“And Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? but hold now thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother; regard not this thing. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom’s house” (2 Samuel 13:20).

A major point that incited bitter wrath in Absalom was that the king was wroth but didn’t do anything whatsoever to punish the grievous crime. “When king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth” (2 Samuel 13:21). The father of these young people, the king, the most powerful man in the country, did nothing. . . .

The very first sign when someone is contemplating revenge is no communication: “And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar” (2 Samuel 13:22).

For two years, Absalom had appeared to be patient, yet he had secretly begun to devise a cunning plan to kill his half-brother. When the time came, he made the actual strike through his servants: “Amnon only is dead: for by the appointment of Absalom this hath been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar” (2 Samuel 13:32).

“But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day” (2 Samuel 13:37). As per Nathan’s prophecy in 2 Samuel 12, the second son dies in David’s family, killed by his own brother. . . .

Then after three years (“So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years” (2 Samuel 13:38), the king calls Absalom back—but with a condition: “The king said, Let him turn to his own house, and let him not see my face. So Absalom returned to his own house, and saw not the king’s face” (2 Samuel 14:24).

Never praise a son, just appreciate the good traits developed! The Bible says that: “In all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him” (2 Samuel 14:25). Yet when we look over his entire life, we find very inspired the following thought: “From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment” (Isaiah 1:6).

Two years after he returned from his grandpa, finally Absalom is invited by the father to the palace: “Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, and saw not the king’s face” (2 Samuel 14:28).

Combined, there were 7 years since Amnon’s crime had triggered revenge in Absalom’s heart: 2 years until he killed Amnon, 3 years away in Geshur and 2 years in Jerusalem.

Seven years of wrath, extreme anger, and full of revengeful thoughts. . . . This was Absalom.

Now the father receives his son with love and compassion: “Absalom, he came to the king, and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king: and the king kissed Absalom” (2 Samuel 14:33).

“It was not wise for the king to leave a man of Absalom’s character—ambitious, impulsive, and passionate—to brood for two years over supposed grievances. And David’s action in permitting him to return to Jerusalem, and yet refusing to admit him to his presence, enlisted in his behalf the sympathies of the people.”2

Absalom prepared his complete revenge against his father—who still had never punished Amnon—by getting ready to overthrow the kingdom and take it for himself: “Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him” (2 Samuel 15:1).

What a difference between the father and the son! The father, under divine inspiration, wrote: “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God” (Psalm 20:7).

Then Absalom became an early bird trying to appear popular: “And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel” (2 Samuel 15:2).

No matter what the issue and without investigating anything, Absalom told every complainer they were right. “And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee” (2 Samuel 15:3).

So, he then presented himself as the savior of the country: “Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice! And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him” (2 Samuel 15:4, 5).

Reminds me somehow of Judas’ kiss in betraying our Lord Jesus Christ. . . .

During the fortieth year of David’s kingship: “Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the Lord, in Hebron. For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the Lord shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord. And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron. But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron” (2 Samuel 15:7–10).

“With Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were called; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not anything” (2 Samuel 15:11). Notice that these knew nothing of Absalom’s actual intentions.

The two hundred guests whom Absalom had invited to take part with him in his sacrifices, were likely prominent, influential citizens of Jerusalem. That they were entirely ignorant of Absalom’s purposes is shown by the extreme secrecy with which the affair was managed. Absalom, no doubt, hoped that as soon as he had them at Hebron, he would secure them to his side, or, failing this, forcibly to prevent their opposition. In any case it would appear to the people that they were with him, and he would thus secure additional prestige.

“The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going” (Proverbs 14:15). The Amplified Bible Translation says, “The naive or inexperienced person [is easily misled and] believes every word he hears, but the prudent man [is discreet and astute and] considers well where he is going.” Or in other words, don’t be stupid and believe all you hear; be smart and check where you are headed.

There is a class of people that always try to speculate to gain the best advantages for themselves. The moments when they are less discovered are the moments of war, revolution, or any other restless situations that may come upon a nation.

One example of such an opportunist is Ziba. He had been a servant of King Saul and then a servant of Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, trying to look good in the eyes of the king while speaking badly about Jonathan’s son, the good friend of David. When David fled Jerusalem after Absalom’s conspiracy, Ziba came to David with provisions, claiming that Mephibosheth had broken faith with David. “And when David was a little past the top of the hill, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and an hundred bunches of raisins, and an hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine. And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And Ziba said, The asses be for the king’s household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as be faint in the wilderness may drink. And the king said, And where is thy master’s son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father” (2 Samuel 16:1–3).

The king didn’t know the other side of the story, and in response he rewarded Ziba: “Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine are all that pertained unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I humbly beseech thee that I may find grace in thy sight, my lord, O king” (2 Samuel 16:4).

“And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came. And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial. . . . And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hill’s side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust” (2 Samuel 16:5–7, 13).

