2 Samuel 15 (Part 1) Bible Study | Pastor Daniel Batarseh

Second Samuel chapter 15. Tonight.

2 Samuel 15 · chapter mention

You and I are going to study something that God hates.

I'm not sure if that's the most exciting way to start a Bible

study, but I'm sure that it grabbed your attention on the

less. If the god that we love and sing

to, and testify about is a, god of love.

God is love, but his love does not.

There's not rather. Let me put it this way.

His love does discriminate. His love, doesn't spill over

into absolutely everything without condition or without

standard, God loves but because he loves so perfectly.

He also hates And in Proverbs chapter 6.

Proverbs 6 · chapter mention

We are given seven things that the Lord hates and Proverbs 6.

16 to 19, we were told of six things that the Lord hates and

seven things that are an Abomination to him.

And Abomination is something that one holds with great,

disgust and abhorrence And God has those feelings about certain

things. And the Seven thing that God

abhors on that list of the data data, station is one who sews

Discord among Brothers. What that means is somebody who

intentionally plants seeds of Doubt or suspicion within a

group of people with the purpose of causing a severance.

And some kind of faction. And usually that is motivated by

Personal Agenda. This is something that God

absolutely despises and unfortunately what God tells us

and makes clear to us Of what he hates is.

What men tend to passionately pursue.

And such is the case with this man, Absalom Absalom in this

chapter is ready to orchestrate. A divisive campaign with

remarkable discipline and dedication.

And instead of the Holy Spirit, just giving us that as a general

observation or a general statement, what you're going to

discover as we read is that we actually have Absalom scheme in

great detail, leading up to that execution of division.

If the Holy Spirit did not think that this was important, he

would have generalized this moment in Israel's history under

David's reign with what we see here.

At the end of verse 6. Look at it very quickly with me.

It says here. So Absalom stole the hearts of

the men of Israel that would have been a sufficient way of

telling us why there will be a Civil War at this point and

David's life as the leader of this people.

But God goes beyond that again, he wants to show us what it was

that led to the people's hearts being stolen.

And what led to a division among a people that were enjoying

unity and prosperity in different ways.

And I thought to myself Lord, why is it important that in the

first six? Seven verses?

We see here exactly what Absalom would do.

Why spell out why draw out the drama of this conspiracy?

And I believe the reason is because the Lord wants to

instruct us and the Lord wants us to be benefited by something

such as this for the sake of making us a Discerning people.

A Discerning people who would be able to detect the early stages

of division and whatever sphere you find yourself in Division is

possible in any place where two people are gathered or committed

to one another. It can happen in marriage, you

can happen in families, it can happen in business, it can

happen in institutions and it can especially happen in the

Community of Faith. And so there is something here

for us. In order to be observant,

Discerning careful watchful first, with our own Hearts to

see if there is anything that we are unknowingly entertaining,

but even in what we see around us because you and I are

constantly as the people of God under under attack under attack.

And one of Satan's, favorite plots is to sow Discord among

the people of God. He enjoys it, it's one of the

oldest playbooks of sin. It's what happened in heaven.

It's, what happens throughout the Bible.

And we see it here before us in this example and it is greatly

beneficial for us as a people who strive to be in Partnership

for the glory of God. Now from experience, I've

learned that whenever the subject comes up, that those who

are already set on entertaining and harboring, a spirit of

division are very hard to convince To turn from such a way

of life. It returned from such a mindset.

Most people who are divisive are frightening, Lee committed to

that cause and so my primary aim here though, God can do miracles

in the most rebellious heart, my primary aim is to through this

Bible study, as we come together to equip and protect those which

is all of us who can be seduced by someone or some people that

would up to bring the vision in our lives.

And though these principles, apply to every sphere of

society, and any any area of life where you have

relationships with others, I want to focus on the local

church, the local church. And so allow me through this

Bible said it's going to be very unique because it's going to be

more of a study of a very uncomfortable subject.

But it's going to be important for us to see at least three

ways division occurs Even among the most spiritual where God is

moving, where God is blessing, where people have been brought

together, evidently by God's Providence.

I want you guys to see here very carefully through absalom's

example, the ingredients that are necessary to take to see

division, take place. Let's read the first few verses

together. After this Absalom verse 1,

after this Absalom got himself a chariot and horses.

And 50 Mentor run before him and Absalom used to rise early and

stand beside the way of the gate.

And when any man had a dispute to come before the king for

judgment, Absalom will call to him and say, from from what city

are you. And when he said, your servant

is of such and such a tribe in Israel, Absalom would say to

him. See, your claims are good and

right, but there is no, man, designated by the king to hear

you. Then Absalom would say, oh that,

I were a judge in the land, then every man with a dispute or

cause might come to me and I would give him Justice.

And whenever a man came near to pay, homage to him, he would put

out his hand and take hold of him and kiss him.

