1 00:00:00,400 –> 00:00:02,800 Well, please open your Bible at 2 Samuel 15 2 00:00:04,040 –> 00:00:05,380 that has been read for us. 3 00:00:05,380 –> 00:00:08,060 We are following the Trail of Troubles 4 00:00:08,060 –> 00:00:10,680 that really characterized and dominated 5 00:00:10,680 –> 00:00:15,400 this third and last chapter of the life of King David. 6 00:00:15,400 –> 00:00:17,360 You remember that during this period, 7 00:00:17,360 –> 00:00:20,379 he is under the discipline of God 8 00:00:20,379 –> 00:00:25,139 as a result of the sins that he had committed, 9 00:00:25,139 –> 00:00:28,320 the flagrant sins of adultery and of murder. 10 00:00:28,559 –> 00:00:32,639 And God had said in 2 Samuel chapter 12 and verse 11 11 00:00:32,639 –> 00:00:37,639 I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. 12 00:00:38,240 –> 00:00:40,700 And what we’re following in this story 13 00:00:40,700 –> 00:00:42,160 is really the way in which 14 00:00:42,160 –> 00:00:46,360 that discipline works out in the life of David 15 00:00:46,360 –> 00:00:48,580 and how terrible it was as he reaped 16 00:00:48,580 –> 00:00:51,080 the fruit of what he had sown indeed. 17 00:00:51,080 –> 00:00:54,840 So the Lord disciplines those who he loves 18 00:00:54,840 –> 00:00:56,860 and he did not abandon David, 19 00:00:56,860 –> 00:01:01,860 but he did bring him to a very, very deep repentance indeed. 20 00:01:02,380 –> 00:01:04,339 And we’ve seen really how David’s family 21 00:01:04,339 –> 00:01:07,680 really became a cesspool of suspicion 22 00:01:07,680 –> 00:01:12,660 and of intrigue of incest and even of murder. 23 00:01:12,660 –> 00:01:16,059 We looked last time at how this son Absalom 24 00:01:16,059 –> 00:01:17,580 had murdered his own brother 25 00:01:17,580 –> 00:01:21,379 and then fled to a far off country. 26 00:01:21,379 –> 00:01:23,580 The sin of murder in David’s son 27 00:01:23,580 –> 00:01:27,379 was a sin that Absalom never repented of. 28 00:01:27,379 –> 00:01:30,779 But when Absalom fled, David brought him back 29 00:01:30,779 –> 00:01:32,900 and David forgave him. 30 00:01:32,900 –> 00:01:34,660 That’s where we ended up last time 31 00:01:34,660 –> 00:01:38,739 he forgave his unrepentant son. 32 00:01:38,739 –> 00:01:42,660 And what we see today is an account 33 00:01:42,660 –> 00:01:46,860 of what followed that action of David. 34 00:01:46,860 –> 00:01:48,779 Now we’re looking today in this chapter 35 00:01:48,779 –> 00:01:50,860 at Absalom’s rebellion. 36 00:01:50,860 –> 00:01:55,099 Remember David is still, despite his many sins 37 00:01:55,099 –> 00:01:59,519 he remains the King who has been anointed by God. 38 00:02:00,480 –> 00:02:03,580 But Absalom wants to be the King in his place. 39 00:02:03,580 –> 00:02:05,139 And of course, what that means is 40 00:02:05,139 –> 00:02:06,940 that in order to make himself king, 41 00:02:06,940 –> 00:02:11,419 he has to overthrow the Lord’s anointed. 42 00:02:11,419 –> 00:02:13,899 So today, as we follow the story in chapter 15 43 00:02:13,899 –> 00:02:15,979 there are really three characters, 44 00:02:15,979 –> 00:02:18,779 one is a deceiver, that’s Absalom. 45 00:02:18,779 –> 00:02:21,259 Another is a deserter, that’s a man 46 00:02:21,259 –> 00:02:23,580 by the name of Ahithophel. 47 00:02:23,580 –> 00:02:25,899 And then we’re going to look at a disciple, 48 00:02:25,899 –> 00:02:28,899 a man by the name of Etai. 49 00:02:28,899 –> 00:02:30,860 So if you have your Bible open and we begin 50 00:02:30,860 –> 00:02:35,500 at chapter 15 in verse six, the deceiver Absalom. 51 00:02:35,500 –> 00:02:40,500 Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel. 52 00:02:41,960 –> 00:02:43,580 In other words, Absalom took something 53 00:02:43,580 –> 00:02:47,039 that didn’t belong to him, the loyalty of God’s people. 54 00:02:48,039 –> 00:02:51,880 And he did this through a massive deception 55 00:02:51,880 –> 00:02:54,979 that he carried out on the people of God 56 00:02:54,979 –> 00:02:59,000 over a period of no less than three years. 57 00:02:59,000 –> 00:03:00,740 He pursued three tactics. 58 00:03:00,740 –> 00:03:02,440 And as we look at this together, 59 00:03:02,440 –> 00:03:05,559 I want you just to run this grid through your mind 60 00:03:05,559 –> 00:03:09,699 and say is there anybody in my life on my horizon 61 00:03:09,699 –> 00:03:12,720 who fits this profile and therefore bears 62 00:03:12,720 –> 00:03:16,139 the marks of being a deceiver. 63 00:03:17,399 –> 00:03:19,880 Notice how Absalom deceived. 64 00:03:19,880 –> 00:03:22,800 First of all, he did it by posing. 65 00:03:22,800 –> 00:03:23,619 Verse one. 66 00:03:23,619 –> 00:03:26,080 After this, that is, after he was pardoned 67 00:03:26,080 –> 00:03:28,080 without having repented. 68 00:03:28,080 –> 00:03:30,919 Absalom got himself a chariot and horses 69 00:03:30,919 –> 00:03:34,520 and 50 men to run in front of him. 70 00:03:34,520 –> 00:03:37,039 One commentator suggests that this may actually 71 00:03:37,039 –> 00:03:40,919 have been the very first time that a chariot 72 00:03:40,919 –> 00:03:45,000 was ever seen in the city of Jerusalem. 73 00:03:45,000 –> 00:03:49,240 There were certainly chariots later in the time of Israel. 74 00:03:49,240 –> 00:03:52,279 But in this earlier period, chariots belong 75 00:03:52,279 –> 00:03:54,100 to the enemies of God’s people 76 00:03:54,100 –> 00:03:57,399 and not to the people of Israel themselves. 77 00:03:57,399 –> 00:04:00,679 And very famously, David said in Psalm 20, 78 00:04:00,679 –> 00:04:01,820 you may remember this, 79 00:04:01,820 –> 00:04:05,759 some trust in chariots, some in horses, 80 00:04:05,759 –> 00:04:09,619 but we will trust in the name of the Lord, our God. 81 00:04:09,619 –> 00:04:12,679 But Absalon broke with the tradition 82 00:04:12,699 –> 00:04:16,660 and he got himself a chariot. 83 00:04:16,660 –> 00:04:19,459 And when he went about in the streets of Jerusalem, 84 00:04:19,459 –> 00:04:20,299 pretty hilly there, 85 00:04:20,299 –> 00:04:22,660 so it can have been terribly easy by the way, 86 00:04:22,660 –> 00:04:27,540 but he had an entourage of 50 men who ran in front of him. 87 00:04:28,619 –> 00:04:31,899 And we saw last time that Absalom was given 88 00:04:31,899 –> 00:04:34,359 to promoting his own image 89 00:04:34,359 –> 00:04:37,320 and cultivating his own celebrity. 90 00:04:37,320 –> 00:04:39,019 The hair that he cut once a year 91 00:04:39,019 –> 00:04:41,660 was only the beginning of that. 92 00:04:41,660 –> 00:04:44,820 With his chariot and going around the city 93 00:04:44,820 –> 00:04:48,660 with an entourage of 50 men running in front of him, 94 00:04:48,660 –> 00:04:51,559 Absalom looked every inch a king, 95 00:04:51,559 –> 00:04:55,299 which was of course exactly what he intended. 96 00:04:55,299 –> 00:04:56,279 He’s posing. 97 00:04:58,420 –> 00:05:00,760 And this is the way of the world, is it not? 98 00:05:00,760 –> 00:05:02,880 It never changes. 