CAC LIVING WATER-A SON, OR A BASTARD?

LIVING WATER DAILY DEVOTIONAL

A SON, OR A BASTARD?

29^TH , MARCH 2022

EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: 1 Samuel 13-14

READ: 2 Samuel 15:1-14
1 After this it happened that Absalom provided himself with chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him. 

2 Now Absalom would rise early and stand beside the way to the gate. So it was, whenever anyone who had a lawsuitcame to the king for a decision, that Absalom would call to him and say, “What city are you from?” And he would say, “Your servant is from such and such a tribe of Israel.” 

3 Then Absalom would say to him, “Look, your case is good and right; but there is no deputy of the king to hear you.” 

4 Moreover Absalom would say, “Oh, that I were made judge in the land, and everyone who has any suit or cause would come to me; then I would give him justice.” 

5 And so it was, whenever anyone came near to bow down to him, that he would put out his hand and take him and kiss him. 

6 In this manner Absalom acted toward all Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

7 Now it came to pass after forty years that Absalom said to the king, “Please, let me go to Hebron and pay the vow which I made to the Lord. 

8 For your servant took a vow while I dwelt at Geshur in Syria, saying, ‘If the Lord indeed brings me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord.’ ”

9 And the king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he arose and went to Hebron.

10 Then Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, ‘Absalom reigns in Hebron!’ ” 

11 And with Absalom went two hundred men invited from Jerusalem, and they went along innocently and did not know anything. 

12 Then Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city—from Giloh—while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy grew strong, for the people with Absalom continually increased in number.

13 Now a messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.”

14 So David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise, and let us flee, or we shall not escape from Absalom. Make haste to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly and bring disaster upon us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.”

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MEMORISE: " So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the top of the house, and Absalom went in to his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel . " – 2 Samuel 16:22

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EXPOSITION

Absalom means "Father of peace." He was the third son of King David through Princess Maacah, a foreign woman from Geshur. He was perfect in body, handsome, charming, eloquent, and dignified, but traitorous, murderous, merciless, godless, vindictive, and self centred. He murdered his elder brother, Amnon, betrayed his father, sought a kingdom he was in no way qualified to rule, and died in vanity. Absalom had earlier fled into exile sequel to the uproar that followed the murder of his elder brother, Amnon, who had incestuously abused Absalom's sister, Tamar. Thank God for General Joab who was instrumental in reconciling Absalom to his father, David (2 Sam. 13:22-39; 14:1-33). 

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Most annoying and saddening, according to today's devotional text, is that Absalom decided to spite his benevolent and loving father, David, who had just pardoned him, by mobilising the populace against him. 2 Samuel 15:12b says, 'And the conspiracy grew strong, for the people with Absalom continually increased in number'. And this caused the hurried flight of his beloved father and reigning king into exile (v. 14ff). Psalm 3:1ff explains the great trauma the ageing king passed through during this hour.

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A son is a male child born in legal marriage, while a bastard is a child born out of wedlock. Absalom proved himself rightly as being born of a concubine (3rd wife) of David. As a son, you must beware of what you do so as not to break your parents' hearts and thus abuse their love and priceless divinely recognised labour and authority over you (Eph. 6:1-3). Don't fall into Absalom's error (2 Sam. 15:12,31; 16:20-23). Not all counsels and counsellors are of God. Such a wrong step can lead to an ignoble, sudden and gruesome death (18:9-18). This is where JESUS comes in. Accept His lordship, NOW, to escape such doom (Jn. 1:12,13).

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PRAYER POINT:

1. Thank God for the parents through whom you were born to this world.

2. Ask God for forgiveness of all your inglorious attitudes to your parents.

3. Pray for children who are misbehaving against their parents to come to their senses and return home like the prodigal son.

DO HAVE A BLESSED DAY

©2022 LIVING WATERS IS a daily devotional by THE CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH