Move It And Keep On Going

Move it & Keep on Going.

By

Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.

OPENING”- The first rule of physics states a body in motion. Martin Luther King said, “If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” The important thing that we must understand is that we keep moving. My father will often say when someone would say you are always moving and doing something he will respond “If I stand still, I will fall over”. There is a song that says “Don’t stop like the hands of time – just keep on moving”.

SCRIPTURE: - The Bible says in 2 Samuel 20:11-13 “And one of Joab's men stood by him, and said, He that favoureth Joab, and he that is for David, let him go after Joab. And Amasa wallowed in blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a cloth upon him, when he saw that every one that came by him stood still. When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri”.

Today I want to come from the topic of “Move it & Keep on Going.”

PRAYER: -

This week I was faced with a decision and depending on the choice I made in my decision I would either be standing still, or I would keep moving. The important thing is to keep moving.

IN OUR TEXT: - We find a very interesting story. A story of murder, intrigue, suspense, lying, rape, incest, favoritism, fear, rebellion, battle, and victory. A people want to say the Bible is boring.

A brief background. Ammon, one of David’s son raped his half-sister Tamar, the full-blooded sister of Absalom. When David found out about it, he did do anything about it at all. For 2 long years he never did anything to Ammon for the rape of Tamar. This made Absalom extremely upset and vowed to avenge his sister. So, Absalom threw a party and invited all his brothers. It is said that David had 19 sons and 1 daughter. When the party was in full swing and Ammon had gotten drunk, he had commanded his men to kill Ammon and be not afraid because this was his command. When he had Ammon killed all the other brothers ran away not knowing what Absalom would do to them. David thought Absalom had killed all his sons, but found out that it was only Ammon that was killed.

All the sons come back to their father, the King, David except Absalom. He left and for 3 long years was away from Jerusalem and the Bible says in 2 Samuel 13:39 “And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead”.

He never went after Absalom, he never punished him for killing Ammon, he never did anything at all to Absalom. Now there was a man by the name of Joab, who was the nephew of King David and the commander of his army, a scoundrel above scoundrels, a bloody murderer, a liar, a rebel, and egotist. When David met with Abner and was looking for peace between the Northern and Southern kingdoms. After David left Joab used his position as commander to speak to Abner. Abner now believing there is peace between the two kingdoms agrees to meet with Joab and Joab stabs him and kills him. He sent for a wise woman from Tekoa and had her present a story to King David about how she was a widow woman that had 2 sons and these 2 sons of her got into a fight and one killed the other. Now the people wanted to punish the one for killing the other, but she refused to turn her son over to the people for them to punish him and she feared for her life. And David said he would handle it and nothing would happen to here. The wise to David then why haven’t you done anything to your son Absalom for killing his brother. David knew immediately that Joab had out this woman up to this. So, David has Joab go after Absalom and bring him back to Jerusalem. Once Absalom is brought back in Jerusalem David still doesn’t do anything to Absalom. He didn’t even see him, for 2 more years Absalom is living in Jerusalem and his father the King doesn’t even lay eyes on him. Finally, Absalom sets Joab’s field on fire stating he had sent for Joab but he never came and this was his way of getting Joab to show up. Absalom tells Joab he wants to meet with his father King David. Joab believes in his heart that finally Absalom is going to be punished for what he has done. When David finally sees Absalom, he forgives him and gives him a kiss of affection because he is happy to see his son.