“In David’s prosperity Shimei had not shown by word or act that he was not a loyal subject. But in the affliction of the king this Benjamite revealed his true character. He had honored David upon his throne, but he cursed him in his humiliation. Base and selfish, he looked upon others as of the same character as himself, and, inspired by Satan, he wreaked his hatred upon him whom God had chastened. The spirit that leads man to triumph over, to revile or distress, one who is in affliction is the spirit of Satan.”3

The providence of God works in mysterious ways. There is a limit to which evil forces can work. Specifically, Absalom called for the greatest counselor in the kingdom: “Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counsellor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom” (2 Samuel 15:12).

“And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had enquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom” (2 Samuel 16:23).

“Ahithophel had been held in high esteem for his wisdom, but he was destitute of the enlightenment which comes from God.”4

It was Ahithophel (grandfather of Bathsheba) that advised utter destruction of David. “Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night: and I will come upon him while he is weary and weak handed, and will make him afraid: and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only: and I will bring back all the people unto thee: the man whom thou seekest is as if all returned: so all the people shall be in peace. And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel” (2 Samuel 17:1–4).

Even though this counsel pleased Absalom and all the elders, God did not allow it to happen. Hushai was called to give his counsel as well. He started off in a very clever way. “And Hushai said unto Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel hath given is not good at this time” (2 Samuel 17:7) [Emphasis added.] Then he continued by giving advice that all Israel should be gathered in battle against David. This counsel was received even better by Absalom and his rebellious crowd. “And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the Lord had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the Lord might bring evil upon Absalom” (2 Samuel 17:14).

Now this doesn’t mean that the counsel of Ahithophel was good. It was just good in an evil way for the evil forces. Basically, this was an answer to David’s prayer. “And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O Lord, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness” (2 Samuel 15:31).

When the royal army of King David was about to be dispatched for the battle, the king gave a noble and kind command: “Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom” (2 Samuel 18:5).

We find out that Joab the general was a ferocious leader. “Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak” (2 Samuel 18:14).

Despite all the evil that Absalom did, his father’s love was still there for him until the end. “And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!” (2 Samuel 18:33).

Beautiful was the kindness of the king toward those who had taken advantage of the troublous times. Shimei came to ask for forgiveness and was forgiven. “And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, which was of Bahurim, hasted and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David. And there were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went over Jordan before the king. And there went over a ferry boat to carry over the king’s household, and to do what he thought good. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was come over Jordan; And said unto the king, Let not my lord impute iniquity unto me, neither do thou remember that which thy servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his heart. . . . Therefore, the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And the king sware unto him” (2 Samuel 19:16–19, 23).

The son of Jonathan, Mephibosheth, was one of those who suffered for the king when he was in great distress. He was slandered by his servant Ziba. Mephibosheth finally met with the king—and he was in very bad shape because he had been affected by the whole situation. “And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king, and had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came again in peace” (2 Samuel 19:24).

The King had only heard Ziba’s side of the story and inquired of Mephibosheth as to why he did not join him. “And it came to pass, when he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said unto him, Wherefore wentest not thou with me, Mephibosheth?” (2 Samuel 19:25).

Let us be amazed by the manifestation of Christian attitude in Mephibosheth toward the malefactors: “And he answered, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me: for thy servant said, I will saddle me an ass, that I may ride thereon, and go to the king; because thy servant is lame. And he hath slandered thy servant unto my lord the king; but my lord the king is as an angel of God: do therefore what is good in thine eyes. For all of my father’s house were but dead men before my lord the king: yet didst thou set thy servant among them that did eat at thine own table. What right therefore have I yet to cry any more unto the king? And the king said unto him, Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I have said, Thou and Ziba divide the land. And Mephibosheth said unto the king, Yea, let him take all, forasmuch as my lord the king is come again in peace unto his own house” (2 Samuel 19:26–30).

God has ultimate control over everything that happens. “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good” (Proverbs 15:3). From on high, Providence sees all that the sons of men are plotting.

God saw Amnon forcing his sister Tamar. And God saw that Amnon never repented.

God saw Absalom plotting for two years to kill his brother Amnon.

God saw the loving heart of David that received his criminal son after three years.

God saw the mischievous and treacherous plans that Absalom was devising.

God saw the brilliant and cunning plan of destruction devised by Ahithophel. But God did not allow that to happen—for David’s protection.

God saw the heart of Absalom never repenting and He allowed him to die. God sees everything.

There are things happening—conspiracies that are happening—but God’s plans are always best for those that love Him. God saw David’s heart, Mephibosheth’s heart!

A big lesson for us: Not to be absorbed in or become fretful about conspiracies—but instead to love the Lord. As frustrating as having to face conspiracies and injustice may seem, our real success is not in trying to take revenge against those who may have horribly hurt us—but rather in seeking victory in Jesus. “All things work together for good to them that love God” (Romans 8:28).

“Christ’s life was an example of persevering energy, which was not allowed to become weakened by reproach, ridicule, privation, or hardships.”5

And after all these trials, David exclaimed: “The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; the God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence” (2 Samuel 22:2, 3).

“And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and discomfited them” (Verse 15). “For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured” (2 Samuel 18:8).

“He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated me: for they were too strong for me” (2 Samuel 22:18). “Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great” (Verse 36).

“Therefore, I will give thanks unto thee”! (Verse 50).