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Relationships around a throne are treacherous because of deceit, violence, and murder. Diplomats and courtiers may taste the delicacies of kings and queens, but the metallic smell of blood is never far away. Everyone is watching everyone else, looking for weaknesses, creating alliances, destroying the careers and lives of enemies and trusted friends. Surely the most difficult and dangerous social interactions happen at the king’s court.
King David took the throne after paying his dues running from Saul. David refused to attack the anointed king and won the favor of the nation. Then as the nation’s king and military chief, David defeated all of Israel’s enemies. There was peace in the land and peace in the palace. Read that again:
THERE WAS PEACE IN THE PALACE.
But then David committed adultery and murder, creating a cycle of violence and death—and turning the once-peaceful palace into a place of whispers, drama, and back-stabbing.
When Absalom launched a civil war against his father, David did not hesitate to employ double agents and espionage, 2 Samuel 15:34-36.
First, he convinced Hushai to serve Absalom deceitfully, giving bad advice; second, he told Hushai to “smuggle intel” to two priests who would then pass that news along to David. Hushai did as he was told, convincing Absalom to delay his attack:
“The counsel that Ahithophel hath given is not good … thy father is a mighty man, and they which are with him are valiant men. Therefore, I counsel that all Israel be gathered unto thee….” 2 Samuel 17:7-11.
Next, Hushai sent the priests back to David with secrets:
“Then said Hushai unto Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, ‘Thus and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders … and thus and thus have I counselled.’ Now send quickly and tell David, saying ‘Lodge not this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily pass over….’” 2 Samuel 17:15-16.
As a result of Hushai’s ability to act as a double-agent, David’s army defeated Absalom and David’s beloved son—who wanted to kill him—ended up dead. How did David feel about winning this civil war? Terrible. He publicly mourned for his son, demoralizing his troops who had put their lives on the line to win him the victory. “And the victory that day was turned into mourning unto all the people” 2 Samuel 19:2. David, the grieving father, was tone-deaf to the political situation. Joab, his savvy but unsympathetic general, chastised him:
“Thou hast shamed, this day, the faces of all thy servants, which this day have saved thy life, and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy concubines, in that thou lovest thine enemies and hatest thy friends … For this day, I perceive, that if Absalom had lived and we had all died, then it had pleased thee well. Now therefore, arise, go forth, and speak comfort to thy servants” 2 Samuel 19:5-7.
The once peaceful palace was transformed into a place of politics and intrigue, of double-agents and espionage.
David’s house was no longer a home but a battleground.
Why? Because David sinned in his house. He brought Uriah’s wife into his house and committed adultery with her in his house. He ordered Uriah’s murder from his house. You reap what you sow. David committed adultery and murder in his house, and God said, “the sword shall never depart from thine house” 2 Samuel 12:10.
Dear God, may we love Jesus more than all other loves so that we can be your disciples, Matthew 10:37. But fill us also with the fear of God so we do not sin in our own houses or in our jobs. Help us love you and make good choices. May we establish habits that give us peace of mind while keeping us a bit busier than David was when he stayed home from work and took a lingering look at Bathsheba. Remind us that we will reap what we sow and often WHERE we sow, Galatians 6:7.
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