"Now a messenger came to David, saying, "The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom." David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, "Arise and let us flee, or we shall not escape from Absalom. Make haste to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly and bring disaster upon us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.’" 2 Sam. 15:13-14 NKJV

What a sordid mess at this time within David's family! David’s sins had hurt him, his children, and his credibility with the people of Israel. His brother Jonadab helped facilitate Amnon's rape of his half-sister Tamar. David's third son Absalom took revenge and killed his brother Amnon, and all the while was planning to usurp his father's throne as king over Israel. Through deceit and deception, Absalom had stolen the hearts of people by promising to satisfy their every complaint. Frozen with fear, David refuses to fight his son and chooses rather to flee Jerusalem. Fear immobilizes and makes us cowards before our enemies. Its source is not from the Lord. Remember, "God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, love, and a sound mind" (1 Tim. 1:7 KJV).