This week we're talking about how part of growing in a loving community is being able to tell each other the truth, even when we might not want to hear it. That's called holding each other accountable. Instead of starting with theological passages, we're going to start with a story that illustrates the point. King David's oldest son Amnon raped one of David's daughters, Tamar. Tamar's brother, Absalom, killed his brother Amnon in revenge and was exiled.
David's closest advisor and general, Joab convinced David to allow Absalom to come back home. Soon after that, Absalom started dreaming of more power and plotted a revolt against his father. That's where we'll start our story today.
God bless,
Sam
2 Samuel 15:1-12
After this
Absalom got himself a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run ahead of him. 2Absalom
used to rise early and stand beside the road into the gate; and when anyone
brought a suit before the king for judgment, Absalom would call out and say,
“From what city are you?” When the person said, “Your servant is of such and
such a tribe in Israel,” 3Absalom would say, “See, your claims are
good and right; but there is no one deputed by the king to hear you.” 4Absalom
said moreover, “If only I were judge in the land! Then all who had a suit or
cause might come to me, and I would give them justice.” 5Whenever
people came near to do obeisance to him, he would put out his hand and take
hold of them, and kiss them. 6Thus Absalom did to every Israelite
who came to the king for judgment; so Absalom stole the hearts of the people of
Israel.
7At the end
of four years Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go to Hebron and pay the
vow that I have made to the Lord. 8For your
servant made a vow while I lived at Geshur in Aram: If the Lord
will indeed bring me back to Jerusalem, then I will worship the Lord
in Hebron.” 9The king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he got up, and
went to Hebron. 10But Absalom sent secret messengers throughout all
the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet,
then shout: Absalom has become king at Hebron!” 11Two hundred men
from Jerusalem went with Absalom; they were invited guests, and they went in
their innocence, knowing nothing of the matter. 12While Absalom was
offering the sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s
counselor, from his city Giloh. The conspiracy grew in strength, and the people
with Absalom kept increasing.
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