David Fails To Lead

Read 2 Sam 13-15:12

2 Sam 13:21

2 Samuel 13:21 ESV

21 When King David heard of all these things, he was very angry.

Dead Sea Scroll, Septuagint add, “But he would not punish his son Amnon, because he loved him, since he was his firstborn.”

David did not punish His son.

He loved him, but this failure would lead to many more questions and problems.

Prov 17:25

Proverbs 17:25 ESV

25 A foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.

A foolish son, such as this is a grief to his Father.

David refuses to punish Amnon for what he had done.

Prov 22:15

Proverbs 22:15 ESV

15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.

Children are foolish, the responsibility of parents is to train it out of them.

Discipline is necessary, for we don’t want our kids to fight against God.

Isaiah 63:10

Isaiah 63:10 ESV

10 But they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit; therefore he turned to be their enemy, and himself fought against them.

When we rebel against God, He is no longer for them, but against.

Deut 17:17

Deuteronomy 17:17 ESV

17 And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold.

The king shall not take for himself many wives.

Absalom, see’s the moral failure of His Father

Deut 22:23-27

Woman is raped, man should be stoned.

David takes no action against his son Amnon.

2 Sam 15:1-3

Absalom has lost faith in the king.

He doesn’t believe the king will give justice for he hasn’t seen it. He now is in a conspiracy to overthrow the king.

David continually breaking God’s commands, and failing to bring justice becasue of his feelings, made Absalom loose faith. In the end, he lost two sons instead of one.

How are we leading?

Hebrews 5:11-14

We must be skilled with the word.

Exodus 33:12–13 ESV

12 Moses said to the Lord, “See, you say to me, ‘Bring up this people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.’ 13 Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.”

We must know God and His character

1 Timothy 6:11–12 ESV

11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

The life of a Christian leader, must be one of the pursuit of righteousness. Stead fastness.

We must fight the good fight.

Fight against the corruption from the outside of the church, and the corruption from within.

To often it is easy to give in and be swept away with the hypocrisy that takes over.

1 Corinthians 11:17-19

When we are leaders, there will be heresies that are among us.

The bible here is saying that the wrong mode of thinking, must be addressed, and corrected.

Fail to do so and we risk having an end like David.

Succeed to do so, and we could be like Elijah being hunted.