Running from a defeated enemy
King David, who has up to this point in his reign, defeated every army he has encoutered with God's help is now running from his son Absolom and an army that he had not yet even asked God's help to defeat. This reminds me of Elijah in 1 Kings 19, when after personally defeating four hundred prophets of Bail that Elijah ran like a chicken from Queen Jezebel.
In Elijah's case, it appeared to be exaustion and a coming off the mountain experience which brought on depression. In King David's case, it was probably depression over his own flesh and blood son turning against him.
So, when you are down, is it wrong to run? Is it wrong to slow down, regroup, recouperate to the point where you can again seek the Lord and his strength before you face your next battle. I know many people are critical of Elijah and some of David for not seeking the Lord and battling an enemy that they could obviously defeat, but I believe there are times in our life when it makes most sense to lose the battle in order to win the war. Later in the chapter we see David going to the Mount of Olives, where Jesus went, to pray ... and after worship and prayer, David's sucess began coming one after another. In the same way, when we worship him, and become one with him, our problems tend to melt before the presence of an all consuming God. What was a mountain to us, becomes a mole hill to him.
Created almost 3 years ago
