In our reading today David is reaping the sad harvest of the sins he committed in II Samuel 12:10-12. Our God is gracious to forgive when we confess our sins, but He will not violate His holiness and sinlessness by interfering with the tragic results of our sins. We must reap what we sow, and we will see today that David is reaping those sinful seeds he spread in earlier chapters.
Absalom, David's son, was the apple of the king's eye. David loved him dearly, but God allowed Absalom to break David's heart. Absalom led the rebellion that drove David from the throne. Absalom betrayed his own father.
Absalom won the hearts and the favor of the leaders of Israel. Just as God had given the hearts of these men to David earlier, now Absalom steals that admiration. How could such a thing happen? For a season, the power of God is lifted from David's head. For David had sinned, and the price must be paid for willful sin.
All too often, as children of God, we forget where the power comes from. Zechariah 4:6 tells us, "Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." We should constantly be aware that we can do nothing apart from the power of God. Jesus said, "Without me ye can do nothing.".
