Absalom Absalom 2 Samuel 15 When Love Fails

Absalom, Absalom! 2 Samuel 15 – When Love Fails

The Harvest is In: 2 Samuel 12: 9 -12 “I will cause your own “You have murdered household to rebel against Uriah the Hittite is withwrong What with King you. the sword of the I will give your wives to David? Ammonites and stolen another man before your 2 Samuel 18: 5 And the king very eyes, and he will go to his wife. gave this command to them Joab, bed with in public view. From this time on, yourand You Abishai, Ittai: did“For my but I will it secretly, family willsake, live bydeal the gently make thisyoung happen to you with openly in the sight of all sword… Absalom. ” Israel. ”

The Harvest is In: 2 Samuel 12: 9 -12 2 Sam. 15: 1, 6 • Absalom bought a chariot and horses, and 50 bodyguards ran ahead of him. • Absalom stole the hearts of all the people of Israel. 2 Sam. 15: 14 • David: “Hurry! Get out of the city before Absalom arrives!” 2 Sam. 16: 22 • They set up a tent on the palace roof where everyone could see it, and Absalom went in and had sex with his father’s concubines.

The Battle Rages 2 Samuel 18: 6 -17 So the battle began in the forest of Ephraim, and the Israelite troops were beaten back by David’s men. There was a great slaughter that day, and 20, 000 men laid down their lives. The battle raged all across the countryside, and more men died because of the forest than were killed by the sword.

The Battle Rages 2 Samuel 18: 6 -17 During the battle, Absalom happened to come upon some of David’s men. He tried to escape on his mule, but as he rode beneath the thick branches of a great tree, his hair got caught in the tree. His mule kept going and left him dangling in the air.

The Battle Rages 2 Samuel 18: 6 -17 One of David’s men saw what had happened and told Joab, “I saw Absalom dangling from a great tree. ” “What? ” Joab demanded. “You saw him there and didn’t kill him? I would have rewarded you with ten pieces of silver and a hero’s belt!” “I would not kill the king’s son for even a thousand pieces of silver, ” the man replied to Joab. “We all heard the king say to you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘For my sake, please spare young Absalom. ’ And if I had betrayed the king by killing his son—and the king would certainly find out who did it—you yourself would be the first to abandon me. ”

The Battle Rages 2 Samuel 18: 6 -17 “Enough of this nonsense, ” Joab said. Then he took three daggers and plunged them into Absalom’s heart as he dangled, still alive, in the great tree. Ten of Joab’s young armor bearers then surrounded Absalom and killed him.

The Battle Rages 2 Samuel 19: 2 -8 As all the people heard of the king’s deep grief for his son, the joy of that day’s victory was turned into deep sadness. They crept back into the town that day as though they were ashamed and had deserted in battle. The king covered his face with his hands and kept on crying, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son!”

The Battle Rages 2 Samuel 18: 6 -17 Then Joab went to the king’s room and said to him, “Now outyour there congratulate “We go saved lifeand today and the lives your of your sons, your troops, for I daughters, swear by and the your Lordwives that ifand you don’t concubines. Yet you act like this, making us feel goashamed out, notofa ourselves. single one of them will remain here tonight. Then youwho willhate be worse than You seem to love those you andoff hate ever before!” those who love you. You have made it clear that your andhis troops Sotoday the king wentcommanders out and took seatmean at the nothing to you. It seems that if Absalom had lived town gate… and all of us had died, you would be pleased.

Absalom Had Serious Issues Absalom bought a chariot and horses, and he hired fifty bodyguards to run ahead of him. (2 Samuel 15: 1) � People’s He“The got up early every. Champion” morning and went out to the gate of the city. When people brought a case to the king for judgment, Absalom would ask where in Israel they were from, and they would tell him their tribe. Then Absalom would say, “You’ve really got a strong case here! It’s too bad the king doesn’t have anyone to hear it. I wish I were the judge. Then everyone could bring their cases to me for judgment, and I would give them justice!” 2 Samuel 15: 2 -4

Absalom Had Serious Issues Absalom bought a chariot and horses, and he hired fifty bodyguards to run ahead of him. (2 Samuel 15: 1) � “The People’s Champion” � “Thepeople People’s When tried. Prince” to bow before him, Absalom wouldn’t let them. Instead, he took them by the hand embraced them. 2 Samuel 15: 5

Absalom Had Serious Issues Absalom bought a chariot and horses, and he hired fifty bodyguards to run ahead of him. (2 Samuel 15: 1) � “The People’s Champion” � “The People’s Prince” � He Was a Manipulator � FLATTERY WORKS! Absalom stole the hearts of all the people of Israel. 2 Samuel 15: 6

