Month: May 2025

ABSALOM – ANOTHER TRAGIC VICTIM OF SIN

SCRIPTURE: 2 Sam 13-2 Sam 19:8

INTRODUCTION: The name Absalom means “father of peace.” If David gave his son this name, it turned out to be wishful thinking! He was the third son of David by his wife Maacah, daughter of the king of Geshur, thus born of a polygamous marriage. Absalom’s story is most fascinating, and we are spellbound as the main events of his adult life unfold. [It reads somewhat like a western novel, but it doesn’t tum out well at all for the main character!] Absalom’s weak character and unusual beauty pull him along in the wrong direction until Satan sets a trap for him from which there seemed to be no escape. The final result was his destruction. Let us consider some factors that shaped his life and destiny.

1. HE WAS OF ROYAL DESCENT Both parents were royalty. His mother, Maacah, was the daughter of the king of Geshur, and thus, a gentile. Although David’s third son (2 Sam 3:2-3) Absalom was the idol of his father and seems to have been heir to the throne.

2. HE POSSESSED REMARKABLE PHYSICAL BEAUTY – 2 Sam 14:25 Absalom was a striking person with poise, natural dignity, and a commanding presence, as well as sheer good looks.

3. HE WAS CHARMING AND PERSUASIVE Absalom was not only good looking, he was “Mr. Personality.” [He was probably the outstanding member of Toastmasters of Jerusalem and had completed Dale Carnegie’s “How to Win Friends and Influence People” with honors!] When he “turned on the charm,” (2 Sam 15: 1-6) he literally stole the hearts of the men of Israel away from their great and godly warrior-king!

4. BUT – HEW AS TRAITOROUS Absalom had his own brother murdered (2 Sam 13:29) and conspired to take the kingdom from his father by force. Had he been successful, it would have resulted in his father’s death, and it appears that he felt no qualms about this possibility! Absalom seems to be the kind of self-centered person who would step on, or destroy if necessary, anyone who stood between him and the things he wanted.

5. HE CAME TO AN UNTIMELY END – 2 Sam 18:9-15 Absalom had everything in his favor, yet his life ended in a tragic way. In spite of all his beauty and natural gifts, plus being in line for the throne of Israel, he nevertheless wound up being buried like an animal in a pit in a deserted wood (18: 17). What a strong warning this sad story presents to parents, especially dads. Much of the blame for

Absalom’s tragic demise originated with David:

o He obviously doted on this handsome son as he was growing up, and, therefore, failed to restrain him as he should have.

o David failed to develop character in Absalom. Character is instilled by the process of training commanded in Pro 22:6. When the child has been thoroughly and consistently trained, character manifests itself in the automatic doing of right!

o David set a poor example for Absalom (and all of his children) in the matter of Bathsheba and Uriah. The tragic consequences of David’s sin in the lives of his children should be ample warning to Christian parents about their need to live clean, godly lives at all times. The worst feature in the “boomerang” of sin is its repercussions in the lives of our children! (For example – Lot and Elimelech)

6. ABSALOM’S FATAL WEAKNESSES

o His egotism – Absalom was totally taken up with self. He had no thought, no feeling, no pity for anyone but himself. He only used those around him to obtain his own selfish goals. But in trying to use his life for himself, he lost it! (See Mark 8:34-37.)

o His godlessness – This poor, self-centered creature seems to have had no God- consciousness or reverence for God, and thus no religious faith. Consequently, he had no principles or personal restraint in his relationships with others. He was his own master, and his own will was his only law.

CONCLUSION: We may properly blame David for his obvious failures with some of his sons, and David will certainly have to give account to God for those failures. However, as far as Absalom is concerned, he has no excuse for his lack of character. The Bible says very clearly, “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” (Rom 14:12) Unfortunately, we have a society that is afflicted with this “victim” mentality–that is, whatever happens or whatever a person does, it’s someone else’s fault. For example, “I started robbing people because my daddy didn’t take me to ballgames when I was a kid.” Or, “I became a prostitute because my mother ran off with another man when I was a baby.” This is wicked nonsense! David will answer to God for why he was not a better person, but Absalom will answer to God for why he didn’t get some character!

LESSONS:

1. Character is much to be preferred over talent, brains, beauty, or any combination thereof!

2. One’s chief glory and cherished gift can become his downfall. Whatever gifts we may possess need to be guarded and sanctified every day by prayer.

ABEL – THE FIRST MAN TO DIE

In these series of lessons we will be taking an in-depth look at some well known Bible characters, finding out what made them “tick,” and, even more importantly, learning some vital Bible principles. Many of these will be positive, but there will also be some powerful warnings of the consequences of disobeying God’s Word. Every lesson will provide an opportunity to apply practical truth to our daily lives.

Scriptures: Gen 4:1-10, 25; Matt 23:35; Heb 11:4, 12:24

“ABEL” means “breath” or “vapor”. His name, no doubt, is associated with the shortness of his life. (See Psalms 90:6; James 4:14)

1. ABEL & CAIN– Abel was a shepherd and owned flocks and herds – Cain was a tiller of the ground (farmer). It was not occupation, though, which parted these first two brothers in the world; rather, it was their understanding of God’s program of salvation. The principle of redemption by blood was made clear to Adam and Eve in the garden when God made them coats of animal skins, and it is safe to conclude from the Genesis record that Cain and Abel had been taught about this. They both knew that God required an offering, but the response of Abel was quite different from that of Cain. Abel feared God, and because he did, he offered to God the best of his flock (4:4). He slew the animal and thereby made a sacrifice of blood. Two significant conclusions can be drawn from Abel’s action: 1) he understood God’s requirement of shedding of innocent blood for the forgiveness of sin (Heb 9:22), and, 2) this action represented the personal surrender of Abel’s heart to God. By contrast, Cain brought what he had grown and gathered from the earth. Therefore, his offering represented his own effort, which was totally unacceptable to God. Thus we learn right at the beginning of the Bible that there are only two basic plans for Approaching God: 1. the shedding of blood for the remission of sin (the innocent takes the place of the guilty) 2. the bloodless way – that is, the religions of works, all of which are built to some degree on man’s presumed potential for goodness. The first is 100% successful–John 6:37. The second is a total, 100% failure–Isa 64:6; Titus 3:5; etc. How foolish of man to think any effort of his own could ever satisfy an infinitely holy God, yet multitudes today are still following the “way of Cain” (Jude 1 la). Because God accepted Abel’s offering and rejected Cain’s, the angry brother killed Abel in the field. Isn’t it strange that down through the ages false religion has so often resorted to murder, torture and persecution of true believers in an effort to bolster its own position?? Millions of Abels have been tortured and killed by Cains, but have you ever heard of a Cain being put to death by an Abel?! (Consider Matt 5:43-48)

ABEL IS UNIQUE AMONG BIBLE MEN:

• He was the first human to experience physical death. (His body has been dead for almost 6,000 yrs!)

o He was the first human to be murdered. (Murdered by his own brother, who was the first person born into the human race!)

o He was the first person to present an offering acceptable to God. (No doubt Adam had brought offerings to God, but Abel’s is the first of which we have record.)

o Abel is the first man mentioned in God’s “Hall of Fame of the Faithful” (Heb 11).

• 2. ABEL & CHRIST– God was looking on and saw what Cain did to his brother. (By the way, God is always watching you, and He sees everything you do.) Therefore, Abel’s innocent blood cried from the ground to be avenged! (Do you suppose that the blood of millions of innocent babies, murdered in their mother’s womb, is crying out to God from America today?!)

It is interesting to note the comparison of Abel’s blood with that of Christ in Heb 12:24. Christ’s blood is far better in at least three ways:

• Christ’s blood was sinless – there was absolutely no taint of sin upon it!
• Abel’s blood cried out for vengeance against his murderer – but the blood of Christ cries out for mercy upon the sinner. (This is graphically illustrated in Christ’s amazing statement from the cross, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”)
• Abel’s blood, although the blood of a righteous man (Matt 23:35), cannot atone for sin; but, hallelujah! Christ’s blood is ever able to cleanse from ALL sin (1 John 1 :7)!

LESSONS FROM ABEL’S LIFE:

1. There is only ONE WAY of salvation – faith in the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Pet1:18ft).-

2. Man’s goodness, good works, or any other of his own efforts, can never justify him before God!

3. God’s own people must stand true to Him and the Only Way of Salvation REGARDLESS of the cost.

As Christians, there are many things we can know for sure. There is no room for debate or questioning about these things. You don’t have to run around a Christian agnostic who doesn’t know anything for sure. If you are a Bible Believer, that is you believe the Bible (can you imagine that anymore?), you can know some things for sure. Here is a list of some of the things we know for sure as Christians.

