But the man replied, “Even if a thousand shekels were weighed out into my hands, I would not lay a hand on the king’s son. In our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘Protect the young man Absalom for my sake.’ – 2 Samuel 18:12

Today’s Scripture Reading (August 17, 2019): 2 Samuel 18

In our society, money often seems to be an end in itself. There is no doubt that money is a tool. It buys us food and lodging; it gives us the opportunity for recreation. And then, of course, there are the toys that it buys. But in the end, money can only be a tool. When money becomes an end, then there is little left to life. Charity becomes hard because all that matters is how much wealth we are accumulating. And, when money becomes an end, we are often willing to risk life for the potential of receiving a monetary reward.

It is the position in which this unnamed soldier is placed. There is no doubt that there is a disagreement between the King and his generals. The generals are aware of a truth that the king just cannot acknowledge. The rebellion will end if the pretender to the throne dies. It is that simple. A targeted attack against the usurper to the throne will end the current conflict. No more men need to die. The king’s problem is that the one who stole his throne is his son. He remembers his son fondly. He knows the hopes that he holds for him. He desires the best for his child. He even experiences some guilt about the lessons that he did not teach him during the days of his youth; lessons that just might have changed the present. The generals know that the son must die; the king hopes that the son will live.

And so, as this unnamed soldier comes across Absalom, he is aware of conflicting purposes of those above him. He could rescue the son from his predicament and earn the gratitude of the king. Or he could kill the son and receive a reward from the generals. But what would the reward be worth if the act caused his life to be taken from him? And what would the king’s favor matter, if his generals felt that he had betrayed their purposes? They would never trust him again.

Instead, the soldier decides to take a third path. He sees Absalom hanging in a tree and decides to leave him there. After all, what good is money if life is removed. And what good is honor, if respect is lost. There was no winning strategy, and so the soldier simply refuses to act.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 19