Living the New Life (Part 2)

Appropriate Christian conduct.

This study is for all of us here in this place.

But also, consider the fact that this study could also be used to encourage spiritual growth, wisdom, and character development in the lives of the people we relate to on a regular basis, including the parents of our students.

Proverbs 27:17 NLT
¹⁷As iron sharpens iron,
so a friend sharpens a friend.

This passage includes some strong statements.

“put to death” – “Have nothing to do with” – “now is the time to get rid of”

What are these phrases communicating to you?

Colossians 3:5-10 NLT
Living the New Life (Part 2)
⁵So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. ⁶Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. ⁷You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. ⁸But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. ⁹Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. ¹⁰Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.

Examine the Scriptures:

Colossians 3:5-11 NLT

Living the New Life (Part 2)

Appropriate Christian conduct.

⁵So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you.

Put to death sinful behaviors and attitudes that belong to your old way of life.

Remove sinful behaviors and attitudes that belonged to your old way of life before knowing Christ.

God has the major role in this transformation, but we also have a part to play in this.

In reality God has already done this for the believer, but as Christians we need to know this, count it to be true, and act accordingly.

Romans 6:6-7 NLT
⁶We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. ⁷For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin.

Our role is to make a conscious effort to “get rid of all the filth and evil in our lives” (James 1:21). This is not a passive process; it requires deliberate action.

Death to our sinful life must be made real in the way we live day by day.

Paul lists some sinful behaviors and attitudes.

Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires.

I don’t need to define these terms. You know what they mean.

Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.

Greedy people pursue the objects of their greed (money, possessions, power, etc.) in the place of God, with the hope of finding satisfaction in those things,

Skip to verses 8-9a

⁸But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language.

Again, I don’t need to define these terms. You know what they mean.

⁹Don’t lie to each other,

Lying is incompatible with the new life in Christ. Honesty and integrity should mark the relationships of those who follow Jesus, reflecting the truthfulness of God.

Lying destroys relationships.

Scripture lists sinful behaviors and attitudes that must not just be controlled but be “put to death”. These sinful behaviors and attitudes must be completely removed from our lives.

⁶Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming.

This is a just and holy response to evil.

Sin has real consequences and God’s justice will ultimately prevail on those who persist in sinful behavior.

Some of the consequences for our sins.

Isaiah 59:2 NLT
²It’s your sins that have cut you off from God.
Because of your sins, he has turned away
and will not listen anymore.

*Sin creates a barrier between humans and God. While believers have salvation through Christ, unrepented sin can hinder the believer’s relationship with God.

Psalm 66:16-20 NLT
¹⁶Come and listen, all you who fear God,
and I will tell you what he did for me.
¹⁷For I cried out to him for help,
praising him as I spoke.
¹⁸If I had not confessed the sin in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened.
¹⁹But God did listen!
He paid attention to my prayer.
²⁰Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer
or withdraw his unfailing love from me.

Persistent sin can affect a believer’s prayer life, making it difficult to feel connected to God.

Galatians 6:7-8 NLT
⁷Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. ⁸Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.

Sin often has earthly consequences—broken relationships, emotional pain, or even legal consequences.

Psalm 32:3-4 NLT
³When I refused to confess my sin,
my body wasted away,
and I groaned all day long.
⁴Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me.
My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat.

Unconfessed sin can result in physical and mental suffering.

⁷You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world.

Paul acknowledges that these sins were part of the believers past life, but they no longer define them as new creations in Christ. This is a call to remember their transformation and live according to their new identity.

A description of a person before they became a Christian.

Ephesians 4:17-19 NLT
¹⁷With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. ¹⁸Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. ¹⁹They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.

2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT
¹⁷This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

Back to verse 9b

for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds.

This is an event that has already taken place.

Colossians 1:11-14 NLT
¹¹We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, ¹²always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. ¹³For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, ¹⁴who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.

Because believers have died with Christ, they can overcome sinful practices.

Romans 6:11 NLT
¹¹So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.

Romans 6:18 NLT
¹⁸Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living.

¹⁰Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.

This underscores the importance of embracing the new life offered in Christ and turning away from the destructive patterns of the old self.

Galatians 3:27 NLT
²⁷And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes.

The ultimate aim of the Christian life is to reflect the character of Christ and to be conformed to the image of God.

This verse commands an intentional action on our part, like putting on new clothes. It describes a conscious effort to embrace the new identity in Christ, leaving behind past sinful behaviors.

Scripture tells believers to strip off their old life and put on Christ’s new life, allowing Him to be Lord and guide the way they live.

1 Peter 2:1 NLT
^2:1 So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech.

Hebrews 12:1 NLT
^12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

Ephesians 4:22-24 NLT
²²throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. ²³Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. ²⁴Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

We can’t do this on our own strength.

James 1:21 NLT
²¹So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.

God’s word is powerful. It can transform our lives.

Hebrews 4:12 NLT
¹²For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 NLT
¹⁶All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. ¹⁷God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

The transformation of Christians is an ongoing process. As believers grow in understanding and obedience, they become more like Christ.

David and Ziba

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Two stories:

David and Ziba

Shimei Curses David

A Lesson on David’s Character.

Consider: Is there something in this lesson that you could apply to your life?

2 Samuel 16:1-14 NLT
David and Ziba
^16:1 When David had gone a little beyond the summit of the Mount of Olives, Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth, was waiting there for him. He had two donkeys loaded with 200 loaves of bread, 100 clusters of raisins, 100 bunches of summer fruit, and a wineskin full of wine.
²“What are these for?” the king asked Ziba.
Ziba replied, “The donkeys are for the king’s people to ride on, and the bread and summer fruit are for the young men to eat. The wine is for those who become exhausted in the wilderness.”
³“And where is Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson?” the king asked him.
“He stayed in Jerusalem,” Ziba replied. “He said, ‘Today I will get back the kingdom of my grandfather Saul.’”
⁴“In that case,” the king told Ziba, “I give you everything Mephibosheth owns.”
“I bow before you,” Ziba replied. “May I always be pleasing to you, my lord the king.”

Shimei Curses David

⁵As King David came to Bahurim, a man came out of the village cursing them. It was Shimei son of Gera, from the same clan as Saul’s family. ⁶He threw stones at the king and the king’s officers and all the mighty warriors who surrounded him. ⁷“Get out of here, you murderer, you scoundrel!” he shouted at David. ⁸“The Lord is paying you back for all the bloodshed in Saul’s clan. You stole his throne, and now the Lord has given it to your son Absalom. At last you will taste some of your own medicine, for you are a murderer!”
⁹“Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king?” Abishai son of Zeruiah demanded. “Let me go over and cut off his head!”
¹⁰“No!” the king said. “Who asked your opinion, you sons of Zeruiah! If the Lord has told him to curse me, who are you to stop him?”
¹¹Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “My own son is trying to kill me. Doesn’t this relative of Saul have even more reason to do so? Leave him alone and let him curse, for the Lord has told him to do it. ¹²And perhaps the Lord will see that I am being wronged and will bless me because of these curses today.” ¹³So David and his men continued down the road, and Shimei kept pace with them on a nearby hillside, cursing and throwing stones and dirt at David.
¹⁴The king and all who were with him grew weary along the way, so they rested when they reached the Jordan River.

Examine the Scriptures

2 Samuel 16:1-14 NLT
David and Ziba

^16:1 When David had gone a little beyond the summit of the Mount of Olives,

Refer to a Bible map.

Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth,

Read this brief review about Ziba:

2 Samuel 9 NLT
^9:1 One day David asked, “Is anyone in Saul’s family still alive—anyone to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” ²He summoned a man named Ziba, who had been one of Saul’s servants. “Are you Ziba?” the king asked.
“Yes sir, I am,” Ziba replied.
³The king then asked him, “Is anyone still alive from Saul’s family? If so, I want to show God’s kindness to them.”
Ziba replied, “Yes, one of Jonathan’s sons is still alive. He is crippled in both feet.”
… ⁵So David sent for him and brought him from Makir’s home. ⁶His name was Mephibosheth; he was Jonathan’s son and Saul’s grandson. …
¹²… From then on, all the members of Ziba’s household were Mephibosheth’s servants. ¹³And Mephibosheth, who was crippled in both feet, lived in Jerusalem and ate regularly at the king’s table.

Ziba was the servant of Mephibosheth,

Mephibosheth was the disabled grandson of King Saul, and the son of Jonathon, whom David had taken into his care.

(Ziba) was waiting there for him. He had two donkeys loaded with 200 loaves of bread, 100 clusters of raisins, 100 bunches of summer fruit, and a wineskin full of wine.

Ziba was waiting for David.

Ziba arrives with provisions for David and his people.

Remember: (add this to the brief review of Ziba.)

2 Samuel 9:9-10 NLT
⁹Then the king summoned Saul’s servant Ziba and said, “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. ¹⁰You and your sons and servants are to farm the land for him to produce food for your master’s household. But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, will eat here at my table.” (Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.)

Ziba had easy access to these resources.

²“What are these for?” the king asked Ziba.

Don’t you wonder why David asked that question?

Ziba replied, “The donkeys are for the king’s people to ride on, and the bread and summer fruit are for the young men to eat. The wine is for those who become exhausted in the wilderness.”

³“And where is Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson?” the king asked him.

“He stayed in Jerusalem,” Ziba replied. “He said, ‘Today I will get back the kingdom of my grandfather Saul.’”

