2 SAMUEL 13:1-39 EVIL FROM YOUR OWN HOUSEHOLD

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1 2 SAMUEL 13:1-39 EVIL FROM YOUR OWN HOUSEHOLD OUTLINE: 1. THE LUST OF AMNON. V THE RAPE OF TAMAR. V THE REJECTION OF TAMAR. V REACTIONS WITHIN THE FAMILY. V ABSALOM AVENGES TAMAR. V THE REPORT TO DAVID. V ABSALOM FLEES. V34-39 TRINITY BIBLE CHURCH FEBRUARY 11, 1996 COMPARATIVE OUTLINE: A. AMNON IN LOVE WITH TAMAR. V1-2 B. INTERVENTION OF JONADAB. V3-5 C. TAMAR'S ARRIVAL. V6-9a D. AMNON'S SERVANTS ORDERED TO LEAVE. V9b E. AMNON'S COMMAND TO COME TO HIM/HER PLEA. V10-14a F. AMNON'S RAPE OF TAMAR; THE TURNING OF LOVE TO HATRED. V14b-15a E. AMNON'S COMMAND TO DEPART/HER PLEA. V15b-16 D. AMNON'S SERVANT RECALLED. V17 C. TAMAR'S DEPARTURE. V18-19 B. INTERVENTION OF ABSALOM. V20 A. ABSALOM'S HATRED FOR AMNON. V21-22 V 1 = FORBIDDEN LOVE. THE LUST OF AMNON (V1-6) Now it was after this (the events of chapters 11 & 12) that Absalom the son of David (third born son of David through Maacah, daughter of Talmai, King of Geshur; cf 3:3) had a beautiful sister (full) whose name was Tamar, and Amnon the son of David loved her. (first born of David by Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; cf 3:2) POINT: HERE THE WORD "LOVE" IS USED FOR SEXUAL ATTRACTION. POINT: THIS TYPE OF LOVE WAS PROHIBITED BY THE LAW. Lev 18:9 'The nakedness of your sister, either your father's daughter or your mother's daughter, whether born at home or born outside, their

2 2 nakedness you shall not uncover. Lev 18:11 'The nakedness of your father's wife's daughter, born to your father, she is your sister, you shall not uncover her nakedness. Lev 20:17 'If there is a man who takes his sister, his father's daughter or his mother's daughter, so that he sees her nakedness and she sees his nakedness, it is a disgrace; and they shall be cut off in the sight of the sons of their people. He has uncovered his sister's nakedness; he bears his guilt. Deut 27:22 'Cursed is he who lies with his sister, the daughter of his father or of his mother.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.' POINT: THOSE WHO DID SUCH THINGS WERE TO BE "CUT OFF" FROM THEIR PEOPLE. Lev 18:29 'For whoever does any of these abominations, those persons who do so shall be cut off from among their people. V 2 = LOVESICK. And Amnon was so frustrated (Qal IPF +wc TZARAR = to be compressed) because of his sister Tamar that he made himself ill (Hith Inf CHALAH = to be worn down in strength; to make oneself sick), for she was a virgin (BeTULAH = a virgin, unstained and unspotted by men), and it seemed hard (Niph IPF + wc PALA' = to be distinguished, separate; i.e. to be out of the question) to Amnon to do anything to her. POINT: AMNON FELT THAT HIS "FREEDOM" WAS IMPEDED BY THE LAW. POINT: YET, THE ONLY TRUE FREEDOM IS FOUND IN THE WAY OF WISDOM. Prov 4:11-12 I have directed you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in upright paths. When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; and if you run, you will not stumble. POINT: TAMAR HAD BECOME AN OBSESSION TO AMNON. POINT: AMNON FELT THAT HIS LOVE WAS HINDERED. PRINCIPLE: TRUE LOVE IS NOT MEASURED BY SEXUAL URGES. PRINCIPLE: OBSESSION. WE MUST BEWARE WHEN ANY PERSON BECOMES AN V 3 = A CONNIVING "FRIEND". But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David's brother; and Jonadab was a very shrewd man. (Lit: a man of wisdom; CHAKAM) POINT: JONADAB'S WISDOM WAS THAT OF THE WORLD. (masculine used here which is an initiator; usually the word is found in the feminine which is a responder)

3 3 POINT: JONADAB IS A MAN WHO USES HIS INTELLIGENCE TO PLAY POLITICAL GAMES TO INGRATIATE HIMSELF TO PEOPLE IN POSITIONS OF POWER OR PRESTIGE. V 4 = THE "FRIEND'S" CONCERN. And he said to him, "O son of the king (why he became Amnon's "friend"), why are you so depressed (DAL = something hanging down, weak, feeble) morning after morning? Will you not tell me?" Then Amnon said to him, "I am in love with Tamar, the sister of my brother Absalom." POINT: JONADAB PLAYED TO AMNON'S FIRSTBORN STATUS. POINT: HE NOTICED SOMETHING DIFFERENT ABOUT AMNON AND USED IT. V 5 = THE "FRIEND'S" PLAN. Jonadab then said to him, "Lie down on your bed and pretend to be ill; when your father comes to see you (David was consistent), say to him, 'Please let my sister Tamar come and give me some food to eat, and let her prepare the food in my sight, that I may see it and eat from her hand.'" POINT: JONADAB DEVISES A PLAN THAT IS BASED ON THE CONSISTENT GOODNESS OF OTHERS. PRINCIPLE: BEWARE OF MANIPULATIVE PLANS TO ACHIEVE ONE'S DESIRES. PRINCIPLE: ALTHOUGH WE ARE NOT TO BECOME PARANOID ABOUT IT, WE MUST REALIZE THAT SOME WILL USE OUR GOODNESS TO THEIR OWN SELFISH ENDS. POINT: JONADAB PROBABLY KNEW ENOUGH OF THE LAW TO TWIST IT SO AS TO GET TAMAR FOR AMNON AS HIS WIFE. Deut 22:28-29 "If a man finds a girl who is a virgin, who is not engaged, and seizes her and lies with her and they are discovered, then the man who lay with her shall give to the girl's father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall become his wife because he has violated her; he cannot divorce her all his days. V 6 = THE PLAN SET IN MOTION.

4 4 So Amnon lay down and pretended to be ill; when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, "Please let my sister Tamar come and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand." POINT: DAVID DID CARE FOR HIS CHILDREN. PRINCIPLE: BEWARE OF PLANS TO MANIPULATE THOSE IN AUTHORITY TO HELP YOU CARRY OUT SINFUL DESIRES AS THESE PLANS EASILY BECOME EVIL. POINT: DAVID IS GOING TO EXPERIENCE "EVIL FROM HIS OWN HOUSEHOLD." CF 12:11 POINT: AMNON COULD HAVE EASILY LEARNED ABOUT LUST FROM HIS OWN FATHER. V 7 = DAVID IS USED BY HIS SON. THE RAPE OF TAMAR (V7-14) Then David sent to the house for Tamar, saying, "Go now to your brother Amnon's house, and prepare food for him." POINT: DAVID IS A TRUSTING, UNSUSPECTING FATHER, WHO IS USED BY HIS OWN SON SO AS TO HELP HIM ACTUALIZE HIS LUSTS. POINT: DAVID HAD USED OTHERS TO ACTUALIZE HIS LUSTS. V 8 = THE UNSUSPECTING SISTER-THE TARGET. So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house, and he was lying down. And she took dough, kneaded it, made cakes in his sight, and baked the cakes. POINT: TAMAR APPEARS TO BE AN OBEDIENT DAUGHTER WHO SEEKS TO PLEASE HER FATHER AND HELP HER BROTHER. V 9 = MANIPULATION. And she took the pan and dished them out before him, but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, "Have everyone go out from me." So everyone went out from him. POINT: AMNON WANTS PRIVACY AND WANTS TO MAKE TAMAR FEEL SPECIAL. PRINCIPLE: THOSE WHO HAVE MANIPULATIVE AGENDAS WILL FREQUENTLY APPEAL TO YOUR SIGNIFICANCE.

