2 Samuel 13 Questions: Peace

Questions

      I.        Life

1.    What is something you noticed about God this week?

    II.        Text

Re-read 2 Samuel 13

Leader's note:

·         David was Amnon's, Absalom's (peace), and Tamar's Dad. Absolam and Tamar had the same mother. Amnon had a different mother.

1.    What happened in this story?

2.    Genesis 4:7b reads, "...sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” Amnon knew that what he was doing was wrong; it seemed to powerfully desire him and it consumed him. Do we ever get tempted to do bad/wrong things and feel powerless to avoid that sin (addiction can be like this)? What can we do when we feel sin desiring to have us?

3.    Amnon immediately knew what he did was wrong and he hated his victim, his sister Tamar. He refused to try to make it right. Do we ever blame others instead of taking a look at ourselves and seeing how we can try to resolve the issue at hand? What can we do instead? Give an example of when you took responsibility for something you did (intentional or not) and God used that for good.

4.    Absalom hated Amnon. Absalom had a legitimate grievance against Amnon - Amnon raped his sister! He spent two years plotting his revenge against his brother. His actions against David, his dad (who it seems did nothing to right the wrongs done to his own daughter), led to Absalom's and others' death. I see lots of hate in the media today against a lot of different people. I even see people hating people for hating people. Are we ever tempted to 'hate' for a 'good cause'? How can hate be overcome?

5.    Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. N.T Wright writes, “Think of the best thing you can do for the worst person and then go ahead and do it.” Jesus tells us plainly, pointedly, repeatedly, lovingly, ‘love your enemies and do good to those who hate you.” Forgive as you want to be forgiven. Give, as you want it to be given to you. What are some practical ways you can show forgiveness?

6.    Unforgiveness is a self-inflicted wound. The person you hurt most by not forgiving someone is yourself; the other person may not even know that you have something against them or why you do. God wants to free you from the bondage of hate an unforgiveness; Is there someone in our lives who we have yet to forgive (don't tell us who they are!)? Ask God to help you forgive anyone you need to forgive.

Click here to read related sermon: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.ca/2007/11/2-samuel-13-18-taking-matters-in-his.html

Devotion 2.61/112: 2 Corinthians 5:17

Presented to River Street Cafe, 18 August 2017
    

In this letter, in our verse for today, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Paul writes, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” “Therefore if anyone is in Christ…”: This phrase refers to anyone who is a Christian or as the New Testament more commonly refers to us, saints. We know what a saint is, right? The Greek word ‘saint’ in our Bibles is derived from the same word as ‘holiness’. In the New Testament ‘saint’, simply put, just means ‘Christian’. A Christian saint is contrasted with a ‘sinner’. So in the apostolic letters in the New Testament there really are just two choices in this regard. You can be either a Christian saint or you can be a sinner. As Paul’s letter reads ‘if anyone is in Christ’ it is saying that for all of us saints, for all of us Christians, we are a new creation – the old is gone, the new has come for all of us! This is exciting. When we hand our lives over to the Lord, it is like a changing of the guard; a new, fresh set of eyes now guards the prize. Paul is saying, like with the changing of the page on the calendar; so when we each turn the page on our life, giving it to Christ, we are holy (cf. Leviticus 19:2, 1 Peter 1:16).We are saints. We are renewed (cf. Isaiah 42:9, 43:19-20).The old has gone. The new has come.

Now does that mean that we never sin? We were reminded yesterday by Wendy that if we say we've never sinned we make God out to be a liar for all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God. This is important. We have all sinned. One key in John's writing, I think, is the identity statement. We have all sinned. We don't want to sin and God can keep us from sinning. A key is how we see ourselves: are we a sinner who sometimes does not sin or are we a saint (a Christian) who sometimes might sin and who can then turn to God ask for forgiveness, hopefully be delivered from sins and definitely continue on as a saint until the end. It is not a matter of how bad we sin or how much we sin (as Monica has reminded us, just because your sin is different from my sin, it doesn't mean that I -or you - have not sinned or that my sin is better or worse than yours). What matters, as far as sinners and Christian saints is concerned, is whether we identify ourselves as those who sin (and give ourselves licence to continue on sinning) or whether we identify ourselves as Christian saints who ask God to continue to free us from our sins and everything else that is plaguing us.

