2 Sam 18:5 NIV
The king commanded Joab, Abishai and Ittai, “Be gentle with the young man Absalom for my sake.” And all the troops heard the king giving orders concerning Absalom to each of the commanders.
The world system does not tolerate or accommodate any form of rebellion against its authority, whether it is traditional or political. Acts of sedition and subversion are hardly pardonable. So we are surprised when men like Barabbas got off the hook in the hands of Pilate because the loud voices of wrongly motivated men called for his release. Generally, acts of rebellion are punishable by death regardless of who was involved.
Such was the sin of Absalom, handsome and well-endowed in every respect, the son of King David, probably next in line to the throne but could not wait for his time. His ambition got the better hold of him to the disregard of the good heartedness of his father. He raised a rebellion against his father with support from the ‘who is who’ in the kingdom. Notable and fearful among them was Ahithophel, whose counsel was ‘as if one had inquired from God.’ Absalom was quick to pull a strong following behind him which prompted David to vacate the throne in order to spare the lives of many innocent people should Absalom decide to attack.
Let us note very quickly that prior to this time, Absalom had out of hate and deep resentment killed his half- brother who had defiled his own younger sister Tamar. He went on self-exile for three years for fear of being severely punished and when he finally returned he could not enter the palace for another two years. It was while he waited that he again set the farm of Joab on fire to get his attention to act on his behalf. In short, Absalom had been a cause of grief to David the king.
However, when finally the armies of Israel under the command of Absalom would engage the men of David; the battle waged by a rebellious son against his father, the heart of the father was once again revealed to us. As the army commanders departed from David, he strictly gave this instruction; “For my sake, deal gently with young Absalom” TLB. Whereas Absalom had been rebellious and deserving the worst punishment possible; whereas he had been a sorrow to David and men like Joab also had suffered because of his ambition and recklessness; yet the King said, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” Even though the atrocities committed by this rebellious son have reached its peak and no one who loved David the king could bear it any longer, yet the father insisted, ‘Deal gently for my sake with him.’
This is the bitter lesson the Church today needs to learn. The Church is confronted with those who seek to waste and annihilate it. People who are in rebellion to our loving God and Father have stretched out their wicked hands to destroy believers and the Church as the body of Christ on earth. Christian martyrs are more in our time than other centuries back. Yet as Christians confront the wickedness of these rebellious ones, the Father is saying, ‘For my sake, deal gently with…’ (You may put the name of the person or group in the space). God who created all men does not delight in the death of any sinner, so his love cries out; lest the rebellious sons perish and become lost eternally. But the Church that is untouched and ignorant of the love and grace of the Father cries “Fire, fire, burn them.” How unlike Him we have become. Our prayer meetings are filled with hate and rage; in the intensity of our emotions, we send fire and command to die, on those the Lord has said, ‘deal gently for my sake with…’
The rebellious sons may be deserving of our hate and the worst treatment conceivable, but ‘FOR MY SAKE…’ the Father commands, to give them what they do not deserve. This is the basis for our goodness and kindness, “…for Christ’s sake.” When it comes to dealing with men, created by God, especially those who seem difficult or worse still rebellious, we must act not as we want to but ‘for Christ’s sake.’
It is in this spirit we were commanded by the Lord Jesus to “bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” “Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.” “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.”