5 5 V10 = SPRINGING THE TRAP. Then Amnon said to Tamar, "Bring the food into the bedroom, that I may eat from your hand." So Tamar took the cakes which she had made and brought them into the bedroom to her brother Amnon. V11 = THE DIRECT APPROACH. When she brought them to him to eat, he took hold of her and said to her, "Come, lie with me, my sister." POINT: AMNON DID NOT SET OUT TO RAPE HIS SISTER BUT TO GET HER TO VOLUNTARILY HAVE SEX WITH HIM. POINT: AMNON MUST HAVE ASSUMED THAT TAMAR FELT THE SAME WAY ABOUT HIM AS HE DID ABOUT HER. V12 = TAMAR'S STANDARDS-THREE "DON'TS." But she answered him, "No, my brother, do not violate (AL + Piel Imp 'ANAH = to bestow labor upon any thing; to oppress, depress, afflict, bring low) me, for such a thing is not done in Israel; do not do this disgraceful (NABALAH = worthless) thing! POINT: TAMAR APPEALS TO AMNON FOR: A. RESPECT FOR HER. B. RESPECT FOR THE NATION. C. PERSONAL INTEGRITY. POINT: TAMAR SEEMS TO NOT ONLY BE A WOMAN OF BEAUTY BUT ALSO A WOMAN OF HONOR AND INTELLIGENCE. (note her eloquent response under pressure) V13 = THE POTENTIAL RESULTS. "As for me, where could I get rid of my reproach? And as for you, you will be like one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you." POINT: TAMAR ASKS HIM TO CONSIDER THE RESULTS. POINT: TAMAR WILL LOSE SOMETHING SHE CAN NEVER REGAIN-HER VIRGINITY. POINT: NOTICE THAT IT WAS VIEWED AS VALUABLE.

6 6 POINT: HER LAST PHRASE IS AN ATTEMPT TO EXTRACT HERSELF FROM THE SITUATION BY BUYING TIME. (We already know her standards and that she knows it is not permissible under the Law) V14 = THE RAPE. However, he would not listen to her; since he was stronger than she, he violated her and lay with her. PRINCIPLE: WHEN LUST BECOMES STRONGER THAN ONE'S STANDARDS, REASON IS SET ASIDE. THE REJECTION OF TAMAR (V15-19) V15 = LOVE TURNS TO HATE. Then Amnon hated her with a very great hatred; for the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, "Get up, go away!" POINT: AMNON DID NOT REALLY GET WHAT HE WANTED WHICH WAS HER WILLING COOPERATION. POINT: SO AFTER HE TOOK IT, HE HATED HER FOR NOT BEING WILLING AND IN FACT REJECTING HIM. PRINCIPLE: LUST DOES NOT SATISFY BUT MERELY GRATIFIES FOR A MOMENT. V16 = AMNON STILL DOES NOT LISTEN. But she said to him, "No, because this wrong (evil) in sending me away is greater than the other that you have done to me!" Yet he would not listen to her. POINT: SINCE HE HAD FORCED HER TO HAVE SEX, HE WAS OBLIGATED TO MARRY HER AND NEVER DIVORCE. Deut 22:28-29 "If a man finds a girl who is a virgin, who is not engaged, and seizes her and lies with her and they are discovered, then the man who lay with her shall give to the girl's father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall become his wife because he has violated her; he cannot divorce her all his days. PRINCIPLE: HATRED DOES NOT LISTEN TO REASON.

7 7 V17 = AMNON HAS HER THROWN OUT. Then he called his young man who attended him and said, "Now throw this woman out of my presence, and lock the door behind her." POINT: HIS LUST HAS NOT ONLY VIOLATED AND DISGRACED HER BUT NOW HE IS HUMILIATING HER. V18 = TAMAR'S STATUS HAD CHANGED. Now she had on a long-sleeved garment; for in this manner the virgin daughters of the king dressed themselves in robes. Then his attendant took her out and locked the door behind her. POINT: THE KING'S VIRGIN DAUGHTERS WORE GARMENTS THAT TOLD EVERY ONE TO KEEP THEIR HANDS OFF OR FACE THE KING'S WRATH. V19 = TAMAR'S STANDARDS WERE DEFILED. And Tamar put ashes on her head, and tore her long-sleeved garment which was on her; and she put her hand on her head and went away, crying aloud as she went. POINT: EVEN THOUGH TAMAR'S EMOTIONS WERE WRECKED, SHE HAD ENOUGH COMPOSURE TO LET THE WORLD KNOW THAT SHE WAS NOT A WILLING PARTICIPANT WITH AMNON. POINT: ESPECIALLY UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES IT IS VALID TO MOURN THE LOSS OF VIRGINITY. FAMILY REACTIONS (V20-22) V20 = ABSALOM WANTS TO HIDE WHAT HAPPENED. Then Absalom her brother said to her, "Has Amnon your brother been with you? But now keep silent (Hiph Imp CHARASH = the word means to cut into or inscribe, to plow; means also to make blunt; so to keep silent means dull your feelings of anger), my sister, he is your brother; do not take this matter to heart." So Tamar remained and was desolate (Qal Ptc SHAMAM = the primary idea is to be put to silence and hence laid waste and desolate) in her brother Absalom's house. POINT: HER FULL BROTHER'S ADVICE IS TO DO NOTHING AGAINST THE EVIL OF HER HALF BROTHER AND TO NOT MAKE REVENGE AN

8 8 OBSESSION FOR HER. POINT: PART OF HIS ADVICE IS GOOD. POINT: ABSALOM THOUGH HAD OTHER MOTIVES. V21 = DAVID BECAME ANGRY. Now when King David heard of all these matters, he was very angry. POINT: THE EXTENT OF DAVID'S RESPONSE WAS ANGER BUT NO ACTION WAS TAKEN. POINT: DAVID'S REIGN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AND JUSTICE (8:15) HAD A HOLE IN IT WHEN IT CAME TO HIS SON AND HE BECAME PARTIAL. V22 = ABSALOM'S HATE. But Absalom did not speak to Amnon either good or bad; for Absalom hated (Qal PF SANE') Amnon because he had violated his sister Tamar. POINT: ABSALOM'S HATRED OF AMNON WAS BUILDING. ABSALOM AVENGES TAMAR (V23-29) V23 = OPPORTUNITY FOR VENGEANCE. Now it came about after two full years that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baalhazor, which is near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king's sons. POINT: REMEMBER THAT THE TIME OF SHEEP SHEARING WAS A TIME OF JOY AND FUN. (cf Nabal) POINT: AMNON PROBABLY WOULD NOT GO ANYWHERE WITH ABSALOM BY HIMSELF SO ABSALOM HAS TO GO TO PLAN "B." V24 = A SIMPLE REQUEST. And Absalom came to the king and said, "Behold now, your servant has sheepshearers; please let the king and his servants go with your servant." POINT: ABSALOM MAKES AN INNOCENT REQUEST TO COVER HIS REAL MOTIVES. (Who would do this with the king present)

9 9 POINT: IT SEEMS AS THOUGH DAVID DID NOT DO THESE KINDS OF THINGS VERY OFTEN AND THAT ABSALOM PLANNED FOR THIS ANSWER. POINT: HOWEVER, ABSALOM MAY HAVE WANTED TO REMIND HIS FATHER WHAT REAL JUSTICE WAS. V25 = DAVID'S RESPONSE. But the king said to Absalom, "No, my son, we should not all go, lest we be burdensome to you." Although he urged (Qal IPF +wc PARATZ = to break down or through) him, he would not go, but blessed him. (Piel IPF +wc BARAK) POINT: DAVID DOES NOT WANT TO BE A BURDEN TO HIS SON, SO HE GRACIOUSLY BOWS OUT. (Absalom must have been quite proud of himself that his plan was working out so well) V26 = A SECOND REQUEST. Then Absalom said, "If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us." And the king said to him," Why should he go with you?" POINT: ABSALOM IN EFFECT ASKS THE KING TO ORDER AMNON TO GO WITH HIM, SO AMNON MUST HAVE PREVIOUSLY REFUSED. V27 = THE KING GIVES IN. But when Absalom urged (Qal IPF +wc PARATZ = to break down or through) him, he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him. POINT: ABSALOM TAKES ADVANTAGE OF HIS FATHER'S LOVE FOR HIS CHILDREN AND HIS DESIRE TO PLEASE THEM. (grown man whining to get his way) V28 = ABUSE OF AUTHORITY. And Absalom commanded his servants, saying, "See now, when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, 'Strike Amnon,' then put him to death. Do not fear; have not I myself commanded you? Be courageous and be valiant." POINT: ABSALOM MUST HAVE LEARNED SOME THINGS FROM JOAB. POINT: HE WANTS AMNON IN A POSITION WHERE HE CANNOT REALLY FIGHT BACK AND IS EXPERIENCING A "JOY" OF A MOMENTARY GRATIFI- CATION.

