WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.359 This morning's reading is 2 Samuel chapter 15 and it's 319 in the church Bible. 00:00:14.960 --> 00:00:21.839 ! In the course of time, Absalom provided himself with chariots and horses and with fifty men to run ahead of him. 00:00:21.839 --> 00:00:34.120 He would get up early and stand by the side of the road leading to the city gate. Whenever anyone came with a complaint to be placed before the king for a decision, Absalom would call out to him, 00:00:34.539 --> 00:00:39.519 What town are you from? He would answer, Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel. 00:00:40.260 --> 00:00:47.920 Then Absalom would say to him, Look, your claims are valid and proper, but there is no representative of the king to hear you. 00:00:47.920 --> 00:00:59.380 And Absalom would add, If only I were appointed judge in the land, then everyone who has a complaint or case would come to me and I would see that they receive justice. 00:01:00.340 --> 00:01:09.520 Also, whenever anyone approached him to bow down before him, Absalom would reach out his hand, take hold of him and kiss him. 00:01:09.519 --> 00:01:16.280 Absalom behaved in this way towards all the Israelites who came to the king asking for justice. 00:01:16.959 --> 00:01:19.539 And so he stole the hearts of the people of Israel. 00:01:20.799 --> 00:01:28.379 At the end of four years, Absalom said to the king, Let me go to Hebron and fulfil a vow I made to the Lord. 00:01:28.939 --> 00:01:32.959 While your servant was living at Gesher in Aram, I made this vow. 00:01:32.959 --> 00:01:37.619 If the Lord takes me back to Jerusalem, I will worship the Lord in Hebron. 00:01:38.559 --> 00:01:40.919 The king said to him, Go in peace. 00:01:41.339 --> 00:01:42.559 So he went to Hebron. 00:01:42.979 --> 00:01:47.599 Then Absalom sent secret messages throughout the tribes of Israel to say, 00:01:48.079 --> 00:01:53.299 As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpets, then say, Absalom is king in Hebron. 00:01:54.459 --> 00:01:57.339 Two hundred men from Jerusalem had accompanied Absalom. 00:01:57.340 --> 00:02:02.540 They had invited his guests and went quite innocently, knowing nothing about the matter. 00:02:03.240 --> 00:02:12.960 While Absalom was offering sacrifices, he also sent for Ahithopel, the Gilanite, David's counsellor to come from Gilo, his hometown. 00:02:13.439 --> 00:02:18.840 And so the conspiracy gained strength and Absalom's following kept on increasing. 00:02:20.420 --> 00:02:25.640 A messenger came and told David, The hearts of the people of Israel are with Absalom. 00:02:25.639 --> 00:02:34.059 And then David said to all his officials who are with him in Jerusalem, Come, we must flee or none of us will escape from Absalom. 00:02:34.859 --> 00:02:42.659 We must leave immediately or he will move quickly to overtake us and bring ruin on us and put the city to the sword. 00:02:43.500 --> 00:02:48.599 The king's officials answered him, Your servants are ready to do whatever your lord the king chooses. 00:02:48.599 --> 00:02:56.479 The king set out with his entire household following him, but he left ten concubines to take care of the palace. 00:02:57.060 --> 00:03:01.919 So the king set out with all the people following him and they halted at the edge of the city. 00:03:02.639 --> 00:03:13.819 All his men marched past him along with all the Kirithites and Pelithites and all the 600 Gittites who had accompanied him from Gath, marched before the king. 00:03:13.819 --> 00:03:19.439 The king said to Ittai, the Gittite, Why should you come along with us? 00:03:19.539 --> 00:03:21.459 Go back and stay with King Absalom. 00:03:22.219 --> 00:03:24.939 You are a foreigner, an exile from your homeland. 00:03:25.500 --> 00:03:27.739 You came only yesterday and today. 00:03:28.180 --> 00:03:31.759 Shall I make you wander about with us when I do not know where I am going? 00:03:32.139 --> 00:03:34.299 Go back and take your people with you. 00:03:34.719 --> 00:03:37.299 May the Lord show you kindness and faithfulness. 00:03:37.300 --> 00:03:49.120 But Ittai replied to the king, As surely as the Lord lives and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether it means life or death, there will your servant be. 00:03:50.640 --> 00:03:53.219 David said to Ittai, Go ahead, march on. 00:03:53.600 --> 00:03:58.120 So Ittai the Gittite marched on with all his men and the families that were with him. 00:03:58.939 --> 00:04:02.360 The whole countryside wept aloud as all the people passed by. 00:04:02.360 --> 00:04:08.100 The king also crossed the Kidron Valley and all the people moved on towards the wilderness. 00:04:09.100 --> 00:04:14.240 Zadok was there too and all the Levites who were with him were carrying the Ark of the Covenant of God. 00:04:14.860 --> 00:04:21.540 They set down the Ark of God and Abithah offered sacrifices until all the people had finished leaving the city. 00:04:22.259 --> 00:04:26.500 Then the king said to Zadok, Take the Ark of God back into the city. 00:04:26.500 --> 00:04:33.160 If I find favour in the Lord's eyes, he will bring me back and let me see it and his dwelling place again. 00:04:33.620 --> 00:04:36.560 But if he says I am not pleased with you, then I am ready. 00:04:37.040 --> 00:04:39.740 Let him do to me whatever seems good to him. 00:04:40.480 --> 00:04:43.980 The king also said to Zadok, the priest, Do you understand? 00:04:44.639 --> 00:04:46.600 Go back to the city with my blessing. 00:04:47.139 --> 00:04:51.339 Take your son, Ahemaz, with you and also Abithah's son, Jonathan. 00:04:52.519 --> 00:04:55.060 You and Abithah return with your two sons. 00:04:55.060 --> 00:05:00.160 I will wait at the fords in the wilderness until the word comes from you to inform me. 00:05:00.800 --> 00:05:05.120 So Zadok and Abithah took the Ark of God back to Jerusalem and stayed there. 00:05:06.259 --> 00:05:09.780 But David continued to the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went. 00:05:10.199 --> 00:05:12.660 His head was covered and he was barefoot. 00:05:13.160 --> 00:05:17.240 All the people with him covered their heads too and were weeping as they went up. 00:05:18.100 --> 00:05:22.660 Now David had been told Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. 00:05:22.660 --> 00:05:28.180 So David prayed, Lord, turn Ahithophel's counsel into foolishness. 00:05:28.780 --> 00:05:32.420 When David arrived at the summit where people used to worship God, 00:05:33.220 --> 00:05:38.040 Bishai the Archite was there to meet him, his robe torn and dust on his head. 00:05:38.620 --> 00:05:42.440 David said to him, If you go with me, you will be a burden to me. 00:05:42.439 --> 00:05:47.879 But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, Your Majesty, I will be your servant. 00:05:48.319 --> 00:05:49.540 I was not your father's servant. 00:05:49.959 --> 00:05:53.439 I was your father's servant in the past, but now I'll be your servant. 00:05:53.939 --> 00:05:56.920 Then you can help me by frustrating Ahithophel's advice. 00:05:57.759 --> 00:06:00.399 Won't the priest Zadok and Abithah be there with you? 00:06:01.120 --> 00:06:03.480 Tell them anything you hear in the king's palace. 00:06:04.000 --> 00:06:08.759 Their two sons, Ahemaz, son of Zadok, and Jonathan, son of Abithah, were there with them. 00:06:08.759 --> 00:06:13.079 Send them to me with anything you hear. 00:06:13.539 --> 00:06:19.360 So Hushai, David's confidant, arrived at Jerusalem as Absalom was entering the city. 00:06:19.860 --> 00:06:21.159 This is the reading of the Lord's word. 00:06:24.680 --> 00:06:25.939 Good morning, church. 00:06:27.819 --> 00:06:30.420 I really picked an interesting text. 00:06:30.420 --> 00:06:36.860 Usually when I go to places, I don't pick text as complicated as this. 00:06:37.400 --> 00:06:39.160 But we're in for a treat. 00:06:39.660 --> 00:06:41.600 It should be fun, by God's grace. 