Ziba implies that the gifts are entirely his idea, and that Mephibosheth sees David’s difficulty as an opportunity to reclaim the kingdom. Ziba accused Mephibosheth of saying “Today I will get back the kingdom of my grandfather Saul”.

Ziba was lying to David.

In reality, it was Ziba looking to profit from this political crisis.

Ziba lied to David. Ziba was looking to profit from this political crisis in David’s life.

⁴“In that case,” the king told Ziba, “I give you everything Mephibosheth owns.”

David responds quickly, without hearing Mephibosheth’s side of the story.

David was quick to assume the worst.

“I bow before you,” Ziba replied. “May I always be pleasing to you, my lord the king.”

Mephibosheth has the opportunity to share his side of the story at a later date.

2 Samuel 19:24-27 NLT
²⁴Now Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson, came down from Jerusalem to meet the king. He had not cared for his feet, trimmed his beard, or washed his clothes since the day the king left Jerusalem. ²⁵“Why didn’t you come with me, Mephibosheth?” the king asked him.
²⁶Mephibosheth replied, “My lord the king, my servant Ziba deceived me. I told him, ‘Saddle my donkey so I can go with the king.’ For as you know I am crippled. ²⁷Ziba has slandered me by saying that I refused to come.

Shimei Curses David

⁵As King David came to Bahurim,

Bahurim was in the territory of Benjamin located on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives.

Refer to a Bible map.

We know that some of Bahurim’s inhabitants were loyal to David, (Chapter 17) but since it was in the territory of Benjamin, Saul’s tribe, it is likely that many of the people harbored resentment against David’s rule.

a man came out of the village cursing them. It was Shimei son of Gera, from the same clan as Saul’s family.

Shimei’s exact relation to Saul is unknown, but since he was from the same clan as Saul’s family, he likely had a strong loyalty to Saul.

⁶He threw stones at the king and the king’s officers and all the mighty warriors who surrounded him.

Shimei was gutsy.

There were 600 men from Gath who had come with David, along with the king’s bodyguard. (15:18)

It would have been easy for David’s men to subdue Shimei.

⁷“Get out of here, you murderer, you scoundrel!” he shouted at David. ⁸“The Lord is paying you back for all the bloodshed in Saul’s clan. You stole his throne, and now the Lord has given it to your son Absalom. At last you will taste some of your own medicine, for you are a murderer!”

These accusations likely stem from Shimei’s resentment over David’s rise to power and the perceived displacement of Saul’s lineage.

However, in reality, David never directly harmed Saul or his family—Saul died in battle, and David mourned his death.

Shimei’s accusations were clearly inaccurate, and if God was punishing David, it would have been for his sin with Bathsheba.

2 Samuel 12:10-11 NLT
¹⁰From this time on, your family will live by the sword because you have despised me by taking Uriah’s wife to be your own.
¹¹“This is what the Lord says: Because of what you have done, I will cause your own household to rebel against you. …

⁹“Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king?” Abishai son of Zeruiah demanded.

Abishai is the son of Zeruiah, who is David’s sister, making him David’s nephew. His brothers are Joab (David’s military commander) and Asahel.

Abishai is one of David’s elite warriors.

Abishai is depicted as fiercely loyal, courageous, and sometimes impulsive—quick to suggest violent action in defense of David or justice.

This dead dog is an expression of absolute contempt.

“Let me go over and cut off his head!”

Abishai wanted to kill Shimei and he certainly had the resources to do so.

¹⁰“No!” the king said. “Who asked your opinion, you sons of Zeruiah!

If the Lord has told him to curse me, who are you to stop him?”

David displays remarkable self-control.

David is working to defuse the tension.

David recognized that God was allowing Shimei’s actions. In his understanding, nothing happens outside of God’s ultimate authority.

David may be wondering whether all this opposition is the Lord’s just punishment for his past sins, and he humbly endures the abuse.

David may have seen Shimei’s actions as a possible form of divine chastisement.

David leaves open the possibility that God has seen fit to terminate his rule.

2 Samuel 15:25-26 NLT
²⁵Then the king instructed Zadok to take the Ark of God back into the city. “If the Lord sees fit,” David said, “he will bring me back to see the Ark and the Tabernacle again. ²⁶But if he is through with me, then let him do what seems best to him.”

¹¹Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “My own son is trying to kill me. Doesn’t this relative of Saul have even more reason to do so? Leave him alone and let him curse, for the Lord has told him to do it.

David disagrees with Abishai’s impulsive violent reaction.

David’s response demonstrates his humility and acceptance of his circumstances. He chose not to retaliate, but to submit to what he perceived as God’s will.

David chooses humility and faith over vengeance, demonstrating a deep trust in God’s sovereign control.

David understood why a relative of Saul might hate him.

¹²And perhaps the Lord will see that I am being wronged and will bless me because of these curses today.”

¹³So David and his men continued down the road, and Shimei kept pace with them on a nearby hillside, cursing and throwing stones and dirt at David.

¹⁴The king and all who were with him grew weary along the way, so they rested when they reached the Jordan River.

The journey from Jerusalem to the Jordan River was 21 miles.

This passage highlights David’s character in adversity. (Some good and some not so good.)

Though deceived by Ziba, he maintains humility and patience in the face of Shimei’s curses.

His response foreshadows Jesus’ teaching on loving enemies (Matthew 5:44) and serves as a model for enduring hardship with faith.

Is there something in this lesson that you could apply to your life?

Living the New Life

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Living the New Life

This lesson contains repetition of content from previous lessons.

This lesson has numerous reminders of familiar Biblical principles.

This lesson presents a huge challenge.

Colossians 3:1-4 NLT
Living the New Life
^3:1 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. ²Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. ³For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

Examine the Scriptures:

Colossians 3:1-4 NLT
Living the New Life

^3:1 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ,

The Colossians were Christians (believers).

Colossians 1:6 NLT
⁶This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace.

Colossians 1:27 NLT
²⁷For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory.

Colossians 2:5 NLT
⁵For though I am far away from you, my heart is with you. And I rejoice that you are living as you should and that your faith in Christ is strong.

As Christians, the Colossians have been raised to new life with Christ.

Believers experience a spiritual resurrection, a new life, through faith in Christ.

Colossians 2:12-13 NLT
¹²For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.
¹³You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins.

Colossians 1:13 NLT
¹³For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son,

Romans 6:4 NLT
⁴For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.

Philippians 3:20 NLT
²⁰But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives.

Christ lives in believers.

Ephesians 1:3 NLT
Spiritual Blessings
³All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.

Galatians 2:20 NLT
²⁰My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

set your sights on the realities of heaven,

The challenge:

As Christians we need to be developing a mindset and lifestyle that focuses on eternal values.

We need to be shifting our mental and spiritual focus from the temporary, earthly concerns to the eternal, heavenly ones.

We need to think about and meditate on the nature of heaven, its promises, and its realities, recognizing that our true home is in heaven.

where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.

Christ is in a position of authority and honor.

Luke 22:69 NLT
⁶⁹But from now on the Son of Man will be seated in the place of power at God’s right hand.

1 Peter 3:22 NLT
²²Now Christ has gone to heaven. He is seated in the place of honor next to God, and all the angels and authorities and powers accept his authority.

Hebrews 1:3 NLT
³The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.

Believers have a connection to Christ, who is seated in heaven.

What is Christ doing for us?

Romans 8:34 NLT
³⁴Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.

interceding for us. (ESV, NIV)

Heaven is the place we, as believers, will be with Christ for all of eternity. It certainly merits our attention.

²Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.

Two options.

The contrast between “things of heaven” and “things of earth” highlights the fundamental choice believers face.

This reinforces the previous verse (“set your sights”), emphasizing the need for a conscious and deliberate focus on spiritual matters.

It’s not just about outward action but an inward mindset. The heart and thoughts should be oriented towards God’s purposes, values, and kingdom, rather than being consumed by earthly desires or anxieties.

Christians are encouraged to cultivate a mindset fixed on eternal realities, which influences how they live in the present.

The believer’s focus should be on eternal, spiritual matters, rather than earthly concerns.

Romans 12:2 NLT
²Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Philippians 4:8 NLT
⁸And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Matthew 6:19-34 NLT
Teaching about Money and Possessions
¹⁹“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
^…²⁵“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? ²⁶Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? ²⁷Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
²⁸“And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, ²⁹yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. ³⁰And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
³¹“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ ³²These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. ³³Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
³⁴“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

1 John 2:15-17 NLT
Do Not Love This World
¹⁵Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. ¹⁶For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. ¹⁷And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.

³For you died to this life,

Romans 6:5-11 NLT
⁵Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. ⁶We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. ⁷For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. ⁸And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. ⁹We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. ¹⁰When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. ¹¹So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT
¹⁷This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

Galatians 6:14 NLT
¹⁴As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died.

Believers are united with Christ.
Their penalty of sin was paid.
They arose with Christ in new life.

Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.

A believer’s security and identity are in Christ.

1 Corinthians 6:17 NLT
¹⁷But the person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him.

2 Peter 1:4 NLT
⁴And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

John 10:28 NLT
²⁸I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me,

Hebrews 7:25 NLT
²⁵Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.

1 Peter 1:4 NLT
⁴and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.

Believers have “died” to their old, sinful nature. Their true life is now secure, hidden in Christ. This speaks of both security (protected in God) and mystery (our full identity in Christ is not yet fully revealed).