10 10 POINT: ABSALOM IS NOT WILLING TO KILL AMNON HIMSELF, SO HE COMMITS MURDER BY PROXY-KIND OF LIKE HIS FATHER DID. PRINCIPLE: ONE OF THE MOST PAINFUL FORMS OF DISCIPLINE WOULD BE FOR A FATHER TO WATCH HIS SON MAKE THE SAME SINFUL AND EVIL MISTAKES THAT HE DID. POINT: DAVID, ALTHOUGH RIGHT WITH THE LORD, IS GOING TO EXPERIENCE A LOT OF PAIN. V29 = THE EXECUTION OF AMNON. And the servants of Absalom did to Amnon just as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose and each mounted his mule and fled. POINT: ABSALOM EVIDENTLY DID NOT WANT THE KINGDOM, BUT HE CLEARLY WANTED REVENGE AND GOT IT. (He also would have taken out Chileab, the second born if he wanted it then) POINT: THIS WAS ALSO A STATEMENT AGAINST HIS FATHER'S LACK OF ACTION CONCERNING THE WRONGING OF HIS SISTER. POINT: DAVID'S SINFUL ACTION WITH BATHSHEBA COST HIM A SON. POINT: DAVID'S LACK OF RIGHTEOUS ACTION TOWARDS A SON IN BEHALF OF A DAUGHTER HAS JUST COST HIM THAT SON. PRINCIPLE: DISCIPLINE CAN COME FROM A MULTITUDE OF PLACES. POINT: WHEN ABSALOM TOOK MATTERS INTO HIS OWN HANDS, IT BEGAN A PATH OF REBELLION THAT WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL HIS DEATH. (began with the mental attitude) V30 = AN INCORRECT REPORT. THE REPORT TO DAVID (V30-33) Now it was while they were on the way that the report came to David, saying, "Absalom has struck down all the king's sons, and not one of them is left." POINT: WE ARE NOT GIVEN ANY STATEMENTS AS TO WHERE THIS REPORT ORIGINATED, BUT IT GOT BACK TO DAVID BEFORE HIS SONS DID AND THEY WERE FLEEING.

11 11 V31 = DAVID'S RESPONSE. Then the king arose, tore his clothes and lay on the ground; and all his servants were standing by with clothes torn. POINT: DAVID FELT THE FULL IMPACT OF THE LORD'S PROMISE THAT "THE SWORD SHALL NOT DEPART FROM YOUR HOUSE," EVEN THOUGH THE REPORT WAS INACCURATE. V32 = JONADAB TO THE RESCUE. And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David's brother, responded, "Do not let my lord suppose they have put to death all the young men, the king's sons, for Amnon alone is dead; because by the intent of Absalom this has been determined since the day that he violated his sister Tamar. POINT: IT SEEMS AS THOUGH JONADAB ORIGINATED THE REPORT AND THEN STEPPED IN TO CORRECT IT SO AS TO TRY AND ESTABLISH HIS CREDIBILITY WITH THE KING. POINT: AMNON MUST HAVE KNOWN OF THE PLAN BEFOREHAND TO HAVE THE CORRECT INFORMATION BEFORE THE KING DID. POINT: THIS MEANS THAT HE HAD FORSAKEN AMNON AND BECOME GOOD FRIENDS WITH ABSALOM. (did he plan this event too??) PRINCIPLE: BEWARE OF FRIENDS WHO WILL OFFER SUGGESTIONS ON REALIZING SINFUL THOUGHTS TOWARD OTHERS, BECAUSE THEY WILL EVENTUALLY DO THAT TO YOU. POINT: JONADAB IS THE KIND OF PERSON WHO PR0MOTES CONFLICTS BETWEEN OTHERS SO THAT HE MIGHT PERSONALLY GAIN. POINT: HE IS A MASTER AT "KEEPING HIS HANDS CLEAN." (note that he was no where around the sinful action itself) V33 = THE CORRECT REPORT. "Now therefore, do not let my lord the king take the report to heart, namely, 'all the king's sons are dead,' for only Amnon is dead." POINT: JONADAB COMES TO OFFER COMFORT TO THE KING. POINT: THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT HE DID FOR AMNON WHEN HE WAS LOVESICK.

12 12 POINT: WHOM DO YOU THINK IS JONADAB'S NEXT TARGET?? (he misses) ABSALOM FLEES (V34-39) V34 = ABSALOM FLEES. DAVID'S SONS GO HOME. Now Absalom had fled. And the young man who was the watchman (the watchman for David) raised his eyes and looked, and behold, many people were coming from the road behind him by the side of the mountain. V35 = JONADAB THE "PROPHET." And Jonadab said to the king, "Behold, the king's sons have come; according to your servant's word, so it happened." POINT: JONADAB IS TRYING TO PROVE HIMSELF TO DAVID. V36 = A TIME OF MOURNING. And it came about as soon as he had finished speaking, that behold, the king's sons came and lifted their voices and wept; and also the king and all his servants wept very bitterly. POINT: THIS WAS NOT SIMPLY THE LOSS OF A RAPIST, BUT IT WAS THE LOSS OF THE KING'S FIRSTBORN SON, WHO WAS NEXT IN LINE FOR THE THRONE. V37 = THE MOURNING GOES ON. Now Absalom fled and went to Talmai the son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day. POINT: ABSALOM WENT TO HIS GRANDFATHER FOR ASYLUM. cf 3:3 POINT: THE MOURNING OVER THE LOSS OF BATHSHEBA'S SON ENDED ON THE DAY OF HIS DEATH. POINT: THE MOURNING FOR THE LOSS OF AMNON PROBABLY ENDED SEVEN DAYS AFTER HIS DEATH. POINT: THE "MOURNING" IN VIEW HERE IS FOR ABSALOM. cf V39 POINT: PARENTS ACTUALLY MOURN WHEN A CHILD OF THEIRS IS INVOLVED IN UNREPENTANT SIN AND EVIL.

