Grace Under Fire

A Man After God's Own Heart?  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
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A Man & His Son

Father-Son relationships are often complicated. Little boys often see their fathers as larger than life - like they can do anything! Boys often grow up with the idea that they want to be just like their dad when they grow up. We see that relationship mimicked in commercials as sons imitate their fathers. Of course, there are also those that want to be nothing like their fathers. Relationships are complicated.
We have been looking at some interesting if not the most popular stories from the life of King David. These are typically passages that I have never preached from in 33 years of preaching. David was known as a man after God’s own heart, so we are looking at some situations from his life that are questionable to say the least, so I’ve entitled this series “A Man After God’s Own Heart?”
Todays story comes from the life of King David’s son, Absalom, and it again is one of those passages that we often gloss over and pay little attention. I even found a sermon on this passage from a series one pastor called “That’s Weird” where he looked at passages that for one reason or another he considers to be just plain weird!
Our passage for this morning comes from many years later than what we have been looking at the last few Sundays. We began by looking at perhaps the darkest situation in David’s life as we saw him lust and then commit adultery with Bathsheba and then had her husband, Uriah killed. It was a picture of how sin can and often does lead to a downward spiral that ends in tragedy, sometimes for ourselves - sometimes for others - sometimes for both! In David’s case, it resulted in tragedy for both himself and others - but the tragedies didn’t end with Uriah’s death.
We have looked at the prophet’s assessment of the situation and the announcement of punishment that resulted in the death of David and Bathsheba’s son, who didn’t live long enough even to be named. As we fast-forward, we find the story of another of David’s sons, Absalom. Absalom’s story is just another chapter in the continuing drama and pain in the lives of David’s children. It’s a rather convoluted and lengthy fall from grace for this son of David.
You can find his story in chapters 13-18 in 2 Samuel. We are introduced to him in the sordid story of Amnon, another son of David, who lusted after his half sister, Tamar. He faked a sickness so that Tamar would come to his room and look after him, and while she was trying to help him, he raped her, and then cast her aside. Absalom, who was Tamar’s full brother and Amnon’s half brother was furious, and he eventually killed his half brother, Amnon for what he had done to Tamar. I told you it was sordid!
We are given a word picture of Absalom as a good looking guy - the description can be found in 2 Samuel 14:25 & 26 “In all Israel there was not a man so highly praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom. From the top of his head to the sole of his foot there was no blemish in him. 26 Whenever he cut the hair of his head—he used to cut his hair once a year because it became too heavy for him—he would weigh it, and its weight was two hundred shekels by the royal standard.” 200 shekels is about 5 pounds! He was known to be a popular guy around Israel. But he and his father had a falling out - they didn’t speak for years after Absalom killed Amnon.
Eventually, we see that Absalom had a huge following! He had manipulated the people so that they desired him to be their king, and he was planning a coup to overthrow his own father. He even signed off on the plan that was set into motion to only aim to kill the King - his own father, David. He had thousands of men that had turned their backs on David’s leadership and had joined Absalom’s army. We read of David and his men and their response to this insurrection in 2 Samuel chapter 18.
2 Samuel 18:1–15 NIV
1 David mustered the men who were with him and appointed over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. 2 David sent out his troops, a third under the command of Joab, a third under Joab’s brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, and a third under Ittai the Gittite. The king told the troops, “I myself will surely march out with you.” 3 But the men said, “You must not go out; if we are forced to flee, they won’t care about us. Even if half of us die, they won’t care; but you are worth ten thousand of us. It would be better now for you to give us support from the city.” 4 The king answered, “I will do whatever seems best to you.” So the king stood beside the gate while all his men marched out in units of hundreds and of thousands. 5 The king commanded Joab, Abishai and Ittai, “Be gentle with the young man Absalom for my sake.” And all the troops heard the king giving orders concerning Absalom to each of the commanders. 6 David’s army marched out of the city to fight Israel, and the battle took place in the forest of Ephraim. 7 There Israel’s troops were routed by David’s men, and the casualties that day were great—twenty thousand men. 8 The battle spread out over the whole countryside, and the forest swallowed up more men that day than the sword. 9 Now Absalom happened to meet David’s men. He was riding his mule, and as the mule went under the thick branches of a large oak, Absalom’s hair got caught in the tree. He was left hanging in midair, while the mule he was riding kept on going. 10 When one of the men saw what had happened, he told Joab, “I just saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree.” 11 Joab said to the man who had told him this, “What! You saw him? Why didn’t you strike him to the ground right there? Then I would have had to give you ten shekels of silver and a warrior’s belt.” 12 But the man replied, “Even if a thousand shekels were weighed out into my hands, I would not lay a hand on the king’s son. In our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘Protect the young man Absalom for my sake.’ 13 And if I had put my life in jeopardy—and nothing is hidden from the king—you would have kept your distance from me.” 14 Joab said, “I’m not going to wait like this for you.” So he took three javelins in his hand and plunged them into Absalom’s heart while Absalom was still alive in the oak tree. 15 And ten of Joab’s armor-bearers surrounded Absalom, struck him and killed him.