⁴And when Christ, who is your life,

When Christ who is your life ESV & NIV

“Christ who is your life” reiterates that Christ is the source and essence of the believer’s life.

Christ is the one who gives spiritual life and sustains it.

Believer’s identity, hope, and purpose are rooted in Him.

The believer’s life is to reflect His character, values, and love.

⁴And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. ESV & NIV

Revelation 19:11-16 NLT
The Rider on the White Horse
¹¹Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. ¹²His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. ¹³He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. ¹⁴The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses. ¹⁵From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress. ¹⁶On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords.

This looks forward to Christ’s return, when believers will fully share in his glory.

When Christ returns believers will share in all his glory.

David Escapes from Jerusalem

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David Escapes from Jerusalem

In this lesson we get a glimpse of the heart of a leader who seeks God in the midst of betrayal and uncertainty.

2 Samuel 15:19-37 NLT
¹⁹Then the king turned and said to Ittai, a leader of the men from Gath, “Why are you coming with us? Go on back to King Absalom, for you are a guest in Israel, a foreigner in exile. ²⁰You arrived only recently, and should I force you today to wander with us? I don’t even know where we will go. Go on back and take your kinsmen with you, and may the Lord show you his unfailing love and faithfulness.”
²¹But Ittai said to the king, “I vow by the Lord and by your own life that I will go wherever my lord the king goes, no matter what happens—whether it means life or death.”
²²David replied, “All right, come with us.” So Ittai and all his men and their families went along.
²³Everyone cried loudly as the king and his followers passed by. They crossed the Kidron Valley and then went out toward the wilderness.
²⁴Zadok and all the Levites also came along, carrying the Ark of the Covenant of God. They set down the Ark of God, and Abiathar offered sacrifices until everyone had passed out of the city.
²⁵Then the king instructed Zadok to take the Ark of God back into the city. “If the Lord sees fit,” David said, “he will bring me back to see the Ark and the Tabernacle again. ²⁶But if he is through with me, then let him do what seems best to him.”
²⁷The king also told Zadok the priest, “Look, here is my plan. You and Abiathar should return quietly to the city with your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan. ²⁸I will stop at the shallows of the Jordan River and wait there for a report from you.” ²⁹So Zadok and Abiathar took the Ark of God back to the city and stayed there.
³⁰David walked up the road to the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went. His head was covered and his feet were bare as a sign of mourning. And the people who were with him covered their heads and wept as they climbed the hill. ³¹When someone told David that his adviser Ahithophel was now backing Absalom, David prayed, “O Lord, let Ahithophel give Absalom foolish advice!”
³²When David reached the summit of the Mount of Olives where people worshiped God, Hushai the Arkite was waiting there for him. Hushai had torn his clothing and put dirt on his head as a sign of mourning. ³³But David told him, “If you go with me, you will only be a burden. ³⁴Return to Jerusalem and tell Absalom, ‘I will now be your adviser, O king, just as I was your father’s adviser in the past.’ Then you can frustrate and counter Ahithophel’s advice. ³⁵Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, will be there. Tell them about the plans being made in the king’s palace, ³⁶and they will send their sons Ahimaaz and Jonathan to tell me what is going on.”
³⁷So David’s friend Hushai returned to Jerusalem, getting there just as Absalom arrived.

Examine the Scriptures

David Escapes from Jerusalem

2 Samuel 15:19-37 NLT

At this point in the story King David is leaving Jerusalem with all his household and personal guards, except for the ten concubines he left behind to look after the palace.

2 Samuel 15:13-14 NLT
David Escapes from Jerusalem
¹³A messenger soon arrived in Jerusalem to tell David, “All Israel has joined Absalom in a conspiracy against you!”
¹⁴“Then we must flee at once, or it will be too late!” David urged his men. “Hurry! If we get out of the city before Absalom arrives, both we and the city of Jerusalem will be spared from disaster.”

Scripture does not tell us how many people left with David, but we do know that the group included:

600 men from Gath (v. 18)
Along with the king’s bodyguard (v.18)
His personal servants and officials (v. 15-16)
Zadok and all the Levites (v.24)
Other loyal followers

All indications are that David plans to return to Jerusalem at some point in time.

2 Samuel 15:16 NLT
¹⁶So the king and all his household set out at once. He left no one behind except ten of his concubines to look after the palace.

2 Samuel 15:25 NLT
… “If the Lord sees fit,” David said, “he will bring me back to see the Ark and the Tabernacle again.

1 Samuel 16:13 NLT
¹³So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on. Then Samuel returned to Ramah.

2 Samuel 5:12 NLT
¹²And David realized that the Lord had confirmed him as king over Israel and had blessed his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.

¹⁹Then the king turned and said to Ittai, a leader of the men from Gath, “Why are you coming with us? Go on back to King Absalom, for you are a guest in Israel, a foreigner in exile. ²⁰You arrived only recently, and should I force you today to wander with us? I don’t even know where we will go. Go on back and take your kinsmen with you, and may the Lord show you his unfailing love and faithfulness.”

David urged Ittai and his kinsmen to return to Jerusalem.

²¹But Ittai said to the king, “I vow by the Lord and by your own life that I will go wherever my lord the king goes, no matter what happens—whether it means life or death.”

Ittai was a guest in Israel, a foreigner in exile who arrived only recently.

Ittai may have seen David as the rightful and just leader of Israel.

Ittai displayed his loyalty to David by going into exile with David.

Ittai must have seen something very special in David’s leadership and character to vow to go with David no matter what happens.

Later:

2 Samuel 18:1-2 NLT
^18:1 David now mustered the men who were with him and appointed generals and captains to lead them. ²He sent the troops out in three groups, placing one group under Joab, one under Joab’s brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, and one under Ittai, the man from Gath.

David later appoints Ittai as commander of one-third of his army indicating his appreciation for Ittai’s loyalty.

²²David replied, “All right, come with us.” So Ittai and all his men and their families went along.

²³Everyone cried loudly as the king and his followers passed by.

David was a beloved leader, and his departure signaled not just a personal loss but a national crisis. The people’s weeping signifies deep sorrow, loyalty, and uncertainty about the future.

There was the potential for a radical, disastrous change in the leadership of Israel.

They crossed the Kidron Valley and then went out toward the wilderness.

The wilderness often symbolizes a place of testing, hardship, and isolation.

Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the wilderness, where He was tempted by Satan.

The Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years after their exodus from Egypt

For David, this was a return to the kind of hardship he had faced in earlier years while fleeing Saul.

²⁴Zadok and all the Levites also came along, carrying the Ark of the Covenant of God. They set down the Ark of God, and Abiathar offered sacrifices until everyone had passed out of the city.

Zadok and Abiathar were chief priests.

The presence of Zadok, Abiathar and the Levites underscores their loyalty to David as God’s chosen king.

²⁵Then the king instructed Zadok to take the Ark of God back into the city.

David does not take the Ark with him. David knows that possession of the ark does not guarantee God’s blessing.

David believes that the Ark needs to stay in Jerusalem as a symbol of the Lord’s rule over the nation, no matter who the king might be. (2 Samuel 6)

2 Samuel 6:17 NLT
¹⁷They brought the Ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the special tent David had prepared for it. And David sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings to the Lord.

It was David, not the Lord who was going into exile.

“If the Lord sees fit,” David said, “he will bring me back to see the Ark and the Tabernacle again. ²⁶But if he is through with me, then let him do what seems best to him.”

David understands the following Biblical principle:

Daniel 2:21 NLT
²¹He controls the course of world events;
he removes kings and sets up other kings.
He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to the scholars.

Romans 13:1 NLT
Respect for Authority
^13:1 Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.

David is putting his life into the hands of the Lord.

²⁷The king also told Zadok the priest, “Look, here is my plan. You and Abiathar should return quietly to the city with your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan. ²⁸I will stop at the shallows of the Jordan River and wait there for a report from you.”

More about this in verses 35-36

²⁹So Zadok and Abiathar took the Ark of God back to the city and stayed there.

³⁰David walked up the road to the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went. His head was covered and his feet were bare as a sign of mourning.

Indicating his depth of despair.

And the people who were with him covered their heads and wept as they climbed the hill.

The Mount of Olives was the location from which Jesus ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9-12).

³¹When someone told David that his adviser Ahithophel was now backing Absalom, David prayed, “O Lord, let Ahithophel give Absalom foolish advice!”

Ahithophel was one of David’s advisors.

1 Chronicles 27:33 NLT
³³Ahithophel was the royal adviser…

David now learned that his advisor Ahithophel had joined Absalom’s cause.

2 Samuel 15:12 NLT
¹²While Absalom was offering the sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel, one of David’s counselors who lived in Giloh.

Don’t miss what is happening here!

³²When David reached the summit of the Mount of Olives where people worshiped God, Hushai the Arkite was waiting there for him.

Hushai the Arkite was a loyal friend and advisor of King David.

1 Chronicles 27:33 NLT
³³Ahithophel was the royal adviser. Hushai the Arkite was the king’s friend.

While the Arkites were likely Canaanites by origin, Hushai was a trusted ally of David, suggesting that he had integrated into Israelite society and was a devoted supporter of the king.

