Sat.’s Devo - Absalom Rebels

Read: 2 Samuel 14:1-15:22; John 18:1-24; Psalm 119:97-112; Proverbs 16:8-9 It had been three years since Absalom killed Amnon. David was longing to see Absalom but couldn’t bring himself to reach out and invite him back. Joab perceived that David needed some help so he sent a wise woman to pretend she had a similar situation. When she presented her story, he had compassion for her son that had killed his brother and promised her that nothing would happen to him. She turned the story on David and asked him why he couldn’t do the same with his son. That was the nudge that David needed. He asked her if Joab had put her up to doing this and she confessed it was. David called in Joab and told him to go to Geshur and bring Absoalom back. He told him that Absalom could live in Jerusalem but never see his face. Absalom was the most handsome man in all Israel and had three sons and one daughter named Tamar. He had named his daughter after his sister that Amnon raped. She was asbeautiful as her namesake. Two years went by and Absalom got tired of being ignored by David so he sent for Joab. Joab also ignored him so he set fire to Joab’s field which did get his attention. He finally got an audience with his father. Absalom must have felt empowered after seeing David because he bough a chariot and horses and hired 50 body-guards to run ahead of him. He would go to the gate of the city where legal business was done and campaign for himself. He stole the people’s hearts. He did this for four years. When he felt he had enough support, he went to Hebron and proclaimed himself the king of Israel. Word got back to David of what Absalom had done and how many followers he had. He and all his household fled the palace. Six hundred of the men who left with David were Philistines from Gath. He told their leader to return to the palace and take care of himself and his men. He had no idea what home he could offer them. The leader, Itti, refused to leave David so David let him come with him. Jesus was betrayed by one of his own also. His betrayer was Judas Iscariot. When they came to arrest Jesus, he stepped forward and said, I AM he. When he said this, the men fell to the ground. Peter jumped up to defend Jesus with his sword and cut off the ear of Malchus, the high priest’s slave. Jesus put the ear back and told Peter to put his sword away. It was not time for swords. Jesus was first taken to Annas, the father-in-law of Caiphas, the high priest. Peter followed behind but John was allowed in because he knew the high priest. Jesus went inside to tell the truth, while Peter stood outside denying the truth. They didn’t like Jesus’ answer so they sent him to Caiphas. Lord, we know that in this world there will be tribulation. Help us to remember that you have overcome the world.