WEBVTT 00:00:01.000 --> 00:00:07.020 Tonight we're looking at 2 Samuel chapter 18, so if you would turn there in the Bible, 00:00:08.120 --> 00:00:12.099 page 269 in the Pew Bibles. 00:00:16.640 --> 00:00:24.019 One of the most challenging aspects of being a parent, I find, is raising our kids in a 00:00:24.019 --> 00:00:30.019 way that's characterized both by justice and mercy. 00:00:31.620 --> 00:00:38.119 Sometimes on nights when our children have, let's say, had a hard day or misbehaved, my 00:00:38.119 --> 00:00:42.859 wife and I will sometimes sit down after they go to bed and sometimes we wonder, were 00:00:42.859 --> 00:00:43.560 we too harsh? 00:00:44.539 --> 00:00:46.840 Did we overreact out of our own frustration? 00:00:48.039 --> 00:00:54.000 Did we treat them as if they were being rebellious when really they were mostly tired and 00:00:54.000 --> 00:00:56.280 distracted and just being childish? 00:00:57.479 --> 00:01:00.140 On other days we ask ourselves, were we too lenient? 00:01:01.320 --> 00:01:05.760 Did we keep on giving them extra chances and say, if you do this one more time, I'm going 00:01:05.760 --> 00:01:11.280 to blank, and then they do it one more time, and if you do it one more time, I'm going to 00:01:11.280 --> 00:01:11.900 blank. 00:01:13.420 --> 00:01:17.099 Or did we just give in to their demands to avoid a meltdown? 00:01:18.439 --> 00:01:19.819 Oh, yes, it's happened. 00:01:20.900 --> 00:01:22.039 All the parents say amen. 00:01:24.000 --> 00:01:24.400 Right? 00:01:25.099 --> 00:01:30.040 Did we express justice at the expense of mercy, or did we express mercy at the expense of 00:01:30.040 --> 00:01:30.560 justice? 00:01:31.799 --> 00:01:35.200 Of course, this tension is not just a parent thing, right? 00:01:35.280 --> 00:01:40.760 We can experience the same challenge in relationships with friends, neighbors, bosses, employees, 00:01:41.019 --> 00:01:41.519 co-workers. 00:01:42.359 --> 00:01:48.579 If something isn't quite right, do you confront and pursue justice? 00:01:48.579 --> 00:01:51.819 Or do you overlook and forgive? 00:01:53.539 --> 00:01:59.799 Or if you're in law enforcement, working in the legal field, is the goal of law enforcement 00:01:59.799 --> 00:02:03.920 to punish people who have committed crimes against others? 00:02:04.560 --> 00:02:10.520 Or should the focus be on rehabilitation and restoring offenders to society? 00:02:10.520 --> 00:02:10.640 Mercy. 00:02:11.840 --> 00:02:17.580 Mercy and justice are hard to hold together in all these cases. 00:02:18.660 --> 00:02:23.700 And in this passage we're looking at tonight, that's exactly what we'll see, in particular 00:02:23.700 --> 00:02:27.540 in the character of David and the character of Joab. 00:02:27.539 --> 00:02:36.859 Now, what we'll see in this passage tonight, let me just give a little background where we 00:02:36.859 --> 00:02:37.479 are in the book. 00:02:38.180 --> 00:02:45.319 So, in this section of 2 Samuel, it's focused on David's son Absalom, who has mounted a rebellion 00:02:45.319 --> 00:02:51.280 and organized a conspiracy to overthrow his father and seize the throne for himself. 00:02:51.280 --> 00:02:56.080 So, Absalom gained the loyalty of most of the people. 00:02:56.900 --> 00:02:58.520 He declared himself king in Hebron. 00:02:58.599 --> 00:02:59.599 He rode into Jerusalem. 00:02:59.800 --> 00:03:02.300 David had to flee for his life into the wilderness. 00:03:02.939 --> 00:03:07.439 And Absalom is now plotting to kill David and bring down David's men. 00:03:08.379 --> 00:03:12.539 So, what we're going to see tonight is first how it goes with Absalom. 00:03:13.259 --> 00:03:17.099 And then we'll see David and Joab's response, where we'll see the tension between mercy and 00:03:17.099 --> 00:03:19.039 justice in their response to Absalom. 00:03:19.039 --> 00:03:23.219 So, first, we're going to look at Absalom's demise. 00:03:23.799 --> 00:03:25.219 And this is verse 1 to 18. 00:03:25.319 --> 00:03:27.539 So, I'm going to read the first half of the chapter now. 00:03:28.639 --> 00:03:29.620 Let's bring it verse 1. 00:03:29.840 --> 00:03:31.319 Then chapter 18, verse 1. 00:03:31.379 --> 00:03:35.439 Then David mustered the men who were with him and set over them commanders of thousands 00:03:35.439 --> 00:03:36.479 and commanders of hundreds. 00:03:37.019 --> 00:03:40.739 And David sent out the army, one-third under the command of Joab, one-third under the command 00:03:40.739 --> 00:03:45.239 of Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and one-third under the command of Ittai, 00:03:45.299 --> 00:03:45.819 the Gittite. 00:03:45.819 --> 00:03:49.739 And the king said to the men, I myself will also go out with you. 00:03:50.439 --> 00:03:54.459 But the men said, you shall not go out, for if we flee, they won't care about us. 00:03:54.479 --> 00:03:56.280 If half of us die, they won't care about us. 00:03:56.299 --> 00:03:57.840 But you are worth 10,000 of us. 00:03:57.919 --> 00:04:00.719 Therefore, it is better that you send us help from the city. 00:04:01.139 --> 00:04:03.719 The king said to them, whatever seems best to you, I will do. 00:04:03.719 --> 00:04:08.800 So the king stood at the side of the gate while all the army marched out by hundreds and by 00:04:08.800 --> 00:04:09.199 thousands. 00:04:09.819 --> 00:04:17.240 And the king ordered Joab and Abishai and Ittai, deal gently for my sake with the young man 00:04:17.240 --> 00:04:18.040 Absalom. 00:04:18.740 --> 00:04:23.339 And all the people heard when the king gave orders to all the commanders about Absalom. 00:04:23.920 --> 00:04:27.600 So the army went out into the field against Israel and the battle was fought in the forest 00:04:27.600 --> 00:04:28.160 of Ephraim. 00:04:28.160 --> 00:04:32.060 And the men of Israel were defeated there by the servants of David and the loss there 00:04:32.060 --> 00:04:34.220 was great on that day, 20,000 men. 00:04:34.580 --> 00:04:38.260 The battle spread over the face of all the country and the forest devoured more people 00:04:38.260 --> 00:04:39.380 that day than the sword. 00:04:42.620 --> 00:04:46.140 And Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. 00:04:47.200 --> 00:04:52.060 Absalom was riding on his mule and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak 00:04:52.060 --> 00:04:56.660 and his head caught fast in the oak and he was suspended between heaven and earth. 