May 18, 2014 - Sunday

Start Time: 6:04 A.M.

End Time: 7:18 A.M.

Title: Absalom Returns to Jerusalem

Scripture: 2 Samuel 14:1 – 33

God’s Message / God’s Promise / God’s Commands:

→ Joab son of Zeruiah knew that the king’s heart longed for Absalom. So Joab sent someone to Tekoa and had a wise woman brought from there. He said to her, “Pretend you are in mourning. Dress in mourning clothes, and don’t use any cosmetic lotions. Act like a woman who has spent many days grieving for the dead.Then go to the king and speak these words to him.” And Joab put the words in her mouth. When the woman from Tekoa went^[a] to the king, she fell with her face to the ground to pay him honor, and she said, “Help me, Your Majesty!” The king asked her, “What is troubling you?” She said, “I am a widow; my husband is dead. I your servant had two sons. They got into a fight with each other in the field, and no one was there to separate them. One struck the other and killed him. Now the whole clan has risen up against your servant; they say, ‘Hand over the one who struck his brother down, so that we may put him to death for the life of his brother whom he killed; then we will get rid of the heir as well.’ They would put out the only burning coal I have left, leaving my husband neither name nor descendant on the face of the earth.” The king said to the woman, “Go home, and I will issue an order in your behalf.” But the woman from Tekoa said to him, “Let my lord the king pardon me and my family, and let the king and his throne be without guilt.” The king replied, “If anyone says anything to you, bring them to me, and they will not bother you again.” She said, “Then let the king invoke the Lord his God to prevent the avenger of blood from adding to the destruction, so that my son will not be destroyed.” “As surely as the Lord lives,” he said, “not one hair of your son’s head will fall to the ground.” Then the woman said, “Let your servant speak a word to my lord the king.” “Speak,” he replied. The woman said, “Why then have you devised a thing like this against the people of God? When the king says this, does he not convict himself, for the king has not brought back his banished son? Like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be recovered, so we must die. But that is not what God desires; rather, he devises ways so that a banished person does not remain banished from him. “And now I have come to say this to my lord the king because the people have made me afraid. Your servant thought, ‘I will speak to the king; perhaps he will grant his servant’s request.  Perhaps the king will agree to deliver his servant from the hand of the man who is trying to cut off both me and my son from God’s inheritance.’  “And now your servant says, ‘May the word of my lord the king secure my inheritance, for my lord the king is like an angel of God in discerning good and evil. May the Lord your God be with you.’”

NOTES:

Ø God devises ways so that a banished person does not remain banished from Him!  Hallelujah!  God finds a way to bring us home.  Thank You Lord Jesus for being that way!  It was David’s heart’s desire to be with Absalom but he need to consider the cry of the people, which is justice for what Absalom did to his brother, Amnon.  Even David had a struggle on what he needs to do, what he desires or what needs to be done.  He desires to bring Absalom back to Jerusalem, yet Absalom needs to be put to justice.  So David was torn in between.  But the great God always come to the rescue because He used Joab, David’s chief, to show him what to do and make the right decision.  God is truly a God of 2^nd chances and He does not give it to those who deserved it.  The truth is. God gives it to those who don’t deserve it.  And the best part of it is that, He, personally, finds the way to bring us back from our banishment.  We didn’t plead, we didn’t beg Him, He, devise or crafted a plan on His own.  Oh what a great and awesome God we have!  Amazing Lord!

Ø God sees our heart’s desires and give it to us when we delight in Him.  David didn’t ask God to bring Absalom back.  In truth, David knew that the outcome of Absalom’s life is death because of what he did.  Maybe for that reason david did not plead for Absalom’s case to God anymore because justice must be served.  But God sees our hearts and nothing is hidden from Him.  So when He knows that david was struggling with this, God find a way to give David what he desires and also to make David the best representation of Himself to the people.  Giving David’s desire to bring Absalom back to Jerusalem would not only be giving David his heart’s desire but will also show to the whole people of Jerusalem, the kind of God we have…A merciful one and loving, who offers 2^nd chances and finds a way to welcome the unwelcomed and lift the banishment out of a person.  So this desire of David, was both beneficial for David and the Lord.  Lord help me to always remember that my decisions reflect on who You are to others so let me best represent You Lord.  Help me to show the best and right representation of You!

