Dysfunctional FAmily

If I where to ask you if you felt like your family was dysfunctional, the majority would probably respond "yes".  Let's face it we are all a little dysfunctional, I know I sure am.

I was doing some reading last night and this morning about King David and His family, and realized that his dysfunctional family takes the cake.  Check this out (all out of 2 Samuel)

• Amnon (David's Son) rapes his sister Tamar (13:14)
• Absalom (David's other son) finds out about it and kills him two years later (13:29)
• Word gets to DAvid that Absalom killed all his brothers (13:30), He found it later to be untrue
• Absalom flees and is gone for three years (13:38)
• Even though Absalom killed his brother David wanted him to some back desperately (13:39)
• Absalom gets married and has children, moved to Jerusalem and is there two years yet still never comes to see David (14)
• Absalom comes to see the King at the end of chapter 14, David blesses His son
• Absalom begins his quest/conspiracy to become king (15)
• Absalom gains such a following in his conspiracy to take over that David flees (15:13-37)
• after awhile David builds an army, his army marches back to battle Absalom and his men
• Absalom (while riding a donkey) doesn't duck while going underneath a big oak, and his head gets stuck in tree limb, donkey continues on and he is stuck hanging in mid air (funny right?) (18:9)
• Joab (David's Nephew) drives three spears into Absalom while he is hanging there (18:14,15)
• David mourns over his son Absalom's death (18:33)
• Then David returns to Jerusalem to regain kingdom (end of chapter 18)

What a journey David has had, what a dysfunctional family.  Through it all we are told that "David is a man after God's own heart".  Why?  How?

David kept a cool head and he kept is eyes and heart on God.  It's hard to do, especially if you have a lot of "junk" happening.  David understood that no matter what the circumstances where that where surrounding Him that God still had it under control.  When your world is spinning out of control, remember God has it handled.

When you begin to think that you have it bad, that you have the most dysfunctional family out there, remember David and it should help you get a better perspective.

Have a great day, Chris.