2 Samuel 14: Confront Sin With Courage

Sin grows when ignored; God calls believers to confront sin with courage through repentance, truth, forgiveness, and the cleansing Christ provides.

Second Samuel 14 records David’s strained relationship with Absalom and his unwillingness to confront the sin that fractured his family. Joab’s scheme, the woman of Tekoa’s parable, Absalom’s charm, and his eventual manipulation all show the danger of avoiding hard conversations about sin. God uses this chapter to warn His people that ignoring wrongdoing breeds deeper destruction. Throughout the narrative God calls us to deal with sin with courage, honesty, and righteousness.

You should confront sin with courage

Because Sin Demands Accountability (14:1–17)

David hesitated to restore Absalom, recognizing that recalling him without punishment would shake the foundations of law and order. Joab strategically brought a wise woman from Tekoa to help navigate this delicate situation[1]. Forgiveness that ignores justice is merely fiction. Even God does not restore a “banished one” without first upholding His law[2]. Courageous confrontation protects righteousness and prevents disorder from spreading.

Because Restoration Requires Repentance (14:18–33)

David restored Absalom’s position but failed to improve his character. Absalom was essentially “all hair and no substance” – his good looks camouflaged a bad heart[2]. David would bitterly rue his weakness in restoring his wayward son without genuine penitence. True restoration demands “deep soul-work” and cannot occur without true transformation[1]. Courage requires insisting on repentance so that reconciliation is real, not superficial.

Because Unconfronted Sin Multiplies (14:25–33)

Absalom began systematically undermining David’s authority, intercepting people at the city gate and stealing their hearts. He told them the king would not hear their petitions, positioning himself as their true advocate[3]. These painful episodes grew directly from David’s earlier sin with Bathsheba – while David found grace, the consequences remained devastatingly real[4]. When sin goes unchallenged, it grows bold, destructive, and uncontrollable.

Confronting Sin Even When You Have a Past

Some believers hesitate to confront sin because they once committed the same sins. Scripture shows how forgiven people can courageously address wrongdoing.

The blood of Christ cleanses our conscience of dead works so we can serve the living God (Hebrews 9:14). Peter denied the Lord three times (Matthew 26:69–75), then confronted the religious leaders about their denial of Christ (Acts 3:13–15; Acts 4:10–12). He acted boldly because he believed he was forgiven and cleansed of his sins.

You can follow the Bible’s exhortation to confront sin (Matthew 18:15–17) without being a hypocrite when you confess your sins to God (1 John 1:8–10), because Christ’s death offers a propitiating atonement for your sin (1 John 2:1–2). God equips forgiven believers to confront sin with humility, clarity, and courage.

Invitation

Every person has sinned and stands accountable before God. Sin separates us from Him and brings His righteous judgment. Yet God devised a way for the banished not to remain banished.

He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, who died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day (1 Corinthians 15:1–4). His death satisfies God’s righteous demands (Romans 3:23–26).

If you will change your mind about your sin, believe that Christ died and rose for you, and call on the name of the Lord for salvation, God will forgive you, cleanse your conscience, and reconcile you to Himself. Through Christ you receive new life and the courage to deal with sin God’s way.

Absalom, David, courage, confrontation, repentance, justice, reconciliation, accountability, deception, rebellion, cleansing, forgiveness

Works Cited

[1] F. B. Meyer, Through the Bible Day by Day: A Devotional Commentary (Philadelphia: American Sunday-School Union, 1914–1918), 2:114–115.

[2] Warren W. Wiersbe, With the Word Bible Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991).

[3] R. C. Sproul, Before the Face of God: Book 3: A Daily Guide for Living from the Old Testament (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House; Ligonier Ministries, 1994).

[4] J. D. Greear and Heath A. Thomas, Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Samuel (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2016), 223.