What Tangled Webs We Weave
II Samuel 14-15
February 18, 2001

            Christ has borne the guilt and penalty of our sin.  This is our great comfort in the face of divine judgment and eternity.  But the temporal effects of sin remain even for believers, though we readily admit that God's great mercy even softens these effects.  However, since Christ came "to take away sin," then we must never feel that it is a light thing to give in to sin.  We are warned against the deceitfulness of sin -

-         against fleshly lusts that wage war against the soul

-         against youthful lusts from which we should flee

-         against the unfruitful works of darkness

Yet, in foolishness, we weave ourselves into the tangled webs of sin.  We slide on obedience, we give in to the world, and we compromise holy standards, all the while weaving a web in which we are snared, digging holes in which we fall.

The frankness of this portion of God's Word arrests us.  How far can we go in transgressing God's commands with impunity?  Our text reminds us of both the high cost of sin and the great mercy of the Lord that meets us in spite of our sin.

 

I. Despair

            Despair is written over the characters of chapter 14.  David despairs over what he has done and how it affects his children.  Absalom despairs over losing his position in the kingdom.  Joab despairs in watching David's misery.  The nation despairs over a king who will not take action.

1.      Despair over sin leads to inactivity

We are struck by how the mighty David did nothing - to Amnon or Absalom.  There are few things more dangerous than inactivity in the face of sin:

-         paralysis when there should be remedies

-         ignoring increased sin when there should be action to squelch it

-         e.g., Peter was in this condition until Christ singled him out

2.      In despair, even right actions are short-circuited by guilt

-         Absalom returns to Jerusalem but did not see David's face for two years

-         David had taken steps but stopped his follow-through.  He is almost lethargic to do what he should do.

-         Even Absalom is frustrated by David's hesitation. 

-         Could he have avoided Absalom's rebellion by swallowing his pride and taking action to either reconcile or discipline?  He did neither.

Application

            Sin leads to despair.  So the believer must discipline himself to take action.

            Repentance, confession, reconciliation, change in lifestyle, change in habits

But all was not lost with David!

 

II. Rays of hope

            Absalom craftily sets the stage for a change of kings.  Note how Absalom uses religion (15:7-10) as a front and disguise for his rebellion.  David is forced into exile and with it, new levels of faith.  He leaves the perch of nobility for the dust of humility.  Here we see the rays of hope begin to burst through the clouds of despair.

1.      Faith is strengthened by gifts from God.  Often it is the little things that remind us of God's great care.

-         David's men and household remained loyal, vv. 13-18

-         Ittai, a foreigner, was "an island of fidelity in a sea of treachery" (Davis 157), vv. 19-23.  His son had rebelled, his friends and counselor Ahithophel had become traitors, but Ittai the foreigner remained loyal.

2.      Faith is liberating in the providence of God, therefore:

-         David refuses to "use" God or his religion as a lucky charm for his position, vv. 24-26.  "This is not weak resignation but robust submission.  Here is the freedom of faith in the will of God....How much sheer relief there is in this, for David does not bear God's load of what-will-happen-to-me.  I must not use God, but submit to him, and he will do as he pleases" (Davis).  Such faith does not call for activity, but action, believing God to work through means and ways.

3.      Faith finds encouragement in the gracious providence of God, vv. 31-37

-         a quick prayer, v. 31

-         an immediate answer, v. 32-37

David is not out-of-the-woods.  He has no guarantee of returning to his throne.  But the rays of hope God gives assures him that the Lord does all things well.

Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to reproduce and distribute this material in any format provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and you do not charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. For web posting, a link to this document on our website is preferred. Any exceptions to the above must be explicitly approved by South Woods Baptist Church.

Please include the following statement on any distributed copy:

Copyright South Woods Baptist Church. Website: www.southwoodsbc.org. Used by permission as granted on web site. Questions, comments, and suggestions about our site can be sent here.