Steve Webb  0:00  
He's the man God called "...a man after my own heart..."

Steve Webb  0:11  
This is the Lifespring one year Bible coming to you from Riverside, California and podcasting since 2004. I'm your og Godcaster. Steve Webb. This is history Tuesday and we'll read Second Samuel 15 through 19. I'm calling this episode a son rebels. Before we get started, let's pray. Our heavenly Father once again, we thank You for Your word and ask that you would teach us today from it. Bless this time together. We pray this in Jesus name. Amen. Okay, let's get started. 

Steve Webb  0:43  
Second Samuel chapter 15. After this Absalom bought a chariot and horses, and he hired 50 bodyguards to run ahead of him. He got up early every morning and went out to the gate of the city. When people brought a case to the king for judgment, Absalon would ask where in Israel they were from, and they would tell them their tribe, then Absalom would say, you've really got a strong case here. It's too bad. The king doesn't have anyone to hear it. I wish I were the judge, then everyone could bring their cases to me for judgment, and I would give them justice. When people tried to bow before him, Absalom wouldn't let them instead he took them by the hand and kiss them. Absalom did this with everyone who came to the king for judgment. And so he stole the hearts of all the people of Israel. After four years, Absalom said to the king, let me go to Hebron to offer a sacrifice to the Lord and fulfill a vow I made to him for a while your servant was at Gesher and Aram I promised to sacrifice to the Lord in Hebron if he would bring me back to Jerusalem. All right, the king told him go and fulfill your vow. So Absalon went to Hebron. But while he was there, he sent secret messengers to all the tribes of Israel to stir up a rebellion against the king. As soon as you hear the ram's horn, the message read you were to say Absalom has been crowned king in Hebron. He took 200 men from Jerusalem with him his guests, but they knew nothing of his intentions. While Absalom was offering the sacrifices he set for Ahithophel one of David's counselors who lived in Geilo soon many others also joined Absalom and the conspiracy gained momentum. A messenger soon arrived in Jerusalem to tell David all Israel has joined Absalon and a conspiracy against you. Then we must flee at once or it will be too late. David urged his men hurry if we get out of the city before Absalom arrives, both we and the city of Jerusalem will be spared from disaster. We're with you. His advisors replied, Do what you think is best. So the king had all his household set out at once. He left no one behind except 10 of his concubines to look after the palace. The King and all his people set out on foot pausing at the last house to let all the king's men move past to lead the way. There were 600 men from Gath who had come with David along with the king's bodyguard. Then the king turned in said to ittai a leader of the men from gaff Why are you coming with us go on back to King Absalon for you are a guest in Israel, a foreigner in exile. You arrived only recently and should I force you today to wander with us. I don't even know where we will go. Go on back and take your kinsmen with you. And may the Lord show you his unfailing love and faithfulness. But it's I said to the king, I vow by the Lord and by your own life that I will go wherever my lord the king goes, no matter what happens, whether it means life or death. David replied, all right, come with us. So it Ty and all his men and their families went along. Everyone cried loudly is the king and his followers passed by they crossed the Kidron Valley and then went out toward the wilderness. Ze doc and all the Levites also came along carrying the ark of the covenant of God. They set down the ark of God and Abiathar offered sacrifices until everyone had passed out of the city. Then the king instructed Zedong to take the ark of God back into the city. If the Lord sees fit, David said he will bring me back to see the ark and the tabernacle again. But if he is through with me, then let him do what seems best to him. The king also told Sedaka priest, look, here's my plan. You and Abiathar should return quietly to the city with your son of him a has and Abiathar son Jonathan, I will stop at the shallows of the Jordan River and wait there for a report from you. So it was a talk in Abiathar took the ark of God back to the city and stayed there. David walked up the road to the Mount of Orleans weeping as he went. His head was covered and his feet were bear is a sign of mourning. And the people who were with him covered their heads and wept as they climbed the hill. When someone told David that his advisor Ahithophel was now backing Absalon David prayed. Oh, Lord, let Ahithophel give Absalon foolish advice. When David reached the summit of the Mount of Olives where people worshipped God who shy the archive was waiting there for him. He was shy, had torn his clothing and put dirt on his head as a sign of mourning. But David told him, if you go with me, you will only be a burden returned to Jerusalem until Absalom I will now be your advisor, oh king, just as I was your father's advisor in the past, then you can frustrate encounter it hit the Fells advice, ze doc and Abiathar the priests will be there. Tell them about the plans being made in the king's palace and they will send their sons a him as in Jonathan to tell me what is going on. So David's friends who Shai returned to Jerusalem getting there just as Absalom arrived. 

Steve Webb  5:47  
Second Samuel chapter 16. David went a short way over the top of the Mount of Olives and met Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth. Ziba had two donkeys with saddles on them. The donkeys also carried 200 loaves of bread 100 bunches of raisins, 100 summer fruits and a wineskin full of wine. King David said to Ziba What are these things for? Ziba answered the donkeys are for the king's family to ride on the bread and the summer fruit are for the servants to eat. And the wine is refreshment for whoever begins to feel weak in the desert. Then the king asked adwares Mephibosheth Ziba answered the king Mephibosheth is staying in Jerusalem. He said today the Israelites will give my father's kingdom back to me. Then the king said to Ziba All right. I now give you everything that belonged to Mephibosheth. Ziba said I bow to you, I pray I will always be able to please you. As David came to hear from a man from Saul's family, shimmy, i Son of geara came out cursing David again and again. Shimmy I began throwing stones at David and his officers. Both the people and the soldiers gathered around David to protect him. They were all around him. Shimmy I cursed David. He said get out. Get out. You know good murderer. The Lord is punishing you because you killed people and Saul's family you stole Sol's places king, but now the same bad things are happening to you. The Lord has given the kingdom to your son Absalon because you are a murderer, a by Shai son of Zeruiah said to the king, why should this dying dog curse you my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off shimmy is head of the king answered? What can I do sons of Zuru Yeah, yes shimmy is cursing me. But the Lord told him to curse me. And who can ask him why he did that. David also said to buy Shai and all his servants. Look, my very own son is trying to kill me. So why shouldn't this man from the tribe of Benjamin wants to do the same. Leave him alone. Let him continue to curse me. The Lord told him to do this. Maybe the Lord will see the wrong things that are happening to me and give me something good for every bad thing that shimmy I says today. So David and his man went on their way down the road. Shimmy I kept following David. He walked on the other side of the road by the side of the hill. He kept cursing David on his way. Shimmy. I also threw stones and dirt at David. King David and all his people came to the Jordan River. They were tired so they rested and refreshed themselves there. Meanwhile, Absalon Ahithophel and all the Israelites came to Jerusalem. David's friend Hugh Shai, the archive came to Absalom and told him long live the king. Long live the king. Absalom answered, why are you not loyal to your friend David? Why did you not leave Jerusalem with your friend? You Shai said, I belong to the one that the Lord chooses. These people and the people of Israel chose you. I will stay with you. In the past I served your father. So now I will serve you David son. Absalom said to HIPAA, Phil, please tell us what we should do. I hit the Phil said you have Salam. Your father left some of his slave women here to take care of the house, go and have sexual relations with them. Then all the Israelites will hear how you humiliated your father and they will be encouraged to give you more support. Then they put up a tent for an Salam up on the roof of the house. Absalom had sexual relations with his father's wives so that all the Israelites could see what happened. So in those days, the hit the Fells advice was very important. Both David and Absalom accepted his advice as though it were the Word of God. 

