2 Samuel 19:18-30 - Repentance, Mercy, and Forgiveness

2 Samuel 19:18-30

18 Then a ferryboat went across to carry over the king’s household, and to do what he thought good.

David’s Mercy to Shimei

Now Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king when he had crossed the Jordan. 19 Then he said to the king, “Do not let my lord impute iniquity to me, or remember what wrong your servant did on the day that my lord the king left Jerusalem, that the king should take it to heart. 20 For I, your servant, know that I have sinned. Therefore here I am, the first to come today 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, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should be adversaries to me today? Shall any man be put to death today in Israel? For do I not know that today I am king over Israel?” 23 Therefore the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” And the king swore to him.

David and Mephibosheth Meet

24 Now Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king. And he had not cared for his feet, nor trimmed his mustache, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he returned in peace. 25 So it was, when he had come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said to him, “Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?”

26 And he answered, “My lord, O king, my servant deceived me. For your servant said, ‘I will saddle a donkey for myself, that I may ride on it and go to the king,’ because your servant is lame. 27 And he has slandered your servant to my lord the king, but my lord the king is like the angel of God. Therefore do what is good in your eyes. 28 For all my father’s house were but dead men before my lord the king. Yet you set your servant among those who eat at your own table. Therefore what right have I still to cry out anymore to the king?”

29 So the king said to him, “Why do you speak anymore of your matters? I have said, ‘You and Ziba divide the land.’”

30 Then Mephibosheth said to the king, “Rather, let him take it all, inasmuch as my lord the king has come back in peace to his own house.”

This passage has elements of repentance, mercy, and forgiveness with grace holding them all entwined together in the actions of king David, the anointed of the LORD.  Shimei cursed the LORD’s anointed, king David, as he left Jerusalem to escape the hand of his son Absalom set against him for his own sin with his sister.  Instead of listening to the calls to put Shimei to death for this, David showed mercy in grace to forgive when the man repented for his sin against the king.  The king instead swore with an oath to him before all to hear, “You shall not die.”  Then Mephibosheth the son of Saul came to meet the king and was unkempt from not caring for himself sing David left.  He explained why he did not ride with the king when he left due to deception that left him there while being slandered as disloyal when he was not.  He saw David as an angel of God in doing no wrong and was willing to accept any punishment he deserved.  He did not see that he deserved any mercy and put himself in the hand of the anointed for judgment.  This is just how all we sinners now confess our sins and repent of them in sincerity and place ourselves completely in the hands of God’s mercy and grace in Christ the Anointed of God for judgment.  David showed grace and compassion to forgive and accept Mephibosheth as he had promised, just as the elect have been chosen by promise before time began (Matthew 25:34, 2 Timothy 1:9, Titus 1:2) to be acquitted of judgement and released from the sentence of death (2 Corinthians 1:9-10, Romans 3:23-24, 6:23) we all deserve.  We then give him everything we possess and to others as well to meet their needs as the pattern of Saul’s son exemplifies here.  May we receive and show the same mercy we have received in forgiving grace to the penitent who wrong us as we consider the grace in which we stand in the Anointed of God.

Samuel 19:1-17 - The King Returned and Received

2 Samuel 19:1-17

1 And Joab was told, “Behold, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.” 2 So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the people. For the people heard it said that day, “The king is grieved for his son.” 3 And the people stole back into the city that day, as people who are ashamed steal away when they flee in battle. 4 But the king covered his face, and the king cried out with a loud voice, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!”

5 Then Joab came into the house to the king, and said, “Today you have disgraced all your servants who today have saved your life, the lives of your sons and daughters, the lives of your wives and the lives of your concubines, 6 in that you love your enemies and hate your friends. For you have declared today that you regard neither princes nor servants; for today I perceive that if Absalom had lived and all of us had died today, then it would have pleased you well. 7 Now therefore, arise, go out and speak comfort to your servants. For I swear by the LORD, if you do not go out, not one will stay with you this night. And that will be worse for you than all the evil that has befallen you from your youth until now.” 8 Then the king arose and sat in the gate. And they told all the people, saying, “There is the king, sitting in the gate.” So all the people came before the king.