00:04:56.660 --> 00:04:59.620 While the mule that was under him went on. 00:05:00.500 --> 00:05:04.220 And a certain man saw it and told Joab, behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak. 00:05:05.140 --> 00:05:07.000 Joab said to the man who told him, what? 00:05:07.360 --> 00:05:08.260 You saw him? 00:05:08.820 --> 00:05:10.840 Why then did you not strike him there to the ground? 00:05:10.940 --> 00:05:13.520 I would have been glad to give you 10 pieces of silver and a belt. 00:05:14.640 --> 00:05:18.480 But the man said to Joab, even if I felt in my hand the weight of a thousand pieces of 00:05:18.480 --> 00:05:21.580 silver, I would not reach out my hand against the king's son. 00:05:21.579 --> 00:05:27.279 For in our hearing, the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, for my sake protect 00:05:27.279 --> 00:05:28.479 the young man Absalom. 00:05:29.180 --> 00:05:32.919 On the other hand, if I had dealt treacherously against his life and there is nothing hidden 00:05:32.919 --> 00:05:35.939 from the king, then you yourself would have stood aloof. 00:05:37.120 --> 00:05:39.860 Joab said, I won't waste time like this with you. 00:05:40.339 --> 00:05:43.860 And he took three javelins in his hand and thrust them into the heart of Absalom while he 00:05:43.860 --> 00:05:45.000 was still alive in the oak. 00:05:45.599 --> 00:05:49.120 And 10 young men, Joab's armor bearers surrounded Absalom and struck him and killed him. 00:05:49.120 --> 00:05:54.980 Then Joab blew the trumpet and all the troops came back from pursuing Israel for Joab restrained 00:05:54.980 --> 00:05:55.240 them. 00:05:55.720 --> 00:05:59.759 And they took Absalom and threw him into a great pit in the forest and raised over him 00:05:59.759 --> 00:06:03.519 a very great heap of stones and all Israel fled, everyone to his own home. 00:06:04.280 --> 00:06:08.360 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up for himself the pillar that is in the king's 00:06:08.360 --> 00:06:11.720 valley for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance. 00:06:12.500 --> 00:06:17.379 He called the pillar after his own name and it is called Absalom's monument to this day. 00:06:19.120 --> 00:06:22.300 So here we see Absalom's downfall, right? 00:06:22.379 --> 00:06:27.040 Verse 1 to 5, David gets the troops ready for battle, sends them out. 00:06:27.120 --> 00:06:29.480 Verse 6 to 8, the battle is briefly described. 00:06:29.920 --> 00:06:31.540 David's side decisively wins. 00:06:31.899 --> 00:06:35.620 But the majority of this section is focused on Absalom. 00:06:37.060 --> 00:06:43.360 And what we see here is that Absalom's demise was an expression of God's judgment on his pride 00:06:43.360 --> 00:06:45.199 and his self-centeredness. 00:06:46.160 --> 00:06:51.580 If you look back in chapter 17, verse 14, what we looked at last week, the end of that verse says, 00:06:51.780 --> 00:06:56.639 the Lord, it was the Lord's purpose to bring harm upon Absalom. 00:06:57.699 --> 00:07:04.360 And so what happened to Absalom wasn't an accident, that it was an expression of God's righteous judgment 00:07:04.360 --> 00:07:05.460 against his pride. 00:07:05.459 --> 00:07:08.060 Now, how do we see that, you might wonder? 00:07:09.419 --> 00:07:13.659 Well, in the story of Absalom, we've seen he's, for many people, he was a likable guy. 00:07:13.739 --> 00:07:16.639 He was young, handsome, had a charismatic personality. 00:07:17.099 --> 00:07:19.859 It says he stole the hearts of most of the people of Israel. 00:07:21.539 --> 00:07:28.560 But if you read the whole story about Absalom, there is not one positive statement about his character. 00:07:28.560 --> 00:07:31.959 There's positive statements about his looks. 00:07:33.920 --> 00:07:39.819 There's not one positive statement about his moral or spiritual or personal character. 00:07:40.480 --> 00:07:43.959 He was fundamentally proud and rebellious and self-centered. 00:07:44.439 --> 00:07:47.840 He wanted to set up his own kingdom at the expense of David's. 00:07:49.000 --> 00:07:51.340 And what we see here is his pride led to his downfall. 00:07:51.879 --> 00:07:56.600 One of the things Absalom liked to do is he liked to grow his hair out, and his hair grew real long. 00:07:56.600 --> 00:08:03.400 And once a year, he would have his hair cut in public, and he'd weigh his hair. 00:08:03.800 --> 00:08:04.960 It'd be a few pounds. 00:08:06.100 --> 00:08:10.180 And he did this whole thing with his head, right? 00:08:12.000 --> 00:08:13.160 But what do we see here? 00:08:14.860 --> 00:08:17.439 His head gets caught in the oak tree. 00:08:18.780 --> 00:08:24.220 His pride and glory is what ensnares him. 00:08:26.600 --> 00:08:34.820 And the way he died indicated that he died as a rebel who was under God's curse. 00:08:36.460 --> 00:08:37.259 How do we see that? 00:08:37.320 --> 00:08:38.639 Well, first, he's hanging in a tree. 00:08:39.639 --> 00:08:45.200 In the book of Deuteronomy, it says anyone who's hanged in a tree is under the curse of God. 00:08:46.600 --> 00:08:50.440 And second, he's buried under a big pile of rocks, verse 17, 00:08:50.440 --> 00:08:56.320 which is the same way that other people who had rebelled against God were buried. 00:08:56.660 --> 00:09:02.960 In particular, if you look at Achan in the book of Joshua, who had rebelled against God's command, 00:09:04.840 --> 00:09:07.740 he was executed and put under a pile of stones. 00:09:08.380 --> 00:09:09.620 Joshua 7, 26. 00:09:10.420 --> 00:09:14.680 The king of Ai, Joshua 8, 29, was hanged on a tree, 00:09:14.679 --> 00:09:17.379 and then they raised over his body a great heap of stones. 00:09:19.279 --> 00:09:24.479 Absalom, like Cain, had murdered his brother, Amnon, in cold blood. 00:09:25.599 --> 00:09:29.099 Like Korah, who had rebelled against Moses in the wilderness, 00:09:29.219 --> 00:09:31.319 he had set himself against God's anointed leader. 00:09:31.899 --> 00:09:37.539 And like Saul, he had sought to exalt himself at the expense of obeying God. 00:09:37.539 --> 00:09:42.819 The last word about Absalom is he built a monument in his own honor. 00:09:44.339 --> 00:09:50.579 It's exactly what King Saul did at the moment of his disobedience against God. 00:09:53.439 --> 00:09:55.419 So there's a warning in the story of Absalom. 00:09:55.519 --> 00:10:00.319 He had great natural abilities, but his pride led to his downfall. 00:10:01.620 --> 00:10:04.620 But what I want to look at tonight is not mostly about Absalom, 00:10:04.620 --> 00:10:10.279 but I want to look at Joab and David's response to Absalom and his demise. 00:10:12.259 --> 00:10:18.019 At first, I want to look at David's response, which is in the next section. 