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2 Samuel 15:7-9 – Praying through the Bible #102 – A Prayer as a Pretense to Betrayal
“I’ll pray for you,” so easy to say. Could it be an excuse to do nothing? “I’ll pray for you,” too many say. But is it a cold, empty statement hiding our hurt? “I’ll pray for you” but I won’t talk to you. “I’ll pray for you,” but don’t ask me to forgive you. “I’ll pray for you” can be a pretense to righteousness; even used to lie and betray. Just ask Absalom.
Spiritually, Absalom is nothing like his father David. Unfortunately, he is like him in other ways. After Amnon rapes his sister Tamar, Absalom takes revenge on his predator brother, having him murdered. David is often found “inquiring of the Lord.” Absalom learns this can be a valuable tool politically, to fool his father into thinking he is spiritual.
After Absalom connives to murder his unsuspecting brother, he flees. Three years later, Joab sends to Tekoa to find a “clever woman” (2 Samuel 14.2) who tells David a parabolic story, reminiscent of Nathan. Again, David is fooled, not seeing he is the offending character. Subserviently, she reveals in kinder words than Nathan, “Thou art the man.” Absalom returns, but David forgives in words only: “He may return to his house, but he may not see my face” (14.24). David refuses to give what God had given to him, real forgiveness. If David had extended full grace and not some pseudo mercy, would both their futures have been changed? Two years pass before Absalom sees David. Deceptively he bows down before his enemy; deceived David kisses him (14.33). David’s relationship with his son is irreparably broken. Rebellion’s seed is about to sprout and divide the kingdom. This is David and Saul repeated; except Absalom is not God’s anointed, and like Saul, David is reaping his sin.
Four years later, Absalom steals the hearts of the men of Israel (15.6). David was a man after God’s own heart, and Absalom was after the hearts of Israel. Conniving, he gets a chariot, and 50 men to run before him. He rises up early, goes to the people, and when anyone has a grievance, this “politician” pretends to care: “If only someone would appoint me judge in the land. Then anyone who had a grievance or dispute could come to me and I would make sure he received justice” (15.4). Adding a nice touch to his promise, Absalom reaches out his hand, and kisses the plaintiffs (15.5). Call this an ancient version of shaking hands and kissing babies.
Pretending to be spiritual he lies to his father: “Please let me go to Hebron to fulfill a vow I made to the LORD. For your servant made a vow when I lived in Geshur of Aram saying: If the LORD really brings me back to Jerusalem, I will worship the LORD in Hebron” (15.7-8). Hebron is where David began his reign. Hebron is where the rebellion begins (15.10). David is betrayed while Absalom claims to have prayed. What if Absalom really did vow and pray? Then he prayed, not for forgiveness, but for payback.
Prayer Challenge: Pray our prayers are not a front for spirituality, nor an excuse for inaction or unforgiveness.
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