As King David prepares for battle, he assesses the people, divides them into three groups, and places Joab, Abishai, and Ittai as captains over them. Usually, King David went to the battle with his troops; however, knowing Absalom’s main goal was to kill his father, the people advised him to stay behind, to which he acquiesced and stayed at his dwelling. As the army departed, all the people heard King David say to his captains Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. “
In the woods of Ephraim, the battle spread out on the countryside, and between King David’s army and the dense forest, twenty thousand men of the opposing army were slain. Unfortunately for him, while riding on his mule and passing under an oak tree, Absalom’s hair got caught in the branches, and he was suspended in the air as his mule moved on. This was seen by someone who told Joab. Joab responded, “And, behold, thou sawest him, and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground? and I would have given thee ten shekels of silver, and a girdle.” The man replied, “Though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in mine hand, yet would I not put forth mine hand against the king’s son: for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom. Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood against mine own life: for there is no matter hid from the king, and thou thyself wouldest have set thyself against me.”
Not lingering in conversation, Joab departed from the man, found Absalom, and thrust three darts through Absalom’s heart. Ten of Joab’s armor-bearers surrounded Absalom, stabbed him with their swords, then cast his body in a pit, and covered it with a heap of stones. Accomplishing his plan of killing and burying Absalom, Joab blew the trumpet, which stopped the king’s army from fighting and pursuing their opponents, allowing the surviving opponents to return to their abode.
Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok, who was at the battle, requested permission from Joab to go to the king with the news of the battle, but Joab stopped him. Zadok kept asking to go, and finally, Joab granted his request. Meanwhile, Joab had dispatched a Cushite to the king with the battle news. Ahimaaz arrived first, but he could not give King David any specifics about the battle. When the Cushite came, he told the king, “The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is.” This news devastated the king, and he went into his chambers crying and saying, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!” So, chapter 18 shared the demise of Absalom and ended with the despair of King David over the death of another son whom he loved.
Also, revealed in this chapter, Absalom had three sons who commentaries believed died in infancy; therefore, he built a monument in Jerusalem to preserve his name and for his burial. Nevertheless, all of his planning was for naught with his unexpected dishonorable death.
For the last time in this series, I once again suggest for more details, read chapter 18. Now here are the final spiritual nuggets that I obtained from this chapter:
A good leader knows their responsibility.
God does not need a large army to be victorious.
There are people around you that know your worth.
Some will esteem you higher than themselves.
True friends will protect you from danger.
As a leader, it is good to accept the wise counsel of others.
Be willing to forgive the treachery of your enemy.
Parents’ warm feelings for their children are sometimes not reciprocated.
Negligent parents often turn a blind eye toward their children’s negative behavior.
Those who respect authority will follow instructions.
Disregarding the plan of God can be fatal.
Be careful that the object you prize does not cause your death.
Not honoring your parents can cause your life to be shortened.
Honor and respect are not given to the wicked.
Having no sympathy for your plight will cause people to act negatively toward you.
People that have their own agenda will disregard the words of the leader.
Some acts are done for the kingdom and not the king.
When you refuse to punish your children for wrong behavior, others will willingly do it for you.
Despite how bad a child may be, their parents still love them.
A loving father can overlook the treasonous behavior of their child.
Good news to some is bad news to others
God forgave King David for the sins he committed over Bathsheba; however, God also judged him. David had to reap the consequences of what he sowed, and it played out in his family. God used King David’s negligence in disciplining his sons as a method to chastise him. Up to 2 Samuel 18, three of his sons had died, and the last son to die caused not only King David problems but brought internal strife to the nation with a war. The outcome of sinful acts can result in generational disaster.
Finally, I close this Absalom series with this one thought. A person with the Spirit of Absalom will plot to overthrow leadership, but, in the end, it brings about their own destruction.
In 2 Samuel 12:9 -12, God gave Nathan the prophet this message to give to King David, “Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife. Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun. For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.” Unfortunately for King David, these prophetic words continue to be unfolded in his life, as I will share in this blog.
