2 Samuel 19:9-43

Order of Service

• Announcements
• Opening Hymn — Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
• Call to Worship — Psalm 103:1-22
• Hymn — Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
• Prayer of Invocation
• Confession of Faith — Heidelberg Catechism, Question 54
• Scripture Reading — Acts 21:37–22:21
• Hymn — And Can It Be
• Pastoral Prayer
• Offering Prayer
• Hymn — Before the Throne of God Above
• Sermon
• Closing Hymn — O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus
• Benediction — Hebrews 13:20-21

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Sermon Title: Mere Confessors and True Confessors of the King

Scripture: 2 Samuel 19:9-43

I. Strength Versus Weakness

A. The opportunistic confessors ingratiate themselves to David through strength of numbers

1. Shimei returns with a thousand Benjaminites (2 Samuel 19:17)
2. Ziba rushes to meet David with 15 sons and 20 servants, symbols of power and influence in ancient Israel (2 Samuel 19:17)
3. The northern tribes boast of their ten shares in the king (2 Samuel 19:43)

B. The true confessors are depicted as weak and dependent

1. Mephibosheth is lame and dependent on his servant Ziba even to mount a donkey
2. Barzillai is aged and losing his faculties, described as physically diminished

C. Joni Eareckson Tada's paralysis illustrates the spiritual principle: weakness drives true dependence on God

1. Her testimony: "Paralysis is my greatest mercy"
2. 2 Corinthians 12:10 — "When I am weak, then I am strong"

D. Application: Where are you finding your strength — in numbers, accomplishments, and influence, or in leaning on Almighty God?

II. Pride Versus Humility

A. The opportunistic confessors are preoccupied with being first

1. Shimei hurries and claims to be the first of the house of Joseph to meet David (2 Samuel 19:20)
2. Ziba rushes down to the Jordan ahead of others (2 Samuel 19:17)
3. The northern tribes claim they were the first to speak of restoring the king (2 Samuel 19:43)

B. The true confessors are unconcerned with personal gain or position

1. Barzillai declines David's invitation to Jerusalem, not wanting to be a burden (2 Samuel 19:34-36)
2. Mephibosheth says "Let Ziba take it all, since my Lord the King has come safely home" (2 Samuel 19:30)
3. Mephibosheth's response echoes the true mother before Solomon in 1 Kings 3 — the one who truly loves is willing to give up everything for the beloved

C. The great good news for the king's servants is that the king has come home safely

1. Psalm 20:6-8 — Israel prays for the king going into battle: "Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed"
2. John 16:28 — Christ says "I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father"
3. The King has passed through the wilderness of the cross and returned safely to the Father's right hand

D. Application: Mere confessors love Jesus for what he gives them; true confessors love Jesus and rejoice simply that he is victorious and enthroned

III. Hate Versus Love

A. Abishai and Joab represent overzealous confessors who run ahead of the king in exacting judgment

1. Abishai demands Shimei's execution for cursing the Lord's anointed (2 Samuel 19:21), just as he had in 2 Samuel 16
2. Joab previously killed Abner in vengeance, jeopardizing David's covenant and kingdom (2 Samuel 3)
3. David rebukes Abishai: "Shall anyone be put to death in Israel this day?" (2 Samuel 19:22)

B. Shimei's clemency is temporary — David knew his repentance was merely self-serving

1. In 1 Kings 2, David charges Solomon to bring Shimei to justice in due time
2. Judgment belongs to the king; servants must not act unilaterally

C. The parallel in the New Testament: James and John ask Jesus to call down fire on the Samaritans who rejected him (Luke 9:54); Jesus rebukes them

D. True confessors balance the justice of God with the love, mercy, and grace of God

1. Exodus 34:6 — "The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love"
2. The Hebrew word for loyal in 1 Kings 2:7 (David's charge to honor Barzillai's sons) is hesed — the same steadfast love God declares of himself
3. Romans 13:10 — Love is the fulfillment of the law
4. 1 Corinthians 13:13 — "The greatest of these is love"

E. Application: Do not let a hate-filled world draw you into responding in kind; love your enemies, for it is love that shatters hearts and places burning coals on their heads (Romans 12:20)

F. To true confessors — those who rest in weakness, walk in humility, and swim in the steadfast love of God — belongs the heavenly banquet, as Barzillai's sons were invited to eat at the king's table (1 Kings 2:7)