O Absalom, My Son

An Exposition of 2 Samuel 18

There is nothing new about palace intrigues. Although there are only a few monarchies in the world, formally speaking, these intrigues have been adopted by governments everywhere. Those who rule have to deal with dishonest counselors, coups, treachery, and their own failings. Truly it has been said: “Uneasy is the head that wears the crown.” The same was true in the days of King David.

David was a man of many serious faults. But he was a man after God’s own heart. David was a textbook example of Luther’s doctrine of “simultaneously saint and sinner.” He was known as “The sweet psalmist of Israel.” He was man of great courage. He suffered ill treatment from his father-in-law, King Saul, and spent years on the run from him and his armies who were out to kill him. Yet on two occasions when David had the opportunity to kill Saul, he refused to slay the LORD’s anointed. He waited upon the LORD’s timing and means of bringing him to the kingship of Israel. The LORD had brought great victories to him. David was the means of reuniting all of Israel. This David showed remorse over Saul who had tried to kill him as much as Saul’s son whom was best friends with David. He even had the messenger who brought the news of his death executed. He showed remorse over the death of Abner and Saul’s son Ish-bosheth. He provided a table for another son, Mephibosheth as well. This was indeed gracious as these could be seen as rivals to his throne.

However, this same David committed adultery with Bathsheba and had her husband Uriah the Hittite to cover it up. As a result, Nathan prophesied to David that the sword would never leave his own house. The intrigues would not come from the house of Saul but from his own children. Soon after, one son Ammon slept with his half-sister Tamar and dishonored her. Tamar’s full brother, Absalom, took revenge by inviting Ammon to a supper and having him killed. As a result, Absalom was exiled from David’s presence.

Absalom was a very handsome man with long hair. He could be quite charming as well. He also harbored great resentment against his father and plotted his revenge. This started when Absalom petitioned David for reinstatement, which David graciously accepted. Then Absalom began to charm the people. He perverted justice by cancelling the debts owed to the kingdom. Gradually, he won them over, and David had to flee for his life.

Absalom did not live up to his name which means “Father of Peace.” If we consider that he was also a prince, one could call him “Prince of Peace.” But instead of being a type of Christ, He became a type of Antichrist. He was a Judas who had eaten bread with his father who loved him and then turned traitor. The text made it clear that Absalom would have killed his father, David, if he could.

David got wind of the plot and fled with his loyal followers across the brook Kidron into the wilderness. He crossed this brook to escape the wrath of his son. His familiar counselor, Ahithophel, betrayed him and gave counsel to Absalom on how to kill David. But Hushai who remained loyal to David and gave other counsel. He said to wait and gather a large army. Absalom also slept on the rooftop with David’s concubines who had been left to keep the palace. Absalom thus proved himself to be the most dishonorable of men. He greatly displeased

The army of Absalom chased after David and met him in battle is a wooded wilderness area. The account of this battle is found in the 18thchapter of 2 Samuel. David was not allowed up to join the army, but he gave explicit instructions to deal gently with Absalom. David’s men, with the help of the LORD prevailed. Absalom in his escape got his hair caught in a large terebinth tree and was left hanging between heaven and earth. The Bible says that he who is hung from a tree is cursed. News of Absalom’s predicament came to Joab, the commander of David’s army. Joab was the ultimate realist, very much a man of the world. Contenders for the throne had to be dealt with harshly, so he disobeyed orders and ordered men to kill Absalom. The men refused, knowing what David had said. So Joab did the job himself by thrusting three darts into Absalom as he hung helplessly from the tree. Then others finished the job in executing Absalom. He then sent a messenger to bring the “good news” to David. But Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok (the priest?) also asked to bring news and outran Cushi.