Hushai had torn his clothing and put dirt on his head as a sign of mourning. ³³But David told him, “If you go with me, you will only be a burden. ³⁴Return to Jerusalem and tell Absalom, ‘I will now be your adviser, O king, just as I was your father’s adviser in the past.’ Then you can frustrate and counter Ahithophel’s advice.

David sends Hushai back to Jerusalem to act as a spy within Absalom’s court. He is tasked with countering the counsel of Ahithophel, Absalom’s chief advisor, whose advice was highly regarded. (More about this later in the story.)

David sends Hushai back to Jerusalem to act as a spy within Absalom’s court.

³⁵Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, will be there. Tell them about the plans being made in the king’s palace, ³⁶and they will send their sons Ahimaaz and Jonathan to tell me what is going on.”

David is asking Hushai to tell him Absalom plans (through Ahimaaz and Jonathan).

David is setting up a system of communication between himself and Jerusalem.

Refer back to verse 27.

³⁷So David’s friend Hushai returned to Jerusalem, getting there just as Absalom arrived.

Let No One Disqualify You

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Let No One Disqualify You

Introduction

Paul addresses the dangers of legalism and false teachings that were threatening the Colossian church.

False teachers were telling the people that they weren’t good enough. Teachers were telling the people that they were not spiritually qualified. You are not really a Christian. (It would be like someone telling you that you are not qualified to teach at The Redeemer Day School.) If you truly want to be righteous you need to follow “these” teachers.

This passage helps to equip believers to discern and reject false teachings that can lead them astray.

Colossians 2:16-23 NLT
¹⁶So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. ¹⁷For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality. ¹⁸Don’t let anyone condemn you by insisting on pious self-denial or the worship of angels, saying they have had visions about these things. Their sinful minds have made them proud, ¹⁹and they are not connected to Christ, the head of the body. For he holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God nourishes it.
²⁰You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, ²¹“Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”? ²²Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. ²³These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires.

Examine the Scriptures:

Let No One Disqualify You

Paul addresses the dangers of legalism and false teachings that were threatening the Colossian church.

Colossians 2:16-23 NLT

Introduction/review

The false teachings in Colossae, which Paul addressed in his letter to the Colossians, were a mix of several philosophical and religious ideas.

False teachers emphasized strict adherence to the Mosaic Law. (Colossians 2:16-17)

False teachers were promoting harsh treatment of the body, such as fasting and self-denial, as a way to attain spiritual purity. (Colossians 2:20-23)

False teachers were encouraging the worship of angels, possibly as intermediaries between God and humanity. (Colossians 2:18)

The Colossian heresy included early Gnostic elements. Gnosticism claimed that salvation could be gained through a special form of secret knowledge.

False teachers were promoting hollow and deceptive philosophy based on human traditions rather than Christ. (Colossians 2:8)

Paul is addressing all of these philosophical and religious ideas in today’s passage.

¹⁶So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths.

The false teachers at Colossae were advocating obedience to the Law of Moses by imposing some sort of dietary regulations on the people for justification and sanctification.

The Israelites had celebrated the first day of each month, which was indicated by the new moon.

The New Moon was one of the regular occasions for worship alongside Sabbaths and feasts.

Special sacrifices were offered at the start of each month.

Paul warns against allowing anyone to judge them based on dietary laws, religious festivals, new moon celebrations, or Sabbath observances.

Faith is not measured by external religious practices such as dietary laws, religious festivals, new moon celebrations, or Sabbath observances.

¹⁷For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come.

The old system under the Law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. (Hebrews 10:1)

Hebrews 10:1 NLT
^10:1 The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship.

Romans 6:14-15 NLT
¹⁴Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.
¹⁵Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not!

Observing Old Testament rituals is not necessary for salvation or spiritual growth.

The dietary restrictions, festivals, and Sabbaths were part of the Mosaic covenant, which served as a shadow pointing to Christ.

And Christ himself is that reality.

Christ is Sufficient.

Christ is the fulfillment of the Old Testament law and the source of true spiritual life.

Christ fulfilled the Old Testament law, and now righteousness comes through faith in Him, not through works.

Matthew 5:17 NIV
¹⁷“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

Christ’s perfect obedience satisfied the requirements of the Law that no human could achieve (Romans 8:3-4).

Romans 8:3-4 NLT
³The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. ⁴He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.

Christ’s life, death, and resurrection fulfilled the Law’s foreshadowing of salvation. For instance, the sacrificial system, which temporarily covered sins, found its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus as the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

Through Christ’s fulfillment, believers are no longer under the Law as a system of righteousness. Instead, they live under the new covenant of grace, guided by the Spirit and the law of Christ—love for God and neighbor.

Romans 6:14 NLT
¹⁴Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.

The Old Testament rituals and laws pointed to Christ, and now that He has come, they have fulfilled their purpose.

True spirituality is found in Christ alone.

¹⁸Don’t let anyone condemn you by insisting on pious self-denial or the worship of angels, saying they have had visions about these things.

This likely refers to a form of mysticism that emphasized intermediary spiritual beings between God and humanity.

False teachers were teaching “access to God through angels”.

False teachers were trying to “disqualify” (much like the actions of an umpire or referee) believers through false humility and the worship of angels.

Don’t allow false teachers to deny the reality of your salvation.

False teachers were saying “You are not qualified” unless ……

Look to scripture. Test all teachings with Scriptures. What does scripture say?

Their sinful minds have made them proud, ¹⁹and they are not connected to Christ, the head of the body.

True spiritual life comes from being connected to Christ, the “head” of the body, the church.

These false teachers were not connected to Christ.

For he holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God nourishes it.

Christ alone holds the body together.

²⁰You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, ²¹“Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”?

“Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!” are rules of the world. These rules don’t come from God. These are human commands and teachings, and not the core of true Christian faith.

“Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!” are rules of the world.

Don’t taste!

Mark 7:18-19 NLT (Jesus talking to the disciples.)
¹⁸“Don’t you understand either?” he asked. “Can’t you see that the food you put into your body cannot defile you? ¹⁹Food doesn’t go into your heart, but only passes through the stomach and then goes into the sewer.” (By saying this, he declared that every kind of food is acceptable in God’s eyes.)

Proverbs 25:16 NLT
¹⁶Do you like honey?
Don’t eat too much, or it will make you sick!

Don’t touch!”?

1 Corinthians 6:12 NLT
¹²You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. And even though “I am allowed to do anything,” I must not become a slave to anything.

²²Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them.

The “rules” discussed here were developed by false teachers. They were not from God.

²³These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires.

These rules may seem wise.

These self-imposed rules, although appearing to be spiritual, do not have the power to deal with the sin nature.

Including self-mutilation.

Ascetic (as·cet·ic) (severe self-denial) practices, while appearing wise and disciplined, don’t transform the heart or overcome sinful desires. Only Christ can change the heart.

True transformation comes from life in Christ, not external restrictions.

True spiritual growth comes from abiding in Christ.

John 15:5 NLT
⁵“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.

Ascetic practices, while appearing wise and disciplined, don’t transform the heart or overcome sinful desires. Only Christ can change the heart.

True spiritual growth comes from abiding in Christ.

Absalom’s Rebellion

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Absalom’s Rebellion against his father, King David.

This is a story of rebellion, pride, manipulation, deception, conspiracy, and conflict.

2 Samuel 15:1-18 NLT
Absalom’s Rebellion
^15:1 After this, Absalom bought a chariot and horses, and he hired fifty bodyguards to run ahead of him. ²He got up early every morning and went out to the gate of the city. When people brought a case to the king for judgment, Absalom would ask where in Israel they were from, and they would tell him their tribe. ³Then Absalom would say, “You’ve really got a strong case here! It’s too bad the king doesn’t have anyone to hear it. ⁴I wish I were the judge. Then everyone could bring their cases to me for judgment, and I would give them justice!”
⁵When people tried to bow before him, Absalom wouldn’t let them. Instead, he took them by the hand and kissed them. ⁶Absalom did this with everyone who came to the king for judgment, and so he stole the hearts of all the people of Israel.
⁷After four years, Absalom said to the king, “Let me go to Hebron to offer a sacrifice to the Lord and fulfill a vow I made to him. ⁸For while your servant was at Geshur in Aram, I promised to sacrifice to the Lord in Hebron if he would bring me back to Jerusalem.”
⁹“All right,” the king told him. “Go and fulfill your vow.”
So Absalom went to Hebron. ¹⁰But while he was there, he sent secret messengers to all the tribes of Israel to stir up a rebellion against the king. “As soon as you hear the ram’s horn,” his message read, “you are to say, ‘Absalom has been crowned king in Hebron.’” ¹¹He took 200 men from Jerusalem with him as guests, but they knew nothing of his intentions. ¹²While Absalom was offering the sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel, one of David’s counselors who lived in Giloh. Soon many others also joined Absalom, and the conspiracy gained momentum.

David Escapes from Jerusalem
¹³A messenger soon arrived in Jerusalem to tell David, “All Israel has joined Absalom in a conspiracy against you!”
¹⁴“Then we must flee at once, or it will be too late!” David urged his men. “Hurry! If we get out of the city before Absalom arrives, both we and the city of Jerusalem will be spared from disaster.”
¹⁵“We are with you,” his advisers replied. “Do what you think is best.”
¹⁶So the king and all his household set out at once. He left no one behind except ten of his concubines to look after the palace. ¹⁷The king and all his people set out on foot, pausing at the last house ¹⁸to let all the king’s men move past to lead the way. There were 600 men from Gath who had come with David, along with the king’s bodyguard.