00:06:43.140 --> 00:06:46.620 But yeah, in order for us to ever get anything out of this, in order for us to understand it, 00:06:46.740 --> 00:06:50.920 in order for us, yeah, for our eyes to see Jesus more clearly, we need God's help. 00:06:51.920 --> 00:06:53.480 And on that note, let's come to the Lord in prayer. 00:06:53.480 --> 00:06:54.560 Let's pray. 00:06:54.560 --> 00:07:07.840 Father in heaven, unless you give us ears to hear and eyes to see, we will never receive anything from your word. 00:07:09.519 --> 00:07:11.220 Father, we need you to meet with us. 00:07:12.500 --> 00:07:14.480 We need your spirit to empower us. 00:07:15.759 --> 00:07:20.779 We need your spirit to give us ears that would hear, eyes that would see, hearts that would receive. 00:07:20.779 --> 00:07:25.599 Father, we need you now more than ever, we need you. 00:07:25.699 --> 00:07:30.459 And Father, we pray that by your spirit, you would meet with us today. 00:07:31.619 --> 00:07:35.000 We say that by your spirit, we would see Jesus more clearly today. 00:07:36.659 --> 00:07:39.479 And that we would love our Savior all the more for all that he has done. 00:07:41.059 --> 00:07:42.359 Thank you, Father, for your work. 00:07:42.419 --> 00:07:43.659 And I pray that you would be with us now. 00:07:44.059 --> 00:07:44.819 In Jesus' name. 00:07:45.500 --> 00:07:45.679 Amen. 00:07:45.679 --> 00:07:45.739 Amen. 00:07:45.740 --> 00:07:59.800 In the second year of university, if you're a student, that was at least, oh, it's about 15, almost 15 years ago now, wow. 00:08:01.199 --> 00:08:03.280 You tend to have to find accommodation. 00:08:04.259 --> 00:08:07.379 When you get to the second year of university, you stop living on campus, you go and find accommodation. 00:08:07.379 --> 00:08:12.060 And I remember looking for accommodation with several of my friends. 00:08:12.339 --> 00:08:14.139 And we looked at all these different houses. 00:08:14.319 --> 00:08:20.899 And I won't get into the hows and whys, but at some point, we ended up in a very, very, very terrible house. 00:08:21.800 --> 00:08:24.600 We got the last pick and we ended up in a bad house. 00:08:24.740 --> 00:08:32.159 And we spoke to the estate agent and he gave us all of these assurances that everything, don't worry, all these little issues, they'll be fixed. 00:08:32.500 --> 00:08:34.879 There was many issues, but he said they'll be fixed, they'll be fixed. 00:08:34.879 --> 00:08:45.059 And so when we first moved in, he sent over one guy who functioned as the electrician, the plumber, the painter, the garden mower, all sorts. 00:08:45.179 --> 00:08:46.620 Like this guy was the fixer. 00:08:47.059 --> 00:08:52.200 And his job was he was given one week's worth of pay just to fix everything he could. 00:08:53.039 --> 00:08:56.240 And so, of course, we had more than a week's worth of issues. 00:08:56.360 --> 00:08:56.960 That was the problem. 00:08:57.059 --> 00:09:02.639 And so after that week was done, none of our issues were getting fixed anymore. 00:09:02.639 --> 00:09:05.240 And that proved problematic. 00:09:05.399 --> 00:09:10.120 So no matter how much we complained and how much we raised issues, they just wouldn't get fixed. 00:09:10.199 --> 00:09:13.819 And all of those assurances that we were initially given just fell flat. 00:09:14.759 --> 00:09:16.720 None of them really got dealt with. 00:09:17.519 --> 00:09:24.179 And as you can imagine, things that don't get attended to, especially when they're problematic, they tend to just get worse over time. 00:09:24.179 --> 00:09:29.019 And so there was one particular issue, and I remember it clear as day. 00:09:29.620 --> 00:09:34.500 In our upstairs bathroom, there was all of these black spots on the ceiling. 00:09:35.299 --> 00:09:36.599 And like we raised issues. 00:09:36.679 --> 00:09:39.479 We said, ah, guys, I think there's a mold issue in the house. 00:09:39.659 --> 00:09:40.739 Can we need to get this sorted? 00:09:41.120 --> 00:09:41.879 We need a vent. 00:09:42.000 --> 00:09:42.639 There's no vent here. 00:09:42.699 --> 00:09:43.000 There's no nothing. 00:09:43.239 --> 00:09:44.579 And they were like, listen, it's on you. 00:09:44.659 --> 00:09:45.819 You just need to keep the windows open. 00:09:46.059 --> 00:09:46.399 Cool. 00:09:47.079 --> 00:09:48.959 We kept the windows open forever. 00:09:49.159 --> 00:09:50.479 We never closed those windows. 00:09:50.480 --> 00:09:55.720 Within a few months, that ceiling was pitch black. 00:09:56.500 --> 00:09:57.680 The ceiling was initially white. 00:09:57.879 --> 00:09:59.680 It became pitch black. 00:09:59.920 --> 00:10:00.659 Like you couldn't see. 00:10:00.940 --> 00:10:01.779 It was dark. 00:10:02.080 --> 00:10:03.500 Like very, very dark. 00:10:03.800 --> 00:10:05.639 And you would have thought we painted it black. 00:10:06.279 --> 00:10:09.379 And we essentially spoke to the guys and we're like, listen, this needs to be sorted. 00:10:09.539 --> 00:10:13.240 But yeah, it was just a very sad situation to be in. 00:10:13.700 --> 00:10:15.220 I only ever used the downstairs bathroom. 00:10:16.580 --> 00:10:20.060 But for those who were using the upstairs bathroom, it was a sad situation to be in. 00:10:20.479 --> 00:10:29.139 And if you're sitting there and you're thinking to yourself, oh man, I feel sorry for those five guys that were just living under the tyranny of a bad estate agent. 00:10:29.799 --> 00:10:31.179 You should be feeling sorry for us. 00:10:31.319 --> 00:10:31.979 I agree with you. 00:10:32.579 --> 00:10:40.679 But there is something there I say much worse than living under the tyranny of a bad estate agent. 00:10:42.599 --> 00:10:43.779 There is something much worse. 00:10:43.779 --> 00:10:50.000 In this particular text that we're reading right now, it's not just a house that's a mess. 00:10:50.100 --> 00:10:51.799 The whole kingdom is in ruins. 00:10:51.799 --> 00:10:55.639 The whole kingdom of Israel is in ruins. 00:10:55.779 --> 00:11:03.859 And I guess as you're trying to think through this text and as we're trying to understand this text, the real question before us is, how did they get into this situation? 00:11:03.860 --> 00:11:13.779 How did you get into a situation where your king is being run out of town, where he's having to go hiding up on top of a mountain, where somebody is coming in, where his own son has taken the kingdom from him? 00:11:13.840 --> 00:11:15.759 How do you get to a situation like that? 00:11:15.759 --> 00:11:45.740 How did you get to a situation like that? 00:11:45.759 --> 00:12:15.740 How did you get to a situation like that? 00:12:15.759 --> 00:12:16.000 How did you get here? 00:12:16.960 --> 00:12:23.360 Now, in order to do this, as long as 2 Samuel 15 was, actually, I was going to ask to read 2 Samuel 14 as well, but I was scared. 00:12:23.720 --> 00:12:29.080 So what I'm going to do, I'm just going to walk us through it high level, what's happened ahead of time. 00:12:29.419 --> 00:12:30.620 But the Bible is clear. 00:12:30.679 --> 00:12:36.319 The reason that Israel actually finds themselves in this position is because David himself as a person has overlooked sin. 00:12:36.320 --> 00:12:40.800 Or in other words, put differently, David was passive. 00:12:40.799 --> 00:12:48.379 The reason Israel was in disarray was because David had neglected his God-given duties as king. 00:12:48.379 --> 00:12:58.899 What good is a king who doesn't enforce justice or uphold righteousness, who hears of sin spreading but doesn't fix things? 00:12:58.899 --> 00:13:06.299 And to make the case, what I want to do, I want us to consider the context or the backdrop for this chapter. 00:13:06.299 --> 00:13:06.979 Right? 00:13:06.979 --> 00:13:13.559 Because most of us will know, in the book of Samuel, initially there was a very bad king. 00:13:13.639 --> 00:13:14.519 His name was Saul. 00:13:15.120 --> 00:13:17.319 He was the king of the people's choosing. 00:13:17.899 --> 00:13:20.779 And actually, Saul was bad for many reasons. 00:13:20.779 --> 00:13:24.480 And so, God chooses a king after his own heart. 