Steve Webb  9:35  
Second Samuel chapter 17 Ahithophel also said to Absalom, now let me choose 12,000 men to chase David tonight. I will catch him while he is tired and weak. I will frighten him at all his people will run away, but I will kill only King David. Then I will bring all the people back to you. If David is dead, all the people will come back in peace. This plan seemed good to absolute I'm in all the leaders of Israel. But Absalom said, Now call Hugh shy the archive. I also want to hear what he says. You shy came to Absalom, Absalom said to Hugh shy. This is the planet HIPAA fell gave, should we follow it? If not tell us, you shy said to Absalom Ahithophel his advice is not good this time. You shy at it. You know that your father and his men are strong men. They're as dangerous as a wild bear. When something is taken, it's cops. Your father's a skilled fighter. He will not stay all night with the people. He is probably already hiding in a cave or some other place. If your father attacks your men first people will hear the news and think Absalom his followers are losing. Then even your bravest men will be frightened because all the Israelites know that your father is a powerful soldier and that his men are very brave. This is what I suggest. You must gather all the Israelites together from Dan to Beersheba, then there will be many people like the sand by the sea. Then you yourself must go into battle. We will catch David wherever he is hiding and attacking was so many soldiers that they will be like the do that covers the ground. We will kill David and all of his men, no one will be left alive. But if David escapes into a city all the Israelites can bring ropes to that city and pull its walls down into the valley. Not even a small stone will be left in that city. Absalom at all the Israelites said you sheis advice is better than a HIPAA. Phil's actually Ahithophel 's advice was good, but they said this because the Lord had decided to make a hit that fails advice useless. He did this to punish Absalon Hewish I told the priests ze doc and Abiathar what was said? He told them what a HIPAA fell suggested to Absalom and the leaders of Israel. You wish I also told him what he himself had suggested. He said send a message to David now tell him not to spend the night at the places where people cross into the desert. Tell him to go across the Jordan River at once. If he crosses the river the king at all his people will not be caught the priests sons Jonathan at a him as did not want to be seen going into the town so they waited it in rogell A servant girl went out to them and gave them the message then Jonathan and a him as carried the message to King David but a boy saw Jonathan and a him as and ran to tell Absalon Jonathan any him as ran away quickly. They arrived at a man's house in Bahir him the man had a well in his courtyard, Jonathan into him as went down into this well, the man's wife spread a sheet over the mouth of the well and covered it with grain. The well looked like a pile of grain so no one knew to look there. Absalom servants came to the woman at the house they asked where are a hem as in Jonathan The woman said to Absalom servants they have already crossed over the brook Absalom servants then went to look for Jonathan nama as but they could not find them. So Absalon servants went back to Jerusalem. After Absalom servants left Jonathan at a him as climbed out of the well and went to King David. They said to David, Hurry, go across the river Ahithophel is planning to do something to you. So David and his people crossed over the Jordan River. By sunrise all of David's people had crossed the Jordan River, no one was left behind. When they hit the fell saw that the Israelites did not do what he suggested. He saddled his donkey and went back to his hometown. He made plans for his family and then hanged himself. They buried him in his father's tomb. David arrived at May a name just as Absalom and the Israelites who were left with him crossed over the Jordan River. Absalom and the Israelites made their camp and the land of Gilead. Absalom had made a mesa the new captain of the army. He took Joab place a mesa was the son of Indra the Ishmael light. His mother was Abigail, the daughter of May hash the sister of Job's mother's ruya When David arrived at May, a NAMM show by Son of May hash was from the Ammonite town of Rabbah. Maker son of Amiya was from Lodi bar Barzilay was from row golem and Gilead. These three men said the people are tired, hungry and thirsty from the desert. So they brought many things to David and those with him. They brought beds, bowls and other kinds of dishes. They also brought wheat barley flour, roasted grain beans, lentils, dried seeds, honey, butter, sheep, and cheese made from cow's milk. 

