1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:07,400 Now if you’d open your Bible at 2 Samuel in chapter 19, we’re returning today to our series 2 00:00:07,400 –> 00:00:13,740 on the life of David that we broke away from at Easter. Now, Easter’s a long time ago, 3 00:00:13,740 –> 00:00:19,420 and so as we come to the closing part of the story of David, I want just to take a moment 4 00:00:19,420 –> 00:00:23,840 to remind us of where we are in the story and some of us are realizing we’ll be coming 5 00:00:23,840 –> 00:00:29,360 new to this today. Now very simply, the life of David falls 6 00:00:29,360 –> 00:00:35,439 into three parts. There are his trials, the early years when he was hounded by King Saul. 7 00:00:35,439 –> 00:00:42,340 There are his triumphs, where he united the people of God and subdued their enemies. And 8 00:00:42,340 –> 00:00:49,119 then the last period of his life is really dominated by troubles, his trials, his triumphs 9 00:00:49,119 –> 00:00:55,700 and his troubles. Because after David’s great sin with Bathsheba and then the killing of 10 00:00:55,700 –> 00:01:05,739 Uriah, her husband, David then endured one sorrow, one trouble after another, particularly 11 00:01:05,739 –> 00:01:14,260 in regard to his own family circle. We followed the story earlier in the year of the horrific 12 00:01:14,260 –> 00:01:21,800 abuse that his own daughter, Tamar, suffered within the family. How his son Amnahn was 13 00:01:21,800 –> 00:01:29,400 brutally murdered. How David’s other son Absalam raised a rebellion against his own father 14 00:01:29,400 –> 00:01:35,180 who loved him. And Absalam raised an army and came to Jerusalem and effectively evicted 15 00:01:35,180 –> 00:01:40,980 his own father. David had to flee. God’s anointed king had to flee from his own home and his 16 00:01:41,260 –> 00:01:47,900 own city in Jerusalem. And we saw that moving, moving scene where you have God’s anointed 17 00:01:47,900 –> 00:01:55,379 king going up the Mount of Olives with only a few who remain loyal to him. And he’s barefoot 18 00:01:55,379 –> 00:02:01,379 and his head is covered and he’s weeping as he goes so resonant as he goes up the Mount 19 00:02:01,379 –> 00:02:05,860 of Olives pointing to Jesus, the king whom David points to again and again, who came 20 00:02:05,860 –> 00:02:12,000 down the Mount of Olives weeping and on his way within a few days to the cross, with only 21 00:02:12,000 –> 00:02:20,899 a few of his disciples standing with him. Well, these were dark days in David’s life. 22 00:02:20,899 –> 00:02:25,279 He was subject to ridicule, this awful man Shimmy that threw dust over him. Some of you 23 00:02:25,279 –> 00:02:31,960 might remember that. He was a king in exile, not in the capital, not on the throne in Jerusalem, 24 00:02:32,199 –> 00:02:37,199 but out in the sticks in a little-known place called Mahanaim, way out to the east of the 25 00:02:37,199 –> 00:02:43,380 river Jordan. That was the only place it seems that wanted God’s rejected king. 26 00:02:43,380 –> 00:02:49,199 But we saw as we followed the story that God did not abandon David. God stood with him 27 00:02:49,199 –> 00:02:54,199 in his darkest hour. By the way, isn’t that a wonderful Bible principle? God will always 28 00:02:54,199 –> 00:03:00,839 stand with you in your darkest hour. I will never leave you, I will never forsake you. 29 00:03:01,339 –> 00:03:09,720 What happened was that Absalom listened to the wrong counsel. Instead of pursuing David 30 00:03:09,720 –> 00:03:14,300 immediately, when David would have been so vulnerable barefoot and just a few people 31 00:03:14,300 –> 00:03:20,419 who were there as supporters with him, instead of going after him straight away, Absalom 32 00:03:20,419 –> 00:03:27,339 listened to advice to delay. He basically instituted what we would call a national draft. 33 00:03:27,339 –> 00:03:31,720 He sent out the call to arms all the way across the country, which of course took a considerable 34 00:03:31,720 –> 00:03:38,820 period of time. And the plan backfired big time. And you can imagine why, because when 35 00:03:38,820 –> 00:03:45,720 the call goes out from Absalom who has just launched this revolution, this rebellion, 36 00:03:45,720 –> 00:03:50,500 and it goes out north and south and east and west, and there’s this call to arms come and 37 00:03:50,500 –> 00:03:55,720 stand with Absalom who has now risen up against King David, people are scratching their heads 38 00:03:55,779 –> 00:04:01,240 and going, do I really want to pick a fight with God’s anointed King? I mean do I want 39 00:04:01,240 –> 00:04:06,580 to be on the side that’s against the guy who defeated Goliath? The guy who’s known the 40 00:04:06,580 –> 00:04:12,139 blessing of God, done our nation so much good, united God’s people together? I don’t think 41 00:04:12,139 –> 00:04:16,140 so. I think if there’s going to be a fight, I want to be with David. And so while there 42 00:04:16,140 –> 00:04:20,980 were many who came to Absalom in Jerusalem, there were actually many more who went to 43 00:04:21,019 –> 00:04:27,019 David out in the sticks in Mahanim, and of course a great conflict became inevitable. 44 00:04:27,019 –> 00:04:32,859 But before David’s army that had gathered around him went out to battle, the king gave 45 00:04:32,859 –> 00:04:39,859 his commanders the clearest possible instruction. And you’ll see this in chapter 18, verse 5, 46 00:04:41,000 –> 00:04:46,359 as we’re picking up the thread of the story that gets us to where we are today. 