00:13:24.860 --> 00:13:27.620 He chooses David, this shepherd king. 00:13:27.720 --> 00:13:30.480 The one who was meant to teach people what God's king ought to look like. 00:13:31.000 --> 00:13:32.019 The one of God's choosing. 00:13:32.679 --> 00:13:38.399 And so he brings forth this king who is meant to be great and glorious and humble and a righteous figure. 00:13:38.519 --> 00:13:42.919 And he's meant to lead God's people and be a blessing to God's people and feed God's people. 00:13:43.360 --> 00:13:48.019 And even though David starts off well, eventually David falls into sin. 00:13:48.019 --> 00:13:52.600 And he takes a woman named Bathsheba from her husband. 00:13:53.319 --> 00:13:56.720 And he murders her husband by Joab's hand. 00:13:57.319 --> 00:14:02.480 And at the end of that chapter, what you realize is very clearly, even though David has done everything to cover it up, 00:14:02.779 --> 00:14:04.319 the Bible says God is not pleased. 00:14:04.460 --> 00:14:05.299 They're the final words. 00:14:06.639 --> 00:14:10.340 And so God, next chapter, sends Nathan the prophet to confront David. 00:14:10.480 --> 00:14:12.319 And he tells him four things. 00:14:12.460 --> 00:14:13.579 One, your son will die. 00:14:14.100 --> 00:14:16.100 Two, the sword won't depart from your house. 00:14:16.100 --> 00:14:19.159 Three, evil will rise up from within your own house. 00:14:19.259 --> 00:14:22.800 And four, you will be publicly shamed because you did the secret thing with Bathsheba. 00:14:24.060 --> 00:14:28.580 And so, as Nathan had prophesied, things played out perfectly. 00:14:29.720 --> 00:14:30.659 David's son dies. 00:14:30.759 --> 00:14:32.899 But they're more relevant to our text today. 00:14:34.080 --> 00:14:36.560 David's home, his children, they're a mess. 00:14:37.720 --> 00:14:39.040 They're an absolute mess. 00:14:39.039 --> 00:14:51.740 And sorry in advance if this is triggering, but David's oldest son, it begins with David's oldest son sexually assaulting David's daughter. 00:14:53.299 --> 00:14:56.039 And yet David does nothing. 00:14:56.039 --> 00:15:09.539 Then what happens thereafter is that David's other son takes justice into his own hands and he murders his older brother, the heir to the throne, and runs away. 00:15:09.539 --> 00:15:16.539 And again, when the Bible paints the picture, the striking thing in that narrative is that David does nothing. 00:15:19.159 --> 00:15:23.099 In fact, actually the Bible talks about David missing the son that ran away. 00:15:24.219 --> 00:15:25.799 David's not thinking about justice. 00:15:26.519 --> 00:15:27.539 David is passive. 00:15:27.539 --> 00:15:39.199 And so by the time we get to 2 Samuel 14, which is the chapter before the chapter today, it begins with the words that the king's heart went out to Absalom. 00:15:40.399 --> 00:15:41.799 David misses his son. 00:15:42.919 --> 00:15:52.599 And yet it ends that chapter, the words proceeding right before chapter 15, essentially saying, the king kissed Absalom. 00:15:52.600 --> 00:16:01.600 And so the key question for us when we're looking at that text is to try and figure out, what did David compromise in order to get to this position? 00:16:02.779 --> 00:16:05.139 That's the question that the text is really trying to make you think through. 00:16:05.420 --> 00:16:07.300 What did David compromise to get there? 00:16:08.259 --> 00:16:11.060 And David, three key answers from chapter 14. 00:16:11.659 --> 00:16:13.720 One, David overlooks the issue of murder. 00:16:15.399 --> 00:16:17.639 Joab knew that David missed Absalom. 00:16:17.639 --> 00:16:26.539 And so what Joab does is he calls, he brings in a woman to come to David and he calls her to act as though her son has been killed. 00:16:27.159 --> 00:16:32.580 But, and that she's a widow, but he says that actually act as though your son has been killed by your other son. 00:16:33.819 --> 00:16:36.480 And so this woman comes, she's meant to be a wise woman in Israel. 00:16:36.580 --> 00:16:41.220 She comes to David and she starts saying all of these things and she brings this case before the king. 00:16:41.639 --> 00:16:44.360 And no, this woman is not looking for justice. 00:16:44.360 --> 00:16:54.440 She wants the king to protect her son, the murderer, and she justifies it by saying, oh, listen, he's, he's the final heir of my late husband. 00:16:55.700 --> 00:17:01.759 And even though my entire clan wants justice, she asked the king to bend justice for her sake. 00:17:01.759 --> 00:17:11.480 And so the question, after posing that question to David, in chapter 14, verse 11, it says, 00:17:12.099 --> 00:17:22.240 then please let the king invoke the Lord your God, the avenger of blood, the avenger of blood, kill no more, and my son be not destroyed. 00:17:22.500 --> 00:17:27.740 And he said, being David, as the Lord lives, not one hair on your son should fall to the ground. 00:17:27.740 --> 00:17:33.279 And listen, friends, I have, you've seen, I have quite a few small kids. 00:17:34.359 --> 00:17:35.420 I know kids play fight. 00:17:35.940 --> 00:17:36.559 Kids play fight. 00:17:36.740 --> 00:17:37.319 That's what they do. 00:17:37.599 --> 00:17:39.700 They like to, especially the boys, they like to play fight. 00:17:39.819 --> 00:17:41.839 They just, you hear the sounds and all that kind of stuff. 00:17:41.940 --> 00:17:42.740 It's fine. 00:17:44.240 --> 00:17:45.940 This is not little kids play fighting. 00:17:45.940 --> 00:17:55.960 This situation here is a man consumed with rage after quarrelling with his brother, killing him in cold blood. 00:17:56.940 --> 00:18:02.559 And the clan, the clan of people, they're outraged because they know what God's law says. 00:18:02.680 --> 00:18:07.740 They say, you know, an eye for an eye or Leviticus 24, Numbers 35, Deuteronomy 19. 00:18:07.740 --> 00:18:14.960 All of them talk about how murder deserves, is a capital offense and deserves death, the death penalty. 00:18:16.400 --> 00:18:19.519 And David, you're this person who's meant to execute justice. 00:18:19.660 --> 00:18:20.400 That's your job. 00:18:20.779 --> 00:18:26.519 We're no longer in the book of Judges, which comes before Samuel, where everybody does what is right in their own eyes. 00:18:26.579 --> 00:18:28.700 That's constantly the refrain of the book of Judges. 00:18:29.140 --> 00:18:30.460 Samuel fixes that issue. 00:18:31.279 --> 00:18:32.380 God installs a king. 00:18:32.380 --> 00:18:40.340 David, your role, your actual job description, your JD, is to make sure that God's justice is executed. 00:18:40.680 --> 00:18:44.180 That people don't do what is right in their own eyes, people do what is right in God's eyes. 00:18:45.000 --> 00:18:45.880 That's fundamental. 00:18:46.400 --> 00:18:52.400 Nevertheless, David says in this situation, not one hair on your son's head, the murderer, should be touched. 00:18:54.000 --> 00:18:55.820 Do you see the discrepancy here? 00:18:57.160 --> 00:19:01.540 In fact, David goes as far as to threaten anybody who dare touch that son. 00:19:02.380 --> 00:19:05.700 David bends justice for this woman. 00:19:06.600 --> 00:19:08.320 David overlooks the issue of murder. 00:19:08.520 --> 00:19:09.120 That's number one. 00:19:09.380 --> 00:19:11.440 Number two, David overlooks the issue of deceit. 00:19:12.860 --> 00:19:16.300 Joab and this woman essentially have conspired to bring back a murderer. 00:19:16.440 --> 00:19:18.880 And in order to do that, they deceive the king. 00:19:19.820 --> 00:19:20.680 That's their plan. 00:19:21.380 --> 00:19:23.840 And so the woman appears before David and she lies to him. 00:19:24.200 --> 00:19:26.540 And the Bible says that Joab put the words in her mouth. 00:19:26.640 --> 00:19:28.720 So collectively, they have lied to the king. 00:19:28.720 --> 00:19:33.480 And they tell this sob story to get the king to downplay murder. 00:19:33.900 --> 00:19:37.440 And when David eventually realizes, what does he do? 00:19:38.279 --> 00:19:42.779 He doesn't hold Joab or the woman to account. 