99 00:05:03,799 –> 00:05:07,260 You find a way to attract attention to yourself, 100 00:05:07,260 –> 00:05:08,679 to make an impression, 101 00:05:08,679 –> 00:05:10,299 to build a platform, 102 00:05:10,299 –> 00:05:11,399 and to gain a following. 103 00:05:12,339 –> 00:05:15,500 And this is exactly what Absalom does. 104 00:05:15,500 –> 00:05:17,559 Second, notice how he not only poses, 105 00:05:17,559 –> 00:05:20,739 he promises verses two to four. 106 00:05:20,739 –> 00:05:24,179 We’re told here that Absalom used to rise early, 107 00:05:24,179 –> 00:05:28,119 and he would stand beside the way of the gate. 108 00:05:29,359 –> 00:05:32,359 So here’s this man putting enormous energy 109 00:05:32,359 –> 00:05:35,980 into this campaign of self-promotion 110 00:05:35,980 –> 00:05:39,339 that he went about over a period of four years. 111 00:05:39,540 –> 00:05:41,619 He’s up in the morning, 112 00:05:41,619 –> 00:05:46,380 and he puts himself out there early among the people. 113 00:05:46,380 –> 00:05:47,980 And we’re told that when any man 114 00:05:47,980 –> 00:05:51,339 had a dispute to come before the king for judgment, 115 00:05:51,339 –> 00:05:53,920 Absalom would reach out to this person 116 00:05:53,920 –> 00:05:57,079 and would engage them in conversation. 117 00:05:57,920 –> 00:06:01,480 And Absalom would say, now from what city do you come? 118 00:06:02,339 –> 00:06:06,579 Now, of course, remember he’s standing by the city gate, 119 00:06:06,779 –> 00:06:10,440 and every day there would come through the city gate 120 00:06:10,440 –> 00:06:12,220 people from across the length 121 00:06:12,220 –> 00:06:14,619 and breadth of the entire country. 122 00:06:15,500 –> 00:06:19,619 If they had a grievance, or if they had a lawsuit, 123 00:06:19,619 –> 00:06:21,899 they would come from various parts of the country. 124 00:06:21,899 –> 00:06:23,200 If it had not been settled 125 00:06:23,200 –> 00:06:26,019 in the usual local circuit arrangements, 126 00:06:26,019 –> 00:06:26,820 they would come, 127 00:06:26,820 –> 00:06:29,059 and they would bring that grievance to the capital 128 00:06:29,059 –> 00:06:31,339 so that it could be heard by the king. 129 00:06:32,540 –> 00:06:35,299 This obviously wasn’t the only way of getting justice, 130 00:06:35,380 –> 00:06:37,260 but the king was in effect, 131 00:06:37,260 –> 00:06:40,420 a kind of one man Supreme Court, 132 00:06:40,420 –> 00:06:43,899 if I can put it that way for you. 133 00:06:43,899 –> 00:06:44,899 And you’ll remember 134 00:06:44,899 –> 00:06:46,640 from what we know from the Bible already, 135 00:06:46,640 –> 00:06:50,059 that it was actually a regular part of the King’s role 136 00:06:50,059 –> 00:06:52,500 to hear disputes. 137 00:06:52,500 –> 00:06:53,820 So there was nothing surprising 138 00:06:53,820 –> 00:06:56,619 when Nathan came and told him the story 139 00:06:56,619 –> 00:06:58,019 about the rich man who had taken 140 00:06:58,019 –> 00:07:00,940 the poor man’s single lamb. 141 00:07:00,940 –> 00:07:02,519 Or when the woman of Toccoa 142 00:07:02,519 –> 00:07:03,700 that we looked at last week, 143 00:07:03,899 –> 00:07:06,279 she came into the King’s Court 144 00:07:06,279 –> 00:07:09,820 and told him her story about her son. 145 00:07:09,820 –> 00:07:10,839 Or a little later, 146 00:07:10,839 –> 00:07:13,040 you may remember the very famous story 147 00:07:13,040 –> 00:07:15,920 about two women who came to King Solomon 148 00:07:15,920 –> 00:07:16,839 and both claimed 149 00:07:16,839 –> 00:07:20,119 that they were the mother of the same baby. 150 00:07:20,119 –> 00:07:21,779 So this was how things happened, 151 00:07:21,779 –> 00:07:24,279 if disputes were not settled 152 00:07:24,279 –> 00:07:26,619 at lower or more local level. 153 00:07:26,619 –> 00:07:27,799 They sort of rose up 154 00:07:27,799 –> 00:07:28,839 and ultimately, 155 00:07:28,839 –> 00:07:30,799 the king was the one man Supreme Court 156 00:07:30,859 –> 00:07:32,440 who made a decision 157 00:07:32,440 –> 00:07:33,899 and resolved these disputes. 158 00:07:33,899 –> 00:07:35,220 And so every day, 159 00:07:35,220 –> 00:07:37,160 you’ve got people coming from north and south 160 00:07:37,160 –> 00:07:38,179 and east and west. 161 00:07:38,179 –> 00:07:40,140 And they’re coming in through the city of gate. 162 00:07:40,140 –> 00:07:41,239 And when they arrive, 163 00:07:41,239 –> 00:07:43,299 guess who’s there to greet them? 164 00:07:44,179 –> 00:07:45,839 Our man, 165 00:07:45,839 –> 00:07:47,540 Absalom. 166 00:07:47,540 –> 00:07:49,399 And is was from early in the morning. 167 00:07:49,399 –> 00:07:51,500 Hey, welcome to Jerusalem. 168 00:07:51,500 –> 00:07:52,779 My name is Absalom, 169 00:07:52,779 –> 00:07:53,980 nice to meet you. 170 00:07:53,980 –> 00:07:55,600 Where are you from? 171 00:07:56,619 –> 00:07:59,179 You must have had a long journey. 172 00:07:59,179 –> 00:08:01,299 Now, what is it that’s brought you here? 173 00:08:02,799 –> 00:08:04,440 And they would tell Absalom, 174 00:08:04,440 –> 00:08:05,279 of course, 175 00:08:05,279 –> 00:08:07,100 while I’ve come over this particular issue, 176 00:08:07,100 –> 00:08:09,160 that’s not been resolved in my life, 177 00:08:09,160 –> 00:08:12,000 and you notice what Absalom would say, 178 00:08:12,000 –> 00:08:13,179 immediately to all of them. 179 00:08:13,179 –> 00:08:14,140 Verse three, 180 00:08:14,140 –> 00:08:17,679 see your claims are good and right. 181 00:08:18,899 –> 00:08:19,739 In other words, 182 00:08:19,739 –> 00:08:22,920 Absalom agreed with everybody he ever met. 183 00:08:22,920 –> 00:08:24,239 Whatever you were for, 184 00:08:24,239 –> 00:08:26,100 Absalom was fought. 185 00:08:26,100 –> 00:08:27,359 And whatever you were against, 186 00:08:27,459 –> 00:08:30,200 Absalom was against that, too. 187 00:08:30,200 –> 00:08:33,460 Your claims are good and right. 188 00:08:34,479 –> 00:08:36,340 And then Absalom would say this. 189 00:08:36,340 –> 00:08:38,179 Verse three, 190 00:08:38,179 –> 00:08:39,780 well your claim’s good. 191 00:08:40,739 –> 00:08:41,700 But here’s the problem, 192 00:08:41,700 –> 00:08:44,239 I’m sorry to have to tell you this, 193 00:08:44,239 –> 00:08:49,239 there is no man designated by the king to hear you. 194 00:08:51,539 –> 00:08:53,340 See what he’s saying? 195 00:08:53,340 –> 00:08:54,500 Look, you’ve come all this way, 196 00:08:54,500 –> 00:08:56,520 and you’ve got a good case. 197 00:08:57,859 –> 00:09:00,179 Well, I’m sorry to tell you that the whole legal process 198 00:09:00,179 –> 00:09:03,000 around hearing the capitol is really messed up. 199 00:09:03,900 –> 00:09:06,640 In fact, the system of justice is all but broken down, 200 00:09:06,640 –> 00:09:09,340 and frankly the needs of the people are not being met. 201 00:09:11,479 –> 00:09:14,739 Now clearly there was some breakdown 202 00:09:14,739 –> 00:09:19,739 in the normal process of hearing judicial cases 203 00:09:20,159 –> 00:09:22,159 in the capital city of Jerusalem, 204 00:09:22,179 –> 00:09:25,859 and clearly Absalom was able during this period of time 205 00:09:25,859 –> 00:09:30,859 to exploit that for his own particular purpose, 206 00:09:31,179 –> 00:09:33,159 and that raises the question, why was this? 207 00:09:33,159 –> 00:09:35,479 What actually was the problem? 