Conspiracy

2 Samuel 15:1-12

Good morning! Today we continue with our account of David and his son Absalom. I think a good place to start is reviewing David’s family situation and the events that have happened so far. As much as I can, I will try to keep today’s message family friendly, but we will talk a lot about family estrangement, and so, depending on the age and emotional maturity level of your child, this topic may or may not be appropriate for them.

Estrangement

2 Samuel 14:1-33

Last week, we heard about the rape and heartbreaking disgrace of Tamar by her half-brother Amnon followed by the vengeance that Absalom wrought on Amnon.  Absalom had Amnon killed in front of all his brothers.  After this, Absalom fled to the neighboring country of Geshur for three years.

David mourned the loss of his two oldest sons: Amnon to death and Absalom to exile.  2 Samuel 13 closed with David being consoled concerning Amnon’s death but longing to go to Absalom.  David and Absalom are estranged over Absalom’s treachery against Amnon no matter how justified.  That is where we pick up the story in 2 Samuel 14.  David is conflicted by anger toward and love for his son Absalom and possibly remorse over his failures that contributed toward this heart-breaking situation.  David allows himself again to skip taking the initiative to resolve a difficult situation among his children.  This time it is reconciliation with Absalom that he avoids.

Let us pray before we continue.

Father God, help us to see what it is that you want us to see in 2 Samuel 14.  Speak to us from these difficult circumstances.  We desire to see how we might better honor You in how we live.  Help us we pray in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Like Father...

2 Samuel 13:1-39

“The wages of sin is death.” We know that from Romans 6. Sin has consequences. And far-reaching sin has far-reaching consequences. The source of David’s sin with Bathsheba was the lust in his heart. He fed his sexual desire in an unhealthy way. This was not its only expression. He had 8 wives and at least 10 concubines. His son Solomon would go well beyond that with 700 wives and 300 concubines. Their power gave these men access to many women, and they took what they wanted. So David’s problem was bigger than Bathsheba. He took what he thought he deserved as king, and that attitude led him away from God.

Turning away from God always results in loss of some kind. When David sinned with Bathsheba he lost his intimacy with God. It started when he allowed himself to become lazy and not go out with his army. When discipline starts to slip in one area the slide has a tendency to extend to other areas. David decided to take it easy, and he became soft. He lost his vital connection with God and became susceptible to his lust, his own selfish desire.

Following God requires self-discipline. This applies to us as well. We need to be willing to do hard things and not just take the easy, comfortable way. For example, why read the Bible every day? To learn more about God, yes, but even more importantly it is a spiritual discipline that will impact our entire lives. If we do it even when we do not feel like it, there is inherent value in that. God may not speak to us through his word every day, but the discipline of consistently giving him that opportunity will help keep our hearts in the right place. Discipline in one area leads to discipline in other areas; just as laziness in one area will creep into other areas.

Consequences of the Fall

2 Samuel 12:1-31

Today’s message is titled “Consequences.”  We will see some of the consequences of David’s sin in chapter 11, but we will only begin to hear about further consequences which are yet to come beyond 2 Samuel 12.

For those who may not have heard the message from last week, we are in the middle of the story about David and Bathsheba.  At the beginning of chapter 11, the army is fighting against the Ammonite city of Rabbah.  David though remains at home in the city of Jerusalem in spite of the fact that it is spring, “the time when kings go off to war.”

While at the palace one evening, David goes out for a walk on the roof.  He sees a beautiful woman bathing.  Rather than turn away, rather than go to his own wives, David inquires after the woman and has her brought to him.  David knows that she is married and knowingly commits adultery.  Bathsheba becomes pregnant and sends word to David.  Bathsheba’s husband is a soldier in David’s army and is stationed at Rabbah.  In fact, Uriah, her husband, is one of David’s mighty men (2 Samuel 23:39), one of his 30 bravest and strongest warriors.

To make matters worse, David recalls Uriah from the front and tries in vain to get Uriah to go home to his wife.  Uriah is a man of character and honor.  He is not willing to disrespect or dishonor his commander Joab or his fellow soldiers.  He will not go home to the comfort of his own bed or the arms of his wife while his comrades-in-arms are still sleeping in tents.

Things go from really bad to worse still.  David then sends word to Uriah’s commanding officer by Uriah’s own hand that Uriah should be put into a compromising situation on the battlefield so that Uriah “will be struck down and die.” (2 Samuel 11:15)  And that indeed is what happens, and Joab sends word to David that Uriah has been killed.

2 Samuel 11:27 says that after the time of mourning was over, David had Bathsheba brought to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son.  That time of mourning may not be as long as we might imagine.  Other times in the Bible when an observed time of mourning is mentioned, it is seven days.  We don’t know for sure, but it is certainly plausible that it was only a week after Uriah had died that Bathsheba became David’s wife.

This is the point at which 2 Samuel 12 begins.  Let us pray and ask God to speak out of a difficult passage.