Drama

I haven't had much time or motivation to read any new books lately.  Something about going to Africa for two months, taking two Bible Institute classes and practicing two hard new choir songs has kept me pretty busy.  Of course I could have found time : ) but didn't.  So here is a post on what I have been reading, the Bible.  We are studying Judges through Chronicles in Old Testament history right now and I am convince that no work of fiction comes close to the historical stories in these books.   The drama, excitement, heroes, villains, heroines, action, and betrayal in these stories would be unbelievable coming from any other author.  While reading I try to imagine it for real in my head, like how would this look if it was a movie.  To me one of the most interesting characters in this time period  is Joab.  He is David's general and right hand man in all matters of war.  He is also cunning, David never quite trusted him and tells Solomon before he dies to kill him! (I Kings 2:5,6)  But he does get David out of a lot of scrapes.  He is wise about other men and their motives.  He never backs down from doing what has to be done for the good of David and the country, even though that is definitely not his only motive.
Here is one of my favorite scenes between David and Joab.   At this time David has been king for years, he has sinned with Bathsheba, not punished sexual sin in his own family, and lost the respect and earned the hatred of his son Absalom.  He is now at war with Absalom and he and most of his family and royal court have fled to Mahanaim waiting for news of the battle.  David has told his commanders to bring back Absalom alive but Joab has disobeyed orders and killed Absalom (which in and of itself is very interesting) and the news has reached David that his army has beaten the rebels but Absalom is died.  And David is in  despair.

II Samuel 19

      And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom.  And the victory that day was turned into mourning unto all the people: for the people heard say that day how the king was grieved for his son.  And the people gat them by stealth that day into the city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.   But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!

      (All those loyal to David, those who have fled with him, those who have given up everything for him, who would die for him watch their king given over completely to despair.   They have been running for their lives for months.  Now they hear that the kings armies have victory.   I can just imagine how their hopes were raised at first.  Maybe they would get to go home, maybe life would return to normal. This is what they have been praying for, working for, hoping for.   They look around for leadership from their king and he is sitting in a corner crying.  I believe one of the scariest things in life is a strong leader given over to despair.  A power vacuum in Israel at this time would have been terrifying, there were plenty of men waiting for their chance just like Absalom.  Some of the people may even have been afraid Joab would take leadership on himself since David obviously wasn't.  People were scared.)
       And Joab come into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, which this day have saved thy life, and the lives of they sons and of thy daughters, and the lives of they wives, and the lives of thy concubines; In that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends.  For thou hast declared this day, that thou regardest neither princes nor servants; for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, the it had pleased thee well.
     ( I love it. : )   Can't you just imagine Joab riding up to the door of the king's house hot, tired, dirty from battle, dust, dirt and blood every where, unkept and furious.  Can't you see him in his battle clothes throwing open the doors of the house.  The sound of the doors hitting the wall echo through the silent house, there are no servants, no music, no activity only the muffled sobbing of a king.   Can't you hear his voice low and menacing telling David what everyone is thinking but too afraid to say.  We have sacrificed our lives for you and everything that is yours and you'd rather we be died and Absalom alive!  Can't you hear the sarcasm and contempt.  Crying over things that our dead to us while neglecting those things that are alive to us seems to be a common human fault.  Out of all David's companions Joab was the only one to do what had to be done.  What if he had not?  He was saving the whole kingdom from more war.  God was definitely using him here. )
     Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto thy servants: for I swear by the LORD, if you go not forth, there will not tarry one with thee this night: and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil that befell thee from thy youth until now.
     (Joab basically said You have two choices get up and act like a man, lead and comfort your people, or sit here and cry about it and lose your kingdom and the respect of all your people.  It's not like Joab is saying this to one of his privates he is saying this to the king of Israel, why could he get away with using this tone of voice with David?   Well, he had been with David since the beginning before he was ever king, he had seen David in the wilderness fleeing from Saul, he was at Ziklag, he knew what David was capable of, but above all this Joab knew David's dirty little secret.  Who had been ordered to send Uriah  to his death?   Joab may have been the only person who knew that Uriah's death was no accident.  I'm convince that sly Joab was well aware of the power that gave him and David knew what type of person Joab was.  Basically Joab was blackmailing David.  Just speculation, but it seems to fit.) 
      Then the king arose, and sat in the gate.  And they told unto all the people, saying, Behold, the king doth sit in the gate.  And all the people came before the king; for Israel had fled every man to his tent.
(Joab was a sly character and I'm not sure whose interests he had as priority, but he saved David's kingdom for him at least once here.  He is an interesting study.)
Now find me a secular novel that beats that. : )