Tuesday 19 July 2016

Psalm: Psalm 119:97-112 

Background

Absalom was the thrid son of David, who was first mentioned in alist of David's sons in 2 Samuel 3:2-5. In yesterday's passage we read how Absalom hadrebelled against his father and taken the throne, leaving David toflee from Jerusalem.

Now David has amassed a large army in an attempt to recover thethrone. But his loyalties are divided ... on one hand the army isexpected to defeat the rebels, but on the other he wants his errentson to be treated mercifully (verse 5).

He is on the horns of a dilemma.

But look back to 2 Samuel 17:14: "For the Lord had ordained to defeat thegood counsel of Ahithophel, so that the  Lord might bring ruin on Absalom". Inother words it is in God's hands, not David's.

To Ponder

• David's loyalty was divided between his army and his son. Therewas no right choice. How do you deal with the dilemma of competingsides?

• For all David's worry, the event were out of his hands and inGod's. How do you react to the idea that everything is in God'shands? If that a good thing, or not?  If so, does it absolveus from decision making? To what extent is this satisfactory, ornot?