2 Samuel
We hear many things on any given day. Voices that try to tell us how to live our lives. Voices offering surefire, three-step methods that will allow us to achieve anything — wealth, health, beauty, you name it. There are voices of wisdom that teach us hard-earned life lessons and how we can avoid the pitfalls.
My father was one of those sages in my life. I wish I would have listened to all that he had to share! Fortunately, I listened to many of his wisdoms, and they have helped to form and guide my life. One of those wise nuggets was this: “Life is about making choices, and choices have consequences.”
It is always amazing to me how, when we make a wrong choice, we become frustrated and upset when the natural consequences come to be. How many times do we hearwords of wisdom and truth, yet we refuse to listento what they say?
We like to hear words that we like.
As we continue through the book of 2 Samuel and the stories of David and his family, it is readily apparent that they followed a pattern just like ours today.
In 2 Samuel 15, King David’s son, Absalom, breaks into open rebellion against his father. The root of this trouble goes all the way back to David’s affair with Bathsheba. David’s indiscretions, deceits and act of murder reaped a harvest of turmoil and dysfunction within his family.
Choices have consequences. David listened to the wrong voice. Because of that, Absalom sews his seeds of rebellion.
“After this, Absalom bought a chariot and horses, and he hired fifty bodyguards to run ahead of him. He got up early every morning and went out to the gate of the city. When people brought a case to the king for judgment, Absalom would ask where in Israel they were from, and they would tell him their tribe.
“Then Absalom would say, ‘You’ve really got a strong case here! It’s too bad the king doesn’t have anyone to hear it. I wish I were the judge. Then everyone could bring their cases to me for judgment, and I would give them justice!’
“When people tried to bow before him, Absalom wouldn’t let them. Instead, he took them by the hand and kissed them. Absalom did this with everyone who came to the king for judgment, and so he stole the hearts of all the people of Israel.”
-2 Samuel 15:1-5 (New Living Translation)
Absalom knew just the right words that would soothe itching ears. He told the people what they wanted to hear rather than what they needed to hear, and it sounded good to them. Then Absalom schmoozed them, acting like he was one of them. His actions made it seem as if David was distant, removed and only interested in pomp and power. The people listened to what they, and Absalom, wanted to hear. But they didn’t really hear or see what the consequences would be.
Perhaps we shouldn’t be too hard on those itchy-eared people. Haven’t we done the same thing? We curry favor with higher-ups by saying what we think they want to hear, instead of speaking what is true and needed. We act one way with our fellow employees. We say the “right” thing to some, but when they leave the room, we then say the “truth” to others.
Listening — true listening — is a gift to the speaker of our time, our presence and our engagement. It should also be a gift of the wisdom life experience has given us. It should be a gift of truth, love and caring, just like Jesus did.
“Life is about making choices, and choices have consequences.” What will you choose to listen to today?
—Terry Swenson, DMin, is director of University Spiritual Care at Loma Linda University.