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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Monday, 1 September 2025:
2 Samuel 18:1 — Then David mustered the men who were with him and set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.
David, though weary and worn from betrayal and war, displayed remarkable composure and leadership by organizing his forces. Even in crisis, he led with wisdom, ensuring structure and accountability among his men. Leadership in God’s kingdom is never about chaos or rash decisions but about order, preparation, and stewardship. Paul reminded the Corinthians, “God is not a God of confusion but of peace” (1 Corinthians 14:33). David’s example shows that even when under attack, a godly leader takes deliberate and orderly steps. Spiritual battles also require order and discipline. Paul exhorts the church to “do all things decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40), recognizing that chaos undermines unity and effectiveness in the Lord’s work. Emotion often leads to chaos and confusion. Resting in God’s perfect providence, respond to all things with love, joy, peace, and order. Promote stability and reconciliation.
2 Samuel 18:2 — And David sent out the army, one third under the command of Joab, one third under the command of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and one third under the command of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the men, “I myself will also go out with you.”
David wanted to personally join the battle, showing solidarity with his men. But his commanders would soon dissuade him. His willingness to go out with them reflects Christlike leadership — a shepherd who does not send his flock into danger without being willing to face it himself. He does not treat them as expendable, but as brothers-in-arms. Jesus declared, “The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11).
2 Samuel 18:3 — But the men said, “You shall not go out. For if we flee, they will not care about us. If half of us die, they will not care about us. But you are worth ten thousand of us. Therefore it is better that you send us help from the city.”
David’s men recognized his value and persuaded him to remain behind. This is a tension in leadership: though he longed to be among them, his greater responsibility was to the survival of the kingdom. David’s men recognized his life meant more than theirs for the stability of Israel. Their loyalty reflects the honor due to leaders whom God places over His people. Similarly, Hebrews 13:17 calls believers to obey and submit to their leaders, for their care brings blessing to the whole body. Yet the contrast with Christ is also striking: unlike David, Jesus did not preserve His own life but laid it down for His people (John 10:11). Also demonstrating this tension in leadership, Paul knew he longed “to depart and be with Christ” but also that it was necessary to remain for the sake of others (Philippians 1:23–24). More often than not, leadership means sacrifice of personal desire for the good of God’s people. Make no mistake, leadership is sacrifice – the leader who complains about the sacrifice doesn’t understand what leadership is and is likely in it for the wrong reasons.
2 Samuel 18:4 — The king said to them, “Whatever seems best to you I will do.” So the king stood at the side of the gate, while all the army marched out by hundreds and by thousands.
David humbled himself, yielding to the wisdom of his men. True humility in leadership is willing to listen and to defer. Christ, though Lord, listened to His Father in perfect obedience, saying, “Not my will, but yours, be done” (Luke 22:42).
2 Samuel 18:5 — And the king ordered Joab and Abishai and Ittai, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” And all the people heard when the king gave orders to all the commanders about Absalom.
Here we see David’s fatherly heart, torn between justice and mercy. His plea for Absalom, even though the son had betrayed him, reflects God’s longsuffering nature. Yet, it also hints at weakness, for he prioritized his son above the security of the kingdom. In Christ, we see this paradox perfectly fulfilled: mercy and truth meeting together, righteousness and peace kissing each other (Psalm 85:10). Justice demands punishment, yet God’s heart is merciful (Ezekiel 33:11). Ultimately, in Christ, God’s justice and mercy meet at the cross (Romans 3:26). Justice demands punishment, Mercy pays the price on our behalf. Love remains eternally.
2 Samuel 18:6-8 — So the army went out into the field against Israel, and the battle was fought in the forest of Ephraim. And the men of Israel were defeated there by the servants of David, and the loss there was great on that day, twenty thousand men. The battle spread over the face of all the country, and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword.
The forest itself became an ally of David’s men. God often uses creation to fight His battles, whether the hailstones against the Amorites (Joshua 10:11) or the storm calming at Christ’s command (Mark 4:39). The battle belongs to the Lord, and He can employ any means to accomplish His purpose.
2 Samuel 18:9-10 — And Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak, and his head caught fast in the oak, and he was suspended between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him went on. And a certain man saw it and told Joab, “Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.”
Absalom’s vanity, his long hair, a source of pride (2 Samuel 14:25–26), became his downfall. Pride always ensnares, lifting a man up only to expose him in shame. He hung suspended, caught between heaven and earth, a symbol of his divided heart: desiring the throne of his father but lacking the blessing of heaven. Pride always leaves us vulnerable, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6).
