rebellion

Willing to Wait on God

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13 And a messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel have gone after Absalom.” 14 Then David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise, and let us flee, or else there will be no escape for us from Absalom. Go quickly, lest he overtake us quickly and bring down ruin on us and strike the city with the edge of the sword.” 15 And the king’s servants said to the king, “Behold, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king decides.” 16 So the king went out, and all his household after him. And the king left ten concubines to keep the house. 17 And the king went out, and all the people after him. And they halted at the last house.

18 And all his servants passed by him, and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the six hundred Gittites who had followed him from Gath, passed on before the king. 19 Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why do you also go with us? Go back and stay with the king, for you are a foreigner and also an exile from your home. 20 You came only yesterday, and shall I today make you wander about with us, since I go I know not where? Go back and take your brothers with you, and may the Lord show steadfast love and faithfulness to you.” 21 But Ittai answered the king, “As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king shall be, whether for death or for life, there also will your servant be.” 22 And David said to Ittai, “Go then, pass on.” So Ittai the Gittite passed on with all his men and all the little ones who were with him. 23 And all the land wept aloud as all the people passed by, and the king crossed the brook Kidron, and all the people passed on toward the wilderness.

24 And Abiathar came up, and behold, Zadok came also with all the Levites, bearing the ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God until the people had all passed out of the city. 25 Then the king said to Zadok, “Carry the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me back and let me see both it and his dwelling place. 26 But if he says, ‘I have no pleasure in you,’ behold, here I am, let him do to me what seems good to him.” 27 The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Are you not a seer? Go back to the city in peace, with your two sons, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. 28 See, I will wait at the fords of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.” 29 So Zadok and Abiathar carried the ark of God back to Jerusalem, and they remained there. – 2 Samuel 15:13-29 ESV

It is difficult to read this text and not wonder why David, when he heard the news of Absalom’s coup, simply abandoned the city and refused to put up a fight. What would have caused the king to give up his kingdom so quickly and easily? Was he surrendering or just relocating his seat of government in case Absalom attacked the capital? Many of these questions remain unanswered because the text doesn’t elaborate. When David received the report, “The hearts of the men of Israel have gone after Absalom” (2 Samuel 15:13 ESV), he displayed no surprise; it is as if he had seen it coming. As obtuse as he could be at times, David wasn’t completely oblivious to Absalom’s plans. He also had personal experience with the fickle nature of the people of Israel, who were notorious for their willingness to change horses in midstream. Years earlier, he had witnessed how quickly they switched their allegiance from Saul to him, without batting an eye. Now, he saw it happening again. This time it was his son who had won the hearts of the people. So, David abandoned the capital, perhaps to prevent it from facing destruction in the event of a war.

But David’s words recorded in this passage reflect a certain amount of resignation. It was not as if he viewed this whole affair as a bump in the road. When addressing Ittai, the leader of the men from Gath, David told him, “Why are you coming with us? Go on back to King Absalom, for you are a guest in Israel, a foreigner in exile. You arrived only recently, and should I force you today to wander with us? I don’t even know where we will go” (2 Samuel 15:19-20 NLT). Those don’t sound like the words of an optimistic man. He was already referring to Absalom as the king and as if his abdication of the throne was a done deal. David appeared to have no idea where he was going or what he was going to do. The only evidence that he harbored any hope of returning to power was his decision to leave behind ten of his concubines to maintain the palace in his absence. But he had everyone else pack up and leave.

For the second time in his life, David found himself a man on the run. But this time he was not alone; he was accompanied by a host of followers and loyal subjects, including 600 Gittites. These professional soldiers were Philistine warriors who had abandoned their hometown of Gath and chosen to pledge their support to David. Due to the unstable nature of his situation and the fact that they had just recently arrived in Jerusalem, David suggested that they return home. But their leader refused, saying, “I vow by the Lord and by your own life that I will go wherever my lord the king goes, no matter what happens—whether it means life or death” (2 Samuel 15:21 NLT).

These Philistine mercenaries refused to abandon David in his time of need and chose to take their chances defending his honor and kingdom. As David and his retinue vacated the city, “Everyone cried loudly as the king and his followers passed by” (2 Samuel 15:23 NLT). He still had loyal subjects. Despite the effectiveness of Absalom’s smear campaign against him, some remained committed to David’s cause. Yet, they were brought to tears as they saw their beloved king surrendering his kingdom without a fight. The once-mighty warrior of whom they once sang, “Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands” (1 Samuel 18:7 ESV), was not only abandoning his throne but was leaving his people to the mercies of his unstable and vengeful son.

As David left, the Levites attempted to bring the Ark of the Covenant along, but David refused to let them do so. He allowed them to offer sacrifices but demanded that the Ark be returned to the city. This act provides additional evidence that David harbored some hope of returning to the city one day but it is accompanied by a certain degree of doubt.

“If the Lord sees fit,” David said, “he will bring me back to see the Ark and the Tabernacle again. But if he is through with me, then let him do what seems best to him.”  – 2 Samuel 15:25-26 NLT

David had no idea what was going to happen. He was operating in the dark, having received no word from God regarding the outcome of these events. As far as David knew, his kingship could be over. Then again, it could be yet another difficult reversal of fortune that God would one day remedy. David was not unfamiliar with these kinds of predicaments. All during his life, he had learned to view his circumstances through the lens of God’s faithfulness. Things didn’t always go as expected, but he knew that God was always there. Time and time again, David had seen God show up at just the right time and in the most unexpected ways. God had a track record of success with David that produced in him a growing sense of reliance. David did not fully understand the why behind Absalom’s actions, but he knew that his return to Jerusalem would have to be God’s will if it was going to happen at all.

David knew that if it was God’s will for Absalom to replace him as king, there was nothing he could do about it. If David had learned anything from his years of running from Saul, it was that all of Saul’s efforts to thwart God’s will had been a royal waste of time. Saul had repeatedly tried to take David’s life but failed every time because God’s will was irrevocable and unstoppable. He had ordained David to be the next king of Israel and there was nothing Saul could do about it. So, David knew that if it was God’s will to make Absalom king, it would be useless to try and stand against it. David was determined to trust God, and if God was through with him, he was willing to accept his fate. Yet, David was also confident that if God wanted to return him to power, there was nothing anyone could do to stop it, including Absalom.

The hearts of the people could be fickle. The nation of Israel was still little more than a shakey confederation of independently-minded tribes, all 12 of which were fiercely self-reliant and focused on their own best interests. Any allegiance they showed the king always took a back seat to their commitment to their clan and community. David’s construction projects in his new capital had done nothing to line their pockets. His relocation of the Ark to Jerusalem had actually angered some. His building of a fancy palace made others jealous. His affair with Bathsheba caused many to doubt his competence to be king.

Absalom had raised serious doubts about David’s leadership capabilities and undermined his reputation as a just and caring king. Even he knew that the tribes of Israel were quick to change sides and seek out their own selfish agendas. But David knew he could trust God. No matter what happened, he knew God was faithful. Yahweh’s will might not always be crystal clear, but His character was always unquestionable. David might not have known what the future held in store, but he had no doubt that God held the future. So, he would trust God.

When God’s will is unclear, it requires that we trust Him. When His plans appear uncertain, it demands that we wait patiently for Him. Jumping to conclusions is never profitable or helpful. Doubting His presence and power is never helpful. David was willing to vacate Jerusalem and wait for God to either speak up or show up. He knew the certainty of his reign was not based on a kingdom, a capital, a crown, or a faithful constituency. His kingship was in God’s hands and he was willing to leave it there.

Life can be filled with dark days and moments of uncertainty, but one thing is always certain: God is in control at all times. He knows what is happening and He also knows how He is going to transform apparent defeat into victory. God has a way of turning tragedy into triumph by displaying His glory amid our greatest times of weakness and need – all for our good and His glory.

The Book of 2 Kings contains a story that accentuates God’s penchant for showing up when He is least expected. The nation of Israel was under attack by the armies of Aram and things were looking bleak. The king of Aram had “sent a great army with many chariots and horses” (2 Kings 6:14 NLT) and their superior forces seemed to spell Israel’s pending doom. In fact, one morning the servant of the prophet Elisha woke up to see “troops, horses, and chariots everywhere” (2 Kings 6:15 NLT), and cried out in dismay, “Oh, sir, what will we do now?” (2 Kings 6:15 NLT).  To which the prophet calmly replied, “Don’t be afraid!…For there are more on our side than on theirs!” (2 Kings 6:16 NLT).

None of this made sense to the petrified servant because, from his vantage point, there were enemy soldiers as far as the eye could see. But Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” (2 Kings 6:16 NLT), and when the servant looked up a second time, “he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire” (2 Kings 6:17 NLT). The servant had his eyes opened and his perspective changed. Where he had once seen only hopelessness and certain defeat, he now saw the power and provision of God. The horses and chariots hadn’t suddenly appeared; they had been there all along, and Elisha knew it. Now his servant could see that they were not alone. God was on their side and they had nothing to fear.

David could not see the future. He wasn’t given a glimpse of unseen forces and the promise of a bright outcome. But he knew that God was in control and completely capable of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. And he was willing to wait for God’s will to be done.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Spoken From the Heart

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7 And at the end of four years Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed to the Lord, in Hebron. 8 For your servant vowed a vow while I lived at Geshur in Aram, saying, ‘If the Lord will indeed bring me back to Jerusalem, then I will offer worship to the Lord.’” 9 The king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he arose and went to Hebron. 10 But Absalom sent secret messengers throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then say, ‘Absalom is king at Hebron!’” 11 With Absalom went two hundred men from Jerusalem who were invited guests, and they went in their innocence and knew nothing. 12 And while Absalom was offering the sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city Giloh. And the conspiracy grew strong, and the people with Absalom kept increasing. – 2 Samuel 15:7-12 ESV

Another four years would pass before Absalom made the next move in his plan to overthrow his father and take the throne of Israel. The Septuagint (LXX), the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, which came out somewhere between 300-300 BC, has the time length of Absalom’s wait as 40 years. But this would seem to be a scribal error because that doesn’t fit in with the chronological circumstances surrounding the story. But during his four-year delay, Absalom was anything but idle as he carefully and craftily planned for the opportunity to replace his father as king, and that day had arrived.

Absalom requested permission from David to return to Hebron, the town of his birth. The reason he gave for this trip was that it was in keeping with a vow he had made to God while living in exile in Geshur. He had promised God, that in exchange for his safe return to Jerusalem, he would offer sacrifices to Him in Hebron. While the request seems innocent enough, it is odd that David doesn’t question his son’s timing. After all, Absalom had been living in Jerusalem for six years and would have had plenty of opportunities to return to Hebron to fulfill his vow. So, why now? What was the impetus behind Absalom’s sudden desire to keep his word to God? Despite their long history of distrust and disagreement, David doesn’t bat an eye at his son’s request.

