Being Remembered Forever Series

Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 2:16, “For there is no more remembrance of the wise than of the fool forever, since all that now is will be forgotten in the days to come.” To be forgotten is one of our greatest fears. To some people, the only thing that really matters in life is making their mark; or rather, doing something by which they will be remembered when they’re long gone. That could be becoming a movie star, a well-known author, a famous singer, a master painter, or perhaps the president of the United States; but we all want to be known and remembered.

There’s a Facebook page called “Born to Be Remembered.” This page explains its purpose as being “to bring to light the stories of memorable lives and events of people, who through their thoughts and actions pushed the boundaries of human reality.” Many of the individuals recognized on this website are recorded in the pages of history books; however, as many of us know, history is oftentimes forgotten or rewritten by those in power. The ancient Egyptians were notorious for erasing monuments and inscribing their own rewritten account of historical events.

We may be remembered for a short while for our accomplishments, but they will all fade away with our life. James asked, “For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (James 4:14); and King David declared, “Certainly every man at his best state is but a vapor” (Psalm 39:5). Even when we’re at our best state, having achieved our greatest accomplishments and basking in the glory, it will all pass away as a vapor. So, what are we to do? Is there any way that we can be remembered forever, or be remembered after we die? Yes there is, and this is the question for which we’ll find an answer in God’s Word.

Mercy in the Face of War (vv. 5-6)

5 Now the king had commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains orders concerning Absalom. 6 So the people went out into the field of battle against Israel. And the battle was in the woods of Ephraim.

We read here about how King David gave instructions to the captains of his army as they prepared for battle against their own people, Israel; and the opposing side was led by David’s own son. His son, Absalom, had rebelled against him by turning the hearts of many Israelites toward himself. You see, Absalom was power hungry, desiring honor and recognition from the people.

In 2 Samuel 15, we learn how Absalom would stand in the city gate each and every day, and when someone came to settle a dispute before the King, he would turn the people away and say there was no one from the King available to hear their case. Absalom would then take the liberty of passing judgment on the cases all by himself, and his judgments were always in favor of the people (2 Samuel 15:1-3). He would then declare in their hearing, “Oh, that I were made judge in the land, and everyone who has any suit or cause would come to me; then I would give him justice” (2 Samuel 15:4).

We read how whenever someone would come to bow down before Absalom that he wouldn’t allow it, but he would instead embrace and kiss the individual (2 Samuel 15:5), and the Scripture says, “In this manner Absalom acted toward all Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel” (2 Samuel 15:6). Absalom gained a great following in Israel, and both his and David’s men came face-to-face in a showdown “in the woods of Ephraim” (v. 6).

Absalom had rebelled against his father, David; nevertheless, David showed him mercy by telling his captains, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom” (v. 5). Likewise, each of us has rebelled against the heavenly Father. Isaiah 53:6 tells us, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way.” Nevertheless, the Bible declares in Ephesians 4:4-5, “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ.” We may be at war with God, but He’s deeply in love with us and wants to show us His mercy and grace!

Rebellion Leads to Death (vv. 9-10, 14-15)

9 Then Absalom met the servants of David. Absalom rode on a mule. The mule went under the thick boughs of a great terebinth tree, and his head caught in the terebinth; so he was left hanging between heaven and earth. And the mule which was under him went on. 10 Now a certain man saw it and told Joab, and said, “I just saw Absalom hanging in a terebinth tree!” . . . 14 Then Joab said, “I cannot linger with you.” And he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through Absalom’s heart, while he was still alive in the midst of the terebinth tree. 15 And ten young men who bore Joab’s armor surrounded Absalom, and struck and killed him.