King David's Song

David's Song

2 Samuel Chapter 22

At the end of last week's lesson we learned that King David had finally come back to Jerusalem.

David had been restored as King but as we know once there is a civil war it takes many years for all the scars to heal.

Chapter 21 through 24 gives us an epilogue of the life of David after these days.

We should not forget that David was the Lord's anointed King.

And King David was the recipient of the Lord's covenant promises.

And we will see today where King David takes the time late in life to express his thanks to the Lord his God.

What had David learned in all these years?

Number one: The Lord is the true source of all military successes and all personal successes.

Number two: It takes faithfulness in the Lord to enjoy the Lord's favor!

And number three: The Lord's covenant promises to David will be fulfilled despite all his weaknesses and all his failures.

We have already seen much of the fulfillment of the promises made to David.

We know the Messiah has come and we know him as the Lord Jesus Christ.

We do not know if David saw the church in the future. We do know that David knew a great deal of God's salvation plan.

The one thing that we should know for sure is that no matter how dark the days are and no matter how painful the memories, we can always praise the Lord for what He has done!

So let's begin:

*****2Sa 22:1 And David spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul:

When King David wrote this song, this verse tells us that he was not referring just to the deliverance from Absalom and being restored as King of Israel.

David wrote this song as this verse states because he had been delivered so many times from the hands of all his enemies and that included being delivered safely from King Saul.

The main thing that David had realized in all his years that he has not giving God the praise that He deserves.

King David has now realized that God does as He pleases, and all things are done according to His perfect will!

Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

And we all should realize that God cannot ever do things that are not in harmony with His nature!

The most important of these things is that God cannot go back on His Word.

2Ti 2:13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

God speaks the truth because God cannot lie!

In fact if we had another name for God, the name should be Truth!

Isa 45:5 I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:

It is only the Lord God Almighty who can deliver us from this evil world!

Psa_31:15 My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.

From the moment we are born until the day we die, we are in the hands of our Deliverer.

The choice to be delivered is given to each of us and this is the most important choice we have to make all of our days!

We must answer that question which is, "just how important is our God to us"?

*****2Sa 22:2 And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;
2Sa 22:3 The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.

We can see that David just could not find enough words to describe our God.

We can search to the ends of this Earth and in every language possible and we could not find the right words to describe our God.

He must certainly be our Rock!

Moses wrote that God is our rock!

Deu 32:4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

We must certainly know that the Lord our God is a faithful. God and he keeps his covenant and shows mercy to them that love him and keep his commandments.

We must all claim the Lord Jesus as our "Rock", just as David did and we must all drink from this same "Rock" just as the children of Israel did in the wilderness!

1Co 10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

Because that "Rock" is The Lord Jesus Christ!

It is only then, that the Lord can be our "Fortress" in times of trouble.

We can be sure as long as we are in these bodies of flesh, we will have some troubles

It is only then that the Lord can be our "Deliverer" from all our troubles.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the God of our "Rock"!

It is in the Lord Jesus Christ in whom we must "trust"!

When we "trust" the Lord Jesus Christ then He becomes our "Shield"!

In other words when the Lord Jesus Christ is our "shield", no weapon formed against us can prosper.

Isa 54:17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. "This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD".

When we trust the Lord Jesus Christ, He becomes "the horn of our salvation"!

When the Lord Jesus Christ was nailed to that cross He replaced all those meaningless sacrifices that had been tied to the "horns" of the altar.

We can grab on to our own salvation because those same "horns" are the emblems of power and dominion and glory in the sacrifice of the "Lamb of God"!.

It is when the Lord is in full "glory" when we see Him at His best!

And He then also becomes our "Hightower"!

A Hightower is a place that the enemy just cannot reach!

Therefore our Hightower then becomes our "Refuge"!

Jesus Christ becomes our "Hiding Place", our "Refuge", and the place where we can ride out the storms of this life, unseen by the enemy!

We are "saved from the violence coming to this world" after the "Rapture of the Church" during the Tribulation Period!

But we must first "call" on the Lord!

None of these things can take place without "Salvation"!

*****2Sa 22:4 I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: "so shall I be saved from mine enemies".

We must have that personal relationship with our God and in the Lord Jesus Christ!

Jesus said:

Joh 14:13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

We could call on Buddha but we would get no help!

We could call on Mohamed and we would certainly get no help!

We could call on any other name under Heaven and there would be no help!

There's only one name to call and there is only one way to reach Heaven!

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

We must cling to this truth because this is His "truth"!

It is only by the Lord Jesus Christ that we can be saved from our enemies and from our sin!

And why should we call of the Lord?

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

*****2Sa 22:5 When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid;
2Sa 22:6 The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me;
2Sa 22:7 In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears.

Once we become aware we are living in the "waves of death" we can begin to see "the floods of ungodly men" that surround us.

We are foolish not to be afraid!

Death and Hell are two separate things but they have joined forces against God's people.

In the book of Revelation we read these words:

Rev 6:8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

Death may be the end of misery in this world, but Hell should be a reminder that that misery is eternal without the "Real Life" that is in the Lord Jesus Christ!

We will not know "Real Life" until we are glorified with a body like that of the Lord Jesus Christ!

It is in the misery of life on this earth that brings such a distress.

And we have His promise that He will hear our voice and His Temple will become Our Temple!

But He cannot hear us if we have sin in our heart!

Psa 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

But there will still be some terrible times to be faced.

*****2Sa 22:8 Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was wroth.
2Sa 22:9 There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.
2Sa 22:10 He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and darkness was under his feet.

These things that David has written, go far beyond any poem that describes David's own personal deliverance.

If we remember the very moment that the Lord Jesus Christ said "it is finished", we should remember the great earthquake, and midday darkness at the scene of the cross.

But even these things are just a taste of what is coming in great day of judgment, when God will shake the earth and the sea and the dry land, all at the same time.

Hag 2:6 For thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land;
Hag 2:7 And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts.

When will these things happen?

Luk 17:26 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.
Luk 17:27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
Luk 17:28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
Luk 17:29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
Luk 17:30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

We would have to be dead in our own graves, or completely blind, to not realize that we are living in these days!

We can see Noah and David are both "types" of the Lord Jesus Christ our Creator!

And all these things describe the sufferings of Christ and the glory that will follow.

These are some of the prophecies that the Apostle Peter wrote about:

1Pe 1:9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
1Pe 1:10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:
1Pe 1:11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

As Noah and his family, a total of eight were delivered, and as David was also delivered, so it will be for the Church of the Living God!

*****2Sa 22:11 And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: and he was seen upon the wings of the wind.

The cherub were mighty angelic beings. In fact Cherubim are the highest order of the angelic beings.

Cherubim had extraordinary appearances.

Eze 1:5 Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man.
Eze 1:6 And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings.
Eze 1:7 And their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf's foot: and they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass.
Eze 1:8 And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings.
Eze 1:9 Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward.
Eze 1:10 As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle. Proof:

Satan himself had once been a Cherub.

Eze 28:14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.
Eze 28:15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.

But when we see pictures of the cherub today we see pictures of babies with wings, or toddlers with wings and bows, not a picture of the Cherub that the Bible describes.

The cherub are always associated with the presence of God in the Bible and there are many babies in Heaven but neither babies nor anyone else that make it to Heaven become angels or cherubim.

Angels are spirit beings "who do not have bodies as we know bodies" and are not subject to death!

Angels are another created being that go back to the first verse in the Book of Genesis.

Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

God gives us a description of what He created on this Earth but God also created all the things in Heaven at that same time.

Heb 1:14 Are they not all "ministering spirits", sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

Angels are ministering "spirits"!

Luk 20:36 Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.

Angels cannot die and a glorified Saint of God can die no more when they have received the eternal glorified body like that of Jesus. There will be no "second death" for the child of God!

*****2Sa 22:12 And he made darkness pavilions round about him, dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies.
2Sa 22:13 Through the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled.
2Sa 22:14 The LORD thundered from heaven, and the most High uttered his voice.

There should be little doubt that David knew these things from the 5 Books of Moses.

Exo 19:16 And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.
Exo 19:18 And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.
Exo 19:19 And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.

When God speaks in the end, the entire world will understand Who is speaking!

*****2Sa 22:15 And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and discomfited them.
2Sa 22:16 And the channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the world were discovered, at the rebuking of the LORD, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils.

There should also be no doubt that many these things happened in the time of Noah to include what Moses had also seen at the Red Sea.

But only in modern sea exploration have we learned about the "Channels of the Sea"!

In fact we may know more about outer space than we do about the depths of our own oceans!

We can see that God was expecting scientist to see His creation using modern scientific methods and be amazed at such creations but foolishly most of them reject Our Creator!

What are the "foundations of our world"?

The foundations of our world are the everlasting love, the everlasting wisdom, the everlasting power of God, in which all the Persons of the Godhead are in God's great design blended together and concurring with each other in unity and seen through the person of Lord Jesus Christ!

There is no foundation beyond these things!

Col 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Col 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Col 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Col 1:17 And he is before all things, "and by him all things consist".

It is this same Creator who is also Our Great "Deliverer"!

*****2Sa 22:17 He sent from above, he took me; he drew me out of many waters;
2Sa 22:18 He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated me: for they were too strong for me.
2Sa 22:19 They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.
2Sa 22:20 He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me.

The Lord "prevents" because "He goes before us" and there is nothing evil that can get up, over, or around Our Almighty God!

24 times in the Gospels, Jesus says "follow me".

That large place is His purpose for each of us and in the end "His Own Place"!

2Ti 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

And the Lord will then reward us according to how we have fulfilled His purpose for us.

*****2Sa 22:21 The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.
2Sa 22:22 For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
2Sa 22:23 For all his judgments were before me: and as for his statutes, I did not depart from them.
2Sa 22:24 I was also upright before him, and have kept myself from mine iniquity.
2Sa 22:25 Therefore the LORD hath recompensed me according to my righteousness; according to my cleanness in his eye sight.

Remember we have no righteousness in our selves! Our righteousness is as filthy rags!

We also have no cleanness in our selves, "we must be washed" in the blood of Jesus!

Job said:

Job 9:20 If I justify myself, "mine own mouth shall condemn me": if I say, I am perfect, "it shall also prove me perverse".
Job 9:21 Though I were perfect, "yet would I not know my soul": "I would despise my life".
Job 9:22 This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.

We must keep the Word of the Lord.
We must not depart from, nor forsake our God.
We must put on the Lord Jesus Christ!

Rom 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

It is only then that we can reap "the rewards" of salvation!

David had this same feeling when he had been delivered from all his enemies!

Jesus Christ is our Light in this dark world!

*****2Sa 22:26 With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful, and with the upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright.
2Sa 22:27 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself unsavoury.
2Sa 22:28 And the afflicted people thou wilt save: but thine eyes are upon the haughty, that thou mayest bring them down. 2Sa 22:29 For thou art my lamp, O LORD: and the LORD will lighten my darkness.

The Lord is faithful to those that trust Him.

In fact, the Lord is faithful to all His Written Word!

2Th 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.

But the Lord is unsavory to those who have twisted morals and reject Him.

Tit 1:15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

And what is the greatest thing we realize as the children of God?

*****2Sa 22:30 For by thee I have run through a troop: by my God have I leaped over a wall.
2Sa 22:31 As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.

Php 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

For Jesus Christ is my God!

Joh 1:41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.

When you find the Lord Jesus Christ you have found God!

*****2Sa 22:32 For who is God, save the LORD? and who is a rock, save our God?
2Sa 22:33 God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect.
2Sa 22:34 He maketh my feet like hinds' feet: and setteth me upon my high places.
2Sa 22:35 He teacheth my hands to war; so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.
2Sa 22:36 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great.

If we can remember the covenants God has already made with His people, we should begin to realize that God is always doing great things for His people!

There is nothing else in all God's creation that is like Our Lord, He is the Rock by which we exist!

Isa 45:5 I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:
Isa 45:6 That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.
Isa 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

When we know the Lord our Savior we can never fail!

*****2Sa 22:37 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; so that my feet did not slip.

It is a fact that true life in Heaven will be a glorious thing but even in this life there is joy in salvation!

Joh 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

1Pe 1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
1Pe 1:9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

There is great joy in salvation!

And God is always busy behind the scenes, doing great things for His people!

We can have many blessings while we yet live in this flesh, and more gifts by His hands, but there will only be One Jesus Christ who paid our sin debt.

But when we know Our Savior, we will also know The Lord Jesus will return in judgment!

*****2Sa 22:38 I have pursued mine enemies, and destroyed them; and turned not again until I had consumed them.
2Sa 22:39 And I have consumed them, and wounded them, that they could not arise: yea, they are fallen under my feet.
2Sa 22:40 For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me.
2Sa 22:41 Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me.
2Sa 22:42 They looked, but there was none to save; even unto the LORD, but he answered them not.
2Sa 22:43 Then did I beat them as small as the dust of the earth, I did stamp them as the mire of the street, and did spread them abroad.
2Sa 22:44 Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people, thou hast kept me to be head of the heathen: a people which I knew not shall serve me.
2Sa 22:45 Strangers shall submit themselves unto me: as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient unto me.
2Sa 22:46 Strangers shall fade away, and they shall be afraid out of their close places.

There is no doubt that David was looking back and had recalled how the Lord had helped him during his difficult times.

But these words cannot apply to just to David or any other man.

God has always rewarded those that follow in His ways and has always punished the evil in this world!

These words also speak of the Second Coming of the Messiah.

Yes, The Lord will return because we serve a Living Saviour!

*****2Sa 22:47 The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation.
2Sa 22:48 It is God that avengeth me, and that bringeth down the people under me,
2Sa 22:49 And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies: thou also hast lifted me up on high above them that rose up
against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.
2Sa 22:50 Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name.
2Sa 22:51 He is the tower of salvation for his king: and sheweth mercy to his anointed, unto David, and to his seed for
evermore.

Our God is alive!

He is active in our lives the moment we call on Him to save us!

God has given us the ability to choose and the choices we make have a great affect our lives as we live and certainly on the life we will have after the death of this flesh.

Along with "choice" God has also given us the ability to "trust"!

It is necessary to "trust" to exist as a society.

But is is Our God who must be the object of that "trust"!

Psa 65:5 By terrible things in righteousness wilt thou answer us, O God of our salvation; who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea:

Until Holy Spirit conviction came to us to convict us, we were not seeking God, we did not desire God, and we went about our days not thinking about God!

But while we were yet ungodly, God sent His Son to save us, "because He is merciful"!

Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Tit 3:6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

It is that "trust" that comes with salvation where we can begin to please Our God!

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

The major theme of David's song is "the Lord's protection and His deliverance".

The Lord is our protector and our deliverer!

Verse 51 closes with "He is the tower of salvation".

The Anointed One is the "Messiah", the promised seed of David!

But also like David, God is active in our lives both on happy occasions and more so those times when we are sad, if we only ask Him.

God has a specific purpose for each of us!

Just as we should rejoice knowing the Lord as Our Savior, God rejoices more, to be a part of our lives.

The gentle hand of God is molding and making us every moment we live in His Name.

Because just like Jesus, we that know God, are his sons!

Gal 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

Abba still means a father of tenderness.

That is Our Savior!

Questions?

Let's Pray!

King David's Return

David's Return

2 Samuel 19-21

When we ended the last lesson, the rebellion of Absalom had been put down and Absalom had been killed by Joab.

We should ask our selves, "What are the qualities of a good national leader"?

1) A good leader must be able to communicate!

A leader should be able to speak well, but this means "more about personal strengths and character" than of being a great speaker.

2) A good leader must possess courage, patience, and tenacity, which is the ability to keep things together.

He should be able to stand up and "stand alone if need be" and not succumb to pressure that goes against his character and the truth.

3) A good leader must be able to change course. This world changes, as do the things around us, a good leader will see these things and choose the path that is the safest and wisest to meet his goals.

4) A good leader will possess humility and presence. He will not place himself above his own people and certainly not above God.

5) A good leader will be responsible. He will be the first to accept the blame when things do not go according to his plans.

6) A good leader will analyze his own strengths and weakness and surround himself with people to help with these things.

7) A good leader will use the Word of God as his guide.

2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

And with all these things, a good leader must "Be Real"!

Each of us should analyze our own selves to see if we possess any to these things.

We should also analyze our own national leaders to see if they do.

But today let's see how King David uses these traits.

We must realize that God's people will suffer many afflictions, but God will deliver those that love Him out of them all!

*****2Sa 19:1 And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom.

The army of Absalom had been unable to stand against the elite army of King David.

King David was a great tactician and he chose the right place to war with Absalom. The army of Absalom had moved quickly which shows us that they were on horses and on chariots.

King David chose a place where his mighty men had the advantage as warriors in hand to hand combat.

King David had 3 generals who had much experience and they had a real purpose to defend the true King of Israel but they could fight on 3 fronts.

20,000 Israelites did die in this battle this day and the rebellion was put down but King David could only think of one thing.

David had lost another son.

There is nothing wrong with a father grieving for the loss of a son. We all expect to go to the grave before any of our children do.

BUT, there is much wrong in any national leader, who do not to have his priorities in order!

Absalom was seeking to kill his own father and maybe the rest of his family.

Many loyal men had given their lives in order to stop this from happening.

And Joab was told of King David's mourning the death of his son.

*****2Sa 19:2 And the victory that day was turned into mourning unto all the people: for the people heard say that day how the king was grieved for his son.

As a father David would have given in to his son.

But as King, he had to defend Israel from all her enemies and that included rebellions from within even from within his own family.

