Good Morning Friends,
David forgave his son Absalom. He took him back into relationship. He loved Absalom and trusted him. But Absalom tread upon the forgiveness of his father and brought rebellion to the house of David.
First, Absalom won the hearts of the people of Israel through treachery and deceit. “In the course of time, Absalom provided himself with a chariot and horses and with fifty men to run ahead of him. He would get up early and stand by the side of the road leading to the city gate. Whenever anyone came with a complaint to be placed before the king for a decision, Absalom would call out to him, ‘What town are you from?’ He would answer, ‘Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel.’ Then Absalom would say to him, ‘Look, your claims are valid and proper, but there is no representative of the king to hear you.’ And Absalom would add, ‘If only I were appointed judge in the land! Then everyone who has a complaint or case could come to me and I would see that he gets justice.’ Also, whenever anyone approached him to bow down before him, Absalom would reach out his hand, take hold of him and kiss him. Absalom behaved in this way toward all the Israelites who came to the king asking for justice, and so he stole the hearts of the men of Israel.” (2 Samuel 15:1-6)
Finally, Absalom acted on his rebellion. He asked permission of David to travel to Hebron saying that he was going to worship the Lord there. While in Hebron, Absalom declared himself king. “Then Absalom sent secret messengers throughout the tribes of Israel to say, ‘As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpets, then say, “Absalom is king in Hebron.”’” (2 Samuel 15:10)
Rather than go to war against Absalom and those who were rallying to support him, David chose to flee from the city of Jerusalem and trust God to restore him to the throne. David said to the priest, "Take the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the Lord's eyes, he will bring me back and let me see it and his dwelling place again. But if he says, ‘I am not pleased with you,’ then I am ready; let him do to me whatever seems good to him." (2 Samuel 15:25-26)
After David had fled Jerusalem, Absalom entered the city and declared himself king there.
It wasn’t right. David was the rightful, God-appointed king of Israel. It was rebellion against David and against God. It was done with deceit, not with honor. Absalom lied to the people of Israel and he lied to David in order to gain power and to put himself in a place where he could declare himself king. There was no gratitude in Absalom. David had forgiven him for murdering his half-brother, but Absalom turned his back on that forgiveness, he ignored that restored relationship.
Yet, though it wasn’t right and wasn’t done in a godly way, David did not fight for his own rights. He cared too much for Absalom and he cared too much for the people of Israel. He was unwilling to start a civil war and see brother killing brother. Instead, he trusted God to restore him to the throne at the right time and in His own way.
When you are deceived and hurt by treachery, do you take matters of revenge, of righting the wrong, into your own hands … or do you trust God?
His, by Grace,
Steve
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