Day 132: David and Absalom (2025)

Summary

Episode Summary: Day 132 - David and Absalom

Podcast: The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Host: Ascension
Release Date: May 12, 2025
Duration: Approximately 16 minutes
Scripture Readings:

• 2 Samuel 14
• 1 Chronicles 18
• Psalm 14

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Introduction

In Day 132 of The Bible in a Year podcast, Fr. Mike Schmitz and his co-host delve into the tumultuous relationship between King David and his son Absalom, exploring themes of forgiveness, repentance, and leadership. Utilizing The Great Adventure Bible Timeline by Jeff Cavins, they provide a comprehensive understanding of the narrative's context within the broader story of salvation.

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Scripture Readings

1. 2 Samuel 14:
   The episode begins with a dramatic account where Joab, David's loyal military commander, devises a plan to bring Absalom back from exile in Geshur. Recognizing the potential threat Absalom poses to David's reign, Joab enlists a wise woman from Tekoa to persuade David to reconcile with his estranged son. The woman's heartfelt plea mirrors the prophet Nathan's earlier confrontation with David, highlighting themes of accountability and restoration.

2. 1 Chronicles 18:
   Transitioning to 1 Chronicles 18, the focus shifts to David's military prowess and administrative skills. David's victories over the Philistines, Moabites, and Syrians are chronicled, emphasizing his ability to secure and expand his kingdom. This section underscores David's effectiveness as a leader but also sets the stage for the underlying tensions within his household.

3. Psalm 14:
   The reading concludes with Psalm 14, a poignant denunciation of godlessness and moral decay. The psalmist laments the pervasive corruption and absence of genuine righteousness, ultimately expressing hope for deliverance through God's intervention. This reflection serves as a thematic backdrop for the personal and political struggles depicted in the narratives of David and Absalom.

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In-Depth Discussion

1. The Complexity of Forgiveness and Repentance

Fr. Mike and the co-host dissect the interactions between David and Absalom, highlighting the absence of genuine repentance and complete forgiveness in their relationship.

• Lack of True Repentance:
  The co-host observes, “Absalom shows no sign of repentance." (Timestamp: 13:57) Despite returning to David, Absalom does not acknowledge his wrongdoing in causing familial strife, particularly regarding his sister Tamar's plight.

• Partial Forgiveness:
  Fr. Mike reflects, “David shows no real forgiveness.” (Timestamp: 14:16) While David allows Absalom to return to Jerusalem, he deliberately keeps Absalom at a distance, preventing him from fully reintegrating into the royal court. This partial forgiveness lacks the complete reconciliation that God exemplifies.

2. Joab's Motivations and Leadership

The duo explores Joab's role in orchestrating Absalom's return, questioning his true intentions.

• Protective Instincts:
  It is suggested that Joab's actions stem from a desire to mitigate the threat Absalom poses to David's reign. By bringing Absalom closer, Joab likely intended to neutralize potential rebellion.

• Ineffectiveness of Joab's Plan:
  However, this strategy backfires, leading to further conflict as Absalom's underlying resentments surface (as discussed in chapter 15).

3. Contrasting Divine and Human Forgiveness

Fr. Mike emphasizes the difference between divine forgiveness and human attempts at forgiveness.

• Divine Example:
  “God forgives us. He calls us to true repentance.” (Timestamp: 14:05) God’s forgiveness is unconditional and complete, inviting full reconciliation with Him upon sincere repentance.

• Human Fallibility:
  In contrast, David's limited forgiveness towards Absalom reflects human imperfection. The lack of complete reconciliation leads to ongoing discord and rebellion.

4. Application for Listeners

The discussion transitions to personal reflections, urging listeners to embrace true repentance and seek complete reconciliation with God.

• Personal Repentance:
  The co-host encourages, “I need to come before the Lord knowing that I'm letting go of my sins...” (Timestamp: 15:04) Emphasizing the necessity of releasing past transgressions to fully experience God's transformative mercy.

• Continuous Conversion:
  Both speakers advocate for a life of ongoing repentance and conversion, aligning with God’s call for persistent spiritual growth and renewal.

