An Unhealthy Reunion (2)
2 Samuel 14:12-15:37 • Sermon • Submitted
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Intro: Today we’re continuing our look David, this once shepherd boy turned warrior king who’s had many great moments in his life, He’s won many battles, he’s written 73 psalms, He’s brought the kingdom of Israel into It’s golden age but now, we see some of the lowest parts of David…As a King, but more notably as a father
He took on multiple wives and he had many different concubines, (who were essentally sex partners)
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We saw His family life fall into shambles with One of his sons killing his other sons for his raping his daughter
And perhaps the worst part of all is that David done nothing about ether crime…there’s indications that he know about the potential problems that both of his sons would could be…but ignorance is bliss
And his sin was no more notorious than when David Stole another man’s wife, while he was away fighting for Him and Israel, and in order to cover it up, Got this man killed in the line of Duty
And these little Foxes would spoil the whole vineyard
He’d proven himself to be a slave to his desires and he
Recap: Last week we saw Joab manipulate a situation a women from Takoa to David to tell this really sad yet fictional story about her son to pull on his heart strings and tell him a story in that he would here this story and be moved by emotion David to welcome back his exiled Son into the Kingdom
Now that sounds good and fine from a distance, but this situation was complicated…Absalom had commited murder, and was unrepentant about it
I
The Woman from Takoa
The Woman from Takoa
So lets go back to v. 4 and reacquaint ourselves with So says a paid actor, hired by Joab, to emotionally manipulate...
4 When the woman of Tekoa came to the king, she fell on her face to the ground and paid homage and said, “Save me, O king.”
5 And the king said to her, “What is your trouble?” She answered, “Alas, I am a widow; my husband is dead.
6 And your servant had two sons, and they quarreled with one another in the field. There was no one to separate them, and one struck the other and killed him.
7 And now the whole clan has risen against your servant, and they say, ‘Give up the man who struck his brother, that we may put him to death for the life of his brother whom he killed.’ And so they would destroy the heir also. Thus they would quench my coal that is left and leave to my husband neither name nor remnant on the face of the earth.”
8 Then the king said to the woman, “Go to your house, and I will give orders concerning you.”
9 And the woman of Tekoa said to the king, “On me be the guilt, my lord the king, and on my father’s house; let the king and his throne be guiltless.”
10 The king said, “If anyone says anything to you, bring him to me, and he shall never touch you again.”
11 Then she said, “Please let the king invoke the Lord your God, that the avenger of blood kill no more, and my son be not destroyed.” He said, “As the Lord lives, not one hair of your son shall fall to the ground.”
12 Then the woman said, “Please let your servant speak a word to my lord the king.” He said, “Speak.”
4 When the woman of Tekoa came to the king, she fell on her face to the ground and paid homage and said, “Save me, O king.”
5 And the king said to her, “What is your trouble?” She answered, “Alas, I am a widow; my husband is dead.
6 And your servant had two sons, and they quarreled with one another in the field. There was no one to separate them, and one struck the other and killed him.
7 And now the whole clan has risen against your servant, and they say, ‘Give up the man who struck his brother, that we may put him to death for the life of his brother whom he killed.’ And so they would destroy the heir also. Thus they would quench my coal that is left and leave to my husband neither name nor remnant on the face of the earth.”
8 Then the king said to the woman, “Go to your house, and I will give orders concerning you.”
9 And the woman of Tekoa said to the king, “On me be the guilt, my lord the king, and on my father’s house; let the king and his throne be guiltless.”
10 The king said, “If anyone says anything to you, bring him to me, and he shall never touch you again.”
11 Then she said, “Please let the king invoke the Lord your God, that the avenger of blood kill no more, and my son be not destroyed.” He said, “As the Lord lives, not one hair of your son shall fall to the ground.”
2 sam 14:4-12
So here’s the picture, this woman, makes up this narrative, and she carefully orchestrates it to relate to bring David in, and to manipulate him to make a a decision...
