Want the Verse of the Day sent to your inbox? In life and in death they were not divided; who put ornaments of gold on your apparel. Let me close with these words from our Lord Himself: 1 When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. 1After the death of Saul, when David had returned from defeating the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag. Genesis 38:10 And the thing which he did displeased the LORD: wherefore he slew him also. Start for FREE. I point this out for a very important reason. 17:1 Furthermore, Ahithophel said to Absalom, Please let me choose 12,000 men that I may arise and pursue David tonight. And the king said, If he is by himself there is good news in his mouth. And he came nearer and nearer. 3There was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David; David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul became weaker and weaker. The author informs us that at one time Absalom had no sons, and fearing that he would be forgotten, built a pillar for himself in the valley of the kings. Overlook my irresponsible outburst on the day my master the king left Jerusalemdont hold it against me! Ahithophel is nearly always right, but not this time. BEST VALUE in digital Bible study. 28 Jun 2023 19:28:08 In the context of our text, I find it difficult to understand how. But Abner was not with David at Hebron, for David[o] had dismissed him, and he had gone away in peace. If they would bow down at the next opportunity, they would not be punished, but if they refused, they would be cast into a fiery furnace. Why did David order the death of the Amalekite who had come to him with news of Saul's death? No one is perfect. 4 The king covered his face and cried out with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son! 5 Then Joab came into the house to the king and said, Today you have covered with shame the faces of all your servants, who today have saved your life and the lives of your sons and daughters, the lives of your wives, and the lives of your concubines, 6 by loving those who hate you, and by hating those who love you. David will wait for word from Zakok at the fords of the wilderness, just west of the Jordan, until he learns what Absalom has in mind. thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. The hymn became so popular that it was published and used in religious services. Watch on. Just below that it reads "Ticket Confirmation#:" followed by a 10-digit number. He will be hiding out, and when Ahithophel and his small army arrive, David will pounce on them, giving them a humiliating defeat. WebDavid's grief for Absalom made the day of victory a day of mourning. Enter your email address and we will send you a link to reset your password. Only David will be killed, who is Absalom's real enemy. To my shame I must say that I stood and corrected that man, insisting that depression is sin and thus our Lord could not have been depressed. I would have been glad to give you ten pieces of silver and a belt. 12 But the man said to Joab, Even if I felt in my hand the weight of a thousand pieces of silver, I would not reach out my hand against the kings son, for in our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, For my sake protect the young man Absalom. 13 On the other hand, if I had dealt treacherously against his life (and there is nothing hidden from the king), then you yourself would have stood aloof. 14 Joab said, I will not waste time like this with you. And he took three javelins in his hand and thrust them into the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the oak. BEST VALUE in digital Bible study. 20When Abner came with twenty men to David at Hebron, David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him. The first part of Ahithophel's advice is that he should possess the throne symbolically by publicly sleeping with the ten wives David left behind to keep house in Jerusalem. 39-40The army crossed the Jordan but the king stayed. 29May the guilt[r] fall on the head of Joab, and on all his fathers house; and may the house of Joab never be without one who has a discharge, or who is leprous,[s] or who holds a spindle, or who falls by the sword, or who lacks food! 30So Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon. 13David said to the young man who had reported to him, Where do you come from? He answered, I am the son of a resident alien, an Amalekite. 14David said to him, Were you not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the Lords anointed? 