DUMB WAYS TO DIE

#7: Absalom: Dying For A Haircut

What’s Wrong With Long Hair

Dad won’t let son use car until he cuts his long hair.

Human Emotions And Intrigue

Lust Deception Hatred Vengeance Murder Betrayal Coup Death

An Ungodly Beginning

2 Samuel 11 Army in the field David stays at home Bathsheba bathes on

the roof David takes her David tries to

deceive and then betrays her husband.

A Curse From God

2 Samuel 12:10-11 – “Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.” Thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you from your own household; I will even take your wives before your eyes and give them to your companion, and he will lie with your wives in broad daylight.

The Main Cast

2 Samuel 3:2-3 “Sons were born to David at

Hebron…” Amnon – eldest born to

Ahinoam the Jezreelitess Absalom – third born, son of

Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur.

Tamar – sister to Absalom – very beautiful

Evil In The Household Lust, violation and hatred 2 Samuel 13:1-19 Amnon loves his half-sister Tamar to the

point he is making himself sick. A friend counsels him to feign illness and

ask for Tamar to come prepare him a meal.

Tamar does so. Amnon violates her and then hates her. Tamar leaves wailing and in mourning.

Absalom’s Revenge

2 Samuel 13:20ff Absalom keeps Tamar quiet.

Waits two years. Vs. 28-29 – “Absalom

commanded his servants, saying, “See now, when

Amnon’s heart is merry with wine…then put him to death….The servants of Absalom did to Amnon just as Absalom had commanded.

Absalom’s Flight

2 Samuel 13:37 – “Now Absalom fled and went to Talmai the son of Ammihud, the

king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.

Absalom gone three years.

The Death Of Absalom

Absalom forgiven as Joab intervenes

2 Sam. 14:33 – “So when Joab came to the king and told him, he called for Absalom. Thus he came to the king and prostrated himself on his face to the ground before the king, and the king kissed Absalom.

Absalom’s Coup 2 Samuel 15:1-13 Sets himself up with

chariots and footmen. Makes himself a judge

at the city gates. Turns the hearts of the

people against David. Absalom organizes a coup. Four years? Forty years?

2 Samuel 15:7 Evidence for four years Josephus/ Some Septuagint Mss. Syriac versions/Arabic versions 2 Samuel 5:4 – “David…

reigned forty years. Evidence for forty years Some Septuagint Mss. Masoretic Text/ Textus Receptus A couple of manuscripts 40 days

David Flees Jerusalem

2 Samuel 15:14 – Davidsaid to all his servants who

were with him at Jerusalem,“Arise and let us flee, forotherwise none of us will

escape from Absalom. Goin haste, or he will over-

take us quickly and bringdown calamity on us and strike the city with

the edge of the sword.”

Help, Cursing and Deception

Help from the Cherethites, Pelethites and Gittites (foreigners)

Zadok and the Levites with the ark of the covenant (sent back)

Ahithophel – betrayal Ziba – servant of Mephibosheth –

deception Shemei from the house of Saul -- cursing

Twisted Counsel

Ahithophel – 2 Sam. 17:1 – “Please let me choose 12,000 men that I may arise and pursue David tonight. I will come upon him while he is weary and exhausted….”

Hushai – 2 Sam. 17:7-13

Gather all Israel. Wait awhile Then attack

War/Hair/Death 2 Samuel 18:1-15

David orders all his men to deal gently with Absalom

20,000 men die in the ensuing battle

Absalom flees on his mule. Catches his long hair in an oak tree.

Killed by Joab and his men.

What Can We Learn?

Out of control passions lead to misery and even death

Galatians 5:19-21 – Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these….”

Beware Of Anger and Ridicule

Matthew 5:22 – “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.”

Honor God‘s Anointed

David would never kill Saul because he was God’s anointed.

Absalom should have honored David as God’s anointed.

Do we honor God’s anointed?