2 Samuel 18:1-18
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Intro: Today we’re continuing in our journey through the life of king David, His rise, his reign, and his hardships…and in this chapter he finds himself in a hardship of epic preparations....His Son has led a uprising against him and his followers and driven them out into the wilderness near the forrest of Ephraim, David’s survival has only been by the protective hand of God, and because of Good friends willing to risk it all to honor the king
Last week recap:
Ahithophel (The most brilliant counselor at the time) came up with a plan to snuff out David in the wilderness…and tactically speaking, it would have been the right plan to go with essentally the plan was strike now while he’s weakened…But instead Absalom chose to listen to the counsel of Hushai (Essentally sent by David) who came up with another plan…lets mount one grand attack and then all will know how powerful Absalom really is…Absalom listened to Hushai and and this led to the escape of David and his people to safety and an opportunity to plan a counter attack
And I think this is why Ahithophel took his life, because he knew that David would now have an opportunity to regroup…and mount a counter attack that would work and he would be tried for his treason…so he took his life
(Prop) So what we’re see today is the battle between David’s Army and Absalom’s Army....this is a passage about war, yet in the midst of this passage, there are pictures of Jesus that we will highlight at the end
Outline: Today we’re walk-though the battle, and then we’re gonna highlight some things that remind us of our champion in the midst of the battle Jesus
Walk-though the passage
David organizes his army v.1-2
David organizes his army v.1-2
1 Then David mustered the men who were with him and set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.
2 And David sent out the army, one third under the command of Joab, one third under the command of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and one third under the command of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the men, “I myself will also go out with you.”
2 sam
So David and his Men are in Mahanaim, and they are beginning to mount a counter attack against Absalom...
Notice a few things with me:
General Observation - Notice that David even though he was driven into the wilderness, did not just go into hiding, but mounted a counter attack…this speaks of perseverance to me - He could have easily said “you know i’ve lost ground, he’s gaining popularity…I probably should surrender” but he doesn’t, he begins to plan a counter attack
App: In that same way, their are some of you here today, who have lost some ground to the enemy, maybe you’ve taken some damage, maybe things are getting tougher…not easier…and you’re saying “what should to I do?”
He could have easily said “you know i’ve lost ground, he’s gaining popularity…I probably should surrender” but he doesn’t, he begins to plan a counter attack
Here’s the Word for you - It’s always too soon to give up
Don’t quite…fight back...
Don’t scatter…unify...
Don’t retreat…Attack
With the promises of God
With the power of the Holy spirit
With a choice today to Honor God…thats your counter attack
Notice that He organized his army - And if you notice he organized them into 4 levels
1 Then David mustered the men who were with him and set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. 2 And David sent out the army, one third under the command of Joab, one third under the command of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and one third under the command of Ittai the Gittite.
V.1a He set commanders over hundreds
V.1b He set commanders over thousands
V. 2 He set 3 commanders over the whole army
V. 2b He set himself over all of it
App: Illustration - Some christians think that organization is somehow unspiritual, And it’s somehow untrusting to plan things....
Look though God can move outside of our organized boundaries at times…we see in scripture divine Organization
Illustration - Some christians think that organization is somehow unspiritual…and it but though God can move outside of that at times…we see in scripture divine Organization
God’s redemptive plan
God’s vision for Marriage
We’ll just talk about one…the Body of Christ
The Body of Christ
God’s redemptive plan was organized
1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed.
12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.
1 cro 12:1
God’s church is organized organism
1 cor
Organization is good thing
Notice the ones David put over the army
Joab - He’s complicated…but a nephew of Davids...
Abishai - He’s “Lives to fight guy”…But he’s Joab’s brother and a nephew of David
Ittai the Gittite - Now he’s a little more interesting…He’s not related to David…in fact He came from a the philistines… and most likely began to follow David when David found his way into Gath…when he was running from Saul…this was a bad time for David
Yet Good things can come out of God places…This guys Ittai showed tremendous Loyalty to David in one of his lowest times…He’s fleeing Jerusalem because of Absalom and look at the conversation they have
19 Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why do you also go with us? Go back and stay with the king, for you are a foreigner and also an exile from your home.
20 You came only yesterday, and shall I today make you wander about with us, since I go I know not where? Go back and take your brothers with you, and may the Lord show steadfast love and faithfulness to you.”
21 But Ittai answered the king, “As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king shall be, whether for death or for life, there also will your servant be.”
19 Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why do you also go with us? Go back and stay with the king, for you are a foreigner and also an exile from your home.
20 You came only yesterday, and shall I today make you wander about with us, since I go I know not where? Go back and take your brothers with you, and may the Lord show steadfast love and faithfulness to you.”
21 But Ittai answered the king, “As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king shall be, whether for death or for life, there also will your servant be.”
22 And David said to Ittai, “Go then, pass on.” So Ittai the Gittite passed on with all his men and all the little ones who were with him.
2 SAM
2 sam 15:
And now David has made him one of his Generals...
This speaks to us about 2 things:
App: The same way David honored the faithfulness of Ittai…Jesus will honor those who are faithful to him
matt 10:3
32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven,
Talk about the Student ministry last Thursday...
Everything functions
App: God has a way of bringing good things out of broken places…This was a broken place for David…but David repented, he returned, and Now Ittai is a trophy of God’s restorative work
Now in these verses we read that David wanted to lead the army himself…and this brings us to the next thing we’re gonna see
David gets corrected v.3-5
David gets corrected v.3-5
3 But the men said, “You shall not go out. For if we flee, they will not care about us. If half of us die, they will not care about us. But you are worth ten thousand of us. Therefore it is better that you send us help from the city.”
4 The king said to them, “Whatever seems best to you I will do.” So the king stood at the side of the gate, while all the army marched out by hundreds and by thousands.
2 sam
So David had a desire to lead the Army out in the war…and can i just say that this was a good desire…it just wasn’t the best choice given the circumstance, remember these men do not know that Ahithophel had killed himself, and they knew his eye was focused solely on David…so his men say “You shall not go out” because we get taken down, the fight can continue, but if you get taken out…we lose
A couple of things here...
David’s men knew that not all positions are created equal…and there are some that need to be tightly secured then others
Leaders…The enemies sight is on you
Husbands…The enemies sight is on you
Perants…The enemies sights are on you
So be carful where you go, and be carful what you do....
David was good leader because he was able to take counsel and even correction from others...
App: It is wise not just buy into your own opinion on things, but be able to take counsel from others…because you might be wrong
22 Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.
So it’s great to have advisors, but there is one caveat to that as well…It’s not just about having people to ask…it’s about having the right people to ask
David got counsel from the right guys…men of war
Having a multitude of advisors won’t help you one bit if their all Foolish
having a multitude of advisors won’t help you one bit if their all dumb
Be willing to heed wisdom…but put yourself around the wise…especially those who are wise in the things of the Lord
So David stays in the city…but then he says this to all of his men
5 And the king ordered Joab and Abishai and Ittai, “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.
2
Here we have a glimpse into the heart of David’s heart for his son…Absalom was both guilty....and loved…we’ll talk about that at the end....
David’s army defeat Absalom’s army v.6-8
David’s army defeat Absalom’s army v.6-8
6 So the army went out into the field against Israel, and the battle was fought in the forest of Ephraim.
7 And the men of Israel were defeated there by the servants of David, and the loss there was great on that day, twenty thousand men.
8 The battle spread over the face of all the country, and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword.
So the battle begins, Now Absalom would have had quite a numerical advantage at in the battle, but there were 2 things that David did to turn the tide on Absalom’s men
First He divided them v.8 The battle spread over the face of all the country - this helped minimize the numerical advantage that Israel had
Secondly also chose the location v.6 the battle took place in the forrest of Ephraim and v.8 and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword
v.8and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword.
and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword.
In some way David used the environment as a weapon against Israel
App: I think thats a pretty good tactic for God’s people as we battle against satan and sin together…
I think about the advantages that we have in this day and age that other ages didn’t have
Apps for your phone
Social Media
Social Media
Church organizational apps
Some say...”those things are evil”…no those things are tools…you are the one who’s evil
If you use those things in redeemed ways to glorify God…they be apart of how we get an upper hand in the battle
This phrase implies that God fought for David in unusual ways. Soldiers loyal to Absalom seemed to be “swallowed up” by the woods.
There’s also a suggestion here that God fought for David in unusual ways. Soldiers loyal to Absalom seemed to be “swallowed up” by the woods.
“Perishing not only by the sword, but among the thick oaks and tangled briers of the wood, which concealed fearful precipices and great caverns, into which the rebels plunged in their wild fright when the rout set in.” (Spurgeon)
Notice that No victory is mentioned…only loss - 7 And the men of Israel were defeated there by the servants of David, and the loss there was great on that day, twenty thousand men - I find it sad, but a fitting description…why? because this was essentally Israel vs Israel…and when devision arises amoungst people that that should have been fighting on the same side…there is no winner
7 And the men of Israel were defeated there by the servants of David, and the loss there was great on that day, twenty thousand men.
This leads us to the last chunk of scripture we’re gonna look at today...
This leads us to the last chunk of scripture we’re gonna look at today...
This leads us to the last chunk of scripture we’re gonna look at today...
Absalom’s death - V.9
Absalom’s death - V.9
This leads us to the last chunk of scripture we’re gonna look at today...
9 And Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak, and his head caught fast in the oak, and he was suspended between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him went on.
9 And Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak, and his head caught fast in the oak, and he was suspended between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him went on.
10 And a certain man saw it and told Joab, “Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.”
2 sam 18:9
2 sam 18:
The death of Absalom provides one of the more interesting pictures in all the old testament…so while the battle raging on, Absalom’s who has one of the faster modes of transportation around, while fleeing from the battle rides under a tree, and caught his head on one of the breaches and he gets stuck there while the Mule runs off…crazy
Notice a few things…
Notice that Absalom is in the midst of the war in the first place
Now David wanted to fight in the war as well, but David was fighting for his men...Absalom’s vanity put him in this battle, against the wise counsel of Ahithophel. Absalom didn’t seem like a great general, riding a mule into battle.
Absalom’s vanity put him in this battle, against the wise counsel of Ahithophel (). Absalom didn’t seem like a great general, riding a mule into battle.
Though this seems random...This was actually the Sovriegn hand of God
Though this seems random...This was actually the Sovriegn hand of God
Notice that God would use Absalom’s greatest source of pride in his down fall
His head caught in the tree; so he was left hanging between heaven and earth...
His head caught in the tree; so he was left hanging between heaven and earth: Absalom was noted for his good looks and his luxurious hair (). What was his glory was now his curse – Absalom was literally caught by his own hair in the thick trees of the forest.
Absalom was noted for his good looks and his luxurious hair (). What was his glory was now his curse – Absalom was literally caught by his own hair in the thick trees of the forest.
i. Adam Clarke is careful to point out that the text does not say that Absalom was caught by his hair – we assume that. It may be that he was caught by his neck. Nevertheless, the image remains of Absalom hanging in the tree: “So he hung between heaven and earth, as rejected of both.” (Trapp)
Adam Clarke is careful to point out that the text does not say that Absalom was caught by his hair – we assume that. It may be that he was caught by his neck. Nevertheless, the image remains of Absalom hanging in the tree: “So he hung between heaven and earth, as rejected of both.” (Trapp)
Adam Clarke is careful to point out that the text does not say that Absalom was caught by his hair – we assume that. It may be that he was caught by his neck. Nevertheless, the image remains of Absalom hanging in the tree: “
So he hung between heaven and earth, as rejected of both.” (Trapp)
Notice that though this seems random...This was actually the Sovriegn hand of God
How do we know that? - Because we read about it in the last chapter…when we were looking at Hushai defeat Ahithophel’s counsel...
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.
Once against it’s important to remember that though David mustered his army, and made some good decision, ultimately it was the Lord who fought for David to bring about Jesus…
Absalom with all his men, and all his scheming, could not out scheme the Judgment of the Lord
App: Always remember that…God never forgets, His just in every-way…the wheels of his judgement, though they grind slowly they grind thoroughly
Joab’s disobedience V.10-17
Joab’s disobedience V.10-17
Now Joab learns of Absalom’s predicament...
10 And a certain man saw it and told Joab, “Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.”
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.
16 Then Joab blew the trumpet, and the troops came back from pursuing Israel, for Joab restrained them.
17 And they took Absalom and threw him into a great pit in the forest and raised over him a very great heap of stones. And all Israel fled every one to his own home.
10 And a certain man saw it and told Joab, “Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.”
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.”
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.”
1 After this the king of the Ammonites died, and Hanun his son reigned in his place.
2 And David said, “I will deal loyally with Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father dealt loyally with me.” So David sent by his servants to console him concerning his father. And David’s servants came into the land of the Ammonites.
3 But the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun their lord, “Do you think, because David has sent comforters to you, that he is honoring your father? Has not David sent his servants to you to search the city and to spy it out and to overthrow it?”
4 So Hanun took David’s servants and shaved off half the beard of each and cut off their garments in the middle, at their hips, and sent them away.
5 When it was told David, he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, “Remain at Jericho until your beards have grown and then return.”
6 When the Ammonites saw that they had become a stench to David, the Ammonites sent and hired the Syrians of Beth-rehob, and the Syrians of Zobah, 20,000 foot soldiers, and the king of Maacah with 1,000 men, and the men of Tob, 12,000 men.
7 And when David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the host of the mighty men.
8 And the Ammonites came out and drew up in battle array at the entrance of the gate, and the Syrians of Zobah and of Rehob and the men of Tob and Maacah were by themselves in the open country.
9 When Joab saw that the battle was set against him both in front and in the rear, he chose some of the best men of Israel and arrayed them against the Syrians.
10 The rest of his men he put in the charge of Abishai his brother, and he arrayed them against the Ammonites.
11 And he said, “If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me, but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come and help you.
12 Be of good courage, and let us be courageous for our people, and for the cities of our God, and may the Lord do what seems good to him.”
13 So Joab and the people who were with him drew near to battle against the Syrians, and they fled before him.
14 And when the Ammonites saw that the Syrians fled, they likewise fled before Abishai and entered the city. Then Joab returned from fighting against the Ammonites and came to Jerusalem.
15 But when the Syrians saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they gathered themselves together.
16 And Hadadezer sent and brought out the Syrians who were beyond the Euphrates. They came to Helam, with Shobach the commander of the army of Hadadezer at their head.
17 And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together and crossed the Jordan and came to Helam. The Syrians arrayed themselves against David and fought with him.
18 And the Syrians fled before Israel, and David killed of the Syrians the men of 700 chariots, and 40,000 horsemen, and wounded Shobach the commander of their army, so that he died there.
19 And when all the kings who were servants of Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and became subject to them. So the Syrians were afraid to save the Ammonites anymore.
1 In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.
2 It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking on the roof of the king’s house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful.
3 And David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, “Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?”
4 So David sent messengers and took her, and she came to him, and he lay with her. (Now she had been purifying herself from her uncleanness.) Then she returned to her house.
5 And the woman conceived, and she sent and told David, “I am pregnant.”
6 So David sent word to Joab, “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” And Joab sent Uriah to David.
7 When Uriah came to him, David asked how Joab was doing and how the people were doing and how the war was going.
8 Then David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” And Uriah went out of the king’s house, and there followed him a present from the king.
9 But Uriah slept at the door of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord, and did not go down to his house.
10 When they told David, “Uriah did not go down to his house,” David said to Uriah, “Have you not come from a journey? Why did you not go down to your house?”
11 Uriah said to David, “The ark and Israel and Judah dwell in booths, and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are camping in the open field. Shall I then go to my house, to eat and to drink and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing.”
12 Then David said to Uriah, “Remain here today also, and tomorrow I will send you back.” So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day and the next.
13 And David invited him, and he ate in his presence and drank, so that he made him drunk. And in the evening he went out to lie on his couch with the servants of his lord, but he did not go down to his house.
14 In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah.
15 In the letter he wrote, “Set Uriah in the forefront of the hardest fighting, and then draw back from him, that he may be struck down, and die.”
16 And as Joab was besieging the city, he assigned Uriah to the place where he knew there were valiant men.
17 And the men of the city came out and fought with Joab, and some of the servants of David among the people fell. Uriah the Hittite also died.
18 Then Joab sent and told David all the news about the fighting.
19 And he instructed the messenger, “When you have finished telling all the news about the fighting to the king,
20 then, if the king’s anger rises, and if he says to you, ‘Why did you go so near the city to fight? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall?
21 Who killed Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? Did not a woman cast an upper millstone on him from the wall, so that he died at Thebez? Why did you go so near the wall?’ then you shall say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.’ ”
22 So the messenger went and came and told David all that Joab had sent him to tell.
23 The messenger said to David, “The men gained an advantage over us and came out against us in the field, but we drove them back to the entrance of the gate.
24 Then the archers shot at your servants from the wall. Some of the king’s servants are dead, and your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.”
25 David said to the messenger, “Thus shall you say to Joab, ‘Do not let this matter displease you, for the sword devours now one and now another. Strengthen your attack against the city and overthrow it.’ And encourage him.”
26 When the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she lamented over her husband.
27 And when the mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord.
1 And the Lord sent Nathan to David. He came to him and said to him, “There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor.
2 The rich man had very many flocks and herds,
3 but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. And he brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children. It used to eat of his morsel and drink from his cup and lie in his arms, and it was like a daughter to him.
4 Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest who had come to him, but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.”
5 Then David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die,
6 and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.”
7 Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul.
8 And I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your arms and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were too little, I would add to you as much more.
9 Why have you despised the word of the Lord, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites.
10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’
11 Thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun.
12 For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.’ ”
13 David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die.
14 Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child who is born to you shall die.”
15 Then Nathan went to his house. And the Lord afflicted the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and he became sick.
16 David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground.
17 And the elders of his house stood beside him, to raise him from the ground, but he would not, nor did he eat food with them.
18 On the seventh day the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, “Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he did not listen to us. How then can we say to him the child is dead? He may do himself some harm.”
19 But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David understood that the child was dead. And David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” They said, “He is dead.”
20 Then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes. And he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. He then went to his own house. And when he asked, they set food before him, and he ate.
21 Then his servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive; but when the child died, you arose and ate food.”
22 He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’
23 But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.”
24 Then David comforted his wife, Bathsheba, and went in to her and lay with her, and she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon. And the Lord loved him
25 and sent a message by Nathan the prophet. So he called his name Jedidiah, because of the Lord.
26 Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and took the royal city.
27 And Joab sent messengers to David and said, “I have fought against Rabbah; moreover, I have taken the city of waters.
28 Now then gather the rest of the people together and encamp against the city and take it, lest I take the city and it be called by my name.”
29 So David gathered all the people together and went to Rabbah and fought against it and took it.
30 And he took the crown of their king from his head. The weight of it was a talent of gold, and in it was a precious stone, and it was placed on David’s head. And he brought out the spoil of the city, a very great amount.
31 And he brought out the people who were in it and set them to labor with saws and iron picks and iron axes and made them toil at the brick kilns. And thus he did to all the cities of the Ammonites. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.
1 Now Absalom, David’s son, had a beautiful sister, whose name was Tamar. And after a time Amnon, David’s son, loved her.
2 And Amnon was so tormented that he made himself ill because of his sister Tamar, for she was a virgin, and it seemed impossible to Amnon to do anything to her.
3 But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David’s brother. And Jonadab was a very crafty man.
4 And he said to him, “O son of the king, why are you so haggard morning after morning? Will you not tell me?” Amnon said to him, “I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”
5 Jonadab said to him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend to be ill. And when your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Let my sister Tamar come and give me bread to eat, and prepare the food in my sight, that I may see it and eat it from her hand.’ ”
6 So Amnon lay down and pretended to be ill. And when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, “Please let my sister Tamar come and make a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand.”
7 Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, “Go to your brother Amnon’s house and prepare food for him.”
8 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house, where he was lying down. And she took dough and kneaded it and made cakes in his sight and baked the cakes.
9 And she took the pan and emptied it out before him, but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, “Send out everyone from me.” So everyone went out from him.
10 Then Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the chamber, that I may eat from your hand.” And Tamar took the cakes she had made and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother.
11 But when she brought them near him to eat, he took hold of her and said to her, “Come, lie with me, my sister.”
12 She answered him, “No, my brother, do not violate me, for such a thing is not done in Israel; do not do this outrageous thing.
13 As for me, where could I carry my shame? And as for you, you would be as one of the outrageous fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you.”
14 But he would not listen to her, and being stronger than she, he violated her and lay with her.
15 Then Amnon hated her with very great hatred, so that the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, “Get up! Go!”
16 But she said to him, “No, my brother, for this wrong in sending me away is greater than the other that you did to me.” But he would not listen to her.
17 He called the young man who served him and said, “Put this woman out of my presence and bolt the door after her.”
18 Now she was wearing a long robe with sleeves, for thus were the virgin daughters of the king dressed. So his servant put her out and bolted the door after her.
19 And Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the long robe that she wore. And she laid her hand on her head and went away, crying aloud as she went.
20 And her brother Absalom said to her, “Has Amnon your brother been with you? Now hold your peace, my sister. He is your brother; do not take this to heart.” So Tamar lived, a desolate woman, in her brother Absalom’s house.
21 When King David heard of all these things, he was very angry.
22 But Absalom spoke to Amnon neither good nor bad, for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had violated his sister Tamar.
23 After two full years Absalom had sheepshearers at Baal-hazor, which is near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king’s sons.
24 And Absalom came to the king and said, “Behold, your servant has sheepshearers. Please let the king and his servants go with your servant.”
25 But the king said to Absalom, “No, my son, let us not all go, lest we be burdensome to you.” He pressed him, but he would not go but gave him his blessing.
26 Then Absalom said, “If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us.” And the king said to him, “Why should he go with you?”
27 But Absalom pressed him until he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him.
28 Then Absalom commanded his servants, “Mark when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon,’ then kill him. Do not fear; have I not commanded you? Be courageous and be valiant.”
29 So the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose, and each mounted his mule and fled.
30 While they were on the way, news came to David, “Absalom has struck down all the king’s sons, and not one of them is left.”
31 Then the king arose and tore his garments and lay on the earth. And all his servants who were standing by tore their garments.
32 But Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David’s brother, said, “Let not my lord suppose that they have killed all the young men, the king’s sons, for Amnon alone is dead. For by the command of Absalom this has been determined from the day he violated his sister Tamar.
33 Now therefore let not my lord the king so take it to heart as to suppose that all the king’s sons are dead, for Amnon alone is dead.”
34 But Absalom fled. And the young man who kept the watch lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, many people were coming from the road behind him by the side of the mountain.
35 And Jonadab said to the king, “Behold, the king’s sons have come; as your servant said, so it has come about.”
36 And as soon as he had finished speaking, behold, the king’s sons came and lifted up their voice and wept. And the king also and all his servants wept very bitterly.
37 But Absalom fled and went to Talmai the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son day after day.
38 So Absalom fled and went to Geshur, and was there three years.
39 And the spirit of the king longed to go out to Absalom, because he was comforted about Amnon, since he was dead.
1 Now Joab the son of Zeruiah knew that the king’s heart went out to Absalom.
2 And Joab sent to Tekoa and brought from there a wise woman and said to her, “Pretend to be a mourner and put on mourning garments. Do not anoint yourself with oil, but behave like a woman who has been mourning many days for the dead.
3 Go to the king and speak thus to him.” So Joab put the words in her mouth.
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.”
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.
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!”
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.
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.
28 So Absalom lived two full years in Jerusalem, without coming into the king’s presence.
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.
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.’ ”
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.
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.
7 And at the end of four years Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed to the Lord, in Hebron.
8 For your servant vowed a vow while I lived at Geshur in Aram, saying, ‘If the Lord will indeed bring me back to Jerusalem, then I will offer worship to the Lord.’ ”
9 The king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he arose and went to Hebron.
10 But Absalom sent secret messengers throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then say, ‘Absalom is king at Hebron!’ ”
11 With Absalom went two hundred men from Jerusalem who were invited guests, and they went in their innocence and knew nothing.
12 And while Absalom was offering the sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city Giloh. And the conspiracy grew strong, and the people with Absalom kept increasing.
13 And a messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel have gone after Absalom.”
14 Then David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise, and let us flee, or else there will be no escape for us from Absalom. Go quickly, lest he overtake us quickly and bring down ruin on us and strike the city with the edge of the sword.”
15 And the king’s servants said to the king, “Behold, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king decides.”
16 So the king went out, and all his household after him. And the king left ten concubines to keep the house.
17 And the king went out, and all the people after him. And they halted at the last house.
18 And all his servants passed by him, and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the six hundred Gittites who had followed him from Gath, passed on before the king.
19 Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why do you also go with us? Go back and stay with the king, for you are a foreigner and also an exile from your home.
20 You came only yesterday, and shall I today make you wander about with us, since I go I know not where? Go back and take your brothers with you, and may the Lord show steadfast love and faithfulness to you.”
21 But Ittai answered the king, “As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king shall be, whether for death or for life, there also will your servant be.”
22 And David said to Ittai, “Go then, pass on.” So Ittai the Gittite passed on with all his men and all the little ones who were with him.
23 And all the land wept aloud as all the people passed by, and the king crossed the brook Kidron, and all the people passed on toward the wilderness.
24 And Abiathar came up, and behold, Zadok came also with all the Levites, bearing the ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God until the people had all passed out of the city.
25 Then the king said to Zadok, “Carry the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me back and let me see both it and his dwelling place.
26 But if he says, ‘I have no pleasure in you,’ behold, here I am, let him do to me what seems good to him.”
27 The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Are you not a seer? Go back to the city in peace, with your two sons, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.
28 See, I will wait at the fords of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.”
29 So Zadok and Abiathar carried the ark of God back to Jerusalem, and they remained there.
30 But David went up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went, barefoot and with his head covered. And all the people who were with him covered their heads, and they went up, weeping as they went.
31 And it was told David, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “O Lord, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.”
32 While David was coming to the summit, where God was worshiped, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat torn and dirt on his head.
33 David said to him, “If you go on with me, you will be a burden to me.
34 But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king; as I have been your father’s servant in time past, so now I will be your servant,’ then you will defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel.
35 Are not Zadok and Abiathar the priests with you there? So whatever you hear from the king’s house, tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.
36 Behold, their two sons are with them there, Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son, and Jonathan, Abiathar’s son, and by them you shall send to me everything you hear.”
37 So Hushai, David’s friend, came into the city, just as Absalom was entering Jerusalem.
1 When David had passed a little beyond the summit, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of donkeys saddled, bearing two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred bunches of raisins, a hundred of summer fruits, and a skin of wine.
2 And the king said to Ziba, “Why have you brought these?” Ziba answered, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride on, the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine for those who faint in the wilderness to drink.”
3 And the king said, “And where is your master’s son?” Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he remains in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will give me back the kingdom of my father.’ ”
4 Then the king said to Ziba, “Behold, all that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours.” And Ziba said, “I pay homage; let me ever find favor in your sight, my lord the king.”
5 When King David came to Bahurim, there came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera, and as he came he cursed continually.
6 And he threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David, and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left.
7 And Shimei said as he cursed, “Get out, get out, you man of blood, you worthless man!
8 The Lord has avenged on you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned, and the Lord has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. See, your evil is on you, for you are a man of blood.”
9 Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and take off his head.”
10 But the king said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the Lord has said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’ ”
11 And David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, my own son seeks my life; how much more now may this Benjaminite! Leave him alone, and let him curse, for the Lord has told him to.
12 It may be that the Lord will look on the wrong done to me, and that the Lord will repay me with good for his cursing today.”
13 So David and his men went on the road, while Shimei went along on the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went and threw stones at him and flung dust.
14 And the king, and all the people who were with him, arrived weary at the Jordan. And there he refreshed himself.
15 Now Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.
16 And when Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, came to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”
17 And Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?”
18 And Hushai said to Absalom, “No, for whom the Lord and this people and all the men of Israel have chosen, his I will be, and with him I will remain.
19 And again, whom should I serve? Should it not be his son? As I have served your father, so I will serve you.”
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.
23 Now in those days the counsel that Ahithophel gave was as if one consulted the word of God; so was all the counsel of Ahithophel esteemed, both by David and by Absalom.
1 Moreover, Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue David tonight.
2 I will come upon him while he is weary and discouraged and throw him into a panic, and all the people who are with him will flee. I will strike down only the king,
3 and I will bring all the people back to you as a bride comes home to her husband. You seek the life of only one man, and all the people will be at peace.”
4 And the advice seemed right in the eyes of Absalom and all the elders of Israel.
5 Then Absalom said, “Call Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear what he has to say.”
6 And when Hushai came to Absalom, Absalom said to him, “Thus has Ahithophel spoken; shall we do as he says? If not, you speak.”
7 Then Hushai said to Absalom, “This time the counsel that Ahithophel has given is not good.”
8 Hushai said, “You know that your father and his men are mighty men, and that they are enraged, like a bear robbed of her cubs in the field. Besides, your father is expert in war; he will not spend the night with the people.
9 Behold, even now he has hidden himself in one of the pits or in some other place. And as soon as some of the people fall at the first attack, whoever hears it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.’
10 Then even the valiant man, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will utterly melt with fear, for all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man, and that those who are with him are valiant men.
11 But my counsel is that all Israel be gathered to you, from Dan to Beersheba, as the sand by the sea for multitude, and that you go to battle in person.
12 So we shall come upon him in some place where he is to be found, and we shall light upon him as the dew falls on the ground, and of him and all the men with him not one will be left.
13 If he withdraws into a city, then all Israel will bring ropes to that city, and we shall drag it into the valley, until not even a pebble is to be found there.”
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.
15 Then Hushai said to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, “Thus and so did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel, and thus and so have I counseled.
16 Now therefore send quickly and tell David, ‘Do not stay tonight at the fords of the wilderness, but by all means pass over, lest the king and all the people who are with him be swallowed up.’ ”
17 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were waiting at En-rogel. A female servant was to go and tell them, and they were to go and tell King David, for they were not to be seen entering the city.
18 But a young man saw them and told Absalom. So both of them went away quickly and came to the house of a man at Bahurim, who had a well in his courtyard. And they went down into it.
19 And the woman took and spread a covering over the well’s mouth and scattered grain on it, and nothing was known of it.
20 When Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house, they said, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” And the woman said to them, “They have gone over the brook of water.” And when they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.
21 After they had gone, the men came up out of the well, and went and told King David. They said to David, “Arise, and go quickly over the water, for thus and so has Ahithophel counseled against you.”
22 Then David arose, and all the people who were with him, and they crossed the Jordan. By daybreak not one was left who had not crossed the Jordan.
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.
24 Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom crossed the Jordan with all the men of Israel.
25 Now Absalom had set Amasa over the army instead of Joab. Amasa was the son of a man named Ithra the Ishmaelite, who had married Abigal the daughter of Nahash, sister of Zeruiah, Joab’s mother.
26 And Israel and Absalom encamped in the land of Gilead.
27 When David came to Mahanaim, Shobi the son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites, and Machir the son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim,
28 brought beds, basins, and earthen vessels, wheat, barley, flour, parched grain, beans and lentils,
29 honey and curds and sheep and cheese from the herd, for David and the people with him to eat, for they said, “The people are hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness.”
So here we begin to be acquainted with David’s nephew Joab again…he was a complicated guy, he’s had his highlights and his lowlights, and this was no doubt one of lowlights…a certain man, tells him that they found Absalom hanging from a branch most likely caught by his hair...
Now this would be a good time to remember what the king commanded them to do with Absalom...
5 And the king ordered Joab and Abishai and Ittai, “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.
Yet at the first opportunity Joab, without hesitation ignores the kings command, and does what’s right in his own eyes…He goes and tells this certain men...”why didn’t you kill him? I would have paid you ten pieces of Silver and A warriors belt” which alludes to the fact that Joab’s disobedience was premeditated
Notice a few things here:
Even though Joab wasn’t aligned with Absalom…He wasn’t David’s man ether
App: In that same way some people think, that to be saved what you need to do is stay away from the bad things and the bad people…but thats not try entirely…Salvation rest on your personal relationship with the king
One commentator said this
The nature of sin is not immorality and wrong doing, the nature of “Self Lordship” which leads you to say “I know whats best for me...I’ll be my own God”.
Who is he to you?
Joad’s unfaithfulness to the king, revealed who he was to this “certain man”
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.”
The man says v.12 “All the money in the world would not cause me to go against the King, and even If i did, I would never trust you to defend me, you stand back, do nothing and throw me under the bus”
2 sam 18:
Joab proved he couldn’t be trusted…because he wasn’t faithful to the King
App: A person’s faithfulness to Jesus can be a good indicator of their faithfulness to everything else
Marraige
Work
Friendships
Why? because at it’s essence faithfulness isn’t a feelings based thing…it’s a Jesus commanded thing…and If theirs loyalty to Jesus’ commandments…there’s nothing stopping them from Jesus changing their minds
We need more of these “Certain Men” and “Certain women” in our lives
People who will be faithful to the king, even when it seem like it makes sense…people who are Loyal to Jesus
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.
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.
16 Then Joab blew the trumpet, and the troops came back from pursuing Israel, for Joab restrained them.
2 samuel 18:14-
I find it interesting that the man who in chapter 14 went to such great length to manipulate David into bring Absalom and then feel on his face in gratitude when David agreed to it…would now be the one going against the kings order, taking 3 Javelins, and ten men and would kill Absalom in cold blood
2 am 18:14-15
App: Sometimes God’s most painful Judgments are he gives you exactly what you wanted
I find it interesting that the man who in chapter 14 went to such great length to manipulate David into bring Absalom and then feel on his face in gratitude when David agreed to it…would now be the one going against the kings order, taking 3 Javelins, and ten men and would kill Absalom in cold blood
2 Samuel 18:160
16 Then Joab blew the trumpet, and the troops came back from pursuing Israel, for Joab restrained them.
17 And they took Absalom and threw him into a great pit in the forest and raised over him a very great heap of stones. And all Israel fled every one to his own home.
16 Then Joab blew the trumpet, and the troops came back from pursuing Israel, for Joab restrained them.
17 And they took Absalom and threw him into a great pit in the forest and raised over him a very great heap of stones. And all Israel fled every one to his own home.
18 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up for himself the pillar that is in the King’s Valley, for he said, “I have no son to keep my name in remembrance.” He called the pillar after his own name, and it is called Absalom’s monument to this day.
Though Joab disobeyed the king, He did stop the war…when Absalom died the the war was over, thats why he sounded the Alarm…do doing this, it was like he was following Ahithophel’s advice to the tee
2 sam 18:1
Though Joab disobeyed the king, He did stop the war…when Absalom died the the war was over, thats why he sounded the Alarm…do doing this, it was like he was following Ahithophel’s advice to the tee
Notice how Absalom was buried - In a pit in the Forrest with a heap of stones over him v.17 - A king’s son should have been buried with honor, in the tomb of his father, but Absalom because of his selfishness would lose all of those honors
a king’s son should have been buried with honor, in the tomb of his father, but Absalom wasn’t given the honor of that
He was buried outside of the boundaries of the promise land with a pile of stones over his head - like Achan
He was buried outside of the boundaries of the promise land with a pile of stones over his head - like Achan
App: Absalom was a man who had been given every opportunity to Succeed as a man, as a leader, and possible one day as a king. but instead his life would become a cautionary tale about the consequences of Pride, Rage, and Dishonestly
Leave behind a legacy, not a cautionary tale
There’s one more memorial built and this perhaps lends us some insight on while Absalom was such a hurtful man...
18 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up for himself the pillar that is in the King’s Valley, for he said, “I have no son to keep my name in remembrance.” He called the pillar after his own name, and it is called Absalom’s monument to this day.
So there was the memorial that David’s men built for Absalom which declared that he was essentally a cursed man, but then there was the memorial that Absalom built for himself that declared that he had no son to keep his name…which comes as a surprise if you’ve been journeying with us through the past few weeks because
2 sam 14:27 says this
27 There were born to Absalom three sons, and one daughter whose name was Tamar. She was a beautiful woman.
27 There were born to Absalom three sons, and one daughter whose name was Tamar. She was a beautiful woman.
So what we can conclude from this verse is that some time between chapter 14-and 18 He lost his sons…and he had no one to continue his legacy
What does this tells about Absalom? - Though he was a wicked man, he was a man also aquatinted with Sorrow…and you might say, was between chapters 14-18 where the darkest parts of Absolom are
App: Often times those who are hurters..have been greatly hurt themselves
App 2: This speaks to us about the importance of dealing with your trails and tragedies the right way
You have to invite Jesus in
Some people experience trails…they don’t become better…they become bitter, they become entitled, they become selfish.
Please don’t ever use your personal trail or tragedy as License to do some really dark things
Please invite Jesus into those dark moments...
So this is the passage, it’s a passage about war, and pain, and struggle…but in this war, just like any other, are there Pictures…some clear as day, and some imperfect, and some even seen in contrast to whats before you...
Finding Jesus in the battle
Finding Jesus in the battle
A glimpse of God’s heart for the guilty v.5
A glimpse of God’s heart for the guilty v.5
Here is a man who is guilty yet still loved by the king…who says “deal gently with him”
This is imperfect picture of our state before coming to faith…Guilty
10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one;
11 no one understands; no one seeks for God.
12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”
I love this quote by Skip Hitzig
“Humanity has no hope to save itself, and we can’t do anything about it. There’s no ray of light, no silver lining, and no exceptions. You are guilty. I am guilty. The Pope is guilty, Billy Graham is guilty, Mother Teresa is guilty. Your grandparents are guilty. That brand new infant just born into your home is guilty. No one can stand on their own merits before God.”
Now David, was willing to dismiss Justice so that he might be reconciled with his son..But God couldn’t or wouldn’t do that because he is holy and just
So how did God deal gently with us…By dealing harshly with Jesus
God’s didn’t forgo Justice, he fulfilled it in Jesus
App: It’s always important to remember this Is Jesus’ heart towards…sinners…sin must be dealt with…But God has made a way so that sinner might be dealt with gently
A glimpse of Jesus’ sacrifice v.10-14
A glimpse of Jesus’ sacrifice v.10-14
Here we have Absalom, this guilty man hanging on a tree v.10, money was offered for his death v.11, and he was pierced in the heart v.14 all because he was facing God’s judgement 2 sam 17:14
And in this, we have an imperfect picture of Jesus
He hung from a tree
Jesus was guiltless, But become the guilty
Money was exchanged in his death
And all of this was to bear the judgement of God that should have been on us
App: It’s always important to see Jesus’ sacrifice in every hardship…because some battles are self induced battles, and your greatest enemy is shame…at those time…remember that Jesus hung on a tree, so that you could be set free from Shame
A glimpse of our mission on this earth v.18
A glimpse of our mission on this earth v.18
At Absalom’s death, we see that he had no sons to carry on the remembrance of his name…But Jesus died and rose again so they so that we could not only be brought into mission, but be brought into the family
12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.
Our honor as sons and daughters of God though Jesus…Is to champion his name