47 00:04:46,359 –> 00:04:50,440 David says this, 2 Samuel 18, verse 5, 48 00:04:50,440 –> 00:04:57,440 “…deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” 49 00:04:58,200 –> 00:05:05,200 And we’re told all the people heard when the king gave orders to all the commanders 50 00:05:06,119 –> 00:05:11,019 about Absalom. That’s a very significant statement. 51 00:05:11,019 –> 00:05:18,019 So David had three commanders, Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, all with their separate divisions. 52 00:05:20,579 –> 00:05:24,799 And he gives the clearest instructions to each of these three commanders before they 53 00:05:24,799 –> 00:05:26,019 go out into battle. 54 00:05:26,019 –> 00:05:31,940 Now, you can hear David saying this. The king says this. Now, look to his own commanders. 55 00:05:31,940 –> 00:05:35,320 I know you’re going out into battle. I’ve been there many times myself. 56 00:05:35,320 –> 00:05:37,459 I know what it’s like. 57 00:05:37,459 –> 00:05:43,660 But I’m giving you this clear instruction. You deal gently with Absalom, and you remember 58 00:05:43,660 –> 00:05:48,260 he’s my son. Joab, have you got that? 59 00:05:48,260 –> 00:05:55,260 Abishai–if you’re the one who comes across Absalom, I want you to remember this. You 60 00:05:56,779 –> 00:06:01,720 deal gently with him. You never forget, you’re dealing with my son. 61 00:06:02,359 –> 00:06:09,019 Anidi–if it’s you, I want you to hear this direct from me, and don’t 62 00:06:09,140 –> 00:06:14,299 ever forget it, you’re going into battle, but remember Absalom is my son. I mean, is 63 00:06:14,299 –> 00:06:19,519 that clear? He gave it specifically, and personally, and directly to each of the three commanders, 64 00:06:19,519 –> 00:06:26,119 and we’re told here, all the people heard when the king gave orders to all of the commanders 65 00:06:26,119 –> 00:06:30,820 about Absalom. So everyone else heard this instruction being 66 00:06:31,339 –> 00:06:36,519 so it was given directly, it was given repeatedly, it was given publicly, and it was given in 67 00:06:36,519 –> 00:06:42,299 the most personal terms. Notice what David says. Deal gently, for my sake. Now look, 68 00:06:42,299 –> 00:06:47,940 you’re my commanders. You’re going out in my name. You are going out to serve me, and 69 00:06:47,940 –> 00:06:56,200 I want you to remember what matters to me most. He’s my son. So this is personal, this 70 00:06:56,200 –> 00:07:04,320 is what I want you to do for me. Now with all the force that is packed into 71 00:07:04,320 –> 00:07:10,119 2 Samuel chapter 18 and verse 5, the clear instruction that was given repeatedly to the 72 00:07:10,119 –> 00:07:15,059 commanders, Joab, the first of them, paid absolutely no attention to that instruction 73 00:07:15,059 –> 00:07:20,779 whatsoever. Absalom, you may remember in the story, was caught either by the hair or by 74 00:07:20,859 –> 00:07:28,079 the neck. It’s not quite clear. In a tree, he was found, hanging on a tree by one of 75 00:07:28,079 –> 00:07:36,119 Joab’s soldiers. It was reported to Joab and Joab had him killed on the spot. And when 76 00:07:36,119 –> 00:07:47,279 David heard the news, he was inconsolable. The last verse of chapter 18, verse 33, The 77 00:07:47,279 –> 00:07:58,579 king was deeply moved, and he went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And as he 78 00:07:58,579 –> 00:08:05,700 went, he said, O my son Absalom, My son, my son Absalom, would that I had died instead 79 00:08:05,700 –> 00:08:16,459 of you? O Absalom, my son, my son. 80 00:08:16,459 –> 00:08:24,399 And that is where we take up the story today. Now, I want to make three very simple observations 81 00:08:24,399 –> 00:08:29,540 will spend by far the greatest amount of time on the first. More briefly on the other two. 82 00:08:29,540 –> 00:08:34,900 I want to make three observations from David here, and in each of these cases, I want us 83 00:08:34,900 –> 00:08:44,840 to see how the inadequacies of David points to the glories of our Lord Jesus Christ. David 84 00:08:45,000 –> 00:08:51,000 was the greatest of the Old Testament kings in that period, the greatest king that God’s 85 00:08:51,000 –> 00:08:59,359 people ever had, and he doesn’t come close to our Lord Jesus Christ. No one else ever 86 00:08:59,359 –> 00:09:05,880 can, and no one else ever will. And I want you to see that really clearly today. 87 00:09:05,880 –> 00:09:11,059 So here’s the first thing. I want you to see in David the king who could not serve. Verse 88 00:09:11,080 –> 00:09:20,619 1, it was told Joab, behold the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom. Now, I need just 89 00:09:20,619 –> 00:09:23,940 a little bit of feedback here to make sure that I’m not entirely on my own this morning. 90 00:09:23,940 –> 00:09:29,599 I’m sure I’m not, but my heart goes out to David at this point in this story. What about 91 00:09:30,359 –> 00:09:40,159 I feel sorry for him. I mean, however wicked Absalom the rebel son was, he’s still David’s 92 00:09:40,159 –> 00:09:49,840 son! And some of you know what it’s like to love a rebel son, to love a daughter who hates you. 93 00:09:49,960 –> 00:10:00,760 She’s still your daughter. And David is overwhelmed with sorrow. First, because he loves his son. 94 00:10:00,760 –> 00:10:07,340 Second, because in all that he’s tried to do over years to get close to Absalom to bring 95 00:10:07,340 –> 00:10:13,099 reconciliation with the son who has rebelled, like a prodigal son who’s gone away, nothing 96 00:10:13,099 –> 00:10:18,580 that he’s attempted has ever worked. He’s not being able to reconcile with his son. 97 00:10:18,580 –> 00:10:21,460 His son died hating his father. 