THEOSISJohn Chrysostom
Kings often raise monuments in celebration of their victorious leaders, just as rulers honor triumphant charioteers and warriors with images and pillars that proclaim their achievements, as if giving voice to their triumph. Some document the accolades of these victors in texts, hoping to demonstrate their own strength through praise. Orators, painters, sculptors, and entire nations, as well as cities and towns, marvel at their victories; yet, there are no depictions honoring those who flee or refuse to engage in battle, like David, who exemplifies this in the phrase, “A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.”
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When is a fugitive ever celebrated? When does an exile merit an inscription? Such individuals are apprehended by written accusations rather than honored by memorials. However, my dear friend, grasp the significance of this psalm and safeguard your soul; let this account guide your conduct and permit the suffering of a righteous individual to protect your mind. Understand why Absalom turned against David. Let this knowledge strengthen you with reverence for God, for just as a building crumbles without a strong foundation, so too is writing of no worth if its significance is overlooked.
In this psalm, the blessed David aimed to convey the importance of living a virtuous and pure life, steering clear of wrongdoing and adhering to God's commandments. He wished to ensure that those who sin do not endure the same adversity he faced. David fled his son due to his own departure from purity; he distanced himself because he fractured marital fidelity. He turned away from the divine law, which commands, ‘Thou shalt not murder, thou shalt not commit adultery’ (Exodus 20:13, 14). He invited trouble into his home by taking another man's wife and, in turn, faced rebellion from his own family. This is not merely my reflection; it is the declaration of God, and where the Lord speaks, there can be no debate.
Indeed, Absalom rebelled against David because of his transgressions regarding Uriah; God delivered this message through Nathan the prophet. God proclaimed, "I have anointed thee king over Israel, and I have delivered thee out of the hand of Saul; and I have given thee the house of thy lord, and I have given thee the house of Israel and Judah; and if this be not enough for thee, I will add more unto thee. Why then hast thou despised the word of the Lord, having done evil in His sight? Thou hast struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword; thou hast taken his wife to be thy wife. Therefore, the sword shall not depart from thy house for ever" (2 Samuel 12:7-10). By inflicting harm upon another’s household, you will find judgment in your own.
Thus, David fled from his son, experiencing the consequences of his choices in the sight of God's commandments. This psalm, composed during his flight from Absalom, serves as a warning about the causes of conflict rather than recounting the conflict itself. Our observation of the righteous fall should inspire us to avoid perilous paths. Many still contend within their homes: one faces strife from a spouse, another is besieged by a child, and yet another finds trouble with a sibling or servant; every individual is tormented, agitated, and embroiled in conflict. Yet, few pause to reflect that if they had not sown seeds of sin, their homes would not be overrun by thorns and thistles.
It is evident in divine Scriptures that private calamities stem from personal sins and that God allows one’s household to execute punishment against the sinner. Is your wife waging war against you, confronting you with hostility? It is lamentable when a companion becomes an adversary; however, scrutinize whether you have wronged any woman in your past. The vendetta of a woman often emerges from a man’s previous transgressions. Regardless of their awareness, God, the divine healer, operates through them as instruments of retribution. Though the afflicted may not realize their role, God understands the necessity of such afflictions.
The Scriptures affirm that a wicked wife can be a consequence of a man’s wickedness, serving as a corrective to his offenses (cf. Sirach 25:21 and 26). Abundant evidence demonstrates that attacks from children result from parental sins, which David exemplifies through his distress from Absalom. Similarly, the enmity among brothers arises from sin, as demonstrated in the book of Judges, where the tribe of Benjamin faced the wrath of the eleven other tribes due to their sin against a traveling man's concubine. Their rebellion led to their defeat, revealing that all suffered the consequences of turning away from God.
When brothers oppose one another, do not simply assign blame; rather, review the sins prompting such enmity. Yet not all familial opposition is due to sin; Joseph faced wrongful attacks from his brothers without sinning. Likewise, Job endured suffering from his wife that had no root in his own misdeeds. Most familial disputes arise from sins, as even friends can become foes when sin corrupts their love, as seen in Psalm 104:25, regarding the Egyptians' hatred towards God's people.
Thus, even servants have risen against their masters, all as ramifications of sin. Prior to Adam's transgression, the wild animals obediently served him, but upon sinning, they turned against him. When disobedience stained his purity, the creatures no longer acknowledged his authority.
Daniel, a righteous man, was saved by the lions as they recognized his purity (Daniel 6:22), while a false prophet met his end at the paws of a lion when his deceit became evident. Domestic strife can even arise from the very body that serves us, for when we sin, it retaliates through ailments. Christ addressed this when He said to the healed paralytic, "Behold, thou art healed; sin no more, lest something worse happen to thee" (John 5:14). Thus, let us realize that the conflicts within households, among kin, and even bodily sufferings often stem from our transgressions.
David's choice to take a married woman resulted in rebellion from his son, who sought to forcibly claim the kingdom. David endured the bitterness of Absalom’s rebellion, which was ultimately met with divine retribution. Absalom’s attempts to usurp his father led to his own demise at the hands of Joab, a practical demonstration of poetic justice. The judgment that fell upon Absalom serves as a illustration of God’s overarching justice; he who sought to impose discord and rebellion met with a fate reflective of his ambitions.
In the end, David's lament for Absalom highlights the tragic consequences of sin and rebellion, encapsulating the truth that reckless ambition and hostility can lead not only to one's downfall but to the suffering of others involved.