Steve Webb  14:37  
Second Samuel chapter 18. David divided his soldiers into groups of 100 in groups of 1000. Then he chose officers to be in command of each group. He sent out 1/3 of his army under the command of Joab another third under the command of a by Shai, the son of Zeruiah and the rest under the command of ittai from Gaff. He told the soldiers I am going into battle with you. But the soldiers said No, don't go into battle with this. It won't matter to our enemies if they make us all run away or even if they kill half of us, but you are worth 10,000 of us. It would be better for you to stay in town and send help if we need it. David said all right if you think I should, then in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear he said Joab a by Shai it tie for my sake, be sure that Absalon comes back unharmed. David stood beside the town gate as his army marched past in groups of 100 and in groups of 1000. The war with Israel took place in Ephram forest battles were being fought all over the forest and David's soldiers were winning. 20,000 soldiers were killed that day and more of them died from the dangers of the forest than from the fighting itself. Absalon was riding his mule under a huge tree when his head caught in the branches. The mule ran off and left Absalom hanging in midair. Some of David's soldiers have been by and one of them went and told Joab I saw Absalom hanging in a tree Joab said you saw Absalom Why didn't you kill him? I would have given you 10 pieces of silver and a special belt. The man answered, even if you paid me 1000 pieces of silver here and now I still wouldn't touch the king son. We all heard King David tell you at a buy shy and try not to harm epsilon. He always finds out what's going on. I would have been risking my life to kill epsilon because you would have let me take the blame. Joab said I'm not going to waste any more time on you. Absalom was still alive. So Joab took three spears and stuck them through epsilon 's chest 10 of Job's body guards came over and finished him off. Then Joe had blew a trumpet to signal his troops to stop chasing Israel soldiers. They threw epsilon his body into a deep pit in the forest and put a big pile of rocks over it. Meanwhile, the people of Israel had all run back to their own homes. When epsilon was alive, he had set up a stone monument for himself in Kings Valley. He explained, I don't have any sons to keep my name alive. He called it Absalom his monument. And that is the name it still has today. A him as the San Jose doc said Joab let me run and tell King David that the Lord has rescued him from his enemies. Joab answered, you're not the one to tell the king that his son is dead. You can take him a message some other time, but not today. Someone from Ethiopia was standing there and Joab told him go and tell the king what you've seen. The man knelt down in front of Joab then got up and started running him as spoke to Joab again, no matter what happens. I still want to go and besides, the Ethiopian has already left Joab said Why should you go you won't get a reward for the news you have. I'll run no matter what a human has insisted. Alright then run Joab said him as took the road through the Jordan Valley at outran the Ethiopian. Meanwhile, David was sitting between the inner and outer gates in the city wall. One of his soldiers was watching from the roof of the gate tower. He saw a man running toward the town and shouted down to tell David, David answered. If he's alone, he must have some news. The Runner was getting closer when the soldier saw someone else running. He shouted down to the gate. Look, there's another runner. David said he must have some news to the soldier on the roof shouted the first one runs just like a Him as the Son of a doc. This time David said he's a good man. He must have some good news. A him as called out, we won we won. Then he bowed low to David and said, Your Majesty praise the Lord your God. He has given you victory over your enemies. Is my son Absalom. All right, David asked him as said when Joab sent your personal servant and me I saw a noisy crowd. But I don't know what it was all about. David told him, stand over there and wait. A hymn as went over and stood there. The Ethiopian came and said Your Majesty today I have good news. The Lord is rescued you from all your enemies. Is my son Absalom. All right, David asked. The Ethiopian replied I wish that all your Majesty's enemies and everyone who tries to harm you would end up like him. David started trembling. Then he went up to the room above the city gate to cry as he went he kept saying my son Absalom my son, my son Absalon I wish I could have died instead of you. Absalom my son, my son. 

Steve Webb  19:43  
Second Samuel chapter 19. Someone told Joab The King is crying because Absalom is dead. David's Army found out he was crying because his son had died and their day of victory suddenly turned into a day of sadness. The troops were sneaking into May and N Just as if they had run away from a battle and were ashamed. David covered his face with his hands and kept on crying loudly. My son Absalom, Absalom, my son, my son Joab went to the house where David was staying and told him, you've made your soldiers ashamed. Not only did they save your life, they saved your sons and daughters and wives as well. You're more loyal to your enemies than to your friends. What you've done today is shown your officers and soldiers that they don't mean a thing to you, you would be Happy if Absalom was still alive, even if the rest of us were dead. You would be Happy if Absalom was still alive, even if the rest of us were dead. Now get up, get out there and thank them for what they did. If you don't I swear by the Lord, that you won't even have one man left on your side tomorrow morning. You may have had a lot of troubles in the past, but this will be the worst thing that has ever happened to you. David got up and went into the town gate and sat down. When the people heard that he was sitting there, they came to see him. After Israel soldiers had all returned home, everyone in Israel started arguing. They were saying to each other, King David rescued us from the Philistines and from our other enemies. But then we chose Absalom to be our new leader. And David had to leave the country to get away. Absalom died in battle. So why hasn't something been done to bring David back? When David found out what they were saying? He sent a message to Zedong and Abiathar their priests? It said, Say to the leaders of Judah, why are you the last tribe to think about bringing King David back home? He is your brother, your own relative? Why haven't you done anything to bring him back? And tell him Mesa, you're my nephew and with God is my witness. I swear I'll make you commander of my army instead of Joab. Soon the tribe of Judah again became followers of David and they sent him this message. Come back and bring your soldiers with you. David started back and had gone as far as the Jordan River when he met the people of Judah. They had gathered at Gilgal and had come to help them cross the river. Shimmy I the Son of gira was there with them. He had heard from by Hyrum to meet David shimmy. I was from the tribe of Benjamin and 1000. Others from Benjamin had come with him. Ziba, the chief servant of Saul's family also came to the Jordan River. He and his 15 sons and 20 servants waited across to meet David. Then they brought David's family and servants back across the river, and they did everything he wanted them to do. Shimmy I crossed the Jordan River and bowed down in front of David. He said, Your Majesty, I beg you not to punish me. Please forget what I did when you were leaving Jerusalem. Don't even think about it. I know I was wrong. That's why I wanted to be the first one from the northern tribes to meet you. But a by shouted, You should be killed for cursing the Lord's chosen King. David said a by Shai, what will I ever do with you and your brother Joab? Is it your job to tell me who was done wrong? I've been made king of all Israel today and no one will be put to death. Then David promised shimmy AI that he would not be killed. The famous chef, the grandson of Saul also came to meet David. He had missed David so much that he had not taken a bath or trimmed his beard or washed his clothes. The whole time David was gone. David asked him, Why didn't you go with me? He answered, Your Majesty. You know, I can't walk. I told my servant to saddle a donkey for me so I could go with you. But my servant left without me. And then he lied about me. You're as wise as an angel from God. So do what you think is right. After all, you could have killed my whole family in me. But instead, you let me eat at your own table. Your Majesty, what more could I ask? David answered. You've said enough. I've decided to divide the property between you and Ziba. Mephibosheth replied, he can have it all. I'm just glad you've come home safely. Barzillai came from Rogue limb and Gilead to meet David at the Jordan River and go across with him. Or as Li was 80 years old. He was very rich and had sent food to David in May and M. David said to him, cross the river and go to Jerusalem with me. I will take care of you. Barzilay answered, Your Majesty, why should I go to Jerusalem, I don't have much longer to live. I'm already 80 years old, and my body is almost numb. I can't taste my food or hear the sound of singing. And I would be nothing but a burden. I'll cross the river with you. But I'll only go a little way on the other side. You don't have to be so kind to me. Just let me return to my hometown, where I can someday be buried near my father and mother. My servant Kim Han can go with you and you can treat him as your own. David said, I'll take him home with me and whatever you asked me to do for him. I'll do and if there's anything else you want, I will also do that. David soldiers went on across the river while he stayed behind to tell Barzillai goodbye and to wish him well. Barzillai returned home But Kim Han crossed the river with David. All of Judas army and half of Israel's army were there to help David Cross the river. The soldiers from Israel came to him and said, Why did our relatives from Judah secretly take you and your family and your soldiers across the Jordan? The people of Judah Hansard, why are you so angry? We are the kings relatives. He didn't give us any food and we didn't take anything for ourselves. Those from Israel said, King David belongs to us 10 times more than he belongs to you. Why didn't you think we were good enough to help you? After all, we were the first ones to think of bringing him back. The people of Judah argued more strongly than the people of Israel. 

