And The Mule Walked On

Text: 2 Samuel 18:9 “And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away.”

Introduction:

This account of Davids life is so very sad, that a son could hate his earthly Father so.

Absalom worked at this behind Davids back, for some forty years. Long time of plotting, planing, conniving. He was rebellious this whole time not just one day.

The great contrast seems to be no greater hatred a son Absolom could have toward a Father, seemingly no greater love a FATHER COULD HAVE TOWARD A SON, David.

This was fall out from David sin with Bathsheba. Be careful what we sow!! The sin of, Idleness, Pride, Selfishness, Deceitfulness. These are bad seeds to sow and bring forth a bad crop to reap.

Ezekiel 33:11 “Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?”

I. A Mule Symbol: Rebellion, stubbornness, bull hardheadedness, self centeredness, sin. (Can be grudge-ful ). This is one animal which must be redeemed with a lamb, they will not do for a sacrificial animal. Could be because is neither horse nor donkey. Horse will work until it drops dead a mule will sit down and be done. Know to be difficult to control, stubbornness, and not yield to threats, enticements, etc.

A. Careful you do not ride that mule with the load Absolom carried and many others like (Samson, Ahab, Saul, Lot, Etc).

B. Mule is know to be able to carry great loads for there size, make sure the load you are carrying is worth the carrying, Amen! The law of the harvest can work for or against us according to the seeds sown. Which produces the harvest.

II. A Mule Irony: Lead him to his death and walked on.

A. He was hoping for deliverance and came to destruction.

B. What kind of things are we hauling around in our life that are things of destruction?

1. Our viewing, our reading, our acquaintances, our listening, our habits, our media,

2. Are you the kind of person that would be in the right bag and be the right kind of load?

III. A Mule Run: Wasted or not? 2 Samuel 18:22 “Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But howsoever, let me, I pray thee, also run after Cushi. And Joab said, Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings ready?”

A. A wasted run or a beneficial run?

B. A run for the King or not?

C. A meaningful message or not?

Note: Balaam Numbers 23:10 “... Let me die the death of the righteous, And let my last end be like his!”

* He wanted to die the death of the righteous but he did not want to live the life of the righteous