Samuel Week 3 — David, Bathsheba, and the Fractured Kingdom | 2 Samuel Explained

David defeated giants, conquered enemies, and received covenant promises from God—but Samuel turns dramatically in 2 Samuel 11–20. In Week 3 of our Samuel study we explore David’s sin with Bathsheba, Nathan’s confrontation, Absalom’s rebellion, family collapse, and how private failure became national crisis.

This study examines:

• David and Bathsheba
• Nathan’s prophetic confrontation
• The Amnon and Tamar narrative
• Absalom’s rebellion
• Hebrew word studies and literary structure
• Eden echoes and biblical narrative patterns
• The theology of consequences
• Why Samuel deepens longing for a greater Son of David

Samuel does not hide David’s failures. Scripture preserves these stories to show that even Israel’s greatest king was not the final answer.

Jesus becomes the faithful King that David anticipated.

Walk the Way — Modern Mind, Ancient Book.

#Samuel #BibleStudy #2Samuel #David #Bathsheba #Jesus #OldTestament #BiblicalHistory #ChristianPodcast #BibleTeaching

Transcript

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Modern mind, ancient book, walk away.

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Did you know that David was the king after God's own heart? But sin and the sword entered his house. The book of Samuel intensifies the longing for a greater son of David. My name is Roger, I'll be your host. Welcome to another Modern Mind Ancient Book where we're going back to move forward. We're finding a love for the law, the prophets, and the writings. We're placing Jesus in his culture and context where we can meet him there and know him better. Last week we saw David's house rise. This week we see the fractured house of David. Biblical scholars see 2 Samuel 11 through 20 as one of the greatest writings, including the structure, interactions, and the truth that's told in it in the Bible itself. It's important to note here that the Bible is being very, very honest. In week three, it's important to note the literary shape. In A, it's it is a uh called a chiastic structure where they cross with the center point. In part A, David sins, and on the other side of part A, David returns chastened. In part B, Nathan judges, and on the other side, the kingdom struggles under judgment. And C, Tamar is violated. And then on the other side, David mourns his violated house. And right in the center of it all, Absalom's rebellion, a beloved son of David. Without further ado, let's get started on this week. The big idea here is that the covenant with David remains, but the king himself fractures. The story turns from triumph to tragedy, showing how sin in the royal house radiates outward into family disorder, political rebellion, and national instability. The king, after God's heart, sins, the sword enters his house, and Samuel intensifies longing for a greater son of David. The opening scene is David and Bathsheba in 2 Samuel 11 to 12. After is Amnon and Tamar and 2 Samuel 13. Following Absalom's revolt, 2 Samuel 14 through 18, and then David's return and a fragile kingdom results. 2 Samuel 19 to 20. Many scholars treat 2 Samuel 11 as a dramatic hinge. Before this, there was ascent, there was a great covenant keeper. There was nothing but victories. And it was an ordered kingdom. After this, it's a fractured family. A sword enters between family members, war and disorder. Then there's a succession crisis. The kingdom doesn't collapse, but innocence does. David defeats giants, yet he falls to desire. It's the garden motif. The woman caused him to fail. The greatest threat didn't come from the Philistines, but it was David's own heart. This isn't men are greater than women. It's that where one is broken, the other follows. It's that what we love can fall, and instead of correcting that, instead of, in this case, not partaking in it, we fall too to the desires of our heart. Instead of reaching God and rebuking that which you know is wrong, in this case, we're going to learn more about what David did, he just did it. Because there's a way that seems right to a man, but that way leads to death. Then it happened in the spring, at the time when the kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with them in all Israel, and they destroyed the sons of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem. Now when evening came, David rose from his bed and walked around on the roof of the king's house, and from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful in appearance. So David sent and inquired about the woman, and one said, Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Aliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? David sent messengers and took her, and when she came to him, he lay with her. Man. David had not yet met the challenge of the Ammonite rebellion following the Nahash's death. Does that ring a bell for anybody? Nahash? That's the very name of the one who is in the garden. He had not yet defeated the Ammonite threat, and they continued to challenge his authority. In the previous fight with Israel's army, the Ammonites had merely retreated behind the protective walls of Rabbah and remained unscathed. The proximity of Amman and the tribal territories of God and Manasseh meant that David could not ignore this. Now, in springtime, when the men go out to war, they were sent. And David sent Joab, his commander, two Robot to conquer it a second time. David's timing for this was important. He was picking the anniversary date of the humiliation of Israel when they sent to condol to offer condolences for the father's death. Now listen, then David said, I will show kindness to Hanan, the son of Nahash, just as his father showed kindness to me. So David sent some of his servants to console him concerning concerning his father. But when David's servants came to the land of Ammonites, they treated them