2 Samuel 18:11-15 — Joab said to the man who told him, “What, you saw him! Why then did you not strike him there to the ground? I would have been glad to give you ten pieces of silver and a belt.” But the man said to Joab, “Even if I felt in my hand the weight of a thousand pieces of silver, I would not reach out my hand against the king’s son, for in our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘For my sake protect the young man Absalom.’ On the other hand, if I had dealt treacherously against his life, and there is nothing hidden from the king, then you yourself would have stood aloof.” Joab said, “I will not waste time like this with you.” And he took three javelins in his hand and thrust them into the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the oak. And ten young men, Joab’s armor-bearers, surrounded Absalom and struck him and killed him.
Joab, impatient and ruthless, disregarded David’s command and executed Absalom. Though he acted decisively, his disregard for David’s word revealed a hardened heart. Leadership requires courage but also submission to rightful authority. Joab’s pragmatism led to bloodshed. In contrast, Christ obeyed His Father’s will to the end, even unto death on a cross (Philippians 2:8).
2 Samuel 18:16-18 — Then Joab blew the trumpet, and the troops came back from pursuing Israel, for Joab restrained them. And they took Absalom and threw him into a great pit in the forest and raised over him a very great heap of stones. And all Israel fled everyone to his own home. Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up for himself the pillar that is in the King’s Valley, for he said, “I have no son to keep my name in remembrance.” He called the pillar after his own name, and it is called Absalom’s monument to this day.
Absalom, who sought glory for himself, died in disgrace. His monument stood as an empty testament to his vanity, a hollow legacy. True remembrance does not come from self-promotion but from faithfulness to God. “The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot” (Proverbs 10:7).
2 Samuel 18:19-23 — Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, “Let me run and carry news to the king that the Lord has delivered him from the hand of his enemies.” And Joab said to him, “You are not to carry news today. You may carry news another day, but today you shall carry no news, because the king’s son is dead.” Then Joab said to the Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” The Cushite bowed before Joab, and ran. Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said again to Joab, “Come what may, let me also run after the Cushite.” And Joab said, “Why will you run, my son, seeing that you will have no reward for the news?” “Come what may,” he said, “I will run.” So he said to him, “Run.” Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and outran the Cushite.
Ahimaaz desired to bring good news, but the news of Absalom’s death was not good to David. Sometimes zeal must be tempered with wisdom, for not all news is fit for celebration. In ministry, we too must discern how to speak truth in love, bringing hope rather than simply relaying facts (Ephesians 4:15).
2 Samuel 18:24-33 — Now David was sitting between the two gates, and the watchman went up to the roof of the gate by the wall, and when he lifted up his eyes and looked, he saw a man running alone. The watchman called out and told the king. And the king said, “If he is alone, there is news in his mouth.” And he drew nearer and nearer. The watchman saw another man running. And the watchman called to the gate and said, “See, another man running alone!” The king said, “He also brings news.” The watchman said, “I think the running of the first is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.” And the king said, “He is a good man and comes with good news.” Then Ahimaaz cried out to the king, “All is well.” And he bowed before the king with his face to the earth and said, “Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delivered up the men who raised their hand against my lord the king.” And the king said, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent the king’s servant, your servant, I saw a great commotion, but I do not know what it was.” And the king said, “Turn aside and stand here.” So he turned aside and stood still. And behold, the Cushite came, and the Cushite said, “Good news for my lord the king! For the Lord has delivered you this day from the hand of all who rose up against you.” The king said to the Cushite, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” And the Cushite answered, “May the enemies of my lord the king and all who rise up against you for evil be like that young man.” And the king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And as he went, he said, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”
David’s grief was overwhelming. Though his throne was secured, his heart was broken. His cry echoes the longing of every parent and ultimately reflects the heart of God. David wished he could have died in Absalom’s place. This longing finds its true fulfillment in Christ, who indeed died in the place of sinners. “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). David’s cry for substitution points forward to the gospel, where the King dies for His rebellious children.
