God’s Power Never Ends (2 Samuel 15:13-37)
The rebellion of Absalom against his father David is certainly one of the darkest periods of David’s life, particularly because he has a sense of responsibility for it because of his sin against Bathsheba and her husband Uriah. As a result of the rebellion, he has to gather up all of his family, his household, his officials, everyone who supports him, and he tells them, "We have to leave Jerusalem because if we don’t, my son Absalom will destroy the city." So they are leaving the city, everyone is in despair, the people are weeping as they watch their king and his court leave Jerusalem, and it is a very sad and sorrowful scenario.
Yet in the midst of all of this sorrow and pain, David is still able to make good decisions. We see it as Abiathar and Zadok are bringing the Ark of the Covenant, the symbol of God’s power and presence amongst his people, out of Jerusalem. But David believes that God’s presence must remain in Jerusalem with God’s people, so he sends them back. He tells them, “If I have favor with God, he will restore me to Jerusalem, but if I don’t, I will be content to remain in exile. And even though David’s theology is not complete (he believes that the power and presence of God is relegated to a city, a people and to an artifact) still, you get the sense that David believes that he will be restored to the people of God. So not only does his faith remain in tack in spite of all of his pain, the decision to send Abiathar and Zadok back is a shrewd one, because they become the eyes and ears of David in Jerusalem and their sons become messengers for him. He also hears that Ahithophel, one of his trusted advisors, has defected to Absalom, so he recruits Hushai, another trusted advisor, to infiltrate the highest levels of Absalom’s leadership structure to give counter-advice to that of Ahithophel. So he becomes an informant as well. Both of these decisions turn out to be wise decisions, because as a result of them, the rebellion is put down.
As I reflect on this, it reminds me that no matter how despondent I feel, when I’m going through the deepest, darkest seasons of my life and feel great despair, I can still keep my head on my shoulders, I can still make good decisions, and do the things that God has called me to do and to be. But is also reminds me that I can continue to pursue the presence of God. One of my favorite psalms is Psalm 84. And while it is not a psalm that David wrote, it certainly reflects what he is feeling. It says, “how lovely is your dwelling place oh Lord Almighty,” “my heart and soul cry out to you the living God” and “better is one day in your presence, than a thousand elsewhere.” Think of what these ideas would mean to David as he is in exile and is longing to return to the power and the presence of God. So, if you’re feeling some of what David is feeling and that God seems to be a thousand miles away, remember that he has promised that he’s never going to leave us or forsake us.
2020 has been brutal. It’s isolated us, frustrated us and divided us. So you are probably feeling, as I am, some despair, despondency, frustration or even anger. If that’s the case, let’s learn from David during these times of crisis. Let’s keep our heads on our shoulders, make good decisions and keep our hearts and minds focused on the power and presence of God. 2020 will not last forever, but God’s power and presence do.