15Then David called one of the young men and said, Come here and strike him down. So he struck him down and he died. It has taken me a long time to be able to say this, but I believe that a Christian can be depressed. I somehow managed to believe for a day or two that Absalom possessed David's wives, in the sight of all. How the mighty have fallen!20Tell it not in Gath,proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon;or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice,the daughters of the uncircumcised will exult. It lets him fight on his turf, so that the forest will kill more than his soldiers (18:8). And all Israel fled every one to his own home. The second half shifts to the first-person perspective of King David, mourning the death of his son. WebNational Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. Congress of Christian Education Held in Louisville, Ky. | Louisville, Kentucky And yet we fail to get to know our neighbors, or to share the gospel (the good news) with them. We know (intellectually) that the lost are going to spend eternity in hell, separated from God. For there the shield of the mighty was defiled. It has its own Christian form. 24 Then David came to Mahanaim. Dave Navarro, Release Date (Streaming): One group sat on one side of the pool, while the other sat on the other side of the pool. When our Lord Jesus Christ came to the earth, He came as the One who would sit on the throne of his father, David. Indeed, he deserved much worse than what he received. Ahimaaz begs Joab to be the one who will carry the good news to David. 12Abner sent messengers to David at Hebron,[l] saying, To whom does the land belong? I think Davids unusual response can be explained in this manner: I see a similar example of David's acceptance of death as a point of termination in chapter 13, where David finds a certain comfort in the fact that his son Amnon was dead: David's comfort, to some degree, was found in Amnon's death. This army will take a little more time to assemble, but it will be necessary to wait. Many of those with David were mighty men of valor who had fought with him in many difficult situations, many like the one they would face here. Bob is a pastor/teacher and elder at Community Bible Chapel in Richardson, Texas, and has contributed many of his Bible study series for use by the Foundation. the daughters of the uncircumcised will exult. 16 Then Joab blew the trumpet, and the troops came back from pursuing Israel, for Joab restrained them. The thing I wish you to notice in our text is that God spared David from death and gave him the victory over Absalom in spite of the fact that he was depressed, in spite of the fact that David commanded his men not to harm Absalom. He sends messengers to find out who she is. We see David placing the well-being of his son Absalom over the well-being of the rest of his family and over the rest of David's kingdom. It is a great day of victory. Joab is incensed that this young man has not killed Absalom on the spot. New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA). And it is this very friendship which gives me great insight into this man, David. And Absalom crossed the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him. Start your free trial today! 8 The battle spread over the face of all the country, and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword. They assumed it would only get worse once he knew the child was dead. Even Shimei son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim, hurried down to join the men of Judah so he could welcome the king, a thousand Benjaminites with him. 23Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely! And now this Absalom whom we made king is dead in battle. We give ourselves far too much credit for God's blessings. It all started with the defeat of Absalom's army, followed by the death of Absalom. Absalom has arrived at Jerusalem and taken possession of this royal city. God is very concerned about his reputation. Besides were the firstbornso why are we having to play second fiddle? 31-32Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim. Let me simply say to you that God worked in David's life, in spite of his depression. The young man is not taken back by Joab's rebuke. Jonathan lies slain upon your high places.26I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan;greatly beloved were you to me;your love to me was wonderful,passing the love of women. The good news which Ahimaaz wanted to proclaim to David was that God had given him the victory by defeating the army of Absalom and by Absalom's death. 24O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,who clothed you with crimson, in luxury,who put ornaments of gold on your apparel. And Ishbaal[i] said to Abner, Why have you gone in to my fathers concubine? 8The words of Ishbaal[j] made Abner very angry; he said, Am I a dogs head for Judah? Although he deserved to die for his sins, David would not die because God had taken away his sin (2 Samuel 12:13). Both of these men have great ability, but in the end, their talents are of no eternal profit. The first glimpse of this overconfidence comes in 2 Samuel 7, where David expresses his desire to build a house for God. These words from Nathan must have been a huge relief to David, who knew he did not deserve anything but God's wrath. 33Then the king was deeply moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept. David was furious. It is David's response to the death of this son that will be the focus of our lesson. When he came to David, he fell to the ground and did obeisance. 