What to Do When Your Child Rebels

What to Do When Your Child Rebels What to Do When Life Isn t Perfect Message #7: 2 Samuel 11-15 EBC June 18, 2017

The Story of David and Absalom

Scene 1: David s Sin

2 Samuel 11:2 4 (HCSB) - One evening David got up from his bed and strolled around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing a very beautiful woman. 3 So David sent someone to inquire about her, and he reported,

This is Bathsheba, daughter of Eliam and wife of Uriah the Hittite. 4 David sent messengers to get her, and when she came to him, he slept with her.

2 Samuel 11:14 15 (HCSB) - The next morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. 15 In the letter he wrote: Put Uriah at the front of the fiercest fighting, then withdraw from him so that he is struck down and dies.

Scene 2: A Painful Conversation

2 Samuel 12:7 (HCSB) - Nathan replied to David, You are the man! 2 Samuel 12:11 (HCSB) - This is what the LORD says, I am going to bring disaster on you from your own family.

2 Samuel 12:13 (HCSB) - David responded to Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. Then Nathan replied to David, The LORD has taken away your sin; you will not die.

Scene 3: The Tragedy of Tamar

2 Samuel 13:11 12, 14 (HCSB) - When she brought them to him to eat, he grabbed her and said, Come sleep with me, my sister! 12 Don t, my brother! she cried. 14 But he refused to listen to her, and because he was stronger than she was, he raped her.

2 Samuel 13:21 (HCSB) - When King David heard about all these things, he was furious.

Scene 4: Absalom s Revenge

2 Samuel 13:28 (HCSB) - Now Absalom commanded his young men, Watch Amnon until he is in a good mood from the wine. When I order you to strike Amnon, then kill him.

Scene 5: The Rebellion

2 Samuel 15:6 (HCSB) - So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

2 Samuel 15:10 (HCSB) - When you hear the sound of the ram s horn, you are to say, Absalom has become king in Hebron!

2 Samuel 15:13 (HCSB) - The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.

2 Samuel 15:30 (HCSB) - David was climbing the slope of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he ascended.

1. Understand the Roots of Rebellion

Proverbs 10:1 (HCSB) - A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son, heartache to his mother.

1. Overprotective or overbearing parent

Ephesians 6:4 (HCSB) - Fathers, don t stir up anger in your children, but bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

2. Exploring / testing boundaries.

Proverbs 22:15 (HCSB) - Foolishness is tangled up in the heart of a youth; the rod of discipline will drive it away from him.

3. Lack of boundaries

4. Lack of time and attention.

5. Anger over life s treatment

Genesis 4:2b 6b (HCSB) - Now Abel became a shepherd of flocks, but Cain worked the ground. 3 In the course of time Cain presented some of the land s produce as an offering to the LORD. 4 And Abel also presented an offering some of the firstborn of his flock and their fat

portions. The LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but He did not have regard for Cain and his offering. Cain was furious, and he looked despondent. 6 Then the LORD said to Cain, Why are you furious?

6. Disillusionment in parent

7. Revenge for wounded heart

8. No opportunity for conquest

Lamentations 3:27 (HCSB) - It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is still young.

9. Sometimes, you just can t say.

Luke 15:11 13 (HCSB) - He also said: A man had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the share of the estate I have coming to me. So he distributed the assets to them.

13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered together all he had and traveled to a distant country, where he squandered his estate in foolish living.

2. How to Respond to Rebellion

Do what David never did:

Do what David never did: 1. Ask for forgiveness.

Do what David never did: 1. Ask for forgiveness. 2. Don t allow personal failure to paralyze parenting.

Do what David never did: 1. Ask for forgiveness. 2. Don t allow personal failure to paralyze parenting. 3. Talk, talk, talk.

Do what David never did: 1. Ask for forgiveness. 2. Don t allow personal failure to paralyze parenting. 3. Talk, talk, talk. 4. Give your time.

Consider renegotiating boundaries.

Accept your limitations. Proverbs 21:1 (HCSB) - A king s heart is like streams of water in the LORD s hand: He directs it wherever He chooses.