Cost of Hate

 

    Hate has a high cost.  It can be relationships, health, work, or even your humanity.  It changes a person if they allow it to fester and grow.  Over time people forget what made them so angry, but will become that they are angry at everyone and everything.  If hatred is not stopped, then it can cost you your life.  It can lead to a horrible death or just losing what made you special.

    David had his troops divide under Joab, Abishai, and Ittai when they marched into battle.  All three of them were seasoned warriors.  They insisted that David stay behind, so that he would not be a distraction.  It would be too much to ask him not to care about the fate of his son, even if Absalom hated his father.

    Absalom had begun all of this, but it was David's men that ended it.  David asked his commanders to be gentle with Absalom, but in war that is asking a lot.  Joab knew that if Absalom lived that he would not stop until David was dead and probably all of his supporters.  How many more people would die until that happened?  When Absalom got caught up in a tree, Joab took three javelins and plunged them into the prince's heart.  

    Once Absalom was dead the battle ended.  He was thrown into a big pit and had rocks put over him.  His hate led to a humiliating death and being buried in a mass grave with the other warriors.  He did not get honored as royalty.  His hate caused 20,000 men to die in one day.

    David did not hate his son, so this was a big emotional blow to him.  His heart broke over the loss of his son, but he had to pull himself together for the sake of his men and nation.  Him being upset told them that they had not done a good job, the right thing, and they did.  In his heart, he wished he had died instead of his son.  Absalom's hatred broke the king's heart.

2 Samuel 18