David took all of his men and appointed generals and captains over them; dividing them into three groups; and he wanted to go to battle with his troops; but they strongly objected; and he gave in and stayed behind. Now Absalom had moved the army of Israel to Gilead. So David sent his troops out to battle against Absalom. He sent three divisions, one under each of his generals; Joab, Zeruiah and Ittai; and he implored them to deal gently with his son.
2 Samuel 18:2-3 ESV And David sent out the army, one third under the command of Joab, one third under the command of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and one third under the command of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the men, "I myself will also go out with you." (3) But the men said, "You shall not go out. For if we flee, they will not care about us. If half of us die, they will not care about us. But you are worth ten thousand of us. Therefore it is better that you send us help from the city."
2 Samuel 18:5 ESV And the king ordered Joab and Abishai and Ittai, "Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom." And all the people heard when the king gave orders to all the commanders about Absalom.
The fighting started in the forest of Ephraim and David’s troops pushed back Absalom’s army; casualties were high with 20,000 men killed in the battle. More were killed because of the forest, than were killed by the sword.
2 Samuel 18:7-8 ESV And the men of Israel were defeated there by the servants of David, and the loss there was great on that day, twenty thousand men. (8) The battle spread over the face of all the country, and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword.
During the battle, Absalom broke away and encountered some of David’s men. He fled on his mule to get away. His mule went under some low oak branches and Absalom’s long wooly hair got caught in the tree branches; and he was helplessly suspended between heaven and earth. A man saw this and ran to Joab and reported what had happen. Joab said, “Why didn’t you run him through with the sword?” The man was afraid to raise his hand against the King’s son because he had heard the command not to hurt the King’s son. Joab immediately took three spears and went and ran them through Absalom’s heart. There were also ten other men who were there and they all stabbed him until he was dead. They took the dead body and threw it into a deep pit and piled a mound of rocks upon it.
2 Samuel 18:14-17 ESV Joab said, "I will not waste time like this with you." And he took three javelins in his hand and thrust them into the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the oak. (15) And ten young men, Joab's armor-bearers, surrounded Absalom and struck him and killed him. (16) Then Joab blew the trumpet, and the troops came back from pursuing Israel, for Joab restrained them. (17) And they took Absalom and threw him into a great pit in the forest and raised over him a very great heap of stones. And all Israel fled every one to his own home.
When the news came to David, he cried out in mourning; wishing it had been him instead of Absalom who was killed. When Joab came to the King and saw him mourning over his adversary, he was angered. There should have been a celebration of the victory; not the mourning over an adversary. Joab said to David, “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.” 2 Samuel 19:5-7 NLT
Joab knew that if David continued to demoralize his troops; that they would quickly turn against him. David was not thinking about how many laid down their lives to save him and his kingdom. He was not thinking about the victory and he was making his men and all of Israel, pay a price of futility for the victory. So David came out of mourning to celebrate the victory and he returned to Jerusalem to meet a people renewed in their loyalty. David met with mercy; all of those, who had misplaced their loyalties and he was restored to his throne as king over all of Israel.
2 Samuel 19:15-23 KJV So the king returned, and came to Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to conduct the king over Jordan. (16) And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, which was of Bahurim, hasted and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David. (17) And there were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went over Jordan before the king. (18) And there went over a ferry boat to carry over the king's household, and to do what he thought good. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was come over Jordan; (19) And said unto the king, Let not my lord impute iniquity unto me, neither do thou remember that which thy servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his heart. (20) For thy servant doth know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am come the first this day of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king. (21) But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD'S anointed? (22) And David said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries unto me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do not I know that I am this day king over Israel? (23) Therefore the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And the king sware unto him.
Two of the great hallmark truths of justice are the promises that 1) vengeance belongs to God and that 2) He will not be mocked.
Romans 12:19 KJV Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Galatians 6:7 KJV Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
During this great offence of Absalom; we don’t see David reacting to the circumstances. By this time, David had gone through many trials in his life. Just to name a few:
1. He was hunted like a dog by Saul
2. He lost his best friend Jonathan
3. He allowed his lust to turn into
a) Adultery
b) Conspiracy
c) Cover up
d) Murder
4. The child of his adultery died
5. His son Amnon raped his daughter Tamar
6. His son Absalom murdered his brother Amnon
7. Absalom ousted David from the throne of Israel
8. Absalom was murdered
David learned to respond in the wisdom and strength of the LORD. His heart was tried and tested. In his maturity, he became even more forgiving of his enemies. This forgiving heart only came with sin and its tragedy. It was Saul’s sin against him where it was first tested; but David would not lift his hand against the LORD’s anointed. That value was emblazoned in his heart and was more powerful that his own life or circumstances. Later David would be the aggressor against Uriah and it was a rude awaking to him of how far he fell. His response to Nathan the prophet was righteous indignation. Revealing that he was the man of sin, He quickly repented. We have Psalm 51 (David’s Prayer/Psalm of repentance after he committed adultery and murder) to show us the repentant heart of David; a Psalm that should be a part of every Christians daily repentance as we embrace the Apostle Paul’s admonition to die daily to self will.
We are in a like calling as David. We are to live for all eternity as kings in the court of the King of kings. The life of David is one to study; and thereby learn how to conquer sin and weakness and what it means to have a heart and be a man after God’s own heart.
Prayer: Heavenly Father help all of your chosen people to stay strong in the power of your might; help us to trust in you and not seek vengeance, but to freely give love and forgiveness, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Copyright © 2006, 2011 Thomas C. Blake
No comments:
Post a Comment