1 John 3 (NASB)
3 See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
II Samuel 18:9-15; 24-33
9 Now Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. For Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak. And his head caught fast in the oak, so he was left hanging between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him kept going. 10 When a certain man saw it, he told Joab and said, “Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.” 11 Then Joab said to the man who had told him, “Now behold, you saw him! Why then did you not strike him there to the ground? And I would have given you ten pieces of silver and a belt.” 12 The man said to Joab, “Even if I should receive a thousand pieces of silver in my hand, I would not put out my hand against the king’s son; for in our hearing the king charged you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, ‘Protect for me the young man Absalom!’ 13 Otherwise, if I had dealt treacherously against his life (and there is nothing hidden from the king), then you yourself would have stood aloof.” 14 Then Joab said, “I will not waste time here with you.” So he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak. 15 And ten young men who carried Joab’s armor gathered around and struck Absalom and killed him.
31 Behold, the Cushite arrived, and the Cushite said, “Let my lord the king receive good news, for the Lord has freed you this day from the hand of all those who rose up against you.” 32 Then the king said to the Cushite, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” And the Cushite answered, “Let the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up against you for evil, be as that young man!”
33 The king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And thus he said as he walked, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”
MURDER THEY WROTE
Joab and Absalom
A Father's _____________________________
David had seen his family fall apart. A feud had developed between David and Absalom culminating in a palace coup led by Absalom. David was forced to leave Jerusalem. During the ensuing civil war, David had given the order to protect his son. When word reached David that Absalom was dead he wept for his son.
David’s grief for his ______________________
II Samuel 12:22-23
22 He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who knows, the Lord may be gracious to me, that the child may live.’ 23 But now he has died; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”
David’s grief is expressed in his inability to find words. He says, “My son” 5 times. Three times he says Absalom’s name. David also says that he wanted to die in Absalom's place.
There are three reasons for David’s grief.
1. His sons' ____________________________
2. His son’s ____________________________
3. His son's ____________________________
There are Parallels between David's love for Absalom and God's love for us:
1. We are bent on ____________________________
God is bent on ____________________________
2. We deserve ____________________________
God grants ____________________________
We are all guilty of rebellion against God either in our Actions or Attitudes so we all need Jesus' family reunion.
1 John 3 (NASB)
3 See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
II Samuel 18:9-15; 24-33
9 Now Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. For Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak. And his head caught fast in the oak, so he was left hanging between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him kept going. 10 When a certain man saw it, he told Joab and said, “Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.” 11 Then Joab said to the man who had told him, “Now behold, you saw him! Why then did you not strike him there to the ground? And I would have given you ten pieces of silver and a belt.” 12 The man said to Joab, “Even if I should receive a thousand pieces of silver in my hand, I would not put out my hand against the king’s son; for in our hearing the king charged you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, ‘Protect for me the young man Absalom!’ 13 Otherwise, if I had dealt treacherously against his life (and there is nothing hidden from the king), then you yourself would have stood aloof.” 14 Then Joab said, “I will not waste time here with you.” So he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak. 15 And ten young men who carried Joab’s armor gathered around and struck Absalom and killed him.
31 Behold, the Cushite arrived, and the Cushite said, “Let my lord the king receive good news, for the Lord has freed you this day from the hand of all those who rose up against you.” 32 Then the king said to the Cushite, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” And the Cushite answered, “Let the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up against you for evil, be as that young man!”
33 The king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And thus he said as he walked, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”
MURDER THEY WROTE
Joab and Absalom
A Father's GRIEF
David had seen his family fall apart. A feud had developed between David and Absalom culminating in a palace coup led by Absalom. David was forced to leave Jerusalem. During the ensuing civil war, David had given the order to protect his son. When word reached David that Absalom was dead he wept for his son.
David’s grief for his SONS
II Samuel 12:22-23
22 He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who knows, the Lord may be gracious to me, that the child may live.’ 23 But now he has died; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”
David’s grief is expressed in his inability to find words. He says, “My son” 5 times. Three times he says Absalom’s name. David also says that he wanted to die in Absalom's place.
There are three reasons for David’s grief.
1. His sons' DEATH
2. His son’s DISOBEDIENCE
3. His son's DAMNATION
There are Parallels between David's love for Absalom and God's love for us:
1. We are bent on REBELLION
God is bent on REDEMPTION
2. We deserve RETRIBUTION
God grants RECONCILIATION
We are all guilty of rebellion against God either in our Actions or Attitudes so we all need Jesus' family reunion.
