2 Samuel Chapter 15 Verses 1 – 6

 Absolom is on a campaign to depose King David of the throne. Why?

Recall the last scene of the last chapter. Wasn’t there peace between

them? Absolom bowed himself on his face to the ground before the

king. Then the king kissed Absalom. Sounds like they made peace but

nothing could be further from the truth.

 Nothing was worked out. There were three possible outcomes from

their last interaction. David had really upset Absolom because he did

nothing about the matter with Tamar. So Absolom took matters into

his own hands. They had both made decisions against each other. And

after a period of years, they finally met face to face.

 First option, false humility on both of their parts. Absolom falls on his

face, David kisses him, they depart. Obviously, the path they chose

and the path that just ends up making things worse. They could have

worked it out in humility. David taking accountability for what he did

against Absolom. Absolom taking accountability for what he did

against David. That raw honesty being met with accommodation

and hospitality and the end of that matter would have been the result

of wisdom. Repaired relationship, not without lasting pain and scaring,

but over time, they would have been closer than ever before. Respect

for each other solidly in place.

 That’s the path of maturity and the one hardly ever taken although the

path absolutely commanded of the Christian. Now, there is a third

option, and this one would have perhaps even been uglier. And this

third option is most likely why people don’t even go there. Don’t even

try to talk things out, they’d rather just bow and kiss and go forward

despising each other…

 The third route this could have taken would have been for them to

express their grievances against each other and those grievances being

met with defense, denial, or deflection. New frustration and hurt piles

on old offense. In our modern vernacular, we call that “irreconcilable

differences.” That path is so undesirable that most don’t try to work

through things because it only makes things worse. Totally makes

sense…

 As a Christian, we are to walk in wisdom. And wisdom looks like

humility every time. That doesn’t mean that you’re never heard and

that people don’t ever apologize to you and that you always just get

walked on. If it does then you have chosen poorly in terms of who to

surround yourself with. If you choose people of maturity, wisdom, fear

of the Lord, then humility will always result in things being better than

only settled.

 If people have chosen to surround themselves with YOU, I wonder,

did they make a wise or a poor decision?

 Absolom intensely despises David for how he disregarded Tamar. And

now Absolom is convinced that David is not worthy not only of the

throne, but also not of being his father. We wonder why kids’ rebel

and I wonder if its at least attributable in portion to us showing them

who they do not want to be…

 So Absolom launches his campaign to depose David. He purchases

chariots not for war but for show. He has the men run before them, not

behind them. He stands at the gates and intercepts those looking to

David to be their king. He affirms them, embraces them, and leaves

them wanting more. And so, it says that Absolom stole the hearts of

the men of Israel.

 Tell them what they want to hear, tell them what they’re not getting

from the king, make them feel a certain type of way, steal their

hearts. This is the same strategy of manipulation and falsity that the

enemy takes with us. And it is unfortunately quite effective.

 I can’t help but point out that false humility (aka pride, aka nonsense,

aka unwise), end of last chapter Absolom bowing on his face, leads to

more wrong. Absolom is stealing. Why? Because he didn’t get right 7

verses ago. At some point, you need to put an end to the cycle of

stupid! Right!? I mean, RIGHT!? Sheesh, it’s amazing how naïve, and

unintelligent and shortsighted, and senseless pride makes us!!!

 Only way to break the chain of loser events is to submit your will unto

the Lord and walk in humility. Do you know what we call that?

Worship!!! Worship washes away woes! And I’m not talking about

reading your Bible or teaching Bible studies or singing songs…, none

of those things are worship without winning over pride through

submission to God’s heart and ways!

 Oh, what a mess Absolom is in. What a mess David is in. And now

they’re dragging the entire family into it… All of this due to a lack of

true personal worship of God on both of their parts!