00:10:20.399 --> 00:10:25.580 The next section tells about how the news of Absalom's death is brought to David. 00:10:26.480 --> 00:10:27.799 So let's read verse 19. 00:10:28.700 --> 00:10:32.759 Then Ahmaez, the son of Zadok, who was one of David's longtime friends, 00:10:32.759 --> 00:10:37.639 said, let me run and carry news to the king that the Lord has delivered him from the hand of his enemies. 00:10:37.759 --> 00:10:42.200 And Joab, who is the army commander, said to him, you are not to carry news today. 00:10:42.840 --> 00:10:47.039 You may carry news another day, but today you shall carry no news for the king's son is dead. 00:10:47.720 --> 00:10:51.299 Then Joab said to the Cushite, go tell the king what you have seen. 00:10:52.340 --> 00:10:54.159 The Cushite bowed before Joab and ran. 00:10:54.840 --> 00:10:59.080 Then Ahmaez, the son of Zadok, said again to Joab, come what may, let me also run after the Cushite. 00:10:59.080 --> 00:11:03.180 And Joab said, why will you run, my son, seeing that you will have no reward for the news? 00:11:03.700 --> 00:11:05.180 Come what may, he said, I will run. 00:11:05.480 --> 00:11:06.379 So he said to him, run. 00:11:07.000 --> 00:11:09.879 Then Ahmaez ran by the way of the plain and outran the Cushite. 00:11:10.460 --> 00:11:13.280 Now David was sitting between the two gates. 00:11:14.560 --> 00:11:16.900 And the watchman went up to the roof of the gate by the wall. 00:11:16.940 --> 00:11:19.560 And when he lifted up his eyes and looked, he saw a man running alone. 00:11:20.460 --> 00:11:22.180 The watchman called out and told the king. 00:11:22.800 --> 00:11:26.379 And the king said, if he's alone, there's news in his mouth. 00:11:26.379 --> 00:11:30.340 In other words, not a bunch of soldiers fleeing from battle, but it's a messenger. 00:11:30.879 --> 00:11:32.000 And he drew nearer and nearer. 00:11:32.519 --> 00:11:33.879 The watchman saw another man running. 00:11:34.759 --> 00:11:37.279 And the watchman called to the gate and said, see, another man running alone. 00:11:37.340 --> 00:11:38.559 The king said, he also brings news. 00:11:38.659 --> 00:11:42.700 The watchman said, I think the running of the first is like the running of Ahmaez, the son of Zadok. 00:11:42.860 --> 00:11:45.179 And the king said, he's a good man. 00:11:46.080 --> 00:11:47.240 And he comes with good news. 00:11:48.600 --> 00:11:50.659 Then Ahmaez cried out to the king, all is well. 00:11:50.659 --> 00:11:59.299 And he bowed before the king with his face to the earth and said, blessed be the Lord, your God, who has delivered up the men who raised up their hand against my Lord, the king. 00:11:59.360 --> 00:12:03.500 And the king said, is it well with the young man, Absalom? 00:12:04.639 --> 00:12:10.399 Ahmaez answered, when Joab sent the king's servant, your servant, I saw a great commotion, but I do not know what it was. 00:12:10.899 --> 00:12:12.620 And the king said, turn aside and stand here. 00:12:12.740 --> 00:12:14.100 So he turned aside and stood still. 00:12:14.100 --> 00:12:22.060 And behold, the Cushite came and the Cushite said, good news for my Lord, the king, for the Lord has delivered you this day from the hand of all who rose up against you. 00:12:22.139 --> 00:12:26.060 The king said to the Cushite, is it well with the young man, Absalom? 00:12:27.080 --> 00:12:33.639 And the Cushite answered, may the enemies of my Lord, the king and all who rise up against you for evil be like that young man. 00:12:34.700 --> 00:12:39.060 And the king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. 00:12:39.059 --> 00:12:47.939 And as he went, he said, oh, my son, Absalom, my son, my son, Absalom, would that I had died instead of you. 00:12:48.059 --> 00:12:50.379 Oh, Absalom, my son, my son. 00:12:52.139 --> 00:12:55.039 It was told Joab, behold, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom. 00:12:55.119 --> 00:12:58.039 So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the people. 00:12:58.759 --> 00:13:01.219 For the people heard that day, the king is grieving for his son. 00:13:01.779 --> 00:13:08.459 And the people stole into the city that day as people steal in who are ashamed when they flee in battle. 00:13:09.059 --> 00:13:13.119 The king covered his face and the king cried with a loud voice, oh, my son, Absalom. 00:13:13.839 --> 00:13:17.859 Oh, Absalom, my son, my son. 00:13:19.399 --> 00:13:27.299 David's response to Absalom is mercy at the expense of justice. 00:13:28.759 --> 00:13:31.479 If you look back at verse five, what does he order? 00:13:32.539 --> 00:13:38.299 Joab and the army commanders, he says, deal gently for my sake with the young man, Absalom. 00:13:39.059 --> 00:13:39.459 Right? 00:13:41.539 --> 00:13:47.099 Even though Absalom had murdered one of his brothers, organized a conspiracy to overthrow David, 00:13:47.199 --> 00:13:54.579 was now gathering an army to strike down David and all his followers, David said, deal gently with him for my sake. 00:13:55.939 --> 00:14:00.639 Now, what do we make of David's mercy toward Absalom? 00:14:00.639 --> 00:14:10.500 On the one hand, David's heart of mercy toward Absalom, despite his pride and rebellion, reflects the heart of God. 00:14:12.500 --> 00:14:14.939 Psalm 103 says, 00:14:14.940 --> 00:14:36.740 On the one hand, David's mercy toward Absalom reflects the heart of God. 00:14:36.740 --> 00:14:44.860 But on the other hand, you might wonder, does David's command, deal gently with Absalom, make sense at all? 00:14:45.500 --> 00:14:53.820 It would be like saying to the allied troops in World War II, deal gently with Hitler, if you find him. 00:14:53.820 --> 00:14:59.560 But if you want to deal gently with Hitler, why are you fighting the war in the first place? 00:15:00.640 --> 00:15:02.080 It's completely unrealistic. 00:15:02.660 --> 00:15:04.640 But isn't it also somewhat unjust? 00:15:05.640 --> 00:15:12.520 Are all Absalom's soldiers more guilty than he is that you're willing to kill them, but not him? 00:15:12.519 --> 00:15:17.360 There's this tension. 00:15:18.840 --> 00:15:24.279 And in verse 19 to 32, we have this long description of the two messengers racing to carry news to David. 00:15:24.340 --> 00:15:29.220 You might wonder, you know, why does the author spend all this time describing these two messengers? 00:15:32.019 --> 00:15:34.079 Well, the tension is building, right? 00:15:34.159 --> 00:15:36.480 How will David respond to this news? 00:15:37.319 --> 00:15:38.659 That's why there's this whole long section. 00:15:38.759 --> 00:15:39.579 It's building tension. 00:15:39.919 --> 00:15:41.340 How is David going to respond? 