2 Samuel 18:9-18 – The Downfall of Absalom
As is the case throughout the story of Absalom, God doesn’t intervene dramatically. Absalom isn’t struck by lightning. There’s just a ‘chance’ meeting in v9. Absalom ‘happened’ to meet the servants of David. But of course, God is overruling it all. Absalom doubtless tries to get away, and suddenly his head is caught fast in an oak tree. Now it would be possible to understand this as meaning that Absalom got his head stuck between a fork in a branch, or between two branches. So what the image most of us probably have in our minds is of Absalom hanging from his hair by a tree. Is that just a bit of over-imagination? Not necessarily. The word ‘head’ can be used to mean hair. For example back in chapter 14, when we were told about Absalom cutting his hair because it was heavy on him, the word ‘hair’ isn’t actually used the first time we’re told about it, just the word ‘head’. It is a natural way to understand it, that the thing Absalom took pride in becomes his downfall. The thing he gloried in, became a curse for him. This is surely a warning that if we glory in God’s gifts, but refuse to acknowledge God, and if we use them to promote our glory rather than his, then those very gifts may prove our downfall.
Absalom in his pride had also built a monument to himself. We read about it in v18. But actually he ends up with a second monument – a very great heap of stones over the pit that contains his lifeless body. He wanted to be remembered, and he is remembered alright. But he’s remembered as the man who tried to remove God’s king from the throne. And there was a massive pile of stones in the middle of a forest as a reminder of where that got him.
Questions
- What happens to Absalom?
- What was his memorial?
Prayer Points
- Pray that we would seek God’s glory in all the gifts He has given us.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.