For everyone of Israel had fled to his tent.

David Returns to Jerusalem

9 Now all the people were in a dispute throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “The king saved us from the hand of our enemies, he delivered us from the hand of the Philistines, and now he has fled from the land because of Absalom. 10 But Absalom, whom we anointed over us, has died in battle. Now therefore, why do you say nothing about bringing back the king?”

11 So King David sent to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, saying, “Speak to the elders of Judah, saying, ‘Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house, since the words of all Israel have come to the king, to his very house? 12 You are my brethren, you are my bone and my flesh. Why then are you the last to bring back the king?’ 13 And say to Amasa, ‘Are you not my bone and my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if you are not commander of the army before me continually in place of Joab.’” 14 So he swayed the hearts of all the men of Judah, just as the heart of one man, so that they sent this word to the king: “Return, you and all your servants!”

15 Then the king returned and came to the Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to escort the king across the Jordan. 16 And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, who was from Bahurim, hurried and came down with the men of Judah to meet King David. 17 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 the Jordan before the king.

King David greatly mourned his dead son as the people questioned the grief over his enemy Absalom.  Joab wisely snapped the king out of the grief enough to appear before the people at the gate as reassurance of his power and reign, bringing back all of Israel who had run home during the banishment and battle that brought all to a conclusion.  Israel then questioned themselves as to why they did not all just accept David as king of both Judah and the other tribes.  David then sent word to gather the elders of Judah to put him back on the throne as he swayed their hearts back from Absalom to him.  He crossed back over the Jordan River and was welcomed with an escort to assume the throne.  This was the beginning of the restoration to the calling and anointing of the LORD for David to be king over all as a man after his own heart (1 Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22, 23) in spite of his sins, the forefather according to the promise of the Seed who is Christ the Messiah to come as King of kings and sovereign Ruler of all rulers.  The imperfect was put on the throne by grace and the perfect to come had no need to be put on the throne He already ruled from in heaven and on earth.  Do we then dare not to enthrone Him as Lord and King over our hearts and minds, our very lives as part of His kingdom (Luke 17:21) within us?  The king on earth was returned and received by his own; when the Lord returns from heaven, who will receive Him then if not (John 1:11-12) now? 

Samuel 18:19-33 - Victory Tainted by Mourning

2 Samuel 18:19-33

David Hears of Absalom’s Death

19 Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, “Let me run now and take the news to the king, how the LORD has avenged him of his enemies.”

20 And Joab said to him, “You shall not take the news this day, for you shall take the news another day. But today you shall take no news, because the king’s son is dead.” 21 Then Joab said to the Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” So the Cushite bowed himself to Joab and ran.

22 And Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said again to Joab, “But whatever happens, please let me also run after the Cushite.”
So Joab said, “Why will you run, my son, since you have no news ready?”

23 “But whatever happens,” he said, “let me run.”
So he said to him, “Run.” Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain, and outran the Cushite.

24 Now David was sitting between the two gates. And the watchman went up to the roof over the gate, to the wall, lifted his eyes and looked, and there was a man, running alone. 25 Then the watchman cried out and told the king. And the king said, “If he is alone, there is news in his mouth.” And he came rapidly and drew near.

26 Then the watchman saw another man running, and the watchman called to the gatekeeper and said, “There is another man, running alone!”

And the king said, “He also brings news.”

27 So the watchman said, “I think the running of the first is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.”

And the king said, “He is a good man, and comes with good news.”

28 So Ahimaaz called out and said to the king, “All is well!” Then he bowed down with his face to the earth before the king, and said, “Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delivered up the men who raised their hand against my lord the king!”

29 The king said, “Is the young man Absalom safe?”

Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent the king’s servant and me your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I did not know what it was about.”

30 And the king said, “Turn aside and stand here.” So he turned aside and stood still.

31 Just then the Cushite came, and the Cushite said, “There is good news, my lord the king! For the LORD has avenged you this day of all those who rose against you.”

32 And the king said to the Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom safe?”

So the Cushite answered, “May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise against you to do harm, be like that young man!”