Examine the Scriptures

2 Samuel 15:1-18 NLT

Absalom’s Rebellion (Absalom’s Conspiracy and Proclaiming Himself King)

^15:1 After this,

2 Samuel 14:33 NLT
³³So Joab told the king what Absalom had said. Then at last David summoned Absalom, who came and bowed low before the king, and the king kissed him.

David kisses Absalom, symbolizing reconciliation.

Absalom bought a chariot and horses, and he hired fifty bodyguards to run ahead of him.

Absalom begins to portray himself as a royal figure by acquiring a chariot, horses, and fifty men to run before him.

A display of Absalom’s pride.

The Bible doesn’t explicitly mention King Saul or King David owning chariots.

Absalom was a very self-centered person.

This display of royal pomp would have appealed to the masses.

²He got up early every morning and went out to the gate of the city.

Absalom strategically stations himself by the city gate, where legal disputes were commonly heard.

When people brought a case to the king for judgment, Absalom would ask where in Israel they were from, and they would tell him their tribe. ³Then Absalom would say, “You’ve really got a strong case here! It’s too bad the king doesn’t have anyone to hear it.

Absalom intercepts those seeking justice from the king, feigning concern and suggesting that David is neglecting his duties.

Absalom implies that the current system under David is inadequate.

Note: People would not have been coming to Jerusalem to have a hearing if there was no chance to having their case heard.

Absalom presents himself as the solution to the people’s legal grievances.

Rather than directly attacking David, he slowly erodes the people’s loyalty by appearing compassionate and just.

⁴I wish I were the judge. Then everyone could bring their cases to me for judgment, and I would give them justice!”

Absalom promises that, if he were made judge, everyone would receive justice.

Absalom is saying that he wants to be king. One of the roles of the king was to judge the people.

1 Samuel 8:5 NLT
⁵“Look,” they told him (Samuel), “you are now old, and your sons are not like you. Give us a king to judge us like all the other nations have.”

Proverbs 31:9 NLT (The role of kings)
⁹Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless,
and see that they get justice.

⁵When people tried to bow before him, Absalom wouldn’t let them.

To bow before Absalom was honoring him as king.

Absalom further wins the people’s hearts by rejecting formal royal protocol, embracing commoners with affection.

This gesture solidifies his image as a man of the people.

Instead, he took them by the hand and kissed them. ⁶Absalom did this with everyone who came to the king for judgment, and so he stole the hearts of all the people of Israel.

Absalom gained popularity among the Israelites by presenting himself as a more accessible and just leader than David.

Absalom’s accessibility and false pretense of care for the people gained their loyalty.

Absalom’s physical gestures, such as embracing those who bowed before him, create an illusion of personal connection and genuine care. This is a calculated act of manipulation designed to win popular support.

⁷After four years,

Absalom spent four years quietly planning his rebellion.

Commentators believe that Absalom would have been about 30 years old at this point in time and his revolt would have taken place early in the last decade of David’s reign. (975–970 BCE)

Absalom said to the king, “Let me go to Hebron to offer a sacrifice to the Lord and fulfill a vow I made to him. ⁸For while your servant was at Geshur in Aram, I promised to sacrifice to the Lord in Hebron if he would bring me back to Jerusalem.”

Absalom asks David for permission to fulfill a supposed vow in Hebron.

Hebron was significant for several reasons:

It was a major city in Judah.

It was where David had first been anointed king.

⁹“All right,” the king told him. “Go and fulfill your vow.”

So Absalom went to Hebron.

Hebron was Absalom’s birthplace: It was where he was born and likely still had strong ties.

Hebron was about 20 miles south of Jerusalem, providing Absalom enough separation to organize his rebellion without immediate detection.

¹⁰But while he was there, he sent secret messengers to all the tribes of Israel to stir up a rebellion against the king.

Absalom sent secret messengers to all the tribes of Israel to stir up a rebellion against the king.

All the tribes of Israel refer to all of Israel, including Judah.

“As soon as you hear the ram’s horn,” his message read, “you are to say, ‘Absalom has been crowned king in Hebron.’”

¹¹He took 200 men from Jerusalem with him as guests, but they knew nothing of his intentions.

This verse highlights Absalom’s ability to manipulate people. The 200 men from Jerusalem accompanied him “innocently, knowing nothing about the matter.” This emphasizes the level of deception Absalom employed.

Absalom used deception to bolster his rebellion.

¹²While Absalom was offering the sacrifices,

These sacrifices were apparently part of a coronation ceremony formally declaring Absalom’s kingship.

Similar sacrifices:

1 Samuel 11:14-15 NLT
¹⁴Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us all go to Gilgal to renew the kingdom.” ¹⁵So they all went to Gilgal, and in a solemn ceremony before the Lord they made Saul king. Then they offered peace offerings to the Lord, and Saul and all the Israelites were filled with joy.

1 Kings 1:9-11 NLT
⁹Adonijah went to the Stone of Zoheleth near the spring of En-rogel, where he sacrificed sheep, cattle, and fattened calves. He invited all his brothers—the other sons of King David—and all the royal officials of Judah. ¹⁰But he did not invite Nathan the prophet or Benaiah or the king’s bodyguard or his brother Solomon.
¹¹Then Nathan went to Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, and asked her, “Haven’t you heard that Haggith’s son, Adonijah, has made himself king, and our lord David doesn’t even know about it?

he sent for Ahithophel, one of David’s counselors who lived in Giloh (located in the region of Hebron).

Ahithophel served as one of King David’s most trusted advisors. His counsel was highly regarded.

During Absalom’s rebellion, Ahithophel betrayed David and joined Absalom.

Some scholars suggest that the Ahithophel of 2 Samuel 15 may be Bathsheba’s grandfather.

If Ahithophel was Bathsheba’s grandfather, he may have had bad feeling toward David for what David had done to his granddaughter.

Absalom invites Ahithophel, David’s trusted counselor, to join his conspiracy. Ahithophel’s reputation for wisdom and counsel lends credibility to Absalom’s cause. His participation is a significant blow to David.

Soon many others also joined Absalom, and the conspiracy gained momentum.

There was clearly growing support for Absalom’s cause.

Clearly there was growing support for Absalom’s cause.

David Escapes from Jerusalem

¹³A messenger soon arrived in Jerusalem to tell David, “All Israel has joined Absalom in a conspiracy against you!”

David receives news that the hearts of Israel have turned toward Absalom.

This shows how quickly public opinion can shift when fueled by dissatisfaction and false promises.

¹⁴“Then we must flee at once, or it will be too late!” David urged his men. “Hurry! If we get out of the city before Absalom arrives, both we and the city of Jerusalem will be spared from disaster.”

¹⁵“We are with you,” his advisers replied. “Do what you think is best.”

David receives word of Absalom’s conspiracy and immediately recognizes the danger. He chooses to flee Jerusalem rather than risk a bloody siege.

There was a group of people close to David who remained loyal to David.

David does not act out of vengeance but remains humble and trusting in God’s plan.

¹⁶So the king and all his household set out at once. He left no one behind except ten of his concubines to look after the palace.

Ten concubines were left behind to care for the palace.

¹⁷The king and all his people set out on foot, pausing at the last house ¹⁸to let all the king’s men move past to lead the way. There were 600 men from Gath (Gath was one of the five major Philistine cities) who had come with David, along with the king’s bodyguard.

David flees from Jerusalem so that the city will not be destroyed.

David’s servants and the 600 men from Gath demonstrate their unwavering loyalty. Their willingness to follow David into exile highlights the deep bonds of loyalty he had fostered.

This passage sets the stage for a dramatic and tragic conflict that will have profound consequences for David and the kingdom of Israel.

A psalm of David, regarding the time David fled from his son Absalom.

Psalm 3 NLT
¹O Lord, I have so many enemies;
so many are against me.
²So many are saying,
“God will never rescue him!” Interlude
³But you, O Lord, are a shield around me;
you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.
⁴I cried out to the Lord,
and he answered me from his holy mountain. Interlude
⁵I lay down and slept,
yet I woke up in safety,
for the Lord was watching over me.
⁶I am not afraid of ten thousand enemies
who surround me on every side.
⁷Arise, O Lord!
Rescue me, my God!
Slap all my enemies in the face!
Shatter the teeth of the wicked!
⁸Victory comes from you, O Lord.
May you bless your people.

Alive in Christ

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Alive in Christ

Introduction

At the end of this lesson, summarize in one sentence what this passage of scripture is saying to you.

Colossians 2:8-15 NLT
⁸Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. ⁹For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. ¹⁰So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.
¹¹When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature. ¹²For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.
¹³You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. ¹⁴He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. ¹⁵In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.

Examine the Scriptures:

Alive in Christ
Colossians 2:8-15 NLT

⁸Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.

Paul repeatedly warns the church to be vigilant against the destructive teachings of false teachers.

Previously in Colossians 2:4
⁴I am telling you this so no one will deceive you with well-crafted arguments.

Later in Colossians 2: 20 & 22
²⁰ … So why do you keep on following the rules of the world … ²²Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them.

Paul warns the Colossians to be vigilant against false teachings that are based on human traditions rather than in Christ.

