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STORIES THEY NEVER TAUGHT YOU IN KINDERGARTEN #5

A FATHER’S UNDYING LOVE

In his book, Everybody’s Normal Till you get to Know Them, John Ortberg highlights some of the dysfunctional families in Scripture. He concludes that “[the people in the Bible] need a therapist. These are not the Waltons. They need Dr. Phil, Dr. Laura, Dr. Ruth, Dr. Spock, Dr. Seuss—they need somebody” (p. 16).

It’s true, friends, the people in Scripture were ordinary sinners like you and me. Our Bible story today offers an example.

Second Samuel 13 records the grizzly story of Amnon, King David’s son, violating his half-sister Tamar. Imagine Tamar as she staggers out of Amnon’s bedroom. She is disoriented and spent; for in that brief interlude of unbridled lust her future was radically redefined. Her dreams of a white picket fence and a loving husband and children were shattered. She is now an outcast. In her desperation she confides in her other brother, Absalom.

Now Absalom is most famous for his hair--five pounds of it, according to Scripture. This guy could get his cardio-vascular workout just by watching a tennis match.

When Absalom heard Tamar’s story, he vowed to get revenge. But he would wait to act. Perhaps their father, King David, would make things right for Tamar. But if dad wimped out, Absalom assured his sister that justice would prevail.

Two years later, Absalom was still churning with hatred. Nothing had been done to punish Amnon. So Absalom took it upon himself to host a party. That night Amnon guzzled the wine. Soon he was drunk and Absalom nodded to his hit men. They pounced on Amnon like famished lions on raw meat.

Absalom cried out in victory. How sweet the taste of revenge. Never mind that now he is a murderer, a wanted man. His mug will hang in Post Offices throughout Israel. But in the name of justice, there is no regret. Moreover, the pathway just got a little less cluttered for Absalom to inherit his father’s throne.

Now when King David heard the tragic news, the Bible tells us that he “… mourned for his son every day.” Which son did David mourn for? Amnon? Or Absalom? Most likely, David mourned for both sons. The text continues: “After Absalom fled and went to Geshur, he stayed there three years. And the spirit of the king longed to go to Absalom, for he was consoled concerning Amnon's death” (2 Samuel 13:37-39).

There are a lot of details to this story in 2 Samuel 14. Eventually the text describes that reunion between David and Absalom. Second Samuel 14:33 informs us that “…the king summoned Absalom, and he came in and bowed down with his face to the ground before the king. And the king kissed Absalom.”

Now that Absalom was back in Jerusalem he had the potential to exert great influence over the people. Keep in mind, Absalom was a very attractive and charismatic man. The Bible describes him in this way: “In all Israel there was not a man so highly praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom. From the top of his head to the sole of his foot there was no blemish in him” (2 Samuel 14:25).

Now picture this handsome, young man positioned near the city gate. Visitors would come to the city and their first impression would be very favorable for they would be greeted by Absalom.

When Absalom asked, “So what brings you to the city?” the visitor would explain some injustice that he came to resolve. Absalom would listen with great empathy. Then he would reply, “‘Look, your claims are valid and proper, but there is no representative of the king to hear you.’ And Absalom would add, ‘If only I were appointed judge in the land! Then everyone who has a complaint or case could come to me and I would see that he gets justice” (2 Samuel 1:3-4).

People would leave saying, “If only Absalom were king. Then this country wouldn’t be in such a mess.”

King Absalom—it sounded so sweet to Absalom. For four years Absalom planted these seeds of rebellion, subtly undermining his father’s leadership. Scripture records that “he stole the hearts of the men of Israel” (2 Samuel 15:6). Like a chess master, Absalom manipulated all the pieces in preparation to strike the king.

When Absalom sensed the time was right, he left Jerusalem to go to Hebron. It was time to go public with the revolt. He sent messengers throughout Israel to say, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpets, say, ‘Absalom is king in Hebron.’” (2 Samuel 15:10). The revolution was born and as verse 12 says “…the conspiracy gained strength, and Absalom’s following kept on increasing.”