98 00:10:21,460 –> 00:10:27,619 And worst of all, of course, he grieves because Absalom died not only in rebellion against 99 00:10:27,619 –> 00:10:32,559 his father, but also because his father was God’s anointed king by definition. He died 100 00:10:32,559 –> 00:10:38,780 in rebellion against God. 101 00:10:38,780 –> 00:10:45,299 David is brokenhearted, he’s inconsolable. 102 00:10:45,299 –> 00:10:55,179 So the victory that day was turned into mourning, not just for David, but for all the people. 103 00:10:55,179 –> 00:11:02,539 For the people heard that day the king is grieving for his son. 104 00:11:02,859 –> 00:11:06,200 Put yourself in the shoes of these people. 105 00:11:06,200 –> 00:11:11,219 You love your king, you’re loyal to your king, you serve him gladly. 106 00:11:11,219 –> 00:11:16,059 Others have been deserting him and going over to this rebellion, but you have stayed loyal 107 00:11:16,059 –> 00:11:21,900 to your king, and when it came to it, you were willing to even lay down your life on 108 00:11:21,900 –> 00:11:27,520 the field of battle for the king that you love and the king that you serve. 109 00:11:27,659 –> 00:11:33,239 And in the grace and mercy of God, as you went out into battle, your life was spared 110 00:11:33,239 –> 00:11:39,799 and you prevailed and you have come back with that sense of relief, that sense of triumph, 111 00:11:39,799 –> 00:11:42,260 that sense of gladness and rejoicing. 112 00:11:42,260 –> 00:11:47,000 The great rebellion is over, you come back to Mahaneim and you expect that you’re going 113 00:11:47,000 –> 00:11:50,719 to receive a hero’s welcome. 114 00:11:50,719 –> 00:11:57,200 But when you come back to the gates of this town, the king is nowhere to be seen. 115 00:11:57,200 –> 00:12:00,099 Where is he? 116 00:12:00,099 –> 00:12:02,880 Everyone who comes back is asking. 117 00:12:02,880 –> 00:12:07,359 The king is always at the gates to welcome his armies home. 118 00:12:07,359 –> 00:12:12,900 Why is he not here to meet us, why is he not here rejoicing and celebrating in our victory. 119 00:12:13,260 –> 00:12:23,219 Oh says someone, he’s not happy, he’s grieving for his rebel son. 120 00:12:23,219 –> 00:12:28,500 So instead of returning to a hero’s welcome and celebrating a great victory after all 121 00:12:28,500 –> 00:12:33,000 they’ve extended themselves in the field of battle, the king’s servants return as if they 122 00:12:33,000 –> 00:12:37,919 had been defeated, verse three, they stroll into the city that day that’s people steal 123 00:12:38,159 –> 00:12:44,400 who are ashamed, as if they had fled from the field of battle. 124 00:12:44,400 –> 00:12:48,500 This should have been a day of joy, but it was turned into a day of mourning. 125 00:12:48,500 –> 00:12:51,739 Here are people who have won, but it feels as if they are lost. 126 00:12:51,739 –> 00:12:57,960 They hoped to be honored but they feel as if they are in disgrace. 127 00:12:57,960 –> 00:13:02,440 And it is a massive disappointment for God’s people. 128 00:13:02,440 –> 00:13:06,320 And some of them must have wondered, if he weeps like this when we win, what’s he going 129 00:13:06,380 –> 00:13:10,400 to do if we lose? 130 00:13:10,400 –> 00:13:14,940 Extraordinary moment. 131 00:13:14,940 –> 00:13:20,200 Now again, you have to feel for David, don’t you? 132 00:13:20,200 –> 00:13:26,200 He’s just heard this awful news about his son. 133 00:13:26,200 –> 00:13:27,760 His own heart is breaking. 134 00:13:27,760 –> 00:13:30,619 He wants simply to be left alone. 135 00:13:30,799 –> 00:13:37,859 Can’t the man have a single day to grieve in private? 136 00:13:37,859 –> 00:13:42,599 But you see, David is the king. 137 00:13:42,599 –> 00:13:47,239 And a king can never think only of himself. 138 00:13:47,239 –> 00:13:52,299 A king always has duty towards his people. 139 00:13:52,299 –> 00:13:59,520 And even on this day when David feels overwhelmed with his own personal need, there are duties, 140 00:13:59,619 –> 00:14:04,880 there are demands, there are people who are looking for him at the gate. 141 00:14:04,880 –> 00:14:09,320 Now what you have here is something that every one of us will experience many times in life 142 00:14:09,320 –> 00:14:16,000 and that is when what you feel personally and what your responsibility is just clash 143 00:14:16,000 –> 00:14:18,080 together. 144 00:14:18,080 –> 00:14:25,080 Your own personal feelings and your own duties to others and they clash. 145 00:14:25,559 –> 00:14:28,400 Every grieving person here knows what this is like. 146 00:14:28,400 –> 00:14:29,640 Your own heart is breaking. 147 00:14:29,640 –> 00:14:30,919 You hardly know how to speak. 148 00:14:30,919 –> 00:14:35,419 You don’t want to be near to anybody, but there are children and there are parents 149 00:14:35,419 –> 00:14:41,179 and others are looking to you and depend on you and your own private feelings and your 150 00:14:41,179 –> 00:14:48,919 own responsibilities towards others clash. 151 00:14:48,919 –> 00:14:50,760 Every leader knows what this is like. 152 00:14:50,760 –> 00:14:54,039 Every leader knows what this is like. 153 00:14:54,039 –> 00:14:58,000 You come to a place in your own personal life where you are carrying a burden that feels 154 00:14:58,020 –> 00:15:01,119 more than you can bear and you say, oh, if I could just get out of here, that’s what 155 00:15:01,119 –> 00:15:03,619 I want. 156 00:15:03,619 –> 00:15:10,119 But at the same time, you are a leader and others are looking to you to minister to them. 157 00:15:10,119 –> 00:15:14,679 Every father, every mother knows what this is like. 158 00:15:14,679 –> 00:15:18,479 You may find yourself at some point in your life saying, oh, if only I didn’t have these 159 00:15:18,479 –> 00:15:21,299 responsibilities. 