David’s Mourning for Absalom

33 Then the king was deeply moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept. And as he went, he said thus: “O my son Absalom—my son, my son Absalom—if only I had died in your place! O Absalom my son, my son!”

David heard the news of his son’s death from a messenger sent by Joab who sent a messenger to bring the news of Absalom’s demise as a triumph as David’s adversary.  The one authorized by Joab simply conveyed the sad news as the loss of a son, not something to gloat over.  All this Ahimaaz said was that the LORD God delivered up the men who raised their hand against the king.  The other Cushite messenger pointed specifically to Absalom as the enemy of the king who was eliminated as if a good thing, not being sensitive to David’s loss of his son.  This points out that compassion is required when an adversary who is also family is stopped from doing harm.  Grace and mercy are essential.  The messenger of Joab understood this while the Cushite one only saw victory over an enemy.  David saw the victory tainted by his mourning for the great loss, even the loss of a rebellious son who was set on taking the throne from his father and even attempting to kilo him as Saul once tried with David.  We must be sensitive to the loss of others and show grace with forbearance to (Matthew 5:44, Luke 6:27, Romans 12:14, 1 Peter 2:9) our enemies and their families.  Gloating over the defeat of our enemies is not the example nor the command given by our Lord to us.  Such victories are always rightly tainted by mourning when we have compassion for the lost under the sway of the (1 John 5:19) wicked one.

Samuel 18:1-18 - Pierced to the Heart

2 Samuel 18:1-18

Absalom’s Defeat and Death

1 And David numbered the people who were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them. 2 Then David sent out one third of the people under the hand of Joab, one third under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and one third under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, “I also will surely go out with you myself.”

3 But the people answered, “You shall not go out! For if we flee away, they will not care about us; nor if half of us die, will they care about us. But you are worth ten thousand of us now. For you are now more help to us in the city.”

4 Then the king said to them, “Whatever seems best to you I will do.” So the king stood beside the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and by thousands. 5 Now the king had commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains orders concerning Absalom.

6 So the people went out into the field of battle against Israel. And the battle was in the woods of Ephraim. 7 The people of Israel were overthrown there before the servants of David, and a great slaughter of twenty thousand took place there that day. 8 For the battle there was scattered over the face of the whole countryside, and the woods devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.

9 Then Absalom met the servants of David. Absalom rode on a mule. The mule went under the thick boughs of a great terebinth tree, and his head caught in the terebinth; so he was left hanging between heaven and earth. And the mule which was under him went on. 10 Now a certain man saw it and told Joab, and said, “I just saw Absalom hanging in a terebinth tree!”

11 So Joab said to the man who told him, “You just saw him! And why did you not strike him there to the ground? I would have given you ten shekels of silver and a belt.”

12 But the man said to Joab, “Though I were to receive a thousand shekels of silver in my hand, I would not raise my hand against the king’s son. For in our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, ‘Beware lest anyone touch the young man Absalom!’ 13 Otherwise I would have dealt falsely against my own life. For there is nothing hidden from the king, and you yourself would have set yourself against me.”

14 Then Joab said, “I cannot linger with you.” And he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through Absalom’s heart, while he was still alive in the midst of the terebinth tree. 15 And ten young men who bore Joab’s armor surrounded Absalom, and struck and killed him.

16 So Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing Israel. For Joab held back the people. 17 And they took Absalom and cast him into a large pit in the woods, and laid a very large heap of stones over him. Then all Israel fled, everyone to his tent.

18 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up a pillar for himself, which is in the King’s Valley. For he said, “I have no son to keep my name in remembrance.” He called the pillar after his own name. And to this day it is called Absalom’s Monument.