Even those that had brought victory to this king, joined in mourning for the death of Absalom, feeling ashamed of what had happened.

The joy of victory in Israel had been robbed by King David's actions!

It was not like David to be so insensitive to the sacrifices of his men, but on this day he turn a military victory into an emotional defeat and it showed on all his men and they, as in shame returned to Jerusalem, while a confused nation was observing what was happening.

*****2Sa 19:3 And the people gat them by stealth that day into the city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.

Absalom was not only a murderer but he was also a liar, a traitor and a rebel. As a father it may have been alright to grieve for his son and maybe even over look his son's mistakes, but as a ruler of God's people it was time to lead this nation back to unity!

David the father ignored the fact that he was David the King, the chosen one of God!

The victorious army of David came back to Jerusalem as a defeated army and "themselves the traitors" when it was they who had saved the nation.

King David had allowed his own personal failures again to interfere with good judgment!

And David himself came back to Jerusalem as a defeated man.

*****2Sa 19:4 But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!

What is our lesson in these things?

When God disciplines his saints it can be very painful!

God had been forgiven David and his life had been spared.

David's remaining family had also been spared but David still had to live in the reality of his own sin!

Sin will take you farther than you want to go.

Sin will keep you longer than you want to stay.

Sin will cost you more than you want to pay.

There is no victory in Sin!

King David was finding the Word of God to be very true!

Jas 4:1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?

King David needed a jolt back into reality.

*****2Sa 19:5 And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, which this day have saved thy life, and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy concubines;

2Sa 19:6 In that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends. For thou hast declared this day, that thou regardest neither princes nor servants: for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well.

2Sa 19:7 Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto thy servants: for I swear by the LORD, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry one with thee this night: and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil that befell thee from thy youth until now.

At the very time when Israel needed a true leader to unify the nation, King David was still useless to his nation because of his own guilt.

David knew he was to blame for all these things and he had now lost two sons!

We will pay a terrible price for sin!

David was God's chosen man in his day and God expects better from those with that special calling!

Many others in Israel had lost their own sons in this war within David's family and they were understandably disappointed in their king!

It was right for Joab to remind the King of these things!

It was wrong for Joab to be so harsh in the way he did it but his method was effective.

What is our lesson here?

2Co 2:6 Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.

2Co 2:7 So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, "lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow".

When our sin causes us to grow cold and unconcerned, it is the Word of God that must be used to restore us!

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

A two-edged sword has no blunt side it cuts both ways. God's Word will "cut the conscience" and "wound the heart" but only then can true healing come about!

Mal 4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

There is another thing to consider. Even in this thing David was a type of Christ!

David wished that he might have died for his son who was ungodly but "this is exactly what the Lord Jesus did for each one of us"!

Rom 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time "Christ died for the ungodly".

Not one of us was worthy of the death of Jesus Christ!

Yet without the blood of that death we would still be in our sin!

Rev 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, "and washed us from our sins in his own blood",

After this King David returned to his people to begin the healing process of God's people.

*****2Sa 19:8 Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. And they told unto all the people, saying, Behold, the king doth sit in the gate. And all the people came before the king: for Israel had fled every man to his tent.

These were people who had remained loyal to their king. These were not all military people.

Some of these were the fathers and mothers and the families, the everyday innocent people, who get caught up in the tragedies of politics and war.

These people had fled their homes out of fear and had lived in tents during the time of this civil war in their own nation.

It was at the gate of the city where justice was administered by the king and David had returned to his rightful place, though at this time David was still in Mahanaim his temporary capitol.

The remaining tribes had lost faith in their king.

*****2Sa 19:9 And all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king saved us out of the hand of our enemies, and he delivered us out of the hand of the Philistines; and now he is fled out of the land for Absalom.

These people began to remember the good times.

It was King David who had gain victory over all the enemies of Israel.

It was King David who had who had delivered Israel out of the hands of the Philistines.

And it was many of these same people who had come under the spell that crooked politician, Absalom.

The tribes of Israel had again divided, with 1o tribes (Israel) and the other two (Judah).

Absalom had died in the battle at the hands of Joab.

Absalom had not been appointed of God and therefore there should have been no true allegiance to him.

But no one had spoken of restoring King David to his throne.

King David had to reunite this nation as only he could do!

It was Judah who was David's own tribe and it was Judah that had accepted Absalom. Therefore it was Judah where King David would begin to heal his nation.

David sent the High Priests, Zadok and Abiathar, to be his ambassadors to Judah.

Amasa had been the general of Absalom's army but Amasa was also the son of David's sister, Abigail.

It is probable that David now knew that it was Joab who had murdered Absalom, directly ignoring the orders of his Commander-in-Chief.

So, David offers Amasa the top position in his own army and replaces Joab.

This was probably a shock to Judah, but in this action it showed that David would pardon all those that had followed after Absalom.

David had also reached a point where he finally understood that Israel needed a true leader more than they needed a Warrior King. It was no longer a time when Kings should go to war!

David needed a general that would be obedient to his commander and Joab had proved that he would not always be obedient.

With these things Judah asked their king to return to Jerusalem and his throne.

*****2Sa 19:14 And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as the heart of one man; so that they sent this word unto the king, Return thou, and all thy servants.

2Sa 19:15 So the king returned, and came to Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to conduct the king over Jordan.

While all the other tribes were still debating what to do, the tribe of Judah went to receive their king.

Gilgal was another place that had a great history to Israel.

It was at Gilgal that Joshua had made his first camp when Israel had first claimed the land that God had given to them.

And it was at Gilgal is the place that Samuel had chosen to renew the kingdom.

1Sa 11:14 Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.

This was a time of re-dedication of the king to all of Israel!

God gave King David many opportunities to show his re-dedication as he returned to Jerusalem.

Shemei, the cursing man, ask for and was granted forgiveness and Shemei represented the house of Joseph.

Ziba returned to honor the king. Ziba represents the house of Benjamin.

Mephibosheth who had made a personal vow, not to shave, nor to change his clothes until the king returned, came to receive the king.

The king not knowing the truth of Mephibosheth and Ziba forgave then both and divided the lands of King Saul between them!

King David still remained true to his covenant with Jonathan!

And then their was a close friend.

*****2Sa 19:34 And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem?

2Sa 19:35 I am this day fourscore years old: and can I discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king?

King David felt deeply indebted to this man who had supported him throughout this entire ordeal.

In a real sense, Barzillai was someone who David could never repay for what he had done!

Barzillai was also someone who David felt an eternal obligation!

Barzillai's family would always find a ready acceptance in Israel's royal court!

And David gave these words to his son Solomon:

1Ki 2:7 But shew kindness unto the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be of those that eat at thy table: for so they came to me when I fled because of Absalom thy brother.

Let's listen to what the Lord Jesus says to His disciples:

Luk 22:28 Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.

Luk 22:29 And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;

Luk 22:30 That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

And what else did Jesus say?

Rev 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

No matter what the rest of the world is doing, and no matter what the cost, we need to be like Barzillai and stick close by Our King, King Jesus!

*****2Sa 19:36 Thy servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king: and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward?

2Sa 19:37 Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die in mine own city, and be buried by the grave of my father and of my mother. But behold thy servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good unto thee.

Barzillai wanted to be shown "no favor" from the King!

Barzillai's joy "came from serving" and seeing that his king had remained safe!

Barzillai should remind us of every servant of the Lord "who has served all his days and has now grown old gracefully to live out his remaining days".

Barzillai "had no interest in the things of the world" nor "the life of royalty".

Barzillai had the servant's heart!

Barzillai knew he would have no pleasure in a royal court of the King but would enjoy his last days doing the things he most enjoyed.

When death came Barzillai wanted to be by his closest friends and buried near those that had gone on before him!

At 80 years old Barzillai had seen all the days of King Saul and all the days of King David but Barzillai had chosen David.

By life's end we will have seen many kings and rulers but the wise will have chosen King Jesus, and remained faithful to Him!

It was Chimham who had stood by his own father and as this son, it would be he who would receive his father's reward here on this Earth!

*****2Sa 19:38 And the king answered, Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him that which shall seem good unto thee: and whatsoever thou shalt require of me, that will I do for thee.

Several hundred years later Jeremiah wrote of Chimham.

Jer 41:17 And they departed, and dwelt in "the habitation of Chimham", which is by Bethlehem, to go to enter into Egypt,

King David was born in Bethlehem and it seems that Chimham was placed as the overseer of David's personal family inheritance in Bethlehem.

This later "habitation" was probably an inn according to the Hebrew word used.

There many today that suppose that it was in the stable of this inn where the Lord Jesus was born but the Bible does not say nor does it deny this thing.

Luk 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

But David's return as King did not make everyone happy!

There is always the trouble maker!

*****2Sa 19:41 And, behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said unto the king, Why have our brethren the men of Judah stolen thee away, and have brought the king, and his household, and all David's men with him, over Jordan?

2Sa 19:42 And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the king is near of kin to us: wherefore then be ye angry for this matter? have we eaten at all of the king's cost? or hath he given us any gift?

2Sa 19:43 And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, We have ten parts in the king, and we have also more right in David than ye: why then did ye despise us, that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our king? And the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.

2Sa 20:1 And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel.

There may have been some peace in David's family for a time but the sword was still hanging over David's head!

King David knew that he needed the tribe of Judah in order to remain King of Israel but because Judah came alone to welcome David back into Israel it brought on extreme jealousy and David's troubles were not yet over.

The invitation for the return of the King had first come from those ten tribes but Judah had taken the lead as usual and again this caused a rivalry between the tribes.

What does God say?

Mat 12:25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:

God also has this message for us all:

Jas 3:13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

Jas 3:14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

Jas 3:15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

Jas 3:16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

In all these things, we never read that anyone had taken the time to reach out to the Lord and when this happens Satan will always take advantage of the situation!

Sheba was a worthless man who had no interest in peace and wicked men think they are safe when they can conceal their unworthiness from the eyes of the world.

To Sheba, David had never been a king and certainly did not deserve royalty. To Sheba, David was just the son of Jesse a very poor man.

It sometimes seems that every bad man will get an opportunity to stir up strife!

That is because there are always ears open to criticism and this plays into Satan's hand!

Satan will find a way to get his message heard so the ten tribes of Israel departed to their own homes.

King David proceeded to Jerusalem to set things straight.

David had chosen Amasa, who was soundly defeated by David's army to stop this rebellion of Sheba but Amasa showed his incompetence by not being able to assemble an army in the time allowed by his Commander-in-Chief.

And David sent Abishai with Joab's men to capture and to stop Sheba before a new revolt could take place and Israel back in civil war.

Amasa was not able to raise an army, so he tried to join with Abishai but when Joab saw him, he killed him for wearing his own uniform.

Amasa had lost his own sword and was defenseless and Joab murders another human being for no real reason.

When someone is pierced between the fifth rib, "it is a death blow", because it penetrates the lungs and on into the heart and the victim will drown in his own blood. It is a painful, and a struggling slow death that cannot be reversed by any medical means.

This is the same blow that was delivered to Jesus on the cross but The Lord Jesus had already given up the ghost.

Joh 19:34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.

Every soldier is taught the blows that bring this kind of death!

Sheba escaped and had took refuge in the city of Abel.

At this time Abel was a strong city and was referred to as "the mother of Israel".

It seems that at this time this city was governed by a truly wise woman.

Those that say God does not treat women as equal to men do not know the Word of God!

God does expect a man to take the leadership role in the family and this includes the Church!

*****2Sa 20:16 Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak with thee.

2Sa 20:17 And when he was come near unto her, the woman said, Art thou Joab? And he answered, I am he. Then she said unto him, Hear the words of thine handmaid. And he answered, I do hear.

2Sa 20:18 Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask counsel at Abel: and so they ended the matter.

2Sa 20:19 I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?

The city of Abel was about to be destroyed because this city was harboring the enemy of the King.

Why is is that evil men who know they are wrong always use innocent people as a barrier between them and justice.?

This is the favorite tactic of Muslim extremist, yet the Muslim world will not put a stop to it.

It is within the power of the Muslim world to end this terror in the world we live in, but they are not as wise as this woman of Abel.

No city, and no place is safe with the traitors of peace within it's walls!

And no place is safe that harbors and exalts sin!

God says wisdom comes from the Word of God!

And wisdom comes not only from knowledge but also from perception of right and wrong!

It was not necessary for this city to suffer for the guilt of this one man!

Most all the world is not as wise as this woman!

Take Caiaphas in the day of Jesus Christ, who knew the Word of God and condemned an innocent man knowing his own nation would suffer.

Today, the guilty are cared for and protected while the innocent suffer for them!

We can see that we just do not have our priorities in the right order.

No doubt it is always better to seek peace before the armies are dispatched for destruction!

We should ask ourselves, is it worth the cost in lives and other things, to protect the guilty or should we be more willing protect the innocent?

Joab would not have stopped until he had destroyed this city to rid Israel of this traitor Sheba.

20,000 Israelites had already died, there was no need for more death and Joab answered.

*****2Sa 20:20 And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.

2Sa 20:21 The matter is not so: but a man of mount Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, hath lifted up his hand against the king, even against David: deliver him only, and I will depart from the city. And the woman said unto Joab, Behold, his head shall be thrown to thee over the wall.

This wise woman simply told Joab, that the people of the city had not been given the opportunity to decide amongst themselves if they would fight for the life of Sheba and she wanted that opportunity.

A great lesson for the lost can be realized here.

Every person is a city within themselves. Satan is the "traitor", the enemy of God. If we love the "traitor" above our own soul we will certainly perish with the "traitor"!

And if we will willingly part from our sin, God will withdraw His "judgments"!

The Lord Jesus has these words:

Mat 5:29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

Mat 5:30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

It is always best to take off the head of Sheba, than for our city to be destroyed!

Wicked men always think they are safe when they think they can hide their own evil from the eyes of the world but God is never fooled by such men!

Questions?

Let's Pray!

King David's Grief

David's Grief

2 Samuel Chapter 15-18

God told King David that the sword would never depart from the house of David.

Today we will see that the division in the family of David would spread to divide the entire nation of Israel.

How can we best describe Absalom?

Let's let God describe Absalom for us.

Pro 6:16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

Pro 6:17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

Pro 6:18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

Pro 6:19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

Absalom had been allowed back into Israel after 2 years by his father but it took 3 more years for King David to allow Absalom to be in his presence and to have some official duties.

There was still no forgiveness and also no punishment for the death of Amnon.

So Absalom set out to destroy his own father.

*****2Sa 15:1 And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.

King David's government had become lax. King David was still the final authority of Israel but his own sin had made him an unworthy judge and he was still ignoring the commandments of God in judging his own family.

King David was losing the respect of the people of Israel.

Many of these things sound so familiar with what we see in America today.

Absalom used this weakness of his father to undermine the throne and seek the heart of the people.

Absalom was determined to be the next King of Israel no matter the cost!

While the King was rarely seen in public, Absalom made a great public showing of his royalty everywhere he went showing that he would soon be king.

Absalom had no more love for his father and he cared not for the things of God.

Absalom was a spoiled rich kid who had now rebelled against his own father.

Absalom had become these very things that God hates the most!

*****2Sa 15:2 And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.

Absalom became as a politician running for office!

Absalom is the first recorded politician in the Bible.

Absalom would say things that he knew would tickle the ears of those who heard him.

Public business was transacted early in the morning. It would be normal for the King or at least his representative to be at the gate of the city early in the morning to hear any petition that required an answer from the king.

King David had been lax in this duty and many things were left undecided.

Absalom would point out to all who listened, that they could see that there was no one available from the king but that could be different if he were king of Israel.

There would be no vote to see who would be the next king, but Absalom sought public opinion even if he had to lie.

*****2Sa 15:3 And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee.

2Sa 15:4 Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!

Absalom pointed out that his father was a failure as King of Israel, thinking only of his own self and not justice for the people.

At that time some of these things were true but it is unrealistic to believe that the king could take the time to hear every problem and we already know that King David could still discern between good and evil.

But where King David was a hero, "Absalom was a celebrity" and even today people are swayed by the things that celebrities say even though they have no real knowledge of the truth!

Samuel had warned Israel of the men like Absalom that would come.

1Sa 8:10 And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king.

1Sa 8:11 And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots.

Absalom would say but "if I were king, things would be different".

How many of us have heard all these things?

This is the favorite tactic of the politician even in our day?

*****2Sa 15:5 And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him.

2Sa 15:6 And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

The kiss.

Absalom greeted everyone like they were old friends.

Absalom would find out where they came from and showed concern for their problems.

Absalom would agree with them on their complaints.

Absalom would tell them that surely things should be settled in their favor.

This was gross flattery of the most despicable kind!

Why had all these things happened?

Because King David had placed himself above the Word of God!

What do we see in the world today?

The entire world is rejecting the Word of God!

Who will be the "next one" to come on the scene according to the Word of God?

The Bible says.

Dan 11:21 And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.

How can we best describe Absalom as he appeared to Israel?

Psa 55:21 The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.

Absalom was in this sense a "type" of the Anti-Christ!

We can place Absalom in many "types" in the Bible "but we should not think of him as an abused son for he was not"!

The Bible says.

Rom 16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

Absalom did not greet Israel with a holy kiss.

And we need to beware of the politician who greet everyone with a kiss!

Absalom "stole" the hearts of many in Israel.

And again Absalom deceives his father.

*****2Sa 15:7 And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the LORD, in Hebron.

Hebron was a city that was the home of much of the history of Israel. Once called Mamre, Hebron had been the home of Abraham and Isaac.