→ Then the king said to the woman, “Don’t keep from me the answer to what I am going to ask you.” “Let my lord the king speak,” the woman said. The king asked, “Isn’t the hand of Joab with you in all this?” The woman answered, “As surely as you live, my lord the king, no one can turn to the right or to the left from anything my lord the king says. Yes, it was your servant Joab who instructed me to do this and who put all these words into the mouth of your servant.  Your servant Joab did this to change the present situation. My lord has wisdom like that of an angel of God—he knows everything that happens in the land.”  The king said to Joab, “Very well, I will do it. Go, bring back the young man Absalom.”  Joab fell with his face to the ground to pay him honor, and he blessed the king. Joab said, “Today your servant knows that he has found favor in your eyes, my lord the king, because the king has granted his servant’s request.” Then Joab went to Geshur and brought Absalom back to Jerusalem. ²⁴ But the king said, “He must go to his own house; he must not see my face.” So Absalom went to his own house and did not see the face of the king.  In all Israel there was not a man so highly praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom. From the top of his head to the sole of his foot there was no blemish in him. Whenever he cut the hair of his head—he used to cut his hair once a year because it became too heavy for him—he would weigh it, and its weight was two hundred shekels^[b] by the royal standard.  Three sons and a daughter were born to Absalom. His daughter’s name was Tamar, and she became a beautiful woman.  Absalom lived two years in Jerusalem without seeing the king’s face. Then Absalom sent for Joab in order to send him to the king, but Joab refused to come to him. So he sent a second time, but he refused to come. Then he said to his servants, “Look, Joab’s field is next to mine, and he has barley there. Go and set it on fire.” So Absalom’s servants set the field on fire.  Then Joab did go to Absalom’s house, and he said to him, “Why have your servants set my field on fire?”  Absalom said to Joab, “Look, I sent word to you and said, ‘Come here so I can send you to the king to ask, “Why have I come from Geshur? It would be better for me if I were still there!”’ Now then, I want to see the king’s face, and if I am guilty of anything, let him put me to death.”  So Joab went to the king and told him this. Then the king summoned Absalom, and he came in and bowed down with his face to the ground before the king. And the king kissed Absalom.

NOTES:

Ø God gives forgiveness to those who seek it and even if they don’t deserve it!  Absalom committed a sin when he killed Amnon, though his reasons were understandable, still it was not valid or justified.  Instead of getting the punishment he deserved, God’s grace and love, poured out thru David and Absalom was pardoned.  What a wonderful story!  Truly it copies our story with God.  Thank You Jesus for Your forgiveness and love and grace.  Thank You because You give it to us even if we do not deserve it.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank You!  Thank You for the 2^nd chance, thank You for the forgiveness and thank You because You see our hearts and You give it to us even when we do not deserve it!  Lord, thank You because Your grace and mercy is abounding and it covers all our sins and mistakes.  Thank You because You find a way for the banished to be unbanished!  Thank You because You crafted a way for the unaccepted to be accepted!  Thank You Jesus because You are love and You love us so much!  Lord thank You because You give us great things that we do not deserve so we give You all glory and honor!  I praise You Lord.  Help me Lord to continually see Your goodness and You love in my life.  Show me Lord the ways You have crafted to bring us out of our banishment and receive forgiveness from You.  Thank you for Your kiss that sets us free and sealed our restored relationship and position in Your Kingdom and family.  Thank You Jesus.  All this is made possible only because of You!  In Jesus’ Name, Amen!