Realizing that history cannot be rewritten with “what ifs?”, it has been interesting to ponder what, perhaps, would have happened if David had completely forgiven Absalom.
If you are interested, here is a little background on these thoughts and questions. My pastor was preaching on Sunday concerning the fact that God is working all things for good and mentioned David. In the course of that message, a subtitle in my Scofield Bible at 2 Samuel 12:21 caught my eye. It reads, “David’s half-hearted forgiveness of Absalom.” Reading the verse below that, I found the record of David allowing Absalom’s return to Jerusalem, but David being unwilling to allow his son to see his face. Wow. Why? I was listening to my pastor’s message, but I did take time to read the note at the bottom of the page. The verse and the note is what set me on this line of thinking. The note says, “Not so had God taught David to forgive. Legalists have thought Absalom’s willfulness to have been due to over-indulgence on the part of David. There is no such intimation in Scripture. Rather it would seem that had David at this time taken Absalom into his intimacy, the rebellion might have been averted.” Interesting.
Also, I listened to a message about Ahithophel by Pastor Jim Schettler. To make a long story short, he connected the references to Ahithophel in the Scripture to show why this man would join Absalom’s rebellion and turn against King David. Why did he? It turns out that Ahithophel was the grandfather of Bathsheba. Pastor Schettler's conclusion was that Ahithophel had been bitter with David for many years concerning David’s sin with Bathsheba. Pastor Schettler linked bitterness, lack of forgiveness, and the fact that true forgiveness restores relationship, which reminded me of the above quoted Scofield note.
So, back to the question at hand. What if David had truly and completely forgiven Absalom? Granted, this is a messed up situation. The only light spots in, let us say, 2 Samuel 11-19 are God’s forgiveness of David and the faithfulness of David’s friends. Other than that, it is a fairly bleak scene. Would you agree?
But, there are some good chances to ask the “what if?” question.
What if, when David’s heart was longing to go to Absalom during his three years of self exile, David had gone to his son? What if there had been real communication and confession concerning both of their faults in the Amnon and Tamar ordeal? What if, as a result of that, there was Godlike forgiveness, grace, and mercy and fellowship between father and son restored, just as God had granted to David? What if?
But that did not happen. So Absalom stayed away for three years. That is a long time.
Then, through some trickery of Joab, David allowed Absalom to return, but not to see his face. What if, instead, David had lovingly taken in his son and modeled confession and restoration, as he had experienced with God? Could the following chapters have been a little less gloomy? What if?
But that did not happen. So Absalom stayed in Jerusalem for two years without seeing his father. That is a long time. And the story goes downhill from there. Absalom is killed, never having been restored to his father, and David weeps. Tragic.
Did it have to be that way? What if? What if true forgiveness had taken place while Absalom was in Geshur? What if?
But, there is another “what if?” to ask. What if Ahithophel had forgiven David long ago? Apparently, his son Eliam had forgiven David, because he was one of David’s mighty men. Bathsheba’s father served David, apparently without holding David’s sin against his daughter and his son-in-law Uriah against him. Ahithophel had been David’s counselor, but, perhaps, had been holding David’s sin against him for years. When Absalom rose in rebellion, Ahithophel took his chance to turn against and punish David. But what if he had been like Eliam? Then he would not have helped Absalom and, well, it is impossible to know how the story might have turned out.
But that did not happen. Ahithophel commits suicide. Tragic.
Did it have to be that way? What if? What if Ahithophel had recognized David’s repentance and had a forgiving spirit toward him? What if?
What if we do not forgive as God forgives us? What if?
Now, let’s try the same filter, except using “United States” for the country. This could be interesting.
I am firmly in agreement with Hudson Taylor when he said, “It will not do to say that you have no special call to go to China. With these facts before you and with the command of the Lord Jesus to go and preach the gospel to every creature, you need rather to ascertain whether you have a special call to stay at home.”
These are startling facts, folks. 1.4 billion people in China. Remote mountains, but you can get there on a bus! Desert wastelands, but the train will take you! Gigantic cities, you can fly direct from Chicago in 12 hours!