160 00:15:21,299 –> 00:15:26,900 If only I could just drop everything, get out of here, and be on my own. 161 00:15:26,900 –> 00:15:30,039 But there are children and there are parents and there are colleagues and there are friends 162 00:15:30,039 –> 00:15:33,580 and there is work and there is ministry, and guess what, the world doesn’t stop because 163 00:15:33,580 –> 00:15:36,700 of your sorrow. 164 00:15:36,700 –> 00:15:37,919 Everyone experienced that. 165 00:15:37,919 –> 00:15:42,320 It’s the reality of life. 166 00:15:42,320 –> 00:15:44,880 So what are we to do? 167 00:15:44,880 –> 00:15:48,820 Well, let’s follow the story. 168 00:15:48,820 –> 00:15:55,119 Word of the king’s grief reaches Joab, the commander of the king’s army. 169 00:15:55,219 –> 00:15:59,239 And Joab, of all people, when you bear in mind the responsibility that was his for the 170 00:15:59,239 –> 00:16:05,640 death of Absalom, Joab goes to the king and… how do I say this? 171 00:16:05,640 –> 00:16:09,200 Gives him a piece of his mind. 172 00:16:09,200 –> 00:16:14,880 I mean, Joab speaks here with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer. 173 00:16:14,880 –> 00:16:20,500 I mean, talk about lack of pastoral tact. 174 00:16:20,500 –> 00:16:24,359 Imagine speaking like this to a king, look at verses five through seven and I’ll just 175 00:16:24,400 –> 00:16:29,419 summarize the language that he uses in speaking to the king. 176 00:16:29,419 –> 00:16:35,640 Then Joab, verse five, came into the house of the king, so he goes into the king’s private 177 00:16:35,640 –> 00:16:44,359 quarters, and said, you have covered the faces of all your servants with shame. 178 00:16:44,359 –> 00:16:48,359 You’ve made clear that those who serve you mean nothing to you. 179 00:16:48,359 –> 00:16:51,020 You obviously hate the people who love you. 180 00:16:51,020 –> 00:16:53,260 You don’t count them worth a thing. 181 00:16:53,440 –> 00:16:59,200 Now, get out of here, get outside, and get on with your job, and speak kindly to your 182 00:16:59,200 –> 00:17:00,200 servants. 183 00:17:00,200 –> 00:17:05,760 That’s a kind of a rough summary of what he says in these three verses. 184 00:17:05,760 –> 00:17:10,479 Now, I wonder what you think of Joab’s words. 185 00:17:10,479 –> 00:17:12,979 Joab is the most extraordinary enigma. 186 00:17:12,979 –> 00:17:18,040 I mean, you read this story, it’s hard to work out what’s gone on with this man. 187 00:17:18,040 –> 00:17:22,000 He was loyal to David on the one hand, but he’s a law to himself on the other. 188 00:17:22,739 –> 00:17:26,260 So, it’s quite clear that his killing of Absalom was because he believed that that was in the 189 00:17:26,260 –> 00:17:27,660 best interest of David. 190 00:17:27,660 –> 00:17:30,760 David may love this guy, but this guy will just try and kill him again, there’s only 191 00:17:30,760 –> 00:17:33,859 one way out, and I’m going to deal with it myself. 192 00:17:33,859 –> 00:17:42,099 So, he’s loyal on the one hand, but he is a liability on the other hand, and in later 193 00:17:42,099 –> 00:17:47,400 years, he was increasingly a thorn in David’s side. 194 00:17:47,699 –> 00:17:54,680 The way that he speaks to David in the depth of David’s grief is … I mean, it’s incorrigible. 195 00:17:54,680 –> 00:18:09,260 I mean, it lacks all compassion, there is zero sympathy, no understanding whatsoever. 196 00:18:09,260 –> 00:18:15,459 But you know what, as you follow the storyline, it becomes very clear that the counsel that 197 00:18:15,579 –> 00:18:22,459 He gave, however badly, was actually wise, which is a reminder, by the way, that God 198 00:18:22,459 –> 00:18:29,459 can guide us through something that is said really badly, but it was the truth anyway. 199 00:18:30,979 –> 00:18:34,660 And there will be times in our lives when we say, how could She ever speak to me like 200 00:18:34,660 –> 00:18:41,660 that? How could He ever have said what He said to me? Because it was said so terribly. 201 00:18:42,140 –> 00:18:49,140 Terribly. But you know, sometimes even what is spoken badly may contain something of truth, 202 00:18:51,880 –> 00:18:57,140 and wisdom receives what is true, even if it should have been said in a very different 203 00:18:57,140 –> 00:19:01,859 way. Now, let me in light of that draw out some 204 00:19:01,859 –> 00:19:08,819 very practical counsel for us in times when we feel overwhelmed by our own need, because 205 00:19:08,939 –> 00:19:15,219 clearly that was David’s situation here. the first is, resist the impulse to isolate yourself. 206 00:19:15,219 –> 00:19:20,800 That impulse is very strong. When you feel overwhelmed, you will feel an impulse within 207 00:19:20,800 –> 00:19:25,819 your own soul to withdraw from other people. That’s why Joab had to come into the house, 208 00:19:25,819 –> 00:19:29,660 verse 5, because David had withdrawn into private. I don’t want to see anyone. I don’t 209 00:19:29,660 –> 00:19:36,619 want anybody to see me. I can understand why David wanted to be alone. 