Steve Webb  25:43  
Well, reading chapters 15 through 19 was like reading an adventure novel, wasn't it? There's the dysfunctional family where the son of the king leads a national revolt. There's raw ambition, there's betrayal, there's loyalty, sex, spies, murder, revenge and heartbreak. It's all there. And it's all real. These events really did happen. So for today, where to begin? Well, I think we need to talk about David. There are so many characters in these five chapters that we could talk about at length, but David is the central character. He's the man God called a man after my own heart. So in chapter 15, after David had been told that Absalon was leading a conspiracy against him, David decided that it would be best for everyone in Jerusalem if he and his household fled the city. Well, in this exodus, ze doc, the priest and all the Levites joined David bringing the ark of the covenant with them. Did you notice that? What was the significance of the ark? To these people? The ark was the very presence of God. And it stands to reason that when David found out that they had brought the Ark out of Jerusalem to be with him, he'd be pleased to have it. But that isn't what happened is it? Verses 25 and 26 say, then the king instructed Zedong to take the ark of God back into the city. If the Lord sees fit, David said, He will bring me back to see the ark and the tabernacle again. But if he is through with me, then let him do what seems best to him. So you see, David had learned to trust God. He had also learned from the way God removed King Saul and put David in his place that it would be foolish of him to try to hold on to the throne if God had decided that David should be replaced, but David did not just resign himself to whatever the circumstances might bring. He made plans to counter Absalon 's attack and as we read, God ultimately showed that he was not finished with David. Through these five chapters we see several examples of David's humility. He told it i that since he and his kinsmen were guests in Israel, they should not feel like they had to follow him. David publicly wept over Absalom 's betrayal and he told his army that they should deal gently with Absalon David let shimmy. I harass him. He mourned Absalon his death, even to the point that his general Joab chastised him for making it seem that he cared more for his dead son than the ones who had fought so hard for him. Plus, we read about several other acts of kindness that David did. David knew that it was God's grace that kept him on the throne. He truly was a man after God's own heart. Well, how would you like to be known as a person after God's own heart? Not a bad legacy? Hi, if you have a comment, I'd like to hear it. Call the Lifespring family Hotline at plus 1-951-732-8511 comment via boostagram. If you've got one of those new podcast apps, or go to comment.lifespringmedia.com, I do read every comment and I do want to hear your thoughts. Tomorrow will be Psalms Wednesday, and we'll read Psalms 57 through 59. 

Steve Webb  29:05  
Also, we'll have a time of praise and prayer requests. James 516 says therefore confess your sins to one another in pray for one another so that you may be healed. The urgent request of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect. Now I'm not asking for public confessions but praying for one another is what our time together in prayer on Wednesdays and Sundays is all about. It's a good thing. So please do go to prayer.lifespringmedia.com if there's something you'd like us to pray with you about prayer dot Lifespring media.com or call the Lifespring family hotline. And if you're thinking yes I should do that. Do it now while you're thinking about it.

Steve Webb  29:53  
New Mail notification I got an email yesterday morning that said greetings lately I've been unable to live into the one year Bible, my podcast app antenna pod, tries to refresh the feed and returns an error saying HTTP data error. I hope this can be resolved. And they signed off. Thanks, Elaine. Thank you, Elaine for letting me know. Does anybody else have this problem? Do you have any ideas? Antenna Pon has a couple of pages on the website with possible fixes. But if one of the Lifespring family members has had this problem and fixed it, I would sure be grateful if you'd give me some ideas to pass on to Elaine. And Elaine, thank you for letting me know. Antenna pod is an Android app. And there are many alternatives if we can't get this antenna pod issue resolved. I know it can be kind of a hassle to switch apps. But you do want to have an app that gets the one year Bible right. I mean, come on, what's the problem?

Steve Webb  30:53  
Let me take a second here to apologize if you listened to yesterday's episode, Exodus 25 through 28 intricate design and found that it was a repeat of Sunday's Second Corinthians nine and 10. Watch your toes episode. I wasn't aware that I'd made that mistake until about 6:30pm Yesterday morning, and I quickly republished the episode with the word corrected in the title, but many of you probably didn't see that. So if you go back and look at your podcast app, you'll see it there. Again, I'm sorry about messing that up. Boost.

Steve Webb  31:30  
Jason Paschall did today's show art. What do you think about it? That's pretty good, isn't it? Thank you, Jason, for that great art. And thanks also to Sister Denise, Michael Haner, Scott Snider and Brittaney...the team. I'm so thankful for each one of you as well, as being thankful for the Lifespring family. I thank each of you for inviting me to be in your day, day after day after day after day after day. I appreciate the fact that you're hanging in there with me and I pray that you are being blessed by the reading of God's word. Okay, until tomorrow may God bless you richly. I really mean that. My name is Steve Webb. See you tomorrow. Bye. Lifespringmedia.com slash support

Transcribed by https://otter.ai