False teachers were combining faith in Christ with “man-made regulations. (Salvation = faith in Christ + works.)

They should have been teaching “Salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone”.

… rather than from Christ.

True wisdom and understanding come from Christ.

John 14:6 NLT
⁶Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

⁹For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.

Here Paul is affirming Christ’s deity, emphasizing that He is fully God in bodily form.

John 10:30 NLT
³⁰The Father and I are one.”

John 14:9 NLT
⁹Jesus replied, … Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! …

John 1:1-5 NLT
¹ In the beginning the Word already existed.
The Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
²He existed in the beginning with God.
³God created everything through him,
and nothing was created except through him.
⁴The Word gave life to everything that was created,
and his life brought light to everyone.
⁵The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it.

Jesus is God in the flesh.

¹⁰So you also are complete through your union with Christ,

Believers are united with Christ.

Romans 12:4-5 NLT
⁴Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, ⁵so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.

John 14:20 NLT
²⁰When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.

1 Corinthians 6:15 NLT
¹⁵Don’t you realize that your bodies are actually parts of Christ?

1 Corinthians 12:27 NLT
²⁷All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.

Believers, united with Christ, are made complete in Him and do not need any additional religious rituals or human philosophies.

John 11:25-26 NLT
²⁵Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. ²⁶Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die…”

What believers have in Christ is completely adequate for their spiritual needs.

John 15:5 NLT
⁵“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.

The heresy being taught to the Colossians was that Christ alone is not enough.

who is the head over every ruler and authority.

Jesus Christ is the Creator and Ruler of the universe.

We have no need for anything other than Jesus.

Review: From Colossians 1

Colossians 1:15-20 NLT
Christ Is Supreme
¹⁵Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.
He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,
¹⁶for through him God created everything
in the heavenly realms and on earth.
He made the things we can see
and the things we can’t see—
such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world.
Everything was created through him and for him.
¹⁷He existed before anything else,
and he holds all creation together.
¹⁸Christ is also the head of the church,
which is his body.
He is the beginning,
supreme over all who rise from the dead.
So he is first in everything.
¹⁹For God in all his fullness
was pleased to live in Christ,
²⁰and through him God reconciled
everything to himself.

¹¹When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature.

In the Old Testament, physical circumcision was established as a sign of God’s covenant with Abraham and his descendants. Physical circumcision was a requirement for participating in Israel’s religious community.

The New Testament emphasizes a spiritual circumcision, the cutting away of the sinful nature, — a transformation of the heart through Christ.

Romans 2:29 NLT
… And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by the Spirit…

¹²For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.

Baptism symbolizes this inward change.

Baptism symbolizes and confirms the believer’s union with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. Through faith, believers partake in Christ’s victory over sin.

Romans 6:3-6 NLT
³Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? ⁴For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.
⁵Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. ⁶We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin.

Water baptism was closely related to conversion in the early church.

¹³You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away.

Before salvation, believers were spiritually dead in sin.

Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins.

We owed a debt we could not pay.

Paul describes the believer’s past state—spiritually dead due to sin. However, through Christ, God grants new life and complete forgiveness.

Review:

Colossians 1:13 NLT
¹³For he (the Father) has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son,

¹⁴He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.

Romans 3:23 NLT
²³For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

Romans 6:23 NLT
²³For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 Thessalonians 5:10 NLT
¹⁰Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever.

Jesus, through His death, satisfied the legal requirements of the Old Testament Law.

Through His death and resurrection, Christ paid the penalty for our sins, freed believers from legalistic bondage, and triumphed over spiritual enemies.

¹⁵In this way, he (Christ) disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.

Ephesians 6:12 NLT
¹²For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

¹³Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.

Christ’s death and resurrection defeated the powers of darkness, stripping them of their authority over believers.

By fulfilling the demands of the Law, Christ disarmed the demonic powers and authorities.

God Himself is the source of all truth, and His Word (the Scriptures) is the revealed truth. Jesus Christ, as the Son of God, embodies truth, and the Holy Spirit guides believers into understanding and living by that truth. (ChatGPT)

This passage emphasizes that Christ alone is sufficient.

Absalom Reconciled to David

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Absalom Reconciled to David

Introduction:

David needs to be like the father in the parable of the prodigal son.

Describe the father in the parable of the prodigal son.

2 Samuel 14:21-33 NLT
Absalom Reconciled to David
²¹So the king sent for Joab and told him, “All right, go and bring back the young man Absalom.”
²²Joab bowed with his face to the ground in deep respect and said, “At last I know that I have gained your approval, my lord the king, for you have granted me this request!”
²³Then Joab went to Geshur and brought Absalom back to Jerusalem. ²⁴But the king gave this order: “Absalom may go to his own house, but he must never come into my presence.” So Absalom did not see the king.
²⁵Now Absalom was praised as the most handsome man in all Israel. He was flawless from head to foot. ²⁶He cut his hair only once a year, and then only because it was so heavy. When he weighed it out, it came to five pounds! ²⁷He had three sons and one daughter. His daughter’s name was Tamar, and she was very beautiful.
²⁸Absalom lived in Jerusalem for two years, but he never got to see the king. ²⁹Then Absalom sent for Joab to ask him to intercede for him, but Joab refused to come. Absalom sent for him a second time, but again Joab refused to come. ³⁰So Absalom said to his servants, “Go and set fire to Joab’s barley field, the field next to mine.” So they set his field on fire, as Absalom had commanded.
³¹Then Joab came to Absalom at his house and demanded, “Why did your servants set my field on fire?”
³²And Absalom replied, “Because I wanted you to ask the king why he brought me back from Geshur if he didn’t intend to see me. I might as well have stayed there. Let me see the king; if he finds me guilty of anything, then let him kill me.”
³³So Joab told the king what Absalom had said. Then at last David summoned Absalom, who came and bowed low before the king, and the king kissed him.

Examine the Scriptures

2 Samuel 14:21-33 NLT
Absalom Reconciled to David

²¹So the king sent for Joab and told him, “All right, go and bring back the young man Absalom.”

There seems to be some reluctance on David’s part for full reconciliation.
(We will see some of this reluctance in verse 24).

²²Joab bowed with his face to the ground in deep respect and said, “At last I know that I have gained your approval, my lord the king, for you have granted me this request!”

Joab was now given the opportunity to openly encourage reconciliation between David and Absalom.

Joab may have seen Absalom as a strong potential successor to the throne. (This is speculation on my part.)

As commander of Israel’s army, it was to Joab’s advantage for the nation of Israel to remain strong.

²³Then Joab went to Geshur and brought Absalom back to Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 13:37-38 NLT
³⁷And David mourned many days for his son Amnon.
Absalom fled to his grandfather, Talmai son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur. ³⁸He stayed there in Geshur for three years.

Part one of Joab’s plan for reconciliation between David and Absalom.

²⁴But the king gave this order: “Absalom may go to his own house, but he must never come into my presence.”

This suggests that while David was moved to bring Absalom back, he was still unwilling to fully restore their relationship.

It reflects an unresolved tension—David’s love for his son and his role as king who must uphold justice for Amnon’s murder

David’s forgiveness is incomplete.

There does not seem to be heartfelt forgiveness and restoration.

The situation remains unresolved.

So Absalom did not see the king.

Absalom’s return without full reconciliation foreshadows the continued estrangement between father and son, which will later contribute to Absalom’s rebellion.

David’s forgiveness appears to be official but not personal.

²⁵Now Absalom was praised as the most handsome man in all Israel. He was flawless from head to foot.

Absalom was praised as the most handsome man in all Israel. He was flawless from head to foot. (Physical characteristics seemed to be overly important to the people of Israel.)

His physical description suggests he was physically attractive and was an influential individual, which likely contributed to his later popularity in Israel.

Physical characteristics seemed to be overly important to the people of Israel.

Remember King Saul?

1 Samuel 9:2 NLT
²His son Saul was the most handsome man in Israel—head and shoulders taller than anyone else in the land.

Saul was described as a valiant, courageous, and determined man.

These qualities didn’t keep Saul from being rejected by God.

1 Samuel 15:10-11 NLT
The Lord Rejects Saul
¹⁰Then the Lord said to Samuel, ¹¹“I am sorry that I ever made Saul king, for he has not been loyal to me and has refused to obey my command.”

²⁶He cut his hair only once a year, and then only because it was so heavy. When he weighed it out, it came to five pounds!

Apparently many people thought that Absalom’s hair was an asset to his appearance.

Hair was apparently a sign of great manly power.

The mention of Absalom’s heavy hair foreshadows his downfall in 2 Samuel 18:9, where his hair gets caught in a tree, leading to his death.

²⁷He had three sons and one daughter. His daughter’s name was Tamar, and she was very beautiful.

Absalom had three sons and one daughter. His daughter’s name was Tamar, and she was very beautiful.

Absalom named his daughter Tamar. Apparently she was named after his sister. This might indicate lingering sorrow over her mistreatment in 2 Samuel 13.

Verse 27 says that Absalom had three sons, but 18:18 says that he had no son to continue his name.

2 Samuel 18:18 NLT
¹⁸During his lifetime, Absalom had built a monument to himself in the King’s Valley, for he said, “I have no son to carry on my name.” He named the monument after himself, and it is known as Absalom’s Monument to this day.

Perhaps his three sons had died in infancy.

