Sometimes We Think We Must – Absalom
Sometimes we think we must right the world’s wrongs, like Absalom. But God may have a different plan for how He wants that to happen. Yes, indeed, we should not shirk our responsibilities, and I firmly believe that if we see something, we should at least say something. However, our first action when working for the Lord is to pray. There are many cautionary tales concerning David in the book of 2nd Samuel. It would not be easy to count all the red flags!
Consider Absalom
Consider Absalom. When I was thinking of him, I became overwhelmed by a message I received from the Lord. I was thankful for the message, but was confused about what I was supposed to do with the information. Then, when I sought further guidance, I received a message that God’s got this: pray and watch. That prayer should be something like this: “Show me what I am doing that is not what you’re doing, and help me stop. Please show me what you’re doing that you want me to be a part of, and help me start.”
Man’s Inhumanity To Man
If Absalom had prayed this prayer before trying to wrestle power from David, he would have likely lived much longer. In fact, he should have prayed that prayer before killing his brother for raping his sister. We are inundated with bad news whenever we listen to or watch news reports. Very often, it is a story of man’s inhumanity to man. When we become aware of bad news, a decision tree is triggered in each of us on an individual level. What do we do?
Do we ignore it, thinking someone else will address the issue? Do we ignore the villain for whatever excuse we can think of for a reason? Or do we also ignore the victim? What reasons do we think of for our action or our lack of action? James wrote: ‘If one of you says, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?’ In the first chapter of Isaiah, he writes that we should seek justice and defend the oppressed.
Absalom Wasn’t Afraid
Absalom’s view of justice was skewed from the Lord’s plan. The You Version Bible App had this prayer on July 18th 2025, “God, thank you for loving justice You don’t just acknowledge justice, or prefer it, You seek it. You bring justice because You are just. Help me love justice as much as You do and never be afraid or stopped from seeking it. In Jesus name, Amen.
Absalom wasn’t afraid. But did he do the right thing? David had nineteen children by four wives. One of his sons raped one of his daughters. That son was killed by Absalom, another one of David’s sons. Absalom attempted to overthrow his father, David, and forced David to flee Jerusalem. Absalom took ten of David’s concubines and had sex with them in a tent placed on the palace’s roof, so all of Jerusalem could see. Ultimately, a battle with 20,000 casualties ensued, including Absalom. The death of Absalom is a cautionary tale.
Don’t Love Power More Than Justice
I think Absalom thought if he had more power, he could bring more justice. Sadly, he appeared to love power more than justice. I fear that misguided thinking is occurring today. Sometimes we think we must seek justice and defend the oppressed. But often, we are only seeking vengeance and power. We all must stay grounded by requesting to God, “Show me what I am doing that is not what you’re doing, and help me stop. Please show me what you’re doing that you want me to be a part of, and help me start.”