DAVID A man after God's own heart!

Question of the Day:  Is there a reunion in your near future that you are looking forward to?

There have been many times when studying the story of David where David's heart and actions have helped us to better understand the heart of God.  This is not one of those weeks.  This lesson we are still seeing a very different David.  A David who is still sitting in the affects of his sin.

READ: 2 Samuel 14

Absalom Returns to Jerusalem

14 Joab son of Zeruiah knew that the king’s heart longed for Absalom.2 So Joab sent someone to Tekoa and had a wise woman brought from there. He said to her, “Pretend you are in mourning. Dress in mourning clothes, and don’t use any cosmetic lotions. Act like a woman who has spent many days grieving for the dead. 3 Then go to the king and speak these words to him.” And Joab put the words in her mouth.

4 When the woman from Tekoa went[a] to the king, she fell with her face to the ground to pay him honor, and she said, “Help me, Your Majesty!”

5 The king asked her, “What is troubling you?”

She said, “I am a widow; my husband is dead. 6 I your servant had two sons. They got into a fight with each other in the field, and no one was there to separate them. One struck the other and killed him. 7 Now the whole clan has risen up against your servant; they say, ‘Hand over the one who struck his brother down, so that we may put him to death for the life of his brother whom he killed; then we will get rid of the heir as well.’ They would put out the only burning coal I have left, leaving my husband neither name nor descendant on the face of the earth.”

8 The king said to the woman, “Go home, and I will issue an order in your behalf.”

9 But the woman from Tekoa said to him, “Let my lord the king pardonme and my family, and let the king and his throne be without guilt.”

10 The king replied, “If anyone says anything to you, bring them to me, and they will not bother you again.”

11 She said, “Then let the king invoke the Lord his God to prevent the avenger of blood from adding to the destruction, so that my son will not be destroyed.”

“As surely as the Lord lives,” he said, “not one hair of your son’s head will fall to the ground.”

12 Then the woman said, “Let your servant speak a word to my lord the king.”

“Speak,” he replied.

13 The woman said, “Why then have you devised a thing like this against the people of God? When the king says this, does he not convict himself,for the king has not brought back his banished son? 14 Like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be recovered, so we must die. But that is not what God desires; rather, he devises ways so that a banished persondoes not remain banished from him.

15 “And now I have come to say this to my lord the king because the people have made me afraid. Your servant thought, ‘I will speak to the king; perhaps he will grant his servant’s request. 16 Perhaps the king will agree to deliver his servant from the hand of the man who is trying to cut off both me and my son from God’s inheritance.’

17 “And now your servant says, ‘May the word of my lord the king secure my inheritance, for my lord the king is like an angel of God in discerninggood and evil. May the Lord your God be with you.’”

18 Then the king said to the woman, “Don’t keep from me the answer to what I am going to ask you.”

“Let my lord the king speak,” the woman said.

19 The king asked, “Isn’t the hand of Joab with you in all this?”

The woman answered, “As surely as you live, my lord the king, no one can turn to the right or to the left from anything my lord the king says. Yes, it was your servant Joab who instructed me to do this and who put all these words into the mouth of your servant. 20 Your servant Joab did this to change the present situation. My lord has wisdom like that of an angel of God—he knows everything that happens in the land.”

21 The king said to Joab, “Very well, I will do it. Go, bring back the young man Absalom.”

22 Joab fell with his face to the ground to pay him honor, and he blessed the king. Joab said, “Today your servant knows that he has found favor in your eyes, my lord the king, because the king has granted his servant’s request.”

23 Then Joab went to Geshur and brought Absalom back to Jerusalem.24 But the king said, “He must go to his own house; he must not see my face.” So Absalom went to his own house and did not see the face of the king.

25 In all Israel there was not a man so highly praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom. From the top of his head to the sole of his foot there was no blemish in him. 26 Whenever he cut the hair of his head—he used to cut his hair once a year because it became too heavy for him—he would weigh it, and its weight was two hundred shekels[b] by the royal standard.

27 Three sons and a daughter were born to Absalom. His daughter’s name was Tamar, and she became a beautiful woman.

28 Absalom lived two years in Jerusalem without seeing the king’s face.29 Then Absalom sent for Joab in order to send him to the king, but Joab refused to come to him. So he sent a second time, but he refused to come. 30 Then he said to his servants, “Look, 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.

31 Then Joab did go to Absalom’s house, and he said to him, “Why have your servants set my field on fire?”

32 Absalom said to Joab, “Look, I sent word to you and said, ‘Come here so I can send you to the king to ask, “Why have I come from Geshur? It would be better for me if I were still there!”’ Now then, I want to see the king’s face, and if I am guilty of anything, let him put me to death.”

33 So Joab went to the king and told him this. Then the king summoned Absalom, and he came in and bowed down with his face to the ground before the king. And the king kissed Absalom.

In studying this chapter I read the chapter in Beth Moore's boo A heart like His.  Her take on this story was very helpful and I have chosen to use much of it here.  

To start looking at this passage we first need to note the last  part of 2 Samuel chapter 13.  Here we understand where David's heart is at.  

"And King David longed to go to Absalom, for he was consoled concerning Amnon’s death."

So once again David was feeling one thing and doing another.  When Tamar was raped he was angry but didn't do anything.  Now he is longing for his son and yet he does nothing.  

Have you ever felt paralyzed and unable to do what you should? I know I have.  There have been periods of my life when I wanted something and knew I should be doing something but I struggled to do it.  I just felt trapped in a state of paralysis.  