210 00:19:37,199 –> 00:19:43,939 Most of us will be familiar with that experience. But the truth was, that being alone for an 211 00:19:43,939 –> 00:19:51,400 extended period of time was not going to help David one bit at all. If you feel low, being 212 00:19:51,400 –> 00:19:58,140 on your own for an extended period of time will not help you either. However badly he 213 00:19:58,140 –> 00:20:04,020 put it, Joab did help David by getting him out of the house and forcing him to think 214 00:20:04,060 –> 00:20:11,300 about the needs of others as well as his own. Very wise council, however badly said. 215 00:20:11,300 –> 00:20:19,800 Second, when you feel overwhelmed by your own need, value the people who love you. Now 216 00:20:19,800 –> 00:20:24,579 notice how in verse 6, Joab says, You love those who hate you and you hate those who 217 00:20:24,579 –> 00:20:30,339 love you. Well the first of these of course was true. You love those who hate you. Absalom 218 00:20:30,420 –> 00:20:36,699 hated David, and David loved Absalom. He certainly loved the one who hated him. But the second 219 00:20:36,699 –> 00:20:43,540 part was not true. David did not hate his own people. David loved those who loved him 220 00:20:43,540 –> 00:20:54,959 as well as he loved those who hated him. But by withdrawing as he did, Joab was surely 221 00:20:55,780 –> 00:21:03,359 right in communicating that he was running the danger of displaying to his people a sense 222 00:21:03,359 –> 00:21:10,540 that they were really of no importance to him and had very little place in his life. 223 00:21:10,540 –> 00:21:15,020 And the wise counsel that Joab gives at this point is, look, David, instead of isolating 224 00:21:15,020 –> 00:21:21,599 yourself from the very people who are standing with you, you need to move towards the people 225 00:21:21,640 –> 00:21:28,640 who love you and you need to draw strength from them in your loss. The people who love 226 00:21:30,140 –> 00:21:37,140 you in your life are a gift from God so rather than pull back from them when you feel overwhelmed 227 00:21:38,060 –> 00:21:43,479 with your own need you move towards them. That’s real wisdom, however badly it was said 228 00:21:43,479 –> 00:21:45,599 by Joab. 229 00:21:46,380 –> 00:21:53,260 Third, when you feel overwhelmed by your own need and you face this impulse to pull back, 230 00:21:54,239 –> 00:22:02,060 withdraw, remember that responsibility is your friend even when it’s demands may seem 231 00:22:02,660 –> 00:22:06,560 overwhelming. Notice what he says in verse 7, 232 00:22:06,560 –> 00:22:12,819 Now therefore arise and go out and speak kind to your servant. That was David’s job as the 233 00:22:12,839 –> 00:22:14,839 , he greet the people as they come back. 234 00:22:16,400 –> 00:22:21,819 Now laying this on David when he was so overwhelmed with sorrow may seem harsh, 235 00:22:21,819 –> 00:22:25,640 but it is very clear as you follow the story 236 00:22:26,619 –> 00:22:29,540 that getting out of the house and 237 00:22:30,579 –> 00:22:35,520 giving himself as best he was able and he wasn’t able to do it very well as we’ll see later. But 238 00:22:36,219 –> 00:22:40,780 giving himself as best he was able to the work that God had given him to do. 239 00:22:41,400 –> 00:22:48,180 Moving towards people who loved him had a healing effect in his own soul. He got better. 240 00:22:49,900 –> 00:22:52,439 It helped him to do this. 241 00:22:54,599 –> 00:23:01,680 And there is great wisdom here remember that in times of response in times of great sorrow and times when you feel overwhelmed 242 00:23:03,800 –> 00:23:05,800 responsibility is your friend. 243 00:23:06,800 –> 00:23:08,800 It is not your enemy. 244 00:23:09,780 –> 00:23:11,780 Now 245 00:23:12,560 –> 00:23:15,619 Moving out of the house where he had withdrawn 246 00:23:16,160 –> 00:23:20,020 was not easy for David you can you can almost feel the 247 00:23:21,319 –> 00:23:23,319 tension of this in the story 248 00:23:25,000 –> 00:23:27,420 It never is easy to 249 00:23:27,880 –> 00:23:34,780 Press forward into that which will do you good when all your impulses are to pull back and to isolate yourself 250 00:23:34,859 –> 00:23:36,859 But 251 00:23:37,719 –> 00:23:39,719 David’s public duty 252 00:23:40,079 –> 00:23:42,760 David’s responsibilities to people who loved him 253 00:23:43,839 –> 00:23:49,780 What actually a gift from God that kept him going at a time when if he had simply withdrawn into himself 254 00:23:49,780 –> 00:23:55,479 He may have been crushed utterly and completely always remember responsibility is your friend 255 00:23:56,560 –> 00:23:58,560 in times of sorrow 256 00:23:58,680 –> 00:24:01,680 Even when its demands may seem overwhelming 257 00:24:02,680 –> 00:24:06,199 Now I want you to see this 258 00:24:07,439 –> 00:24:09,760 Not only in the life of David 259 00:24:10,660 –> 00:24:13,859 But supremely in the life of our Lord Jesus Christ 260 00:24:15,719 –> 00:24:21,859 Remember that Jesus knows what it is to be overwhelmed with sorrow 261 00:24:23,739 –> 00:24:28,479 Now there may be a time in your life when your heart is breaking and 262 00:24:28,739 –> 00:24:34,020 And you feel nobody can know the pain that is in this heart 263 00:24:36,180 –> 00:24:41,939 And I want to say to you on the authority of God’s Word the Lord Jesus Christ knows 264 00:24:43,219 –> 00:24:48,319 The pain in your heart not only because he is the Sovereign God and knows and feels all things 265 00:24:49,939 –> 00:24:54,979 But because he himself in the flesh has been overwhelmed with sorrow 266 00:24:55,819 –> 00:24:58,459 You have that language in the garden of gethsemane 267 00:24:59,479 –> 00:25:05,959 Matthew 26 and verse 38 the NIV translates it this way. It’s so helpful. My soul is 268 00:25:07,439 –> 00:25:10,800 Overwhelmed with sorrow that’s your Savior who said that 269 00:25:12,739 –> 00:25:14,739 Now, what did he do 270 00:25:14,979 –> 00:25:21,219 When his soul was overwhelmed with sorrow. We’re going to see the principle that we’re