Jul 4, 2021. II Samuel 13:34-39

Posted byJohn Sanzone

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ABSALOM FLEES.  II Samuel 13:34-39.  07/04/2021.  #29.

II Samuel 13:34-39 [New King James Version]

34 Then Absalom fled. And the young man who was keeping watch lifted his eyes and looked, and there, many people were coming from the road on the hillside behind him. 35 And Jonadab said to the king, “Look, the king’s sons are coming; as your servant said, so it is.” 36 So it was, as soon as he had finished speaking, that the king’s sons indeed came, and they lifted up their voice and wept. Also the king and all his servants wept very bitterly. 37 But Absalom fled and went to Talmai the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day. 38 So Absalom fled and went to Geshur, and was there three years. 39 And King David longed to go to Absalom. For he had been comforted concerning Amnon, because he was dead.

  1. Absalom on the lam
    1. Immediately after Absalom has Amnon murdered, he flees
      1.  Absalom would rather leave his home than not see justice done for his sister, Tamar
      1.  David’s lack of discernment and administering justice precipitated this entire situation
    1. Absalom had his escape plan well-rehearsed
    1. He flees to King Talmai of Geshur
      1.  Geshur is east of the Sea of Galilee
      1.  Same territory of the Geshurites, Gadarenes, and Decapolis where Jesus cast out demons (Legion)
      1.  David had made an alliance with Talmai (3:3)
      1.  Talmai would not turn down refuge for a son of David (not uncommon in royal disputes)
  2. A palace full of tears
    1. David and palace are distraught
      1.  Jonadab informs David that the king’s sons were returning to Jerusalem just as he had said
      1.  There was great mourning among David’s sons
    1. Absalom’s betrayal of murdering a guest where safety was guaranteed was on par with Amnon raping his sister
    1. Ab. feels vindicated, but also fearful of consequences
    1. David moves from mourning over Amnon to mourning over the absence of Absalom
  3.  As with Tamar, David moves on to be concerned about Absalom without dealing with Amnon’s murder
  4. David executed justice against others, but he refused to do so within his own household
    1. Unless justice applies foremost to me and my household, I have no right to impose it on anyone else (children and others lose respect for the hypocrite)
  5. David continues his rule by inaction
    1. David shows no backbone in his own family
      1.  He does not pursue Absalom to bring him to justice (as he did with Amnon)
      1.  He does not try to contact Absalom
      1.  He does not send a delegation to bring Ab. back
      1.  3 years pass and David does nothing
    1. Proper administration brings peace and order, but poor administration brings chaos and tragedy
      1.  David never comes to grips with his lack of fortitude, rectitude, and prudent judicial rule
      1.  David seems unaware that he is the main problem
    1. David comes to the conclusion that he wants to reconcile with his son before he even holds him to account for his acts
      1.  Nowhere does it say that David confessed his sinful acts before his family (James 5)
      1.  David never regains the moral high road
      1.  David wants to move on as if nothing had ever happened (to ignore past sins)
    1. A past not reconciled is a past that will haunt your future
      1.  God had exposed David’s sin, but David did not expose himself to public confession and recompense
      1.  David’s lack of contrition before family and subjects neutralized his ability to effectively rule
    1. There is a pride in self-acclaimed piety, integrity, and humility that dooms a man as much as arrogance does (subtle)