Devotion 2.60/111: James 1:2-3: Perseverance

Presented to River Street Cafe, 14 August 2017

Read James 1:2-3

Never Give up: Father Brebeuf, with Fathers Daniel and Davost, in 1634, "took up again the challenge of the Cross and re-established the Huron mission near the shores of the  Georgian Bay."* The salvation of Souls, and the Great commission*2 was the motivating factor for the noted perseverance of this Jesuit Priest: "Don't paddle unless you intend to always paddle"*3 was his motto. There were people out there who did not know Jesus and he would sacrifice everything to win the continent for Christ starting with Heronia! By 1648, eleven mission posts had been set up among the Heron AND their neighbours! No less than 18 priests and four lay ministers were involved in this  ministry.

Then the Iroquois attacked: "When the assault began, the two Jesuits raced among the men, shouting encouragement, urging them to pray, tending the wounded, baptizing the dying. The Iroquois prevailed. Brebeuf, Lalemant and sixty Huron warriors were captured, beaten and herded to St. Ignace. Brebeuf called on the Huron warriors to stay true to Christ to death. Stripped naked, the Jesuits were tied to stakes and tortured with fire. Brebeuf suffered from noon until four p.m. on this day, March 16, 1649. When he would not scream out, but continued to pray for the salvation of his tormentors, the Iroquois heated cauldrons of boiling water and poured it over him in mockery of baptism. They cut and hacked his body, and gouged out his eyes. Before he died, they scalped him and cut out his heart, which they ate. Lalemant died of similar tortures early the next morning."*

"Don't paddle unless you intend to always paddle." They would not scream out, but continued to pray for the salvation of their tormentors. Their faithfulness and perserverence led to the salvation of not only many in Heronia but also among the Iroquois, Algnquin, French, and English. May we be as faithful, even unto death.

1 Samuel 28: Which Way to Turn?

Presented to 614 Warehouse afternoon service, August 06, 2017 by Capt. M. Ramsay

Canada had its 150th celebration this year. Quiz for you: (answers at end)

1.         Who was Canada's first official PM? 

2.         Who was Canada's longest serving PM? 

3.         Who is Canada's Head of State?  Since when? 

  

Saul was Israel's first official king. He served as king for 42 years. That is twice as long as Canada's longest serving head of government; Just as Queen Elizabeth is the only monarch many of us remember, so Saul would be the only king that many of the Israelites remembered. Remember too that Saul wasn't just a figurehead. He was the head of government (such as it was then and there) and more importantly, he was not only in charge of the armed forces but he actually led them into battle. Our queen is 91 years old. Her husband, Prince Phillip, served in the armed forces from 1939 until she was about to inherit the throne, in 1952. Though he just retired from his royal duties this past Wednesday (he is in his 96), he hasn't served in the military in 60 years. King Saul, on the other hand, is 72 years old in our story today and he is actually fighting in the war and in the battle himself.  Anyone here in their 70s? Can you imagine strapping on 100+ lbs of armour, picking up a spear that weighs about as much and going off to fight in battle with 20 and 30 year olds? This is Saul.

            Just like one of the titles of our monarch is 'Defender of the Faith', one of Saul's most important duties was defender of the faith.  Israel was supposed to worship God alone - Saul for all his faults and struggles was faithful enough to hold to the state religion; his job was to represent God and He did in that regard (cf. Leviticus 19:31; 20:6-7; Deuteronomy 18:11).  This was actually better than many of the kings of Israel and Judah who would follow him; I think you will find as you read your OT that the Israelites worshiped Baal and/or Ashtoreth at least as much as they worshiped the Lord. Saul was defender of the faith. He was God's anointed.

            This brings us to our story today. Saul is getting ready for battle. Saul is afraid. God has done some great things through Saul. God has left him on the throne for decades and also in that time Saul has done some bad things and made some mistakes. Saul is still God's anointed but God's spirit has departed from him and his downfall is predicted.

