2 Samuel 15.1-12

Reference: v. 9 The king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he went to Hebron.

Explore: Absalom has arrived back in Jerusalem and has now spent four years deceiving the king and stealing the hearts of David’s people. And when Absalom goes to David to ask permission to go to Hebron, David does nothing and lets Absalom go. Now, I’m not sure whether David knows about Absalom’s conspiracy but when it comes to his family, David certainly fulfils the saying ‘Love is Blindness’. While David brings the whole of Israel under his rule, he struggles to lead his own sons.

Application: Now, I’m a big believer that everyone makes their own decisions. Let’s face it, even God’s children make foolish decisions, so a human’s child is bound to go down the same track! However, it is still a father’s responsibility to hold his son accountable. David was able to chastise his army commander and yet not his own son.
No one likes discipline. And as a parent, I don’t even like dishing out discipline. However if we don’t hold one person accountable then they may have a negative effect on many people. If we see sin in someone’s life then we need to act with boldness and love to help them to be accountable to God’s ways.

Prayer: Lord, your ways are perfect and just. Help me to see the folly in my own decisions and continually redirect my path back to you. Amen.