208 00:09:35,479 –> 00:09:39,000 And it may be that during this time 209 00:09:39,000 –> 00:09:44,000 David the King endured a prolonged illness 210 00:09:44,000 –> 00:09:47,359 that prevented him from carrying out the duties 211 00:09:47,359 –> 00:09:50,359 as he normally would have done. 212 00:09:50,359 –> 00:09:52,020 It’s very interesting that at the end 213 00:09:52,020 –> 00:09:53,799 of the first book of Psalms, 214 00:09:53,799 –> 00:09:56,059 the Psalms are divided into different books. 215 00:09:56,059 –> 00:09:57,599 There are a number of Psalms, 216 00:09:57,599 –> 00:10:01,640 really from about Psalm 35 through to Psalm 41, 217 00:10:01,640 –> 00:10:04,979 that all seem to be very directly related 218 00:10:04,979 –> 00:10:07,140 to this time in David’s life 219 00:10:07,140 –> 00:10:09,979 when Absalom rebelled against him. 220 00:10:11,099 –> 00:10:15,580 One of them, Psalm 37, gives us a time reference 221 00:10:15,580 –> 00:10:19,219 that gives us David’s stage of life. 222 00:10:19,280 –> 00:10:22,539 He says there in Psalm 37 in verse 25, 223 00:10:23,419 –> 00:10:26,340 I have been young and now I am old. 224 00:10:29,659 –> 00:10:33,520 David, you remember, died at the age of 70. 225 00:10:33,520 –> 00:10:37,820 This would have been within the last 10 years of his life. 226 00:10:37,820 –> 00:10:39,440 So in the last 10 years of his life 227 00:10:39,440 –> 00:10:41,640 it would not be surprising, if he were, 228 00:10:41,640 –> 00:10:44,380 to experience some kind of illness 229 00:10:44,380 –> 00:10:45,880 that may have been prolonged, 230 00:10:45,880 –> 00:10:47,119 but there’s more than a guess 231 00:10:47,159 –> 00:10:49,599 because when you get to Psalm 41 232 00:10:50,580 –> 00:10:52,760 that has multiple references 233 00:10:52,760 –> 00:10:57,280 that clearly speak to this time of Absalom’s rebellion. 234 00:10:57,280 –> 00:11:01,359 David says this, speaking of the man blessed by the Lord, 235 00:11:01,359 –> 00:11:02,719 he’s speaking of himself, 236 00:11:02,719 –> 00:11:07,380 the Lord protects him and keeps him alive. 237 00:11:08,440 –> 00:11:12,500 You do not give him up to the will off his enemies. 238 00:11:13,500 –> 00:11:18,500 The Lord sustains him on his sickbed. 239 00:11:19,739 –> 00:11:24,739 In his illness, you restore him to full health. 240 00:11:26,619 –> 00:11:28,940 So quite clearly here in the Psalm 241 00:11:28,940 –> 00:11:31,599 that is from the time of Absalom’s rebellion, 242 00:11:31,599 –> 00:11:34,960 David’s referring to God sustaining him 243 00:11:34,960 –> 00:11:36,739 during a period of illness 244 00:11:36,739 –> 00:11:38,840 that may indeed have been quite prolonged. 245 00:11:39,799 –> 00:11:41,239 And then after that, 246 00:11:41,239 –> 00:11:44,140 it’s interesting in the same Psalm in verse six, 247 00:11:44,140 –> 00:11:46,979 David describes some of the people who came to visit him. 248 00:11:48,000 –> 00:11:49,760 You know that there are some people who are helpful 249 00:11:49,760 –> 00:11:50,799 if they come to visit you 250 00:11:50,799 –> 00:11:54,599 when you’re ill and others not so much, right? 251 00:11:54,599 –> 00:11:57,020 David had a lot of visitors who weren’t so helpful. 252 00:11:57,020 –> 00:11:59,739 He refers to it, Psalm 41 and verse six, 253 00:11:59,739 –> 00:12:04,739 when one comes to see me, he utters empty words. 254 00:12:04,880 –> 00:12:09,640 Be very careful not to utter empty words 255 00:12:09,640 –> 00:12:13,960 to a person who is enduring a prolonged illness. 256 00:12:15,760 –> 00:12:18,960 And these visitors not only uttered empty words 257 00:12:18,960 –> 00:12:23,039 when they came, they also spread false rumors 258 00:12:23,039 –> 00:12:24,159 when they went. 259 00:12:25,320 –> 00:12:27,359 And again, Psalm 41 in verse eight, 260 00:12:27,359 –> 00:12:32,359 they say a deadly thing is poured out on him. 261 00:12:33,039 –> 00:12:38,039 He will not rise again from where he lies. 262 00:12:38,419 –> 00:12:39,780 In other words, these folks who said, 263 00:12:39,780 –> 00:12:41,460 we come to visit you because you’re ill, 264 00:12:41,460 –> 00:12:43,219 when they went back out into the community, 265 00:12:43,219 –> 00:12:44,700 they said the King’s done for. 266 00:12:44,700 –> 00:12:47,280 He’s gone, he’s never gonna recover from this. 267 00:12:48,659 –> 00:12:51,000 It’s all over for David now. 268 00:12:53,020 –> 00:12:56,219 So here, from Psalm 41, written from that period of time, 269 00:12:56,219 –> 00:12:58,900 it is evident that David, at least for a time, 270 00:12:58,960 –> 00:13:03,280 we do not know how long, was languishing in an illness. 271 00:13:04,140 –> 00:13:05,820 And it would not be surprising there 272 00:13:05,820 –> 00:13:09,299 for that the normal system for hearing grievances 273 00:13:09,299 –> 00:13:11,580 had at least in part, broken down. 274 00:13:11,580 –> 00:13:12,679 And people were now saying, 275 00:13:12,679 –> 00:13:14,500 Hey, the King’s gone, it’s a deadly illness. 276 00:13:14,500 –> 00:13:16,419 He’s never gonna come back from this. 277 00:13:17,460 –> 00:13:22,380 And so Absalom steps in and plays it to his own advantage. 278 00:13:25,419 –> 00:13:27,520 Oh, you’ve come such a long way. 279 00:13:28,359 –> 00:13:30,840 You really have a good case. 280 00:13:31,859 –> 00:13:33,820 I’m awfully sorry to have to tell you 281 00:13:33,820 –> 00:13:35,340 that the King is in bad shape 282 00:13:35,340 –> 00:13:37,619 and there’s really no one here to hear you. 283 00:13:39,219 –> 00:13:42,020 And then Absalom got to his punchline. 284 00:13:42,020 –> 00:13:42,880 Verse four, 285 00:13:43,820 –> 00:13:47,020 Oh, that I were to be the judge in the land. 286 00:13:47,020 –> 00:13:49,380 You know what he’s going, don’t you? 287 00:13:49,380 –> 00:13:51,900 Of course that meant to be the King. 288 00:13:51,900 –> 00:13:54,179 Then every man with a dispute 289 00:13:54,179 –> 00:13:55,979 or cause might come to me 290 00:13:56,000 –> 00:13:58,820 and I would give him justice. 291 00:13:58,820 –> 00:14:00,000 One commentator points out 292 00:14:00,000 –> 00:14:01,179 the literally translated, 293 00:14:01,179 –> 00:14:02,460 the word justice there mean 294 00:14:02,460 –> 00:14:04,440 I would decide in his favor 295 00:14:04,440 –> 00:14:07,400 which is a truly incredible claim. 296 00:14:07,400 –> 00:14:09,400 Every case that is brought to me 297 00:14:09,400 –> 00:14:11,119 I will decide in your favor. 298 00:14:11,119 –> 00:14:13,539 I mean, you know, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. 299 00:14:15,760 –> 00:14:17,479 Promises no one can keep. 300 00:14:19,799 –> 00:14:21,299 So you see what he’s doing 301 00:14:21,299 –> 00:14:25,520 he focuses in on those who have grievances. 302 00:14:25,539 –> 00:14:28,780 He plays on the weaknesses 303 00:14:28,780 –> 00:14:31,640 and inadequacies of the present system. 