Weekly Devo Thought

2 Sam 18-22

Today's reading began with the death of Absalom, king David's son.  It really is a striking tale - that of David and his parenting.  When David's daughter, Absalom's sister, Tamar is raped, David does nothing and this leads Absalom to commit murder.  Not excusing Absalom in all this, but David's weak leadership left a vacuum that was filled by his hot headed and rebellious son. 

Another point of note in the reading is the account of the 4 giants that remained in the land and were killed by David's mighty men.  David killed the giant Goliath, but did not kill his brother Lahmi.  The definition of the name Lahmi is "lust."  Odd that David was unable to defeat both the literal, physical giant and the sin pattern with the same name.  His sin with Bathesheba angered the Lord to the extent that the "sword was not removed from Israel in his time."  David squandered the opportunity to build the temple he desired to build for the Lord because of the battle he lost to lust.  Spoiling the rest of the story, but lust proves the undoing of his son Solomon, as well.  Solomon's many women lead him astray and the wisest man who ever lived ends his days worshiping the pagan gods of the region.  Lahmi's victims are a whose-who of the Bible - the strongest man who ever lived (Samson), the greatest king in recorded history and a "man after God's own heart" (David), and the wisest man who ever lived (Solomon) were all defeated by the giant of "Lahmi" (lust).  Not sure why I went on that rabbit trail, maybe that was for someone.  Don't be another of his victims.