Thus Absalom did to all of Israel who came to the king for

judgment. So, Absalom stole the hearts of

the men of Israel. The first ingredient that is

required. To see painful division,

possibly take place among the people of God, is that number

one division begins in the heart of Unholy men.

Division begins in the heart of Unholy men.

What are the first two words of verse 1 after this, after this,

if you were here last week, you know what happened, before this

what happened before? This was that King David

acquitted, his son Absalom for his murderous plot and forgave

him and restored him and gave him all his privileges back

though. There was no sign of confection.

There is no evidence of remorse. There was not a hint of

repentance Displayed. And David was wrong for doing

that. David was in error for allowing

someone like him to go free in this way.

Yes, we are. A faith of forgiveness and

restoration reconciliation, but we ought to forgive us Christ.

Forgave, and part of that forgiveness Pursuit is to

release them in our hearts and not take Vengeance.

But in order for reconciliation to happen, it requires

repentance from the offending party.

Christ, is he not wait for men to repent for us to be

reconciled to him? Absolutely.

And we don't see that here but instead of focusing on David

more, let's turn our attention to Absalom and consider his

attitude in this whole thing. Absalom based on what we heard

last week, believe that he was completely justified in what he

did to his, half-brother eminent completely Justified.

This man talked. He had no sense of personal

accountability God and he obviously had no touch of how

his sins affected others. And when you look at Absalom up

to this point, you realize that he was a man who was driven by

his own criteria. He had his own standard of,

right and wrong. He had his own concept of what

was permissible and what was not permissible.

And such a man who does not subject himself to the law of

God, and who elevates his own understanding, despite Divine

Law being violated or overstepping, people's rights.

That kind of a person is dangerous.

That kind of a person is dangerous for, many reasons, to

be driven. And to be determined, by your

own rules, is a scary world view and such people.

Despite any other rules that might challenge his own.

He believes that he is in the right that kind of mindset is

detrimental to any any kind of sphere of our lives and the

potential disruption of such a person.

Is so severe? That division is highly likely.

Such a person has no problems. Stepping over people.

Stepping on people dismissing any rule.

To get what they want. And usually this kind of a

person is an individual who can excuse any kind of sinful

Behavior. If they are offended. if their

feelings are so strong or if the object of their desire is so

strong, Such a person inevitably will bring about some kind of

Discord. In their world.

And you see this often with people who become become

offended by my others, whether Christians are especially by

Spiritual Authority, This is common disappointment and unmet

expectations can easily energize a divisive spirit.

Unless they are restrained, by the truth of God's word in the

Holy Spirit and that is who we are dealing with here.

Absalom's attitude is not excused by immaturity, he's not

somebody here who is stubborn or irrational because he lacks

experience in life. It's much deeper than that

significantly much deeper than that.

Look at verse 1. Again, what stands out to you.

After this Absalom got himself, a chariot and horses and fifty

men to run before him. Why do you think he's doing

that? Attention is this Absalom trying

to get somewhere quicker? Is this about faster Mobility?

Absolutely. Not why?

Because you got a cherry but you have 50, guys running in front

of you. This is not about

Transportation. This is not about Mobility.

This is about Showmanship. This is about performance.

This is about somebody who is walking around.

Now, drawing attention to himself.

We've already discovered that absent was a man who craved the

Praise of man. And if you are not convinced

that this is what he is up to go to his brother's account and

First Kings 1 and verse 5, adonijah.

When he wanted to be king, I want you to see something eerily

similar with Absalom here in second.

2 Samuel 15 · chapter mention

Samuel chapter 15, look at First Kings.

1 Kings 1:5

Chapter 1, verse 5 in your Bibles and notice what happens

here. Now, add the Niger that's

absalom's brother. The son of hag.

If exalted himself saying I will be king and he prepare for

himself chariots and Horsemen and fifty men to run before him.

It's clear, right? There's the connection exalting

oneself and parading oneself in the exact way that Absalom does

here in our subject and our study right now And here's the

point that you, and I have to understand individuals who live

for the admiration and the Applause of others are those who

are most capable of stirring problems.

In any setting that is organized by positions by platform or by

Authority. When you get, when you have a

guy like adonijah, when you have a guy like Absalom who survive

and thrive on the Applause and the recognition and the respect,

and all of the above, those are the people who are the

candidates for chaos and Eddie setting, which includes the

church where there are platforms positions or authoritative.

Titles and responsibilities. And I've mentioned this verse on

So Many occasions. Sometimes I hesitate to repeat

them but it's good. We're creatures of repetition.

Remember what James tells us in James 3:16?

James 3:16

What does he say there? He says, for where jealousy and

selfish ambition exist. There will be Disorder, there

will be disorder, and every vile practice.

Jealousy and selfish ambition. Is the simple recipe for

relational disaster? Jealousy and selfish.

Ambition is the simple recipe for relational disaster among

friends. Among couples among siblings

among congregants and elders and deacons!

And so if you're able to buy the truth of God's word subdue,

these two vices then you can most definitely secure Harmony

and peace. In a setting like this.

