Absalom was King Davdi's son, but had also become his greatest enemy. Throughout most of Davdi's reign, by God's grace he served as a long, shepherd king. God has also shaped David into a king who was characterized by justice, righteousness, and truth. All of these were to be characteristics of God's coming Messiah; David displayed them all.Now, amidst the great conflict with his son Absalom, David faced one of the most difficult trails he had ever experienced. The immediate danger of the end of his reign would bring the apparent failure of God's promises and the doom of all of David's offspring. Yet still, another great conflict deeply troubled David. It was the conflict between carrying out justice or showing mercy to the son whom he loved. David loved Absalom and yet Absalom had done great evils against David and his kingdom.In the course of the battle, as Absalom flees from David's troops "his head caught fast in the oak, so he was left hanging between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him kept going."One of David's men saw the incident and showed mercy to Absalom as David had commanded. But Joab, upon hearing, had no such restraint. He took justice into his own hands, disregarding the commands of the king, and brutally killed Absalom.If love had won, it would have come at the cost of justice. But, even though justice won and the great enemy was killed, it came at the cost of disobedience and a lost love.Oh, that justice and mercy could meet. Oh that true justice could be served and still mercy given! There is only one place where that can happen...justice and mercy meet in the person of Jesus on the cross and with the crown.

Absalom was King David’s son but had also become his greatest enemy. Throughout most of David's reign, by God's grace, he had served as a loving, Shepherd king. God had also shaped David into a king characterized by justice, righteousness, and truth. All of these were to be characteristics of God’s coming Messiah; David displayed them all.

Now, amidst the great conflict with his son Absalom, David is faced with one of the most difficult trials he has ever experienced. The immediate danger of the end of his reign and the apparent failure of God’s promises was greater than ever. Yet, there was another great conflict within David--one that points to an even greater contention and deeper redemption. David loved Absalom, yet Absalom was a great enemy of David.

Will David set aside justice for the sake of his love for his son and let Absalom keep his life? Will David set aside his deep love for Absalom and have his enemy destroyed? Oh, that justice and mercy could meet. Can true justice be served while mercy is given? There is only one place where that can happen…justice and mercy meet in the person of Jesus on the cross and with the crown.

Absalom had rebelled and led an uprising against his father, King David. He then sought counsel from David's former faithful friend, Ahithophel. All, including King David, knew that Ahithophel's counsel was like the counsel of God. His plans always succeeded as intended. But David prayed that Ahithphel's counsel wouldn't succeed this time. The kingdom of God was at stake!The Lord answered David's prayer by moving Absalom to seek a second opinion from Hushai. in this, we see that God is at work in everything. Yet, though Absalom and the elders pick Hushai's plan, still it seemed to backfire leading to the pursuit to overtake and kill David. Things will move quickly as Hushai seeks to get word from the house of Absalom in time for David and Company to escape sure destruction. The counsel was thwarted, but the outcome may end up the same regardless. Join us as we see how God's plan and purposes unfold in the most unlikely, yet "normal" of ways.

This sermon was preached by Pastor John Boyte on 02/05/2023.

In II Samuel 15, upon hearing that Ahithophel defected to Absalom's side, David prayed that Ahithophel's counsel would fail so that God's kingdom may succeed. In the second half of chapter 16, Hushai, King David's faithful friend, acted upon the king's plan for him to enter Absalom's presence and serve as an inside man for David. This plan began the unfolding of God's response to David's prayer in chapter 15.Would the Lord answer David's prayers? Would the Lord be able and willing to keep His promises to David and all his descendants? Although Hushai had returned to Jerusalem and initiated the plan against Absalom, it still seemed that Ahithophel's plan was winning the day.As we continue, we will see how God uses David's loyal friend and spy, Hushai, to frustrate Ahithophel's counsel in a most unlikely way. We will see God's sovereignty on display as both Hushai, a loyal friend, and Ahithophel, a traitor, act under God's sovereign hand to accomplish His good purposes.This story will then point us to one about a thousand years later: the betrayal and death of David's greater Son, Jesus. By Jesus' act of laying down His life for His people, God's sovereign plan and mighty hand brought the fulfillment of our redemption.

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