October 4, 2026 - 2 Samuel 15 - Division
2 Samuel 15:1 (NET)
Pastor Logan, October 4, 2026
Proverbs 6:16–19 (NET)
6:16 There are six things that the Lord hates,
even seven things that are an abomination to him:
6:17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
and hands that shed innocent blood,
6:18 a heart that devises wicked plans,
feet that are swift to run to evil,
6:19 a false witness who pours out lies,
and a person who spreads discord among family members.
Proverbs 6:16–19 lists seven:
Haughty eyes
A lying tongue
Hands that shed innocent blood
A heart that devises wicked plans
Feet that make haste to run to evil
A false witness who breathes out lies
One who sows discord among brothers
Absalom Leads an Insurrection against David
2 Samuel 15:1 (NET)
15:1 Some time later Absalom managed to acquire a chariot and horses, as well as fifty men to serve as his royal guard.
1 Kings 1:5 (NET)
1:5 Now Adonijah, son of David and Haggith, was promoting himself, boasting, “I will be king!” He managed to acquire chariots and horsemen, as well as fifty men to serve as his royal guard.
2 Samuel 15:2–6 (NET)
15:2 Now Absalom used to get up early and stand beside the road that led to the city gate. Whenever anyone came by who had a complaint to bring to the king for arbitration, Absalom would call out to him, “What city are you from?” The person would answer, “I, your servant, am from one of the tribes of Israel.” 15:3 Absalom would then say to him, “Look, your claims are legitimate and appropriate. But there is no representative of the king who will listen to you.” 15:4 Absalom would then say, “If only they would make me a judge in the land! Then everyone who had a judicial complaint could come to me and I would make sure he receives a just settlement.”
15:5 When someone approached to bow before him, Absalom would extend his hand and embrace him and kiss him. 15:6 Absalom acted this way toward everyone in Israel who came to the king for justice. In this way Absalom won the loyalty of the citizens of Israel.
1. How division starts (the heart) – Hurt, hunger, or haughtiness.
Hurt: Tamar, Amnon, exile, a father who wouldn't act (13:21)
Hunger: the throne; wanting good things the wrong way or for the wrong reasons
Haughtiness: the chariot, the hair, the monument, and the blind spots that come with pride (Prov 6:17 → 6:19
2. How division spreads – the divider (vv. 1–6)
Image: dividers draw attention and make themselves look noble, worthy, and righteous (v. 1)
Grievance: dividers exploit real cracks and exaggerate them (v. 3)
Promise: dividers offer their solution as the only solution (v. 4)
Warmth: dividers try to leverage their relationships for their personal agenda (v. 5) Repetition: dividers slowly and consistently drive a wedge between people, with the goal of affecting enough people that they feel justified in their actions.
2 Samuel 15:7–12 (NET)
15:7 After four years Absalom said to the king, “Let me go and repay my vow that I made to the Lord while I was in Hebron. 15:8 For I made this vow when I was living in Geshur in Aram: ‘If the Lord really does allow me to return to Jerusalem, I will serve the Lord.’ ” 15:9 The king replied to him, “Go in peace.” So Absalom got up and went to Hebron.
15:10 Then Absalom sent spies through all the tribes of Israel who said, “When you hear the sound of the horn, you may assume that Absalom rules in Hebron.” 15:11 Now two hundred men had gone with Absalom from Jerusalem. Since they were invited, they went naively and were unaware of what Absalom was planning. 15:12 While he was offering sacrifices, Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s adviser, to come from his city, Giloh. The conspiracy was gaining momentum, and the people were starting to side with Absalom.
What was wrong in Israel?
3. How division spreads – the targets (vv. 6–12)
The unsuspecting: dividers prey on the uninformed and unassuming, like the 200 who went "in their innocence" (v. 11)
The wounded: dividers recruit those with hurts of their own, like Ahithophel (v. 12)
The crowd: as numbers grow, momentum itself becomes persuasive; "the people with Absalom kept increasing" (v. 12)
Absalom and Proverbs 6:16–19 list:
Haughty eyes – chariots and royal guard
A lying tongue – the hebron vow
Hands that shed innocent blood – Amnon’s blood
A heart that devises wicked plans – steal the heart of Israel
Feet that make haste to run to evil – rising early to work the crowds
A false witness who breathes out lies – no one to listen to you
One who sows discord among brothers – All the above and more
How to respond to division (in ourselves) – Humility
Hurt turns divisive when pride says, "I deserve to be avenged."
Hunger turns divisive when pride says, "I deserve to have it."
Haughtiness is pride itself.
Hurt is healed by forgiveness: forgive as God in Christ forgave you (Eph 4:31–32).
Hunger is satisfied in Christ, so I don't have to grab a throne.
