2026 2 Samuel 14, Come to See God’s Face!
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2026-05-17 16:15
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Come to See God’s Face!
2 Samuel 14
A horrific tragedy occurred in David's household. David’s oldest son, Amnon raped his half-sister Tamar and her brother, David’s third son, Absalom killed Amnon. Unimaginable tragedy. What if such things happened in our family? When David failed to govern his household, everyone fell into a pit of severe wound and pain.
The text is the project of Absalom's return to Jerusalem. Knowing that David had been longing for Absalom, who had been in the land of Geshur for three years, Joab, the commander of the army devised a plan. Joab, known as David’s right-hand man, read David’s mind but failed to know God’s heart who was seeking repentance.
Joab had a woman wear mourning clothes and sent her to David, putting words in her mouth. Joab was an impulsive, cruel, and reckless figure. Contrary to David's policies, he had acted on his own judgment several times, causing division within the nation. Why did he devise a scheme for Absalom's return?
In this text, the name ‘David’ does not appear at all. Only the title "King" appears 36 times. Why? David was truly loved by God. However, David who lost spirituality is merely one of kings.
Power changes people. After reaching the pinnacle of his life, David became intoxicated by power. He no longer went to the battlefield, overslept in laziness, enjoyed staring at a woman bathing, committed adultery with her and killed her husband.
While he was in the wilderness with hardships and suffering, David never behaved that way. He was filled with the Spirit of God to worship, pray and shepherd the flock of God. But, after becoming king and in his prime, David became complacent and lazy.
Do you want success? Are you seeking success? But know that people face bigger crisis during times of success than hardship. If you cannot handle it well, you and your family would fall into deep wound and pain.
Here is the woman’s story. "I have two sons. They fought with each other. One killed the other. The villagers insist to execute the son who killed his brother. If that happens, my family will be annihilated. Please help us." The woman's story reminds David of his two sons, Amnon and Absalom.
According to Exodus 21:13-14, a murderer can be spared by escaping to the city of refuge if it is done unintentionally. However, if anyone schemes and kills someone deliberately, that person is to be put to death. Now Joab misuses the law of God to bring Absalom back to Jerusalem through the devised story.
It seems that the woman’s story resembles Nathan’s story. But these two stories are entirely different. When David committed adultery with Bathsheba and murdered her husband, Nathan told David a parable to help him realize his sin and repent. However, Joab is using a parable to save Absalom who had meticulously planned for two years and murdered his brother, Amnon. Joab uses a cunning trick to make it appear as if Absalom is suffering unjustly. Yet, David lost his discernment. He makes an impulsive decision without investigating about the woman or verifying the truth of the story. When a person strays from the place of prayer and the word of God, their discernment becomes clouded in all aspects.
David said, “Go home, and I will issue an order in your behalf. Not one hair of your son’s head will fall to the ground.” He is presumptuous. Making the hair of man’s head fall only belongs to God. Only God has power over life and death. When David became spiritually dull, he played God.
Verses 13. The woman said, “Why then have you devised a thing like this against the people of God? When the king says this, does he not convict himself, for the king has not brought back his banished son?” Finally, the woman showed her true colors to urge David to bring Absalom back to Jerusalem.
Nathan's parable came from God, intending to point out David's sin and lead him to repentance. However, this parable was fabricated by Joab, who harbored a political ambition to bring Absalom back to Jerusalem and raise him to be king. David fell into this scheme.
Contrary to the woman's parable, Absalom did not suffer injustice, nor did he repent of his sin. When David committed a grave sin, he was forgiven and restored because he repented. In 2 Samuel 12:13, David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” Nathan replied, “The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die.
However, here is a trouble. Amnon violated his half-sister, Tamar. Absalom avenged himself on Amnon by killing him. Their father David knew the full story. But did anybody confess their sins and repent? David only got furious, but he took no action. Why didn't he repent, saying, "My sons’ sins are my own; as a father, it is my fault"? He just sat at the throne of pride and complacency. He drifted away from the seat of prayer the word of God.
What is the problem with Christians of this generation? It is that they have drifted further away from prayer, the word of God and devotion. With such major events occurring one after another, there is no one to kneel, prostrate themselves, confess their sins, shed tears, pray, repent, or cry out to God for forgiveness and mercy.
