Untitled Sermon

Prayer

David’s Kingdom in Turmoil

So we left off two Sundays ago in our journey through the story of 2 Samuel, looking at 2 Samuel 13-14, where we see David’s sin begin to infect his own household, in terrible ways - his oldest son, Amnon, rapes his sister, Tamar. Amnon is then murdered by Tamar’s full brother, Absalom, who then flees Israel. David, however, does nothing - he does not punish either of his sons for their wicked deeds.

Then we saw the awkward ending, where Joab, the military commander, persuades David to bring Absalom back to Jerusalem. So David does - but then he forbids Absalom from seeing him face-to-face. This lasts for two years until Absalom pushes the issue and David agrees to see, and he receives him with a kiss. It seems all is forgiven and everything is well. As it turns out, not so much.

We turn our attention now to the chapters of 2 Samuel we’re going to cover today, 15, 16 & the very beginning of 17. We learn in 2 Samuel 15 that Absalom is working to take the kingdom from his father, David. Every day he takes a chariot and horses and fifty men and goes to the road leading to the city gate. And as people come from throughout the land of Israel seeking a judgment from the king, Absalom intervenes, vv. 3-4:

Then Absalom would say to him, “Look, your claims are valid and proper, but there is no representative of the king to hear you.” 4 And Absalom would add, “If only I were appointed judge in the land! Then everyone who has a complaint or case could come to me and I would see that they receive justice.” And he would receive them in a very warm and gracious way, as if he were just one of the people.

So you see what Absalom is doing here - he’s portraying himself as a better king. He comes out chariot, led by fifty men. I’m so sorry you can’t justice from the king - if only I were king, then you’d get justice. Politics hasn’t changed much in 3,000 years. I wonder how he got away with this, you’d think David would learn about it - because he does it for four years. Yet David does nothing. Here’s the dilemma - it works, v. 6, Absalom behaved in this way toward all the Israelites who came to the king asking for justice, and so he stole the hearts of the people of Israel.

So Absalom wins favor with the people, and then he makes his move. He goes to Hebron under the pretense of making an offering to the Lord, bringing two hundred influential but unwitting guests from Jerusalem. He sends out messengers to all the tribes of Israel - when the trumpet is sounded, they are to proclaim, “Absalom is king in Hebron.”

So imagine you’re one of those leaders from Jerusalem, and all of a sudden, you realize that you’re in the midst of a coup attempt. What do you do? Do you accuse Absalom of treason? Maybe risk your life - what if no one backs you, after all, Absalom is in control here, this is his party. Do you just go along, wait to see how this is going to play out before you decide to act?

It’s clear that Absalom’s work at undermining David’s favor and authority with the people work, because we learn this: And so the conspiracy gained strength, and Absalom’s following kept on increasing.

As you might imagine, David catches word of this quickly - the news comes to him, “The hearts of the people of Israel are with Absalom. Watch David’s response here, vv. 14, Then David said to all his officials who were with him in Jerusalem, “Come! We must flee, or none of us will escape from Absalom. We must leave immediately, or he will move quickly to overtake us and bring ruin on us and put the city to the sword.”

So David hightails it immediately. He doesn’t even try to put up a flight - boom, we’ve got to go. And so they do, David gets his household together - and other then ten of his concubines whom he leaves to take care of the palace, he takes his wives and children with them, and leads the people, those still faithful to him, out of the city.

And over chapters 15 & 16, we get to see the reactions of a number of officials as well as ordinary citizens. Who sides with whom when all heck breaks loose? It appears that most of Israel - and therefore most of the soldiers - have sided with Absalom. But several of David’s mighty men, his warriors, and their men, stay faithful to him.

The priests, Zadok & Abiathar, side with David, and they bring the ark of the covenant with them as they leave the city. But David commands them to return to Jerusalem. There’s a sense of resignation as he does so - David is increasingly feeling the burden of his sin, and God’s punishment on him. But he also hopes they will act as his eyes and ears when Absalom takes over. He does the same with one of his advisors, Hushai, whom David sends back to Jerusalem, hoping he can thwart Absalom from the inside.

There’s a couple of interactions that David has with others as he’s leaving - fascinating to see. First is with Ziba - this was Saul, the first king’s servant, who now serves Saul’s grandson, Mephibosheth, at David’s command. Ziba comes loaded with supplies for the king and his household. David asks where Mephibosheth is - if you remember, he was the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, he was lame in both feet. Can’t walk. Ziba tells David he’s celebrating David’s defeat, hoping this might lead to the restoration of Saul’s kingdom to him. But this grand and generous offer of supplies seems to have a nefarious purpose behind it - we learn later that Mephibosheth was in mourning due to David’s having to flee - and couldn’t come because of his disability. Ziba appears to be taking advantage of the situation, to his benefit - and it works, David grants him all of Mephibosheth’s belongings.

