A False Friend and An Honest Foe | 2 Samuel 16:1-14

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INTRODUCTION

Life has a way of revealing the difference between the people who genuinely love us and the people who merely benefit from us. That is precisely the situation confronting David in 2 Samuel 16.

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Before we dig in, here’s my sermon summary:

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In the darkest hour of Absalom’s _________________, David ______________ two men linked to Saul’s house. Ziba appears as a generous ____________, bringing provisions and a damning report about Mephibosheth; Shimei appears as an open __________, cursing and stone-throwing. David _______________ the false friend’s story too quickly and _______________ the honest foe’s curses with remarkable restraint and trust in God’s sovereignty. These verses expose the ___________ of flattering loyalty, the _________ of transparent opposition, and the __________ to humble submission under God’s hand. In times or seasons of crisis, a false friend’s flattery can _____________ us more dangerously than an honest foe’s open hostility, but the wise heart looks past both to the ______________ hand of God and __________ with discernment, restraint, and hope. One last thing: when life brings us low, ___________ tempts us to judge rashly and _______________ tempts us to strike back but the ____________ heart sifts every voice for truth, lays down the sword, and _______________ its vindication to the

God who sees, as Jesus did for us.

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I. The __________ friend: when generosity ____________ an agenda (16:1-4)

 

A. A __________ with a _______________ (16:1–2)

 

Flattery rarely arrives empty-handed. It usually comes wrapped in something we truly need, at the very moment we are least able to examine it.

 

B. A slander ________________ as loyalty (16:3)

 

C. A verdict __________________ in haste (16:4)

 

Remember: the most dangerous gifts are not the ones offered to the strong, but the ones offered to the weary.

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Applications:

 

Test the gift by what __________________ with it.

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Do not ______________ the big things in the valley.

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Search your own _____________ for Ziba.

 

II. The ___________ foe: when _______________ touches a real wound (16:5–8)

 

A. The curse that ____________ the king of his honor (16:5–6)

 

B. An accusation half _________ and half _____________ (16:7–8)

 

Applications:

 

Do not ______________ the message because you ________________ the messenger.

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Sift the ____________ from the __________________.

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Remember that __________________ cuts both ways.

 

III. The ____________ king: when ___________________ is left to God (16:9–14)

 

A. __________________ the sword (16:9–10)

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B. Reading ___________________ humbly (16:11)

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C. ________________ in the God who sees (16:12)

 

D. ______________ on and ________________ rest (16:13–14)

 

Sometimes faithfulness looks like a great victory. Sometimes faithfulness looks like simply walking on while the stones fly.

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Applications:

 

Put away the _______________.

 

Not ________________ is not the same as not ___________________.

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Entrust your _________________ to the eyes of God.​

 

CONCLUSION/INVITATION

What can we take with us this morning?

 

Lesson 1: Not every gift is a _________________.

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Lesson 2: Not every wound is a ______________.

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Lesson 3: _________________ belongs to God.

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Lesson 4: The God who sees will give you ________.