#460 Taking Up or Running Away

And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds over them.

2 And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also.

3 But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but now thou art worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better that thou succour us out of the city.

4 And the king said unto them, What seemeth you best I will do. And the king stood by the gate side, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands.

5 And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.

6 So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim;

7 Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men.

8 For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.

9 And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away.

10 And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.

11 And Joab said unto the man that told him, And, behold, thou sawest him, and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground? and I would have given thee ten shekels of silver, and a girdle.

12 And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in mine hand, yet would I not put forth mine hand against the king's son: for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom.

13 Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood against mine own life: for there is no matter hid from the king, and thou thyself wouldest have set thyself against me.

14 Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.

15 And ten young men that bare Joab's armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.

16 And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people.

17 And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him: and all Israel fled every one to his tent.

18 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which is in the king's dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name: and it is called unto this day, Absalom's place.

19 Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that the Lord hath avenged him of his enemies.

20 And Joab said unto him, Thou shalt not bear tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day: but this day thou shalt bear no tidings, because the king's son is dead.

21 Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran.

22 Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But howsoever, let me, I pray thee, also run after Cushi. And Joab said, Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings ready?

23 But howsoever, said he, let me run. And he said unto him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran Cushi.

24 And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone.

25 And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he be alone, there is tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near.

26 And the watchman saw another man running: and the watchman called unto the porter, and said, Behold another man running alone. And the king said, He also bringeth tidings.

27 And the watchman said, Me thinketh the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He is a good man, and cometh with good tidings.

28 And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king, All is well. And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king, and said, Blessed be the Lord thy God, which hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king.

29 And the king said, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king's servant, and me thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was.

30 And the king said unto him, Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still.

31 And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king: for the Lord hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee.

32 And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is.

33 And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son! 2 Samuel 18 KJV

Josephus writes of this accumulating force, as approximately 4 thousand men, but this is better than the 600 of his guard. It is still a small army in comparison to Israel, divided up in companies of a third. David wants to go with them this time, when he sent out larger forces before, he was of a mind to stay home. That did not go so well since he indulged his passions rather than his office, his call. This time, when it is ugly and they are outnumbered, it probably feels awkward to stay away from the contest. This is where those that rule must really learn to listen, for passion is not the same as sound reason. Let those that can do, lest you be a burden to them and in their way. He is not the young warrior that he use to be, and his life is now precious to them as the king, it would be a distraction in the field. I have often thought how few wars there might be if kings had to go to the front, but that will not be, and what good would it do if others lose a wicked king, there are billions that may take his place. A good king is difficult replace. Put aside your pride, your own honor, think of the kingdom, the overall good, and clean out your own house. Humble yourself before God, acknowledging the frailty of rule, of your life and choose the most righteous of men to go before you. 

Deal gently with my son for my sake. I disagree with David here, but I see it also as a type to which I am grateful, since I hated God, did not believe in God, and mocked His Son for a time myself. God's Son said, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do." David may have hope against reason that his son may change if he is shown mercy again, but he has already been shown such, has pissed all over his father's grace, and worse, has defied the only wise God. It is wrong as the ruler of the nation to not secure first the safety of the nation, to put above those that fight for you, he who hates kindness and loves only himself. What Christian is out there teaching that you will not lose friend, family, culture or other for the gospel's sake? He is no friend of Christ that would say this. Our battle is a different one than this here, it is not against flesh and blood as we watch this unfold, but against feelings, emotions and all else that would take our hearts  away from the truth. Absalom runs but is caught in the branches of a tree, and cursed is everyone who hangs from a tree, let it be noted for all rebellious children to come, for every parent that puts their child's affection above the words of God. See how Absalom is made an example of, how the mighty are lifted up in the end, those that serve themselves and desire men's shoulders, look, there he is. Have you taught your kids today about their pride, have you humbled yourself before God, in front of your children, acknowledging that you are in need of God's mercy and grace yourself? Do you find it more important for them to fit in with the world than to know the Word's of God? Is it funny to you, their arrogance, their disrespect of others, that they make fun of those who God created? Is it better to you that they know how to talk trash or how to pray? I am screaming at myself more than I am even talking to anyone else, but as much as I should apologize for, this I should not. We are all born rebellious and think light of what it actually takes to reconcile us to Holiness. David could not offer up a sacrifice of all the kingdom of Israel that would save his son from God's eternal judgment. There is no appeasing God, and maybe that is where we cannot come to see eye to eye, for in the heart of every man there is first this desire to stand on his own two feet, to write his own terms.

They find Absalom, and Joab comes to find his men standing there, staring at the spectacle. None are willing to finish him because of the words of the king, and Joab rebukes them for it, I think for the sake of Israel and the disrespect. He says he would have rewarded the man that killed him, but it would only have allowed him what he wanted without blood on his own hands. The soldier rightly refrains and corrects Joab, for as much as he should liked to have seen Absalom run through, he would have been the sword of the king against the one who killed him. If David told him to punish the man that killed his son, then the promotion and the silver would mean little. Joab throws his darts, and I don't know that it is good here that he defied the king, but I know that it is good that Absalom is no longer a threat to Israel. He hugged and kissed his way to the throne, won the hearts of the people with fluff, but all he wanted was their worship, power, to elevate himself. 

It is over, and what monuments to ourselves really matter, what rocks don't weather over time? Paint whatever portrait you like, but how does He Who sees without error, see me? Cushi is sent to give the report, but he who is light of feet and a priest possibly thinks that he should go also. Maybe he thinks that he can deafen the blow, or that he can point David to God, and where his most grateful and humble affection should be. Maybe he is just this excited or wants to run. Maybe he as the priest he would like to cushion the blow that could befall the bearer of bad news, to protect Cushi. I don't know, but he shrinks from saying anything of the fate of Absalom, and Cushi is left the weight which he handles well. May all the kings enemies be as your son is now. Regardless of the relation, he had decided to be David's enemy. It is sad, and David is like us in the infirmities of our own minds, but like he said of the one before, I cannot bring him back. He was outwardly beautiful, but God looks at the heart, and the outside withers like the grass. God, let me say, no matter how I feel, blessed be the name of the Lord. I have not deserved your grace, let me not despise it then, don't let me live or die ignorant of you. Your name be lifted up, Your word above all thoughts of men. Praise the name of Jesus.

When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.

59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. Acts 7: 54-60