poorly. They shaved half of their beards off, and they cut off their clothes so that their waists and below were exposed. They completely humiliated David and Israel. There's a principle here. First off, we should, and because we don't know the Bible, it's not translated to convey these Hebraic words and thoughts. We don't see that there's name here, Nahash. This is the very one that was in the garden. This is the name of the one that's in the garden. This is supposed to take us back so that we see this. The Nahash, he is against God's people. You can't be allies with the Nahash. But David and his goodness, he reached out to the son of the Nahash. And there he was humiliated. And this just goes to show that even with David's rise, with Israel's conquering, there's always this malevolence in the world, this darkness in the world that brings and causes and needs to see destruction, death, murder, killing. And David fell prey to it. It's something that we have to understand as religious people that there is a war raging. And that that war cannot be undone without violence. The lovely thing for us is that Jesus said vengeance is God's. And so we can wait in expectation for God to deal with these enemies. Instead, we just get to talk about the surpassing greatness of the king who came and laid down his life so that you might live before he comes to conquer his enemy. This is the message of Jesus. And the Nahash better watch out because his servants, his people, his sons, they will be crushed. David is about to crush the Yamanites. He is the snake crusher. He's going to destroy the sun, but then he's going to fall prey in the same way that Adam did in the garden for the woman's sake. I want you to think about that a little bit. You men out there, you have to have self-control. You have to fight that inner battle. You cannot give in to your desires. The woman will lead you astray, not because she's bad, but because you want to do the wrong thing. Take that to heart. And remember, the answer is not to do the wrong thing. Instead, it's to say, no, Jesus' name. Because of what he did for me, I will not do this evil thing. I will not fall prey to this evil thing. Lust and brokenness. Don't destroy your families. Don't chase after women that aren't for you. That's what David teaches us. Because when you do, brokenness enters your family, and so does the sword. Your children will pay, your wife will despise you, and you'll despise your own life for what you've done. Now, Bathsheba wasn't just any woman, and it wasn't wrong for David to remain in Jerusalem. But I want you to go back to Samuel's prophecy. He said the king would take your men and your women, he would send them and the men out to war, and your women would become cooks, and etc., and on and on, and he would take your crops, and that's exactly what's happening for David. He's at home, and he's, I don't know if he's enjoying himself, but he certainly took the position of a king. And in his time with great power, where everybody would do what he said to do, it's exactly what he does. He goes and he does what he wants. Just like the men of old, they saw the women and they took them, whatever one they wanted. David ended up becoming like these Nephilim, these characters that were spoken of. Because power corrupts. Like Jesus did. He considered his position as nothing, made himself as a slave, and died as a criminal. That's the way we're supposed to be. Like Jesus. Now David's house was located on the highest ground within Jerusalem in the old Jebusite fortress. And from his rooftop, he would have a commanding view of the city. From that place he saw a woman bathing. Since no Israel house at that time had running water, you would bathe in the courtyard or you would bathe on the roof. Okay, and there's like no indication on her part that she wanted anything to do with this. But David, he noticed her and his desire was aroused. Now, when he sent messengers, they reported that she was the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite. Thus, she was the daughter of one of David's best fighters, and the granddaughter of his most trusted counselor, and the wife of one of his inner circle of honor soldiers. David was properly informed of this fact. For him to pursue Bathsheba was to commit adultery, but more than that, there was a Torah prohibition against this. He was going to break God's law. In Exodus, you shall not commit adultery. In Leviticus, you shall not have intercourse with your neighbor's wife. In Deuteronomy, you shall not commit adultery. And the penalty for these things? If there is a man who commits adultery with another man's wife, one who commits adultery with his friend's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall be put to death. If a man is found lying with a married woman, then both of them shall die. The man who lay with the woman and the woman, thus he shall purge the evil. Regardless of David knowing this, he sent messengers to get her. He just lacked the will to resist. And she lacked the will to resist because he was powerful. He abused his position and used it. He saw and he took. Because it doesn't show men to be perfect. There's no other document in the world like this. Instead, what we see is God is righteous and men fail consistently. We see that the king we need is not the one that's on the earth on his rooftop breaking the laws. But instead, it's one yet to come. And the Bible, the Bible makes it explicit that this couldn't be the Savior. That this couldn't be the true King who would set up the forever kingdom. Because immediately following this, there's going to be a problem for David. A problem that he could not overcome. Because when sin and death they entered the world, this is the result of it. No flesh, no man will ever be able to overcome this. It takes God. It takes a movement of God. Jesus had to intervene in the world