Today’s
Scripture Reading (May 4, 2019): 2
Samuel 14
In 1973, Dawn featuring Tony Orlando released “Tie a Yellow Ribbon
Round the Ole Oak Tree.” The song was written by Irwin Levine and L. Russell
Brown. It tells the story of a man who is being released from some kind of
prison and is returning home. But being physically released from captivity is
only part of the solution. In the song, the man remarks that “my heart is still
in prison and my love she holds the key.” The chorus of the song gives the
man’s “love” instructions as to what to do next. His bus will be passing
through town. If she will still welcome him home, she is to tie a yellow ribbon
around an Oak tree at the edge of town. If the man sees the ribbon, he will get
off of the bus. But if there is no ribbon, he will stay on the bus and attempt
to rebuild his life somewhere else. In the conclusion of the song, the man
can’t bear to look to see the answer that his girl has left him at the edge of
town. But the whole bus begins to cheer because there are “a hundred yellow
ribbons round the ole oak tree.”
Russell Brown, who wrote the music for “Tie a Yellow Ribbon,” says
that we are misunderstanding the lyrical intent of the song. “Tie a Yellow
Ribbon” is not about a criminal being released and sent home. The story is
based on an old folk tale that came out of the American Civil War. In the story,
a Union soldier has been taken prisoner and held at a Prisoner of War camp in
Georgia. But now he is being released, and he sends a letter home to his girl
as he tries to decide what to do next. But any interpretation of the song being
about a criminal’s release from incarceration is “pure fantasy.”
Absalom has been exiled because he murdered his brother, and the
heir of the throne, Amnon because Amnon had raped Absalom’s sister, and Amnon’s
half-sister, Tamar. From Absalom’s point of view, the killing of Amnon was
justified under the law because of his rape of Tamar. Therefore, Absalom believed
that he was being exiled for doing what was necessary, even if it was messy and
uncomfortable for the Royal Family. Joab is concerned that the division between
Absalom, who is likely at this time now the heir apparent to the throne (we
have no idea what happened to David’s second son, Chileab or Daniel), and the
King meant that the possibility of rebellion was a significant concern. Joab
wants to bring the King and the reigning prince back together, get them on the
same page, and the nation moving forward as a unified unit.
So Joab maneuvers David into a situation where he has to decide on
Absalom. And David’s decision is telling. He is reluctant to renew his
relationship with his son, but he also trusts the intuitions of Joab. And so he
essentially decides to meet Joab halfway. Absalom can come home, but he cannot enter
into the presence of the King.
Cue “Tie a Yellow Ribbon.” Absalom’s exile is over. He is being
released from his “prison.” But he is not being welcomed back into the family.
David has no intention of tying a yellow ribbon round the ole oak tree. The
reality is that while Joab wins the battle, he loses the war. Unless the wound
between the King and Absalom can be healed, the threat of rebellion is still
present, even if Absalom is back in Jerusalem.
And all of this is a reflection of David’s inability to parent. He
had been overindulgent with his children. And now he is trying to fix that, but
the pendulum has swung too far the other way. Rather than being overindulgent,
he has become too harsh. And the combination is going to spell disaster in the
future.
Tomorrow’s
Scripture Reading: Psalm 2 & 3
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