1 Father’s Day 2021 Pastor James Foley – Shared Sunday, June 20, 2021 INTRODUCTION Happy Father’s Day! It is my honor to share with you this morning. I want to offer a message that has broad application for everyone in the sound of my voice, though it is primarily directed to those who are fathers (e.g., biologically, adoptively, spiritually and/or in the foster system). May the Lord give us ears to hear what He is speaking in this hour! SETTING THE STAGE PT. 1 NOTE 1 – David is a central figure in the pages of Scripture. It would be impossible for me—as a pastor and teacher— to exaggerate his impact upon biblical history. If you are a student of Scripture in any way, it will not take long for you to come across the record of his life and sense his place among the “greats” of the Bible… Q. How many in the sound of my voice have heard of David before? NOTE 2 – Allow me to note that David enjoyed great success in a number of areas in life… a) Success in Battle & Military Exploits (e.g., David v. Goliath – 1 Sam. 17) b) Success in Kingship (Unified the Kingdom and Established Jerusalem – 2 Sam. 5–6) c) Success in Biblical Contribution (75 of the 150 Psalms Are Attributed to David – Psalm 23) d) Success in His Relationship with God (“A Man After God’s Own Heart” – 1 Sam 13:14; Acts 13:22) e) Success in the Unfolding Plan and Purpose of God (2 Sam. 7 – Everlasting Dynasty in Christ) We could go on with this listing and it would be time well spent! Yet, the following point is equally true… KEY – David enjoyed little success in the raising of godly children… SETTING THE STAGE PT. 2 On this Father’s Day we do well to consider the “whole testimony of Scripture” regarding the life of King David (i.e., the good, the bad and the ugly)! You see, the Bible presents its characters in their “fullness” that we might learn from them, underscoring the principle espoused by Paul in the following passage… 2 Timothy 3:16–17 (NIV, Emphasis Mine) 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuKing, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. FYI – This morning we are going to take a long, painful looK at the relationship between David and several of his sons, gleaning what we may learn as fathers, parents, and followers of Christ Jesus. As we delve in, let us take some time to establish the following historical foundation. Please take note of the following… 2 THE CHILDREN OF DAVID PT. 1 Scripture records that David had four child-producing wives and an unknown number of concubines. From his marital unions, the Bible names nineteen sons and one daughter, Tamar. If we count the son who died in infancy after having been conceived through David’s adultery with Bathsheba (2 Sam. 12:16–23), David had at least twenty-one children by his wives and an unKnown number by his concubines (1 Chron. 3:9). Of these many children, emphasis is placed upon only a small selection of sons—three of which we will address at this time… 1) Amnon Amnon was the firstborn son of David. He is revealed in Scripture to be a man of low character and driven by lustful desires. He became obsessed with his half-sister Tamar and lured her into his room on false pretenses to rape her. He was murdered in revenge by Tamar’s full-brother, Absalom (2 Sam. 13). 2) Absalom Third in line, Absalom was one of David’s most notorious sons. Scripture reveals that Absalom was handsome (2 Sam. 14:25): “In all Israel there was not a man so highly praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom. From the top of his head to the sole of his foot there was no blemish in him.” However, he was also hot- tempered and power-hungry. He plotted out the murder of his half-brother Amnon to avenge the rape of his sister (2 Sam. 13), and then he plotted to steal the throne of his father, David. He drew a following in Jerusalem, forcing David to flee from the city (2 Sam 15). To help complete his coup, Absalom had sex with his father’s concubines in public view (i.e., he who controlled the royal harem controlled the nation). In time, he was Killed by the commander of David’s army, Joab (2 Sam. 18). 3) Adonijah David’s fourth son, Adonijah was Known to be handsome yet undisciplined (1 Kings 1:6b). He is Known for his failed attempt to become King of Israel after the death of David (1 Kings 1:9). He was eventually executed by his half-brother Solomon, the rightful King, for continued insurrection and attempts to usurp the throne (1 Kings 2:13–25). THE CHILDREN OF DAVID PT. 2 KEY – We see something tragic in the lives of these sons of David. Namely, they were sons given to shameful misdeeds, including but not limited to a) sexual immorality; b) the devising of cunning plots and evil schemes; c) the manipulation of innocent parties unto tragic ends; d) the utilization of violence and murder; and e) usurping that which rightly belongs to another [ELABORATE]. These are serious crimes against God and humanity! Q. What accounts for their treacherous and heinous acts? A. Of course, I posit that they bore personal responsibility and culpability for their actions before God. They were free moral agents who chose to depart from the ways of the Lord unto evil ends, so they certainly had themselves to blame! However, the Bible strongly indicates that their sins were the manifestations and expansions of those sins present in the life of David himself. Thus… 3 POLLUTION #1 – It would seem that they were negatively influenced by the POLLUTED example of their father, David. NOTE 1 – It is amazing that David’s generals and fellow-warriors emulated his sKill and prowess (insofar as the Bible details the “mighty men” of David cf. 2 Sam. 23) while his sons emulated his failings. It would seem that children do not copy professional capacity but character. It is as if these sons, Amnon, Absalom and Adonijah, produced the spoiled fruit of seeds planted in the life of their father! NOTE 2 – When you study the record of King David’s greatest moral failure (i.e., the incident with Bathsheba cf. 2 Sam. 11–12), you see the sins of the sons therein. Let us take some time to consider the parallels present within the biblical record… 1) Sexual Immorality The lust and immorality present in the life of Amnon find their root in the lust and immorality of David… 2 Samuel 11:2–5 2 One evening David got up from his bed and walKed around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, 3 and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” 4 Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her.(Now she was purifying herself from her monthly uncleanness.) Then she went bacK home. 5 The woman conceived and sent word to David, saying, “I am pregnant.” 2) Plotting and Cunning Schemes The plotting, cunning schemes of Amnon, Absalom and Adonijah find their roots in the example of David… 2 Samuel 11:6–13 6 So David sent this word to Joab: “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” And Joab sent him to David. 7 When Uriah came to him, David asKed him how Joab was, how the soldiers were and how the war was going. 8 Then David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” So Uriah left the palace, and a gift from the King was sent after him. 9 But Uriah slept at the entrance to the palace with all his master’s servants and did not go down to his house. 10 David was told, “Uriah did not go home.” So he asKed Uriah, “Haven’t you just come from a military campaign? Why didn’t you go home?” 11 Uriah said to David, “The arK and Israel and Judah are staying in tents, and my commander Joab and my lord’s men are camped in the open country. How could I go to my house to eat and drinK and make love to my wife? As surely as you live, I will not do such a thing!” 12 Then David said to him, “Stay here one more day, and tomorrow I will send you bacK.” So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day and the next. 13 At David’s invitation, he ate and dranK with him, and David made him drunK. But in the evening Uriah went out to sleep on his mat among his master’s servants; he did not go home. 4 3) Manipulation of the Innocent and Murder The manipulation of the innocent unto tragic ends and the use of murder by David’s sons started with him… 2 Samuel 11:14–17 14 In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. 15 In it he wrote, “Put Uriah out in front where the fighting is fiercest.