This entire exchange should have set off alarm bells in David’s head. If nothing else, it should have caused a resounding sense of dé·​jà vu because David had been here before. Years earlier, Absalom had come to him with a similar and equally innocent-sounding request.

Absalom invited all the king’s sons to come to a feast. He went to the king and said, “My sheep-shearers are now at work. Would the king and his servants please come to celebrate the occasion with me?” – 2 Samuel 13:23-24 NLT

When David politely turned down Absalom’s invitation, his son asked if his half-brother Amnon could attend.

“Well, then,” Absalom said, “if you can’t come, how about sending my brother Amnon with us?” – 2 Samuel 13:26 NLT

It had been two years since Amnon had raped Tamar, the sister of Absalom, so David was suspicious of Absalom’s intentions and asked, “Why Amnon?” (2 Samuel 13:26 NLT). But instead of answering his father’s question, he simply increased the pressure and persisted in his request, until David finally relented and gave permission for all his sons to attend the feast. His lack of discernment resulted in Amnon’s murder and Absalom’s exile from the kingdom. 

Now, years later, David once again exhibits a remarkable lack of perceptiveness or naivete. Was David completely unaware of Absalom’s daily actions at the gate of the city? Did his son’s repeated attempts to win over the people of Jerusalem escape his notice? Based on David’s reaction, it would appear that he was either oblivious to Absalom’s motives or unconcerned. David not only gave Absalom his permission, but he also gave his blessing, saying, “Go in peace” (2 Samuel 15:9 ESV).

That simple statement rings with irony because there was nothing peaceful about Absalom’s intentions. His heart was filled with bitterness and rage against his father. He had spent years stewing over David’s role in Tamar’s humiliation. Absalom was an angry young man with an ax to grind and a deep-seated desire to see his father equally humiliated. In his mind, David did not deserve to be king. He had forfeited that right with his failure to mete out justice on Amnon. And when Absalom saw how easily he got away with the murder of Amnon, he realized his father just how weak and ineffective his father was.

As soon as Absalom received David’s permission, he sent spies to all the tribes of Israel to prepare for the next phase of his plan. These men were to spread the news of Absalom’s coup by telling the people, “As soon as you hear the ram’s horn…you are to say, ‘Absalom has been crowned king in Hebron.’” (2 Samuel 15:10 NLT). He had established a network of spies throughout the kingdom that would help announce the news of his kingship as soon as the time was right. This little tidbit of information indicates that Absalom’s PR campaign had extended far beyond the walls of Jerusalem. He had been busy priming the pump and preparing the people for his takeover of David’s kingdom, and it would begin with his inauguration as king in Hebron.

Absalom invited 200 guests to join him. Their identities are not divulged, but they were most likely influential leaders and individuals with whom he had established close relationships. These guests were ignorant of Absalom’s plan because “they went in their innocence and knew nothing” (2 Samuel 15:11 ESV). But when Absalom requests the presence of Ahithophel, one of David’s personal counselors, it reveals that there were others involved in the plot. This whole thing had been well-planned and carefully orchestrated. Everything was coming together just as Absalom had planned it.

…the conspiracy grew strong, and the people with Absalom kept increasing. – 2 Samuel 15:12 ESV

Once again, we see Absalom biding his time. He was in no hurry and was intent on ensuring that his coup was based on a strong public relations strategy. He was going to win through insinuation and incitement. His father was renowned for his military exploits and Absalom knew he could not win the crown through the use of force. He was determined to defeat his father through the spreading rumors of rumors and the instilling of doubt. He was exposing his father’s weaknesses and slowly setting himself up as the preferred alternative. Absalom knew that if he played his cards right, the battle for the crown would be a bloodless one. No swords would be necessary. No lives would be lost. His relentless disinformation campaign would bring down the mighty David and pave the way to the throne of Israel.

Absalom was busy portraying David as immoral and unjust, an incompetent leader, and an uncaring judge of his people. Absalom knew he could win this war in the court of public opinion. He would take advantage of the people’s discontentment and foment increasing dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs. If Absalom had been given access to the power of social media as we know it today, his efforts would have taken far less time. We know first-hand just how destructive and effective words can be. Whether it’s a Facebook post criticizing the current administration or a Twitter feed promoting a new product, these seemingly innocuous bits of information are powerful tools for disseminating both truth and lies. They have become a ubiquitous part of our daily lives. We have seen careers ruined, political campaigns derailed, rumors become reality, lies taken as truth, and uninformed opinions shared in ignorance and without discretion.

Absalom understood the power of words. He knew the destructive nature of innuendo and insinuation. Given enough time, he would be able to take down the most powerful man in the kingdom – without a fight. David’s reputation would be destroyed and his throne taken by a war of words and an onslaught of rumors, half-truths, and intimations regarding his leadership and moral character. But so much of it had been the result of his own sinful indiscretions and indecisive reactions to the events surrounding his life. He had brought this on himself. Absalom had simply exploited David’s weaknesses and unwillingness to do the right thing when it counted.

Absalom’s determination to do this to his own father reveals the degree of his dissatisfaction and disdain for David. He was a son who had long ago lost any respect or regard for his own father. He saw David, not as a man to be honored, but as an unfit king who deserved to be taken down.

David would later write in one of his psalms:

O God, you take no pleasure in wickedness;
    you cannot tolerate the sins of the wicked.
Therefore, the proud may not stand in your presence,
    for you hate all who do evil.
You will destroy those who tell lies.
    The Lord detests murderers and deceivers. – Psalm 5:4-6 NLT

Absalom was wicked and proud. He was a murderer and deceiver. He was a liar and a lover of evil. But as will become apparent, his plan to overthrow his father and take his throne would prove successful. Yet, God would have the last word. In the book of Proverbs, compiled by David’s son, Solomon, who would be God’s chosen successor to the throne, we read the following words:

The plans of the godly are just;
    the advice of the wicked is treacherous.

The words of the wicked are like a murderous ambush,
    but the words of the godly save lives. – Proverbs 12:5-6 NLT

While David had made many mistakes and was ultimately responsible for the sordid state of his kingdom, he was still a man after God’s own heart. He longed to serve his God and care for the kingdom he had been given to rule and reign over. He had not always done it well or with integrity, but his heart was right. Absalom, on the other hand, was an impetuous, headstrong upstart who cared only for himself. He could not be trusted. His words, while powerful and effective, were deceitful and ungodly. Nothing Absalom had planned or put into action had been done with God’s guidance or approval. He had acted according to his own wicked heart. His motives had been purely selfish and driven by revenge.

It’s interesting to note that, years later, Solomon would write a proverb addressed to his own son. Perhaps he had his own brother Absalom in mind when he penned these words:

My child, pay attention to what I say.
    Listen carefully to my words.
Don’t lose sight of them.
    Let them penetrate deep into your heart,
for they bring life to those who find them,
    and healing to their whole body.

Guard your heart above all else,
    for it determines the course of your life. – Proverbs 4:20-23 NLT

Centuries later, Jesus, a descendant of David, would pick up on this same theme:
But the words you speak come from the heart—that’s what defiles you. For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. These are what defile you. – Matthew 15:18-20 NLT
Absalom’s words and actions revealed the true condition of his heart. It was defiled and devoid of righteousness. His heart had long ago been hardened by sin and the words that flowed from his lips were polluted by anger, resentment, evil thoughts, and wicked schemes. And while those defiled and ungodly words would be the cause of his rise to power, they would also be the reason for his demise. His life would be a testament to the truth found in James 3:6: “…the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.”

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Shame of Shepherdless Sheep

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1 After this Absalom got himself a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before him. 2 And Absalom used to rise early and stand beside the way of the gate. And when any man had a dispute to come before the king for judgment, Absalom would call to him and say, “From what city are you?” And when he said, “Your servant is of such and such a tribe in Israel,” 3 Absalom would say to him, “See, your claims are good and right, but there is no man designated by the king to hear you.” 4 Then Absalom would say, “Oh that I were judge in the land! Then every man with a dispute or cause might come to me, and I would give him justice.” 5 And whenever a man came near to pay homage to him, he would put out his hand and take hold of him and kiss him. 6 Thus Absalom did to all of Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel. – 2 Samuel 15:1-6 ESV

There are a lot of things that could be said about Absalom – many of them negative. But he was anything but impatient. He spent two years plotting his revenge against Amnon. After successfully orchestrating the execution of his half-brother, Absalom spent another three years living in self-imposed exile in Geshur, patiently waiting to see how and when his father would respond. When David finally agreed to allow his fugitive son to return, Absalom spent another two years under house arrest because his father refused to either pardon or punish him.

As chapter 15 reveals, Absalom ended up biding his time for another four years, quietly and patiently plotting his next move. Absalom was anything but an impulsive hothead; he was calculating and resolute by nature, always planning and plotting his next move with careful precision. Even during his years of exile and excommunication, Absalom was far from idle. As he waited, he used the time to his advantage, carefully crafting his next move.

After spending two years under house arrest in Jerusalem but banned from his father’s presence, Absalom managed to get a meeting with the king. Pressured by Joab, David agreed to meet with his son and ended up restoring him to favor. Once back in his father’s good graces and with his rights and privileges as a son of the king restored, Absalom got busy and put the next phase of his plan into action. He had become well aware of a flaw in his father’s leadership abilities and had personally experienced David’s predilection for procrastination and inaction. He had also been the beneficiary of David’s reluctance to enact justice as God’s appointed judge of Israel. This young man had wasted no time in assessing his father’s weaknesses and plotting his next move.

As he made his way around the capital of Jerusalem, interfacing with the people of Israel, he became more convinced that his father‘s flaws could be exploited to his own advantage. Absalom was an ambitious young man who had shown his willingness to take matters into his own hands. When David had done nothing to punish Amnon for his rape of Tamar, Absalom had stepped in. When Joab refused to respond to his repeated requests for an audience with David, he got Joab’s attention by having his barley fields set on fire. Absalom was a doer. He was driven and determined, and when he saw the chink in David’s armor, he determined to strike a blow.

