I want to read this just before we start because this verse came
to my mind, just as I was praying meditating for tonight.
It's very, very important to rehearse over ourselves what
Jesus Christ, purchased for us, just the riches of his glory and
the blessings that have been made available through the
cross, just, you know, have to turn there.
Just listen to what I have to say from this text and realize
that Jesus purchased this for you, and it is yours because of
faith is by Grace. This is your future.
This is where your Headed because you are in Christ and
just let it melt your heart that it rejuvenate you and bring hope
to you in Revelation 21. Verse 3, John says, and I heard
a loud voice from the throne saying, Behold The Dwelling
Place of God is with man, he will dwell with them and they
will be his people and God himself will be with them as
their God. He not an angel, not seraphim
that cherubim he will wipe away every tear from their eyes and
Death Shall be no more no more funerals.
No more early premature loss. No more loved ones gone for long
periods of time. Death Shall be no more neither.
Shall there be Mourning? North crying.
Nor pain anymore for the former things have passed away.
And he, who was Seated, on the throne said, behold, I am making
all things new that's going to be the headline of the dawn of
Eternity behold. I am making all things new also.
He said, write this down for these words are trustworthy and
true. You know what that means?
They're really, really true trustworthy and true you can
count on it. You can Surrender Your Life on
it. You can believe Leave it with
every faculty of your being. These words are trustworthy and
true in the same words and Revelation that are trustworthy.
And true, are the same words from the same author.
And second, Samuel chapter 13, would you meet me there?
2nd, Samuel. 13. And as you turn there, we're
going to put our finger together.
I Verse 18 Last week you and I candidly discussed.
The tragic desecration of one of David's precious daughters
named. I used the pronunciation of
Tamar, but in actuality it is, Tom are.
So I'm going to borrow that for this Bible, study Tom odd who
was violated by one of David's Sons, namely the eldest son
amnon and we looked at and in great detail.
And we concluded our time together last week by examining
the attitude of and then after that evil act had been Committed
and we looked at what had happened to him.
After this, great crime came about and we realized that there
was inside there about the deception of sin and how the
true face of iniquity tends to only reveal itself after we buy
into its lies, And an end and case what had happened to him
though. It is an extreme example, his
sexual sin, created, emotional confusion, and an in cured, upon
himself, psychological damage. Among other things, those are
the things that were apparent, but and then was not the only
one who had a reaction to this atrocious Act.
The Holy Spirit preserves for us in his wisdom three, utter other
reactions to what end and had done and they are connected.
Very closely to who he is. And these three reactions prove
to us. How one's unhinged selfishness
has collateral damage, damage beyond control damage, beyond
what we calculated or planned. And we are going to look at
these three reactions briefly. And it won't be pleasant.
Bible study per se just like last week's, but I am under the
persuasion that it is extremely necessary.
Clearly, it's in the word of God, and can I share with you
what my prayer has been for this segment.
This chapter, this portion, and really, for the rest of second
Samuel, it is that you and I, as God's people would grow in a
particular way, we would grow in our hatred for sin.
That you and I would have such a sour taste in our mouths based
on what we study that it would create a greater resistance and
discernment and strength in your fight against Temptation and my
fight against Temptation that we would be appalled.
And we would see through one of the Bible's, most detailed
description of the horrors of sin.
Just how deplorable Giving into our flesh can really be.
And so let this Bible study tonight and Spire a fresh Zeal
to fight against that, which lies to you that, which put our
savior on the cross, that which has created all the mess that we
are enduring here in this world and our universe altogether.
And that's what we're going to do.
We're going to Dive Right In and examine these three responses
and then we are going to because the holy spirit is going to lead
us in this direction. Highlight one of these responses
and expand on them because it will teach us really, really
will teach us of the Folly of giving into one particular sin,
and that is retaliation seeking Revenge.
Harboring bitterness and unforgiveness imagining taking
things into your own hands. The Bible here will show us just
how foolish that is. So be prepared.
As we read here in verse 18, we look at our first response apart
from Eminence to this evil, this evil of rape.
This evil of young men who targeted his half-sister and
took advantage of her to satiate lust and our first response.
Predictably is that of God. What do we see here?
In verse 18? Let's look at it.
Briefly. Now, she was wearing a long robe
with sleeves for the swear, the Virgin Daughters of the king
dressed. So his servant put her out and
bolted the door after her. Remember, that was the last
thing that we saw. We saw and then kick her out of
the room and calling one of his servants to do that.
And a verse 19, and Tom odd, put ashes on her head and tour, the
long robe that she wore, and she laid her hand on her head and
went away crying aloud. As she went.
So sad to read this, it's very heavy but it's also pretty
predictable because her open grief here, this Screech of
Sorrow is really the expression of loss.
It's something that you would see even with the ashes and The
Ripping of garments is something that you would see in the
scriptures when somebody loses somebody, that they really loved
and respected. Somebody had died.
And so this is extreme pain. This is deep, this is
significant and it does speak of a pain connected to a loss but
not a loss from or for someone but if something, what did this
woman lose her Purity, her chastity. that which she guarded
that, which she protected that, which provided her a sense of a
safe future has been taken from her because of one moment of a
man who had unbridled lust perversion taking over and with
his power. And with his position, he took
advantage of this young lady and she symbolized her misery.