2 sam 14:
So here’s the pictu
Insight: It make me think about how powerful the art of story telling is to us as human being…a good story can can potentially reshape us
Stories can be used for good - Jesus told lots of stories
But not all stories are:
We live in a time we’re the majority of the most talented stories, producers, writers, use all their created efforts to tell stories that undermine God’s word
They don’t need to be correct, they just need to be well done
For many people, there convictions and moral intuitions come from these stories
Have you ever gone to a movie - and walked out with a different perspective
Have you ever gone to a movie - and walked out with a different perspective
Have you ever gone to a movie or seen a documentary - and walked out with a different perspective
A lot of people have their moral outlook shaped more the tv shows they watch then God’s word
It starts when we’re young - Have you notice how most recent Disney movies have a similar premise - Person born one way, but through following their heart, they break free from the cultral and go on this journey of self discovery…and this is where their ultimate happiness is found
And that sounds greats…but the bible tells us
We have been made in a certain way
We have wicked hearts that shouldn’t always be trusted
Your ultimate happiness is found in dying to yourself and being who Jesus has called you to be
App: All that to say this…
Stories are great…but always remember that there powerful
Be carful of the narratives you take in?
Know God’s story above all other stories...
So this woman tells David this story, he’s fully bought in, and calling for the pardon of her son…but then she flips the script on him and gets down to the nitty gritty with him…which is to call for David to allow his son Absalom to come home..
13 And the woman said, “Why then have you planned such a thing against the people of God? For in giving this decision the king convicts himself, inasmuch as the king does not bring his banished one home again.
14 We must all die; we are like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. But God will not take away life, and he devises means so that the banished one will not remain an outcast.
2 Sam 14:13
2 sam 14:12-
12 Then the woman said, “Please let your servant speak a word to my lord the king.” He said, “Speak.”
13 And the woman said, “Why then have you planned such a thing against the people of God? For in giving this decision the king convicts himself, inasmuch as the king does not bring his banished one home again.
14 We must all die; we are like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. But God will not take away life, and he devises means so that the banished one will not remain an outcast.
This women is really pushing for reconciliation at all cost without delay…and she’s saying God would want that - But here’s the thing about God…though his heart is for Reconciliation, but he will never Ignore Justice
This women is really pushing for reconciliation at all costs without delay…and she’s saying God would want that - But here’s the thing about God…though his heart is for Reconciliation, but he will never Ignore Justice
Illustration: There’s a lot of people who are confused about that - if you were to asked them “Why are you saved” they would respond with “because Jesus loves me”…and though that’s true…thats not why your saved…We’re saved Because Jesus Satisfied God’s justice by dying on the cross
Here’s the point: When it comes to our reconciliation…God’s justice wasn’t ignored…It was satisfied through Jesus
Here’s the point: When it comes to our reconciliation…God’s justice wasn’t ignored…It was satisfied through Jesus
21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
God has made away for the banished to come back to God…through Jesus So we see here that there’s not much a concern for justice…
God has made away for the banished to come back to God…through Jesus So we see here that there’s not much a concern for justice…Then She uses the oldest manipulation tactic in the book
Then She uses the oldest manipulation tactic in the book
2 sam 14:15-17
15 Now I have come to say this to my lord the king because the people have made me afraid, and your servant thought, ‘I will speak to the king; it may be that the king will perform the request of his servant.
16 For the king will hear and deliver his servant from the hand of the man who would destroy me and my son together from the heritage of God.’
17 And your servant thought, ‘The word of my lord the king will set me at rest,’ for my lord the king is like the angel of God to discern good and evil. The Lord your God be with you!”
She says here “Not only are you the one in charge, but you are like the angel of God capable of discerning the what’s right an wrong on your own…your so smart”
Appealing to mankind’s sense of pride and self love has been a tactic Satan has used, even from the beginning - () “God knows if you eat of the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil your gonna be just like him”
App: He still does it today, He want’s you to think that your smart enough, and save enough, to be the captain of your own ship
App: He still does it today, He want’s you to think that your smart enough, and save enough, to be the captain of your own ship
Be carful of overthrusting yourself
Be carful of overthrusting yourself
Somehow David figured it out…
18 Then the king answered the woman, “Do not hide from me anything I ask you.” And the woman said, “Let my lord the king speak.”
