Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 18:1-33, 2 Samuel 19:1-43, Romans 5:7-8, 1 Timothy 1:12-17
I have to admit I wanted justice to be done to Absalom. I remembered how he had treated David in prior chapters. He betrayed him. Tricked him. Risen up against him. It was wrong, and Absalom needed to be punished. Even though David had given his men strict orders not to hurt him, when Joab took advantage of Absalom’s vulnerable position and killed him, I thought to myself, Well, he deserved it. It gave me the same kind of satisfaction I have when watching a movie and the good guy finally finishes off the bad guy in the end.
Of course, the Bible isn’t a movie. It’s real life. And a few verses later, I was reminded of this. When David hears of Absalom’s death, he cries out, “My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!” (2 Samuel 18:33). With those words, my sense of justice deflated and tears came to my eyes.
Absalom was David’s child. David had held him as a baby. He’d watched him grow up. He’d probably taught him to be the strong warrior he was. And though their story took a turn for the worse and reconciliation was needed, there was once a time when father and son ate meals together. They were family.
With David’s grief-stricken response to the news of his son’s death, this story of civil war becomes a story of a father losing his son—a story not unlike our own.
The hard truth is that both Absalom and I deserved the same ending. I betray God with each sin I commit. I try to manipulate His will. I go my own way, as if I am the king of my life and He is not.
This is true of all of us. But this is also true: “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). This is what changed the ending for us. We were headed toward a sure death due to our own sin, but God in His kindness sent His Son to die in our stead, so that we could be reconciled to our Father.
The father-son story in 2 Samuel 18 is a tragedy. David never got to reconcile with Absalom. He did not get to give his life so Absalom could live. Though our story parallels Absalom’s, our ending turns in the opposite direction. Because of Christ, we are reconciled to our Father. Because of Christ, we have victory over death. Because of Christ, Paul’s words are ours too:
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.
– 1 Timothy 1:15-16
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20 thoughts on "David’s Kingdom Restored"
❤I’m right there with you.
Today was one of those days where I debated sleeping longer and skipping reading, because I am so tired from teaching. But I’m super encouraged by the passage in 1 Timothy: “I give thanks to Him who has granted me the needed strength and made me able for this, Chiat Jesus our Lord, because he has judged and counted me faithful and trustworthy, appointing me to this stewardship of ministry.” Thankful for the place God has put me, and thankful that He is going to provide strength for me in that position!
❤️
Laura I was also encouraged by that verse his morning. Sometimes I feel so weak and unequipped to do the work God has given me. But I can do all things through Him who strengthens me!
❤I’m right there with you.
I’m finally caught up to current reading and wanted to share this Bible Project video summary of 1 & 2 Samuel. It was great for helping me put together everything we’ve read into the story arc of the gospel through Samuel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJOju5Dw0V0
Thank you so much Carrie for sharing this video. It’s exactly what I needed.
Thanks, Andrea, for bringing it back to Christ! “This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. To the king of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen!” 1 Tim 1:15-17
A lot of fuzzy details from these passages leave my head spinning a bit this morning. Trying to keep all the characters in line but they keep escaping. Sometimes the Old Testament accounts are difficult to follow. I have to go back and reread because I keep ending up with “huh?” Thank you, Andrea, for expressing the truth that I needed to remember out of all the confusion of 2 Samuel 18-19. With all the coming and going and the different characters, this : “The hard truth is that both Absalom and I deserved the same ending.” My heart sinks under the weight of that statement. And then this : “Because of Christ we are reconciled to our Father.” My spirit soars! Amazing grace. Out of these two chapters there is indeed civil war – but the civil war in my life is my selfish way vs. submission to God’s way. In my selfishness, my sin, I deserve to die. Not Absalom on a tree, but Christ on Calvary died for me. For me. Amazing grace. So undeserved. So grateful. The fuzzy made clear.
The civil war in my life! Yes!
Yes!!!! That’s my civil war too!!
Yes. The fuzzy made clear. I deserve death. But Christ. He loves me THAT MUCH! I am His treasured daughter. Oh that I would display His love in my own life so that others would see and believe. ❤️
What a difference between our earthly family relationships (David and Absalom, our parents and us, us and our children, or our brothers and sisters) and our heavenly family relationships.
Our heavenly family? Even our “small sins”, our earthly messes, nailed Jesus to the cross. But Jesus willingly died for those sins, so that we could be forgiven by His sacrifice and receive a wonderful, merciful, personal relationship with God, our loving Father! God loves us so much He sent his own Son to die for our sins…all sins. Would you send your son to die for someone else…ever? But God did just that because God loves us…He loves you…He loves me!!!! Praise God!
Wow what a powerful comparison. Thank you for bringing out the meaning in this passage, Andrea. This will be something to think on today!
More tragedy that really stems from David not leading his family well. Some sins have far more lasting consequences than others.