Very plainly and obviously by ripping off those sleeves which
signified her purity. And she throws him away and she
declares from that moment on I am unclean, I'm destroyed.
My future is gone. It will never be the same and
you get a hint of the bleakness of her future in verse 20.
If you read the last part of verse 20, we reached so, Tom
odd, lived, a desolate woman, In her brother absalom's house, and
that's the last time you're going to hear ever.
She now lives with her brother, her full brother, and that's it,
you never never see any mention of Thomas again.
So you get the impression. This is how she lives the rest
of her life. We don't know if she finds
somebody, we don't know if somebody takes her and, you
know, she has a family just this and and that bleakness is
supposed to make an impression on us and it seems unfair.
But last week, you heard me say, and it's worth saying again that
the Brokenness the extent of our Brokenness in our world due to
sin extends, even to harming destroying polluting.
Even those who are innocent in various and Grievous ways.
That's what we see with this woman.
And according to the holy spirit of God, you know this very well.
There is only one solution to ensuring that we decrease trauma
and pain and wounds caused by selfishness caused by sin.
And that is found in the summary of one command.
Is it really? That simple brother.
It's actually really that simple, though, the command is
very demanding on our flesh. Hence why it must be
supernaturally, generated and induce by the holy spirit of
God, I want to show you how in one simple verse with one simple
command. Most and up, not all of our
problems in this world can be solved.
Can I show it to you? It's in Galatians 5.
Galatians 5. And I want you to see it.
In verse 14, There are a lot of commands in the Bible, a lot of
commands were more familiar with the Big Ten but there are more
than the Big Ten. And there is a law the law of
Christ on top of that. And look what Paul says by the
spirit in Galatians 5:14. So for the whole law, is
fulfilled in one word. The whole law is fulfilled in
one word. You know what it is?
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
You know what Paul is saying here?
The, the solution or the motivation for every law that
you can think of, especially horizontally.
To knowing its fulfillment and consistency is in Christ.
Spirit. Transforming the Inner Man and
producing in that heart, a love a Divine love and agape, love.
So think about it, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not
covet, do not bear false, witness thing about gossip
jealousy, Envy Backbiting, Pride, all these different
things. All of that can be solved when
making that claim of faith and putting your trust in Jesus and
allowing the Holy Spirit through that Faith to enter in and to
renew you from the inside out. We can see the whole scope of
Harmony and peace be reduced to nothing if this is perfectly cut
and we know it's not perfect because we're going to no
Perfection when we when we come to Perfection.
But the principal still lies. True.
That there is a call to pursue that kind of love.
And in pursuing, that kind of love.
There is a victory over that which destroys And in the very
next verse of what Paul says here, you get the reverse of a
failure, the failure of pursuing that kind of love opens us up to
this kind of a world. And what is that?
Look at verse 15. but if you if you bite and devour one another
watch out that you are not consumed by one another So if
this love is missing in us and if it's not being actively
pursued by the believer, this is what you can expect in your
world, in your home, in our schools, and our government.
Our churches. Biting and devouring one.
Another Biting and devouring that has beastly, connotations.
And that is exactly what is being described here.
Only animals bite and devour one another and nowadays humans, who
claim that their animals might do it, I guess, but it's clear.
This is not human behavior, but void of this love, we can be
reduced to such Behavior. This is the contrast the
previous verse when God's love goes missing when it is void.
Humans are capable of acting and treating one another, to the
point where you become like irrational, beasts, and
actually, cause some kind of Extinction Until you completely.
What? Consume one.
Another. And that's what we see in local
churches. We see local churches consumed
here's the scariest part about what I'm presenting you today.
Paul is not writing an epistle to the heathens and galatia.
He's writing to the Christians of galatia.
So this is a warning, this is an encouragement and a warning to
the Believers in galatia which tells me that Believers are
capable of verse 15. It's Believers that are capable
of biting and devouring one another, not the world.
Now if that is possible in this lovely place, would lovely
songs, lovely music, lovely messages, then what would become
of the world that is devoid of the spirit.
And I think you and I are going to depends what you believe
about the The tribulation, whether you're there or here,
you're going to perceive what the world will look like when
the Holy Spirit chooses to distance himself from actively
working in our world, there was going to be there is now in
there will be an intensification of biting and devouring one.
Another you're saying well what does that look like?
Well, here's a little Glimpse. What, what?
Am needed to tame our Port Ahmad.
That's what happens. And so Tom, our shows as Tom our
reminds us that when this Godlike Love Is void, then pure
innocent, lovely people like her, get hurt.
And there's a biting and devouring and destroying.
But now, we come to the second reaction to this atrocious act
and it's found in verse 20. We looked at Tom odd briefly.
Now we look at her brother, verse 20 and her brother Absalom
said to her has amnon your brother been with you.
Makes you wonder how he put the pieces together.
Makes you wonder what kind of reputation and aunt had has am
known your brother been with you now.
Hold your peace. My sister.
He is your brother do not take this to Heart.
I come here and look at verse 22 in connection to that but
Absalom spoke to em them. Neither good nor bad for Absalom
hated em because he had violated his sister Tom odd.
So you and I were prepared to be introduced to this man because
in the very first verse of chapter 13, He is mentioned.