to make this right. This is the way. This is the way. Now he tries to convince Uriah. He tries to become more wise than the others. David starts to act as the Nahash right now because he's not been caught yet. And so he's trying to fix his problem before it becomes a problem. Because if Uriah will go to her, then that could be Uriah's child. However, Uriah is a faithful, kind, hardworking fighter in David's army. He's a professional soldier. He's faithful, or David is unfaithful. David is an Israelite, the truest Israelite, the one from Judah, the one who rightfully rules. But Uriah's a Hittite. He's a Gentile who has become faithful to the ways of Israel. Uriah sets the tone for us. Uriah was righteous in this, and David was wrong. Just like Jesus was sold to Gentiles, Uriah was sold to be murdered and killed at the walls by David. This theme and this motif is strong in the Bible. Now, David sent the letter to Joab to kill Uriah in Uriah's hands. Uriah didn't know, but he's the one who carried his own death sentence. Jesus knew, didn't he? Uriah went out of the king's house, and he walked, and he took that letter, and then Joab sent him to the front line to be killed. Now, when David was notified, Joab made sure to note that David told him, and this is what he said. And some of people, some of the people among David's servants, fell, and Uriah the Hittite also died. Then Joab sent and reported to David all the events of the war. And this is what he said to the messenger. And he says to you, Why did you go near the city and fight? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall? Who struck down Abimelech, the son of Jerobash? Did not a woman throw an upper millstone on him from the wall so that he died at the Bez? Why did you go near the city wall? And then you'll say, Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also. So he did. The messenger said to David, The men prevailed against us and came out in the field, and we pressed them. Moreover, the archer shot some of our men, and they're dead, and your servant Uriah the Hittite almost also died. Then David said to the messenger, Thus Yusuf said to Joab, Do not let this thing displease you, for the sword devours one as well as the other. Make your battle against the city stronger and overthrow it. So encourage him. Bathsheba heard that her husband was dead, and when her time was mourning, time of mourning was over, about thirty days, David brought her to his house, and that was evil in the sight of the Lord. Now Nathan comes, and he tells him there was a rich man with many herds in his flocks, and there was a poor man who had nothing except for one little Ewam. And he grew up, and that little Eulamb grew up with the man's children, and it would eat of his bread and drink of his cup, and lie in his bosom. It was like a daughter to him. Now a traveler came to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take from his own flock to prepare for the way for fair who came for him. Rather, he took the man's ew lamb and prepared it for the man who came to him. Then David's anger burned against the man, and he said to Nathan, as the Lord lives, surely what that man has done this, done, is deserves to die. He must make restitution for the lamb fourfold because he did this thing with no compassion. And then David said to him, You are the man. And it was at this point that David knew that there was nothing that he could do to overcome the fact that God knew what he did. Now, how could this be a man after God's own heart? Well, it's what happens next. And this is why I love this book again. Because what you find here is a man who made a horrid mistake, a horrible, horrible mistake. A man who did something so incredibly evil he should die. And then God tells him, I made you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave you your master's house and your master's wives, and I gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if that had been too little, I would have added more to you. Why have you despised the word of the Lord and done this evil? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword, you've taken his wife as your wife, and you have killed him with the sword of the sons of Amon, the sons who is led by Nahash. Now therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you've despised me. I've taken the wife of Uriah, the Hittite, to be your wife. Thus says the Lord, behold, I will raise up evil against you in your household. I will even take your wives before your eyes and give them to your companion, and he will lie with them in daylight. Indeed, you did it in secret, I will do this before Israel. Then David said to Nathan, and this is what makes David a man after God's own heart. I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said to David, The Lord has also taken away your sin. You shall not die. That right there, my friend, is messianic. This right here shows you that the law is not about the law. It's not about what is written exactly as it is written. It's not about the hard truth. It's about God showing you who you are, you realizing who you are, and Him by grace taking away your sin. Have you studied the law to know who you are? David knew it, didn't keep it, but then when he was confronted by it, knew his life was over, and he was willing to die because there is a right and a wrong. And he ate from the wrong tree, and he was going to die. But his sin was taken away. And so can yours. At this very moment, this is the time. You stop, you close your eyes, you look up to heaven, pull over if you're driving. He said, Lord, take away my sin. I love you, I know who you are, but I want to know you more. I want to know what's truly right and wrong. And I want to be forgiven so that I might give you treasures, that I might live for you, for your glory, for your kingdom, that I might find a love for the law, the prophets, and