Absalom returned to Jerusalem with the king's permission. Look at verse 24. But the king said, “He must go to his own house; he must not see my face.” Why did David refuse to see his son? It would be king’s pride. I am right and you are wrong. You do not deserve to see me. I will never see you. This happens between husband wife, parents and children and between friends and even among Christians in church.
To David, there would be another reason. It was because of his failure in the past. If he would meet Absalom, he would be reminded of Amnon, who raped his half-sister, and this would also remind him of his past sins against Bathsheba and her husband whom he murdered to cover up his sin of adultery. It is not that David does not want to talk to Absalom; rather, he wants to avoid his past.
People have things they want to avoid. Probably there are events or people you dislike or want to avoid, aren't there? The only way to resolve this is to go to the Lord.
David should have met Absalom face to face and taken him to the temple and repented together before God. "Lord, I am a murderer. I failed to control my anger." "Lord, I was complacent. As a father, I failed to teach my children prayer and the word of God. I failed to discipline them. Please forgive me." But David didn’t do that because it was too hard for him to confront his past and his son, Absalom who murdered his brother. However, though it is hard, he should do it.
A life of faith is not doing just what we want to do. Worship? No problem. But you are to do things you do not want to do such as forgiving the ones who hurt you, going to Bible conference, joining prayer meetings and giving offerings and sharing the truth of salvation and judgment in the name of Jesus Christ. It is the core of faith. Yet some don’t do.
Is there Absalom in your life? Do you know there would be Absalom around you whom you are to meet and help? When David avoided seeing Absalom, soon a greater disaster burst out. Now, let's apply this.
"I am okay. I do Bible study and attend worship service.” Is it enough? The people those you cannot separate from could be rotting away. That could be your parents, children, siblings or friends. If you overlook them or leave them not touched by God, do not think that they would remain in their current state. Absalom rebelled! If you do not handle the people God has entrusted to you with prayer, the word of God and love, rebellions break out here and there, and someone would perish.
Though you would feel okay, if an Absalom around you rebels or make a trouble, there is no peace but chaos and pain. You would pay a more painful price. When David avoided seeing Absalom, soon, he lost his throne fleeing on bare feet. His kingdom became jeopardized and his family was greatly shamed, and he waged war against his own son, Absalom. What good is it if you win and your son loses and dies? Can you rejoice at the victory? Only tearful pain. Learn wisdom from this.
Though it is difficult, you must confront those you dislike or those who are a burden to you. You must confront and resolve every relationship God has given you. Only then there will be healing and peace.
Look at verses 19-20. The king asked, “Isn’t the hand of Joab with you in all this?” The woman answered, “Yes, it was your servant Joab who instructed me to do this and who put all these words into the mouth of your servant.” How could faithless and worldly man, Joab intervened in such a great matter and tried to resolve the family affairs of the believer David? Joab had never resolved a problem for the sake of the nation and the people. He was solely preoccupied with his own position and power. He was a man devoid of prayer and the word of God. Why, then, did such a man devise the project for Absalom's return? Because he analyzed that Absalom would be the next king. David's eldest son, Amnon was dead. David longed for Absalom, and Absalom was highly popular among the people due to his outstanding looks. Knowing this, he approached David with a political scheme to bring Absalom back to Jerusalem. To him, Absalom’s becoming the next king would be advantageous.
Look at verse 24. But the king said, “He must go to his own house; he must not see my face.” So, Absalom went to his own house and did not see the face of the king. David should have either forgiven him or rebuked him. But he did not let him see his faith.
Time never solves troubling relationship. The curse of the Tower of Babel caused people to fail to communicate among themselves. Through the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, people were able to communicate with one another. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we become one spirit that we can communicate with one another. That is why church must be filled with the Holy Spirit. This applies to relationships between spouses, between parents and children and between friends as well.
David refused to see his son, Absalom. Then there is no reconciliation. But our heavenly Father is willing to see us face to face to forgive us and restore us. Faith is seeing God, heavenly Father face to face. "Uh, how can man see God?" Yet, believing that you see His face every day through the word of God and prayer is faith.
Numbers 6:24-26 says, “The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.”’ This is Israel parents’ prayer for their children from their childhood. This is the greatest blessing. Because of abstract faith that fails to see God’s face, our faith becomes increasingly powerless. A faith that does not long for God's face is evidence of powerlessness and falling into depravity.
Deuteronomy 32:20. “I will hide my face from them, for they are a perverse generation, children who are unfaithful.” God hides His face to us when we do not confess and repent our unfaithfulness and perversity. This is a terrifying omen of judgment. Do you seek and long for God's face?
In Luke 15, the father welcomed the prodigal son. Unconditionally? Luke 15:21 says, “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’” The first step is to confess that I have sinned against God. Do you offer such a prayer before God, the Father?
We thank God for calling us through worship, Bible study and prayer. Now we are to aske ourselves. Are we seeking His face confessing our sins with repentance? Revelation 2:5 says, “Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.” When sin is discovered in us, confessing, repenting and correcting by relying on the blood of Jesus it must come first. Yes, that is the first. Making money is not the first. Studying, doing research, job searching or preparing a good career are not the first. Success is not the first. Seeing my sin, becoming aware of it, and turning away from it must come first. Because of the reversed order, we keep striving to make money and succeed, only to end up either destruction or emptiness. That is why there are many Amnon, Absalom, Joab and dull David kind people in our generation.
The reunion of the unforgiving father and grudging and unrepentant son, this brings about a greater disaster. How could such a worldly and cunning Joab be allowed to solve David’s household problem? What is David, the man of God, doing now?
What about us today? What on earth are we doing that a pandemic came in our generation, continual wars are killing countless people, faithless political leaders are running rampant, and how many signs of crisis are emerging? God speaks through a megaphone until our ears burst, yet why are we not kneeling before Him to confess our sins and repent with tears? Today, I pray that we may realize the tragedy of the house of David is no different from the tragedy our generation is experiencing. We must cultivate the habit of repenting immediately upon discovering any sin, regardless of whose sin it is or what kind of sin it is. Instead of being indifferent to or blaming the times and the people, if we—and our church—do not repent and pray, people like Joab will still run wild, the problems of this era—Amon’s rape and Absalom’s murder—will be rampant, and the breakdown of human relationships will remain unresolved. The stench of sin is so severe that it is difficult to open our eyes or breathe, yet we live with our hearts completely captivated by the desire to sleep a little longer, to possess a little more, and to enjoy a little more. We have become too accustomed to sin. We must wake up. We must recognize the pain of this era as our own pain and not leave the seat of prayer, the word of God, worship and devotion. Let us love the Lord and our neighbors and share what we have with them. Let us come to see God’s face daily. This is the only solution.
2 Samuel 14
A horrific tragedy occurred in David's household. David’s oldest son, Amnon raped his half-sister Tamar and her brother, David’s third son, Absalom killed Amnon. Unimaginable tragedy. What if such things happened in our family? When David failed to govern his household, everyone fell into a pit of severe wound and pain.
The text is the project of Absalom's return to Jerusalem. Knowing that David had been longing for Absalom, who had been in the land of Geshur for three years, Joab, the commander of the army devised a plan. Joab, known as David’s right-hand man, read David’s mind but failed to know God’s heart who was seeking repentance.
Joab had a woman wear mourning clothes and sent her to David, putting words in her mouth. Joab was an impulsive, cruel, and reckless figure. Contrary to David's policies, he had acted on his own judgment several times, causing division within the nation. Why did he devise a scheme for Absalom's return?
In this text, the name ‘David’ does not appear at all. Only the title "King" appears 36 times. Why? David was truly loved by God. However, David who lost spirituality is merely one of kings.
Power changes people. After reaching the pinnacle of his life, David became intoxicated by power. He no longer went to the battlefield, overslept in laziness, enjoyed staring at a woman bathing, committed adultery with her and killed her husband.
While he was in the wilderness with hardships and suffering, David never behaved that way. He was filled with the Spirit of God to worship, pray and shepherd the flock of God. But, after becoming king and in his prime, David became complacent and lazy.
Do you want success? Are you seeking success? But know that people face bigger crisis during times of success than hardship. If you cannot handle it well, you and your family would fall into deep wound and pain.
Here is the woman’s story. "I have two sons. They fought with each other. One killed the other. The villagers insist to execute the son who killed his brother. If that happens, my family will be annihilated. Please help us." The woman's story reminds David of his two sons, Amnon and Absalom.
According to Exodus 21:13-14, a murderer can be spared by escaping to the city of refuge if it is done unintentionally. However, if anyone schemes and kills someone deliberately, that person is to be put to death. Now Joab misuses the law of God to bring Absalom back to Jerusalem through the devised story.
