WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.339 All right, so we're looking at 2 Samuel chapter 13 tonight. 00:00:08.480 --> 00:00:10.279 We're continuing our series in 2 Samuel. 00:00:10.400 --> 00:00:15.460 That's page 264 in the Pew Bible. 00:00:15.640 --> 00:00:17.160 Let me encourage you to follow along there. 00:00:17.219 --> 00:00:18.140 It's a long passage. 00:00:18.339 --> 00:00:22.960 We're not going to have it on the screens tonight, but it'd be good for you to follow along. 00:00:22.960 --> 00:00:33.260 There are some chapters in the Bible that are fairly hard to read. 00:00:35.320 --> 00:00:41.540 Hard because they confront us in pretty shocking detail with the reality of our own human fallenness. 00:00:43.420 --> 00:00:46.400 And 2 Samuel chapter 13, in my mind, is one of those chapters. 00:00:46.399 --> 00:00:52.219 I remember hearing a talk once about church architecture. 00:00:53.479 --> 00:00:56.739 And in particular, the talk was about arches. 00:00:58.640 --> 00:01:00.960 Romanesque arches, those are the sort of rounded ones. 00:01:01.539 --> 00:01:04.400 And Gothic arches, those are kind of the pointed ones. 00:01:04.920 --> 00:01:06.340 That's about all I remember from the lecture. 00:01:06.560 --> 00:01:07.000 There you go. 00:01:07.680 --> 00:01:09.620 Well, I guess I remember one more thing, and that's this. 00:01:09.620 --> 00:01:21.439 What's true of arches is that they're held in place, they're held secure by kind of the single stone at the top where the two sides of the arch meet. 00:01:22.020 --> 00:01:23.060 That's the keystone. 00:01:25.020 --> 00:01:28.320 Actually, if you look up, I keep looking up at our ceiling because we have them, actually. 00:01:28.420 --> 00:01:29.300 See where the fans are? 00:01:29.900 --> 00:01:31.560 And then there are these neat little decorative things. 00:01:32.380 --> 00:01:35.100 Where the arches come up, that's the keystone right there. 00:01:35.099 --> 00:01:47.439 And the reality is that when this keystone in an arch grows weak, or when it cracks, or even when it's removed, what happens is that the arch isn't able any longer to bear weight. 00:01:48.000 --> 00:01:49.919 And the whole structure begins to crumble. 00:01:50.739 --> 00:01:55.060 So it's the keystone that really holds the whole thing in place, that holds it all together safe and strong. 00:01:55.060 --> 00:02:07.439 And over the last couple of weeks, we've been learning in 2 Samuel about David's sin with Bathsheba and about his repentance after being confronted by Nathan, the prophet. 00:02:08.120 --> 00:02:22.740 And what we'll find in our chapter tonight is that as a result of all this, David's, we might say, his moral courage and his moral clarity have become greatly diminished. 00:02:22.740 --> 00:02:28.680 Now, the Lord has forgiven David's sin. 00:02:28.980 --> 00:02:35.740 David won't bear the punishment that his sins deserve, but the consequences of his sin continue. 00:02:37.360 --> 00:02:45.900 And what we'll see is that David's diminished moral clarity and courage in this passage is somewhat like the crumbling of the keystone in an arch. 00:02:46.300 --> 00:02:52.100 That when the head is weakened, when the head is compromised, the whole structure starts to come crumbling down. 00:02:52.740 --> 00:02:56.320 And this is what Nathan, the prophet, had actually predicted. 00:02:57.219 --> 00:02:58.180 Do you remember last week? 00:02:58.280 --> 00:03:02.020 He said that the sword would never depart from David's house. 00:03:03.540 --> 00:03:07.840 And yet, God wouldn't abandon David's house. 00:03:07.840 --> 00:03:13.280 Now, in our chapter tonight, there are three main characters here in addition to David. 00:03:13.680 --> 00:03:15.680 And they're all his children, in fact. 00:03:16.099 --> 00:03:17.439 Two sons, one daughter. 00:03:18.020 --> 00:03:20.539 And what we're going to do tonight is we're just going to walk through the text. 00:03:20.840 --> 00:03:23.379 We're going to sort of consider each character in turn. 00:03:23.379 --> 00:03:34.639 And what we're going to do is we're going to focus on what we see about the sorts of consequences that sin brings in our lives and in the lives of those around us. 00:03:34.759 --> 00:03:41.300 And after we look at the consequences that sin brings, after that, we're going to ask what hope this passage presents to us. 00:03:41.560 --> 00:03:42.740 Where does it point us to? 00:03:42.800 --> 00:03:44.759 Where can we go in the midst of all this? 00:03:44.759 --> 00:03:56.359 And let me just say up front, as we think about this approach to this text, what I hope we get out of our study together tonight is actually a lively and a right fear of sin. 00:03:59.159 --> 00:04:02.500 That we'll want to root it out of our hearts at all costs. 00:04:02.500 --> 00:04:07.960 Now, I know we don't often talk a lot about sin these days. 00:04:09.460 --> 00:04:12.680 Even in churches, we're a little maybe sheepish to talk about sin. 00:04:14.759 --> 00:04:15.759 But think of it this way. 00:04:15.900 --> 00:04:30.519 You know, if out in the foyer, there were a hungry, sort of ravenous lion just sort of pacing back and forth, ready to pounce on the first person who went through the doors, ready to tear apart its next victim. 00:04:32.500 --> 00:04:38.420 The last thing you would want me to do, that we would want to do as a church family, is to say nothing. 