            Saul is seventy-two or so. I don't know if you, in your life, have ever uttered the phrase, "I'm getting too old for this"? I imagine that he might being feeling that way he is feeling as he is with his sons and his men looking over the enemy or the reports of the enemy that is ready to attack him yet again. Saul has been at war with the Philistines for what must feel like his whole life and they are still there attacking him.[1] They just won't go away. I don't know if you've ever felt that about anyone? ...wishing they would just leave finally.

            Here he is, this 72 year-old, strapping on his amour, seeing the foe and receiving the reports. He is a little lost. He is overwhelmed. He is afraid. He doesn't know what to do. He tries to hear from God. Like many of us, I imagine, especially when life goes south, he is desperate to know what to do. Samuel, the leader of Israel before Saul, even though Saul and he had more than little disagreements, Samuel was one that Saul would approach for Godly advice; Samuel was a prophet but Samuel, our text today says, is dead. Saul, doesn't know what to do. He doesn't know where to turn to find out what God wants.

            Have you ever been there? Your life is in dire straits. You don't know where to turn. You cry out to the Lord and you just can't hear what he is saying. You wish he would just speak to you. You wish you knew what to do.

            Saul's enemies are ready to pounce on him. There is fear that the end near. He is trying everything he can think of to ascertain what God wants. He wants to know what to do. He can't ask Samuel because Samuel is dead. Saul maybe then has a fleeting thought that he can go to a witch, a medium, and consult the dead Samuel in a BCE séance of sorts but the text reminds us that Saul had cracked down on the media. To Saul's credit here, he is not trying to just do things on his own - maybe he learned his lessons from making that mistake previously. He is desperate to know what God wants him to do. (Actually this is neat: does anyone know what is the Hebrew word for 'to ask' , 'to inquire'? It is sa'al. So the text here says that Saul "sauled" the Lord.)[2]

            Saul is afraid. Time is running out. Enemies are surrounding him. What can he do? Our text says He inquired of the Lord and looked for answers in a number of different ways. Samuel was dead so Saul sought out other prophets from whom he could hear God's word. Prophets before Saul were often political or military rulers themselves (Abraham, Moses, Samuel) and prophets after Saul were often expected to be able to bring a word from God into a situation. Nathan is a prophet who will be introduced in 2 Samuel. He brings the Word of the Lord to King David and even rebukes him, reminiscent of how the now deceased Samuel rebuked Saul (2 Samuel 12). Later, of course, there would be disputes if prophets had different messages (cf. 1 Kings 13; 1 Kings 22; 2 Chronicles 18).[3] Are some speaking for God? Are some not? How can you tell? Was Saul getting conflicting messages or could Saul not even find a prophet in this situation? For whatever reason here, Saul couldn't find out by prophets what God wanted him to do.

            Saul is afraid. Time is running out. Enemies are surrounding him. What can he do? He hoped for a response in a dream - this was a common way then and there to hear from God. We remember Joseph from the book of Genesis. God told Joseph in dreams or through interpreting others' dreams what He was going to do (Genesis 37,40,41): that Joseph's brothers would bow down to him, that one of Pharaoh's servants would live but another would die, and that there would be a terrible famine following years of plenty. Later God would speak to Daniel many times through dreams. Once God not only gave Daniel the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream but also knowledge of the dream itself (Daniel 2). God was known to speak in dreams but - try as he might, want as he might, worry as he might - Saul did not discern an answer in his predicament through dreams.

            Saul is afraid. Time is running out. Enemies are surrounding him. What can he do? There is the Urim. You know what is the Urim? The Urim and the Thummim were sacred lots that were cast to discern God's will. They were often kept in the High Priest's breast plate, over his heart ( Exodus 28:30). They were a way to figure out what God had ordained. One would ask God a question and the Lord would answer through the casting of these lots. Saul had used these before to inquire of God (1 Samuel 14:41). But the Lord did not answer him by Urim or prophets or dreams today. The Lord, it appeared, was silent.

            Do we ever find ourselves in this spot where it seems like life is crashing in around us and no matter where we turn we can't seem to see where God is leading? Do we ever get to the point where we don't think we can even hear God much less see to follow where He is leading? This is Saul's predicament.

