19 Then Zadok’s son Ahimaaz said, “Let me run to the king with the good news that the Lord has rescued him from his enemies.” 20 “No,” Joab told him, “it wouldn’t be good news to the king that his son is dead. You can be my messenger another time, but not today.” 21 Then Joab said to a man from Ethiopia, “Go tell the king what you have seen.” The man bowed and ran off. 22 But Ahimaaz continued to plead with Joab, “Whatever happens, please let me go, too.” “Why should you go, my son?” Joab replied. “There will be no reward for your news.” 23 “Yes, but let me go anyway,” he begged. Joab finally said, “All right, go ahead.” So Ahimaaz took the less demanding route by way of the plain and ran to Mahanaim ahead of the Ethiopian. 24 While David was sitting between the inner and outer gates of the town, the watchman climbed to the roof of the gateway by the wall. As he looked, he saw a lone man running toward them. 25 He shouted the news down to David, and the king replied, “If he is alone, he has news.” As the messenger came closer, 26 the watchman saw another man running toward them. He shouted down, “Here comes another one!” The king replied, “He also will have news.” 27 “The first man runs like Ahimaaz son of Zadok,” the watchman said. “He is a good man and comes with good news,” the king replied. 28 Then Ahimaaz cried out to the king, “Everything is all right!” He bowed before the king with his face to the ground and said, “Praise to the Lord your God, who has handed over the rebels who dared to stand against my lord the king.” 29 “What about young Absalom?” the king demanded. “Is he all right?” Ahimaaz replied, “When Joab told me to come, there was a lot of commotion. But I didn’t know what was happening.” 30 “Wait here,” the king told him. So Ahimaaz stepped aside. 31 Then the man from Ethiopia arrived and said, “I have good news for my lord the king. Today the Lord has rescued you from all those who rebelled against you.” 32 “What about young Absalom?” the king demanded. “Is he all right?” And the Ethiopian replied, “May all of your enemies, my lord the king, both now and in the future, share the fate of that young man!” 33 The king was overcome with emotion. He went up to the room over the gateway and burst into tears. And as he went, he cried, “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you! O Absalom, my son, my son.” 19 Word soon reached Joab that the king was weeping and mourning for Absalom. 2 As all the people heard of the king’s deep grief for his son, the joy of that day’s victory was turned into deep sadness. 3 They crept back into the town that day as though they were ashamed and had deserted in battle. 4 The king covered his face with his hands and kept on crying, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!” 5 Then Joab went to the king’s room and said to him, “We saved your life today and the lives of your sons, your daughters, and your wives and concubines. Yet you act like this, making us feel ashamed of ourselves. 6 You seem to love those who hate you and hate those who love you. You have made it clear today that your commanders and troops mean nothing to you. It seems that if Absalom had lived and all of us had died, you would be pleased. 7 Now go out there and congratulate your troops, for I swear by the Lord that if you don’t go out, not a single one of them will remain here tonight. Then you will be worse off than ever before.” 8 So the king went out and took his seat at the town gate, and as the news spread throughout the town that he was there, everyone went to him. Meanwhile, the Israelites who had supported Absalom fled to their homes.

Talk about drama! A battle, the king’s son killed, messages to the king, diplomatic language, a king in mourning.

Like any parent, David’s heart still longed for his son, Absalom, despite the murder and betrayal he had been responsible for. It is such a tragic scene.

The truth was Absalom had been lost long before, and David’s actions in shutting himself away to mourn, rather than celebrating with his army, meant he was not giving honour where it was due. In the face of insurrection this could only fuel the precarious situation.

Thank God for Joab his commander. When I read about Joab’s reaction and confrontation of David, I am at first shocked at his seeming insensitivity. However Joab could think rationally when David could not, lost in his grief. Joab actually upheld David as king, as leader of Israel, by calling him to acknowledge his army and their loyalty.

