Absalom (2 Samuel 18:24-33)
Rev. David French
12/14/22

Parents make a lot sacrifices for their children. Parents will sacrifice time, money, and sleep to provide the best they can for their children. Sacrifices come in all sizes. A dad might skip the last piece of his favorite dessert leaving it for his child who loves it just as much. A mom might give up a career because that’s what is best for her family. When I was 12, I had a fishhook go through my eye, and I still can hear my father asking the surgeon if he could give me one of his eyes. 

David, the father of Absalom, wished that he could have died in his son’s place. But the story of this father and son ultimately points us to the love of our heavenly Father and the ultimate sacrifice He made so that we can be saved from the curse of death we all bear. 

The story told in 2 Samuel reveals the wickedness of mankind—all of mankind. This story reveals the heart of sinners who God calls His children. 

Some context: King David had nineteen sons from several different wives. Amnon was the first-born son of David and was in line to be king. But he lusted after his half-sister, Tamar. Pretending to be sick so he could be cared for by her; when alone, he forces himself on her then blames her. She goes away to hide in shame. When King David heard of this, he was angry, but does nothing to punish Amnon. 

Absalom, a full brother of Tamar, was infuriated with Amnon and angry at David for not pursuing justice for Tamar. For two years, Absalom plotted against Amnon until eventually, Absalom had Amnon murdered, then exiles himself.

Jump ahead three years. Joab, the captain of King David’s army, convinces David to bring Absalom back to Jerusalem because he knows that David misses him. But when Absalom returns, he begins to plot again. Clearly, he had not forgiven his father. Using both his noted good looks and charisma, Absalom steals the hearts of the men of Israel by building himself up at David’s expense. Absalom did this day after day for four years, until one day, he just up and leaves Jerusalem. Soon after, questionable messengers arrive announcing, “Absalom has been made king at Hebron!” Because of all the seeds of deception Absalom had patiently sown for years, thousands of Israelites soon join the rebellion.

Meanwhile, David fled from Jerusalem to spare her citizens from the bloodshed of a battle when Absalom moved in to take the throne. David then summoned those loyal to himself and amassed a great army. As the battle drew near, David stayed behind but instructed his army, for his sake, to deal gently with Absalom. He still loved his son, still wanted to show him mercy. 

On the day of battle, David’s army defeated Absalom’s. As Absalom attempted to flee to the forest, his mule went under some trees and his hair got caught in the branches so that Absalom was left hanging there. When Joab found Absalom, he ignored the words of David and thrust three javelins into the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the tree. The reporting of this news and David’s response is what we heard in our reading today. When he heard of Absalom’s death, David wept and said, “O Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!” Here ends this tragic father-son story. 

Now I don’t believe you’re naive enough to think that the only thing you have in common with Absalom is good looks. Certainly, when God looks at believers, He sees Christ’s robe of righteousness. But God doesn’t stop there. God looks into our hearts. And in our hearts, you and I are just as deceitful and rebellious as Absalom and as every other sinner found in this story. Like Absalom, we rebel against our heavenly Father each and every day when we put ourselves on the throne of our hearts and attempt to run our own lives.

Unlike David, God is a perfect Father, and He has told us what is good and right. But in our selfish pride, we have chosen not to listen and have declared war on God’s will. Absalom was a son of the king with privilege and power, but he decided that wasn’t enough. He wanted to be king. And we desire the same thing. Whenever we break any of the Ten Commandments, we also break the first one by placing our own desires above God’s will. 

God identified Absalom as someone who was cursed for his sin by allowing him to hang from that tree. As God’s Law declares in Deuteronomy 21, “A hanged man is cursed by God.” You and I deserve the same punishment for our rebellion. Because of our sin, we also are cursed and should expect the wrath of God. Yet because of His great love, God sent His only begotten, the true Son of David, to become a curse for you by hanging from a different tree to make you an heir of His heavenly kingdom. 

Like David, God is a merciful king who does not want you to die, despite your rebellion against Him. For you, God cries out like David, “O My children, My children! Would I had died instead of you, O My children!” But our God made the substitution that David could only hope for. To save you and me from the curse of death, God took on flesh and blood and became the son of a human being, the true Son of David, in who no sin or rebellion could be found, to carry out His promise that David’s kingdom would be established forever. 

And as the Son of David, Jesus also hung from a tree, the cross—and a spear was thrust into Him. Paul refers back to Deuteronomy 21 and connects it to the cross in Galatians 3:13 where he writes, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse. For it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs from a tree.’” Jesus became cursed for you. He died the death you deserved. He who knew no sin became sin for you so that you might become His own. 

That’s the sacrifice your heavenly Father was willing to make for you, His rebellious child. No matter how far you stray, no matter how violently you rebel, no matter how often you attempt to remove Him from the throne of your heart, God will always love you and is ready to forgive you for the sake of the One who hung on the tree in your place. Through Jesus, the true Son of David and King of the universe, you are a forgiven and eternally loved child of God, and you have a place in His kingdom forever. Amen.