I Cannot Imagine

Word soon reached Joab that the king was weeping and mourning for Absalom. As all the people heard of the king’s deep grief for his son, the joy of that day’s victory was turned into deep sadness. They crept back into the town that day as though they were ashamed and had deserted in battle. The king covered his face with his hands and kept on crying, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!” Then Joab went to the king’s room and said to him, “We saved your life today and the lives of your sons, your daughters, and your wives and concubines. Yet you act like this, making us feel ashamed of ourselves. You seem to love those who hate you and hate those who love you. You have made it clear today that your commanders and troops mean nothing to you. It seems that if Absalom had lived and all of us had died, you would be pleased. Now go out there and congratulate your troops, for I swear by the LORD that if you don’t go out, not a single one of them will remain here tonight. Then you will be worse off than ever before.” [2 Samuel 19.1-7]

What a messed up situation!

How could David rejoice that his son (even in his rebellion) was dead?

The thought of this is overwhelming. And yet, at Joab's demand, David sucked it up and went out to the people and sat before them as King.

Life is just messed up sometimes. The lesson for us here, I suppose, is that we must put emotions aside and deal with circumstances in our lives as they come.

Still, I cannot imagine...

Father, help me to truly appreciate David's position as told in today's OYCB reading. Help me to look to You for direction in all of life's messed up situations!