Where I want us to focus this morning is largely on verse 5:
2 Samuel 18:5 NIV
5 The king commanded Joab, Abishai and Ittai, “Be gentle with the young man Absalom for my sake.” And all the troops heard the king giving orders concerning Absalom to each of the commanders.
Here he is in the midst of the battle for his kingdom - in the battle for his life really. He probably didn’t know about the plan that had been put into place that targeted only him, or he likely wouldn’t have even wanted to go out with the army. But the contrast between the son’s attitude towards his father, and King David, who advised his men to “Be gentle with the young man Absalom for my sake” could not be greater!
Here is one example of David being a man after God’s own heart. It may just be a father’s love toward his son - David has proved that he cared deeply for his sons. He mourned the sickness of his son that was born to Bathsheba, and he was so distraught at the death of Amnon that he had allowed his relationship with Absalom to be affected. But I also feel that this is an example of the way that God treats us.
As we look back over the things we have done in our lives, we may not feel like we have done the kinds of things that Absalom did toward his father, but we have all turned our back on God, our heavenly father and have chosen our own way over his. When we choose to walk away from Him, it is as if we wished He didn’t even exist - that He was gone, or that at least He were not God. We have all chosen our own way over God’s - turning our back on His leadership in our lives. And yet, God sent His one and only Son Jesus, and He gave His life for all of us. It is grace under fire - Grace, Grace, God’s grace - grace that is greater than all our sin! So many people want Jesus to be their Savior - we like the idea of eternal life in heaven, so we accept His offer of salvation - we like that we have a savior, but He will not be your savior if He is not your Lord! You cannot have Him as one without the other!
The similarities fall short, however, because ultimately, Absalom is found hanging by the neck - or possibly by his hair. Matthew Henry, in his commentary described his predicament this way: “he hung between heaven and earth, as unworthy of either, as abandoned of both; earth would not keep him, heaven would not take him, hell therefore opens her mouth to receive him.” Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: complete and unabridged in one volume (p. 467). Peabody: Hendrickson.
You could describe our predicament in a similar fashion, but the difference is that God sent His Son for us while we were hanging in between heaven and earth and offered the sacrifice for our sins that would reconcile us to our heavenly father. If David had been able to send someone to Absalom as his life literally hung in the balance, he would have gladly accepted the help. God has sent His Son into our sinful predicament where our eternity is hanging in the balance. He wants to be your savior - but in order to do so, He must be your Lord! My fear today is that many people desire Him to be their savior, but what does it mean to make Him your Lord? Dictionary.com defines the word Lord this way: “a person who has authority, control, or power over others; a master, chief, or ruler.” You don’t get to choose Him as Savior without making Him your Lord.
In just a few moments, we are going to celebrate together what we often refer to as the Lord’s Supper. He invites us to His table that has been spread for us offering His grace - no matter what we have done or where we are in our spiritual journey. Will you accept His offer of grace and make Him your Lord & Savior?
The Communion Supper, instituted by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is a sacrament, which proclaims His life, His sufferings, His sacrificial death, and resurrection, and the hope of His coming again. It shows forth the Lord’s death until His return.
The Supper is a means of grace in which Christ is present by the Spirit. It is to be received in reverent appreciation and gratefulness for the work of Christ.
All those who are truly repentant, forsaking their sins, and believing in Christ for salvation are invited to participate in the death and resurrection of Christ. We come to the table that we may be renewed in life and salvation and be made one by the Spirit.
In unity with the Church, we confess our faith: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. And so we pray:
Prayer:
Holy God,
We gather at this, your table, in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, who by your Spirit was anointed to preach good news to the poor, proclaim release to the captives, set at liberty those who are oppressed. Christ healed the sick, fed the hungry, ate with sinners, and established the new covenant for forgiveness of sins. We live in the hope of His coming again.
On the night in which He was betrayed, He took bread, gave thanks, broke the bread, gave it to His disciples, and said: “This is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
Likewise, when the supper was over, He took the cup, gave thanks, gave it to His disciples, and said: “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in remembrance of me.” Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Matthew 26:27–29, Luke 22:19)
And so, we gather as the Body of Christ to offer ourselves to you in praise and thanksgiving. Pour out your Holy Spirit on us and on these your gifts. Make them by the power of your Spirit to be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world the Body of Christ, redeemed by His blood.
By your Spirit make us one in Christ, one with each other, and one in the ministry of Christ to all the world, until Christ comes in final victory. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen.
And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, let us pray:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
The body of our Lord Jesus Christ, broken for you, preserve you blameless, unto everlasting life. Eat this in remembrance that Christ died for you, and be thankful.
The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, shed for you, preserve you blameless unto everlasting life. Drink this in remembrance that Christ died for you, and be thankful.
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