Today's reading is 2 Samuel 14-18
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| David was undecided or ignoring the problem. |
There are many questions surrounding why David refused to see Absalom in 2 Samuel 14. For many the idea that if David had gone to see him rather than leave him in exile then perhaps the rebellion that Absalom cooked up would never have taken place. The truth is it is all conjecture. We can only guess. Some see David’s heart as being toward Absalom in anger others interpret it as love. It is possible that the ruse Joab set up was to give David a legal reason to allow Absalom back. As one commentary put it, David “desired to see him (Absalom), but was ashamed to show kindness to one whom God’s law and his own conscience obliged him to punish; and wanted a fair pretense, which therefore Joab gave him.”[1]
Whatever the reason David's decision to do nothing for two years after allowing Absalom’s return probably added to the resentment Absalom felt. It is very likely that the continued lack of response to what was going on in David's household laid the groundwork for Absalom’s rebellion.
Looking at this chapter, I am reminded again that ignoring an issue only adds to the problem.
A final note, when talking about Absalom the scriptures here indicate that he was a handsome man. There seems to be a pride that Absalom has in his own beauty, which may have been the ultimate factor in his decision to try and take over the kingdom. Pride scripture teaches comes before a fall, and it does seem Absalom had his fair share of it.
[1]Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary. Accessed on 3/19/18. http://biblehub.com/commentaries/jfb/2_samuel/14.htm
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