2 Samuel 16-19 The Confused King
1 & 2 Samuel • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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I want to begin this morning by asking you a question…
Have you allowed your heart to be divided?
11 Teach me your way, Lord,
that I may rely on your faithfulness;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name.
Confusion… emotionally all over the place…
Heart divided between our own interests and interests of the Kingdom.
Jesus said “you cannot serve 2 masters...”
2 masters can be simply identified as serving God or serving yourself?
Have you allowed your heart to be divided?
Today we are in our 20th and final sermon in our series called a Prophet and 2 Kings.
(bittersweet.… Over 500 hours deep into the books of 1st and 2nd Samuel)
Last week we finished with David going into exile for the 2nd time.
As I said last week,
the second exile was much more painful than the first exile.
And I said this because the first exile,
David was betrayed by a mad king.
whereas the second exile,
David was betrayed by his rebellious son.
As David goes into exile he has a man from the house of Saul,
named Shimei,
come out to curse him.
Because people love to hit a man that is already down...
David continues into exile,
fleeing for his life,
Absolom takes his place as the new king of Israel.
David’s old adviser,
Ahithophel,
helps give guidance to the new young king.
It should be noted that Ahithophel is the grandfather of Bathsheba.
I am sure he saw David’s corruption with Bathsheba and Uriah.
Which could indicate the reason for Ahithophel’s betrayal of David,
as he joined Absolom in the conspiracy to take over the kingdom.
So Absalom steps into the position as the new King,
he ask Ahithophel what should be his first step.
20 Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give your counsel. What shall we do?” 21 Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go in to your father’s concubines, whom he has left to keep the house, and all Israel will hear that you have made yourself a stench to your father, and the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened.” 22 So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof. And Absalom went in to his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.
What is very interesting about this scene is that Nathan the Prophet,
Prophesied that this would happen.
After David’s affair with Bathsheba and murder of Uriah…
This is what Nathan Prophesied...
11 “This is what the Lord says: Because of what you have done, I will cause your own household to rebel against you. I will give your wives to another man before your very eyes, and he will go to bed with them in public view.
....
22b And Absalom went in to his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.
David planted the see of betrayal with Uriah,
as he took his wife and had him killed.
So now Absalom is taking his concubines,
and trying to hunt down David to have him killed.
7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.
After Absalom shows his defiance of his father in front of all Israel.
Ahithophel gives another set of directions to Absalom…
Ahithophel says go and assemble an army of 12,000 men to finish David off.
(Ahithophel had an understanding that now is the time to give the knock out punch to David)
But someone else comes into view in our story,
and his name is Hushai.
Now Hushai is loyal to David and wanted to escape with David into exile,
but David sends him back to Jerusalem,
as a spy to help David there.
So after Ahithophel gives this direction to kill David and his small group that went into exile with him.
David’s friend Hushai gives some advice to Absalom to help buy David time.
Hushai told Absalom,
don’t march against David now,
because David and his seasoned army are like a mother bear who has been robbed of her cubs.(Destroy anyone who anyone who comes now)
Absalom is then faced with the decision,
will he listen to Ahithophel or Hushai.
14 And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel.” For the Lord had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that the Lord might bring harm upon Absalom.
An important thing to remember,
is God is always working...
(Even when we don’t deserve it he is working)
As David leaves for his 2nd exodus,
God is still faithful to bring protection over his life
and those who remained loyal to him.
After the conversation with Hushai and Absalom takes place.
Hushai sends word to David,
for him cross the Jordan River to safety.
While David is getting away,
Ahithophel realizes,
that his advice to pursue David is not followed.
And see’s the writing on the wall that David will be able to regroup and assemble an army.
So this is what Ahithophel does...
23 When Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his donkey and went off home to his own city. He set his house in order and hanged himself, and he died and was buried in the tomb of his father.
Because Ahithophel was a wise man,
he knew that the window to have this conspiracy work was small.
Therefore,
when his plan was not followed,
Ahithophel knew it was only a matter of time for David to return home,
to step back into his position as the king of Israel.
David, regroups and assembles an army,
and they go to attack the rebel army of Absalom.
David’s army tells him to stay back this time,
because David’s army understood that winning and losings this war hinges on one simple reality.
And that is.…
If David dies Absolom is victorious,
If Absolom dies David is victorious.
(Does not matter how many die in the process)
With that in mind,
David gives an order showing that his heart is completely divided at this point.
David tells his military leaders....
5b “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” And all the people heard when the king gave orders to all the commanders about Absalom.
After this order is given,
David’s army goes into battle and destroyer’s Absalom’s army.
It says that 20,000 of Absalom’s army is killed in battle,
and it says that the forest in Ephraim,
killed more men than the sward did.
(This is Chronicles of Narnia/Lord of the Rings type stuff… Even the trees are with David)
Absalom see’s his army being destroyed in battle,
so he gets his mule and makes a break for it.
And as Absalom is escaping,
he gets his hair caught up in a tree. (Those tree’s seem to be for David)
Absalom hair is mentioned..
26 He cut his hair only once a year, and then only because it was so heavy. When he weighed it out, it came to five pounds!
What is interesting to me is.