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Notable Quotes

• Fr. Mike Schmitz:

  • “[...] God forgives us. He calls us to true repentance.”
    (Timestamp: 14:05)

  • “But without that true repentance and reconciliation, we find rebellion.”
    (Timestamp: 15:09)

• Co-host:

  • “Absalom shows no sign of repentance.”
    (Timestamp: 13:57)

  • “I need to come before the Lord knowing that I'm letting go of my sins...”
    (Timestamp: 15:04)

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Insights and Conclusions

This episode powerfully illustrates the consequences of incomplete forgiveness and the absence of genuine repentance. By juxtaposing human leadership with divine principles, Fr. Mike and his co-host highlight the necessity of full-hearted reconciliation to prevent rebellion and foster true peace. The narrative of David and Absalom serves as a mirror for listeners, encouraging introspection on their own spiritual journeys and relationships.

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Prayer Segment

The episode features a heartfelt prayer, urging listeners to seek God's mercy and commit to ongoing repentance and transformation. The prayer emphasizes complete forgiveness and renewed love, aligning with the episode's central themes of forgiveness and reconciliation.

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Overall, Day 132 offers a profound exploration of leadership, familial conflict, and the essence of divine forgiveness, encouraging listeners to emulate God's example in their personal lives.

Transcript

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Hi, my name is Fr. Mike Schmitz and you're listening to the.

[Co-host]

Bible in a Year Podcast where we.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Encounter God's voice and live life through.

[Co-host]

The lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year Podcast is brought to you by Ascension.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to.

[Co-host]

Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Unfolds and how we fit into that story.

[Co-host]

Today it is day 132. We're reading from 2nd Samuel, chapter 14, 1 Chronicles, chapter 18, and we are.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Praying today Psalm 14.

[Co-host]

If you are interested in the Bible translation that I'm reading, it is the.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Revised Standard Version, second Catholic Edition.

[Co-host]

I'm reading from the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

If you want to download your own Bible in a Year reading plan, you.

[Co-host]

Can visit ascensionpress.com bibleina year and if.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

You have not yet subscribed to this.

[Co-host]

Podcast, you can click on subscribe and.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

You would be subscribed.

[Co-host]

As I said, it's day 132.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

We're reading from 2 Samuel 14, 1 Chronicles 18 and praying Psalm 14, second.

[Co-host]

Book of Samuel, chapter 14 David is.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Persuaded to bring Absalom back. Now Joab the son of Zeruiah, perceived that the king's heart went out to Absalom. And Joab sent to Tekoa and fetched from there a wise woman, and said to her, pretend to be a mourner and put on mourning garments. Do not anoint yourself with oil, but behave like a woman who has been mourning many days for the dead, and go to the king, and speak thus to him. So Joab put the words into her mouth. When the woman of Tekoa came to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and.

[Co-host]

Said, help, O king. And the king said to her, what is your trouble? She answered, alas, I am a widow.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

My husband is dead, and your handmaid had two sons, and they quarrelled with one another in the field. There was no one to part them, and one struck the other and killed him. And now the whole family has risen against your handmaid, and they say, give up the man who struck his brother, that we may kill him for the life of his brother whom he slew. And so they would destroy the air also thus they would quench my coal which is left, and leave to my husband neither name nor remnant upon the.

[Co-host]

Face of the earth.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Then the king said to the woman.

[Co-host]

Go to your house, and I will.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Give orders concerning you. And the woman of Tekoa said to the king, on me be the Guilt, my lord the king. And on my father's house let the king and his throne be guiltless.

[Co-host]

The king said, if anyone says anything.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

To you, bring him to me, and he shall never touch you again. Then she said, please let the king invoke the Lord your God, that the avenger of blood slay no more and my son be not destroyed.

[Co-host]

He said, as the Lord lives, not.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

One hair of your son shall fall to the ground.

[Co-host]

Then the woman said, please let your.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Handmaid speak a word to my lord the king.

