Sermon Tone Analysis

“You got a Friend”

(Prop) It’s important to understand this life a battlefield, and we do have an enemy, but with God’s word leading us, and good friends beside us, and the holy spirit in us, there’s nothing that we can’t do…as we work through this chapter…were see how important David’s would be to him...

A friend is been defined as “one who comes in, when the whole world has gone out.”

Intro: We’re continuing in our study of 2 Samuel…and over the few chapters we’ve seen David at a low in his life

Personally, he was still flooded in guilt from his adultery/murder.Domestically, his family was devastated by death, rape, revenge & rebellion.Politically, he was losing control of his kingdom as his ambitious son Absalom maneuvered himself into power.

Intro:Over the last few chapters we’ve seen David's world begin to unravel

Personally, he was still flooded in guilt from his adultery/murder

Domestically, his family was devastated by death, rape, revenge & rebellion

Domestically, his family was devastated by death, rape, revenge & rebellion.Politically, he was losing control of his kingdom as his ambitious son Absalom maneuvered himself into power.

Politically, he was losing control of his kingdom as his ambitious son Absalom maneuvered himself into power

And He’s gonna seen some friends...

Thats what we’re gonna see in this chapter

David’s enemies v.1-12

David’s Escape v.13-29

David’s friends v.13-37

David’s Exile v. 30-37

David’s enemies v.1-12

Absalom’s Plan v.1-12

David’s had his fair share of enemies, Goliath, Saul, but nothing would be worse then the Son you love rising up against you to destroy you

Absalom

Absalom

The Rebel son of David’s had an eye for the kingdom and he was on a mission to win the heart of people…how would he do that?

lets find out…who had just been foolishly allowed back into the city after he had killed his brother...

So what we see here is that even though Absalom was gonna conspire to over throw David’s thrown…He was willing to fake obedience…

And where gonna see him woe the people away from David....

Absalom’s plan

We’re gonna see Absalom appeal to the lowest parts of the people’s nature

He appealed to their “shallow” nature

He appeals to the

He Appealed to their of “Shallow” Nature

2 sam 15:1

So false humility closed the last chapter, and self promotion begins the next…because understand this chariot isn’t for speed…this is for show and these 50 men weren’t for protection they were hype

Whats happening here?

Absalom knew that people are shallow and will base a majority of opinion off of looks...

App: Still like this today

He appealed to thier “self centered” nature

2 samuel 15:2-

So Absalom who had commited himself to this conspiracy would rise early and head to the Gate…why the gate?

because that was the civic center of the town.

it was the place they would gather to strategize against an enemy and the courthouse…and he would go down there pull aside every person with a complaint…and say “If I were elected…I would give you justice”

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

App: And appealing to people’s sense of self-interest is a powerful thing

Much disfunction continues because of people who only say “Whats in this for me?” instead of “what the best for everyone”

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

He appealed to their need to feel “important”

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

Here’s what we see here overall - Absalom stole the hearts of the people by banking on the fact that they would care more whats good for themselves as opposed to whats good for their nation

Just because they make you feel important, doesn’t mean their for you…let actions and time, be the judge of that

App: Do you know that Satan will still try and use these tactics today…If he can get you saying things like “What can I get out of this? instead of “whats best for the whole” He’s gonna stifle God’s work

look what happens next...

2 sam 15:7

2 things here…notice the level of deception that Absalom has reached…He’s planning an overthrow of the king…yet he’s still bowing to the king, and offering up sacrifices to the Lord

App: There’s a lot of people like this today - There’s a bomb going off inside of you…but no one would no it.

because you just play the game so well...

This word “take heed” means to “take care” of yourself…

Illustration: I think how we take care of our bodies, or our bank accounts, and our hobbies…but not so much when it comes to our hearts...

Absalom, The philistines, even Judas, tell us that you be in the midst of God’s work and still be off…so take heed

2 Sam 15:10-

Whats the deal with these 200 hundred men who were innocent…what was Absalom trying accomplish by bringing with him?

- Absalom wisely knew that he needed others to endorse – or at least to appear to endorse – his government.

He counted on these two hundred men who were not against David to at least be silent and therefore give the impression that they were for Absalom.

I saw this quote by David Guzik about this and it was great

When the innocent and unknowing are among the divisive, their silence is always received as agreement.

2 Sam 15:

And here we see the other enemy of David...

Ahithophel

He was once one of David’s most trusted advisors, and according to 2 Samuel 16:32 “His words were like the words of God” so why was Ahithophel so quick betray David and align himself with Absalom?

Because his granddaughter was Bathsheba…David commited Adultery with his grand daughter, and then orchestrated the death of her Husband Uriah in the field of Battle...

This reminds us of the collateral damage of Sin - David in his moment of passion wasn’t thinking about the wide spread longterm effects of his sin…but he should have been…because now one of his greatest advisor has turned against him

This also reminds us of the destructive power of bitterness - David was guilty was for what he did but this move would turn Ahitophel into an enemy of God’s king…essentally putting him on the wrong side of the battle

David’s friends v.13-37

So the trap has been baited and now Absalom is about to make his move, start the overthrow of David’s throne…and this is where some who were were willing to stay loyal to David even though his kingdom was falling apart at this moment...

David’s friends v.13-37

David had “Loyal” friends

2 SAM 15:

2 SAM 15:13-

So here the message confirmed the fact that Absalom had stolen the hearts of the people but notice where’s David’s concern lies?…And you get a sense that David has always known what Absalom was capable of…

So here the message confirmed the fact that Absalom had stolen the hearts of the people but notice where’s David’s concern lies?....David’s concern lies with the well being of the city

So here the message confirmed the fact that Absalom had stolen the hearts of the people but notice where’s David’s concern lies?....David’s concern lies with the well being of the city

But Notice David’s showing himself to be a King who cares about his People - I think about the contrast between Him and Absalom, Absalom faked concern for the people to get what he wanted, But David showed concern for his people in spite of the fact that his life was in Danger

David’s showing himself to King who cares about his People - I think about the contrast between Him and Absalom, Absalom faked concern for the people to get what he wanted, But David showed concern for his people in spite of the fact that his life was in Danger

I think this shows us 2 things:

David Has always known what his son absalom was capable of - In other words, he knew he was a problem but he just chose to ignore it in the hope that it would go away on It’s own...

App: You can’t ignore your problems and hope they go away…they won’t you have to address them head on

David’s showing himself to King who cares about his People - I think about the contrast between Him and Absalom, Absalom faked concern for the people to get what he wanted, But David showed concern for his people in spite of the fact that his life was in Danger

App: David though an imperfect example of this, shows us how a Good leader leads…not out of selfish agenda, but out of love and genuine concern for the people

15 And the king’s servants said to the king, “Behold, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king decides - Think about this, If they were merely servants of David as soon as the power switched over to Absalom they would have gone with him…but they “David, whatever you want to do....we’ll do”

Thats loyalty

App: May we be like this with Jesus..

“We must determine that wherever Jesus is, we will be also.

He lives in the heavenlies, so will we be.

He is with His church, so will we be.

He is busy in His work, so will we be.

He is with children, so will we be”

Adversity is always the test of Loyalty

Adversity is always the test of Loyalty

App: Praise the Lord for friends like this, who are willing to stick by you not just when things are great, but when are down...

So remember the quote A friend has been aptly defined as “one who comes in, when the whole world has gone out.” now we get to see David true friends…and we’ll notice theres 4 types of friends we see here...