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This sermon synthesizes the life of Absalom, David’s rebellious
son. The eighteenth chapter records the defeat and death of Absalom. No loving
father can read this chapter without empathizing with King David. It is true
that David pampered and excused Absalom’s obstinate actions and ignored
the fatal fallacies of Absalom’s life. It takes a strong man to deal
justly with a wayward child. David’s strong leadership in politics failed
him in home leadership. We should never equate job performance with family
performance. That is visible in his statement to his military leaders when
he says, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom” (2
Samuel 18:5).
In the Communicator’s Commentary, Kenneth Chafin commented
that the instructions showed confidence in the outcome of the battle. It also
revealed that David’s concern as a father kept him from being in touch
with political and life realities. “Our lives cannot be broken into compartments
that we can keep completely separated. In David’s heart there was still
the hope for reconciliation with his son, and he was still treating the trouble
between them as some sort of misunderstanding that could be resolved. He was
willing to risk his own life and wanted Absalom to be safe.”#1
What destroyed Absalom was not being caught in the branch of
a tree (2 Samuel 18:9) nor Joab’s javelins. David’s son’s life
from birth to bitter end was characterized as arrogant, selfish, revengeful,
immoral, and hateful.
Christian parents with spiritually rebellious children struggle
with the “what ifs” of life. “What if we had done this differently”
or “What did we do wrong to force him/her away from God and the church?”
Honestly, in most cases parents did their best to raise their children in
the love of the Lord, but children of all ages have a free will to make their
own choices. Parents can only point the way to God. They cannot force their
children to repent and allow God into their lives. Many children have promising
futures, hopefully with guidance, love, trust and a direction demonstrated
by godly parents, that will help them to avoid a disastrous ending.
The scripture background of 2 Samuel is chock-full of contrasting
ideas and themes:
Battle plans are drawn to end a revolt by King David and his
military strategists contrasted with the king’s inability to preside
over his own troops.
The best news for a King contrasted with the worst news for
a Kingly father.
The attitude of David over the fate of Absalom contrasted with
Joab’s attitude of the fate of Absalom.
Absalom’s plan for a strategic victory contrasted to his
defeat and death.
As we examine the text we need to ask ourselves how to avoid
the Absalom fiasco in our own lives.
Engage your people with the contrasts that occur in their own
lives.
Gain sight of God’s plans and get on with life in spite
of someone’s hateful disposition and actions.
God’s moral plans versus the world’s lack of moral
standards.
Welcome legitimate relationships and reject the sham of worldly
relationships.
Live a life of promise and reject the life of remorse.
Two personalities stand out to me in this passage in addition
to David and Absalom:
The first is Joab. The army is divided for this battle into
three divisions, with David taking overall command. Joab, Abishai, and Ittai
the Gittite become the divisional commanders. Joab is mentioned as one of
the three and is no longer the general commander of David’s army (see
2 Samuel 17:25). Gnana Robinson in the International Theological Commentary
poses the thought regarding whether or not King David questions the loyalty
of Joab. It is Joab who asks an anonymous army combatant who discovered Absalom
in a tree as to why he had not killed him and gotten money and a promotion
(18:11). Joab then defies David’s specific orders and throws javelins
into Absalom’s body. When David hears of Absalom’s death he begins
a mournful cry for his son and causes the army to come back into the city
as if defeated instead of victorious. Joab confronts David over the situation
and causes the King to reevaluate his mourning and come out to the gate as
a symbol of victory. His men came before him as triumphant victors.
As you think about Joab, what runs through your mind? What sort
of a man/friend must he have been to David? What are the contrasts that you
would deal with in Joab? What speaks to your heart about him?
The second person is the anonymous soldier who brings the news
of Absalom’s entanglement. Joyce Baldwin writes, “This man from
the ranks is admirable in his resistance to bribery. Even a thousand pieces
of silver would not have induced him to kill the king’s son after the
king had given his explicit orders within the hearing of Joab and everyone
else. This ordinary soldier is admirable also as he respects and obeys the
king’s command.”
How does this man fit into our understanding of justice and
honesty? How would you represent him to your congregation? Is his honesty
worth real admiration and respect? Is he just fearful of what may happen to
him if he killed Absalom and David discovered it (See 2 Samuel 1:6-16), or
do you see real integrity in his action?
Engaging in contemplating these issues will help you as you preach.
(For the full manuscript
of this sermon go to www.preachermagazine.org and click on “Sermons”)
An important dimension of this sermon will be to help focus
the attention of the congregation on the concept of a hope-filled promising
future. Moving on to the scripture text, which really is the end of Absalom’s
life and story, and moving backward will help the listeners understand that
a promising future rests in the decisions that are made throughout life. The
fact is that each one has a promising future, but our “fate” lies
in the decisions we make as we journey through life. Our challenge as a preacher
is to help each of our congregants deal with their decisions, reject the life
outside of God, and embrace the life inside with God. As we embrace him, our
lives will not have the fate of an Absalom . . . doomed to defeat and death.
God will help us to be victorious and have eternal life!
1. Kenneth Chafin, The Communicator’s Commentary: 1, 2 Samuel
(Dallas: Word Books, Publishers, 1989).