I Cried and He Answered

Listen to sermon here.

Sermon Outline

Intro: Two of The Three “C’s”

• Covenants (God made a promise He is going to keep)
• Crashes (David is still paying the consequences of His bad decisions)
• NO Coronations in this passage :)

Point 1: Absalom’s Increase (15:1-13)

• Absalom conned people in Jerusalem (15:1-6)
• Absalom convinced Hebron to hail him king (15:7-11)
• Absalom confiscated David’s counselor (15:12)
• Absalom coddled the men of Israel (15:13)

Point 2:  David’s Disappearance (15:14-30)

• David fled Jerusalem with his household (15:14-17)
• David’s foreign friends remained loyal (15:18-22)
• David and his faithful friends wept on their way (15:23)
• David did not forget his mistakes (15:24-29)
• David’s flight was filled with sorrow (15:30)

Point 3:  The LORD’s Faithfulness (15:31-37)

• God acknowledged David’s cry, sending help (15:31-32)
• God answered David’s cry, in an unexpected way (15:33-37)

Close: David’s Cry, God’s Answer (Psalm 3:1-8)

• David prayed in his desperate need (3:1-2)
• David preached truth about God to himself (3:3)
• David pleaded with the LORD (3:4)
• David proceeded to sleep, resting in God (3:5)
• David pronounced that he was no longer afraid (3:6)
• David proclaimed God’s salvation and blessing (3:7-8)

Application

• When your influence no longer seems to have any effect…
• When your own family member seems to become your worst enemy…
• When your steps are filled with tears, sorrow, fear, concern and you are being brought low…

Cry Out To God (Psalm 3)

• Remember who God is
• Recount what God has done
• Rest knowing God is already at work 
• Renew your confidence in living for God and telling others about God

Do Not Fear (Rom 8:33-39)

• We are God’s elect (claimed by Him forever)
• We are justified by God (declared righteous; judgment)
• We are secure in Christ, and prayed for by Christ
• We are unable to be separated from the love of Christ

Trust His Ways & Be Thankful (2 Sam 15; Ps 3; Rom 8)

• Our prayers are heard by a loving God
• Our answers to prayer come from a creative God
• Our enemies may never go away, we still have a good God
• Our confidence is not in our circumstances, but in a saving, protecting, glorious and encouraging God