with Mephibosheth, who also is from the tribe of Benjamin, and also part of the thousand Benjamites coming to meet David. He is a cripple, who David has cared for since he was a young man, and the son of David’s best friend Jonathan, and the grandson of Saul. He is disheveled and unkempt. David asks him why he did not come with him as he was forced to leave Jerusalem. Mephibosheth replies, “I tried, but when I asked Ziba my servant to saddle my donkey, he refused, and because I am a cripple, I could not come.” Ziba is also a Benjamite and with the thousand Benjamites who are meeting David. Ziba had brought provisions to David as he was leaving Jerusalem, but also accused Mephibosheth of abandoning David to follow Absalom. Since it appears that both are complicit in betraying David, he tells them to divide the land that he had given to Mephibosheth, and then to Ziba, and leaves the matter alone. All of this demonstrates David conciliatory language and his desire for peace.
We could use some of the language today. Like Israel, our nation is very divided. And while it’s easy to blame politicians, it’s really us. We continue to place people into leadership that are not peacemakers and we don’t want them to be. In fact, if they work in a bipartisan capacity, we tend to view them as weak and we deride them. So, we can say all kinds of divisive, disparaging things to one another, and then blame politicians or the media. It’s too easy.
The problem is, that our human default is conflict and division. This is why Jude wrote, “These are the people that divide you, who follow the mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.” Now more than ever, we need men and women of wisdom who can speak justice and peace into our turbulent culture. Like Judah, God’s people should be leading the way to reconciliation, but sadly, we are too often lagging behind.