304 00:14:32,979 –> 00:14:35,619 And he presents himself as the answer, 305 00:14:35,619 –> 00:14:37,780 if only you would give me the power 306 00:14:37,780 –> 00:14:39,260 and put me in the position, 307 00:14:39,260 –> 00:14:40,140 I’m your answer. 308 00:14:40,140 –> 00:14:40,979 I’m your man. 309 00:14:42,760 –> 00:14:43,599 Posing. 310 00:14:44,500 –> 00:14:45,340 Promising. 311 00:14:46,359 –> 00:14:47,900 And then charming house, 312 00:14:47,900 –> 00:14:49,640 this for charm verse five. 313 00:14:49,640 –> 00:14:51,440 Whenever a man came near 314 00:14:51,440 –> 00:14:53,299 to pay homage to absolom, 315 00:14:53,299 –> 00:14:54,880 he would put out his hand 316 00:14:55,020 –> 00:14:57,619 and take hold of him and kiss him. 317 00:14:57,619 –> 00:14:59,580 Hugs and kisses 318 00:14:59,580 –> 00:15:02,020 for everybody from absolom 319 00:15:02,020 –> 00:15:04,659 except of course for his father, the king. 320 00:15:06,320 –> 00:15:08,520 This was an all-out charm offensive 321 00:15:08,520 –> 00:15:09,900 to win the hearts and minds 322 00:15:09,900 –> 00:15:11,479 of the people of God. 323 00:15:12,520 –> 00:15:15,140 It revolved around cultivating an image, 324 00:15:16,460 –> 00:15:18,659 making promises that no one 325 00:15:18,659 –> 00:15:20,299 could ever possibly keep 326 00:15:21,520 –> 00:15:23,260 and wooing as many people 327 00:15:23,260 –> 00:15:26,140 as he possibly could with his own personal charm. 328 00:15:27,219 –> 00:15:29,919 And he did this day in, day out 329 00:15:29,919 –> 00:15:32,400 for four years, verse seven 330 00:15:33,719 –> 00:15:35,700 and of course, if you imagine over four years, 331 00:15:35,700 –> 00:15:37,580 all of these people coming from North and South 332 00:15:37,580 –> 00:15:39,099 and East and West to Jerusalem 333 00:15:39,099 –> 00:15:40,460 and then they go back home 334 00:15:40,460 –> 00:15:41,580 and they tell their story, 335 00:15:41,580 –> 00:15:43,340 how was your time in Jerusalem? 336 00:15:44,780 –> 00:15:46,460 Oh, says the traveller when he 337 00:15:46,460 –> 00:15:49,520 or she returns to her home town or village, 338 00:15:49,520 –> 00:15:50,940 things are not in very good shape 339 00:15:50,940 –> 00:15:52,200 in the Capitol, you know. 340 00:15:53,940 –> 00:15:55,840 The King seems to be at death’s door. 341 00:15:56,919 –> 00:15:58,500 The whole system of justice seems 342 00:15:58,500 –> 00:16:00,239 to be pretty broken down. 343 00:16:01,140 –> 00:16:02,200 But do you know the one good thing 344 00:16:02,200 –> 00:16:04,659 about our visit, the King has a son, Absalom. 345 00:16:04,659 –> 00:16:06,820 Oh, what an awfully nice fellow he is. 346 00:16:06,820 –> 00:16:07,940 He was the first to greet us 347 00:16:07,940 –> 00:16:10,219 when we arrived at the City Gate. 348 00:16:10,219 –> 00:16:11,460 We’d all be much better, you know, 349 00:16:11,460 –> 00:16:12,440 if he was the King. 350 00:16:14,359 –> 00:16:17,219 It’s amazing, how easily even 351 00:16:17,219 –> 00:16:20,140 the people of God are taken in. 352 00:16:21,140 –> 00:16:24,419 And the world never changes. 353 00:16:26,659 –> 00:16:29,780 So Absalom spends four year fostering discontent 354 00:16:29,780 –> 00:16:32,099 and building a following for himself. 355 00:16:32,099 –> 00:16:33,719 And then he makes his move. 356 00:16:34,960 –> 00:16:38,559 He comes to the King, verse 7, and he says, 357 00:16:38,559 –> 00:16:41,659 let me go and pay my vow which I have made 358 00:16:41,659 –> 00:16:42,979 to the Lord in Hebron. 359 00:16:42,979 –> 00:16:45,299 He wants to go Hebron in order to fulfill 360 00:16:45,299 –> 00:16:47,960 a vow that he has made. 361 00:16:48,419 –> 00:16:50,840 And he explains that this was a vow 362 00:16:50,840 –> 00:16:55,000 that he had made while he was away from the promised land. 363 00:16:55,000 –> 00:16:56,979 And that what he had said was, 364 00:16:56,979 –> 00:17:01,239 if the Lord will indeed bring me back to Jerusalem, 365 00:17:01,239 –> 00:17:06,239 then I will offer worship to the Lord. 366 00:17:08,079 –> 00:17:09,979 Isn’t that a strange vow, by the way? 367 00:17:11,300 –> 00:17:14,060 Would a godly person ever make a vow like that? 368 00:17:14,939 –> 00:17:19,939 If God gives me what I want, then I will worship him. 369 00:17:20,500 –> 00:17:22,099 That’s what it says, isn’t it? 370 00:17:23,739 –> 00:17:26,160 That tells you a great deal about Absalom. 371 00:17:26,160 –> 00:17:28,959 He knows nothing of the love of G-d in his heart at all. 372 00:17:30,380 –> 00:17:32,380 One writer points out very significantly 373 00:17:32,380 –> 00:17:35,739 that this is the last time that Absalom ever mentions 374 00:17:35,739 –> 00:17:37,719 the name of G-d his entire life. 375 00:17:39,939 –> 00:17:41,540 In other words, he uses the name of G-d 376 00:17:41,540 –> 00:17:43,880 purely as a means to an end. 377 00:17:43,880 –> 00:17:46,800 And that is what the Bible calls blasphemy. 378 00:17:48,479 –> 00:17:53,479 It’s to misuse the name of the Lord, your God. 379 00:17:55,239 –> 00:17:57,400 Now Hebron, this place he wanted to go 380 00:17:57,400 –> 00:18:00,859 to fulfill this vow that allegedly he had made 381 00:18:00,859 –> 00:18:03,599 was of course the ancient home 382 00:18:03,599 –> 00:18:06,800 of Abraham Enter Isaac and Jacob. 383 00:18:06,800 –> 00:18:10,479 It was the place where David was first crowned as the king 384 00:18:10,479 –> 00:18:14,020 as we saw earlier in the story. 385 00:18:14,020 –> 00:18:17,160 But far from going there to fulfill a vow and worship God 386 00:18:17,160 –> 00:18:21,479 Absalom was going there in order to launch a rebellion 387 00:18:21,479 –> 00:18:23,800 against God’s anointed King. 388 00:18:23,800 –> 00:18:26,300 Verse nine, the King says to him now go in peace. 389 00:18:26,300 –> 00:18:27,839 There’s David’s great weakness again, 390 00:18:27,839 –> 00:18:30,780 he always gives Absalom everything that he wants. 391 00:18:32,920 –> 00:18:36,199 And so verse 10, Absalom arose he went to Hebron 392 00:18:37,579 –> 00:18:39,239 but he sent secret messengers 393 00:18:39,239 –> 00:18:40,880 throughout the tribes of Israel. 394 00:18:40,880 –> 00:18:43,520 He’s got to network all over now you see saying 395 00:18:43,520 –> 00:18:46,400 as soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet 396 00:18:46,400 –> 00:18:50,599 then say Absalom is King at Hebron. 397 00:18:52,339 –> 00:18:54,839 And then we’re told that he took with him 398 00:18:54,839 –> 00:18:59,640 200 invited guests who no doubt were very flattered 399 00:18:59,640 –> 00:19:03,160 to be asked to go on a pilgrimage to Hebron 400 00:19:03,160 –> 00:19:05,040 with the King’s son. 401 00:19:05,560 –> 00:19:09,800 And they had absolutely no idea what it was 402 00:19:09,800 –> 00:19:11,599 that they were getting swept up in. 403 00:19:12,680 –> 00:19:15,119 The naivety of these 200 people. 404 00:19:16,119 –> 00:19:21,119 They went verse 11 in their innocence and knew nothing. 405 00:19:22,920 –> 00:19:25,680 They were completely deceived. 