Then we have a Benjamite, a man by the name of Shimei from Saul’s clan. And far as he’s concerned, David is responsible for the death of Saul’s family, he has blood on his hands. So as David and the people are leaving, Shimei is cursing him, throwing rocks. Of course, David’s men, they’re ready to kill him on the spot. But David just lets it go - maybe this is all part of God’s curse on him, maybe God told him to do it. David is indeed a sad sack of a figure as the leaves the city of Jerusalem. A defeated man.

This part of the story ends with Absalom entering into Jerusalem triumphantly. He is now the self-declared king and it appears that everyone is going along with it, siding with him. But David is still alive, and as long as he’s alive, he’s a threat to Absalom’s claim on the throne. So he gathers his advisors together - his main one is Ahithophel, and then there’s the one David told to stay there, Hushai, who’s pretending to be loyal to Absalom.

Absalom’s asks for their advice. Learn this, 2 Samuel 16:21-22 - Ahithophel answered, “Sleep with your father’s concubines whom he left to take care of the palace. Then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself obnoxious to your father, and the hands of everyone with you will be more resolute.” 22 So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.

This is God’s word coming true - he had told David that his adultery, which he did in secret, that the Lord would bring back on him - but he would do it out in the open, for everyone to see. In addition to solidify his hold on the kingdom by sleeping with his father’s concubines, Ahithophel counsels Absalom to gather up his men immediately to go after David - and to do it that night. David is tired and weak, on the run. Now is the time to strike. Kill David, and his followers will collapse and then the kingdom will be fully his.

Absalom and the elders of Israel agree, this seems like the best idea. Now we’re going to leave the story there and come back to it to see how Absalom’s coup attempt goes.

Measure of a Man

As we reflect on these passages this morning, I want to share this quote from Martin Luther King, Jr: The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.

Great quote and so true - that our character is revealed not as much when things are easy and comfortable, but when things are hard. When challenges arise. When there is controversy. And we see this truth come out in so many different ways through the various players involved in this drama. Now, Absalom’s character is obvious - he is the instigator, man so embittered, so willing to gain power, that he will turn to treason and murder against his own family. He’s killed his brother, now he is seeking to kill his father. Not to mention having slept with his father’s wives.

But David is the one who surprises me here. In so many instances, in the midst of being hunted in the wilderness by Saul and his army, facing the giant Goliath, David showed courage, his was faithful, a man of integrity and strength. Here? David immediately buckles when the threat of Absalom appears. He leaves Jerusalem defeated. There seems to be no fight left in him. That passivity that he showed with his sons in 2 Samuel 13 & 14 (Amnon, Tamar and Absalom), continues. He’s just going to let God do what he’s going to do.

This measure, this character comes out in all of these characters - who have the officials and soldiers who immediately side with Absalom, in spite of his treasonous behavior, they want to be on the winning side. They don’t want to be caught on the wrong side. Then we have the priests, Zadok & Abiathar, the advisor, Hushai, who not only stick with David, but are willing to risk their lives by spying for him, work against Absalom. The warriors who pledge loyalty to David even when it seems the whole of Israel is against them.

Then you have characters like Ziba, King Saul’s servant, who seems to be loyal and generous with David, bringing him supplies for him and his family. But in reality his loyalty is for himself. He takes the opportunity of the chaos to undermine his master, Saul’s grandson, Mephibosheth, by accusing him of disloyalty to David. Lastly, there’s Shimei, the Benjamite who is not beneath kicking a man when he’s down. He adds insult to injury, cursing David, throwing stones at a man who has just given up the throne.

Measure of a Man

Easy to stand when things are comfortable, convenient -

Keyboard warriors, cancel culture

True of our faith - easy to believe when it doesn’t cost us

Of course, when things are challenging, controversial, so much harder to stand. To do the right thing. To go against the flow. To not immediately look out for your own best interests.

David’s journey out of Jerusalem, across the Kidron Valley and up the Mount of Olives (verse?) Generations later, the Son of David made a similar journey, across the Kidron Valley and up to the Mount Olives. Jesus’ journey was not to flee, however, but to prepare for battle. And perhaps this was the biggest battle, the greatest challenge - the true measure of who Jesus was. Because it was here that he fought the battle of whether or not he would flee the coming crucifixion, or if he would surrender to the will of the Father and take on the cross.

Jesus did not back away from the challenge and the controversy, the walked right into it. He was able to stand the test because he had already given his life over to the Father in obedience. He’d already decided not to serve himself, but to serve us, even to the point of sacrificing his own life.

Martin Luther King, Jr reminds us that our true measure comes from where we stand in the midst of challenge and controversy. My hope and prayer is that we will stand with Jesus - and will do so because he chose to stand with us.

So that when we face...