            Saul is afraid. Time is running out. Enemies are surrounding him. What can he do? He has tried prophets, dreams, and the Urim. If only Samuel were here, Samuel would know what to do. Samuel and Saul didn't see eye to eye and in fact they didn't see each other at all in the years before Samuel passed away. Now Saul must think, 'if only Samuel were here'. And then he obviously thinks, 'I wonder if I can contact him even now that he's dead'? He may even think, 'if only I didn't expel all the witches, mediums, and spiritists then I could contact him and find out what to do'. He then asks his people if any of them know of any mediums who are still in the land. It is interesting that they do. It makes one wonder why they didn't turn in the Witch of Endor when Saul was on an earlier witch hunt but they didn't.

            Saul is afraid. Time is running out. Enemies are surrounding him. What can he do? His men, at his behest, bring Saul to the witch at Endor. She is afraid. She is suspicious of these people who have shown up in disguise at her door. She must suspect that this is entrapment of some sort but she goes ahead and calls up the ghost of Samuel as the incognito Saul has requested. She then becomes terrified and screams as she reveals that she knows for sure that he is Saul. There has been a media black-out of sorts. Saul has driven out the mediums but here is a woman who has been caught live-streaming the dead.[4] She is afraid but Saul convinces her this isn't a trap and he really wants to hear what Samuel has to say.

            So she tells him. The end is nigh. God through Samuel and the witch at Endor give King Saul one last rebuke.[5] 1 Samuel 28:15-18 again:

15 Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?”

 “I am in great distress,” Saul said. “The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has departed from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do.”

16 Samuel said, “Why do you consult me, now that the LORD has departed from you and become your enemy? 17 The LORD has done what he predicted through me. The LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hands and given it to one of your neighbors—to David. 18 Because you did not obey the LORD or carry out his fierce wrath against the Amalekites, the LORD has done this to you today. 

            This is the final prediction of the impending tragic end of Saul and his reign.[6] The Lord left Saul in a position of great responsibility for many years. One assumes he had all that time to seek the Lord's leading and direction in his life. But here he is condemned: like a tragic soul on a Halloween night, standing before a witch and a ghost. Saul did not listen to the Lord (v.18). Saul did not follow (obey) the Lord. He turned away to consult someone other than our Lord.

            The question for us today is do we ever fall into the same trap as Saul? Do we ever find ourselves in this spot where it seems like life is crashing in around us and no matter where we turn we can't seem to see what to do? Do we ever get to the point where we don't think we can even hear God much less see to follow where He is leading? Have we ever been there? Do we turn to horoscopes, palm readings, personality tests, conventional wisdom, celebrities, or even 'experts' or anything or anyone in the place of God?[7] Our life is in dire straits, do we run off in strange chaotic directions or do we wait on the Lord? It is said that God answers prayers in one of three ways: 'yes', 'no', or 'wait'. If we don't discern a 'yes' or a 'no' from Him what should we do?

            Our lives can sometimes seem out of control. They can sometimes seem overwhelming. When they do, instead of running around here and there in a panic and turning to anyone and anything around us, we can trust and obey. God will never leave nor forsake us. Instead of rushing around, Psalm 46:10: [God says] “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Because of this, Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." And as Jesus reminds us in his famous Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 7:7-8, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." and  in one of my favourite verses in the Bible to which I often return when I am in my time of need, Matthew 6:33-34, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." If we seek and wait for God, He will take care of us. He will, God loves us. He will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). Therefore, we can keep on keeping on as they say. He is faithful (Romans 3:3,4) and He will take care of us; so when life seems overwhelming we don't need to run around in a panic, we can instead read our scriptures, pray for one another and otherwise be still and know that He is God. For He is able, more than able to take care of what concerns us today.

Let us pray.

www,sheepspeak.com 

   

ANSWERS TO QUIZ

1.Who was Canada's first official PM? (Sir John A MacDonald)

2. Who was Canada's longest serving PM? William Lyon Mackenzie King served 21 years over a period of 27 years. Sir John A. MacDonald served almost 19 yrs and Pierre Elliot Trudeau and Sir Wilfred Laurier served over 15 years each.