David sent forth his small but mighty army against Absalom’s because the people of David did not want to lose him to Israel as their future king once more.  The battle ended badly for the king’s son but it was not due to death in the battle; he ran into the forked branches of a tree on his mule and was stuck hanging there as the mule kept going without him.  The first man to see Absalom hanging helplessly there was of David’s army.  He dared not kill the son of his sovereign because David gave explicit orders not to kill him due to his love for him and his own guilt and consequences of his own sin with Bathsheba and Uriah.  This soldier told Joab who had no such reservations and he went and pierced Absalom to the heart with three spears while hanging helplessly there in the tree and others joined him to ensure he was dead.  This pierced David to his heart when he heard the news just as the son was pierced as a kind of picture of the Son of God pierced through on the cross (Zechariah 12:10, Psalm 22:16, John 19:37) as the Seed of David according to the flesh that grieved the Father yet was necessary for the King to rule over death (Isaiah 9:6, 1 Corinthians 15:21-22, 24-25) by the resurrection to follow.  We have no monument as Absalom did for our pierced Savior King but the cross of our curse on which He sacrificed Himself and shed His lifeblood to atone for our sins forevermore.  He set they up for Himself that we may look on the One we have pierced who is the Son of God and man who hung seemingly helplessly there as His side was pierced along with the Father’s heart to establish the everlasting kingdom which is far greater than the shadow of the anointed one of king David in this account.  Our Father’s heart was pierced for our salvation from divine wrath by His plan of infinite grace and mercy on that tree of our curse due to sin.  Praise Him! 

2 Samuel 17:15-29 - The Providential Hand of God

2 Samuel 17:15-29

Hushai Warns David to Escape

15 Then Hushai said to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, “Thus and so Ahithophel advised Absalom and the elders of Israel, and thus and so I have advised. 16 Now therefore, send quickly and tell David, saying, ‘Do not spend this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily cross over, lest the king and all the people who are with him be swallowed up.’” 17 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed at En Rogel, for they dared not be seen coming into the city; so a female servant would come and tell them, and they would go and tell King David. 18 Nevertheless a lad saw them, and told Absalom. But both of them went away quickly and came to a man’s house in Bahurim, who had a well in his court; and they went down into it. 19 Then the woman took and spread a covering over the well’s mouth, and spread ground grain on it; and the thing was not known. 20 And when Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house, they said, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?”

So the woman said to them, “They have gone over the water brook.”

And when they had searched and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem. 21 Now it came to pass, after they had departed, that they came up out of the well and went and told King David, and said to David, “Arise and cross over the water quickly. For thus has Ahithophel advised against you.” 22 So David and all the people who were with him arose and crossed over the Jordan. By morning light not one of them was left who had not gone over the Jordan.

23 Now when Ahithophel saw that his advice was not followed, he saddled a donkey, and arose and went home to his house, to his city. Then he put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died; and he was buried in his father’s tomb.

24 Then David went to Mahanaim. And Absalom crossed over the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him. 25 And Absalom made Amasa captain of the army instead of Joab. This Amasa was the son of a man whose name was Jithra, an Israelite, who had gone in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister of Zeruiah, Joab’s mother. 26 So Israel and Absalom encamped in the land of Gilead.

27 Now it happened, when David had come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash from Rabbah of the people of Ammon, Machir the son of Ammiel from Lo Debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim, 28 brought beds and basins, earthen vessels and wheat, barley and flour, parched grain and beans, lentils and parched seeds, 29 honey and curds, sheep and cheese of the herd, for David and the people who were with him to eat. For they said, “The people are hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness.”

Hushai, the inside man for David (2 Samuel 15:34), set a warning when he knew of Absalom’s plan to hunt the king down.  He sent Ahimaaz and Jonathan through an intermediary woman servant via the priests Zadok and Abiathar (2 Samuel 15:35, 36) as prearranged for this kind of warning.  Unfortunately, a boy saw the two and told Absalom; they hid in a well until danger had passed and then passed the warning on to David who crossed over the Jordan before being apprehended by Absalom.  This failure to follow his counsel distressed Ahithophel to the point of committing suicide by hanging himself after first settling his family affairs.  David and his band of brothers continued on to Mahanaim with Absalom on his heels crossing the river behind them.  David and his companions were fed in Mahanaim by several supporters there to ease their weary and starving bodies worn out by the hasty and swift escape from danger.  This shows God’s sovereign providence in protecting His own and bringing the plans against him to nothing through the efforts of those supporting God’s anointed one.  We see this time and again such as when Saul escaped out of a window (2 Corinthians 11:32-33) and Peter was miraculously released from prison (Acts 5:19, 12:7) by the hand of God through circumstance and divine messengers.  These things demonstrate the providential hand of God to protect and provide for His own.  Do we read these accounts and choose to trust His counsel over the enemy and His deliverance to serve Him for His glory? 

