Broken People, Broken Resources
Broken People, Broken Resources
2 Samuel 14:21-33
21 Then the king said to Joab, “Behold now, I grant this; go, bring back the young man Absalom.” 22 And Joab fell on his face to the ground and paid homage and blessed the king. And Joab said, “Today your servant knows that I have found favor in your sight, my lord the king, in that the king has granted the request of his servant.” 23 So Joab arose and went to Geshur and brought Absalom to Jerusalem. 24 And the king said, “Let him dwell apart in his own house; he is not to come into my presence.” So Absalom lived apart in his own house and did not come into the king's presence.
25 Now in all Israel there was no one so much to be praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom. From the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him. 26 And when he cut the hair of his head (for at the end of every year he used to cut it; when it was heavy on him, he cut it), he weighed the hair of his head, two hundred shekels by the king's weight. 27 There were born to Absalom three sons, and one daughter whose name was Tamar. She was a beautiful woman.
28 So Absalom lived two full years in Jerusalem, without coming into the king's presence. 29 Then Absalom sent for Joab, to send him to the king, but Joab would not come to him. And he sent a second time, but Joab would not come. 30 Then he said to his servants, “See, Joab's field is next to mine, and he has barley there; go and set it on fire.” So Absalom's servants set the field on fire. 31 Then Joab arose and went to Absalom at his house and said to him, “Why have your servants set my field on fire?” 32 Absalom answered Joab, “Behold, I sent word to you, ‘Come here, that I may send you to the king, to ask, “Why have I come from Geshur? It would be better for me to be there still.” Now therefore let me go into the presence of the king, and if there is guilt in me, let him put me to death.’” 33 Then Joab went to the king and told him, and he summoned Absalom. So he came to the king and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king, and the king kissed Absalom.
21 Then the king said to Joab, “Behold now, I grant this; go, bring back the young man Absalom.” 22 And Joab fell on his face to the ground and paid homage and blessed the king. And Joab said, “Today your servant knows that I have found favor in your sight, my lord the king, in that the king has granted the request of his servant.” 23 So Joab arose and went to Geshur and brought Absalom to Jerusalem. 24 And the king said, “Let him dwell apart in his own house; he is not to come into my presence.” So Absalom lived apart in his own house and did not come into the king's presence.
25 Now in all Israel there was no one so much to be praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom. From the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him. 26 And when he cut the hair of his head (for at the end of every year he used to cut it; when it was heavy on him, he cut it), he weighed the hair of his head, two hundred shekels by the king's weight. 27 There were born to Absalom three sons, and one daughter whose name was Tamar. She was a beautiful woman.
28 So Absalom lived two full years in Jerusalem, without coming into the king's presence. 29 Then Absalom sent for Joab, to send him to the king, but Joab would not come to him. And he sent a second time, but Joab would not come. 30 Then he said to his servants, “See, Joab's field is next to mine, and he has barley there; go and set it on fire.” So Absalom's servants set the field on fire. 31 Then Joab arose and went to Absalom at his house and said to him, “Why have your servants set my field on fire?” 32 Absalom answered Joab, “Behold, I sent word to you, ‘Come here, that I may send you to the king, to ask, “Why have I come from Geshur? It would be better for me to be there still.” Now therefore let me go into the presence of the king, and if there is guilt in me, let him put me to death.’” 33 Then Joab went to the king and told him, and he summoned Absalom. So he came to the king and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king, and the king kissed Absalom.
Never the Same
President Calvin Coolidge’s son, Calvin Jr., died suddenly at age 16, in the middle of Coolidge’s presidency. The father was never the same. He showed considerably less interest and energy in his work, and became known for frequent naps. Understandably, a personal tragedy had marked his leadership. I think of that story as I look at David in 2 Samuel 14. He is called “the king” some two-dozen times, but he’s a shadow of the leader we once knew.
