Absalom's Rebellion: Lessons on Loyalty and Sovereignty
Summary
In the unfolding narrative of Absalom's rebellion against King David, we witness a profound story of rebellion against God, as David was God's anointed king. This story, captured in 2 Samuel 17, serves as a powerful reflection of the world we live in today, illustrating the growth and ultimate end of rebellion against divine authority. As Absalom charms the people, leading them into a mass delusion, David is forced to flee Jerusalem, leaving behind his throne and palace. This poignant image of David, barefoot and weeping as he crosses the Kidron Valley, highlights the cost of rebellion and the faithfulness of a few loyal followers.
The narrative introduces two key counselors: Ahithophel, a fountain of wisdom, and Hushai, David's loyal friend. Ahithophel, once a trusted advisor to David, joins Absalom's rebellion, offering his extraordinary gifts to the wrong cause. His plan for an immediate strike against David is strategically sound, yet morally corrupt. In contrast, Hushai, acting as a double agent, remains loyal to David and cleverly counters Ahithophel's counsel, playing on Absalom's fears and pride to buy David time.
This story is not just about political intrigue but about how God restrains evil and advances His purposes. Despite the rebellion, God intervenes, turning Ahithophel's counsel into foolishness and ensuring David's survival. This divine intervention highlights God's sovereignty and His ability to work through both direct action and courageous individuals in strategic places.
Ultimately, this narrative points to a greater truth: the eventual return of God's anointed King, Jesus Christ. Just as David's kingship is restored, so too will Christ return in power and glory, overthrowing all forces of evil. This story encourages us to remain loyal to God's anointed, using our gifts in His service and trusting in His sovereign power to restrain evil and fulfill His purposes.
Key Takeaways:
- The Cost of Rebellion: Absalom's rebellion against David, God's anointed king, serves as a reminder of the cost of rebelling against divine authority. It leads to chaos, division, and ultimately, destruction. In our lives, we must consider the consequences of turning away from God's guidance and the peace that comes from aligning with His will. [00:16]
- The Use of Gifts: Ahithophel's story challenges us to reflect on how we use our gifts. Are they being used in service to God's kingdom, or have they been co-opted for lesser causes? Our talents are given by God and should be used to further His purposes, not to support rebellion against Him. [07:40]
- God's Sovereignty in Restraining Evil: The narrative demonstrates God's sovereign power in restraining evil. Despite the rebellion, God intervenes to protect His anointed. This reassures us that, even in a world filled with evil, God is in control and actively working to fulfill His purposes. [36:04]
- The Role of Courageous Individuals: Hushai's role as a double agent highlights the importance of courageous individuals in God's plan. God often uses people in strategic places to accomplish His will. We are called to be faithful and courageous, using our positions and influence to serve God's kingdom. [39:59]
- The Return of the Anointed King: The story foreshadows the ultimate return of Jesus Christ, God's anointed King. Just as David's kingship is restored, Christ will return in glory, overthrowing all forces of evil. This hope encourages us to remain steadfast in our faith, knowing that God's victory is assured. [42:10]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:16] - Introduction to Absalom's Rebellion
- [01:11] - David's Flight from Jerusalem
- [02:31] - Absalom's Arrival in Jerusalem
- [04:12] - Introduction of Ahithophel and Hushai
- [05:14] - Ahithophel's Wisdom and Betrayal
- [07:40] - The Use of Gifts in Service
- [08:43] - David's Prayer and God's Intervention
- [09:18] - Hushai's Loyalty and Strategy
- [12:36] - Ahithophel's Plan for Immediate Action
- [15:42] - The Counsel of Ahithophel and Caiaphas
- [18:00] - Absalom's Decision and Hushai's Counsel
- [20:10] - The Danger of Ignoring Wise Counsel
- [26:27] - Hushai's Plan and Absalom's Pride
- [36:04] - God's Restraint of Evil
- [42:10] - The Return of the Anointed King
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- 2 Samuel 17
- Matthew 26:30-31
- 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12
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#### Observation Questions
1. What was the strategic plan proposed by Ahithophel to Absalom, and why was it considered sound from a military perspective? [12:36]
2. How did Hushai counter Ahithophel's counsel, and what tactics did he use to sway Absalom's decision? [21:56]
3. What role did God play in the outcome of the counsel given to Absalom, according to the sermon? [33:01]