So, I told you about Proverbs 6, 16, to 19, where we were told

about the six things of the Lord hates and seven that are an

Abomination to him on that same chapter, we are told something

interesting about the one who continually shows Discord.

And it is this in verse 14. Proverbs 6, 14 tells us with

perverted heart devices. Evil continually sowing Discord

with perverted heart devices. Evil continually sowing Discord.

Do you see the association there?

Sowing Discord is connected to perversion of the heart.

Perversion of the heart. It is the perverted heart that

is capable of intentionally coming to a peaceful place where

there is fruit and there is an honor to God and to try to sever

it and separate it and to bring damage and harm to it.

And we see here that it is an evil thing.

It is absolutely evil. It's okay guys.

I know my throw gave out there. There's no need to panic or

worry. It's an evil thing.

And what's amazing here is that devising evil require strategy,

it requires planning, it requires.

Thank you. It requires thinking and

meditation. And so the first ingredient here

is that Division division begins in the heart of Unholy men and

women. When they are more consumed with

South than the glory of God, when they're more concerned

about their position than the presence of God, when they're

more concerned about how they feel than the good of others,

some kind of pain is going to come on a horizontal level.

It doesn't have to all the time but it's more likely.

And then we re here again that there is a there is a device

thing with this kind of a heart, this kind of a mindset, a person

who sews division, who plant seeds of Doubt brings us to our

second ingredient. Ingredient division requires and

utilizes deception, and accusation.

So it begins in the heart of an Unholy man on holy woman who

doesn't have God's word in mind as I'm God's standard and view.

But from there it is nurtured and it is strengthened through

deception and accusation. Look back here in our Bible

study. Look at verse 2.

It says, you're an Absalom used to rise early and stand beside

the way of the gate. That disturbs me.

He got up early. I mean this is a man who was

driven. This is a man who was like set

on making this happen and what sowing Discord makes it

especially detestable in the sight of God is just that it

requires great effort and it requires here an accompanying of

each other evils in order to see it come about.

And we see here that this man here is doing, just that.

Now, let me say this before hand, we all know that if you do

life with people long enough that there will be some level

and episodes of irritation caused by others, right?

Either by ignorance or by moments getting into the flesh

but those instances can be easily.

Resolved through loving rebuke and honest.

Repentance look, brother, I got out of hand during that meeting.

I was I was I'm very passionate about subject and they just came

out and it wasn't christ-like. Will you forgive me done deal?

That is not the same as what I am speaking about here.

What we're seeing here with Absalom.

Is this? Conniving sophisticated.

And manipulative scheme to sow Discord is to strategically

arouse and heighten conflict. For what purpose to pin Brothers

and Sisters in Christ against one another, for the sake of a

hidden agenda. That's what it means to sow

Discord. You are exciting emotions, you

are playing with people's minds. You are suddenly making

accusations and charges and claims not because you care, but

because you have something in you, that you want to see come

to pass, and that is exactly what Absalom is doing.

He's not loving people. He's using people and this kind

of diabolical plot is usually entertain again.

When someone is offended and wants retaliation wants payback,

or this is something that we don't consider, because that

makes sense, right? People tend to bite back when

they're bitten hit back when they're a hit, right?

But there's another side to this and the other side is this that

such a plot is employed when there is a goal in mind, but

there are obstacles in the way of that goal.

And usually those obstacles are people who are Authority.

Or people who might be opponents to that drive, that you have.

And that is exactly what we see here.

The platform for kingdoms dividing.

And for church splits is really the same, it involves the

implementation of deception and accusation.

To see it come to pass that is the qualities of Absalom here.

These are the characteristics of such a man I want you to just in

a very brief moment, see very quickly, the characteristics of

a sower of Discord. Okay, because it's not obvious

all the time. And, you know, in preparation of

this, I was praying Lord, my desire is not through this Bible

study for people to become cynical or for people to become

overly suspicious, My encouragement to you is just to

be Discerning and prayerful and careful.

So look at these things here with me.

The first thing about Absalom, as already mentioned Is that

people who tend to give rise to disunity tend to predict project

themselves in a certain way. And the way that they project

themselves is positively Charmingly.

With great attraction and Trust. Why does he go about in a

chariot with 50 men before him? What kind of image is he trying

to portray of himself? What's that about leader of a

king, right? He's not a king, but he wants to

make it seem like he is a king and he wants to condition the

people to see him. As a potential leader, you

already has the looks, he has the Luscious Hair, we're going

to see in a moment that he has the Charisma and he knows how to

he knows how to play politics and he knows how to be the man's

people. Write the people's man, we see

that here but what's interesting is the tactic is no different

for troublemakers today. They Tried to portray themselves

in a certain Manner and destroy this arm people from Ever

thinking to themselves that such a person is up to no good or

such a person would never bring about harm.