But Absalom was also cunning and clever and would have made a great politician. He didn’t personally attack David or expose his weaknesses to the press; he simply began a quiet campaign to win over the hearts of the people. He slowly and subtly sowed seeds of doubt regarding David’s leadership over them and his love for them. It all began with a carefully crafted and perfectly implemented publicity campaign. He had been out of sight for years, so he needed to repair his image among the people. To them, he was the rebellious son of the king who had been exiled for murdering his own kin. He was the prodigal son who had been allowed to return home but was treated like a stranger. As he walked around the city, he was likely the object of stares and quiet whispers.

So, to rehabilitate his damaged image, Absalom implemented a strategic plan to alter his public persona. It didn’t hurt that he was good-looking.

Now Absalom was praised as the most handsome man in all Israel. He was flawless from head to foot. – 2 Samuel 14:25 NLT

He was also a family man.

He had three sons and one daughter. His daughter’s name was Tamar, and she was very beautiful. – 2 Samuel 14:27 NLT

Now, all he needed was the trappings of success. So he bought himself some wheels and an entourage.

Absalom bought a chariot and horses, and he hired fifty bodyguards to run ahead of him. – 2 Samuel 15:1 NLT

Next, he took his show on the road, and what a sight he made each morning when he arrived at the city gate. Nobody would have missed his arrival or wondered who he was. This was Absalom, son of the king. He was handsome, obviously successful, and, on top of that, he was a man of the people. Absalom knew that the key to successfully running the nation was to win the hearts of the people. So, he devised a plan to do just that. His strategy of going to the city gate each morning was brilliant. It was at the city gate that all business was conducted and justice was dispensed. The people would gather there to have their disputes mediated and complaints heard. As king, David was to have his appointed judges and rulers ready to hear from his people and assist them in arbitrating their disputes and legal problems. But evidently, David had been lax in providing the judgment and justice a growing city required, leaving the people dissatisfied with his leadership. The crowds gathered each day, expecting justice, but walked away with their expectations unmet. But the ever-observant Absalom saw an opportunity and exploited the situation.

Absalom went out of his way to ensure that his daily arrival at the gate would not go unnoticed. His chariot and entourage were hard to miss. He also ensured that the people saw him as not only a person of power and influence but as a man who cared about their needs. The text tells us, “When people brought a case to the king for judgment, Absalom would ask where in Israel they were from…” (2 Samuel 15:2 NLT). He portrayed himself as a man of the people, who cared as much about them as he did about their needs. This well-dressed and powerful young prince would patiently listen to their problems and assure them, “You’ve really got a strong case here! It’s too bad the king doesn’t have anyone to hear it. I wish I were the judge. Then everyone could bring their cases to me for judgment, and I would give them justice!” (2 Samuel 15:3-4 NLT).

Like the serpent in the garden, Absalom sowed seeds of doubt and led the people to question David’s care and concern for their needs. Without attacking his father directly, Absalom subtly undermined his credibility with the people. After all, Absalom was there at the gate, talking, listening, assuring, and promising to do what David had failed to do – provide the people with justice. Absalom’s actions left the people wondering why David had never come to the gate.  Was he too busy to take care of his people? Was he too good to show up at the gate and listen to the problems facing the citizens of his kingdom?

Absalom was sly and crafty, and he was coldly calculating in all that he did. When the people began to see him as someone who cared and who might be willing to assist them with their needs, they treated him with honor and respect, bowing down before him. But when the people fawned over Absalom, he did the unthinkable and unexpected. Rather than allow the people to honor him as some kind of dignitary, he embraced them in his arms, treating them as his equals. Every move he made was premeditated and designed to produce a predetermined plan, and his ploy worked.

Absalom did this with everyone who came to the king for judgment, and so he stole the hearts of all the people of Israel. – 2 Samuel 15:6 NLT

An interesting side note in all of this is found in the book of Deuteronomy. It contains a somewhat obscure law regarding what to do with a rebellious son. The fascinating thing about this law is the location where it was to be enacted: At the city gate.

“If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and, though they discipline him, will not listen to them, then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city at the gate of the place where he lives, and they shall say to the elders of his city, ‘This our son is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.’ Then all the men of the city shall stone him to death with stones. So you shall purge the evil from your midst, and all Israel shall hear, and fear.” – Deuteronomy 21:18-21 ESV

Absalom was not a drunkard or a glutton, but he was a murderer. Not only that, he was guilty of plotting the overthrow of his father’s kingdom, and he was doing so at the place of judgment: The city gate. He was blatantly using the seat of justice to plot an unjust and unsanctioned overthrow of the king. The stubborn and rebellious son was sowing the seeds of doubt that would later blossom into the fruit of revolution. And he chose to do it at the city gate, the very place where he should have been judged for his crime against Amnon. Had David performed his kingly duties and purged the evil from his household and kingdom, Absalom’s plans to replace his father as king would have never happened.

Once again, David’s failure to act decisively comes back to haunt him. But this entire scenario raises another question. Why was it so easy for Absalom to win over the hearts of the people? Had they become disgruntled and disenchanted with all of David’s well-publicized moral failings? There is little doubt that rumors had spread regarding David’s affair with Bathsheba. Most likely, the news of Uriah’s death had spread and the questions regarding the circumstances surrounding his death would have been many. The whole situation with Amnon and Tamar would not have gone unnoticed by the people of Jerusalem. The murder of the king’s son by his brother would have been headline news. And the very fact that Absalom had been allowed to return without any repercussions would have been fodder for the rumor mill.

There is also the likelihood that David was too busy with the affairs of the state to effectively listen to and address the needs of his people. It was probably about this same time that David became engrossed with the construction of his palace. He was also devising plans for the future construction of a temple in which to house the Ark of the Covenant. David was a busy man but had he become too distracted to care for his own people? It must not be overlooked that God had told David, “Shepherd my people Israel” (2 Samuel 5:2). But somewhere along the way, David had begun to neglect his primary responsibility and, in doing so, he lost the respect of his sheep. They had wandered and were easy prey for someone as crafty and cunning as Absalom. David had left a void that Absalom was more than willing to fill. The sheep were hungry for justice and Absalom was prepared to feed them from his own hand and turn their hearts away from David.

David had one job to do: Shepherd the sheep of Israel. But he had become too busy with the affairs of the state to care for the well-being of God’s flock. He had not even managed to properly shepherd his own family, allowing incest and murder to go unpunished and unresolved. But God has strong feelings about shepherds who fail to perform their roles.

“What sorrow awaits you shepherds who feed yourselves instead of your flocks. Shouldn’t shepherds feed their sheep? You drink the milk, wear the wool, and butcher the best animals, but you let your flocks starve. You have not taken care of the weak. You have not tended the sick or bound up the injured. You have not gone looking for those who have wandered away and are lost.” – Ezekiel 34:2-4 NLT

David was going to learn a painful lesson that would cost him dearly. His failure to shepherd well, by fulfilling his responsibilities as a father and a king, would not go unpunished. God would hold him accountable.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

You Can’t Judge a Book By Its Cover

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25 Now in all Israel there was no one so much to be praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom. From the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him. 26 And when he cut the hair of his head (for at the end of every year he used to cut it; when it was heavy on him, he cut it), he weighed the hair of his head, two hundred shekels by the king’s weight.’ 27 There were born to Absalom three sons, and one daughter whose name was Tamar. She was a beautiful woman.

28 So Absalom lived two full years in Jerusalem, without coming into the king’s presence. 29 Then Absalom sent for Joab, to send him to the king, but Joab would not come to him. And he sent a second time, but Joab would not come. 30 Then he said to his servants, “See, Joab’s field is next to mine, and he has barley there; go and set it on fire.” So Absalom’s servants set the field on fire. 31 Then Joab arose and went to Absalom at his house and said to him, “Why have your servants set my field on fire?” 32 Absalom answered Joab, “Behold, I sent word to you, ‘Come here, that I may send you to the king, to ask, “Why have I come from Geshur? It would be better for me to be there still.” Now therefore let me go into the presence of the king, and if there is guilt in me, let him put me to death.’” 33 Then Joab went to the king and told him, and he summoned Absalom. So he came to the king and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king, and the king kissed Absalom. – 2 Samuel 14:25-33 ESV

David had agreed to Absalom’s return to Jerusalem but had essentially placed him under house arrest and refused to see him. After a three-year absence from the kingdom, Absalom found himself persona non grata, ignored by his own father, and left to wonder why he had agreed to come home at all. Another two years passed, with Absalom confined to his home and David continuing his pattern of avoidance and inaction. He not only refused to meet his son face to face, but he also rejected his legal responsibility as king to administer justice for his son’s crime. Even Absalom would become frustrated by his father’s lack of moral courage and propensity for passivity. For him, this waiting game had become a matter of life or death. He woke up every morning wondering whether he would remain a prisoner in his own home or face execution for a crime he had committed five years earlier. His fate was in his father’s hands and, with each passing day, he became increasingly more frustrated with his untenable situation.

But what makes this section of chapter 14 so interesting is its rather odd emphasis on Absalom’s physical appearance. According to verses 25-27, Absalom had a reputation for his good looks and “was praised as the most handsome man in all Israel” (2 Samuel 14:25 NLT). He may have been a murderer, but he was easy on the eyes. Even while under house arrest, this handsome and somewhat roguish son of the king had become a celebrity. From the soles of his feet to the top of his head crowned with thick luxurious hair, Absalom gave all the appearances of a king-in-waiting. This flattering description of Absalom may seem a bit odd and out of place, but it is intended to set the stage for all that is about to happen. It is eerily reminiscent of the description given of another young man who would become Israel’s first king and David’s predecessor.

There was a wealthy, influential man named Kish from the tribe of Benjamin. He was the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, of the tribe of Benjamin. His son Saul was the most handsome man in Israel—head and shoulders taller than anyone else in the land. – 1 Samuel 9:1-2 NLT

In both cases, the text’s emphasis on outer appearances is intended to make a point. When the good-looking Saul turned out to be a far-from-great king, God determined to replace him with a man after His own heart. He sent His prophet Samuel to the home of a man named Jesse with strict instructions to find and anoint the next king of Israel. When Samuel set his eyes on the eldest son of Jesse, he immediately concluded, “Surely this is the Lord’s anointed!” (1 Samuel 16:6 NLT). But God had other plans and gave the prophet an important lesson in leadership recruitment.

“Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” – 1 Samuel 16:7 NLT

Jesse would end up parading each of his sons before Samuel, in the hopes that one would catch the prophet’s attention. But it would not be until the youngest son David appeared that Samuel would hear the Lord say, “This is the one; anoint him” (1 Samuel 16:12 NLT). David would be anointed as the God-appointed replacement for the taller and better-looking Saul. The runt of the litter would become God’s choice to serve as the next king of Israel.