00:15:41.340 --> 00:15:47.379 That's why Joab says to Ahimeaz, no, no, no, you are not supposed to be the messenger today. 00:15:48.080 --> 00:15:50.120 Because this will not be good news to David. 00:15:51.240 --> 00:15:55.080 Joab knows that David made an order and he completely disregarded it. 00:15:56.440 --> 00:15:59.440 And Joab also knows what David had done in the past. 00:15:59.920 --> 00:16:05.139 When messengers came to him, joyfully proclaiming his enemy's demise. 00:16:06.000 --> 00:16:10.759 A messenger came to David, joyfully proclaiming, Saul has been killed in battle. 00:16:10.759 --> 00:16:13.620 And actually, the messenger claimed to have killed Saul himself. 00:16:15.519 --> 00:16:17.039 And David executed the messenger. 00:16:17.159 --> 00:16:18.019 And David said, oh, no. 00:16:19.539 --> 00:16:25.939 You are not going to get ahead in my kingdom by gloating over the death of my enemy. 00:16:25.940 --> 00:16:30.140 The right response is to weep. 00:16:33.480 --> 00:16:37.680 So that's why Joab didn't want Ahimeaz, David's longtime loyal friend, to carry the message. 00:16:37.780 --> 00:16:41.520 He wanted the Cushite, who is a foreigner, to do it. 00:16:41.519 --> 00:16:46.340 So, verse 24 to 27, right, the perspective shifts to David. 00:16:46.500 --> 00:16:47.139 David's waiting. 00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:49.799 And he's hoping for good news. 00:16:50.100 --> 00:16:51.879 And you can tell he's hoping for good news. 00:16:52.379 --> 00:16:55.919 Because he sees the messenger and it's, right, a guy running. 00:16:56.460 --> 00:17:03.159 That would have been reasonable to say he's a messenger, right, rather than a bunch of soldiers fleeting from battle. 00:17:03.159 --> 00:17:06.500 But then he says he's a good man and he comes with good news. 00:17:07.420 --> 00:17:08.879 Now, think about that. 00:17:09.559 --> 00:17:11.819 That is irrational hopefulness. 00:17:13.599 --> 00:17:15.519 He comes with, he's going to have good news. 00:17:15.819 --> 00:17:22.599 It's like, right, it's positive self-talk when you have no reason to believe what it's going to be. 00:17:24.039 --> 00:17:24.779 David's hoping. 00:17:25.440 --> 00:17:28.680 Really, really, really hoping that there will be good news for him. 00:17:28.680 --> 00:17:32.539 And the news he's looking for doesn't have anything to do with the rest of the soldiers. 00:17:32.759 --> 00:17:33.860 It has to do with one person. 00:17:34.400 --> 00:17:36.279 He asked the same question to both messengers. 00:17:36.460 --> 00:17:40.120 Is it well with the young man Absalom? 00:17:42.420 --> 00:17:43.799 That's what he cares about. 00:17:44.560 --> 00:17:46.299 He doesn't seem to care about anything else. 00:17:46.299 --> 00:17:57.079 And so finally we come to the climax of this passage. 00:17:57.659 --> 00:17:58.799 In verse 33. 00:18:00.599 --> 00:18:02.019 When David hears the news. 00:18:03.039 --> 00:18:04.419 And we see his response. 00:18:05.599 --> 00:18:08.099 He erupts in inconsolable grief. 00:18:08.099 --> 00:18:17.240 Now, we've seen David grieving a few times in the book of Samuel. 00:18:18.199 --> 00:18:20.399 He grieved over Saul and Jonathan. 00:18:21.399 --> 00:18:26.199 And he actually composed an extended poetic tribute to them. 00:18:27.519 --> 00:18:28.959 He grieved over Abner. 00:18:30.339 --> 00:18:37.039 And again, composed a briefer public tribute to Abner. 00:18:38.099 --> 00:18:41.819 He grieved over his son, his child who had died. 00:18:43.539 --> 00:18:45.539 Just a few days or months old. 00:18:46.699 --> 00:18:49.159 And he spoke a few words. 00:18:49.899 --> 00:18:50.859 I will go to him. 00:18:51.299 --> 00:18:52.419 He will not return to me. 00:18:54.219 --> 00:18:58.919 But here, Absalom's death seems to push David over the edge. 00:19:00.379 --> 00:19:01.219 David's just repeating. 00:19:01.859 --> 00:19:03.099 Absalom, my son. 00:19:03.439 --> 00:19:04.000 My son. 00:19:04.480 --> 00:19:04.919 Absalom. 00:19:04.919 --> 00:19:04.980 Absalom. 00:19:05.179 --> 00:19:07.099 I wish I had died instead of you. 00:19:08.099 --> 00:19:16.699 David seems to be almost defeated and unable to rise again. 00:19:17.980 --> 00:19:20.480 And David's people seem to be defeated as well. 00:19:21.679 --> 00:19:23.099 The victories turn to mourning. 00:19:24.639 --> 00:19:33.019 The people come back from the battle who had laid their lives on the line with their heads hanging in shame. 00:19:33.019 --> 00:19:36.539 Even though they had won the victory. 00:19:38.700 --> 00:19:40.440 So what do we make of this? 00:19:41.059 --> 00:19:42.379 His response to Absalom. 00:19:45.700 --> 00:19:55.139 Well, there's a parallel between David as a father and Eli, who is a father in the book of Samuel. 00:19:55.140 --> 00:19:58.960 Eli's at the beginning of the book of Samuel, 1 Samuel. 00:19:59.740 --> 00:20:02.440 And David here as a father is toward the end. 00:20:03.680 --> 00:20:12.620 And both of these fathers knew the Lord and had sons who rebelled. 00:20:12.619 --> 00:20:18.379 And they failed to warn or discipline their children. 00:20:20.079 --> 00:20:22.119 So Eli's sons were priests. 00:20:22.119 --> 00:20:25.239 And they were sleeping with the women who served in the tabernacle. 00:20:25.319 --> 00:20:28.119 They were taking advantage of the women there. 00:20:28.579 --> 00:20:33.739 They were basically bribing people and stealing stuff. 00:20:33.839 --> 00:20:44.119 And Eli sort of gave them a polite warning but just never really did anything to remove them from their position or to follow through with them. 00:20:44.119 --> 00:20:46.619 And we see the same pattern with David. 00:20:48.419 --> 00:20:48.859 Right? 00:20:49.019 --> 00:20:51.919 Amnon violates his half-sister. 00:20:53.019 --> 00:20:54.859 David doesn't say a word even though he's very angry. 00:20:54.939 --> 00:20:55.779 He doesn't say a word to him. 00:20:55.899 --> 00:20:59.899 And then Absalom takes matters into his own hands and murders Amnon. 00:21:01.259 --> 00:21:03.459 And David never confronts. 00:21:05.000 --> 00:21:10.079 He never says a word about what Absalom had done. 00:21:10.079 --> 00:21:15.319 Even though he murdered his brother in cold blood at a family party. 00:21:17.720 --> 00:21:30.039 What you see here is David is sadly, tragically, reaping the results of not confronting the sin of his sons. 00:21:32.799 --> 00:21:36.259 And both Eli and David are in a similar place. 00:21:36.259 --> 00:21:39.819 They're both sitting at the city gate, which is a place of authority. 