Absalom Pardoned

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from 2 Samuel 14:18-33. King David told the woman not to hide what he was about to ask her. David asked the woman if Joab was behind her coming to him with this story.

The woman couldn’t lie to the king. David was a wise man. Not much got by him. He had divine connections. She admitted to the king that Joab had put her up to coming to him and given her the story to tell him.

The king told Joab that he had taken care of the matter that the woman inquired about. He told Joab to go get Absalom and bring him back to Jerusalem.

Joab bowed down to the king thanking him for granting his wish. Joab said he knew that he had found grace in the eyes of the king because the king granted his servant’s wish.

Joab went to Geshur and got Absalom and brought him back to Jerusalem. The king told Joab that Absalom could return to his house, but he was not to see the king’s face. David was concerned about Absalom, but he wasn’t ready to see him yet.

Absalom was a handsome man. He was considered to be the most handsome man in Israel. It was said that he didn’t have a blemish from the top of his head to the bottom of his feet.

Absalom had three sons and one daughter. Absalom’s daughter had a fair countenance. She was named after Tamar, Absalom’s beloved sister.

Absalom lived in Jerusalem for two years without even seeing the king’s face. Absalom was getting impatient. He sent for Joab so he could go to the king to get permission for Absalom to see him, but Joab wouldn’t come. After the second request with no response, Absalom lost his patience.

He told his servant to go set Joab’s field on fire. Joab came to Absalom asking why he set his field on fire. Absalom told Joab that he had sent for him twice and he didn’t come. He said he might as well have stayed in Geshur. Absalom told Joab he wanted him to take him to see the king and if the king still was upset with him he could kill him.

Joab went to the king and told him that Absalom wanted to see him. When Joab brought Absalom in, he bowed to the king and the king kissed him.

By this time it had been five years or longer since Absalom killed Ammon. The king had mourned for his son who was killed, but he also missed Absalom. What a terrible situation to be in. No doubt the king had probably experienced all kinds of emotions, including grief, anger, despair, loneliness, and concern. Had he forgiven his son? How does a parent choose between their children?

Daily Bible Reading:

2 Samuel 14:18-33

18 Then the king answered and said unto the woman, Hide not from me, I pray thee, the thing that I shall ask thee. And the woman said, Let my lord the king now speak.
19 And the king said, Is not the hand of Joab with thee in all this? And the woman answered and said, As thy soul liveth, my lord the king, none can turn to the right hand or to the left from ought that my lord the king hath spoken: for thy servant Joab, he bade me, and he put all these words in the mouth of thine handmaid:
20 To fetch about this form of speech hath thy servant Joab done this thing: and my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all things that are in the earth.
21 And the king said unto Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing: go therefore, bring the young man Absalom again.
22 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.
23 So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.
24 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.
25 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.
27 And unto Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter, whose name was Tamar: she was a woman of a fair countenance.
28 So Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, and saw not the king’s face.
29 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.
30 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.
31 Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom unto his house, and said unto him, Wherefore have thy servants set my field on fire?
32 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.
33 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.

Things to think about:

• How did the king find out that Joab was the culprit behind this woman’s story?
• What was the king’s conditions for Absalom’s return?
• What did we learn about Absalom in this lesson?
• How did Absalom get Joab’s attention?
• What did Absalom want Joab to do?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

As we read this Scripture in 2 Samuel we see that You gave King David wisdom. He discerned that Joab was behind the woman’s story. Joab was able to get the king to let his son return, but their relationship was still strained. In the end we see that David still loved his son when he kissed him. Help us to realize that even when we do wrong You still love us. Our sin may grieve Your heart, but Your love outweighs our sin. Thank You for Your son who died to redeem us of our sin. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Christian Music Video:

PS. Thank you for coming to DeborahHBateman.com to study the Bible with us. Come back again tomorrow. Please invite your friends and family to join us for Bible Study.

Featured Book:

The Book of Zechariah: A Story of Dreams and Visions

by Deborah H. Bateman

About the book:

The Book of Zechariah: A Story of Dreams and Visions is a Daily Bible Reading study by Deborah H. Bateman. It is a study of Zechariah from the Old Testament of the Bible. Zechariah was a prophet during Old Testament times. He tells of eight dreams or visions he has where the LORD communicates with him.

In the beginning of the book the LORD is beckoning His people to return to Him and He will return to them. The dreams that Zechariah has are dreams that are pertinent to his day as well as dreams about the future.

The Book of Zechariah: A Story of Dreams and visions contains twenty-two Daily Bible Reading Lessons that take you through the entire book of Zechariah. Each lesson contains a commentary by the author, the Scriptures for Daily Bible Reading, a few questions for contemplation called “Things to think about,” and a Prayer for the Day. It is a great book for individual or group Bible studies.

Go to: http://amazon.com/dp/B00N1ZAOAM
Get your copy now!

Subscribe to Deborah H. Bateman author site to receive

FREE Daily Bible Reading Lessons in your inbox

Monday – Friday.

Have a blessed day,

Deborah

Deborah H. Bateman

Deborah H. Bateman encourages other believers in their walk with Jesus Christ through Bible study. She is a Christian Author, Blogger, Website Designer, and Book Publishing Coach. She is the Founder of Christian Daily Resources a Christian online ministry dedicated to "Sharing God's Word". Deborah is the author of more than thirty books in the Daily Bible Reading Series and one book about self-publishing called: Self-Publishing Simplified: How to Publish a Book on Kindle. Deborah shares Daily Bible Reading lessons here on her blog at http://DeborahHBateman.com/blog Her website: Christian Daily Resources is at http://ChristianDailyResources.com She shares a Daily Bible Verse on her blog Bible Verse Tweet at http://www.bibleversetweet.com/. Deborah has a family favorite recipe blog called Recipe for Life at http://deborah-bateman.blogspot.com. She invites you to check them out and subscribe to the ones you like.