And so, what you have with those who are swords of this court, is

that they tend to immediately and constantly seems spiritual

Seem wise compassionate people, loving Bible educated Servants

of God. And they can do a lot of good

things on the surface, but here's the reality, they're not

glorifying Christ. Again, is just a means to

another and a selfish end and to win people's trust and to win

their allegiance. And again to try to discourage

them from ever thinking them, as a potential suspect to something

that is brewing, something that's coming ahead.

If you don't think that Absalom is this kind of man in that what

you see, is what you get? Then just scroll down quickly to

verse 8 of this chapter. Look how he speaks to his father

for your servant vowed a vow, while I lived in Kishore.

And I Ram saying, if the Lord will indeed bring me back to

Jerusalem, then I will offer worship to the Lord.

Are you kidding me? Hey Dad.

You know, while I was away in Exile?

I thought to myself ever come back here.

I wanted like fast and pray, and just give give this wonderful

dedication to the Lord. Would you let me go?

It's a bold-faced lie. This is absolute dishonesty and

it gets even weirder. When you go to verse 12, look at

verse 12 and while Absalom was offering the sacrifices, So,

this guy is making these claims, he's making these vows

apparently, and he's even, he's even participating in the

sacrificial system. All the while he is brewing, a

Civil War in his heart, So the first thing to understand about

A sower of this court, is that they intentionally and

strategically and deceivingly, try to decorate themselves in a

certain way to ultimately deceive people.

And the second observation, the second characters in is very

closely tied to the first one people who sow Discord Heavily

rely. Coming off as being.

Loving. And caring about the well-being

of others. Look here, again, in verse 3,

Absalom would say to him. See your claims are good and

right, but there is no men designated by the king to hear

him before that. He asked from what city are you?

And when he said, your servant is of such and such a tribe in

Israel. So here's Absalom waking up,

very early. Going to the gate of the city

knowing that people travel from all parts of Israel to come to

the Supreme Court of their day to receive some kind of counsel,

some kind of closure, with particular Grievances and It

meet them from the beginning. He would position himself in a

way where he would have contact with people and while he would

do this, she would ask. Where are you from?

Oh, no way. You're from you from, okay?

It's okay. Wow.

From Zebulon came on from. So that's incredible.

Where'd you where'd you study? Oh, what's your last name?

I think I know your cousin. Yeah, yeah.

And then I had to that verse 5. Look at verse 5, it says here,

and whenever a man came near to pay, homage to him, he would put

out his hand and take hold of him and kiss him.

So, when people try to show, but he would just like, no, no, no,

don't do that. And he would embrace them and he

would, he would kiss them. And he would just give this

excessive show of affection. And to the simple, this would

seem genuine. This was in order to prepare

them in order to win them again. So that when Absalom would make

certain statements, And certain claims in certain judgments,

there are more likely to believe him.

At the even be on his side. This is what some troublemakers

do they? So lavish people with

compliments and attention that when it comes to an issue that

they usually prepared in advance to cause they are confident that

people will side with the Troublemaker more than the

truth. And that is precisely what this

man is doing. It sounds awful, it sounds sick

but it is absolutely the reality that our agitators who actively

seek to draw people's affections so that when something emerges

they'll be prepared to partner with the one who is in the

wrong, is this genuine? No, it's manipulative

preparation. That's what it is.

And this is usually a tactic that is implemented before

criticism and before accusation are Arises.

So he's priming them up, he's marinating their minds.

And now we come to the third characteristic of a sort of

Discord, right? The first two might be difficult

to decipher. You have somebody here, who

presents himself as spiritual? You have somebody here, who

heavily relies on just overwhelming people.

With their words and their actions and gifts and

Hospitality you name it. But this is the most important

thing that I can say about, is sort of this court, and it's,

it's this, and we must consider it.

They find Liberty, they find Liberty to make consistent

suggestive accusations. So we read in verse 3, Absalom

would say to him. See your claims are good and

right. But there is no man designated

by the king to hear you verse 4. Then, Absalom would say, oh that

I were judge in the land, then every man would a dispute or

cause might come to me and I would give him Justice.

This is hear me carefully. This is not the same as

identifying legitimate, concerns and issues within a Ministry or

with a minister or anybody else for that matter.

That is not what I am talking about because those things can

be issues that need to be dealt with verbally and need to be

dealt with with genuine concern. Expressed the goal of these kind

of remarks pay, very close attention.

Now. The goal of these kind of

remarks is to stir up dissatisfaction.

In the hearts of the people. That's the goal. to stir up

dissatisfaction and people usually by saying something

completely untrue or by potentially exaggerating things

that are not worth becoming Serious issues.

We saw that in verse 3. We saw the inverse for.

And what Absalom and here is doing is that he is attempting

to point people to the administration and say they are

inefficient and they are weak. They're inefficient and they are

weak. Is it possible for many things

to be imperfect many things? Not being completely in line.

Many things not be developed, many things to not be completely

mature. Absolutely.

We should strive about that we should look to that.

