2 Samuel 18:19-19:8 – David’s Disproportionate Love
In the second half of the chapter, through to the first part of chapter 19, David is the winner – but he acts like the loser. What stops David acting like the king he should have been is his inordinate affection for his rebellious son. His desire for Absalom to stay alive seems to be the only thing that matters to him. We can understand David’s love for his son. Yes, Absalom had grown into a wicked man. But he was still David’s son. We can’t be unmoved as we hear David lamenting over Absalom. Yet as a result of David’s uncontrolled grief, we’re told in chapter 19 verse 3 that the people were ashamed – when they shouldn’t have been ashamed. God had given them a great victory. But they were acting as if it was a defeat. Because David was acting as if it was a defeat.
Joab speaks boldly in the opening verses of chapter 19, but he speaks the truth. Joab recognises that David has had a hard life. But if David doesn’t pull himself together and start treating those who love him better than those who hate him, he will lose his kingdom. And David, to his credit, listens to him. But it was a close thing. David had been very close to losing his kingdom in chapter 17. But here he’s as close if not closer to losing it, and if he had, it would have been completely self-inflicted. We can’t fault David for continuing to love his rebellious son, and for being crushed by his death. But his inordinate love – his disproportionate love – for a son in rebellion against God is affecting his decision making. He’s no longer doing what is best for the kingdom. Remember that twenty thousand people died that day. Think of all those bereaved families. All those mothers who had sons go off to battle and never come home. It all happened because Absalom decided to rebel against God and his king. In fact if David had done what needed to be done earlier, if he had ensured that Absalom had faced capital punishment for the murder of his brother, even if he’d simply ensured Absalom had stayed in exile, none of this would have happened. But for years now, David’s undue, disproportionate love for his son has clouded his judgement. It’s made him weak. And it almost loses him the kingdom. And at the end of the day, Absalom still dies.
Question
- What is the danger here?
Prayer Points
- Pray that we would not put love of family before love of God.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.