And so we finally now see him in action and his initial words are
directed towards his exploited sister.
This is some kind of an attempt, I guess to, to comfort her to
put her at ease. And it seems like he's
downplaying what happened. And it's not because he is
insensitive though, you can make that case.
But it's because he has a plan. Absalom is instructing his
sister to do this. Very thing to hush her.
So, to speak because Absalom has a hope in his own heart, and it
was very quickly inspired and that hope was to take measures
into his own hands. And he knew that if Tom our
tells the king or if she reports it or if she puts him on blast
this can become a public Scandal very quickly and he's not afraid
of this marring. His family's name.
He's not concerned about that. At all, you're going to learn
that he didn't. Care about that very much.
What he is concerned about though, is that this could
possibly give him Or rather he can lose the opportunity to take
this into his own hands and satisfy, personal vengeance.
And the reason why he doesn't do it right away.
Is because the same way Tom are was not easily accessible.
And so, a man had to pull back a little bit and come up with a
plan. Absalom knows that he's going to
have to also come up with a plan and sometimes a good plan takes
some time. So what's the strategy now?
What? You just read in verse 20.
Verse 22, rather. He plays it.
Cool, he pretends he's casual He doesn't say a word to his
brother. He isn't showing any aggression.
He doesn't even reprove him. No, reprimand.
Nothing of the sort. He just goes a long as nothing
happened. He just moves day-to-day.
As though nothing had happened. What can we learn from Absalom
here? Here's what we can learn.
There are many lessons, and this is the one that came to mind sin
begets sin. I know that the same profound
but it's important sin, begets sin, and what I mean by that is
the cycle of pain that we are realizing that.
You see before you that you might be experiencing even
tonight in your own world that cycle of pain that's doesn't
seem to be ending but it's constantly being fuelled.
Often survives. Because of the response of
people to the response of other sins, meaning it's the sin comes
to me, me responding to that sin with my own sin is what keeps
this thing alive and going. It keeps the cynicism, the
danger, the Temptation, the potential destruction alive, and
well. And what he's prepared to do
here is the total opposite of what you and I are called to,
you know, you and I have a code according to God's law and the
code is very straightforward. We do not violate God's law in
order to deal with sin around us or toward us.
That's just a no-go Zone. We don't cross that boundary.
We never entertain committing an evil to deal with any other
evil. And so we see here that Absalom
is prepared to do just that He is going to now, add to the fuel
to the fire rather with his own Fuel.
And and if you want to know how this works on a, you might see
it here on a microscopic scale, but you can see it on a societal
scale, even in the very city that you live in Brothers.
Do you remember, when we used to serve at Woodbridge?
One of the most astounding things that came to me when we
used to minister among teenagers, who were actively
engage Ang's, Was when we asked them just straightforwardly.
Why do you do this? Why do you shoot people?
Why do you kill? Why do you plot, why do you take
revenge? And you know what, the number
one answer was well because we have to pay them back.
We have to pay them back. He took out my buddy, he took
out my friend, he took out my cousin, he took out my father.
And I remember watching a news coverage of the shootings here
in our own City And the reporter told one of these gang members,
who had a mask on didn't want to reveal their his identity.
Why don't you just put the guns down?
And it was just like an atrocious.
Thought, like, what are you talking about?
Put the guns down. So, the very news that you hear
every single night, the sirens the deaths, the funerals of
teenagers. Is fueled by one main thing
retaliation. And if there was a generation
who did understand that Vengeance belongs to God and
they did put it to a halt, we would see Revival.
To some degree. And that's why when we we
learned that we came 11 Thursday night, we came with our Bibles
and we gave him a Bible study about how God says vengeance is
mine and to take Vengeance from goddess to steal from God.
And we tried to convince him from the scriptures of the
wisdom of allowing almighty, God, who is completely aware,
and I'm an observant and taking into account, everything that's
being done, he will actually intervene And he will stand for
justice. And that that you can just see
it on their face. You can see it on there and
they're questions that demanded. Such great faith.
You're telling me that God can
defend me And so, yes, we're seeing it even here in our own
City. What Absalom is ready to do, is
what people are doing tonight. and all it takes is that one
truth that God is just, he is a judge, he can act, he can
defend, he can intervene for so much to be put aside but people
just don't believe They don't believe so much.
Depends on faith. My friend so much depends on
faith. It seems so simple yet so hard
at the same time especially when the pain is so real.
But but to say, I will take vengeance is to assume a
prerogative that belongs to God alone.
And so that's some kind of form of idolatry going on there.
You're not God. You're not God.
And when you take Vengeance into your own hands, you often go
above and beyond what Justice demands, right?
So you can cure even more guilt and more sin and more chaos and
more. And that's what we're about to
see before we see how this is expanded.
Let's look at our third and final reaction to eminent sin
because sin is never one dimensional.
Look at verse 21. Now we look at David's reaction,
the father of both eminent and Tom odd, isn't it sad?
That it's only one verse Verse 21.
When King David heard, all of these things, he was very angry.
What's missing? You would think so, he would or
so, he nothing. He was very angry, no action,
only strong emotion on display and then we cut back to Absalom
and verse 22. And this is extremely
disappointing, and you and I should feel that disappointment
because in the same way you and I heard that retaliation begets
more problems and sin. So does injustice, you know what
David should have done with the lawsuit to do?