We should say yes we need to move forward on that.

But again that is not the goal that Absalom has in mind.

It is to completely destroy that which God tries to nurture and

build up at the Sea Life come through.

And so this is what he's doing here.

The question to ask ourselves with the closest context in mind

is what Absalom saying. True, when Absalom said, there's

no men designated by the king to hear you.

Is that true? Think about our recent studies?

Did the king have trouble hearing people's problems.

Did he know how do you know? Thank you very much.

We see here in Chapter 14 verse 4.

When the moment of Tekoa came to the king, she fell on her face

to the ground, and paid homage and said save me.

Okay. Okay.

Obviously the King was available to hear these people's problems

and for them to bring their problems to him.

So what is Absalom trying to convey here?

An outright blatant lie. That's what he's essentially

saying. He's creating a problem that's

not really there and close to that is to, again, magnify

things that are minor that are not sincere enough for severing

to happen. now someone might object and say, well are you

suggesting that people who are in Authority, are immune to any

kind of Correction, any kind of suggestion, any kind of

criticism, Absolutely not. Then you have another problem,

then you got a dictatorship, you have tyranny, you have we have

you have a whole different Bible study to convey when you can

identify those who who know how to abuse their positions of

power. That is not what I'm trying to

say. What I am trying to say that is

though, is that there are claims that we might all have in our

hearts. There might be concerns that we

all might have and expressing those concerns do not make as

divisive people. That would that would be a

terrible way of manipulating people and trying to keep their

mouths shut and to just dismiss any kind of accountability from

the leadership side, that's evil and itself.

But at the same time we have to understand that the way people

Express their concerns makes all the difference.

They can either build things up or tear things down.

You know what I would do if I won one sunny afternoon during

Fellowship, had Absalom come up to me.

And say the things that he said to me.

See, your claims are good and right, but there is no man

designated by the king to hear. You know, that this is what I

would say. And this is what I imagined.

If I was coming from the north and I need to meet with the King

and Absalom, is there with a crowd of people and he stops me

says, hey, I never seen you before and he begins to say

these kind of things I would say well Absalom.

Seems like you clearly have concerns about the way the

kingdom operates have. You brought it to the king, When

that be a good thing to say, hey, did you bring it to your

father? David did you express these

concerns to David? And here's the thing, I want to

say whenever an individual expresses, grievance or

frustration or even actual offense, whether it's perceived

in a certain way or it's legitimate, if you bring up, The

proposition that they should go to the person who has offended

or who is connected to this issue and they refused to do.

So that's very telling that is very revealing actually such a

person is in my estimation not interested in a solution.

Now, there might be hesitation because they're fearful of how

that would go about. I don't know anybody that enjoys

confrontation me included. So sometimes there was

hesitation because it's not easy to do that and I get it.

But I'm not speaking about that. I'm speaking about a person who

just will not open themselves up to the biblical model of how we

should approach a brother or sister, who is offended when

such a person is so headstrong and unwilling to do that.

Not only, are they not interested in a solution.

They are potentially in that very moment as they are

expressing, their thoughts started cause a new problem.

You saying brother you're reading too much into it.

No it Jesus told you and I how to approach a brother or sister

in the area of a fence and we refuse to do that is not not

Disobedience. Okay does this would be the?

It's produced good things. No, that's it.

And so I look at Absalom and I think to myself that was an

Israel at this time. I would look them straight in

the eye. Say Absalom.

Did you talk to your dad about this?

I would have loved to seen his face.

I would love to see how he would have politicize his way out of

it. But there is no such thing.

People were just enamored. They were just captivated one by

his looks. And then on top of that, his

words and the Chariots, and the site of his importance, and his

extravagance, and his eloquence ah Yeah, so there's deception at

work here. There's accusation at work here

and now the sewing is taking place, and it's so subtle.

It's not outright, it's not obvious, it's very subtle,

right? And you and I have to be

careful. God has given us principles to

protect the unity of the church. He has given us instructions of

how to close potential doors. Less Satan have a foothold in

get in and so you and I have to trust Jesus.

As uncomfortable at his, obedience is not always easy,

but as I'm comfortable as it is, we have to believe that the way

the Lord prescribed relational rules is for the benefit and the

longevity of our blessings towards one another and God's

blessing over us. So deception is at work.

Here, activation is now thrown into the pot.

The vision begins in the heart of Unholy men division, utilizes

deception, and accusation and lastly division.

Is strengthened by naive hearts. Division is strengthened by

naive hearts. We see here in verse five and

six, what? Whenever a man came near to pay,

homage to him, he would put out his hand and take hold of him

and kiss him. This Absalom did to all of

Israel who came to the king for judgment.

So, Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

Who's here to blame, Is Absalom to blame.

Yes. Is he the only one to blame?

Who would say? Yes.

So, he stole the hearts of the people.

Sometimes things get stolen from us and it just Catches Us

off-guard, no matter what kind of prevention's we've made.