Our church leaders are likewise to receive our support and encouragement in their dedication to serving the Lord. We are called to honour and uphold our pastors, who are the public face of our church on most occasions, and therefore visible targets for challenge and even attack. My role is “to have their back” – by honouring them, in the way I speak about them, by praying for them, and by serving them.

I am to be their Joab.

Dear Lord, I thank you for our leaders you have placed over us in our church, who you have called and who I honour. I pray you will give them wisdom, singularity of purpose, and strength to serve you. Amen

Written by Claire Moore

17 Now Ahithophel urged Absalom, “Let me choose 12,000 men to start out after David tonight. 2 I will catch up with him while he is weary and discouraged. He and his troops will panic, and everyone will run away. Then I will kill only the king, 3 and I will bring all the people back to you as a bride returns to her husband. After all, it is only one man’s life that you seek.[a] Then you will be at peace with all the people.” 4 This plan seemed good to Absalom and to all the elders of Israel. Hushai Counters Ahithophel’s Advice 5 But then Absalom said, “Bring in Hushai the Arkite. Let’s see what he thinks about this.” 6 When Hushai arrived, Absalom told him what Ahithophel had said. Then he asked, “What is your opinion? Should we follow Ahithophel’s advice? If not, what do you suggest?” 7 “Well,” Hushai replied to Absalom, “this time Ahithophel has made a mistake. 8 You know your father and his men; they are mighty warriors. Right now they are as enraged as a mother bear who has been robbed of her cubs. And remember that your father is an experienced man of war. He won’t be spending the night among the troops. 9 He has probably already hidden in some pit or cave. And when he comes out and attacks and a few of your men fall, there will be panic among your troops, and the word will spread that Absalom’s men are being slaughtered. 10 Then even the bravest soldiers, though they have the heart of a lion, will be paralyzed with fear. For all Israel knows what a mighty warrior your father is and how courageous his men are. 11 “I recommend that you mobilize the entire army of Israel, bringing them from as far away as Dan in the north and Beersheba in the south. That way you will have an army as numerous as the sand on the seashore. And I advise that you personally lead the troops. 12 When we find David, we’ll fall on him like dew that falls on the ground. Then neither he nor any of his men will be left alive. 13 And if David were to escape into some town, you will have all Israel there at your command. Then we can take ropes and drag the walls of the town into the nearest valley until every stone is torn down.” 14 Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “Hushai’s advice is better than Ahithophel’s.” For the Lord had determined to defeat the counsel of Ahithophel, which really was the better plan, so that he could bring disaster on Absalom! 15 Hushai told Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, what Ahithophel had said to Absalom and the elders of Israel and what he himself had advised instead. 16 “Quick!” he told them. “Find David and urge him not to stay at the shallows of the Jordan River[b] tonight. He must go across at once into the wilderness beyond. Otherwise he will die and his entire army with him.” 17 Jonathan and Ahimaaz had been staying at En-rogel so as not to be seen entering and leaving the city. Arrangements had been made for a servant girl to bring them the message they were to take to King David. 18 But a boy spotted them at En-rogel, and he told Absalom about it. So they quickly escaped to Bahurim, where a man hid them down inside a well in his courtyard. 19 The man’s wife put a cloth over the top of the well and scattered grain on it to dry in the sun; so no one suspected they were there. 20 When Absalom’s men arrived, they asked her, “Have you seen Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” The woman replied, “They were here, but they crossed over the brook.” Absalom’s men looked for them without success and returned to Jerusalem. 21 Then the two men crawled out of the well and hurried on to King David. “Quick!” they told him, “cross the Jordan tonight!” And they told him how Ahithophel had advised that he be captured and killed. 22 So David and all the people with him went across the Jordan River during the night, and they were all on the other bank before dawn. 23 When Ahithophel realized that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey, went to his hometown, set his affairs in order, and hanged himself. He died there and was buried in the family tomb. 24 David soon arrived at Mahanaim. By now, Absalom had mobilized the entire army of Israel and was leading his troops across the Jordan River. 25 Absalom had appointed Amasa as commander of his army, replacing Joab, who had been commander under David. (Amasa was Joab’s cousin. His father was Jether, an Ishmaelite. His mother, Abigail daughter of Nahash, was the sister of Joab’s mother, Zeruiah.) 26 Absalom and the Israelite army set up camp in the land of Gilead. 27 When David arrived at Mahanaim, he was warmly greeted by Shobi son of Nahash, who came from Rabbah of the Ammonites, and by Makir son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and by Barzillai of Gilead from Rogelim. 28 They brought sleeping mats, cooking pots, serving bowls, wheat and barley, flour and roasted grain, beans, lentils, 29 honey, butter, sheep, goats, and cheese for David and those who were with him. For they said, “You must all be very hungry and tired and thirsty after your long march through the wilderness.”

