Msg #2025 Open Closed Doors

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

On this Father's Day we focus on a major failing of a father in our Bible, not to expose his failures but ours, and not to tarnish his character but to polish ours. Second Samuel 13 begins a two chapter narrative that depicts a major failing of a father named King David. These two chapters are about much more than David as a father, but for us today, that's it. Absalom, David's son, had a sister Tamar, David's daughter, who was raped by Amnon, another of David's sons and “King David...was very wroth” (13:21). A good father has an open door to his children. There is no circumstance in your children's lives that should slam that door shut. King David was so angry about this mess that for seven years no one could talk to him about it. He was frozen in anger. It was Absalom who delivers Tamar, took her to his house, and cared for her for two years of her father's angry silence. It is all to common that husbands and fathers have a topic that no one in the family dares to talk about openly. Men use this to silence and manipulate wives, sons, daughters, servants, et.al.. “Oh my, don't bring that up, he will go crazy.”

Absalom's corrective action causes massive miscommunication (13:30-36), and David “longed to go to Absalom”, but did not. The chapter closes with the door still shut. In chapter 14 people connive to push on the closed door, but David will not be reconciled to Absalom. In chapter 15 Absalom goes sour on King David, his failed father.

Fathers, keep communications open, and check for closed doors, they need opened. Do it before you word David's cry, “Would God I had died for thee my son Absalom” (18:33).

An Essay for week #25 Jun 21, 2020

Msg in audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/gs200621.mp3

Copyright © 2020 Good Samaritan Baptist Church, All Public Domain, Freely Copy and Distribute.
A weekly 300 word essay- The Penny Pulpit
Our mailing address is: