tfomattwg6

The Failings Of Man And The Triumphs With God

Lesson Six: by turtle

Several things I want to point out today. One is that David was appointed King. He did not always
make good decision. He was not perfect. We often have this image of David as being this great
warrior, which he was. He was also anointed king chosen by God, anointed by Prophet Samuel. Yet
he was subject to God just like any believer. He made mistakes as well as did things correctly. Not
every choice is always a good one. Not every choice that is made is bad. Sometimes choice causes
others to react differently then you would suspect. Did David know his daughter was raped. I
seriously wonder. Yet he must of known not to lash back at Absalom at that time, especially when he
killed his brother two years later. David had another issue involved in this story. David had been told
that his kingdom a sword would not depart from it because he had stolen another man’s wife. What
was happening in his own house was prophesied by the Prophet Nathan a man of God.

2 Samuel 12:9-13 KJV
(9) Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast
killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with
the sword of the children of Ammon.
(10) Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me,
and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.
(11) Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will
take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in
the sight of this sun.
(12) For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.
(13) And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David,
The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.

The prophecy of Nathan was being ful filled has Absalom slew his brother and began to rise against
his father. If one ever experienced prophecy, they know that the truth that comes with true prophecy
is sometimes over whelming. I do not doubt that David was going through emotional trial when his
con began to make public speeches to over throw the kingdom. It also must of caused him distressed.
What worse it became a public affair. Any politician perhaps will tell you it not wise to mix family
problems with the public. It seems public has a lot of opinions about people personal problems and
truth maybe they have a right to them and maybe they do not. Did Absalom try to talk to his father?
Did he try and talk to his brother? These questions are perhaps not so clear. However Absalom
decide he was going to be a judge in Israel.

2 Samuel 15:1-6 KJV
(1) And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to
run before him.
(2) And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any
man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said,
Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.
(3) And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of
the king to hear thee.
(4) Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any
suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!
(5) And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand,
and took him, and kissed him.
(6) And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom
stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

Absalom stole the hearts of Israel over a forty years. This gave him a chance to wiggle his way into
popularity with the people of Israel. Just like any snake Absalom had taken it upon his self to get the
favor of men. And after forty years he told his father connivingly that he wanted to go to Hebron to
pay homage to God. His father said go ahead my son.

.
2 Samuel 15:7-9 KJV
(7) And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and
pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the LORD, in Hebron.
(8) For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the LORD shall bring
me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD.
(9) And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron.

Absalom began to take over his father’s kingdom in Hebron.

2 Samuel 15:10-13 KJV
(10) But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound
of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron.
(11) And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were called; and they went in
their simplicity, and they knew not any thing.
(12) And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counsellor, from his city, even from
Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually
with Absalom.
(13) And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after
Absalom.

David then began to look for shelter for his people that were loyal to him. He did not want his family
to come to harm, or those in leadership in His kingdom that still supported him. He leaves ten
concubines behind to take care of the palace. In the process David send back into the city two priest
with the ark of God as spies for him.

2 Samuel 15:14-37 KJV
(14) And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for
we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring
evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.
(15) And the king's servants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my
lord the king shall appoint.
(16) And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, which
were concubines, to keep the house.
(17) And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off.
(18) And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all
the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.
(19) Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return to thy place,
and abide with the king: for thou art a stranger, and also an exile.
(20) Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make thee go up and down with us?
seeing I go whither I may, return thou, and take back thy brethren: mercy and truth be with thee.
(21) And Ittai answered the king, and said, As the LORD liveth, and as my lord the king liveth,
surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy
servant be.
(22) And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and
all the little ones that were with him.
(23) And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself
passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.
(24) And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God:
and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of
the city.
(25) And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in
the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me again, and shew me both it, and his habitation:
(26) But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth
good unto him.
(27) The king said also unto Zadok the priest, Art not thou a seer? return into the city in peace, and
your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.
(28) See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me.
(29) Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they tarried there.
(30) And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head
covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and
they went up, weeping as they went up.
(31) And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David
said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.
(32) And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the mount, where he worshipped
God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head:
(33) Unto whom David said, If thou passest on with me, then thou shalt be a burden unto me:
(34) But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I have
been thy father's servant hitherto, so will I now also be thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeat
the counsel of Ahithophel.
(35) And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, that
what thing soever thou shalt hear out of the king's house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the
priests.
(36) Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz Zadok's son, and Jonathan
Abiathar's son; and by them ye shall send unto me every thing that ye can hear.
(37) So Hushai David's friend came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem.

David allows his son to have Jerusalem. Yet he is still watching over his son doing. Absalom does not
suspect the priest of being loyal to David or he would of kicked them out of Jerusalem. Best place to
take your enemy is to have your friends in place. David learned there was evil prophet in the kingdom
that was advising his son.

One thing for sure and two things for certain if you put evil prophet in with a person not called by
God to take over the throne evil will come to that kingdom. David is sitting back and watching. David
knows the victory will be his. However he is playing out the wait and see game. David not making
any fast moves not even in the next chapter, not even when he is cursed. Does David realize when he
is going to battle against his son, that his son will be killed. Of course he knows it a possibility and has
order that his son not to be killed. If you want to read the whole battle and ordeal I suggest you open
your Bible or view the Bible on my site or another. However I am skipping ahead to chapter 18.

2 Samuel 18:4-33 KJV
(4) And the king said unto them, What seemeth you best I will do. And the king stood by the gate
side, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands.
(5) And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the
young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge
concerning Absalom.
(6) So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim;
(7) Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David, and there was there a great
slaughter that day of twenty thousand men.
(8) For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the wood devoured more
people that day than the sword devoured.
(9) And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went
under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up
between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away.
(10) And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.
(11) And Joab said unto the man that told him, And, behold, thou sawest him, and why didst thou
not smite him there to the ground? and I would have given thee ten shekels of silver, and a girdle.
(12) And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in mine hand,
yet would I not put forth mine hand against the king's son: for in our hearing the king charged thee
and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom.
(13) Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood against mine own life: for there is no matter hid
from the king, and thou thyself wouldest have set thyself against me.
(14) Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts 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 that bare Joab's armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew
him.
(16) And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel: for Joab held
back the people.
(17) And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of
stones upon him: and all Israel fled every one to his tent.
(18) Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which is in the king's
dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the pillar after his
own name: and it is called unto this day, Absalom's place.
(19) Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that the
LORD hath avenged him of his enemies.
(20) And Joab said unto him, Thou shalt not bear tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another
day: but this day thou shalt bear no tidings, because the king's son is dead.
(21) Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto
Joab, and ran.
(22) Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But howsoever, let me, I pray thee, also
run after Cushi. And Joab said, Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings
ready?
(23) But howsoever, said he, let me run. And he said unto him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way
of the plain, and overran Cushi.
(24) And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto
the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone.
(25) And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he be alone, there is tidings in
his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near.
(26) And the watchman saw another man running: and the watchman called unto the porter, and
said, Behold another man running alone. And the king said, He also bringeth tidings.
(27) And the watchman said, Me thinketh the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz
the son of Zadok. And the king said, He is a good man, and cometh with good tidings.
(28) And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king, All is well. And he fell down to the earth upon his
face before the king, and said, Blessed be the LORD thy God, which hath delivered up the men that
lifted up their hand against my lord the king.
(29) And the king said, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent
the king's servant, and me thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was.
(30) And the king said unto him, Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still.
(31) And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king: for the LORD hath
avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee.
(32) And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The
enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is.
(33) And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he
went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O
Absalom, my son, my son!

Next week we be looking at the reaction of Israel. The king mourns for his son, a natural reaction,
however without the death of Absalom more would of been killed. One has to wonder what kind of
king is David. His he being rational, maybe he to old. Yet we see God gave the kingdom back into
David hands. Is it in his hands only temporarily, or will he be able to the convince the elders that he is
still their king.

Our waiting can be our destruction, yet it can be God’s victory. God’s victory is so He can be
glorified and not ourselves.