00:04:40.899 --> 00:04:42.240 We'd want to warn each other. 00:04:42.839 --> 00:04:46.540 And we'd want our warnings to be as clear as we could possibly make them. 00:04:49.399 --> 00:04:53.060 Because, you know, one of the earliest descriptions of sin in the Bible is just that. 00:04:54.019 --> 00:05:00.839 That it's like a predator crouching at the door, desiring to have us and to destroy us. 00:05:00.839 --> 00:05:03.899 That's Genesis chapter 4, verse 6. 00:05:06.799 --> 00:05:14.179 So let's look at the consequences of sin together through this text so that we might be exhorted to flee and to fight against sin in our hearts. 00:05:15.079 --> 00:05:18.399 And the first character we'll focus on is the character of Ammon. 00:05:18.399 --> 00:05:28.359 And what we see here, the sort of first, one of the first consequences of sin, is that it makes us a slave to lust and to lies. 00:05:28.959 --> 00:05:31.679 Let's begin reading 2 Samuel chapter 13, verse 1. 00:05:31.739 --> 00:05:32.539 I'll read this for us. 00:05:32.540 --> 00:06:02.540 00:06:02.540 --> 00:06:32.520 Ammon said to him, 00:06:32.540 --> 00:07:02.540 00:07:02.540 --> 00:07:07.420 But when she brought them near him to eat, he took hold of her and said to her, 00:07:07.600 --> 00:07:09.500 Come lie with me, my sister. 00:07:10.600 --> 00:07:14.760 She answered him, No, my brother, do not violate me, for such a thing is not done in Israel. 00:07:15.200 --> 00:07:16.780 Do not do this outrageous thing. 00:07:17.020 --> 00:07:18.720 As for me, where could I carry my shame? 00:07:19.300 --> 00:07:22.259 And as for you, you would be as one of the outrageous fools in Israel. 00:07:22.520 --> 00:07:25.320 Now, therefore, please speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you. 00:07:25.319 --> 00:07:27.779 But he would not listen to her. 00:07:28.699 --> 00:07:33.540 And being stronger than she, he violated her and lay with her. 00:07:36.699 --> 00:07:41.060 As I said, sometimes the Bible is so honest about our falling condition that it's hard to read. 00:07:42.639 --> 00:07:43.920 But what do we see here? 00:07:43.920 --> 00:07:49.460 Ammon, David's firstborn son, as we're told in 2 Samuel 3, 2, 00:07:49.980 --> 00:07:55.680 is so tormented with lust for his half-sister Tamar that he becomes physically ill. 00:07:58.160 --> 00:08:03.379 In other words, he had become a complete slave to his desires, 00:08:03.379 --> 00:08:07.980 even when those desires had become clearly illegitimate. 00:08:09.379 --> 00:08:12.560 After all, the Mosaic law, Leviticus 18, 9, 00:08:12.980 --> 00:08:16.819 expressly forbids sexual relationships between half-siblings. 00:08:17.540 --> 00:08:18.579 And everyone knew it. 00:08:19.360 --> 00:08:22.300 Tamar's probably alluding to that law in verse 12. 00:08:26.519 --> 00:08:29.259 But this is the frightening consequence of sin in our lives. 00:08:30.199 --> 00:08:31.159 That it grows. 00:08:31.160 --> 00:08:34.899 It takes more and more. 00:08:36.440 --> 00:08:39.759 I guarantee you that Ammon didn't just wake up one day 00:08:39.759 --> 00:08:44.000 and suddenly find himself burning with uncontrollable lust for his half-sister. 00:08:45.700 --> 00:08:49.740 How long had Ammon fooled around with lust in his heart? 00:08:50.600 --> 00:08:54.320 How long had he glanced at other women lustfully or fantasized in his mind? 00:08:56.279 --> 00:08:59.120 And then one day his beautiful half-sister comes into sight, 00:08:59.120 --> 00:09:01.720 and maybe he even tried to turn away. 00:09:02.799 --> 00:09:05.139 But by that point he was already a slave. 00:09:06.820 --> 00:09:08.620 And he couldn't get her out of his mind. 00:09:09.220 --> 00:09:11.639 And it tormented him, the Bible says. 00:09:14.279 --> 00:09:16.019 Friends, you see, this is how sin works. 00:09:16.799 --> 00:09:19.360 It doesn't stay small for long. 00:09:19.360 --> 00:09:24.139 It will control more and more and more. 00:09:24.539 --> 00:09:25.580 More of your thoughts. 00:09:26.279 --> 00:09:27.080 More of your time. 00:09:27.659 --> 00:09:28.940 More than of your actions. 00:09:29.480 --> 00:09:30.100 More of your money. 00:09:30.539 --> 00:09:32.100 It will shape more of your personality. 00:09:32.580 --> 00:09:34.039 It will begin to determine more of your friends. 00:09:34.820 --> 00:09:37.720 Until finally, it owns you. 00:09:37.720 --> 00:09:42.639 And you find yourself doing the unthinkable. 00:09:46.180 --> 00:09:48.960 In other words, there's no such thing as a little sin. 00:09:50.460 --> 00:09:51.920 Every sin. 00:09:52.320 --> 00:09:54.139 Within every sin. 00:09:54.139 --> 00:09:58.960 Is the seed of its greatest and most horrible expression. 00:10:01.100 --> 00:10:09.539 Just like an acorn holds within it all the sort of potent material to become a giant oak. 00:10:10.600 --> 00:10:15.439 So every sin carries within it the potency and the same potential. 00:10:16.000 --> 00:10:20.899 For the greatest and most obvious and horrible expressions of it. 00:10:20.899 --> 00:10:28.679 This is part of the reason why Jesus said that it was adultery even to look at another person with lust in your heart. 00:10:29.720 --> 00:10:31.360 Because the seed is there. 00:10:31.500 --> 00:10:32.159 The principle. 00:10:32.319 --> 00:10:32.899 The intent. 00:10:33.059 --> 00:10:37.059 And if not dug out, it grows to utterly own you. 00:10:39.959 --> 00:10:41.379 So let me ask us tonight. 00:10:41.459 --> 00:10:43.740 What sin are you harboring? 