A Leader Who Trusts and Empowers Others
At the end of the battle between David and Absalom, we see David's experience, humility, and commitment to empowering leaders beyond himself proving to be the difference. The text wants us to see how David goes to work putting the right battle plan in place versus Absalom. He has established and experienced leaders to give charge of the men. These are men David has believed in and shaped.
2 Samuel 18:1–2 (ESV) Then David mustered the men who were with him and set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. 2 And David sent out the army, one third under the command of Joab, one third under the command of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and one third under the command of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the men, “I myself will also go out with you.”
Notice Ittai the Gittite, who only recently joined David, in fact, the day before David fled the city! Now that same Ittai will command one-third of the entire army. That's called trust! David trusts his men. He delegates quickly because he wants them to succeed in what they do. Leaders who empower others go the distance.
We have already discussed how Absalom and David are different in another way. They respond to those they lead very differently. Absalom rejects the advice of his wisest counselor and ends up listening to David's spy. David however, listens and follows the advice of his generals:
2 Samuel 18:3–4 (ESV) But the men said, “You shall not go out. For if we flee, they will not care about us. If half of us die, they will not care about us. But you are worth ten thousand of us. Therefore it is better that you send us help from the city.” 4 The king said to them, “Whatever seems best to you I will do.” So the king stood at the side of the gate, while all the army marched out by hundreds and by thousands.
It takes incredible humility from David here to listen to the men he leads. After all, he's DAVID! He's the guy who should be telling everyone else what to do. He defeated Goliath and yet now listens to those under his charge. The leadership quality here again is TRUST. So many leaders want to be trusted by they do not trust those they lead.
Now, sadly, even David had a guy who wouldn't fully listen. Joab will disregard David's warning to deal gently with Absalom and put him to death viciously. This proves that even David could not control others under his charge. Many leaders who have experienced betrayal do well to read this passage and realize they didn't FAIL in leadership just because someone under their leadership disregarded their clear instructions. People are sinful and often take matters into their own hands.
The rebellion of Absalom is short-lived with a tragic end. The hair he used to cut and weigh became the ironic means to his own demise. For it was caught in a thick oak tree and separated him from his mule leaving him open to attack. Joab finishes him off and the young man of such incredible potential goes down in history with nothing to show for it. But watch:
2 Samuel 18:18 (ESV) Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up for himself the pillar that is in the King’s Valley, for he said, “I have no son to keep my name in remembrance.” He called the pillar after his own name, and it is called Absalom’s monument to this day.
The life and death of Absalom is the Bible's illustration of what happens to the self-absorbed. The last thing Absalom is remembered for is a pillar in a valley named after him. But we do not know where this pillar is. No one has seen it since and its memory is stowed only in a single verse summing up the life's work of a man who wanted to be great.
If you want to outlive yourself, develop others. It's that simple. Our culture trains us to look only at us. But investing in people is the only game in town. Those who live accordingly will be talked about for generations.
2 Samuel 18:1–2 (ESV) Then David mustered the men who were with him and set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. 2 And David sent out the army, one third under the command of Joab, one third under the command of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and one third under the command of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the men, “I myself will also go out with you.”
We have already discussed how Absalom and David are different in another way. They respond to those they lead very differently. Absalom rejects the advice of his wisest counselor and ends up listening to David's spy. David however, listens and follows the advice of his generals:
2 Samuel 18:3–4 (ESV) But the men said, “You shall not go out. For if we flee, they will not care about us. If half of us die, they will not care about us. But you are worth ten thousand of us. Therefore it is better that you send us help from the city.” 4 The king said to them, “Whatever seems best to you I will do.” So the king stood at the side of the gate, while all the army marched out by hundreds and by thousands.
It takes incredible humility from David here to listen to the men he leads. After all, he's DAVID! He's the guy who should be telling everyone else what to do. He defeated Goliath and yet now listens to those under his charge. The leadership quality here again is TRUST. So many leaders want to be trusted by they do not trust those they lead.
Now, sadly, even David had a guy who wouldn't fully listen. Joab will disregard David's warning to deal gently with Absalom and put him to death viciously. This proves that even David could not control others under his charge. Many leaders who have experienced betrayal do well to read this passage and realize they didn't FAIL in leadership just because someone under their leadership disregarded their clear instructions. People are sinful and often take matters into their own hands.
The rebellion of Absalom is short-lived with a tragic end. The hair he used to cut and weigh became the ironic means to his own demise. For it was caught in a thick oak tree and separated him from his mule leaving him open to attack. Joab finishes him off and the young man of such incredible potential goes down in history with nothing to show for it. But watch:
2 Samuel 18:18 (ESV) Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up for himself the pillar that is in the King’s Valley, for he said, “I have no son to keep my name in remembrance.” He called the pillar after his own name, and it is called Absalom’s monument to this day.
The life and death of Absalom is the Bible's illustration of what happens to the self-absorbed. The last thing Absalom is remembered for is a pillar in a valley named after him. But we do not know where this pillar is. No one has seen it since and its memory is stowed only in a single verse summing up the life's work of a man who wanted to be great.
If you want to outlive yourself, develop others. It's that simple. Our culture trains us to look only at us. But investing in people is the only game in town. Those who live accordingly will be talked about for generations.
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