19 The king said, “Is the hand of Joab with you in all this?” The woman answered and said, “As surely as you live, my lord the king, one cannot turn to the right hand or to the left from anything that my lord the king has said. It was your servant Joab who commanded me; it was he who put all these words in the mouth of your servant.
20 In order to change the course of things your servant Joab did this. But my lord has wisdom like the wisdom of the angel of God to know all things that are on the earth.”
21 Then the king said to Joab, “Behold now, I grant this; go, bring back the young man Absalom.”
22 And Joab fell on his face to the ground and paid homage and blessed the king. And Joab said, “Today your servant knows that I have found favor in your sight, my lord the king, in that the king has granted the request of his servant.”
23 So Joab arose and went to Geshur and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.
24 And the king said, “Let him dwell apart in his own house; he is not to come into my presence.” So Absalom lived apart in his own house and did not come into the king’s presence.
2 sam 14:
Now, Joab gets what he wanted, to the pint where he falls on his face and says “Thank you thank you thank you” because in his mind he had just moved in the best interest of the people of Israel…but what he really did was provide an opportunity for an unrepentant, cold hearted narcissist to come back to the palace unchecked and unhindered…and this guy would lead a rebellion that would eventually overthrow King David
This same man who’s on the ground groveling over Absalom coming home, in 4 chapters will be gathering 3 spares together thrusting it though his heart
12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.
25 Now in all Israel there was no one so much to be praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom. From the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.
26 And when he cut the hair of his head (for at the end of every year he used to cut it; when it was heavy on him, he cut it), he weighed the hair of his head, two hundred shekels by the king’s weight.
27 There were born to Absalom three sons, and one daughter whose name was Tamar. She was a beautiful woman.
There’s a reason physical appearance is so important…It’s because people are drawn to the way someone looks…and we read in v.13 that the people loved Absalom, and evidently he was pretty in to himself as well…
He weighs his hair - You have to be a special kind of “into yourself” to way your hair your hair…but you know what’s crazy..this hair he was so proud of…would essentally be the death of him
App: If your not carful with your strengths…they can become your downfall pretty quickly
28 So Absalom lived two full years in Jerusalem, without coming into the king’s presence.
David overwhelmed by emotion, brings Absalom back…and for 2 years, has an opportunity to deal with him…but he does what he did to Amnon, he doesn’t address it, He sweeps it under the rug…He ignores it…and no doubt Absalom saw it as David condoning his sin as we’ll see…
29 Then Absalom sent for Joab, to send him to the king, but Joab would not come to him. And he sent a second time, but Joab would not come.
30 Then he said to his servants, “See, Joab’s field is next to mine, and he has barley there; go and set it on fire.” So Absalom’s servants set the field on fire.
In the original language, this phrase is read “Uh-Oh” For some time this story has looked like the story of the prodigal son…but there was one different between that son and this son…humility
1
31 Then Joab arose and went to Absalom at his house and said to him, “Why have your servants set my field on fire?”
32 Absalom answered Joab, “Behold, I sent word to you, ‘Come here, that I may send you to the king, to ask, “Why have I come from Geshur? It would be better for me to be there still.” Now therefore let me go into the presence of the king, and if there is guilt in me, let him put me to death.’ ”
And here we see the problem with David never dealing with Absalom’s sin…Absalom began to feel like he was Justified in what he did…
33 Then Joab went to the king and told him, and he summoned Absalom. So he came to the king and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king, and the king kissed Absalom.
In the next chapter we’re gonna see a young man, unrepentant, running through the kingdom like a wrecking ball in his pursuit of his Fathers crown…but he comes and Bows before his father...
