Sermon Tone Analysis

Text: 2 Samuel 19:8-20:22

Theme: David deals appropriately with his friends and enemies to regain their confidence in him as their king.

Date: 10/17/2021 File name: King_David_16 ID Number: OT10-19

Psalm 55:1-23 written during David’s exile during Absalom’s rebellion.

• The King Returns

• The King Reconciles

• The King Rewards

• The King Reigns

I. THE KING RETURNS

1 Samuel 19:8-15

1. Absalom’s coup de tete has been defeated, and Absalom killed

2. the remnants of Absalom’s army has dispersed and made their way back to their homes

A. THE GREAT DEBATE — DO WE RESTORE DAVID?

1. once the men of Israel have returned home, the great debate begins throughout the nation ... Do we put David back on the throne or not?

a. in every revolution there are always three sides ...

1) those firmly in favor of political change — these are Absalom’s followers

2) those firmly in favor of political status-quo — these are David’s followers

3) those who are firmly neutral and are simply waiting to see which side wins

2. 2 Samuel 19:9 give us a sense of the political debate going on within the nation

a. the side for political change has lost, but a nation cannot survive without a government

ILLUS.

Right now the countries of Somalia, Yemen, Lebanon, Afghanistan, and half-a-dozen other nations are in the unenvious position of being failed nation/states.

These are nations where there is no national government or where the national government is inept or incapable of administering the nation.

All of these nations have devolved into anarchy with various parts of the country being ruled by gangs and warlords.

b.

Israel knows from it’s own history during the era of the Judges that a nation where everyone did what was right in his own eyes is not a way to live

c. in every village, town and city the elders debate the nation’s political future

“And all the people were arguing throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies and saved us from the hand of the Philistines, and now he has fled out of the land from Absalom.” (2 Samuel 19:9, ESV)

d. they’re weighing David’s competence as a leader

1) yes, he delivered us from our enemies; yes, he brought stability to the nation; yes, we’ve been prosperous under his leadership, but ...

2) when his own son rebelled, he fled ... is this the kind of King we want?

Can be trust his leadership?

3. the ten tribes in the north of Israel all agree that bringing David back is a good idea, but there is the proverbial fly in the ointment — David’s own tribesmen are not enthusiastic about restoring David to the throne

“But Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle.

Now therefore why do you say nothing about bringing the king back?”” (2 Samuel 19:10, ESV)

a. this verse is an inter-tribal dialogue — the ten northern tribes (Israel) are prodding Judah ... “You’re being awful quiet about this.

What’s going on?”

4. David hears of Judah’s reluctance and sends his priestly allies Zadok and Abiathar to shore up his support

a. David uses three strategies

“And King David sent this message to Zadok and Abiathar the priests: “Say to the elders of Judah, ‘Why should you be the last to bring the king back to his house, when the word of all Israel has come to the king? 12 You are my brothers; you are my bone and my flesh.

Why then should you be the last to bring back the king?’ 13 And say to Amasa, ‘Are you not my bone and my flesh?

God do so to me and more also, if you are not commander of my army from now on in place of Joab.’ ”” (2 Samuel 19:11–13, ESV)

1) 1st he reminds them that the ten northern tribes have already made the decision to restore David to his throne

a) does Judah really want to be the odd-man-out plunging the nation into chaos?

2) 2nd he reminds them that blood is thicker than water; he’s one of them, he’s of the tribe of Judah

3) 3rd, in a shrewd, nakedly political move, he appoints Amasa — his nephew who had rebelled with Absalom and served as his command-‘n-chief — as general over David’s army

a) first, it would show all rebels the extent of David’s forgiveness, since Amasa had been their commander

b) secondly, David took pleasure in displacing Joab, who had been responsible for killing Absalom

b.

David’s plan works

“And he swayed the heart of all the men of Judah as one man, so that they sent word to the king, “Return, both you and all your servants.”

15 So the king came back to the Jordan, and Judah came to Gilgal to meet the king and to bring the king over the Jordan.”

(2 Samuel 19:14–15, ESV)

The King Returns

II.

THE KING RECONCILES

1 Samuel 19:16-30

1. one of the big questions faced by a regime after a failed coup de tete is what do you do with the survivors of the rebellion?

a. David’s in a tight political spot ... he had to show graciousness and forgiveness to former rebels without angering loyal supporters

b. throughout the history of the world leaders who survive a coup attempt normally take the opportunity to purge known and potential rivals while also deterring future coup conspirators

ILLUS.

1937 was known as the “Year of the Great Purge” in the Soviet Union.

Joseph Stalin was so paranoid of a coup de tete that he had approximately one-million military leaders, political leaders, intellectuals, and perceived counter-revolutionaries executed.

And that was without an actual coup attempt against him.

(Hitler was a armature mass-murderer compared to Stalin).

c.

David was different — he offered grace and reconciliation

2. many of David’s political enemies from the previous chapters now come to the Jordan River to meet David’s entourage and seek forgiveness

a. Shimei is there ... he’s the one who cursed David and threw stones at him after David and his supporters have fled Jerusalem and are trudging up the slope of the Mount of Olives

1) hindsight being 20/20 Shimei, realizing the peril he put himself in, now seeks forgiveness

“And Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjaminite, from Bahurim, hurried to come down with the men of Judah to meet King David.

...

And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was about to cross the Jordan, 19 and said to the king, “Let not my lord hold me guilty or remember how your servant did wrong on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem.

Do not let the king take it to heart.

20 For your servant knows that I have sinned.

Therefore, behold, I have come this day, the first of all the house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king.””

(2 Samuel 19:16–20, ESV)

2) Abishai, David’s nephew and Joab’s brother, remembers Shimei’s insults recommends immediate execution

3) David is more merciful

“And the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.”

And the king gave him his oath.”

(2 Samuel 19:23, ESV)

b.

Ziba is there ... schmoozing, and attempting to curry even more favor with David

1) he has arrived with his fifteen sons, and twenty servants

“ ...

And Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, with his fifteen sons and his twenty servants, rushed down to the Jordan before the king, 18 and they crossed the ford to bring over the king’s household and to do his pleasure.

And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was about to cross the Jordan,” (2 Samuel 19:17–18, ESV)

2) as we will see in a moment, Ziba is not so much a loyal follower as he is a toady and an opportunist

c.

Mephibosheth is there ... the one whom Ziba accused of wanting to re-establish the dynasty of Saul

1) Mephibosheth pleads his case saying that Ziba had purposely left him behind, and then lied about his reason for remaining in Jerusalem

2) he had no intention of attempting to regain his grandfather Saul’s throne

a) Mephibosheth’s story has a ring of probability to it and seems to compromise Ziba’s story

3) David is half-convinced that Mephibosheth’s story is true, and divides Saul’s family land holdings 50-50 between Mephibosheth and Ziba (Ziba, afterall, did aid David in his flight from Absalom)

d.

Amasa is not there ... but David has already decided to not only let him live, but to retain him as general over the army

The King Reconciles

III.

THE KING REWARDS

1 Samuel 19:31-40

1. Barzillai the Gileadite is mentioned ten times in the Old Testament, and is described as a wealthy man from Rogelim in Gilead