Haughtiness is humbled by the cross, which leaves no room for boasting.
Pastor Logan, October 4, 2026
Proverbs 6:16–19 (NET)
6:16 There are six things that the Lord hates,
even seven things that are an abomination to him:
6:17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
and hands that shed innocent blood,
6:18 a heart that devises wicked plans,
feet that are swift to run to evil,
6:19 a false witness who pours out lies,
and a person who spreads discord among family members.
Proverbs 6:16–19 lists seven:
Haughty eyes
A lying tongue
Hands that shed innocent blood
A heart that devises wicked plans
Feet that make haste to run to evil
A false witness who breathes out lies
One who sows discord among brothers
Absalom Leads an Insurrection against David
2 Samuel 15:1 (NET)
15:1 Some time later Absalom managed to acquire a chariot and horses, as well as fifty men to serve as his royal guard.
1 Kings 1:5 (NET)
1:5 Now Adonijah, son of David and Haggith, was promoting himself, boasting, “I will be king!” He managed to acquire chariots and horsemen, as well as fifty men to serve as his royal guard.
2 Samuel 15:2–6 (NET)
15:2 Now Absalom used to get up early and stand beside the road that led to the city gate. Whenever anyone came by who had a complaint to bring to the king for arbitration, Absalom would call out to him, “What city are you from?” The person would answer, “I, your servant, am from one of the tribes of Israel.” 15:3 Absalom would then say to him, “Look, your claims are legitimate and appropriate. But there is no representative of the king who will listen to you.” 15:4 Absalom would then say, “If only they would make me a judge in the land! Then everyone who had a judicial complaint could come to me and I would make sure he receives a just settlement.”
15:5 When someone approached to bow before him, Absalom would extend his hand and embrace him and kiss him. 15:6 Absalom acted this way toward everyone in Israel who came to the king for justice. In this way Absalom won the loyalty of the citizens of Israel.
1. How division starts (the heart) – Hurt, hunger, or haughtiness.
Hurt: Tamar, Amnon, exile, a father who wouldn't act (13:21)
Hunger: the throne; wanting good things the wrong way or for the wrong reasons
Haughtiness: the chariot, the hair, the monument, and the blind spots that come with pride (Prov 6:17 → 6:19
2. How division spreads – the divider (vv. 1–6)
Image: dividers draw attention and make themselves look noble, worthy, and righteous (v. 1)
Grievance: dividers exploit real cracks and exaggerate them (v. 3)
Promise: dividers offer their solution as the only solution (v. 4)
Warmth: dividers try to leverage their relationships for their personal agenda (v. 5) Repetition: dividers slowly and consistently drive a wedge between people, with the goal of affecting enough people that they feel justified in their actions.
2 Samuel 15:7–12 (NET)
15:7 After four years Absalom said to the king, “Let me go and repay my vow that I made to the Lord while I was in Hebron. 15:8 For I made this vow when I was living in Geshur in Aram: ‘If the Lord really does allow me to return to Jerusalem, I will serve the Lord.’ ” 15:9 The king replied to him, “Go in peace.” So Absalom got up and went to Hebron.
15:10 Then Absalom sent spies through all the tribes of Israel who said, “When you hear the sound of the horn, you may assume that Absalom rules in Hebron.” 15:11 Now two hundred men had gone with Absalom from Jerusalem. Since they were invited, they went naively and were unaware of what Absalom was planning. 15:12 While he was offering sacrifices, Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s adviser, to come from his city, Giloh. The conspiracy was gaining momentum, and the people were starting to side with Absalom.
What was wrong in Israel?
3. How division spreads – the targets (vv. 6–12)
The unsuspecting: dividers prey on the uninformed and unassuming, like the 200 who went "in their innocence" (v. 11)
The wounded: dividers recruit those with hurts of their own, like Ahithophel (v. 12)
The crowd: as numbers grow, momentum itself becomes persuasive; "the people with Absalom kept increasing" (v. 12)
Absalom and Proverbs 6:16–19 list:
Haughty eyes – chariots and royal guard
A lying tongue – the hebron vow
Hands that shed innocent blood – Amnon’s blood
A heart that devises wicked plans – steal the heart of Israel
Feet that make haste to run to evil – rising early to work the crowds
A false witness who breathes out lies – no one to listen to you
One who sows discord among brothers – All the above and more
How to respond to division (in ourselves) – Humility
Hurt turns divisive when pride says, "I deserve to be avenged."
Hunger turns divisive when pride says, "I deserve to have it."
Haughtiness is pride itself.
Hurt is healed by forgiveness: forgive as God in Christ forgave you (Eph 4:31–32).
Hunger is satisfied in Christ, so I don't have to grab a throne.
Haughtiness is humbled by the cross, which leaves no room for boasting.
Posted in David Sermon Series
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