Things we know for sure about God

We know all the promises God promised us in Christ are true (2 Corinthians 1:18-22)

We know the grace of God (2 Corinthians 8:9)

We know God can do every thing (Job 42:2)

We know the Lord is great and above all gods (Psalm 135:5)

We know the LORD he is God and he hath made us (Psalm 100:3, Hebrews 11:3)

We know God’s judgments are right (Psalm 119:75)

We know Jesus is who he claimed to be because of the cross (John 8:28)

We know God doesn’t hear sinners (John 9:31)

We know God hears those that worship him and do his will (John 9:31)

We know if God hears us, we have the petitions we desired of him (1 John 5:15)

We know he came to take away our sins (1 John 3:5)

We know Jesus knows our works (Revelation 2:2)

We know the love of Christ (Ephesians 3:19)

We know what the word of the Lord is (Deut 18:21-22, Isaiah 43:8-13, John 21:24)  – We know the Bible is inspired by God because of the fulfilled prophecies. There is no other book on this planet like it. That’s how we know it is the word of God not because of what any Papist says. The Roman Catholic Church didn’t give us the Bible, they gave the world doctrines of devils.

Other Things that we know for sure

We know the saints shall judge the world and angels (1 Corinthians 6:2-3)

We know what the order of the house is (1 Corinthians 11:3)

We know whosoever is born of God sinneth not (1 John 5:18)

We know there is nothing good in our flesh (Romans 7:18)

We know a little sin ruins the whole thing (1 Corinthians 5:6)

We know we use to be blind but now we see (John 9:25)

We know the whole world lies in wickedness (1 John 5:19)

We know the whole world shall become guilty before God (Romans 3:19)

We know if we are friendly with the world we are the enemy of God (James 4:4)

We know what doctrine is of God (John 7:16-17, Proverbs 8:6-7)

We know the truth (John 8:31-32, 1 John 2:21)

We know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error (1 John 4:6)

We know the Spirit of God by those that confess God came in the flesh (1 John 4:2-3)

We know we are at the end (Matthew 24:32-42)

We know we will suffer, but also partake of the consolation (2 Corinthians 1:5-7)

We know we are appointed unto afflictions (1 Thessalonians 3:3)

We know we were baptized into his death (Romans 6:3-5)

We know we are members of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 6:15)

We know we were redeemed with the blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:18)

We know at death we are present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:6-8)

We know we will be resurrected unto life (2 Corinthians 4:14)

We know we are getting a new body (2 Corinthians 5:1, 1 John 3:2)

We know Jesus Christ is in us (2 Corinthians 13:5, 1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19)

We know he is in us because of his Spirit in us (1 John 3:24, 4:13)

We know we know him if we keep his commandments (1 John 2:3-5)

We know all things (1 John 2:20)

We know we have a better and enduring substance in heaven (Hebrews 10:34)

We know the things that are freely given to us of God (1 Corinthians 2:12)

We know we have eternal life (1 John 5:13)

We know our labour is not in vain in the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58)

We know all things work together for God if we love God (Romans 8:28)

We know the Lord personally (Jeremiah 31:31-34)

We know his voice and know him (John 10:4, 14, 27)

We know what eternal life is all about (John 17:3)

These are just some of the things that we can know for sure as Christians. Aren’t you glad you can know you have eternal life, and are not going to hell, and will be raised up with a body just like Jesus Christ’s? Amen to that brother!

It’s because it points to Jesus! What I am trying to do today is point you to Jesus!

Revelation 19:10 The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy

Testimony

Testimony – An Affirmation or declaration made for the purpose of establishing or proving some fact. Such affirmation in judicial proceedings may be verbal or written, but must be under oath. Testimony is the declaration of a witness and evidence is the effect of that declaration of mind, or the degree of light which it affords. Witness, proof of something;

Testimony (1st appearance): Exodus 16:34, Exodus 25:17-22, Exodus 31:18, Exodus 32:15-16 (Revelation 5:1-14, Daniel 12:4, Isaiah 29:10-12, Ezekiel 2:9-10, 3:1-3, Revelation 10:8-11)

Real quick note on preservation of God’s word though man destroys them: Exodus 34:1-4, 27-35 The second set was written by Moses not God but it still was written by God according to God

The book sprinkled with blood (Exodus 24:6-8, Hebrews 9:18-28)

The testimony is a reference to the two stones that contained the ten commandments and also the book of the law (Deuteronomy 31:24-26)

Prophecy

Prophecy (1st appearance): Numbers 11:24-29

They spirit of God came upon them and they started to prophesy not in the “church building” but in the camp among millions of Hebrews! Notice it was after Moses told the people the words of the LORD that the spirit came upon the 70 elders of Israel and they prophesied and did not cease! What did they preach? Likely that the LORD was going to feed them shortly.

Why do we have the Bible? Why are certain stories recorded in the Bible? It’s because it points to Jesus!