23 Now when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his donkey and arose and went to his home, to his city, and set his house in order, and strangled himself; thus he died and was buried in the grave of his father. Youre my own flesh and blood! get to know the Bible better! Hollywood star Robert Redford is "in mourning" following the death of his son James at the age of 58. Not for one moment! The Message Compact Bible, Teal and Brown Python - Slightly Imperfect, The Message Thinline, Large Print (LeatherLike, Desert Night Black), LeatherLike, Desert Night Black, The Message Compact Bible, Teal and Brown Python, The Message SOLO: An Uncommon Devotional - eBook, The Message Deluxe Gift Bible--soft leather-look, amethyst gem, The Message Thinline, Large Print (LeatherLike, Arrow Saddle Tan), LeatherLike, Arrow Saddle Tan. Depression will wipe out all such self-confidence. And the king held his face in his hands and lamented loudly. Presbyterian/Reformed. The days victory turned into a day of mourning as word passed through the army, David is grieving over his son. The army straggled back to the city that day demoralized, dragging their tails. Copyright 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. 8They brought the head of Ishbaal[x] to David at Hebron and said to the king, Here is the head of Ishbaal,[y] son of Saul your enemy who sought your life; the Lord has avenged my lord the king this day on Saul and on his offspring.. Then they took his head and travelled by way of the Arabah all night long. You dont see us getting treated special because of it, do you?, 43The men of Israel shot back, We have ten shares in the king to your one. Are we overly confident in our own efforts, our own righteousness, our own faith? Start your free trial today! I know I sinned, but look at me nowthe first of all the tribe of Joseph to come down and welcome back my master the king!, 21Abishai son of Zeruiah interrupted, Enough of this! 3David said to him, Where have you come from? He said to him, I have escaped from the camp of Israel. 4David said to him, How did things go? I am choosing not to do this, having already noted the details I think are important. 24But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner. But you are worth ten thousand of us. If this is the case -- and it seems necessary to see it so -- then we are given a slightly different perspective of the possession of David's wives by Absalom. The attractiveness of Ahithophel's plan is that David can be defeated quickly and relatively easily, with a minimal loss of life and a nominal expenditure of energy. They won't be able to see your review if you only submit your rating. The second supporter to come to David's aid at Mahanaim is Machir the son of Ammiel from Lo-debar (17:27). Ahithophel's counsel comes in two parts, unfortunately separated (artificially) by the chapter division (chapter 17). New King James Version (NKJV). He insisted that the rich man who stole the poor man's pet lamb deserved to die! That is what some folks teach. David now explains his change in behavior. His cause of death is yet to be 20Then Abner looked back and said, Is it you, Asahel? He answered, Yes, it is. 21Abner said to him, Turn to your right or to your left, and seize one of the young men, and take his spoil. But Asahel would not turn away from following him. The woman is beautiful, and David decides that he wants her. David and Nahash had been on relatively friendly terms, but when he died and his son Nahash took the throne, he foolishly humiliated the official delegation David sent to mourn Nahash's death (2 Samuel 10:1ff.). The two priests' sons quickly run to David's camp to tell them what happened. They had a new commander in chief, and little experience. And your father is an expert in warfare, and will not spend the night with the people. If this is the case, then suffering and sorrows and even depression may be our friend, and not our enemy. Todd Newman, Paul would make this same charge against the Jews centuries later: Elsewhere, the apostle Paul instructs Timothy that elders -- those spiritual leaders whose lives are publicly under scrutiny -- who persist in their sin are to be corrected publicly, so that all will learn (1 Timothy 5:19-20). Why do you insist on being so contentious? But one thing I require of you: you shall never appear in my presence unless you bring Sauls daughter Michal when you come to see me. 14Then David sent messengers to Sauls son Ishbaal,[m] saying, Give me my wife Michal, to whom I became engaged at the price of one hundred foreskins of the Philistines. 15Ishbaal[n] sent and took her from her husband Paltiel the son of Laish. We are not sure how many men fight for David, but we do know the number is in the thousands because the text tells us his men are in groups that have commanders of thousands and hundreds. If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. His mourning here, however, is not a mourning over the death of his son (for he has not yet died), but is instead the mourning of repentance. And in the process of writing these psalms, David has also ministered to many others from his despair. Cinemark 17The battle was very fierce that day; and Abner and the men of Israel were beaten by the servants of David. Do you not know that the end will be bitter? Should Christians celebrate Summer Solstice? Soon everyone knew: Oh, look! [1] So its not that I dont find the accounts interesting or affecting, because things like the loyalty of Davids men, Hushais subterfuge, and David mourning over the death of Absalom are all moving or memorable for one reason or another. So why are you the last ones to bring the king back home? And tell Amasa, You, too, are my flesh and blood. 