Now, years later, David’s good-looking son Absalom appears on the scene; another handsome, head-turning specimen of a man who would end up capturing the hearts of the people and threatening his father’s reign. But for that to happen, Absalom had to force his father’s hand. He refused to put up with his father’s inaction, choosing instead to face the prospect of execution rather than one more day of imprisonment.

During his two years of house arrest, Absalom’s resentment of his father only increased in intensity. He had plenty of time to recall David’s unwillingness to take action against Amnon for raping his sister. David’s inaction had led Absalom to take matters into his own hands. Now, two years later, Absalom found himself enduring the consequences of his father’s inaction yet again. Whatever respect he once held for his father was gone. He viewed David as a man of weakness, plagued by indecisiveness.

It would be centuries later that the apostle Paul would write:

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord. – Ephesians 6:4 NLT

David could have used this simple, yet profound advice. The Greek word Paul used is parorgizō and it is translated as “provoke to anger”. But it can also mean “to exasperate.” To provoke someone to anger sounds like it refers to a deliberate attempt to purposefully annoy or to rouse anger in another individual. While that most certainly can be true in many cases, we can also create anger in another human being by doing nothing. We can frustrate them by our lack of initiative or a general display of apathy. David was provoking in Absalom an anger and resentment that was fed by his father’s lack of leadership. He was slowly beginning to view David as weak and incapable of leading decisively. Absalom viewed his father as incompetent to lead his own family, and would soon reach the conclusion that he was also unqualified to lead the nation of Israel.

Absalom’s growing anger and frustration are on full display in how he handles Joab’s refusal to answer his repeated requests for an audience with the king. Like his boss, Joab did nothing. Finally, Absalom snapped, taking matters into his own hands and commanding his servants to set fire to Joab’s barley crops. While arguably a bit over the top, Absalom’s ploy worked and revealed his growing exasperation with the whole situation. He had waited two years and simply wanted something to be done. He even told Joab, “I wanted you to ask the king why he brought me back from Geshur if he didn’t intend to see me. I might as well have stayed there. Let me see the king; if he finds me guilty of anything, then let him kill me” (2 Samuel 14:32 NLT).

Absalom would rather face death than have to live in limbo, confined to his home. But there is almost an underlying sense that Absalom knew David would do nothing. He seems to have known that his father would never sentence him to death for his murder of Amnon. So he was willing to force David’s hand, confident that his father would act true to form and take no action. Which is exactly what happened. Joab went to David and convinced him to see Absalom, which David did. From all appearances, it seems that David pardoned Absalom, kissing his son, and restoring him to his former state. Absalom got what he wanted, but he would not be satisfied. During his five years of exile, he had plenty of time to consider his future and plan his next moves. This would prove to be just the first step in his plan to take advantage of what he perceived as his father’s leadership flaws.

Absalom was not only “flawless from head to foot” (2 Samuel 14:25 NLT), but he was also clever. He was a natural-born leader, who possessed the good looks, charisma, charm, and powers of persuasion that would make any politician jealous. Now that he was out from under any threat of punishment for his murder of Amnon, Absalom was going to use his good looks and natural leadership skills to plan his future, which would include his father’s downfall.

It’s interesting to note that Paul gave another warning to fathers in his letter to the Colossians. He writes, “Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart” (Colossians 3:21 NASB). David had frustrated his son by doing nothing to bring justice to the cause of Tamar. After his daughter had suffered the indignity of being raped by her half-brother, David allowed her to remain in a state of mourning and did nothing to avenge her. He avoided his responsibilities as a father and ignored the expressed will of God as found in the Mosaic Law.

If a man meets a virgin who is not betrothed, and seizes her and lies with her, and they are found, then the man who lay with her shall give to the father of the young woman fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife, because he has violated her. He may not divorce her all his days. – Deuteronomy 22:28-29 ESV

According to the law, David should have forced Amnon to marry Tamar, and forbidden him from ever divorcing her. No longer a virgin, Tamar was left in a state where she would have been considered “damaged goods” by the men in her community. Her value as a potential wife had been irreparably damaged. All along the way, David’s indecisiveness left a wake of disaster and damaged lives. His inaction allowed Amnon to go unpunished and left Tamar a humiliated and unwanted woman. His unwillingness to do the right thing had only resulted in a host of wrong outcomes. Absalom had killed Amnon and then spent three years in exile. Even when he was allowed to return home, Absalom found himself in a frustrating limbo, trapped by his father’s unwillingness to perform his parental role and his duties as a king. All of this was going to lead to further resentment on Absalom’s part that would ultimately surface as rebellion.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

You Reap What You Sow

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34 But Absalom fled. And the young man who kept the watch lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, many people were coming from the road behind him by the side of the mountain. 35 And Jonadab said to the king, “Behold, the king’s sons have come; as your servant said, so it has come about.” 36 And as soon as he had finished speaking, behold, the king’s sons came and lifted up their voice and wept. And the king also and all his servants wept very bitterly.

37 But Absalom fled and went to Talmai the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son day after day. 38 So Absalom fled and went to Geshur, and was there three years. 39 And the spirit of the king longed to go out to Absalom, because he was comforted about Amnon, since he was dead. – 2 Samuel 13:34-39 ESV

Three times in just seven verses the words, “Absalom fled” appear. It’s almost as if the author is trying to make a point. Amnon was dead but Absalom got away. David wept at the news but Absalom got away. David mourned while Absalom got away. He had arranged for and accomplished the murder of his half-brother Amnon and, literally, got away with it. He killed the rightful heir to the throne and lived to tell about it. No troops were sent to pursue him. In fact, no action was taken to bring him to justice.

One might suggest that David was too busy mourning the death of Amnon to do anything about his fugitive son Absalom. But it would appear that David’s grief was not focused on Amnon’s death but on Absalom’s dastardly deed and disappearance. In a sense, David had lost two sons. When it came to death, David had a unique perspective. We see it in his reaction to the death of the infant son born to him and Bathsheba. Upon receiving news that his son had passed, “David got up from the ground, washed himself, put on lotions, and changed his clothes. He went to the Tabernacle and worshiped the Lord. After that, he returned to the palace and was served food and ate” (2 Samuel 12:20 NLT).

When David noticed that his servants were surprised by the sudden change in his demeanor, David informed them, “I fasted and wept while the child was alive, for I said, ‘Perhaps the Lord will be gracious to me and let the child live.’ But why should I fast when he is dead? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him one day, but he cannot return to me” (2 Samuel 12:21-22 NLT).

David seems to take this same attitude with the death of Amnon. He was gone and nothing David did would ever bring him back. But, for David, the loss of Absalom was even more painful because he was still alive. Yet, David knew that he couldn’t just invite Absalom back into the family as if nothing had happened. As king, David had a responsibility to enact justice and hold his son accountable for his actions. If Absalom were to return, he would have to die for the murder of Amnon. So, David did nothing. Leaving Absalom in exile allowed him to live but for David, he was as good as dead. So, he mourned and he wept, day after day. He had lost two sons in one tragic incident.

But the saddest part of this entire story is that David could have prevented all of it from happening. Had he dealt with Amnon’s rape of Tamar by fulfilling the law of God and dispensing justice, Absalom would not have been forced to seek revenge. David’s passive parenting style ended up causing more pain in the long run. His refusal to deal with Amnon by disciplining him appropriately left Absalom frustrated by the lack of justice in his own home. His younger sister had been raped and humiliated, but nothing had been done to punish the guilty party.

For three years, David allowed his son to remain safely ensconced in Geshur, a region northeast of the Sea of Galilee, where Absalom found refuge among his mother’s people. According to 2 Samuel 3:3, she was “the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur.” During his exile, Absalom was probably treated as royalty, enjoying all the privileges that come with being the grandson of the king. But during Absalom’s absence, David’s heart went out after him; he missed Absalom and longed to see him. But he knew that if he brought Absalom back, he would have to do the right thing and punish him for what he had done. So David did nothing. As a parent, he excused his son’s behavior. As a king, let a murderer escape justice. Yet, in the Book of Deuteronomy, Moses provided God’s very clear guidelines regarding justice.

You shall appoint judges and officers in all your towns that the Lord your God is giving you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment. You shall not pervert justice. You shall not show partiality, and you shall not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and subverts the cause of the righteous. Justice, and only justice, you shall follow, that you may live and inherit the land that the Lord your God is giving you. – Deuteronomy 16:18-20 ESV

There was to be no perverting of justice and no partiality in terms of its application. By refusing to pursue and punish Absalom, David had violated both aspects of God’s command. As king, David would have been familiar with these laws and he would have known what was expected of him. The Book of Deuteronomy goes on to explain how the king of Israel was to familiarize himself with all of God’s laws.

And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests. And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them, that his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel. – Deuteronomy 17:18-20 ESV

David knew what God required, but refused to do it. He had conveniently ignored God’s command because it conflicted with his own sense of fairness. He couldn’t bring himself to mete out justice to his own son. If you recall, when Nathan confronted David about his sin with Bathsheba, he told a story about a rich man abusing and taking advantage of a poor man. David had no problem showing righteous indignation and demanding justice when it involved someone else’s transgression. But when it involved his own son, David remained silent.

The law of God was clear concerning murder. Again, the Book of Deuteronomy provides explicit instructions on how to deal with those who commit murder.

But if anyone hates his neighbor and lies in wait for him and attacks him and strikes him fatally so that he dies, and he flees into one of these cities, then the elders of his city shall send and take him from there, and hand him over to the avenger of blood, so that he may die. Your eye shall not pity him, but you shall purge the guilt of innocent blood from Israel, so that it may be well with you. – Deuteronomy 19:11-13 ESV

The guilty party was to be given no refuge, shown no pity, and provided with no special treatment, even if he was a son of the king. David was obligated by law to purge the guilt of innocent blood from Israel. But he refused to do so – for three years.

In his letter to the Galatian believers, Paul gave a warning against sowing to the flesh; in other words, giving in to what our sinful nature wants us to do.

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption… – Galatians 6:7-8 ESV

In sinning with Bathsheba, David had sowed to his own flesh. He had given in to his base desires and committed an unlawful act. Then he followed it up by having Bathsheba’s husband murdered to cover up his actions. While God forgave David for his sins, David still had to suffer the consequences they created. The infant son born to him and Bathsheba died as a result of their adulterous affair. Not only that, David was told that, as a result of his sin, the sword would not depart from his house. There would be trouble and conflict within his own home, not just his kingdom.

