2 Samuel 14:28-33
Verse 28 Absalom lived two years in Jerusalem without seeing the king’s face.
Absalom must have been frustrated with the fact he had come back at his father’s bidding and yet it had been two years and he still hadn’t seen his dad’s face. Why had he bothered to come home if it was just to sit in his house and be ignored by his father? He had been satisfied with his maternal family and had been doing fine with them until Joab came to bring him back to Jerusalem.
It wasn’t that Jerusalem was a bad place to be. People knew him and praised him for his looks but it wasn’t the same as it had been before the goings on with Amnon. It was here that his sister had been taken advantage of and here where he had done the plotting to get rid of the offensive brother. But in those days he had access to his father. His father hadn’t despised him back then. The king even seemed to love him in the days gone by. But if the king did love him it wouldn’t have taken two years for him to see the king.
So he sends for Joab who had insisted he come back to Jerusalem but even Joab ignored him. How could this man ignore him? So Absalom sent another request for Joab to come and see him and again Joab refused to come. This was getting ridiculous! Why bring him back if you won’t even talk to him? Absalom must have been getting furious at this point.
If Joab was going to be that way then Absalom figured he had to do something else to get Joab to come. Calling his servants to him he instructed them to light Joab’s barley field on fire. This was definitely attention getting! Joab’s response was just what the prince wanted, a face to face meeting. Notice Joab acts as if he had no clue why Absalom’s servants would do such a thing. It isn’t like he had been ignoring anyone.
It may not have been the nice thing to do but it received the desired results. Joab’s attention was now on the king’s son and the son was wanting Joab to convince the king to see him. “Why did I bother coming back if the king is going to ignore me?” So Absalom convinced Joab to go to the king on his behalf. When David heard his son was asking to see him the king summoned for Absalom to come to him in the palace. Absalom went in and fell down before his dad who in turn kissed him. This is more the reunion David had hoped for.
Making It Personal
Have you ever been awaiting something because someone said it was yours and would be coming soon? How did you react when it didn’t happen has soon as you thought? How can you wait well?
Making It Personal Kids
Have you ever had to wait for what felt like an eternity for something? What are some things you can do to help you wait better? What are you waiting for now?
Closing Prayer
Father, thank You for Your willingness to have us come near You and share with You our hearts. Help us know how to wait well and to desire time with You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Comments