As difficult as it seems? And Leviticus 20 verse 17, we
are told that when anybody is sexually intimate with an
immediate family member, they are to be cut off.
The guilty, parties are to be cut off.
That may sound severe but that's the law.
God Knows Best. And David doesn't do anything of
the sort, he doesn't even rebuked him.
It is even call him into his presence and threatened him.
Nothing, he just expresses frustration and anger and he
lets him go lenient careless. Casual, he felt the right
emotions but it just stop there. And that's a problem.
And this being placed between absalom's initial words to his
sister. Tamar and his demeanor towards
his brother, am ninh the placement, their sandwich in
between those suggest to us, that David's unwillingness to do
something, encourage Absalom to take revenge.
Okay, Dad, if you're not going to do anything, I'll do it.
I'll do it. You don't want to do anything
about it, then I'll do it. Gladly, and here's here's the
principal for you and I to consider these are so important
to see. When evil is not confronted. and
if it is not restrained by those who have been given God, decreed
authority to handle sin and evil and immorality Injustice,
whatever the case may be sin is guaranteed to multiply
guaranteed to multiply and is nothing short of dangerous for
the home. For the church and for Society
at large, when it's leaders turn a blind eye to willful sin and
do nothing about it. So, leaders of the home leaders
in the church leaders in different spheres of society.
This is why you have to be careful craving or wanting to be
a leader. Because part of that job
description, is you being able to boldly face in and do
something about it? To confront it, to rebuke it to
council it, whatever the case may be, but to leave it.
Blood is on our hands and God will hold leaders accountable
like what? We'll see here.
And what we do here when we don't allow sin to be attacked
by our leaders. And When leaders refused to do
that, it only in boldin's, The Sinner, to persist, and even
grow in that sin intensifying that sin.
And here's the, here's the scariest part.
It even invites by standards to eventually participate.
Nothing happened. Nothing happened.
So maybe I can and and then that just it just multiplies more and
more and more. I want to show you actually an
encouraging example of what happens when leaders do take a
stand and When leaders especially in God's house, do
look at evil face to face and are not ashamed or afraid of the
repercussions for standing for righteousness.
And this is, this is something you won't see or won't hear at a
modern business like church growth program.
Give you a heads up. So look at this.
This is an axe chapter 5. Right in Acts chapter 5, this is
that chapter remind you of a important incident.
In the early church who here knows their Bible.
Well, what happens in Acts chapter 5 Yes, very good and a
nice as safire thought they can go to church and lie about their
offering and I got in trouble with the Holy Spirit and so how
much trouble they like? Not be able to come to the
communion table for a couple weeks and no they weren't able
to go to community about at all because they were killed.
And so we read that and then we come to this text in verse 12 of
chapter 5. Look at what we're told here
about the early church. Now, many signs and wonders were
regularly done among the People by the hands of the Apostles.
And they were all together in Solomon's Portico, that's great.
So after church discipline and a very, the most extreme way has
been exercised, Revival continues to break out miracles
signs wonders Souls. But then what do you read in
verse 13? None of the rest dared to join
them. But the people held them in high
esteem. None of the people dare join
them. But they held him in high
esteem. So the culture, the city, the
surrounding areas, really respected, Christians in the
early Church, High esteem. They were reverent, they were
not quick to say things about them or to them at least, at
this point. But what what strikes interest
in me is the fact that none of the rest of their join.
That sounds like a sound, like a negative thing.
That sounds like a sounds like the opposite of what you want
your church to experience. Can you imagine here at NBC?
If we learned that in our neighborhood, none would want to
join us. That wouldn't be the most
uplifting update of our Evangelistic Outreach.
But this is very good. And the reason why it's very
good is because those who not who dared, not join them.
Were those who already have hearted to begin with.
These were the people who were very intrigued by what was
happening with Jesus message and Jesus people.
But they were not sold out. Nor were they ready to sell out?
They were not ready to give in everything that Christ demands.
They're willing to participate. They're willing to sign up.
They're willing to be present but then something had happened.
That totally discourage them from signing up for the
membership interview. What was it?
It wasn't chop. It wasn't verse, 12, Shirley was
so having before verse 12 and a nice and safire, so put the
pieces together. Here's what happened when you
had a leader like Peter, who is sensitive enough to the Holy
Spirit to speak the truth and to confront Levin corruption in the
midst of a holy assembly. Something happens.
And as a result, it not only removed impurity, it protected
the church from further corruption.
So once the people outside of the walls heard, whoa, that
church is for Real. They don't let you come and be a
part of their church and hold on to sin willfully.
At the same time, I ain't signing up.
You're saying well, that's good, that's very good and it's all
contingent upon again, the beginning of chapter 5 where you
had a leadership that really believed in the high call of
Christ and was unwilling to entertain or open up their
assembly to those who could care less about being holy and being
like Jesus so none there join them.
I'm not interested. Leadership is so important.
The type of leadership is very important and unfortunately,
here David is lenient yet again and he will continue to be
lenient again. In the coming weeks, you're
going to see it. And so we continue it, but
before we move on, let me ask you another question.
Is there another possible reason why?