00:21:40.079 --> 00:21:42.019 And they're waiting for news from the battle. 00:21:42.159 --> 00:21:44.419 And Eli hears the news of his sons. 00:21:44.720 --> 00:21:46.480 And both of his sons have died in battle. 00:21:47.639 --> 00:21:48.500 And that's the day. 00:21:48.619 --> 00:21:52.379 And it says he fell off his chair and he broke his neck and died. 00:21:54.220 --> 00:21:59.839 Now with David, he doesn't die immediately. 00:21:59.839 --> 00:22:03.159 But he sort of crumples over. 00:22:04.539 --> 00:22:06.599 He says, I wish I had died instead of you, Absalom. 00:22:07.439 --> 00:22:09.919 It's as if he's saying, I don't want to be king anymore. 00:22:09.920 --> 00:22:26.960 And I think David's guilt, his knowledge of his sin with Bathsheba and his failure to discipline his sons and how that had sort of perpetuated itself. 00:22:28.019 --> 00:22:31.200 His guilt exacerbated his grief. 00:22:31.200 --> 00:22:39.640 So on the one hand, we have David grieving for his rebellious lost son. 00:22:41.380 --> 00:22:42.980 And that's entirely appropriate. 00:22:43.700 --> 00:22:43.940 Right? 00:22:43.980 --> 00:22:45.440 It's right to grieve. 00:22:46.640 --> 00:22:49.160 Even over the death of an enemy. 00:22:50.600 --> 00:22:51.519 Or a rebel. 00:22:51.519 --> 00:22:55.099 And certainly over the death of a child. 00:22:58.000 --> 00:23:03.019 But on the other hand, we see David's pattern where he never confronted his children. 00:23:03.079 --> 00:23:05.299 He never held on to justice. 00:23:05.420 --> 00:23:07.299 He failed to hold on to justice. 00:23:08.599 --> 00:23:15.039 And so his mercy at the expense of justice ended up being not actually very merciful in the end. 00:23:15.039 --> 00:23:24.619 And left to himself, it seems like David is fallen and unable to rise again. 00:23:25.920 --> 00:23:29.119 But not quite. 00:23:31.079 --> 00:23:32.819 Thankfully, David's not left to himself. 00:23:33.000 --> 00:23:33.740 There's Joab. 00:23:35.000 --> 00:23:35.920 Verse 5. 00:23:37.319 --> 00:23:39.680 Joab comes to David in an unexpected way. 00:23:41.200 --> 00:23:43.700 Then Joab came into the house of the king and said, 00:23:43.700 --> 00:23:47.660 You have today covered with shame the faces of all your servants, 00:23:48.160 --> 00:23:51.480 who have this day saved your life and the lives of your sons and your daughters 00:23:51.480 --> 00:23:53.460 and the lives of your wives and your concubines, 00:23:53.539 --> 00:23:56.519 because you love those who hate you and hate those who love you. 00:23:56.980 --> 00:24:00.360 For you have made it clear today that commanders and servants are nothing to you. 00:24:00.840 --> 00:24:04.720 For today I know that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today, 00:24:04.840 --> 00:24:06.100 then you would be pleased. 00:24:06.940 --> 00:24:08.420 Now therefore arise. 00:24:08.860 --> 00:24:10.840 Go out and speak kindly to your servants. 00:24:10.839 --> 00:24:15.500 For I swear by the Lord, if you do not go, not a man will stay with you this night, 00:24:15.539 --> 00:24:19.539 and this will be worse for you than all the evil that has come upon you from your youth until now. 00:24:20.579 --> 00:24:23.079 Then the king arose and took his seat in the gate. 00:24:23.819 --> 00:24:24.839 And the people were all told, 00:24:24.959 --> 00:24:28.179 Behold, the king is sitting in the gate, and all the people came before the king. 00:24:29.599 --> 00:24:31.459 Now Joab is the opposite of David. 00:24:31.460 --> 00:24:36.279 If David is mercy at the expense of justice, 00:24:36.660 --> 00:24:38.920 Joab is justice and no mercy. 00:24:40.940 --> 00:24:43.140 And this is true not just here in this incident, 00:24:43.279 --> 00:24:44.519 but through the whole book of Samuel. 00:24:45.319 --> 00:24:46.600 Joab is the realist. 00:24:47.200 --> 00:24:48.340 He gets things done. 00:24:48.620 --> 00:24:49.680 He makes things happen. 00:24:50.000 --> 00:24:51.440 He leads the army into battle. 00:24:51.759 --> 00:24:54.259 He gets rid of enemies of David. 00:24:54.860 --> 00:24:56.500 Sometimes he's a bit of a hothead, 00:24:57.039 --> 00:24:58.700 impatient, and trigger happy. 00:24:58.700 --> 00:25:01.580 Once David said about Joab and his brothers, 00:25:01.700 --> 00:25:01.920 he said, 00:25:02.039 --> 00:25:03.080 I was gentle today, 00:25:03.620 --> 00:25:04.500 and these men, 00:25:05.299 --> 00:25:06.200 Joab and his brothers, 00:25:06.660 --> 00:25:08.120 they are more severe than I. 00:25:08.799 --> 00:25:11.600 And David struggled with Joab's severity 00:25:11.600 --> 00:25:13.840 in contrast to his gentleness. 00:25:15.559 --> 00:25:17.940 But what we see here is that Joab had 00:25:17.940 --> 00:25:21.279 the sense of justice that David lacked. 00:25:22.600 --> 00:25:24.620 Joab rightly saw that there was no way 00:25:24.619 --> 00:25:26.779 that Absalom could stay alive 00:25:26.779 --> 00:25:29.319 and the kingdom remained securely 00:25:29.319 --> 00:25:31.079 and peacefully in David's hands. 00:25:32.079 --> 00:25:34.399 Joab realized that as long as Absalom is alive, 00:25:34.500 --> 00:25:37.099 there is going to be an unending civil war. 00:25:38.679 --> 00:25:40.459 And we will never be at peace. 00:25:42.799 --> 00:25:44.239 And he was right about that. 00:25:45.919 --> 00:25:46.319 Right? 00:25:46.379 --> 00:25:47.799 And what happens when Absalom dies? 00:25:48.179 --> 00:25:49.699 Joab immediately calls off the war. 00:25:50.159 --> 00:25:50.419 He says, 00:25:50.420 --> 00:25:51.120 we're done fighting. 00:25:52.940 --> 00:25:55.700 Absalom's death brings peace to the nation. 00:25:57.160 --> 00:25:58.240 And in that way, 00:25:58.360 --> 00:26:00.320 Joab's sense of justice was in harmony 00:26:00.320 --> 00:26:01.900 with God's purpose 00:26:01.900 --> 00:26:05.160 to bring righteous judgment on Absalom's pride. 00:26:06.100 --> 00:26:06.440 But, 00:26:07.300 --> 00:26:07.620 right, 00:26:07.700 --> 00:26:09.039 that's why Joab's justice is good. 00:26:09.420 --> 00:26:09.740 But, 00:26:09.940 --> 00:26:11.940 his justice came at the expense 00:26:11.940 --> 00:26:12.980 of mercy. 00:26:12.980 --> 00:26:17.099 And, 00:26:17.200 --> 00:26:18.940 if we look here, 00:26:19.279 --> 00:26:21.059 we see that Joab's concern for justice 00:26:21.059 --> 00:26:22.319 wasn't pure. 00:26:23.940 --> 00:26:24.900 Do you notice the dialogue 00:26:24.900 --> 00:26:27.019 between the man who sees Absalom 00:26:27.019 --> 00:26:27.839 hanging in a tree 00:26:27.839 --> 00:26:28.539 and Joab? 00:26:30.360 --> 00:26:31.120 Joab says, 00:26:31.420 --> 00:26:32.839 if you would have killed him, 00:26:32.900 --> 00:26:34.180 I would have given you a prize. 