Along his route to
temporary exile, David found Ziba, Mephibosheth’s (Jonathon’s lame son) servant,
who told him that Mephibosheth had taken sides with Absalom.
David immediately transferred
all of Mephibosheth’s estate to Ziba and received all the food laden-asses that
Ziba had brought as sustenance for the king and his company.
Just beyond the Mount
of Olives, at Bahurim, a small village to the east of Jerusalem, Shimei came out
cursing David and claimed that the blood of Saul was on his hands.
Abishai, David’s
second in command after Joab, wanted to deal with the man, but David restrained
him and let the cursing continue.
Hushai the king’s old
friend met him on the hill and told him of Ahithophel’s betrayal. David then sent
him to Absalom to counter Ahithophel's counsel, which included the
violation of all the king’s concubines: an act of insult towards David.
Hushai countered the dangerous counsel of
Ahithophel (2 Samuel 17)
Ahithophel wanted to
march on David with 12,000 men, while the king and his people were at their most vulnerable. That would have scattered David’s guard and left him exposed.
But Hushai counselled
that the timing was wrong. He cautioned Absalom not to underestimate his father’s
fighting ability or the men with him, by risking a rout that could turn the
tide against them.
The king’s son
preferred that counsel and took heed of Hushai’s further counsel to gather all
of Israel against David. It bought him enough time to
warn David.
The men who went to
tell David were almost found by Absalom, but a woman hid them in a well and
told Absalom that they had escaped over the Jordan river.
When they did reach
David they persuaded him to retreat across the Jordan to Mahanaim where he
wrote Psalm 4. The locals gave them beds, food and washing
facilities.
Then Absalom appointed
Amasa, Joab’s cousin by marriage, as captain over his army.
The fall of Absalom (2 Samuel 18)
David, a seasoned
general, divided the thousands with him into three groups, under Joab, Abishai
and Ittai: mighty warriors, all truly loyal to David.
Like Churchill
centuries later, David wanted to led them into battle, but in his case for fear of harm
coming to his son, but his generals wisely restrained him. They knew that if he
fell, the war would be lost to Absalom and all that resulting implications.
They engaged Absalom’s
forces in the forest of Ephraim and routed them. Over 20,000 died and the rest
scattered. Absalom fled on his mule, but his hair was caught in a low-hanging branch.
He was almost
certainly badly wounded or dying when they found him - as he made no attempt to escape. Contrary to David’s
instructions, Joab made sure. He pierced his body with three darts, cut
him down and cast him into a pit near to Absalom’s
stone.
Cushi was instructed
to run and tell the king, but the swifter footed Ahimaaz got there first and
downplayed the bad news, only reporting that the battle was over. Then Cushi arrived
with the bad news that Absalom had also fallen.
The return of the King (2 Samuel 19)
The nation mourned
with David over Absalom and entered the city like guilty dogs, but Joab was
angry with the king.
It was not the first
time his loyalty shone through. He knew what was right and had the king’s best
interests at heart when he told David to get over his mourning and think
of his people.
David did that. Then the escort arrived to lead him back to Jerusalem. He forded the Jordan
by ferry and was greeted by Shimei who had earlier cursed him: yet he declined any act of vengeance.
Mephibosheth also came
to David in a state of dishevelment, to plead that Ziba had misled him and taken advantage of his
lameness. David realized they were competing for his attention and were
probably both right, so divided their estate between them.
An old man also crossed the river with David, but once he had seen him safely through he turned back.
Everyone suddenly wanted to do the right thing for David.
Amasa, Joab’s
cousin and Absalom's general, also approached him. David duly appointed him over
Joab, a shortsighted error of judgment given that Amasa had betrayed him when Joab stood loyal to his king. David’s sentimental blind-spot kept on getting
him into trouble.
The rest
of Israel also felt that saving the king was not just the purview of Judah, his
kinsmen. They all claimed him as “their king” and were angry that they were not
involved in ensuring his safe escape and return to the City of Peace.
In his darkest hour, David reflected on the folly of his enemies
(Psalm 14)
Either this Psalm was written
during his flight or on his return from Mahonaim. Whatever, it is a
theologically powerful Psalm that reflects a deep understanding of his
righteous position.
In his famous, “The
fool has said in his heart there is no God”, he reflected on the folly of those
who feel their actions will not be checked by him, but he also stood secure in
his own knowledge of God’s consistent justice, power and mercy.
He saw how all had turned to their own follies, for among them were none righteous, not one – a theological
truth picked up by Paul in Romans 2. Yet he counted himself as part of the generation
of the righteous: who seek God’s counsel. It was a defining characteristic of
David’s reign.
David’s triumphal return (Psalm 24)
This is a glorious
Psalm. He asked who should ascend the hill of the Lord: a question with both
eternal and temporal implications. He was specifically referring to his return
to the Holy City.
When he fled, the priests
carried the ark out but he insisted on it being returned: for God is not moved
when men are. He had no fear for its safety. He had seen what happened
when unclean hands touched the sacred things of God.
As he approached the
city he sang, “lift up your gates, you everlasting gates, that the king of
glory may come in”, which had a profound undertone relating to the return of
Jesus.
He named that the king as the Lord of Hosts, whom he perceived to have gone out to battle with him. Thus he lauded his return to the sacred place of Zion, not his own home-coming.
He stood restored (Psalm 27)
He reflected again on the
folly of those who had sought to tear him apart and how they had stumbled and
fallen: for though enemies should encamp about him or rise against him,
David stood quietly assured in his faith.
He then expressed his
greatest desire – to dwell in the house of God forever: to never leave again,
to behold the beauty of his God and to inquire in his temple.
He found solace in the
pavilion of God, his tabernacle and on the rock of salvation.
His assurance stood:
that God would raise him up above his enemies and that even if his mother and
father should reject him, let alone his son, his position would remain unchanged.
Thus David's lowest and darkest moment, became the high point of his life.
Finally he prayed for vindication (Psalm 28)
He pleaded with God to
not remain silent before his troubles, lest he slip into the oblivion of the
pit. It is a timely reminder in our own troubles that we need to hear his voice
– especially in crisis.
He petitioned God to save
him from his enemies and from the workers of iniquity: that he would repay
their deeds and bring their folly on their heads.
His plea contrasted the
state of the wicked who had no regard for God’s works. Yet he saw the Lord as
his strength, shield and truest place of refuge, more sure than the citadel of
Zion to which he returned. Thus he prayed that God would save his people, feed
them and lift them up.
(c) Peter Missing @ Bethelstone.com