the writings, and learn to see Jesus for who he truly is. He's the Son of David. He's the greater David. He's the one who didn't fall to the woman, to the Nahash. He didn't go to that tree. Instead, he went to the death. He went to be cursed so that he could redeem you. Before you were ever clean, before you ever did a thing, that's what Jesus did for you. Because he's taken away your sin. And if you would do that and walk in his ways, you would not die. Now, Bathsheba's child was very sick. And David inquired of the child, and he fasted, and he laid on the ground for seven days, and he would not eat, and he would not take care of himself. And the people thought he was a fool. And on the seventh day the child died. On the eighth day, that child was supposed to receive a name and be circumcised. He was to become a child of the covenant, counted among Israel. But he never made it to that day. He was never given a name. He was gone. And David tried so hard and prayed and cried out for this to take place. And this is also another important moment for us. No matter how faithful you are, no matter how much you love God, when you do something wrong, there is a price to pay. And we will pay that price. The world that's coming will have none of this. No more death, sin, tears. But this one, this is the one where you have to give yourself up. And David shows us exactly what that is. Because on that day, when it was over, when he knew that the child had died, then David got up from the ground, he washed, he put some oil on himself, and he changed his clothes. And then he went to the house of the Lord and he worshipped. And I know what he said. He spoke as Job spoke. He said, Blessed are you who gives and takes away. That's why he was a man after God's own heart. Then he ate. And his servant said to him, What is it you've done? When the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but now that he's gone? And listen to what he says. Who knows? Maybe the Lord would have been gracious to me, and the child may live. But now that he's died, what why should I fast? Can I bring him back? I will go to him. But he will not return to me. All the pain in the world is summed up right there. We're all gonna pass from this world. And we will go to those who pass. He trusted that that boy was with God. And now David knows he will also go to that place. Do you know that? It's important that you do. Now, Nathan blessed David's next son because David went into Bathsheba and she gave birth, and she named him Solomon. It's a good name. What it means, Shalomo is how you say it. What it means is like the father's peace. And Nathan named him prophetically Jedediah, beloved of the Lord. This is the one who's to be king. Now, there's still more work to do in Rabbah. Rabbah was of the Ammonites. Okay, because of David's sin, presumably, they couldn't overcome it, which just wasn't going to happen that season. But Joab continued to fight. And the sons of Ammon, they failed. He captured, Joab captured the royal city. Now, this was something that was still going on from the time of Joshua. But David had work to do and he continued doing it. Now he says, I have fought against Rabbah Joab. I have even captured the city of waters. Meaning this. So here the city would fall. Now they gathered the rest of the peoples and they went. Now this is when David went. He went to go see the fall. And he went there and he took this crown. Now this was like a ceremonial crown. 75 pounds worth of gold. They took the crown and they came back. Now notice the Ammonites had been a problem. David's son Amnon, which is his first son, the one who was rightly born to him, not from a concubine. She or he is really similar to the Ammonites, isn't he? Because there's always spiritual warfare. And when you open the doors like David did, this is the kind of stuff that comes in. And like father, like son. Power corrupts, desire corrupts. Where David could not control himself, Amnan could not control himself. Amnon, the son of David, loved his own sister. Well, his half-sister. Amnon was so frustrated because of his sister Tamar that he made himself ill. Amnan's friend called Jonadav, son of Shimea. He counseled him. He's the one who had the wisdom like the snake, right? Jonadab, listen to what it says about him. Jonadab was very shrewd. This is the same language used of Nahash garden motif. And he said to him, O son of the king, why are you so depressed? Will you not tell me? So he said, Pretend you're sick. When David comes, tell him that you want Tamar to come here, and then you can take her. So Tamar went to her brother's house because David sent her, because he asked, Amnon asked David, Send her here to take care of me. So she went. After that he sent all of his servants out, and he said to Tamar, Bring the food into the bedroom that I may eat of it. So Tamar brought it to there, and when she brought him the food, he took hold of her and said to her, Come and lie with me. But she answered to him, No, do not violate me, for such a thing is not done in Israel. As for me, where could I get rid of my reproach? She's a she's a royal daughter. She's to be given in marriage. This is a very, very important thing that's happening right here. What happens after this is she can never be given to another aristocrat. And she's pleading with this man morally. Please don't do this to me. Then she pleads with him for his position. You will be counted as one who is a fool among your people. Just ask David, and he'll give me to you. But he would not listen to her because he's stronger than she is. Now, following this, after he's done this horrible thing, he tells her to go away. He rejects her. Now, if one would do such a thing as this, in the law, it says that he must marry her, but he despised her. So morally he was wrong. According to his image and the person he's supposed to be, and the way he's