Reading: II Samuel 13 – 14
For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person: yet doth He devise means, that His banished be not expelled from Him(II Sam. 14:14).
And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead (II Sam. 13:39). David loved his children fiercely. Amnon’s rape of Tamar had enraged David (13: 21), but his sense of guilt and shame over his own sins had prevented him from taking any corrective action. Absalom’s delayed revenge killing of Amnon had broken his father’s heart. David openly mourned for his dead son, but privately, he was equally distraught over Absalom’s flight and subsequent banishment. He longed to see his son again, but he was hampered by both the law of the land and his pride.
In a scene reminiscent of the way in which God had used the prophet Nathan to convict David of his sins concerning Bathsheba, Joab engaged a wise woman from Tekoah to appear before the king disguised as a widow in mourning. He carefully coached her on how to present the situation of Amnon and Absalom to David in the form of an anonymous parable so as to arouse David’s compassion and mercy. The ploy worked, and the woman then followed up by challenging David to apply the same compassion and mercy to his own situation. And the woman said, Wherefore then hast thou thought such a thing against the people of God? for the king doth speak this thing as one which is faulty, in that the king doth not fetch home again his banished (14:13). She ended her plea by comparing David’s hardened heart unfavorably to God’s merciful one and reminding David that death was inevitable and would end all chance of reconciliation when it came.
Ultimately, David softened his stance and recalled his son Absalom to Jerusalem. And the king said unto Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing: go therefore, bring the young man Absalom again (14:21). And the king said, Let him turn to his own house, and let him not see my face. So Absalom returned to his own house, and saw not the king’s face (14:24). He made the choice to spare his son’s life, but he was unwilling to go any further. He did not offer Absalom forgiveness in the nature of God but merely a pardon after the fashion of kings. This choice, as with many others in David’s life, would prove to have far-reaching consequences.
Was David right to pardon Absalom? This is a question that we are not equipped to answer, and neither was David. God could have shown him the way, but instead of seeking out the Lord’s guidance, he allowed his actions to be directed by the opinions of man. He then compounded that mistake by offering Absalom official ‘mercy’ without any sort of Godly reconciliation or forgiveness.
David was not a stranger to God’s correction, mercy, or forgiveness. He also had proven in his dealings with others that he understood how to let God work through him to offer correction, mercy, and forgiveness to others. Yet when it came to his children, that ability seemingly disappeared. He ruled the kingdom under the command of God, but he attempted to parent alone. In this, he failed.
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing(John 15:5).
Thought For Today:For all our pride, we can never truly take a matter “into our own hands.” It is either in God’s hands or subject to the way of the world.
Christ Revealed:Through David’s restoration of Absalom (II Sam. 14:33). If an earthly father’s compassion reconciles him to his estranged son, how much more will our loving Heavenly Father reconcile us to Himself when we confess our sins. God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing (counting, crediting) their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the Word of reconciliation (II Cor. 5:19).
Word Studies:13:4 lean = depressed, looking so wretched; 13:5 make thyself sick = pretend to be sick; 14:2 feign = pretend; 14:4 did obeisance = showed reverence, honor.
Pray For Staff:Gilbert Palafox • Government Officials: Rep. Colin Allred (TX) Country: Kosovo (1,847,708) in Southeastern Europe • Major Languages: Albanian, Serbian, Bosnian, Turkish, Roma • Religious Freedom • Muslim, Serbian Orthodox, Roman Catholic • Prayer Suggestion: Ask the Lord to enable you to endure temptation (James 1:12).
Optional ReadingActs 16