406 00:19:27,880 –> 00:19:32,880 One way that you can for sure identify a deceiver 407 00:19:33,640 –> 00:19:37,839 is that he or she always presents him or herself 408 00:19:37,839 –> 00:19:39,859 as the answer. 409 00:19:39,859 –> 00:19:42,560 I’m your answer, I’m your answer. 410 00:19:43,760 –> 00:19:45,560 A Godly person will always point 411 00:19:45,560 –> 00:19:47,040 to the answer in Jesus Christ, 412 00:19:47,040 –> 00:19:49,000 but the deceiver will point 413 00:19:49,000 –> 00:19:51,160 to him or herself, I’m the answer. 414 00:19:51,160 –> 00:19:52,579 That’s what Absalom does. 415 00:19:53,640 –> 00:19:54,680 Beware of the person 416 00:19:54,680 –> 00:19:57,479 who pretends to be something they are not, 417 00:19:57,479 –> 00:19:59,599 who affirms every grievance, 418 00:20:00,359 –> 00:20:04,439 who promises what they clearly cannot deliver 419 00:20:04,439 –> 00:20:08,459 and presents him or herself as being the answer. 420 00:20:08,459 –> 00:20:11,439 There’s a profile of a deceiver right there 421 00:20:11,439 –> 00:20:14,260 in 2 Samuel and chapter 15. 422 00:20:16,079 –> 00:20:18,260 Now with that, let’s come to the second 423 00:20:18,260 –> 00:20:21,319 of these characters in the story, 424 00:20:21,319 –> 00:20:24,719 a man by the name of Ahithophel. 425 00:20:24,719 –> 00:20:27,040 And as Absalom was the deceiver, 426 00:20:27,140 –> 00:20:30,079 Ahithophel was the deserter. 427 00:20:30,959 –> 00:20:34,800 And while Absalom was offering the sacrifices, 428 00:20:34,800 –> 00:20:36,660 this is down now in Hebron. 429 00:20:36,660 –> 00:20:40,239 He sent for Ahithophel the Gileadite, 430 00:20:40,239 –> 00:20:44,579 David’s Counselor from his city Gilo. 431 00:20:45,920 –> 00:20:49,099 Now this man Ahithophel was very significant 432 00:20:49,099 –> 00:20:54,099 in the story because he was David’s most trusted advisor. 433 00:20:55,040 –> 00:20:57,699 In fact in chapter 16 and verse 23 434 00:20:57,699 –> 00:20:59,939 we read these extraordinary words 435 00:20:59,939 –> 00:21:02,699 that in those days the counsel 436 00:21:02,699 –> 00:21:06,020 that Ahithophel gave was as if 437 00:21:06,020 –> 00:21:09,420 one consulted the Word of God. 438 00:21:10,939 –> 00:21:13,040 I mean when he spoke, 439 00:21:13,040 –> 00:21:17,219 it was consistently an expression of God’s truth. 440 00:21:18,939 –> 00:21:22,400 This man was a fountain of biblical wisdom. 441 00:21:24,300 –> 00:21:29,099 And he was deceived into joining Absalom 442 00:21:29,099 –> 00:21:30,300 in his great rebellion. 443 00:21:31,160 –> 00:21:31,979 Wow. 444 00:21:33,780 –> 00:21:36,760 Why did Ahithophel go over to Absalom? 445 00:21:38,739 –> 00:21:43,739 Ahithophel had a son whose name was Elyon 446 00:21:46,380 –> 00:21:51,380 and Elyon had a daughter whose name was Bathshiba 447 00:21:55,079 –> 00:21:56,339 the wife of Uriah. 448 00:21:58,439 –> 00:22:03,400 So Ahithophel was the grandfather of Bathsheba. 449 00:22:05,060 –> 00:22:09,339 And it seems very clear then that one effect of David’s sin 450 00:22:10,319 –> 00:22:12,459 was that he lost the confidence 451 00:22:12,459 –> 00:22:16,219 and he lost the support of his most trusted advisor. 452 00:22:17,699 –> 00:22:21,000 And when Absalom called on Ahithophel, 453 00:22:21,000 –> 00:22:23,540 clearly Ahithophel was not in Jerusalem, 454 00:22:23,640 –> 00:22:24,819 he was not with David, 455 00:22:24,819 –> 00:22:27,579 he had by that time returned to his own hometown, 456 00:22:27,579 –> 00:22:29,239 this place called Gillow. 457 00:22:30,199 –> 00:22:33,160 And when Absalom called Ahithophel responded 458 00:22:33,160 –> 00:22:35,260 and the king’s trusted counselor 459 00:22:35,260 –> 00:22:39,459 got swept up also in this great rebellion. 460 00:22:40,959 –> 00:22:44,859 Now, this seems to have been a critical turning point 461 00:22:44,859 –> 00:22:45,939 or we might say today, 462 00:22:45,939 –> 00:22:50,880 even a tipping point in Absalom’s great uprising 463 00:22:51,579 –> 00:22:55,160 because when Ahithophel came over, 464 00:22:55,160 –> 00:22:57,920 it is then that we read that verse 12, 465 00:22:57,920 –> 00:23:01,020 the conspiracy grew strong 466 00:23:01,020 –> 00:23:05,339 and the people with Absalom kept increasing. 467 00:23:06,359 –> 00:23:07,180 In other words, 468 00:23:07,180 –> 00:23:08,239 it seems people reasoned 469 00:23:08,239 –> 00:23:10,719 when they saw that even Ahithophel was with Absalom. 470 00:23:10,719 –> 00:23:12,900 Well, if he’s with Absalom, 471 00:23:12,900 –> 00:23:13,739 then clearly, I mean, 472 00:23:13,739 –> 00:23:15,939 he’s the founder of Biblical Wisdom, isn’t he? 473 00:23:15,939 –> 00:23:18,400 We need to be with Absalom as well, 474 00:23:18,459 –> 00:23:22,619 which gives us this very important application. 475 00:23:22,619 –> 00:23:24,880 There is a huge responsibility 476 00:23:24,880 –> 00:23:28,719 that comes with every calling in leadership. 477 00:23:30,459 –> 00:23:32,819 If people look to you as a leader, 478 00:23:32,819 –> 00:23:34,260 or as a counselor, 479 00:23:34,260 –> 00:23:35,699 or as a teacher, 480 00:23:35,699 –> 00:23:37,160 or as a disciple, 481 00:23:37,160 –> 00:23:38,979 or as a mentor, 482 00:23:38,979 –> 00:23:40,660 the choices that you make 483 00:23:40,660 –> 00:23:42,020 will shape the lives of others 484 00:23:42,020 –> 00:23:43,060 as well as your own, 485 00:23:44,020 –> 00:23:48,520 and clearly Ahithophel’s choice 486 00:23:49,079 –> 00:23:51,380 was a tipping point 487 00:23:51,380 –> 00:23:54,439 that led to a whole crowd of people 488 00:23:55,280 –> 00:23:57,219 who saw him as someone 489 00:23:57,219 –> 00:23:59,300 that they would follow and trust 490 00:23:59,300 –> 00:24:02,819 and off they went like sheep to the slaughter 491 00:24:02,819 –> 00:24:06,000 and followed after Absalom as well, 492 00:24:07,619 –> 00:24:09,780 and what follows in the story 493 00:24:09,780 –> 00:24:14,780 is a scene of great, great pain and of sadness, 494 00:24:14,819 –> 00:24:19,380 verse 13, a messenger came to David 495 00:24:20,579 –> 00:24:24,439 saying the hearts of the men of Israel 496 00:24:24,439 –> 00:24:27,739 have gone after Absalom. 497 00:24:29,380 –> 00:24:31,880 That must’ve been a dagger to David’s heart. 498 00:24:33,540 –> 00:24:35,359 And David knew what that meant, 499 00:24:35,439 –> 00:24:40,140 his own son would come after him, seeking his life. 500 00:24:41,319 –> 00:24:42,300 It was inevitable. 501 00:24:43,699 –> 00:24:46,319 And so verse 14, David said to all his servants 502 00:24:46,319 –> 00:24:47,920 who were with him at Jerusalem, 503 00:24:47,920 –> 00:24:52,160 arise, let us flee, or else there will be no escape 504 00:24:52,160 –> 00:24:54,359 for us from Absalom. 505 00:24:56,199 –> 00:24:58,219 Then we’re told in verse 23, 506 00:24:58,219 –> 00:25:00,000 and this is very significant 507 00:25:00,000 –> 00:25:02,380 in the flow of the story of the Bible, 508 00:25:03,219 –> 00:25:07,239 that the King crossed the Brook Kidron 509 00:25:09,599 –> 00:25:14,599 and all the people passed towards the wilderness. 