2 Samuel 17:1-14 - Disinformation and Thwarted Council

2 Samuel 17:1-14

1 Moreover Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Now let me choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue David tonight. 2 I will come upon him while he is weary and weak, and make him afraid. And all the people who are with him will flee, and I will strike only the king. 3 Then I will bring back all the people to you. When all return except the man whom you seek, all the people will be at peace.” 4 And the saying pleased Absalom and all the elders of Israel.

The Advice of Hushai

5 Then Absalom said, “Now call Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear what he says too.” 6 And when Hushai came to Absalom, Absalom spoke to him, saying, “Ahithophel has spoken in this manner. Shall we do as he says? If not, speak up.”

7 So Hushai said to Absalom: “The advice that Ahithophel has given is not good at this time. 8 For,” said Hushai, “you know your father and his men, that they are mighty men, and they are enraged in their minds, like a bear robbed of her cubs in the field; and your father is a man of war, and will not camp with the people. 9 Surely by now he is hidden in some pit, or in some other place. And it will be, when some of them are overthrown at the first, that whoever hears it will say, ‘There is a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.’ 10 And even he who is valiant, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will melt completely. For all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man, and those who are with him are valiant men. 11 Therefore I advise that all Israel be fully gathered to you, from Dan to Beersheba, like the sand that is by the sea for multitude, and that you go to battle in person. 12 So we will come upon him in some place where he may be found, and we will fall on him as the dew falls on the ground. And of him and all the men who are with him there shall not be left so much as one. 13 Moreover, if he has withdrawn into a city, then all Israel shall bring ropes to that city; and we will pull it into the river, until there is not one small stone found there.”

14 So Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than the advice of Ahithophel.” For the LORD had purposed to defeat the good advice of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring disaster on Absalom.

The disinformation of Hushai against the good advice of the wise Ahithophel who switched to the wrong side from king David to support and advise his son Absalom is seen effectively working here.  This was the will and intent of the LORD Himself to curb the destruction of David’s family that was a consequence of his sins of adultery and murder by the disinformation campaign of the king’s servant planted there for a time like this.  So when Ahithophel came up with a brilliant plan to overtake David and his men whole they were still weary from escaping Jerusalem and death at the hand of Absalom, the divine intervention moved the usurper to ask the counsel of Hushai as well, he advised strongly against the plan by misdirecting the facts of it and instead indicating it was bad timing and assumptions because David was likely to be holed up and not easy to find or defeat like a strong bear protecting her cubs.  He also indicated any lack of victory in the least would likely turn the followers of Absalom against him for failing to defeat David and his band of brothers straightaway.  He also spun the idea that if David hid in a city they would not be able to find him either.  These convincing arguments by the spy turned Absalom against the good advice of the turncoat Ahithophel because God had His purpose to defeat that good plan to save David for His future plan to bring the Seed who is the Messiah into the world twenty-eighty generations (Matthew 1:17) later.  This disinformation that he followed to thwart good counsel would be the disastrous outcome for David’s rebellious son to accomplish God’s will and eternal purpose.  We see throughout history how the Lord moves hearts and circumstances to bring His obedient Son into the world to establish His kingdom that cannot be shaken (Hebrews 12:25, 27, 28) by all means at His disposal in the hearts and plans of men to bring us to the cross and resurrection to life from the death of our sin begun in the Garden with Adam and Eve and completed in the Seed of David according to the flesh (Romans 1:1-3, 4) at the proper (Galatians 4:4) time in God’s eternal plan (Proverbs 19:21, Hebrews 6:17, 19-20) no matter what disinformation the adversary speaks against the gospel of truth. 