00:19:44.680 --> 00:19:47.460 Instead, the king grants their request. 00:19:47.460 --> 00:19:55.340 He brings back Absalom, a fugitive, the man who's deserving of death, who's on the run. 00:19:55.440 --> 00:19:56.799 He brings him back into the camp. 00:19:58.259 --> 00:19:59.960 David overlooks their deceit. 00:20:00.220 --> 00:20:02.380 And the reason he does it is because it suits him. 00:20:03.759 --> 00:20:04.779 He missed his son. 00:20:04.779 --> 00:20:17.440 And so rather than punishing Absalom, rather than punishing, not just Absalom, rather than punishing Joab or the wise woman for their bad behavior, instead he rewards them and grants their request. 00:20:17.539 --> 00:20:18.879 And it's shocking. 00:20:19.819 --> 00:20:27.379 It's so shocking that by the time you get to chapter 14, verse 22, Joab, he himself is shocked. 00:20:27.480 --> 00:20:32.339 He's like, he might as well have said, man, I'm favored by the king. 00:20:32.339 --> 00:20:35.399 He's taken this very well. 00:20:36.079 --> 00:20:40.079 I've just lied to him and he's found me out and I'm not dead. 00:20:40.740 --> 00:20:44.500 Like, Joab himself is shocked at how the king has responded. 00:20:45.099 --> 00:20:51.480 Because he knows to conspire against the king in such a way is tantamount in some senses to treason. 00:20:51.579 --> 00:20:52.899 It's a coup, right? 00:20:54.379 --> 00:20:56.279 Nevertheless, he answered his request. 00:20:56.699 --> 00:20:59.019 Absalom isn't charged for his crime. 00:20:59.139 --> 00:21:00.039 He's brought back. 00:21:00.579 --> 00:21:02.059 And therefore, David overlooks deceit. 00:21:02.059 --> 00:21:07.279 But then the third thing that David overlooks in the trio is David overlooks the issue of unrepentance. 00:21:09.299 --> 00:21:14.419 You see, when Absalom comes back, Absalom is the same wicked man that left. 00:21:15.759 --> 00:21:16.899 Absalom hasn't changed. 00:21:17.960 --> 00:21:21.779 And so after two years, when he returns to Israel, he's not allowed to see the king. 00:21:22.339 --> 00:21:25.740 And so Absalom's first thing is, why haven't I seen the king yet? 00:21:27.039 --> 00:21:28.579 As though that were his right. 00:21:28.579 --> 00:21:39.480 And he thinks that even though he has slaughtered the king's oldest son, the heir to the throne, he thinks he has a right to see the king. 00:21:39.980 --> 00:21:43.159 A man who has just conducted an act of premeditated murder. 00:21:43.160 --> 00:21:47.640 And so what he does is he tries to get an audience with the king. 00:21:48.540 --> 00:21:49.460 But it's not happening. 00:21:49.580 --> 00:21:50.920 And so he sends a message to Joab. 00:21:51.900 --> 00:21:53.560 He says, Joab, I need an audience with the king. 00:21:53.980 --> 00:21:55.580 Joab doesn't respond, right? 00:21:56.279 --> 00:21:59.120 He's not picked up his, he's not checked his iPhone or whatever it might have been. 00:21:59.119 --> 00:22:01.719 He's not responding to this man. 00:22:02.439 --> 00:22:04.179 And so he says, okay, fine. 00:22:04.399 --> 00:22:05.739 You know, Joab's not responding to me. 00:22:06.079 --> 00:22:09.059 He says to one of his servants, come, come, come, come. 00:22:09.279 --> 00:22:10.939 Go and burn Joab's field for me. 00:22:12.319 --> 00:22:13.259 To get his attention. 00:22:14.299 --> 00:22:15.859 And so he burns Joab's field. 00:22:16.979 --> 00:22:19.299 And then when Joab comes over and says, what are you doing? 00:22:19.339 --> 00:22:21.579 He says, ah, I needed your attention. 00:22:21.839 --> 00:22:24.480 I needed you to answer to get me an audience with the king. 00:22:24.980 --> 00:22:35.799 And so the man, so accustomed to wickedness, has come back from exile and is burning people's fields just to get attention. 00:22:36.319 --> 00:22:39.559 So that he can see the king because he thinks he deserves to be back in royalty. 00:22:41.079 --> 00:22:45.480 This is not the heart of a man who's been broken over the sin that he's done for the last two years. 00:22:47.220 --> 00:22:51.519 This is a man who murdered his own brother in cold blood and he's not repentant in the slightest. 00:22:52.079 --> 00:22:53.579 It's the heart of a man who doesn't care. 00:22:55.039 --> 00:23:00.539 And yet worse still, the other problem here is that David himself also doesn't care about the state of this man's heart. 00:23:01.879 --> 00:23:02.919 He's burning fields. 00:23:03.720 --> 00:23:07.579 He hates the fact that the king has brought him back but not restored him to royalty. 00:23:08.179 --> 00:23:13.059 He challenges the king, by the way, by saying, listen, if I'm guilty, then kill me. 00:23:14.720 --> 00:23:15.960 Otherwise, let me see the king. 00:23:17.460 --> 00:23:19.419 And what happens after all of this? 00:23:19.420 --> 00:23:24.920 David gives him an audience and restores him to royalty. 00:23:24.920 --> 00:23:35.400 And so the last four words of this chapter, chapter 14, ought to be chilling when it says, the king kissed Absalom. 00:23:37.160 --> 00:23:40.340 David looks wickedness in the face and made peace with it. 00:23:41.560 --> 00:23:44.060 David made peace with an unrepentant man. 00:23:44.059 --> 00:23:49.079 And so what did David compromise in order to get his estranged son back? 00:23:49.559 --> 00:23:50.679 He overlooks murder. 00:23:51.679 --> 00:23:53.099 He overlooks deceit. 00:23:53.940 --> 00:23:56.059 And he overlooks the issue of unrepentance. 00:23:56.059 --> 00:23:56.740 Unrepentance. 00:23:58.940 --> 00:24:01.339 Now, church, before we move on to the impact, let me just say this. 00:24:01.720 --> 00:24:03.299 Let it never be said of the church. 00:24:04.019 --> 00:24:09.059 Let it never be said of Stolper Baptist Church, but also let it never be said of West Kilburn Baptist. 00:24:10.480 --> 00:24:15.500 That we're the type of church to be overlooking issues of unrepentance and sin in the life of the church. 00:24:15.500 --> 00:24:17.500 Let it never be said of Stolper Baptist Church. 00:24:17.500 --> 00:24:24.559 Let it never be said that we would justify fits of rage and hatred in the life of the church as though that's not the root of murder. 00:24:25.880 --> 00:24:31.880 Or let it not be said that this church just ignores the issues of lying and deceit because it's no big thing. 00:24:33.839 --> 00:24:40.980 Let it never be said that we're people who don't care for the truth as though the truth hasn't set us free. 00:24:40.980 --> 00:24:46.299 Let it never be said that we're the type of people who ignore the unrepentant heart. 00:24:46.740 --> 00:24:56.140 As though Hebrews 3 verses 12 to 13 doesn't say, take care brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart leading you to fall away from the living God. 00:24:57.120 --> 00:25:04.019 Or exhort one another every day, as long as it is called today, that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 00:25:05.160 --> 00:25:09.259 The Bible says the woman who lied to David was a wise woman. 00:25:09.259 --> 00:25:17.940 But just because someone, quote unquote, godly, finds a way to justify their actions doesn't necessarily make the action godly. 00:25:18.279 --> 00:25:19.279 That's what we see in the text. 00:25:19.680 --> 00:25:22.039 It can still be foolish, deceitful, sinful. 00:25:22.500 --> 00:25:27.480 And we have to deal with that lest there be in any of us an evil, unbelieving heart. 00:25:28.779 --> 00:25:30.779 And so yes, church, we bear with one another in love. 00:25:30.960 --> 00:25:31.859 You know, I can hear it. 00:25:32.799 --> 00:25:34.140 But where's grace? 00:25:34.279 --> 00:25:34.720 Where's grace? 00:25:35.039 --> 00:25:36.279 You bear with one another in love. 00:25:36.279 --> 00:25:39.279 But faithful are the wounds of a friend. 00:25:40.819 --> 00:25:50.859 And if your brother or sister is unrepentant in sin, i.e. they're unwilling to put it to death, and they are unwilling to bring it to the foot of the cross, 00:25:51.779 --> 00:25:54.639 then overlooking sin in that instance isn't an act of grace. 