1 Chronicles 20:2 David took the crown of Milcom from the idols head. It was found to weigh a talent of gold with precious stones on it; this crown David wore on his own head.
Sometimes the Bible is a blessing and it just speaks to you other times its a curse. You sit there in oppressive silence. There are times we do not know who the author is writing to, or the world view in their mind. But, it is safe to assume they writing for more than entertainment. So digging is required. This passage did this for me. Luckily, the parallel text in Samuel shows the scandalous context all of Israel was whispering about.
Chapter 20 begins, “At the turn of the year, when kings go out to war, Joab, led the army out in force”. David stays back home to get a little sugar when he should be out with the troops. The writer of chronicles does not mention this, instead he gives us the insight into David’s heart and mind through his actions. David lets his top man, Joab, fight the battle and then arrives to remove the defeated king’s crown off the idol’s head, placing it on his own. You can almost feel tension 2500 years later. David shows up after all the fighting is over, stealing a poor soldiers wife, murdering him, and grabs the fanciest treasure off a pagan idols head. Everyone’s eyes have to be rolling as this guy takes the place of the idol. That’s nerve all right.
You might call this ‘the pride before the fall’, or as Voltaire wrote, “History is filled with the sound of silken slippers going downstairs and wooden shoes coming up.” God is getting ready to drop the hammer on David and we wise to learn from his lesson. No matter how much we achieve in life, a leader can never forget the men who fight beside him. And when your ego grows to the size of a demigod, it’s a good sign it’s too big. There is only one true God and when we make an idol of ourselves his love for us will not tolerate it. David took a crown of gold and is pulled down by God, while Christ took a crown of thorns and is raised up. Which do you seek?
Dad Devotional 