2 Samuel 14:21-24 Toughness

 ”And the king said to Joab, “All right, I have granted this thing. Go therefore, bring back the young man Absalom.” Then Joab fell to the ground on his face and bowed himself, and thanked the king. And Joab said, “Today your servant knows that I have found favor in your sight, my Lord, O king, in that the king has fulfilled the request of his servant.” So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem. And the king said, “Let him return to his own house, but do not let him see my face.” So Absalom returned to his own house, but did not see the king’s face.“ II Samuel‬ ‭14‬:‭21‬-‭24‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. Bring back the young man Absalom: Joab got what he wanted and what he thought was best for the nation of Israel. He hoped that Absalom’s reconciliation with David would prevent a rebellion.

b. Let him return to his own house, but do not let me see my face: David was overindulgent with his sons in the past (such as when he got angry but did nothing against Amnon in 2 Samuel 13:21). Now David is too harsh with Absalom, refusing to see him after he had been in exile in Geshur for three years (2 Samuel 13:38). (Guzik)

Toughness 

i. When parents don’t discipline properly from the beginning, they tend to overcompensate in the name of “toughness.” This often provokes the children to wrath (Ephesians 6:4) and makes the parent-child relationship worse. (Guzik)

We had this problem because we had adopted a 10 year old boy and when he got older it seemed every time we tried to discipline him he was provoked to wrath. So all we could do was remove privileges.

We stayed faithful and did all that the Lord asked us to do. 

Disciplining a child isn’t easy and at times hurts the parent more than the child.

Have you ever overcompensated in the name of toughness? I’m guilty!

Blessings