Participants: Kelly Mowrer
Series Code: HWAL
Program Code: HWAL000537
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00:16 Hello, and welcome to His Words are Life.
00:19 Today we're reading together in the book of 2nd Samuel, 00:22 but before we start, let's pray. 00:24 Our Father in heaven, we ask that you would please send 00:29 the Holy Spirit to guide our hearts and our thoughts 00:32 as we read these words that you have given to us, to be life and 00:36 light to our soul. Help us to not just hear them but to take 00:42 them into our hearts and to live by them to your glory. 00:46 We love you so much and thank you for loving us. Amen. 00:49 When we were last together we were reading in 2nd Samuel, 00:53 chapter 15, and it was giving the account of Absalom, how 00:58 he would go and sit at the gate of the city and if someone came 01:01 seeking help from the king, regarding a controversy, 01:06 Absalom would ask where he was from and if the servant 01:10 answered, I'm from one of the tribes of Israel, 01:12 Absalom had a response for him. And we're going to pick up 01:15 with Absalom's response. This is in 2nd Samuel, chapter 15, 01:19 verse 3. And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good 01:26 and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee 01:30 Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, 01:35 that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me 01:39 and I would do him justice! And it was so, that when any man 01:45 came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand 01:49 and took him, and kissed him. And on this manner did Absalom 01:53 to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom 01:57 stole the hearts of the men of Israel. And it came to pass 02:02 after 40 years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, 02:07 let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the Lord, 02:10 in Hebron. For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur 02:15 in Syria, saying, If the Lord shall bring me again indeed to 02:18 Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord. And the king said unto him 02:23 Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron. But Absalom 02:29 sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, 02:32 As soon as ye hear the sound of a trumpet, then ye shall say, 02:35 Absalom reigneth in Hebron. And with Absalom went 200 men 02:41 out of Jerusalem, that were called; and they went in their 02:45 simplicity, and they knew not any thing. And Absalom sent for 02:50 Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counselor, from his city, even 02:55 from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy 02:59 was strong; for the people increased continually 03:03 with Absalom. And there came a messenger to David, saying, 03:07 The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom. 03:09 And David said unto all his servants that were with him 03:13 at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else 03:17 escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us 03:21 suddenly, and bring evil upon us and smite the city with the edge 03:24 of the sword. And the king's servants said unto the king, 03:28 Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord 03:32 the king shall appoint. And the king went forth, 03:35 and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, 03:39 which were concubines, to keep the house. And the king went 03:43 forth, and all the people after him and tarried in a place that 03:47 was far off and all his servants passed on beside him; 03:51 and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the 03:54 Gittites, 600 men which came after him from Gath, passed on 03:59 before the king. Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, 04:03 Wherefore goest thou also with us? return to thy place, 04:07 and abide with the king: for thou art a stranger, 04:10 and also an exile. Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I 04:14 this day make thee go up and down with us? seeing I go 04:17 whither I may, return thou, and take back thy brethren: 04:20 mercy and truth be with thee. And Ittai answered the king, 04:25 and said, As the Lord liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, 04:29 surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death, 04:33 or life, even there also will thy servant be. And David said 04:38 to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over, 04:43 and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him. 04:46 And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people 04:50 passed over. The king also himself passed over the brook 04:54 Kidron, and all the people passed over toward the way 04:56 of the wilderness. And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites 05:01 were with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God; 05:04 and they sat down the ark of God and Abiathar went up, until all 05:09 the people had done passing out of the city. And the king said 05:13 unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: 05:16 if I shall find favor in the eyes of the Lord, He will bring 05:19 me again and shew me both it, and his habitation: 05:23 But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, 05:27 here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him. 05:32 And the king said also unto Zadok the priest, Art not thou 05:37 a seer? Return into the city in peace, and your 2 sons with you, 05:41 Ahimaaz, thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. 05:45 See, I till tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there 05:48 come word from you to certify me. Zadok therefore and Abiathar 05:54 carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they tarried 05:56 there. And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept 06:01 as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: 06:05 and all the people that was with him covered every man his 06:09 head and they went up, weeping as they went. 06:12 And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the 06:15 conspirators with Absalom, and David said, O Lord, I pray thee, 06:20 turn the counsel of Ahithophel unto foolishness. 06:24 And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the 06:28 mount, where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came 06:34 to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head: 06:37 Unto whom David said, If thou passest on with me, then shalt 06:40 be a burden unto me: but if thou return to the city, and say unto 06:45 Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy 06:48 father's servant hitherto, so will I now also be thy servant: 06:52 then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel. 06:58 And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abitathar 07:03 the priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing soever 07:07 thou shalt hear out of the king's house, thou shalt tell it 07:10 to Zadok, and Abiathar the priests. Behold, they have 07:14 there with them their 2 sons. Ahimaaz Zadok's son, 07:18 and Jonathan, Abiathar's son; and by them ye shall send 07:22 unto me every thing that ye can hear. So Hushai David's 07:26 friend came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem. 07:30 We're continuing in 2nd Samuel, chapter 16, 07:34 This is the King James Version. And when David was a little past 07:39 the top of the hill, behold Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth 07:43 met him, with a couple of asses saddled and upon them 200 loaves 07:47 of bread, and an hundred bunches of raisins, and an hundred of 07:51 summer fruits, and a bottle of wine. And the king said unto 07:54 Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And Ziba said, The asses 07:59 be for the king's household to ride on; and the bread and 08:02 summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such 08:06 as be faint in the wilderness may drink. And the king said, 08:11 And where is thy master's son? And Ziba said unto the king, 08:15 Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, Today shall the 08:18 house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father. 