“Avshalom fled and went to Talmai the son of ‘Ammihud, king of G’shur. David mourned for his son every day. So Avshalom fled, went to G’shur and stayed there three years. But as King David became reconciled to the death of his son Amnon, he was increasingly filled with longing to see Avshalom.”-2 Samuel 13:37-38
Boy, when the Lord told David, “the sword shall never leave your house”…
He sure wasn’t kidding.
His son had just committed murder.
And who did he murder?
Another of his sons!
It was one son (Avishalom) slaughtering another (Amnon).
After killing Amnon, Avshalom knew he couldn’t just waltz right back into his father’s life as if nothing had happened.
He had to distance himself from the king for a while.
That wasn’t the only trouble he was facing.
Amnon’s side of the family would now be out for Avshalom’s blood.
Let’s not underestimate the gravity of what’s just happened here.
Avishalom has just instigated the murder of the crown prince!
He has wiped out David’s firstborn son…
And the heir to the throne of Israel.
As tragic as what happened to Tamar was…
This was a helluva lot more serious than rape!
So Absalom knew he had to flee and flee fast.
We’re told he escaped to his mama’s hometown, a place called Geshur.
There, he would be protected by the king (his grandfather).
Remember, we’re dealing with oriental culture here, folks.
They exact blood revenge in inscrutable ways that are sometimes lost on us Westerners.
Onward.
After several months of mourning had come and gone, David had finally resigned himself to the fact that his firstborn son was gone and would never come back.
Afterward, we’re told “he was increasingly filled with longing to see Avshalom.”
To say that David was feeling conflicted would be the understatement of the century.
He longed for his son.
Yet that son was the same person who had murdered his other son.
Boy, I’d hate to be David in this situation.
Imagine the daily torment in his soul.
Can you see how sin can wreak so much devastation in one’s life?
Just as everyone expected Amnon to succeed the throne after his father, they assumed Avshalom was next in line.
A couple of difficult questions were lingering in the air.
Would David be able to forgive Absalom for killing Amnon?
But more than that, was his own life safe from Absalom’s ruthless, and let’s face it, murderous tendencies?
This was a man who had ordered his servants to kill his brother.
Who’s to say he wouldn’t hesitate to do the same thing to David?
Again, we’re firmly ensconced in oriental land here, folks.
Taking blood revenge on family members was as common as goats at a village gate.
Alrighty, let’s stop and switch over to the takeaway.
What hits me today is how crazy people get when consumed by worldly lust.
This whole mess David’s in started because he saw one attractive woman and let his desire spiral out of control.
The same could be said for his son Amnon.
Amnon fell madly in lust with Tamar, and he just couldn’t let go.
Then Absalom had Amnon slaughtered as revenge for him raping his sister…
But driving that vengeance was also a lust to take the throne and become Israel’s next king.
From the perspective of eternity, can you see how ridiculous we humans are?
It reminds me of one time when I was a little kid.
I was at a department store with my dad.
I saw a water gun toy I wanted and asked my dad to buy it for me.
He said no.
I completely freaked out like it was the end of the world.
I started crying and screaming, and begging my dad to get it for me.
He would not give in.
I kept up my retarded tantrum.
Even during the drive back home, I was sulking the whole time.
Fast forward to today…
When I look back at my ridiculous outburst over a simple little water gun, I feel like such an idiot.
But here’s the thing.
This is EXACTLY how we act today over our adult versions of “toy water guns.”
We lust after money, sex, and status like a bunch of baboons drooling and fighting over a cluster of bananas.
So you didn’t get the promotion.
The girl or guy you wanted went with someone else.
A big business deal fell through.
Look, when these things happen, it hurts.
It’s a punch in the gut for sure.
I get it, man.
But in the light of eternity…
Big whoopee frickin’ deal!
When we’re chilling in the new Jerusalem and chomping down on falafel sandwiches topped with copious amounts of hummus…
We’re gonna look back at all the things we fussed and fretted over…
And realize just how pointless it all was.
Ya feel me?
Alrighty, gotta get back to work now.
Done.
NEXT TIME WE BEGIN 2 SAMUEL CHAPTER 14
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