2
Samuel chapter 15 describes a son’s bitterness taking root and
growing into full scale rebellion. King David lost his son’s
respect by not reacting to the sin in his very own household. His
son, Absalom, then worked diligently to undermine David’s
authority. It is tragic to think that the son might have helped his
father regain a godly perspective, but instead he worked to overthrow
him. Absalom schemed for years to win the heart of the people and
sadly the king did not notice. Absalom would get up early and stand
by the road leading to the city gate. Whenever anyone came with a
decision to be placed before the king, Absalom would call out 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“.
“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“.
Absalom became a master politician motivated by revenge, while David
was distracted from his responsibility to God and his people.
Ironically,
as Absalom was about to make his move to take over as king, David
spoke his final words to his son, “Go
in peace“.
Where is David’s discernment? We get the sense that David is not
walking closely with God. “And
so the conspiracy gained strength, and Absalom’s following kept on
increasing“.
Finally a messenger came and told David,
“The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom”.
It seems David gave up quite easily, “Come!
We must flee, or none of us will escape from Absalom. We must leave
immediately, or he will move quickly to overtake us and bring ruin
upon us and put the city to the sword.”
David still had his core of loyal supporters that had been at his
side throughout. “Your
servants are ready to do whatever our lord the king chooses.”
But we read another telling example of how far David had fallen from
God’s instruction, “but
he left ten concubines to take care of the palace“.
Perhaps this explains how David’s heart had been turned from
pleasing God first.
As
followers of Christ, we are instructed on how to deal with those in
the church who have fallen away from the faith. We are not to
overthrow them, but restore them. Galatians 6:1 Explains, “Brethren,
if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are
spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness“.
Matthew chapter 18 even describes the process: “tell
him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have
gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or
two more, that ‘by
the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
And
if he refuses to hear them, tell it
to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be
to you like a heathen and a tax collector“.
Do not forget God’s merciful motivation in the proceeding verse,
“Even
so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of
these little ones should perish”
(Matthew 18:14). In all of our relationships, let’s work to
restore, not destroy.