Absalom’s pride of his long hair,
is the reason for his destruction and fall.
18 Pride goes before destruction,
and a haughty spirit before a fall.
As Absalom is dangling in the tree,
a young warrior see’s him and reports it to Joab the commander.
11 Joab said to the man who told him, “What, you saw him! Why then did you not strike him there to the ground? I would have been glad to give you ten pieces of silver and a belt.” 12 But the man said to Joab, “Even if I felt in my hand the weight of a thousand pieces of silver, I would not reach out my hand against the king’s son, for in our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘For my sake protect the young man Absalom.’ 13 On the other hand, if I had dealt treacherously against his life (and there is nothing hidden from the king), then you yourself would have stood aloof.” 14 Joab said, “I will not waste time like this with you.” And he took three javelins in his hand and thrust them into the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the oak. 15 And ten young men, Joab’s armor-bearers, surrounded Absalom and struck him and killed him.
Hear me when I say this…
A leader with a divided heart,
will not only be confused himself,
but will bring confusion to those under him.
(David knew that Absolom had to be removed)
[But David is still confused]
Because David is in such a state of confusion,
he has a young warrior not sure if he should kill the enemy and thus win the war.
Joab has enough of this,
and kills Absolom,
because Joab understands you don’t go out to war to to lose…
Word get back to David that his army has won the battle,
and Absolom is dead.
And David response ...
33 And the king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And as he went, he said, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”
David’s divided heart brings so much confusion,
that he wishes he lost the war instead of winning the war… Think about that…
The reality is when the Heart divided,
Leads people become so lost that they would rather lose than win.
(Bondage vs freedom)
[Exile vs promise land]
Dead vs alive…
Think about it this way…
God spared David’s life and gave his kingdom back to him,
and David says he rather be dead than receive this blessing from God.
What David fails to realize,
is he is sending a very strong message with his actions...
1 It was told Joab, “Behold, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.” 2 So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the people, for the people heard that day, “The king is grieving for his son.” 3 And the people stole into the city that day as people steal in who are ashamed when they flee in battle. 4 The king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, “O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!”
Because of David’s divided heart,
he sends a message to those who have risked their lives for him,
that they mean nothing.
This moment for David’s army is supposed to be a time of rejoicing in this great victory,
but it is turned into a time of great shame for the warriors.
Instead of being treated like heroes,
the king treats his army like cowards who flee in battle.
The confused king chooses to mourn his rebellious son,
instead of celebrate the victory that his men have brought him that day.
On one hand you can try to justify David’s reaction,
but the truth of the matter is,
by him reacting in this way communicates his ungrateful heart.
David is ungrateful to his army who have risked their lives for him and the nation of Israel.
But more importantly his ungrateful heart is toward God,
who saved him and restored his kingdom.
Remember it was a God ordained moment when Absalom took the bait from Hushai to not kill David when he had the chance.
David should have been weeping before the Lord for His unfailing love,
But instead David weeps in state of self-pity...
David should have been weeping before the Lord because of His grace and mercy,
But David’s divided hearts leads him to weep in mourning...
It is normal to have times of pain,
times of heart ache.
times of discouragement....
But don’t allow those times,
to take you to a place of being so self absorbed,
that you build up walls around you,
and create a house for yourself to live in self pity… (hearing me?)
(Take up residence in self-pity)
David was building a home of self-pity,
but Joab comes in with a sledge hammer to bring this house down.
Joab said…
5 Then Joab came into the house to the king and said, “You have today covered with shame the faces of all your servants, who have this day saved your life and the lives of your sons and your daughters and the lives of your wives and your concubines, 6 because you love those who hate you and hate those who love you. For you have made it clear today that commanders and servants are nothing to you, for today I know that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today, then you would be pleased. 7 Now therefore arise, go out and speak kindly to your servants, for I swear by the Lord, if you do not go, not a man will stay with you this night, and this will be worse for you than all the evil that has come upon you from your youth until now.” 8a Then the king arose and took his seat in the gate. And the people were all told, “Behold, the king is sitting in the gate.” And all the people came before the king.
David’s heart is divided between two factions,
that of God and that of himself.
And the more he leans into himself,
the more he becomes self adsorbed,
to the point that he has no idea what his actions are doing to those around him.
(Self Absorbed people don’t see how their actions effect others)
David’s self-pity is destroying the moral of his country.
But it seems he is completely unaware,
or does not care what his actions are doing.
But Joab goes to him and gives him an ear full...
(hate those you love you and love those who hate you)
[if you don’t get off your butt you are going to lose everything]
David stops loathing in self-pity,
and goes out to the people,
which saves his kingdom from being destroyed.
Now King David reigns for about another decade,
but the ride is far from being smooth to the finish line.
There would be another rebellion,
there would be other struggles for David,
but because God is faithful,
David continues to rule on the throne.
The last chapter of 2 Samuel,
we see one final mistake the King makes...
David takes a Census to see the size of his army.…
David started knowing it was the Lord who brought the victory.…
size of giant vs size of God....
size of army vs size of God....
Have you allowed your heart to be divided?
Self and God…
heart divided.… self gets bigger and God gets smaller.…
John the Baptist
He must increase, but I must decrease.”
