Mother’s Day
Share something God has taught you through your mom, and/or what God has taught you through being a mom.
My mom was my teacher, prepared me for what God called me to, taught me to be yourself.
Not always a easy day, those who’ve lost mothers, lost children.
Introduction
When you read the Old Testament, you find yourself being pointed forward to Jesus when what you find there looks so much like Jesus. Other times, when you read a chapter, you’re pointed towards Jesus because of the contrast, because what is discovered there actually doesn’t look like what we find in Jesus.
Our passage this morning is more of the latter sort.
Do you believe King Jesus is going to return one day?
C19 of 2 Samuel is about the return of a king, in this case, King David. And what we’re going to discover is that in his return to Jerusalem, everything does not work out perfectly.
Of course, when Jesus the King returns, everything will be perfect. All things will be settled. Justice will be restored. Truth will be absolutely established, and wrongs will be righted, and nations and races that are divided through the pilgrimage of life will find themselves unified on that day.
1. The King Grieving (1–8)
When we left off last week, David had just learned that his son Absalom had been killed in battle, and David is grieving his loss. Well, of course, this is understandable. Death brings great sadness.
2 Samuel 19:1-8 CSB
It was reported to Joab, “The king is weeping. He’s mourning over Absalom.” That day’s victory was turned into mourning for all the troops because on that day the troops heard, “The king is grieving over his son.” So they returned to the city quietly that day like troops come in when they are humiliated after fleeing in battle. But the king covered his face and cried loudly, “My son Absalom! Absalom, my son, my son!”
Then Joab went into the house to the king and said, “Today you have shamed all your soldiers — those who saved your life as well as your sons, your wives, and your concubines — by loving your enemies and hating those who love you! Today you have made it clear that the commanders and soldiers mean nothing to you. In fact, today I know that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead, it would be fine with you!
“Now get up! Go out and encourage your soldiers, for I swear by the Lord that if you don’t go out, not a man will remain with you tonight. This will be worse for you than all the trouble that has come to you from your youth until now!”
So the king got up and sat in the city gate, and all the people were told, “Look, the king is sitting in the city gate.” Then they all came into the king’s presence.
Meanwhile, each Israelite had fled to his tent.
2 Samuel 19:1-8
Halfway through verse 8, the scene shifts away from David, out to what’s going on in all of Israel. “Meanwhile, each Israelite had fled to his tent.”
What we have in these two sections, 9–15 and 40–43, are bookends of what is actually happening in the wider world, both amongst the northern tribes of Israel and also Judah as well.
2. The People Arguing (9–15, 40–43)
People throughout all the tribes of Israel were arguing among themselves, saying, “The king rescued us from the grasp of our enemies, and he saved us from the grasp of the Philistines, but now he has fled from the land because of Absalom. But Absalom, the man we anointed over us, has died in battle. So why do you say nothing about restoring the king?”
King David sent word to the priests Zadok and Abiathar: “Say to the elders of Judah, ‘Why should you be the last to restore the king to his palace? The talk of all Israel has reached the king at his house. You are my brothers, my flesh and blood. So why should you be the last to restore the king?’ And tell Amasa, ‘Aren’t you my flesh and blood? May God punish me and do so severely if you don’t become commander of my army from now on instead of Joab! ’”
So he won over all the men of Judah, and they unanimously sent word to the king: “Come back, you and all your servants.” Then the king returned. When he arrived at the Jordan, Judah came to Gilgal to meet the king and escort him across the Jordan.
2 Samuel 19:9-15
Absalom, as we know, had stolen the hearts of the people. They had followed him, but he’s now dead. And so now they’re in a quandary, because they had rejected the true king, they had gone with the potential king, he was gone, and therefore, a number of them were saying, “It’s time to reverse our decision. We’ve got nothing here now. That was a futile exercise. Let’s get back to the one who is the true king.”
David hears about what Israel’s saying, reaches out to Judah. “Why are you not at the front of this parade?!”
David’s trying to bring together these factions, Israel & Judah, back into one people.
He even makes Amasa his new general, showing that there would be no retribution for those who followed Absalom, and also probably punishing Joab for killing his son.
And it worked—he won the people of Judah over.
Second part, verse 40:
The king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went with him. All the troops of Judah and half of Israel’s escorted the king. Suddenly, all the men of Israel came to the king. They asked him, “Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, take you away secretly and transport the king and his household across the Jordan, along with all of David’s men?”
All the men of Judah responded to the men of Israel, “Because the king is our relative. Why does this make you angry? Have we ever eaten anything of the king’s or been honored at all?”