Then Amnon raped Tamar, which led to Absalom killing Amnon. Now Absalom was living in exile, guilty of murder and deserving of death. Through it all, David did nothing. He remained silent and inactive. He was the king and the final arbiter of justice for the kingdom, but he refused to do his job, and his inaction would reap the whirlwind. Things would get worse before they got better. David could ignore the will of God, but he could not escape the justice of God. He could refuse to do what God called him to do, but God would ensure that His justice was not perverted. God would not be mocked.

Yet, how often do we think we can get away with murder – not literally, but figuratively? We think we can sin, seek forgiveness, and then escape any repercussions for our sins. We wrongly believe we can simply ignore our sins and still enjoy God’s blessings on our lives. We know what He would have us do, but we choose our will over His, then wonder why things don’t turn out as expected. God will not be mocked, by the king or anyone else. Passivity to sin is always dangerous. It is a cancer that spreads, ultimately bringing death and destruction. To ignore it is to invite further pain and suffering into our lives. What we reap, we will always sow.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Doing Battle With Sin

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1 After this David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and David took Metheg-ammah out of the hand of the Philistines.

2 And he defeated Moab and he measured them with a line, making them lie down on the ground. Two lines he measured to be put to death, and one full line to be spared. And the Moabites became servants to David and brought tribute.

3 David also defeated Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to restore his power at the river Euphrates. 4 And David took from him 1,700 horsemen, and 20,000 foot soldiers. And David hamstrung all the chariot horses but left enough for 100 chariots. 5 And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck down 22,000 men of the Syrians. 6 Then David put garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Syrians became servants to David and brought tribute. And the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went. 7 And David took the shields of gold that were carried by the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. 8 And from Betah and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took very much bronze.

9 When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the whole army of Hadadezer, 10 Toi sent his son Joram to King David, to ask about his health and to bless him because he had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him, for Hadadezer had often been at war with Toi. And Joram brought with him articles of silver, of gold, and of bronze. 11 These also King David dedicated to the Lord, together with the silver and gold that he dedicated from all the nations he subdued, 12 from Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, Amalek, and from the spoil of Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

13 And David made a name for himself when he returned from striking down 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. 14 Then he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom he put garrisons, and all the Edomites became David’s servants. And the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went. – 2 Samuel 8:1-14 ESV

Chapter five ended with the words: “And David did as the Lord commanded him, and struck down the Philistines from Geba to Gezer” (2 Samuel 5:25 ESV). Chapter eight begins with the words: “After this David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and David took Metheg-ammah out of the hand of the Philistines” (2 Samuel 8:1 ESV). Many commentators believe that chapters six and seven are parenthetical and not chronological in nature. They deal with more religious-oriented aspects of David’s reign, while chapters five and eight deal with his military conquests.

Chapter six describes David’s efforts to bring the Ark of the Covenant into the city of Jerusalem. Chapter seven covers God’s giving of His covenant to David. Chapter seven opens with the words: “Now when the king lived in his house and the Lord had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies…” (2 Samuel 7:1 ESV). It is that second half of the sentence that leads most Old Testament scholars to believe the covenant was given to David later in his reign after he had ceased from war with the enemies of Israel. Therefore, like chapter six, chapter seven is out of chronological order. These two chapters were placed where they are in the story because they provide a spiritual context to David’s reign. They reveal his zeal for and dedication to the Lord, a key motivating force in his military efforts. They also shed light on the real source behind David’s military success: God. That point is made clear in chapter eight.

And the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went. – 2 Samuel 8:15 ESV

Chapter eight picks up where chapter five left off. David, as God’s hand-picked king, was finishing what Joshua and the people of Israel should have done when they entered the Promised Land years earlier. God had given them very specific commands regarding their conquest and occupation of the land of Canaan.

“Moses my servant is dead. Therefore, the time has come for you to lead these people, the Israelites, across the Jordan River into the land I am giving them. I promise you what I promised Moses: ‘Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you—from the Negev wilderness in the south to the Lebanon mountains in the north, from the Euphrates River in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west, including all the land of the Hittites.’ No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you. – Joshua 1:2-5 NLT

God had told Moses what the people were to do when they entered the land He had promised to Abraham and his descendants, and Moses had passed the words of God on to the people.

“In those towns that the Lord your God is giving you as a special possession, destroy every living thing. You must completely destroy the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, just as the Lord your God has commanded you. This will prevent the people of the land from teaching you to imitate their detestable customs in the worship of their gods, which would cause you to sin deeply against the Lord your God.” – Deuteronomy 20:16-18 NLT

But the people of God had disobeyed and failed to purge the land of its inhabitants. They had been half-hearted in their efforts and allowed the majority of the nations that occupied the land of Canaan to remain. And, just as God had predicted, the people of the land ended up infecting the people of God with their idolatry, immorality, and “detestable customs.” This is what led to the period of the judges. In fact, the opening chapters of the book of Judges reveal exactly what had happened.

 The Lord was with the people of Judah, and they took possession of the hill country. But they failed to drive out the people living in the plains, who had iron chariots. – Judges 1:19 ESV

The tribe of Benjamin, however, failed to drive out the Jebusites, who were living in Jerusalem. So to this day the Jebusites live in Jerusalem among the people of Benjamin. – Judges 1:21 ESV

The tribe of Manasseh failed to drive out the people living in Beth-shan, Taanach, Dor, Ibleam, Megiddo, and all their surrounding settlements…  – Judges 1:27 ESV

The tribe of Ephraim failed to drive out the Canaanites living in Gezer, so the Canaanites continued to live there among them. – Judges 1:29 ESV

The tribe of Zebulun failed to drive out the residents of Kitron and Nahalol, so the Canaanites continued to live among them. – Judges 1:30 ESV

This pattern of repeated nonfeasance got so bad that God ended up sending an angel to deliver some extremely bad news:

“I brought you out of Egypt into this land that I swore to give your ancestors, and I said I would never break my covenant with you. For your part, you were not to make any covenants with the people living in this land; instead, you were to destroy their altars. But you disobeyed my command. Why did you do this? So now I declare that I will no longer drive out the people living in your land. They will be thorns in your sides, and their gods will be a constant temptation to you.” – Judges 2:1-3 NLT

Because they refused to do as He commanded, God removed His divine protection. By the time David became king, the situation had grown far worse. Without God’s divine assistance, the Israelites found themselves unable to “weed out” the thorns that surrounded them. These remnant nations proved to be a real threat to Israel’s future as a nation, not just physically but spiritually. Their armies constantly harassed the people of Israel but it was their false gods that did the greatest damage. Idolatry ended up being Israel’s Achilles heal.

So, as the king and commander-in-chief of Israel’s armies, David determined to finish what Joshua had begun. He was going to carry out God’s command and purge the land of these nations and their false gods.

David defeated the Philistines, Moabites, Syrians, Edomites, Amalekites, Ammonites, and the armies of Zobah. However, the author makes it clear that David’s military successes were not his own doing. God was giving David victories over his enemies. The very fact that David was forced to fight so many battles reflects just how unsuccessful the Israelites had been in their efforts to rid the land of its inhabitants. Their disobedience had allowed these nations to not only survive but to thrive. They had grown in numbers and strength and were no longer merely an irritant to the people of Israel, but a real threat to their existence. But David was doing everything in his power and with God’s help to subdue and destroy them.

To our modern, more enlightened sensibilities, the content of this chapter can be shocking, even appalling. God’s order for the complete annihilation of the inhabitants of the land of Canaan seems to portray Him as callous and blood-thirsty, with a seemingly capricious outlook on human life. How can the loving, creator-God call for the destruction of entire people groups, including men, women, and innocent children? This question has caused many to doubt the veracity of the Old Testament. It has led others to reject the very idea of God Himself. Richard Dawkins, a proudly professing atheist and staunch opponent of Christianity has described the God of the Bible as, “a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully” (Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion).  He goes on to state, “The tragi-farce of God’s maniacal jealousy against alternative gods recurs continually through the Old Testament.”

For someone like Dawkins, the issue has less to do with the destruction of the people of Canaan, than it does with his desire for proof that the God of the Bible is the fanciful creation of man’s imagination. He simply uses the Old Testament record of God’s call for the destruction of the inhabitants of Canaan as proof that this so-called “God” of the Israelites, even if He did exist, would not be worth following. But he misses the whole point of the story and the true nature of mankind’s tragic situation.

The Bible makes it painfully clear that all men (women and children included) are sinners and stand before God as guilty and worthy of death. Their sins are not viewed as innocent mistakes or simply character flaws but as acts of open rebellion against a holy God. Humanity rejected the rule and reign of God, choosing the path of autonomy and self-rule. This anarchy had to be dealt with and, because God’s holiness consists of justice, He was obligated by His own nature to deal righteously with the sins of men. He could not simply overlook mankind’s rebellion because He recognized that sin, like an infectious disease, is contagious and capable of spreading from one person to another. Like cancer cells in the human body, sin metastasizes and spreads, destroying everything in its path. Sin is non-discriminatory and merciless.

God’s call for the destruction of the inhabitants of the land was based on His understanding of the true danger of indwelling sin. Left unchecked, the sinful dispositions of the unbelieving Canaanites would gradually infect and influence the people of God. According to the Old Testament record, that is exactly what happened. Over time, the people of Israel found themselves abandoning their set-apart status as God’s chosen people and blending in with the surrounding culture. They became just like the nations around them as the cancer of sin spread among them and destroyed their once-healthy relationship with God.

The same thing happens to believers today as we allow the sins of the world to contaminate our lives. Rather than doing radical surgery and removing the sin that so easily entangles us (Hebrews 12:1), we embrace it, welcoming it with open arms. We end up loving the world and the things of the world (1 John 12:15). We become friends with the world, failing to recognize that the world hates us and is out to destroy us (John 15:18-19).

The removal of the sinful influences in our lives is difficult and oftentimes painful. It may require us to abandon those longstanding relationships that are a negative influence on our lives and a threat to our spiritual health. As God’s chosen people, we are expected to live set-apart lives that clearly differentiate our status as His children. This demands that we pull away from those individuals whose influence in our lives is unhealthy and potentially destructive. This may sound radical and even unloving, but it is for our own good.

God doesn’t forbid our association with the world. He doesn’t expect us to live in seclusion, isolating ourselves from the surrounding culture. We are called to be salt and light, agents of influence and change in a sin-darkened world. But we must take sin seriously. We must never compromise our convictions or grow complacent about our calling. David knew just how dangerous sin could be, both externally and internally, and he was willing to do whatever it took to remove both. In Psalm 139, he offers a compelling and heartfelt prayer to God.