supposed to conduct himself, he was wrong. And then when it comes to God's law, he was wrong. He acted in the ways of Lot, in the ways of Egypt, in the ways of the Nachash. He took what he saw and he ate at the wrong time, at the wrong place, and the wrong way. And this is a curse. Now she goes to her brother, Absalom, and he said to her, Has Amnon your brother been with you? But now keep silent, and my sister, he is your brother, do not take this matter to heart. So Tamar remained and was desolate in her brother Absalom's house. She could never be given away. But Absalom had mercy on her. Now listen to this, Ab Shalom. This is the father of peace. Keep that in mind as we go, okay? Now David also heard of this, and he was very angry. But Absalom, he didn't say anything to Am Ab Ammon Amnon, either good or bad. It came about after two full years when the sheep should sheep shearers were in Bahal Hazor, which is near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king's sons. And he did this conspiring. He too became wise. He became the brother killer. And get this. King David did nothing. He didn't respond. He didn't This is what sin does to you. Where you make mistakes, where you break the law, you become permissive of those who do. And that's when this enters your home. That's when this enters your family. Because you don't crush it, you try to forget about it. How many families are full of sin? Because one partook. And then when others began to do the same, it was excused. Now, while Amnon's heart was merry, and he wasn't expecting anything to happen. Absalom s gave his servants permission to kill Amnon, and that's what they did. All the king's sons rose after this and they fled. Now David heard that all of his sons were dead. But that was a bad report. Later he finds out that it's only Amnon that's killed. And Absalom he fled, he fled his home, and he fled his country. Now Absalom had fled, and the young men who was the watchman raised his eyes and looked, and behold, many people were coming from the road behind him by the side of the mountain. Jonadu said to the king, Behold, the king's sons have come according to your servant's words. Now Absalom fled when he went to Talmai, the son of Amihud, the king of Geshir, and David mourned for his son every single day. So Absalom fled and had gone to Geshur, and was there for three years. The heart of King David longed to go out after Absalom, for he was comforted concerning Amnon, since he was dead. Absalom became the more moral one in this, but he took the position, the king of peace, who became wise like the serpent. Now Joab, the son of Zeruar, perceived that the king's heart was inclined toward Absalom. Now Joab becomes wise like the deceiver, and he sends a woman, and the woman goes to David, and David recognizes who she is. That Joab sent her, and he asks her, and she tells him, Yes, it is Joab who sent me. And she said, Please let the king remember the Lord your God, and so that the Avenger of Blood will not come to destroy, otherwise, they will destroy my son. That's what she was arguing. Now, David, once he heard this, he gives Joab permission to go and get Absalom, which he does. So the king said to Joab, Behold, now I will surely do this thing. Go therefore, bring back the young man Absalom. Joab fell on his face to the ground, prostrated himself, and blessed the king. Then Joab said, Today your servant knows that I have found favor in your sight. O my lord, the king, is that the king has performed the request of his servants? Okay, there we go. So Joab arose, went to Gusher, and he brought back Absalom. However, the king said, Let him turn to his own house. He didn't want to see him because of what he did, even though he respected it. Now, like Samson, right, there's this hair thing. When he cut there, this is for Absalom. When he cut the hair of his head, and it was the end of every year that he cut it, for it was heavy on him, so he cut it. He weighed the hair at two hundred shekels by the king's weight. And to him there were born three sons, and one daughter, whose name was Tamar. She was a woman of beautiful appearance. He honored his sister. He was continually taking care of his sister, by the way. Now Absalom lived two full years in Jerusalem, and he didn't see the king's face. Now, this is where Absalom gets impatient. Absalom sent for Joab and said to the king, Hey, I want to see my dad. And he said no. So Absalom set fire to the field. He was acting, he was acting just like Samson. You see the hair connection here? He saw himself as a judge and a deliverer and a righteous one. He saw himself as bringing back the ways of the judges as a true and rightful king, the one who deserved to be on the throne. He was reenacting Mo er um Samson. Then Joab arose and he went to Absalom's house and he said, What are you doing? Why are you burning my field? Absalom answered him, Behold, I sent to you, but you never came. Now if there's iniquity, put me to death. So Joab came to the king and told him. He called to Absalom, and thus he came to the king and prostrated himself to the ground. Now, when it came about this, Absalom provided for himself a chariot and horses and fifty men. He didn't want to be with the king, he wanted to be in the capital. He wanted to take his seat as the king, but he needed to be in Jerusalem. Absalom used to rise early and stand behind the way to the gate, and when any man had a suit to come to the king for judgment, Absalom would call to him and say, From what city are you? And he would say, Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel. Then Absalom would say to him, See, your claims are good and right, but no man listens to you on the part of the king. Moreover, Absalom would say, Oh, that one would appoint me judge in the land. See, he's looking back to the prior days, to the previous days. He's trying to recreate what