For My Sake

2 Samuel 18:5 “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.”

In 2 Samuel 18, there is about to be a major battle between David’s army and Absalom’s army.

David is king of Israel, but he’s being strongly challenged for the throne. And Absalom isn’t just any hack aspiring to higher and thinking he can do better… he’s David’s own son, and so this is a bitter situation as you could well imagine.

It’s a family mess, and that is an understatement.

How did it get to this? Well, quite simply, David’s faith in the Lord didn’t exactly run in the family. You have to get saved for yourself, you don’t have it by “pedigree”. It’s not in the genes… sin is in our genes “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.”

And because of that, Absalom didn’t take his “hurts” to the Lord, he didn’t resolve something that happened that deeply affected him through the grace, truth, mercy and forgiveness of Christ. Instead he treasured and nursed his hurts, and they festered, fanned and flamed into bitterness, vengeance, lies, theft and murder.

At some point in your life it really is great to take personal ownership of your actions rather than living a reactionary life as if that justifies everything you’re saying and doing now and all the hurt you’re dishing out.

I know of many situations where people have gotten hurt, and unfortunately for us all that’s what happens in a sin cursed world of our choosing… but just because you may have been hurt does not necessarily justify what comes next… it didn’t for Absalom.

Like Absalom turning on his father, some of the worst opponents in 2026 of Jesus Christ and the gospel, are those so distorted by past hurts at church or from Christians… kids who grew up in a “Christian” family and they never resolved their grievances in the right way… and really most of the time it is such an overreaction. Bearing in mind, David never wronged Absalom, nor was it David who did the wrong that Absalom was so upset about.

Look, if you felt unfairly treated or harshly done by… I feel for you… I’ve also got a few hurts too… but our Saviour has even more of a legitimate claim to grievance, and instead of carrying a chip on his shoulder, he took the wrongs and hurts of the world in his own body and he puts us on his shoulder and takes us to heaven with him.

Yes, it’s very easy to get wounded at church or by people you expect better from, but don’t make that the excuse for what happens next in your life. You have a choice, and why not let God uses life’s trials and troubles for good, and to radiate his glory and redeeming power through… rather than giving a free pass to Satan who will gladly wreak his havoc through your life if you open the door to him.

Anyway… to the story, and at the start of this chapter, David numbers the people… if Jesus Christ was numbering his people, would you be in it? You may have people fooled, even yourself… but Jesus said he knows his sheep, and like Jacob passing through the flock dividing between who was his and who was Laban’s, Jesus know who is his number and who’s isn’t “and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats”.

Second verse… and then David divides the people up between 3 commanders, the leaders who are designated to represent him on the battlefield.

…. It doesn’t matter what branch of Christianity you’re denominated into or whatever suffix you put before your religious identification or “brand”… if you claim to be Christ’s, you are expected to know and obey the voice and command of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, of whom there is only one.

None of Joab, Abishai, or Ittai, the 3 commanders, were above the king’s word. Get this settled, it doesn’t matter “who” you are or how high you’ve made it in your religious bubble, church leaders are not above God’s word, no, they’re the ones meant and expected to represent it, and it’s a high calling to represent Jesus Christ to other people, hence why James says “My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.”

In a society where everyone clamours for influence, followers, likes, numbers and clout, the Bible says that just makes you the more culpable before God.

Verse 3… David says he will go out with the people, but the people say… nuh uh David you stay in the city. And you know why they’re so urgent for David to stay safe and sound in the city?

…Because they know no one cares for them like David. They know Joab doesn’t, Abishai doesn’t, Ittai doesn’t and Absalom doesn’t. …Noone will ever care for you like Jesus, you can be sure of that.

And this story pictures our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ so amazingly because a most beautiful truth is found in this story which is true for every child of God… which is that we live because Christ lives. …David, the best help you can do for us is to be alive!… and Jesus our Saviour is alive forevermore, this isn’t dead religion, and he’s in the holy city alright, seated at the right hand of the Father, executing every promise he ever made us and ready to “succour” to run to the aid of any who need his help who cry out for his grace and mercy “because as he is, so are we in this world.”

In verse 4, David promises he will do what is best for them. Do you know that to be true of Christ? Yes it gets tested doesn’t it. But he truly does know and do what is best for us. Jesus always acts in our best interests, his death on the cross for our sins, while we hated him, while we lived in lies and selfishness and enmity with God… shouldn’t that prove God has our best at his heart for us?

And in verse 5, where was quoted from, David then gives his people, all of them, a specific command regarding his son Absalom. Beginning with the leaders, and heard by all, he commands them… do not touch Absalom, do not hurt him… and for my sake!

Please note: the Bible isn’t a book of suggestions. It’s commandments. Maybe you don’t like the command part, that is, the authority of the king… but remember, David was the king here. The Bible says “Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?” And so when he tells them don’t touch Absalom, he means it. But he appeals for obedience out of love “for my sake”.

