2 Samuel 15 – 19

Verse 14:15 sets the stage for today’s reading:

David could see now that he had been outmaneuvered, so he called for his advisors in Jerusalem and instructed them.

David: Gather your things, and let’s flee from the city right now, or we won’t escape Absalom’s revolt. Hurry, or he will catch us and kill us and anyone left in the city.

David’s son Absalom was leading a revolt and instead of fighting, David retreats. I find it interesting that when David is challenged by outsiders, he fights, but when it comes from within either from his king Saul or his son Absalom he runs. David respects God to the point he will accept whatever is thrown at him. This is a virtue that we all should learn, since most of us tend to “buck up” and fight when challenged. Often times this resistance is just what we need to get back on track.

I believe also this is a sign of David’s dysfunctional family. He loves God enough to pursue Him, but somehow forgot to raise a family in the process. It appears that Bathsheba was just a byproduct of this problem and not the reason.

Verse 18:33 is a result of what happened when David found out about Absalom’s death:

Then the king was stricken with grief. He went to a chamber over the gateway and wept as he went.

David: O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!

David had a similar response when he discovered Saul was dead, in both cases these men were hunting David down to kill him. Interestingly, Joab, the man who killed Absalom confessed what he had done and accepted any punishment, including death. David showed mercy and did not have Joab put to death.

Now the end of chapter 19 starts showing the kingdom starting to split as Israel and Judah are already considered separate. I wonder if this has always been going on since Saul’s death and I assume it’s because David came from the tribe of Judah and therefore they remained loyal. So where many assume the split was with David’s infidelity, it was going on before David became king.