Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Evening Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/ev/ev20021215.htm

1 AND 2 SAMUEL: GOD'S SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS IN OVERSIGHT
Part LIV: Functioning Well As God's Leader Under Very Ominous Pressures
(2 Samuel 15:7-16:14)
  1. Introduction
    1. Though most of the time, leaders find oversight to be rather routine and peaceful, sometimes they must function under pressures that severely threaten the welfare of themselves and the institution they oversee!
    2. David exampled for us how to function well in the Lord as a leader under similar ominous pressures:
  2. Functioning Well As God's Leader Under Very Ominous Pressures, 2 Samuel 15:7-16:14.
    1. After David sinned with Bathsheba and had confessed it unto the Lord, God's prophet, Nathan told him inevitable and destructive consequences would arrive, 2 Samuel 12:9, 10-14. Those consequences included (1) infighting in David's lineage (2 Samuel 12:10a), (2) insurrection against David from within his own household (2 Samuel 12:11a), (3) the public, forcible loss of some of his wives to another man (2 Samuel 12:11b-12) and (4) the death of his infant son conceived in adultery, 2 Samuel 12:14.
    2. Then, when that infant son died, David realized the finality of these divine predictions, and wisely and courageously accepted these consequences, 2 Samuel 12:19-24.
    3. Accordingly, when the other three predictions began to come true, David undoubtedly recalled these predictions by the prophet, Nathan, and in faith wisely adjusted to them as follows, 2 Samuel 15:7-16:14:
      1. After Absalom in bitterness against his father had stolen the hearts of the nation from his father, he planned to establish himself as king in Hebron and usurp David's throne by force, 2 Sam. 15:1-6, 7-12.
      2. As soon as David heard about the plot, he adjusted to the crisis with great faith and wisdom as follows:
        1. Knowing that staying in the city would only create a civil disturbance and much bloodshed when Absalom arrived, David urged his followers to flee Jerusalem with him and leave the city to Absalom's forces, 2 Samuel 15:13-15. That also bought David more time to deal with Absalom.
        2. David left people behind who could keep order and arrange to rectify the crisis at a more opportune time: (a) He left ten concubines in the palace to keep order, 2 Sam. 15:16. (b) He allowed Ittai the Gittite with his Gentile group the freedom to leave or stay with him, a move to insure only loyal people accompanied him, 2 Sam. 15:19-20. As it happened, Ittai and his throng pledged to stay with David, and escorted him safely in his flight, 15:21-22. (c) However, David urged the high priest, Zadok and his company to stay at the tabernacle with the ark as a fifth column to be his informants on Absalom's moves, 2 Sam. 15:23-29. (d) When David learned his brilliant chief counsel, Ahithophel had joined Absalom's side, he prayed in faith for God to counter Ahithophel's counsel for the nation's welfare, 2 Sam. 15:31. (e) Then, David directed a loyal friend, Hushai to stay in Jerusalem and be an undercover agent to counter Ahithophel's counsel, 15:32-37. (We do not condone David's advice for Hushai to lie sinfully, cf. 2 Samuel 15:34!)
        3. On the other hand, when his flight revealed formerly hidden disloyalty among others, David closed ranks to protect his future administration: David learned from Ziba, that Mephibosheth remained in Jerusalem, hoping David's flight would mean he could regain the reign of his grandfather, Saul; thus, David ordered Mephibosheth's estate to go to Ziba, and accepted Ziba's help, 2 Sam. 16:1-4.
        4. A man named Shimei from Saul's kinfolk came out to curse David in hatred in his time of flight. However, though counseled otherwise, David refused to slay Shimei, submitting to the will of God for such troubles as the prophet, Nathan predicted would come, 2 Samuel 16:5-14.
Lesson: When faced with a great threat to his rule and himself, David (1) recalled God's will for the trial in Nathan's prophecy and (2) adjusted to God's will for the trial. He did so by (a) keeping cool and (b) acting (+) to buy more time to resolve the crisis with Absalom, (+) to keep order in the city he ruled, (+) to plan to address the problem when he could and (+) to close ranks to rely on devoted supporters.

Application: Once we face an overwhelming, severe crisis in an oversight position, we should (1) learn SCRIPTURE'S directives, and (2) HEED that guidance (a) to keep CALM, (b) and then ACT (+) to buy TIME to resolve the crisis to MINIMIZE COST, (+) to KEEP ORDER in the institution, (+) to START to PLAN to ADDRESS the crisis' CAUSE and (+) RELY on SUPPORTIVE, GODLY people.