Matthew Henry wrote, “Be it observed, to the comfort of all that fear God, he turns all men’s hearts as the rivers of water, though they know not the thoughts of the Lord.” So much plotting and planning is going on in the courts of Absalom. Absalom has set his purpose, to kill his father David. He has placed his confidence in the advice of his ‘wise advisors’ believing that they will help him devise a plan that will achieve his outcome, bring him glory and suit his cause. Unknown to him, the plan he discounts would have brought him victory, but God frustrates Absalom’s plans through Hushai, a man positioned to support David and his cause. But God!

I read this story and am amazed to watch God at work in the unseen; God literally ‘turning men’s hearts as the rivers of water’ to achieve His outcome, bring Him glory and suit His cause. When I think of the verse ‘nothing formed against us will prevail’, I need to remember this story; remember that God is sovereign and even in the camp of the enemy he is frustrating their plans and changing their course so that his children, that’s you and me, are protected and safe. We are his children.

Am I resting today in the knowledge that he has my back, and that nothing formed against me will prevail? Help me Lord to live in this truth. Amen

Written by Rosie Walker

13 A messenger soon arrived in Jerusalem to tell David, “All Israel has joined Absalom in a conspiracy against you!” 14 “Then we must flee at once, or it will be too late!” David urged his men. “Hurry! If we get out of the city before Absalom arrives, both we and the city of Jerusalem will be spared from disaster.” 15 “We are with you,” his advisers replied. “Do what you think is best.” 16 So the king and all his household set out at once. He left no one behind except ten of his concubines to look after the palace. 17 The king and all his people set out on foot, pausing at the last house 18 to let all the king’s men move past to lead the way. There were 600 men from Gath who had come with David, along with the king’s bodyguard. 19 Then the king turned and said to Ittai, a leader of the men from Gath, “Why are you coming with us? Go on back to King Absalom, for you are a guest in Israel, a foreigner in exile. 20 You arrived only recently, and should I force you today to wander with us? I don’t even know where we will go. Go on back and take your kinsmen with you, and may the Lord show you his unfailing love and faithfulness.” 21 But Ittai said to the king, “I vow by the Lord and by your own life that I will go wherever my lord the king goes, no matter what happens—whether it means life or death.” 22 David replied, “All right, come with us.” So Ittai and all his men and their families went along. 23 Everyone cried loudly as the king and his followers passed by. They crossed the Kidron Valley and then went out toward the wilderness. 24 Zadok and all the Levites also came along, carrying the Ark of the Covenant of God. They set down the Ark of God, and Abiathar offered sacrifices until everyone had passed out of the city. 25 Then the king instructed Zadok to take the Ark of God back into the city. “If the Lord sees fit,” David said, “he will bring me back to see the Ark and the Tabernacle again. 26 But if he is through with me, then let him do what seems best to him.” 27 The king also told Zadok the priest, “Look, here is my plan. You and Abiathar should return quietly to the city with your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan. 28 I will stop at the shallows of the Jordan River and wait there for a report from you.” 29 So Zadok and Abiathar took the Ark of God back to the city and stayed there. 30 David walked up the road to the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went. His head was covered and his feet were bare as a sign of mourning. And the people who were with him covered their heads and wept as they climbed the hill. 31 When someone told David that his adviser Ahithophel was now backing Absalom, David prayed, “O Lord, let Ahithophel give Absalom foolish advice!” 32 When David reached the summit of the Mount of Olives where people worshiped God, Hushai the Arkite was waiting there for him. Hushai had torn his clothing and put dirt on his head as a sign of mourning. 33 But David told him, “If you go with me, you will only be a burden. 34 Return to Jerusalem and tell Absalom, ‘I will now be your adviser, O king, just as I was your father’s adviser in the past.’ Then you can frustrate and counter Ahithophel’s advice. 35 Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, will be there. Tell them about the plans being made in the king’s palace, 36 and they will send their sons Ahimaaz and Jonathan to tell me what is going on.” 37 So David’s friend Hushai returned to Jerusalem, getting there just as Absalom arrived.

