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When you think of Absalom what comes to mind? Many with any understanding of scripture instantly think of a traitor or a rebellious son. Not many folks name their child Absalom or Ichabod. It's pretty bad when your name has such a bad connotation that it is no longer used. Absalom means "the father of peace," a fitting name for a son of David. Sadly, the character of Absalom so marred the name that it is not used again in the scripture or common among men in history. So is the nature of a judge without judgment.

We just celebrated the Lord's supper and one of the rich verses of 1 Corinthians 11:31 states "For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged." The scripture has much to say about judgment and justice and at length we learn that Jesus is the standard for both. By fulfilling the law, he has become the standard of righteousness and reconciliation.

But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Ephesians 2:13-18

Though Absalom's name means "father of peace," the last thing Absalom brought to God's kingdom was peace. Being born from a royal heritage maternally and fraternally Absalom lived large, enjoying a sense of entitlement that was diametrically opposite of his father David, who lived as an outlaw on the run from Saul, his royal father-in-law, for many years. Like Jesus, David was overlooked, unwelcome in his own home and at length turned against by his own flesh and blood. Only God could take all those things and turn them for our good.

Of course David was just a type, not the sinless son of God. Like all of us, David fell way short of the glory of God. Not only did David commit adultery and murder in the matter of Uriah the Hittite, his negligence to judge the rape of Tamar his daughter by Amnon his son was a blot that was justifiably difficult for Absalom to overlook. I don't know about you, but as I read the account of Amnon and Tamar one can understand why Absalom felt compelled to judge this sin and protect the honor of his sister. Nonetheless, as your momma told you, two wrongs don't make a right.

Absalom proved at length to be no better -- in fact, much worse -- than his father he was so desperate to overthrow. 1 Samuel 15:4 says, "Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!" Notice the vigor in which Absalom proclaims his cause. He was calling for judgment, yet at length he had none. If he would have esteemed God's judgment ahead of his own, his passions would have been tempered and he would have seen the love of a father for his son. Instead he raged on and not only ruined any relationship he would have had with his father, but the lives of those he manipulated to gain power. At length Absalom, though born into royalty, did not behave in a matter that represented the crown.

This is the story of our self-righteousness. Our very best effort, not covered in the blood and empowered by the Spirit of God, betrays the Lord Jesus Christ. It is so easy to place ourselves in a position of judge when we feel as though God is not moving at our pace or to our liking. Unlike David, Jesus is perfect and his ways are perfect. We live in a time when the lesson of Absalom is very important. Many are not happy with the powers that be. Instead of submitting and serving as David did under Saul, or as Jesus did under Rome, our natural man desires to place ourselves in the postion to execute justice and judgment. Rest assured, the sin we see in this world today has already been judged by our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus will return in his time, he will judge Israel and the nations when he chooses. We serve as ambassadors for Christ, ministers of reconciliation not executioners of justice upon the kings of this earth (at least not yet). The day will come when justice will be served upon all those who have not bowed their knees and confessed with their mouths that Jesus Christ is Lord. Keeping that in mind, we should temper our mind, will and emotion to represent the King well as sons of God who serve faithfully while we wait for the will of our Father to be executed at his appointed time. We know and understand our God is merciful, and he is longsuffering not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

Can you imagine the impact of Absalom on David's kingdom if he would have trusted God to judge his father and worked to glorify God as his father David did in his youth? What influence, what glory would have come to the kingdom and the king. What wrongs would have been made right and what crooked paths would have been made straight. Instead the half-Jew, half-Syrian rebelled against the very father who loved him. He defiled his court in a most wicked and despicable way revealing that he was no better than his father and much worse than his half-brother Amnon.

What Absalom revealed was that he loved himself and not the word of God for his actions were a direct violation of Leviticus 18:8. He was upset with his father over the violation of Leviticus 18:9. So goes the way of our self-righteousness. When we exalt ourselves as judge and jury we forget that Jesus has already judged the sin of humanity on the cross. Inevitably we find that we are no better than the ones we have refused to forgive.

May we fall upon the mercy and grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. After David heard Absalom had been slain by Joab he cried for his son. "And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!" 2 Samuel 18:33

Jesus did die for us and we have been redeemed from the curse of the law so we do not have to be judges without judgment. May we go forth as ministers of reconciliation because our Father has brought us peace through the offering of his dear Son. May we work with Christ as we support the Prince of Peace as his ministers of reconciliation and Ambassadors for Christ.

But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Ephesians 2:13-14