But look at what we find here…Absalom Bowing before the king
This call fake humility
And whats the last thing we read in chapter…David Kisses Absalom - The king offers Absalom forgiveness without dealing with his wrong…This was an unhealthy reunion
But whats the last thing we read in chapter…David Kisses Absalom - The king offers Absalom forgiveness without dealing with his wrong…This was an unhealthy reunion
David was emotionally manipulated to forgo true for the kiss of peace
App: I think the primary application for us from the account is the importance of Knowing God’s voice
Know God’s voice
Know God’s voice
This women tried every tactic in the book to bring david around to here way of thinking...to draw out sympathy, she used social pressure, she tired her hand at philosophy, she even threw in a little bit of Flattery…but it was all in an attempted to cloud David from hearing God’s voice and incline his ear to her voice...
She tried to draw out sympathy, she used social pressure, she tired her hand at philosophy, she even threw in a little bit of Flattery…but it was all in an attempted to cloud David from hearing God’s voice and incline his ear to her voice...
App: Thats still happening today…In this world where millions and millions of dollars are spent in an attempt to manipulate you…you have all of these voice coming at you…know God’s voice
In this world where millions and millions of dollars are spent in an attempt to manipulate you…you have all of these voice coming at you…know God’s voice
How can you know truth? through God’s word
How can you know truth? through God’s word
1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.
psalm 1:
Don’t forfeit whats right for whats easy
Don’t forfeit whats right for whats easy
Chapter 15
Chapter 15
David’s heart obviously wanted to be reunited with his son, the nation wanted him to be reunited with his son…David’s captain wanted him to reunite with his son…so the easy thing was to do it…but the easy thing wasn’t the godly thing
Never forsake truth or ignore justice for the kiss of peace
Sin must be dealt with
Chapter 15
Chapter 15
Now in this chapter were just gonna cover the first 6 verses and get a glimpse of the kind of man, and strategist Absalom was..
Absalom’s Conspiracy V.1-6
Absalom’s Conspiracy V.1-6
1 After this Absalom got himself a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
2 And Absalom used to rise early and stand beside the way of the gate. And when any man had a dispute to come before the king for judgment, Absalom would call to him and say, “From what city are you?” And when he said, “Your servant is of such and such a tribe in Israel,”
3 Absalom would say to him, “See, your claims are good and right, but there is no man designated by the king to hear you.”
4 Then Absalom would say, “Oh that I were judge in the land! Then every man with a dispute or cause might come to me, and I would give him justice.”
5 And whenever a man came near to pay homage to him, he would put out his hand and take hold of him and kiss him.
6 Thus Absalom did to all of Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
2 samuel 1
For the rest of our time today our focus will be on Absalom…now just off the heels of Absalom bowing at the feet of King…
1 After this Absalom got himself a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
2 And Absalom used to rise early and stand beside the way of the gate. And when any man had a dispute to come before the king for judgment, Absalom would call to him and say, “From what city are you?” And when he said, “Your servant is of such and such a tribe in Israel,”
3 Absalom would say to him, “See, your claims are good and right, but there is no man designated by the king to hear you.”
4 Then Absalom would say, “Oh that I were judge in the land! Then every man with a dispute or cause might come to me, and I would give him justice.”
5 And whenever a man came near to pay homage to him, he would put out his hand and take hold of him and kiss him.
let’s read the last verse os the chapter again...
So what we see here in these first 5 verses is that this man, that Joab was vouching for, this man that David for longing for, this man who had done something wicked in the eyes of the Lord yet went unpunished for his deeds…does not respond with gratitude…Instead he says “I’m gonna bring the whole thing down from the inside out”
33 Then Joab went to the king and told him, and he summoned Absalom. So he came to the king and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king, and the king kissed Absalom.
We’re gonna learn somethings about this name
Notice a couple of things about him
Now read…the 1st verse of chapter 15...
1 After this Absalom got himself a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
Absalom was a man of “Self Promotion”
Absalom was a man of “Self Promotion”
1 After this Absalom got himself a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
2 sam 15:
So false humility closed the last chapter, and now that Absalom has been let loose in Jerusalem, He begins his plan with a display of self promotion…because understand this chariot isn’t for speed…this is for show
And this puts Absalom at start contrast to the other great men of this book
Think about Samuel - He was with a doubt on of the greatest men in the history of Israel, last of the Judges, first of the Prophets…He didn’t have a Chariot
Think About his Father David - The sweet psalmist of Israel, the Giant killer, the Anointed king, He never asked for a chariot, and it seem like the only times he got “Spendy” was for something that would bring God glory like the temple
Think about Jesus - King of Kings, God incarnate, all authority belongs to him…yet he’s born in a place where animals lived, Isiah said “He had no beauty that we would desire him” and he would die such a gruesome death that roman citizens would not even talk about it at the dinner table
What does this tells us? The humble way, is Jesus’ way
If that the case than why did Absalom do it? - Because “Self promotion is our way”
Absalom knew that wanted a kingly king…just like Saul…so he gave them what they wanted...What the people wanted then, they still want now
I think about this
What the people wanted then, they still want now
Having the right image is still so important
And in some instances it’s become the churches way - Preaches in Sneakers
And in some instances it’s become the churches way - Preaches in Sneakers
We are an imaged obsessed people
App: Jesus always cares more the about substance than appearance
Absalom was a man of “fake submission”
Absalom was a man of “fake submission”
33 Then Joab went to the king and told him, and he summoned Absalom. So he came to the king and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king, and the king kissed Absalom.
And now read verse 2 of chapter 15 with me...
2 And Absalom used to rise early and stand beside the way of the gate. And when any man had a dispute to come before the king for judgment, Absalom would call to him and say, “From what city are you?” And when he said, “Your servant is of such and such a tribe in Israel,”
3 Absalom would say to him, “See, your claims are good and right, but there is no man designated by the king to hear you.”
4 Then Absalom would say, “Oh that I were judge in the land! Then every man with a dispute or cause might come to me, and I would give him justice.”
5 And whenever a man came near to pay homage to him, he would put out his hand and take hold of him and kiss him.
6 Thus Absalom did to all of Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
2 sam 15:2-6
So Absalom, not only projected success, but he faked submission to David…these are calculated acts of rebellion on behalf of Absalom…because he had never repented of his Sin...
And Absalom used to rise early v.2 - In the original language, it actually reads “early and every day” so what this tells us that Absalom was a lot of things, but he wasn’t lazy…He had this discipline for success…but his goal was wicked
App: Could you imagine If you we gave God the mornings?
And Absalom used to rise early and stand beside the way of the gate v.2 - The gate was not just a gate, it was the civic center of the city, it was the war room, it was court house...
And was done to bring down the reign, of his Father, whom had just bowed before in humble submission
He was a fraud
Illustration: When I hear stories like this I always think about Jesus cursing the fig tree because it didn’t have fruit…but only leaves...and at a glance this looks totally messed up by Jesus…It just seems mean. But heres the interesting thing: When it comes to middle eastern Fig trees, Leaves were always a sign of fruitfulness…But this tree had had lots leaves but no fruit…which was a sign decay and rottenness...
All leaves and no fruit = Rotteness
And turns that was an object lesson on what he was gonna do next
Then Jesus would go into the temple…the “leafiest place of all and turn tables over”
Now at a glance this looks totally messed up by Jesus…It just seems mean. But heres the interesting thing: When it comes to middle eastern Fig trees, Leaves were always a sign of fruitfulness…But this tree had had lots leaves but no fruit…which was a sign decay and rottenness
Absalom had leaves…but there was no real fruit...
App: There are many people in church today just like that, to those who know you, you are rotten to the core…but instead of coming as you are to Jesus and being transformed by him...
You fake submission
Put your churchy leaves on
Jesus isn’t into Appearance…He’s into Substance, and he’s not into leaves, he’s into fruit
Here’s another thing we see about Absalom and his plan to undo his Father...
