Today’s thought
“Is there “shalom” (peace) for Absalom?’”
(August 01)
2Sa 18:29:
29 And the king said, [a]Is it well with the young man Absalom? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king’s servant, [b]even me thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was.
(2 Samuel 18:29 ASV)
Is the young man Absalom safe?: ‘Is there “shalom” (peace) for Absalom?’ David’s only concern.
“Is the young man… safe?”
This question has often been asked by loving fathers about their sons. And sometimes the answer must be,
“No, he is in great danger.”
The young man is not “safe”, firstly, if he is at enmity with his father — for, if a man love not his own parents on earth, how can he love his Father who is in heaven?
And, again, the answer may be,
“We have seen him lately in bad company. He has associated with other young men who are of loose morals. No, the young man is not safe there.”
Neither is he “safe” if he has taken to indulging in expensive habits.
“Absalom provided himself with a chariot and horses and with fifty men to run ahead of him” (2Sa 15:1).
This extravagance was a sign of evil. A youth who lavishes money upon needless luxuries is not safe.
And once again, the young man is not safe if he is especially concerned about his personal appearance.
“In all Israel there was not a man so highly praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom. From the top of his head to the sole of his foot there was no blemish in him” (2Sa 14:25).
When young people are taken up with their own persons, and are vain about their hair, their looks, and their clothes, then may we be sure that they are not safe, for the proud are always in danger.
But I don’t know what it was: He knows, but he doesn’t want to say. (Why would a messenger run, with no message?) Do we hurry to reach a destination, only to find that we have no message to deliver when we arrive?