²⁸Absalom lived in Jerusalem for two years, but he never got to see the king.

Obviously, reconciliation had not taken place between David and Absalom.

Absalom was hurt by this rejection and appealed to Joab for help to resolve this uncomfortable relationship.

Absalom did not sense forgiveness from his father David.

²⁹Then Absalom sent for Joab to ask him to intercede for him, but Joab refused to come. Absalom sent for him a second time, but again Joab refused to come.

Joab had persuaded David to welcome Absalom back but now he backed off from assisting Absalom further.

Joab had helped Absalom return to Jerusalem, but he must have realized that David was still unwilling to fully reconcile with his son.

David continues to struggle with unresolved tensions—his love for his son demanding mercy and his role as king who must uphold justice for Amnon’s murder.

³⁰So Absalom said to his servants, “Go and set fire to Joab’s barley field, the field next to mine.” So they set his field on fire, as Absalom had commanded.

For two years, Absalom remains in Jerusalem without seeing David. Frustrated, he sent for Joab twice, but Joab refused to come to see Absalom. Absalom, determined to get Joab’s attention, sets Joab’s barley field on fire.

³¹Then Joab came to Absalom at his house and demanded, “Why did your servants set my field on fire?”

Losing his barley field would have been very costly for Joab.

Absalom did what he had to do to get Joab’s attention.

³²And Absalom replied, “Because I wanted you to ask the king why he brought me back from Geshur if he didn’t intend to see me. I might as well have stayed there. Let me see the king; if he finds me guilty of anything, then let him kill me.”

Absalom got Joab’s attention.

Absalom would have resented David’s treatment of him. Absalom would have felt like a prisoner in Jerusalem.

Absalom demanded either a full pardon and restoration or death. He was willing to suffer death for his murder of Amnon, or to receive a true pardon, but he felt that the present compromise was unbearable.

Absalom’s act of burning Joab’s field reveals his ambitious and forceful nature. It foreshadows his later rebellion, showing that he is willing to take extreme measures to get what he wants.

Note: There was no sign of repentance on Absalom’s part.

³³So Joab told the king what Absalom had said. Then at last David summoned Absalom, who came and bowed low before the king, and the king kissed him.

Joab finally agrees to bring Absalom before David.

Absalom bowing low was a sign of respect.

David kisses Absalom, symbolizing reconciliation. However, there is no indication of heartfelt repentance or resolution of past issues.

The lack of conversation, hugging or weeping suggests that this was a formal meeting rather than an affectionate reunion.

David’s outward gesture does not address the deeper conflict. This unresolved tension will lead to Absalom’s conspiracy against David in 2 Samuel 15.

By reinstating Absalom, David allows him to gain influence, which will later threaten his reign.

This passage highlights the complexities of forgiveness, unresolved conflict, and the consequences of a lack of true reconciliation. While Absalom is restored to Jerusalem, the estrangement between him and David remains, ultimately leading to further division and tragedy.

2 Samuel 12:10 NLT (Nathan speaking)
¹⁰From this time on, your family will live by the sword because you have despised me by taking Uriah’s wife to be your own.

David’s solution was to compromise. He tried to punish Absalom by keeping him in exile, but not executing him.

Then he allowed him to return to Jerusalem, but not to have fellowship with himself.

Both of these compromises failed and only made the relationship worse.

God’s solution is to be merciful, to forgive and welcome back warmly.

God forgave David.

2 Samuel 12:13 NLT
David Confesses His Guilt
¹³Then David confessed to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.”
Nathan replied, “Yes, but the Lord has forgiven you, and you won’t die for this sin.

God forgave David, but David still faced consequences for his behavior.

Despite these consequences, David’s relationship with God was restored.

David needs to forgive Absalom.

David needs to be like the father in the parable of the prodigal son.

Paul’s Labor for the Church (continued)

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Paul’s Labor for the Church (continued)

Introduction

Are there still unrevealed mysteries in the Bible?

Yes

The nature of the Trinity.

The identity of Melchizedek.

The Apostle Paul’s “Thorn in the Flesh”.

The End Times and the Book of Revelation.

The mystery of the timing of Christ’s return.

The mystery of God’s sovereignty and free will.

Etc.

Are there unrevealed mysteries in the Bible that we need to have revealed?

Colossians 2:1-7 NLT
^2:1 I want you to know how much I have agonized for you and for the church at Laodicea, and for many other believers who have never met me personally. ²I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself. ³In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
⁴I am telling you this so no one will deceive you with well-crafted arguments. ⁵For though I am far away from you, my heart is with you. And I rejoice that you are living as you should and that your faith in Christ is strong.
⁶And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. ⁷Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

Examine the Scriptures:

Paul’s Labor for the Church (continued)

Colossians 2:1-7 NLT

^2:1 I want you to know how much I have agonized for you and for the church

Paul agonized for the believers at Colossae and Laodicea.

Ministry can be hard.

at Laodicea,

There was a close relationship between the church at Colossae and the church at Laodicea.

The two cities were only 10-20 (approximately) miles apart.

The heresy in the Colossian church had spread to Laodicea.

While Paul does not explicitly define this heresy it was most likely a mix of Jewish legalism, Greek philosophy, and early Gnostic-like mysticism.

and for many other believers who have never met me personally.

The church at Colosse was not founded by Paul but was still very important to him.

The church in Colosse was likely established by Epaphras, a co-worker of Paul who was from that region.

The Apostle Paul did not visit Colosse as far as we know from the Bible.

While Paul wrote the letter to the Colossians, it is widely believed that he had never been to the city.

Paul cared deeply for the body of Christ.

²I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love.

Believers need encouragement.

Paul understood the importance of unity within the Church.

Love unifies the Church.

I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan,

Review from previous lesson:

In Scripture, a “mystery” or a “secret” frequently refers to something once concealed but now revealed.

A truth previously unknown or not fully understood but now revealed by God.

Many of the mysteries in the scriptures have been revealed to Believers.

1 Colossians 1:25-27 NLT
²⁵God has given me the responsibility of serving his church by proclaiming his entire message to you. ²⁶This message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to God’s people. ²⁷For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory.

Ephesians 3:6 NLT
⁶And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 3:16-19 NLT (Addressed to the Gentiles)
¹⁶I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. ¹⁷Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. ¹⁸And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. ¹⁹May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

The mystery revealed here is that Christ would dwell in Gentiles and deal with them on the same basis as He did Jews.

Paul wanted the churches at Colossae and Laodicea to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan.

Gentiles have access to the truths of the Gospel.

Promises to Gentiles (as well as to the Jews).

John 3:16 NLT
⁶“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

Ephesians 2:8-9 NLT
⁸God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. ⁹Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.

Romans 10:9 NLT
⁹If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan,
which is Christ himself.

³In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

1 Corinthians 1:24 NLT
²⁴But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Jesus Christ is the ultimate source of wisdom.

True wisdom is found in knowing Christ.

John 1:18 NLT
¹⁸No one has ever seen God. But the unique One (Christ), who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.

Hebrews 1:2-3 NLT
²And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. … ³The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, ….

Christ reveals God to man.

God speaks to us through His Son.

Most importantly:

John 14:6 NLT
⁶Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

⁴I am telling you this so no one will deceive you with well-crafted arguments.

How many times have we heard Paul make comments similar to this one?

What the false teachers were saying sounded right, but it was still false.

True wisdom is not found in human philosophy or traditions but in Christ Himself.

False teachers were having a negative impact on these churches, claiming to have special knowledge of the mysteries of God’s truth.

False teachings can sound appealing but must be tested against Scripture.

Paul insists that Christ is God’s mystery. All understanding is found in him.

⁵For though I am far away from you, my heart is with you. And I rejoice that you are living as you should and that your faith in Christ is strong.

⁶And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him.

Jesus Christ is Lord.

Put the following three verses together.

1 Corinthians 1:30 NLT
³⁰God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin.

Galatians 6:9 NLT
⁹So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.

Hebrews 12:1-2 NLT
^12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. ²We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith

Paul urges believers to remain anchored in the truth of Christ rather than being swayed by persuasive but empty philosophies.

⁷Let your roots grow down into him (Jesus), and let your lives be built on him.

Psalm 1:1-3 NLT
¹Oh, the joys of those who do not
follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners,
or join in with mockers.
²But they delight in the law of the Lord (The Scriptures),
meditating on it day and night.
³They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither,
and they prosper in all they do.

Spend time in the Word.

Spend time in prayer.

Be in community with other believers.

Spend time in the Word. Spend time in prayer. Be in community with other believers.

Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

Spiritual growth requires firm faith, continual learning, and thankfulness.

Christian growth is an ongoing process of deepening faith, maturity, and gratitude in Christ.

Joab Arranges for Absalom’s Return

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Introduction:

We are seeing King David as a man with two major roles. He was a remarkable ruler and military leader, but he was also a man who had significant struggles as a father.

This passage describes how Joab, King David’s military commander, orchestrates a plan to reconcile David with his estranged son, Absalom.

Here again, David leaves the initiative to others.

Both Joab and Jonadab, David’s nephews, have been giving counsel to David or his sons. I am suggesting that this is counsel that should have been coming from God to David.

James 1:5 NLT
⁵If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.

Psalm 32:8 NLT
The LORD says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.

James 3:17 NLT
¹⁷But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.

