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But all thoughts of this kind were for the moment brushed aside by the crowning fact that Absalom himself was dead.

But all thoughts of this kind were for the moment brushed aside by the crowning fact that Absalom himself was dead.

- (NIV)

  And the king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And as he went, he said, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!” 

“Absalom, Absalom” by singer-songwriter, Pierce Pettis, is a heartbreaking and haunting song about David’s relationship with Absalom. Written from David’s perspective after Absalom’s death, Pettis captures both David’s abiding love for his son, and his grief over his failure to be an honorable example. The song closes with these words:

You were the laughing boy who bounced upon my knee You learned to play the harp and use the shepherd’s sling Always watching, my impressionable son Oh Absalom, what have I done?

You were watching when I took a good man’s wife And gave the orders for his murder, just to cover up the crime All the vanity, cruel arrogance, and greed Oh Absalom, you learned it all from me.

[1]Joab was told, “The king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.”

[1]Joab was told, “The king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.”

You were the laughing boy who bounced upon my knee You learned to play the harp and use the shepherd’s sling Always watching, my impressionable son Oh Absalom, what have I done?

You were watching when I took a good man’s wife And gave the orders for his murder, just to cover up the crime All the vanity, cruel arrogance, and greed Oh Absalom, you learned it all from me.

But all thoughts of this kind were for the moment brushed aside by the crowning fact that Absalom himself was dead.

[2] And for the whole army the victory that day was turned into mourning, because on that day the troops heard it said, “The king is grieving for his son.”

[2] And for the whole army the victory that day was turned into mourning, because on that day the troops heard it said, “The king is grieving for his son.”

[3] The men stole into the city that day as men steal in who are ashamed when they flee from battle.

[4] The king covered his face and cried aloud, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!”

The battle in the wood of Ephraim left twenty thousand of King David's subjects dead or dying on the field.

But all thoughts of this kind were for the moment brushed aside by the crowning fact that Absalom himself was dead.

A poor man cannot linger in mourning because he has to work to eat. Therefore, he must rise and tend to his business.

When a battle rages a warrior cannot weep at the place of a fallen brother. His duty is to continue to battle.

[5] Then Joab went into the house to the king and said, “Today you have humiliated all your men, who have just saved your life and the lives of your sons and daughters and the lives of your wives and concubines.

[6] You love those who hate you and hate those who love you. You have made it clear today that the commanders and their men mean nothing to you. I see that you would be pleased if Absalom were alive today and all of us were dead.

This is a sharp truth delivered with precision. Joab wanted David not only to see that he was foolish in his excessive grief, but he was also selfish.

[7] Now go out and encourage your men. I swear by the Lord that if you don’t go out, not a man will be left with you by nightfall. This will be worse for you than all the calamities that have come on you from your youth till now.”

David's continued mourning was more than weakness; it was selfishness.

A poor man cannot the luxury of lingering in mourning because he has to go to work to eat. Therefore, he must rise and tend to his business.

When a battle rages a warrior cannot stop and weep at the place of a fallen brother. While the battle rages, his duty is to continue to fight.

There is a difference between doing the right thing and doing the right thing the right way!

While Joab was correct in his guidance - he was off base with his approach to his senior.

David was in mourning---Later, David gives Amasa Joabs Position.

Blood Shed - Abner, Absolom or,

Anger caused by Joab’s manner toward David.

In his eagerness to get a certain thing done, Joab showed little or no regard for those higher interests( righteousnees (right -Standing…compassion, Humility) which should govern our actions. The end does not justify the means.

Zephaniah 7:3-

Zephaniah 7:3-

Zephaniah 7:3-

The New International Version Chapter 2

3 Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land,

you who do what he commands.

Seek righteousness, seek humility;

perhaps you will be sheltered

on the day of the LORD’s anger.