Joshua had reclaimed Hebron from the giants and Hebron became the center of the tribe of Judah.

In many cases the other tribes of Israel had followed Judah throughout Israel's history from the time of Moses.

David had first reigned as king in Hebron.

Absalom needed Hebron and Judah on his side if he were to be king!

It had taken only 4 years for the flatteries of Absalom to divide Israel into two warring sides.

And Absalom set his plan in place.

*****2Sa 15:12 And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counsellor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.

Athithophel was King David's counsellor because he could quickly discern a good idea from a bad idea and he could separate truth from falsehood but as we will see his loyalties were questionable.

In truth Ahithophel can be considered a "type" of Judas who would sell his services for money.

Only then did King David hear of this conspiracy.

*****2Sa 15:13 And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.

2Sa 15:14 And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.

King David was a man of great personal bravery so why did he flee from Jerusalem?

1) David knew it was because of his own sin that these things were happening.

God had told him that "He would raise up evil out of his own house".

God's Word was being fulfilled right before David's eyes.

2) David had beautified the city of Jerusalem, which he loved very much and he would not see war destroy these things.

King David was not about to bring war to the streets of Jerusalem.

3) David could not bear to shed the blood of the people of Israel. David had grown to love these people!

4) David loved Absalom and David would concede the throne to Absalom before he would be a cause of his death.

We should notice one thing in particular!

Bad leaders, full of immorality, and seeking their own personal agenda, make their governments contemplable to the people!

We need to elect just and pure and godly men into the offices of power, no other traits are as important as these!

Israel was divided by all these things that were happening.

And we know that America is as divided today, almost as much as when we had our own Civil War.

What is important?

It was God who had made David, King of Israel!

And God does as God does!

God had not caused all these things to happen!

These things happened because we live in a sin filled world influenced by Satan.

God just did not stop these things from happening, which He could have but God expects us to come to Him with our problems!

It was David's sin that had caused these things just as it was Adam's sin that had caused the curse on this world we live in!

Fleeing from Jerusalem seemed to be the most logical thing to do to allow King David to better prepare for what had happened so quickly.

We are not promised tomorrow!

In order for things to go well with us, then we need that true relationship with God on a daily basis.

When Jesus teaches His disciples how to pray, He teaches us 4 very special things.

1) We must place God's interest before our own personal needs!

2) We must keep our personal needs in the right proportion to our spiritual needs! (Which ever we feed the most)

3) Our relationship with God requires our prayers at least daily!

4) We must trust God for our present needs, not worrying about tomorrow!

We do not read where King David took time to pray on this day.

David fled for his life because he knew he would not fight Absalom.

*****2Sa 15:15 And the king's servants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint.

2Sa 15:16 And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the house.

2Sa 15:17 And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off.

2Sa 15:18 And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.

King David had all his personal body guard who would not leave him and 600 Philistines.

These men would give their lives to protect King David but they were also willing to be obedient to him without question.

David took his entire household except for 10 concubines.

In these times a concubine was considered a lower class of wife and not just some plaything!

But the children from the concubine could not claim any part of the inheritance of their father.

The Church is the "Bride of Christ" but the Church is not the "Concubine of Christ"!

Rev 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

What does God say about the marriage?

Gen 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and "they shall be one flesh".

The Church is "one with Christ" and not some plaything nor a concubine!

These 10 women were to keep the palace household goods and furniture in order.

This not the job of the Church.

The Church is to make disciples and keep salvation the main thing!

*****2Sa 15:19 Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king: for thou art a stranger, and also an exile.

Ittai was Philistine who had with him 600 men.

He had no side in this battle and had dedicated himself and his men to the King of Israel.

But, Ittai regarded King David as his master and himself as David's slave.

In "type" Ittai is the "Gentile" who is a slave to Our Master, The Lord Jesus Christ, and we will soon see that he has equal rank among Joab and Abishai the Generals of David's armies.

We are all one in Christ Jesus!

Rom 2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:

Rom 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

God teaches us that when we show ourselves friendly we can have friends who are closer than a brother.

Ittai was such a friend to King David.

Ittai was exiled from the Philistines and could not go back home.

If Ittai stayed with King David and David failed, he would no longer be welcomed in Israel under Absalom.

Ittai had a lot to lose but he stayed with God's chosen.

And Ittai said.

*****2Sa 15:21 And Ittai answered the king, and said, As the LORD liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be.

Jesus Christ gave us these words:

Joh 12:26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

At this time in his life Ittai was the type of friend that King David needed.

This the type of person that Jesus wants us all to be today!

Our job is to serve those that God chooses for His own purpose!

There are just too many today that try to make Our Lord Jesus Christ a stepping stone to help them get to Heaven.

To them Our Lord is only a convenience to serve their own purpose.

This not what the Lord wants!

The citizens of Heaven will be people who have accepted the Lord Jesus not only as Master, but also as the Only King, and the Creator of this world and of Heaven.

It is the Church who is a stranger and an exile in this world and it is Jesus Christ that we must follow!

If Jesus could fail, then the Church would fail!

We must follow Jesus even if it means our own death!

*****2Sa 15:23 And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.

2Sa 15:24 And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God: and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city.

2Sa 15:25 And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me again, and shew me both it, and his habitation:

2Sa 15:26 But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him.

2Sa 15:27 The king said also unto Zadok the priest, Art not thou a seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.

2Sa 15:28 See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me.

2Sa 15:29 Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they tarried there.

At this time Zadok and Abiather shared the priestly duties and they thought it would be best if the they and the Ark of God went with King David.

David knew that the Ark belonged to the people of God and not just to the ruler of Israel.

The things of God cannot be treated like some good luck charm!

It is God Himself who will defend His Own things!

King David realized that in the time of Eli, the glory of the Lord had departed from Israel, and one of the reasons was that the Ark of God had been taken to the battlefield as some idol or as some good luck charm.

King David knew that the Covenant of God could not be broken no matter who sat on the throne in Israel.

King David also knew, that if he was to return to the throne in Jerusalem it would be by the hand of God.

What is Faith?

Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

So, David continues his escape.

*****2Sa 15:30 And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.

2Sa 15:31 And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.

2Sa 15:32 And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the mount, where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head:

King David traveled by the way of the Mount of Olives.

King David wept as he ascended up the Mount of Olives and 1000 years later, Jesus Christ wept as He descended from the Mount of Olives.

Luk 19:41 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,

Luk 19:42 Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.

Jerusalem was in a turmoil the day King David left and was still in a turmoil the day the Lord had come and Jerusalem will remain in a turmoil until The Lord Jesus, The Son of David returns to sit again on the throne in Jerusalem!

The Bible still says.

Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Isa 9:7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

Ahithophel was the father of Bathsheba and he had not liked any of the things that had happened to his daughter nor to Uriah.

Remember Ahithophel was quick to discern such things as these, which had made him a wise counselor.

Ahithophel had deserted his king but King David went to the Mighty Counselor who had promised to always be with him.

As King David finally worshipped the Lord, he prayed that God would change the council of Ahithophel into foolishness.

So immediately God answered David's prayer and God sent King David's friend Hushai.

Hushai went back to Jerusalem to counteract the influence of Ahithophel.

If Absalom had listened to Ahithophel, he may have destroyed his father but by listening to Hushai, King David had time to gather his army and Absalom's conspiracy was ended.

As King David had gone on a little farther there came Ziba to take advantage of David.

*****2Sa 15:37 So Hushai David's friend came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem.

2Sa 16:1 And when David was a little past the top of the hill, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and an hundred bunches of raisins, and an hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.

2Sa 16:2 And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And Ziba said, The asses be for the king's household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as be faint in the wilderness may drink.

2Sa 16:3 And the king said, And where is thy master's son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.

2Sa 16:4 Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine are all that pertained unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I humbly beseech thee that I may find grace in thy sight, my lord, O king.

Without much explanation it seems that Ziba had taken this opportunity to make himself more loyal then Mephibosheth.

What Ziba was saying was that Mephibosheth had remained in Jerusalem in the hope that there would be enough supporters to make him king instead of Absalom. He was as the only remaining descendant of King Saul.

We can see that there was friction between Mephibosheth and Ziba and Ziba was trying to take advantage of this situation.

But David continued and someone else showed up but not with good tidings.

*****2Sa 16:5 And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came.

2Sa 16:6 And he cast 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.

2Sa 16:7 And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial:

2Sa 16:8 The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man.

Shimei was a direct descendant of Benjamin through his father Gera and he took this opportunity to blaspheme and curse King David as he cast stones at him.

It seems he had a real hatred for King David but at this time he was nothing more than a nuisance and David allowed him his folly.

Bahurim was a town, very near the Jordan River and David stopped to refresh himself and those with him.

As David took some time to refresh himself near Bahurim, Absalom and his army enter into Jerusalem.

*****2Sa 16:14 And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary, and refreshed themselves there.

2Sa 16:15 And Absalom, and all the people the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.

