2 Samuel 18

In 2 Samuel 18, King David faces a heart-felt war against his own son, Absalom, who has rebelled to seize the throne. This conflict is so difficult because the King is fighting against those God called him to lead. This is not the first time David has been prevented from battling his own; in 1 Samuel 29:9, the Philistines rejected his participation in their ranks against Israel, and now in 2 Samuel 18:3, his men persuade him to stay back, arguing his life is too valuable. These instances underscore that God destined David to fight for his people, not against them.

Here, David is forced to defend his life and throne against Absalom, who should have been fighting alongside him as his son and heir. And this is what we see in our life, the Church, or even personal businesses- the fight is supposed to be against the enemy, not amongst ourselves! But then we can become our biggest battle if we open doors for the enemy, just like David did when he slept with Bathsheba, and so opening door to self-destruction. Absalom’s story serves as another cautionary tale we can spot in our life today, which is pride and arrogance. His renowned hair, a symbol of his glory (2 Samuel 14:26), becomes the instrument of his downfall when it gets caught in a tree during battle, leaving him vulnerable and to his demise (2 Samuel 18:9). What was meant to be a blessing turned against him, illustrating how pride can transform God-given gifts into tools of destruction.

The narrative warns that pride and arrogance precede a fall (Proverbs 16:18). David and Absalom teaches us that leadership under God’s calling is about serving and fighting for those entrusted to us, not against them. Pride, as seen in Absalom, can corrupt even our greatest strengths, leading to destruction. The same hair used to be heavy on him, and he would cut it every year. When we don’t cut down those wings of pride and arrogance, then a fall becomes inevitable. David’s victory is bittersweet. Despite Absalom’s rebellion, David mourns deeply for his son (2 Samuel 18:33), revealing the personal cost of this conflict. Internal battles against one’s own people or family are among the hardest, and God’s plan for David was to unify and protect Israel, not to wage war against it. Remember that those little decisions can cost what you are living to build!!!

REFLECTION

Are there areas in your life where pride in your gifts or position might be leading you toward division or destruction, and how can you align your actions with God’s call to serve and unify those around you?