This is a sad chapter in the life of a mighty King David. His own son, Absalom, has plotted against him and uses deception to win the hearts of the people and take the throne from his father David. It seems that he temptation for the power-hungry to become corrupt has a long history.

How does David respond to this betrayal at the hand of his son? He is a sad and broken man. He doesn’t rally his allies to defend his throne – he just retreats, weeping as he goes. Perhaps David felt that this is his judgement for his past sins of adultery and murder. Nathan the prophet had prophesied to David that his own sons would turn against him as a result of his poor behaviour. Or perhaps David just didn’t have the heart to go to battle against his own son.

At this point David places his life and his future into the hands of God. If his kingdom is taken from him, so be it.

It’s a fine balance to know when we should fight for something, and when we should let it go and trust God to fight on our behalf. When something we want is taken from us, it is a natural human response to want to fight back or avenge yourself. It takes the wisdom of the Holy Spirit to guide us as to what to do in these situations, but truly placing the outcome in the hands of God is a liberating thing.

The Lord is my shield and my strong tower and in Him I am safe. Nothing of eternal value can be taken from me.

Written by Shelley Witt

25 Now Absalom was praised as the most handsome man in all Israel. He was flawless from head to foot. 26 He cut his hair only once a year, and then only because it was so heavy. When he weighed it out, it came to five pounds![a] 27 He had three sons and one daughter. His daughter’s name was Tamar, and she was very beautiful. 28 Absalom lived in Jerusalem for two years, but he never got to see the king. 29 Then Absalom sent for Joab to ask him to intercede for him, but Joab refused to come. Absalom sent for him a second time, but again Joab refused to come. 30 So Absalom said to his servants, “Go and set fire to Joab’s barley field, the field next to mine.” So they set his field on fire, as Absalom had commanded. 31 Then Joab came to Absalom at his house and demanded, “Why did your servants set my field on fire?” 32 And Absalom replied, “Because I wanted you to ask the king why he brought me back from Geshur if he didn’t intend to see me. I might as well have stayed there. Let me see the king; if he finds me guilty of anything, then let him kill me.” 33 So Joab told the king what Absalom had said. Then at last David summoned Absalom, who came and bowed low before the king, and the king kissed him.

This is one way to get someone’s attention, though not one that I would recommend.

I imagine that Joab simply didn’t want to get involved in a family dispute. It’s too messy, or perhaps he didn’t want to be seen taking sides. Maybe he feared what David would do to him if he mentioned Absalom’s name. Would David get angry or depressed? We don’t know.

But there have been times when I didn’t want to get involved, because it was too messy or I didn’t want to take sides or some other reason, and the issue drags on far longer than it needed to.

I wish I had taken the risk and been a true friend, or even the brother I should have been. That’s what love does, it takes risks. The risk is being taken the wrong way or misunderstood. The reward? For Joab he would have kept his harvest.