00:25:54.759 --> 00:25:56.859 It's dangerous in the life of the church. 00:25:56.859 --> 00:26:04.899 Because when sin goes undealt with at any level, you actually risk creating absalons in the context of church life. 00:26:06.259 --> 00:26:12.279 And that means what you'll end up with is children of Satan getting comfortable in the house of God. 00:26:12.279 --> 00:26:19.079 And if your concern is to be loving, then let me tell you, there's nothing loving about David's approach. 00:26:19.660 --> 00:26:23.079 There's nothing loving about looking wickedness in the face and making peace with it. 00:26:23.619 --> 00:26:26.399 There's nothing loving about inviting that in and kissing it. 00:26:27.160 --> 00:26:32.539 Church, the loving thing to do to that someone in that moment is to encourage them not to overlook their sin, 00:26:33.240 --> 00:26:35.759 for that's to spare the rod and to spoil the child. 00:26:35.759 --> 00:26:38.500 No, the right thing to do in that moment is to call them to repentance. 00:26:39.660 --> 00:26:46.720 And if they don't listen, the Bible has given, God has given his church the power to do church discipline for a reason. 00:26:47.859 --> 00:26:53.680 Right? It's a function and it's an act of mercy because you're calling somebody to repentance collectively as a church. 00:26:53.839 --> 00:26:54.720 That's what you're doing. 00:26:54.980 --> 00:26:58.740 You're asking someone to put away their sin for the sake of Christ. 00:26:58.740 --> 00:27:07.019 And so because the issue is church, that when we overlook sin, we make light of sin. 00:27:08.120 --> 00:27:13.240 And we don't deal with it because we're uncomfortable and we think it condemns us and we think it's not loving. 00:27:13.620 --> 00:27:15.579 When we do that, it has serious consequences. 00:27:15.779 --> 00:27:17.740 And that brings us to point number two. 00:27:18.259 --> 00:27:19.200 What was the effect? 00:27:20.120 --> 00:27:23.559 What was the effect or the impact of sin that is not dealt with? 00:27:23.559 --> 00:27:31.200 In chapter 14, it's all about how Absalom essentially gets his way back into the camp. 00:27:32.099 --> 00:27:34.759 Whereas chapter 15 shows us how that plays out. 00:27:35.099 --> 00:27:36.359 Now we're at our text. Great. 00:27:37.000 --> 00:27:38.659 It shows us how it plays out. 00:27:39.099 --> 00:27:42.559 Absalom leads this huge conspiracy, right? 00:27:43.059 --> 00:27:44.619 To steal the throne from David. 00:27:44.759 --> 00:27:46.980 That's what he's doing at the start of the chapter. 00:27:47.659 --> 00:27:51.139 And the people essentially follow Absalom in droves. 00:27:51.140 --> 00:27:57.040 And eventually it gets to the point where David has to escape from Jerusalem, right? 00:27:57.280 --> 00:27:58.920 The roles have been completely reversed. 00:27:59.400 --> 00:28:03.080 Prior, David was the king and Absalom was this fugitive on the run. 00:28:03.500 --> 00:28:05.759 Now, all of a sudden, things have been completely reversed. 00:28:06.920 --> 00:28:09.660 David, the king, has now become a fugitive. 00:28:10.640 --> 00:28:13.220 Absalom, the fugitive, has now become king. 00:28:14.520 --> 00:28:14.759 Right? 00:28:14.759 --> 00:28:19.320 Because David is now convinced that if he's to stay, his son will kill him. 00:28:19.319 --> 00:28:23.119 There is loads here that we could say about this. 00:28:23.220 --> 00:28:32.220 But I just want to hone in on three particular ways that tolerating sin, not upholding righteousness within the camp, how that affects the nation as a whole. 00:28:32.599 --> 00:28:33.200 Three ways. 00:28:33.419 --> 00:28:35.720 One, it normalizes ungodliness. 00:28:35.720 --> 00:28:44.740 Like I said, it was the wise woman and Joab who plotted to bring a murderer back into Jerusalem. 00:28:44.960 --> 00:28:50.059 It was the wise woman of Israel who thought it was a smart thing to deceive the king. 00:28:50.460 --> 00:28:51.460 That's the wisdom of Israel. 00:28:52.460 --> 00:28:59.039 It was King David's judgment call that there were times when a murderer could just go free. 00:28:59.039 --> 00:29:01.859 That's your king who's meant to execute justice. 00:29:03.099 --> 00:29:06.180 Absalom burns a field with no repercussions. 00:29:06.659 --> 00:29:08.879 Instead, he's kissed and embraced by the king. 00:29:10.399 --> 00:29:22.299 When we normalize ungodliness, what can you really be surprised then that when Absalom, the murderer, attempts to steal the throne from the king, so many people follow after him. 00:29:24.359 --> 00:29:25.960 You have to appreciate what's happening. 00:29:26.359 --> 00:29:27.700 The nation follows Absalom. 00:29:27.700 --> 00:29:27.779 Absalom. 00:29:28.900 --> 00:29:29.940 He's growing. 00:29:30.100 --> 00:29:36.980 The Bible says the conspiracy grew strong and the people with Absalom kept increasing. 00:29:37.799 --> 00:29:39.100 That's what it says in the text. 00:29:40.279 --> 00:29:41.860 It became normal. 00:29:42.700 --> 00:29:42.799 Right? 00:29:43.299 --> 00:29:46.700 If you went online, it would have said hashtag reject King David. 00:29:47.960 --> 00:29:48.120 Right? 00:29:48.460 --> 00:29:55.519 At that point, it was normalized to reject the king because they had normalized evil. 00:29:55.519 --> 00:30:04.000 Church, when sin goes unchecked in the life of the church, we normalize ungodliness and we bring down the standard of righteousness. 00:30:04.000 --> 00:30:11.339 You know, for example, I don't know if you have quite a few young couples here in the church. 00:30:11.900 --> 00:30:13.160 We have quite a few young couples in Stockholm. 00:30:13.160 --> 00:30:21.120 And I know that's something you see quite commonly is that when people get married nowadays, the trend is to have white houses. 00:30:21.900 --> 00:30:24.060 Like everything just white on the inside. 00:30:24.059 --> 00:30:30.659 They'll go for white walls and then they'll get white furniture and then they'll get white carpet. 00:30:30.660 --> 00:30:36.420 And then the thing is, after some time, they get kids who like colors. 00:30:38.019 --> 00:30:50.000 And those kids who like colors and who get messy hands get those colors and those messy hands on your white walls, on your white furniture and on your white carpet. 00:30:50.000 --> 00:30:53.779 And, you know, you start off by doing the hard work. 00:30:53.839 --> 00:30:56.180 You think, OK, we bought all of these products from TikTok. 00:30:56.640 --> 00:30:59.059 Let's wash this and let's get this painted. 00:30:59.180 --> 00:31:00.039 This paint is perfect. 00:31:00.119 --> 00:31:04.000 Apparently, this paint just covers up all stains and we'll paint this and we'll do this. 00:31:04.099 --> 00:31:05.619 And you keep doing that bit by bit. 00:31:05.680 --> 00:31:09.220 But then at some point, like you get tired. 00:31:09.900 --> 00:31:10.299 Right? 00:31:10.799 --> 00:31:13.940 Because the kids don't run out of energy, but you do. 00:31:14.860 --> 00:31:20.200 And so like it gets hard to keep cleaning up and cleaning up and washing and repainting. 00:31:20.440 --> 00:31:22.799 And every time the kids go to sleep, you repaint all the walls. 00:31:23.039 --> 00:31:25.940 And every time they wake up, they mess them up again and you have to repaint them. 00:31:26.039 --> 00:31:27.340 At some point, you get tired. 00:31:28.519 --> 00:31:31.580 And so what happens is at some point, you just get used to the new normal. 00:31:32.799 --> 00:31:37.640 Like there's handprints all over the walls and there's this on the car and pen marks around. 00:31:37.640 --> 00:31:38.380 And do you know what? 00:31:39.100 --> 00:31:40.279 God blesses you with eyes. 00:31:40.420 --> 00:31:41.240 You just can't see it. 00:31:41.940 --> 00:31:43.559 Like you can't see the mess anymore. 00:31:43.559 --> 00:31:45.039 You can't see what they've done to the walls. 00:31:45.639 --> 00:31:47.740 And you're no longer phased. 00:31:47.839 --> 00:31:50.440 And even if you do see it, you're just no longer phased by it. 00:31:50.779 --> 00:31:51.700 You're used to it. 00:31:51.980 --> 00:31:52.079 Right? 