What can contribute to this?

Why has David gone from a decisive warrior, to a King who still feels strongly but doesn't act?

Joab, is a man who can't take inaction so he sets out to get David to act.  At first blush this story seems so wrong and perhaps it all was, however Beth Moore mentions that perhaps Joab was just doing what he had seen the prophet Nathan do to persuade David.  It is the same tactic.  

So Joab get's David to agree to have Absalom come home.  

What is Joab's reaction? 

What kind of reunion do you think Joab was expecting?

This is one time when the reaction of David does not mirror the reaction of our Savior.  We know from the prodigal son that Jesus doesn't invite us home to shun us or to keep us from seeing His face.  

Ellen White writes, "Absalom was permitted to return to Jerusalem, but not to appear at court or to meet his father. David had begun to see the evil effects of his indulgence toward his children; and tenderly as he loved this beautiful and gifted son, he felt it necessary, as a lesson both to Absalom and to the people, that abhorrence for such a crime should be manifested. Absalom lived two years in his own house, but banished from the court."

She also writes, "With the memory ever before him of his own transgression of the law of God, David seemed morally paralyzed; he was weak and irresolute, when before his sin he had been courageous and decided. His influence with the people had been weakened."

I think it is clear that when you contrast the reaction of the prodigal son's father and David we see the effects of sin in Davids life. 

Pastor Ryan's email to us all last night so beautifully highlighted this very issue.

He wrote, 

Dear Church Family,

I listened to a John Piper sermon this week and he said something that grabbed me: "The only sin that you can defeat in the Christian life is a forgiven sin." I absolutely agree with him. That's what Paul was talking about when he said, "sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace" (Romans 6:14).

My prayer is that you would experience victory over your sins. In order for God to answer that prayer He will first answer this one: May you receive the forgiveness of your sins (and know that you are forgiven through and through). May God's grace melt your heart and delight your soul.

Pastor Ryan

To have victory we must know we are forgiven.  I wonder if David knew, KNEW, really KNEW that he was forgiven.  He seems stuck or as Mrs. White wrote, morally paralyzed.  

If we find ourselves in a place where we are having a hard time with the sins of others around us or we find it hard to open our arms and welcome home those who have gone astray, maybe we need to stop and look at our hearts.  

If we find ourselves in a state of paralysis, then maybe we need to get on our knees and ask for forgiveness and then accept it!!!!! Listen to this song!  We can't move forward and lead, or love, or experience victory, unless we accept the freedom that is ours if we will but accept it!

One thing I know for sure is that when Jesus comes, and we are all welcomed home, Jesus will NOT tell us to come home but don't look on my face.  He is right now preparing a place for us so that when we return home we will be with him, gaze upon Him.  Oh how I long for that day!

So Absalom get's tired of not being able to see his father and wanting to be in court and so he asks Joab to help but Joab won't get involved, won't even talk to him about it so what does Absalom do?

What a spoiled brat!

Absalom we are told in this chapter is perfect!  He is a dashing guy with some amazing hair! He was seen by many as protecting his sister, and then the inaction of his father helped more and more admire and join team Absalom.  Absalom was acquiring his own men, chariots etc.  David was getting weaker and Absalom stronger.  

All of this combined made him feel more and more entitled.  So by the time his father agreed to have him come and see him, they greeted each other with the formal appropriate greeting but their hearts weren't in it.  

Beth Moore mentions that she wishes more was written about the meeting but she isn't sure there was anything more to write.  That perhaps that is absolutely all that happened.   A bow, a kiss, and done. I'm sure it was awkward and formal. There was no melting of hearts or coming back together.  We know this by what happens in the next couple chapters.  

Ellen writes, "Through the influence of Joab, Absalom was again admitted to his father's presence; but though there was an outward reconciliation, he continued his ambitious scheming. He now assumed an almost royal state, having chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him. And while the king was more and more inclined to desire retirement and solitude, Absalom sedulously courted the popular favor."

So Absalom starts working on moving up and taking over.  We will get to all that next week. 

In reading this story what strikes me the most is this.

We can come to Jesus, bow, we can do it every week on Sabbath morning, raise our hands in praise, we can go through the motions, but if we don't come with a surrendered heart it is NOTHING!

What was the point of Absalom bowing to his father as he was really working to over throw him?

Heart matters!

If we don't really believe and experience his forgiveness we can't find victory!

If we don't come with a genuine heart, bowing means nothing!

Both Absalom and David had a heart problem.  

What was Davids?

David couldn't accept and experience freedom from his sin.

Absalom couldn't ask for forgiveness. He let pride and his own justification for what he had done, keep him from softening his heart.

There is a heart problem with both.

Where is your heart today?

Are you needing to let go of pride, and self righteousness or have you been unwilling to accept the forgiveness that has been given you? 

Have you not laid them down or are you continually dragging them back up out of the sea?

Are you letting your ,"already forgiven sin" keep you from being the leader and the person God is asking you to be?

If you notice David is consumed with his sin and Absalom with his greatness, both are keeping their focus on themselves and not on God.  

If David had turned his focus on what God had done, and what God was asking him to do how different it could have been.

The same for Absalom.  If he had asked God what He was wanting him to do, wow how different this story could have ended.  

So in closing the moral of this story is....

Go to God and let him do a work on your heart.  If you are surrendered to Him, and are seeking Him, then your focus can't be on your wretchedness or your greatness. Your focus can only be on HIM and his magnificence!