Absalom came into Jerusalem without seeing a trace of his enemy, his own father, but also not realizing that even on his departure his father had outwitted him and had set up a spy network to keep him informed of Absalom's intentions.

We are always to submit to God's Will!

But we are not to live as hermits!

We are to stay informed of our surroundings and pray for God's intervention!

In the case of King David we can see that God answers part of his prayer immediately.

But before this takes place God's Word will always hold true!

What had God said?

2Sa 12:11 Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.

2Sa 12:12 For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.

God's Word cannot fail!

*****2Sa 16:20 Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel among you what we shall do.

2Sa 16:21 And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father's concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong.

2Sa 16:22 So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.

2Sa 16:23 And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had enquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.

We can see that the Lord had known the heart of Ahithophel all along and knew just how wicked he truly was!

When Absalom violates his father's concubines it shows all of Jerusalem that he has despised his father's throne.

This was not an endorsement from God for Absalom to do evil!

This is just what evil things will happen when God lifts that hedge of protection.

What will happen immediately after the Church is raptured out of this world?

2Th 2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.

2Th 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

When the Holy Ghost filled Church is raptured out of this world there will be no force on this earth to hold back the evil.

It is God's people who are holding back much of the evil in this world.

It is the Church that supports the moral laws and is to hate all lawlessness.

The Holy Spirit will operate much like He did in the Old Testament and evil will run rampant throughout this world.

And verse 23 states that the opinions of Ahithophel were accepted as if he were a prophet of God, which he was not!

But this evil councilor had a plan that could have destroyed King David if God had allowed it to take place.

*****2Sa 17:1 Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night:

2Sa 17:2 And I will come upon him while he is weary and weak handed, and will make him afraid: and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only:

2Sa 17:3 And I will bring back all the people unto thee: the man whom thou seekest is as if all returned: so all the people shall be in peace.

2Sa 17:4 And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel.

2Sa 17:5 Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise what he saith.

Hushai was David's friend and it was Hushai who counteracted the influence of Ahithophel.

God will put the right people in place to see that His will is done!

King David's army would have been over whelmed by such a large force at this time.

David needed time to gather his army and this time was obtained by the advice of Hushai to Absalom.

*****2Sa 17:7 And Hushai said unto Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel hath given is not good at this time.

2Sa 17:8 For, said Hushai, thou knowest thy father and his men, that they be mighty men, and they be chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field: and thy father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people.

2Sa 17:9 Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some other place: and it will come to pass, when some of them be overthrown at the first, that whosoever heareth it will say, There is a slaughter among the people that follow Absalom.

Hushai told Absalom that there was very little chance that he would even find King David and could not kill him and if there was a slaughter of the people that were with David they would stand as martyrs and turn the nation against him.

This made sense to Absalom and to all those back stabbing elders of Israel.

Absalom followed Hushai's advice.

And, Ahithophel went to his own home and hanged himself.

Hushai sent word to King David to cross the River Jordan.

David went to Mahanaim. This is the same city that Ishbosheth, King Saul's son had made his capitol but they were now King David's friends.

It is here that King David gathered his army to put down Absalom and retake Jerusalem.

A war between the families of Israel began.

It would not last very long but the cost of lives would be great.

And King David pleaded with his generals to save the life of Absalom.

*****2Sa 18:5 And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.

2Sa 18:6 So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim;

2Sa 18:7 Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men.

2Sa 18:8 For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.

King David had no doubt that his army would be victorious as told his generals to save the life of Absalom.

King David was a warrior king and he had chosen this place very well but sadly 20,000 men would have to die.

When we choose the wrong side it can sometimes be the cause of our death!

It is in this place chosen by King David where this war would be settled quickly.

This fight would be to the death because it was more hazardous to run away than it was to fight.

This was the right place to end this civil war and "in type" a battle somewhat like the coming battles of Armageddon.

But Joab was not about to allow Absalom to live if he got the opportunity to kill him.

Remember Absalom had burnt the fields of Joab and Joab was not one who would forget and it did not matter who they were.

*****2Sa 18:14 Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them

through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.

2Sa 18:15 And ten young men that bare Joab's armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.

2Sa 18:16 And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people.

There were many real reasons for Absalom to die for the things he had done!

But there was no reason for Joab not to honor the commands of his Commander in Chief and his King.

Joab had his own personal agenda and took his own personal vengeance.

But this thing was deeply offensive to King David!

What lesson can we learn?

It never pays to take counsel against the Lord's anointed!

Mat 23:12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

God has a saying that holds true for may men like Absalom.

Pro 6:14 Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord.

Pro 6:15 Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; "suddenly shall he be broken without remedy".

Frowardness means Absalom rejoiced to do evil.

Absalom devised ways to go against his father the King.

Absalom did not even consider what he did to be evil, but it was.

Absalom sowed discord in his nation of Israel and it cost the lives of 20,000 men. A great loss to his nation.

And just as God's Word says Absalom's calamity came suddenly and he was broken and died "because there was no remedy that could cure him".

And King David mourned for his son.

*****2Sa 18:32 And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies of my

lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is.

2Sa 18:33 And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!

King David gave no thought to the 20,000 Israelites who had died.

King David gave no thought to the guilt of his son in doing all these things.

King David gave no thought to a great victory over evil.

King David could only think of his son, who was dead.

What is our lesson here?

Eze 18:32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.

God is a God of love and delights only in happiness but God is also a "Righteous Judge" who must no doubt punish sin and punish it severely!

God does not punish anyone just to inflict pain and God gets no pleasure in anyone that dies the death of the lost, the "second death"!

We all have a appointment with death but that "second death" is a choice we make ourselves!

This is the very reason the Lord has so much patience.

2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance".

There is no reason for anyone to die without knowing the Lord Jesus Christ!

BUT, all those that die the death of Absalom will also die the second death!

Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the "second death".

Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Is your name written down in the Book of Life?

Thank You Lord Jesus for being so patient.

Questions?

Let's Pray!

King David's Family

David's Family

2 Samuel 13; 14

Last week we began to see the results of what happens when we go against the Word of God. King David had committed grievous sin and for a long time refused to repent and even tried to hide his sin from the world.

God is not pleased when we do not repent immediately after committing any sin.

A sin is anything we do that goes against the Word of God.

In fact, sin is also anything we go ahead and do that our conscience tells us we should not do!

Already David had to witnessed the death of a son, but when God removes that "hedge of protection" from around his children, things just do not go very well in this world we live in.

If we are truly saved we cannot loose our salvation!

David did still get to see that child when he got to Heaven, and we will also get to see our own loved ones, who have gone on before us, but life in this world will still loose some it's joy because of our sin, and the longer we go unrepentant the more sorrow we will have!

War was over with Ammon, but warfare within the life of David and his family was just beginning!

When that evil thing called "temptation" raises it's ugly head, we need to immediately flee to some other place, at least in our minds.

Sin never has a happy ending!

If we "could count the cost" of that sin before hand, we would find that a few moments of pleasure is never worth the price we will pay in our lives and in the lives of our loved ones!

Righteousness means doing things the right way.

The right way is God's way and God's way, is truly the way of life!

*****2Sa 13:1 And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.

It can truly be said that God does not hide anything from us in His Word!

It would have been easy to have left these things out of the Bible that God gave us.

I have said before, the Bible was written for believers.

We would never understand God's "Mercy" and God's "Grace" without seeing these truths of the Old Testament!

Absalom was King David's 3rd born son but Absalom was born of Maacah who was the royal princess and daughter of Talami the King of Geshur.

Absalom was also born in Hebron and Hebron was the main city of Judah and the first capitol of King David.

Judah was the backbone of Israel and had been the leader of the tribes of Israel from the days of Moses.

All these things will have more meaning as we study these scriptures.

We should also keep in mind as long as Satan only knew that the Messiah would come from a descendant of Abraham, he had few options but with the covenant with David, Satan knew the Messiah would at sometime come from this family and he began his ruthless attack on David and his family.

David had been under the protecting hand of God up until this thing with Bathsheba and Uriah's death, but God had lifted that hedge of protection and Satan began his attack, with his goal to stop the coming Messiah.

What had God told the Serpent (Satan)?

Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; "it shall bruise thy head", and thou shalt bruise his heel.

But Absalom had a beautiful sister, the "fairest" in all the land!

King David's first born son was Amnon and all things being normal, most of Israel would assume that Amnon would be the next king of Israel but Absalom also had this on his mind because he was born of royalty.

Amnon was a wicked young man!

Another thing we should consider, is that David had many wives and "polygamy" does not allow for a true family relationship!

God has never authorized "polygamy"!

*****2Sa 13:2 And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do any thing to her.

Tamar was a virgin and unmarried daughters of royalty were kept secluded from the company of men unless in the presence of many witnesses.

The few times that Amnon had seen Tamar, Amnon had developed a deep passion for her but he knew he could never have her.

