Spend time in prayer and silence with God asking him to meet you and speak to you.
Bible Reading
The king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he went to Hebron.
Then Absalom sent secret messengers throughout the tribes of Israel to say, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpets, then say, ‘Absalom is king in Hebron.'” Two hundred men from Jerusalem had accompanied Absalom. They had been invited as guests and went quite innocently, knowing nothing about the matter. While Absalom was offering sacrifices, he also sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, to come from Giloh, his hometown. And so the conspiracy gained strength, and Absalom’s following kept on increasing.
A messenger came and told David, “The hearts of the people of Israel are with Absalom.”
Then David said to all his officials who were with him in Jerusalem, “Come! We must flee, or none of us will escape from Absalom. We must leave immediately, or he will move quickly to overtake us and bring ruin on us and put the city to the sword.”
The king’s officials answered him, “Your servants are ready to do whatever our lord the king chooses.”
The king set out, with his entire household following him; but he left ten concubines to take care of the palace.
– 2 Samuel 15:9-16
Devotion
The Scriptures teach us some very important principles that we can employ to avoid costly consequences. One is the importance of marital fidelity. A father’s mistakes are often reflected in the lives of his children. In the case of David, he saw a bitter replay and escalation of many of his own past sins in the life of his son, Absalom. God told David that his family would suffer consequences because of his infidelity with Bathsheba and murder of Uriah. David saw that God’s predictions were coming true and it was breaking his heart. God did, in fact, forgive David but the consequences of his sin were not canceled. Many people thought that Absalom would have made a good king, but he lacked the inner character and self-control that would make good leader. Absalom had good looks and charisma, but lacked integrity and discernment.
The sins of David took him away from God, however repentance brought him back. In direct contrast, Absalom sinned and kept on sinning. He was not wise enough to evaluate the Godly counsel he received. Absalom had rejected the love of his father as well as the love of God.
The Big Question
How has your life reflected the good or bad examples of your parents? What kind of example are you to those who look up to you? How can you continue to follow their good examples or break the cycle of bad parenting? How can you evaluate the advice you get from others? What qualities are needed by a good leader?
Conclude in prayer and silence reflecting on what you’ve learned.