David was not so quick to say anything in that saying,
anything at all? I'm actually asking you any
idea. Yes.
Did you hear it Bathsheba? Could it be that David here is
paralyzed from his past? I think that's a good case to
make. Here's, here's what I mean by
that. I sinned sexually.
And I destroyed people in my own life.
What right do I have to say anything to my son?
What right? Do I have to correct him or
discipline? And it could be that this man
here is proving to us as sometimes reproof and correction
is lacking from those who have been authorized to administer
righteousness and peace because their own Hearts condemn them.
Don't heart scan them them. So, you know, you have some
people who say, you know, when when a pastor or minister speaks
on a certain sin, it's probably very likely that he's struggling
with that same sin. Okay, maybe, but what about
those who never speak on it? What does that indicate?
Right now we can't make blanket statements and judge, only God
knows. But we have an example here with
David, who's very hesitant to say something perhaps because he
himself is guilty of the very or very similar crime.
This main point isn't about hypocrisy but it's worth
speaking about a hypocrisy drains us of authority.
It does it weakens our testimony.
It makes us cowards. It holds back boldness.
But the point here is more about the power of past guilt.
If guilt was the thing, that was burdening.
David at this time. Then this is a important truth
in regards, to how we manage guilt and how it visits us and
what we should do with it. If you are not careful, guilt,
can paralyze you in many ways, it can hold you back from so
much. And so what's the most important
thing and moving forward in your own walk with the Lord and even
being a blessing to others is realizing.
If God has forgiven me, then God has forgiven me, and this is the
most important thing that David needed to learn.
The standard of righteousness was not his past experience, or
his presence success. It's God's word.
We appeal to God's word. And so you have some friends
that are unwilling to speak and to correct other friends because
perhaps in the past, they've dealt with something and they
just feel like, well, what can I say to that person?
You have parents who are even tempted to be like this in
raising their own children? Because they've struggled as
teenagers in a certain way. Now they're seeing their own
children struggle as teenagers but who am I to say anything to
them? Because I was like that when I
was 16 18 21 And so guilt paralyzes.
But again, it's not your performance that determines your
responsibility, it's God's word. And so you appeal to that in
humility with David should have done, is in humility and
Brokenness, in an awareness of his own failures still
administer. What God had called him to do as
a father and as a judge? So be careful, be careful how
you might do. Determine the way you influence
others, or how you even, see yourself, and how you walk in
the call of God, that he has for you.
Some people. They failed so bad.
They just, they just determined. I'm just forget it.
I'm never going to pursue it. I'm never going to do it.
I'm not going to serve in that capacity.
I'm never going to believe God, for great things because this is
where I'm at. But if it's been forgiven, it's
been forgiven. So be careful.
We see a clear example of a man who could not shake off his
guilt. Most likely Now, let's come back
to our chapter, shall we? We've dealt with the three
responses here to a man's actions, but now we look at one
and we magnify because that's what the Holy Spirit does.
Look at this verse 23, after two full years, I couldn't pass that
phrase without much meditation. After two full years, two full
years go by. And here's an important thought
because we're about to see Absalom.
Execute what started? As a thought just a couple of
verses ago After two full years, you know what that tells me this
man has been meditating plotting visualizing for two full years.
What to do with his half-brother. to flee years, not
two full weeks, not two, full months, two full years, And what
started, as a thought would now materialize, and it's very
sobering for you and Ice to see that sin is very willing and
comfortable to live in your heart.
As long as you tolerate it. And it's cancerous and it's
infectious and it's this. It's just poisonous and we're
seeing that very clearly with this man.
It's not very difficult to see how pride and anger and
bitterness. And lust.
And a dishonest Spirit, whatever the case b is willing to remain
there for decades years on end. Because that is the, that is the
power of the clutch of sin. It will be like a leech that
just remains there and sucks the life out of you slowly.
And as you heard me, say one solution to one point here is
the solution for this. The only remedy is when Christ
comes in and cleans house. That's the only remedy, he is
the only one that can loosen that grip and go beyond
loosening that grip. If and instill within you a
different kind of heartbeat and that is exactly what this man
needed. It is so sad to see how for so
long. He was willing to stay in that
place and yet it could be true tonight.
Even That things have not changed, it's only grown over
time. You see what started as a
thought for and and has now been perfected over time. because
that's what happens to you and I we're not guarded, you know what
happens you know the you know the the sequence of how these
things occur, it's a visited thought and then what you do is
you torment yourself. Here's the point, the main sin
that the holy spirit is highlighting.
Here is the issue of mishandling.
Offense when offense comes your way, that is a potential key to
unlock, a vault of Critters that you don't want in the home of
your heart. Here's what happens when offense
comes. What we see here is that
retaliation now is being bred. And and what happens here is
that if you're not careful as much as it is, satisfying to
hold on to that pain. You in fact will cause yourself
to be tormented. And here's how the torment looks
you. Replayed that thing over and
over again, right? When you get a moment's time
where you're actively doing something, you just rehearse
that thing. And you remember, you even
visualize the words and the actions and the feelings and the
moment you found out or the moment, it happened and you just
keep going over and over and over.