Romans 3: 10 -17 as it is written, "There is none righteous, not even one; There is none who understands, Absalom bought a chariot and horses, andwho heseeks hired There is none for God; All have aside, together fifty bodyguards to run ahead of him. turned (2 Samuel they have become useless ; 15: 1) David Flattery… There. Understood is none who does good , There is not even one. � “The People’s Champion” throat are is anfilled openwith grave, • Their tongues With their tongues they keep � “The People’s Prince” flattery. deceiving , • Their talk is foul, like the stench � He Was a Manipulator of asps is under their from. The an poison open grave. Psalms 5: 9 lips… � FLATTERY WORKS! And the path of peace they have not known. " Absalom Had Serious Issues

Absalom Had Serious Issues Absalom bought a chariot and horses, and he hired fifty bodyguards to run ahead of him. (2 Samuel 15: 1) � “The People’s Champion” � “The People’s Prince” � He Was a Manipulator � A Destructive Infantile � “Young Prince [Princess] Syndrome” � Never gives; perpetually ungrateful. � TAKES AUTHORITY: manipulation, theft, deceit,

The Destructive Infantile �An Emotional Sickness the HEART �“I want what I want NOW!” RESPE CT �In “FEEL GOOD” I WANT SEX LOVE

The Destructive Infantile �An Emotional Sickness �Seems Loving, Actually Selfish � “The People’s Champion” � “The People’s Prince” � But Won’t Be Denied!

The Destructive Infantile �An 3: 10 -18 Emotional Sickness. Romans as it is written, "There is none not even one; �Seems Loving, Actuallyrighteous, Selfish There is none who understands, is none who seeks for God; �An Authority Problem There … the path of peace they have not �Like Absalom known. Destruction and misery are in their paths, And the path of peace they have not known. " "There is no fear of God before their eyes. " Romans 3: 16 -18 (NASB) "

The Destructive Infantile �An Emotional Sickness �Seems Loving, Actually Selfish �An Authority Problem �Like Infantiles! Absalom GET IT GOD’S WAY! Romans 8: 19 For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are.

The Destructive Infantile �An Emotional Sickness �Seems Loving, Actually Selfish �An Authority Problem �Raised Without Love Authority �Like King David’s Household

King David’s Authority Failure Or: “The Postmodern American Parent” Actually: “The Postmodern View of Love”

King David’s Authority Failure �He “Loved” His Son So Much! What is wrong with King David? “…deal gently with young Absalom. ” Postmodern “Love”

King David’s Authority Failure �He “Loved” His Son So Much! �But He Exercised No Love Authority �Amnon, Instead, “got the he Crown Prince: “Come to bed with me, my darling sister. ” 2 Sam. 13: 11 Postmodern “Love” angry” When King David heard what had happened, he was very angry. 2 Sam. 13: 21

King David’s Authority Failure �He “Loved” His Son So Much! �But He Exercised No Love Authority �Instead, he “got angry” �Or he “Looked • the other way…. ” Absalom fled …He stayed there in Geshur for ABSALOM Killed His Brother: Postmodern “Love” three years. And King David, now reconciled to Amnon’s death, longed to be reunited with his son Absalom. 2 Sam. 13: 37 -39

King David’s Authority Failure �He “Loved” His Son So Much! �But He Exercised No Love Authority �Instead, He Punished �“Feel BAD! Feel GUILTY!” But the king gave this order: “Absalom may go to his own house, but he must never come into my presence. ” So Absalom did not see the king. 2 Samuel 14: 24 Postmodern “Love”

King David’s Authority Failure �He “Loved” His Son So Much! �But He Exercised No Love Authority �Instead, He Just Punished �“Feel BAD! Feel GUILTY!” �Legalism: the Quest for “Justice” Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Hebrews 10: 28 Postmodern “Love”

King David’s Authority Failure �He “Loved” His Son So Much! �But He Exercised No Love Authority �Instead, He Just Punished �He Alienated His Son So Absalom did not see the king. 2 Samuel 14: 24 Postmodern “Love”

God’s Authority is Love Authority �Because “God is Love” �God exercises all Power & Authority lovingly, never at the expense of love. We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 1 John 4: 16 (NASB)

God’s Authority is Love Authority �Because “God is Love” �He Wants Repentance, Not Punishment �Exercising great patience. The is not slow about His promise, as some count �Lord (Punishment is much easier) slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3: 9 (NASB)

God’s Authority is Love Authority �Because “God is Love” �He Wants Repentance, Not Punishment �Repentance Involves Real Change �Restitution "Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance; Matthew 3: 8

God’s Authority is Love Authority �Because “God is Love” �He Wants Repentance, Not Punishment I preached…that all must repent of their sins and turn to God— �Repentance Involves Real Change He disciplines us for �Restitution �Redemption and prove they have changed our good, so that we by the good things they do. Acts may share His 26: 20 holiness. Hebrews 12: 10

God’s Authority is Love Authority �Because “God is Love” �He Wants Repentance, Not Punishment �Repentance Involves Real Change Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and �Love Authority Means Grace patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? Romans 2: 4

Next: the Davidic Covenant Resolved “Your house and your kingdom will continue before me for all time, and your throne will be secure forever. ” 2 Samuel 7: 16