00:31:52.119 --> 00:31:52.740 It's your new normal. 00:31:54.759 --> 00:32:00.119 Friends, the issue is we can't let sin become the new normal in the life of the church. 00:32:03.319 --> 00:32:10.299 You can't let sin become normal and you can't let it become something that you just, you get used to in the life of the church. 00:32:10.299 --> 00:32:15.339 Your friends are in a relationship with somebody and they're an unbeliever. 00:32:15.339 --> 00:32:20.399 But you don't want to tell them to deal with it because actually it's awkward. 00:32:20.899 --> 00:32:22.139 So you just normalize it. 00:32:23.220 --> 00:32:27.439 Or you have a brother who you hear just cursing, cursing, cursing. 00:32:28.139 --> 00:32:30.159 And you'll praise God on Sunday with his lips. 00:32:30.160 --> 00:32:33.080 But then throughout the week, his mouth is foul. 00:32:33.540 --> 00:32:35.660 And you don't know that he's going to take it well. 00:32:35.759 --> 00:32:39.340 And so you just laugh it off when he's cursing or when he says crude jokes. 00:32:40.220 --> 00:32:46.680 Or you have a saint that's always getting angry, always getting angry, always at the center of issues in the life of the church. 00:32:46.779 --> 00:32:48.860 And you don't want to address it because they're older. 00:32:48.859 --> 00:32:51.519 And you think, you know, they're older than me. 00:32:51.579 --> 00:32:53.240 I don't have, there's no need to address it. 00:32:53.419 --> 00:32:56.559 And so you normalize things in the life of the church that are unhelpful. 00:32:58.079 --> 00:33:00.259 Friends, sin should never become normal in the life of the church. 00:33:01.859 --> 00:33:03.459 You lower the standard of righteousness. 00:33:03.759 --> 00:33:05.919 And the impact of that is widespread. 00:33:06.959 --> 00:33:07.119 Right? 00:33:07.339 --> 00:33:11.319 The issue is, the Bible says a little leaven leavens the whole lump. 00:33:11.319 --> 00:33:16.980 But in 2 Samuel chapter 3, David actually curses Joab because Joab murders somebody. 00:33:18.240 --> 00:33:23.279 In 2 Samuel 11, David goes on to then use Joab to murder somebody for him. 00:33:24.419 --> 00:33:32.740 By the time you get to 2 Samuel 13 to 14, in multiple situations, David is overlooking the issue of murder in the nation. 00:33:33.460 --> 00:33:39.059 And by the time you get to 2 Samuel chapter 15, our chapter now, you have the whole nation siding with a murderer. 00:33:39.059 --> 00:33:46.299 The sin that initially captured a single heart way over there eventually captures the whole nation. 00:33:47.879 --> 00:33:49.259 And so church, don't be surprised. 00:33:49.799 --> 00:33:56.220 Sin being deceitfully wicked, part of that is that it will end up making us normalize that which God hates. 00:33:57.659 --> 00:34:01.019 And if that's happening to a saint way over on that side of the church, 00:34:01.539 --> 00:34:04.980 don't think that because you're on this side of the church, it can't happen to you. 00:34:06.240 --> 00:34:07.200 You'll be affected. 00:34:07.339 --> 00:34:08.759 The whole lump is leavened. 00:34:08.759 --> 00:34:09.000 Right? 00:34:10.059 --> 00:34:12.000 But, so number one, we normalize our godliness. 00:34:12.119 --> 00:34:15.299 But number two, the issue is we blaspheme God. 00:34:16.559 --> 00:34:20.360 You know, the third commandment is blasphemy. 00:34:20.920 --> 00:34:21.159 Right? 00:34:21.380 --> 00:34:22.519 To take the Lord's name in vain. 00:34:22.940 --> 00:34:26.619 And that's much more than just misusing God's name in a sentence. 00:34:26.619 --> 00:34:33.880 It's to trivialize or associate the name of the holy God with that which is unholy. 00:34:33.880 --> 00:34:38.119 And when the woman lies and brings her case, you see it, right? 00:34:38.119 --> 00:34:44.000 In chapter 14, verse 11, it says, then she said, please let the king invoke the Lord your God, 00:34:44.000 --> 00:34:48.719 that the avenger of blood, that the avenger of blood, kill no more, and that my son be not destroyed. 00:34:48.719 --> 00:34:54.419 He said, being David, as the Lord lives, not one hair on your son should fall to the ground. 00:34:54.420 --> 00:34:59.260 While lies were still on her lips, she invokes God's name. 00:34:59.260 --> 00:35:03.460 While rejecting God's law, David invokes God's name. 00:35:04.220 --> 00:35:07.980 While she's flattering the king later on, she invokes God's name. 00:35:07.980 --> 00:35:14.019 And to top it all off, when Absalom, in chapter 15, goes and wants to carry out his conspiracy, 00:35:14.460 --> 00:35:19.059 he tells them, oh yeah, I just want to go make some offerings and some sacrifices to God down here. 00:35:19.380 --> 00:35:25.280 He actually uses God's name and lies about God and his relationship with God 00:35:25.280 --> 00:35:29.740 just so that he can try and lead a coup to take over the kingdom. 00:35:31.659 --> 00:35:33.320 Church, all of that is blasphemy. 00:35:33.320 --> 00:35:38.200 Whenever we trivialize God's name or swear by it or throw it out, 00:35:38.720 --> 00:35:42.039 and just because we're shocked or we're stressed, we're blaspheming. 00:35:42.140 --> 00:35:44.620 Or when we're Christians, you think, oh, do you know what? 00:35:45.059 --> 00:35:48.160 I'm just, I've, I'm just going to do this wild stuff here. 00:35:48.340 --> 00:35:51.380 And then I'm going to say, oh yeah, but I'm blessed. 00:35:52.820 --> 00:35:54.019 Or, but praise God. 00:35:55.160 --> 00:35:58.440 And throw that out to kind of put it as a bit of sprinkling on the issue. 00:35:59.480 --> 00:36:00.519 We're blaspheming. 00:36:00.519 --> 00:36:06.519 And whenever we, as ambassadors of Christ, those who have been sent by him and stamped by him, 00:36:07.159 --> 00:36:11.320 go out and in our lives live as children of Satan, we are blaspheming. 00:36:12.900 --> 00:36:13.840 Church, let me be clear. 00:36:13.940 --> 00:36:18.980 God's name is not some incantation, nor is the blood of the Son something that you plead over this and that. 00:36:19.900 --> 00:36:20.719 This is God. 00:36:21.840 --> 00:36:23.000 His glory is waiting. 00:36:23.960 --> 00:36:24.960 It's not trivial. 00:36:24.960 --> 00:36:28.760 This God is holy. 00:36:28.940 --> 00:36:33.000 And those of us who bear the name of Jesus Christ, that's not a light thing. 00:36:34.039 --> 00:36:37.260 We ought to be careful what we associate with the holy God. 00:36:38.139 --> 00:36:43.699 And in church, the worst thing that this can communicate to the world is that it tells unbelievers 00:36:43.699 --> 00:36:47.500 that you can masquerade as a child of God while living as a child of Satan. 00:36:47.500 --> 00:36:53.679 It gives the false assurance of heaven while people are still heading to hell. 00:36:54.719 --> 00:37:00.800 And it says that the work of the Spirit is indistinguishable from the children of darkness. 00:37:02.599 --> 00:37:05.579 And friends, we have to be careful then not to blaspheme God. 00:37:05.659 --> 00:37:06.880 Christian, you bear his name. 00:37:06.880 --> 00:37:11.700 And so when we overlook sin, we normalize it among ourselves. 00:37:11.840 --> 00:37:12.300 And guess what? 00:37:12.360 --> 00:37:14.300 We end up blaspheming God as a result. 00:37:14.860 --> 00:37:16.800 Because we're misrepresenting God and who he is. 00:37:17.059 --> 00:37:19.400 But thirdly and finally, sin is enthroned. 00:37:21.200 --> 00:37:24.160 David is removed from the throne and Absalom is made to reign. 00:37:24.500 --> 00:37:26.220 Sin reverses the order of God. 00:37:28.000 --> 00:37:29.780 Absalom, the fugitive, is king. 00:37:30.720 --> 00:37:32.320 David, the king, is a fugitive. 00:37:32.320 --> 00:37:35.780 Sin is enthroned and God's lordship is challenged. 00:37:36.880 --> 00:37:38.740 Leadership is compromised. 00:37:40.280 --> 00:37:42.500 And this is not just one man's decision. 00:37:43.460 --> 00:37:44.800 The people conspired. 