In this passage we find King David’s sentimental, anemic love for his rebellious son Absalom reaching a head. In these verses David’s understandable but flawed fatherly love is on full display before reaching its tragic conclusion. The king has been unwilling to pursue justice for his children, and while we struggle with balancing love and justice too, the gospel weds them perfectly. In the cursing of His own Son, God’s gracious love for sinners meets His perfect justice for sin.

At this point in the story, David flees from Jerusalem. David is the rightful king. But his son, Absalom, stole the hearts of the people. And now, David’s throne. To make matters worse, David knows that this all happens as a result of his own sin. Here’s David’s desperate prayer: “O LORD, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.” This dynamic sets up our passage as we watch the back and forth between Hushai and Ahithophel. Will God answer David’s prayer? Will God’s kingdom purposes fail? Or will they stand? That’s the question I urge you to engage this morning. Will God’s kingdom purposes fail? Here’s the truth we must nail to the mast of our hearts: despite appearances, God’s kingdom will not fail.

To say David is in a dark valley would be a significant understatement. He flees Jerusalem in a funeral procession of sorts. Surrounded by a group of faithful soldiers, advisors, and family. Yet, we see David reveal confidence in God’s sovereignty and power over all of it. David trusts God’s wise discipline and anticipates his abounding restoration. Can you?

Although Absalom’s betrayal of his father, King David, in this chapter does not contain an immediate resolution, it does point powerfully to Christ and His glorious gospel hope. The theme of the passage: In the face of betrayal, bear Christ’s reproach and seek His eternal city—a city marked by the loyal love of a good and gracious God and His betrayed Son.

The gripping question of 1 Samuel 13 is asked by Tamar: where can I carry my shame? Actually, the shame belongs to Amnon. Yet, Tamar endures the consequence of his sin. The answer to her question? We carry the shame of sin to the humiliated God, to the merciful God, and to the just God.

God has chosen and anointed King David and described him as man after His own heart. But the king has just committed two terrible transgressions—compelling adultery with Bathsheba and then the murder of her husband Uriah as an attempted cover-up. How will God respond to these horrific sins? How will He handle his tragic unfaithfulness? Will He simply wink at David’s iniquity? Will He cut the king off and move on to the next monarch? The answer is neither. What we find instead is that our just God puts away sin by His shocking mercy.

This morning we come to the infamous sinful shipwreck of King David. Don’t waste the sermon by not personalizing this message for yourself. Instead, acknowledge: “But for the grace of God, go I.” We need to fight dangerous sinful shipwrecks with blood-earnest worship.

Jesus’s resurrection is a guarantee that the suffering we experience in this life, disasters in nature, disease and death in our bodies, and sinful disobedience in ourselves and others won’t have the final word. Our present and our future is tied up with Jesus’s victory.