00:10:46.059 --> 00:10:47.220 What sin are you harboring? 00:10:47.340 --> 00:10:49.120 Thinking that maybe it's just a little sin. 00:10:49.860 --> 00:10:50.879 That it's no big deal. 00:10:51.899 --> 00:10:53.639 That you've got it under control. 00:10:54.879 --> 00:10:57.879 Maybe a few minutes glancing at attractive women here and there. 00:10:59.519 --> 00:11:01.620 Maybe a few little lies or sort of deceptions. 00:11:01.840 --> 00:11:02.959 Just hiding a thing or two. 00:11:03.919 --> 00:11:05.319 You know, no one really needs to know that. 00:11:07.039 --> 00:11:10.019 Maybe a little episode of anger or impatience. 00:11:10.120 --> 00:11:10.819 You know, nothing big. 00:11:10.879 --> 00:11:12.179 Sometimes you just have to let it out. 00:11:12.340 --> 00:11:15.139 You know, just sort of give vent to your anger and, you know, let it release. 00:11:15.139 --> 00:11:18.340 And maybe you shouldn't. 00:11:18.500 --> 00:11:20.419 Maybe you know you shouldn't be doing it, whatever it is. 00:11:20.500 --> 00:11:23.600 But maybe you even feel a little tinge of guilt. 00:11:23.799 --> 00:11:26.019 But after all, you say it's not so bad. 00:11:26.120 --> 00:11:28.139 I mean, it's not something to get up in arms about. 00:11:28.139 --> 00:11:33.199 I think what our passage is saying tonight, friends, is do not be fooled. 00:11:33.200 --> 00:11:43.920 That lust, that lie, that seemingly inconsequential impatience, it will grow and grow until it makes you its slave. 00:11:43.919 --> 00:11:52.860 Amen, in fact, here is so enslaved to his sin that he's unable to recognize that the advice of Jonadab, his friend, 00:11:52.959 --> 00:11:56.000 he's unable to recognize this advice for what it really is. 00:11:56.439 --> 00:11:58.139 Complete and utter wickedness. 00:12:00.719 --> 00:12:04.159 Jonadab here is described, did you catch that, as a very crafty man. 00:12:06.159 --> 00:12:12.500 It's a description, I think, I think that's meant to remind us of the serpent in the garden. 00:12:13.919 --> 00:12:17.719 And like the serpent, Jonadab comes to Ammon and he flatters him, right? 00:12:17.919 --> 00:12:19.500 Oh, son of the king. 00:12:21.319 --> 00:12:30.059 And then Jonadab proceeds to give Ammon a plan to fulfill his sinful desire, a plan that ultimately leads to his ruin and to his death. 00:12:32.860 --> 00:12:37.159 And it's very interesting, verse 3 is actually sort of the turning point of Ammon's story here. 00:12:37.879 --> 00:12:39.939 But Ammon had a friend. 00:12:39.940 --> 00:12:44.380 But Ammon had a friend. 00:12:47.500 --> 00:12:49.760 Brothers and sisters, are you careful who your friends are? 00:12:52.880 --> 00:12:55.040 Jonadab was not a friend to Ammon. 00:12:55.760 --> 00:12:59.480 A true friend would have said, run away. 00:13:00.280 --> 00:13:03.600 A true friend would have said to Ammon, look what happened to your father. 00:13:03.600 --> 00:13:07.420 And now you're going to do the exact same thing, flee sin. 00:13:08.060 --> 00:13:11.320 Move away, run away, do whatever it takes. 00:13:12.920 --> 00:13:15.480 That's what a true friend would have said to Ammon. 00:13:17.740 --> 00:13:19.540 Friends, who are you and I listening to? 00:13:19.940 --> 00:13:21.480 Who are we surrounding ourselves with? 00:13:21.519 --> 00:13:24.440 Who is able to actually speak into our lives? 00:13:24.440 --> 00:13:28.580 Be careful who your friends are. 00:13:30.620 --> 00:13:34.740 Just like Jonadab, they can be the instrument of your ruin. 00:13:38.320 --> 00:13:42.260 And in all of this, where is David? 00:13:43.780 --> 00:13:44.740 Where is David? 00:13:44.740 --> 00:13:53.019 How could David not have seen that his son was harboring this inappropriate attraction to his half-sister? 00:13:54.580 --> 00:14:00.840 How could David have been so naive as to ignorantly just sort of fall into their evil plan? 00:14:02.680 --> 00:14:12.779 How could David have allowed such a scoundrel as Jonadab to remain a part of the royal court around his family? 00:14:14.740 --> 00:14:21.740 Instead, what David does is he stamps, David's own sins, stamps its image into his son Ammon. 00:14:23.120 --> 00:14:25.080 David saw Bathsheba and he took her. 00:14:25.539 --> 00:14:28.639 And like father, like son, Ammon does the exact same thing. 00:14:33.080 --> 00:14:35.659 So I hope we're beginning to see the consequences of sin. 00:14:36.060 --> 00:14:37.440 It makes us a slave. 00:14:37.940 --> 00:14:41.759 And those around us, as we see through David, are going to be dragged into it as well. 00:14:42.100 --> 00:14:43.480 Often going even further. 00:14:43.480 --> 00:14:44.820 David slept with another man's wife. 00:14:45.159 --> 00:14:46.440 Ammon sleeps with his own sister. 00:14:47.639 --> 00:14:49.899 And down and down and down it goes. 00:14:50.019 --> 00:14:51.899 Sin making all of us its slaves. 00:14:56.340 --> 00:14:57.200 Let's keep going. 00:14:58.259 --> 00:15:00.500 The second character in our story is Tamar. 00:15:01.779 --> 00:15:06.740 And we see in her story that sin violates and shames the innocent. 00:15:08.180 --> 00:15:09.720 Let's pick up in verse 15. 00:15:09.720 --> 00:15:15.660 Then Ammon hated her with very great hatred. 00:15:16.259 --> 00:15:20.180 So that the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. 