Revolt Quelled

 2 Samuel 20:1-26

 

Good morning Saints. Before we start, I want to take a minute and ask the Lord to bless this message and also bless our breaking of bread and sharing time afterwards.

 

Now we are continuing our series titled “David: Kingdom Builder”.  Last week we learned how David replaced Joab as commander-in-chief of his army with his former enemy Amasa who was the commander of his rebel son’s army. David did this in order to reunite all the tribes of Jacob and once again be recognized as King over all of Israel. Today we are going to examine passages in 2 Samuel 20 to see how this plan to replace Joab as commander-in-chief worked out. Before we do that let’s first look back at how Joab originally obtained the battlefield promotion to the rank of commander-in-chief for bravery by reading 1 Chronicles 11:6

 

David had said, “Whoever leads the attack on the Jebusites will become commander-in-chief.” Joab son of Zeruiah went up first, and so he received the command. – 1 Chronicles 11:6

 

Fast forward a bit from here to the time period just after Joab murdered David’s former enemy Abner who commanded Saul’s army. David had just that day made an alliance with Abner. In the alliance Abner agreed to help David bring all the tribes of Israel under David’s reign as King. Does that sound familiar? It should because we learned just last week that David made a similar arrangement with his former enemy Amasa for the same reason. David was so upset with Joab for murdering Abner that he cursed Joab, his father’s house and Joab’s future generations saying in 2 Samuel 3:28-29:

 

I and my kingdom are forever innocent before the LORD concerning the blood of Abner son of Ner. May his blood fall upon the head of Joab and upon all his father’s house! May Joab’s house never be without someone who has a running sore or leprosy or who leans on a crutch or who falls by the sword or who lacks food. – 2 Samuel 3:28-29

 

Fast forward again to Joab murdering Bathsheba’s husband Uriah the Hitite in 2 Samuel 11:14-17.

 

In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. In it he wrote, “Put Uriah in the front line where the fighting is fiercest. Then withdraw from him so he will be struck down and die.” So while Joab had the city under siege, he put Uriah at a place where he knew the strongest defenders were. When the men of the city came out and fought against Joab, some of the men in David’s army fell; moreover, Uriah the Hittite died. – 2 Samuel 11:14-17

 

Fast forward again to Joab murdering David’s son Absalom despite the fact that David had given Joab a direct order to deal gently with him.

 

“Joab said, “I’m not going to wait like this for you.” So he took three javelins in his hand and plunged them into Absalom’s heart while Absalom was still alive in the oak tree.” And ten of Joab’s armor-bearers surrounded Absalom, struck him and killed him. – 2 Samuel 18:14-15

 

Now let’s begin where Carl left off last week in our series to see if Joab’s pattern of murdering David’s enemies and former enemies continues.

Return

2 Samuel 19:1-43

 

Good morning! Today we continue with our account of David, focusing on chapter 19 of 2 Samuel. Today’s message will be family friendly, as much as is possible for any message from 2 Samuel.

 

A quick reminder of past events. Starting in 2 Samuel 15, we see David’s estranged son Absalom prepare and implement a long plan to usurp the kingdom from his father. Over time, he drew more and more people to his side, playing loosely with the truth, presenting himself as a kinder, more compassionate, and more effective leader than his father all the while casting aspersion on his father’s rule. Receiving warning that a coup was imminent, David and his household hurried to leave his palace, and leave Jerusalem, preventing Absalom from slaughtering everyone, which he almost certainly would have done. We are told that the people wept for David as he left, and David also wept. He was barefoot and his head was covered, all signs of mourning. The people and David mourned together.

 

David and his party crossed the Jordan, going to one place; Absalom and his men also crossed, going to another. Each had an army. David’s army went out to fight Absalom’s. David stayed behind, at his general’s request. David asked them to “be gentle” with Absalom. Based on Absalom’s discussions with his counselors, we know that Absalom had no such inclination towards his father. Although one can understand why David is conflicted, words like this are never what an army wants to hear. The job and purpose of an army is to obtain victory, not “be gentle.”

 

O My Son!

2 Samuel 17:24-18:33

 

I would like to start my message today with a parable. I will call it the parable of the kudzu vine. It is a story that actually happened this week across the street from our house. I’d noticed kudzu growing in that area for some time, but this year I realized that it was actually killing a large tree by taking over a huge area of its topmost branches and blocking the sunlight from the tree. I traced where the vine came out of the ground in two places, and I cut it just above ground level. It was very simple, really. Within a couple of days, all the growth at the top of the tree had withered, and by the end of the week it was hardly noticeable anymore. Cutting the vine at the right places had dramatically taken care of the problem for that tree.

 

You can probably guess the spiritual application. How do we deal with sin in our lives – or indeed with any issue that we would like to transform? Too often we look at what is readily apparent and try to do something about that. But that is about as straightforward and effective as if I had tried to climb the tree and pull off each kudzu leaf. Not only would that have been an impossible task, but the leaves would have immediately re-sprouted. I needed to cut it off at its root.

