David and Absalom

The story of Absalom is a classic and contains much that gives us insight concerning the religious tare. Absalom was the son of the daughter of a Gentile king.

And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; (II Samuel 3:3)

Israel did not drive out the Geshurites as they should have. They did not persevere with God long enough to gain total victory. Then King David added to the confusion by marrying a Geshurite. The result of the marriage was Absalom and Adonijah, both rebels against the will of God.

Nevertheless the children of Israel expelled not the Geshurites, nor the Maachathites: but the Geshurites and the Maachathites dwell among the Israelites until this day. (Joshua 13:13) Absalom was a long-range planner, a schemer.

And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose they have slain all the young men the king’s sons; for Amnon only is dead: for by the appointment of Absalom this hath been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar. (II Samuel 13:32)

Absalom did not react immediately to the rape of Tamar but began making his plans to avenge his sister. Absalom was an attractive individual.

But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him. (II Samuel 14:25)

In outward appearance he was as the Bride of the Lamb—without spot or wrinkle or blemish of any kind. Absalom vaunted himself. It was not the Lord who gave him a position of honor.

And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him. (II Samuel 15:1) Because Absalom was personally ambitious, because he did not seek the Lord, because he saw no fault in himself, because he lacked understanding, and because he was proud, Absalom soon found himself scheming against one of the most distinguished of God’s rulers—his own father, King David. David is honoured to this day. He that does the will of God abides forever. Absalom is a symbol of envy, of supplanting, a man without honour.

And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel. And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee. (II Samuel 15:2,3) While David was waiting on the Lord, Absalom was waiting on the people. This always is a distinction between the wheat and the tares. The one looks to the invisible God. The other seeks honour in the sight of the visible people and circumstances.

As we have said, Absalom was a planner, a schemer. This worshiper of his own belly spoke good words and fair speeches to the naive, unsuspecting Israelites for forty (possibly, four) years. Think of it! The sons of the Kingdom of God are open—almost childish in what they do. They love the Lord and have nothing to hide. The sons of the wicked one are often closed in personality, scheming how they may supplant those whom God has exalted.

And it came to pass after forty (possibly, four) years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the Lord, in Hebron. (II Samuel 15:7)

Absalom did not listen to God, he did not admit to personal fault, and he was ambitious to be first in the kingdom. But his greatest problem may have been his lack of understanding.

Like Korah, Absalom must have been blind to reality. It was obvious David was God’s man. From the time David killed Goliath the Lord blessed David in all that he did. David heard from God, obeyed God, and God exalted David. To David were given numerous psalms—psalms that have been a strength to multitudes upon unnumbered multitudes of people—Jews and Gentiles alike.

Why couldn’t Absalom see that David was God’s man? Did Absalom think he could supplant David and that God then would accept Absalom as king? Did Absalom suppose he then would have the Spirit of Christ and write prophetic psalms?

Like all the religious tares, Absalom desired to be preeminent in the house of God. But it is obvious Absalom had no understanding of God whatever. Absalom did not know the Lord and the Lord did not know Absalom.

The Lord’s people tend to be like sheep. They cannot see the difference between Korah and Moses; between Absalom and David; until the conflict is over and someone interprets history for them.

And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were called; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not any thing. (II Samuel 15:11) Absalom was so anxious to exalt his name that he had a pillar made, saying he had no son to carry on his name. The truth is Absalom had three sons and one daughter.

Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which is in the king’s dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name: and it is called unto this day, Absalom’s place. (II Samuel 18:18) And unto Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter, whose name was Tamar: she was a woman of a fair countenance. (II Samuel 14:27) Absalom got entangled in a tree and was killed by Joab. Instead of attaining honour he attained disgrace and contempt, as is true of all tares in the end.

And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son! (II Samuel 18:33) David was like the rest of us. When God separates the wicked from us we weep and mourn over them. The best thing we can do is to avoid them and walk with God. All the wicked do is cause trouble! trouble! trouble! Would we weep over those who are willing to crucify Christ so they can exalt themselves?

It is one matter to show kindness to the unsaved in the hope that God will bring them to repentance. It is another matter to maintain friendship with someone who claims to be a believer but by his self-will and desire to be preeminent brings division, destruction, and grief. It is neither kindly or godly to leave such with the impression that God is pleased with them. The way to show love to them is to avoid them, thus revealing to them that we do not consider them to be part of us. To continue to fellowship with them is only self-love on our part.

In that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends. For thou hast declared this day, that thou regardest neither princes nor servants: for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well. (II Samuel 19:6) Absalom’s younger brother walked in his steps.

Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. (I Kings 1:5)

The Absaloms manage to infect others. A little leaven leavens the whole ball of dough. Let us cease weeping over the tares and get on with the business of the Kingdom of God.

Let us seek to please God. The Absaloms are certain they are righteous and yet they have no knowledge of the Lord. God’s people are often undiscerning when it comes to spiritual matters and will follow Absalom just as quickly as they will David. If we would keep from being deceived in this manner we must walk closely to the Lord Jesus and purge ourselves from personal ambition, hardness of heart, and pride. Otherwise we too may become an Absalom or a follower of Absalom.

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