Beloved, I am glad to share with you today a theme from 2 Sam 14:5-11. Indeed, we could consider the terms corruption and violence to summarize chapters 11 and 13. And since the beginning of Genesis, these are the characters of the world; they have not changed. But what a terrible thing when these characters manifest themselves in the family of the man of God! He had given rise to these two forms of evil by taking Bathsheba and ordering the death of Uriah. Now they are breaking into his house. For until the end of his story, David will experience bitterly that “what a man sows is also what he will reap” (Gal 6:7-10).
Indeed, Amnon is dead. On Joab’s intervention, Absalom, his brother’s murderer, returns to Jerusalem. But we see in him no regret, no feeling of humiliation. Cunning, pride, ambition, lack of piety and natural affection, this is what we find in this man, and the rest of his story will make this portrait even darker: Absalom is a man whose moral state is far from responding to his physical beauty. How can such a sad character be the son of the beloved king? Unfortunately, however, this is the case. For we do not inherit the faith of our parents; you have to own it for yourself. 2 Timothy 3:1-5 brings us sad proof that there can also be Absalom in Christian families.
In our account, David is no longer the type of Christ, but rather represents the restored residue, going through the tribulation under the guilt of the death of the Righteous. However, all of David’s experiences in these chapters are also of immediate application to us, because placed like him in a position of responsibility, we are objects of discipline like him. We’ve already noticed that Joab never does something that isn’t useful to him. For if he has embraced David’s cause, it is not out of affection, although he shows a certain attachment to his master, but because he considers David’s party most suitable to satisfy his ambitious views. They did not go as far as royalty; he was wise enough to know that access to the throne was closed to him; his ambition was limited to being a generalissimo, minister of war, adviser to the king. If any obstacle to his designs stood before him, he was quick to overcome it, and a crime did not stop him.
Above all, Joab sought to make himself indispensable. The best way was to be a servant of the king’s weaknesses. When David gets rid of Uriah by handing him over to Joab, the latter has no word of reproach; he acts without hesitation. David guilty has gained a discreet accomplice, but who, by his very discretion, has become his master. The king’s reputation now depends on Joab. Only the plans of the latter are thwarted by divine intervention. God speaks, David admits guilt; leprosy, instead of remaining hidden, is publicly manifested and recognized in humiliation and tears, not only before God, but before men.
Absalom was a murderer; the law of Jehovah did not allow David to languish after him. For the murderer fell into the hands of the avenger of blood, and the atonement could only be made by the blood of the one who had shed it (Nb 35:33). David had shown it for Amalekite, for Baana and Recab. Absalom, returning from voluntary exile, the sentence was to be carried out. To spare him was to add disobedience to a transgression. Marrying Maaca, daughter of Talmai, king of Gueshur (Absalom had taken refuge with his grandfather), was a transgression of David. Talmai was one of the Canaanite kings spared the infidelity of the people (Jos. 13:2-3); all marriage to them was forbidden in Israel (Ex 34:15-16). Long before this prohibition was pronounced, Abraham’s spiritual sense had made it a law for him (Gen 24:3). For David had used sovereign power to break this ordinance, instead of obeying the law.
And Joab had the audacity, to accomplish this machination, to vouch for God’s thoughts to the king: “God has not taken his life, but he has the thought that he who is driven out no longer remains driven away from him!” In all this David was excusable, no doubt if we think of a father’s natural feelings for his son, but guilty as a servant of God. The Lord had designated to him, through the mouth of the prophet, the one of his sons on whom his choice was based; it was Solomon, son of Bathsheba, whom God had called “Jedidia, the beloved of the Lord.” Joab realized that David’s heart was secretly caressing, perhaps without admitting it clearly to himself, the thought of having Absalom as his successor.
Between God’s positive word and Joab’s self-serving insinuations, could the king hesitate? He should have understood that Absalom, for all his external advantages, although he was a more handsome and perhaps just as imposing man as Saul, could not be the man of God’s counsel. He had seen his brother Eliab, of whom even a Samuel thought, “Certainly the anointed of the Lord is before him,” set aside, despite his beautiful appearance, to make room for him, the poor sheep keeper. It is a serious thing to let ourselves be led by our natural affections, however legitimate they may be, and not by the spiritual judgment that God has given us.
It is certainly not that at that time everything was only weakness in the beloved king. There was in his heart a divine rope that was never vibrated in vain. Joab knows this well and does not fail to use it. The call to grace always resonated with David; the Tekohite comes to plead for grace, with him. The king yields, forgetting that grace is not the only one in question; God is also a just God, and one cannot exalt His grace at the expense of His righteousness. Yielding to his paternal love, he did not sufficiently discern the work of the enemy, although it could not escape him entirely: “Isn’t Joab’s hand with you in all this?” The woman confesses, “Joab did this”; and the king said to Joab, “Behold, I have done this.” He now takes responsibility for what Joab wanted to do. The enemy, Absalom, is received in Jerusalem, and what an enemy!