13 13 PRINCIPLE: SOME OF THE GREATEST PAIN KNOWN TO MAN CAN BE INFLICTED BY CHILDREN UPON THEIR PARENTS. V38 = ABSALOM STAYS GONE. So Absalom had fled and gone to Geshur, and was there three years. V39 = DAVID WANTS TO COMFORT ABSALOM. And the heart of King David longed (Piel IPF KALAH = to be completed, finished, consumed) to go out to Absalom; for he was comforted (Niph PF NACHAM = a word that means to grieve to the point of comfort; getting the grief out of one's system; putting closure to the problem) concerning Amnon, since he was dead. POINT: DAVID'S PAIN WAS NOW FOR ABSALOM BECAUSE ABSALOM HAD TO LIVE WITH HIS SIN AND FACE THE CONSEQUENCES. POINT: DAVID KNEW JUST HOW PAINFUL THAT COULD BE AS HE WAS LIVING THROUGH IT HIMSELF. POINT: DAVID COULD DO NOTHING FOR AMNON, SO HIS AREA OF MAJOR CONCERN WAS FOR THE SPIRITUAL STATUS OF THE LIVING. PRINCIPLE: WHEN YOU SEE GOD'S GRACE IN YOUR OWN LIFE YOU SEE THE NEED FOR IT IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS. MAJOR PRINCIPLE # 1 = WE MUST SEEK TO NOT LET ANY SINFUL DESIRES FOR OTHER PEOPLE OR THINGS TO GUIDE OUR DECISIONS. MAJOR PRINCIPLE # 2 = IF WE SIN WE SHOULD NOT SEEK TO COMPOUND THE SIN BY ADDING OTHERS ON TOP. MAJOR PRINCIPLE # 3 = BEWARE OF PEOPLE WHO GIVE YOU SUGGESTIONS AS TO HOW TO CARRY OUT YOUR SINFUL DESIRES. MAJOR PRINCIPLE # 4 = REVENGE CAN DRIVE A PERSON FOR YEARS, BUT IT WILL ACTUALLY CONSUME THE LIFE OF THE AVENGER NOT THE TARGET. MAJOR PRINCIPLE # 5 = OUR CONCERNS HAVE TO FOCUS ON THE SPIRITUAL WELL-BEING OF THE LIVING. TRINITY BIBLE CHURCH FEBRUARY 18, 1996

14 14 2 Sam 14:1-33 OUTLINE: 1. JOAB'S PLAN TO GET ABSALOM RETURNED. V THE WOMAN OF TEKOA'S AUDIENCE WITH DAVID. V DAVID'S DECISION. V THE WOMAN'S OBSERVATION. V DAVID SEES THROUGH THE PLAN. V ABSALOM IS RECALLED. V THE DESCRIPTION OF ABSALOM. V ABSALOM'S AUDIENCE WITH THE KING. V28-33 COMPARATIVE OUTLINE: A. JOAB "KNEW." V1 B. JOAB INSTRUCTS THE WISE WOMAN. V2-3 C. THE WOMAN MAKES A REQUEST OF THE KING. V4-5a D. SHE MAKES HER FIRST APPEAL V5b-10 E. SHE SUCCESSFULLY PLEADS FOR HER SON'S LIFE. V11 D. SHE MAKES HER SECOND APPEAL. V12-17 C. THE KING MAKES A REQUEST OF THE WOMAN. V18-19a B. SHE ADMITS THAT JOAB INSTRUCTED HER. V19b A. THE KING "KNOWS." V20 A. THE KING TELLS JOAB TO BRING ABSALOM BACK. V21 B. THE KING REFUSES TO GRANT ABSALOM A ROYAL AUDIENCE. V22-24 C. ABSALOM IS DESCRIBED AS BEING HANDSOME. V25 D. ABSALOM PERIODICALLY CUTS HIS HAIR. V26 C. ABSALOM'S DAUGHTER IS DESCRIBED AS BEING BEAUTIFUL. V27 B. ABSALOM INSISTS ON A ROYAL AUDIENCE. V28-32 A. THE KING SUMMONS ABSALOM INTO HIS PRESENCE. V33 V 1 = JOAB'S PERCEPTION. JOAB'S OBSERVATION AND PLAN (V1-3) Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived (knew) that the king's heart was inclined (prep 'AL = upon) toward Absalom. POINT: JOAB IS A MAN WITH A COMPLEX PERSONALITY. POINT: HE IS BLOODTHIRSTY ON THE ONE HAND AND COMPASSIONATE ON THE OTHER.

15 15 POINT: WHILE HIS LOYALTY TO DAVID AND TO ISRAEL WAS UNQUESTIONED HIS METHODS WERE USUALLY QUESTIONABLE. V 2 = JOAB'S PLAN. So Joab sent to Tekoa (Tekoa is identified today with Khirbet Taqu'a, about 10 kilometers (6 miles) southeast of Bethlehem and about 16 kilometers (10 miles) south of Jerusalem. It was built on a hill in the wilderness of Tekoa toward En Gedi. From Tekoa a person can see the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem and Mount Nebo beyond the Dead Sea. About two miles from Tekoa, Herod the Great (ruled 37-4 B. C.) built the fortress, the Herodium, in the Judean wilderness) and brought a wise woman from there and said to her, "Please pretend to be a mourner (Hith Imp 'ABHAL = to act as a mourner), and put on mourning garments now, and do not anoint yourself with oil, but be like a woman who has been mourning for the dead many days; POINT: JOAB DECIDES TO PULL A "NATHAN" AND USE A STORY TO TRY AND MAKE A POINT TO DAVID. POINT: JOAB IS NOT AUTHORIZED BY THE LORD TO DO THIS, BUT THE LORD WILL USE THIS FOR GOOD ANYWAY. POINT: HE WANTS HER TO DRESS LIKE A MOURNER, APPEAR UNKEPT AND DEVELOP A DEMEANOR THAT SUGGESTS A LONG TIME IN MOURNING. POINT: DAVID TOO HAS BEEN A LONG TIME IN MOURNING. CF 14:37 POINT: JOAB IS TRYING TO SET UP ALMOST PARALLEL CIRCUMSTANCES SO AS TO GET DAVID'S ATTENTION. V 3 = CONTINUED. then go to the king and speak to him in this manner. "So Joab put the words in her mouth. POINT: JOAB GAVE HER VERY SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS ABOUT WHAT TO SAY TO THE KING. V 4 = THE WOMAN ASKS FOR HELP. HER AUDIENCE WITH DAVID (V4-7) Now when the woman of Tekoa spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground and prostrated herself and said, "Help, O king."

16 16 POINT: JOAB KNEW OF DAVID'S COMPASSION ON THE DOWNTRODDEN AND THAT HE WOULD LISTEN TO A PLEA FOR HELP. (David had done so many times himself) V 5 = THE STORY BEGINS-SHE IS A WIDOW. And the king said to her, "What is your trouble?" And she answered, "Truly I am a widow, for my husband is dead. V 6 = THE PROBLEM-ONE SON KILLED THE OTHER. "And your maidservant had two sons, but the two of them struggled together in the field, and there was no one to separate them, so one struck the other and killed him. POINT: THIS WOMAN IS TWICE BEREAVED AS IS DAVID. POINT: ONE OF HER SONS KILLED THE OTHER AS DID DAVID'S. POINT: IF ONLY DAD HAD BEEN THERE THIS WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. V 7 = THE PROBLEM INTENSIFIES-THE DEATH PENALTY SOUGHT. "Now behold, the whole family has risen against your maidservant, and they say, 'Hand over the one who struck his brother, that we may put him to death for the life of his brother whom he killed, and destroy the heir also.' Thus they will extinguish my coal which is left, so as to leave my husband neither name nor remnant on the face of the earth." POINT: SOME OF HER FAMILY WANTS JUSTICE. POINT: SHE HINTS AT POSSIBLE CONFLICT OF INTEREST, THAT MAYBE THE FAMILY WANTS THE INHERITANCE. POINT: BUT JUSTICE WILL DESTROY HER HUSBAND'S FAMILY LINE. POINT: HER SON IS THE ONLY SOURCE OF "WARMTH" THAT IS LEFT TO HER. V 8 = THE KING RESPONDS. DAVID'S DECISION (V8-11) Then the king said to the woman, "Go to your house, and I will give orders concerning you."