00:26:34.920 --> 00:26:35.980 And the guy says, 00:26:36.440 --> 00:26:37.240 well, 00:26:37.319 --> 00:26:37.460 yeah, 00:26:37.559 --> 00:26:37.900 right, 00:26:38.519 --> 00:26:40.120 but then the king would have found out 00:26:40.119 --> 00:26:43.679 that I completely ignored his orders 00:26:43.679 --> 00:26:45.739 and you 00:26:45.739 --> 00:26:48.299 would have kept quiet 00:26:48.299 --> 00:26:49.619 and let me 00:26:49.619 --> 00:26:51.419 pay the price. 00:26:53.439 --> 00:26:53.959 And Joab 00:26:53.959 --> 00:26:55.419 doesn't deny it. 00:26:56.219 --> 00:26:57.059 He just says, 00:26:57.139 --> 00:26:58.119 I don't want to deal with, 00:26:58.239 --> 00:26:59.819 I don't want to talk like this. 00:27:00.239 --> 00:27:00.619 Right? 00:27:01.479 --> 00:27:02.879 And then what does Joab do? 00:27:03.259 --> 00:27:05.139 Joab doesn't actually kill Absalom. 00:27:05.140 --> 00:27:08.240 He just stabs him 00:27:08.240 --> 00:27:10.520 and then he gets his ten armor bearers 00:27:10.520 --> 00:27:12.280 to all strike him and kill him. 00:27:12.320 --> 00:27:12.400 So, 00:27:12.480 --> 00:27:14.080 it's not even clear who killed Absalom. 00:27:14.640 --> 00:27:15.080 So, 00:27:15.140 --> 00:27:16.740 he diffuses the responsibility. 00:27:19.600 --> 00:27:19.840 You see, 00:27:19.920 --> 00:27:21.840 Joab is justice at the expense of mercy, 00:27:21.960 --> 00:27:23.200 but his justice isn't 00:27:23.200 --> 00:27:25.340 really justice either. 00:27:26.440 --> 00:27:27.420 And that's sort of what we see. 00:27:27.500 --> 00:27:29.160 When you have mercy at the expense of justice, 00:27:29.420 --> 00:27:30.160 in the end, 00:27:30.320 --> 00:27:31.800 it's not completely merciful. 00:27:32.100 --> 00:27:34.040 And when you have justice at the expense of mercy, 00:27:34.040 --> 00:27:34.980 in the end, 00:27:35.140 --> 00:27:36.980 it's not completely just. 00:27:42.820 --> 00:27:45.100 And then we see Joab's words to David at the end. 00:27:46.020 --> 00:27:46.259 Right? 00:27:46.320 --> 00:27:46.960 On the one hand, 00:27:47.040 --> 00:27:48.840 it sounds incredibly harsh. 00:27:50.420 --> 00:27:52.100 David's grieving the death of his son. 00:27:53.780 --> 00:27:55.140 And Joab is basically like, 00:27:55.540 --> 00:27:56.700 you better get out there 00:27:56.700 --> 00:27:56.980 or 00:27:56.980 --> 00:27:58.240 we're gonna, 00:27:58.480 --> 00:27:59.880 everyone's gonna ditch you tonight. 00:28:02.820 --> 00:28:03.259 Right? 00:28:03.259 --> 00:28:05.080 It's maybe a little overstated. 00:28:05.140 --> 00:28:07.400 On the other hand, 00:28:07.460 --> 00:28:08.440 it says the majority of the, 00:28:08.480 --> 00:28:09.860 the majority of the nation of Israel 00:28:09.860 --> 00:28:11.040 had sided with Absalom. 00:28:11.960 --> 00:28:12.020 Right? 00:28:12.120 --> 00:28:14.200 Joab's concern wasn't completely unfounded. 00:28:15.420 --> 00:28:17.759 Joab knew that it was a very precarious situation. 00:28:18.560 --> 00:28:19.120 And Joab says, 00:28:19.200 --> 00:28:19.480 David, 00:28:20.020 --> 00:28:21.560 you're a father 00:28:21.560 --> 00:28:23.040 and you're also a king. 00:28:23.900 --> 00:28:25.560 And you need to be both of those 00:28:25.560 --> 00:28:26.259 today. 00:28:26.259 --> 00:28:29.400 All right? 00:28:29.480 --> 00:28:29.599 So, 00:28:29.920 --> 00:28:30.279 obviously, 00:28:30.420 --> 00:28:30.680 Joab's, 00:28:30.680 --> 00:28:31.700 Joab's very harsh. 00:28:33.140 --> 00:28:34.059 But on the other hand, 00:28:34.079 --> 00:28:35.900 it was exactly what David needed to hear 00:28:35.900 --> 00:28:37.920 in one sense. 00:28:37.980 --> 00:28:38.140 Right? 00:28:38.180 --> 00:28:39.319 His speech was sort of like 00:28:39.319 --> 00:28:41.759 a big bucket of ice cold water 00:28:41.759 --> 00:28:44.119 thrown on a very weary 00:28:44.119 --> 00:28:45.879 and discouraged person 00:28:45.879 --> 00:28:47.279 who's just trying to go to sleep. 00:28:47.279 --> 00:28:50.059 It's extremely unpleasant. 00:28:51.460 --> 00:28:52.299 Extremely harsh. 00:28:52.599 --> 00:28:53.980 But it also is, 00:28:54.680 --> 00:28:55.180 somehow, 00:28:55.920 --> 00:28:56.920 it wakes you up. 00:28:58.819 --> 00:29:00.019 That's what Joab did to David. 00:29:01.940 --> 00:29:02.339 So, 00:29:02.399 --> 00:29:03.259 we have these two characters, 00:29:03.379 --> 00:29:03.519 right? 00:29:03.599 --> 00:29:04.220 We've got David, 00:29:04.359 --> 00:29:05.539 mercy at the expense of justice, 00:29:05.720 --> 00:29:05.960 Joab, 00:29:06.039 --> 00:29:07.139 justice at the expense of mercy. 00:29:08.240 --> 00:29:08.440 Now, 00:29:08.519 --> 00:29:09.559 left to their own devices, 00:29:09.559 --> 00:29:12.240 I think each of them 00:29:12.240 --> 00:29:13.619 would have self-destructed. 00:29:16.659 --> 00:29:17.139 Right? 00:29:17.220 --> 00:29:18.220 David would have lost the kingdom 00:29:18.220 --> 00:29:18.879 to Absalom 00:29:18.879 --> 00:29:20.480 or just 00:29:20.480 --> 00:29:21.919 crumpled over and died 00:29:21.919 --> 00:29:22.460 right here. 00:29:23.339 --> 00:29:24.339 And Joab 00:29:24.339 --> 00:29:26.259 would have killed everybody else 00:29:26.259 --> 00:29:28.240 until somebody killed him. 00:29:30.759 --> 00:29:31.200 Right? 00:29:33.579 --> 00:29:34.419 But together, 00:29:34.720 --> 00:29:37.399 they really irritate each other sometimes. 00:29:38.159 --> 00:29:38.639 David's like, 00:29:38.640 --> 00:29:39.560 I don't know. 00:29:39.640 --> 00:29:39.860 I just, 00:29:40.420 --> 00:29:41.800 I don't know what to do with these guys. 00:29:41.860 --> 00:29:42.500 But they're actually, 00:29:42.700 --> 00:29:43.780 they actually have 00:29:43.780 --> 00:29:45.000 what each other needs. 00:29:46.860 --> 00:29:47.240 So, 00:29:47.400 --> 00:29:48.400 this is a bit of a side point, 00:29:48.480 --> 00:29:49.200 but let me just say this. 00:29:49.420 --> 00:29:49.800 Sometimes, 00:29:49.920 --> 00:29:50.700 your spouse 00:29:50.700 --> 00:29:52.520 or your co-worker 00:29:52.520 --> 00:29:55.020 or your brother or sister 00:29:55.020 --> 00:29:57.000 or your fellow church member 00:29:57.000 --> 00:29:59.400 who most irritates 00:29:59.400 --> 00:30:00.600 and annoys you 00:30:00.600 --> 00:30:04.480 may have exactly 00:30:04.480 --> 00:30:05.400 the character trait 00:30:05.400 --> 00:30:06.320 that you need 00:30:06.319 --> 00:30:08.679 to see 00:30:08.679 --> 00:30:09.519 and be shaped by. 00:30:09.639 --> 00:30:10.980 And you may look at them 00:30:10.980 --> 00:30:12.539 and see their weaknesses 00:30:12.539 --> 00:30:13.659 and their flaws. 