is gone. He's going back and trying to undo what his father is, because he sees himself as the righteous one, as one like Samson. Then every man who has any suit or cause, they would come to me, and I would give him justice. And when a man came near to prostrate himself before him, he would put out his hand and take hold of him and kiss him. In this manner, Absalom dealt with all Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel. How? By being more wise, by misleading, by questioning the words of the king. Does that sound like someone you know? Now it came about at the end of forty years that Absalom said to the king, Let me go and pay my vow which I vowed to the Lord of Hebron, or had vowed to the Lord in Hebron. For your servant vowed a vow while I was living in Gesher and Aram, saying, If the Lord shall indeed bring me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord. The king said to him, Go in peace, so he arose and went to Hebron. But Absalom sent spies throughout the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, Absalom, he's king of Hebron. Then two hundred men went with Absalom to Jerusalem, who were invited, and they went innocently, and they didn't know anything. He's deceiving people. And Absalom sent for Ahithophel, the Gilonite and David's counselor, from his city Gihon, or Giloh, while he was offering the sacrifices, and the conspiracy was strong, for the people increased continually with Absalom. He was dividing the people. You see how there's in one house the seed of the woman and the seed of the Nachosh, the deceiver. Then a messenger came to David, saying, The hearts of men of Israel with Absalom. David said to all of his servants who were with him in Jerusalem, Arise and let us flee. David was driven out, and remembered Prophecy earlier from Nathan that I would give to your companions, your wives, and they would do this thing in the daylight. That's exactly what Absalom does. He did he does this at the council of a wise one, right? So you can see there's all these motifs here happening. It's important for us to note that not all wisdom is good wisdom. If it's about getting over on something or taking what is not yet yours to have, that's not God's way. Just remember that as you go through life. Now Ahithophel was the greatest counselor, okay? Um, and it's noted that he's with Absalom. So David said, Oh Lord, I pray that you make the counselor of Ahithophel as foolishness. So Hushai, another counselor, came to David. But David says, Don't come with me, go back. And that's what he does. Now, he and the priests they feed information to um David throughout this process, and it's because of that that they're able to survive. But there's one other appearance here. If you remember Mephibosheth, he's the um grandson of Saul who had who was lame, whose legs were didn't work. Well, his servant Zeba comes to David with summer fruits and bread and wine, and he says that Mephibosheth is looking for the kingdom to return to him, and he thinks that this is his opportunity. And then David gives all that was Mephibosheth to Zeba. So he usurped the kingdom of Saul by lies. You can see how spiritual warfare works. It starts in one way and it just spreads through everything. Once sin enters, it is cancerous. And this shows you how the world of men, because we don't know everything, because we can't see everything, it puts us in a very bad place. Because as time goes and we continually make worse or bad decisions, worse and worse things continue to happen. And that's what's happening to David right now. The kingdom is fracturing. It's fracturing under power struggles, it's fracturing under lies, it's fracturing under the wisdom of men. Because where there's power and riches, there's desire. And where there's desire that's unmitigated and seen as wise, then all of these horrible decisions are made. But David is a broken man. He doesn't believe any of this is necessary anymore. David's no longer a man of war, even though he's still the king. I I see David during this time. If I had my own character development, I would write that with Bathsheba, he realized that he became what Samuel predicted, and that he was acting like these Nephilim, that he was acting as those cursed of God, and that he was going to the wrong tree, and that he was serving the wrong father. And I believe that he was just dutifully living out his life, what was left of it here, but what he was looking for was to be translated, to leave, to change. I don't think he saw this place as his home anymore. I think he saw all this brokenness as something he just no longer wanted to take part in. And I think because of that, he was kind of paralyzed. But that's what makes him see clearly. That's what makes him understand that he needed a savior, that he needed the true king to come. And I believe David did know that. So David lost Israel, lost Jerusalem to Absalom. During this time, all of this really horrible stuff happened. Absalom pitched a tent on the roof, and he went into his father's concubines. Now, Hushai told him that if he came after David now, meaning right away, that they could kill him quickly. But Absalom wanted a second opinion. Or that was Ahithophel, I'm sorry. Now, what he did is he called Hushai. Now David sent Hushai back. And Hushai said, Now your your father is a great warrior. If you do this, the people that you send will be struck down, and then Israel will turn against you. So they waited. Ahithophel, on the other hand, went and killed himself. Because he had just betrayed his king. Now that that kind of rings the bell for something, doesn't it? That's what happened with Jesus. He was betrayed, and that same man killed himself. These motifs are all through this. Now he sent word to David through Zadak and Abiathar, the priests. And David got the word, and they understood what was going to happen. David at this