2 Samuel 17:24-18:33
I would like to start my
message today with a parable. I will call it the parable of the kudzu vine. It
is a story that actually happened this week across the street from our house.
I’d noticed kudzu growing in that area for some time, but this year I realized
that it was actually killing a large tree by taking over a huge area of its
topmost branches and blocking the sunlight from the tree. I traced where the
vine came out of the ground in two places, and I cut it just above ground
level. It was very simple, really. Within a couple of days, all the growth at
the top of the tree had withered, and by the end of the week it was hardly
noticeable anymore. Cutting the vine at the right places had dramatically taken
care of the problem for that tree.
You can probably guess the
spiritual application. How do we deal with sin in our lives – or indeed with
any issue that we would like to transform? Too often we look at what is readily
apparent and try to do something about that. But that is about as
straightforward and effective as if I had tried to climb the tree and pull off
each kudzu leaf. Not only would that have been an impossible task, but the
leaves would have immediately re-sprouted. I needed to cut it off at its root.
We need to be careful to identify the root in dealing with any problem. Why do we react to things the way that we do? There is no use just trying to change the behavior; we need to dig deeper and examine past experiences that first put us on a certain path: choices that we made, things that other people did to us. Sometimes we have to go way back, even to previous generations. Why are we the way that we are? God wants to bring deep healing and forgiveness and transformation, if we are willing to go to the root. A surface treatment is not enough. It will be like picking the leaves off of a kudzu plant. It will just regrow.
As we have studied the
situation with David’s family in 2 Samuel, we have seen how he lost control of
his sons. He lost their respect. It resulted in much conflict and heartache. As
great a leader as he was, as much as he was a man after God’s own heart, David
was not effective at dealing with these issues. It was like he was standing on
the ground looking at a kudzu vine taking over the top of a tree. How could he
possibly pull down such a vine?
Was he willing to go to
the root? We don’t know all that was in his heart. We saw how his sin with
Bathsheba grew out of a sense of power and entitlement that led him to take
what he wanted. That led to Amnon taking what he wanted, in his violation of
Tamar and to Absalom taking what he wanted, even the kingdom itself. It is not
recorded that David made the connection with his own lust, but we will see how
this pattern carried on even after he was dead, such as when Solomon took
hundreds of foreign wives, who led him away from the Lord. Feeding our own
desires is at the root of much of our sin.
We are currently in the
middle of the story of Absalom’s revolt. Absalom had killed Amnon because of what
Amnon did to Tamar. Absalom then fled to Geshur, to stay with his mother’s
family. David longed to see him again but had a hard time requesting or
permitting his return, until Joab sent the “wise woman” to get David to face up
to the situation. That was back in chapter 14. Absalom returned to Jerusalem,
but David is still torn about actually seeing him. He is not willing to go to
the root of the issues with Absalom. Their relationship remains distant, even
after they come face to face again. David is somehow not able to offer the same
forgiveness and reconciliation that he personally has received from God.
Absalom, therefore, sees
the opportunity to take advantage of his father’s weakness and build up his own
political power. He “stole the hearts of the people of Israel,” as it says in
chapter 15, by being approachable and listening to them. Had David lost his own
connection with the people? Was he not hearing their claims and giving them
justice? It’s not clear from the text. But in any case, David once again does
not confront Absalom to find out what is really going on. As Absalom’s
rebellion takes shape, David’s response is to run away. His only resistance is
to send Hushai to try to frustrate the advice of Ahithophel, the royal
counselor who had sided with Absalom.
Ahithophel is an
interesting character. He was blessed with an unusual ability to give wise
advice, “like that of one who inquires of God,” we read at the end of chapter
16. In last week’s message, Jonathan mentioned the possibility that Ahithophel
was Bathsheba’s grandfather and may have harbored resentment against David for taking
his granddaughter the way he did. In any case, he betrayed David, foreshadowing
the betrayal of Jesus by Judas. And the result was the same, with both
Ahithophel and Judas dying of suicide. Ahithophel had a gift from God that he
misused, and it led to his own destruction. He gave Absalom shrewd advice that
could have led to a quick victory over David. But Hushai’s recommendation to
delay action prevailed. Verse 14 of chapter 17 states that “the Lord had
determined to frustrate the good advice of Ahithophel in order to being
disaster on Absalom.” Ahithophel could not stand the shame of being
contradicted, so he went home and hanged himself. And on that sad note, we come
to today’s passage, beginning with 2 Samuel 17:24.
David went to
Mahanaim, and Absalom crossed the Jordan with all the men of Israel. Absalom
had appointed Amasa over the army in place of Joab. Amasa was the son of
Jether, an Ishmaelite who had married Abigail, the daughter of Nahash and
sister of Zeruiah the mother of Joab. The Israelites and Absalom camped in the
land of Gilead.
When David came to
Mahanaim, Shobi son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites, and
Makir son of Ammiel from Lo Debar, and Barzillai the
Gileadite from Rogelim brought bedding and bowls and articles of pottery.
They also brought wheat and barley, flour and roasted grain, beans and lentils,
honey and curds, sheep, and cheese from cows’ milk for David and his people to
eat. For they said, “The people have become exhausted and hungry and
thirsty in the wilderness.” – 2 Samuel 17:24-29
Absalom’s delay allowed
David and his followers to escape across the Jordan and reach the city of
Mahanaim. There is a certain irony in his going there as that is where Abner had
established Ishbosheth as the king of Israel in his attempt to carry on Saul’s
dynasty. Even earlier, as recorded in Genesis 32, it was in Mahanaim that David’s
ancestor Jacob had divided his company into two groups in response to his
brother Esau’s approach. So over its history this town was marked by fear of
confrontation.
Absalom approached and
camped nearby. The commander of his army was Amasa, who was a cousin of Joab,
the commander of David’s army. Both men were therefore David’s nephews.
In reaching Mahanaim,
David also reached sustenance, provided by Shobi, Makir, and Barzillai, and
listed here in considerable detail. Food was indeed an important resource. David
and his army were strengthened for what lay ahead. Then our narrative continues
in chapter 18:
David mustered the men
who were with him and appointed over them commanders of thousands and
commanders of hundreds. David sent out his troops, a third under the
command of Joab, a third under Joab’s brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, and
a third under Ittai the Gittite. The king told the troops, “I myself will
surely march out with you.”
But the men said, “You
must not go out; if we are forced to flee, they won’t care about us. Even if
half of us die, they won’t care; but you are worth ten thousand of us. It
would be better now for you to give us support from the city.”
The king answered, “I
will do whatever seems best to you.”
So the king stood
beside the gate while all his men marched out in units of hundreds and of
thousands. The king commanded Joab, Abishai and Ittai, “Be gentle with the
young man Absalom for my sake.” And all the troops heard the king giving orders
concerning Absalom to each of the commanders. – 2 Samuel 18:1-5
David offered to lead his
troops, but his commanders realized how risky that would be. Absalom merely
needed David dead to have a legitimate claim to the throne as his oldest
remaining son. David would be the main target of whatever attack might come. It
would be much safer for him to remain in the city. At the same time, David was
concerned for the life of Absalom and wanted his men to capture him alive, if
possible.
David’s army marched
out of the city to fight Israel, and the battle took place in the
forest of Ephraim. There Israel’s troops were routed by David’s men, and
the casualties that day were great—twenty thousand men. The
battle spread out over the whole countryside, and the forest swallowed up more
men that day than the sword. – 2 Samuel 18:6-8
The forest of Ephraim,
where this battle took place, seems to be on the eastern side of the Jordan.
The tribe of Ephraim must have had some claim to this area, despite it not
being within their traditional territory. David’s army quickly got the upper
hand, perhaps through being better prepared and provisioned. The forest itself
must have held some dangers, as men got lost or injured themselves in the rout.
Now Absalom happened to
meet David’s men. He was riding his mule, and as the mule went under the thick
branches of a large oak, Absalom’s hair got caught in the tree. He was
left hanging in midair, while the mule he was riding kept on going.
When one of the men saw what had
happened, he told Joab, “I just saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree.”
Joab said to the man
who had told him this, “What! You saw him? Why didn’t you strike him to
the ground right there? Then I would have had to give you ten shekels of silver
and a warrior’s belt.” – 2 Samuel 18:9-11
Absalom’s magnificent hair
was his undoing, catching in the tree and leaving him hanging and vulnerable.
Joab clearly had no intention of following David’s directive to deal gently
with Absalom. He already had in mind a reward for the man who killed him.
But the man replied,
“Even if a thousand shekels were weighed out into my hands, I would not lay a
hand on the king’s son. In our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and
Ittai, ‘Protect the young man Absalom for my sake.’ And if I had put my life in
jeopardy—and nothing is hidden from the king—you would have kept your distance
from me.”