00:15:20.720 --> 00:15:22.620 And Ammon said to her, get up, go. 00:15:23.320 --> 00:15:27.879 But she said to him, no, my brother, for this wrong in sending me away is greater than the other that you did to me. 00:15:28.460 --> 00:15:29.660 But he would not listen to her. 00:15:29.659 --> 00:15:34.559 He called the young man who served him and said, put this woman out of my presence and bolt the door after her. 00:15:35.740 --> 00:15:38.059 Now she was wearing a long robe with sleeves. 00:15:38.480 --> 00:15:40.779 For thus were the virgin daughters of the king dressed. 00:15:41.439 --> 00:15:42.939 So his servant put her out. 00:15:43.620 --> 00:15:44.819 Bolted the door after her. 00:15:45.899 --> 00:15:49.819 And Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the long robe that she wore. 00:15:49.820 --> 00:15:54.300 And she laid her hand on her head and went away crying aloud as she went. 00:15:56.160 --> 00:15:59.480 And her brother Absalom said to her, has Ammon your brother been with you? 00:16:00.120 --> 00:16:01.480 Now hold your peace, my sister. 00:16:01.540 --> 00:16:02.020 He's your brother. 00:16:02.100 --> 00:16:03.040 Do not take this to heart. 00:16:04.100 --> 00:16:07.320 So Tamar lived a desolate woman in her brother Absalom's house. 00:16:08.420 --> 00:16:10.440 When King David heard of these things, he was very angry. 00:16:10.440 --> 00:16:14.240 But Absalom spoke to Ammon neither good nor bad. 00:16:15.160 --> 00:16:16.460 For Absalom hated Ammon. 00:16:17.080 --> 00:16:19.320 Because he had violated his sister Tamar. 00:16:22.680 --> 00:16:26.140 The narrator uses a number of images to bring his point home here. 00:16:26.980 --> 00:16:31.540 First, back in verses 8 through 9, there's this picture of Tamar baking bread. 00:16:32.140 --> 00:16:36.500 Did it strike you how much the narrator focuses on that scene? 00:16:36.500 --> 00:16:42.039 Baking bread is such a caring, such a domestic act, isn't it? 00:16:42.059 --> 00:16:48.659 It's sort of the quintessential act of family and domesticity and caring. 00:16:50.100 --> 00:16:53.659 But here Ammon twists it for his own selfish depravity. 00:16:54.539 --> 00:17:00.820 The very thing that symbolizes warmth and nurture becomes the occasion for something unspeakably wrong. 00:17:00.820 --> 00:17:07.500 Then there's the image of the bolted door in verse 17 and 18. 00:17:08.740 --> 00:17:12.820 As soon as Ammon violates Tamar, his lust turns into hatred. 00:17:14.059 --> 00:17:14.900 And isn't that the way? 00:17:15.700 --> 00:17:19.820 Desire becomes consumption and consumption becomes disgust. 00:17:20.860 --> 00:17:25.140 It's completely pitiful, but it's very real, is it not? 00:17:26.080 --> 00:17:27.960 The victimizer blames the victim. 00:17:27.960 --> 00:17:31.299 He transfers and projects his guilt onto her. 00:17:31.799 --> 00:17:34.600 And the bolt of the door is slammed shut. 00:17:35.759 --> 00:17:39.640 Tamar, violated, wronged, is now excluded. 00:17:39.920 --> 00:17:40.720 Shut out. 00:17:41.100 --> 00:17:43.819 And shut out not merely from Ammon's presence here. 00:17:44.340 --> 00:17:49.860 Because you see, in that culture, her violation now marks her as somewhat of a pariah. 00:17:50.440 --> 00:17:51.819 No one will want to marry her. 00:17:52.920 --> 00:17:54.220 She'll never have a family. 00:17:54.940 --> 00:17:57.079 She'll always be an outcast in the community. 00:17:57.079 --> 00:18:03.799 In verse 16, she even begs Ammon not to put her away. 00:18:05.419 --> 00:18:10.460 She senses the very real danger she's in, a life of total social exclusion. 00:18:10.879 --> 00:18:16.659 And as terrible as it must have been, she at least would have some moral cover had Ammon agreed to marry her. 00:18:17.799 --> 00:18:20.119 How tragic to be in such a situation. 00:18:20.119 --> 00:18:24.799 But the door is bolted. 00:18:28.879 --> 00:18:31.019 Finally, the last image is this torn robe. 00:18:32.759 --> 00:18:37.299 As a daughter of the king, Tamar was given a special, beautiful robe to wear. 00:18:37.299 --> 00:18:41.139 It must have signified her dignity and her nobility. 00:18:42.819 --> 00:18:44.859 But in grief, she tears it. 00:18:46.240 --> 00:18:47.159 And weeps. 00:18:47.559 --> 00:18:49.119 This beautiful garment torn. 00:18:49.259 --> 00:18:51.779 What a poignant image of her shame. 00:18:51.779 --> 00:18:58.339 You know, there's only one other place in the Bible where this kind of robe is mentioned. 00:18:59.399 --> 00:19:02.399 And it's the robe that Jacob gave to Joseph. 00:19:03.579 --> 00:19:05.599 Described as exactly the same thing. 00:19:06.079 --> 00:19:08.599 That robe of many colors, as it's sometimes translated. 00:19:08.599 --> 00:19:17.000 And in that story too, Joseph's own family, his own brothers, attack him, leave him for dead. 00:19:17.480 --> 00:19:20.219 And that robe too ends up bloodied and torn. 00:19:24.899 --> 00:19:27.759 Friends, we think that sin is just a game, don't we? 00:19:29.000 --> 00:19:30.779 How we tend to minimize it. 00:19:30.779 --> 00:19:35.299 We only think of ourselves and our own pleasure. 00:19:35.500 --> 00:19:39.480 We only think of our own little desires or our own little needs, as we call them. 00:19:40.240 --> 00:19:43.899 But how many innocent people are violated and shamed as a result? 00:19:45.819 --> 00:19:49.639 How many Tamars are left in the wake of our selfish lust and greed? 00:19:50.599 --> 00:19:52.299 How many doors will be bolted? 