Wednesday, March 18, 2009

2 Samuel 18: A father who failed

Prayer:
Father, it is clear that your purpose is for us to be in this confusing and broken world until you bring us home. Until that day, may our values be your values; our affections, your affections and our actions led by your Spirit.

Reflection:
There is a sadness in reading about David's fatherly affection for Absalom for the sadness seems not driven so much by fondness, but by regret. The nation of Israel is paying a dear price for David's failure as a father. Amnon and Tamar are just symptoms of a lack of involvement by David in the life of his kids. He wished it would get better with Absalom, but David the warrior wouldn't even fight the good fight for his kids. Now, his nation fights for him, and yet his heart betrays his leadership, or should we say his fatherly guilt betrays his leadership.

Questions:
  • Are there situations in your life that you know of that are messy and grievious whatever decision is made? What do you think of how David handled this situation in chapter 18?
  • How do you think David's conflicting concerns effected his leadership?
  • The seeds of this war were laid in David's family life. How have you paid the price of poor leadership in your family of origin? What opportunities do you have today to offer the kind of leadership that your most immediate family needs?

No comments: