The Life of David- 2 Samuel 15

2 Samuel 15:6

Rejection comes in many forms. Collin’s English Thesaurus includes refusing, turning down, declining, or dismissing as synonyms for rejections. The idea behind rejections is that someone does not want us.

Some have been rejected for a job or promotion. Others have been rejected for a possible relationship or friendship. However, others have experienced rejection from close friends or family members.

What do we think of when we hear the word rejection?

How do people respond to rejection?

Which type of rejection is worse, from those close to us or those we do not know as well?

Rejection is inevitable. Sometimes it is self-inflicted and other times it blindsides us. However, God is with us in rejection.

Background

2 Samuel 14:24

David felt the sting of rejection from his son, Absalom. However, pivotal moments led to this rejection. It all started when David rejected God’s instructions to go to battle. Instead, he stayed home and had an affair with Bathsheba.

From there, turmoil and problems consumed David’s family. His son Amon raped his half-sister Tamar. Absalom knew what happened and felt rejected because David did not handle the family conflict.

Absalom murdered Amnon and fled to the land of Geshur. After two years, Absalom finally came home, but David refused to see him.

Why do you think Absalom came home?

How do you think he felt when David refused to see him?

Though Absalom seemed pure in his motives, he concealed the real reason for his return. He planed to exact revenge of David for the years he felt rejected by his father.

Story

2 Samuel 15:2-4

When Absalom returned home, he was surrounded himself with an entourage. Fifty men would run before him and he would ride through Jerusalem on horses and chariots.

Every day he would go to the gates of the city. People would bring their case to the king to decide his judgment on the issue. However, before they entered the city, they would overhear Absalom.

He would tell his yes men, if only I were the judge of Israel. I would love to hear everyone’s case so I could give them justice. It sure is a shame that our king is too busy to pay attention to the needs of his subjects.

This went on for four years. Day by day, he slowly turned the hearts of Israel from David to Absalom.

Was Absalom pure in his motives?

2 Samuel 15:7-10

After four years of his manipulative actions, he goes to David. In seeming innocence, he asked David’s permission to go to Hebron. He lied and told David he wanted to go there and worship God.

David gave him the release to go. It could be that he thought Absalom was making a turn for the better. Hebron was in Judah, the place where David was first anointed king.

In the four years Absalom had returned to Jerusalem, he continued to plot and form a conspiracy. He wanted to usurp David’s authority and get Israel to follow him.

David figured the leaders of Hebron would accept him. Perhaps David was proud of Absalom, keeping his supposed vow to sacrifice before God.

However, en route to Hebron, he stirred up a rebellion. He instructed his followers to go through the land and tell people David’s time was over and when they heard the sound of the ram’s horn that Absalom would become king.

As he offered his sacrifice to God, the conspiracy gained momentum. They crowned Absalom as king and many people turned their backs on David in favor for Absalom. Word got to David about the rebellion.

2 Samuel 15:13-15

When word got back to Jerusalem about Absalom’s scheme, David had to have felt rejected. His son rejected him and now most of Israel rejected him.

How do you think David felt?

What options did David have once Absalom rejected him?

He could have fought back. He could have had Absalom killed. However, David handled the rejection in a Godly manner. He looked to his closest followers and told them it was time to leave Jerusalem.

He loved the Kingdom of Israel and the city of Jerusalem too much to let it break into a civil war between David or Absalom.

Though Absalom rejected David, did God reject David?

David’s conduct in the face of rejection shows his faith in God and God’s care for him. Though David was on the run for his life, God sent some people to help him.

First, Ittai the Gittite came to David’s side. Ittai was from Gath, the same hometown of Goliath. While Goliath hated David, Ittai showed concern for the king.

David told Ittai to return to Jersualem. He didn’t want him to lose his life. However, Ittai refused to reject David in his time of distress.

2 Samuel 15:21-26

God sent David a friend at just the right time. After Ittai agreed to stay with David, Zadok and the Levites came with the Ark of the Covenant.

They knew David was the rightful king. Therefore, they wanted the presence of God to go with and protect David. However, David revealed the nature of a truly humble heart before God.

He told them to return to Jerusalem. Then he explained, if God sees fit, He will bring me back to the Ark and the Tabernacle, but if God is done with me, we need His will.

Most everyone else rejected David, he had to wonder, would God reject me as well? Will God turn His back on me too?

What do David’s actions tell us about how God’s people should handle rejection?

Though it was hard, David had trust in God. But the Lord continued to send people his way who would help him as the rest of Israel refused him.

2 Samuel 15:32-34

David went to the Mount of Olives and met another friend, Hushai. We know nothing about him except that he was David’s friend. David also told him to return.

He had a specific assignment, get close to Absalom and keep us informed as to his plans and what is happening in Israel. David was not manipulative, he was led by God.

With Hushai and Zadok in Jerusalem, there were two men of God who would help keep Israel on the right track. Unlike Absalom who was loyal to himself, David had a few men left in Israel who were loyal to God.

How did David’s friends help him in time of rejection?

Could David had made it without God’s help in this intense season of rejection?

Application

David faced the worse rejection of his life. His own family turned on him and the nation he loved forgot about him. As he left town, there were some who threw rocks at him.

However, God sent people to help him to show him, even though others rejected him, the Lord was still on his side.

One poet, Samuel Taylor Coleridge described friendship as, “a sheltering tree.”

When David faced the harshness of rejection, God sent friends his way who would shelter him from the despair of being unwanted.

Likewise, God sends people to us when the enemy uses those around us to make us feel rejected. God uses His church and those within His church to serve as an encouragement in times of rejection.

Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 NKJV

9 Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up.

God places people in our lives to help us in times of rejection. The enemy wants to isolate us from other believers, that way when rejection comes we will become more susceptible to his attacks.

Therefore, we should band together in prayer and faithfulness to God’s house, for in times of rejection we can help each other.

Why is it dangerous to face rejection alone?

What does God want us to do in rejection?

Who will God send us in rejection?

How can we help others who feel rejected?

Does God reject us?

Application

Pray for God’s help if we face rejection

Ask God to show how we can help others facing rejection

Thank God that He never rejects us as we stay close to Him

Read Psalms 3 and 2 Samuel 16