O God, if only you would destroy the wicked!
    Get out of my life, you murderers!
They blaspheme you;
    your enemies misuse your name.
O Lord, shouldn’t I hate those who hate you?
    Shouldn’t I despise those who oppose you?
Yes, I hate them with total hatred,
    for your enemies are my enemies.

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
    test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Point out anything in me that offends you,
    and lead me along the path of everlasting life. – Psalm 139:19-24 NLT

But as those living on this side of the cross, we must balance the words of David with those of Jesus. He came to offer a better way. He provided a new weapon in the war against sin: The gospel. That is why He could tell His followers that the key to conquering sin is love.

“But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you…Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.” – Luke 6:27-28, 35-36 NLT

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

God Has No Regrets

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24 Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. 25 Now therefore, please pardon my sin and return with me that I may bow before the Lord.” 26 And Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you. For you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel.” 27 As Samuel turned to go away, Saul seized the skirt of his robe, and it tore. 28 And Samuel said to him, “The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you this day and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you. 29 And also the Glory of Israel will not lie or have regret, for he is not a man, that he should have regret.” 30 Then he said, “I have sinned; yet honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me, that I may bow before the Lord your God.” 31 So Samuel turned back after Saul, and Saul bowed before the Lord.

32 Then Samuel said, “Bring here to me Agag the king of the Amalekites.” And Agag came to him cheerfully. Agag said, “Surely the bitterness of death is past.” 33 And Samuel said, “As your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women.” And Samuel hacked Agag to pieces before the Lord in Gilgal.

34 Then Samuel went to Ramah, and Saul went up to his house in Gibeah of Saul. 35 And Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, but Samuel grieved over Saul. And the Lord regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel. – 1 Samuel 15:24-35 ESV

This chapter contains an apparent contradiction. Earlier in the chapter, verse 10 records God’s message to Samuel regarding Saul: “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me and has not performed my commandments” (1 Samuel 15:10 ESV). That same sentiment is expressed at the end of the chapter.

And the Lord regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel. – 1 Samuel 15:35 ESV

Yet, Samuel appears to contradict those two statements when he informs Saul, “…the Glory of Israel will not lie or have regret, for he is not a man, that he should have regret” (1 Samuel 15:29 ESV). So which is it, is God capable of regret or not? The Hebrew word used in all three verses is nāḥam, and it conveys the idea of sorrow or regret but can also be used to speak of repentance or a change of mind. When used of God, it is an anthropomorphism: “an interpretation of what is not human or personal in terms of human or personal characteristics” (“Anthropomorphism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anthropomorphism. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.).

As Samuel states in verse 29, God is not a man. In other words, He is a spirit being and not human, yet we attempt to describe Him by using human terminology that describes human traits. God is an incorporeal being, without hands, feet, brain, or heart. He has no eyes, yet Proverbs states, “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good” (Proverbs 15:3 ESV). According to Proverbs 5, “the Lord sees clearly what a man does” (Proverbs 5:21 NLT).

God’s “sight” is unrestricted and not dependent upon human eyes. His “reach” is not restricted by human arms and hands. God “speaks” without the benefit of a tongue.  He “thinks” and yet has no brain. According to the Genesis account of creation, God “spoke” the universe into existence, and yet He has no vocal chords. Numbers 23:19 states that “God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind,” yet God is not equipped with a human-like mind. His reasoning capacity is not limited by the size of His brain because He does not have one.

So, when Samuel records that God regretted making Saul king, he is trying to express God’s inherent sorrow over an outcome that He had ordained and foresaw. God was not admitting an error or expressing regret for His actions but displaying His sorrow for Saul’s fate. God may not have a heart, but He is far from emotionless. The psalmist writes, “The LORD cares deeply when his loved ones die” (Psalm 116:15 NLT). God is loving, caring, and compassionate. When contemplating the inevitable consequences of His decision to give the Israelites a king like all the other nations, God cared deeply about the pain and suffering that it caused. He was not sorrowful for His actions but He did “regret” that their rebellious demand for a king had to result in some painful lessons for all involved.

But God’s regret did not result in remorse or a change of mind. He had known all along how this scenario was going to turn out and it all happened according to His sovereign plan. He gave the people what they wanted and the result was just as He had predicted. But that doesn’t mean that God gloated over His decision or enjoyed watching His people suffer. At no point did God take delight in watching Saul fail or His people suffer. He took no pleasure in seeing His providential plan played out. God was not surprised by Saul’s stubborn refusal to obey His will but He was saddened by the inevitable outcome. The Lord doesn’t gloat over or relish the fall of the wicked. In fact, He says, “I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live” (Ezekiel 33:11 NLT).

But God’s sorrow was not going to produce a change of mind. As much as He hated to witness Saul’s demise and the people’s resulting pain and loss, it would not prevent Him from doing what He had planned to do all along. That is what Samuel means when he states, “the Glory of Israel will not lie, nor will he change his mind, for he is not human that he should change his mind!” (1 Samuel 15:29 NLT). Samuel uses a title for God that is found nowhere else in Scripture. He refers to Jehovah as “the Glory of Israel.” The Hebrew word translated as “glory” is neṣaḥ, and it means “everlastingness.” It refers to God’s eminence and eternality; He is consistent and unchanging in all His ways. God is not fickle or controlled by circumstances. The vicissitudes of fallen humanity do not alter God’s plans or cause Him to change His mind. So, when it came to the outcome of Saul’s disobedience, the die was cast and his fate was sealed.

Sensing the seriousness of the situation, Saul finally decided to take ownership for his sin, in the hopes that God might spare him.

“Yes, I have sinned. I have disobeyed your instructions and the Lord’s command, for I was afraid of the people and did what they demanded. But now, please forgive my sin and come back with me so that I may worship the Lord.” – 1 Samuel 15:24-25 NLT

But it was too little, too late. Samuel had been given no permission from God to serve as Saul’s priestly confessor or counselor, so he refused the king’s pitiful plea. In desperation, Saul reached out to prevent Samuel from leaving, tearing the prophet’s robe in the process. Samuel used this as a sign to drive home the serious nature of Saul’s predicament.

“The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to someone else—one who is better than you.” – 1 Samuel 15:28 NLT

Self-absorbed and obsessed with his image, Saul begged Samuel to do him one last favor. He pleaded for Samuel to accompany him in a carefully staged worship service held in the presence of the elders of Israel. Saul was all about appearances, hoping that Samuel’s presence would reassure the people of Israel that he was still the king and fully in charge. Saul was less concerned about “the Glory of Israel” than he was about his own stature among the people.

Samuel agreed and took part in Saul’s little charade, but when the service ended, he demanded that Saul bring out Agag, the king of the Amalekites. After having officiated a worship service to Jehovah, Samuel required Saul to bring out the evidence of his own disobedience. How could the king offer up praise to God when he held in his possession the proof of his unwillingness to obey God? Saul had been given strict instructions to put King Agag to death but he had chosen to let him live. Perhaps he had hoped to receive some kind of ransom from the captive king. But regardless of Saul’s motivation, Agag was living proof that Saul remained unrepentant and unremorseful. But Samuel did what Saul had refused to do; he “cut Agag to pieces before the Lord at Gilgal” (1 Samuel 15:33 NLT). The elderly prophet displayed his reverence for God by faithfully carrying out the will of God. As Saul stood back and watched, Samuel fulfilled the duty of the king by carrying out the command of the Glory of Israel.

This proved to be the final interaction between Samuel and Saul. With the death of Agag, the two men parted ways, never to meet again. The chapter ends with a sad note: “And the Lord regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel” (1 Samuel 15:35 ESV). God knew that the days ahead were going to be difficult for Saul and the people of Israel. He had a plan but that plan was going to involve pain and suffering for all involved. God was not surprised by the outcome. God’s rejection of the rebellious Saul was not a knee-jerk reaction; it was all part of His pre-ordained plan. He already had Saul’s replacement picked out and the transfer of power was about to begin.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Just Desserts Can Be Difficult to Swallow

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4 So Saul summoned the people and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand men on foot, and ten thousand men of Judah. 5 And Saul came to the city of Amalek and lay in wait in the valley. 6 Then Saul said to the Kenites, “Go, depart; go down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them. For you showed kindness to all the people of Israel when they came up out of Egypt.” So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites. 7 And Saul defeated the Amalekites from Havilah as far as Shur, which is east of Egypt. 8 And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive and devoted to destruction all the people with the edge of the sword. 9 But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep and of the oxen and of the fattened calves and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them. All that was despised and worthless they devoted to destruction.

10 The word of the Lord came to Samuel: 11 “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me and has not performed my commandments.” And Samuel was angry, and he cried to the Lord all night. 12 And Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning. And it was told Samuel, “Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set up a monument for himself and turned and passed on and went down to Gilgal.” 13 And Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, “Blessed be you to the Lord. I have performed the commandment of the Lord.” 14 And Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears and the lowing of the oxen that I hear?” 15 Saul said, “They have brought them from the Amalekites, for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen to sacrifice to the Lord your God, and the rest we have devoted to destruction.” 16 Then Samuel said to Saul, “Stop! I will tell you what the Lord said to me this night.” And he said to him, “Speak.”

17 And Samuel said, “Though you are little in your own eyes, are you not the head of the tribes of Israel? The Lord anointed you king over Israel. 18 And the Lord sent you on a mission and said, ‘Go, devote to destruction the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.’ 19 Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord? Why did you pounce on the spoil and do what was evil in the sight of the Lord?” 20 And Saul said to Samuel, “I have obeyed the voice of the Lord. I have gone on the mission on which the Lord sent me. I have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and I have devoted the Amalekites to destruction. 21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.” 22 And Samuel said,

“Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
    as in obeying the voice of the Lord?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
    and to listen than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is as the sin of divination,
    and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,
    he has also rejected you from being king.” – 1 Samuel 15:4-23 ESV

God had made Himself perfectly clear. For the first time in years, Saul had received a message from the Lord through Samuel, the prophet, and his marching orders simple and direct.

“Now go and strike Amalek and devote to destruction all that they have. Do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’” – 1 Samuel 15:3 ESV

God left nothing to Saul’s discretion; he was given non-negotiable instructions concerning the fate of the Amalekites. Not only was he to defeat them, but he was to completely annihilate them. The Hebrew word is ḥāram and it carries the idea of complete destruction.

“The basic meaning is the exclusion of an object from the use or abuse of man and its irrevocable surrender to God. The word is related to an Arabic root meaning ‘to prohibit, especially to ordinary use.’ The word ‘harem,’ meaning the special quarters for Muslim wives, comes from it.