00:19:52.660 --> 00:19:54.180 And how many robes will be torn? 00:19:55.559 --> 00:19:59.059 Friends, you and I, human beings, men and women, 00:19:59.059 --> 00:20:05.579 we are created in the very image of God himself with unparalleled dignity and honor. 00:20:06.440 --> 00:20:09.339 We are the crown of God's creation. 00:20:11.679 --> 00:20:16.379 How heartbreaking to see God's image violated and defiled here. 00:20:17.579 --> 00:20:21.159 It rightly raises in us anger and pain. 00:20:21.379 --> 00:20:23.779 And we want to cry out for justice to be done. 00:20:23.839 --> 00:20:28.359 And in that crying out, we are crying the same cry of God himself. 00:20:28.359 --> 00:20:36.259 And yet, friends, and yet, do we keep on harboring our own sins? 00:20:37.879 --> 00:20:44.219 With our mouths, do we denounce evils like human sex trafficking or corporate greed? 00:20:44.539 --> 00:20:49.199 But in our hearts, do we show our allegiance to the exact same things 00:20:49.199 --> 00:20:52.319 when we cultivate the root of those same sinful desires in ourselves? 00:20:52.319 --> 00:20:58.200 When we keep lusting after the men or the women that we see on the street or on the screen? 00:20:58.599 --> 00:21:01.379 When we keep on lying or deceiving, even in small ways, 00:21:01.439 --> 00:21:05.960 are we not perpetuating in some way the very culture that our mouths are so quick to denounce? 00:21:05.960 --> 00:21:14.700 Are we not actively and silently giving our approval to those very things we say we despise? 00:21:18.539 --> 00:21:20.500 And again, in all of this, where is David? 00:21:22.579 --> 00:21:24.420 In verse 21, he gets angry. 00:21:26.160 --> 00:21:27.220 But he does nothing. 00:21:27.220 --> 00:21:34.579 David actually has the authority as the king to judge lawbreakers and to vindicate the innocent. 00:21:35.600 --> 00:21:37.019 In fact, that's not just David's right. 00:21:37.140 --> 00:21:38.559 It's his duty as the king. 00:21:39.039 --> 00:21:40.180 And yet, he does nothing. 00:21:41.940 --> 00:21:44.279 His moral courage, it seems, is too weakened to act. 00:21:45.240 --> 00:21:48.759 Perhaps his moral clarity, too out of focus here, too fuzzy here, 00:21:48.759 --> 00:21:51.460 to see how awful the thing is that's been done. 00:21:51.460 --> 00:21:56.059 And friends, that fact in itself ought to frighten us, to flee from sin. 00:21:59.539 --> 00:22:02.160 So here are two consequences of sin in our lives. 00:22:02.740 --> 00:22:03.840 It enslaves us. 00:22:04.920 --> 00:22:06.319 And it violates the innocent. 00:22:08.620 --> 00:22:10.860 Finally, the third character in our text is Absalom. 00:22:12.039 --> 00:22:15.980 And in Absalom, we see that sin causes us to take matters into our own hands. 00:22:16.920 --> 00:22:18.880 Let's read the rest of the chapter, verse 23. 00:22:18.880 --> 00:22:23.820 After two full years, Absalom had sheep shears at Belhazor, which is near Ephraim. 00:22:24.560 --> 00:22:26.180 And Absalom invited all the king's sons. 00:22:27.320 --> 00:22:28.780 And Absalom came to the king and said, 00:22:28.860 --> 00:22:30.060 Behold, your servant has sheep shears. 00:22:30.140 --> 00:22:33.040 Please let the king and his servants go with your servant. 00:22:33.820 --> 00:22:34.900 But the king said to Absalom, 00:22:34.980 --> 00:22:37.920 No, my son, let us not all go, lest we be burdensome to you. 00:22:38.420 --> 00:22:41.520 He pressed him, but he would not go, but gave him his blessing. 00:22:41.620 --> 00:22:42.280 Then Absalom said, 00:22:42.320 --> 00:22:44.080 If not, please let my brother Ammon go with us. 00:22:44.560 --> 00:22:45.320 And the king said to him, 00:22:45.340 --> 00:22:46.180 Why should he go with you? 00:22:46.180 --> 00:22:49.680 But Absalom pressed him until he let Ammon and all the king's sons go with him. 00:22:50.360 --> 00:22:51.940 Then Absalom commanded his servants, 00:22:52.740 --> 00:22:54.560 Mark when Ammon's heart is merry with wine. 00:22:55.120 --> 00:22:58.740 And when I say to you, strike Ammon, then kill him. 00:22:59.700 --> 00:23:02.259 Do not fear, for have I not commanded you? 00:23:02.799 --> 00:23:04.100 Be courageous and be valiant. 00:23:05.420 --> 00:23:08.660 So the servants of Absalom did to Ammon as Absalom had commanded. 00:23:09.660 --> 00:23:14.120 Then all the king's sons arose, and each mounted his mule and fled. 00:23:14.119 --> 00:23:17.439 And while they were on the way, news came to David. 00:23:18.000 --> 00:23:20.479 Absalom has struck down all the king's sons, and not one of them has left. 00:23:21.079 --> 00:23:23.259 Then the king arose and tore his garments and lay on the earth, 00:23:23.299 --> 00:23:25.419 and all his servants who were standing by tore their garments. 00:23:25.879 --> 00:23:28.179 But Jonadab, the son of Shimea, David's brother, said, 00:23:28.259 --> 00:23:31.379 Let not, my lord, suppose that they have killed all the young men, the king's sons? 00:23:32.099 --> 00:23:33.139 For Ammon alone is dead. 00:23:33.779 --> 00:23:37.879 For by the command of Absalom, this has been determined from the day he violated his sister Tamar. 00:23:37.880 --> 00:23:42.700 Now, therefore, let not, my lord, the king so take it to heart as to suppose that all the king's sons are dead. 00:23:43.320 --> 00:23:45.140 For Ammon alone is dead. 00:23:46.820 --> 00:23:48.020 But Absalom fled. 00:23:48.720 --> 00:23:51.320 And the young man who kept the watch lifted up his eyes and looked. 00:23:51.840 --> 00:23:55.320 And behold, many people were coming from the road behind him by the side of the mountain. 