The men of Israel answered the men of Judah, “We have ten shares in the king, so we have a greater claim to David than you. Why then do you despise us? Weren’t we the first to speak of restoring our king?” But the words of the men of Judah were harsher than those of the men of Israel.
2 Samuel 19:40–43
What we’re viewing here is actually the fragile nature of this renewed kingdom. They’re back together, but it’s not perfect. Judah was united: “all the people”—but only “half the people of Israel.” The disagreements that we saw in verses 9 and 10 amongst Israel clearly have not been resolved.
“Why didn’t you wait for us?"
"Why should we? He’s our close relative."
"Yeah, but there’s 10 of us, 1 of you.”
Sounds like little kids arguing about who got more candy, doesn’t it?
God’s people arguing? Say it ain’t so! Color me shocked!
Dad’s dissertation, Church Growth in Rural Areas, research on country churches that thrive vs ones that die.
- Pastor should have a peg to hang his suit coat on. “Peg or anti-peg?”
- Told visitors they couldn’t sit on third pew… water leak
- Business meeting, vote on color of toilet paper to use in outhouse. Split vote!
King Jesus wants his people to be united.
“I am not praying only on their behalf, but also on behalf of those who believe in me through their testimony, that they will all be one, just as you, Father, are in me and I am in you. I pray that they will be in us, so that the world will believe that you sent me. The glory you gave to me I have given to them, that they may be one just as we are one—I in them and you in me—that they may be completely one, so that the world will know that you sent me, and you have loved them just as you have loved me.”
John 17:20-23, NET
For those who have been in church many years, has that been your experience? It ought to be! And I believe it can be.
But it’s clear, the first coming hasn’t completed this work… but it started it. The Kingdom is here, but it’s not here in its fulness yet.
Moms of believing kids… one day they’re going to get along!
“Come quickly, Lord Jesus!”
- every attempt to bring lasting peace is destined to fail, except when King Jesus returns.
- when you watch news, elections, culture, “I don’t know how we’re going to fix this.” There’s really only one fix: the gospel, the King’s return.
He will settle disputes among the nations
Isaiah 2:4
and provide arbitration for many peoples.
They will beat their swords into plows
and their spears into pruning knives.
Nation will not take up the sword against nation,
and they will never again train for war.
David was unable to accomplish his mission of uniting God’s people again, because he couldn’t change hearts. Jesus can, has, is, and will.
3. Examples of Reconciling (9–15, 40–43)
Shimei
When King David got to Bahurim, a man belonging to the family of the house of Saul was just coming out. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and he was yelling curses as he approached. He threw stones at David and at all the royal servants, the people and the warriors on David’s right and left. Shimei said as he cursed, “Get out, get out, you man of bloodshed, you wicked man! The Lord has paid you back for all the blood of the house of Saul in whose place you became king, and the Lord has handed the kingdom over to your son Absalom. Look, you are in trouble because you’re a man of bloodshed!”
2 Samuel 16:5–8
Now as David returns, he comes singing a different tune:
“My lord, don’t hold me guilty, and don’t remember your servant’s wrongdoing on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem. May the king not take it to heart. For your servant knows that I have sinned. But look! Today I am the first one of the entire house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king.”
2 Samuel 19:19–20
Shimei: Mercy for the Undeserving
David forgave him, said the same words Nathan said to him after his repentance: “You will not die.”
Jesus: “Those who are forgiven much love much.”
How do we live in unity, bringing the kingdom to bear on our lives, in our relationships, in our churches today? Showing mercy/forgiveness to those who absolutely don’t deserve it.
Mephibosheth
2 Samuel 16:5–8
Mephibosheth: Benefit of the Doubt
How many arguments, how much hurt, would be avoided if we just thought the best of each other.
- Kay and I have this conversation over text a lot of the time.
”You assumed my tone of voice.”
Mephibosheth is a great example of how to respond on the other side of that equation.
“Give him all of it,” Mephibosheth said. “I am content just to have you safely back again, my lord the king!”
2 Samuel 19:30
Barzillai
- wealthy man, provided for David on his way out
- declines David’s invitation because of old age,
Barzillai: Appreciating the Faithful
We need to show appreciation/thanks to those who are so faithful—like moms!
Just because they’re not doing it for us doesn’t mean they never deserve praise!
Application
It may seem like a pipe dream, but it’s to be our reality.
Doesn’t happen naturally, because it’s supernatural.
It’s a command.
“I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13:34-35
“I don’t know about those people… but they sure do love each other!”