Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 14
After
Absalom killed Amnon, he remained in exile, fearing retribution from king
David. Joab, the king’s army commander, recognized that David had the ability
to be reconciled to his son Absalom. He realized that the king really wanted to
see his son, but because of his pride and stubbornness, he refused to make the
first move towards reconciliation. So, Joab devised a plan to send a widow
woman from Tekoa to speak to the king and persuade him to bring Absalom back
home. The plan worked and, after a period of time, the two were finally reunited.
In
the course of her conversation, the woman from Tekoa pointed out that David was
a wise man – as wise as “the angel of God.” Because the LORD was with him, she
recognized that David had the ability to handle things and discern good and
evil. By saying this, she was suggesting that David set aside his stubbornness
and pride and “do the right thing.”
It can
be a hard thing to set aside our emotions when faced with a choice between
right and wrong. If we’re not careful, we can let our stubbornness drive our
decisions and cloud our ability to discern between good and evil. When you are
full of pride on the inside, it makes you stiff, stubborn, and creates strife
with others. Perhaps it is anger,
jealousy, pride, bitterness, or simply your selfishness that is keeping you
from obeying God’s command to “love one another as I have loved you.” (John
13:34)
Be
careful of stubbornness. In the face of an obstacle which is impossible to
overcome, stubbornness is simply unwise. If we desire to know the depths of the
wisdom of God, we must learn to set aside our emotions and feelings and turn to
Him for help. We, like David, can be as wise as the “angel of God.” We can do
the right thing when we don’t let our humanity get in the way.
Discernment
is not just the ability to know right from wrong. It is also the ability to
know “right” from “almost right.” Oh, how we need God’s wisdom to show us this
distinction, and to give us the wisdom to rise above our human stubbornness and
do the right thing. May the LORD your God be with you and may you be “like the
angel of God” in wisdom and discernment.
Who do you need to be
reunited with today? Make the first move and set aside your stubbornness. Do the
right thing!
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