2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33
18:5 The king ordered Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, "Deal
gently for my sake with the young man Absalom." And all the people
heard when the king gave orders to all the commanders concerning
Absalom.
18:6 So the army went out into the field against Israel; and the
battle was fought in the forest of Ephraim.
18:7 The men of Israel were defeated there by the servants of David,
and the slaughter there was great on that day, twenty thousand men.
18:8 The battle spread over the face of all the country; and the
forest claimed more victims that day than the sword.
18:9 Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. Absalom was
riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a
great oak. His head caught fast in the oak, and he was left hanging
between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him went on.
18:15 And ten young men, Joab's armor-bearers, surrounded Absalom
and struck him, and killed him.
18:31 Then the Cushite came; and the Cushite said, "Good tidings for
my lord the king! For the LORD has vindicated you this day,
delivering you from the power of all who rose up against you."
18:32 The king said to the Cushite, "Is it well with the young man
Absalom?" The Cushite answered, "May the enemies of my lord the
king, and all who rise up to do you harm, be like that young man."
18:33 The king was deeply moved, and went up to the chamber over the
gate, and wept; and as he went, he said, "O my son Absalom, my son,
my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son,
my son!"
Comments:
This reading begins with a report about the conflict between Absalom
and his father. Even though outnumbered, David's forces secured a
complete victory, scattering and killing Absalom's force.
My sermon for this text will be called "Trading Places". I plan to
use either the "Trading Spaces" television show or the movie
"Trading Places" as an illustration (Well, maybe both).
The Gospel for the day talkes about "knowing" the Father and in some
ways refers to Jesus trading places.
What I see here (in the Sam. text) is David's urge to protect his
son no matter what. He even expresses a wish that he would have
rather died than Absalom.
How often do we hear news reports (or even reports in our own
congregations) of parents who stand by their children no matter how
deviant they are?
And yet the truth is, I doubt that David would really have rather
died than his son, Absalom. It's merely an expression of his grief.
But God did. That's the good news!
So, I guess where I'm going with this text is our own unwillingness
to really trade places to lift up one another (In the TV show, both
sets of people get some sort of benefit. If you want to call it
that. Some of the remodels have been horendous.)
It seems that were willing to give lip service to reaching out, even
while we reserve the seats of honor for ourselves. But that Christ,
the one with the ultimate seat of honor at the right hand of God,
was willing to get out of his seat (off of his butt if you will) and
take our place, so that we might join him in a "new place" or a "new
heaven and earth".
Any feedback would be helpful.
Peace Mark in IL
To Mark in IL: Perhaps for many fathers it would be difficult to
"trade places" even tho we say we would do it. But, in fact, our
(Heavenly) Father DID trade places; with us, His children. Jesus, as
part of the GodHead, became flesh, lived among us,and in real
space/time, died for us.
Much more difficult would be allowing our children to die in our
place......as did God allow His Son to die for us. The picture of
our child playing on the railroad tracks, oblivious to an oncoming
train, full of drunken partygoers. The father can throw a switch
taking the train and it's hundreds of souls off the tracks, or let
it keep coming with certain death to his child. This was God's
choice. God bless. Russ in PA
I like that...May I borrow some of it Trading Spaces to Trading
Places...OH I just thought of this Let's make a Deal! Monty Hall...I
thinks i will call up two people and offer a gift certificate for
BOB Evans Restaurant...( OK it was i gift from birthday fromlast
congregation member...I am cheap) and have an empty box with word
ZONK written down... Like take the might be better than what you
know...or take the Certificate Trade for what is in box... I think
they will like it! Clerically Blonde in west ohio ( and I do write
notes on pink paper, but it's not scented, LOL)
I like the Trading Spaces idea. As in life, we would like to control
and "help" those around us. When we try, we rarely end up with what
we'd anticipated.
This bad ending is the result of bad parenting - natural
consequences if you will.
Absolam was a rebellious child making war against his father. Here
is the parallel I will draw on Sunday morning. David loved Absolam
and wanted him home above all else. Absolam chose independant
rebellion over dependancy on someone mightier than he.
He chose might and acted outside of David's will (just like the
decorators on your show?). But the result of his actions towards
David left him vulnerable to attack and defeat himself (again, just
like opening your house to those people and letting them do what
they will while you're at thiers doing your own?).
BTW, here's some trivia that (loosely) ties Trading Spaces to this
board. If any of you attended Perkins School of Theology in the
90's, the show's host was at SMU as an undergrad at the same time.
Have a Good One,
Jeff in Panhandle
I am not so sure Absolam was a rebellious child as he was a dutiful
brother to his sister Tamar. After Tamar was raped by Amnon, David's
first born, David did nothing to Amnon, not even so much as a
scolding. Tamar went to her brother, her full-brother, Amnon was a
half-brother, where she found shelter and where ultimately a couple
of years later, Absalom got blood revenge for his sister's
defilement.