17 17 V 9 = SHE PLAYS TO HIS POSITION. And the woman of Tekoa said to the king, "O my lord, the king, the iniquity (AWON) is on me and my father's house, but the king and his throne are guiltless." (NAQIY = pure, innocent, free from blame) POINT: SHE IS SAYING THAT SHE AND HER FAMILY WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE TWISTING OF THE TRUTH BUT THAT DAVID HAS NO SUCH PROBLEM TO DEAL WITH. V10 = THE KING PROMISES HER PROTECTION. So the king said, "Whoever speaks to you, bring him to me, and he will not touch you anymore." POINT: DAVID HAD PROMISED TO PROTECT HER BUT NOT HER SON. POINT: IF SHE HAS TO PRODUCE AN ANTAGONIST, HER COVER WILL BE BLOWN. V11 = THE KING PROMISES HER MERCY. Then she said, "Please let the king remember the LORD your God, so that the avenger of blood (GOEL = redeem, buy back, purchase; with the word "blood" looks at avenging a wrong) may not continue to destroy, lest they destroy my son." And he said, "As the LORD lives, not one hair of your son shall fall to the ground." POINT: SHE IS ASKING DAVID TO GO BEFORE THE LORD FOR HER. POINT: THIS IS THE FOCAL POINT OF THIS SECTION. POINT: DAVID USES A DIVINE OATH IN MAKING HER THIS PROMISE. POINT: NOT ONE "HAIR OF THE HEAD" SHALL PERISH IS A PICTURE OF SALVATION. LUKE 21:18 POINT: ABSALOM'S HAIR WAS THE MAJOR FEATURE OF HIS APPEARANCE. CF V25-26 POINT: ABSALOM'S HAIR WOULD LEAD TO HIS DEATH. CF 18:9-15 POINT: THE WOMAN GOT HIM TO SPARE HER SON'S LIFE. THE WOMAN'S OBSERVATIONS (V12-17)

18 18 V12 = THE WOMAN REQUESTS A FURTHER HEARING. Then the woman said, "Please let your maidservant speak a word to my lord the king." (echo those of Abigail in 1 Sam 25) And he said, "Speak." V13 = DAVID IS INCONSISTENT. And the woman said, "Why then have you planned (Qal PF CHASHABH = to think, meditate; TO IMPUTE) such a thing against the people of God? For in speaking this word the king is as one who is guilty, in that the king does not bring back his banished one. (Niph PTC NADACH = to thrust forth, expel, the one being expelled, banished; this word indicates that he was thrown out) POINT: THE WOMAN ASKS DAVID IF HE REALIZES THAT HE HAS JEOPAR- DIZED THE FUTURE WELFARE OF ISRAEL. POINT: SHE SAYS THAT DAVID HAS CONVICTED HIMSELF IF HE DOES NOT PERMIT ABSALOM TO RETURN. POINT: DAVID'S "PLANS" FOR ABSALOM INVOLVED AN "IMPUTATION." GEN 15:6 POINT: DAVID UNDERSTOOD THAT IT WAS A BLESSING TO MANKIND WHEN THE LORD DID NOT IMPUTE HIS INIQUITY. Ps 32:1-7 How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered! How blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit! When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night Thy hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer. Selah. I acknowledged my sin to Thee, and my iniquity I did not hide; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD"; and Thou didst forgive the guilt of my sin. Selah. Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to Thee in a time when Thou mayest be found; surely in a flood of great waters they shall not reach him. Thou art my hiding place; Thou dost preserve me from trouble; Thou dost surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah. POINT: WE ALL HAVE A TENDENCY TO PLAN OUR OWN WAY, BUT THE LORD IS THE ONE WHO SHOULD DIRECT OUR STEPS. Prov 16:8-10 Better is a little with righteousness Than great income with injustice. The mind of man plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps. A divine decision is in the lips of the king; His mouth should not err in judgment. POINT: DAVID HAD ONCE PRAYED THAT THE REBELLIOUS AGAINST HIM BE BANISHED. Ps 5:10

19 19 Hold them guilty, O God; by their own devices let them fall! In the multitude of their transgressions thrust them out, for they are rebellious against Thee. POINT: BUT THE WOMAN OF TEKOA MADE A POINT THAT WE ARE TO GO AFTER THE ONE WHO HAS STRAYED. Deut 22:1 "You shall not see your countryman's ox or his sheep straying away, and pay no attention to them; you shall certainly bring them back to your countryman. POINT: IN FACT, THE LORD INDICTS THE SHEPHERDS OF ISRAEL FOR NOT GOING AFTER HIS PEOPLE. EZE 34 PRINCIPLE: WE ARE TO SEEK THE SPIRITUAL RESTORATION OF PEOPLE EVEN IF THEY HAVE GREATLY SINNED. V14 = THE MAJOR PRINCIPLE. "For we shall surely die (Lit: dying we shall die) and are like water spilled on the ground which cannot be gathered up again. Yet God does not take away life (Lit: lift a soul), but plans (Qal PF +wc CHASHABH = imputes, cf V13) ways so that the banished one may not be cast out from him. (Qal IPF NADACH = will not be banished) POINT: DAVID DID NOT REALLY BANISH ABSALOM, ABSALOM FLED. 13:37 POINT: SHE CLAIMS THAT ABSALOM'S LIFE WOULD BECOME LIKE WASTED WATER. POINT: SHE ALSO CLAIMS THAT DAVID IS IN OPPOSITION TO GOD'S PLANS. POINT: THIS "WISE WOMAN" OF TEKOA WHO MAY NOT EVEN BE A BELIEVER BUT IS USING JOAB'S WORDS HAS JUST STATED ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT TRUTHS IN SCRIPTURE. POINT: WE AS MANKIND HAVE A TWOFOLD PROBLEM THAT WAS INITIATED IN THE GARDEN WHEN ADAM ATE OF THE FORBIDDEN TREE. GEN 2:7 POINT: WE ARE SPIRITUALLY DEAD AND WILL BE PHYSICALLY DEAD. POINT: GOD INDEED DOES TAKE LIFE, BUT HE LOOKS FOR WAYS TO FIRST SAVE IT. Luke 19:10 "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." POINT: HE DOES THIS BY THE IMPUTATION OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. GEN 15:6

20 20 POINT: THIS IS A CALL FOR DAVID TO EXPRESS HIS LOVE AND INITIATE ACTION TOWARD HIS SON WHO HAS GONE ASTRAY. V15 = SHE ASKS FOR SOMETHING ELSE. "Now the reason I have come to speak this word to my lord the king is because the people have made me afraid; so your maidservant said, 'Let me now speak to the king, perhaps the king will perform the request of his maidservant. POINT: AFTER POINTING OUT DAVID'S PERSONAL FAULTS, THE WOMAN TAKES UP THE STORY AGAIN AND MAKES ANOTHER REQUEST. V16 = SHE SAYS THAT SHE TRUSTS HIM. 'For the king will hear and deliver his maidservant from the hand of the man who would destroy both me and my son from the inheritance of God.' V17 = SHE SAYS THAT HE IS ABLE TO DISCERN GOOD AND EVIL. "Then your maidservant said, 'Please let the word of my lord the king be comforting (MINCHAH = for a gift), for as the angel of God, so is my lord the king to discern (Qal INF SHAMA' = to hear) good and evil. And may the LORD your God be with you.'" POINT: SHE ASKS HIM FOR THE GIFT OF AN EDICT FROM THE KING. POINT: IF HE GRANTS HER REQUEST, HE HAS OPENED THE DOOR TO SEND FOR ABSALOM. DAVID SEES THROUGH THE PLAN (V18-20) V18 = DAVID MAKES A REQUEST OF HER. Then the king answered and said to the woman, "Please do not hide anything from me that I am about to ask you." And the woman said, "Let my lord the king please speak." POINT: DAVID AS KING ASKS FOR HER COMPLETE HONESTY AND SHE PROMISES TO TELL HIM. V19 = DAVID DOES HAVE DISCERNMENT. So the king said, "Is the hand of Joab with you in all this?" And the woman answered and said, "As your soul lives (this is tantamount to a "swearing in"), my

21 21 lord the king, no one can turn to the right or to the left from anything that my lord the king has spoken. Indeed, it was your servant Joab who commanded me, and it was he who put all these words in the mouth of your maidservant; POINT: THIS WOMAN SUDDENLY BECOMES AFRAID SINCE SHE HAS LIED TO THE KING. POINT: SHE WAS RIGHT ABOUT DAVID HAVING DISCERNMENT. POINT: HER SPEECH MAY HAVE GOTTEN A BIT TO "FLOWERY" AND DAVID REALIZED IT WAS NOT REALLY HER WORDS SHE WAS SPEAKING. V20 = SHE ADMITS TO THE STORY. in order (Piel Inf sababh = to turn) to change the appearance of things your servant Joab has done this thing. But my lord is wise, like the wisdom of the angel of God, to know all that is in the earth." POINT: JOAB IS WILLING TO TAKE EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT HE SETS OUT TO DO. POINT: JOAB IS A FIRM BELIEVER THAT THE "END JUSTIFIES THE MEANS." V21 = DAVID SENDS FOR ABSALOM. ABSALOM IS CALLED (V21-24) Then the king said to Joab, "Behold now, I will surely do this thing; go therefore, bring back the young man Absalom." POINT: DAVID CALLS FOR JOAB TO GO AND GET ABSALOM. POINT: DAVID REFERS TO ABSALOM AS A YOUNG MAN POINTING TO HIS IMMATURITY AND NOT TO HIM AS HIS SON. POINT: DAVID IS GOING TO GIVE ABSALOM A CHANCE TO REPENT. V22 = JOAB'S EXCITEMENT. And Joab fell on his face to the ground, prostrated himself and blessed the king; then Joab said, "Today your servant knows that I have found favor in your sight, O my lord, the king, in that the king has performed the request of his servant."

22 22 POINT: JOAB ADMITS TO THIS BEING HIS PLAN AND IS EXTREMELY GREATFUL FOR GRANTING HIS REQUEST. POINT: JOAB WILL EVENTUALLY KILL ABSALOM, SO THINGS DO NOT GO AS PLANNED. V23 = JOAB GOES TO GET ABSALOM. So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem. V24 = ABSALOM IS NOT GRANTED AN AUDIENCE. However the king said, "Let him turn to his own house, and let him not see my face." So Absalom turned to his own house and did not see the king's face. POINT: DAVID ALTHOUGH LONGING TO SEE ABSALOM SETS UP A SITUATION WHERE ABSALOM IS GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE THE NEXT MOVE AT RECONCILIATION. POINT: THE LORD OFTEN WAITS FOR US TO DO THE SAME. POINT: SOMETIMES WE DO NOT ASK FOR AN AUDIENCE WITH THE KING, EVEN THOUGH HE IS DAD. V25 = ABSALOM'S "PERFECTION." THE DESCRIPTION OF ABSALOM (V25-27) Now in all Israel was no one as handsome as Absalom, so highly praised; from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no defect (MUM = spot, stain or blemish) in him. POINT: ABSALOM INHERITED HIS GOOD LOOKS FROM HIS FATHER. 1 SAM 16:12; 17:42 POINT: HAVING NO DEFECT WAS A QUALIFICATION OF THE LEVITICAL PRIESTHOOD. Lev 21:17-23 "Speak to Aaron, saying, 'No man of your offspring throughout their generations who has a defect shall approach to offer the bread of his God. 'For no one who has a defect shall approach: a blind man, or a lame man, or he who has a disfigured face, or any deformed limb, or a man who has a broken foot or broken hand, or a hunchback or a dwarf, or one who has a defect in his eye or eczema or scabs or crushed testicles. 'No man among the descendants of Aaron the priest, who has a defect, is to come near to offer the LORD'S offerings by fire; since he has a defect, he shall not come near to offer the bread of his God. 'He

23 23 may eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy and of the holy, only he shall not go in to the veil or come near the altar because he has a defect, that he may not profane My sanctuaries. For I am the LORD who sanctified them.'" POINT: NO SACRIFICE COULD BE WITH DEFECT EITHER. Lev 22:20-25 'Whatever has a defect, you shall not offer, for it will not be accepted for you. 'And when a man offers a sacrifice of peace offerings to the LORD to fulfill a special vow, or for a freewill offering, of the herd or of the flock, it must be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no defect in it. 'Those that are blind or fractured or maimed or having a running sore or eczema or scabs, you shall not offer to the LORD, nor make of them an offering by fire on the altar to the LORD. 'In respect to an ox or a lamb which has an overgrown or stunted member, you may present it for a freewill offering, but for a vow it shall not be accepted.'also anything with its testicles bruised or crushed or torn or cut, you shall not offer to the LORD, or sacrifice in your land, nor shall you accept any such from the hand of a foreigner for offering as the food of your God; for their corruption is in them, they have a defect, they shall not be accepted for you.'" POINT: WHEN A PERSON INFLICTED A DEFECT ON ANOTHER, THE SAME DEFECT WAS TO BE INFLICTED ON THEM. Lev 24:19-20 'And if a man injures his neighbor, just as he has done, so it shall be done to him: fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; just as he has injured a man, so it shall be inflicted on him. POINT: FROM THE OUTER APPEARANCES, ABSALOM HAD WHAT IT TOOK TO BE A TYPE OF JESUS CHRIST, BUT GOD LOOKS ON THE HEART. PRINCIPLE: YOU CAN INHERIT GOOD PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS FROM YOUR PARENTS BUT THE ISSUE IS IN THE SOUL. V26 = ABSALOM'S HAIR. And when he cut the hair of his head (and it was at the end of every year that he cut it, for it was heavy on him so he cut it), he weighed the hair of his head at 200 shekels by the king's weight. (This calculates to 5 pounds. 0.4/oz/shekel) POINT: LONG HAIR WAS THE EMBLEM OF THE NAZARITE VOW. NU 6:5 POINT: IN SAMSON IT WAS THE PICTURE OF HIS STRENGTH. JDG 16:17 POINT: IN ABSALOM IT IS A PICTURE OF HIS VANITY. POINT: DAVID DID NOT ACTUALLY HAVE THE POWER TO PRESERVE A "HAIR ON ANYONE'S HEAD." V27 = ABSALOM'S "HEIRS."

24 24 And to Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter whose name was Tamar; she was a woman of beautiful appearance. POINT: IT DOES NOT SEEM THAT ANY OF ABSALOM'S SONS LIVED. cf 18:18 POINT: IT DOES SEEM THAT HE NAMED HIS DAUGHTER AFTER HIS SISTER TAMAR IN HONOR OF HER. POINT: THIS FAMILY HAD SOME "BEAUTIFUL GENES." ABSALOM'S AUDIENCE WITH THE KING (V28-33) V28 = ABSALOM'S DISCIPLINE. Now Absalom lived two full years in Jerusalem, and did not see the king's face. POINT: THIS WAS THE LENGTH OF TIME THAT HE PLANNED TO KILL AMNON. CF 13:23 POINT: ABSALOM LIVED IN GESHUR THREE YEARS BEFORE DAVID SENT FOR HIM. CF 13:38 POINT: AND WITH THIS TWO YEARS IT HAD BEEN SEVEN YEARS SINCE TAMAR WAS RAPED AND FIVE YEARS SINCE ABSALOM HAD KILLED AMNON. PRINCIPLE: BAD DECISIONS CAN COST FELLOWSHIP FOR A LONG TIME. PRINCIPLE: EVEN THOUGH WE MAY STRONGLY DESIRE TO RESTORE FELLOW- SHIP WITH SOMEONE WE MAY HAVE TO WAIT FOR A REPENTANT SPIRIT. POINT: DAVID HAD LET ABSALOM CONVINCE HIM TO SEND AMNON AND HIS SONS WITH HIM TO THE SHEEP-SHEARING FESTIVAL, SO NOW HE WAS GOING TO HAVE TO CONVINCE HIM THAT HE WANTED TO RESTORE FELLOWSHIP WITH HIS FATHER. V29 = JOAB WON'T COME TO ABSALOM. Then Absalom sent for Joab, to send him to the king, but he would not come to him. So he sent again a second time, but he would not come.

