Obedience of the Faith

Good Morning. It is always good to be in the house of the Lord.

This morning. I want to continue the story of David and we need to talk about some hard chapters of the Bible.

2 Samuel 13-14 are some of the harder chapters of the Bible to read because when we read them we can’t escape that there is a lot of evil here.

Obviously there is too much for us to read in these chapters here right now but let me give you the cliff notes version.

2 Samuel 13

In short this is the story of Amnon the son of David and his rapping of his sister Tamar and the beginning of the rebellion of Absalom against David.

Long story made short Amnon tricked and manipulated the situation to sleep with his sister and Absalom his brother was furious.

David also got word and was furious but no word of any punishment was delivered to his son who had done this wicked thing.

Absalom waited two years to get his revenge.

David was Furious and Absalom ran. David’s grief over the his son Amnon was severe. Yet, this grief was caused by David’s own inability to control his own household. He set the example for his children in his actions and they were following his lead.

2 Samuel 14

Joab the commander of the army knows that this is not a good situation. That Absalom was going to be a problem so he hatches a plan to get the King to allow Absalom to return in hopes it would bring about peace.

Yet, when Absalom returns home he is not permitted to see the face of David because of his grief and Anger.

Absalom was well liked and a handsome man who was well known for his long hair. After time went by he started making plans to manipulate the situation to begin his rebellion against his father David.

David may have “forgiven” him but it was too late. Absalom hatches his plan to rebel and take the kingdom from his Father.

Absalom’s Conspiracy

Absalom knew he was well viewed and he started to work the situation to his benefit. He would be out among the people.

When people would approach him he would reach out his hand, take hold of them and kiss them.

He was shaking hands and kissing babies. He was being a politician and he stole the heart of the people from his father.

This lead to David fleeing and Absalom’s reign and rebellion. This also led to battles and the sword being used against David just as Nathan predicted.

This is where we pick up in chapter 18 to set the scene of what has been happening.

2 Samuel 18:5–9 NIV

5 The king commanded Joab, Abishai and Ittai, “Be gentle with the young man Absalom for my sake.” And all the troops heard the king giving orders concerning Absalom to each of the commanders. 6 David’s army marched out of the city to fight Israel, and the battle took place in the forest of Ephraim. 7 There Israel’s troops were routed by David’s men, and the casualties that day were great—twenty thousand men. 8 The battle spread out over the whole countryside, and the forest swallowed up more men that day than the sword. 9 Now Absalom happened to meet David’s men. He was riding his mule, and as the mule went under the thick branches of a large oak, Absalom’s hair got caught in the tree. He was left hanging in midair, while the mule he was riding kept on going.

Absalom’s Folly

The very thing that Absalom was so well known for is what lead to his death. His beautiful hair was caught in the tree and there was no escape.

Yet, Absalom should be safe right. David gave a command. Don’t hurt my son. Be gentle with him.

Joab was a practical man and saw the destruction and pain that Absalom had caused. The family discord of King David couldn’t continue. He took three spears and plunged them into the heart of Absalom.

The News was sent to King David. His son was Killed.

2 Samuel 18:31–33 NIV

31 Then the Cushite arrived and said, “My lord the king, hear the good news! The Lord has vindicated you today by delivering you from the hand of all who rose up against you.” 32 The king asked the Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom safe?” The Cushite replied, “May the enemies of my lord the king and all who rise up to harm you be like that young man.” 33 The king was shaken. He went up to the room over the gateway and wept. As he went, he said: “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you—O Absalom, my son, my son!”

David’s Grief

David is over coem with grief. The son who had rebeled against him was dead. The very instrument of his destruction was no longer but it wasn’t good news for David it was horrible pain.

He now has lost his third son to the pain of the world and it is clear that David is deeply shaken by these events.

What do we do with these tragic events. From the tragedy of Amnon and his sin and then the rebellion of Absalom. David’s house is falling apart.

David’s Failures

The first thing that we need to recognize is that David failed as a leader and a Father.