2 Samuel 16:1-23 - Suffering Opposition with the King

2 Samuel 16:1-23

Mephibosheth’s Servant

1 When David was a little past the top of the mountain, there was Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth, who met him with a couple of saddled donkeys, and on them two hundred loaves of bread, one hundred clusters of raisins, one hundred summer fruits, and a skin of wine. 2 And the king said to Ziba, “What do you mean to do with these?”

So Ziba said, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride on, the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine for those who are faint in the wilderness to drink.”

3 Then the king said, “And where is your master’s son?”
And Ziba said to the king, “Indeed he is staying in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will restore the kingdom of my father to me.’”

4 So the king said to Ziba, “Here, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.”
And Ziba said, “I humbly bow before you, that I may find favor in your sight, my lord, O king!”

Shimei Curses David

5 Now when King David came to Bahurim, there was a man from the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei the son of Gera, coming from there. He came out, cursing continuously as he came. 6 And he threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David. And all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. 7 Also Shimei said thus when he cursed: “Come out! Come out! You bloodthirsty man, you rogue! 8 The LORD has brought upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the LORD has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. So now you are caught in your own evil, because you are a bloodthirsty man!”

9 Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Please, let me go over and take off his head!”

10 But the king said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? So let him curse, because the LORD has said to him, ‘Curse David.’ Who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’”

11 And David said to Abishai and all his servants, “See how my son who came from my own body seeks my life. How much more now may this Benjamite? Let him alone, and let him curse; for so the LORD has ordered him. 12 It may be that the LORD will look on my affliction, and that the LORD will repay me with good for his cursing this day.” 13 And as David and his men went along the road, Shimei went along the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went, threw stones at him and kicked up dust. 14 Now the king and all the people who were with him became weary; so they refreshed themselves there.

The Advice of Ahithophel

15 Meanwhile Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem; and Ahithophel was with him. 16 And so it was, when Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, came to Absalom, that Hushai said to Absalom, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”

17 So Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?”

18 And Hushai said to Absalom, “No, but whom the LORD and this people and all the men of Israel choose, his I will be, and with him I will remain. 19 Furthermore, whom should I serve? Should I not serve in the presence of his son? As I have served in your father’s presence, so will I be in your presence.”

20 Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give advice as to what we should do.”

21 And Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go in to your father’s concubines, whom he has left to keep the house; and all Israel will hear that you are abhorred by your father. Then the hands of all who are with you will be strong.” 22 So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the top of the house, and Absalom went in to his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.

23 Now the advice of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if one had inquired at the oracle of God. So was all the advice of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.

David left Jerusalem under imminent threat from his son Absalom when Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth brought him donkeys to ride on, bread and fruit for the young men to eat, and wine for those who are faint in the wilderness, meeting their needs along their way.  Mephibosheth remained in Jerusalem, hoping to recoup some of his inheritance through Saul’s lineage as the son of Jonathan (2 Samuel 21:7) who survived and had been looked after by David but refused to join him in exile.  King David therefore gave all that had belonged to Mephibosheth to his servant Ziba for his kindness.  On the way out of town, a man from the family of the house of Saul named Shimei came to curse David and blamed him for the death of Saul who was really killed in battle and threw stones at him while taunting with David’s humiliation by his son’s coup to take over as king and take the kingdom from him.  David accepted the curse as it might be God’s will for him to do so and so let the accuser live unpunished.  Hushai the spy of David then set out to thwart the good advice of Ahithophel who did evil as he advised Absalom to defile David’s concubines in plain public sight on top of the house in a tent to demonstrate that David abhorred his son now and strengthened his support by the people whom he had won over previously as the first public influencer.  This Ahithophel was listened to as if an oracle of the LORD, and Absalom followed his advice as David had before when he was on the real king’s side.  Gods had punished David for the adultery with Bathsheba and subsequent murder of her husband, yet still was with him to eventually take back the kingdom promised him as the chosen anointed of God.  These events of banishment were temporary and the demise of his rebellious son would soon come along with all who supported the coup.  Do we then stand on the side of the King of kings as our Lord against all worldly opposition from without and within (2 Corinthians 7:5) as we follow Him in spite of suffering (1 Peter 3:13-14, 15-16, 17) for doing good in response to evil? 

