FHBC Sermon Notes

Do you believe in freedom?  Are all men free to make their own choices? Should all people be free to make their own choices?  This is a central tenant of the American experience, however, we have not been consistent on this.  What should the government do if a state decided to secede?  In the chapters from this week, we see a rebellion uprising in the midst of the reign of David.  Now Israel had started as part of a rebellion, the Exodus from Egypt.  Yet, here this rebellion led by David's own son Absalom is condemned by God.  What is the difference we may ask?

Two central statements.

David confessed this directly.  For David did fall, and fell greatly.  He committed adultery, and murdered the husband of the woman he did it with.  He was condemned for these actions, and part of the response from God given to the prophet Nathan was in fact this rebellion, that someone would commit adultery with all of David's wives in public. How terrible this is. We may look at this and think that God no longer loves David, and that this is his punishment.  But this is God's discipline. Ultimately, this is a tool to teach David what holiness is.  God's intention for David as a part of the covenant is to be holy, just as God is holy. 

Sin we like to think is momentary, and that the consequences are momentary.  That God's discipline is only for a moment, but this isn't always the case.  That sin so often will be paid for a lifetime.  Yet, we do not need to be pulled down to the grave in this.  For God will lift us up, and will save us from this destruction.  We must understand the terrible ruin that comes from sin, yet, just as much we must realize the wondrous faithfulness of God, and God is our salvation, able to save us from the eternal consequences of our sin.

Consider the consequences of David's sin with Bathsheba on his own family.  Did Amnon (David's son) get the idea of violating his half-sister from the blatant way that David pursued Bathsheba?  Absalom his brother kill's Amnon in revenge later.  Did Absalom also get this idea from the life of David, using deception to kill a man like David did Uriah? 

So many related paths; so many causal events of ruin.  Under David's rule the nation had experienced one of the greatest time periods of blessing and fulfillment of the covenant promises given to Israel by God. Yet with this rebellion much of that was thrown to ruin.

We must understand that this story isn't just about David and Israel, but about ourselves. Sin demonstrates our opposition, our rebellion to God.  We seek our own kingdom and will not submit, we say.  We are no different in our own sin.  We must understand that this struggle is not just for those outside the church, but for each of us. When we graduate from school, or things change, we ask, "What is God's will for my life?" We do know the answer to this.  He desires for us to be holy.

There is one thing that sin can not affect or ruin.  It cannot change God's faithfulness.  (See Psalm 40).  When David flees and Absalom takes over Jerusalem and David's home, God care for David continually.  He restores David's throne.  We see God's faithfulness to forgive David.  David appeals for God's mercy and grace, and God is faithful to forgive.

Despite all the consequences David maintains his trust in God, and it is God's faithfulness that sustains him through all of this. Keep in mind, that though God restores David, He does not undo all that David's sin had ruined.  But know this, God's grace and faithfulness is greater that our sin.

>Now these are the last words of David: The oracle of David, the son of Jesse, the oracle of the man who was raised on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, the sweet psalmist of Israel:  "The Spirit of the Lord speaks by me; his word is on my tongue.  The God of Israel has spoken; the Rock of Israel has said to me: When one rules justly over men, ruling in the fear of God,  he dawns on them like the morning light, like the sun shining forth on a cloudless morning, like rain that makes grass to sprout from the earth.  "For does not my house stand so with God? For he has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and secure. For will he not cause to prosper all my help and my desire?  But worthless men are all like thorns that are thrown away, for they cannot be taken with the hand;  but the man who touches them arms himself with iron and the shaft of a spear, and they are utterly consumed with fire." 2 Samuel 23:1-7

See these, the last words of David, and David praises God for his faithfulness.  He demonstrates to continuity of God's promises. Amen.