Day 6

TREACHERY!

"...so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel." 2 Sam. 15:6

Jonathan's loyalty and integrity when he stood to gain by acting against his father is all the more impressive when we compare it with the behaviour of David's son Absalom.

Absalom was a favourite son, loved, spoilt and clearly used to getting his own way. Everything went reasonably smoothly until his half brother Amnon abused Absalom's sister Tamar and brought disgrace to her (2 Sam. 13). Instead of demanding justice from his father the king Absalom took the law into his own hands and had Amnon killed, having lied to David to achieve his aim. When David discovered this Absalom went into exile fro three years (v38). David longed to go to him (v39) and Joab set about reconciling them (2 Sam. 14).

Absalom's reinstatement was a dreadful error. Despite his profession of love for his father (2 Sam. 14:33) he set out to undermine and overthrow him (2 Sam. 15). Incredibly he succeeded and David was made to flee (v13,14). Eventually the king was forced to act but even them his will was weakened by his blind love (2 Sam. 18:5) and when Absalom died David was shattered (2 Sam. 18:33).

The people were drawn to Absalom as others had been to Saul (1 Sam. 11:23,24 & 2 Sam. 14:25,26). Was Absalom's action a repeat of that first act of defiance (Isaiah 14:12-20)? What made him act as he did? Why was he so different to Jonathan?

Were the fathers responsible for the characters and actions of their sons? Are we responsible for the actions and attitudes of those around us? Study Paul's words in 1 Cor. 10:23-33.