Either Ahimaaz did not know what had happened to Absalom, or he was very wise, knowing that David had others executed for bringing what he considered to be bad news. So he told David that his armies had prevailed. When David specifically asked about the fate of Absalom. Ahimaaz said that he had seen a commotion but did not know what it was. But Cushi had no such caution. He gloriously announced that Absalom was dead. David did not take this news well. He cried out “O Absalom, my son! Would to God I had died. Joab was much annoyed with David and reminded him of the great risks that his subjects had taken to preserve his kingdom. The truth, of course, is that it was the LORD who had saved David. Joab and the soldiers were just the means of deliverance. They could have cut Absalom down from the tree and brought him prisoner to David. The LORD would have protected David regardless as he had already chosen Solomon to replace David when the king died.

Some might think that David was foolish to cry after such a worthless son. David’s heart as a father outweighed the practicality of palace intrigues that enemies must be killed. But we must realize that this comes from the heart of God. We think of the words of “How Great Thou Art” the words “that God, His Son not sparing, sent Him to die.” For whom did Christ die? Was it not for His enemies? And who was at enmity with Jesus? Was it not us? Why should Jesus have suffered and died for such treacherous sinners who had rebelled against his kingship? But instead of outright killing us and sentencing us to eternal punishment, He shows mercy to those who repent and believe. So to a lesser extent, David is a type of Christ.

Now let us consider another day about a thousand -years later. On the night before, Jesus, the Son of David, would cross the same Brook Kidron into the Garden of Gethsemane. But instead of the father fleeing from the wrath of the son, we have the Son who would openly embrace the wrath of the Father. This Jesus would hang from a tree, a wretched cross. He would bear the curse of mankind. His betrayer would also cross that brook that night with the Temple guard and two cohorts from a Roman Legion. Jesus proved His authority even over such a great force when He called out “Whom sleekest thou? When they answered: “Jesus of Nazareth,” He replied “I AM.” The soldiers all fell backward. Jesus did not need Peter and ten other disciples to defend him among the trees of the garden. If Jesus had such authority, why did He not exercise it to slay the armies of the children of Absalom? But Jesus had a far greater victory in mind than any temporal victory. He won by losing His life for the sin of the world.

For two people that night, crossing the Brook Kidron would be fatal. Judas would also die by hanging himself from a tree. He also had become a curse, a vain curse. His death saved no one. He sold Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. And what was the profit? It purchased a lonely burial field for his dead body. He died like Absalom, alone. Absalom’s body would be covered in a field with a pile of stones. Absalom had had a pillar erected to himself. As he was childless, he wanted to be remembered. But the only memory of Absalom was his treachery. The same is true for Judas Iscariot.

When we look at the story of Absalom which takes up several chapters of 2 Samuel, we should see something greater than just another story of palace intrigues. The intrigues of this story are the makings of a Hollywood movie, except that Hollywood would take the side of Absalom. Absalom was the youthful and dashing prince warring against the corrupt regime of his father. We should see ourselves as being of the children of Absalom. All have sinned and rebelled against the authority of God’s kingship. We all had the desire to be Lord and King ourselves. We all want to play God. If we were to continue in such rebellion, our eternal doom is sure.

Instead, we should turn to the true Prince of Peace who has shown His desire to forgive such rebellious subjects. For those of us who have repented and believed on the Lord Jesus unto eternal life, we have to be witnesses unto Jesus We have to give good counsel to the world and proclaim what is truly good news. The Son has come to save us if we will only turn from Absalom unto Him. Our victory is assured, so we need not fear the outcome of the battle. Thousands died in the woods three-thousand years ago for a much lesser purpose. How many of those on David’s side died that day? But other than looking after the widows and placing flags on their graves on Veterans Day, the battles of this world offer little solace for the dead. But Jesus, who says: “I AM the Resurrection and the Life” will raise our mortal bodies to rule and reign eternally with Him. So let us leave the useless life of palace intrigues behind. Let us put away the attempt to enthrone ourselves and celebrate Jesus, the Son of David, the Son of God, who sits upon His throne.