It just happens. And sometimes things are stolen

from us, because we were irresponsible, And we were not

careful and we were not alert. And we give an opportunity where

an opportunity could have been avoided.

Correct. And so we see here that the

people I know you had your hand about come to you.

In a moment, we see here with the people that they have a part

in all of this Absalom is a, he's a, he's a Salesman.

He's presentable, he's persuasive.

He's powerful and appearance and with his presentation, but

listen. Absalom would not have been as

successful if he did not have so many customers.

No matter how Absalom did his thing if nobody believed the

more people were much more reserved and skeptical in a holy

way, then he would not have been as successful.

But unfortunately, as much as division begins in the heart of

Unholy men, it is solidified and strengthened, by simple hearts.

By simple hearts. I'll pause here and ask you.

You had your hand up, you have a question or remark.

Yes, his position in the family. Yes.

Right. So then you have the family

element in this whole thing which makes it even more

complicated. Despite the fact that he was

already strikingly beautiful and he had the popularity, the fact

that there is the blood relational component, made it

much more complex and I agree with you there. there is a lot

of ingredients to this that are unique but still noteworthy,

here's the thing that I want to say, when there are Sowers of

Discord, And they enter into a place.

What tends to happen is they prey on, they prey on the

unsuspecting, right, to your point.

They prey on the unsuspecting and they prey on those who might

be naive. Innocent More willing to believe

than to test and to be careful to examine before making a

judgment. But that's not the only thing

that they do. Do that is that one of their

primary plans at the same time? They will.

Sniff out. Potential endorsements.

Partners. Those who will come alongside

them knowing very much, what is about to happen?

And usually, they're able to do this by looking for others and

discovering, if they have personal offense or if they are

harboring jealousy or they are entertaining selfish ambition

and the same way you and I can can if we're walking with the

Lord discern, when somebody is a genuine, believer walking with

the Lord I'm telling you. So hours of Discord can find

people like them. They could find people like

them. And they actually magnetized to

them, isn't it amazing? How gossipers attract gossipers,

right? I heard of a brother where he

was hearing about all this stuff that was happening.

This isn't a different context. Different place, altogether,

many, many years ago. He was hearing about all these

things that were happening and he asked somebody else, he goes,

why am I not hearing about this? And that person who is updating

him with certain things as it's probably a good thing.

It's probably a good thing that nobody feels safe to tell you

things that are troubling and I have no value.

And I bring problems more than anything else and that person

left with a crown he's like that's a badge of honor to me.

Nobody calls me or text me. Hey, did you hear about

whatever? And whatever, praise God.

Not a lot of Demands on that one, but amen.

And so, we see here that Absalom is doing two things.

At the same time, he is Recruiting naive people by

seducing him and yet he is also searching out for others.

Who because of their own position, their own reputation,

their own resources like you said, would only make their case

more believable. Right.

Who do you think that person was for Absalom?

Who do you think that person was?

Good. Guess not joab.

Yes. Would you look at that?

Did you hear the answer? Bathsheba's granddaddy.

What's his name? I, he thought fell.

I remember reading this today and I thought to myself.

Yeah, that is a common trait, right?

There's strength in numbers that Absalom do this, and I kept

reading and I realized there he is, and verse 12.

Look at verse 12 quickly and while Absalom was offering the

sacrifice he sent for, who Heath offal agila night, David's

counselor, from his City Helo and the conspiracy grew strong

in the people with Absalom kept increasing.

Why do you think Why do you think Absalom would fetch her?

I hate thoughtful. Did I he fell for?

Have bitterness. Let me ask you this way.

Was, I he thoughtful hurt by David?

He was her by David. He was heard by David Wright,

Josh? Yeah.

Do you have something else to say?

That's right. He did have a grudge against

David because of what David did with his granddaughter and her

husband I would have loved to see what the conversation

between Absalom, and I fulfilled would be like, or was like How

did he figure that out? Was it common knowledge?

And I began to just sit there this afternoon and think about

what that might have looked like as Absalom was trying to figure

out who it is that would partner with him and I noticed That he

was drawn to somebody who had his own history of pain from the

same individual. That he wanted to overthrow.

Hey, I felt full. You know, I've been noticing

some about my dad. Things are kind of sketchy.

Things are a little off, you happen to notice anything.

I know you work with him closely and you see things, you're very

wise men, your counselor Oh, no way you too.

He did that to Bathsheba. What a scoundrel.

You know why? That makes sense?

Actually, you remember what happened to my sister to mod?

Right? You see how we just?

Let em and go. I wonder if that had to play.

This guy is bad news, man. He's bad news.

You know, I think we have to protect others from him.

I think we have a duty. I think we need to we need to

see this guy. Pay for his slip-ups.

We need this guy to learn a lesson. you know, if I if I

gotta tell you something, If I Were King, I wouldn't let things

get away with that so easily. If I Were King, I would not.

