“Absalom’s sister had been raped by a half-brother, and David did nothing about it other than get angry. For two years, that offense – a raped sister and a father’s inaction – festered as Absalom plotted revenge. Echoing David’s pattern of sexual sin followed by murder, Absalom responded to Amnon’s sin by killing him. But his rage continued to simmer throughout the years of exile, return, and alienation from his father. Eventually it boiled over into rebellion, with Absalom exploiting discontent among the people, sleeping with his father’s harem in open view, and mustering an army to kill him. Just as Nathan had prophesied (2 Samuel 12:9-12), the king’s house was ripped apart by the sword. A son of David clearly saw his own father as unfit to rule.

Why did Absalom’s rage grow to such extremes? Unlike Nathan, who had confronted David about his sin, David did not confront his son Amnon about his sin. And when Absalom took matters into his own hands, David grieved the loss of Amnon but passively allowed Absalom to go into exile and then return without reengaging in the relationship. If Absalom could have seen ahead to how deeply his father would grieve his death (2 Samuel 18:33), his fury might have been calmed. But a father’s love expressed only in retrospect heals no wounds. Absalom was offended and bitter, and David did little to ease his pain.“— Taken from NIV Life Appilcation Study Bible

Such was the blindside of the man after God’s own heart, yet covenant and grace met the undeserving! May we receive grace and have the courage to face up to and correct our errors, knowing that the unaddressed failure of today lays the foundation for a legacy of sorrow, death and tears (see the story of Hezekiah and Manasseh).

“In Their Steps
David seemed to feel regrets acutely, but he was far less sensitive about avoiding them in the first place. The man who led a nation skillfully (Psalm 78:72) often failed miserably at leading his own family. Of all his children, Absalom and his sister were most affected by their father’s passivity, and they never recovered from their wounds. They are a stark warning to every great leader that true effectiveness begins at home.“— Taken from NIV Life Appilcation Study Bible

Oh man of God, truly called, know that your call draws weighty accountability that demands grace for continuous introspection! Selah.



Pastor Afolabi Oladele