Now this failure began with Bathsheba but it continued well past those moments.

David was a leader who started to grow complacent and did not command the respect of his people. He stopped leading the men in battle. He stopped providing judgement for people.

He became the thing that so often happens when people gain power. He abused it and grew complacent.

Let’s be real honest he got too comfortable.

When we grow comfortable it is easy to stop working to give in to the enjoyment of the finer things in life.

This comfort extended to his family. David as a father was not able to control his children. He struggled to discipline his children.

He deeply loved his children but he did not want to hurt or punish them. In many ways, i wonder if David got stuck in the trap of giving them all the things he didn’t have growing up.

Every time i hear the idea of I want to give them all the things I didn’t have when I grew up i cringe a little.

While there are merits to this sentiment there are also dangers.

It is important to provide your children with opportunity. Yet, too often when we provide opportunity as parents we can slip into the danger of taking away some of the best things that we learned growing up.

The Garden Hose

How many of us grew up that our source of water in the summer was the Garden hose?

I am still old enough that I experienced this.

Running around the neighborhood with friends getting into all kinds of things. All day every day playing, causing trouble, risking our lives, and so many other things it was a great childhood. I have noticed something though. Many who grew up that way we have fond memories of it and we wish our kids would do the same.

Yet, many of us are raising the kids that are not living that same kind of life. We have traded things like comfort and safety and we have eliminated the garden hose.

Don’t drink form the hose get a bottle of water it safer.

Take your cell phone with you I need to know where you are at all times.

Life 360 anyone?

Now, I must admit we can still be smart and knowing where our kids are at is a good thing because there are a lot of dangers in the world. Yet, in our effort of making them safe we have also crippled them. They weren’t outside because we are afraid they might get hurt, or someone might take them. These are real fears but the price paid is the generation that won’t grow up experiencing the joy of crab apple wars in the woods, Hide n seek every night, and so many other fond memories.

David didn’t want to deny his kids after all. In fact he took it so far as that when his son rebelled and kicked him out of his own kingdom what did he do.

Be gentle with him. Don’t hurt him.

David loved his son but he didn’t love his son enough to discipline him.

David’s Mercy

We also see that David shows us mercy like we can’t even imagine. Yes, he messed up as a father. Yes, he wasn’t the leader he should have been. Yet, in all this his mercy was powerful.

He didn’t seek Absalom’s destruction not just because he was a loving Father. He didn’ seek the destruction of Absalom because he had recieved the same grace and mercy from God.

Think about this for a moment. We talked about the fact that David had to face the consequences of his sin last week. He had to accept God’s judgement.

God was within his rights to take David’s life. yet, in all of this he did not.

David was spared. He made mistakes and he was going to pay for them. David realized these things and he didn’t want to hold it against them. His failures were his failures.

David wanted to provide mercy as he was given mercy by God.

David’s folly was the fact that he didn’t pursue any discipline for his children he only provided Mercy.

Grace and forgiveness doesn’t not absolve one of responsibility for their actions. This is where David made his mistake.

He want to show the same love God has for him but in his humanness falls short of it.

Our Faith

So much of our faith is centered on the love that God has for us which is absolutely essential. Yet, we can’t forget that love comes with the expectation of obedience.

We are called to be obedient to the commands of God. We were talking about this last week on Sunday nights.

Romans 1:5 NIV

5 Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his name’s sake.

The obedience to the faith. The submission to his rule. The recognition that God is the one we are to let reign over our lives is so important to our faith.

We are going to fall short. WE are going to fail at times. Yet, we can seek grace and receive it but we are called to the obedience of the faith.

To give up ourselves and submit to God who we are and follow after him.

David did his best to live that out and fell short.

We have to try to do the same. To do our best to live up to the calling on our lives.

The joy comes though in the recognition that it is only possible when we give ourselves to God and allow him to do it in our lives.

Do you want him to transform you today? To give you that grace and mercy.

Just ask it.

Let’s Pray.