learning from David applied in the life of Jesus 271 00:25:21,339 –> 00:25:28,739 What did Jesus do when his soul was overwhelmed with sorrow? Well, we know how he prayed in the garden 272 00:25:29,339 –> 00:25:35,500 From John’s Gospel in chapter 17, where we have a full account of the Lord’s high priestly prayer 273 00:25:35,500 –> 00:25:39,880 It’s usually referred to in John chapter 17 and in verse 19 there 274 00:25:39,939 –> 00:25:46,339 We find that Jesus when his soul was overwhelmed with sorrow said this to the father for their sake. I 275 00:25:48,420 –> 00:25:50,420 Consecrate myself 276 00:25:50,900 –> 00:25:53,540 Do you see that private grief public Judy 277 00:25:54,780 –> 00:26:01,359 What I feel in my own heart what my responsibilities are towards others the clash right there being experienced 278 00:26:01,520 –> 00:26:08,459 By Jesus Christ himself. My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow. What am I going to do? I’m going to consecrate myself for their sake 279 00:26:11,300 –> 00:26:17,339 You say how in the world can you consecrate yourself in other words give yourself to the will and the purpose of God when your own 280 00:26:17,339 –> 00:26:19,339 heart is breaking 281 00:26:20,420 –> 00:26:23,300 That’s precisely what Jesus did in the Garden of Gethsemane 282 00:26:26,719 –> 00:26:29,319 His heart was breaking why because 283 00:26:29,760 –> 00:26:31,260 in the Garden 284 00:26:31,260 –> 00:26:38,520 He stares into the abyss of what it would mean for him the Holy Son of God to bear the sins of the world 285 00:26:39,040 –> 00:26:40,079 and 286 00:26:40,079 –> 00:26:43,020 what he sees in the Garden of Gethsemane as he 287 00:26:43,260 –> 00:26:49,420 Stares into what this is going to mean is so horrific that he says my soul is overwhelmed with sorrow 288 00:26:50,839 –> 00:26:52,839 And 289 00:26:53,359 –> 00:26:55,359 What does our King do 290 00:26:56,300 –> 00:27:01,459 He doesn’t withdraw he moves beyond his own pain, and he consecrates himself 291 00:27:02,959 –> 00:27:04,959 for the service of others 292 00:27:06,119 –> 00:27:10,500 For the calling of God upon his life even when he is overwhelmed with sorrow 293 00:27:12,599 –> 00:27:14,599 And how does he do it he 294 00:27:14,719 –> 00:27:19,099 Endures the book of Hebrews tells us because he keeps his eyes fixed on the joy 295 00:27:19,099 –> 00:27:21,540 That is set before him. There’s no joy for him right now 296 00:27:21,540 –> 00:27:24,859 there’s only the prospect of this that God will bring something of 297 00:27:25,359 –> 00:27:29,599 Infinite value and of eternal good out of even this 298 00:27:31,239 –> 00:27:33,239 Now do you see the contrast 299 00:27:34,619 –> 00:27:39,520 Because in David we have a king who is so consumed with his own grief 300 00:27:40,079 –> 00:27:44,180 That he is not able to minister to others. He’s not at the gate 301 00:27:44,180 –> 00:27:47,760 He’s he’s up in the room and he’s consumed with his own sorrow 302 00:27:49,420 –> 00:27:51,420 But in Jesus 303 00:27:51,520 –> 00:27:53,520 We have a greater King 304 00:27:54,020 –> 00:27:57,760 Who even in the agony of his own soul, what does he do? 305 00:27:57,760 –> 00:28:03,099 He consecrates himself for our sake he gives himself to minister to us 306 00:28:04,939 –> 00:28:10,160 Let me put it to you this way David is not a king that you could go to with your problems 307 00:28:11,500 –> 00:28:13,500 He’s maxed out with his own 308 00:28:14,900 –> 00:28:18,380 He’s too weighed down. There’s nothing more that his shoulders can carry 309 00:28:19,780 –> 00:28:21,400 But 310 00:28:21,400 –> 00:28:28,119 Jesus is the king who comes to bear our griefs and to carry our sorrows 311 00:28:30,380 –> 00:28:37,359 He’s the one who comes to us today to you today and he alone can say to you come to me you’re weary 312 00:28:38,599 –> 00:28:40,599 You’re heavy laden 313 00:28:40,819 –> 00:28:44,199 You come to me. I will give you rest 314 00:28:44,939 –> 00:28:46,939 Only 315 00:28:47,579 –> 00:28:49,819 Jesus Christ could ever say that to you 316 00:28:50,800 –> 00:28:57,099 David could never say that to any of the people who loved him and you know what the people who love you might wish that 317 00:28:57,099 –> 00:28:59,219 They could say that to you, but they can’t I 318 00:29:02,900 –> 00:29:08,020 Will give you rest is something that only Jesus can say and only Jesus can do 319 00:29:08,619 –> 00:29:09,540 and 320 00:29:09,540 –> 00:29:12,380 To the person who feels overwhelmed today 321 00:29:12,540 –> 00:29:15,540 Jesus says take my yoke upon you 322 00:29:17,680 –> 00:29:19,680 Bind yourself to me 323 00:29:20,859 –> 00:29:23,099 And then that I will bind myself to you 324 00:29:23,099 –> 00:29:30,939 And what that will mean is that I will pull your load with you only Jesus Christ can ever say that 325 00:29:33,380 –> 00:29:35,380 The inadequacies of David 326 00:29:36,380 –> 00:29:39,060 Shine a light on the glories of Jesus Christ 327 00:29:39,359 –> 00:29:41,359 This 328 00:29:43,780 –> 00:29:46,939 Greatest King and he doesn’t come close to our Jesus 329 00:29:49,020 –> 00:29:55,140 No one else who has ever lived can do for you what Jesus Christ the Son of God does and 330 00:29:55,900 –> 00:29:57,219 offers 331 00:29:57,219 –> 00:29:59,619 when we are overwhelmed in grief and 332 00:30:00,479 –> 00:30:02,579 We are carrying a great burden 333 00:30:03,380 –> 00:30:05,380 of sorrow a 334 00:30:06,239 –> 00:30:08,719 a king who couldn’t serve I 335 00:30:11,520 –> 00:30:15,420 Said the other points would be much briefer, but I want you to see this 336 