[Co-host]

He said, speak.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

And the woman said, why then have you planned such a thing against the people of God? For in giving this decision, the king convicts himself. Inasmuch as the king does not bring his banished one home again, we must all die. We are like water spilt on the ground which cannot be gathered up again. But God will not take away the life of him who devises means not to keep his banished one an outcast. Now I have come to say this to my lord the king because the people have made me afraid and your handmaid thought, I will speak to the king. It may be that the king will perform the request of his servant, for the king will hear and deliver his servant from the hand of the man who would destroy me and my son together. From the heritage of God and your handmaid, thought the word of my lord the king will set me at rest. For my lord the king is like the angel of God to discern good from evil. The Lord your God be with you.

[Co-host]

Then the king answered the woman, do.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Not hide from me anything I ask you.

[Co-host]

And the woman said, let my lord the king speak.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

The king said, is the hand of Joab with you in all of this?

[Co-host]

The woman answered and said, as surely.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

As you live, my lord the king. One cannot turn to the right hand or to the left from anything that my lord the king has said.

[Co-host]

It was your servant Joab who bade me.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

It was he who put all these words in the mouth of your handmaid in order to change the course of affairs. Your servant Joab did this. But my lord has wisdom, like the wisdom of the angel of God, to know all things that are on the earth. Then the king said to Joab, behold, now I grant this.

[Co-host]

Go bring back the young man Absalom.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

And Joab fell on his face to the ground and did obeisance and blessed the king.

[Co-host]

And Joab said, today your servant knows.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

That I have found favor in your sight, my lord the king. In that the king has granted the request of his servant. So Joab arose and went to Geshur and brought Absalom to Jerusalem. And the king said, let him dwell apart in his own house. He is not to come into my presence. So Absalom dwelt apart in his own house and did not come into the king's presence. Now in all Israel there was no one so much to be praised for his beauty as Absalom. From the sole of his foot to the crown of his head, there was no blemish in him. And when he cut the hair of his head, for at the end of every year he used to cut it, when it was heavy on him, he cut it. He weighed the hair of his head 200 shekels by the king's weight. There were born to Absalom three sons and one daughter whose name was Tamar. She was a beautiful woman.

[Co-host]

David forgives Absalom.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

So Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem without coming into the king's presence. Then Absalom sent for Joab to send him to the king. But Joab would not come to him.

[Co-host]

And he sent a second time, but.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Joab would not come. Then he said to his servants, see, Joab's field is next to mine, and he has barley there. Go and set it on fire. So Absalom's servants set the field on fire. Then Joab arose and went to Absalom at his house and said to him, why have your servants set my field on fire? Absalom answered, joab, behold, I sent word to you, come here, that I may send you to the king to ask, why have I come from Geshur? It would be better for me to be there still. Now therefore, let me go into the presence of the king, and if there is guilt in me, let him kill me. Then Joab went to the king and.

[Co-host]

Told him, and he summoned Absalom.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

So he came to the king and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king. And the king kissed Absalom.

[Co-host]

The First Book of Chronicles, chapter 18. David's kingdom established and extended after this.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

David defeated the Philistines and subdued them. And he took Gath and its villages out of the hand of the Philistines. And and he defeated Moab. And the Moabites became servants to David and brought tribute. David also defeated Hadadezer, king of Zobah, toward Hamath as he went to set up his monument at the river Euphrates. And David took from him a thousand chariots, 7,000 horsemen and 20,000 foot soldiers. And David hamstrung all the Chariot horses, but left enough for a hundred chariots. And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezar, king of Zobah, David slew 22,000 men of the Syrians. Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus, and the Syrians became servants to David and brought tribute. And the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went. And David took the shields of gold which were carried by the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. And from Tibhath and from Kun cities of Hadadezar, David took very much bronze with it. Solomon made the bronze sea and the pillars and the vessels of bronze. When Ta, king of Hamath, heard that David had defeated the whole army of Hadadezer, king of Zobah, he sent his son Hadoram to King David to greet him and to congratulate him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him. For Hadadezar had often been at war with Ta, and he sent all sorts of articles of gold, of silver, and of bronze. These also King David dedicated to the Lord, together with the silver and gold which he had carried off from all the nations, from Edom, Moab, the Ammonites.