3.Who is Canada's Head of State?  Since when? HRH Queen Elizabeth II, since 1952.

  

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[1] cf. Ronald F. Youngblood, The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Pradis CD-ROM:1 and 2 Samuel/Exposition of First Samuel/III. Establishment of Monarchy in Israel (16:1-31:13)/B. The End of the Reign of Saul (28:3-31:13)/1. Saul and the medium at Endor (28:3-25), Book Version: 4.0.2

[2]  Bruce C. Birch, 'The First and Second Books of Samuel' in New Interpreter’s Bible, Vol. 2, ed. Leander E. Keck, et el. (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1998), 1118

[3] cf. Captain Michael Ramsay 1 Kings 13: Lion for Prophet (Sheepspeak.com: Swift Current, SK: 25 Nov. 2012), on-line: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.ca/2012/11/1-kings-13-lion-for-prophet.html

[4] cf. Samuel Waje Kunhiyop, 'Witchcraft', Africa Bible Commentary, (Nairobi, Kenya: Word Alive Publishers, 2010), 374 for a discussion of witchcraft even  in contemporary African societies and even churches

[5] Cf. for a discussion of whether or not the necromancer did actually contact Samuel:  Lewis, Cults of the Dead, p. 115 n. 39) and Hoffner, TDOT, 1:133-34; Haley, Alleged Discrepancies, pp. 194-95; Archer, Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties, pp. 180-81; cited from The Expositor's Bible Commentary.

[6] This tragedy will see his death, the death of so many of his soldiers, the death of his sons, and the penultimate death of his kingdom's dynastic hopes (cf. 2 Samuel 4&9 for the ultimate death of dynastic hopes). Two chapters later Saul and his sons are dead. This is a tragic end to a tragic hero.

[7] Cf. Bruce C. Birch, 'The First and Second Books of Samuel' in New Interpreter’s Bible, Vol. 2, ed. Leander E. Keck, et el. (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1998), 1185.
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Further Questions

Psalm 46:10: “...Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

      I.        Life

1.   1. What is something you noticed about God this week?

    II.        Text

Re-read 1 Samuel 28

Leader's note:

·         Dreams were a common way to try to understand God will (ie. Joseph, Genesis 39ff, and Daniel).

·         Prophets were political, military and religious leaders prior to King Saul; after Saul they often represented God to the king and the people (cf. 2 Samuel 12, 1&2 Kings, 1&2 Chronicles).

·         Urim was one of 2 sacred lots kept in the High Priest breast plate (by his heart) that were used to seek God's will.

1.    What happened in this story?

2.    Who was the prophet and previous leader of Israel that this passage mentions had recently been 'promoted to Glory'? Why might King Saul want to consult with him?

3.    Why did King Saul have to disguise himself to see the seer/witch (necromancer)? The Bible mentions that it was right to get rid of the witches/mediums; why do you think that is and why do you suppose he went to see one now?

4.    Saul was a senior (72) and in a difficult situation (still fighting in the army!) and he was afraid. He wanted to know what to do; what were some of the things he did to attempt to discern the correct course of action? [see leader's note]

5.    Saul gave up waiting for God and turned to a witch/medium/seer/necromancer; what are some of the people or things we can be tempted to turn to (instead of or as well as God) when we want to know what to do?

6.    Saul was in a difficult situation (still fighting in the army!) and he was afraid. Are there times when our life is overwhelming and we don't know what to do? what should we do then?

7.    It is said that God always gives one of three answers: 'yes', 'no', or 'wait'; if we don't have a 'yes' or a 'no' from God, what should we do? St. Monica prayed for years for salvation for her son, eventually the Lord saw that happen and  he became St. Augustine, one of the most important names in the early Church. Give an example of when has the Lord answered a prayer after you prayed that prayer many times over the years.

