2 Samuel 13 (Part 2) Bible Study | Pastor Daniel Batarseh

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

Galatians 5:14

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.

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

Leviticus 20:17

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

Acts 5 · chapter mention

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

Acts 5 · chapter mention

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.

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

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?