00:37:44.900 --> 00:37:46.180 The nation decided that. 00:37:46.559 --> 00:37:50.579 When wickedness is kissed by the king and adored, 00:37:50.860 --> 00:37:53.220 eventually it becomes adored by the people. 00:37:54.880 --> 00:37:55.800 Sin is your lord. 00:37:56.860 --> 00:37:58.519 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 00:37:59.700 --> 00:38:01.059 And you might not think that's the case. 00:38:01.059 --> 00:38:02.760 You might still think that you're doing church. 00:38:02.900 --> 00:38:03.900 But that's a lie. 00:38:06.880 --> 00:38:09.260 David, at some point, when he's on the run, 00:38:09.340 --> 00:38:12.500 he sends the Ark of the Covenant in chapter 15 back to Jerusalem. 00:38:13.280 --> 00:38:16.160 In other words, the Ark of the Covenant is God's presence. 00:38:16.220 --> 00:38:19.280 His resting place is present in Absalom's kingdom. 00:38:20.539 --> 00:38:23.320 They could still tell themselves that God was with them. 00:38:23.880 --> 00:38:26.900 And they could still tell themselves that they were God's people. 00:38:26.900 --> 00:38:30.220 And they could still tell themselves that God reigns. 00:38:31.000 --> 00:38:33.780 And yet no matter how much they worshipped God with their lips, 00:38:33.840 --> 00:38:35.000 their hearts were far from him. 00:38:36.220 --> 00:38:37.880 They had enthroned a murderer. 00:38:38.740 --> 00:38:40.460 They had rejected God's king. 00:38:41.820 --> 00:38:45.559 And so don't mistake having God's altar for having God's presence. 00:38:45.559 --> 00:38:49.860 When you compromise and you don't deal with sin, 00:38:50.179 --> 00:38:52.559 it's sin that reigns in the life, not God. 00:38:52.739 --> 00:38:54.460 And when we do that in church, 00:38:55.159 --> 00:38:57.519 it's sin that reigns in the church, not God. 00:38:59.559 --> 00:39:01.360 Church, who is enthroned in our lives? 00:39:03.119 --> 00:39:04.980 1 Corinthians 6 verse 12, 00:39:05.340 --> 00:39:08.779 All things are lawful to me, but I will not be mastered by anything. 00:39:10.719 --> 00:39:12.579 Left unchecked, sin will master you. 00:39:13.079 --> 00:39:14.079 Sin will reign sovereign. 00:39:14.079 --> 00:39:17.139 It's constantly competing to be on the throne in your life. 00:39:17.679 --> 00:39:19.420 And you can't make peace with sin 00:39:19.420 --> 00:39:21.420 when it's constantly waging war for your soul. 00:39:22.340 --> 00:39:24.480 Church, we can't make peace with sin 00:39:24.480 --> 00:39:26.639 when it's constantly waging war for the church. 00:39:28.900 --> 00:39:31.460 And so in the end, the final question now, 00:39:31.779 --> 00:39:32.960 what is the solution? 00:39:33.940 --> 00:39:34.940 Who will deal with sin? 00:39:36.819 --> 00:39:38.819 In the end, how does it play out in the text, right? 00:39:39.000 --> 00:39:39.299 David, 00:39:39.300 --> 00:39:44.400 sin has run rampant in the life of Israel. 00:39:45.480 --> 00:39:48.019 David is hiding high up on a mountain, 00:39:48.580 --> 00:39:49.519 on the mountain of olives. 00:39:50.600 --> 00:39:52.400 And he's hiding for his dear life, 00:39:52.780 --> 00:39:54.019 right there on the mountain of olives. 00:39:54.440 --> 00:39:56.560 And he's waiting for a word, 00:39:56.700 --> 00:39:58.980 hoping that God will deliver him. 00:39:58.980 --> 00:40:02.380 The people have conspired against him. 00:40:02.679 --> 00:40:04.699 He's being betrayed by his own son. 00:40:05.400 --> 00:40:09.440 And initially, what began as spots of mold on the ceiling 00:40:09.440 --> 00:40:10.440 have now spread. 00:40:10.840 --> 00:40:12.800 It's now complete and utter darkness. 00:40:14.139 --> 00:40:16.079 And David stands in the mountain of olives, 00:40:16.079 --> 00:40:18.219 and all he sees is pitch black. 00:40:19.039 --> 00:40:20.199 The writing is on the wall. 00:40:20.320 --> 00:40:21.240 It's a dark day. 00:40:21.239 --> 00:40:24.019 He overlooked evil. 00:40:24.119 --> 00:40:25.279 He didn't administer justice. 00:40:25.759 --> 00:40:28.599 He swept sin under the carpet countless times. 00:40:29.159 --> 00:40:30.859 And now it's all red, it's ugly head. 00:40:34.879 --> 00:40:35.919 And they're wondering, 00:40:36.399 --> 00:40:39.059 what will happen to this, 00:40:39.199 --> 00:40:40.319 what will happen to the nation? 00:40:40.659 --> 00:40:42.839 The fact is, David's sin is dealing with him. 00:40:43.899 --> 00:40:45.299 How will David deal with sin? 00:40:46.619 --> 00:40:49.059 And the countless people who have run away with David, 00:40:49.059 --> 00:40:51.460 to be honest, they look at him, 00:40:51.599 --> 00:40:54.480 and they're weeping in the text. 00:40:56.299 --> 00:40:58.579 They're weeping because it feels like there's no hope. 00:41:00.179 --> 00:41:02.320 And when you see the shadow of a king himself 00:41:02.320 --> 00:41:03.960 weeping over the situation, 00:41:04.099 --> 00:41:06.320 you struggle to turn to that man for rescue. 00:41:08.199 --> 00:41:10.400 And when you think about all the people he's messed up, 00:41:10.799 --> 00:41:14.279 Uriah, Bathsheba, Joab, the nation, his own kids. 00:41:15.380 --> 00:41:17.739 Now even Absalom, this powerful man, 00:41:17.759 --> 00:41:18.799 is trying to kill him. 00:41:18.800 --> 00:41:20.420 You think, what hope remains? 00:41:21.460 --> 00:41:23.280 And as mad as it is, in the text, 00:41:23.360 --> 00:41:25.260 verses 25 to 26, chapter 15, 00:41:25.820 --> 00:41:26.300 it says, 00:41:26.420 --> 00:41:27.660 Then the king said to Zadok, 00:41:28.019 --> 00:41:29.620 Carry the ark of God back to the city. 00:41:30.180 --> 00:41:32.440 If I find favor in the eyes of the Lord, 00:41:32.480 --> 00:41:34.180 he will bring me back and let me see 00:41:34.180 --> 00:41:36.060 both it and his dwelling place. 00:41:36.180 --> 00:41:36.900 But he says, 00:41:37.260 --> 00:41:38.160 But if he says, 00:41:38.340 --> 00:41:39.680 I have no pleasure in you, 00:41:40.180 --> 00:41:41.080 behold, here I am. 00:41:41.720 --> 00:41:43.440 Let him do to me what seems good to me. 00:41:43.440 --> 00:41:49.200 David doesn't even know whether God will save him. 00:41:50.800 --> 00:41:51.860 And so to be honest, 00:41:52.139 --> 00:41:53.200 the rise of Absalom, 00:41:53.340 --> 00:41:55.360 the instability of David's kingdom, 00:41:55.539 --> 00:41:57.760 his inability to address sin, 00:41:58.039 --> 00:42:00.519 it doesn't feel like there's any encouragement there. 00:42:01.800 --> 00:42:02.460 And yet, 00:42:02.880 --> 00:42:03.700 dare I say, friends, 00:42:03.780 --> 00:42:05.860 I don't think we're meant to find our encouragement 00:42:05.860 --> 00:42:07.820 in David right there and then. 00:42:07.820 --> 00:42:09.740 I think we're meant to find our encouragement 00:42:09.740 --> 00:42:10.960 in the other man on the mountain. 00:42:13.120 --> 00:42:14.580 If you read on ahead in the story, 00:42:14.660 --> 00:42:16.980 you'll realize that there is another man on the mountain, 00:42:17.180 --> 00:42:18.140 on the mountain of olives. 00:42:18.300 --> 00:42:19.880 And it's not just any old man. 00:42:20.860 --> 00:42:22.360 It's the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:42:23.800 --> 00:42:26.700 The Gospels tell us that the people laid their cloaks 00:42:26.700 --> 00:42:28.500 and palm trees, 00:42:28.840 --> 00:42:31.100 and as Jesus descends from the mountain of olives, 00:42:31.340 --> 00:42:32.380 the people were shouting, 00:42:32.600 --> 00:42:33.640 Blessed is the king 00:42:33.640 --> 00:42:35.640 who comes in the name of the Lord. 00:42:35.639 --> 00:42:38.059 Hosanna to the Son of God. 00:42:38.420 --> 00:42:39.460 Hosanna in the highest. 00:42:40.659 --> 00:42:41.259 You see, friends, 00:42:41.299 --> 00:42:43.539 there is a second king on the mountain of olives. 