[Co-host]

The Philistines, and Amalek, David's just administration. And Abishai the son of Zeruiah slew.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt, and he put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became David's servants. And the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went.

[Co-host]

So David reigned over all Israel, and.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

He administered justice and equity to all his people. And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army. And Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was.

[Co-host]

Recorder, and Zadok the son of Ahitub.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

And Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were.

[Co-host]

Priests, and Shavshah was secretary, and Benaiah.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

The son of Jehoiada was over the.

[Co-host]

Cherethites and the Pelethites, and David's sons.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Were the chief officials in the service of the King.

[Co-host]

Psalm 14. Denunciation of Godlessness to the choirmaster of David the fool says in his there is no God.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

They are corrupt they do abominable deeds there is none that does good. The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there are any that act wisely, that seek after God. They have all gone astray they are all alike corrupt. There is none that does good no, not one have they no knowledge. All the evildoers who eat up my people as they eat bread and do not call upon the Lord there they shall be in great terror. For God is with the generation of the righteous. You would confound the plans of the poor, but the Lord is his refuge. Oh, that deliverance for Israel would come out of Zion. When the Lord restores the fortunes of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, Israel shall be glad.

[Co-host]

Father in heaven, we give you thanks and give you praise.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

You are good. You are God, and you are a good dad. Lord God, you are a good dad. You're a good father, and you continue to meet us. You forgive us completely, but you also call us to complete repentance. You offer forgiveness totally, but you also call us to totally come back to you. So help us, please, Father, help us do that. Help us to come back totally so.

[Co-host]

That your mercy may totally transform us, that your grace may totally transform us, that your love may totally renew us.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Lord God, bring us back to you.

[Co-host]

Let your face shine on us, and.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

We shall be saved.

[Co-host]

In Jesus name we pray in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Amen.

[Co-host]

Okay, here we are. Gosh. Here is the story of Absalom and David. And this is going to get worse. Just so you know, this is chapter 14. And David gets persuaded to bring Absalom back. So Absalom has escaped, right? He remembered yesterday he fled, went to Talmai, son of Amihud, king of Geshur, lived over there in Geshur. And he's living in isolation, he's living in exile. And here's Joab, who, remember, Joab is charge of the army.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

And he has this plan that he wants Absalom to come back to Jerusalem.

[Co-host]

And so he gets this woman and.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Basically hires her to say, tell David this story.

[Co-host]

It's really reminiscent of the story of Nathan the prophet, when David was busted for what he did with Bathsheba and Uriah. Nathan comes forward and tells him this story about the man who has a.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Bunch of sheep, but then his neighbor.

[Co-host]

Has only one precious ewe lamb. Here is the story of this woman.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

She's a widow. She has two sons. One son killed the other son, and.

[Co-host]

People want to kill that son. Who is the murderer?

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

And what do I do?

[Co-host]

And David says, okay, yeah, you got to restore. You got to keep the family intact. You got to keep the family intact. So bring that son into a place of safety, and if anyone wants to kill him, they'll have words with me. And this is the boldness of this woman. She says one more word.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

By the way, this is you it's.

[Co-host]

Basically like Nathan saying, you are that man who took that precious you child.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

You had all the people you wanted.

[Co-host]

In your life to marry, to take care of, to care for, and you just stole Uriah the Hittite's wife from him. This is the woman saying essentially the same thing. So that convinces David. David also notices that this is Joab's work. Now, why would Joab want Absalom to.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Not be in Geshur anymore?

[Co-host]

Why would Joab want Absalom to be close to David?

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Chances are very good.

[Co-host]

We know about Joab. We know that he's very loyal to David. So chances are very good that what.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Joab wanted was he wanted.

[Co-host]

He's like, I can see Absalom, who's.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Described in this chapter, as well as.

[Co-host]

Being incredibly beautiful, a beautiful man, no blemish in him from his head to his toe.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

And his hair was so heavy.

