David: Absalom

2ND SAMUEL 15:1-16 2ND SAMUEL 18:9-18

We must begin this part of our study with the warning promises that God had given to David, the man after His own heart, when he had repented and gained the Lord's forgiveness, which included not suffering death himself.

2nd Samuel 12: 11-12

"I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbor, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.

For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun".

As we look into our study we should consider that there is a trail of sorrow and sadness during these times in David's life. It began with the agony he suffered as his sin with Bathsheba was revealed, and he lost the son to death that was the product of that adulterous union.

Soon David's own daughter, Tamar, was raped by his son Amnon. Amnon was then murdered by another son, Absalom. Absalom flees for three years to his mother's royal family. David is then manipulated by Joab to bring Absalom back. Now Absalom uses his return to David's good graces to begin a plan to take the throne himself and begins rebellion to do exactly that. This matter causes a split in the nation itself and will end in death and more tears along this sad trail of sin andconsequences.

As we start, let's be sure we recall that Nathan had told David in 2nd Samuel 12: 13 that the Lord had taken his sin away. So now the consequences of his sins are finding David and causing sorrow in his life.

Absalom wished to return to Jerusalem and he wrangled a way to do so by forcing Joab to approach David to allow his return. His method was to set fire to Joab's crops and Joab decided it would be best to have David bring Absalom back under David's control.

David agrees and restores Absalom to a full relationship but still has done nothing to exact justice for Absalom's murder of Amnon. We see next that Absalom had a far greater plan in mind than simply a homecoming.

Now Absalom uses his return to set himself lip near the city gate with the appearance of royalty, with chariots, many men to serve him, and many horses.

Here we see again the violation of the original command of God who had said in Deuteronomy 17: 16 " ... he shall not multiply horses unto himself...". (Remember that in accord with this law, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a borrowed donkey).

Absalom begins to hold himself up as a judge of disputes with no authority. He makes those arriving into the city with issues to be judged think that he is their advocate and would help them as they may need to settle arguments. Remember this was the APPEARANCE of authority and wisdom, not the reality. Scripture however reports in 2nd Samuel 15 :2-6 that " ... in this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel".

He did not gain these hearts by good service or virtuous conduct, but by shallow lies designed to make himself look good.

Of course, it is absolutely hypocritical that Absalom makes a show of wishing to dispense justice, since none was dispensed to him for his crimes.

We should recall that Absalom makes a great presentation as a leader among the people. 2 nd Samuel 14:25 tells us that in all Israel there was none so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot to even the crown of his head there was no blemish in him. He carried a head of long and beautiful hair that was admired by all who saw him.

Now Absalom tells David he had made a vow while away from home to serve the Lord in Hebron, and David agrees for him to go. But the vow story is a cover for him to acquire soldiers to himself and he now sends spies to all the parts of Israel telling all that he will take the throne. Two hundred men went with Absalom, knowing nothing of the plan. The object was to make it appear that support for David was less and that Absalom's star was rising.

He now sends for Ahithopel, the Gilonite, David's long time trusted advisor, who was a well known statesman and Absalom convinces him to join him. Notice how God works through even those who had been loyal to David to bring to bear the judgment that was previously promised. God's word will not return to him void.

This man was the grandfather of Bathsheba who may have had a grudge of long standing against David, which made his change of heart easier.

Now as Absalom builds his popularity among Israel, by deception, David begins to see that Absalom is in rebellion. Wishing to not have warfare and blood shed in Jerusalem, David inexplicably decides to flee the city. David left 10 of his concubines to keep the house as he left, assuming these women would be safe, thinking Absalom wanted to kill him not his women.

But Absalom had a tent raised upon the top of David's house, and in that tent in view of all who wished to look, he had immoral intimate relations with these 10 women. God's promise that David's wives would be given over was fulfilled .. God's purpose was that these 10 would be publicly insulted and taken by force by Absalom. We see that God directs ALL things, even using certain evil instances to assure His will is done.

Open war is seen between David's army and the followers of Absalom. David instructs his army to arrange itself into three sections and to bring the fight to Absalom but he warns his commanders to deal carefully with Absalom himself. Clearly David was saying that he did not wish Absalom killed.

During the battle, Absalom was caught up by his long hair being entangled in a tree within the woods of the battlefield. One of Joab's soldiers saw Absalom entangled but did not kill him. Joab disobeyed David's order and took three spears and took the life of Absalom, quickly ending the rebellion. The body was placed into a pit in the woods and covered with rocks. Just as Saul had done before, Absalom had erected a monument to himself, a stone pillar, setting himself up over all others. The lesson is clear that neither monument served either man well.

Now the consequences of sin are seen to be expanded to David. One son taken in infancy by God, one son murdered, one daughter raped, one son now killed in rebellion.

While David was God's anointed one, his transgressions against the law as well as his being unwilling to confess until God revealed that his sin was fully known placed him under God's displeasure. Complete confession, sincere repentance, and humility brought him back into God's favor. But we are surely learning, along with David, that the wages of sin is death!