Tag: pride and self-promotion
A Father’s grief!
Scripture reading for March 31st: 2nd Samuel 15-18
“Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your god has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” Deuteronomy 5:16
“This is what the Lord says; ‘out of your own household I am going to bring calamity upon you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will lie with your wives in broad daylight. You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel'”.( 2nd Samuel 12:11-12)
God’s Word never returns void! King David disobeyed God’s command against adultery and although he was forgiven, he reaped what he had sown. Now Absalom chose to rebel against his own father and try to take the throne of Israel. Absalom was a master politician. He made all kinds of promises and used flattery to win the hearts of the people. (2nd Samuel 15:4-6) He secretly set himself up as king and secretly won over David’s trusted counselor, Ahithophel. He was a man full of pride and self-promotion who would do anything to gain power.
Ahithophel advised Absalom to take his father’s concubines and sleep with them in front of all Israel. This appealed to this rebel son and he willingly broke God’s commands and dishonored himself and his father, not to mention God! In doing so, he fulfilled Nathan’s word to King David after his adulterous affair. (2nd Samuel 16:20-22)
Absalom’s brief rebellion ended tragically. He was always proud of his long hair. As he was riding his mule through the forest of Ephraim in battle with his father’s men, he caught his hair on a branch and was left hanging in mid-air. He was struck down by Joab, David’s army commander.
King David lamented his son’s death and wished it had been him! His sexual sin seemed to offer such pleasure, but in reality caused death and agony! In David’s lament we hear the heart of God for all his lost children! He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but wishes for their salvation and restoration! In fact, He sent His own Son to die in our place!