2 Samuel 15 ends with David speedily evacuating the city of Jerusalem and his son Absalom entering it without any opposition. Chapter 16 opens with King David, who is on the run, meeting Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth, who brought him some food provisions and asses for the king’s household to ride on since they had been journeying on foot. When asked the whereabouts of Mephibosheth, Ziba answered, “Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.” King David assumes Ziba is telling the truth and unwisely responds by giving him Mephibosheth’s entire property.
Next, King David encountered Shimei, the son of Gera from the family of Saul who was cursing and casting dust, threw stones at King David and his company, saying, “Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial: The Lord hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the Lord hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man.” His remarks made Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, angry, and he asked permission from King David to kill Shimei for his disrespectfulness. However, King David would not release him to do it in case God prompted Shimei to curse him. Additionally, King David believed if his son was treating him treacherously, then those not related to him could do the same. In the end, David trusted God to vindicate him of any false accusations.
Having passed thru the brook of Kidron, Mount Olive, and Bahurim, the weary King David and those with him were able to refresh themselves. Meanwhile, Absalom, his followers, and Ahithophel were settling in Jerusalem. Hushai, the Archite, came to Absalom and did obeisance, which caused Absalom to question his previous allegiance to King David. Hushai gave Absalom this response which was acceptable to him, “Nay; but whom the Lord, and this people, and all the men of Israel, choose, his will I be, and with him will I abide. And again, whom should I serve? should I not serve in the presence of his son? as I have served in thy father’s presence, so will I be in thy presence.”
Lastly, Ahithophel, whose counsel was considered valuable, told Absalom to publicly have sexual relationships with his father’s concubines, which he did. Both men understood that this act would signal the people that Absalom had taken over the rulership of his father’s kingdom. Also, it would be abhorrent to his father and make reconciliation between them impossible.
For more details than the summary I provided, I recommend reading chapter 16. Now here are some truths (spiritual nuggets) that I gained from this chapter:
- Always check out the information you hear before making a rash decision.
- Appearances can be deceiving.
- People that you employ will sometimes make false accusations about you.
- A greedy untrustworthy servant will steal from his master.
- A thief will give away that which does not belong to him.
- People will hold grudges against you when they feel you have offended their family members.
- When you are down, your adversaries will say bad things about you.
- While you are walking thru your valley, there will be those on the mountain unsympathetically looking down on you.
- If you bring charges against someone, make sure they are legitimate.
- No matter the circumstance, don’t curse or abuse leadership.
- Realize some painful events that you experience in life are caused by your choices.
- Those around you often share in your experiences, both good and bad.
- Feeling self-deprecation can open the door for abuse from others.
- When men revile, you remain gracious toward them.
- God vindicates the innocent.
- Let vengeance be from God.
- It is God who determines your destiny.
- God will refresh you in enemy territory.
- A deceiver can also be deceived.
- Why expect others to be loyal when you are not?
- Those you trust to give you sound counsel may not do so.
- Our children will make the same mistakes that we did in our lifetime.
- Down thru the ages, women have been sexually abused by men in power.
- The fulfillment of some prophecies can be painful.
Also, continuing in the same fashion of my last blog, I will share from chapter 16 some key characteristics of those who exhibit an Absalom spirit:
- Those with the Spirit of Absalom will knowingly break the laws of God.
- Those with the Spirit of Absalom will disrespect leadership openly.
- Though practicing deception themselves, those with the Spirit of Absalom can also be deceived.
- Those with the Spirit of Absalom are willing to do whatever promotes their position.
- align themselves with whoever promotes their cause.
- Those with the Spirit of Absalom are willing to accept whoever exalts them.
I pray this blog has been insightful and directional for you, and if you have not read the other blogs in this series, you can find them in the archive.
2 Samuel 15 reveals that Absalom had planned a coup for he wanted the people’s loyalty and allegiance to be transferred from his father to him. Apparently, he felt he was the heir apparent, and he did not want to wait until the death of King David; so, here is what he did. First, to impress his countrymen, he had an entourage of fifty men run before him when he was traveling. Then to steal the hearts of the people, he rose early and stood by the city gate where judicial matters were handled to intercept individuals that were coming to the king to hear their case. He planted the idea in their minds that he would have provided a better judgment for them if he was in charge, and at the end of their encounter, Absalom embraced and kissed them. This strategic behavior of Absalom went on for multiple years until he was ready for the coup.