Jesus loved us and took the ultimate risk. He was misunderstood and rejected. He knew that would happen yet he did it anyway, this is true love.

Jesus, I want to love others as you loved me, unconditionally and without fear of rejection. Thank you for loving me and showing me how to love others.

Written by Andrew Martin

23 Two years later, Absalom invited all the king’s sons to come to Baal Hazor. It was near the border of Ephraim. The workers who clipped the wool off Absalom’s sheep were there. 24 Absalom went to the king. He said, “I’ve had my workers come to clip the wool. Will you and your attendants please join me?” 25 “No, my son,” the king replied. “All of us shouldn’t go. It would be too much trouble for you.” Although Absalom begged him, the king still refused to go. But he gave Absalom his blessing. 26 Then Absalom said, “If you won’t come, please let my brother Amnon come with us.” The king asked him, “Why should he go with you?” 27 But Absalom begged him. So the king sent Amnon with him. He also sent the rest of his sons. 28 Absalom ordered his men, “Listen! When Amnon has had too much wine to drink, I’ll say to you, ‘Strike Amnon down.’ When I do, kill him. Don’t be afraid. I’ve given you an order, haven’t I? Be strong and brave.” 29 So Absalom’s men killed Amnon, just as Absalom had ordered. Then all the king’s sons got on their mules and rode away. 30 While they were on their way, a report came to David. It said, “Absalom has struck down all your sons. Not one of them is left alive.” 31 The king stood up and tore his clothes. Then he lay down on the ground. All his attendants stood near him. They had also torn their clothes. 32 Jonadab, the son of David’s brother Shimeah, spoke up. He said, “You shouldn’t think that all the princes have been killed. The only one who is dead is Amnon. Absalom had planned to kill him ever since the day Amnon raped his sister Tamar. 33 You are my king and master. You shouldn’t be concerned about this report. It’s not true that all your sons are dead. The only one who is dead is Amnon.” 34 While all of that was taking place, Absalom ran away. The man on guard duty at Jerusalem looked up. He saw many people coming on the road west of him. They were coming down the side of the hill. He went and spoke to the king. He said, “I see men coming down the road from Horonaim. They are coming down the side of the hill.” 35 Jonadab said to the king, “See, your sons are coming. It has happened just as I said it would.” 36 As he finished speaking, the king’s sons came in. They were weeping out loud. The king and all his attendants were also weeping very bitterly. 37 When Absalom ran away, he went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud. Talmai was king of Geshur. King David mourned many days for his son Amnon. 38 So Absalom ran away and went to Geshur. He stayed there for three years. 39 After some time the king got over his sorrow because of Amnon’s death. Then King David longed to go to Absalom.

“…The king asked him, ‘Why should he go with you?’ But Absalom urged him, so he sent with him Amnon and the rest of the king’s sons.”

It would seem to me that David’s love for his son Absalom blinded him to the plotting and dangerous intentions Absalom kept hidden. It is no easy task to discern true and false motives with someone so close to you as a family member, a loved son. But if David had been more discerning, perhaps he could have thwarted this plot.

The lessons I learn from this episode in the life of King David is – the human heart can be blindsided, especially the closer someone is to you. As a result, I need to walk closely with God who knows the motives of all, and be prepared to push for answers to my questions, especially if I am uncomfortable or unsettled by what is being planned.

I know I am called to love people – this is part of the greatest commandment. I most certainly want to love those closest to me. But I don’t want to be blind to poor decisions made with unhealthy motives. As such, I need the help, wisdom, and discernment of God and His Spirit and the courage to ask the hard questions if and when I feel they are needed.

Lord, I refuse to live in suspicion towards the people around me, but neither to do I want to be fooled. Lord, only you know all hearts, and have all wisdom. You alone can really show me the truth and best course of action in these complex moments. Lord, lead me in a walk that is close to you and courageous in asking the hard questions of people when needed.

Written by Ps. Rob Waugh