From 2 Samuel 13-15
As King, it is David’s role to make decisions and give justice to the people. When people had some sort of dispute of trouble they wanted resolved they would naturally come to the king to sort it out. But when they arrived in Jerusalem they met Absalom before they could get to the king. Absalom creates the impression the king should have appointed someone other than himself to judge. Actually David is the judge and Absalom is preventing them coming to him for judgment.
This post is part of my bible in a year series.
Passage and Comments
Absalom, David’s son has a beautiful sister Tamar. Amnon, another one of David’s sons wanted to have sex with her so much he couldn’t sleep. When he tells David’s brother Jonadab they devise a plan. Amnon pretends to be ill and asks David is he will send Tamar to care for him. When she does Amnon violates and rapes her (his sister). Afterwards she pleads with him to ask David that they be married. But he refuses because he now hates her. When David hears of it and is very angry, but does nothing. When Absalom hears of it, he says nothing, but now hates Amnon because he violated his sister (2 Sam 13.1-22).
For two years Absalom nurtured his hate for Amnon in his heart. Eventually with David’s unknowing permission he sets up a feast for all his brothers, including Amnon. During the feast he orders his servants to kill Amnon. They do and all his other brothers flee. To deliver the news to David of what happened they initially say all his sons are dead. Then they say only Amnon is dead. They do this in the hope that his relief that most of his sons are alive and well will overcome his anger at Amnon’s murder (2 Sam 13.23-33).
Absalom flees and Davids remaining sons return to David. David and these sons weep for what has happened. After a while David is comforted regarding Amnon’s death and he longs to go out to Absalom (2 Sam 13.34-39).
Joab understands David’s grief over Absalom and attempts to reconcile them. He sends an wise woman to David and she describes a similar situation regarding Amnon, Absalom and David in the hope David will send for Absalom and he may return. After she tells her tale she confesses who it is really about and divulges Joab was the one who put her up to it. David grants Joab’s request, but does not allow Absalom into his house or his presence (2 Sam 14.1-24).
Absalom is praised for his good skin and his long hair. He has three sons and one daughter. Absalom lived two years in Jerusalem without seeing David his father. Eventually he gets sets Joab’s field on fire to get his attention in order to get him to talk to David and give him an ultimatum. Put him to death if he is guilty, otherwise let him go into the King’s presence. David relents, allows Absalom into his presence and kisses him (2 Sam 14.25-33).
Once in Jerusalem Absalom seems to have greater plans than simply residing with David. He wants to rule.
15 After this Absalom got himself a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before him. 2 And Absalom used to rise early and stand beside the way of the gate. And when any man had a dispute to come before the king for judgment, Absalom would call to him and say, “From what city are you?” And when he said, “Your servant is of such and such a tribe in Israel,” 3 Absalom would say to him, “See, your claims are good and right, but there is no man designated by the king to hear you.” 4 Then Absalom would say, “Oh that I were judge in the land! Then every man with a dispute or cause might come to me, and I would give him justice.”
5 And whenever a man came near to pay homage to him, he would put out his hand and take hold of him and kiss him. 6 Thus Absalom did to all of Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel. (2 Sam 15:1–6)
As King, it is David’s role to make decisions and give justice to the people. When people had some sort of dispute of trouble they wanted resolved they would naturally come to the king to sort it out. But when they arrived in Jerusalem they met Absalom before they could get to the king. Absalom creates the impression the king should have appointed someone other than himself to judge. Actually David is the judge and Absalom is preventing them coming to him for judgment.
7 And at the end of four years Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed to the LORD, in Hebron. 8 For your servant vowed a vow while I lived at Geshur in Aram, saying, ‘If the LORD will indeed bring me back to Jerusalem, then I will offer worship to the LORD.’ ” 9 The king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he arose and went to Hebron. (2 Sam 13.7-9)
Absalom tells David a story to let him go to Hebron. Which David believes. Its a lie because he has other intentions. Its hard to pin down Absalom’s motives in all this. Does he resent the king for not understanding his murder of Amnon? Perhaps he doesn’t care and just wants to rule? Perhaps a combination of both. He is the personification of the LORD’s punishment for David’s sin with Bathsheba and Uriah.
10 But Absalom sent secret messengers throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then say, ‘Absalom is king at Hebron!’ ” 11 With Absalom went two hundred men from Jerusalem who were invited guests, and they went in their innocence and knew nothing. 12 And while Absalom was offering the sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city Giloh. And the conspiracy grew strong, and the people with Absalom kept increasing. (2 Sam 15:10–12)
Absalom come out and appoints himself king. He has betrayed his father. Samuel is all about peoples undisclosed motives, struggle for power and betrayal. Somehow the LORD works through it all to his purpose.
Eventually David finds out about what Absalom has done and he realises the extent of his support so he escapes from Jerusalem with his faithful servants, leaving his concubines behind (2 Sam 15.13-17). Along the way David meets several people. Some wish him well. Some tag along with him. David sends Hushai the Archite back to Jerusalem to pretend to offer Absalom advice. In fact to deceive and undermine his decisions (2 Sam 15.13-37).
Story of Israel
The people treated Absalom as king and judge before they even declared him king. This happened because he stepped in peoples way and David was ignored. Through Israel’s history there were many times when the LORD;s direction was also ignored. Israel preferred the advice and direction of others. False prophets and priests ruled over the people (e.g. Jer 5.31; Eze 13.6-9). The LORD’s ways and instructions were unknown.
But there were times when the light broke through and God revealed his ways and judgment to the people. Through scripture. For example when Josiah found the book of the law.
23 Then the king sent, and all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem were gathered to him. 2 And the king went up to the house of the LORD, and with him all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the priests and the prophets, all the people, both small and great. And he read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant that had been found in the house of the LORD. 3 And the king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people joined in the covenant. (2 Ki 23:1–3)
When they read the law and listened to what it said they were rejoined in covenant with the LORD.
Story of Jesus
The apostles gave a similar role to Jesus. Jesus, the son of God makes the Father known.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’ ”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known. (Jn 1:14–18)
This is not a diversion like Absalom. By going to him you are going to the true king and judge. Dont let anyone get in the way.
Copyright © Joshua Washington and thescripturesays, 2014. All Rights Reserved.