Absalom asked King David for permission to go to Hebron under the pretense he was carrying out a vow he made to God while in Geshur. Meantime he sent out secret messages to the tribes of Israel saying, “As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron.” Additionally, Absalom called Ahithophel the Gilonite, King David’s counselor, and two hundred unsuspecting men from Jerusalem to accompany him to Hebron.
Word reaches King David that there was a conspiracy underway against him. He gathered his household and evacuated Jerusalem along with his six hundred Gittites guards and his personal bodyguards of Cherethites and Pelethites. King David did this to keep Jerusalem safe and escape being captured by Absalom. Left to keep the palace were ten of King David’s concubines.
The Levites, Zadok, and Abiathar, the priests followed King David with the ark of the covenant; however, King David had them return to Jerusalem with the responsibility of protecting the ark and an assignment of reporting to him the plans of Absalom. Also, Ittai the Gittite came to David and refused to be deterred by him, so he, his men, their families joined King David’s company.
David and all the people with him proceeded up the Mount of Olives, covering their heads and weeping. Upon arrival, King David worshipped God and persuaded Hushai the Archite to go to Jerusalem and become a secret agent for him by pledging allegiance to Absalom. He was to work at defeating the counsel of Ahithophel, who had defected to Absalom, and forward vital information to Abiathar and Zadok concerning Absalom’s movement. They would then send this information to the king by their sons Ahimaaz and Jonathan. Chapter 15 ends with Absalom coming into Jerusalem.
As I have done in the previous blogs, I recommend reading chapter 15 to obtain more details than the summary I provided. Now here are some truths (spiritual nuggets) that I gained from this chapter:
- A true friend and faithful followers will stick with you and find it difficult to leave you.
- In life, you will have people that will walk with you through dangerous terrain.
- Sometimes you are abandoned by the people in whom you invested much.
- When a person you trusted betrays you, it is heartbreaking.
- A wise person knows how to be a tactician while experiencing difficulty.
- A true leader cares about the welfare of others.
- When in foreign territory, trust God to bring you home safely.
- Pray for God’s intervention in your time of trouble.
- When people respect you, they will follow your instructions.
- No matter your circumstance, worship is vital.
- God sends solutions amid your worship.
Also, continuing in the same fashion of my last blog, I want to share from chapter fifteen some key characteristics of those who exhibit an Absalom spirit:
- While you are resting, this spirit is plotting.
- They seek to promote themselves and desire the praises of men.
- They seek to win the attention and affection of people.
- They are a conniver, flatterer, deceiver, pretender, and liar.
- Though they are not, they appear sincere to the unexpectant.
- They will mesmerize and endear themselves to people.
- They belittle leadership.
- They want leadership positions, and they view others as incompetent.
- They seek to judge people’s problems.
- They manipulate people’s emotions.
- They will question the leader’s ability to lead and make sound judgments.
- They will use innocent people to promote their agenda.
- Eventually, they will show his true colors.
- This spirit thinks of himself more highly than he ought.
- They will cause disloyalty, discontentment, and division among the people..
I pray this information is helpful and that the Spirit of Absalom will not be found in you.
After hearing of his birth in 2 Samuel 3:2-3 and 1 Chronicles 3:1-2, there is no more information shared on the childhood of Absalom. The next time Absalom is mentioned in the scriptures is in 2 Samuel 13, after a terrible event which begins a time of reaping for King David via his sons as prophesied by Nathan (2 Samuel 12:9 -12).
Just as King David lusted after Bathsheba, his first son Amnon born to him by Ahinoam, the Jezreelitess, lusted after a female, and unfortunately, it was his half-sister, Tamar. Amnon thought it was love; however, it was perverted incestuous lust. Knowing the strict protocol and seclusion for a virgin princess and the laws prohibiting a romantic relationship with a half-sister Amnon became physically frustrated (Leviticus 18:11, 20:17).