00:23:55.400 --> 00:23:57.580 And Jonadab said to the king, Behold, the king's sons have come. 00:23:58.020 --> 00:23:59.820 And as your servant said, so it has come about. 00:23:59.819 --> 00:24:05.500 And as soon as he had finished speaking, behold, the king's sons came and lifted up their voice and wept. 00:24:05.960 --> 00:24:08.339 And the king also and his servants wept very bitterly. 00:24:09.519 --> 00:24:13.799 But Absalom fled and went to Talmai, the son of Amahud, king of Geshur. 00:24:14.899 --> 00:24:17.079 And David mourned for his son day after day. 00:24:18.119 --> 00:24:20.759 So Absalom fled and went to Geshur and was there three years. 00:24:21.500 --> 00:24:27.619 And the spirit of the king longed to go out to Absalom because he was comforted about Ammon since he was dead. 00:24:29.819 --> 00:24:32.899 And sheep shearing was traditionally a time of festivity. 00:24:33.639 --> 00:24:34.319 He threw a party. 00:24:34.939 --> 00:24:36.159 Sort of like a harvest festival. 00:24:37.480 --> 00:24:42.019 Absalom plans a party, convinces David to let Ammon and the rest of the brothers come, and he kills Ammon in cold blood. 00:24:42.939 --> 00:24:48.419 Or at least he makes his servants do it for him, telling them to be courageous and valiant while he sort of stands off on the sidelines. 00:24:50.339 --> 00:24:53.740 Now some might say that Ammon got what he deserved, perhaps. 00:24:54.740 --> 00:24:58.159 But you see, it wasn't Absalom's place to administer that justice. 00:24:59.819 --> 00:25:02.639 And was he really doing it for Tamar's sake? 00:25:04.419 --> 00:25:05.720 People seem to think so. 00:25:07.319 --> 00:25:11.579 But did you notice how cold Absalom's response was to Tamar in verse 20? 00:25:14.299 --> 00:25:19.019 Absalom does little to comfort his sister and everything to make Ammon pay. 00:25:19.019 --> 00:25:30.000 And you know, as the rest of the story of Absalom plays out in the following chapters, we're going to be following Absalom and his rebellion and the civil war that ensues over the next few weeks. 00:25:30.740 --> 00:25:34.980 It becomes clear that Absalom had much more in mind than merely avenging his sister. 00:25:35.839 --> 00:25:38.400 He was most likely making a move for the throne. 00:25:38.400 --> 00:25:42.640 After all, Ammon was the firstborn, right? 00:25:42.860 --> 00:25:44.300 The heir to the kingship. 00:25:46.120 --> 00:25:49.980 And Absalom sees his chance to move one step closer to being king. 00:25:52.220 --> 00:25:55.800 Absalom takes things into his own hands so that he can be the king. 00:25:58.300 --> 00:26:00.660 And friends, isn't that really what's going on with sin? 00:26:00.660 --> 00:26:04.320 It's not merely breaking a few laws here or there. 00:26:04.480 --> 00:26:06.500 It's not merely a few mistakes that we make. 00:26:08.880 --> 00:26:11.540 At the heart of it, it's putting ourselves in the place of the king. 00:26:12.140 --> 00:26:13.920 Putting ourselves in the place of God. 00:26:16.000 --> 00:26:24.300 And the consequence of sin is that that attitude takes on more and more and more and more of our life. 00:26:24.340 --> 00:26:26.500 That we think we can do things our own way. 00:26:26.700 --> 00:26:28.340 And that we can make things right. 00:26:28.339 --> 00:26:30.459 And that we get to decide the outcome. 00:26:30.959 --> 00:26:33.699 Sin says, I'll live my life my own way. 00:26:33.859 --> 00:26:34.939 And I'll be the king. 00:26:36.959 --> 00:26:39.720 But you see, in trying to order our lives our own way, 00:26:40.059 --> 00:26:42.079 it's only chaos that results. 00:26:43.379 --> 00:26:44.639 We see it here in our text. 00:26:45.019 --> 00:26:45.419 Do you remember? 00:26:46.000 --> 00:26:48.439 A few chapters ago, Hebron was the place, 00:26:48.959 --> 00:26:52.519 years before, where the tribes had united around David. 00:26:55.019 --> 00:26:58.039 But now the sons of David flee from Hebron in fear. 00:26:58.039 --> 00:26:58.920 They disperse. 00:26:59.079 --> 00:26:59.619 They run. 00:27:00.359 --> 00:27:04.799 The kingdom, once united, is now simply coming undone. 00:27:07.480 --> 00:27:09.000 And again, where is David? 00:27:11.440 --> 00:27:17.399 Again, we find him, just like in verse 21, at the end of this whole chapter, doing nothing. 00:27:17.400 --> 00:27:23.740 Absalom flees to his maternal grandfather and Gesher. 00:27:24.540 --> 00:27:27.420 And David, though his spirit goes out to him, doesn't do a thing. 00:27:30.019 --> 00:27:32.080 In short, he fails in his duty as a king. 00:27:32.620 --> 00:27:34.460 And he fails in his duty as a father. 00:27:34.460 --> 00:27:40.779 It's sort of like Eli, the priest, back in 1 Samuel chapter 2, 00:27:41.340 --> 00:27:45.100 who refused to control his wicked sons, and they end up defiling God's house. 00:27:45.099 --> 00:27:49.839 And it's sort of like Jacob, the patriarch in Genesis, 00:27:50.539 --> 00:27:53.419 who for some reason the narrator wants us to think about in this chapter. 00:27:54.859 --> 00:27:58.179 Jacob, who shows unbridled favoritism towards Joseph. 00:27:59.219 --> 00:28:01.759 And as a result, his family gets torn apart. 00:28:01.759 --> 00:28:08.319 And it's all sort of like Adam, the father of us all, 00:28:09.200 --> 00:28:12.839 who sinned against God in the garden, taking matters into his own hands. 00:28:14.599 --> 00:28:18.319 Then as a result, to see his firstborn son, Cain, do exactly the same thing. 