That can't be good for you and if you're not careful, here's
the next level. Now, you begin to imagine what
you should have done, right? Oh, if I can go back, if I can
go back, I would have said this, I would have done this, I would
have pre-emptive here and if you're not careful, you now
begin to think what you might do now, or what you should do
moving forward. And that's where things get
crazy. And really, really, unless the
Holy Spirit through his word, through being in the presence of
God's people, you actively discipline being with God,
unless you do that, you can you can be led into now where those
things are just trickling here. Begin to now, pull on you where
you you try to satisfy that because it's also consuming in
it manifests and one way or another.
And that's exactly what's going to happen here with Anna.
He nurtures, it and said, instead of controlling it, it's
going to get ugly. Another thing to consider those
two years in those two full years.
It's not just Absalom, but Edmund, after two full years,
the guy doesn't show any signs of repentance two years.
You would think that after evading judgment and any kind of
reprimand after just going away, scot-free that that Humble you
as a sinner and you would come broken before God say God, the
fact that I'm still here in one piece is by your mercy.
I'm So Unworthy serving, please forgive me.
No, just think she's still a prince and thinks he can still
get away with things and he just again, as though nothing had
happened, and I see these two years as a window of God's
mercy, even for a Wretched Man, like amnon And the same man who
was blinded by his lust devouring, his half-sister is
the same man, who is completely oblivious to the fact that God
is extending kindness to him. Kindness thing like just
unexplainable, kindness to him. Sinners are stubborn.
Let these two years in light of
amnon remind you that Sinners are extremely stubborn, and
because Sinners are starving, you know what, God's primary
responses to the stubbornness of Sinners.
He's patient He's patient. Second, Peter 3:9 tells us that
his return is not slow, you have to understand it as patients.
Because he desires for all to reach repentance. even with
people like amnion as hard as that is to imagine So, two full
years. There is no sign of change or
conviction in this man's heart. And so something takes place.
Moving on Absalom is about to execute his plan.
He found that this is the perfect time and here's his plan
verse 24. Let's finish the verse 23.
Absalom had sheep shears at b'hala has or which is near F,
Rahim and Absalom invited. All the king's Sons we seen this
before. When it was this time of the
year where you would Shear your sheep.
It was a time of harvest. It was festive and so you would
have visitors come family members come and Would you would
celebrate? And so Absalom now wants to host
the party at his house. So he wants to invite all the
king's Sons. And so he came to the king.
It says your Absalom came to the king and said, behold your
servant has sheep shears. Please let the king and his
servants go with your servant. But the king said the Absalom,
no my son, let us not all go less, we be burdensome to you.
He pressed him, but he would not go, but gave him a blessing.
Here's what you see. Absalom wants to invite David
everybody else. So, if the readers I'm familiar
with the story, you think this is just fine, right?
But he's a really good actor. He wants to make it seem as
though there is nothing about to happen by inviting the king of
all people to be in his presence.
Hey, Dad, a plane to have a party, you know, it's the
season. Come come bring the rest of the
boys. Let's all, let's all come have a
great time and the father says, no, its Financial, they'll be
too much on you. You know, how it is.
If somebody inviting all these people over, it might be too
much, I'll stay back. Don't worry about.
No Dad, please please, it'll be a great time and I have a bunch
of Servants have a bunch of stuff.
It was a wonderful fruitful year just kind of will be okay knows
and no plea and he pressed them And what is he doing?
He's deceiving. And so David denies it?
And shouldn't our antennas be up.
Haven't we seen this before? Limit limit.
Let me remind you who was it. That ask the king for one of his
kids to come to their home. Thank you and then didn't even
do the same thing. He asked the king for tomorrow
to come over. Our antenna should be up this
isn't look good. We see here that he is employing
a very similar tactic seemingly innocent invitation and David is
clearly not Discerning enough to realize it until until he denies
the request and absolute makes a more pointed request.
Look at verse 26, then Absalom said, if not Please let my
brother and then go with us. Oh.
And the King said to him, why should he go with you?
Good job, David. Verse 27, but Absalom pressed
him until he let em ninh and all the king's Sons go with him.
You can imagine what was racing through, David's mind.
That's a very strange request that you highlighted M then It
was probably just wishing for the best, hoping for the best.
And he thought, you know, it's been two years.
Nothing happened. A man is the eldest.
He technically, if you look at the legality of things he's next
in line to be the king and so, his presence is is an honorable
thing, all right? You want em.
And then the rest of the come Let them go.
And as we continue in the next scene, we quickly pick up on
other familiar, ingredients, from a recent story.
So now the scene shifts from David's Palace to absalom's,
home in verse 28, then Absalom commanded his servants.
So maybe they're in the back room or something while
everybody else is out in the the front or in the yard, then
Absalom commanded his servants, Mark, when a man's heart is
Merry with wine and when I say to you strike em, and then kill
Him do not fear, have I not commanded you be courageous and
be Valiant. So, here's the plot.
Do we see a familiarity here? Think about the ingredients of
the story? It's not difficult to see the
connection, right? Yes.
David did he not invite Uriah over to his house to feast?
Did he not intoxicate him? Whether they say when his heart
is married with mine, strike him.
And when that failed, what the David do, he called upon one of
his servants, namely joab to have Uriah killed and you see
here Absalom telling his servants to do the Dirty Work.
When I tell you kill him. So if M then replayed David
sexual sin before him Absalom is re surfacing David's deceptive.