With the advice of his cousin Jonadab, he devised a plan using his father to get his sister to come to his house and fix him something to eat. Upon Tamar’s arrival at his home, Amnon requested her to make him some cakes, which she did. After sending away his servants, Amnon raped Tamar despite her pleas to him not to do so (2 Samuel 13:12-14). Following his violent act, his perverted love immediately becomes hate, and he has Tamar thrown out of his house, and the door bolted (2 Samuel 13:15 -17).
Crying the humiliated, Tamar tears her princely virgin robe, put ashes and her hand on her head, and goes to Absalom. When Absalom sees Tamar, he says, “Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? but hold now thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother; regard not this thing (2 Samuel 13:20). From that time onward, Tamar lived in Absalom’s house.
The Bible records King David was angry by this crime, but he did not address it. Additionally, Absalom nurtured hatred for Amnon for what he did, and he also did not speak to Amnon concerning this violation of his sister.
After waiting two years, Absalom orchestrated a plan of retaliation. Like his brother Amnon, he used his father to gain access to his brother, and with his father’s blessing, he invited all of his brothers to his sheepshearing feast. While the family was present, the servants, following Absalom’s instructions, murdered Amnon while he was in a festive mood.
An erroneous report arrives at the court and is given to King David that all of his sons were slain by Absalom, but Jonadab revealed the truth to the king. When King David’s other sons returned home, he, his sons, and all of the servants wept together over the slaying of Amnon.
In the meantime, Absalom escaped and went and stayed three years in Geshur with his maternal grandfather King Talmai. He knew, if the slaying of Amnon was accidental, he could have escaped to a city of refuge, but because this was a deliberate act, he could not. The Bible ends the chapter recording King David mourned the death of Amnon and eventually missed the absence of Absalom.
I will now share some truths (spiritual nuggets) that I gained from this chapter. However, since I just summarized this chapter, I suggest you read it for more details of these tragic events.
Here are some spiritual nuggets to be learned from 2 Samuel 13:
- The Laws of God were given for a reason, and they are to be obeyed.
- God forgives our sins; however, disobedience has a price tag; it will cost you something.
- When you are experiencing lustful thoughts, seek deliverance.
- Allowing one’s imagination to be unbridled can lead to disaster.
- Just because a person is related to you does not mean they will advise you correctly.
- Satan will station those around you who will promote wickedness.
- The person that helps you commit sin can also be the person that reveals your motives to others.
- Watch who has your ear; they may be the death of you.
- Devious people know how to deceive the unexpectant.
- Deceivers can eventually be tricked.
- Be careful not to be a parent who sends their child into a dangerous situation.
- Food is sometimes used to mask betrayal.
- Agape love will not violate another.
- For your safety, when you see people leaving, you leave too.
- Watch where you are being led.
- A rapist’s intentions are never pure.
- A rapist will attempt to overpower their victim.
- A rapist will not listen to the pleas of their victim.
- Lust can make you act foolishly.
- Lust hurts the innocent and the guilty.
- Be careful; you may find that which you thought would give you pleasure does not.
- It is easy to discard that which has no value to you.
- Unless witnessed by others, the events of a rape will always have two sides.
- Guilty parties often attempt to blame the victim (When Amnon told his servants to cast out Tamar and bolt the door, it made the situation appear that Tamar was the one doing the enticement).
- A rapist alters the course of another person’s life.
- Feelings of disgrace can result in isolation.
- A good father protects their innocent children.
- It is challenging to give correction when you are guilty of the same illegal acts.
- The birth order, partiality, nor position of an heir to a throne should prevent a parent from correcting their offspring.
- If not resolved, anger can last a long time.
- Some people think silence means approval.
- Your actions can cause your death.
- When you orchestrate a murder, you are as guilty as the one that performs it.
Also, I want to share some key characteristics of those with an Absalom spirit for you to know those who are among you.
- They are able to devise and carry out wicked plans.
- They take on the burden of the offended, brood over the offense, and seek revenge for the offended.
- They are deceptive and lie to leadership to carry out sinful plans.
- They will allow unresolved issues to fester.