8.    Pray for each other and this week thank the Lord for specific ways that he has answered your prayers.

Devotion 2.57/109: John 1:3: Overcome

Presented to Riverside Cafe, 02 & 04 August 2017

Read John 1:3-5

Darkness is the work of the enemy. Light is the life of Christ. As we refuse to take part in bad behaviours the darkness and troubles around us will really turn into light and life. Leo Tolstoy, a couple of hundred years before 'pay it forward' wrote a book entitled 'The Forged Coupon'. This book starts with one person giving into a little temptation and then it spirals way out of control with lots of people down the road creating lots of serious problems -even death -for others. But then at a mid-way point of the book, the story reverses. One lady refuses to partake in selfishness and her act of goodness reverses the trend and is the first in a series of blessed events that sees all the characters, instead of spreading darkness, shining the light of Christ into the world.
 
It is the same with us. If the next time someone complains to you about someone, if you refuse to listen to it and counter by saying something good about that person and direct the complainant - with a smile - to speak to the person instead of about him/her; if you pray for him/her and refuse to gossip or even listen to her/him then you can be that turning point God uses to transform a whole community from darkness to light.
 
However, if we choose to complain ourselves or listen to others gossip. grumble and complain then we are feeding the darkness. Today the choice is ours, like those who live in darkness, we can grumble, complain, and gossip on a seemingly righteous campaign spreading that darkness and death or, like those who walk in the light, we can love and support our neighbours, refusing to repay evil with even a bad thought let alone a bad word or more. The choice is ours. We can choose the light of salvation or darkness and death. It is my hope that we will choose the light and love of God, for as we do we will see the whole world changed, our churches changed, and indeed we will see our very own souls transformed.

www.sheepspeak.com 

2 Samuel 13-18: Taking Matters in His Own Hands: the Story of Prince Absalom

Presented to Nipawin and Tisdale Corps November 18, 2007
and 614 Warehouse Toronto 230 pm service, Aug 20, 2017
by Captain Michael Ramsay

We have been studying covenant lately through our sermons and our Bible studies. We have discovered particularly through 2 Samuel so far how well one’s life can go when one is walking in a proper covenant with the Lord.

Today I have come with a story: A story from a long time ago in a place far, far away. The time is about 3000 years ago and the place is the land of ancient Israel and in this story no one is walking in a proper covenant with the LORD.

“Taking Matters in His Own Hands: the Story of Prince Absalom.”[1]

Chapter One: the Son of the King.

This story is about a young man by the name of Absalom. Now Absalom isn’t just any ordinary young man. He is a beautiful man. All the features that the people of his day love including the long following hair. And he has a gift. He has a silver tongue, he does, and he can tell you just exactly what you think you need to hear.

Absolam is a prince but this Prince Absalom isn’t just any prince, he is the son of King David. One of the most powerful kings that Israel would ever have and the founder of a dynasty that would last –well – with the advent of Christ, ultimately forever. Prince Absalom’s dad, the king, was a man after God’s own heart. God loved him and in his early days he followed the Lord religiously, in his early days sought the Lord’s council in everything he did, in his early days he was walking in a strong relationship with the Lord.

But Prince Absalom wasn’t born in these early days – he wasn’t born until after David was already made King of Judah but he must have heard the stories when he was growing up. He must have heard the stories about how his father and his cousins (Aunt Zeruiah’s kids – Joab, Abishai and Asahel) how they lived there life on the edge for a long time fighting as mercenaries and committing all sorts of heroic acts. He must have heard about how David was anointed as a young shepherd boy and then rose to be King of this Kingdom. He must have heard the stories about how his dad had slain the giant Goliath and about how he was victorious in the civil war.

He must have heard all of these stories when he was young and I imagine these stories would be almost all that Prince Absalom would have of his father as his mother (who herself was the daughter of the king of Geshur) tucked him in at the night. His dad, in Absalom’s early years, was always off at work fighting wars alongside his cousins and the other ‘mighty men’ – away pursuing the foe while Absalom and his brothers grew up at home. The King was a busy man.

Chapter 2: Dad Comes Home.

It is too bad that Prince Absalom probably didn’t get to see too much of his dad in his early days but as Absalom got older, the King took his job closer to home. Some would say too close to home and some would say that he wasn’t taking the job too seriously either. Prince Absalom at this time would see his cousins bail his father out on a couple of occasions as his dad, at times, doesn’t even bother to rise from his couch until late in the day.