John 5:39-47 (c.f. Hebrews 10:7-10, Psalm 40:6-8) The Scriptures testify of Jesus and are designed to point you to Jesus that you might come to him and have everlasting life! The sufficiency of the Scriptures alone to point you to Jesus (Luke 16:27-31)

Acts 10:34-43 All the prophets bear witness of Jesus! Luke 24:25-27, 44-48 The Scriptures bear witness of Jesus! John 3:11 They testify of what they’ve seen 1 John 5:6-7 The Godhead bears record and agrees John 1:12-13 Receiving Jesus makes you a son of God John 3:31-36 He that received his testimony knows that God is true

Why is it in the Bible: It’s because it points to Jesus!

Genesis 3:15

Genesis 12:1-3

Genesis 17:9-14 Circumcision points to NT Spiritual Circumcision performed by Christ

Genesis 22-23-24-25

Genesis 28:12-17 (c.f. John 1:51)

The Story of Joseph: FIRST TIME: Betrayed by the children of Israel for 20 pieces of silver because he was to rule over them and was loved the most by his father, SECOND TIME: Famine in the land, come to Egypt for food, Joseph is a ruler in Egypt and provides for them and eventually reveals who he is and is able to preserver Israel. What evil was done unto Joseph at the first time God turned it out for good to save life later!

Moses: Great type of Christ from before his birth til after his death – Mediator of the covenant, knew God face to face, was made a god, both delivered Israel, A prophet and king, both bodily resurrected

The Passover: It points to Jesus

The Rock in the wilderness smitten – Exodus 17:5-6, I Corinthians 10:1-4 (c.f. John 7:38-39)

The Day of Atonement and the blood stained mercy seat

Joshua: Picture of Jesus at the Second Advent

Ruth: She was the great great grandmother of king David from which Christ sprang up from Samuel through Chronicles: Gives the lineage of Jesus

Song of Solomon: Picture of Christ and the Church

Jonah: Picture of Christ going to hell for three days and three nights and rising again from the dead and sending a preacher to go to the Gentiles and the Gentiles hear it!

ALL THE PROPHETS: Pointed you to Jesus!

Isaiah 53, Daniel 9, Psalm 2, Psalm 110, Zechariah 9, Zechariah 11:10-14, Zechariah

12:10, 13:1, Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 9:6-7

Why did the prophets prophesy! Its because it points you to Jesus! I’m trying to point you to Jesus tonight because he is your all in all. He is your Savior, Mediator, Advocate, Alpha and Omega, He is your eternal life. He is your forgiveness! He is your redemption, He is your righteousness, He is your salvation, He is your husband, he is Jesus!

This Book was designed to point you to Jesus that you might come to him and have eternal life and have a relationship with God Almighty through him! It’s because of Jesus!

Faithful – loyal, constant, steadfast; reliable; having a strong belief; staying true to something; firm in adherence to the truth and to the duties of religion; firmly adhering to duty.

Things that are hard for God to find
Proverbs 31:10 Who can find a virtuous woman? (morally good, obeys the law of God)
Proverbs 20:6 Who can find a faithful man? (Isaiah 1:19-21)
Psalm 12:1 The faithful men have stopped being faithful
The LORD is faithful
Deuteronomy 7:9, Colossians 1:9, Hebrews 3:1-2, Revelation 19:11
1 Corinthians 10:13 God is faithful in helping you in your temptations (Hebrews 2:17-18)
His word is faithful: Psalm 19:7-11, 119:86, 160; Revelation 21:5, 22:6;
Men who were faithful
Number 12:7 (1st appearance) Moses was faithful in all God’s house
1 Samuel 22:14 David was faithful
Nehemiah 9:7-8 Abraham was faithful
Daniel 6:1-5 Daniel was faithful
1 Corinthians 4:17 Timotheus was faithful
1 Timothy 1:12 Paul was faithful
**Wouldn’t you like to have a relationship with God like these men had? Be faithful!
What God does for a faithful man
Psalm 31:23 The Lord preserveth the faithful
Proverbs 28:20 A faithful man shall be filled with blessings
Psalm 101:6 David looked upon the faithful in the land that they may dwell with him
The characteristics of a faithful man
1 Samuel 2:35 A faithful man does according to God’s will and heart
Nehemiah 7:2 A faithful man fears God
Proverbs 11:13 A faithful man does reveal secrets
Proverbs 14:5 A faithful person doesn’t lie
2 Timothy 2:2 Faithful men pass down sound doctrine
Proverbs 27:6 The wounds of a friend are faithful (He’ll rebuke you) Ecclesiastes 7:5
Matthew 24:45-51 A faithful man is doing what he is suppose to do consistently
(Matthew 25:14-30) and compare with Luke19:11-27
1 Corinthians 4:1-5 We need to be faithful stewards of the mysteries of God
Luke 16:10-13 God counts being faithful in a few things as being faithful in much