“Usually ḥāram means a ban for utter destruction, the compulsory dedication of something which impedes or resists God’s work, which is considered to be accursed before God. The idea first appears in Num 21:2–3.” – Wood, L. J. (1999). 744 חָרַם. R. L. Harris, G. L. Archer Jr., & B. K. Waltke (Eds.), Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (electronic ed., p. 324). Chicago: Moody Press.

God had “devoted” the Amalekites to destruction as punishment for their past treatment of His chosen people (Deuteronomy 25:17-19; Exodus 17:14-16). After centuries of delay, God had chosen Saul as the one to implement His divine judgment upon the Amalekites, and He left no doubt as to what the outcome should be. Saul was to spare no one and nothing.

This was a test to see whether Saul would obey the command of God. After having served 23 years as the king of Israel, Saul was given another opportunity to faithfully follow the instructions of the Lord. More than two decades earlier, he had started his reign by failing to do what God told him to do and it led to his rejection by God (1 Samuel 13:13-14). For nearly 25 years, God had allowed Saul to remain on the throne of Israel, but the time had come to see if he was a changed man. This test was not for God’s benefit because He is all-knowing and can see into the hearts of all men (1 Samuel 16:7). No, this test was meant for Saul as well as the prophet Samuel. The outcome would prove once and for all that Saul was not a man after God’s own heart and would need to be replaced.

But Saul’s response to the divine directive was quick and decisive. He mustered the troops and marched them into battle against the Amalekites. In a display of mercy, Saul warned the neighboring Kenites to evacuate the area so that they might be spared. Evidently, these two people groups lived in close proximity to one another and Saul had no desire to see the peaceful Kenites suffer God’s judgment.

Once the Kenites had evacuated the region, Saul ordered his troops to attack. With his 210,000-strong army, Saul easily defeated the much smaller Amalekite force. But what happened next reveals the whole purpose behind the test.

Then Saul slaughtered the Amalekites from Havilah all the way to Shur, east of Egypt. He captured Agag, the Amalekite king, but completely destroyed everyone else. Saul and his men spared Agag’s life and kept the best of the sheep and goats, the cattle, the fat calves, and the lambs—everything, in fact, that appealed to them. They destroyed only what was worthless or of poor quality. – 1 Samuel 15:7-9 NLT

Partial obedience. That was Saul’s big mistake. He chose to amend God’s instructions and do things his own way; a decision he would later regret. While Saul obeyed the Lord and slaughtered the Amalekites, he made some unsanctioned executive decisions that directly violated the will of God Almighty. Rather than kill the Amalekite king, Saul spared his life. Instead of devoting all the livestock to destruction, Saul ordered that the Israelites cull out the best of the flocks and herds and take them as plunder. The text makes it clear that their decision was motivated by greed and exhibited their blatant disobedience to God’s command.

Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep and of the oxen and of the fattened calves and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them. – 1 Samuel 15:9 ESV

They refused to do what God had told them to do. In a sense, they showed that they knew better than God. Their will superseded His. And this open display of disobedience was sanctioned by none other than the king himself. Saul was responsible for the actions of his people.

To make matters worse, Saul ordered the ḥāram (to devote to destruction) of “all that was despised and worthless” (1 Samuel 15:9 ESV). This slaughter was meant to be a form of offering to Jehovah, sacrificing to Him the best of all that belonged to the Amalekites. But Saul chose to offer God only that which was worthless and of no value to him. He gave God the dregs and kept the best for himself.  This action resulted in God delivering Saul’s failing test results. to Samuel.

“I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me and has not performed my commandments.” – 1 Samuel 15:11 ESV

God is not admitting that He made some sort of error. He is not surprised by the outcome or somehow sorry for having ever made Saul king. He is simply expressing His sorrow at having to watch His servant suffer for his own sin and rebellion.

“This is the use of anthropomorphism, when God explains Himself to man in human terms, so man can have some understanding of God’s heart. God knew from the beginning Saul’s heart, ways, and destiny. God already sought for Himself a man after His own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). Yet as all this unfolded, God’s heart was not emotionless. He didn’t sit in heaven with a clipboard, checking off boxes, coldly saying, ‘All according to plan.’ Saul’s disobedience hurt God, and since we can’t grasp all that happens in God’s heart, the closest that we can come is for God to express it in the human terms of saying, ‘I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king.’” – David Guzik, The Enduring Word Bible Commentary

God takes no joy in watching the failure of His children. He knew exactly what Saul was going to do but was still saddened by watching one of His children reject His love by disobeying His will. In the end, God always wants to bless His children but is obligated to punish all those who choose to disobey His commands. Disobedience always brings discipline.

God’s words also upset Samuel, who spent the night calling out to Him in anger and frustration. After a quarter-century of silently watching Saul attempt to reign over the nation of Israel, Samuel was shocked to learn that God was going to bring this failed experiment to an end. Part of the reason for Samuel’s emotional response was his lack of knowledge as to God’s future plans. He knew that God had Saul’s replacement in mind, but he had no idea who the individual was. It was as if God was starting all over again and the elderly Samuel must have felt overwhelmed by that prospect.

But the next morning, Samuel set out in search of Saul, fully intending to deliver God’s message. It must have enraged Samuel to discover that Saul had erected a monument to himself in Carmel. How could this arrogant blowhard dare to memorialize himself when he had blatantly disregarded the will of God Almighty? But Saul was clueless about God’s anger and was anxious to celebrate his recent victory over the Amalekites.

When Samuel finally caught up to Saul, he must have been shocked to hear the king brag about his successful completion of God’s instructions. In Saul’s mind, he had done exactly what he had been ordered to do. He could see nothing wrong with his slight alterations to God’s plans. When Samuel points out the presence of the Amalekite livestock, Saul begins to rationalize and justify his actions. He explains that the people were intending to use them as sacrifices to God. But Samuel isn’t buying what Saul is selling. The prophet immediately confronts the king with the news of God’s indictment against him.

“Although you may think little of yourself, are you not the leader of the tribes of Israel? The Lord has anointed you king of Israel. And the Lord sent you on a mission and told you, ‘Go and completely destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, until they are all dead.’ Why haven’t you obeyed the Lord? Why did you rush for the plunder and do what was evil in the Lord’s sight?” – 1 Samuel 15:17-19 NLT

Amazingly, Saul continues to try to justify his actions. But Samuel interrupts his desperate pleas of innocence with a devastating oracle from God. He informs the disobedient and unrepentant king that his reign has officially come to an end. Saul has failed God’s final test and ushered in his own demise – all as a result of his disobedience. God wasn’t impressed with Saul’s victory because it had been His doing. God wasn’t happy with Saul’s monument to his own self-importance because it was nothing more than an idol. God didn’t want sacrifices offered in violation of His will; He wanted obedience.

So, because Saul had acted wickedly and chosen to disobey the command of God, his kingship would come to an inglorious end.

“So because you have rejected the command of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.” – 1 Samuel 15:23 NLT

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

An Inauspicious Beginning

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17 Now Samuel called the people together to the Lord at Mizpah. 18 And he said to the people of Israel, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all the kingdoms that were oppressing you.’ 19 But today you have rejected your God, who saves you from all your calamities and your distresses, and you have said to him, ‘Set a king over us.’ Now therefore present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes and by your thousands.”

20 Then Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was taken by lot. 21 He brought the tribe of Benjamin near by its clans, and the clan of the Matrites was taken by lot; and Saul the son of Kish was taken by lot. But when they sought him, he could not be found. 22 So they inquired again of the Lord, “Is there a man still to come?” and the Lord said, “Behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage.” 23 Then they ran and took him from there. And when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward. 24 And Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see him whom the Lord has chosen? There is none like him among all the people.” And all the people shouted, “Long live the king!”

25 Then Samuel told the people the rights and duties of the kingship, and he wrote them in a book and laid it up before the Lord. Then Samuel sent all the people away, each one to his home. 26 Saul also went to his home at Gibeah, and with him went men of valor whose hearts God had touched. 27 But some worthless fellows said, “How can this man save us?” And they despised him and brought him no present. But he held his peace. – 1 Samuel 10:17-27 ESV

While Saul remained secluded with his family, Samuel sent out an order commanding the entire nation of Israel to gather at Mizpah, where he had inaugurated his ministry as the judge of Israel (1 Samuel 7:3-6). The Israelites had just lost a demoralizing series of battles against the Philistines and had seen their beloved ark captured by the enemy. God has graciously and miraculously returned the ark to Israel, and Samuel used that occasion to call the people to repentance, demanding they give up their love affair with foreign gods and return to Yahweh.

“If you want to return to the Lord with all your hearts, get rid of your foreign gods and your images of Ashtoreth. Turn your hearts to the Lord and obey him alone.” – 1 Samuel 7:3 NLT

Now, years later, the elderly Samuel called for another holy convocation at Mizpah so that he might address the people. God had a major announcement to make and Samuel would serve as His mediator and mouthpiece. This gathering likely consisted of adult males and not women and children. It could have been restricted to the key leaders of the tribes and clans of Israel. But whoever stood before Samuel that day at Mizpah heard a stern opening address.

“This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, has declared: I brought you from Egypt and rescued you from the Egyptians and from all of the nations that were oppressing you. But though I have rescued you from your misery and distress, you have rejected your God today and have said, ‘No, we want a king instead!’ Now, therefore, present yourselves before the Lord by tribes and clans.” – 1 Samuel 10:18-19 NLT

God spoke and He was not happy. Their demand for Samuel to give them a king had been a not-so-subtle rejection of God’s leadership, and He was not pleased. Whether they realized it or not, they had shown disdain and disregard for the One who had delivered them from their captivity in Egypt and delivered them to the land of Canaan. He had provided them with a fruitful land as their inheritance and had orchestrated their victories over the land’s inhabitants. God had led, fed, and fought for them. For generations, He had graciously provided for all their needs. But they had repeatedly responded with unfaithfulness and forgetfulness.

The Israelites had grown tired of their roller-coaster existence in Canaan, where their daily existence was marked by the constant threat of enemies and a steady stream of judges whose job it was to rescue them out of their most recent predicament. From the people’s perspective, the system was flawed and in need of correction. God’s way was not working. So, they demanded a king and now God was about to fulfill their wish.

This entire scene is meant to convey God’s sovereignty and providence. While Samuel served as God’s proxy and spokesman, he was not the one calling the shots. God made His presence known and wanted the people to understand that He did not take their request lightly. The selection process would be divinely orchestrated and controlled by God. At this point, only a few individuals knew of Saul’s anointing. That inner circle was limited to Samuel, Saul, his servant, and his uncle. No one else in Israel had any idea that God had already handpicked their future king.

