Don't Forget Your Gifts - 2 Samuel 15:13-27 - Part IV

Don’t Forget Your Gifts – 2 Samuel 15:13-37 – Part IV

Steadfastly and unequivocally, David continues up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went; his head was covered and he was barefoot.  The biblical writer vividly portrays David’s destitution.  His physical barrenness symbolizes an even greater psychological and spiritual dilemma.  How could the King of Israel find himself in such a dire predicament?  How could Almighty God whom David had served faithfully allow this horrific circumstance to emerge in David’s life?  David’s eldest son had already killed one of his brothers, one of the king’s sons.  Now, Absalom is maniacally hungry for power; he appears willing to kill his very own father and the rest of his family if it is necessary for him to assume the throne.  Consider the perplexities of David’s thoughts.  How could his oldest son, Absalom, who represented the future of the monarchy to David, be capable of such dastardly deeds? David probably looked forward to the day when he would transfer the reins of authority to his son.  Nevertheless, the great and mighty king of Israel, who personally fulfilled the enduring promises of God’s covenant with Israel by settling the people into the cities of Canaan and developing their cultural institutions, finds himself fleeing from the sword of his own son!  As he escapes this danger, he cries bitterly and weeps loudly with the humiliation of parental sorrow.  The caravan of people accompanying the King also cover their heads and weep along with him. 

The Mount of Olives borders the garden of Gethsemane.  There, the Lord Jesus Christ’s soul is exceedingly sorrowful even to the point of death.  His sweat, symbolizing His grief, compassion, forgiveness, anxiety and sacrificial love, resembles drops of blood.  The Mount of Olives is on the east side of Jerusalem, separated from the Holy City by the half-mile wide Kidron Valley.  It stands 2,680 feet above seal level, meaning that it stands 200 feet higher than the temple area in Jerusalem.  In accordance with Exodus 27:20-21, olives were pressed in the ancient world for oil which was used to provide light in the lamps of that day.  The Israelites had to bring clear oil pressed from olives to keep the lamps in front of the Tent of Meeting where God fellowshipped with humankind.  Aaron and the priests were commanded to keep the lamps burning from evening to morning.  Also, see Exodus 20:42-46 and Leviticus 24:1-4.

The darkness of the Mount of Olives perfectly positions us to see the will of Almighty God.  The biblical writers plays upon this powerful literary image by placing David and then the Lords Jesus Christ in the place that produces light to obtain the will of God.  Ironically, the darkness of our lives positions us to see the will of God in ways that we cannot otherwise.  We cannot see the majesty and magnificence of the stars during the day although they are out.  Only in the darkness can the natural eyes see the stars.  The brilliance of the sun interestingly blinds us to seeing the stars.  However, at night, we easily glance upward and see that the heavens declare the glory of God.

Foreshadowing the scene in Gethsemane, David undoubtedly prays through the shower of his tears.  Feasibly, he appeals to God to reverse this despicable situation.  I imagine that this experience led to the writing of Psalm 126:5-6.  “Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.”  “He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.”  We shall come rejoicing bringing in the sheaves.  Additionally, I posit that the 55^th, 73^rd, and 77^th psalms materialized out of this awful experience.

Through the difficulty and the tears, David eventually sees the eternal gifts that Almighty God gives him.  David sees that his earthly love of Absalom is but a shadow of the unfailing love of God.  Second, he understands yet again the unquestionable faithfulness of Almighty God.  Regardless of the circumstances, God steadfastly preserves David.  Third, David once more marvels at the unending grace of God as the Lord returns David to Jerusalem and to his throne where David proceeds, in gratitude, to plan to build a house for God.  If you are in a bleak period of your life, you hopefully will find encouragement in knowing that you are positioned perfectly to receive a revelation of the “good, pleasing and perfect” will of God.

Each adversity ironically contains riches in the rubble.  Excessive reflection upon hardship prevents our ability to see the wealth of myriad challenges.  God redeems and strengthens us in the process.  For this reason, He reminds us, “Don’t forget your gifts,” after a difficult situation.  Look in the rubble of the disaster and discover the invaluable treasure buried beneath the debris.