Murder. But look at the words here of
Absalom to his servants. The last part he tells them do
not fear, have I not commanded you be courageous and Valiant.
You might have similar words on a coffee mug at home.
Huh. Do they not sound familiar?
What are they? What is this?
Come from or at least, we're does it ring from Joshua 1:9
when the Lord told. His servants have I not
commanded. You be strong and courageous do
not be frightened and do not be dismayed for the Lord.
Your God is with you wherever you go.
I'm not saying Absalom is quoting him directly, but I am
saying that there is a similarity in the language here
and there's a strategy behind the persuasion of this
invitation. Hey, my servants do not fear,
have I not commanded, you be courageous and Valiant.
What's Absalom trying to do here?
Can I tell you what? I believe he's doing here.
He is making sin, more inviting by coating it and presenting it
as an honorable cause He's making it seem like a noble
cause by using this righteous language.
He's making it seem like what they are going to do is
virtuous. Don't be afraid be Valiant.
Be courageous, do not fear. And we look at that thing.
Well that's quite interesting. And I'm trying to tell you today
that our culture is convincing people to sin in the very same
manner. Think think deeply believer
think deeply about how it takes like this even applies to our
culture today. Think about the sins of Our
Generation that are inviting a naive people.
Undiscerning to believe that. What they are participating in
is not just a matter of subjective morality but is in
fact, right? And good.
So defending abortion, Let's see if he'll stay on YouTube.
Defending abortion is not supporting murder.
You are advocating for a woman's right to choose.
Doesn't that sound Noble? A woman's right to choose.
That's what we're advocating for.
What about coming out coming out as a homosexual coming out as a
transgender. What is that packaged as
bravery? Bravery truth, bold Fearless,
right? Not only that if you do it, we
might put you on a platform so that you can Inspire others.
So now this is the, this is the trend, you know why?
It's a trend because it promises so much reward.
This is the thing to do, this is what people are doing.
People are thinking well, how is it that?
So many now are are into. This are giving in to this are
practicing this And the cultures.
Argument as well. They've been in the closet this
whole time. No.
It's because you've persuaded them by packaging, this kind of
Lifestyle as something, that is virtuous and true, and good for
society and, and good for our psychological State, and for our
mental health, and The prevention of suicide and
self-harm. So go be brave.
Nothing is new Under the Sun, nothing is new Under the Sun.
Here's Absalom telling his own servants be courageous.
I have commanded. You go forth.
Be Valiant and were echoing, the same kind of tactic.
And a bunch of people who are void of Truth.
And they are eating it up. And so there is a softening of
the severity of sin through the language.
Of deception that layers in a certain way that makes it more
palatable. And that's why we have to use
Bible language. That's all we got to just use
the Bible as it is because there's wisdom the way God
colors these things and describes these things.
I remember, I told the story before, and I don't want to
repeat it because I don't want to bore some of you, but I
remember sitting at a large conference for ministers.
And there is these. Ministers getting ordained, I
guess. And so they were asking these
young ministers, what they should do in preparation for the
new wave of the lgbtq movement? And what should we do when they
enter into our church? And this moderator when he was
preparing for the questions to be asked instead of referring to
homosexuality as a sin he said well what will we do?
And how should we respond to the church with those who and he
stopped himself and he says, who haven't it?
Alternative lifestyle. You see?
Blur it. Dim it, change it.
It's more palatable. Bible uses strong words and that
uses strong words for a reason. Life and death are in the power
of the tongue. There is something that is
either awakened or dead and based on how you present, What
God Says. And so God uses against strong
words again. In order for us to see it for
what it is words like abomination.
Words like immorality. And it's caused its purpose to
shake us so that we can be met with words like Grace.
And adoption. And love and regeneration.
For the rest of the chapter. Here's what happens.
We will see the fruit of a man who could not resist the
temptation of taking revenge. And let's look at them very
briefly here. Look at verse 29.
So the Servants of Absalom did to admin as Absalom had
commanded than all the king's sons are rows and each mounted,
his mule and fled Panic, broke out, confusion broke out.
Now the other sons are interpreting.
What just happened here? This assassination as.
Okay, Absalom technically is very close to the next person in
line for the throne and so he's maybe this is a coup, right?
He's now eliminating all his competition.
Let's get out of here so they get on their mules and they jet.
Then we scroll down to verse 32 after the news came to David
about his sons being all killed and that was corrected.
By who verse 20 32 rather, but jonadab the son of shamya
David's brother said. So here's Jonah.
Dad. The last that we see in him, he
was the one who planted the seed in the mind of end and now he
comes again. And guess what?
He's unscathed. He's safe.
One of the key players in this whole mess is, is here.
He's still here, he's a problem. And the problem is still here.
And then you scroll down to verse 36.
It says here, at as soon as he had finished speaking.
Behold The King's Sons came and lifted, their voice and wept and
the King. Also in all his servants wet,
very bitterly. One of the King's son, the next
one in line has died as been killed by his own brother.
And so they just break out into just absolute remorse and
unbelief. Finally here, look at verse 37,
but Absalom fled and went to tell my the son of a me, HUD
king of gesher, and David mourn for his son day after day.
So, Absalom, fled and went to guess her and was there three
years gesher is where his mom is from.