00:28:19.039 --> 00:28:20.619 Taking matters into his own hands. 00:28:21.579 --> 00:28:22.740 Killing Abel, his own brother. 00:28:25.039 --> 00:28:29.779 The Bible seems to read like one long story of failed fathers. 00:28:30.359 --> 00:28:30.920 Does it not? 00:28:31.759 --> 00:28:35.500 Fathers who sin get stamped onto the image of their children. 00:28:36.279 --> 00:28:39.259 Fathers who crumble and the whole arch comes down. 00:28:41.759 --> 00:28:42.720 Except one. 00:28:45.799 --> 00:28:51.480 In the whole story of the Bible, there's one father who always does what is just and what is right. 00:28:52.740 --> 00:28:58.259 In the whole arc of scripture, there's one father who has kept all of his promises. 00:28:58.259 --> 00:29:03.039 A father who can actually break our slavery to sin. 00:29:03.039 --> 00:29:05.119 And cover our shame. 00:29:05.119 --> 00:29:09.799 And release us from the curse and the chaos of trying to be our own kings. 00:29:09.799 --> 00:29:15.399 You know, we've seen the consequences of sin in our passage. 00:29:15.500 --> 00:29:18.720 And we've seen how we should root it out of our hearts at all costs. 00:29:18.940 --> 00:29:20.419 But what hope do we have, right? 00:29:21.339 --> 00:29:24.559 I mean, if our parents have failed, how do we know that we will not fail too? 00:29:25.440 --> 00:29:30.019 Where do we turn in this world where every authority seems compromised, 00:29:30.019 --> 00:29:34.119 And every king seems crooked and every father fails. 00:29:34.119 --> 00:29:41.839 And then Jesus comes and lives among us. 00:29:42.839 --> 00:29:44.879 And he teaches his disciples to pray. 00:29:45.939 --> 00:29:49.079 And he says, when you pray, say this, our father. 00:29:49.079 --> 00:29:57.799 Jesus comes and he points us to the one true, faithful, good father. 00:29:58.539 --> 00:30:00.480 The one God who has made us all. 00:30:03.299 --> 00:30:04.879 The father that we all need. 00:30:05.799 --> 00:30:11.679 Who in his eternal wisdom and loving kindness never grows slack. 00:30:12.460 --> 00:30:14.480 And never falters and never fails. 00:30:14.480 --> 00:30:19.180 You see, friends, this is why Jesus came. 00:30:20.140 --> 00:30:25.059 He came and went to the cross and paid for the sin of all who believe. 00:30:25.440 --> 00:30:29.519 So that we could now have God as our father. 00:30:30.900 --> 00:30:37.839 And so that by his holy spirit, we might have his holy, beautiful image stamped on us anew. 00:30:37.839 --> 00:30:45.259 So that no longer need we follow in our earthly father's footsteps. 00:30:45.500 --> 00:30:46.179 Like Ammon. 00:30:46.819 --> 00:30:47.879 And like Absalom. 00:30:48.500 --> 00:30:50.480 Who decides that it's his job to kill. 00:30:53.679 --> 00:30:55.279 And perhaps greatest of all. 00:30:57.039 --> 00:31:01.419 No longer must our royal robes remain torn like Tamar. 00:31:03.139 --> 00:31:04.339 Friends, God has come. 00:31:04.339 --> 00:31:12.779 And for all of us who have been violated and wrong and shamed, God has come to throw a new robe over us. 00:31:13.859 --> 00:31:17.480 A robe of splendor without spot or wrinkle. 00:31:18.139 --> 00:31:19.559 A robe of utter white. 00:31:20.799 --> 00:31:24.119 You know, one way of looking at the story of the Bible too is that it's all about clothes. 00:31:25.439 --> 00:31:26.799 My daughter would be happy to hear that. 00:31:28.059 --> 00:31:29.279 How does the Bible begin? 00:31:30.059 --> 00:31:33.799 The Bible begins with Adam and Eve in the garden, naked and unashamed. 00:31:35.079 --> 00:31:36.119 And yet they sin. 00:31:36.859 --> 00:31:40.059 And they try to clothe themselves with these fig leaves. 00:31:41.119 --> 00:31:42.099 That doesn't work. 00:31:42.659 --> 00:31:43.759 So God clothes them. 00:31:44.720 --> 00:31:48.839 And then when God sort of calls Israel to himself and he sets up this tabernacle in the wilderness. 00:31:49.279 --> 00:31:51.039 And he says, this is how you're going to worship me. 00:31:51.240 --> 00:31:51.980 What does he do? 00:31:52.179 --> 00:31:56.679 He says, there's going to be one person in your midst who you're going to call the high priest. 00:31:56.680 --> 00:32:08.880 And that high priest is going to be decked out in some of the most radiant clothing that this nomadic, desert living, 400 years in slavery people had ever seen. 00:32:09.880 --> 00:32:13.600 Purple and scarlet and gold and jewels and a headrest. 00:32:14.039 --> 00:32:14.460 Everything. 00:32:15.140 --> 00:32:16.259 Right in their midst. 00:32:16.660 --> 00:32:19.600 One of them dressed in total splendor. 00:32:19.599 --> 00:32:23.139 A high priest. 00:32:24.199 --> 00:32:25.599 And then Jesus Christ comes. 00:32:27.459 --> 00:32:30.159 And he's ripped naked on a cross. 00:32:30.899 --> 00:32:32.279 And he's utterly shamed. 00:32:32.279 --> 00:32:35.379 But he rises again in power. 00:32:35.819 --> 00:32:43.720 So that everyone who believes in this high priest will have the garments that we've all been longing for. 00:32:43.720 --> 00:32:49.819 A white robe of utter and complete righteousness. 00:32:52.640 --> 00:32:56.259 The apostle John in the book of Revelation gets a glimpse of heaven. 00:32:56.440 --> 00:33:00.880 And he sees the saints there from every tribe and every tongue and every family. 00:33:01.200 --> 00:33:02.980 Not just one family in the midst of all the earth. 