No 6.THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL Absolom’s Banishment.

After Amnon’s brutal death, Absolom fled in the opposite direction, to the northeast of Geshur, the Kingdom of the northeast of Israel, where his mother’s father ruled as King.

Immediately King David issued a decree that the murderer of his son Amnon must remain in Geshur as an exile, forbidden to come home again. It was an appropriate action.

As time passed, David’s heart yearned for his beautiful son Absolom. All the good memories concerning him flooded his mind. In whom else could David see such grace and bearing of Absolom?

Besides, Amnon could never be recovered, and Absolom seemed as good as dead!

David, the ruler of many nations, paced his rooftop gardens, sad and distracted. He built a booth on the palace roof to stay there even in the rain and the hot noonday sun alone with his troubled memories. He was depressed.

Isn’t that what we do when we are depressed? We isolate ourselves from those who care, and self-pity monopolizes our thoughts.

Joab thought nothing for appearances except when they betrayed hidden truths! Then in these later months, he could not help to observe changes in the King’s demeanor.

David’s hair was almost white; his eyes took on a dull, half-lidded, tired, and droopy look. The King seemed thinner and weaker. He wasn’t eating well, for he spent more and more time on the roof.

David was grieving more for his banished son Absolom, than for his murdered son, Amnon. The Kingdom was now in compromise, and somebody needed to do something. So Joab took it upon himself to devise a plan to bring Absolom home to his father.

To get a detailed account of Joab’s plan, it would help if you read the 2nd book of Samuel, chapter 16. He chose a wise woman and dressed her as a woman in mourning, then sent her to the King with a carefully constructed speech.

It was successful because, toward the end of the lesson, she spoke the truth! Corrected, David could tell the speech was the words of Joab and not her own.

So David reversed his former decree and allowed Joab to bring Absolom home. Defiantly he folded his arms and added, in a tone of bitterness, he said, “Let him dwell apart in his own house; he is: still banished from me, the King!”

Take note, dear reader:

NEVER USE REJECTION AS A FORM OF PUNISHMENT; ITS A CRUEL WEAPON.

For two years, David watched his son from a distance and continued his discipline by rejecting him. Absalom sent for Joab twice to ask him to intercede for him to the King. But Joab refused to come; he was over it!

Then Absalom ordered his servants to set Joab’s field on fire; it perished in flames. Joab was furious!

“Why did you do this?” he demanded.

Absalom stood there gorgeously robed in royal garments of blue, scarlet and purple, embroidered with gold, while Joab was, as a result of the fire, dressed in dark sooty clothes which clung to his wet body. Ash was sprinkled through his dark hair and beard, giving the appearance he had turned grey overnight!

Absalom replied,”Because I wanted you to ask the King why he brought me back from Geshur if he didn’t intend to see me. I might as well have stayed there.”Bring me into the presence of the King, and if there be any guilt in me, then let him kill me!”

So David broke his challenging pose and called Absolom to himself, and when the handsome man strode through the house’s main door, David could hardly contain himself; he ran toward Absolom and kissed him. “Oh, Absolom,” he said, as he embraced him, “oh my son, how have I missed you.”

Absolom slowly put his arms around his father and. half-hugged him. It was a mere formality; he still carried bitterness and resentment against him, due to David’s reluctance to discipline Amnon, for raping his sweet, innocent sister Tamar.

Absolom had named his daughter after Tamar as she also had an excellent appearance. This sin, now like cancer, spreads throughout the body and brings ultimate death to the sufferer.

Absolom, without knowing it plans his own demise. Roms 12:19 reads, “Vengeance belongs to Me, I will repay; says the Lord!” He has the power to deal with evildoers.

What should you do with such people?

God’s Word tells us:

1. “YOU BLESS AND CURSE NOT.”

2. “YOU DO NOT RENDER EVIL FOR EVIL.”

3. “YOU LEAVE JUDGMENT OVER TO GOD.”

4. DO NOT ALLOW EVIL TO CONQUER YOU;” YOU MUST CONQUER EVIL WITH GOOD.” Roms 12:21.

5. “YOU FORGIVE FROM YOUR HEART.”

6. “YOU DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN DO TO LIVE IN PEACE WITH ALL MEN.” Roms 12:18.

Pray. Lord Jesus, l forgive those who continually hurt me and place them into Your capable hands. You are my defense and protector. Thank you for hearing my prayer.

Amen

Amen.

To help me financially, you can donate through my email address. Thank you so much.

heatherdalzell777@gmail.com

You may like to share these studies with your friends. Press the share button. Comments are welcomed.

Additional studies are found on my website.

Google: Heather dalzell light in the darkness review. Press the menu, then blog. Scroll back for earlier studies.