00:42:44.920 --> 00:42:46.659 And the people were saying Hosanna 00:42:46.659 --> 00:42:48.219 because they are assured 00:42:48.219 --> 00:42:50.319 that he will save his people from their sins. 00:42:51.859 --> 00:42:53.699 And this king won't overlook sins 00:42:53.699 --> 00:42:55.119 or just sweep it under the rug, 00:42:55.839 --> 00:42:57.599 letting it pull the wool over his eyes. 00:42:57.699 --> 00:42:58.359 No, no. 00:42:58.500 --> 00:42:59.799 Or letting it run rampant 00:42:59.799 --> 00:43:01.799 and just hoping that things will be dealt with. 00:43:01.879 --> 00:43:03.559 No, that's not the king we're hoping in. 00:43:04.279 --> 00:43:05.420 In the Gospel of Matthew, 00:43:05.639 --> 00:43:07.179 standing on the mountain of olives, 00:43:07.799 --> 00:43:09.279 he says that he's coming back. 00:43:09.299 --> 00:43:11.000 And he says nobody knows the time or the hour, 00:43:11.079 --> 00:43:11.659 but he's coming. 00:43:12.359 --> 00:43:13.519 And he says that when he comes, 00:43:13.599 --> 00:43:15.980 he will judge the living and the dead. 00:43:16.079 --> 00:43:17.199 And he says that when he comes, 00:43:17.259 --> 00:43:19.440 he will judge the violent and the drunkard 00:43:19.440 --> 00:43:20.799 and the proud and the hateful 00:43:20.799 --> 00:43:22.440 and that sin won't go unpunished. 00:43:24.099 --> 00:43:25.579 And the king, this king, 00:43:25.659 --> 00:43:27.679 he's never going to get used to those messy walls 00:43:27.679 --> 00:43:29.819 or those rubbish carpets. 00:43:29.900 --> 00:43:31.099 That's not what this king will do. 00:43:31.420 --> 00:43:34.039 He doesn't get accustomed with things stained by sin. 00:43:34.039 --> 00:43:37.259 He will never grow tired of administering justice. 00:43:37.960 --> 00:43:39.980 He will separate the sheep from the goat, 00:43:40.259 --> 00:43:40.880 the Bible says, 00:43:40.940 --> 00:43:42.079 when he's standing on that mountain. 00:43:43.259 --> 00:43:45.980 And his verdict will be consistent with his character 00:43:45.980 --> 00:43:48.119 and eternally binding in nature. 00:43:48.719 --> 00:43:51.300 He won't let the unrepentant murderer run free 00:43:51.300 --> 00:43:52.239 like David did. 00:43:52.960 --> 00:43:54.099 He's the judge of all the earth. 00:43:54.159 --> 00:43:55.340 He will do that which is right. 00:43:55.340 --> 00:43:57.519 And if that's not enough, 00:43:57.600 --> 00:44:01.079 the gospel tells us that just as this righteous king 00:44:01.079 --> 00:44:04.559 was standing on the mountain in a dark night, 00:44:04.680 --> 00:44:05.240 like David, 00:44:05.360 --> 00:44:08.320 he too was betrayed by someone close to him. 00:44:08.960 --> 00:44:11.600 And he was being hunted down by sinners, 00:44:11.780 --> 00:44:14.820 not because he failed to deal with his own sin. 00:44:14.920 --> 00:44:16.740 No, he's not like King David. 00:44:16.980 --> 00:44:19.559 He's on the mountain dripping sweats of blood 00:44:19.559 --> 00:44:21.720 because crying out to the father 00:44:21.719 --> 00:44:24.839 because he's getting ready to make an end of all of our sin 00:44:24.839 --> 00:44:26.139 once and for all. 00:44:27.759 --> 00:44:30.839 Our sinless king was on the mountain of olives 00:44:30.839 --> 00:44:33.539 preparing to die on the cross 00:44:33.539 --> 00:44:36.119 to deal with our mess and our failings. 00:44:37.019 --> 00:44:38.799 And church, that's why we have hope. 00:44:40.159 --> 00:44:41.839 Not because we're looking to David, 00:44:42.399 --> 00:44:44.879 but because we're looking to the one that David points to. 00:44:44.959 --> 00:44:45.980 It's the other man on the mountain. 00:44:47.119 --> 00:44:48.459 He deals with our sin. 00:44:48.460 --> 00:44:51.579 And even though the nights get dark 00:44:51.579 --> 00:44:53.599 and sin looks like it's on the throne, 00:44:54.179 --> 00:44:55.980 we can rest assured that Jesus Christ 00:44:55.980 --> 00:44:57.139 didn't stay in the grave. 00:44:57.840 --> 00:44:59.380 Up from the grave, he arose. 00:45:00.420 --> 00:45:02.639 Three days later, he rises from the dead. 00:45:02.960 --> 00:45:04.800 And the Bible tells us that in the book of Acts, 00:45:04.880 --> 00:45:06.039 from that same mountain, 00:45:06.760 --> 00:45:09.139 he ascends back to his heavenly throne, 00:45:09.559 --> 00:45:11.619 claiming his rightful place as Lord of all 00:45:11.619 --> 00:45:14.099 because he alone successfully deals with sin. 00:45:15.619 --> 00:45:17.599 And so church, let's not side with Absalom. 00:45:18.780 --> 00:45:19.820 Side with Christ, 00:45:20.420 --> 00:45:21.679 with the other man on the mountain. 00:45:22.679 --> 00:45:24.159 Be holy for your God is holy. 00:45:24.900 --> 00:45:26.740 Be righteous for your God is righteous. 00:45:27.619 --> 00:45:28.740 Faithfully deal with sin 00:45:28.740 --> 00:45:31.119 because your God has faithfully dealt with sin. 00:45:32.240 --> 00:45:33.400 And when all is said and done, 00:45:33.539 --> 00:45:34.320 thanks be to God. 00:45:34.380 --> 00:45:35.800 We don't have to trust in David. 00:45:36.119 --> 00:45:37.820 We put our trust in the other man on the mountain, 00:45:38.400 --> 00:45:40.440 Jesus Christ, our Lord and our King. 00:45:41.159 --> 00:45:41.460 Amen. 00:45:41.460 --> 00:45:41.579 Amen. 00:45:42.920 --> 00:45:43.360 Amen. 00:45:43.440 --> 00:45:43.980 Let us pray. 00:45:43.980 --> 00:45:44.099 Amen. 00:45:48.460 --> 00:45:58.579 Our God and Father, thank you so, so, so much. 00:46:00.240 --> 00:46:01.559 Thank you so much. 00:46:03.099 --> 00:46:03.940 Thank you, Lord. 00:46:05.880 --> 00:46:08.220 For you are kinder to us than we've ever deserved. 00:46:10.019 --> 00:46:11.780 Father, if you would count iniquities, 00:46:11.900 --> 00:46:12.500 who would stand? 00:46:12.500 --> 00:46:15.860 And yet there's forgiveness with you 00:46:15.860 --> 00:46:16.840 that you might be feared. 00:46:18.719 --> 00:46:21.099 Father, thank you for sending the other man on the mountain 00:46:21.099 --> 00:46:25.980 that Jesus Christ would not cower in the face of sin, 00:46:26.840 --> 00:46:28.400 but that he would deal with it completely. 00:46:29.920 --> 00:46:32.900 Thank you that though our sin be red like crimson, 00:46:33.000 --> 00:46:34.460 you have made it as white as snow. 00:46:34.579 --> 00:46:36.719 You have washed us and made us clean. 00:46:36.799 --> 00:46:38.419 You have purged us with hyssop. 00:46:38.819 --> 00:46:42.219 Father, you open our mouths that we might praise you. 00:46:43.619 --> 00:46:46.099 Father, thank you for your finished work on the cross. 00:46:47.219 --> 00:46:48.719 And Father, we pray that as a people, 00:46:48.859 --> 00:46:50.459 we will never grow accustomed to sin, 00:46:51.439 --> 00:46:53.379 but that we would be a people who would deal with it, 00:46:54.219 --> 00:46:55.980 knowing that our Lord has dealt with it. 00:46:56.779 --> 00:46:58.339 There would be a people who would bring our sin 00:46:58.339 --> 00:46:59.279 to the foot of the cross, 00:47:00.099 --> 00:47:02.459 knowing that the sins we bring to the foot of the cross, 00:47:02.459 --> 00:47:04.599 you are faithful and just to cleanse us from. 00:47:04.599 --> 00:47:07.480 Father, thank you, Father, for being a God 00:47:07.480 --> 00:47:11.039 who even though our sins are many, your mercy is more. 00:47:12.519 --> 00:47:15.079 It's because of your faithfulness that we are not consumed. 00:47:16.199 --> 00:47:17.719 Thank you, Father, for not changing. 00:47:17.920 --> 00:47:19.239 Thank you, Father, for being faithful. 00:47:19.719 --> 00:47:22.079 Thank you for binding us together by your spirit. 00:47:22.599 --> 00:47:24.360 Thank you, oh God, because in your kindness, 00:47:24.500 --> 00:47:27.519 you let us see the other man on the mountain so clearly 00:47:27.519 --> 00:47:30.420 and our need for him so clearly. 00:47:31.360 --> 00:47:32.779 Father, we pray that as your people, 00:47:32.900 --> 00:47:33.839 we would worship him, 00:47:33.840 --> 00:47:35.160 we would adore him, 00:47:35.579 --> 00:47:36.920 that we would put our trust in him 00:47:36.920 --> 00:47:38.100 and by your power, 00:47:38.200 --> 00:47:40.059 he would change us to live our righteous life. 00:47:40.559 --> 00:47:41.960 In Jesus' name, amen. 00:47:43.160 --> 00:47:43.559 Amen. 00:47:43.840 --> 00:47:44.200 Thank you. 00:47:44.199 --> 00:48:14.179 Thank you.