The Restoration of Absalom

Oct. 28, 2001                                                                                         Northwest Bible Church

 

2 Sam. 14

The Restoration of Absalom

 

 

INTRO

Evil is on the move.  David’s kingdom is about to be attacked by evil on the inside.

 

 

 

1. EVIL PROSPERS IN ITS SEASON.

 

1. The prosperity of evil.

 

1) Absalom’s return to Jerusalem (1-24).

 

1. a) The scheme of Joab (1-20).

 

1. b) The result (21-24).

 

2) Absalom’s return to favor (25-33).

 

1. a) Absalom’s looks (25-27).

 

1. b) The scheme of Absalom (28-32).

 

1. c) The result (33).

 

1. The perspective of the righteous.

 

We must see the _______________ at work even in times of evil (12:11).

 

God has a __________________ for everything that happens.  Eph. 1:11 We must learn to trust in God.

 

 

1. EVIL PROSPERS MORE THROUGH HUMAN WEAKNESS

 

Sin, evil, wickedness often grows and progresses through channels of spiritual weakness.  Sin takes the path of least resistance.

 

David’s spiritual weaknesses include:

 

1. David was too                           .  He neglects the righteous punishment of his son.  We can understand this.  His rationalization may have been:

 

1) God forgave and spared me.

 

2) the importance of showing mercy and forgiveness.

 

3) Joab’s story gave David another reason to bring Absalom back.

The bottom line is that David did not do his judicial duty.

 

David’s weakness here only added to the progress of more evil.

 

1. David was too .  He is not a leader but being led.   David is not acting, he is reacting.  The result is that evil is growing right under his nose.

 

 

1. David was too                           .  Absalom comes back and for two years David refuses to allow him to see his face.   Evil often grows quickly where communication stops.   This happens in marriages and parenting all the time.

 A chilly frost in a relationship is often brought by a cold shoulder.

 

            David’s spiritual weaknesses enabled evil to prosper around him.

 

 

 

III.  CHRIST ALONE CAN BRING A RIGHTEOUS KINGDOM.

 

 

1. Christ brings a better .  David’s restoration of Absalom is a picture of our own salvation.

 

Note first the comparisons:

 

1) You see we like Absalom are guilty sinners.

 

2) Because of our sin we were banished from the king.

 

3)  And we too like Absalom have been restored to our King.

 

Yet note the contrasts:

 

1) Contrary to David, the Son of David did have to be manipulated.

 

2) Contrary to David, Christ restored sinners by keeping the law and satisfying the demands of the law by suffering in our place.

 

3) Contrary to David, Christ brings us into fellowship with Him immediately upon our restoration.

 

4) Contrary to David, Christ changes our hearts so that we love and serve Him.

 

What this chapter can teach us is that David is not the perfect King, and unfit to rule over an everlasting kingdom.  But his Son, Jesus Christ is that perfect King.

 

 

1. Christ brings a better .  In addition, we look ahead to a time when the world will be restored from its curse and transformed into a new heavens and a new earth where righteousness will dwell.

 

 

CONCLUSION