25 25 POINT: ABSALOM DID NOT HAVE THE HUMILITY TO APPROACH THE KING HIMSELF SO HE SENDS FOR HIS COUSIN JOAB. POINT: THERE SHOULD BE NO REASON FOR ABSALOM TO FEAR HIS FATHER BECAUSE IF HE WANTED HIM DEAD, HE WOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN SO. (just give Joab the nod) POINT: JOAB DOES NOT WANT TO GET INVOLVED IN THIS. HE HAD ALREADY "STUCK HIS NECK OUT" TO GET ABSALOM BACK IN THE KINGDOM. V30 = SO ABSALOM SETS HIS FIELD ON FIRE. Therefore he said to his servants, "See, Joab's field is next to mine, and he has barley there; go and set it on fire." So Absalom's servants set the field on fire. POINT: ABSALOM IS ACTUALLY A COWARD, MUCH LIKE JONADAB, ANOTHER COUSIN. POINT: ABSALOM IS HERE SHOWING HIS IMMATURITY. POINT: NOTICE THAT HE KEPT "SENDING" FOR JOAB. JOAB WOULD HAVE PROBABLY WELCOMED HIM IF HE HAD PAID A PERSONAL VISIT. PRINCIPLE: IMMATURE PEOPLE POLITIC FOR POWER OVER OTHERS ALL THE TIME. PRINCIPLE: WHEN IMMATURE PEOPLE DO NOT GET THEIR WAY, THEY BECOME DANGEROUS. POINT: KNOWING JOAB'S DISPOSITION, ABSALOM IS FORTUNATE THAT HE DID NOT KILL HIM HERE. (Joab does not forget thoughremember Abner) POINT: ABSALOM IS REALLY NO DIFFERENT THAN AMNON IN THAT WHEN HE DOESN'T GET OTHERS TO DO WHAT HE WANTS WILLINGLY, HE WILL FORCE THEM TO. PRINCIPLE: AT TIMES THE SINS WE SEE IN OTHERS THAT MAKE US THE ANGRIEST ARE THOSE IN WHICH WE ALSO HAVE PROBLEMS. (easy to see it in others, blind to it in ourselves) V31 = NOW JOAB COMES. Then Joab arose, came to Absalom at his house and said to him, "Why have your servants set my field on fire? (translated "get

26 26 ready to die") V32 = ABSALOM IS TIRED OF WAITING. And Absalom answered Joab, "Behold, I sent for you, saying, 'Come here, that I may send you to the king, to say, "Why have I come from Geshur? It would be better for me still to be there."' Now therefore, let me see the king's face; and if there is iniquity (AWON = a twisting of the truth) in me, let him put me to death." POINT: ABSALOM CHALLENGES HIS FATHER TO MAKE A DECISION CON- CERNING HIS OWN LIFE. POINT: HE PROBABLY FIGURED THAT DAVID WOULD NOT DO SUCH A THING BECAUSE IT WOULD COST HIM ANOTHER SON, AN HEIR. POINT: ABSALOM'S IMMATURITY IS STILL COMING OUT AND HIS ANGER IS GROWING. V33 = ABSALOM AGAIN SEES HIS FATHER. So when Joab came to the king and told him, he called for Absalom. Thus he came to the king and prostrated himself on his face to the ground before the king, and the king kissed Absalom. POINT: HERE IS AN HISTORICAL EVENT THAT IS CLOSE TO THE PARABLE OF THE PRODIGAL SON. POINT: DAVID HAD FORGIVEN ABSALOM AND HAD WELCOMED HIM BACK. POINT: ABSALOM SAW THIS AS A SIGN OF WEAKNESS AND WOULD QUICKLY TURN ON HIS DAD. PRINCIPLE: WE SHOULD NEVER VIEW COMPASSION AS WEAKNESS. POINT: DAVID LIVED MORE UNDER GRACE THAN UNDER THE LAW. MAJOR PRINCIPLE # 1 = IT IS GOOD TO CARE ENOUGH TO TAKE A RISK TO HELP OUT ANOTHER BELIEVER WHO IS DEPRESSED. MAJOR PRINCIPLE # 2 = GOD LOOKS FOR WAYS TO HELP OUT ONE WHO HAS BEEN BANISHED, SO SHOULD WE. MAJOR PRINCIPLE # 3 = THOSE WHO DO EVIL MUST COME TO REALIZE THAT THERE MUST NOT ONLY BE A CONFESSION BUT A REPENTANCE.

27 27 MAJOR PRINCIPLE # 4 = AN ATTRACTIVE OUTER APPEARANCE MAY BE HIDING A VENGEFUL MONSTER. (Genes that make one look good do not make one do good) MAJOR PRINCIPLE # 5 = IMMATURITY IS SEEN IN WANTING TO HAVE OTHERS DO THINGS AT YOUR REQUEST AND GOING TO ANY LENGTHS TO FORCE THEM TO DO IT. MAJOR PRINCIPLE # 6 = NEVER VIEW COMPASSION AND MERCY AS A SIGN OF WEAKNESS, BECAUSE IT TAKES REAL POWER TO DISPLAY THOSE VIRTUES. TRINITY BIBLE CHURCH FEBRUARY 25, Sam 15:1-37 REBELLION AND RETREAT OUTLINE: 1. THE REBELLIOUS PLAN. 15: THE EXECUTION OF THE PLAN. 15: THE SUCCESS OF THE PLAN. 15: DAVID'S ENCOUNTERS. 15:19-16:14 A. ITTAI THE GITTITE. 15:19-23 B. ZADOK AND THE LEVITES. 15:24-29 C. HUSHAI THE ARCHITE. 15:30-37 D. ZIBA, THE FALSE SERVANT. 16:1-4 E. SHIMEI, OF THE FAMILY OF SAUL. 16:5-8 F. ABISHAI, DAVID'S NEPHEW. 16:9--14 COMPARATIVE OUTLINE: A. ABSALOM REBELS. 15:1-12 B. DAVID FLEES. 15:13-37 C. DAVID EXPRESSES KINDNESS TO ZIBA. 16:1-4 D. SHIMEI CURSES DAVID. 16:5-14 E. AHITHOPHEL OFFERS ADVICE TO ABSALOM. 16:15-17:29 D. JOAB'S MEN KILL ABSALOM. 18:1-18 C. DAVID MOURNS FOR ABSALOM. 18:19-19:8 B. DAVID RETURNS TO JERUSALEM. 19:9-43 A. SHEBA REVOLTS AGAINST DAVID. 20:1-22

28 28 THE REBELLIOUS PLAN (V1-6) V 1 = ABSALOM'S FIRST MOVE TO CONSPIRACY. Now it came about after this that Absalom provided for himself a chariot and horses, and fifty men as runners before him. POINT: ABSALOM WANTED ALL THE TRAPPINGS OF ROYALTY, SO HE ACQUIRED SOME OF THE LUXURIES OF ROYALTY. POINT: THE FIRST PART OF HIS REBELLIOUS PLAN WAS TO ESTABLISH A GOOD APPEARANCE, GOOD TRANSPORTATION AND A COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK. V 2 = HIS PLOY. And Absalom used to rise early and stand beside the way to the gate; and it happened that when any man had a suit to come to the king for judgment, Absalom would call to him and say, "From what city are you?" And he would say, "Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel." PRINCIPLE: EVIL DOES NOT REST MUCH. POINT: HE POSITIONED HIMSELF WHERE PEOPLE WOULD SPEAK TO HIM FIRST ABOUT THEIR COMPLAINTS. POINT: ABSALOMS' GREETING TO THEM WAS THE TYPICAL GREETING OF ONE IN AUTHORITY, SO HE ASSUMED A POSITION THAT HE REALLY DID NOT HAVE. PRINCIPLE: EVIL PLAYS POLITICAL GAMES TO PROMOTE ITSELF. V 3 = HIS VERDICTS. Then Absalom would say to him, "See, your claims are good and right, but no man listens to you on the part of the king." PRINCIPLE: A SKILLED POLITICIAN PLAYS TO THE AUDIENCE HE IS ADDRESSING. POINT: ABSALOM CLAIMS THAT HIS FATHER IS NO LONGER JUST BECAUSE HE NO LONGER CARES FOR THE PEOPLE. POINT: ABSALOM FEIGNED CONCERN.

