2 Samuel 15a

2 Samuel 15

Shawn Bumpers / General

2 Samuel / Absalom conspires against David

Introduction

Psalm 18:25–27 NKJV

With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful; With a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless; With the pure You will show Yourself pure; And with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd. For You will save the humble people, But will bring down haughty looks.

Romans 9:14–15 NKJV

What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.”

God does what He does because of WHO HE IS not because of who we are.

Psalm 103:3–4 NKJV

Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,

Psalm 103:12 NKJV

As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.

Violence did not depart from the king’s household.

2 Samuel 12:5–6 NKJV

So David’s anger was greatly aroused against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this shall surely die! And he shall restore fourfold for the lamb, because he did this thing and because he had no pity.”

v1-2a

Absalom was well equipped to mislead.

But he was deficient in good character.

Psalms 3, 4, 41, 55, 61–63, and 143 – composed at this time.

v2b-6

Absalom’s campaign began very soon after the reconciliation with David.

1 Samuel 8:11 NKJV

And he said, “This will be the behavior of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them for his own chariots and to be his horsemen, and some will run before his chariots.

That’s not because there is something inherently evil about horses … it demonstrates misplaced trust.

Psalm 20:7 NKJV

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the Lord our God.

Absalom’s plan here was to first create spectacle and the appearance of strength and authority.

And then to demonstrate availability.

v7-12

Render this 4 years.

2 Samuel 15:7 ESV

And at the end of four years Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed to the Lord, in Hebron.

2 Thessalonians 2:3–4 NKJV

Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

John 5:43 NKJV

I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive.

Absalom had been deceiving people for years.

They were throughout all the tribes of Israel.

But, an anonymous messenger came to David to warn him.

Hebrews 2:9 NKJV

But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.

Philippians 2:6–8 NKJV

who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

v17-22

They rested.

2 Samuel 15:21 NKJV

But Ittai answered the king and said, “As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in whatever place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also your servant will be.”

Ruth 1:16–17 NKJV

But Ruth said: “Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me.”

v23

Luke 23:34 NKJV

Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots.