Tag: Absalom

• Psalm 89: A Hymn in Time of National Struggle – Part IV

  
  

  Psalm 89: A Hymn in Time of National Struggle – Part IV

  Friday, January 24, 2025

  The next several posts were published in 2018, and they seem appropriate this year in a time when nations around the globe struggle to find effective, authentic, life-giving governance. 

  

  Finding the Servant

  Perhaps the most heartbreaking part in the story of David’s rise and reign is the accounting of his son Absalom. As Nathan had predicted, this favored child hatches a plot to do away with his father. In Chapters 16-17 we see the counselor Ahitophel create double deceit as the writer records, Any advice that Ahithophel gave in those days was accepted as though it were the very word of God; both David and Absalom followed it. Later we read that Ahithophel takes his own life (2 Samuel 17:23) and we consider, when we plot to take down our enemies, are we prepared to have that plot turn against us?

  Men prepare for conflict. The battle ensues and Absalom dies. Messages fly. David mourns and shames the soldiers who have saved him and the city. The world turns on its head. David’s nephew Joab steps in to bring the world back into focus and life settles into a series of defensive moves in which David maintains the kingdom in a series of skirmishes and disagreements. In the closing chapters of this long tale we read the beautiful song of this faithful servant’s thanksgiving. And so we consider, when we reflect on our lives with all of its peaks and valleys, can we recognize God as our rock, fortress, deliverer and refuge, or do we curse our circumstances and blame bad fortune on others?

  

  Samuel, David, Bathsheba, Nathan, Joab, Ahithophel, Uzza and so many others paint a canvas for us of the faithful servant who stumbles and recovers – many times. Through all of this, our loving God  pardons, heals and always abides. In a time when the word of the Lord is rare and visions are scarce in our lives, we might find ourselves in this story. We might listen for God’s voice as we step forward in faithful service.

  We hear this story. We take it in. And then we reply with the psalmist and King David . . . O Lord, I will always sing of your constant love; I will proclaim your faithfulness forever.

  Tomorrow, God among us.

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  Compare other translations of these verses by using the scripture links and drop-down menus. 

  Click on the image of David and Absalom for more insights into this story.

  Looking for a prayer for those who abide? Enter the word Prayer for Faithful Servants into this blog search bar and reflect.

  Images from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_and_Jonathan_%28Rembrandt%29 and https://www.1st-art-gallery.com/Francesco-Pesellino/The-Death-Of-Absalom.html

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  January 24, 2025

  2 Samuel, Absalom, Ahithophel, David, plots, thanksgiving

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• 2 Samuel 14 & 15: Deceit – Part II

  
  

  2 Samuel 14 & 15: Deceit – Part II

  

  Saturday, October 19, 2024

  We see Absalom set himself up as heir to a throne he will not inherit. We see him strip away all that is holy from his life. Reading ahead, we see him die a ridiculous death, hanging by his hair from a terebinth tree while one of David’s soldiers runs him through with a spear. Absalom plots for years to murder his brother for the rape of their sister, Tamar. Absalom relies on the very human resources of power, looks and cleverness to win for him the vengeful goals he lays out for himself. It is clear that Absalom does not consult God as he enters into and executes his plans.

  Absalom was a prince of a powerful nation. It was written that: In all of Israel not a man could so be praised for his beauty as Absalom, who was without blemish from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.  (14:25) But what had become of his soul? How had the events of his childhood so shaped him to produce such anger? Why were the gifts he had received from a loving God not enough to please him? What was it that made him always want more?

  Upon his return from exile, Absalom falls to the ground at his father’s feet when he is pardoned. He then stands, and leaves the palace to set his newest grab for power into motion. He employs deceit to win friends and enemies alike rather than obedience to God as his game plan. He relies on his influence and charm and for awhile these tools prove a powerful arsenal; but in the end they are not enough. In the end, Absalom – the master deceiver – is himself deceived. He returns from Geshur and continues to weave the labyrinth of his life with chariots, horses and henchmen all the while forgetting that the proper response to pardon is a grateful heart. Let us learn a lesson from Absalom’s ruin.

  For more information about the people and places in this reflection, visit yesterday’s post, Deceit – Part I. 

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  A Favorite from November 21, 2008.