Absalom, like David, is a beautiful creature, long hair and all, but
he is also ruthless in his determination to vindicate his sister,
including usurping his father. Yet the power of being king goes to
Absalom's head too and he rapes? or at least "takes" each of David's
ten concubines on the same roof top that Bathsheba was bathing, in
front of all of Israel. Just as Nathan had foretold it when he said,
"and I will take your wives before your eyes, and give them to your
neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this very
sun. For you did it secretly; but I will do this thing before all
Israel and before the sun."
David does not seem to me to be the loving father some would portray
him to be but a crude and cunning King, who sacrifices his children,
Amnon, Tamar and Absalom in order to keep his crown. BB in IL...Just
some struggling and some juggling with this week's text. I'm trying
to follow the story of David all the way through, even though it is
fascinating, I'm not sure it is very uplifting, spiritual and
certainly not ethical. Help anyone?
I agree Absalom was trying to defend his sister and in doing so
acting as a noble. Notice also in verse five where all the people
heard the command of David to be gentle with Absalom. Then in verse
fifteen the men killed Absalom while he was helpless. Once again in
defense of their king they were to him defiant. My title will
probably be "In Defiance, Defending the King." I plan to attempt to
draw parallels when we do things which feel like they are really the
right things to do but are contrary to the will of our king, Jesus.
Postaltent in AL
I'm working with the title, "Broken Hearts, Shattered Dreams" with
this text. As I read the pericope I was struck by how David's life
must have been shattered by the death of Absolom and the events
leading up to it. Given the state of the world, there are millions
of families whose hearts are hurting and whose dreams and hopes for
their sons and daughters have been shattered by death, catastrophic
injury, and bad choices. I feel very draw to the pericope because
there are 2 families in one of my cognregations who have lost sons
to tragic accidents in the past 9 or 10 months. Both deaths occured
before I arrived here, but the effects of these tragedies on these
families are still very apparent. Please pray for me as I struggle
to find a way to preach this with sensitivity and clarity.
Robbie in Central Kansas
I'm working with the title, "Broken Hearts, Shattered Dreams" with
this text. As I read the pericope I was struck by how David's life
must have been shattered by the death of Absolom and the events
leading up to it. Given the state of the world, there are millions
of families whose hearts are hurting and whose dreams and hopes for
their sons and daughters have been shattered by death, catastrophic
injury, and bad choices. I feel very draw to the pericope because
there are 2 families in one of my cognregations who have lost sons
to tragic accidents in the past 9 or 10 months. Both deaths occured
before I arrived here, but the effects of these tragedies on these
families are still very apparent. Please pray for me as I struggle
to find a way to preach this with sensitivity and clarity.
Robbie in Central Kansas
I kinda Picture Absalom portryed by FABIO... You know Fabio, the
romance novel cover hunk...long flowing hair...I can't believe it's
not butter guy...Clerically Blonde again
The title of my sermon will be "My, son, my son!' King David's
grief" I had a preaching prof once say that the Bible either says to
us, "yes," "no," or "go." I read this passage as a "no," as in, see
the tragic consequences of DAvid's choice to be a king before he was
a father. I will start with the idea that all parents know this
willingness to sacrifice their own lives, and that many know the
hurt of losing a child.
But there is more to the story than just that: David's roles as king
and father come into conflict here. We can all relate: are we
parents, kids, friends, coworkers, all of the above? And in what
order?? For David, when it comes right down to it, he could care
less about the kingdom and only wants to know if Absalom is well.
Unfortunately for David, he chose to be king to Absalom rather than
father until it was too late. He never even calls Absalom "son"
until he is already dead. Before that he is "that young lad." In
Hebrew, naming is so important, so I think it is no mistake that
DAvid says, "my son!" 5 times in a row when he grieves for him. We
can learn from David's clay feet to love those close to us freely
before the tragedy comes.
Also, God has been in David's place, and I imagine God saying about
us, his creation, "My children, my children, would that I had died
(in sin) instead of you!!" But God is more powerful than a king, so
God actually can redeem all of us rebellious Absaloms. God has power
over kings and their interests as well as power over death itself.
That's my thoughts on the matter. I'm always open to ideas! Liz in
TN
Due to other events we delayed Communion until this Sunday. I hope
to use the OT lection as a way to build up to Communion using the
following rough outline. I am interested in your comments on this
sermon plan.
<>< There were various problems in David’s life and family. There
was David’s voyeurism and sexual sin with Bathsheba and his killing
of Uriah. There was Amnons lust for, and eventual rape of, Tamar;
and Absaloms subsequent murder of Amnon.
<>< There are dangers for us from voyeurism, pornography, lust,
homosexual behavior, and the violence that too often becomes a part
of or result of sexual misbehavior. We need to provide care for the
victims of sex crimes and we need to maintain standards of behavior.
