What Every Father Needs to Hear

2 Samuel 18:24-19.2; Proverbs 17:6; Ephesians 6:1-4

The Bible is very practical and plain, sometimes disturbingly so. As in the case of the historical account of King David and his son Absalom. David was a great man, but he was guilty of great sin, which infected his home. In 2 Samuel 12:11-13, Nathan confronted David about his sin with Bathsheba. This was not his first sin. He had been married seven previous times. David had seven wives when he took Bathsheba from his servant Uriah the Hittite. In 2 Samuel 12, Nathan said that David's great sin had resulted in judgment. The sword would not leave his home. The universal laws of God had been violated, and David's sin had produced family pain. By Chapter 13 it happens: The damage that was done begins to unfold in the repugnant tale of incest in the royal line between two children of two different wives of David. The act is followed by the murder of Amnon by Absalom, Tamar's full brother. In Chapter 14, Absalom "lived two full years in Jerusalem without coming into the king's presence" (v. 28). Absalom conspires to dethrone his father and become King. Chapter 18 chronicles the climax of the sordid story.

From 18:24-19:2:

"Now David was sitting between the two gates, and the watchman went up to the roof of the gate by the wall, and when he lifted up his eyes and looked, he saw a man running alone. The watchman called out and told the king. And the king said, 'If he is alone, there is news in his mouth.' And he drew nearer and nearer. The watchman saw another man running. And the watchman called to the gate and said, 'See, another man running alone!' The king said, 'He also brings news.' The watchman said, 'I think the running of the first is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.' And the king said, 'He is a good man and comes with good news.'

"Then Ahimaaz cried out to the king, 'All is well.' And he bowed before the king with his face to the earth and said, 'Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delivered up the men who raised their hand against my lord the king.' And the king said, 'Is it well with the young man Absalom?' Ahimaaz answered, 'When Joab sent the king's servant, your servant, I saw a great commotion, but I do not know what it was. And the king said, 'Turn aside and stand here.' So he turned aside and stood still.