4. How does the narrative of Absalom's rebellion reflect the broader theme of rebellion against divine authority? [00:34]
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#### Interpretation Questions
1. In what ways does the story of Ahithophel and Hushai illustrate the use of gifts for either good or ill purposes? How does this relate to the choices we make with our own talents? [07:40]
2. How does the sermon describe God's sovereignty in restraining evil, and what implications does this have for understanding the presence of evil in the world? [36:04]
3. What does the sermon suggest about the role of courageous individuals in God's plan, and how might this apply to believers today? [39:59]
4. How does the narrative of David's eventual restoration foreshadow the return of Jesus Christ, and what hope does this provide for believers? [42:10]
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#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you faced a decision to use your gifts for a cause. How did you determine whether it was aligned with God's purposes? What steps can you take to ensure your talents are used in service to God's kingdom? [07:40]
2. In what ways have you witnessed God's restraint of evil in your own life or community? How does this assurance of God's control influence your response to the presence of evil in the world? [36:04]
3. Consider a situation where you might be called to act courageously for God's purposes. What fears or obstacles might you face, and how can you prepare to overcome them? [39:59]
4. How does the hope of Christ's return impact your daily life and decisions? What practical steps can you take to remain steadfast in your faith amidst challenges? [42:10]
5. Think about a time when you received wise counsel but hesitated to act on it. What were the consequences, and how can you be more receptive to godly advice in the future? [20:10]
6. Identify a specific area in your life where you might be rebelling against God's authority. What changes can you make to align more closely with His will? [00:16]
7. How can you support others in your community who are using their gifts for God's purposes? What role can you play in encouraging and uplifting them? [07:40]
Devotional
Day 1: The Consequences of Rebellion Against Divine Authority
In the story of Absalom's rebellion against King David, we see a vivid illustration of the cost of rebelling against divine authority. Absalom's charm and manipulation lead the people into a mass delusion, resulting in chaos and division. David, God's anointed king, is forced to flee Jerusalem, leaving behind his throne and palace. This image of David, barefoot and weeping as he crosses the Kidron Valley, serves as a poignant reminder of the personal and communal destruction that follows when we turn away from God's guidance. In our own lives, we must consider the consequences of rebelling against God's will and the peace that comes from aligning with His purposes. [00:16]
2 Samuel 15:30 (ESV): "But David went up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went, barefoot and with his head covered. And all the people who were with him covered their heads, and they went up, weeping as they went."
Reflection: Is there an area in your life where you are resisting God's authority? What steps can you take today to realign with His will and experience His peace?
Day 2: Using Our Gifts for God's Kingdom
Ahithophel's story challenges us to reflect on how we use our gifts. Once a trusted advisor to David, Ahithophel joins Absalom's rebellion, offering his extraordinary wisdom to the wrong cause. His strategic plan, though sound, is morally corrupt. This narrative invites us to examine whether our talents are being used in service to God's kingdom or co-opted for lesser causes. Our gifts are given by God and should be used to further His purposes, not to support rebellion against Him. [07:40]
1 Peter 4:10 (ESV): "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace."
Reflection: Consider the gifts and talents God has given you. Are you using them to serve His kingdom, or have they been diverted to other pursuits? How can you realign your gifts with God's purposes today?
Day 3: Trusting in God's Sovereignty
The narrative of Absalom's rebellion demonstrates God's sovereign power in restraining evil. Despite the rebellion, God intervenes to protect His anointed, turning Ahithophel's counsel into foolishness and ensuring David's survival. This divine intervention reassures us that, even in a world filled with evil, God is in control and actively working to fulfill His purposes. We are reminded to trust in God's sovereignty, knowing that He is capable of restraining evil and advancing His plans. [36:04]
Proverbs 19:21 (ESV): "Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle to trust God's sovereignty? How can you remind yourself of His control and faithfulness in those situations today?