It is said that a man never sees the worst in himself until he sees it in his own son!

King David had not set a very good example for his sons in this thing with Bathsheba and Uriah.

In a real sense, Tamar was Amnon's sister and he should have turned that lust into love and her protection but Satan always has his own little helpers.

Sometimes our so-called friends are truly our greatest enemy!

*****2Sa 13:3 But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother: and Jonadab was a very subtil man.

2Sa 13:4 And he said unto him, Why art thou, being the king's son, lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister.

2Sa 13:5 And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and make thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and give me meat, and dress the meat in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it at her hand.

2Sa 13:6 So Amnon lay down, and made himself sick: and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said unto the king, I pray thee, let Tamar my sister come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand.

Amnon, as the first born son of the king, could have gotten pretty much anything he desired but he turned all that desire toward Tamar and was obsessed with his own sister.

Amnon was repeating this part of his father's sin and he makes his own father a part of that sin, by using him to send Tamar to him!

King David gives in to his son believing the things he had said.

King David was setting aside his own rules in bad judgement.

*****2Sa 13:8 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house; and he was laid down. And she took flour, and kneaded it, and made cakes "in his sight", and did bake the cakes.

Does God really hate some of the things we do?

The Bible says:

Pro 6:16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

Pro 6:17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

Pro 6:18 "An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations", feet that be swift in running to mischief,

Pro 6:19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

There are some hearts that are so bad that they are ever inventing some evil thing and Amnon had such a heart.

While Tamar made those cakes, Amnon's passion raged, "as he was watching the movements of his sister" and was making his evil plan to take her.

*****2Sa 13:9 And she took a pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Have out all men from me. And they went out every man from him.

2Sa 13:10 And Amnon said unto Tamar, Bring the meat into the chamber, that I may eat of thine hand. And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother.

2Sa 13:11 And when she had brought them unto him to eat, he took hold of her, and said unto her, Come lie with me, my sister.

There are many beautiful women in this world. This gives them no reason to brag of that fact, but they must also realize they should always be on guard for their own safety.

There are also many evil Amnon's in this world and this will always be true!

2Ti 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

That phrase "Come lie with me" came only after he had thrown his arms around her to stop her from escaping him.

And she responded.

*****2Sa 13:12 And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force me; "for no such thing ought to be done in Israel": do not thou "this folly".

Tamar at least knew something of God's commandments. Incest was strictly forbidden in the law of God!

Lev 18:9 The nakedness of thy sister, the daughter of thy father, or daughter of thy mother, whether she be born at home, or born abroad, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover.

Lev 20:17 And if a man shall take his sister, his father's daughter, or his mother's daughter, and see her nakedness, and she see his nakedness; it is a wicked thing; and they shall be cut off in the sight of their people: he hath uncovered his sister's nakedness; he shall bear his iniquity.

There are men in our world who are just like Amnon and void of understanding such things as this.

That word folly means that Tamar knew this was a crime of wickedness.

Tamar was telling Amnon what was written in the Bible, as she quoted from the Book of Genesis.

Gen 34:7 And the sons of Jacob came out of the field when they heard it: and the men were grieved, and they were very wroth, because he had wrought folly in Israel in lying with Jacob's daughter; "which thing ought not to be done".

Amnon rejected the Word if God.

*****2Sa 13:13 And I, whither shall I cause my shame to go? and as for thee, thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I pray thee, speak unto the king; for he will not withhold me from thee.

2Sa 13:14 Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.

Tamar asked for consideration because her reputation would be tarnished and her character ruined all her days and she was very young.

Amnon ignored this plea.

Tamar asked Amnon to consider his own reputation because as the legitimate heir to the thrown of Israel, it was foolish to throw it all away for a few moments of pleasure.

Amnon ignored this truth.

Tamar ask Amnon to stop what he was doing and talk to his earthly father the King, he might even allow this thing.

Amnon ignored all these things and continued by forcibly raping his sister, who was unwilling.

Then Amnon's passion turned into hatred.

*****2Sa 13:15 Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone.

2Sa 13:16 And she said unto him, There is no cause: this evil in sending me away is greater than the other that thou didst unto me. But he would not hearken unto her.

2Sa 13:17 Then he called his servant that ministered unto him, and said, Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her.

2Sa 13:18 And she had a garment of divers colours upon her: for with such robes were the king's daughters that were virgins apparelled. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her.

2Sa 13:19 And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of divers colours that was on her, and laid her hand on her head, and went on crying.

After Amnon's passion was filled, the things that would follow this act of wickedness began to sink in and Amnon's love turned to hate.

Amnon had really never had love for his sister!

Lust is not love in any form or fashion!

Lust is a sinful longing, "that inward sin" which causes us to fall away from God.

Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Rom 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

Lusts are simply the objects of desire!

Mar 4:18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,

Mar 4:19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

What is love?

Love is the unselfish, loyal, and a real concern for the wellbeing of another.

Love is the more excellent way!

1Co 12:31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you "a more excellent way".

1Co 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; "but the greatest of these is charity".

Amnon had had no love for Tamar and was no longer filled with passion at the sight of his sister!

What Amnon had done had been in secret but unlike his father with Bathsheba, Amnon hated Tamar so much he openly exposed Tamar, and tried to show that it was she who had been the aggressor and who was at fault.

To keep this thing a secret would have been much better for her!

I'm sure Tamar shuddered when Amnon told his servants to get "this thing" out of my house and "out of my sight".

But Tamar had an older brother.

*****2Sa 13:20 And Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? but hold now thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother; regard not this thing. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom's house.

Absalom knew that his father King David had sent Tamar to the house of Amnon and with this knowledge of his sister, Absalom began to plot his on revenge but not just for this one reason.

Absalom convinced his sister to keep this thing a secret and not tell her father, the king.

It was her father who had sent her to Amnon. so Tamar listened to her brother.

Amnon would not allow this thing to be kept a secret.

*****2Sa 13:21 But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth.

Just as this secret thing could not be hidden, we can also be sure that the secret thing of Bathsheba and Uriah was no longer hidden!

What did King David do?

He got mad!

King David got angry at Amnon but did nothing about it and no one else did.

It was King David's duty as a father to see that this evil doer was punished but he did nothing.

It was King David's duty as King and judge of Israel to see that this evil doer be punished but he did nothing.

It is doubtful that Amnon's servant would have testified against him and there had been no eye witnesses to this crime.

This began a war between David's children.

This was the main reason that virgins and unmarried women were not to be left alone in the presence of men, David's own rule.

But David had sent his daughter to Amnon and held sole responsibility to punish his son, yet he did nothing.

Here again the judge could not properly judge because of his own sin!

Why, we might ask?

King David had a guilty conscience and the memory of his own sin shut him down!

The Law said:

Deu 22:28 If a man find a damsel that is a virgin, which is not betrothed, and lay hold on her, and lie with her, and they be found;

Deu 22:29 Then the man that lay with her shall give unto the damsel's father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife; because he hath humbled her, he may not put her away all his days.

This what Tamar was trying to explain to Amnon.

But the Law also said this:

Lev 18:9 The nakedness of thy sister, the daughter of thy father, or daughter of thy mother, whether she be born at home, or born abroad, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover.

Absalom also did not confront his brother Amnon, but plotted his own revenge.

*****2Sa 13:22 And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.

2Sa 13:23 And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baalhazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king's sons.

2Sa 13:24 And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, thy servant hath sheepshearers; let the king, I beseech thee, and his servants go with thy servant.

2Sa 13:25 And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all now go, lest we be chargeable unto thee. And he pressed him: howbeit he would not go, but blessed him.

A sheep-shearing feast was a grand occasion in Israel.

Absalom probably knew the his father David would not attend but he ask him any way.

If the king accepted this invitation it would expected of Absalom to provided not only for the king but all that would come with him which would be his servants and his personal body guards among many others, so the king refused to go but blessed Absalom for his offer.

Absalom was really trying to hide his true intentions, which he accomplished.

This is the main trait of Satan!

*****2Sa 13:26 Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said unto him, Why should he go with thee?

2Sa 13:27 But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him.

King David may have had a few suspicions but he did allow Amnon to attend along with all his other sons.

Again using bad judgement!

Now Absalom's plan went into action but he would not dirty his own hands and used the hands of his loyal servants.

Again we see another thing the child had learned from the parent!

*****2Sa 13:28 Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.

2Sa 13:29 And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and every man gat him up upon his mule, and fled.

At this time the remaining sons of David fled because they feared for their own lives thinking Absalom was assuring himself to be the next king of Israel.

The mules were used because King David had chosen the mule to symbolize royalty in his kingdom.

1Ki 1:33 The king also said unto them, Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son "to ride upon mine own mule", and bring him down to Gihon:

*****2Sa 13:30 And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that tidings came to David, saying, Absalom hath slain all the king's sons, and there is not one of them left.

2Sa 13:31 Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent.

2Sa 13:32 And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose that they have slain all the young men the king's sons; for Amnon only is dead: "for by the appointment of Absalom this hath been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar".

2Sa 13:33 Now therefore let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king's sons are dead: for Amnon only is dead.

King David realized that again he had been used by his own children to do evil things.

Just as Amnon had used his father to get access to Tamar, Absalom had used his father to get access to Amnon.

This act of vengeance could have been stopped had King David taken control of this thing of his daughter from the beginning!

Jonadab knew all along that King David's other sons had not been the target of Absalom but had hid this thing from the King for these two years.

Remember this was supposedly Amnon's good friend, but in actuality, he was only someone who was jealous of all of David's sons and also a very evil young man.

Satan hates all our young people and does everything he can to destroy them!

And Absalom fled to his grandfather.

*****2Sa 13:34 But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came much people by the way of the hill side behind him.

2Sa 13:35 And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king's sons come: as thy servant said, so it is.

2Sa 13:36 And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of speaking, that, behold, the king's sons came, and lifted up their voice and wept: and the king also and all his servants wept very sore.

2Sa 13:37 But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.

2Sa 13:38 So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.

Talmai was Absalom's grandfather and ruler of a city state named Geshur.

Absalom had ran, fearing now for his own life but he would only be safe in Geshur because David had signed an agreement with this king for safety and it was sealed by the marriage of King David to Maacah this kings daughter.

This was not a good reason to get married but even Solomon would use this same means of peace over and over again.

Absalom stayed with his grandfather for 3 years but King David longed to see his son yet still lacked forgiveness.

*****2Sa 13:39 And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.

We can see that the death of one son, Amnon, had faded by this time and the son that was alive Absalom, was sorely missed.

No doubt King David blamed himself for all these things and he had not yet forgiven himself though God had.

But there was another political enemy of David, who was watching closely these failures of King David.

*****2Sa 14:1 Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart was toward Absalom.

2Sa 14:2 And Joab sent to Tekoah, and fetched thence a wise woman, and said unto her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner, and put on now mourning apparel, and anoint not thyself with oil, but be as a woman that had a long time mourned for the dead:

2Sa 14:3 And come to the king, and speak on this manner unto him. So Joab put the words in her mouth.

2Sa 14:4 And when the woman of Tekoah spake to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, Help, O king.

2Sa 14:5 And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, I am indeed a widow woman, and mine husband is dead.

2Sa 14:6 And thy handmaid had two sons, and they two strove together in the field, and there was none to part them, but the one smote the other, and slew him.

2Sa 14:7 And, behold, the whole family is risen against thine handmaid, and they said, Deliver him that smote his brother, that we may kill him, for the life of his brother whom he slew; and we will destroy the heir also: and so they shall quench my coal which is left, and shall not leave to my husband neither name nor remainder upon the earth.

2Sa 14:8 And the king said unto the woman, Go to thine house, and I will give charge concerning thee.

2Sa 14:9 And the woman of Tekoah said unto the king, My lord, O king, the iniquity be on me, and on my father's house: and the king and his throne be guiltless.

2Sa 14:10 And the king said, Whosoever saith ought unto thee, bring him to me, and he shall not touch thee any more.

2Sa 14:11 Then said she, I pray thee, let the king remember the LORD thy God, that thou wouldest not suffer the revengers of blood to destroy any more, lest they destroy my son. And he said, As the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth.

2Sa 14:12 Then the woman said, Let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak one word unto my lord the king. And he said, Say on.

2Sa 14:13 And the woman said, Wherefore then hast thou thought such a thing against the people of God? for the king doth speak this thing as one which is faulty, in that the king doth not fetch home again his banished.

2Sa 14:14 For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person: yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him.

2Sa 14:15 Now therefore that I am come to speak of this thing unto my lord the king, it is because the people have made me afraid: and thy handmaid said, I will now speak unto the king; it may be that the king will perform the request of his handmaid.

2Sa 14:16 For the king will hear, to deliver his handmaid out of the hand of the man that would destroy me and my son together out of the inheritance of God.

2Sa 14:17 Then thine handmaid said, The word of my lord the king shall now be comfortable: for as an angel of God, so is my lord the king to discern good and bad: therefore the LORD thy God will be with thee.

2Sa 14:18 Then the king answered and said unto the woman, Hide not from me, I pray thee, the thing that I shall ask thee. And the woman said, Let my lord the king now speak.

2Sa 14:19 And the king said, Is not the hand of Joab with thee in all this? And the woman answered and said, As thy soul liveth, my lord the king, none can turn to the right hand or to the left from ought that my lord the king hath spoken: for thy servant Joab, he bade me, and he put all these words in the mouth of thine handmaid:

2Sa 14:20 To fetch about this form of speech hath thy servant Joab done this thing: and my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all things that are in the earth.

King David had listened intently to Nathan as he had told a story and discerned it to be from God.

Joab had hired, what could be called an actor, wise in her words, to tell another story to King David.

Nathan had brought conviction to David and that conviction had led to repentance.

This actor, this imitator, would only lead to the promotion to Joab's scheme of self-interest.

What was her argument?

1) Those that grant mercy should begin with those of their own home.

2) We all are appointed a day to die, if Absalom were to die before he was reconciled by his father, it would his father who would suffer the most and go to his own grave in grief for his own inaction of forgiveness.

3) David was not being an example of the God, he said he worshipped and trusted in.

The results.

*****2Sa 14:21 And the king said unto Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing: go therefore, bring the young man Absalom again.

2Sa 14:22 And Joab fell to the ground on his face, and bowed himself, and thanked the king: and Joab said, To day thy servant knoweth that I have found grace in thy sight, my lord, O king, in that the king hath fulfilled the request of his servant.

2Sa 14:23 So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.

2Sa 14:24 And the king said, Let him turn to his own house, and let him not see my face. So Absalom returned to his own house, and saw not the king's face.

King David brought Absalom back home to his own house but there was no reconciliation nor forgiveness.

Joab was disappointed in his King and Absalom became very irritated and would plot to over throw his own father.

What is the theme we should observe here?

The judge, who is also a great sinner, is unworthy to deal with other offenders!

These are the type of men who sit to judge in most of our judicial systems today and ignore the Word of God.

It is only by the Word of God that men can be judged honestly and justly!

When a guilty offender, is lawyered by an eloquent speaker, and is set free, this is in itself a great sin not only to the public but also to God!

God cautions the Church of such things.

1Co 6:1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, "go to law before the unjust", and not before the saints?

But to most of Israel, Absalom had succeeded where his father the King had failed.

*****2Sa 14:25 But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.

2Sa 14:26 And when he polled his head, (for it was at every year's end that he polled it: because the hair was heavy on him, therefore he polled it:) he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels after the king's weight.

Not only had Tamar been the fairest of all the women in Israel until marred by Amnon, Absalom was considered the fairest of all the men of Israel.

Absalom had a great physique but he had already proved he had no soul!

Absalom had a high spirit and courtly manners to go along with his good looks but lacked in truth.

Absalom make a great happening out of his haircut only once each year.

The "kings weight" would have been the heaviest of the shekel weights.

This hair would weigh somewhere between 6 and 12 pounds depending on what measurements are used.

My own calculations say near 7 and one half pounds and would have been very heavy on him for sure!

And it had now been 5 years since King David had seen his son.

*****2Sa 14:28 So Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, and saw not the king's face.

2Sa 14:29 Therefore Absalom sent for Joab, to have sent him to the king; but he would not come to him: and when he sent again the second time, he would not come.

2Sa 14:30 Therefore he said unto his servants, See, Joab's field is near mine, and he hath barley there; go and set it on fire. And Absalom's servants set the field on fire.

2Sa 14:31 Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom unto his house, and said unto him, Wherefore have thy servants set my field on fire?

2Sa 14:32 And Absalom answered Joab, Behold, I sent unto thee, saying, Come hither, that I may send thee to the king, to say, Wherefore am I come from Geshur? it had been good for me to have been there still: now therefore let me see the king's face; and if there be any iniquity in me, let him kill me.

2Sa 14:33 So Joab came to the king, and told him: and when he had called for Absalom, he came to the king, and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king: and the king kissed Absalom.

Absalom was not afraid to resort to destruction to have his own way but Absalom also thought that Joab was on his side.

Absalom regarded himself innocent of any wrongdoing and we can also see that Absalom is now convinced that his father was weak and unable to properly rule Israel.

King David had not realized the bitterness Absalom had toward him and again he was used by his own son, to push forward his evil agenda.

King David reinstated Absalom, giving the appearance to all of Israel that he would be chosen to be the next king.

King David again overlooks Absalom's guiltiness, therefore condoning the murder of Amnon, his own son!

In all these things, King David opens the door for Absalom to be the next king and Absalom takes full advantage of all these things and despises his own father.

And this was the beginning of rebellion and civil war in Israel, by David's own family!

Questions?

Let's Pray!