Contemplative Bible Reading

2 Samuel 18:6-8 (New Living Translation)

6 So the battle began in the forest of Ephraim, 7 and the Israelite troops were beaten back by David’s men. There was a great slaughter that day, and 20,000 men laid down their lives. 8 The battle raged all across the countryside, and more men died because of the forest than were killed by the sword.

This is the short description of what some call The Battle of the Wood of Ephraim. 20,000 men died that day. Why? Because a man wanted something that God had not given him.

Not much of a reason for 20,000 men to die. How about the widows and orphans and the ensuing suffering that lasted tens of thousands of lifetimes? Yes, that was there. No much of a reason for all that, was there?

Absalom, the son of King David, wanted to be King. He led a rebellion. A battle ensued. The rest is a miserable history. All because a man wanted something that God had not given him.

I am sure glad that I haven’t…let’s not go there, folks. We have all wanted something that God did not give us. Perhaps 20,000 men didn’t die because of it, but, most likely, we hated someone deeply because we didn’t receive what we wanted.

Humility, contentment…we don’t use those words often in the 21st century. That is too bad for us. Please God, help me in my unbelief.