2 Samuel 14:1-20 NLT
Joab Arranges for Absalom’s Return
^14:1 Joab realized how much the king longed to see Absalom. ²So he sent for a woman from Tekoa who had a reputation for great wisdom. He said to her, “Pretend you are in mourning; wear mourning clothes and don’t put on lotions. Act like a woman who has been mourning for the dead for a long time. ³Then go to the king and tell him the story I am about to tell you.” Then Joab told her what to say.
⁴When the woman from Tekoa approached the king, she bowed with her face to the ground in deep respect and cried out, “O king! Help me!”
⁵“What’s the trouble?” the king asked.
“Alas, I am a widow!” she replied. “My husband is dead. ⁶My two sons had a fight out in the field. And since no one was there to stop it, one of them was killed. ⁷Now the rest of the family is demanding, ‘Let us have your son. We will execute him for murdering his brother. He doesn’t deserve to inherit his family’s property.’ They want to extinguish the only coal I have left, and my husband’s name and family will disappear from the face of the earth.”
⁸“Leave it to me,” the king told her. “Go home, and I’ll see to it that no one touches him.”
⁹“Oh, thank you, my lord the king,” the woman from Tekoa replied. “If you are criticized for helping me, let the blame fall on me and on my father’s house, and let the king and his throne be innocent.”
¹⁰“If anyone objects,” the king said, “bring him to me. I can assure you he will never harm you again!”
¹¹Then she said, “Please swear to me by the Lord your God that you won’t let anyone take vengeance against my son. I want no more bloodshed.”
“As surely as the Lord lives,” he replied, “not a hair on your son’s head will be disturbed!”
¹²“Please allow me to ask one more thing of my lord the king,” she said.“Go ahead and speak,” he responded.
¹³She replied, “Why don’t you do as much for the people of God as you have promised to do for me? You have convicted yourself in making this decision, because you have refused to bring home your own banished son. ¹⁴All of us must die eventually. Our lives are like water spilled out on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. But God does not just sweep life away; instead, he devises ways to bring us back when we have been separated from him.
¹⁵“I have come to plead with my lord the king because people have threatened me. I said to myself, ‘Perhaps the king will listen to me ¹⁶and rescue us from those who would cut us off from the inheritance God has given us. ¹⁷Yes, my lord the king will give us peace of mind again.’ I know that you are like an angel of God in discerning good from evil. May the Lord your God be with you.”
¹⁸“I must know one thing,” the king replied, “and tell me the truth.”
“Yes, my lord the king,” she responded.
¹⁹“Did Joab put you up to this?”
And the woman replied, “My lord the king, how can I deny it? Nobody can hide anything from you. Yes, Joab sent me and told me what to say. ²⁰He did it to place the matter before you in a different light. But you are as wise as an angel of God, and you understand everything that happens among us!”

Examine the Scriptures

2 Samuel 14:1-20 NLT
Joab Arranges for Absalom’s Return

^14:1 Joab realized how much the king longed to see Absalom.

2 Samuel 13:39 NLT
³⁹And King David, now reconciled to Amnon’s death, longed to be reunited with his son Absalom.

Joab, David’s military commander, and nephew, notices the king’s longing for Absalom but understands that David is unwilling to take the first step in reconciliation.

Here again, David leaves the initiative to others.

In verse 7 the parable that Joab made up implies that there may be strong exterior forces, public opinion, that made David hesitant to pardon his son.

⁷Now the rest of the family is demanding, ‘Let us have your son. We will execute him for murdering his brother. He doesn’t deserve to inherit his family’s property.’

Here the role of the king would have been different than the role of a father.

Joab may have been motivated by a concern for the political implications of the unresolved dispute between David and the son in line for the throne.

I’m surprised that it wasn’t Jonadab intervening to get something going between David and Absalom.

²So he sent for a woman from Tekoa who had a reputation for great wisdom.

Joab devises a plan to have Absalom reconciled with his father David.

Tekoa is in the Judean hills about 7-10 miles south of Jerusalem, near Bethlehem.

He said to her, “Pretend you are in mourning; wear mourning clothes and don’t put on lotions. Act like a woman who has been mourning for the dead for a long time. ³Then go to the king and tell him the story I am about to tell you.” Then Joab told her what to say.

Basically, Joab brings in an actress who shares a story with David that Joab made up which mirrors David’s situation.

Joab brings in an actress who shares a story with David that Joab made up.

⁴When the woman from Tekoa approached the king, she bowed with her face to the ground in deep respect and cried out, “O king! Help me!”

⁵“What’s the trouble?” the king asked.

This woman is clearly a good actor and is able to tell a convincing story.

“Alas, I am a widow!” she replied. “My husband is dead. ⁶My two sons had a fight out in the field. And since no one was there to stop it, one of them was killed. ⁷Now the rest of the family is demanding, ‘Let us have your son. We will execute him for murdering his brother.

Numbers 35:31 NLT
³¹… murderers must always be put to death.

It was customary in Israel for a murder victim’s next of kin to avenge the blood of his relative by putting the murderer to death.

The role of a king.

He doesn’t deserve to inherit his family’s property.’

Note: Absalom is next in line as David’s heir.

They want to extinguish the only coal I have left, and my husband’s name and family will disappear from the face of the earth.”

The woman, pretending to be a grieving widow, tells David that one of her sons killed the other in a quarrel, and now her family demands justice by executing the remaining son. She pleads for mercy, arguing that executing her only living son would leave her without an heir.

The execution of her son would leave the widow totally desolate.

David’s role as a father.

⁸“Leave it to me,” the king told her. “Go home, and I’ll see to it that no one touches him.”

David was touched by the widow’s story.

David, moved by the story, promises protection for her son, showing his inclination toward mercy rather than strict justice.

In the case presented blood revenge would wipe out the entire family line, which was something Israelite law and the custom tried to avoid if at all possible.

David certainly had received God’s mercy in place of God’s strict justice as called for in Old Testament Law.

⁹“Oh, thank you, my lord the king,” the woman from Tekoa replied. “If you are criticized for helping me, let the blame fall on me and on my father’s house, and let the king and his throne be innocent.”

Theoretically, David could be accused of preventing justice from being carried out.

Numbers 35:31 NLT
³¹… murderers must always be put to death.

The role of a king.

The woman now presses David for a greater commitment of protection.

¹⁰“If anyone objects,” the king said, “bring him to me. I can assure you he will never harm you again!”

¹¹Then she said, “Please swear to me by the Lord your God that you won’t let anyone take vengeance against my son. I want no more bloodshed.”

The woman wanted David to confirm his promise with an oath in the Lord’s name.

“As surely as the Lord lives,” he replied, “not a hair on your son’s head will be disturbed!”

David responded with a solemn oath. This binds David to his commitment.

¹²“Please allow me to ask one more thing of my lord the king,” she said.
“Go ahead and speak,” he responded.
¹³She replied, “Why don’t you do as much for the people of God as you have promised to do for me?

Many of the people of Israel would have liked to see Absalom pardoned and returned to Jerusalem.

You have convicted yourself in making this decision, because you have refused to bring home your own banished son.

After securing David’s sympathetic response, the woman shifts the discussion to David’s own situation, subtly accusing him of inconsistency. If David can show mercy to a fictional son, why not extend the same mercy to his real son, Absalom? She emphasizes God’s mercy, suggesting that He devises ways to bring back those who are estranged from Him. This reflects God’s redemptive nature and foreshadows themes of reconciliation in the New Testament.

In granting amnesty to an unknown murderer, it was now incumbent on David that he do the same for his own son Absalom.

David convicted himself in making this decision, because he had refused to bring home his own banished son. (V. 13)

¹⁴All of us must die eventually. Our lives are like water spilled out on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again.

Death is irreversible.

But God does not just sweep life away; instead, he devises ways to bring us back when we have been separated from him.

God is in the business of reconciliation, always seeking ways to restore the lost rather than cut them off forever.

God is in the business of reconciliation.

¹⁵“I have come to plead with my lord the king because people have threatened me. I said to myself, ‘Perhaps the king will listen to me ¹⁶and rescue us from those who would cut us off from the inheritance God has given us.

This represents the people David feared who resented what Absalom had done and would have stood against a pardon for him.

¹⁷Yes, my lord the king will give us peace of mind again.’ I know that you are like an angel of God in discerning good from evil. May the Lord your God be with you.”

¹⁸“I must know one thing,” the king replied, “and tell me the truth.”
“Yes, my lord the king,” she responded.

¹⁹“Did Joab put you up to this?”

And the woman replied, “My lord the king, how can I deny it? Nobody can hide anything from you. Yes, Joab sent me and told me what to say.

David now realizes that Joab orchestrated this entire plea. The woman admits it, acknowledging Joab’s wisdom and strategy.

²⁰He did it to place the matter before you in a different light.

Joab’s intervention demonstrates his political astuteness—he understands the necessity of bringing Absalom back, not just for David’s personal reconciliation but for the stability of the kingdom.

But you are as wise as an angel of God, and you understand everything that happens among us!”

To be continued:

Joab’s scheme successfully persuades David to bring Absalom back, but the reconciliation is incomplete. Reconciliation requires repentance and transformation, which Absalom lacks. This passage sets the stage for further tension between David and Absalom, leading to Absalom’s rebellion.

Seeking His Kingdom Ministries blog

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Joab Arranges for Absalom’s Return