00:30:14.179 --> 00:30:15.000 And you may be 00:30:15.000 --> 00:30:16.240 exactly right, 00:30:17.240 --> 00:30:20.220 but they might also have 00:30:20.220 --> 00:30:21.720 exactly what you need 00:30:21.720 --> 00:30:22.740 and don't realize. 00:30:24.200 --> 00:30:25.039 Maybe you're like David 00:30:25.039 --> 00:30:25.879 and you need a Joab. 00:30:25.960 --> 00:30:26.639 Maybe you're like Joab, 00:30:26.700 --> 00:30:27.240 you need a David. 00:30:27.240 --> 00:30:27.339 David. 00:30:31.180 --> 00:30:31.819 But of course, 00:30:31.859 --> 00:30:32.259 the whole story 00:30:32.259 --> 00:30:33.339 is meant to raise this question. 00:30:34.839 --> 00:30:36.480 Can mercy and justice 00:30:36.480 --> 00:30:38.640 actually coexist? 00:30:41.380 --> 00:30:42.640 And not just be 00:30:42.640 --> 00:30:44.480 opposed to each other? 00:30:48.400 --> 00:30:48.799 Well, 00:30:48.880 --> 00:30:49.559 Psalm 85 00:30:49.559 --> 00:30:52.500 speaks poetically 00:30:52.500 --> 00:30:53.039 of a day 00:30:53.039 --> 00:30:54.079 when one day they will. 00:30:54.880 --> 00:30:55.279 It says, 00:30:55.759 --> 00:30:57.000 Psalm 85 verse 10 says, 00:30:57.000 --> 00:30:57.859 steadfast love 00:30:57.859 --> 00:30:58.960 and faithfulness meet. 00:30:59.920 --> 00:31:01.119 Righteousness or justice 00:31:01.119 --> 00:31:02.039 and peace 00:31:02.039 --> 00:31:03.299 kiss each other. 00:31:04.259 --> 00:31:05.140 Faithfulness springs up 00:31:05.140 --> 00:31:05.740 from the ground 00:31:05.740 --> 00:31:06.299 and righteousness 00:31:06.299 --> 00:31:07.559 looks down from the sky. 00:31:09.160 --> 00:31:09.799 So the Psalm 00:31:09.799 --> 00:31:10.619 is talking about a day 00:31:10.619 --> 00:31:11.579 when righteousness 00:31:11.579 --> 00:31:12.220 and peace, 00:31:12.539 --> 00:31:13.779 justice and mercy 00:31:13.779 --> 00:31:15.460 will one day 00:31:15.460 --> 00:31:16.640 embrace. 00:31:20.039 --> 00:31:21.339 And the Gospel of John 00:31:21.339 --> 00:31:22.000 in the New Testament 00:31:22.000 --> 00:31:22.279 says, 00:31:22.400 --> 00:31:23.559 Jesus came from the Father 00:31:23.559 --> 00:31:24.919 full of grace 00:31:24.919 --> 00:31:26.399 or mercy 00:31:26.399 --> 00:31:28.240 and truth 00:31:28.240 --> 00:31:29.819 or faithfulness. 00:31:31.119 --> 00:31:31.299 Right? 00:31:31.700 --> 00:31:32.799 Jesus was full 00:31:32.799 --> 00:31:33.899 of justice 00:31:33.899 --> 00:31:35.799 and full of mercy 00:31:35.799 --> 00:31:38.039 without compromising 00:31:38.039 --> 00:31:39.220 either one 00:31:39.220 --> 00:31:40.179 or the other. 00:31:41.460 --> 00:31:42.740 And without being 00:31:42.740 --> 00:31:45.379 polluted by, 00:31:45.539 --> 00:31:46.419 on David's side, 00:31:47.419 --> 00:31:48.000 self-pity 00:31:48.000 --> 00:31:49.779 and on Joab's side, 00:31:50.059 --> 00:31:50.819 self-protection. 00:31:53.960 --> 00:31:54.519 Jesus 00:31:54.519 --> 00:31:56.420 is full 00:31:56.420 --> 00:31:57.700 of justice. 00:31:58.279 --> 00:31:58.400 Right? 00:31:58.500 --> 00:31:59.480 Jesus doesn't 00:31:59.480 --> 00:32:00.299 back down. 00:32:00.400 --> 00:32:02.059 He's uncompromising 00:32:02.059 --> 00:32:03.920 in his demands 00:32:03.920 --> 00:32:04.559 for loyalty. 00:32:07.240 --> 00:32:08.119 Jesus says, 00:32:08.240 --> 00:32:08.720 whoever loves 00:32:08.720 --> 00:32:09.839 father or mother 00:32:09.839 --> 00:32:11.160 more than me 00:32:11.160 --> 00:32:12.259 is not worthy of me. 00:32:12.900 --> 00:32:13.720 And whoever loves 00:32:13.720 --> 00:32:14.400 son or daughter 00:32:14.400 --> 00:32:15.240 more than me 00:32:15.240 --> 00:32:16.859 is not worthy of me. 00:32:16.859 --> 00:32:18.740 whoever does not 00:32:18.740 --> 00:32:19.459 take up his cross 00:32:19.459 --> 00:32:20.019 and follow me 00:32:20.019 --> 00:32:20.939 is not worthy of me. 00:32:23.099 --> 00:32:23.639 You see, 00:32:23.699 --> 00:32:24.419 Jesus is worthy 00:32:24.419 --> 00:32:25.339 of our absolute 00:32:25.339 --> 00:32:26.299 loyalty 00:32:26.299 --> 00:32:28.379 and undivided 00:32:28.379 --> 00:32:28.939 allegiance. 00:32:30.839 --> 00:32:31.759 Even if 00:32:31.759 --> 00:32:34.179 your career 00:32:34.179 --> 00:32:35.139 crashes and burns, 00:32:36.179 --> 00:32:36.899 even if 00:32:36.899 --> 00:32:38.599 your best friend 00:32:38.599 --> 00:32:40.059 ditches the faith, 00:32:40.759 --> 00:32:41.719 even if your son 00:32:41.719 --> 00:32:42.359 or daughter 00:32:42.359 --> 00:32:44.019 walks away 00:32:44.019 --> 00:32:44.639 from the Lord, 00:32:44.640 --> 00:32:46.860 even if your spouse 00:32:46.860 --> 00:32:47.680 betrays you 00:32:47.680 --> 00:32:48.840 or abandons you, 00:32:49.259 --> 00:32:50.520 even if your child 00:32:50.520 --> 00:32:51.360 dies. 00:32:54.000 --> 00:32:55.080 Jesus is worthy 00:32:55.080 --> 00:32:56.540 of our loyalty 00:32:56.540 --> 00:32:57.120 and allegiance 00:32:57.120 --> 00:32:58.460 because he is the king. 00:33:00.120 --> 00:33:01.180 But Jesus is not 00:33:01.180 --> 00:33:01.800 only the king 00:33:01.800 --> 00:33:02.440 of justice 00:33:02.440 --> 00:33:03.700 who commands 00:33:03.700 --> 00:33:04.640 our absolute allegiance. 00:33:04.640 --> 00:33:05.300 He's also 00:33:05.300 --> 00:33:06.940 our savior, 00:33:07.340 --> 00:33:08.000 our merciful 00:33:08.000 --> 00:33:08.800 savior. 00:33:10.020 --> 00:33:10.940 David wept. 00:33:10.940 --> 00:33:13.559 Jesus wept. 00:33:14.220 --> 00:33:14.880 And Jesus wept 00:33:14.880 --> 00:33:15.500 not just over 00:33:15.500 --> 00:33:16.100 his friend 00:33:16.100 --> 00:33:16.920 Lazarus, 00:33:17.220 --> 00:33:18.080 but also over 00:33:18.080 --> 00:33:19.019 the city of Jerusalem 00:33:19.019 --> 00:33:20.759 when he approached 00:33:20.759 --> 00:33:21.259 the city. 00:33:22.840 --> 00:33:23.759 And he said, 00:33:24.759 --> 00:33:26.160 oh Jerusalem, 00:33:26.320 --> 00:33:26.700 Jerusalem, 00:33:27.700 --> 00:33:28.799 how long 00:33:28.799 --> 00:33:29.200 have I, 00:33:29.740 --> 00:33:30.799 how have I longed 00:33:30.799 --> 00:33:31.500 to gather you 00:33:31.500 --> 00:33:33.940 under the wings 00:33:33.940 --> 00:33:34.460 of God? 00:33:34.460 --> 00:33:38.460 you see, 00:33:38.539 --> 00:33:38.840 David 00:33:38.840 --> 00:33:40.900 wanted, 00:33:42.079 --> 00:33:42.620 David said, 00:33:42.720 --> 00:33:43.620 I wish I had died 00:33:43.620 --> 00:33:44.319 instead of you. 00:33:45.120 --> 00:33:45.460 But you know, 00:33:45.539 --> 00:33:46.360 David couldn't die 00:33:46.360 --> 00:33:47.220 instead of Absalom 00:33:47.220 --> 00:33:49.759 because both of them 00:33:49.759 --> 00:33:50.400 had sinned. 