September 27, 2026 - Danger of a Promise

2 Samuel 14 Part 2 – Danger of a Promise
Pastor Logan – September 27, 2026
 
2 Samuel 14:21–33 (NET)
14:21 Then the king said to Joab, “All right! I will do this thing! Go and bring back the young man Absalom! 14:22 Then Joab bowed down with his face toward the ground and thanked the king. Joab said, “Today your servant knows that I have found favor in your sight, my lord the king, because the king has granted the request of your servant!”
14:23 So Joab got up and went to Geshur and brought Absalom back to Jerusalem. 14:24 But the king said, “Let him go over to his own house. He may not see my face.” So Absalom went over to his own house; he did not see the king’s face.
 
David sealed his fate and is now bound by his word, right?

• In David’s culture, an oath or a promise meant something. ‘I would rather lay down my life than break my oath…’
• Only a hypocrite would break a promise, let alone a promise in the LORD’s name.

What does scripture say about vows/promises?

• Numbers 30:2 (NET): 30:2 If a man makes a vow to the Lord or takes an oath of binding obligation on himself, he must not break his word, but must do whatever he has promised. (Note: Context is marriage)
• Deut. 23:21-23 warns that failing to keep a voluntary promise to God is considered a sin.
• Ecc. 5 says it’s better not to make a vow than to not fulfill it.
• Psalm 15: 4 says a righteous person keeps their word.
• James 5:12 says to let your yes be yes.

You are not trapped:

• Leviticus 5:4–6 (NET) 5:4 or when a person swears an oath, speaking thoughtlessly with his lips, whether to do evil or to do good, with regard to anything which the individual might speak thoughtlessly in an oath, even if he did not realize it, but he himself has later come to know it and is guilty with regard to one of these oaths—5:5 when an individual becomes guilty with regard to one of these things he must confess how he has sinned, 5:6 and he must bring his penalty for guilt to the Lord for his sin that he has committed, a female from the flock, whether a female sheep or a female goat, for a sin offering. So the priest will make atonement on his behalf for his sin.
• David could have said ‘I have made a vow I cannot keep, I have sinned against the LORD…’

 
No matter how committed you are to a sin, it is not too late to escape.

Compensation for compromise – for some this is enough to make it worth it to drift from God.

• Be careful of people who try to sooth our conscience through flattery or vain and empty promises.

Know what pleases God

• Isaiah 2:22 (NET) 2:22 Stop trusting in human beings, whose life’s breath is in their nostrils. For why should they be given special consideration?

 
14:25 Now in all Israel everyone acknowledged that there was no man as handsome as Absalom. From the sole of his feet to the top of his head he was perfect in appearance. 14:26 When he would shave his head—at the end of every year he used to shave his head, for it grew too long and he would shave it—he used to weigh the hair of his head at three pounds according to the king’s weight. 14:27 Absalom had three sons and one daughter, whose name was Tamar. She was a very attractive woman.
14:28 Absalom lived in Jerusalem for two years without seeing the king’s face. 14:29 Then Absalom sent a message to Joab asking him to send him to the king, but Joab was not willing to come to him. So he sent a second message to him, but he still was not willing to come. 14:30 So he said to his servants, “Look, Joab has a portion of field adjacent to mine and he has some barley there. Go and set it on fire.” So Absalom’s servants set Joab’s portion of the field on fire. 
14:31 Then Joab got up and came to Absalom’s house. He said to him, “Why did your servants set my portion of field on fire?” 14:32 Absalom said to Joab, “Look, I sent a message to you saying, ‘Come here so that I can send you to the king with this message: “Why have I come from Geshur? It would be better for me if I were still there.” ’ Let me now see the face of the king. If I am at fault, let him put me to death!”
 
Emotional attachments can be the most potent temptation.

• When do we cut friends out of our lives?
• When do we cut family out of our lives?
• Who should I marry?
• What gives us the audacity to choose a relationship with sin over God?

When sin invades our bubble, it will always bring spiritual death.
 
14:33 So Joab went to the king and informed him. The king summoned Absalom, and he came to the king. Absalom bowed down before the king with his face toward the ground and the king kissed him.

David gave PERMISSION for evil to work in his house.