[Co-host]

Apparently that's a really good thing back in the day. Maybe it's a good thing now, I don't know.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

But Joab probably recognized that. Here is Absalom, who poses a threat to David. Absalom is an estranged son of David. And if he stays in Geshur, he.

[Co-host]

Can draw people to himself and he can raise a revolt, rebellion against the king. And so it's likely that Joab orchestrated this thing with the woman of Tekoa to get David to bring Absalom closer to home so that he could be not as much of a threat. Which isn't going to work. It's going to backfire. Because in chapter 15, here's Absalom, who's going to be a big threat. We'll hear about that tomorrow. But we also see something important.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

We also see that Absalom is the.

[Co-host]

Kind of guy who is not willing to put up with much, right? He's not willing to put up with.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

The sin against his sister.

[Co-host]

He's not willing to put up with.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Being exiled from his father.

[Co-host]

And so he's not willing to put up with Joab not responding to him. And so after the third time he calls to Joab, he sets his field on fire. You weren't going to come talk to me, so I've set your field on fire. I just think that's just. He kind of says it so matter of factly. You weren't going to do what I say, so here you go.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

And what happens?

[Co-host]

Joab goes to the king, make peace with Absalom, and Absalom does obesience, right? He bows with his face to the ground and David kisses him. And that's the extent of the forgiveness.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

That's the extent of the repentance.

[Co-host]

And this is key for us. Absalom shows no sign of repentance. Absalom shows no sign that he realizes I might have done something wrong in killing my own brother. Yes, his brother did something wrong in violating his sister. Absolutely 100%.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

But Absalom shows no repentance in acknowledging.

[Co-host]

The fact that and I killed my own brother, which is a very serious thing.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

So he shows no repentance.

[Co-host]

And David shows no real forgiveness. Yes, he lets Absalom come back to the city, but he doesn't see him for two years. You may not come into my presence. That's not real forgiveness.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Here's how God forgives us. He calls us to true repentance. Right? He calls us to turn away from our sins and turn back to Him. But then he gives full forgiveness. He gives us complete access to himself.

[Co-host]

But here's David again. He's just.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

In so many ways, David can be a good king. In so many ways, maybe he was.

[Co-host]

A good father, but in this way he was not.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

In this way, he's not an image of the Father. In this way, he's not an image of Jesus Christ, the King of Kings.

[Co-host]

Because he gives partial forgiveness. Yeah, you can come back to town, but you can't come in my presence.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

But think about how good God the.

[Co-host]

Father is when we're forgiven in Jesus Christ, we are given complete access to the Father's house and to the Father's heart. But we also have to have repentance. In this story, chapter 14 of 2.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Samuel, we see neither repentance nor real full forgiveness.

[Co-host]

And so what we see is what's going to happen in chapter 15 and following is without true repentance, there is no true forgiveness. And without that true forgiveness and reconciliation, we find rebellion. That's what's going to happen tomorrow. Not to give it away, but that's what's going to happen tomorrow. No true repentance, no true reconciliation. With no true reconciliation, there is rebellion. So one of the things that I take away from this is I need to come before the Lord knowing that I'm letting go of my sins, letting go of whatever I've chosen instead of God, or over and above God, and.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Clinging to the Lord, because in Christ.

[Co-host]

Jesus we have faith, full forgiveness and.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Full access, as I said, to the.

[Co-host]

Father's house and to the Father's heart. We can't do that on our own. Of course. We need God's grace. And so please pray for me to.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Be able to do that.

[Co-host]

You know, I. Gosh. In constant process of repentance, constant process of conversion.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

And I know you are, too.

[Co-host]

Sometimes it's hard to let go. It's hard to trust in the Lord. It's hard to be forgiven. But I'm praying for you.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Please pray for each other.

[Co-host]

That we can be people who are.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Constantly being converted back to the Lord.

[Co-host]

Constantly repenting of our sins and constantly.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Experiencing the best beauty and the power.

[Co-host]

Of God's mercy and forgiveness. As I said, I prayed for you. Please pray for me. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.