ESOCS Devotional 8 October 2023 – In Our Sin He Shows Concern For Us
MEMORY VERSE: ““And the King commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.” 2 Samuel 18:5
TEXT: 2 SAMUEL 18:1–17 (KJV)
And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds over them.
2 And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also.
3 But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but now thou art worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better that thou succour us out of the city.
4 And the king said unto them, What seemeth you best I will do. And the king stood by the gate side, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands.
5 And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.
6 So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim;
7 Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men.
8 For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
9 And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away.
10 And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.
11 And Joab said unto the man that told him, And, behold, thou sawest him, and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground? and I would have given thee ten shekels of silver, and a girdle.
12 And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in mine hand, yet would I not put forth mine hand against the king’s son: for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom.
13 Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood against mine own life: for there is no matter hid from the king, and thou thyself wouldest have set thyself against me.
14 Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.
15 And ten young men that bare Joab’s armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.
16 And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people.
17 And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him: and all Israel fled every one to his tent.
Read Yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
The king showed concern for Absalom his son in spite of the treason he committed against him and against the state of Israel. He desired his rescue by way of arrest while alive rather than destruction of his life.
So, the king knew that the life of his son is in the hands of the captains of his host. Therefore, he gave the command to deal gently with Absalom to them. And he added that the reason to deal gently with the son is not because of the repentant nature he will adopt or any good he has done but because of him the king. However, the chief captain Joab betrayed the king by doing contrary to his command.
Like Absalom we offended God in Adam for the bible said, “for as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners…” (Romans 6:19a). Then like King David God cared for our rescue and redemption; so He sent His Son Jesus Christ to rescue us from sin and the consequences of sin. The word said in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Unlike Joab who killed Absalom, our Lord Jesus Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 says, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”. O! What perfect love, what a perfect show of concern for our salvation. Unlike Joab the army captain that killed Absalom instead of saving him because he committed treason against the king, our Lord Jesus’ love for us aligned Him with the will of the Father the King of kings to save us miserable sinners. We see this in John 6:38 – 39: “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” Hallelujah, the will of the Father for us is not death but life, not condemnation but eternal life, not hell but heaven. He wants us always to be with Him. And He preserved our lives through the death of His Son.
Beloved, if you are reading this as one who have not received this reconciliation with God by believing that Christ Jesus died for you to live. This is your golden opportunity. God does not want you dead in sin but alive. All you have to do is believe that Jesus died for you, then, surrender your heart to Him. Believe that in His death on the cross, that He took your place of sin, so you could be freed from sin to live a new life of righteousness in Christ Jesus. The word said he that seeth the Son and believeth in Him may have everlasting life. Lord Jesus is here for you now believe Him and be saved. He and the Father are concerned for you, to save you from sin.
- Jesus is here for you; would you love to believe on Him for your salvation? He is concerned for you that is why He died for you.
- Father, thank you for your love for me and the gift of salvation in Christ Jesus. Amen.
FURTHER READING: Job 38:1 –15; Matthew 13:44–end; Col. 3:12–end
Thank you for reading the ESOCS Devotional today. Please share and follow us on all our platforms to contribute to the spread of the Gospel.
ESOCS Devotional 8 October 2023