510 00:25:16,380 –> 00:25:20,160 Verse 30 is one of the saddest scenes in all of the Bible. 511 00:25:21,239 –> 00:25:25,319 David went up the Mount of Olives, 512 00:25:25,319 –> 00:25:30,319 weeping as he went barefoot and with his head, 513 00:25:32,579 –> 00:25:33,459 covered. 514 00:25:34,719 –> 00:25:36,839 This is the head that had worn a crown 515 00:25:38,619 –> 00:25:41,439 and he walks barefoot up the Mount of Olives 516 00:25:41,439 –> 00:25:44,560 weeping as he goes the city behind him, 517 00:25:46,079 –> 00:25:49,760 driven out from the place of his own calling 518 00:25:49,760 –> 00:25:52,040 and the place where he’s been so blessed. 519 00:25:54,359 –> 00:25:58,079 And it’s at this point that we have a wonderful glimpse 520 00:25:58,079 –> 00:26:01,239 of what faithfulness looks like. 521 00:26:01,239 –> 00:26:03,160 We’re told verse 15 522 00:26:03,160 –> 00:26:06,719 that the king’s servants said to the king, 523 00:26:06,719 –> 00:26:09,180 behold, your servants are ready 524 00:26:09,180 –> 00:26:12,859 to do whatever my lord the king decides. 525 00:26:14,040 –> 00:26:16,520 So clearly there were a group of servants 526 00:26:16,520 –> 00:26:18,160 and a wider circle of people 527 00:26:18,160 –> 00:26:22,020 who were wonderfully loyal to David in his darkest day. 528 00:26:23,760 –> 00:26:28,760 But particular attention is drawn to the loyalty of one man, 529 00:26:29,000 –> 00:26:32,060 a man by the name of Ittai, 530 00:26:32,060 –> 00:26:35,079 a man who was a Gittite which means 531 00:26:35,079 –> 00:26:38,719 that he was a citizen or an inhabitant 532 00:26:38,719 –> 00:26:41,119 of the town of Gath which was 533 00:26:41,119 –> 00:26:44,839 one of the five Philistine cities. 534 00:26:44,839 –> 00:26:49,160 In other words, Ittai was not an Israelite, 535 00:26:49,160 –> 00:26:52,199 but this man had pledged his loyalty to David 536 00:26:52,199 –> 00:26:56,380 along with about 600 others of whom he was the leader 537 00:26:56,380 –> 00:26:58,459 and evidently this had happened years 538 00:26:58,459 –> 00:27:01,060 earlier when David had spent some time 539 00:27:01,060 –> 00:27:03,920 in this town of Gath. 540 00:27:03,920 –> 00:27:07,739 And it’s very moving that as the group heads out 541 00:27:07,739 –> 00:27:10,619 on this trail of sadness, this mournful 542 00:27:10,619 –> 00:27:13,520 procession leaving Jerusalem, 543 00:27:13,520 –> 00:27:15,939 David stops and he has a word with 544 00:27:15,939 –> 00:27:20,140 this loyal man Ittai and he says verse 20 545 00:27:20,140 –> 00:27:24,920 in effect Ittai, why don’t you and your men 546 00:27:24,959 –> 00:27:28,020 just go back to Gath. 547 00:27:28,020 –> 00:27:31,699 I mean, don’t risk your lives here with us 548 00:27:31,699 –> 00:27:34,859 when you don’t need to. 549 00:27:34,859 –> 00:27:40,219 Go home he says and God bless you. 550 00:27:40,219 –> 00:27:42,359 Now listen to the words of this faithful 551 00:27:42,359 –> 00:27:45,339 disciple Ittai in response. 552 00:27:45,339 –> 00:27:48,739 But Ittai answered the king, 553 00:27:48,739 –> 00:27:54,020 as the Lord lives and as my Lord the King lives, 554 00:27:54,060 –> 00:27:57,760 wherever my Lord the King shall be whether for death 555 00:27:57,760 –> 00:28:02,760 or for life there also will you servant be.” 556 00:28:03,699 –> 00:28:06,380 You’ll love that. 557 00:28:06,380 –> 00:28:08,680 There’s this man who has a true love 558 00:28:08,680 –> 00:28:10,839 for David the King in his heart 559 00:28:10,839 –> 00:28:12,839 and he says, 560 00:28:12839 –> 00:28:18,020 whatever it costs, life or death 561 00:28:18,020 –> 00:28:23,459 I’m with you and I’m for you. 562 00:28:23,560 –> 00:28:27,000 Now think about the position that David was in 563 00:28:27,000 –> 00:28:30,599 as he leaves Jerusalem at this point 564 00:28:30,599 –> 00:28:32,099 and how hard it must have been 565 00:28:32,099 –> 00:28:33,439 for those who followed him 566 00:28:33,439 –> 00:28:36,280 who really were to use a new testament phrase 567 00:28:36,280 –> 00:28:41,380 taking up their cross and following God’s anointed. 568 00:28:41,380 –> 00:28:45,660 David had lost his home and he had lost his job. 569 00:28:45,660 –> 00:28:47,260 He’d been pushed out of the work 570 00:28:47,260 –> 00:28:50,020 that God had called him to do. 571 00:28:50,060 –> 00:28:53,660 He had lost the affection of his own son. 572 00:28:53,660 –> 00:28:57,660 He had lost the confidence of his own people. 573 00:28:57,660 –> 00:29:00,839 He’d been made to flee from his own city 574 00:29:00,839 –> 00:29:05,680 and he had to do so in order to save his own life. 575 00:29:05,680 –> 00:29:08,300 Now you look at this story and very clearly 576 00:29:08,300 –> 00:29:10,420 some of you will have worked this out already. 577 00:29:10,420 –> 00:29:16,140 It anticipates in detail another story, 578 00:29:16,140 –> 00:29:18,719 the story of David’s greater son, 579 00:29:18,739 –> 00:29:21,520 our Lord Jesus Christ. 580 00:29:21,520 –> 00:29:24,180 And that story also, if you think about it, 581 00:29:24,180 –> 00:29:26,640 involves a deceiver and a deserter 582 00:29:26,640 –> 00:29:28,359 and a group of disciples. 583 00:29:29,339 –> 00:29:31,000 You remember that the Lord Jesus, 584 00:29:31,000 –> 00:29:32,640 when he came into the world, 585 00:29:32,640 –> 00:29:35,079 was opposed by the great deceiver 586 00:29:35,079 –> 00:29:37,459 who from the beginning sought to destroy him. 587 00:29:38,420 –> 00:29:40,660 And you remember that, just like David, 588 00:29:40,660 –> 00:29:44,260 he was betrayed by a trusted friend 589 00:29:44,260 –> 00:29:47,040 from his inner circle. 590 00:29:47,060 –> 00:29:49,599 It was Ahithophel’s desertion 591 00:29:49,599 –> 00:29:52,380 that caused such great pain in the heart of David. 592 00:29:52,380 –> 00:29:54,880 He refers to that in Psalm 41 as well. 593 00:29:54,880 –> 00:29:57,540 He says, even my close friend, 594 00:29:57,540 –> 00:30:00,819 in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, 595 00:30:00,819 –> 00:30:03,099 has lifted his heel against me. 596 00:30:03,099 –> 00:30:04,900 He’s referring to Ahithophel. 597 00:30:06,140 –> 00:30:07,760 If those words sound familiar to you, 598 00:30:07,760 –> 00:30:10,099 it is because the Lord Jesus took them up 599 00:30:10,099 –> 00:30:13,300 and quoted exactly these words from this story 600 00:30:13,300 –> 00:30:16,239 at the Last Supper with reference to Judas. 601 00:30:17,619 –> 00:30:20,599 The scripture will be fulfilled, Jesus said, 602 00:30:20,599 –> 00:30:22,739 referring to 2 Samuel 15. 603 00:30:24,260 –> 00:30:29,260 He who ate my bread has lifted up his heel against me. 604 00:30:30,719 –> 00:30:32,280 And after seeing these things, 605 00:30:32,280 –> 00:30:35,359 Jesus was troubled in his spirit and testified, 606 00:30:35,359 –> 00:30:40,359 truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me. 607 00:30:41,079 –> 00:30:43,260 It’s going to be Ahithophel all over again, 608 00:30:44,560 –> 00:30:45,880 is what Jesus says. 609 00:30:47,479 –> 00:30:51,239 And after He spoke these words at the Last Supper, 610 00:30:51,239 –> 00:30:52,079 where did He go? 611 00:30:52,079 –> 00:30:55,839 Jesus went across the brook Kidron, 612 00:30:55,839 –> 00:30:58,280 that’s John 18 and verse one, 613 00:30:59,199 –> 00:31:01,540 and he goes up the Mount of Olives 614 00:31:01,540 –> 00:31:05,880 and just a little way up that hill, there’s a garden, 615 00:31:05,880 –> 00:31:09,719 and the name of that garden is Gethsemane. 