|
The author makes some excellent points about how God used David's suffering to bring him to a point of brokenness, and how David always treated Saul as God's anointed despite his wicked behavior.His observations in Part 2 are less helpful. For example, in the prologue he spins a pure fable in which God tells Gabriel to allow the yet-to-be-born spirits of David and Saul to choose their destinies. Instead of approaching these Scriptural accounts like a traditional devotional writer, he retells the stories in a semi-fictionalized fashion. As presented here, David knows about Absalom's rebellion before it happens, but refuses to do anything to forestall it; he just puts everything in God's hands and quietly leaves Jerusalem so God can reveal His will.Edwards closes the book with this passive withdrawal, but the rest of the Biblical account gives some needed balance.
I'm willing to accept a little artistic license, but Edwards goes over the top in my opinion. In "A Tale of Three Kings" author Gene Edwards examines two relationships in the life of David - Saul and Absalom - and from them he draws insights that believers can apply to their own authority-related issues. He makes some good points about David's humble heart and how we need to examine ourselves and trust God when someone is challenging our authority, but he wrongly portrays David's reaction to Absalom's rebellion. "Arise, and let us flee; or else we shall not escape from Absalom. This "Mall of Unborn Destinies", as Edwards calls it, sounds more like Mormonism than Biblical Christianity.
When Joab asks David how he plans to respond, David says he plans "to do absolutely nothing" (p.72). Make haste to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly and bring disaster upon us" (2 Samuel 15:14, NKJV).After escaping capture, David sends several allies back to Jerusalem as spies (2 Samuel 15:27-37), and in 2 Sam 18:1-6, he organizes his loyal forces and sends them to attack Absalom's army. This approach yields some beautiful, moving prose that almost reads like poetry in places, but it also leaves the door open to the author inserting his own conjecture into the story. Yes, David was submitted to Gods' will (cf. I doubt that the author meant it that way, but it illustrates the pitfalls of the fictionalizing approach.Aside from style-related problems, Edwards does cull some meaningful insights from the story of David and Saul in Part 1.
David's refusal to rebel against Saul, especially when he had the chance to kill him, is a powerful illustration of how we need to react to our authorities, even those who are abusing their position. 2 Sam 15:25-26) but the Biblical text makes it pretty clear that David's departure was not a gracious withdrawal - Absalom had blindsided him, and he was fleeing for his life. David was hardly doing "absolutely nothing".To sum it up, "A Tale of Three Kings" is skillfully written and has some helpful insights, but it overlooks the fact that a rebel can be confronted without being either a spear-throwing Saul or a complacent pacifist.
Today, a young David would be ridiculed and considered a wimp because he didn't retaliate against Saul. Brokenness looks for God's face, even in a cave. He was broken when he wept over Absalom, even though Absalom had tried to kill David and take his place. But on the other hand, something within us that cries out for and even DEMANDS justice in the face of perceived injustice. On the flipside, some leaders have been compared to Saul so disgruntled followers who see themselves as "Davids" could attack them (which David didn't do).Edwards reminds us that God uses flawed people.
Instead, Edwards suggests that it's best left in the hands of God, and our best response just might be no response at all: just submit quietly, and when you cannot stay any longer, leave quietly without seeking revenge or restitution.On the one hand, we probably recognize the nobility of such a meek response. Woundedness just leads to more woundedness. Ironically, the story of David's submission, even in the face of injustice, has been used by some leaders to coerce people into submission. Saul threw spears at David -- and David didn't throw them back.
Woundedness seeks swift justice. Brokenness wants to be corrected by God. David's response to a cruel and unjust leader (King Saul) almost appears cowardly in comparison. He didn't even complain about them. or if I've just nursed my wounds and thrown my spears from the safety of a circle of approving (and similarly wounded) friends.
This book is an easy read -- written in the language and tone of a children's story -- but the message is definitely "grown up." It draws upon material from the lives of Saul, David, and Absalom to teach a lesson about authority and submission. Brokenness seeks God's mercy. Woundedness looks for ways to save face. Woundedness wants to correct others by taking action against them. David was most broken before God when he was least interested in promoting himself, proving he was right, or perserving his position. I've read this book several times over the last 15 years. and even bad leaders can be "God's anointed." There's no pity party, no encouragement to stand up to leader(s) in question and give them a piece of your mind.
and it always gives me something to think about. As a result, God was able to use Saul to develop brokenness in David.The author draws a contrast between true brokenness and mere woundedness. He was broken before he was king when he had an opportunity to kill Saul in a cave, but refused. Brokenness leads to healing.By that standard, I don't know if I've ever truly been broken. I highly recommend it.
