Day 86: 2 Samuel 13-15 and Psalms 2-5 - Absalom's insurrection

Absalom desired Tamar (2 Samuel 13)

Absalom and Tamar were full brother and sister, children of David through Maacah, daughter or Talmai, King of Geshur.

However, Amnon was her half-brother. Although the law still forbade any form of incest he grew in his desire for Tamar.

Amnon was David’s heir apparent, his eldest son. We are about to find out why Solomon was eventually given the throne.

Jonadab, son of Shimeah, David’s brother, whose name means “willing”, was Amnon’s friend. He was also devious and shrewd (too willing).

He knew David wanted Tamar, but instead of counselling against it, he conspired with Amnon to lure the girl into his home on the pretext of being sick. Her father had her sent to Amnon to make cakes for him as he lay in his sick bed.

Then he raped her. She tried to prevent it, knowing the shame it would bring on her, but he did it anyway and the hated her afterwards.

She retreated into mourning and discarded the fine raiment of a virgin in the king’s household, but Absalom sheltered her for two years, without acting against Absalom.

Sadly, although David was incensed by what happened, he did not punish Amnon. Thus, when the time was right, Absalom had all the king’s sons to a banquet, where his servants killed Amnon.

The news that reached David was that all his sons had died, but Jonadab set the record straight. Even so there was great mourning in the palace and Absalom fled to Geshur.

Joab brings Absalom back (2 Samuel 14)

Joab, David’s chief of staff, sensed the king’s pining for his son, but he also knew that the king was caught between his royal duty and his family loyalties.

Thus he took a widow from Tekoah, far enough away from Jerusalem to be anonymous and so her story could not tested.

She used a parable about two brothers, where one killed the other and no respite could be ensured for the remaining brother. The king ruled that the surviving brother should live.

On that pretext she secured the pardon of Absalom, but the king sensed Joab’s hand in it. And so Absalom came home but the king refused to see him until after many pleas, Absalom set light to Joab’s field to provoke the required reaction.

Thus Absalom, the most strikingly handsome man in Israel, with three similarly beautiful children, came before his father and they were reconciled.

Sadly though, a seed of bitterness had been sown in his heart because his father had not acted against Amnon and because of his prolonged exile.

Absalom’s insurrection (2 Samuel 15)

Phil Collins once said that the band Genesis did fine until they started to believe the adulation they got from the public. Once it went to their heads they fell into heavy drinking and drugs.

Absalom, like the great serpent, become self-absorbed. His good looks were fine until it went to his head. It offers a powerful insight into the rebellion of Satan, where he too was lifted up in pride and consumed with his own beauty.

Absalom was also as subtle as Satan. He promoted himself as a judge and seduced the nation, until many yielded to his charm and subtlety.

Then he asked the king’s leave to go to Hebron, supposedly to pay a vow to God for his safe return to Jerusalem. He took his own guard with him and, at a signal, was proclaimed king of Hebron.

That was where David originally ruled, so he effectively usurped his father’s throne.

The news reached David and he immediately had all his household uplifted from Jerusalem, across the Kidron towards the Mount of Olives. He only left 10 concubines to keep the house.

News also reached him that Ahithophel, well known for his wisdom, was conspiring against him as Absalom’s counsellor, so he prayed that God would sow confusion through him.

Then David sent his old friend, Hushai, to counter Ahithophel’s counsel and it worked, for he soon realized that the revolt would fail. He then went home, set his affairs in order and hung himself.

David lamented the counsel of the wicked (Psalm 2)

This great Psalm is quoted by Peter in Acts 4:25. It has much wider ramifications and some commentators relate it to Nathan’s affirmation of the Davidic covenant.

Yet it fits as well with David’s concern for Ahithophel’s counsel and the curses that followed him in the streets as he fled from his son.

He reflected on the vain imaginings of the heathen and how God would yet laugh them to scorn. It is a powerful poem about God’s ultimate authority, in contrast to the devilish actions of his son.

David affirmed his own throne and was assured by God that it would stand, just as surely as he later assured the throne of his son against the arrogance of his eternal foe.

Thus, for him, the wisest counsel of all, was to just fear God.

How are they increased who trouble me (Psalm 3)

This Psalm was written as he fled his son, but it conveys great words of hope for those who face betrayal, as in “many there be who say there is no hope in God” - which was echoed from the cross.

He cried unto God and was heard from his holy hill. It gave him peace to know that he would stand against tens of thousands: because salvation comes from God.

He lamented the treachery of his son (Psalm 4)

He called on God to vindicate his righteousness but bemoaned the betrayal of his sons and the shame they brought over his head.

Then he recovered again, ending the Psalm with a sense of peace. He knew the rebellion would not persist and that Absalom would fail and confirmed that God would preserve the righteous.

He further laments his enemies (Psalm 5)

This Psalm, written in early morning light, may have been written in the build up to the Absalom saga, although other commentators see it as having been written during his flight.

Because it follows Psalms 2-4, I will go with the latter. It is a general cry about the gathering of his many enemies against him, but reaffirms his unwavering belief that God would surround him like a shield, defend him and give him joy - similar to the sentiments expressed as he headed east.

(c) Peter Missing @ bethelstone.com