616 00:31:11,400 –> 00:31:16,400 Like David, Jesus walked on the Mount of Olives, 617 00:31:16,560 –> 00:31:20,359 like David, He was rejected by His own people, 618 00:31:20,359 –> 00:31:24,380 like David, He wept on the Mount of Olives 619 00:31:24,380 –> 00:31:27,400 over the city of Jerusalem. 620 00:31:27,400 –> 00:31:30,959 He was not weeping over the rejection 621 00:31:30,959 –> 00:31:33,140 and what it would mean for Him, 622 00:31:33,140 –> 00:31:36,119 He was weeping over what the rejection 623 00:31:36,119 –> 00:31:38,160 would mean for those who rejected Him. 624 00:31:40,800 –> 00:31:42,920 And as striking as the parallels are, 625 00:31:42,920 –> 00:31:44,420 and they are extraordinary, 626 00:31:46,280 –> 00:31:48,839 that is perhaps even greater significance 627 00:31:48,839 –> 00:31:49,880 in the contrast. 628 00:31:49,880 –> 00:31:54,040 You see, Ittai and the others were faithful to David, 629 00:31:54,040 –> 00:31:55,719 we’ll die with you, 630 00:31:57,000 –> 00:31:58,400 and they stood by their word. 631 00:31:59,280 –> 00:32:01,000 Peter said something similar, 632 00:32:01,000 –> 00:32:03,599 I’ll follow you even if it costs my life, 633 00:32:03,599 –> 00:32:05,060 and then you remember what happened 634 00:32:05,060 –> 00:32:07,079 when they came to the Garden of Gethsemane, 635 00:32:07,079 –> 00:32:09,579 the Bible tells us when it came to Jesus, 636 00:32:09,579 –> 00:32:11,459 they all forsook Him 637 00:32:11,459 –> 00:32:13,359 and fled. 638 00:32:14,900 –> 00:32:16,099 And then think about this, 639 00:32:16,099 –> 00:32:18,300 David is abandoning the city of Jerusalem 640 00:32:18,300 –> 00:32:20,260 in order to save his own life. 641 00:32:20,260 –> 00:32:21,579 Jesus comes out the Kidron, 642 00:32:21,579 –> 00:32:22,979 goes onto the Mount of Olives, 643 00:32:22,979 –> 00:32:24,680 prays in the Garden of Gethsemane, 644 00:32:24,680 –> 00:32:25,520 and then what happens? 645 00:32:25,520 –> 00:32:27,300 He goes back into the city 646 00:32:27,300 –> 00:32:30,060 where He is condemned and gives up His own life. 647 00:32:32,160 –> 00:32:33,420 When David lost everything 648 00:32:33,420 –> 00:32:37,260 because he was under the discipline of God 649 00:32:37,260 –> 00:32:38,880 for his own sins, 650 00:32:39,119 –> 00:32:41,920 and Jesus lost everything 651 00:32:41,920 –> 00:32:44,119 because He was under the judgment of God 652 00:32:44,119 –> 00:32:48,579 for our sins that were laid on Him. 653 00:32:51,579 –> 00:32:54,079 Now, I want to end, in these last few moments, 654 00:32:54,079 –> 00:32:55,800 with this. 655 00:32:55,800 –> 00:32:57,719 We’re at David’s darkest hour, 656 00:32:57,719 –> 00:32:58,599 the lowest point, 657 00:32:58,599 –> 00:33:00,900 the hardest moment of his entire life. 658 00:33:03,739 –> 00:33:06,040 And I want you to see what David did 659 00:33:06,040 –> 00:33:07,479 at his darkest hour 660 00:33:07,500 –> 00:33:09,819 where he faces all of this sorrow 661 00:33:09,819 –> 00:33:12,079 and all of this loss. 662 00:33:12,079 –> 00:33:13,640 And I want you to see, very simply, 663 00:33:13,640 –> 00:33:15,780 four things that you can do 664 00:33:17,739 –> 00:33:19,900 if you should face great darkness 665 00:33:19,900 –> 00:33:21,660 when you should face great darkness 666 00:33:21,660 –> 00:33:23,599 when you are confronted with sorrow 667 00:33:23,599 –> 00:33:25,099 and loss in your own life. 668 00:33:25,099 –> 00:33:27,420 What did David do, and what can you do? 669 00:33:27,420 –> 00:33:29,319 Number one, you can weep. 670 00:33:30,280 –> 00:33:31,859 David, verse 30, 671 00:33:31,859 –> 00:33:34,260 went up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, 672 00:33:34,260 –> 00:33:36,520 weeping as he went barefoot 673 00:33:36,719 –> 00:33:39,439 and with his head covered, 674 00:33:39,439 –> 00:33:41,040 and all who were with him, 675 00:33:41,040 –> 00:33:45,339 all who followed their sharing in the weeping as well. 676 00:33:45,339 –> 00:33:47,040 Please remember this, brother and sister, 677 00:33:47,040 –> 00:33:51,160 times of darkness come to every Christian, 678 00:33:51,160 –> 00:33:53,479 and if for whatever reason, 679 00:33:53,479 –> 00:33:57,920 you are facing a time of great darkness or loss, 680 00:33:57,920 –> 00:34:00,819 do not think that something strange or surprising 681 00:34:00,819 –> 00:34:02,479 is happening to you. 682 00:34:03,260 –> 00:34:06,260 When you face that, you can weep. 683 00:34:08,300 –> 00:34:12,739 Number two, you can trust. 684 00:34:12,739 –> 00:34:14,100 David says verse 25, 685 00:34:14,100 –> 00:34:17,639 if I find favor in the eyes of the Lord, 686 00:34:17,639 –> 00:34:20,219 he will bring me back. 687 00:34:21,280 –> 00:34:22,699 And let me see both it, 688 00:34:22,699 –> 00:34:25,439 that is the city and his dwelling place. 689 00:34:27,919 –> 00:34:31,379 David knew that his future was in the hands of God. 690 00:34:33,360 –> 00:34:37,239 And he says, look, if God wants me back, 691 00:34:37,239 –> 00:34:38,959 God will bring me back. 692 00:34:40,820 –> 00:34:45,820 You can weep, you can trust, you can pray, 693 00:34:46,879 –> 00:34:49,360 you can pray, that’s what David did. 694 00:34:49,360 –> 00:34:52,199 It was told David, Ahithophel is among 695 00:34:52,199 –> 00:34:53,919 the conspirators with Absalom, 696 00:34:53,919 –> 00:34:55,360 this must have been the news, 697 00:34:55,360 –> 00:34:58,840 they didn’t want to tell him and that he dreaded hearing. 698 00:34:58,840 –> 00:35:01,520 And David said, see what he did immediately, 699 00:35:01,540 –> 00:35:04,719 when he gets the worst possible news, 700 00:35:06,399 –> 00:35:08,000 he reaches out to God in prayer, 701 00:35:08,000 –> 00:35:12,080 oh God, oh Lord, please turn the council 702 00:35:12,080 –> 00:35:15,899 of Ahithophel into foolishness. 703 00:35:18,239 –> 00:35:20,439 For David to lose the support of Ahithophel 704 00:35:20,439 –> 00:35:21,620 was bad enough, 705 00:35:22,560 –> 00:35:24,300 but for him to go over to the other side 706 00:35:24,300 –> 00:35:26,239 it was a thousand times worse. 707 00:35:27,719 –> 00:35:30,439 But here’s where David finds his confidence as he prays, 708 00:35:30,439 –> 00:35:33,520 okay, Ahithophel’s on the other side, that’s formidable. 709 00:35:34,959 –> 00:35:37,239 But God is greater than Ahithophel, 710 00:35:39,199 –> 00:35:41,600 and he trusts the friend who has betrayed him 711 00:35:41,600 –> 00:35:43,639 into the hands of God. 712 00:35:45,399 –> 00:35:47,360 And then there’s one more thing that you can do 713 00:35:47,360 –> 00:35:49,620 in a time of darkness and of sorrow 714 00:35:49,620 –> 00:35:51,459 and of loss and of grief, 715 00:35:51,459 –> 00:35:54,120 and it’s this, you can worship. 