The One Year Bible - Day 149

We read of this unusual anti-Hollywood ending between David and Absalom today. Absalom had initially fled from David after killing his half brother Amnon and rightly fearing what he will reap in return for his actions, even though they are revenge for the rape of Absalom's sister. We read that David missed Absalom although for some reason, he had never sent for him. Perhaps what we are reading is simply the classic battle between head and heart. David didn't know what he should do to Absalom since he had taken the law into his own hands but at the same time he loved him and couldn't simply order for him to be brought back or punished. In the end, it is Joab who intervenes on Absalom's behalf because he knows how sad David is but this reconciliation, although it brings about a seeming peace between father and son, it then begins a rebellion which is to cost David and Israel dearly. It is obviously never easy to decide between our head and our heart since we know that our head is correct but our hearts are heavy. The only advice can surely be that we need to take these things before the Lord and then be prepared to accept whatever He tells us to do about it. We shouldn't risk our heart towards God by allowing our hearts towards people to dictate our lives.