29 29 PRINCIPLE: EVIL SUBTLELY UNDERMINES RIGHTEOUS LEADERSHIP BY QUESTIONING WHETHER OR NOT THE LEADER REALLY CARES. V 4 = HIS CLAIMS. Moreover, Absalom would say, "Oh that one would appoint me judge in the land, then every man who has any suit or cause could come to me, and I would give him justice." POINT: SINCE HE HAS SAID THAT THE CLAIMS OF OTHERS ARE RIGHT, WITHOUT EVEN A HINT OF INVESTIGATION, HE EXPECTS OTHERS TO JOIN HIM IN HIS CLAIMS FOR UNFAIRNESS. PRINCIPLE: REBELLION IS OFTEN CLOAKED IN THE GUISE OF THE INJUSTICE OF ANOTHER. HOW EVIL ATTACKS: 1. THE FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS TO DISCREDIT THE TARGETTED PERSON BY ANY MEANS AVAILABLE. (Done by innuendo, interpretation of events seeking to be critical, method of operation method of life) 2. CONSPIRACIES HIDE BY REPRESENTING THE TARGETTED PERSON AS UNETHICAL, UNCARING AND SELF-CENTERED. (Probably always true in a small way, because we are human, but the conspiracy wants something the targetted person has FFPP) 3. AFTER ATTACKING THE TARGETTED PERSON, THEY ATTACK WHAT THE PERSON REPRESENTS, THEIR TESTIMONY OR MESSAGE. 4. THEY USE A DEBATOR'S TECHNIQUE: THE PERSON IS WRONG, THERE- FORE THE MESSAGE ALSO MUST BE WRONG. 5. THEN A NEW PERSONALITY IS SUBSTITUTED WITH A NEW MESSAGE. 6. THIS TRANSITION MUST BE HANDLED WITH SKILL, OFTEN PLAYING ON GOOD AND VALID EMOTIONS, TO ESTABLISH THE NEW PERSON. 7. THEREFORE, THE NEW PERSONALITY MUST BE REPRESENTED AS ABOVE REPROACH, SO THAT ANYTHING THAT IS SAID OR DONE IS VIEWED AS VALID AND TRUE. 8. WITH THE NEW PERSONALITY SOLD, THE NEW MESSAGE FOLLOWS. V 5 = HIS METHOD OF INGRATIATION.

30 30 And it happened that when a man came near to prostrate himself before him, he would put out his hand and take hold of him and kiss him. POINT: ABSALOM TRIED TO ACT AND APPEAR AS THOUGH HE WAS REALLY A HUMBLE SERVANT OF THE PEOPLE, LIKE HIS FATHER DAVID TRULY WAS. POINT: WHY WOULD A TRULY HUMBLE SERVANT WAS TO SUPPLANT ANOTHER TRULY HUMBLE SERVANT FROM HIS POSITION?? V 6 = HIS SUCCESS. And in this manner Absalom dealt with all Israel who came to the king for judgment; so Absalom stole away the hearts of the men of Israel. PRINCIPLE: WE CAN SEE JUST HOW POWERFUL LOVE IS EVEN WHEN IT IS FAKED FOR ONE'S OWN PERSONAL ADVANTAGE. V 7 = HIS LIE TO HIS FATHER. THE EXECUTION OF THE PLAN (V7-12) Now it came about at the end of forty (four) years that Absalom said to the king, "Please let me go and pay my vow which I have vowed to the LORD, in Hebron. POINT: HEBRON IS THE PLACE WHERE DAVID WAS ANOINTED KING. POINT: CONSPIRATORS WILL SEEK TO USE YOUR VALID PASSIONS AGAINST YOU. PRINCIPLE: TO A REBELLIOUS CONSPIRATOR, NOTHING IS SACRED WHEN IT COMES TO GETTING THEIR WAY. V 8 = THE CONTENT OF THE LIE. "For your servant vowed a vow while I was living at Geshur in Aram, saying, 'If the LORD shall indeed bring me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD.'" POINT: ABSALOM'S VOW MORE THAN LIKELY WAS TO OVERTHROW HIS FATHER. HE PROBABLY VIEWED IT AS A MANDATE FROM THE LORD FOR HIS FATHER'S "INJUSTICE" CONCERNING AMNON.

31 31 POINT: ABSALOM IS PLAYING ON DAVID'S FIRST DESIRE FOR HIS CHILDREN-TO SERVE THE LORD. POINT: ABSALOM IS USING THE PRINCIPLE OF THE PRODIGAL TO GET HIS WAY. PRINCIPLE: CHILDREN IN REBELLION WILL USE THE GOODNESS OF THEIR PARENTS TO THEIR OWN SELFISH ENDS. POINT: ABSALOM IS NOT A YOUNG CHILD BUT A GROWN MAN WHICH WE MUST CONSIDER AS WE WATCH DAVID RESPOND TO HIM. V 9 = DAVID'S "BLESSING." And the king said to him, "Go in peace." So he arose and went to Hebron. POINT: DAVID WISHES ABSALOM WELL NOT KNOWING THAT ABSALOM HAS ANYTHING BUT PEACE IN HIS MIND. POINT: "PEACE" TO ABSALOM IS GETTING HIS WAY UNOPPOSED. V10 = THE SPIES' ORDERS. But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, "As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, 'Absalom is king in Hebron.'" POINT: ABSALOM IS GOING TO "FOLLOW IN HIS FATHER'S STEPS." POINT: ABSALOM INSTALLS PLANS TO QUICKLY GAIN ADDITIONAL SUPPORTERS TO HIM. POINT: HE WILL USE A BLUFF TO GAIN POWER. V11 = THE "INNOCENCE" OF THE SPIES. Then two hundred men went with Absalom from Jerusalem, who were invited and went innocently, and they did not know anything. POINT: CONSPIRATORS USE INNOCENT PEOPLE FOR THEIR OWN ENDS, WHICH ARE CALLED THE "DUPES." PRINCIPLE: WE MUST BEWARE WHEN SOMEONE ELSE IS SEEKING TO UNSEAT THE DESIGNATED AUTHORITY OF GOD. (Satan is an expert at making it all sound so right and good)

32 32 V12 = HE WANTS AN "IN" WITH HIS FATHER. And Absalom sent for Ahithophel (his name means "My brother is foolishness") the Gilonite, David's counselor, from his city Giloh, while he (Absalom) was offering the sacrifices. And the conspiracy (QESHER = from verb that means to bind) was strong, for the people increased continually with Absalom. POINT: AHITHOPHEL'S SON ELIAM (23:34) WAS THE FATHER OF BATH- SHEBA (11:3), THUS THIS WAS BATHSHEBA'S GRANDFATHER WHO WAS NOW ALIGNED IN A CONSPIRACY WITH ABSALOM. POINT: THE SACRIFICE OF A HEIFER WAS MADE AT DAVID'S ANOINTING, AND ABSALOM WAS "FOLLOWING IN HIS FATHER'S FOOTSTEPS." 1 SAM 16:2 POINT: ABSALOM'S FOOLISHNESS IS EXPANDING, POSSIBLY BECAUSE DAVID FAILED AS A FATHER. Prov 22:15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of discipline will remove it far from him. PRINCIPLE: CONSPIRATORS WILL SEEK TO ENLIST THOSE WHO ARE CLOSE TO THE ONES THAT THEY WANT TO OVERTHROW. V13 = DAVID GETS THE NEWS. THE SUCCESS OF THE PLAN (V13-18) Then a messenger came to David, saying, "The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom." POINT: WE DON'T KNOW WHO THIS MESSENGER IS. POINT: WE DO KNOW THAT DAVID ACCEPTS THIS MESSAGE AS FACT SO IT MAY HAVE BORE AHITHOPHEL'S SIGNATURE. (David does not yet know that Ahithophel has committed treason) V14 = DAVID'S DECISION TO FLEE. And David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, "Arise and let us flee, for otherwise none of us shall escape from Absalom. Go in haste, lest he overtake us quickly and bring down calamity on us and strike the city with the edge of the sword."