716 00:35:54,120 –> 00:35:57,040 You can weep, you can trust, you can pray, 717 00:35:57,040 –> 00:35:59,919 and you can worship, and you have that in verse 32, 718 00:35:59,919 –> 00:36:02,639 while David was coming to the summit 719 00:36:03,780 –> 00:36:08,780 where God was worshiped Matthew Henry makes this comment 720 00:36:10,459 –> 00:36:14,760 weeping must never hinder worshiping. 721 00:36:14,760 –> 00:36:16,219 I find that very striking, 722 00:36:17,439 –> 00:36:20,600 weeping must never hinder worshiping. 723 00:36:22,239 –> 00:36:25,360 And David comes now to the top of the Mount of Olives, 724 00:36:25,360 –> 00:36:26,679 which is told to us there, 725 00:36:26,679 –> 00:36:30,540 that’s the place or a place where God was worshipped. 726 00:36:32,159 –> 00:36:34,260 And I want to end by commending this to you, 727 00:36:34,260 –> 00:36:35,899 you can follow it up in your own time 728 00:36:35,899 –> 00:36:37,540 if you’re interested to do so. 729 00:36:37,540 –> 00:36:42,540 That is one of the Psalms that we are particularly told 730 00:36:42,760 –> 00:36:47,360 was written when David was on the run from Absalom 731 00:36:47,360 –> 00:36:50,040 just this point, when he had to leave the city 732 00:36:50,040 –> 00:36:53,600 in this awful day of darkness it’s Psalm number three 733 00:36:53,600 –> 00:36:54,800 and you have it at the heading. 734 00:36:54,800 –> 00:36:57,879 It was written at the time when David fled 735 00:36:57,879 –> 00:37:00,580 from Absalom’s son it was at this point 736 00:37:00,580 –> 00:37:03,060 second Samuel 15 in the story. 737 00:37:04,080 –> 00:37:05,959 And it is very likely then that when 738 00:37:05,959 –> 00:37:08,479 there is a reference in second Samuel 739 00:37:08,479 –> 00:37:11,080 to David reaching the place of worship 740 00:37:11,080 –> 00:37:12,800 on the top of the Mount of Olives, 741 00:37:12,800 –> 00:37:14,320 what worship did he offer God? 742 00:37:14,320 –> 00:37:16,159 I’m suggesting to you it was Psalm three 743 00:37:16,159 –> 00:37:19,179 that’s when he wrote it, that’s why it says 744 00:37:19,179 –> 00:37:22,479 this is what he said when he was on the run 745 00:37:22,659 –> 00:37:25,100 fleeing from his son Absalom. 746 00:37:25,100 –> 00:37:27,520 So let me end with this. 747 00:37:27,520 –> 00:37:30,080 He says, oh Lord how many are my foes. 748 00:37:31,320 –> 00:37:33,419 Many are rising against me. 749 00:37:33,419 –> 00:37:35,800 Many are saying of my soul there is 750 00:37:35,800 –> 00:37:40,120 no salvation for him in God but You oh Lord 751 00:37:41,060 –> 00:37:45,840 you are a shield around me, You are my glory 752 00:37:45,840 –> 00:37:49,959 and You are the lifter up of my head. 753 00:37:50,000 –> 00:37:53,419 You know the finest worship is offered 754 00:37:53,419 –> 00:37:58,159 in the darkest places and there’s no finer example 755 00:37:58,159 –> 00:38:01,479 than this, picture David and this entourage 756 00:38:01,479 –> 00:38:04,699 behind him and they reach the top of this hill. 757 00:38:04,699 –> 00:38:07,199 They’d been weeping all the way barefoot, 758 00:38:07,199 –> 00:38:09,199 heads covered but they come and they say 759 00:38:09,199 –> 00:38:11,199 we’re gonna worship God even here. 760 00:38:13,159 –> 00:38:14,760 And David moved by the spirit of God 761 00:38:14,760 –> 00:38:16,919 comes out with Psalm 3 that’s then recorded 762 00:38:16,919 –> 00:38:19,179 and preserved in the Bible even for us. 763 00:38:20,760 –> 00:38:23,120 Lord, I’m under all kinds of attack 764 00:38:23,120 –> 00:38:27,340 but when I come under attack, you are my defense. 765 00:38:27,340 –> 00:38:29,919 You, oh Lord, are a shield around me. 766 00:38:31,300 –> 00:38:33,840 Lord, all the honor that I’ve known in my life, 767 00:38:33,840 –> 00:38:36,239 it’s all gone, it’s all been stripped away from me, 768 00:38:36,239 –> 00:38:40,000 there’s no crown now, no robe on my back, 769 00:38:40,000 –> 00:38:42,800 there’s just some cloth over my head, 770 00:38:42,800 –> 00:38:44,459 not even shoes on my feet. 771 00:38:44,459 –> 00:38:46,300 But I wanna tell you, Lord, you’re my glory, 772 00:38:47,300 –> 00:38:50,820 my glory, the glory that goes with the kingship 773 00:38:50,820 –> 00:38:52,840 isn’t what I put my trust in 774 00:38:52,840 –> 00:38:54,639 and it’s not what I’m looking to know. 775 00:38:54,639 –> 00:38:57,479 You’re my glory, You’re my reason for living. 776 00:39:00,280 –> 00:39:03,879 And here’s this man who might easily drop down 777 00:39:03,879 –> 00:39:06,840 into the depths of a pit of depression 778 00:39:06,840 –> 00:39:08,639 and what he says is, oh God, 779 00:39:08,639 –> 00:39:10,199 when I feel at my lowest point, 780 00:39:10,199 –> 00:39:12,760 you’re the one that comes in, you lift up my head. 781 00:39:13,399 –> 00:39:16,580 And that’s the worship that he offers to God 782 00:39:16,580 –> 00:39:19,020 on the top of the Mount of Olives, 783 00:39:19,020 –> 00:39:21,800 I’m suggesting to you recorded for us 784 00:39:21,800 –> 00:39:25,280 to the praise and glory of our Lord, Jesus Christ 785 00:39:25,280 –> 00:39:28,979 and then he says this, on the basis that God is my shield 786 00:39:28,979 –> 00:39:33,679 and God is my glory and God is the lifter up of my head, 787 00:39:33,679 –> 00:39:38,459 on that basis, David says, I lay down and slept. 788 00:39:38,459 –> 00:39:39,620 Isn’t that amazing? 789 00:39:40,360 –> 00:39:44,620 And I will not be afraid though thousands come against me. 790 00:39:46,260 –> 00:39:48,580 There are deceivers, there are deserters 791 00:39:48,580 –> 00:39:50,280 and there are disciples. 792 00:39:51,659 –> 00:39:54,939 And if you are a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ 793 00:39:54,939 –> 00:39:57,639 even on your darkest day, you will be able to say 794 00:39:57,639 –> 00:40:00,520 with David, the Lord is my shield, 795 00:40:00,520 –> 00:40:05,020 the Lord is my glory, the Lord is the lifter up of my head, 796 00:40:06,199 –> 00:40:08,179 and on the darkest day of your life 797 00:40:08,179 –> 00:40:11,060 you will be able to say the Lord will sustain me. 798 00:40:12,340 –> 00:40:13,479 I will not be afraid. 799 00:40:15,379 –> 00:40:18,580 Father, may that be the experience of every one of us 800 00:40:18,580 –> 00:40:22,699 that when we weep, we will trust 801 00:40:23,939 –> 00:40:27,280 and we will pray and we will worship. 802 00:40:28,659 –> 00:40:30,620 Grandfather, that you would deliver us 803 00:40:30,620 –> 00:40:32,699 from the snare of the deceiver, 804 00:40:33,620 –> 00:40:35,659 from the temptation of the deserter 805 00:40:36,580 –> 00:40:39,820 and make us ever true and loyal and faithful disciples 806 00:40:39,820 –> 00:40:42,780 of Jesus Christ, the son of God, 807 00:40:42,780 –> 00:40:46,300 who loved us and gave himself for us. 808 00:40:46,300 –> 00:40:49,780 And these things we ask together in Jesus name, amen.