00:30:17,219 –> 00:30:24,719 There’s another contrast here that David clearly at this point is a king who could not save look at verse four 337 00:30:26,239 –> 00:30:30,859 The king covered his face and 338 00:30:32,260 –> 00:30:34,939 The king cried out with a loud voice 339 00:30:35,859 –> 00:30:40,219 Oh, my son Absalom Oh Absalom my son 340 00:30:40,900 –> 00:30:42,819 my son 341 00:30:42,819 –> 00:30:49,239 You take this in what that looked and that sounded like David’s got his head in his hands 342 00:30:50,119 –> 00:30:53,400 He doesn’t want to see anyone. He doesn’t want anyone to see him 343 00:30:55,099 –> 00:30:59,680 He cries out in a loud voice there’s a scream coming out of the house 344 00:31:02,199 –> 00:31:04,199 He’s distraught 345 00:31:04,859 –> 00:31:10,439 He’s in despair he tools defeated he’s powerless he doesn’t know what to do 346 00:31:13,699 –> 00:31:15,699 He’s the king and 347 00:31:17,520 –> 00:31:23,140 The agony of his soul is and the king and I can’t even save my own sonic of the clearest possible 348 00:31:23,479 –> 00:31:29,619 Instruction and even when I’ve done that Joe another bit shy it I I gave the clearest possible public personal instruction 349 00:31:29,619 –> 00:31:32,079 I don’t even have the power to save my own son 350 00:31:35,060 –> 00:31:37,060 Okay, you cannot say 351 00:31:40,699 –> 00:31:47,380 But there’s something else here that’s really important the last verse of chapter 18. Do you notice the David says there oh 352 00:31:48,140 –> 00:31:50,140 my son Absalom 353 00:31:50,380 –> 00:31:55,640 My son my son absolutely number of times. That’s repeated. I think he said this over and over and over again 354 00:31:56,459 –> 00:31:58,459 But notice what he says next 355 00:31:59,280 –> 00:32:01,140 Would I? 356 00:32:01,140 –> 00:32:05,839 Had died instead of you. If only it had been me who died and not you 357 00:32:08,160 –> 00:32:10,160 Now, you know why David said that 358 00:32:12,439 –> 00:32:16,520 After David sinned with Bathsheba and the killing of Uriah 359 00:32:18,819 –> 00:32:24,939 Nathan the prophet gave this prophecy to David that we looked at earlier in the series now therefore the sword 360 00:32:26,040 –> 00:32:28,280 Shall never depart from your house 361 00:32:29,160 –> 00:32:34,599 The sword will never depart from your house 362 00:32:35,359 –> 00:32:40,599 Therefore in the light of the killing of Uriah and what has happened with Bathsheba 363 00:32:42,260 –> 00:32:48,599 The sword will never depart from your house and that was true of the history of 364 00:32:49,520 –> 00:32:53,520 David’s troubled years that followed God forgave his sin 365 00:32:55,119 –> 00:32:57,119 But he did live with the 366 00:32:57,760 –> 00:33:04,439 Consequences of his own taking of the life of Uriah and his own taking of Uriah’s wife 367 00:33:05,880 –> 00:33:10,599 The sword did indeed come to David’s family and now 368 00:33:12,520 –> 00:33:16,500 Absalom the rebel, son is dead and 369 00:33:18,280 –> 00:33:21,560 When David hears about the death of absalom 370 00:33:22,560 –> 00:33:26,819 Here’s his natural response the swords come to my house 371 00:33:27,680 –> 00:33:29,819 Absalom’s dead and it should have been me 372 00:33:32,020 –> 00:33:34,020 I’m the one who’s sinned 373 00:33:35,359 –> 00:33:37,359 I’m the one who should have died 374 00:33:39,239 –> 00:33:43,599 Absalom my son my son, I wish I could have died instead of you Oh 375 00:33:43,839 –> 00:33:45,839 Oh 376 00:33:45,859 –> 00:33:51,900 David would gladly have laid down his own life if doing that would have saved 377 00:33:52,160 –> 00:33:55,380 Absalom but David could not take Absaloms place 378 00:33:56,979 –> 00:34:03,479 He’s a King who cannot save and that’s why his face is in his hands 379 00:34:05,380 –> 00:34:08,760 Now you can see the contrast here already you’re seeing that 380 00:34:09,100 –> 00:34:15,520 We need a better King than David we need a King who can save and Jesus is that better King 381 00:34:16,760 –> 00:34:20,159 What David wished to do for Absalom? 382 00:34:21,020 –> 00:34:25,199 Would that I had died instead of you Jesus did for us 383 00:34:26,040 –> 00:34:32,379 He became our substitute and all that was due to us on account of our sin was 384 00:34:33,120 –> 00:34:35,120 redirected on to him 385 00:34:36,120 –> 00:34:42,860 David says Oh absurd. I wish I could have died in your place Jesus says I did die in your place 386 00:34:44,560 –> 00:34:48,560 He bore our sins in his body on the tree and God 387 00:34:49,120 –> 00:34:53,919 Demonstrates his love for us in this that while we were still sinners 388 00:34:53,919 –> 00:34:59,699 We were rebelling against God hated God pursuing our own way while we were still the rebels against him 389 00:35:00,239 –> 00:35:03,399 Jesus Christ died for us 390 00:35:05,639 –> 00:35:09,419 And then very briefly one more contrast that I just want you to see 391 00:35:10,000 –> 00:35:12,860 That points us forward to the day when we will see our King 392 00:35:14,000 –> 00:35:19,060 Because what you find here is in David not only a king who couldn’t serve 393 00:35:19,879 –> 00:35:21,879 consumed with his own sorrows 394 00:35:22,020 –> 00:35:26,780 Not only a king who couldn’t save because he couldn’t take the place of his own son 395 00:35:27,479 –> 00:35:29,479 die in his stead 396 00:35:29,760 –> 00:35:34,360 But we find in the last scene of the story that we’ve read a king who couldn’t speak which is 397 00:35:34,959 –> 00:35:37,219 hardly surprisingunder the circumstances 398 00:35:38,120 –> 00:35:41,979 So follow what happens Joab’s made