2 Samuel 14
The last chapter of Samuel was one of evil and deceit. After Amnon (David’s first born) rapes his half sister, Tamar, Absalom (David’s third son) kills Amnon. You can imagine Absalom’s anger. Despite the disturbing circumstance, murder is never the answer and Absalom being afraid flees the land. Although David is upset with Absalom for killing his brother, he is concerned for Absalom and their now complicated relationship.
Joab, David’s chief general, recognizes this stress over an estranged relationship and plots out a plan to reconcile them. Through trickery Joab has a woman disguise herself as a widow and come to David with a story of an estranged relationship with her son. In a similar story as his own, David takes pity on the woman and declares her son guiltless, pardoning him from his crime of murder. David sacrifices justice for the sake of reconciling a woman and her son.
The woman hearing this calls out David for not doing the same thing with his own son. Why would he pardon this woman’s son from murder so that the mother and son can be reconciled, but not seek out Absalom who killed his brother for the sake of reconciling a father and son, a king and prince?
This woman approaches David’s throne with confidence that he will do the right thing and forgive. She is bold to call David up toward forgiveness. Oftentimes we think that when we sin we must be ashamed and hide from God and be rightly punished. Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, God provided a way for us to be in harmony with Him. He provided a way to be as a son or daughter to the One true King even though we do not deserve Him. Just like David, Jesus sacrifices justice so that we can eternally be with God. If we received rightful justice we would be eternally separated from our Father, yet Jesus made a way by becoming sin on the cross. 2 Corinthians 5:21 explains this perfectly, “For our sake He made Him to be sin, who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”
Church, may we approach the throne with confidence knowing that Jesus willingly took our place and His blood covers us of all sin.
