2 Samuel #15: an exposition of 2 Samuel 13:1-39. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, June 30, 2013.
Intro:
Unless you’ve been living under a rock some place or have been totally disconnected from the media you are aware of Paula Deen’s saga as it has been playing out. Can you image having your life scrutinized in such a way? Can you imagine being under oath and asked, “Have you ever used a racial slur?” Who hasn’t used an inappropriate word or phrase? Who hasn’t been guilty of using poor taste or bad judgement? Then to have it played out on a national scale with everyone weighing in on the subject and providing commentary. When it comes to pointing out the sins of others – we all want to play! It’s something of a national pastime. We all want to play but it’s no fun when your part of the game is to be the “ball” that’s being kicked around. We’ve all got those things in our lives that we’re ashamed of. Most of us have things in our background that were it to be flashed on the screen this evening we would head out that door looking for the nearest bridge to throw ourselves off.
We are fascinated by, and seem to enjoy, other people’s failure. Oh, we don’t like to see folks devastated. We don’t want to see anyone hurt but it’s like the bad wreck on the highway – we can’t look away. Our text this evening is well…it’s just an ugly text. It reads like the worst soap opera you’ve ever seen. A man rapes his sister. The victim’s brother says, “Don’t make a big deal out of this it will make our family look bad.” Meanwhile he hates his brother for what he’s done, lets that hatred simmer for two years and finally kills his brother. Meanwhile dad gets word about all that is going on and he is really angry but never does anything about it. Oh, did I mention “dad” is David. King of Israel. The man after God’s own heart? Our text is found in 2 Samuel chapter 13.
Text: 2 Samuel 13:1-39
As chapter 13 opens some time has passed from the events of chapter 12.
The Hebrew text reads, “Now some time after this…”
David’s sin with Bathsheba and the subsequent attempt at cover-up has been exposed.
David and Bathsheba’s son has died.
Solomon has been born (also named Jedidiah, “beloved of God”).
The Ammonite war has concluded.
What follows is the sordid tale of perversion in the royal family.
This is a classic example of the sins of the father being visited on his children.
It is difficult to read and it is supposed to be! As we explore this text we discover…
Thesis: 2 Samuel 13 reveals the depth of sin’s perversion and its devastating consequences.
There are three things I want to point out as we work our way through the chapter.
- A story designed to outrage. (13:1-22)
- Characters too close for comfort.
- A principle not to be forgotten. (12:9-11)