Joab said, “I’m
not going to wait like this for you.” So he took three javelins in his hand and
plunged them into Absalom’s heart while Absalom was still alive in the oak
tree. And ten of Joab’s armor-bearers surrounded Absalom, struck him and killed
him. – 2 Samuel 18:12-15
The man does not believe
that Joab would have defended him before David for killing Absalom. He knew how
much David loved his rebellious son. But Joab has no qualms about killing
anyone, so he took care of it himself, with his armor-bearers finishing the
dreadful job. Joab was a powerful man in Israel, doing what he thought was
best, without much regard even for the king. You will recall how he had earlier
murdered Abner against David’s wishes. His blood-thirsty ways would catch up
with him in the end, however, and he would be executed by King Solomon. David
wanted justice against Joab but could not bring himself to carry it out. In the
current situation, with the killing of Absalom, Joab could claim that he was
justified in striking down an enemy in battle, but he shamed David in the
process by not heeding his command to deal gently with Absalom.
Then Joab sounded
the trumpet, and the troops stopped pursuing Israel, for Joab halted them. They
took Absalom, threw him into a big pit in the forest and piled up a large
heap of rocks over him. Meanwhile, all the Israelites fled to their homes.
During his lifetime Absalom
had taken a pillar and erected it in the King’s Valley as a
monument to himself, for he thought, “I have no son to carry on the
memory of my name.” He named the pillar after himself, and it is called
Absalom’s Monument to this day. – 2 Samuel 18:16-18
There is still a monument
in the Kidron Valley, between Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives that is called
Absalom’s Pillar or Absalom’s Tomb. However, it is unlikely to be either of
those in reality, since its style dates from the first century, and our text
indicates that Absalom was buried on the far side of the Jordan. The large heap
of rocks in the forest was a tragic monument to this man who had so much
potential but who never quite fit in. He thought he could create honor for
himself by erecting a pillar near Jerusalem, but for centuries passersby would
throw stones at what was identified as his monument, and parents of unruly
children would bring them to the site to teach them a lesson about what
happened to a rebellious son.
Now Ahimaaz son of
Zadok said, “Let me run and take the news to the king that
the Lord has vindicated him by delivering him from the hand of his
enemies.”
“You are not the one to
take the news today,” Joab told him. “You may take the news another time, but
you must not do so today, because the king’s son is dead.”
Then Joab said to a
Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” The Cushite bowed down before
Joab and ran off.
Ahimaaz son of Zadok
again said to Joab, “Come what may, please let me run behind the Cushite.”
But Joab replied, “My
son, why do you want to go? You don’t have any news that will bring you a
reward.”
He said, “Come what may, I want to run.”
So Joab said, “Run!”
Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain and outran the Cushite. – 2 Samuel
18:19-23
Ahimaaz was the son of
Zadok the priest and would become high priest after him during the reign of
Solomon. David had already recruited him and his brother Jonathan to bring
information about Absalom in Jerusalem. Now he wanted to run with this news of
Absalom’s death, but Joab realized that this would not gain Ahimaaz favor in
the eyes of the king. So Joab tells a Cushite, a foreigner from Africa, to go
instead. But Ahimaaz insists on going anyway.
While David was sitting
between the inner and outer gates, the watchman went up to the roof of the
gateway by the wall. As he looked out, he saw a man running alone. The watchman
called out to the king and reported it.
The king said, “If he
is alone, he must have good news.” And the runner came closer and closer.
Then the watchman saw another runner,
and he called down to the gatekeeper, “Look, another man running alone!”
The king said, “He must
be bringing good news, too.”
The watchman said, “It seems to me that
the first one runs like Ahimaaz son of Zadok.”
“He’s a good man,” the
king said. “He comes with good news.” – 2 Samuel 18:24-27
There is something
poignant here about David desperately waiting for good news. He wanted Absalom
safe but not victorious. A flood of people running back would have meant that
Absalom had routed his army. But just two individuals running might be bringing
important news of success in the battle. David was hoping against hope that
Absalom was still okay.
Then Ahimaaz called out
to the king, “All is well!” He bowed down before the king with his face to the
ground and said, “Praise be to the Lord your God! He has delivered up
those who lifted their hands against my lord the king.”
The king asked, “Is the
young man Absalom safe?”