 

We need to be careful to identify the root in dealing with any problem. Why do we react to things the way that we do? There is no use just trying to change the behavior; we need to dig deeper and examine past experiences that first put us on a certain path: choices that we made, things that other people did to us. Sometimes we have to go way back, even to previous generations. Why are we the way that we are? God wants to bring deep healing and forgiveness and transformation, if we are willing to go to the root. A surface treatment is not enough. It will be like picking the leaves off of a kudzu plant. It will just regrow.

Counsel

II Samuel 16:15–17:23

 

Disclaimer: It has been said that if the Bible was used as a Hollywood screen play, the ensuing film would be rated X; not for the fact that Hollywood is brazenly opposed to the Gospel, but because the Bible has several scenes that are full of violence and sexual sin as it displays the depravity of Man and God’s great redemption.  Again, this week we will encounter several things that may be inappropriate for younger ears.  I am not trying to hide the Bible from our children, but having three small children myself, I am not sure I want to discuss some of the things we will read about today with them yet. So, I understand if you want to remove them from the room.  Sadly, we will see suicide and open fornication, in addition to the continued family estrangement we have had the last several weeks.  I will be discrete about it as much as I can, but take what measures you feel are appropriate if you have young ones around.  Once I get out of the text and on to application, I will not return to the topics, so you can let them back in for that.  Let us spend some time reviewing and give parents time to set up their children with other activities.  I will warn you before we hit one of these topics, just in case.  As always, the message is recorded if you want to listen to it later, or the transcript will be sent out early this week and you can read it when you don’t have younger ones around. 

 

In chapter 15, Absalom had finally put his conspiracy into action.  He invited 200 people from Jerusalem to go to Hebron with him.  These 200 are completely innocent and know nothing of the coup d’état that Absalom is about to embark on.  Absalom sent messengers to all the tribes of Israel; most likely to the sympathizers he had turned away from David over the past 4 years by lying to them at the gates of Jerusalem.   He told them to announce him as king when they heard the trumpets from Hebron.  We do not know how or why, but somehow, Absalom has won the favor of one of David’s most trusted advisors, Ahithophel, and he has accompanied Absalom down to Hebron.

 

Messengers have come from Hebron telling David of Absalom proclaiming himself king of Israel.  David fled Jerusalem.  I have always wondered why David would flee.  Why not stay and fight?  I am not sure if he knew how large Absalom’s following was.  David probably was not sure if he could defend Jerusalem if all Israel was truly behind Absalom.  Absalom is also a man with a temper.  He’s very sly, but acts out of emotion.  He killed his brother about 10 years prior.  I am sure David feared Absalom would do the same to David in order to seal Absalom’s claim to the throne. 

Exile

2 Samuel 15:13-16:14

Good morning!  We are now about three quarters of the way through our series on King David which has primarily focused on the account in 2 Samuel.  The final message in this series is planned for September 13^th, 6 weeks from today.  Last week, we saw David’s son Absalom very craftily working his way into the hearts of the people of Israel.  Carl gave a family friendly disclaimer last week.  I will say something similar for today’s message.  I will try to keep today’s message family friendly, but we will talk about family estrangement and angry exchanges, so depending on the age and emotional maturity level of your children, portions of the message may or may not be appropriate for them.

Let me start with some of the backstory, Absalom, King David’s oldest son, had returned from his own self-imposed banishment.  He had manipulated Joab in an aggressive way to at least outwardly be restored to his father.  Remember that Absalom had spent three years in the kingdom of Geshur, his mother’s home country.  Then, he spent two more years in Jerusalem without seeing his father.

Why was Absalom estranged from and not allowed to see his father for five or more years?  Absalom had taken vengeance into his own hands against his brother Amnon.  Amnon’s guilt is not in question.  But, Absalom did not have the right to take the law into his own hands and have his brother killed.

As Carl explained last week, there remained a gigantic unspoken disagreement between David and Absalom. Absalom believed he was right to take action against Amnon, and David did not. Underlying the disagreement between them is the broader question of whether justice was served in the two years prior to Absalom’s actions against Amnon. Despite David’s desire to reconcile with Absalom, David did not see how this broader disagreement could be solved unless Absalom were to admit he was wrong.

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.

The Great Fall

2 Samuel 11:1-27

Good morning! Today we continue our series on King David. I want to start by reviewing where we’ve been the last month or so. Back in Chapter 7, we saw that because of the Lord, things were beginning to go quite well for King David and for the kingdom. David, living in a fine palace had had built, thought about how the ark and other priestly objects were in a tabernacle, a tent, and he thought it was inappropriate. David decided to build a fine Temple for the Lord, and he told a prophet of the Lord about this. God responded to the prophet, who explained to David that God did not want him to do this; someone who would come after David would be the one to do this.