Day 4: The Importance of Courageous Individuals
Hushai's role as a double agent highlights the importance of courageous individuals in God's plan. Despite the danger, Hushai remains loyal to David and cleverly counters Ahithophel's counsel, playing on Absalom's fears and pride to buy David time. God often uses people in strategic places to accomplish His will. We are called to be faithful and courageous, using our positions and influence to serve God's kingdom. [39:59]
Esther 4:14 (ESV): "For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"
Reflection: Where has God placed you strategically to make a difference? How can you act courageously today to serve His purposes in that place?
Day 5: The Hope of the Anointed King's Return
The story of Absalom's rebellion ultimately points to the greater truth of the eventual return of God's anointed King, Jesus Christ. Just as David's kingship is restored, Christ will return in power and glory, overthrowing all forces of evil. This hope encourages us to remain steadfast in our faith, knowing that God's victory is assured. We are reminded to live in anticipation of Christ's return, using our lives to reflect His kingdom values. [42:10]
Revelation 22:12-13 (ESV): "Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end."
Reflection: How does the promise of Christ's return influence your daily life and decisions? What changes can you make today to live more fully in anticipation of His coming?
Quotes
Absalom had charmed the people they were swept up in a mass delusion as they became his followers they lost faith in God's anointed king chapter 15 and verse 13 the hearts of the men of Israel have gone after Absalom and when that happened God's anointed King David had to flee for his life from Jerusalem. [00:53:22]
Here is a man then with extraordinary gifts he's a man whose gifts at one time in his life were used in the service of God's anointed king but this gifted man has now been swept up in the great deception and he offers his gifts to Absalom in the great rebellion. [00:16:51]
David says look my dear friend the best thing that you can do right now is not leave your job or leave the city in order to be with a small band that's going off into exile the best thing you can do for me right now would be for you to go back into the city. [00:66:45]
Absalom plunged to disaster because he failed to act on the wisdom he received thank God for that but there is a principle here that I don't want us to miss if you receive wise counsel and you fail to act on it you put yourself in a dangerous position. [00:20:03]
God in his sovereign power worked through all of these events to bring this great rebellion to nothing and to deliver and ultimately restoring glory and honor his own anointed king now in these very last minutes I want us to take a step back from this extraordinary story. [00:33:30]
I think the answer to that question is that this is really a story about how God restrains evil and how he advances his purpose in the world I used the word restrain restrain does not mean eliminate evil has plagued our world since the day that Adam and Eve were turfed out of the Garden of Eden. [00:40:44]
Thank God he does restrain evil he does not eliminate it it's it's there and it always will be in this world but he does restrain it and that's what this story is about very different outcomes could have taken place if it was not for what God did here in 2nd Samuel in Chapter 17. [00:36:04]
God works directly thank God for that and God also uses means and very obviously one means that was used here was this remarkable man who shy who had the courage to sign up for what must have been one of the most dangerous missions in the Old Testament. [00:39:56]
Thank God for those courageous people who serve in strategic places for our police men and women for our Army Navy Air Force Marines for those who are in the security and the intelligence services for teachers social workers psychologists psychiatrists a list goes on and on and on. [00:41:03]
God works through courageous people in strategic and often dark places Pharaoh's daughter saves the life of Moses the widow of Zarephath saves the life of Elijah who Shai and a bunch of others are used by God to save the life of his anointed King David. [00:49:33]
God will bring back his own anointed king and will do so in power and in glory and when Jesus Christ comes in power and glory he will overthrow the New Testament says all the powers that are arrayed against him and here's how he will do it he will do it by the breath of his mouth. [00:42:10]
When you realize that he has that kind of sovereign power and that he offers himself to you and he invites you to come and to be his loyal servant you will have no difficulty whatsoever in deciding which side you want to be on. [00:43:37]
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