Our Tuesday Night bible study is making use of "The Greatest Story," an overview of the the stories which make up the greatest story ever told. Next week we reach the books which often cause those embarked on a "cover to cover" reading of the Bible to stumble - Leviticus. There are a lot of dry reading this book - not that Deuteronomy is a cake walk.
Currently, I am a bit further along in my reading, but still in one of those parts which sometime fail to hold interest. I am in 2 Samuel, today reading from the 9th chapter.
There are important stories here - of King David and his rise to the throne. There are also a lot of names and twists and turns and things that I had rather not know about the bloodshed among God's chosen people. Finally, with the battles over, David turns to see if there is anyone left from the house of Saul, "that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?"
Jonathan has a son, Mephibosheth. David sends for the boy and brings him and has him live in the King's house. The fighting which leads to David becoming King had brought about the death of Jonathan. Lamenting this, David turns to the son of Jonathan and welcomes him to his table.
So much of the hatred and warfare in the world is the doing of my generation and beyond. We harbor memories of injuries and insults which drive us to bomb and destroy. How encouraging to observe the work of (as of now) a small group of Clemson students seeking interfaith and intercultural dialogue. It is the children of those who have made the wars which will lead us into the way of peace.
David has much to be sorry for. There were deaths he intended; acting in his name there were deaths which he would later avenge. Finally, he turns to compassion. Let us pray that we don't wait as long as he did. Let us start now seeking the children of our adversary and sitting at table together, sharing the bounty of God's good earth.
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