2 Samuel 15:13-37 - Fleeing the Wrath to Come

2 Samuel 15:13-37

David Escapes from Jerusalem

13 Now a messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.”

14 So David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise, and let us flee, or we shall not escape from Absalom. Make haste to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly and bring disaster upon us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.”

15 And the king’s servants said to the king, “We are your servants, ready to do whatever my lord the king commands.” 16 Then the king went out with all his household after him. But the king left ten women, concubines, to keep the house. 17 And the king went out with all the people after him, and stopped at the outskirts. 18 Then all his servants passed before him; and all the Cherethites, all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men who had followed him from Gath, passed before the king.

19 Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why are you also going with us? Return and remain with the king. For you are a foreigner and also an exile from your own place. 20 In fact, you came only yesterday. Should I make you wander up and down with us today, since I go I know not where? Return, and take your brethren back. Mercy and truth be with you.”

21 But Ittai answered the king and said, ”As the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in whatever place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also your servant will be.”

22 So David said to Ittai, “Go, and cross over.” Then Ittai the Gittite and all his men and all the little ones who were with him crossed over. 23 And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people crossed over. The king himself also crossed over the Brook Kidron, and all the people crossed over toward the way of the wilderness.

24 There was Zadok also, and all the Levites with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God, and Abiathar went up until all the people had finished crossing over from the city. 25 Then the king said to Zadok, “Carry the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the LORD, He will bring me back and show me both it and His dwelling place. 26 But if He says thus: ‘I have no delight in you,’ here I am, let Him do to me as seems good to Him.” 27 The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Are you not a seer? Return to the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. 28 See, I will wait in the plains of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.” 29 Therefore Zadok and Abiathar carried the ark of God back to Jerusalem. And they remained there.

30 So David went up by the Ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered and went barefoot. And all the people who were with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went up. 31 Then someone told David, saying, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “O LORD, I pray, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!”

32 Now it happened when David had come to the top of the mountain, where he worshiped God—there was Hushai the Archite coming to meet him with his robe torn and dust on his head. 33 David said to him, “If you go on with me, then you will become a burden to me. 34 But if you return to the city, and say to Absalom, I will be your servant, O king; as I was your father’s servant previously, so I will now also be your servant,’ then you may defeat the counsel of Ahithophel for me. 35 And do you not have Zadok and Abiathar the priests with you there? Therefore it will be that whatever you hear from the king’s house, you shall tell to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. 36 Indeed they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son, and Jonathan, Abiathar’s son; and by them you shall send me everything you hear.”

37 So Hushai, David’s friend, went into the city. And Absalom came into Jerusalem.

When king David received word that Absalom had the people on his side and were coming after him, he decided to flee the wrath of his son to come and left Jerusalem in a hurry, both to protect himself and his close followers (household and servants) and to keep violence from coming on the city and harming others.  He only left ten of his concubines behind to keep the house until his return.  Others joined them as they crossed over the Brook Kidron and many mourned his leaving despite the influence of Absalom to promise gain to those following him.  The Levites tried carrying the Ark of God’s covenant with them, but David directed them to return it to where it belonged in the temple of the LORD who dwelt there and met men on the mercy seat above it in the holy of holies.  They left in a trail of tears and prayed that those supporting Absalom would thwart his plans, especially those of the advisor Ahithophel who turned against him, one of David’s counsellors and Bathsheba’s grandfather (2 Samuel 11:3, 23:34).  When Hushai the Archite wanted to join the band leaving the city, David asked him to stay to be an inside voice and agent of the king to help defeat the counsel of Ahithophel against Absalom.  This inside man would prove to be a great help to pass messages via messengers through Zadok and Abiathar the priests to the deposed king.  The long exile had begun for David as his house suffered the consequences of his sin with Bathsheba and Uriah.  Just as the king fled the wrath of Absalom, we who heed the gospel flee the wrath to come (Matthew 3:7, Romans 5:9, 10, 1 Thessalonians 1:10) on the world on judgment day when the King of kings returns to sit on the throne in the New Jerusalem come to earth and set justice flowing down as a river (Amos 5:24, Isaiah 66:12-13, Revelation 22:1) on all people at last as He sits on the eternal mercy seat (Romans 3:24-25, ἱλαστήριον hilastērion, “propitiation” and “mercy seat”) of His everlasting covenant (Isaiah 55:3, Ezekiel 37:26, Hebrews 13:20) in our midst.  Have you fled the wrath of God to come on your sin (Romans 6:23) to find eternal refuge in Him until we enter into glory in the New Jerusalem?  Are tou running in the right direction? 

