David Bahn – Reflections

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These devotions are part of the Follow the Word Bible reading program at St. John Lutheran Church in Cypress, Texas. This year we are reading through the Scriptures together, listening for how God speaks through his Word day by day. I hope you will join me on this journey.

Today’s readings are 2 Samuel 14-16, Psalm 121.

2 Samuel 15:13-16

And a messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel have gone after Absalom.” ¹⁴ Then David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise, and let us flee, or else there will be no escape for us from Absalom. Go quickly, lest he overtake us quickly and bring down ruin on us and strike the city with the edge of the sword.” ¹⁵ And the king’s servants said to the king, “Behold, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king decides.” ¹⁶ So the king went out, and all his household after him. 

The accounts in 2 Samuel 14–16 unfold in the aftermath of David’s sin with Bathsheba, where the Lord’s word through Nathan begins to take shape within David’s own house: “The sword shall not depart from your house.” What follows is a steady unraveling – strained relationships, failed reconciliation, and a growing fracture that moves from family conflict to open rebellion. David’s passivity as both father and king allows the situation to deepen, and what was once hidden now becomes public. The result is exile, humiliation, and a kingdom shaken from within.

I am not inclined to be a micromanager in my leadership. Some might say I am not strong enough in confronting people, events, conversations, and situations that do not align with the mission of God or the word of God. That may be the case. But I tend to assume that those I am working with are people of good character with honorable motives.

Sadly, however, not everyone is of good character with honorable motives. We see that clearly in these chapters. Absalom takes advantage of his father’s grace and begins to insinuate himself among the people, saying, “Oh that I were judge in the land! Then every man with a dispute or cause might come to me, and I would give him justice” (2 Samuel 15:4).

What a sad state of affairs. Absalom is usurping David’s throne, even after his father had restored their relationship. David, for his part, was too hands-off in dealing with the wayward and erring behavior of his own family. It is not accurate to say this is punishment for David’s affair with Bathsheba and his ordering the death of her husband. But it is surely the fulfillment of Nathan’s prophecy. Bloodshed would mark David’s family until the day of his death.

Yet even here, the Lord is at work – not withdrawing his promise, but humbling David and exposing the limits of his rule, leaving us looking beyond him for a better king. The Son of David would be all that David was meant to be and more – applying just the right balance of mercy and truth in every situation, remaining faithful to the Father no matter what, and redeeming a world that has more in common with David’s broken family than we would wish to admit.

There is no earthly king who will save us. But we have Jesus, the eternal king. “Thy kingdom come!” we pray.

PS: On this National Day of Prayer, we pray for all rulers – kings, elected officials, and all who are in positions of authority and public service. May God’s will be done in and through them all. Amen!

Click on the graphic below to watch the Bible Project video summary of the book of 2 Samuel.