KEY VERSE:
“And the victory that day was turned into mourning unto all the people: for the people heard say that day how the king was grieved for his son” (2 SAMUEL 19:2).

Beautiful names do not necessarily translate into good hearts. Some people with the worst characters also have very good names. Such was the case of Absalom, whose name literarily means “father of peace”. But he turned out to be a big problem for David, bringing so much distress to his father’s kingdom due to his lust for power and authority.

Absalom was slain in the battle against David’s army. When news came to David that his son had been killed, what would have been a joyous celebration of victory was turned into a sorrowful moment. Joab was, however, quick to remind the grieving king that beyond being his son, Absalom died as an enemy of the nation whose life should not be valued more than that of other Israelites. If he would retain the already fragmented kingdom, Joab advised David to go and speak comfortingly to the people.

Jesus cautioned against rebellion. He taught that those who aspire to be great among the people or be chief should first be their servant. By this injunction, inordinate ambition is not allowed among God’s people. Similarly, rebellion is equated in the Scripture with the sin of witchcraft which must be avoided altogether (1 Samuel 15:23).

Desperate ambition is deadly. It also breeds unnecessary rivalry, cutthroat competition and disorder. But as David did, believers should mourn when the sinner dies in his sin because the final destination of the unrepentant sinner is hell and this should cause us to be sorrowful when they die. The onus, therefore, is on us to preach the gospel to the unsaved around us. Unlike David, believers and leaders in positions of authority must not magnify their personal or family challenges above the challenges of those they lead.

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