2 Samuel Chapter 15 Verses 7 - 9

 Most agree that this means that Absolom was forty years old at this

time but some have offered that this is a copyist error and that it was

originally written as after four years. Either way its immaterial and

doesn’t harm the text in any way. Aligning with extra-biblical

accounts of what happened with David and Absolom such as the

writings of Josephus, a period of four years would be accurate (which

would make this nine years after the incident with Tamar).

 Notice Absolom uses false spirituality to hide his sin. Terrible. Don’t

we do this? We have issues we won’t face, humility left undone and

pride left nurtured, but we go to church to feel better. And, because of

the grace of God and God’s unconditional love and presence, it works.

But it’s like a drug fix. The problem doesn’t get solved, the

consequences still pile up, but hey, I spent an hour in the Word

today… The issue is, my dude, the Word didn’t spend any time in you

today….!

2 Samuel Chapter 15 Verses 10 – 12

 Absolom is either incredibly clever or all-in dead-set on destroying

David completely. Why would I say that? He sends for Ahithophel.

First of all, Ahithophel is renowned in terms of his wisdom. Look at 2

Samuel 16:23, “Now the advice of Ahithophel, which he gave in those

days, was as if one had inquired at the oracle of God. So was all the

advice of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.”

 Here’s the other major thing. Ahithophel was the grandfather of

Bathsheba! David couldn’t say anything, he couldn’t plead for

righteousness, he had no place… He’s watching this happen and he

can’t really do anything about it! The chess pieces are stacking up

against David as it says here, “The conspiracy grew strong.”

2 Samuel Chapter 15 Verses 13 – 18

 Have you ever had a knot so tightly wound in a shoelace that you just

have to cut it out because you can’t loosen it? Or bubble gum stuck in

hair? You just have to cut! That is just like David’s situation. And we

continue to learn more and more why its that way for him. His fall

with Bathsheba somewhat kicked it all off. Then the issue with Tamar

and Amnon. And now we learn that he had at least ten concubines,

which was entirely against the writings of God’s laws… He’s made

this bed for himself.

 Here’s what he’s going through internally due to his own really poor

decisions. Psalm 55:4-8, “My heart is severely pained within me, and

the terrors of death have fallen upon me. Fearfulness and trembling

have come upon me, and horror has overwhelmed me. So, I said, “Oh,

that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. Indeed, I

would wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah. I would

hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.””

2 Samuel Chapter 15 Verses 19 – 22

 It’s an interesting exchange and it shows that sometimes even the

newest of friends can be more loyal than family, or those that are

thought of as family. It’s a sad truth of life.

2 Samuel Chapter 15 Verse 23

 This reminds me of the night when the King of kings crossed over the

Brook Kidron leaving the place of the last supper and making His way

to be betrayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. David flees however as a

result of his own sin. Jesus went as a result of mine.

2 Samuel Chapter 15 Verses 24 – 26

 David was fleeing and his heart couldn’t bear to see the presence of

the Lord flee with him. This is an indication that he wasn’t blaming

Absolom for this circumstance but that he knew he had brought this

upon himself. It is for this reason that God will not only sustain him,

but ultimately bring him into a place of victory.

 At this time, David would write Psalm 3:1-6, “Lord, how they have

increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me.

Many are they who say of me, “There is no help for him in God.”

Selah.  But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory and the One

who lifts up my head. I cried to the Lord with my voice, and He heard

me from His holy hill. Selah.  I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the

Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who

have set themselves against me all around.”

1 Samuel Chapter 15 Verses 27 – 37

 David is defeated in and by his own wickedness. He knows it, he owns

it, and, while he sits in it, we are told that he turns around at the top of

the Mount of Olives and worships God. It’s a scene of remarkable

humility, accountability, and faith all in one.

 Immediately after, and may I suggest as a result of his remarkable

humility, accountability and faith, he executes a strategy of

wisdom. He sends trusted spies, friends, back into the city to keep him

informed and to sway the narrative of those loyal to Absolom.

Proverbs 9:10, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom!”

And sometimes you have to re-begin the fear of the Lord to jump start

your wisdom!