I will not allow family relations to get involved with

how I execute God's law. You might be thinking, brother.

I think you're reading too much into it and I would say no

because look, what, look what he says here.

And verse 40 that I were the judge in the land and every man

with the disputer cause might come to me and I would give him

Justice, you hypocrite. You have no right to speak about

justice justice. I would give him Justice and I

wonder if he said that the I-5 wonder if he he just swept him

off his feet with this kind of speech.

And I thought full agreed and a devilish team was born.

A team that would. Unfortunately be very successful

and making an impression on the weak-minded.

Not, we're going to, in the following weeks, we're going to

talk about just the absolute poison that bitterness is and

how its cues. So much of our thinking and what

we allow and what we absorb and what we're willing to entertain.

But for now let's go back to that thought of the naive,

right? Turn very quickly as we close

our Bible study very soon. In Romans chapter 16, I want you

Romans 16 · chapter mention

to see what Paul says about this subject because it's not an Old

Testament thing to new. Testament reality.

In Romans 16 look here at verse 17.

I appeal to you Brothers to watch out for those who cause

divisions and create obstacles, contrary to the doctrine that

you have been taught. Avoid them for such persons, do

not serve our Lord, Jesus Christ, Our Lord Christ, but

their own appetites is not go back to point number one.

That the Visions begin in the heart of Unholy men.

Men who don't serve Christ men who are serving their own

appetites in your appetites can be any ambition that conflicts

with humility and trusting in God's Providence in his dealing

in your life but they serve their own appetites.

And by here it is, this is point number two, by smooth, talk and

flattery. So there we covered two points

and New Testament commentary on our Old Testament.

Study number one divisions, begin the heart of on holy men.

Number two divisions. Utilize deception and

accusation. And number three divisions are

strengthened by naive Hearts. What does Paul?

And with and flattery they deceive.

The hearts of, who the knife. So right there isn't that it's

not wonderful. That in our Old Testament study.

We have new testament confirmation.

The Old Testament is the best illustration book for New

Testament, Truth by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the

hearts of the naive. Hello Absalom.

What polishing your spirit is that dividers, don't succeed

over everyone not. Everyone is influenced by sower

of Discord but there are some And the category of the, some

are the simple. Proverbs 14:15 says that the

Proverbs 14:15

simple believes everything, the simple believes everything, but

the prudent give thoughts to his steps, The Prudent gives

thoughts to his steps. In other words, it doesn't jump

to conclusions, he doesn't rush into a door, he waits and thinks

and calculates before any kind of judgment is made.

That is not the simple. And the truth of the matter is

that in the church, the beautiful, glorious blood-bought

Church of Jesus Christ. You have those Within who are

more simple than others. And who are much more willing to

think with their feelings, who are in experience and because of

their inexperience or more vulnerable, just like the

Christians in Rome, this is what Paul is saying.

And here's the thing that we have to ask ourselves, is that a

fate that is inescapable for some meaning if you have some in

the church who are simple, does that mean that they're just

sitting ducks ready to be devoured at any time?

And the answer thankfully is no, no, that doesn't have to be the

future of any poor soul. Now, after healing all this,

again, this is not the most uplifting Bible study on a

Friday night after a long work week but it is important and

here's the encouraging part. As we land, this Bible study,

there is something that you and I can do to limit the damage

that a person who is determined to bring Discord can do And I

think what we see here in Romans 16 gives us the blueprint.

And one of the things that you and I are called to do, if the

naive are the target of such individuals who are in God's

sight and Abomination. We are called to watch over our

brothers and sisters, who might be naive.

Who might be young in the faith, right?

Who might be just have a different upbringing and

different discipleship, different kind of experience

growing up. And so, they just view the world

with a different lens. Such individuals are called to

be watched over by primarily the under Shepherds.

Leaders of the church are called to have a watchful eye on how

people are responding to certain things and and where they're

being pulled and where they're being pushed.

And when there is danger, an alarm it is the under Shepherds

who are called, Discernment to come in and to warn and to

rescue and to pull away, but it's not just the pastor's

because the passengers are not omniscient.

And omnipresent, Now, we have a mutual responsibility to watch

each other's back and to ensure that if there are people who

might again be more impressed by certain things that can lead to

Danger than you. And I have to be able to step in

and say, hey man, look I've noticed, are you sure you doing

here? Are you sure?

You, you're you're thinking rightly about this.

Listen. That is the bare minimum that

you and I can do right, but there's something higher than

that. There's something greater than

that. If Paul here is warning that

they deceive the hearts of the naive, then I say that there is

a charge and an exhortation for the naive, not just for the

people who are related to the naive and it is this Escape your

simplicity. Grow.

But God, stretch you. Proverbs tells us in the first

chapter. Oh, how long will you love being

simple? In other words, the naive here

is not just limited to people who are innocent because they're

inexperienced or because they haven't seen enough or because

years haven't been added to them, so they lack experiential

wisdom. That is not the case.

