Waking Up

January 27th, 2025

Waking Up

2 Samuel 15:7-17

7 And at the end of four years Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed to the Lord, in Hebron. 8 For your servant vowed a vow while I lived at Geshur in Aram, saying, ‘If the Lord will indeed bring me back to Jerusalem, then I will offer worship to the Lord.’” 9 The king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he arose and went to Hebron. 10 But Absalom sent secret messengers throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then say, ‘Absalom is king at Hebron!’” 11 With Absalom went two hundred men from Jerusalem who were invited guests, and they went in their innocence and knew nothing. 12 And while Absalom was offering the sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counselor, from his city Giloh. And the conspiracy grew strong, and the people with Absalom kept increasing.

13 And a messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel have gone after Absalom.” 14 Then David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise, and let us flee, or else there will be no escape for us from Absalom. Go quickly, lest he overtake us quickly and bring down ruin on us and strike the city with the edge of the sword.” 15 And the king's servants said to the king, “Behold, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king decides.” 16 So the king went out, and all his household after him. And the king left ten concubines to keep the house. 17 And the king went out, and all the people after him. And they halted at the last house.

Grasping for the Kingdom

After four years of working his plan, Absalom goes to see the king. He appears both submissive and religious, asking permission to go worship at Hebron. David once saw through smokescreens like this. But though the text keeps calling him “King,” he hasn’t acted like one for ten years. David never leaves home, he has no clue what’s going on, and he now believes the sixth false story fed to him since chapter twelve. He has checked out from godly responsibility, all because he can’t move forward after his sin.

Meanwhile, Absalom has thought of everything. Hebron is Abraham’s town, and the site of David’s coronation. He surrounds himself with Jerusalem’s two hundred leading citizens, and coordinates the tribes to declare him king at the trumpet blast. He even recruits David’s chief advisor, a man so wise that people said, “the voice of Ahithophel is the voice of God.” His counsel is right 100% of the time! Why does Ahithophel join this conspiracy? He has a son named Eliam, who has a daughter named Bathsheba. David wrecked Ahithophel’s family ten years ago. Absalom knows all the right levers. Finally, once every piece is in place, Absalom reaches out to grasp the Kingdom.

The Plan God Honors

His plan impresses us—but is this how David became King? By conspiracies? Sowing division? Manipulation and lies? Violent rebellion? No. David refused to exalt himself, or to take the Kingdom through ungodly means. He knew that God could make him king without his resorting to the tools of the flesh. And if God didn’t want him to be king, David wanted no part of it. Young David focused on character and faithfulness, for a very long time. He humbled himself under God’s mighty hand and at the proper time, God exalted him. In the long run, that is the plan God always honors (Prov 6:16–19).

Every Domino Falls

But back at the palace, a messenger tells David that, “The hearts of the men of Israel have gone after Absalom (13).” David once had the people’s hearts; now his own son has stolen them. It stuns him. Then, it’s as if he sees every domino of the past eleven years falling: his own sin and retreat from life. Amnon’s rape of Tamar; David’s failure to respond. Absalom’s revenge; David’s bitterness. Absalom’s conspiracy; David’s apathy. It’s so obvious now! How could I let this happen?

Calling on God

How does David respond to the awful news? When he heard of Amnon’s murder, he just collapsed in the floor, sobbing (13:31). Not this time. After eleven years of sleepwalking, David wakes up and starts acting like a king. He knows that if he stays in Jerusalem, Absalom will burn this whole city to the ground. To save Jerusalem, he must flee. He’s thinking like a king again, laying down his own life for God’s people. He talks like a king again: issuing orders, and finding servants ready to obey. He also believes like the king. He leaves ten concubines behind to keep house. It turns out to be a strategic mistake, but it also tells us that in this dark hour, he expects God to bring him back. Maybe that old Davidic covenant still works! The next five chapters comprise the most painful period of David’s life, but they also bring about his spiritual recovery. He starts talking about God, calling on God, writing psalms to God. Pain can do that.

Twice we read, “the king went out (16, 17).” We remember when he conquered Jerusalem (5:6–10), and danced into the city before the Ark (6:14). Now he must flee: out the eastern gate, across the brook Kidron, up the Mount of Olives, and into the wilderness—all to save the people. Come to think of it, that sounds a lot like another King I know (John 18:1). Maybe David’s story isn’t over just yet.

FOR THE NEXT INSTALLMENT, SEE:

Does This Old Thing Still Work?