time was also organizing himself. And after they crossed the border, they made three separate divisions that would take care of the war that was coming. Okay. So he set commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. And David set the people out, one third under Joab, one third under Abashai, the son of Zerui, Joab's brother, and one third under the command of Etai, the Gittite. And the king said to the people, I myself will surely go out. But they said, No, don't go out. And this is what tells you that when he was in the city waiting, um, and when he, you know, did the thing with Bathsheba, that it wasn't because he was like not taking care of his duties, it was because the people didn't want him out. And at this point, I'm pretty sure he welcomed that because he didn't see this as the way that he wanted to be anymore. But nonetheless, the people of Israel were defeated before the servants of David. Yet another civil war. And the battle was spread all over the countryside, and the forest and the sword devoured the people, the trees and the sword. It's really important to see that motif here. Because Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under thick branches of a great oak, and his head got caught got caught in the oak. So he was left hanging. He was hung on a tree while the mule was under him. It kept going. Now certain men saw it, they tell Joab, Joab said to a man, go kill him. But that man refused. And so Joab went there and he drove three spears into his side. He was hung on a tree and had a spear driven to his side. I believe that Jesus redeemed this whole thing. I believe that the father of peace of Shalom. That all of this brokenness Jesus paid for by being hung on a tree and having spears, well a spear drove into his side. Just like Absalom. I believe he corrected this specifically for David. I believe Jesus went to the cross to redeem David, because David's sins would be forgiven. Now David was grief stricken because of Absalom. He loved his son and he mourned. And what did Jesus tell us? Don't rejoice over the death of your enemies. Love your neighbors yourself and bless your enemies. But Joab was not like that. Not at all. He still had to run the kingdom. And this is why I say his heart had changed. To me, it was like the change in Jacob when he became Israel. He just sat back. He never really involved himself anymore, except for to be protective, because he knew what the world was. And I believe that's what David sees here. I believe he knows what the world was, and he was giving himself up to God and not to live the ways of the world. But there was still a kingdom to be run. And Joab and Solomon was gonna be next. But Absalom. Now, Joab reproves David. This is what he says, okay? Then it was told Joab, Behold, the king is weeping and mourns for Absalom. The kingdom or the victory that day was turned to mourning for all the people, for the people heard it, said that day, the king has grieved for his son. So the people went to stealth in the cities that is day, as people who are humiliated and steal away who flee in battle. The king covered his face and cried out with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, O my son, my son. Then Joab came into the house of the king and said, Today, you have covered with shame the faces of your servants. By loving those who hate you, and by hating those who love you, by loving those who hate you. If you've ever wondered why David was a man after God's own heart, this is it right here. He was different than Joab. Joab was a killer, he was a schemer, he was a liar, he was a professional soldier, and David was once that, but now he's one who loves his enemies. This is the one new man. The king arose and sat at the gate, and when the people said, they said, Behold, the king is at the gate, and Israel fled, each to his tent. All the people were quarreling. However, Absalom was gone. And King David sent the Zedok and Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak to the elders of Judah, saying, Why are you the last to welcome me back? You are my brothers, you are bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh. This, that unity right there, loving your enemies, right? Say to Amasa, Are you not my bone and my flesh? May God do so to me. I mean, David's just turning the whole thing around. He's bringing back peace in a broken situation. Now they sent word to him, Return you and all your servants. So the king returned and came to the uh as far as the Jordan, and Judah came to Gilgal. This is a place that keeps coming up. It's the place where all the calamity kind of starts for the last while. And Shemai, the son of Gerah the Benjamite, who is from Becherim, hurried and came down with the men of Judah to meet King David. There was a thousand men of Benjamin with them, and Zebah, the servant of the house of Saul. And they came, and as they were crossing the Jordan to bring over the king's household and to do what was good, and Shemai the son of Gera fell down, and he told him, Let not the Lord consider me guilty. This is the one who cursed David. And David promised him that he wouldn't kill him. And he's right, he wasn't going to kill him on this day. Now, here we are, David's back, and he's got to deal with something. Remember Mephiboshet? Then Mephiboshet, the son of Saul, came down to meet the king, and he had neither cared for his feet, nor trimmed his mustache, nor washed his clothes from the day the king departed. It was when he came from Jerusalem to meet the king that the king said to him, Why did you not go with me? So he answered, O my lord, the king, my servant, deceived me. For your servant said, I will saddle a donkey for myself, and I will go ride on it with the king, because your servant says your servant is lame. So Mephiboshet says that Zeba left him there, lied to him. Moreover, he has slandered your servant to my