00:33:52.079 --> 00:33:53.140 And both of them 00:33:53.140 --> 00:33:54.759 were ultimately 00:33:54.759 --> 00:33:55.360 facing 00:33:55.360 --> 00:33:56.620 death. 00:33:58.380 --> 00:33:59.480 But Jesus could 00:33:59.480 --> 00:34:01.200 because he had 00:34:01.200 --> 00:34:01.740 no sin. 00:34:01.740 --> 00:34:03.160 and he did 00:34:03.160 --> 00:34:04.279 and his mercy 00:34:04.279 --> 00:34:04.900 for us. 00:34:05.579 --> 00:34:06.740 That he died 00:34:06.740 --> 00:34:07.620 instead of us. 00:34:07.779 --> 00:34:09.320 He took our place 00:34:09.320 --> 00:34:11.679 so that we could 00:34:11.679 --> 00:34:12.219 have mercy 00:34:12.219 --> 00:34:13.000 and be forgiven 00:34:13.000 --> 00:34:14.420 and be received 00:34:14.420 --> 00:34:14.760 home. 00:34:18.360 --> 00:34:18.920 Romans, 00:34:19.460 --> 00:34:20.099 the book of Romans 00:34:20.099 --> 00:34:21.099 says God put forward 00:34:21.099 --> 00:34:22.119 Jesus as an atoning 00:34:22.119 --> 00:34:22.960 sacrifice 00:34:22.960 --> 00:34:24.539 to be received 00:34:24.539 --> 00:34:25.239 by faith. 00:34:26.420 --> 00:34:27.320 This was to show 00:34:27.320 --> 00:34:28.219 God's righteousness 00:34:28.219 --> 00:34:29.380 or God's justice 00:34:29.380 --> 00:34:31.640 so that he might 00:34:31.640 --> 00:34:32.160 be just 00:34:32.160 --> 00:34:33.039 and the justifier 00:34:33.039 --> 00:34:33.400 of the one 00:34:33.400 --> 00:34:33.880 who has faith 00:34:33.880 --> 00:34:34.300 in Jesus. 00:34:35.740 --> 00:34:36.260 And then Paul 00:34:36.260 --> 00:34:36.579 in Romans 00:34:36.579 --> 00:34:37.180 goes on to say 00:34:37.180 --> 00:34:38.220 God shows his love 00:34:38.220 --> 00:34:39.640 and that while we 00:34:39.640 --> 00:34:40.260 were still sinners 00:34:40.260 --> 00:34:41.440 Christ died for us. 00:34:43.460 --> 00:34:43.980 You see, 00:34:44.039 --> 00:34:44.680 in Jesus Christ 00:34:44.680 --> 00:34:45.079 God 00:34:45.079 --> 00:34:46.880 has shown his 00:34:46.880 --> 00:34:47.440 justice 00:34:47.440 --> 00:34:48.380 and he has shown 00:34:48.380 --> 00:34:48.880 his love. 00:34:50.860 --> 00:34:51.680 He's called us 00:34:51.680 --> 00:34:52.280 to himself 00:34:52.280 --> 00:34:54.460 and he has laid 00:34:54.460 --> 00:34:55.039 down his life 00:34:55.039 --> 00:34:55.579 for us 00:34:55.579 --> 00:34:57.819 so that we 00:34:57.819 --> 00:34:59.599 who are proud 00:34:59.599 --> 00:35:00.739 rebels 00:35:00.739 --> 00:35:02.159 might come 00:35:02.159 --> 00:35:02.619 and be part 00:35:02.619 --> 00:35:03.099 of his kingdom. 00:35:04.239 --> 00:35:05.019 Let's pray. 00:35:10.239 --> 00:35:10.819 Lord, 00:35:10.900 --> 00:35:11.239 so often 00:35:11.239 --> 00:35:11.900 we struggle 00:35:11.900 --> 00:35:15.880 to hold on 00:35:15.880 --> 00:35:16.940 to both 00:35:16.940 --> 00:35:17.480 justice 00:35:17.480 --> 00:35:18.099 and mercy 00:35:18.099 --> 00:35:20.599 and so often 00:35:20.599 --> 00:35:21.400 we experience 00:35:21.400 --> 00:35:22.199 the bitter fruit 00:35:22.199 --> 00:35:23.039 in our lives 00:35:23.039 --> 00:35:25.079 when one 00:35:25.079 --> 00:35:25.800 takes the upper 00:35:25.800 --> 00:35:26.679 hand over the other. 00:35:28.659 --> 00:35:29.460 When we 00:35:29.460 --> 00:35:31.300 hold on 00:35:31.300 --> 00:35:31.800 to one 00:35:31.800 --> 00:35:33.699 at the expense 00:35:33.699 --> 00:35:34.300 of the other 00:35:34.300 --> 00:35:36.300 and then even 00:35:36.300 --> 00:35:36.739 that one 00:35:36.739 --> 00:35:37.159 that we hold 00:35:37.159 --> 00:35:37.519 on to 00:35:37.519 --> 00:35:38.139 is tainted 00:35:38.139 --> 00:35:39.800 by our own 00:35:39.800 --> 00:35:40.380 self-pity 00:35:40.380 --> 00:35:41.480 or self-protection 00:35:41.480 --> 00:35:45.460 by our own 00:35:45.460 --> 00:35:45.860 pride 00:35:45.860 --> 00:35:46.360 by our own 00:35:46.360 --> 00:35:46.719 fear. 00:35:49.039 --> 00:35:49.579 But Lord Jesus 00:35:49.579 --> 00:35:50.300 we thank you 00:35:50.300 --> 00:35:51.019 that in you 00:35:51.019 --> 00:35:51.659 justice 00:35:51.659 --> 00:35:52.280 and mercy 00:35:52.280 --> 00:35:53.099 meet together. 00:35:55.599 --> 00:35:56.340 We thank you 00:35:56.340 --> 00:35:56.860 that you are 00:35:56.860 --> 00:35:59.039 a God 00:35:59.039 --> 00:35:59.500 whom we can 00:35:59.500 --> 00:35:59.940 trust. 00:36:02.239 --> 00:36:02.940 We thank you 00:36:02.940 --> 00:36:03.259 that you are 00:36:03.259 --> 00:36:03.539 a God 00:36:03.539 --> 00:36:04.039 who laid down 00:36:04.039 --> 00:36:04.420 his life 00:36:04.420 --> 00:36:04.940 for us. 00:36:08.860 --> 00:36:09.259 Lord, 00:36:09.320 --> 00:36:09.699 we pray 00:36:09.699 --> 00:36:11.219 that we 00:36:11.219 --> 00:36:11.679 would worship 00:36:11.679 --> 00:36:12.280 you tonight 00:36:12.280 --> 00:36:14.420 as a king 00:36:14.420 --> 00:36:15.059 who is full 00:36:15.059 --> 00:36:15.500 of mercy 00:36:15.500 --> 00:36:16.079 and justice 00:36:16.079 --> 00:36:16.820 and we pray 00:36:16.820 --> 00:36:17.820 that more 00:36:17.820 --> 00:36:18.159 and more 00:36:18.159 --> 00:36:18.659 that as your 00:36:18.659 --> 00:36:19.360 spirit dwells 00:36:19.360 --> 00:36:19.639 in us 00:36:19.639 --> 00:36:19.960 that our 00:36:19.960 --> 00:36:20.380 lives 00:36:20.380 --> 00:36:21.200 would be 00:36:21.200 --> 00:36:21.680 characterized 00:36:21.680 --> 00:36:23.579 by both 00:36:23.579 --> 00:36:23.980 mercy 00:36:23.980 --> 00:36:24.840 and justice 00:36:24.840 --> 00:36:27.160 and that you 00:36:27.160 --> 00:36:27.680 would give us 00:36:27.680 --> 00:36:28.140 the wisdom 00:36:28.140 --> 00:36:30.500 to know 00:36:30.500 --> 00:36:31.000 how to 00:36:31.000 --> 00:36:31.539 express 00:36:31.539 --> 00:36:32.860 those 00:36:32.860 --> 00:36:33.880 realities 00:36:33.880 --> 00:36:35.480 in our lives 00:36:35.480 --> 00:36:35.980 day to day. 00:36:37.400 --> 00:36:38.079 We pray this 00:36:38.079 --> 00:36:38.700 in Jesus' name. 00:36:39.260 --> 00:36:39.519 Amen. 00:36:39.519 --> 00:36:39.640 Amen. 00:36:39.640 --> 00:36:39.680 Amen. 00:36:39.680 --> 00:36:39.740 Amen. 00:36:39.740 --> 00:36:39.760 Amen. 00:36:39.760 --> 00:36:39.780 Amen. 00:36:39.780 --> 00:36:39.820 Amen. 00:36:39.820 --> 00:36:39.840 Amen. 00:36:39.840 --> 00:36:41.740 Amen. 00:36:41.740 --> 00:36:41.780 Amen. 00:36:41.780 --> 00:36:41.840 Amen. 00:36:41.840 --> 00:36:42.320 Amen. 00:36:42.320 --> 00:36:43.840 Amen. 00:36:43.840 --> 00:36:43.860 Amen. 00:36:43.860 --> 00:36:43.880 Amen. 00:36:43.880 --> 00:36:44.460 Amen. 00:36:44.460 --> 00:36:44.800 Amen. 00:36:44.800 --> 00:36:44.840 Amen.