Is the Young Man Absalom Safe?

1. Is the Young ManAbsalom Safe?

2. 2 Samuel 18:24-33 • 24 And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone. • 25 And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he be alone, there is tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near. • 26 And the watchman saw another man running: and the watchman called unto the porter, and said, Behold another man running alone. And the king said, He also bringeth tidings. • 27 And the watchman said, Me thinketh the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He is a good man, and cometh with good tidings. • .

3. 28 And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king, All is well. And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king, and said, Blessed be the Lord thy God, which hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king. • 29 And the king said, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king's servant, and me thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was. • 30 And the king said unto him, Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still. • 31 And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king: for the Lord hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee. • 32 And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is

4. 33 And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son,my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son,my son! • MY SON! - 5 times!

5. My Son Absolom My Son Broken – Hearted Parents My Son My Son My Son

6. My Son • My Boy • My Child

7. The language cuts to the heart of every • Parent who cares about his/her child! • My Son!

8. 1. The name “Absalom” means (‘father of peace”) • 2. Absalom was the 3rd son of David, King Of Israel. His mother was Maachah, • Daughter of Talmai, King of Geshur • I Chronicles 3:2 • 2 Sam. 3:2

9. 1. Absalom was a great favorite of his father and of the people as well. • 2. Obviously, he had charming manners, his personal handsomeness, his • Insinuating ways. • 3. He lived in great style. He rode in a • Fine chariot and had 50 men run before him. 2 Sam. 15:1 “And it came to pass after this,that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and 50 men to run before him.”

10. 4. We don’t know too much of his family life, but in 2 Sam. 14:27 we learn that he had 3 sons and one daughter, whose name was Tamar. • 5. From 2 Sam. 18:18, it seems to infer that the sons died at an early age. “..I have no son to keep my name in remembrance..” • 6. When his full sister Tamar was raped by Amnon, their half brother and David’s eldest son, Absalom waited 2 years and avenged Tamar by getting Amnon drunk at a feast that he had called, and had Amnon, David’s oldest son • Killed.

11. 7. After this deed he fled to Talmai, the king of Geshur (2 Sam. 13:37) • Joshua 12:5 , 13:2). The king of Geshur • Was his maternal grandfather. • 8. After 3 years later, he was reinstated in his father’s favor and finally returned to • Jerusalem. 2 Sam. 13:14

12. 9. Absalom stole the hearts of the children of Israel by seeing them when they came to have a matter settled, He would exclaim,”O that I was judge in the land, so I could give you justice in the matter.” • 10. It is hard to think that your very own • Son would rise to overthrow your kingdom. • 11. But that is exactly what Absalom did.

13. 12. When David was aware that this was happening, he got his people together and fled away. • 13. It was during this time that Absalom errected a tent in Jerusalem and went in to David’s 10 concubines that he had left in Jerusalem (2 Sam. 16:21-22) • 14. Later, a battle was pursued between David’s men and Absalom. This battle was in the Wood of Ephraim and Absalom was caught by his head in an oak tree. When Joab approached Absalom, he shot 3 darts into the heart of Absalom. ..2 Sam. 18:15 “And ten young men that bare Joab’s armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.” • .

14. 15. David had charged his men to go • Gently with his son , Absalom, but when • he finally is approached by the runners, • Ahimaaz and Cushi, the runners, • he asked, Is the Young man safe? • When he learned what had happened, he was much moved and went up to the chamber over the gate, and • Wept: and as he went, thus he said, • “ O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom, would to God that I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!.

15. What a lesson for all of us! • We ask, Is The Child Safe? • We love our children. All of us want the • Best for them. But sometimes our children can break our Hearts. Absalom surely broke the heart of David!

16. Is the child whom Godhas given you safe?

17. Why do young peoplego astray, • rebel • and • leave home?

18. There are several reasons: • 1. Sometimes their homes are so bad they can’t stay. In some homes we read of the children being abused, • Mistreated and sometimes beaten. When those children grow up, if they do, many times they leave. • 2. Inconsistent discipline or unreasonable discipline may cause a child to leave home.

19. Prov. 22:15 • “Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.” • Prov. 29:15 “The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.” • Prov. 29:17 “Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.” • Parents must learn the difference between the rod of • Correction and child abuse.

20. 3. Sometimes children leave because of chaos and confusion, bitterness between husband and wife, between children, between parents and children.

21. 4. Perhaps the home is so good it will not tolerate drugs and alcohol or immorality, homosexuality, pregnancy, or other unacceptable choices of their children. • There are many reasons, sometimes it is the fault of parents, sometimes it is not.

22. Let us consider 3 things inanswering ‘Is the child safe?”

23. Is the Child safe EDUCATIONALLY? • .Are they safe in a society where some educators think it’s alright to teach them the story of Harry Potter, but not what the Bible says? • ..Is the child safe where schools sponsor assemblies and classes on alternative lifestyles, new ageism and witchcraft? • ..Is the child safe in a world where some believe and teach that we came from monkeys?

24. .Is the child safe when they know the words of every song that Snoop Dog puts out, but don’t know the words to “Jesus loves me, this I know..for the Bible tells me so!”

25. Is the child safe MORALLY? • To some, we have a New Morality… • ..In some articles • .43% of teens have engaged in sexual intercourse by age 18. • .36% of the youth said they were NOT able to state that sexual intercourse was morally unacceptable before marriage. • .At least 40,000 pregnant girls drop out of school each year, not returning and jeopardizing their future. • .

26. ..More and more young adults would rather shack-up than get married. • ..We have more young men in prison than we do in college. • Don’t expect your children to live an upright life if your life is in the gutter!

27. Is the child safe SPIRITUALLY? • ..To many young people, the church is dead and boring!. Why? • Have we failed to show them and demonstrate how thrilling it is to serve and worship God! • Psalms 122:1 “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.!

28. What can we do for ouryoung people? • Paul’s instructions to Timothy: • 1) Be godly(I Timothy 4:7-8), Be devout and sincere in his faith rather than just going through the motions of Christianity “7 But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. • 8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. • 2) Trust in God(I Timothy 4:10); “For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach,because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.”

29. 3) Be a faithful example to others in all areas of his life (I Timothy 4:12); “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” • 4) Be completely dedicated in his faith, as opposed to half-hearted service • (I Timothy 4:13-15); Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. • 14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. • 15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.

30. 5) Take heed to himself and his doctrine, • I Tim. 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” In other words “ practice what you preach” • 6) Flee sin and follow after righteousness • (I Timothy 6:11-12 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. • 7) Keep the commandments until the day of the Lord • (I Timothy 6:14); 14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:

31. Give the Child a break! • ..Give that child love, concern, hope , • And you! • Newspaper>..Daddy, I want you! • Did you make a snow man with your • Children? Did you make some snow • Cream with them recently? What will you do with them ‘while they are with you.” • Your children are growing… measure them against the wall!

32. One of the greatest problems in America today spiritual orphans. So many are not being raised by parents , but rather have been raised at day care centers, by electronic baby sitters. • So often our beloved children are not being told that they are wonderful, valuable, gifts from God! Psalms 127:3

33. They need you in each stageof their lives! • Give them YOU! • Give them a chance to grow up with a • Family that shows love, concern and • Help. • Give them a real example from God! • Prints in the snow…Wait a minute • Daddy…

34. Thought to ponder: • It's not only children who grow. • Parents do too • As much as we watch to see what our children do with their lives, they are watching us to see what we do with ours!