So, to demonstrate His sovereignty over the selection process, God ordered the use of lots to reveal His preselected choice. Little is known about the practice of casting lots, but it was used throughout the history of Israel. In a sense, casting lots was like rolling dice, but God repeatedly used this strange process to reveal His will in a matter. In fact, lots had been used to determine the tribal land allotments in Canaan.

In this case, God would use lots to reveal and confirm His selection of Saul. When the process was complete, there would be no doubt that Saul had been chosen by God and not Samuel. If the people proved unhappy with their new king, they would have to take their complaint to God.

We’re not told how the lots were utilized but as the selection process unfolded, the field was slowly narrowed down. First, the tribe of Benjamin was chosen from among the 12 tribes of Israel. Then, from among all the clans of Benjamin, the family of the Matrites was selected.

…finally Saul son of Kish was chosen from among them. – 1 Samuel 10:21 NLT

But when Saul’s name was revealed, he was nowhere to be found. This led the people to wonder whether the lots had been wrong. So, they asked for a recast.

“Is there a man still to come?” – 1 Samuel 10:22 ESV

They seemed to be treating God’s use of lots as if it was some kind of raffle that required the ticket holder to be present to win. In their minds, if Saul was a no-show, it was time to pick another ticket. But God revealed that the “winner” wasn’t missing, he was simply hiding.

“Behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage.” – 1 Samuel 10:22 ESV

No explanation is given for Saul’s absence or his decision to play hide-and-seek. Was this an act of humility or fear? Was Saul merely exhibiting the characteristics of an introvert or revealing his reluctance to take on this sobering responsibility? It is impossible to know what motivated Saul’s actions, but while he could hide, he couldn’t escape God’s call on his life. The story of Jonah reveals another occasion when God’s chosen servant decided to hide from God’s call. Ordered by God to go to Nineveh, Jonah boarded a ship to Tarshish instead. But Jonah couldn’t escape God’s grasp or avoid God’s call. Neither could Saul.

The reluctant Saul was removed from his hiding place and before the people. This must have been a terrifying moment for this young man, and when he heard the words of Samuel, his heart must have skipped a beat.

“This is the man the Lord has chosen as your king. No one in all Israel is like him!” – 1 Samuel 10:24 NLT

This rousing endorsement should not be taken as a statement of Saul’s stellar integrity or spiritual superiority. The text seems to emphasize his physical height over any spiritual stature he may have had. Evidently, Saul was a giant of a man who stood, “taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward” (1 Samuel 10:23 ESV). He was larger than life and had all the physical attributes of a leader. He looked like a king. Not only that, he had been hand-selected by God, so there was no one else in Israel who could compare with him. He was God’s choice.

And the people eagerly confirmed God’s choice by shouting, “Long live the king!” (1 Samuel 10:24 ESV). They were ready for a change and this tall, good-looking young man seemed to fit the bill. So, they expressed their enthusiastic approval of the unproven Saul to be their king.

But God had Samuel remind the people what He had stated earlier.

“The king will draft your sons and assign them to his chariots and his charioteers, making them run before his chariots. Some will be generals and captains in his army,[a] some will be forced to plow in his fields and harvest his crops, and some will make his weapons and chariot equipment. The king will take your daughters from you and force them to cook and bake and make perfumes for him. He will take away the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his own officials. 15 He will take a tenth of your grain and your grape harvest and distribute it among his officers and attendants. He will take your male and female slaves and demand the finest of your cattle and donkeys for his own use. He will demand a tenth of your flocks, and you will be his slaves.” – 1 Samuel 8:11-17 NLT

These were some of “the rights and duties of the kingship” (1 Samuel 10:25 ESV) that Samuel recorded in a scroll. When the people heard these warnings the first time, they gave their heartfelt approval. Despite the negative nature of these “rights and duties,” they were onboard. But what they failed to realize was that God was giving them a king of their own choosing. While Saul had been chosen by God, He was not really God’s choice.

“. . . it remains very clear that God did not choose this king for Himself, but rather for the people. In other words, though God actually appointed Saul, Saul did not in the final analysis represent God’s choice, but the people’s choice.” – G. Coleman Luck, “The First Glimpse of the First King of Israel,” Bibliotheca Sacra 123:489 (January-March 1966):51.

They had demanded a king like all the other nations, and God had obliged. Saul would prove to be a man after their own heart. But, as the story unfolds, we will see that God was ultimately interested in choosing a man who reflect His heart.

As Saul walked away that day, he must have been filled with a mixture of emotions. His life had been radically and inalterably changed. His former life was in the rear-view mirror and what tomorrow held was little more than a mystery. But the closing verses of the chapter foreshadow a less-than-ideal future for Israel’s new king.

When Saul returned to his home at Gibeah, a group of men whose hearts God had touched went with him. But there were some scoundrels who complained, “How can this man save us?” And they scorned him and refused to bring him gifts. But Saul ignored them. – 1 Samuel 10:26-27 NLT

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Be Careful What You Ask For

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10 So Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking for a king from him. 11 He said, “These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen and to run before his chariots. 12 And he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest, and to make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14 He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive orchards and give them to his servants. 15 He will take the tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and to his servants. 16 He will take your male servants and female servants and the best of your young men and your donkeys, and put them to his work. 17 He will take the tenth of your flocks, and you shall be his slaves. 18 And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.”

19 But the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel. And they said, “No! But there shall be a king over us, 20 that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.” 21 And when Samuel had heard all the words of the people, he repeated them in the ears of the Lord. 22 And the Lord said to Samuel, “Obey their voice and make them a king.” Samuel then said to the men of Israel, “Go every man to his city. – 1 Samuel 8:10-22 ESV

Samuel had grown old, his sons had gone bad, and the people had lost confidence. With Samuel’s judgeship coming to an end, the Israelites were not thrilled with the prospect of his two wicked sons serving in his absence. Both of them had proven to be wicked men who used their authority for personal gain. It’s also important to note that they failed to meet the qualifications to serve as judges over the people of Israel. The time-tested pattern for assignment to this lofty position was the call of God.

After the death of Joshua, the God-appointed leader who succeeded Moses and led the people in their conquest of the land of Canaan, the Israelites turned their backs of God.

…the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals. And they abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They went after other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed down to them. And they provoked the Lord to anger. – Judges 2:11-12 ESV

Without godly leadership, the Israelites struggled to remain faithful to the covenant commitment to God. Instead, they worshiped the gods of the Canaanites, including Baal and Ashtaroth. As a result of their spiritual infidelity, God removed His hand of protection and allowed their enemies to defeat and demoralize them.

So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he gave them over to plunderers, who plundered them. And he sold them into the hand of their surrounding enemies, so that they could no longer withstand their enemies. – Judges 2:14 ESV

But God used these periods of divine abandonment to get the attention of the Israelites. When they would cry out to Him for help, He would raise up a judge to deliver them.

Then the Lord raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those who plundered them. – Judges 2:16 ESV

Whenever the Lord raised up judges for them, the Lord was with the judge, and he saved them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge. For the Lord was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who afflicted and oppressed them. – Judges 2:18 ESV

These judges were ordinary men and women whom God chose and equipped to serve in a temporary leadership role. Their tenure was tied to their lifespan; as long as they remained alive, they continued to serve as a judge over Israel. But with their death, their judgeship ended. This is an important point that distinguishes the role of a judge from that of a king. Judges were not to set up kingdoms or establish dynasties. They could not pass on their title to their sons or daughters. Yet, that is exactly what Samuel had attempted to do.

When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel. – 1 Samuel 8:1 ESV

Judges were never to serve as kings either. They were not to set up a government or establish a standing army. Judges never had palaces, a civil service administration, or a bloated bureaucracy funded by tax-payer dollars. When the people of Israel attempted to persuade Gideon to turn his judgeship into a royal dynasty, he turned them down.

“I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you; the Lord will rule over you.” – Judges 8:23 ESV

But now, with Samuel too old to serve and his sons unqualified to replace him, the people of Israel raised the prospect of a king once again. In fact, they demanded it, saying, “Give us a king to judge us” (1 Samuel 8:6 ESV). Samuel was incensed, yet God told him to comply with their demands. He would give them what they asked for but their wish would be accompanied by serious consequences. The idea of a king ruling over them was appealing because they thought it would solve all their problems. But they were about to discover that their solution would be far from trouble-free.

You might say that the Israelites were about to learn the law of unintended consequences. They were about to get what they asked for but would soon learn the painful lesson that the cure is sometimes worse than the poison. The old adage, “Be careful what you ask for” comes to mind. God made it painfully clear that their request would produce questionable outcomes.

“The king will draft your sons and assign them to his chariots and his charioteers, making them run before his chariots. Some will be generals and captains in his army, some will be forced to plow in his fields and harvest his crops, and some will make his weapons and chariot equipment. The king will take your daughters from you and force them to cook and bake and make perfumes for him. He will take away the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his own officials. He will take a tenth of your grain and your grape harvest and distribute it among his officers and attendants. He will take your male and female slaves and demand the finest of your cattle and donkeys for his own use. He will demand a tenth of your flocks, and you will be his slaves.” – 1 Samuel 8:11-17 NLT

This is anything but a rousing endorsement for kingship. But God wanted them to know that their rejection of Him as King would cost them dearly. If they were ready to put their hopes in a human king, they would find his humanity to be one of his greatest flaws. It was Lord Acton, a British historian, who once said, “Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

That is the lesson God is attempting to teach the Israelites. They are about to get a king “like all the nations” (1 Samuel 8:3 ESV). In other words, this king will rule and reign like every other earthly king; he will not be a godly king who serves selflessly and sacrificially. He won’t have the best interests of the people in mind. Unlike God, this human king will be self-serving and obsessed with his own success. He will tax, conscript, confiscate, and force compliance to his will. No one will be able to refuse his demands or stop his kingdom-building efforts. And when the people have had enough and turn to God for relief, He will refuse to rescue them.

But God’s words fell on deaf ears. The people remained committed to their cause and repeated their earlier demands.

“Even so, we still want a king,” they said. “We want to be like the nations around us. Our king will judge us and lead us into battle.” – 1 Samuel 8:19-20 NLT

Having warned them of the unexpected consequences of their request, God agreed to their demands, telling Samuel, “Do as they say, and give them a king” (1 Samuel 8:22 NLT). Essentially, the people were rejecting God’s rule and reign over them, yet He was revealing His sovereign control over the matter. He would be the one to choose their king and they would get exactly what they asked for – and more. They could resist God’s rule but would never escape His sovereign will.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.