Ahimaaz answered, “I
saw great confusion just as Joab was about to send the king’s servant and me,
your servant, but I don’t know what it was.” – 2 Samuel 18:28-29
On arriving first, Ahimaaz
loses his nerve and will not break the sad news to the king. He is eager to
tell David the good news that his kingdom has been saved from the rebellion,
but he pretends not to know what has happened to Absalom.
The king said, “Stand
aside and wait here.” So he stepped aside and stood there.
Then the Cushite
arrived and said, “My lord the king, hear the good news! The Lord has
vindicated you today by delivering you from the hand of all who rose up against
you.”
The king asked the
Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom safe?”
The Cushite replied,
“May the enemies of my lord the king and all who rise up to harm you be like
that young man.” – 2 Samuel 18:30-32
The Cushite also gives
glory to God for rescuing the king. But David is fixated on the wellbeing of
his son. How was Absalom? The Cushite makes it clear that the young man is
dead.
The king was shaken. He
went up to the room over the gateway and wept. As he went, he said: “O my son
Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you—O
Absalom, my son, my son! – 2 Samuel 18:33
David was completely
broken up by the death of Absalom. He does not care that Absalom had treated
him so shamefully, wanting to kill him and take his kingdom by force. Why did
David feel this loss so deeply? Why would he have wanted to die instead of his
son? There is a huge amount of regret in this relationship. David is mourning
for his own failure. He had failed to protect Absalom’s sister, hardly even
acknowledging the crime committed against her by Amnon. He did nothing to
prevent Absalom taking Amnon’s blood on his hands. And he did not take the
initiative to truly reconcile with Absalom when he returned from Geshur. When
Absalom finally appears before him at that time, he kisses him – but David does
not say anything, at least that we have recorded for us. What a difference a
word of forgiveness and acceptance in that moment might have made! David missed
this opportunity to start rebuilding the relationship.
We can only speculate as
to why David seemed so ineffective in leading his children into a right
relationship with God and with each other. Perhaps he felt that his own
failures disqualified him from exhorting them into ways of truth and humility.
It all comes to a head here with the loss of Absalom. Oh Absalom, my son, my
son! David is grieving for lost opportunities to make things right.
We each make choices every
day in how we will relate to others. All we have is today. We cannot change the
past, though it is important, as I said, to go back and discern the reasons for
the ways we behave and the root causes of the issues that we face right now.
And the future is so uncertain, especially now with the world in turmoil for
various reasons. We never know how much time we or others will have left on
earth.
The apostles and many
other figures in the Bible lived with a sense of how temporary their lives were
and how they needed to seize the moment in fulfilling God’s purposes for them.
Peter exhorts believers in 2 Peter 1:
For this very reason,
make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and
to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to
perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual
affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they
will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of
our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and
blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. – 2 Peter
1:5-9
We have the advantage over
David of a personal knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ and a real experience of
his grace that cleanses us from sin as we look to him in faith. But we need to
add these other qualities to make us effective in sharing our faith with
others: goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual
affection, and love. In the Greek these last two are philadelphia (brotherly love, translated in the NIV as mutual
affection) and agape (unconditional
love, exemplified by God). Peter had pointed out the importance of agape love in
chapter 4 of his first letter: “Love each other deeply, because love covers
over a multitude of sins.” This kind of love is our only hope in challenging,
difficult relationships; that is why it’s the ultimate quality in this list. Skipping
down to verse 12 of that same chapter,
So I will always remind
you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established
in the truth you now have. I think it is right to
refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, because I
know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made
clear to me. And I will make every effort to see that after my
departure you will always be able to remember these things. – 2 Peter
1:12-15
Peter wanted to make the
most of the time he had and focus on what was most important. Today is the day
of salvation. Tomorrow may be too late to do anything. Today is all we have to
capitalize on the opportunities that God has given us to heal the past and choose
to love with his love. As I am writing this, I am hearing in the background the
beginning of “I Want to Live Like That” by the Sidewalk Prophets. What a
fitting prayer of commitment! I want to close with those words:
Sometimes I think
What will people say of me
When I'm only just a memory
When I'm home where my soul belongs
Was I love
When no one else would show up
Was I Jesus to the least of those
Was my worship more than just a song
I want to live like that
And give it all I have
So that everything I say and do
Points to You
If love is who I am
Then this is where I'll stand
Recklessly abandoned
Never holding back
I want to live like that
I want to live like that
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