Covering them with Shame

Most of us have a really high view of David.  Many of us haven’t studied 1 & 2 Samuel.  Those of us who have may have a slightly or even radically different view of David.  Yes, he was a man after God’s heart (1 Samuel 13:14 (here @ BibleGateway)), but he was not exemplary in his behavior.

In 2 Samuel 18:33 – 19:7 (here @ BibleGateway) we read about David’s reaction to the death of his rebellious, betraying son, Absalom.  In 19:5 – 6 (here @ BibleGateway) we Joab rebukes David, saying, 

Today you have covered with shame the faces of all your servants, who today have saved your life and the lives of your sons and daughters, the lives of your wives, and the lives of your concubines, by loving those who hate you, and by hating those who love you. For you have shown today that princes and servants are nothing to you; for I know this day that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today, then you would be pleased. 

As a leader David, diminished what his people did for him by not showing gratitude for their risking their lives to protect him, restore him to the throne, and punish one who not only rebelled but cruelly shamed him before Israel.

One of the lessons we can learn from this is that our reaction to people who are doing things for us is important.  Those who are close to us, our wives, children, grandchildren will do things for us and we need to be effusive in our gratefulness.  If we are  not we are ignoring their demonstration of love and effectively pushing them away from us.  It is not quite covering them with shame but at some level it has as similar impact.