08:21 Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine are all that 08:27 pertained unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I humbly beseech 08:31 thee that I may find grace in thy sight, my lord, O king. 08:34 And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out 08:40 a man of the family of the house of Saul, 08:42 whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, 08:46 and cursed still as he came. And he cast stones at David, 08:52 and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and 08:56 all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. 08:59 And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, 09:03 thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial; 09:06 The Lord hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house 09:09 of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the Lord 09:13 hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: 09:15 and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art 09:19 a bloody man. Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king 09:25 Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over 09:30 I pray thee, and take off his head. And the king said, 09:34 What have I do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? 09:37 so let him curse, because the Lord hath said unto him, 09:41 Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so? 09:45 And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, 09:49 my son which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: 09:52 how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, 09:57 and let him curse; for the Lord hath bidden him. It may be 10:01 that the Lord will look on mine affliction, and that the Lord 10:05 will requite me good for his cursing this day. 10:08 And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on 10:13 the hill's side over against him and cursed as he went, 10:16 and threw stones at him, and cast dust. And the king, and all 10:21 the people that were with him, came weary, and refreshed 10:23 themselves there. And Absalom, and all the people the men of 10:27 Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him. 10:31 And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, 10:35 was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, 10:38 God Save the king, God save the king. And Absalom said to Hushai 10:43 Is this thy kindness to thy friend? why wentest thou not 10:47 with thy friend? And Hushai said unto Absalom, Nay; but whom the 10:52 Lord, and this people, and all the men of Israel, choose, 10:54 his will I be, and with him will I abide. And again, whom should 11:00 I serve? should I not serve in the presence of his son? 11:03 as I have served in thy father's presence, so will I be in thy 11:07 presence. Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel 11:12 among you what we shall do. And Ahithophel said unto Absalom 11:16 Go in unto thy father's concubines, 11:19 which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear 11:23 that thou art abhorred of they father: then shall the hands of 11:26 all that are with thee be strong So they spread Absalom a tent 11:31 upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto 11:35 his father's concubines, in the sight of all Israel. 11:38 And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those 11:41 days, was as if a man had inquired at the oracle of God: 11:45 so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David 11:49 and with Absalom. We're continuing in the book 11:53 of 2nd Samuel, chapter 17, This is the King James Version. 11:57 Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out 12:02 12,000 men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night: 12:07 and I will come upon him while he is weary and weak handed, 12:11 and will make him afraid: and all the people that are with him 12:14 shall flee; and I will smite the king only: And I will bring back 12:18 all the people unto thee: the man whom thou seekest is as if 12:21 all returned: so all the people shall be in peace. 12:25 And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders 12:28 of Israel. Then said Absalom, call now Hushai the Archite 12:33 also, and let us hear likewise what he saith. 12:36 And when Hushai was come to Absalom, Absalom spake unto him 12:41 saying, Ahithophel hath spoken after this manner: 12:44 shall we do after his saying? if not, speak thou. 12:48 And Hushai said unto Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel 12:54 has given is not good at this time. For, said Hushai, 12:58 thou knowest thy father and his men, that they be might men, 13:02 and they be chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her 13:06 whelps in the field: and thy father is a man of war, 13:09 and will not lodge with the people. Behold, he is hid now 13:12 in some pit, or in some other place: and it will come to pass, 13:16 when some of them be overthrown at the first, that whosoever 13:18 heareth it will say, There s a slaughter among the people that 13:21 follow Absalom. And he also that is valiant, whose heart is as 13:25 a heart of a lion, shall utterly melt: for all Israel knoweth 13:29 that thy father is a might man, and they which be with him 13:32 are valiant men. Therefore I counsel that all Israel be 13:37 generally gathered unto thee, from Dan even to Beersheba, 13:40 as the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and that thou 13:44 go to battle in thine own person. So shall we come upon 13:49 him in some place where he shall be found, and we will light upon 13:52 him as the dew falleth on the ground: and of him and of all 13:55 the men that are with him there shall not be left so much as one 13:59 Moreover, if he be gotten into a city, then shall all Israel 14:03 bring ropes to that city and we will draw it into the river, 14:06 until there be not one small stone found there. 14:09 And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, 14:12 The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than 14:14 the counsel of Ahithophel. For the Lord had appointed to defeat 14:18 the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the Lord 14:22 might bring evil upon Absalom. We'll continue the story 14:27 the next time we are together. Until then, 14:28 May God bless and keep each one of us with his love and his 14:32 grace and his mercy. Goodbye. |
Revised 2014-12-17