It seems that the woman’s story resembles Nathan’s story. But these two stories are entirely different. When David committed adultery with Bathsheba and murdered her husband, Nathan told David a parable to help him realize his sin and repent. However, Joab is using a parable to save Absalom who had meticulously planned for two years and murdered his brother, Amnon. Joab uses a cunning trick to make it appear as if Absalom is suffering unjustly. Yet, David lost his discernment. He makes an impulsive decision without investigating about the woman or verifying the truth of the story. When a person strays from the place of prayer and the word of God, their discernment becomes clouded in all aspects.
David said, “Go home, and I will issue an order in your behalf. Not one hair of your son’s head will fall to the ground.” He is presumptuous. Making the hair of man’s head fall only belongs to God. Only God has power over life and death. When David became spiritually dull, he played God.
Verses 13. The woman said, “Why then have you devised a thing like this against the people of God? When the king says this, does he not convict himself, for the king has not brought back his banished son?” Finally, the woman showed her true colors to urge David to bring Absalom back to Jerusalem.
Nathan's parable came from God, intending to point out David's sin and lead him to repentance. However, this parable was fabricated by Joab, who harbored a political ambition to bring Absalom back to Jerusalem and raise him to be king. David fell into this scheme.
Contrary to the woman's parable, Absalom did not suffer injustice, nor did he repent of his sin. When David committed a grave sin, he was forgiven and restored because he repented. In 2 Samuel 12:13, David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” Nathan replied, “The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die.
However, here is a trouble. Amnon violated his half-sister, Tamar. Absalom avenged himself on Amnon by killing him. Their father David knew the full story. But did anybody confess their sins and repent? David only got furious, but he took no action. Why didn't he repent, saying, "My sons’ sins are my own; as a father, it is my fault"? He just sat at the throne of pride and complacency. He drifted away from the seat of prayer the word of God.
What is the problem with Christians of this generation? It is that they have drifted further away from prayer, the word of God and devotion. With such major events occurring one after another, there is no one to kneel, prostrate themselves, confess their sins, shed tears, pray, repent, or cry out to God for forgiveness and mercy.
Absalom returned to Jerusalem with the king's permission. Look at verse 24. But the king said, “He must go to his own house; he must not see my face.” Why did David refuse to see his son? It would be king’s pride. I am right and you are wrong. You do not deserve to see me. I will never see you. This happens between husband wife, parents and children and between friends and even among Christians in church.
To David, there would be another reason. It was because of his failure in the past. If he would meet Absalom, he would be reminded of Amnon, who raped his half-sister, and this would also remind him of his past sins against Bathsheba and her husband whom he murdered to cover up his sin of adultery. It is not that David does not want to talk to Absalom; rather, he wants to avoid his past.
People have things they want to avoid. Probably there are events or people you dislike or want to avoid, aren't there? The only way to resolve this is to go to the Lord.
David should have met Absalom face to face and taken him to the temple and repented together before God. "Lord, I am a murderer. I failed to control my anger." "Lord, I was complacent. As a father, I failed to teach my children prayer and the word of God. I failed to discipline them. Please forgive me." But David didn’t do that because it was too hard for him to confront his past and his son, Absalom who murdered his brother. However, though it is hard, he should do it.
A life of faith is not doing just what we want to do. Worship? No problem. But you are to do things you do not want to do such as forgiving the ones who hurt you, going to Bible conference, joining prayer meetings and giving offerings and sharing the truth of salvation and judgment in the name of Jesus Christ. It is the core of faith. Yet some don’t do.
Is there Absalom in your life? Do you know there would be Absalom around you whom you are to meet and help? When David avoided seeing Absalom, soon a greater disaster burst out. Now, let's apply this.
"I am okay. I do Bible study and attend worship service.” Is it enough? The people those you cannot separate from could be rotting away. That could be your parents, children, siblings or friends. If you overlook them or leave them not touched by God, do not think that they would remain in their current state. Absalom rebelled! If you do not handle the people God has entrusted to you with prayer, the word of God and love, rebellions break out here and there, and someone would perish.
Though you would feel okay, if an Absalom around you rebels or make a trouble, there is no peace but chaos and pain. You would pay a more painful price. When David avoided seeing Absalom, soon, he lost his throne fleeing on bare feet. His kingdom became jeopardized and his family was greatly shamed, and he waged war against his own son, Absalom. What good is it if you win and your son loses and dies? Can you rejoice at the victory? Only tearful pain. Learn wisdom from this.
Though it is difficult, you must confront those you dislike or those who are a burden to you. You must confront and resolve every relationship God has given you. Only then there will be healing and peace.
Look at verses 19-20. The king asked, “Isn’t the hand of Joab with you in all this?” The woman answered, “Yes, it was your servant Joab who instructed me to do this and who put all these words into the mouth of your servant.” How could faithless and worldly man, Joab intervened in such a great matter and tried to resolve the family affairs of the believer David? Joab had never resolved a problem for the sake of the nation and the people. He was solely preoccupied with his own position and power. He was a man devoid of prayer and the word of God. Why, then, did such a man devise the project for Absalom's return? Because he analyzed that Absalom would be the next king. David's eldest son, Amnon was dead. David longed for Absalom, and Absalom was highly popular among the people due to his outstanding looks. Knowing this, he approached David with a political scheme to bring Absalom back to Jerusalem. To him, Absalom’s becoming the next king would be advantageous.
Look at verse 24. But the king said, “He must go to his own house; he must not see my face.” So, Absalom went to his own house and did not see the face of the king. David should have either forgiven him or rebuked him. But he did not let him see his faith.
Time never solves troubling relationship. The curse of the Tower of Babel caused people to fail to communicate among themselves. Through the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, people were able to communicate with one another. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we become one spirit that we can communicate with one another. That is why church must be filled with the Holy Spirit. This applies to relationships between spouses, between parents and children and between friends as well.
David refused to see his son, Absalom. Then there is no reconciliation. But our heavenly Father is willing to see us face to face to forgive us and restore us. Faith is seeing God, heavenly Father face to face. "Uh, how can man see God?" Yet, believing that you see His face every day through the word of God and prayer is faith.
Numbers 6:24-26 says, “The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.”’ This is Israel parents’ prayer for their children from their childhood. This is the greatest blessing. Because of abstract faith that fails to see God’s face, our faith becomes increasingly powerless. A faith that does not long for God's face is evidence of powerlessness and falling into depravity.
Deuteronomy 32:20. “I will hide my face from them, for they are a perverse generation, children who are unfaithful.” God hides His face to us when we do not confess and repent our unfaithfulness and perversity. This is a terrifying omen of judgment. Do you seek and long for God's face?
In Luke 15, the father welcomed the prodigal son. Unconditionally? Luke 15:21 says, “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’” The first step is to confess that I have sinned against God. Do you offer such a prayer before God, the Father?
We thank God for calling us through worship, Bible study and prayer. Now we are to aske ourselves. Are we seeking His face confessing our sins with repentance? Revelation 2:5 says, “Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.” When sin is discovered in us, confessing, repenting and correcting by relying on the blood of Jesus it must come first. Yes, that is the first. Making money is not the first. Studying, doing research, job searching or preparing a good career are not the first. Success is not the first. Seeing my sin, becoming aware of it, and turning away from it must come first. Because of the reversed order, we keep striving to make money and succeed, only to end up either destruction or emptiness. That is why there are many Amnon, Absalom, Joab and dull David kind people in our generation.
The reunion of the unforgiving father and grudging and unrepentant son, this brings about a greater disaster. How could such a worldly and cunning Joab be allowed to solve David’s household problem? What is David, the man of God, doing now?
What about us today? What on earth are we doing that a pandemic came in our generation, continual wars are killing countless people, faithless political leaders are running rampant, and how many signs of crisis are emerging? God speaks through a megaphone until our ears burst, yet why are we not kneeling before Him to confess our sins and repent with tears? Today, I pray that we may realize the tragedy of the house of David is no different from the tragedy our generation is experiencing. We must cultivate the habit of repenting immediately upon discovering any sin, regardless of whose sin it is or what kind of sin it is. Instead of being indifferent to or blaming the times and the people, if we—and our church—do not repent and pray, people like Joab will still run wild, the problems of this era—Amon’s rape and Absalom’s murder—will be rampant, and the breakdown of human relationships will remain unresolved. The stench of sin is so severe that it is difficult to open our eyes or breathe, yet we live with our hearts completely captivated by the desire to sleep a little longer, to possess a little more, and to enjoy a little more. We have become too accustomed to sin. We must wake up. We must recognize the pain of this era as our own pain and not leave the seat of prayer, the word of God, worship and devotion. Let us love the Lord and our neighbors and share what we have with them. Let us come to see God’s face daily. This is the only solution.