- They will not have honest communication, share thoughts and feelings.
- They will run away rather than be corrected.
In closing, my prayer for this blog series is that we will be enlightened, that we will learn, and that we will not have an Absalom spirit
God gave this instruction to the future kings of Israel in Deuteronomy 17:17a, “Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away.” Unfortunately, David, the second king in Israel, Absalom’s father, did not follow this instruction. According to the scriptures found in 2 Samuel 3:2-5, 5:13-16 and 1 Chronicles 3:1-9 which reads as thus “Now these were the sons of David, which were born unto him in Hebron; the firstborn Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; the second Daniel, of Abigail the Carmelitess: The third, Absalom the son of Maachah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur: the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith: The fifth, Shephatiah of Abital: the sixth, Ithream by Eglah his wife. These six were born unto him in Hebron; and there he reigned seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years. And these were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shimea, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, four, of Bathshua the daughter of Ammiel: Ibhar also, and Elishama, and Eliphelet, And Nogah, and Nepheg, and Japhia, And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphelet, nine. These were all the sons of David, beside the sons of the concubines, and Tamar their sister.” David disobeyed God’s instruction, for according to the above scripture, David married eight women, plus he had concubines. From these women, David had nineteen sons with the possibility of more sons from his concubines who were not named and had one daughter.
The Bible revealed in Luke 3:31- 38 Absalom’s genealogy back to Adam with noted characters, i.e., Jesse, Obed, Boaz, Phares, Judah, Jacob, Isaac, Abraham, Noah, Methuselah, and Enoch, who walked with God until God took Him.
Regrettably, little is recorded of Absalom’s mother Maacah, the only wife of David born to royalty, for her father was Talmai, King of Geshur. It is believed David’s marriage to Maacah was a political one since they resided in neighboring territories. Besides Absalom, two more children were born to this union; a daughter named Tamar and another son named Hanan. It is believed that Maacah was attractive for the children were noted for their exceptional beauty.
As I continue in this blog series, you will see the scripture, “The Lord is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation,” unfold in the life of David’s children (Numbers 14:18). There were consequences that resulted from the many marital unions in which David engaged. Though he was a man after God’s own heart, there were times that he did not consult God nor follow His instructions; therefore, his family suffered.
I invite you to continue following this blog series as I share the life of Absalom. I am sure there will be nuggets from which you can glean to enhance your walk with God.
What are we running from, you might ask? The answer is “suffering.” The dictionary defines suffering as the state of undergoing pain, distress, or hardship. Unfortunately, we do not live in a perfect world, and all of us will experience some form of suffering during our lifetime. For some, suffering will be minuscule, while for others, suffering will be a significant part of their existence.
Suffering had an origin, and if you don’t know where it all started, allow me to recap the event that determined the future of the world. Adam and Eve were placed in the Garden of Eden and instructed they could eat of every tree except one tree. After a serpent deceived Eve, Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s instruction, and God penalized them for their actions. This is what God said to Eve, “I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee” (Genesis 3:16). And this is what He told Adam, “Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return” (Genesis 3:17-19). Adam and Eve’s disobedience caused experiences that were supposed to be pleasant to turn arduous. Their actions introduced suffering into the world, and it has continued to this day.
God sent Jesus to this earth to redeem us back to Himself as He promised in Genesis 3:15 when He told the serpent, “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” Jesus was that seed, and He had to suffer like everyone else. During His time on earth, He was rejected by loved ones and followers, He was mocked, He was physically abused, He endured emotional turmoil, He was falsely accused, He was threatened, and He was betrayed. Before His burial and resurrection, He had to be whipped.
Jesus’s suffering though painful, made Him the perfect leader and example for us to follow. Paul stated in Hebrews 2:9-10, “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.”
Before His crucifixion, Jesus warned his disciples they would experience suffering. As believers, though it is uncomfortable and hard for us to accept, suffering has a significant role in our lives in making us the chosen vessels fit for God’s use. We, like Jesus, are being perfected in our painful experiences; so, we need to stop running from suffering and embrace it for the fruitful results that it will produce.