The story of Saul, David and Absalom is the story of every kingdom (church). We find ourselves in all three characters, David (wanting to worship and serve the Lord in purity), Saul (poor tempered and critical) and Absalom (creating division in an attempt to set things right). But the essential question is not if there will be conflict in the church but which part will you play.I read this book often to remind myself that when conflict and discouragement come, it's which part we choose and how we behave that either heals or hurts.
Each man has his chance at kingship, that is, to lord and steward a group of people under his authority. He is eventually forced off the throne and still does not fight back. That was around 8:45 am.Around 11 am, I finished the last page of the book, my heart beating rapidly with conviction and my eyes red from the tears that poured down my cheeks. It was a short book (no more than 100 pages) with some cheesy artwork on the cover.
We also see old "Sauls" who, though anointed, are jealous and bent on destroying those who might compete with their authority. And every once in awhile, we see a "David" - a man after God's heart who has his own share of regrets but refuses to become that which almost destroys him. I brought in a book that had been recommended to me by a friend on the off-chance that I'd get a few minutes to read a couple pages before cracking open my laptop.After a carafe of gourmet coffee, fully digesting a couple crepes, and bidding farewell to my friend, I picked up A Tale of Three Kings. If you know the biblical accounts of these three kings, please bear with the following synopsis.Saul, though once God's "anointed," has abused this privilege and responsibility, maddened with jealousy and greed, and seeks to destroy David, his loyal servant. He believes that God and God alone will vindicate him.
In fact, many of us are guilty of claiming that we could do a "better job." When our own talents aren't recognized, we, like Absalom, rally a faction and overthrow the leadership by force or build our own little "kingdom" elsewhere. The subtitle "A study in brokenness" was right on.The three kings described in this little parable (which has been turned into a play by many churches and acting troupes to date) are the stories of Saul, David, and Absalom. He sees the young charismatic leader as a threat and instead of using his servant's talents to serve the and improve the kingdom, he throws spears at the warrior-musician. This book is a study in brokenness, because it is about humanity - a beautiful but broken piece of Creation that intentionally hurts each other, that manipulates and coerces, that refuses to love as we ought despite the fact that Love-in-flesh laid down his life for us.
I was meeting a friend for breakfast early one Friday morning, before we started our last day of work for the week. And the Lord does just that.In A Tale of Three Kings, we see the parallel of divisions in the Christian church. We see young "Absaloms" criticizing the leadership. They throw "spears" - in the form of false accusations and rumors - at anyone who threatens them. Absalom thinks that he can run the kingdom better and seeks to overthrow his father. I wept as I read this, because I didn't just see the people who have thrown spears at me during my time in ministry; I also saw myself: criticizing authority in dark corners, manipulating my way to the top, and fearfully clutching onto my own little sphere of influence and control.While this is a book about brokenness, it's also about reconciliation, about the choice that we have to make - to courageously choose to be a David, even when the fate of our ministry may be at stake, to love when it is tough and not repay evil with evil. It seemed a harmless way to spend fifteen minutes before the busyness of life swept me away for the next eight hours.
This is the church that Jesus talked about, the one that Paul encouraged, the one that you and I can still be. The boy is eventually forced into hiding in caves and wandering the countryside, because his king has commanded his own army to also throw spears at David.David eventually becomes king and makes his own fair share of mistakes, but later in his life, he faces a similar situation as Saul, yet with his own son Absalom. David, somewhat passively, will not destroy his son; that is, he won't become a "Saul" and throw spears at the young, misguided boy. The premise of the book is that an "Absalom" - that is, someone who takes spiritual authority by force or manipulation - eventually becomes a "Saul" - a tyrant who will squash any and all opposition or difference of opinion.I gave the book to an elder in my church, and he passed it onto our pastor. if we are honest with ourselves and brave enough to be a "David."Discussing this book with a middle-aged pastor the other week, I heard him say, "At different times in my life, I've been each one: Absalom, Saul, and David."I guess we all have.
However, it only took the Holy Spirit a couple of minutes to begin searching my heart. My life was changed dramatically when I entered into Godly submission years ago and has made a huge difference in my life. If you are a serious disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ, this is a must read. Even though as Christ followers, we sometimes don't say something, it is still in our hearts, and God knows our thoughts better than we do. I recently bought this book because my Pastor recommended the book and because a friend just finished it and thought it was really good. One's first reactions to this book is to begin identifying people in your life, at work, at church possibly that fit into the different characters. This book will change the way you think and the words you speak. When that happens you will begin walking in more freedom and truly be reflecting God's love to others and be a witness for Him whether or not you speak.
|
