God has not revealed to us many of the dates of events in David’s life. However, some Bible teachers estimate that his sin with Bathsheba was about 10 years after he became king. Others think it was more like 25 years into his reign. If 10 years is correct, then the remaining 30 years of his reign were filled with family heartaches. I believe our story today takes place in the sunset years of David’s life when he was nearly 70 years of age. Likely, Absalom, who would be nearly 40 years of age, could see that his dad was slowing down and used this to his evil advantage. He had killed his eldest brother Amnon. His next older brother Chileab must have died young as he is not mentioned. Perhaps he had also heard rumours that David planned to make Solomon his much younger brother the next king. Depending on when David married Bathsheba, Solomon would only be about 29 years old. Some estimates place his as young as 12 years old.

Transition

This evening we are going to look at the first phase of Absalom’s rebellion and look for principles for our daily living.

Absalom’s Plot (15:1-12)

  1. Planning his plot (15:1-6)
    1. He was a very proud man and promoted himself.
    2. He claimed to be a wise judge (15:2-4).
    3. He falsely honoured people to win their loyalty (15:5-6)
  2. Fulfilling his plot (15:7-12)
    1. After forty years he fulfilled his plot. This number “forty years” has troubled many. He certainly did not steal the hearts of people for 40 years. David only reigned 40.5 years in total. Many Bible teachers claim the number is a copyist’s error and should be 4. Let me present two better options.
      1. If this was near the end of David’s 40-year reign and the content of chapters 21-24 are musings and not in chronological order, which is not unusual, the the 40 years may go back to David’s anointing as king.
      2. Being David’s firstborn son, Absalom could have been very near his 40th birthday, the age often considered maturity. This may be the 40 years mentioned.
      3. It is likely that the solution to this number problem is a combination of these two options.
    2. Absalom lied to his father about the vows (15:7-8).
    3. Absalom sent spies (lit. slanders) throughout the country to bring people to himself (15:10).
    4. Absalom tricked people into following him (15:11-12).
      ☆ Absalom was an evil man. We have already seen his hate, murder, and cruelty. Now we see his pride, arrogancy, bragging, flattery, bribery, rebellion, lying, deceit and slander. What does God say about these sins?
      ☆ (Proverbs 8:13) The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
      ☆ (Psalms 12:3) The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:
      ☆ (1 Samuel 15:23) For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
      ☆ (Proverbs 26:28) A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
      ☆ (Proverbs 10:18) He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.
      ☆ (Colossians 3:9) Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
      ☆ God hates these evil sins. Are Christians ever guilty of pride, arrogancy, flattering, rebellion, lying, and slander? Yes they are! When we struggle with any of these sins, we must confess it to God – agree with God that it is evil. Then we must put it off – be renewed – and put on what is right (Eph 4:22-24). If we ignore these sins, they will ruin us as they did Absalom.

David’s Escape (15:13-16:14)

  1. David’s panic (15:13-23)
    1. David immediately flees for his life. To me, this is another evidence that David was very old. It is not like him to run when cornered. He was a man of war. He still had many seasoned soldiers with him (17:8).
    2. They left weeping (15:23)
      ☆ Was David following the Lord’s leading or acting on impulse? I do not know for sure, but his actions seem like he lacked faith and wisdom. How should we respond to panic situations? David’s Psalms give us the right answer.
      ☆ (Psalms 56:3) What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.
      ☆ (Psalms 55:22) Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
      ☆ (Psalms 86:11) Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.
      ☆ (Psalms 91:1) He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2) I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. 3) Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. 4) He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. 5) Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; 6) Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
  2. David’s plan (15:24-37)
    1. He sent Zadok the priest and the ark back to Jerusalem (15:24-30).
    2. He sent Hushai back to Jerusalem to be a false counsellor to Absalom (15:31-37)
  3. David’s friends and foes (16:1-14)
    1. Ziba brought food supplies for David, but he lied about Mephibosheth (16:1-4)
    2. Shimei cursed David as he went (16:5-14).

Absalom’s Plan (16:15-17:23)

  1. His counselors (16:15-17:14, 23)
    1. He asked counsel of two of David’s former advisors.
      1. Absalom asked counsel of Ahithophel David’s counsellor. He told him to send the 12,000 special forces after David to quickly overtake him.
      2. Absalom asked counsel of Hushai David’s counsellor. He told him to gather all Israel together and send the entire army after David and wipe him out completely. Being David’s friend, he said this to give David time to get away and to better prepare his defence.
    2. Absalom accepted Hushai’s counsel as better. Ahithophel was so hurt by his rejection that he killed himself (16:23).
  2. David’s secret service men (17:15-22)
    1. Hushai told Zadok and Abiathar the priests what Absalom was about to do. Through a wench (a slave girl), they sent this message to Zadok’s sons who were waiting in Enrogel, a place near Jerusalem (17:17).
    2. A lad saw them leave to tell David and he told Absalom (17:18). The boys hid in a well until the danger was past (17:19).
      ☆ This reminds us that God can and will use young people if they are willing to serve Him. There are jobs that each of you young people can do for the Lord. You can tell your friends about the Lord. You can invite friends to church. You can live godly pure lives for the glory of the Lord. You can help set up and take down chairs, books, papers, in our services. You can help with the younger children. You can read your Bible. You can listen and take sermon notes in church. You can help adults with their work for the Lord.

Conclusion

God tells us in Romans 15:4, “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” God recorded Absalom’s rebellion in the Bible for our learning. If you see any of Absalom’s sins in your life, confess it to God and ask Him to change you.

If you struggle with panic when things go wrong, focus your thoughts on the verses we read. Trust the Lord. Cast your burden on Him. Walk in His ways. Dwell close to the Lord and He will keep you safe.

Young people, if you are not regularly doing things to serve the Lord, there is no better time than right now to get busy for the Lord. Look for jobs that need done and get involved. Volunteer to serve the Lord. Ask the Lord to direct your path. Give your life to the Lord.

Song: I’ll Go Where You Want – 440
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Absalom’s Rebellion
8 November 2015 PM – 2 Samuel 15:1-17:23 – Life of David – Scott Childs