Tuesday, February 26, 2019

2 Samuel 13-18


 
In the last chapter David committed adultery, murder and used his power in the wrong way. Nathan prophesied that David’s family and his kingdom would suffer because of David’s sins.  It began with the death of David’s first child.  Now in the next chapters we see more consequences.  His sin will divide his family, the nation and threaten his throne. 

2 Samuel 13 – Rape and Murder

Absalom and Tamar were brother and sister from David’s wife Maacah.  Amnon was David’s first-born son from his wife Ahinaom and was in line to be the next king.  Amon thought Tamar was very beautiful and longed for her even though she was his half-sister.  He called it love, but it proved to be only lust.  Just as David had watched and lusted for Bathsheba, Amnon watched and lusted after Tamar.  Amnon sought advice from cousin Jonadab who was the son of David’s brother.  Jonadab told him to go to bed and pretend to be ill.  Then ask the king to send Tamar to minister to him. 

It’s interesting that David abused his power and authority to bring Bathsheba to his home and in the same way Amnon abused his power and authority when he had Tamar brought to his home.  Neither women were invited, but sent for.

When and how have you abused your authority?

David gave his permission and orders Tamar to go Amnon.  When she arrived, he sent his servants away and grabbed her and forced himself on her.  She tried to resist and begged him to not to do this evil thing, but his lust and desire was too great.  Afterward he raped her, he hated her maybe out of guilt and shame for what he’s done.  Unlike David, He had no sense of honor.  He sent her away, because she reminded him of his sin. 

The Law of Moses found in Leviticus 18:9; 20:17 says brother and sister should not have sex together and they should not be married.  Sex is only right when a man and a woman are married to each other.  God hates all types of wrong sex.  Amnon’s actions proved he didn’t love her.  His attraction for her was only lust and not love.  I think Jonadab should share in the guilt.  He was the one who helped Amnon carry out his evil deed.

When King David heard this he was very angry, but he did nothing.  Maybe he felt guilty because he didn’t do anything to protect Tamar.  He didn’t even correct Amnon.  Maybe David loved Amnon and didn’t want to punish him.  After all he was to be the next king.  Perhaps David felt guilty because he had sinned with Bathsheba and didn’t control his emotions.  Now Amnon sinned in the same way with Tamar.  Fathers are commanded to teach their sons to behave in the right way. (Deuteronomy 6:1-9 and Ephesians 6:4).  Fathers should punish their children if they do evil things, but David didn’t to this. (Proverbs 23:13-14)  So David had trouble with several of his sons.

Principle:  When sin is swept under the carpet, it always causes more misery.

Absalom realized what Amnon had done to his sister and tried to comfort her.  He hated him for what he had done and for two years plotted revenge on Amnon.  It was sheep shearing time and time for celebrating so Absolom invited Amnon and all the king’s sons to a feast.  When Amnon was drunk with wine, Absolom command his men to kill Amnon.  David instructed Joab to kill Uriah and now Absalom gave instructions to kill Amnon.   A report came to David that all his sons were dead, but later Jonadab told the king that only Amnon was killed because he had raped Tamar.

After Absolom killed Amnon, he fled to Talmai, son of Ammihud the king of Geshur.  He stayed there 3 years.  All the while David longed to go to Absalom, but his pride kept him from reconciliation with his son.

What is keeping you from swallowing your pride and doing the right thing?

2 Samuel 14 – Bitterness and Unforgiveness

Joab, commander of David’s army knew David longed for his son, Absalom.  Joab may have been looking out for himself.  By bringing David and Absalom back together, he would be in good standing for years to come.  He knew Absalom was to be the next king of Israel, but he could not if he was in a foreign county.  Joab wanted to reconcile David and Absalom so he invented a story.  This is how Nathan spoke to David in chapter 12.  But this story was not from God, it was Joab own plan.  Joab enlisted a woman to tell a sad story.  He told her how to behave and what to say.  She told a story of her son, which would affect David’s emotions and so he would understand how she felt. 

David realized that Joab had arranged this.  David then told Joab to go and bring Absalom back to Israel, but he was not to come to the palace where David could see him.  David tried to make Absalom pay for his crime by withholding love and fellowship by refusing to see him which meant he had not forgiven him.  This was David’s pride.  Either you forgive or you don’t.  Jesus warned of the dangers when you don’t reconcile matters. (Matthew 5:23-26)  Absalom lived 2 years in Jerusalem without seeing the king’s face.