lord the king. But my lord the king is like an angel of God. I imagine this that when Zeba came back, he said, David gave all your stuff to me, you lame whatever you are. He told him exactly what happened. And there was nothing that Mephiboshet could do because Zeba was running all of his household, and now legally it was his. And Absalom was never going to stand against what Zeba wanted. He didn't have any respect for David. Now this is what's wonderful about Mephiboshet. I love this part. So the king said to him, Why do you still speak of your affairs? I've decided you and Zebel shall divide the land. He he David just it was about peace at this moment. And this, Mephiboshet said to the king, Let him even take it all. Since the king, my lord, has come safely to his own house. This is the man who will enter the kingdom to come. Right there. The one who doesn't care for this world. The one who doesn't need anything, but is only looking for the king to come. So uh there's a few other folks that come down. One who helped David, a guy named Barzili, and he sends his son. David says, Come with me to Jerusalem, but Barcelai sends his son because David wants to honor him for taking care of him. And these are all like royal documents. I don't know if you caught this earlier, but when Joab sent um the letter to David, there's a mention of Abi Malek who is killed by a millstone thrown down from a woman on top of the wall. It's because these were documents that were used in the king's court. They were used for uh learning warfare, they were official documents. I mean, we are so privileged to be able to read these and learn these things that we should have a great love for these. It's uh really just wonderful to have these opportunities to learn and love these things. And I hope that you have been enjoying this. So that being said, behold, all the men of Israel came to the king and said to the king, Why have why had our brothers, the men of Judah, stolen you away and brought the king and his household and all David's men with him over the Jordan? They acted like they didn't know what was going on. But I want you to see here how Judah and Jerusalem are separate now from the other tribes. You're gonna see this a lot in the New Testament. And if you understand that the Judeans or the temple authorities are not the same as the other people, this is where you can really learn this because this division started in judges. The northern ten tribes, the southern two tribes, and particularly the Judeans or the place of Judah, they had a different way of seeing things because the temple was not always respected, and those who had it basically violently protected it from outside influences, even from their own countrymen, as they were not faithful, right? So the men of Israel answered the men of Judah and said, We have ten parts in the king, therefore we also have a claim on David. Why then did you treat us with contempt? Was it not our advice first to bring back our king? Yet the words of the men of Judah were harsher than the words of the men of Israel. In chapter 20, Sheba revolts. It's just never-ending from this point. There's nothing that's going to change things. This is the underlying facts that are going to continue in this world, even though Solomon is coming. Because people just can't get along because of power, right? So, you know, Joab, he goes and deals with it. There's a man named Massa who's eventually killed. He was the leader, the conspiracy, the conspirator. Um, and it's you know, Joab that puts it down, and because of this mighty man, the uh the kingdom is held together for now, right? But um, you know, there's a time of peace, and it's a good thing. And listen, listen to Joab, far be it, far be it from me that I would swallow up or destroy. Such is not the case, but a man from the hill country of Ephraim, Shebas, son of Bikrai, by name, had lifted up his hand against King David. Only hand him over, and I will depart from the city. Now, this wise woman in the city, she cuts off his head, throws it over to Joab, and the war is over. And there you go. Violence, heads, crushing, destruction. Nothing good is happening. The kingdom has collapsed on itself. Um let's do a few names and we'll close here. Okay, so Bathsheba is the daughter of Oath, Uriah. Get this. Yahweh is my light. He's the Ruth of the Book of Ruth in Samuel. Yahweh is my light. This is like a full convert. He loved God and he's treated this way. Oh my goodness. What a what a turnaround of events. I hope that you've enjoyed this. This again is a major turning point. And it's all that future stuff, all right. So we're always continually looking forward to another king uh because the Bible can't satisfy, can't be satisfied with men. That's what we're learning. So um listen, listen to this. Week one, why human kings fail. Week two, how covenant kingship is promised. Week three, why even David cannot be the final king. And that's Samuel's ache. That's what he's writing about. The covenant stands, the king falters, the promise waits. The scripture begins looking for the righteous son of David who can bear a kingdom without breaking it. Samuel doesn't diminish David, but it reveals why David has not been enough. Join us next week for the final week of Samuel's, first and second Samuel, which is just one scroll, the scroll of Samuel, when we explore hope beyond a broken kingdom. Again, my name's Roger. I've been your host. Thank you for joining me. Certainly hope that you have appreciated the time. I certainly appreciate you. We're going back to move forward, finding a love for the law of the prophets and the writings. Please feel free to reach out to us at modernmindancientbook.org. Bye-bye for now.

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May he be gracious to you and turn his face toward you and bring you peace. Walk the way, modern mind, ancient book.