the intervention. He’s spoken the truth 399 00:35:41,979 –> 00:35:44,879 he said it terribly harshly, but he did speak wisdom and 400 00:35:45,479 –> 00:35:48,300 He says verse 7 go out and speak 401 00:35:49,100 –> 00:35:53,860 Kindly speak kindly to your servants go out speak to your servants 402 00:35:54,580 –> 00:36:00,340 They’ve been out in the field of battle ready to lay down their lives for you go speak to them and speak kindly to them 403 00:36:01,379 –> 00:36:06,580 Covers age we’re told the King arose. Can you picture the man who said his head in his hands 404 00:36:06,600 –> 00:36:09,620 He hauls himself out. What an act of strength that was 405 00:36:10,340 –> 00:36:15,260 And he goes and he takes his seat at the gate and all the people hear about this and the people 406 00:36:15,639 –> 00:36:21,739 Came before the King. So David goes out word gets around now. The crowd begins to gather and 407 00:36:22,459 –> 00:36:28,179 And when people see the king that they have been serving he is grieving 408 00:36:31,760 –> 00:36:33,780 Credit to David 409 00:36:33,780 –> 00:36:37,159 for listening to joe abs wise counsel and at least attempting 410 00:36:37,899 –> 00:36:39,899 What needed to be done. He did his best 411 00:36:41,379 –> 00:36:43,659 But it’s very clear that his 412 00:36:44,939 –> 00:36:46,939 Effort here was 413 00:36:47,300 –> 00:36:50,800 Understandably limited by his own diminished capacity 414 00:36:51,739 –> 00:36:56,260 He may be able to sit at the seat at the gate, but they’re just they can’t produce any words 415 00:36:59,080 –> 00:37:01,899 Joab says go and speak kindly. Well 416 00:37:02,739 –> 00:37:08,699 There isn’t a record of a single word that David spoke here. He just sat at the gate 417 00:37:10,340 –> 00:37:12,600 In his grief and in his sorrow 418 00:37:14,100 –> 00:37:17,500 so now picture yourself again as you come back with the 419 00:37:18,080 –> 00:37:25,060 Continuing flow of the returning army as they come back in groups one after another over a period of time and 420 00:37:25,899 –> 00:37:27,899 Here’s the king and now he’s there 421 00:37:29,020 –> 00:37:31,020 but he’s just sitting and 422 00:37:32,459 –> 00:37:34,459 He’s grieving 423 00:37:34,719 –> 00:37:36,020 and 424 00:37:36,020 –> 00:37:38,020 He’s silent 425 00:37:38,360 –> 00:37:40,360 What a strange scene 426 00:37:42,139 –> 00:37:46,260 These people have risked their lives for the king they come back and 427 00:37:47,500 –> 00:37:49,500 He has nothing to say 428 00:37:50,820 –> 00:37:52,300 And 429 00:37:52,300 –> 00:37:54,300 His people must have wondered 430 00:37:55,199 –> 00:38:00,459 It was all our devoted service to him really worth it I 431 00:38:04,199 –> 00:38:08,939 Want to end by saying this when you see your king he will not be grieving and 432 00:38:09,780 –> 00:38:11,899 Jesus Christ will give you a better welcome 433 00:38:13,840 –> 00:38:15,840 Jesus Christ will give you a better welcome 434 00:38:16,760 –> 00:38:20,479 The joy of that day, of course will be that when we see our King 435 00:38:20,479 –> 00:38:26,179 We will not enter into his great city because we have won a great victory for Jesus 436 00:38:26,199 –> 00:38:29,560 We will be filled with joy because Jesus has won a great victory for us 437 00:38:31,760 –> 00:38:34,639 But when you see your King he will not be silent 438 00:38:36,360 –> 00:38:40,020 Brother sister in Christ as you extend yourself to faithfully 439 00:38:40,919 –> 00:38:44,600 Serve your King Jesus sometimes at great cost 440 00:38:45,320 –> 00:38:48,040 When you see your King, he will not be silent 441 00:38:48,040 –> 00:38:51,260 He will hear his voice. Well done good and faithful 442 00:38:51,840 –> 00:38:56,899 Servant enter into your masters joy when it be something to hear the voice of Jesus say that to you 443 00:38:59,699 –> 00:39:05,500 And when you see your King you will not be wondering if all your devoted service was really worth it 444 00:39:07,239 –> 00:39:08,800 Because your King will not be grieving 445 00:39:08,899 –> 00:39:10,780 Because your King will not be grieving 446 00:39:10,780 –> 00:39:18,080 He will see of the fruit of the travail of his soul and he will be satisfied. He will rejoice with you 447 00:39:23,840 –> 00:39:28,360 The people returning to the grieving King could not wipe tears out of his eyes 448 00:39:30,399 –> 00:39:32,879 But your triumphant King when you see him 449 00:39:33,780 –> 00:39:37,100 Will wipe all tears from your eyes 450 00:39:37,379 –> 00:39:43,219 And you will share the unspeakable joy of his life and of his triumph 451 00:39:44,020 –> 00:39:46,020 forever and forever 452 00:39:47,600 –> 00:39:49,600 Father 453 00:39:50,340 –> 00:39:55,459 We feel something of the wonder of Jesus Christ 454 00:39:56,679 –> 00:40:00,219 To whom no one else who has ever lived can ever come close 455 00:40:00,699 –> 00:40:07,080 We bless him as the king who serves and who saves 456 00:40:07,780 –> 00:40:11,739 And who speaks and one day we will see him and hear his voice 457 00:40:13,120 –> 00:40:18,419 Father for the person today who is grieving for the person today, who just feels overwhelmed 458 00:40:19,560 –> 00:40:27,159 May the strength that is in our king who carries our griefs and gets under our burdens and enters into our sorrows 459 00:40:28,020 –> 00:40:33,120 May His strength be ours. May we move towards Him and 460 00:40:33,800 –> 00:40:35,800 find strength in Him and 461 00:40:36,159 –> 00:40:41,120 These things we ask with gratitude for our Savior and in Jesus name and everyone said 462 00:40:41,899 –> 00:40:43,899 Amen