Big Characters and Bit Players

2 Samuel 19, 20, 21 and Psalm 5, 38 & 42

In the opening scene of today’s tales, Joab interrupts David’s deep inconsolable sadness and tells him to “suck it up”.  To go and take his seat at the city gate. 

To thank his men for their loyalty to him, saving the throne.

To rebuke him a bit, where his military responsibilities that should trump his personal grief.

Be a man! And David goes.  

The irony being that Joab’s loyalty is not what it appears. 

Joab who plunged three javelins into Absalom’s heart with his own hand. 

I’m not sure where to park that. 

Joab pursuing his own ambition but with unwavering loyalty to his nation.

I’m sure David knew, but he didn’t say anything. 
He doesn’t really ever say much about it.  

It probably becomes an elephant in the room.

And then we get a mish mash of assorted stories.   Not anywhere close to the drama we have just witnessed. Here kind of tacked onto the end of everything.  Where the mess is swept up and the crumbs on the dustpan are dumped in the bin. 

David’s story winds down, but there is still some blood left to be shed. 

The story of Sheba the Benjaminite who stirred up tribal jealousies between Judah and Benjamin and causes men of Israel to desert David. The men of Judah stayed by their king all the way from the Jordan to Jerusalem (2 Sam 20:2).

In Jerusalem, David cleans house and took the ten concubines left to care for the palace and put them in a house under guard for the remainder of their lives.  Confined.  Living as widows.  Collateral damage in the war over the royal house.   Defiled by Absalom in broad daylight.   While not lives ending in blood shed, these lives were still over.

And David, bypassing Joab, sends Abishai to pursue Sheba.  He is joined by Joab and his men.  Joab murders Amasa, slits his belly, and leaves him there “wallowing in his blood in the middle of the road.”  (2 Sam 20:12), until one of Joab’s men dragged him into a field and covered him.  

Sheba, rallies all the troops along the way and until he takes to hiding in the fortified city of Abel Beth Maacah.  

Joab is ready to start battering through the wall to bring it down and a wise woman calls down, wishing to speak to Joab.   She says: 2 Sam 20:19 ‘We are the peaceful and faithful of Israel.  You are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel, why do you want to swallow up the LORD’s inheritance?’

There!

In the middle of that verse. 

I really love that image of a city being a nurturing place in Israel. 

A mother to its people.  

This amazing picture of what community can be.  

And Joab replies that he really only wants Sheba handed over and he will withdraw his siege. 

And with that the woman went to all the people with her wise advice.  They cut off the head of Sheba and threw it over the wall to Joab.    He sounded the trumpet, and his men dispersed from the city, each returning to his home.  And Joab went back to the king in Jerusalem.   (2 Samuel 20: 20 to 22)

Big stories and little stories that get buried on the battle fields of nations and tribes and brothers.  Big characters and bit players.  Stories of life and adventure and the cost and the value of the lessons learned the hard way.  Of people who get swept along with no choice or voice of their own.   All of this orchestrated and written down for all to see.   And learn. 

So many things that happen in our lives and in our stories. 

Of the people who walk with us on our paths. 

The people whose hearts we hold and who in turn hold ours.

The people who walk into our lives and those who sometimes walk out. 

The joys and the sorrows of the hellos and goodbyes.