13 If he withdraws into a city, then all Israel shall bring ropes to that city, and we will drag it into the valley until not even a small stone is found there. 14 Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the LORD had ordained to thwart the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that the LORD might bring calamity on Absalom. And all Israel fled, each to his tent. It is not good in any moral sense, for it sanctions -- no, it recommends -- the killing of God's anointed king. Third, we can learn from David's loss of perspective. Is that not the same sense that we gain from Paul's words below? For just what the Lord has sworn to David, that will I accomplish for him, 10to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan to Beer-sheba. 11And Ishbaal[k] could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him. According to the Law, David should have died for his sins. They urge him to cross the Jordan quickly to find a safe refuge. You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. But treat him well!, 38The king said, Thats settled; Kimham goes with me. Absalom can quickly enter into his possession of the throne, yet without the dangers or discomforts of going into battle. RT25: Celebrating 25 years of Rotten Tomatoes. Finally, we can learn much from David's depression. 7When he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. Link to 150 Essential Comedy Movies To Watch Now, Link to RT25: Celebrating 25 Years of Rotten Tomatoes, Link to What to Watch: In Theaters and On Streaming. David Ejimofor, 15, who was described as an "exemplary pupil", died at Aberavon beach in Neath Port Talbot on 19 June. Copyright Aleteia SAS all rights reserved. 1 Then David numbered the people who were with him and set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. This account tells us of Absaloms death and Davids mourning for his son, Absalom. These were born to David in Hebron. First, let us think of the events of our chapter only in terms of timing. 25You know that Abner son of Ner came to deceive you, and to learn your comings and goings and to learn all that you are doing.. But my servant Kimham here; let him go with you in my place. I answered, Here, sir. 8And he said to me, Who are you? I answered him, I am an Amalekite. 9He said to me, Come, stand over me and kill me; for convulsions have seized me, and yet my life still lingers. 10So I stood over him, and killed him, for I knew that he could not live after he had fallen. Why dont you bring the king back?, 11-13When David heard what was being said, he sent word to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, Ask the elders of Judah, Why are you so laggard in bringing the king back home? the shield of Saul, anointed with oil no more. Coming Soon, Regal As David heard Nathan's recital of his sin, he broke, declaring to Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord (2 Samuel 12:13). Would he not have been rewarded for doing so? David mourns as a sign of his repentance as he beseeches God to spare the life of his son. If we are prone to stinkin' thinking we are headed for trouble. We have probably all watched (at least the older ones among us) some of the works which Michael had a hand in directing. Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Your actions give a clear message: officers and soldiers mean nothing to you. At this point in his life, David did not have peace, joy, or great faith. Joab was David's subordinate, but he was right to rebuke him. Daniel 3:16-18, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. He had shown a total disregard for those who were willing to give their all for their king. And just because it is a matter of grace, we dare not presume that God must relent. He then calls Ahithophel and asks for his counsel about how he may best establish himself as king. 2 Samuel 18:1-19:8, Sermon Topics:
To press this matter further, I believe a Christian can be depressed and not be in sin for experiencing depression. We will also be told in our text, the LORD ordained to thwart the good counsel of Ahithophel, in order that the LORD might bring calamity on Absalom (17:14). They did not dare to presume that He would do so, and so they responded to Nebuchadnezzar in a way that left the option open. David prayed to Scriptures:
Abner came to you; why did you dismiss him, so that he got away? David did not trust in himself in his despair. Notice that when each of the two messengers approach David, they indicate to him that they have good news for him. Ahithophel volunteers to personally kill David alone, thus minimizing bloodshed, and then consolidate the kingdom in short order. David needs to escape beyond the Jordan to establish a camp that will offer him protection and which will also give him the military position from which to defend himself against the coming attack of Absalom and his followers. He reminds Joab that David, their commander-in-chief, has specifically forbidden anyone to harm his son Absalom. But why would the king need to make a great thing of that? Why would God tell King David to take a census of the people in verses one through nine, and then cast judgment on him because he did what he told him to do? 33The king lamented for Abner, saying, Should Abner die as a fool dies?34Your hands were not bound,your feet were not fettered;as one falls before the wickedyou have fallen., And all the people wept over him again. After Nathan left David, God struck the child born to David and Uriah's widow. We do not know what the malady was, but we do know that after seven days the child died. But King David is not with his army. 1After the death of Saul, when David had returned from defeating the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag. The only way we can maintain a proper perspective is to continually saturate our minds with the Word of God. Then the king, Kimham with him, crossed over at Gilgal. He should have died for his rebellion against his father (prior to this text). And yet, for all Joab had done for Absalom, this man set out to take the throne away from his father, and to set another as commander over Israel's forces. Ahimaaz persists and finally Joab reluctantly lets him run to carry the news to David as well. The class (and all those within hearing range) knew what to expect when the teacher stepped outside with a student. There are many things wrong with this viewpoint. Psalm 5:6 Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man. The Gesualdo Sixs treatment of Tomkins timeless tune is the epitome of vocal performance. 2 David sent the people out, one third under the command of Joab, one third under the command of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and one third under the command of Ittai the Gittite. He was furious, but he gave these men a second chance. It brings about the deliverance of David and the defeat of his enemies. Copyright 2003-2023 | Outreach, Inc., All rights reserved. Does Ahithophel really think David can easily be found sitting among the rest of the people? Both, in effect, want to be king of their own lives. David's perspective is completely messed up. You may remember that he does not have time to reflect on what he should say. David came to care more about one member of his family than everyone else. 3David said to him, Where have you come from? He said to him, I have escaped from the camp of Israel. 4David said to him, How did things go? gain access to 50+ premium resources to enhance your study of Scripture. What more could I ever expect or ask?, 29Thats enough, said the king. We can be depressed and not be in sin. David learns Absalom is about to possess the throne and flees Jerusalem. gain access to 50+ premium resources to enhance your study of Scripture. The return of everyone depends on the man you seek; then all the people will be at peace. 4 So the plan pleased Absalom and all the elders of Israel. Let us learn from David that we can all lose our perspective quickly, without ever knowing it. 7 The people of Israel were defeated there before the servants of David, and the slaughter there that day was great, 20,000 men. These five reasons alone are sufficient basis for David's actions in our text. First, we can learn from the two villains of our text, Absalom and Ahithophel. That is also why Ahimaaz hedges his answer to David's specific question about Absalom's well-being. 28Afterwards, when David heard of it, he said, I and my kingdom are for ever guiltless before the Lord for the blood of Abner son of Ner. Make your covenant with me, and I will give you my support to bring all Israel over to you. 13He said, Good; I will make a covenant with you. Many times when one is depressed, their perspective is warped -- they do not see life accurately. proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon; or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice. What a great day this is, a day of victory. One of the most striking parts of the hymn is the shift in its perspective. 4Sauls son Jonathan had a son who was crippled in his feet. It will be a great battle, with a great leader, and a great victory will be the outcome. He did not want another wife; he did not even appear to want an affair, just a night of pleasure. The two men hastily depart and come to the house of another supporter of David, who lives in Bahurim.86 There, the wife of David's supporter hides the two men in the well, covering it and then placing grain over the covering, so no hint of the well is seen. Some of the most painful events in our life may also be some of the most fruitful in producing the good God wants for us. By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and
27How the mighty have fallen,and the weapons of war perished! What a relief these words must have been. The child died. Thus, they will mock God with the confidence that they can get away with their sin.
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