Back at the palace, King David was uneasy. He knew that Absalom was a volatile personality, capable of murder. So David evacuated the palace and scrambled for his life. “The king set out,” the text tells us, “with his entire household following him; but he left ten concubines to take care of the palace” (2 Samuel 15:16).

“Meanwhile, Absalom and all the men of Israel came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him” (2 Samuel 16:15).

Ahithophel was the former adviser for King David. In an act of betrayal against the king, Ahithophel suggested a way to publicly humiliate David by giving this advice to Absalom: “‘Lie with your father's concubines whom he left to take care of the palace. Then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself a stench in your father's nostrils, and the hands of everyone with you will be strengthened.’ So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he lay with his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel” (2 Samuel 16:21-22).

Next, Absalom sets out with 12,000 men to hunt down David. The long-haired rebel mounts his mule and gallops into the dark forest. This forest is so thick that the gnarled, twisted arms of trees stretch downward and sweep across the pathway. In his haste, Absalom does not notice the fork of a limb disguised by the shadows. Absalom snags his trademark mane in the crotch of that limb. He hangs there, unable to extricate himself. He twists and turns and dangles in the darkness.

Then, peering into the steamy night, he sees two eyes. Angry, bloodshot eyes. Is it a wild animal? Yes … and no.

“Hark, who goes there?” Absalom cries out.

“At last!” a man sneers. “I’ve got you, you good-for-nothing scoundrel.”

Absalom recognizes the voice of Joab, the general in King David’s army. “Please, Joab,” Absalom squirms. “I’ll call off the coup. Just spare my life.”

Joab advances. Perhaps in his mind he replays the anguish this kid has caused his father. He remembers David mourning for two years after Absalom murdered Amnon. He recounts David’s heartache caused by Absalom’s betrayal. And now it’s Joab’s turn for revenge.

“Please!” Absalom is frantic. “Joab, please!”

Second Samuel 18:14-15 tells us that Joab “…took three javelins in his hand and plunged them into Absalom's heart while Absalom was still alive in the oak tree. And ten of Joab's armor-bearers surrounded Absalom, struck him and killed him.”
Joab sounded the trumpet. The rebellion had at last been quashed. This was a day of great rejoicing. Men scrambled to be the first to share the great news with King David. His kingdom had been saved!

But when the news reached David, the king did not react as everyone expected. Listen now to some of the most poignant words in Scripture:

“The king was shaken. He went up to the room over the gateway and wept. As he went, he said: ‘O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you-O Absalom, my son, my son!’

“Joab was told, ‘The king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.’ And for the whole army the victory that day was turned into mourning, because on that day the troops heard it said, ‘The king is grieving for his son.’ The men stole into the city that day as men steal in who are ashamed when they flee from battle. The king covered his face and cried aloud, ‘O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!’” (2 Samuel 18:33-19:4)

Now David was not a perfect man—not by a long shot. He got a lot of things wrong—especially when it concerned his family life. And yet he is known as a man after God’s own heart. This reaction to his son’s death helps us to see this Godlike quality in David. In this instance, David gives us a snapshot of our heavenly Father. For you see, no matter how sordid your story, you have a Father in heaven who will never stop loving you. No matter how rebellious you have been, your Father in heaven loves you. You’ll never behave your way beyond God’s love. And if you should choose to reject God’s gracious offer of eternal life, there is a part of God’s heart that will weep throughout eternity over your soul.

Brennan Manning tells a wonderful story of an Irish priest who is traveling the countryside when he notices an old peasant sitting by the side of the road. When the priest gets closer he realizes that the peasant is praying and the priest is impressed. He says to the peasant “You must be quite close to God.”

The peasant looks up from his prayer, thinks for a moment and responds, “Yes, he is very fond of me.”

Do you know that God is very fond of you? He has chosen you. He is so fond of you that He died on a cross to cement a forever friendship with you.

So today, revel in that love. Rejoice in the Father’s feelings toward you. Savor the security of your Savior’s grace. I say it in every broadcast, but it really is true friend, God loves you.

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