Perceive: Absalom knew his previous actions, although forgiven would prevent him from ascending to the throne as his father’s successor. So, the first step in Absalom’s strategy to gain the throne was to win the hearts and minds of the people. Like modern day politicians, he rose early, found a public forum, and sowed seeds of discord. He was a master at telling people what they wanted to hear and promised to give them what they wanted to have. David won the hearts of God’s people through sacrifice and service. He was a hero. Absalom won the hearts through lies and deceit. He was a celebrity. 
 
Practice: Unfortunately, Absalom’s strategy worked back then, and it works that way today. He stole the hearts of the people by his good looks, lavish appearances, deceptive concern for social justice, and false welcoming hugs. Politicians fooled people in the past, and they will fool them in the future. Evil rulers abound and eventually the world will be deceived by a leader with greater powers than Absalom (Revelation 13:3). It is critical to stay close to God and in His word, so we recognize ungodly influences and unholy leaders.
 
Pray: Great and Mighty God, You know the inside of our leaders and their ability to govern. Enable Your people to see the truth and to know who honors You and who has selfish ambition and evil intentions. 
​
This devotional challenge comes from The Heart of a Lion - King David of Israel and is available on Amazon.com

Perceive: Although David banned Absalom from seeing him, this did not stop his popularity from growing with the people. He was the most handsome man in the country, and he knew his looks and charm were an asset to control or influence others. After two full years under house arrest, Absalom sends for Joab, but he does not respond, so Absalom has his fields burned. Joab is quick to respond. Absalom wants a change in his living circumstances: either forgive me or kill me kind of approach. Joab meets with David and then has Absalom brought to the palace where David forgives him and gives him a fatherly kiss. This act demonstrated two things: respect and acceptance. For a short period, David regained his son, and Absalom regained his father.
 
Practice: As an independent and scheming man, Absalom was quick to act to make things happen. Without a father to keep him somewhat behaved, he most likely did what he wanted. Being such a good-looking man added to his self-centered approach to life. All children need good order and godly discipline, especially the beautiful and talented, otherwise they may grow up thinking they can do just about anything they want. Absalom still had a hidden agenda and wanted to seize the throne.
 
Pray: O Lord, help me to have the proper balance of justice, mercy, forgiveness, and godly discipline with my children and grandchildren.​

This devotional challenge comes from The Heart of a Lion - King David of Israel and is available on Amazon.com

​​​​Perceive: Once David had formulated a decree to his satisfaction, he most likely expected this woman to depart, but she didn’t. Instead, she requests to speak openly with the king, and he grants her time to do this. In this discourse, she reveals the truth behind her story. By failing to restore Absalom to the court of Israel, David was acting against the best interests of his people. Absalom was now heir-apparent to the throne. Having Absalom stay banished from Israel threatened the security of David’s reign. David quickly surmised that someone else was behind the entire episode and that person was Joab. Most likely Joab brought her and listened to the entire exchange. After thanking David for honoring his request, he is sent to bring Absalom back, unfortunately, he is not allowed to go to the palace and see his father’s face. It felt to him like house arrest!
 
Practice: The law provided ways to deal with murders and specifically cities of refuge (Numbers 35:9-21). Cities of refuge protected people for revenge. Since the Lord created severe judgments for crimes as well as established channels for reconciliation, the king who represents the Lord in administering His justice on the earth, should do the same.
 
Pray: Thank you, O Lord, for the way You are merciful to me. My sins are many, and You have forgiven me for them all. Fill me with Your presence and help me to be merciful to others. ​

This devotional challenge comes from The Heart of a Lion - King David of Israel and is available on Amazon.com

Perceive: In a strategy very similar to the prophet Nathan, Joab creates a plan to help King David regarding his son Absalom. Joab enlists the service of a woman from Tekoa. She was to gain a hearing with the king, provide a fictitious story requiring a strong judgment, and let the king make his ruling decision, a compelling decision that would also relate to his life. Whoever she was, she could tell the story with dramatic effects. Her fictitious story bears a strong resemblance to the first murder in the Bible between Cain and his brother Abel (Genesis 4:8-16). It was the king’s duty to uphold the law, and he could not give Absalom permission to return home until he felt it was the correct thing to do.
 
