Why Is That in the Bible? by Eric J. Bargerhuff

Author:Eric J. Bargerhuff
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Biblical Studies;REL006000
ISBN: 9781493425020
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2020-06-24T00:00:00+00:00

24

Absalom’s Head Stuck in a Tree

2 SAMUEL 18

The Bible reflects life as we know it, both good and bad. There is little that we experience today that isn’t already found in the pages of Scripture. People are people due to our sin nature being passed on through the generations.

One of the more devastating sins is that of betrayal. Yes, sins such as sexual sin and murder are treacherous and can wreak havoc on relationships. But betrayal is its own kind of heinousness. It is a violation of a sacred trust that at one time existed between two people who lived in relationship with one another.

The most prominent example of betrayal in Scripture is that of Judas Iscariot, one of the original twelve disciples, who betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. He is even known as the “betrayer” (Matthew 26:46, 48; 27:3; Mark 14:42, 44). It is hard to imagine that a man who once walked with Jesus, who saw all of his miracles, listened to his teaching, and experienced great blessing would turn away in unbelief, be possessed by Satan, and even take his own life. But this is the nature of sin. It destroys everything it touches, especially relationships.

Another painful instance of betrayal is found in the Old Testament. Rather than a betrayal of friendship, it is a betrayal of family. It is the story of David and Absalom.

King David was known as a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22). In spite of this affirmation, David was a sinner like you and me. His list of sins is on full display, and include adultery, murder, deceit, polygamy, passivity to the rape of his own daughter by another son, and pride.

Yet David’s deep regret over his sins is also seen plainly in Scripture. Psalm 51 contains his confession to God following the sins he committed with Bathsheba.1 God’s grace followed David and cleansed him from sin. Still, the consequences of his sinful choices were devastating. The prophet Nathan told David that “the sword will never depart from your house” (2 Samuel 12:10), and many subsequent narratives demonstrate that humiliation, death, divisiveness, and betrayal did follow David and his descendants. David’s son from Bathsheba died in infancy. But one of the most grievous consequences of David’s sins came at the hands of his third son, Absalom, whose betrayal of his father is legendary.

We are told that King David had at least eight wives (at least these are the ones that are named). It is possible he had even more (see 2 Samuel 5:13). This is itself a sin against God, because God ordained from the beginning that marriage is to be between one man and one woman in a covenant relationship that is designed to last a lifetime. Therefore, polygamy is a violation of the moral will of God.

Many of David’s marriages were for the purposes of forming political alliances and treaties with surrounding nations (in direct violation of Deuteronomy 17:17), and this was likely the case with David’s wife Maacah (2 Samuel 3:3).

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