14/07/2022
Love conquers all
I read about David this morning. He was a celebrity, a pop idol. His popularity was however an albatross. King Saul hounded him on account of his fame. He became enemy of state, winding up in exile. He would consolidate his leadership over an assortment of debtors, refugees, dissenters, area boys and base elements in Ziklag. They constituted themselves into a division of the army of King Archish, one of the 5 kings of the Philistines. It was a controversial move. The Philistines were enemies of Israel, David's country. The commanders of Archish could not trust David. He was therefore barred from participating in the war against Israel and sent back to Ziklag. But while they were away Ziklag had been sacked by Amalekites, their families taken hostage. The crux of this blog is their reaction. They wept like babies, even threatening to kill David. What I find interesting is the fact these assemblage of delinquent debtors, enemies of state, dissenters, opposition figures and area boys had over time found love. They wept for their wives, proving once more that love can conquer tough men and strong men. Up to Ziklag David ran a protection racket for rich men like Mr. Nabal. He was viewed as a rebel. The picture is that of a Mafia clan. Everyone feared them. I once visited the Mob Museum in Vegas and I was puzzled as to how the men who committed the atrocities on display could be susceptible to love. Vicious drug lords and Mafia hoods are unbelievably soft when it comes to their wives and children. Love softens the hardest of hearts and God employed it as a tool of reunification with mankind. What the Ten Commandments could not achieve love achieved on that ugly, rough hewn wooden cross. We underestimate the power of love. Don't.
©Leke Alder