Practice: It’s been three years since Absalom fled for murdering his half-brother. Time has a way of changing someone’s perspective and Joab, realizing that David was missing his son, masterminds this event. He may have gambled on David’s understanding of the Torah. God was merciful to Cain despite legal guidelines to the contrary, and now David is merciful to Absalom. Since Absalom was next in line to the throne, he may have had concerns about David’s replacement as king. At this point, David was nearing sixty years of age.
 
Pray: Great and mighty God, help me to show mercy where it is best needed. Convict me when I am harsh or sullen. 

This devotional challenge comes from The Heart of a Lion - King David of Israel and is available on Amazon.com

Perceive: The scene quickly moves from Baal Hazor to Jerusalem, back at David’s palace where we see David’s point of view. Based on a false report, the king tears his clothes and lies prostrate before the Lord in deep grief. He thought he was responsible for all of his sons dying, but in reality, only Amnon was murdered. Bad news often travels fast. During the confusion, Absalom fled eighty miles north to the country of his royal grandparents. This section of Scripture ends with David in Jerusalem mourning over his firstborn son, but in Geshur, his third born and next in line for the kingdom began plotting how he could take the kingdom from his father. He had three years to think and plan.
 
Practice: Unfortunately, the problem with revenge is it never solves any problems and only exacerbates the situation. The great English philosopher and author Francis Bacon once said, “a man is but even with his enemy, but in passing it (revenge) over, he is superior.”[i] Sometimes it is very difficult to forgive a wrong, especially a horrible wrong. Jesus is the model we should all strive for, “Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.” (Hebrews 12:3).
 
Pray: Lord, help me to forgive the wrongs done to me in a way that honors You.

This devotional challenge comes from The Heart of a Lion - King David of Israel and is available on Amazon.com

[i] See Of Revenge in the Essays of Francis Bacon

Perceive: After two full years, enough time has passed that most involved would have forgotten Tamar’s incest rape by Amnon but not Absalom. During this time Absalom devised a well laid out plan for murder. He manipulates the king with an invitation to a celebration. Apparently, Absalom gambled that David would decline his gracious invitation to join him in what would be a joyful occasion. Had David accepted the invitation, he would have had to wait longer to kill his half-brother. David declines the invitation, and Absalom asks for Amnon to take his father's place. Not fully certain of Absalom’s motives, David sends Amnon and all his sons as a means of security for Amnon. Upon Absalom’s order, his servants wait until Amnon is intoxicated and then they strike him down. All the other king’s sons mount their mules and flee as fast as they can.
 
Practice: David reaps what he has sown in his life. His sons are doing things to each other that also bear a reaping and sowing. Absalom succeeded in deceiving Amnon with similar tactics that Amnon deceived Tamar. And like Amnon, he deceived his father into ordering another of his children into a trap. David was lax in his discipline and disengaged as a parent. He knew the law regarding incest (Leviticus 20:17), and he knew the law for murder (Leviticus 24:17), yet he did nothing! His children reflect his parenting skills.
 
Pray: Great and merciful God, help me walk with You in how I discipline as a father and a grandfather.

This devotional challenge comes from The Heart of a Lion - King David of Israel and is available on Amazon.com

Perceive: This section begins with two grown sons of David: Absalom and Amnon. Amnon was the firstborn and heir apparent. The second born son was Chileab (Kileab) and third in line was Absalom. Most historians believe Chileab died in his youth. The weight of sin is quick to display itself through the lives of David’s children. Amnon attempts to seduce his half-sister but ends up raping her when the seduction fails. Tamar’s brother Absalom takes her into his home and plots to murder Amnon. Here are three parallels between the sins of father and son. First, they committed sexual acts outside of marriage with beautiful women (v 1; 11:2). Second, the acts took place in the privacy of their homes (v 7; 11:4). Third,  both women grieved as a result (v 19; 11:26). Although David was angry, he did little to discipline his children. God’s prophetic word is true.
 