[8] So the king got up and took his seat in the gateway. When the men were told, “The king is sitting in the gateway,” they all came before him. Meanwhile, the Israelites had fled to their homes.

a. Then the king got up and took his seat in the gateway:

David didn’t feel like doing this. His feelings told him to stay locked into his excessive mourning. Yet David let his understanding of what was right be bigger than what he felt.

i. We never again hear David crying out, “O Absalom.” Doing what he needed to do got that song out of his head.

We never again hear David crying out, “O Absalom.” Doing what he needed to do got that song out of his head.

Joab’s rebuke worked because Joab cared enough to say it, and David was wise enough to receive it.

[9] Throughout the tribes of Israel, all the people were arguing among themselves, saying, “The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies; he is the one who rescued us from the hand of the Philistines. But now he has fled the country to escape from Absalom;

[10] and Absalom, whom we anointed to rule over us, has died in battle. So why do you say nothing about bringing the king back?”

David may have been victorious over Absolom but he did not have his kingdom (people) back yet....

“The folly of Israel’s allegiance to Absalom was clear – it had brought only misery and confusion. Now Absalom’s followers were on the wrong side; they had rejected their true king, and therefore the situation was full of unrest.”

KINGDOM RESTORED

Vengeance? Retribution? Teach the rebels a lesson?

[11] King David sent this message to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests: “Ask the elders of Judah, ‘Why should you be the last to bring the king back to his palace, since what is being said throughout Israel has reached the king at his quarters?

[12] You are my relatives, my own flesh and blood. So why should you be the last to bring back the king?’

They only wanted David back after the false king Absalom failed.

In the same way, we often only decide to bring back King Jesus when our false kings fail.

[13] And say to Amasa, ‘Are you not my own flesh and blood?(Amasa was a nephew, son of Abigail, Davids half sister and Zuriahs sister) May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if you are not the commander of my army for life in place of Joab.’ ”

[13] And say to Amasa, ‘Are you not my own flesh and blood? May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if you are not the commander of my army for life in place of Joab.’ ”

But when it became known that the leader of the rebel forces was not only not to be punished, but actually promoted to the highest office in the king's service, all fears of retaliation that sort were completely scattered. It was an act of wonderful clemency. It was such a contrast to the usual treatment of rebels! But this king was not like other kings; he gave gifts even to the rebellious. There was no limit to his generosity. Where sin abounded grace did much more abound. [14] He won over the hearts of the men of Judah so that they were all of one mind. They sent word to the king, “Return, you and all your men.”

[14] He won over the hearts of the men of Judah so that they were all of one mind. They sent word to the king, “Return, you and all your men.”

David Returns to Jordan (19:9-15) . David did not lift a finger to reestablish his authority he wanted to be “brought back” by the voluntary submission of his kinsmen and by their loving obedience to his will.”

Our Lord Jesus will rule in those that invite him to the throne in their hearts, and not till he is invited.

God will not force His reign on us. We must welcome His reign and He will not force our heart response. Our hearts must be swayed by the work of the Word of God and the Holy Spirit.

[15] Then the king returned and went as far as the Jordan. Now the men of Judah had come to Gilgal to go out and meet the king and bring him across the Jordan.

What we can say with certainty, however, is that pride goes before a fall (). Absalom’s self-promotion led to nothing. Also, God is sovereign. God foiled Absalom’s plan to overthrow his father’s kingdom (see ). All events are settled by God , and nothing, not even the Absalom's of the world, can thwart the power of God to do as He pleases in history.

Proverbs 16:18 NIV

Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.

2 Samuel 17:14 NIV

Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Arkite is better than that of Ahithophel.” For the Lord had determined to frustrate the good advice of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom.

God’s words, a picture of the grace that would come to us through Jesus Christ.

"O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!"

What David as King would not do, God as King did. He worked justice where justice had to be done. What David as Father could not do, God in Jesus did, instead of just crying “Oh my son, my daughter, Oh my son, my daughter, if only I had died instead of you.” Jesus in love did die instead of you. He died instead of us on a cross at Calvary bearing upon himself the fullness of the curse of our sins.