In The King's Service

2 Samuel 15:30-34 In The King’s Service

Disciples sleep through Christ’s prayer in the garden- Oftentimes we find ourselves asleep to the realities of our spiritual world.

Rip Van Winkle- fell asleep for 20 years- awoke, had missed a revolution.

ARE WE SLEEPING THROUGH A REVOLUTION?

Here we see a revolution of sorts taking place in David’s time.

Yet, he was the one at the receiving end.

Same today- just as the election proves. Society is split between themselves. The secular world is fighting the spiritual and the victor is unsure at this time.

We can parallel the world today with David’s situation..

Just as then, now there is one true king for the kingdom. 2 Sam 5, David anointed

Psalm 10:16 – "The Lord is King forever..." NASB

So, what does an eternal king and a divided world have to do with me?

Let’s look at this picture of a king and a servant:

1. The Mourning of David (vs.30)

A. Had previously pardoned Absalom- We have pardon waiting

B. Now as rejection sets in for the second time the charge becomes larger

Christ mourned for his children:

Mattthew 23:37 "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling."NASB

Later, during his Triumphial Entry:-

near where David wept

Luke 19:41-42 "When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, "If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes." NASB

If this world only knew what could bring them peace!

The king would be spared the mourning over the sins of the world!!

SO WHERE DOES THIS LEAVE US !

2. The Mourning of the Servant (vs.32)

A. Coat torn dust on his head.

James 4:8-10 "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you." NASB

We are to be mourning for the sinfulness that controls the world!

B. He was following the King’s lead.

I like this- here was a king of seemingly no power- yet the servant follows HIS King-

We are to follow with a great loyalty.

3. The Sending of the Servant (vs.33-34)

A. A difficult assignment- The King still loved Absalom.

Not his intention to destroy Absalom, but to bring him back

Says to his generals:

2 Samuel 18:5 "Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom"

We are not sent forth to fight whom we think is the obvious enemy

Sinful men are not our enemies, but our mission.

B. His mission was to defeat Absalom’s counsel (vs.34)

Ephesians 6:12 "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" KJV

FIGHT THE COUNSEL NOT THE PEOPLE !!

God says:

John 3:17 "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved." KJV

This Son is whom we proclaim! - Great Commission Christians

4. The Restoration of the Kingdom (2 Samuel 19) – Absalom killed by Joab

A. Not a Happy time for all (19:1-2)

David mourned the loss of his son

We already know Jesus mourns the loss of the unredeemed

Joab killed Absalom in disobedience to David-

Will the unredeemed be a result of our disobedience?

Which servant did his job best?

Though Joab stopped the rebellion-

the king had a great loss

We too can fight the seeming enemy

Hushai carried out his orders without varience-

A TRUE SERVANT

Ye servants of God, your Master proclaim, And publish abroad his wonderful name; The name all victorious of Jesus extol; His kingdom is glorious and rules over all.

Ye Servants of God- Charles Wesley 1744

pg. 292 Baptist Hymnal