The recent decision by the Episcopal Church to elect an openly gay
Bishop will probably lead to a division in their denomination. This
is an opportunity for each of us to ask ourselves are we keeping a
standard concerning issues of sexuality that pleases Christ? Do we
watch pornography or suggestive TV programs? Are we maintaining
standards in our homes or are we starting down the slippery slope of
sinful sexuality? Remember what happened in David’s life and family.
See what is happening in the Episcopal church. We need to take care
that we maintain standards in our lives.
<>< David loved his children. David cried, fasted and lay on the
ground when his infant son was ill. Absalom loved his sister and was
filled with anguish when she was abused. David loved Absalom and
would have risked the kingdom and the lives of his soldiers to save
Absalom—David said O Absalom my son, if only I had died instead of
you.
<>< Jesus did die instead of you. And it broke God’s heart. No
matter what our sin, no matter how we have been hurt, no matter what
we feel inside our hearts Jesus loved us so much that he died for
us. Let us try to imagine his pain, try to imagine God’s sadness for
us as we receive his body. Let us decide to be a better and more
loving people.
Leon in NC<><
Leon in NC -
I would be very wary of some of your connections. I think comparing
Jesus and David is a bit of a stretch. David made his choices,
committed sin and these horrific deeds were the consequence of his
actions. Jesus also made choices, but choices free of sin. It was
humanity's choice to crucify him. Although David states he wished it
had been him instead of his son, I cannot help but wonder where all
of that sympathy was when he killed Uriah and what his plan was when
he ordered his son to be brought to him.
I agree that this passage shows the dangers of sexual encounters,
but I would also add that the problems are not really stemming from
the sex itself, but from the issue of power surrounding that sex.
Like you stated, the rape of Tamar, and I would call his encounter
with Bathsheeba a rape, as well, as she clearly had no power to say
no. It is wonderul to speak out for the voiceless who have been
abused sexually, but let us not lash out in anger (as David and Joab
do, and as the Ephesians passage teaches about) but rather in love.
We must not forget to pray for the perpetrators, that they may find
healing. This is not to say they should not be punished and the
innocent protected from them, but all of God's children will not be
safe from this abuse until all of God's children are healed.
It also sounds like the issue of homosexuality is a topic about
which you are passionate. however, again i urge caution. this text
is not about same sex sex, rather power to powerless sex. One must
not confuse one issue with the other. Regarless of how you feel
about same sex sex, it is perfectly capable of being consentual. i
think these passages show us more about making choices from a
position of power which affect others in negative ways, and how
disasterous this always is when we leave God out of the picture.
David doesn't wish that he had listened to what he had known was
right, but rather that he hadn't had to pay the price for his
choices. A sad statement from a man who had been so helped from God
for so long. A pebble could kill a giant with the help of God, but
even all of David's armies could not hide his sin without God's help
and blessing.
Hope that's not too rambly - just some thoughts - LMT
I feel compelled to preach on this passage just because it is a
shocking excerpt to hear, and the context doesn't really make it any
less shocking. I think people will wonder, "Why was David, the most
popular king in Israel's history going to war against the armies of
Israel?" That warrants some explanation.
I liked what has been mentioned about the roles David had to play.
He was a Father as well as a King. His parenting had to take a back
seat to his responsibility as a ruler when it became an issue of
national security. He tried to soften the conflict by urging
compassion for his son, but his army commanders did not accept that
compromise. This later creates a conflict between david and his
oficers. How can they lead an army demoralized by the kings grief
even over a great military victory which they have just won? They
should have been celebrating and instead it was a time of national
mourning.
Some might say that David's campaign against Absalom showed Tough
Love. Others will see it more cynically as a politically motivated
demonstration of grief.
This is a difficult passage to preach, but one that I can't afford
to skip over. It raises more questions than it can answer.
David in Saskatoon
Well, here is the angle I'm taking, for those who are truly
desperate, reading this on Saturday.
Title: For Parents and Children. Read 1 Chr 3 to see a list of
David's other wives and children. When David was at Hebron he had 6
sons by 6 different wives. Then Bathsheba came along and he had 4
sons with her. Then another 9 sons after that. True, it fits into
the culture of the day and the king was expected to do a lot of
marrying and having children. But nevertheless, it must have made a
difficult childhood for his children.
It's not too much of a stretch to imagine David as preoccupied with
his wars and his kingdom, leaving the children to fend for
themselves, an inaccessible and distant father.
Many of us have made mistakes as parents, mistakes that we later
regret. Children sometimes turn out badly and we blame ourselves.
What to do?
First, own the truth. If you made a mistake, own it. Second, seek
forgiveness. Raising children is a tough challenge today. We do the
best we can, but still make mistakes. There is forgiveness in
Christ. Third, seek reconciliation. Work on changing the destructive
patterns of the past.
This is a barebones outline. Hope it helps.
Larry cny
