Directed Passion

 DEVOTION

2^ND SAMUEL

DIRECTED PASSION

2 Sam 19:1-8

19:1 Joab was told, "The king is weeping and mourning for Absalom." 2 And for the whole army the victory that day was turned into mourning, because on that day the troops heard it said, "The king is grieving for his son." 3 The men stole into the city that day as men steal in who are ashamed when they flee from battle. 4 The king covered his face and cried aloud, "O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!" 5 Then Joab went into the house to the king and said, "Today you have humiliated all your men, who have just saved your life and the lives of your sons and daughters and the lives of your wives and concubines. 6 You love those who hate you and hate those who love you. You have made it clear today that the commanders and their men mean nothing to you. I see that you would be pleased if Absalom were alive today and all of us were dead. 7 Now go out and encourage your men. I swear by the LORD that if you don't go out, not a man will be left with you by nightfall. This will be worse for you than all the calamities that have come upon you from your youth till now." 8 So the king got up and took his seat in the gateway. When the men were told, "The king is sitting in the gateway," they all came before him.

NIV

It is fine to mourn over the loss of a son, but David spent more time mourning than being more concerned about himself than all the men who fought to win the victory over the enemy of David. Joab told him straight up that he was wrong, that he had humiliated all his men, who had just saved his life. David did respond and went to take his seat in the gateway, and all his men came before him. Our lesson is about this concept of being too self-concerned, that we hurt others with our selfishness. We are not sure how to understand what Joab said about David hating those he loved and loving those who hate him. We think Joab was talking about David loving Absalom, who hated him, trying to overthrow him from being king, while his self-pity showed all the men that loved him, he cared not about, or in that sense hated them, for they did not keep Absalom safe, but killed him. Too much self-pity or self-centeredness may well be detrimental in any relationship, whether that be in the family or in the church. We are told to put others before ourselves, but we wonder how successful we are in following that command of our Lord. When we think too highly of ourselves, we should realize that it is just a way of thinking poorly of others, and that would not enhance any relationship, but destroy it. Joab told David his selfishness was harming his men and the relationship he had with them. We cannot live in a manner that brings harm to others, because the Lord has told us to love each other just as he loves us. That means we think about others and how their lives can be made better by what we say and do.  David’s passion in his mourning over Absalom needed to be redirected to his passion for his men and to encourage them. We should always be looking for ways to encourage each other and to build each other up. Let us exercise our zealousness for the Lord with that same eagerness or passion to serve others.