Sermon Text: 2 Samuel 16:15-17:4
Theme: By accepting despicable counsel to antagonize his father, Absalom declared his irreversible and open opposition to the Lord who had chosen David as king of Israel.
Structure/points: When Absalom was busy stealing the hearts of Israel, he created a public image of majesty mixed with familiarity and civic-mindedness. But after the launch of his coup, Absalom’s first royal actions showed that he didn’t care about the Lord God of Israel or even about the Israelites. Absalom talked a big game, but he only cared about himself and his desires. Israel had rejected David as king and chose in his place a man who used his new power to commit moral outrages publicly. Absalom was a rebel not just against his father, but against the Lord Himself.
- Hushai’s guise of support
- Absalom’s crime against David
- Ahithophel’s deadly advice