Absalom's Betrayal - 2 Samuel

After reading of King David's incredible honour towards his predecessor King Saul, it is almost shameful to see how King David was betrayed by his own flesh and blood. Yet anyone who has been in leadership for any length of time knows how this feels.

There are always two sides to the story and there is no doubt in my mind Absalom felt justified in his actions in seeking revenge for his sister after she was raped by her half brother. No doubt Absalom knew the laws relating to this crime and felt his father, King David, should have done what was right. Yet when we look at David's response to his son Amnon and the shameful act of raping his half sister Tamar, we see David do what most probably all of us would do and try to maintain the status quo for the sake of the family.

It is at this moment that I believe Absalom felt betrayed by his father King David and it was at this point Absalom takes things into his own hands. As time tells, Absalom's act of vengeance upon his half brother began the down fall and eventually death to him and his household, but not before he was able to reach havoc on the King.



Absalom's betrayal of King David at the City Gates

Absalom's betrayal and undermining of his father's name I find very interesting at this point. When we look at 2 Samuel 15 and how Absalom would position himself at the city gates and show compassion to those who came to seek the King's council. Claiming "if he were judge in Israel" and though these words sound so innocent they in effect were undermining the judgement  and therefore authority of the king.


How easy it is when our leaders seem to disappoint that we speak words which undermine their authority, I know how easy it is to question a leaders authority as I have done this myself. By chance in Australia right now this has been done to our prime minister who has as a result been replaced by Malcolm Turnbull. Whilst this new prime minister might make a great leader, in my opinion how he came to this position will forever mark him and his authority.

In light of Psalm 75:7 and 1Peter 5:6-7 we see it is God who judges and it is God who promotes in His time! Yet so many of us, like Absalom, take things into our hands by some selfish act & try to promote themselves. I have been guilty of this and I am only by the grace of God am here today to see how wrong this is.

As discussed in my previous blog, it is our honour for God's anointed leaders and trust in our heavenly Father who knows the beginning from the end that allows us to see the increase and God's hand upon our lives. And whilst there is great injustice in the world and I believe it is our responsibility to be a voice against injustice we must also honour those whom God has appointed and believe that God also has an answer.

Let us always judge ourselves less we be judged and pray for those in authority that God is graciously at work in their lives as much as He is in ours.