Absalom sent for Joab several times, because he wanted an audience with the king.  He thought he was not guilty of any sin.  David didn’t punish Amnon so Absalom took it upon himself to do it, because he had sinned against his sister Tamar.  Absalom was a handsome man, but good looking doesn’t make a person wise or mature.  Absalom set fire to Joab’s fields to get his attention.  Absalom finally went to Joab’s house and Joab agreed to see the king on Absalom’s behalf.  At last, Absalom saw the king and gave him honor.  David kissed Absalom, but there was no forgiveness.  Absalom had too much bitterness towards his father, because David never seemed to do the right thing.   Absalom would never recover from this bitterness and would prove to be one of David’s opponents.

David had many great qualities as the leader of Israel, but he didn’t manage his own family matters very well.  He never punished Amnon for his sin or addressed Absalom’s murder of Amnon.  David did allow Absalom to come home, but he gave only partial forgiveness to Absalom.  David understood God’s forgiveness toward him, but he didn’t seem to make the connection when it came to dealing with his son, Absalom.

We can apply this lesson with each another and in our families.  Many parents make the mistake of not dealing correctly with their children’s disobedience.  They withhold love and stay angry thinking that is a punishment.  This can bring on rebellion.  With partial or conditional forgiveness the problem will only get worse.  We must totally forgive as God has forgiven us.  God forgives, but doesn’t wipe out the consequences for our sin.  If it did, we would never learn from it. 

God’s grace is free, but not cheap.  It cost God the life His only Son.   Sin is cheap, but it’s not free.  Sin enslaves and will cost in the long run.  You can’t undo your past, but you can do something about your present and future. 

Principle:  God’s grace is free, but not cheap.

Do you have bitterness toward someone?
Who is it that you need to forgive?

2 Samuel 15 –Rebellion

David restored Absalom, but 7 years of bitterness had grown up inside Absalom which would last for the rest of his life.  Absalom wanted to take David’s throne for his own.  He became a clever politician and for 4 years he stole the people’s heart from David.  He reached out to people who had complaints and made promises that would cause them to follow him.  Sounds like the politicians today.  He slowly divided David’s kingdom and wanted to overthrow the kingdom.

Do you crave what others have?
Do you believe you deserve another’s position?
If so, what lengths will you go?
How do you try to convince others to your way of thinking?
Do you stretch the truth or flatter others to get what you want?

King David didn’t want Jerusalem to become a battleground.  He loved his son and didn’t want him to be killed so he fled the city.  Fighting Absalom was not an option for David.  He left 10 concubines at the palace.  To me this shows he was only leaving for a short time and not giving up the throne. 

The priests were loyal to David.  David had them take the Ark of the Covenant and go back to the city.  David knew the Lord was with him and he put his fate in God’s hands. 

David was betrayed by his own counselor, Ahithophel.  But David had many other loyal friends who remained faithful to him.  David and the people covered their heads and wept as they went up to the Mount of Olives.  David prayed that Ahithophel’s counsel to Absalom would be foolish.

When have you chosen to flee instead of fight even though you knew you were in the right?
Where have you trusted God when all seemed lost?

2 Samuel 16-18 – Victory

Absalom and his men arrived in Jerusalem.  Ahithophel advised him to sleep with David’s concubines who remained in the palace.  So Absalom put up a tent on the palace roof for all Israel to see as a claim to the kingdom and slept with the concubines.

Then Ahithophel advised Absalom to quickly attack David while he was weak and kill only him which would minimize bloodshed.  This plan seemed good, but Absalom also asked Hushai for his advice.  Hushai was David’s friend who had pretended to be on Absalom’s side, but was actually a spy.  He told him this is not good advice, because David and his men are experienced fighters and that Ahithophel had underestimated David and his ability to defend himself and his kingdom.  With Ahithophel’s plan it would require more than David’s death.  Absalom took Hushai’s advice.  Absalom gathered his army, which gave David more time to prepare for battle.  Hushai sent word to David of the plan.  Remember David had prayed that Ahithophel’s advice would be foolish to Absalom.  God answered his prayer.  Ahithophel saw his advice had not been followed and committed suicide.

Who do you look to for good advice?

Absalom and Ahithophel didn’t want David to be their king.  By rejecting David, they rejected God’s anointed king so they are rejecting God Himself. 

What king will you serve? 
Will you serve the king of your own desires or King Jesus? 

David and his army overcame Absalom’s army and 20,000 died.  David gave order for his men to be gentle when they found Absalom.  This is very different from the advice of Ahithophel who wanted to kill David.  While in the midst of fighting, Absalom riding his donkey gets his long hair caught in a tree branch.  Joab found him caught and tangled so Joab killed him with his spear.  Again Joab did what he thought was best.  He believed murdering Absalom was for David’s good.  Joab stopped the army and they threw Absalom’s body in a pit and place large rocks over him.  David heard the news that they have won the battle, but his son is dead.  David wept.

Principle:  God’s grace is greater than sin.

Main truth of these chapters:  Only God’s power turns back the destructive process of sin.

Next time we will continue in the book of 2 Samuel.  See you here next time.
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