2 Samuel 14:22 says, And Joab fell to the ground on his face, and bowed himself, and thanked the king: and Joab said, To day thy servant knoweth that I have found grace in thy sight, my lord, O king, in that the king hath fulfilled the request of his servant. When David told Joab to send for Absalom, he fell down before David and said that he was certain that he had found grace in David’s sight. When God grants our call for restoration, which is only possible through accepting Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, then we need to fall before Him in worship. Verse thirty-three adds, So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem. Joab went to get Absalom and brought him home. We need to do all that we can to bring sinners to Jesus and home to God if they accept Him as their Savior. Verse twenty-four continues, And the king said, Let him turn to his own house, and let him not see my face. So Absalom returned to his own house, and saw not the king’s face. David said Absalom was to return to his own house and stay out of David's sight, which would imply that David had not totally forgiven him. We can be certain that when we are called to God through faith in Jesus Christ that we are totally forgiven, and our fellow Christians should forgive us totally as well. Verse twenty-five states, But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him. The people of Israel praised Absalom for his good looks above all others. They were more interested in outward appearance than inward goodness. As Christians, we cannot judge people or even material things by how appealing they may look. Verse twenty-six adds, And when he polled his head, (for it was at every year’s end that he polled it: because the hair was heavy on him, therefore he polled it:) he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels after the king’s weight. Evidently, every year Absalom weighed his hair, and it was quiet heavy at three pounds and two ounces according to Matthew Henry. Whatever the weight, his hair was a source of great pride to Absalom. We should never become vain about any of our good features. Verse twenty-seven continues, And unto Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter, whose name was Tamar: she was a woman of a fair countenance. Absalom had three sons and one daughter that he named Tamar, possibly to honor his sister, though we aren't really told this. Verse twenty-eight states, So Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, and saw not the king’s face. Absalom was in Jerusalem for two years without seeing David face-to-face. We cannot avoid being in the presence of God, but until we see Him face-to-face through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ we cannot be saved. Verse twenty-nine adds, Therefore Absalom sent for Joab, to have sent him to the king; but he would not come to him: and when he sent again the second time, he would not come. Absalom sent for Joab twice to have him go to David for him, but Joab wouldn't come. Joab had made it possible for Absalom to return home, but Matthew Henry says that Absalom had evidently never thanked Joab for what he did. Though we as followers of Christ should always just do what God leads us to do without any thoughts of reward, we too often become upset if people do not acknowledge what we have done. Verse thirty declares, Therefore he said unto his servants, See, Joab’s field is near mine, and he hath barley there; go and set it on fire. And Absalom’s servants set the field on fire. Absalom had his servants set Joab's field of barley on fire since Joab would not come to him. This tells us a lot about Absalom’s character. The way we treat those we are upset with tells the world a lot about our character. Verse thirty-one adds, Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom unto his house, and said unto him, Wherefore have thy servants set my field on fire? This brought Joab to Absalom, to ask him why he had set his field on fire, especially after all that Joab had done for him. If we have a problem with someone today, it is best to go and talk to them. Verse thirty-two continues, And Absalom answered Joab, Behold, I sent unto thee, saying, Come hither, that I may send thee to the king, to say, Wherefore am I come from Geshur? it had been good for me to have been there still: now therefore let me see the king’s face; and if there be any iniquity in me, let him kill me. Instead of thanking Joab for his being allowed to return home, Absalom said he had sent for Joab twice and he wouldn't come and implied this was the reason he set Joab's field on fire. He then said that he wanted to send Joab to David to tell him that it would have been better for David to have killed him than for him to return home and not be able to see David face-to-face. There is still nothing about Absalom repenting for his killing of Amnon. We cannot expect to see God face-to-face without repenting and having our sins forgiven by accepting Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord. Verse thirty-three concludes, So Joab came to the king, and told him: and when he had called for Absalom, he came to the king, and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king: and the king kissed Absalom. Joab gave in to Absalom and went to David with his message. David then sent for Absalom, who bowed before him, and David restored him. I don't believe that Absalom was sincere in his humbling himself before David, and if we simply go through the motions of asking forgiveness of God without really putting our faith in Him, we will not be saved.
No comments:
Post a Comment