Absalom would hear the stories of his father’s heroics from a time when he wasn’t around but when his dad comes home, Prince Absalom would see quite a different King than that. He would see a man who takes matters into his own hands instead of relying on the Lord.

I don’t imagine it was too well hidden from Absalom, his sister Tamar, or his older half-brother Amnon, the affair that David had with Bathsheba right in their own home. Remember that? David wants Bathsheba, so instead of consulting the Lord, he takes matters into his own hands.

The princes were probably in the palace when the king had their neighbour’s wife brought to him so he could sleep with her and then they would’ve certainly learned about how his attempts to cover up this act resulted in the murder of Uriah and the deaths of many others. They would see David taking matters into his own hands instead of relying on the Lord.

Is it any wonder that when Absalom’s brother decides that he is in love with Absalom’s sister, that Absalom’s friend tells Amnon to rape her. Amnon then takes matters into his own hands and rapes Prince Absalom’s sister. This isn’t too different from dear ol’ dad now is it?

Absalom loves his sister. He loves her so much that he even names his own daughter after her. Absalom loves his sister so much and even though he tells her not to take this abuse to heart, he himself refuses to talk to Amnon for years and the King, his father; and the King, Amnon’s father; and the King, Tamar’s father, and the King does nothing…you see the time where the books of Samuel mention that David turns to the Lord for council have passed and are yet to come but they are not here. David is now taking matters into his own hands. He sons see this.

Can you imagine? Your half-brother rapes your sister and your father does nothing about it for two whole years and continuing. Well, I guess it might not seem too much of a stretch since Bathsheba, the lady with whom David had the affair, is still living in the same house with the King and Absalom’s mother.

One day though Absalom has had enough. He takes matters into his own hands. He was biding his time and his time comes. He has a plan. He invites all his brothers to a big work party. They have this great feast and Amnon, whom he hasn’t spoken to for two years is getting drunk and Absalom commands his servants – in a way sort of like his dad did with Uriah – Absalom orders his servants to kill his brother. When no one else would, Absalom takes matters into his own hands and Absalom kills the man who raped his sister.

Now David loves Amnon, who had raped Tamar and who was both Absalom’s sister and David’s own daughter. He loves him and it doesn’t say that he ever punished him for the rape of Tamar. Absalom knows this and Prince Absalom flees after killing his brother whom the King loves.

Chapter 3: Absalom Comes Home.

Prince Absalom is living in exile (in his mother’s home town of Geshur) and now the King, who refused to help Absalom to deal with his brother. And now the King - after Absalom has murdered his own brother - And now The King, David, misses Absalom. Well, cousin Joab notices this and, taking matters into his own hands, he decides to convince David to bring Absalom home and since he misses him so much and David does. Again the scriptures say nothing about any of these men consulting the Lord in how they are trying to solve these problems at all. They are rather taking matters into their own hands.

Well now David has invited Absalom back to Jerusalem but he refuses to let him come back to stay at the palace. He is just fine having him around but – parents of adult kids will probably understand – it is time for him not to be under foot anymore.

This isn’t good enough for Absalom however. He figures, well, why did dad invite me back to town if he won’t let me stay with him in the palace; so, Absalom, taking matters into his own hands, comes up with a plan – he’ll ask cousin Joab. After all Joab helped him last time he needed something. So he sends for Joab but Joab doesn’t come. He sends for him again but Joab doesn’t come. So Absalom has an idea – he takes matters into his own hands and he has his men set Joab’s barley fields on fire.

Now cousin Joab is a soldier, a general, a fighter, and the leader of David’s armies and he comes and he is mad…but Absalom’s plan works for now – Joab, albeit angrily I imagine, helps to patch things up between Absalom and David – a father and son reunite but Joab, I’m sure, has not forgotten about his barley fields.

Well Joab may be unhappy but Prince Absalom has another idea. There is no mention of anyone turning to the Lord in these stories and I imagine that Absalom’s respect for his father - who was absent all the years he was growing up and who was what he was when he was home - I imagine his respect for his dad has hit a low tide right about now as everyone is taking matters into their own hands.

