2 Samuel 13:20-39 – Absalom: Hatred Without Restraint
Absalom certainly subscribed to the idea that revenge is a dish best served cold. Two whole years pass. It looks like he’s perhaps ready to let it go, that he’ll take his cue from his father and just leave it. Yet the thought of ignoring what’s been done to his sister doesn’t cross Absalom’s mind. For those two years he’s been planning, waiting, calculating. And then when the moment arrives, he executes his plan. It’s a horrible echo – an ugly parody – of Joshua’s words in Joshua 1.9: ‘Do not fear; have I not commanded you? Be courageous and be valiant’. And Amnon is struck down.
We think: Isn’t Absalom a cold, calculating killer! And he is! But he’s not as different from us as we might think. Because what were we like before we were Christians? Paul reminds us in Titus 3:3: ‘For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.’ For most of us that hatred hasn’t spilled over into actual murder. But Jesus says that whoever hates his brother will be liable to judgement. So whether we have done the same deed as Absalom or not, we all share his nature. And our only hope is in the goodness and loving kindness of God, who saves us, not because of works done in righteousness, but according to his own mercy.
Questions
- How long does Absalom wait?
- What were we like before God in his mercy changed our hearts?
Prayer Points
- Pray for the salvation of family and friends.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.