Empty Flattery
David is passive. He sits in his palace, reacting to others instead of taking initiative. He broods for two years over Absalom, never acting until Joab gets involved. Even the woman gives him permission to speak (18)! He ultimately does whatever Joab wants. David is undiscerning. Nathan fooled him with a story of a lamb. Amnon fooled him with a story about being sick. Absalom fooled him with a story about a party. Now this woman reels him in like a fish. It’s sad when she calls him, “discerning as the angel of the Lord in knowing good and evil (17);” we know how empty this flattery is.
Above all, David is bitter. For some reason, he takes Absalom’s sin far more personally than he did Amnon’s. Though he can’t bring himself to execute Absalom as a murderer, he won’t forgive him as a son. So he leaves Absalom in exile for three years, and only lets him return when Joab tricks him. Then for two more years, he isolates Absalom, never seeing his face, signaling that he has disowned his son. This totals seven years of alienation. In a broken situation, David responds with bitterness, punishing Absalom with brooding anger and icy silence. David once sinned greatly, and God put his sin away. David can’t bring himself to do that with Absalom’s sin.
Above all, David is bitter. For some reason, he takes Absalom’s sin far more personally than he did Amnon’s. Though he can’t bring himself to execute Absalom as a murderer, he won’t forgive him as a son. So he leaves Absalom in exile for three years, and only lets him return when Joab tricks him. Then for two more years, he isolates Absalom, never seeing his face, signaling that he has disowned his son. This totals seven years of alienation. In a broken situation, David responds with bitterness, punishing Absalom with brooding anger and icy silence. David once sinned greatly, and God put his sin away. David can’t bring himself to do that with Absalom’s sin.
Absalom's Anger
The final figure in this parade of broken people is Absalom himself. He has some red flags, but at this point is the most righteous character in the story. And the closer we look, the more we like him. He looks like a movie star, he has a lovely family, and he is taking care of his abused sister, Tamar. Absalom dazzles us! But beware: in 1-2 Samuel, impressive appearances tend to mask an ugly heart.
David’s shunning humiliates Absalom, and his anger grows daily. Finally, he responds sinfully to David’s sin—that’s how this kind of thing typically works. Absalom reaches out to Joab, but the king’s advisor no longer sees Absalom as an asset, and ignores his calls. That’s when Absalom takes a page from his favorite Bible character: Samson. Both long-haired men look striking, but they get violent when things don’t go their way. Samson once got so mad that he tied a bunch of foxes’ tails together, lit them on fire, and sent them through his enemy’s fields (Judges 15). Now Absalom gives the same treatment to Joab. It gets Joab’s attention, who knows he’s been out-manipulated. Joab takes Absalom’s case to David. But he doesn’t forget those burnt fields.
David’s shunning humiliates Absalom, and his anger grows daily. Finally, he responds sinfully to David’s sin—that’s how this kind of thing typically works. Absalom reaches out to Joab, but the king’s advisor no longer sees Absalom as an asset, and ignores his calls. That’s when Absalom takes a page from his favorite Bible character: Samson. Both long-haired men look striking, but they get violent when things don’t go their way. Samson once got so mad that he tied a bunch of foxes’ tails together, lit them on fire, and sent them through his enemy’s fields (Judges 15). Now Absalom gives the same treatment to Joab. It gets Joab’s attention, who knows he’s been out-manipulated. Joab takes Absalom’s case to David. But he doesn’t forget those burnt fields.
The Resource We Need
The story ends with David again listening to Joab (he can talk David into anything these days). David receives Absalom at the palace after five years, and kisses him. Has the broken situation been healed? Take a closer look: no words, no tears, no embrace (compare to Jacob and Esau’s reconciliation in Gen 33). This reunion is formal and cold. After all the schemes, nothing is resolved. Broken people like us simply don’t have the resources needed to fix our tangled, sinful messes. We need the supernatural, heart-changing power of Jesus. He is the great reconciler, the granter of true repentance (Acts 5:31, 11:18; 2 Tim 2:25), and the one who alone can bring prodigals home (Luke 15:11–32).
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Article by Eric Smith
Senior Pastor, Sharon Baptist Church
Senior Pastor, Sharon Baptist Church
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