2 Samuel 15

For many long chapters we read of the rising of David to the throne of Israel. First he was unheard of. Later, he was known as a warrior. Slowly, word leaked around that he had been anointed by Samuel, nevertheless, David never asked for the throne. After running from Saul for a good portion of his life, he was finally granted kingship of Judah. Eventually, all of Israel came under his rule. The Lord used all of that to build David up to be a righteous king. Now his son, Absalom, is setting the kingdom up for himself.

Why would Absalom do such a thing? Why would Absalom take over the kingdom of his father? I do not believe that Absalom had it in his heart to kill his father, at least not at first. I believe this was simply a case of pride. Absalom saw his father, David, growing old. He saw that David was no longer as involved with the people as he used to be. He looked and saw that David had become like many of the kings, with multiple wives and concubines. When he saw these things he thought, “I could do a better job than he can.”

To a degree what Absalom said was true. He would stand at the gate and stop people who were going to see the king. Why? Because he probably was confident to know that they were never going to make it to the king. David was busy with important matters, and if he was not busy with those, he was probably just chilling. In all regards David was in a funk. Absalom took full advantage of David’s funk and was setting himself up as king.

God was going to use Absalom to wake David up. As we observe these next coming chapters we will once again read verses that remind us of David of old:

2 Samuel 15:32 David Praises God
2 Samuel 16:12 David trusts God
2 Samuel 18:1-2 David takes charge of his army

From this point on we will see David once again involved in the lives of Israel. Interesting that David would once again become the person Absalom set out to be. As for Absalom’s self appointed kingship, it was not to be. It was a work of the flesh, and far from the process of kingship God had made David go through.