  Image from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamar_(daughter_of_David)

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  October 19, 2024

  Absalom, anger, David, obedience, revenge, Tamar

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• 2 Samuel 14 & 15: Deceit – Part I

  
  

  2 Samuel 14 & 15: Deceit – Part I

  

  Friday, October 18, 2024

  David, Amnon, Tamar, Absalom.  Joab, the woman from Tekoa, Zadok the priest, Ziba, Ahithophel.  What an amazing cast of characters to play the roles we find in this tale we have visited often – the story of a family fueled by envy, payback, and violence – the story of a family spiraling into self-destruction. Exile and Return, Forgiveness and Revenge. These are themes familiar to any people on any day in any generation. Today’s reading presents us with a window into the lives of several members of Jesus’ family tree as we see them plot and connive with tremendous skill; but eventually we see that gains born of deceit have no place in honest relationships; and this is a lesson we may want to carry into our own most intimate relationships, especially our relationship with God.

  The first verse in chapter 15 stands out to us: After this Absalom provided himself with chariots, horses, and fifty henchmen.

  Absalom returns home after having murdered his brother Amnon, and he is pardoned by his father, King David. Yet his first act is to begin to lay the ground work to continue his life of deception and connivance. Clearly he did not learn much during his years in exile in Geshur. Perhaps he spent them in denial of his own deeds, brooding about how he had been wronged and plotting to continue his revenge rather than spending time in introspection. Perhaps he nursed his anger, allowing hatred to bloom in his heart in the place where forgiveness rightly dwells.

  Tomorrow, a prince of a powerful nation.

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  A Favorite from November 21, 2008.

  Image from: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Rape_of_Tamar_MET_LC-1984_342-1.jpg

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  October 18, 2024

  Absalom, Ahithophel, Amnon, David, Exile and Return, Forgiveness and Revenge, Joab, love versus hatred, Tamar, Zadok, Ziba

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• 2 Samuel 18: Recklessness

  
  

  2 Samuel 18: Recklessness

  Thursday, May 23, 2024

  

  When we examine the story of David and his son Absalom, and see that sometimes we cling to outmoded ideas or dangerous people.  We humans seem to prefer the devil we know to the one we do not. We make a way to survive with the horror we experience rather than set boundaries against the craziness of the world. This is the fine line we walk between forgiving transgression and accepting abuse. This is the difference between pardon and leniency. It is the distinction we draw between recklessness and prudence.

  Absalom is the favored child who does as he likes; he is coddled and feels entitled.  We see many examples of this in our current world – men and women who take what they like from whomever they like, pitted against the innocent who are open and trusting. It is an uneven match and we wonder why God does not protect the naïve and unknowing more.

  In today’s reading we see the dreadful end of Absalom, the favored child who abused his father who had given him so much. We also watch the mourning of the father who believes he has recently lost a child without understanding that he had lost him years before.

  As Jesus reminds us, we cannot put new wine into old skins.  (Matthew 9:14-17, Mark 2:21-22 and Luke 5:33-39) We cannot sew new patches on old sleeves. We are called by our maker to transform ourselves, to move beyond our old form and style, to become new in Christ. For just as the Old Testament is fulfilled in the New, as the old Covenant is re-written on the new heart, so are we called to make a place for a clean spirit, so are we called to sit at the city gate to indicate that we have returned – but in a new form.

  In this season when we celebrate resurrection and new life, let us be determined that when we are fuddled by the line between compassion and acceptance of violence against one’s self, we will examine our lives in light of the Gospel to see if our suffering bears fruit or draws us down. In recent days at Mass we have been reminded that we are the fruit bearing branches of the vine that is Christ. We are nothing and do nothing except through the Creator. There is no secret thought; we keep no actions from the Spirit. We belong to God and our lives are transformed when we understand this.

  From the mini-reflection in today’s MAGNIFICAT we read in reference to Acts 16:1-10: “Day after day the churches grew stronger in faith and increased in number”.  This was due in large part to Paul and Timothy’s attentive docility and obedience to the Holy Spirit. They had been chosen “out of the world” by Jesus. When we act out of belonging, conscious that we do not “belong to the world”, we change the world”.

  And this is how we address the recklessness and violence we see around us. We take on Christ, we go to the Creator, and we allow our transformation in the Spirit. In this way, we pray that we do not come to harm when the violence of the world threatens us. And we pray that when the violence of the world does invade our lives – as it surely will – we will have the courage, strength and clarity to witness with attentive docility and obedience to the Holy Spirit. We pray that we remind ourselves of our true belonging. And we pray for the lost souls of those who have been sucked into the cycle of danger and fear.  In this way we change the world. Amen.

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  A Favorite from May 8, 2010.

  Cameron, Peter John, Rev., ed. “Mini-Reflection.” MAGNIFICAT. 8 May 2010. Print.

  Image from: https://www.ncregister.com/blog/you-were-made-to-live-for-greatness

   

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  May 23, 2024

  Absalom, Acts 16:1-10, David, Luke 5:33-39, Mark 2:21-22, Matthew 9:14-17, new wine in old skins, prudence

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