The Life of David- 2 Samuel 15 (2)
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Intro:
Psalms 3:1
Forgiveness is an essential part of following Christ. No one can become a believer unless they receive forgiveness from their sins. Thankfully, God is gracious and willing to forgive anyone who comes to repentance.
While forgiveness is a spiritual imperative, it is also a relational necessity. If we are to build strong relationships, we must have a willingness to forgive those who hurt or reject us.
What does forgiveness mean to you?
What happens when we do not forgive?
Is forgiveness a matter of personal preference of a supernatural act of God?
Forgiveness requires God’s intervention. We cannot forgive someone on our own. As we continue in the saga of David and Absalom, we will see how David longed to forgive his son.
Background
Background
Unforgiveness caused Absalom to murder Amnon. Absalom had an advantage others didn’t, he had royalty on both sides of his family. His mother was the daughter of the king of Geshur.
Instead of reconciling with his brother or father, Absalom fled to the land of his mother where he was protected for three years.
After three years in Geshur, Absalom returned to Jerusalem, but David refused to see him for two years. This rejection caused Absalom so much hurt that he began to hate David.
Therefore, Absalom began to manipulate and steal the hearts of the people form his father, King David. Because Absalom couldn’t see David, he set himself up at the gate of the city.
When people would come to the city to settle a dispute with the king’s help, Absalom would intercept them and listen to their problem. He would give them sound and good advice, but then inform them that the king wasn’t taking any requests at this point.
4 Moreover Absalom would say, “Oh, that I were made judge in the land, and everyone who has any suit or cause would come to me; then I would give him justice.” 5 And so it was, whenever anyone came near to bow down to him, that he would put out his hand and take him and kiss him. 6 In this manner Absalom acted toward all Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
Absalom did not do what he did to David solely out of anger, but out of rejection and unforgiveness. Absalom’s deep hurt, rejection caused him to attempt to get Israel to reject David.
How does God want us to handle rejection?
Is it harder to receive for to give forgiveness?
Story
Story
Psalms 3:1-2
David wrote it during one of the darkest and most threatening periods of his power. As David prays this Psalm to the Lord, it is almost as though he has flashbacks to what took place, it was vivid in his mind and he puts into words how he felt.
Many are they increased that trouble me and say God will not help me, Selah. That word, Selah, literally means to pause and think about what was said.
David paused and had a flashback,
7 Now it came to pass after forty years that Absalom said to the king, “Please, let me go to Hebron and pay the vow which I made to the Lord. 8 For your servant took a vow while I dwelt at Geshur in Syria, saying, ‘If the Lord indeed brings me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord.’ ” 9 And the king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he arose and went to Hebron. 10 Then Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, ‘Absalom reigns in Hebron!’ ”
How does reflection on our lives help us show gratitude toward God?
Imagine the rejection David felt, remember, he had ben around long enough to know when he someone was lying to him.
After four years of Absalom’s actions outside the gate, he finally had the heart of the people and he requested to go to Hebron. He claimed he wanted to go to sacrifice, but really, he was going to be anointed king.
felt rejected by David, now he wanted David to feel the same rejection. One man explained, “Hurt people hurt people.” When people hurt they often want to inflict pain on others.
Absalom’s rejection and hurt was so deep, he would not stop at any cost to repay his father David. This was also in part to David’s sin with Bathsheba, he settled and now he faced the consequences of his sin.
13 Now a messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.” 14 So David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise, and let us flee, or we shall not escape from Absalom. Make haste to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly and bring disaster upon us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.”
David then left Jerusalem. Though David could have done to Absalom what he did to David, instead, he took the high road. In his mind, God put me here, if it is His will to keep me as King, He will work it out in my favor.
What was the first decision David made when Absalom took the Kingdom?
Nothing, at first he did nothing. He didn’t want to be like Absalom, so he removed himself from the situation and faced the consequences.
Psalms 3:3-4
After David recounts all those who say that he is doomed with no help, David expresses his confidence in the Lord.
30 So David went up by the Ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered and went barefoot. And all the people who were with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went up.
Here is where we see another flashback. Imagine David, who was once the most powerful in all of Israel, now reduced to taking enough with him to survive.
He climbed up the Mount of Olives and wept. As he had flashbacks of watching his kingdom fall like a house of cards, he cried out to God, though everyone tells me Absalom has replaced me and no one in Israel wants me, but thou or Lord are a shield for me, my Glory and the Lifter up of my head.
David placed his confidence in the Lord and declared, God is on my side and He will hear my cry.
At first David didn’t do anything when he faced rejection. Then, his second action was to worship. He went to the Mount of Olives and began to worship the Lord.
God’s presence joined David and he was strengthened. This does not mean that everything went away immediately, but it does mean that God encouraged him and strengthened him spiritually.
Psalms 3:5-8
What does conviction mean?
Generally when we think of conviction of the Holy Spirit, we remember the deep feeling that come if we sin. However, there is also another definition for conviction.
Conviction can also be a firmly held belief or opinion. Deep within David’s being was the conviction, the firmly held belief that God would save him and deliver him, even though enemies surrounded him.
We can see immediately that God helped David as he faced this rejection. He was able to sleep and the Lord sustained him. Remember where he was at this point, he was not in the comfortable chamber in the palace, he was on a mountain.
He had a full night of sleep on a mountain and when he awoke, he was sustained by the Lord, so he would not fear the enemies around him who want his destruction.
Then he cried out to God for salvation, that the Lord would save and protect him from his enemies. He concluded this transparent moment of vulnerability that salvation belongs to the Lord and He is the source of every blessing!
David never once laid a hand against the person who rejected him. He never once sought to get even, instead, he loved him, and he prayed for him, he hoped for his safety and his protection.
Why was it hard for David to leave Absalom alone and not fight for the Kingdom?
How did God help David do the right thing in regards to Absalom’s attacks?
Application
Application
Rejection is a difficult process to face. When we feel rejected our nature is to do a couple things, some weep, some get angry, but our nature tells us to get even.
But in the Kingdom of God, we have to deal with the emotions of rejection in a different light. Twice in the New Testament we are informed, do not repay evil for evil.
David modeled how he handled rejection. But we have a New Testament example, Jesus, who was called the Son of David.
Just as David wept over Jerusalem on the Mount of Olives, we are told in Luke 19:41, Jesus wept over Jerusalem on the way down from the Mount of Olives.
David faced rejection, but Jesus was also acquainted with rejection and grief.
3 He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. 4 Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
How did Jesus handle rejection?
Jesus chose to forgive those who came against him.
34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots.
Therefore, we have a pattern, when people do us wrong and we feel rejected, God wants us to forgive and to love them. For through rejection, God wants to cultivate within us the heart of Christ.
Why was it wise for David to do nothing when Absalom rejected him?
Why should we pray for those who’ve rejected us?
How does forgiveness help us when we feel rejected?
How has Jesus forgiven us?
Challenge
Challenge
Pray for God to help us forgive those who’ve hurt us.
Ask God to give us patience.
Praise and worship God in times of rejection.
Read 2 Samuel 16