That's second Samuel 33. You realize that absalom's
grandfather from his mom's side was also a king so he has Royal
Blood on him on both sides. No wonder he coveted the throne
as you're going to see in the next few chapters, but he flees
now as an exile for three years, three years.
So collecting all of these snapshots together.
Here's the point that I want the Holy Spirit through his word to
drive into our hearts. It's very clear as tempting as
revenge's. It never solves a problem.
It only creates more of them. As tempting as Revenge has, it
will never bring the relief that you're aching.
Soul is looking for. And the problems that it usually
causes often falls on you. And God says vengeance is mine.
He means many things by that and one of the things he means is,
if I leave it into your hands, and if you take care of
yourself, you're going to make a big mess.
My son, you're going to make a big mess.
My daughter, I know exactly how to prescribe the justice that
will satisfy my Holiness and even your heart.
And it's possible. That some even we're listening
are harboring pain. That came from a mom.
Or a dad. Maybe a spouse.
What about a pastor? What about a group of people who
church people? What about a business partner,
who really blew it and costs you years?
Of setback. from time to time, if not more than time to time,
you are reminded This guy. This person really did a work on
me. if only I could if only I could just let him get a taste
of their own medicine. I just need a little bit.
It doesn't have to be i4i if it's just something.
Give me your toe. I'll be happy.
I'm here to remind you tonight with this example.
That you will not be convinced. After the matter that you've
been healed. You only see that it was more.
More pain that you invited more regret, more shame, don't
believe the lie, no matter how great the pain is.
Instead, let me conclude by giving you the advice of a man
of God, and this is so amazing. I found this A few days ago and
it's so touched my heart that I tucked it in like Mary does,
right? She kept things in her heart
tucked. It I said I'm putting that one
in the Armory, I don't know. Lord when you're going to have
me use this but I can't wait to share it and then a few days
later we come to this Bible study, not knowing what the
theme is going to be about. And that quote said, hey I'm
here. So you're coming right out, you
didn't stay too long. I'm going to read it twice and
as I read it, just snap out of whatever you're in Focus because
I know this will bless you John Flavel, he's not alive.
I like a lot of dead guys. Those dead guys, had a lot of
insight into the word of God and this man says something in light
of what we've been hearing throughout this Bible study that
I believe is a perfect way of putting a period mark to our
time together. Here's what he said, quote
suppose. That by Revenge you might
destroy one enemy yet by exercising.
The Christians temper, You might Conquer 3.
One your own lust to Satan's Temptation and three, your
enemy's heart. Quote suppose that by Revenge
you might destroy one enemy yet by exercising.
The Christians temper, you might conquer 31.
Your own lust to Satan's Temptation and three your
enemy's heart and that powerful all you would wish that Absalom
would have trusted in God. The same way that David trusting
in God, when able scorned him and he was ready to go and slice
him up, I'm sure it would have felt good for the moment, but,
oh, what would have happened to his name, his future, his
reputation, his dynasty and a wise woman said, don't do it.
Trust in God. I wish this man took the same
advice. Who knows what would have come
to his future? Who knows what kind of blessings
would have fallen on him instead for the next few?
Chapters were only going to see more turmoil and devastation.
May God help us to forgive, may God help us to be liberated from
that which haunts us because we refuse to just put it in the
hand of God and say, Lord, I'm done with this.
I didn't control what happened to me.
I didn't invite it. I'm going to stop meditating on
what I possibly did to bring it about and I'm just going to give
it to you and continue to walk in what you have for my life and
believe that you are The God Who takes vengeance.
If you are that person tonight, as we close in prayer, I invite
you to give that to the Lord and Trust in this God, the same God.
Who saves you? The same God who answers
prayers? The same God, who knows exactly
when to defend your cause and he will do it.
Let's pray. Lord, we have been equipped.
with an obvious theme that you have woven in to these verses, I
thank you from the bottom of my heart, for my brothers and
sisters who are here tonight. Lord.
Surely a blesses you to see your children gather around your word
and to receive the full counsel of God.
Lord, in this place, we've been reminded much again of sin, but
we are also been reminded of the beautiful Promises of trusting.
Putting our faith and everything including in the pain that we
receive from others. The wounds, the bruises.
The trauma, the scars. Low, we pause to reflect on the
Forgiveness that we have in Jesus.
And though, we know that Revenge can take on many faces, that can
be just giving the hurtful word back after an argument.
And he can even extend to murder.
Lord help us rise above the flesh.
Help us tonight as a reflex to bring every arrow to you to lay
it at your feet to trust that you have the bomb to bind us up.
To make us whole again. To give us thick skin, so that
we can continue to endure the failures of others.
And Lord, we ask that the cross would be ever before us.
For if there is anyone, who is innocent?
It was you Pure and holy you and you alone, and you receive the
greatest Injustice that this world has ever known. well, we
sit back to reflect on the the gems of Truth and wisdom that we
have adorned, our faith with With a be intact.
Would they be tight? Would they be worn outside of
these walls and Beyond the moments of singing?
Lived out for people to see the Christian temper.
That brings true victory in satisfaction.
Father, you are good. We love you.
We love your word. And we worship you now and
closing Jesus name. Amen.
That stand Saints. Let's sing to the Lord together.
Shall we?