How the Mighty Have Fallen

2 Samuel 18:1-33
Darrin Mariott, Lead Pastor

Big Idea: Love confronts sin and seeks redemption for those impacted by it.
2 Samuel 18;1-33
1 Then David mustered the men who were with him and set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.2 And David sent out the army, one third under the command of Joab, one third under the command of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and one third under the command of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the men, “I myself will also go out with you.”3 But the men said, “You shall not go out. For if we flee, they will not care about us. If half of us die, they will not care about us. But you are worth ten thousand of us. Therefore it is better that you send us help from the city.”4 The king said to them, “Whatever seems best to you I will do.” So the king stood at the side of the gate, while all the army marched out by hundreds and by thousands.5 And the king ordered Joab and Abishai and Ittai, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” And all the people heard when the king gave orders to all the commanders about Absalom.6 So the army went out into the field against Israel, and the battle was fought in the forest of Ephraim.7 And the men of Israel were defeated there by the servants of David, and the loss there was great on that day, twenty thousand men.8 The battle spread over the face of all the country, and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword.9 And 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, and his head caught fast in the oak, and he was suspended between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him went on.10 And a certain man saw it and told Joab, “Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.”11 Joab said to the man who told him, “What, you saw him! Why then did you not strike him there to the ground? I would have been glad to give you ten pieces of silver and a belt.”12 But the man said to Joab, “Even if I felt in my hand the weight of a thousand pieces of silver, I would not reach out my hand against the king’s son, for in our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘For my sake protect the young man Absalom.’13 On the other hand, if I had dealt treacherously against his life (and there is nothing hidden from the king), then you yourself would have stood aloof.”14 Joab said, “I will not waste time like this with you.” And he took three javelins in his hand and thrust them into the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the oak.15 And ten young men, Joab’s armor-bearers, surrounded Absalom and struck him and killed him.16 Then Joab blew the trumpet, and the troops came back from pursuing Israel, for Joab restrained them.17 And they took Absalom and threw him into a great pit in the forest and raised over him a very great heap of stones. And all Israel fled every one to his own home.18 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up for himself the pillar that is in the King’s Valley, for he said, “I have no son to keep my name in remembrance.” He called the pillar after his own name, and it is called Absalom’s monument to this day.19 Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, “Let me run and carry news to the king that the LORD has delivered him from the hand of his enemies.”20 And Joab said to him, “You are not to carry news today. You may carry news another day, but today you shall carry no news, because the king’s son is dead.”21 Then Joab said to the Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” The Cushite bowed before Joab, and ran.22 Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said again to Joab, “Come what may, let me also run after the Cushite.” And Joab said, “Why will you run, my son, seeing that you will have no reward for the news?”23 “Come what may,” he said, “I will run.” So he said to him, “Run.” Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and outran the Cushite.24 Now David was sitting between the two gates, and the watchman went up to the roof of the gate by the wall, and when he lifted up his eyes and looked, he saw a man running alone.25 The watchman called out and told the king. And the king said, “If he is alone, there is news in his mouth.” And he drew nearer and nearer.26 The watchman saw another man running. And the watchman called to the gate and said, “See, another man running alone!” The king said, “He also brings news.”27 The watchman said, “I think the running of the first is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.” And the king said, “He is a good man and comes with good news.”28 Then Ahimaaz cried out to the king, “All is well.” And he bowed before the king with his face to the earth and said, “Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delivered up the men who raised their hand against my lord the king.”29 And the king said, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent the king’s servant, your servant, I saw a great commotion, but I do not know what it was.”30 And the king said, “Turn aside and stand here.” So he turned aside and stood still.31 And behold, the Cushite came, and the Cushite said, “Good news for my lord the king! For the LORD has delivered you this day from the hand of all who rose up against you.”32 The king said to the Cushite, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” And the Cushite answered, “May the enemies of my lord the king and all who rise up against you for evil be like that young man.”33 And 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!”

I. Absalom’s Pride (vv. 1-18)

A. Absalom and his army meet David’s army, led by Joab, on the
field of battle, and the result is disastrous for Absalom, who is
no match against David’s forces. What has led Absalom to this
tragic end? There are many reasons, one is pride.

B. We see Absalom’s pride in his:

1. Ambition (cf. 2 Sam. 15:1-6) – Absalom manipulated
people and situations to suit his desire for power.
2 Samuel 15:1-6
1 After this Absalom got himself a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before him.2 And Absalom used to rise early and stand beside the way of the gate. And when any man had a dispute to come before the king for judgment, Absalom would call to him and say, “From what city are you?” And when he said, “Your servant is of such and such a tribe in Israel,”3 Absalom would say to him, “See, your claims are good and right, but there is no man designated by the king to hear you.”4 Then Absalom would say, “Oh that I were judge in the land! Then every man with a dispute or cause might come to me, and I would give him justice.”5 And whenever a man came near to pay homage to him, he would put out his hand and take hold of him and kiss him.6 Thus Absalom did to all of Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

2. Arrogance (cf. 2 Sam. 14:25-27) – Absalom was full of
himself and convinced of his right to the throne.
2 Samuel 14:25-27
25 Now in all Israel there was no one so much to be praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom. From the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.26 And when he cut the hair of his head (for at the end of every year he used to cut it; when it was heavy on him, he cut it), he weighed the hair of his head, two hundred shekels by the king’s weight.27 There were born to Absalom three sons, and one daughter whose name was Tamar. She was a beautiful woman.

3. Absence – Nowhere do we see Absalom seek God for
guidance or wisdom in his attempt to seize the throne.

II. David’s Denial (vv. 19-33)

A. Despite Absalom’s treachery, David is heartbroken over his
son’s death, something any parent can understand. But while
Absalom was an adult who made his own choices, David must
also bear the weight of his own failures as a father.

B. We see David’s denial in that he did not:

1. Confront Amnon’s and Absalom’s sinful behavior (cf. 2
Sam. 13:21).
2 Samuel 13:21
21 When King David heard of all these things, he was very angry.

2. Comfort Tamar after she was violated (cf. 2 Sam. 13:21).
2 Samuel 13:21
21 When King David heard of all these things, he was very angry.

III. Our Heavenly Father’s Love (cf. Heb. 12:5-11)
Hebrews 12:5-11
5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him.6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

A. No one enjoys correction, and it’s certainly not pleasant when it
occurs, but it’s necessary if we are to mature into the people
God has created us to be in Christ. In God’s discipline we see:

1. God’s love for us (cf. Heb. 12:6).
Hebrews 12:6
6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”

2. That we are God’s children (cf. Heb. 12:7-8; 1 Jn. 3:1).
Hebrews 12:7
7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.

3. God’s training ground (cf. Heb. 12:11).
Hebrews 12:11
11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

B. When we respond rightly to God’s correction, then we can
better reflect a Christlikeness that results in God’s righteousness
and peace in our lives.