Practice: It is an unfortunate truth that the sins of one generation tend to flow into the next generation. Each sin reaps increasing consequence. The consequence of David’s sins provides God’s people with an example for others not to follow. One can only guess what Amnon was thinking, however wrong it was. He may have thought, “If my father committed adultery and murder and got away with it, I can commit incest and rape without punishment as well.” Such is the power of a bad example. Men love darkness rather than light. God is not mocked; a man reaps what he sows.
 
Pray: Great and merciful God, help me stop the flow of sin and break the chain that goes from one generation to the next. ​

This devotional challenge comes from The Heart of a Lion - King David of Israel and is available on Amazon.com

Perceive: Abishai was so aggressive in battle, he tops the honor role of the thirty. Therefore, he became their commander, but he did not attain to the three.  Next is Benaiah who was born to serve as priest (1 Chronicles 27:5) but became a mighty warrior and served as one of David’s bodyguards (2 Samuel 8:18; 20:23). He is noted here for killing two sons of Ariel of Moab, a lion in the middle of a pit on a snowy day, and a well-armed Egyptian. He was loyal to David his entire life. The rest of this section lists the mighty men but not their exploits. The last name is Uriah the Hittite who is an unfortunate reminder of David’s failures. Scripture mentions thirty-six names in verses 8-39 so Joab maybe the thirty-seventh. Thirty was more of a title than an exact figure. It is likely replacements took place as some fell in battle.
 
Practice: Godly men who lead at home, at work, and in the community give life to others just like God gives life to them. In the same way, David trusted in the assurance of God’s care and guidance; we can exercise our faith while living as brothers in the battles of life. As God abides with David, He abides with us when we walk in His Word (John 15:1-11). God promises never to leave us nor forsake us. And in a similar way with David, He provides people to help in living life.
 
Pray: Help me, O Mighty God, to be a source of encouragement and obedience to those around me, especially in my sphere of influence. ​

This devotional challenge comes from The Heart of a Lion - King David of Israel and is available on Amazon.com

Perceive: In the center of this list of mighty men the narrator places an example of all three warriors working together. It is a fabulous example of love, sacrifice, and daring. During a battle against the Philistines at harvest time, David longed for some water and relief during this conflict. His three battle buddies take him seriously and love him enough that they risk their lives to bring him a pitcher of water from Bethlehem’s well. Rather than drinking the water, David pours it out before the Lord. Only the Lord was worthy to drink water from such a sacrifice. To become a member of this elite group of mighty men required exceptional knowledge, skill, and courage in battle.
 
Practice: Apparently, when David viewed the pitcher of water, he saw it as the blood of these three brave and mighty men who risked everything to bring it to him. To drink the water would have been demeaning and lessened the bravery these men showed to their friend and leader. Instead, pouring it out before the Lord as a drink offering, communicated how important they were to David. When someone does something sacrificial for you, be sure to follow this example and let your battle buddies know how much they are appreciated and how you value the sacrifices made on your behalf.
 
Pray: Lord, thank you for _____________ and the many things they have done on my behalf. Show me how I can show them great value for who they are and what they do.​

​This devotional challenge comes from The Heart of a Lion - King David of Israel and is available on Amazon.com

Perceive: This starts a section of Scripture that describes David’s mighty men. In some ways they are similar to the Medal of Honor recipients of America, David’s Mighty Men were worthy of recognition. David would not have achieved as much without having loyal and valiant men at his side and serving in his ranks. In these verses, the narrator first mentions Josheb-Basshebeth who killed eight hundred men at one time. Second is Eleazar who struck down the Philistines until his hand froze to the sword. Third is Shammah who took a stand in the middle of a plot of ground and single-handedly defended it. All three men led Israel to victory.
 
Practice: Like David, every man needs battle buddies and a band-of-brothers in his life. In the process of leading and loving those around him, David develops strong bonds with this band-of-brothers who were mighty in deeds and loyal in their friendship. These men were loyal to David through all his highs and lows. Are you a loyal friend and battle buddy?
 
Pray: Thank you, Lord, for providing the local church as a place where a man can have spiritual battle buddies and fellowship with a band-of-brothers. ​

This devotional challenge comes from The Heart of a Lion - King David of Israel and is available on Amazon.com