“O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!” David’s cry is among the most heart-wrenching in all of Scripture. He wished he could have died in Absalom’s place, but tragically, he could not fix with one act of sacrifice what he had failed to live out daily. David’s life reveals the truth that we must not only be willing to “die for others” in the dramatic sense but also to die to self every day, giving our lives while we live, for God, for our families, for His people, and for the world around us. Regret is devastating because it exposes years of compromise and missed opportunities. A primary biblical principle is that we reap what we sow (Galatians 6:7), and David was now reaping what his long path of compromise had sown. His choices — passivity, indulgence, pride, adultery, murder, and failure to take responsibility — led directly to this moment of anguish. The consequences of sin are devastating, not only for us but for those around us, often for generations. To make light of sin is the worst kind of denial. Scripture says those who ignore the consequences of sin are “so nearsighted that [they are] blind” (2 Peter 1:9). Sin is more than just a failure of character; it is a direct affront to the King, rebellion against His Lordship, an offense beyond measure (Psalm 51:4). Sin is also a practical rejection of the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6) — the very path to the love, joy, peace, and fulfillment we seek. David’s grief illustrates this reality: his son is gone, and his wish to die in Absalom’s place comes too late. If only David had “died to self” early on, choosing God’s will above his own desires, his family and nation may have been spared such pain.
The consequences were not only personal but national. David had repeatedly failed to hold himself accountable, nor did he hold Joab accountable, nor his children. His unwillingness to confront sin allowed it to fester, leading Joab to once again defy his command and take Absalom’s life, just as he had earlier slain Abner against David’s intent. David knew of Joab’s insubordination but never curbed it, and now that negligence cost him dearly. This, too, was part of God’s chastening for David’s pride, adultery, and murder. Though forgiven by God, David’s sins bore bitter fruit across a lifetime, leaving his family fractured and his kingdom unstable. Sin always costs more than we think it will, and its ripple effects extend far beyond what we imagine.
By contrast, the apostle Paul demonstrates another way. He openly confessed his sin and weakness, proclaiming God’s grace through his own testimony (Romans 7; 1 Timothy 1:12–16). Far from destroying his credibility, his honesty magnified God’s mercy and gave him freedom to live and serve with passion. Confession destroys false pride and brings healing (James 5:16). It allows us to proclaim grace as truly “Good News” because we know firsthand its depth. The more we understand the magnitude of God’s mercy toward us, the more we are inspired to walk in His will and proclaim His truth. The greater our awareness of sin’s consequences, the more urgent our mission to bring the gospel of grace to a lost world.
Key to Christianity is humble honesty with ourselves and with others. You cannot fix what you refuse to face. Scripture calls us not only to repent of our own sin but also to lovingly rebuke sin in others. To allow sin to continue unchallenged is not love, because sin by definition is contrary to love. Paul commands: “Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them” (Ephesians 5:11). True love shines in the light, not in covering sin with silence.
David’s story is a tragic reminder that compromise, unchecked sin, and a lack of accountability corrode both the individual and the community. Yet even here, God’s grace shines. Though David could not die for Absalom, Christ has died for us. Where David failed, Jesus succeeded, fully dying to self, fully giving His life for the sake of His people. In Him, regret gives way to redemption, and sin’s devastation is met with grace sufficient for every failure.
– Psalm 51:4 — Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight….
– Galatians 6:7 — For whatever one sows, that will he also reap.
– 2 Peter 1:9 — For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.
– Ephesians 5:6, 11 — Let no one deceive you with empty words…. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.
– Acts 19:18 — Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices.
– James 5:16 — Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.”
– 1 John 1:9 — If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 1 September 2025: Today, reflect on the tension between justice and mercy. Like David, you may face people who deserve consequences yet stir your compassion, particularly as a person who has been forgiven by God at the expense of His Son, Jesus. Practice speaking truth with mercy, remembering that Christ bore justice for you so you could extend mercy to others. Seek opportunities today to show gentle restraint in a situation where harshness would be easy. Be willing to take up your cross in your relationships today, following Christ’s example and bringing glory to Him in fellowship with Him.
Pray: “Father, I thank You that in Jesus Christ justice and mercy have met perfectly. Help me to learn from David’s sorrow brough about by his own failures, from Absalom’s pride, and from Your sovereign hand in victory through grace. Teach me to live by grace, walk in grace, and give grace as my worship to You and for Your glory alone. Teach me to balance truth and mercy in my dealings with others, to lead with humility, and to forgive even when wronged, never forgetting from where I have come – a sinner saved by grace, remaining in constant dependence upon grace. May my heart reflect Christ, who gave His life that I might live. In His name, Amen.”
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