There comes a point where being naive is a choice.

It's a choice that you consciously make, or you don't

care to think about and just allow yourself to Coast through

life. And the Bible says, oh, how long

will you love being simple? In other words, it's time to

grow. It's time to see God.

Do something in the way. You perceive things that will

protect you and protect your family, protect your finances

and protect your church, protect your church, If you don't

believe that, that is the case. Well, Proverbs 8 5 says, oh

simple ones, learn prudence. Proverbs 850 simple ones.

Learn prudence. That encourages me, if somebody

is simple, they don't have to stay simple.

They can Excel and they can mature and they can know The

Graces and the blessings and the treasures that come from them.

So when I look at a simple person, if I know a simple

person if I know an innocent vulnerable person, I don't just

see them as a responsibility. I see them as a potential.

Advocate for truth and someone who can no discernment that

doesn't require constant supervision.

And that is what these people needed.

Unfortunately, this this group of Israelites were a gullible

Folk. And they just ate whatever was

presented to them at the hand of a gorgeous man.

Name Absalom And so, these kind of people had a choice to

graduate from their infancy and to develop skills and to grow in

their character. And all of us have that decision

to make how do you go from simple to prudence?

And you know what this means is anybody know what the word

Prudence means. Anybody know what Prudence

means? It means to exercise judgment in

a way where you limit risks and dangers.

So, you develop a discernment and a discipline.

To explore and to examine a certain thing and to find the

best option out of them all. To prevent so much harm that

could have been avoided. That's what we all need.

Simple. People need to learn prudence

and we can spend the next 30 minutes talking about how simple

person can become wise. But I would just say this.

That if there's something you can constantly do Anna, sure

results. It's James 1:5, if any of you

James 1:5

lack wisdom, What is he supposed to do?

Let him ask God, let him ask God.

You know what that tells me that God can directly deposit a set

and a wiring in your being. When a matter what your

upbringing was no matter what your lack of experience was, you

can prevent risks and dangers in your life because heaven is on

your side. and God's work is in you And something is there

constantly and has been developed that even when you

were surprised by instances or by people, or by situations, you

are ready. I'll be transferring with you.

One of the things that I pray for for myself every single day

is discernment. Every single day.

God give me discernment, help me not trust in my senses alone,

you have put the holy spirit in me, you have given the word of

God before me, Lord, I pray that as I indulge in your word and

walk in the spirit, you allow me to live this life and navigate

through it in a way, where I limit unnecessary harm of or

others. And God has been faithful.

James 1:5, true. He's willing to help us and not

James 1:5

just people in leadership positions where they're example,

our decisions can affect much more than just their own lives.

But anybody, who desires it, anybody who desires it?

How did divisions occur they begin in the hearts of Unholy

men. Divisions, utilize deception and

accusation. The Visions are strengthened by

the hearts of the naive. May God protect this church may

God protect your marriage may God protect your ministry. he is

faithful and just and he is good.

And in the coming weeks, Even men after God's heart can

experience betrayal and when something as painful like that

happens, what should our response be?

We'll stay tuned to find out. But we do.

Thank you for this Bible study. There may be some here who know

what it's like to be. In a situation where division

took place and it left scars. And put a sour taste in their

mouth. Lori hate what you hate.

What breaks your heart breaks our heart.

We just ask Lord that you would give us discernment.

We also ask God that you would not make us overly suspecting or

suspicious fearful. Protect us from not having hope

or not. Putting trust and faith in

potential awesome relationships. Help us be quick to forgive when

we do get in the flesh. Help us to identify our own

selfishness and to crucify it when it tries to get off the

cross. The Lord, we just pray that you

would protect the Purity and the love of this place.

And Lord. If it is true that jealousy and

selfish ambition is the cause for every kind of disorder and

vile practice, then let there be humility.

And it god-glorifying mandate. Pumping in every single heart of

those who represent this church and those who represent their

own churches. Oh Lord, if it is true.

That in humility. And in seeking the greater goal

of the Gospel being proclaimed and loved, and cherished, and

believed on, by those outside of this place.

Then God help us be people who live in such a way where we want

to worship you tonight because your word is, it is just amazing

and profound to us. And we pray O Lord that we would

trust in your instructions and your blueprint went offense,

does arise in our hearts and when things do happen, That we

would not allow ourselves to be a foothold for Satan to work.

Like a, he thought full us who was who is calm and collected

until an opportunity cane, oh, Lord, we wonder what would have

become of him, if he sought forgiveness.

If he, if he confronted David 121 and expressed his pain, we

wonder if absalom's attempts would have been weakened and so

low, we don't want to be footholds for the enemy to use

us. Unknowingly we want to be free

and we want to be your servants and we want to glorify you in

every aspect of life. Lord, we worship you tonight and

give you all honor and praise and recognition for your

goodness. Even with a study like this, in

Jesus name, we pray. Amen.

Amen. Shall We Stand?

And let's worship God together.