His respect for his dad may be at an all time low but Absalom is now back at home and Absalom is strutting his stuff. He is letting everyone know that he is a prince in the land. He cruises around all the days in a fancy chariot with fifty guys running around ahead of him. He is living it up and letting everyone know that he is a force to be dealt with in the Kingdom.

Chapter 4: On His Own Authority

Absalom returns home to the palace and is living it up and not only that…you see, one of a King’s jobs in these days, when he is not out fighting battles is to hear the complaints of the people. The King is also a Supreme Court judge, as it were.

Absalom notices some weaknesses in the way that his father is doing this job and he thinks he can do it better on his own. He heads down personally to meet people who are coming to see the King and when they go to bow and pay their respects to Prince Absalom, he grabs them and kisses them and tells them that he understands what they are going through.

He is like an opposition party heading into an election – “If I were the premier ruler, things would be different…” and just like when David was at war with Saul’s house and he became stronger all the time, now it is Absalom of whom they might be singing songs. It is Absalom who, on his own, is stealing the people’s hearts… and is he who has a plan.

Without any mention of consulting God, he goes to his father and asks, “Dad, can I go to Hebron…I have vow to take care of.” Now you see Hebron was where David was crowned King of Judah and Hebron was where David was crowned King of all Israel and Judah. Hebron was David’s first capital. David later abandoned it and made Jerusalem his capital and now Absalom asks permission to go to Hebron.

When Absalom gets there, they proclaim him king instead of his father! Absalom is a popular young man, he is a beautiful young man, and if the leaders of God’s people were chosen by general election, he would win a landslide. Support is flocking to him from his dad’s camp. Even one of David’s more popular cabinet ministers, as it were, cross the floor, his chief advisor, Ahithophel, whom everyone loves and respects, joins Absalom. Maybe things are going well in Israel, maybe they aren’t but David has been in power for many (even more than 16) years and in many people’s eyes it is just time for a change. Absalom is forming government.

David is vacating the capital as quickly as he can. If there were shredders in those days, they would be a buzzing. There isn’t a lot of time to leave. He is being outmanoeuvred by the opposition but as he is leaving something happens…

Chapter 5: The Return.

As David is fleeing, it says in the scriptures, 15 verse 31, it says David prays. David prays. In our story today there has been no mention of people seeking the Lord’s direction. No mention at all. Not Absalom, not Amnon, not Joab nor Tamar, and not even King David who was a man after God’s own heart but now David is recorded as approaching God for the first time in five chapters. David prays…

David prays that the Lord will turn Ahithophel’s council to foolishness and without dragging out my story for too many more pages suffice it to say that God answers David’s prayer. As David returns to the Lord, the Lord returns the kingdom to David. David ceases to take matters into his own hands, but instead puts matters in the Lord’s hands and in the battle that follows because the Lord turned Ahithophel’s council to foolishness, as David turns to the Lord, Prince Absalom dies, the battle is called off and the Lord then uses Joab to save David’s victory.

Prince Absalom is dead. David mourns his death for he loves his son even though his son hated him. At anytime had Absalom returned to the King probably would have continued to forgive him

Epilogue.

It is a sad note on which to end this story really, for David was a good man, a praying man who often sought the council and leading of the Lord. He went through a period though when there is no record of that devotion and he went through this period in the formative years of his sons and he paid the consequences just as the prophet Nathan had said he would for his affair with Bathsheba.

And now Prince Absalom is dead; it is too late, he is not in his father’s Kingdom anymore.

Well, it’s not too late for us. If we are taking matters into our own hands instead of praying, if we are in rebellion against God and only relying on ourselves, we can stop and return to His palace because as long as we have breath in us, we can still return to God. Just as David loved Absolam even when Absolam hated his Father, our heavenly father will accept us back with open arms – so let’s lay down our arms before it is too late.

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[1] This sermon took some very different directions as it was preached: if you heard it preached in either Nipawin or Tisdale and you think that this is different – it is. The Nipawin sermon was also somewhat different from the Tisdale one…

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