Hits differently when someone asks you to do something “for my sake”… doesn’t it. Hopefully the word of God hits differently when you realize we have an opportunity to do what he says for his sake… for Christ’s sake. Do you live for Christ’s sake or life is all about indulging your selfish cause?

Even if you didn’t like Absalom or agree with David’s merciful gracious rationale, in the end, David’s appeal is… do it for me. And he appeals out of love… do it for me. And did you know that that is the proof your alleged love for God? Whether you do it… for his sake. Anyone can say they love God… and they do… everyone loves Jesus these days… but the proof of that love you purport is in doing what he says. It was for Abraham taking his son up mount Moriah, it will be for you also.

Never forget, everything God does for us is for Christ’s sake. We are forgiven, the Bible says, for Jesus Christ’s sake. That’s why God forgives us, for the sake of what his Son did. The least we could do is live for Jesus’ sake. But we are so selfish aren’t we. So much so the only time we care about “for Christ’s sake” is when we use it to blaspheme.

Doing what you do, if for no other reason than for his sake, because he asked you and told you to… that is the sign of love. The sign of love is obedience… if you care about his sake. The sake of Christ has been trashed in our society because of so many disobedient Christians. Who don’t love Jesus enough to obey him. And in this story we are going through now, Joab would send the king weeping and wailing for his son verses later with what was to come, because he cared not for David’s sake.

Anyway, as we progress through this story, a bitter battle ensues, and Absalom’s army is trounced, and Absalom gets himself into a situation he can’t get out of. As he rides his mule, his head somehow gets caught in a tree and he’s left dangling there helpless at the mercy of any who comes by.

We are told a certain man sees him in that state and he goes and reports to Joab… I’ve seen Absalom! I know where he is and he’s helpless! And Joab asks him… if you saw him, why didn’t you kill him? And I would’ve even rewarded you he says!

You should read the response of this certain man, this is the type of Christian you should want to be. See, sometimes it’s not the church “leader” you want to follow, it’s that no name servant of God somewhere someplace who is just lowkey doing what the Bible says without the fanfare and fairy floss.

This man responds to Joab and says, I heard the king tell you not to touch him. And no, he’s not being legalistic, he’s doing what a servant of the king does. He’s not pious, he’s not sanctimonious… he just knows who he serves and wants to do the will of his king. If you are saying you are a Christian, when have you ever really done the will of God? The will of David was Absalom’s safety, this certain man was doing the will of David.

Jesus Christ said in John 14:15 “If ye love me, keep my commandments” and a few verses later then said “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.”

Bet you don’t hear this at your church, but obedience to the king’s word is proof and evidence of love. The Bible says to do the will of God from the heart. And the will of king David was to spare Absalom’s life, to see Absalom saved, as David said “for my sake”.

This certain man teaches a valuable life lesson for every Christian. Which is that, regardless of what church, what pastor, what influence you are under… your first duty is to do what the Lord Jesus Christ says in his holy word even if higher ups like Joab decide they know better than what the king said.

See, you gotta remember who you serve. There’s only one who died for you, saved you, bought you, stamped you, sealed you, who made a home in heaven for you and whom you will stand before at end of days. He’s the one to obey, and honour, even if others don’t, and we are in a time when others don’t. Doesn’t have to be you though does it.

Look, it didn’t earn this certain man any favours. Joab gave the exact kind of response you’d expect. That answer ticked him right off, and he basically told him I don’t want to see your face again. And so this certain man obeying the king’s word for the king’s sake had a cost. You start living for Christ, as in actual, that’ll thin your approval ratings, that’ll cost you promotion, that’ll part company… but it’s because you love God, it’ll put you on the right side of history… look we are reading about it still today.

We read on and find out that Joab takes three darts and shoves them through Absalom’s heart. Great leadership hey. He doesn’t care what David says, he’s going to do “ministry” how he sees best. He’s not alone in that philosophy is he. And people are watching. Because if you know much about Joab, you know people were afraid of him and wanted to be on his “right side”. And when he shoves the darts through Absalom’s heart, to the young men watching on what he’s doing is, he’s saying, See lads, you can disobey the king and nothing happens.

…Mmm! Lot of this is going on in churches today. People disobeying God’s word, not because it lacks clarity or couldn’t be translated, but because they don’t care about Christ’s sake and are emboldened to and embolden others to do likewise.

… for we are told in verse 15 that ten young men who were Joab’s armourbearers joined in surrounding Absalom in killing him also. They were trying to please their boss Joab. They were menpleasers, exactly what the Bible says cannot be servants of God “for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” You’ll never serve God and truly do what the king wants while you are trying to win approval from that person you look up to who holds your religious career in their hand whom you are endlessly trying to impress.

Why not just be God’s man? Why not just be God’s woman? “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men” Remember who you serve. Remember who died for you. Remember who saved you. LIVE FOR HIS SAKE! It’s so easy to lose our way and stop looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Live for the sake and cause and name and will of Christ. You’ll know him in a way that others will never even conceive of “For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.”

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