When we refuse to deal with life as it is dealt to us, we usually aren’t very well prepared to face other challenges that come our way; which, chances are, will occur. Absalom was special to David. But because of his mistreatment by his father, Absalom chose to strike out at him by stealing the hearts of the people and then removing David from the throne. Absalom was clearly a man who wasn’t afraid to attempt to accomplish the large things in life.
But, as we know from the Scriptures, this event is a direct result of David’s personal rejection of his son. King David, though, chooses to simply leave town when Absalom comes against him. I’ve thought this over a bit and here’s what I’ve concluded.
What were David’s alternatives in this?
1. Call for his soldiers and enact a civil war against Absalom? The result? Most likely, many lives would have been lost, including his son and maybe David’s own life.
2. Pack up and move out. By choosing to pack up and move out of the palace, David may have been planning to defeat Absalom in some other way than merely a physical fight. Haven’t you found that you’ve been tempted to answer those who oppose you with “war”? Aren’t we all tempted to fight with the weapons of physical and emotional and mental warfare when we are confronted with life’s challenges? Yet, maybe David’s strategy was a wiser one. After all was said and done, David’s life was spared and Absalom’s life was taken. And David was returned to power.
3. As an armchair general, I think David should have gone directly to see Absalom and deal with him as a father with a son. Why let an opportunity go by when it’s right in front of you? Had David fathered Absalom during this entire ordeal, I believe he would have saved his son’s life. Instead, he loves his son from afar.
Here’s what the great Adam Clarke, the Bible commentator, said this about David during this very great challenge to his person and his throne. “Behold, a king, the greatest that ever lived, a profound politician, an able general, a brave soldier, a poet of the most sublime genius and character, a prophet of the Most High God, and the deliverer of his country, driven from his dominions by his own son, abandoned by his fickle people, and for a time even by his God.” [Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible; II Samuel 15:37]
From all we know from all we’ve read about King David in both I and II Samuel, you would not have expected David to simply roll over and let Absalom usurp his throne. Yet this appears to be exactly what David did.
And this sounds strangely similar to what Jesus experienced. He too was a king, the greatest king; even the King of Kings. More than a politician, Jesus was a statesman with true godly character. Jesus was also both a very capable soldier and an able general; Someone Who did indeed lead His people to supreme victory at Calvary. And Jesus was a prophet, the Voice of God. Yet, one day in Jerusalem, Jesus was also driven from His dominions and then abandoned by the fickle Jews Who worshipped Him on Palm Sunday. And even on the Cross we hear Jesus say “Eli, Eli, Why hast Thou forsaken Me?” (Matt. 27:46).
But, as we know from the Scriptures, this event is a direct result of David’s personal rejection of his son. King David, though, chooses to simply leave town when Absalom comes against him. I’ve thought this over a bit and here’s what I’ve concluded.
What were David’s alternatives in this?
1. Call for his soldiers and enact a civil war against Absalom? The result? Most likely, many lives would have been lost, including his son and maybe David’s own life.
2. Pack up and move out. By choosing to pack up and move out of the palace, David may have been planning to defeat Absalom in some other way than merely a physical fight. Haven’t you found that you’ve been tempted to answer those who oppose you with “war”? Aren’t we all tempted to fight with the weapons of physical and emotional and mental warfare when we are confronted with life’s challenges? Yet, maybe David’s strategy was a wiser one. After all was said and done, David’s life was spared and Absalom’s life was taken. And David was returned to power.
3. As an armchair general, I think David should have gone directly to see Absalom and deal with him as a father with a son. Why let an opportunity go by when it’s right in front of you? Had David fathered Absalom during this entire ordeal, I believe he would have saved his son’s life. Instead, he loves his son from afar.
Here’s what the great Adam Clarke, the Bible commentator, said this about David during this very great challenge to his person and his throne. “Behold, a king, the greatest that ever lived, a profound politician, an able general, a brave soldier, a poet of the most sublime genius and character, a prophet of the Most High God, and the deliverer of his country, driven from his dominions by his own son, abandoned by his fickle people, and for a time even by his God.” [Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible; II Samuel 15:37]
From all we know from all we’ve read about King David in both I and II Samuel, you would not have expected David to simply roll over and let Absalom usurp his throne. Yet this appears to be exactly what David did.
And this sounds strangely similar to what Jesus experienced. He too was a king, the greatest king; even the King of Kings. More than a politician, Jesus was a statesman with true godly character. Jesus was also both a very capable soldier and an able general; Someone Who did indeed lead His people to supreme victory at Calvary. And Jesus was a prophet, the Voice of God. Yet, one day in Jerusalem, Jesus was also driven from His dominions and then abandoned by the fickle Jews Who worshipped Him on Palm Sunday. And even on the Cross we hear Jesus say “Eli, Eli, Why hast Thou forsaken Me?” (Matt. 27:46).