2 Samuel 15:1-12 - Treasonous Influence for Political Gain

2 Samuel 15:1-12

Absalom’s Treason

1 After this it happened that Absalom provided himself with chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him. 2 Now Absalom would rise early and stand beside the way to the gate. So it was, whenever anyone who had a lawsuit came to the king for a decision, that Absalom would call to him and say, “What city are you from?” And he would say, “Your servant is from such and such a tribe of Israel.” 3 Then Absalom would say to him, “Look, your case is good and right; but there is no deputy of the king to hear you.” 4 Moreover Absalom would say, “Oh, that I were made judge in the land, and everyone who has any suit or cause would come to me; then I would give him justice.” 5 And so it was, whenever anyone came near to bow down to him, that he would put out his hand and take him and kiss him. 6 In this manner Absalom acted toward all Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

7 Now it came to pass after forty years that Absalom said to the king, “Please, let me go to Hebron and pay the vow which I made to the LORD. 8 For your servant took a vow while I dwelt at Geshur in Syria, saying, ‘If the LORD indeed brings me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD.’”

9 And the king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he arose and went to Hebron.

10 Then Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, ‘Absalom reigns in Hebron!’” 11 And with Absalom went two hundred men invited from Jerusalem, and they went along innocently and did not know anything. 12 Then Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city—from Giloh—while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy grew strong, for the people with Absalom continually increased in number.

Some things deep in the sin nature of man drive him to do things that never change over time, such as the treasonous influencer Absalom gaining political gain over the popular opinion of the people against his father, the ordained ruler of the country.  He was the first influencer way before the modern internet trend to use empty promises and offers of justice to steal the hearts of good people away from those God put on the thrones of nations.  This is also seen with politicians of the recent generations with their bloated promises to get elected even if the promises are not realized later.  Absalom was a master influencer for his time, sitting at the city’s gate to offer what he called true justice (which was what the offenders desired, not what was truly fair) that was not allegedly and currently offered by the current administration of king David.  All who came to David for rulings heard the same from Absalom as he stole their hearts away from the justice of fair dealing that they were already facing in David’s court.  That ploy continues today as politicians influence with flattering words of promise to mete out the justice that favors the guilty and skews the law for personal gain.  At least that is what is promised.  Absalom did this slowly over forty years as he built his power base until the time was hot to strike for the offense of his three year banishment from the king and kingdom for the crime of murder of his half-brother, his sister’s rapist.  He took vengeance as a guilty man because he did not like the accountability for what he did, taking everything from his father the king.  This was a result of David’s own miscarriage of justice in taking his neighbor’s wife and having the man Uriah killed in battle to have her all to himself.  It was the consequence of David’s sin that led to this beginning of family troubles as the LORD had told him (2 Samuel 12:10, 11) through Nathan the prophet.  God still had His eye on the anointed David, however, and kept him safe from the internal rebellion of his family and nation, even as Absalom gathered an increasing number of supporters and plotted to take over the government in the growing conspiracy of his treason by planting spies to trigger the rebellion in a revolution takeover when it was announced.  We also can be aware of those inside and outside the church who conspire to influence against true justice to gain advantage through deception (Deuteronomy 16:19-20, Acts 20:29-30), keeping our focus on knowing and living according to the word of God to be wise as serpents but harmless as doves in a godly response, not with violence (Matthew 11:12) as the world encourages us to respond with to work the righteousness (James 1:19-20, 3:18) of God.