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I'll Stand

I just do not understand families. Yours, mine, none of them. The fact is that families are one of God's gifts to us as relational beings, but we find many ways to mess it up. I'm reading about King David's family in 2 Samuel, which isn't exactly a blueprint for normal family relationships. In fact, this one family would be a goldmine for any Jerry Springer producer.

Without going into all of the dirty details, one of David's sons, Absalom, starts vying for the kingdom. There is probably no better way to say, 'Dad, I wish you were dead', than to start trying to become king. Absalom starts getting people to gather with him, no doubt to storm the castle.

But here is where I am confused. This is David we're talking about. The giant-killing, bear-killing, lion-killing, Philistine-rocking, blessed-by-God man known as David. If I'm David in this situation, I'm not going anywhere. I would gather my friends, grab a sword, and plan on putting my boy over my knee for some much needed discipline. Trying to take over my kingdom would warrant at least a time-out for my kids!

But David basically holds a parade as he marches out of Jerusalem to go into hiding. Did I miss something? David had been in battle for many years, always trusting God to give him victory. Maybe he doesn't want civil war in the capital city, but it's not a decision I would have made. It makes me wonder what he missed by choosing to run.

Back up many years in Israel's history and we find Moses leading the people across the Red Sea. The Egyptians are coming and Moses tells the people not to be afraid. "Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today" (Exodus 14:13). If they had chosen instead to run, they would not have seen what God did to the Egyptians. Likewise, David did not stand and watch. He did survive his son's attempts, but what did he miss?

What do we miss when we run from adversity and stick our heads in the sand? Do we allow our fear to keep us from seeing the hand of God move in mighty ways?

We run when we should stand. We cower when we should have confidence. Are you ready to stand up to whatever the world brings your way? I am. I'll stand.
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