In Absalom, Joab found his master. God allows all these things. He has already used the tricks, skill, wickedness, cruelty of Joab, to accomplish his purposes; he will use Absalom for the same purpose, and his ways will ultimately only be thanks to David. But Joab is forced to obey the one he thought he dominated. He will not forget it. Absalom has become an obstacle to his views, a power he can no longer rely on and turning against him. When the time is right, Joab will kill Absalom.
The following verses have been compiled for your edification and grouped together for your better understanding.
Absalom’s return to Jerusalem:
- Wise women, wisdom and virtue
Pr 11:16 A woman who has grace obtains glory, and those who have strength obtain wealth. Pr 12:4 A virtuous woman is the crown of her husband, but the one who shames is like the decay in her bones. Pr 14:1 The wise woman builds her house, and the foolish woman overthrows it with her own hands. Pr 31:10, 30 Who can find a virtuous woman? It is much more valuable than pearls. 30 Grace is deceiving, and beauty is vain; The woman who fears the Lord is the one who will be praised.
- Prostrate
Gen 37:7 We were tying wreaths in the middle of the fields; and behold, my sheaf rose and stood, and your sheaves surrounded it and prostrated itself before it. Gen 43:28 They answered: Your servant, our father, is healthy; he still lives. And they bowed and prostrated. Ex 18:7 Moses came out in front of his father-in-law, prostrated himself, and he fucked him. They inquired about each other’s health, and they entered Moses’ tent. 2 Sam 15:5 And when someone approached to prostrate himself before him, he would reach out to him, grab him, and kiss him. Isa 49:23 Kings shall be your nurturers, and their princesses your nannies; They will bow down before you face down, and they will lick the dust from your feet, And you will know that I am the Lord, and that those who hope in me will not be confused. Mt 2:11 They entered the house, saw the little child with Mary, his mother, prostrated and worshipped him; they then opened their treasures, and offered him gold, incense, and myrrh as a present. Luke 8:41 And behold, there came a man, named Jairus, who was the head of the synagogue. He threw himself at his feet, and begged him to enter his house,
- Widows’ own suffering
Rt 1:3 Elimelek, Naomi’s husband, died, and she remained with her two sons. 1 Kings 17:9 Get up, go to Sarepta, who belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I ordered a widowed woman to feed you. 2 Kings 4:1 A woman among the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord; but the creditor came to take my two children and make them his slaves. Mk 12:42 There also came a poor widow, she put two small pieces in it, making a quarter of a penny. Lk 2:37 Remaining a widow, and aged eighty-four, she did not leave the temple, and she served God night and day in fasting and prayer. Lk 7:12 When he was near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man, the only son of his mother, who was a widow, was carried to earth; and there were many people of the city with her.
- Avenger of blood
Nb 35:19 The avenger of blood will cause the murderer to die; when he meets him, he will kill him. Dt 19:12 the elders of his city will send him to seize and deliver him into the hands of the avenger of blood, so that he may die. Jos 20:3 where the murderer who kills someone involuntarily, without intent, can flee; they will serve as a refuge for you from the avenger of blood. 2 Sam 3:27 When Abner was back in Hebron, Joab pulled him away in the middle of the door, as if to speak to him in secret, and there he hit him in the stomach and killed him, to avenge the death of Asael, his brother.
From all the above, we note that these facts should have imposed silence on David’s affections; but Joab watches, interested that the king does not follow the simple path of obedience. “Joab, son of Tseruja, realized that the king’s heart was for Absalom.” He is not a man not to take advantage of it and prepares an unworthy plot, to get David to recall the fugitive to Jerusalem. The words he puts in the mouth of the tekohite woman lead to Joab’s ulterior motive that David might designate Absalom as his successor: “They said: Deliver him who struck his brother, that … we also destroyed the heir. “Why did you think so against God’s people?” The man who wants to exterminate me and my son together from God’s inheritance.” In truth, we can see in the words of this woman, that Joab had the thought of arranging for the future a position with Absalom, who would certainly be grateful to him for having brought him back to court. It is better to choose compassion over revenge. Our prayers are with you all.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite every person who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me the following prayer:
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I admit to having sinned against you and ask your forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as Lord and personal Savior. I recognize that you died on the cross of Calvary and rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me every day to the eternal life that you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal yourself to me and strengthen my heart and faith, so that your light may shine in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus for accepting me into your divine family, so that I may also contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby waterpoint to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All adoration, power and glory are yours, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be happy to respond to any questions and comments you may have, before sharing with you tomorrow “the wasted vineyard.”
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you abundantly.
David Feze, Servant of the Almighty God.