Today I have a question for you, and it is, “Why are you serving God?” Are you serving Him because of His recent act of kindness toward you? Are you serving Him because you need something, or are you serving Him out of love for His presence and Word?
Matthew 14:13-23, Mark 6:30-46, Luke 9:10-17, and John 6:1-15 all share the story of Jesus feeding 5000 men as well as women and children. Each of the authors shares a glimpse of this significant event showing the compassion that Jesus displayed for a multitude of people.
Let me summarize what happened. After hearing about the beheading of John the Baptist, Jesus withdrew from the people and went into the desert. When the people realized Jesus was missing, they searched for Him until He was found. Jesus stopped whatever He was doing and ministered the Word to the multitude and healed those that were sick.
Even though it was getting late in the day, the people did not leave, so the disciples suggested that Jesus send the people into the villages to get something to eat. Jesus responded to the disciples, “They need not depart: give ye them to eat” The disciples told Jesus, “We have here but five loaves and two fishes.” Jesus instructed them to bring the victuals to Him. First, Jesus had the people sit in the grass in groups, then he blessed the food and gave it to the disciples to distribute to the people. After everyone had eaten until they were filled, the disciples collected twelve baskets of fragments.
On the following day, the people came to Capernaum looking for Jesus. Perceiving why they came, Jesus said to them, “Verily, verily I say unto you, Ye seek me not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves and were filled.” Jesus had fed all of the people, which was composed of men, women, and children. Yesterday, no one left the gathering hungry; in reality, the people were looking for Him because they wanted a free meal.
Many of us are guilty of the same actions of the crowd, for we only search for God for what He can give us. Let there be no mistake; He is not deceived, He knew their intentions, and He knows ours. God desires that we serve Him out of love. If we never receive anything from Him, which is impossible, He wants us to desire to bask in His presence. He wants us to want Him more than our necessary food. So, my prayer for all of us is that we learn to seek God, not for fishes and loaves but to seek Him because we want to worship Him.
Jesus spent the last three years of His earthly life doing ministry, and during that time, He was misunderstood by most of the people with whom He came in contact. Unfortunately, these individuals did not understand His earthly assignment was to save the lost by bearing their sins and to destroy Satan’s works, for God did not send His Son to the earth to become the political, revolutionary ruling King for that time.
In the Old Testament, references were made about a king being born from the Jewish lineage (Deut.18:15; Psalms 22:27-31; Isaiah 7:14, 9:6, 11:1; Jer. 23:5-6; Micah 5:2). When Jesus showed up on the scene with His profound teachings, healings, and miracles, the people assumed that He possibly could be the King that had come to exact judgment on their Roman oppressors and deliver them from the Roman dictatorship. Thus, when the people attempted forcefully to take Him and make Him their King, He withdrew from them for His assignment was not about gaining Israel’s independence (John 6:15).
Though John the Baptist was the forerunner for Jesus who prepared the people for the one that was coming that was greater than him, He too questioned Jesus’s authenticity after a while. Imprisoned by Herod Antipas, John sent his closest disciples to Jesus to ask Him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another? Apparently, John wanted Jesus not only to proclaim Himself the Messiah but to be militant in His actions.
The religious leaders, the Sanhedrin council, the Pharisees, and the Sadducees hated Jesus because He claimed to be the Son of God, He healed on the Sabbath, and He did not follow their strict laws and customs. Additionally, they thought Jesus wanted to be King of the Jews, for which they strongly objected and had Him crucified.
Sadly, Jesus’s disciples, who sat under His tutelage for three years and were privy to teachings and revelations pertaining to the kingdom, misunderstood Him. Jesus had continually shared His assignment with them, yet before His ascension, the last question recorded that they asked Him was, “Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?”
Unlike the people that lived during the ministry of Jesus, we have both Old and New Testament from which to glean. Thus, we understand God’s purpose for sending His Son to the earth and the sufferings He had to endure to carry out His mission. Jesus provided salvation to all that would receive Him as their Lord and Savior, and I am grateful that I can be counted in that number. I pray that you have not misunderstood and that in the future, we will be with our ruling King forever.
The Teacher's Pick 