"O Absalom, my son, my son!" Reflect On: 2 Samuel 15:1–12 Praise God: For acting with both justice and mercy. "If only I had died instead of you," David wailed uncontrollably. The tragic story of Absalom ends with one final "if only" from the king. When the Cushite reported to David that Absalom was dead, he was shaken. If only I had loved my children enough to discipline them. But because he had neither the self-control nor the parental control to reign in his resentment and acrimony, Absalom died violently.Īnd David was forced to spend the rest of his life dealing with the agonizing "if onlys." If only I had not sinned with Bathsheba, bringing all of this treachery to my family. If only he had channeled those talents wisely! If only his father had helped him. And like an unsheltered man unwilling to acknowledge a gathering storm, David refused to see the dark clouds in his son's eyes.Ībsalom was a man overflowing with potential. For three years Absalom plotted his father's demise. Suffering from the guilt of his own sinfulness, David was unwilling to hand Absalom any semblance of justice. And what David got in exchange for his fear was a son who hated him for his powerlessness-a son who secretly resolved to overthrow him. What Absalom got was a tentative father who was unwilling to jeopardize his son's affection. And instead of seeking out Absalom and confronting him with his treachery, David "longed to go to Absalom." What Absalom needed was a father who loved him enough to deal strictly with his violence. When the trap was set, Absalom had Amnon murdered.Ībsalom did not see his father for three years. For two years Absalom seethed, plotting his revenge against his half brother. When word came to Absalom that his sister had been violated, he hated Amnon but said nothing to him. But when Tamar brought food to Amnon, he pled with her to sleep with him. Pretending to be sick, Amnon asked David to order Tamar to tend to her half brother, which he did. Because she resisted, he set a trap for her. His half brother and David's oldest son, Amnon, was in love with her and tried to seduce her. Imagine this.Ībsalom had a sister, Tamar, by his mother, Maacah. Absalom's father's sinfulness and the confusion of living in a home with David's multiple wives and a houseful of half siblings would likely have created untold chaos.
Growing up in the palace of the king of Israel may not have been as delight as some in the kingdom may have envisioned. Throughout his life, his bitter heart became a caldron of hatred and death. People were drawn toward him.īut Absalom was also a vicious conniver. Brimming with gifts and natural abilities, he was a natural-born leader. Key Scriptures: 2 Samuel 13-15 A Look at the ManĪbsalom was a very special young man. His triumph: For a time, Absalom was successful in gathering support against his father's reign. His sorrow: When Absalom's sister was raped by his oldest half brother, Absalom began a life of anger, rebellion, and revenge. His character: Absalom's remarkable assets of good looks and diplomacy became great liabilities, leading to his untimely death. His work: David's third son, Absalom, was a brilliant military and political strategist.
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