Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Evening Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/ev/ev20030119.htm

1 AND 2 SAMUEL: GOD'S SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS IN OVERSIGHT
Part LVIII: Learning To Heed Scripture STRICTLY Even Under DURESS
(2 Samuel 19:1-20:26)
  1. Introduction
    1. Duress can pressure a spiritual leader so strongly to desire peace and order that he can be tempted to make politically expedient moves rather than heeding Scripture strictly just to gain immediate peace and order.
    2. However, as we can see in David's experience, such moves can only perpetuate or create more problems:
  2. Learning To Heed Scripture STRICTLY Even Under DURESS, 2 Samuel 19:1-20:26.
    1. After Absalom's death had ended the civil war, David was under great emotional duress as he deeply grieved over his lost son to the point where his leadership in Israel was in jeopardy, 2 Samuel 19:1-4.
    2. David's military commander, Joab thus confronted David about his need to get a hold on his grief and administrate the nation if he wanted to keep his kingdom, 2 Samuel 19:5-7.
    3. David heeded Joab's advice, beginning to administrate by taking his place in the city gate, 2 Sam. 19:8.
    4. However, in his distraught condition, and desperately wanting peace and order, David began to function by political expediency rather than strict obedience to Scripture, and it led to more tragedy, 19:9-20:13:
      1. Because of the civil war, the nation had become divided on knowing how to relate to David, 19:9-10.
      2. Accordingly, David sought to correct the problem, but unwisely by political means, 19:11-20:13:
        1. First, David addressed Jerusalem's high priest and the elders of Judah to encourage them to help him return as Israel's rightful king, 2 Sam. 19:11-12. David thus neglected to extend a welcome to the NORTHERN tribes, something that would lead to more civil strife in the near future!
        2. Second, David sought to win Absalom's followers and to punish Joab for killing Absalom by merely replacing Joab (not executing him) with Absalom's commander, Amasa, 2 Samuel 19:13, cf. Ryrie Study Bible, KJV, ftn. to 2 Sam. 19:13. However, as Joab was a REPEAT murderer (of Abner and of Uriah), David's move only threatened the life of Amasa with the jealous murderer in Joab, an incredibly unwise move to say the least!
        3. Third, David refused to execute Shimei the son of Gera when he came pleading for David's forgiveness for slandering him in the past when David's later actions show Shimei should have been executed for slandering a leader of God's people, 2 Sam. 19:16-23 versus 1 K. 2:8-9 with Ex. 22:28.
        4. Fourth, David played unjust politics over Mephibosheth's claim Ziba misrepresented his loyalty: David gave half of Ziba's inheritance back to Mephibosheth, fueling competition between them when he should have studied the matter to see who had lied and needed to be punished, 19:24-30!
        5. The only fully correct decision David made at this time was to honor Barzillai's son in Jerusalem for the good his elderly father had done to David at Mahanaim, 2 Samuel 19:31-38 with 17:27-29.
      3. As a result, David only gave room for more tragic bloodshed and unrest, 2 Samuel 19:14-20:13:
        1. The men of Judah responded well to David's address as he paid them special attention, 19:14-15.
        2. However, the northern tribes felt rebuffed by this favoritism (19:40-41), and it led to tension between them and the men of Judah who were overly defensive of David's moves, 2 Sam. 19:42-43.
        3. This gave an evil man, Sheba, the chance to lead the northern tribes to strife with Judah, 20:1-2.
        4. In the strife, Joab seized the opportunity to murder his replacement in Amasa, 20:4-13. As Amasa was Joab's cousin, both of whom were David's half-nephews, this slaying further fulfilled Nathan's prediction the sword would plague David's house, cf. Bible Know. Com., O.T., p. 475.
    5. Thankfully, a wise woman called attention to Scripture's justice to put an end to the nation's nightmare:
      1. When Joab took Amasa's place and led David's men to the town of Abel where Sheba had fled, a wise woman there urged Joab to heed Deut. 20:10 and "submit to the citizens' terms of peace," 2 Samuel 20:14-20; Ibid., Ryrie Study Bible, KJV, ftn. to 2 Samuel 20:19.
      2. Hence, only Sheba was killed, ending the strife (20:20-22), so order could be restored (20:23-26).
Lesson: By failing to heed Scripture STRICTLY and playing POLITICS due to his DURESS, David only PROLONGED UNREST in Israel until a WISE woman called for a return to Biblical ways.

Application: It is ALWAYS necessary to HEED SCRIPTURE FULLY -- even when we are under great DURESS and LONG for peace and order. Only in OBEYING God can we have HIS peace and order!