00:33:03.220 --> 00:33:04.900 Not just one person in the midst of that family. 00:33:05.319 --> 00:33:07.400 Every single one of them. 00:33:08.400 --> 00:33:11.500 In the most gleaming white apparel he had ever imagined. 00:33:13.720 --> 00:33:17.759 Tamar says, where can I go with my shame? 00:33:19.120 --> 00:33:21.920 And that question rings out across the Bible. 00:33:22.420 --> 00:33:25.059 Until it finds its answer in Jesus Christ. 00:33:27.799 --> 00:33:29.480 Jesus Christ, our true brother. 00:33:32.220 --> 00:33:35.299 Who acts not to exalt himself in revenge. 00:33:35.299 --> 00:33:36.920 But who comes and humbles himself. 00:33:37.400 --> 00:33:37.980 And is torn. 00:33:38.480 --> 00:33:39.620 So that we can be mended. 00:33:39.619 --> 00:33:43.979 And so that our shame can be covered. 00:33:45.000 --> 00:33:46.500 And we can know that we're loved. 00:33:49.759 --> 00:33:53.279 And friends, if you come to know God as your father. 00:33:53.699 --> 00:33:55.259 Through the righteousness of Christ. 00:33:55.639 --> 00:33:58.479 By the Holy Spirit working faith in your hearts. 00:33:58.480 --> 00:34:01.519 He will enable you. 00:34:02.019 --> 00:34:04.200 To do exactly what we've been talking about tonight. 00:34:04.299 --> 00:34:05.579 To flee from sin. 00:34:06.500 --> 00:34:07.860 To run away. 00:34:08.380 --> 00:34:09.740 From all of these things. 00:34:09.820 --> 00:34:12.199 The terrible consequences of which we've been seeing. 00:34:12.760 --> 00:34:14.179 Displayed for us in this passage. 00:34:15.340 --> 00:34:17.579 He won't just robe you with righteousness. 00:34:17.760 --> 00:34:20.480 But he'll give you inner strength by his spirit. 00:34:21.179 --> 00:34:22.480 To become new. 00:34:22.480 --> 00:34:23.099 New. 00:34:27.099 --> 00:34:30.559 So friends, let me ask you a very straightforward question tonight. 00:34:33.039 --> 00:34:34.900 Have you turned from sin. 00:34:35.380 --> 00:34:38.460 And placed your trust in Jesus Christ? 00:34:39.119 --> 00:34:41.119 He is the only one. 00:34:41.619 --> 00:34:43.099 Who will cover your sin. 00:34:43.519 --> 00:34:44.960 And give you a new nature within. 00:34:48.400 --> 00:34:50.760 If not, do so without delay. 00:34:50.920 --> 00:34:52.300 Call upon him in prayer. 00:34:52.780 --> 00:34:54.059 And he will receive you. 00:34:54.840 --> 00:34:55.699 Come to me. 00:34:56.159 --> 00:34:57.500 The prophet Isaiah says. 00:34:58.699 --> 00:35:00.199 Come to me and get water. 00:35:00.699 --> 00:35:01.619 And get bread. 00:35:01.900 --> 00:35:03.579 You don't need to bring a thing. 00:35:03.699 --> 00:35:04.880 You don't need to bring a dime. 00:35:04.960 --> 00:35:06.760 Just come and I'll give it to you. 00:35:10.300 --> 00:35:11.900 And friends, if this is true of you. 00:35:11.960 --> 00:35:14.659 If you know the beauty of having God as your father. 00:35:17.139 --> 00:35:19.219 Then you know that you have a father you can trust. 00:35:20.240 --> 00:35:21.619 You can trust his commands. 00:35:21.619 --> 00:35:24.039 You can trust his promptings. 00:35:24.239 --> 00:35:27.539 You can flee from every known remaining sin in your heart. 00:35:27.880 --> 00:35:30.500 Knowing that those things have no joy for you. 00:35:32.000 --> 00:35:33.139 And you can live for him. 00:35:33.380 --> 00:35:34.900 And you can listen to his word. 00:35:35.239 --> 00:35:36.359 And you can trust him. 00:35:37.199 --> 00:35:38.239 And he will never fail you. 00:35:38.239 --> 00:35:41.339 Let's pray. 00:35:41.339 --> 00:35:41.379 Let's pray. 00:35:46.699 --> 00:35:47.679 Oh Lord Jesus. 00:35:51.139 --> 00:35:53.199 As the song says that we're about to sing. 00:35:53.199 --> 00:35:56.500 Our shame was deeper than the sea. 00:35:57.619 --> 00:35:59.339 But your grace goes deeper still. 00:36:00.919 --> 00:36:03.039 Lord many of my brothers and sisters here tonight. 00:36:03.199 --> 00:36:04.639 Know the shame. 00:36:05.119 --> 00:36:06.179 Of being a victim. 00:36:07.659 --> 00:36:09.339 Oh Lord would they know. 00:36:11.079 --> 00:36:13.739 And would they embrace the fact that you have seen them. 00:36:13.799 --> 00:36:14.519 And you have loved them. 00:36:14.579 --> 00:36:15.939 And you have covered them in Christ. 00:36:15.940 --> 00:36:17.940 Would they know. 00:36:17.940 --> 00:36:18.940 Would they know. 00:36:18.940 --> 00:36:19.940 Would they know. 00:36:19.940 --> 00:36:19.980 Would they know. 00:36:20.119 --> 00:36:21.780 The shame defeating power. 00:36:21.980 --> 00:36:24.059 Of your all embracing love in Jesus. 00:36:27.059 --> 00:36:29.159 And Lord for those who bear the shame. 00:36:29.960 --> 00:36:31.179 Not of being the victim. 00:36:31.280 --> 00:36:32.420 Of being the victimizer. 00:36:34.119 --> 00:36:35.740 Lord of being the perpetrator. 00:36:37.200 --> 00:36:38.800 Those who carry that shame. 00:36:39.280 --> 00:36:39.880 Oh God. 00:36:41.500 --> 00:36:42.639 Would they too. 00:36:42.639 --> 00:36:46.000 Know the beautiful covering. 00:36:46.000 --> 00:36:47.319 Of your righteousness tonight. 00:36:48.119 --> 00:36:49.779 Would they know real forgiveness. 00:36:51.239 --> 00:36:52.199 In Jesus. 00:36:53.739 --> 00:36:54.980 That you have washed. 00:36:55.119 --> 00:36:56.299 Even that stain away. 00:36:59.659 --> 00:37:00.920 And would they rise. 00:37:01.239 --> 00:37:01.980 To sin no more. 00:37:05.079 --> 00:37:06.759 Oh God work these things in us. 00:37:06.819 --> 00:37:07.960 By your spirit we pray. 00:37:09.079 --> 00:37:09.420 Amen.