Absalom was a man who appealed to the lowest parts of the people
Absalom was a man who appealed to the lowest parts of the people
Think about how he appeals to the men of Israel...
He appealed to their pride and desire for success
He appealed to their pride and desire for success
Remember the chariot and the men...His display was essentally to say “If you have a king like me, how good are you gonna feel about you?”
His display was essentally to say “If you have a king like me, how good are you gonna feel about you?”
He appealed to their sense of self centeredness
He appealed to their sense of self centeredness
Why do you think he made his way every day to the court house? because he knew that the person who goes to court on that day is wrapped up in selfish concerns…
For most people in Court…Justice for them…Is winning - It doesn’t matter about the process…Its about “Whats the quickest” “Whats the best result for me”
This is why he’s here…he could present himself as the only one who was interested personally in them
So he begins to hear their cases…and say things like “oh that I was Judge in the Land”v.4
And appealing to people’s sense of self-interest is a powerful thing
App: Be carful of people , who only try to pander to your sense of self-interest…Because there will be times where whats best for you, is not whats best for the whole
3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
He appealed to their need to feel important
He appealed to their need to feel important
phil 2:3-4
5 And whenever a man came near to pay homage to him, he would put out his hand and take hold of him and kiss him.
Here’s Absalom standing outside the courthouse in his chariot, with his men, promising justice for all comers, but not just that, he’s making an intentional effort to make people feel like their important…he’s essentally taking photo’s, shaking hands, and kissing babies…why is he doing that? because everyone likes to feel important
I think about in the Garden of Eden:
Satan had many tactics he used against Adam and Eve...
He brought into Question God’s word
But then He says this...
4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
4-
Satan appeals to the human need to feel important…all of have it
Now, it’s not a bad thing to tell people there important…but Absalom was disingenuous, the only one He cared about was himself....in the end
App: Be carful of the Flatterer
Just because they make you feel important, doesn’t mean their for you…let actions and time, be the judge of that
Conclusion: So we’re gonna stop here today…but lets talk about some things we need to get from this chapter
“Cheap” Reconciliation has nasty consequences
“Cheap” Reconciliation has nasty consequences
So her
David as absalom’s father and Israel’s king had the right, and the responsibility to deal with Absalom’s sin, but instead he swept it under the rug and chose the kiss of peace over dealing with the issue…thats cheap reconciliation and it does nothing but make things worse...
But some people are like “If i do that that won’t like me anymore” as you can see David not addressing the issue, didn’t win over Absalom…all it did was give this wicked guy excess to people in David’s care
“Absalom’s” are still around today
“Absalom’s” are still around today
I think we would call them wolves in sheep’s clothing, they look the part, they always flatter you and make you feel important, and they always search out the disgruntled in the church and try to develop a remnant…We try our best to see people like that and deal with them, but if you see something, say something
Absalom is the opposite of Jesus
Absalom is the opposite of Jesus
Think about this with me:
Absalom had a father who chose reconciliation by ignoring Justice which led to massive destruction…Jesus’ father chose reconciliation not by ignoring Justice, but by satisfying Justice through His son dying on the cross which brought about life and forgiveness
Absalom faked submission to the will of the Father, and acted out in rebellion…there was nothing fake about Jesus’ response to the will of the father, but he acted in Obedience by heading to the cross
Absalom promised to give the people what they wanted, But Jesus came us what we needed…he gave us an opportunity to be right with God
Pastor Will Hawk - “Many people say “you can come to God as you are…but it’s really not true…If you or I were to come to God just as we are we would die…Because he’s Holy therefore he must judge sin…And God has not changed…But access to him has…It’s through Jesus that were are changed and transformed....it’s through Jesus that we have access”
He Goes to the court House:
App: Could you imagine If you we gave God the mornings?
And Absalom used to rise early and stand beside the way of the gate v.2 - The gate was not just a gate, it was the civic center of the city, it was the war room, it was court house...
He Goes to the court House:
So he a