The Problem of Self-Righteous Judgment

The Problem of Self-Righteous Judgment
Words of Faith 3-11-25
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2025
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

2 Samuel 16:15-23
[15] Meanwhile, Absalom and all the men of Israel came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him. [16] Then Hushai the Arkite, David's friend, went to Absalom and said to him, "Long live the king! Long live the king!" [17] Absalom asked Hushai, "Is this the love you show your friend? Why didn't you go with your friend?" [18] Hushai said to Absalom, "No, the one chosen by the LORD, by these people, and by all the men of Israel--his I will be, and I will remain with him. [19] Furthermore, whom should I serve? Should I not serve the son? Just as I served your father, so I will serve you." [20] Absalom said to Ahithophel, "Give us your advice. What should we do?" [21] Ahithophel answered, "Lie with your father's concubines whom he left to take care of the palace. Then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself a stench in your father's nostrils, and the hands of everyone with you will be strengthened." [22] So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he lay with his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel. [23] Now in those days the advice Ahithophel gave was like that of one who inquires of God. That was how both David and Absalom regarded all of Ahithophel's advice.

As the rebellious Absalom arrived in Jerusalem, Ahithophel, who had deserted David, came along as well. They ran into Hushai, who had been sent back to Jerusalem as a spy. Absalom questioned the sincerity of Hushai's greeting, but he insisted that he was there to "serve the son." His mission, contradictory to the counsel of Ahithophel, Absalom's chief adviser, would be implemented later.
Ahithophel, who had once been David's close advisor, gave some horrific advice to Absalom-- to publicly have sexual relations with his father's ten concubines who had been left behind to take care of the palace. A tent was set up for this purpose on the very rooftop from which David had seen Bathsheba. Such an outrageous action would have strengthened Absalom's followers, making it clear that he was claiming the throne. Nathan had prophesied that because of David's sin, another man would sleep with his wives. Now, this awful prophecy had come to pass.
This lustful triumphalism took place within sight of the Tabernacle and Ark of the Covenant. A terrible blight upon the City of David illustrates the utter failure of self-righteous indignation and judgment.
Of course, all this started with the sin of David-- his decision not only to commit adultery but to murder the husband of his mistress. However, the deep rift between David and Absalom was rooted in judgmental rejection.
When Absalom had been so enraged by the incestuous rape of his sister Tamar that he murdered his half-brother Amnon, David had never fully forgiven him. He gave Absalom the "silent treatment" for two years, not even allowing him to come to the palace. Now, Absalom engaged in the public rape of his father's ten concubines-- on the roof of the palace he had been banned from-- for the express purpose of humiliating David. And it all started with a "moral indignation" within the family.
Clearly, something was broken deep within Absalom that led him to do such a thing. More than anything, Absalom had needed his father's love and affirmation. Now, in the emotional wreckage that came out of that rejection, Absalom was doing the very things he hated the most!
Jesus asked the timeless question-- "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? [4] How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye (Matt. 7:3-4)?
There is no place for self-righteous judgments in this world. Absalom judged and rejected Amnon's sin. David judged and rejected Absalom, refusing to forgive him. Now, Absalom's rebellion resulted in a crime against ten innocents and really against all the people.
The Apostle Paul said of himself that he was "shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life" (1 Tim. 1:16). Self-righteous judgments never lead another person to receive eternal life. Only a spirit of humility that recognizes that we are "chief among sinners" will display the true wonder of God's mercy and the grace of the Lord Jesus.
Have you found yourself having feelings of self-righteous judgment? Have you been tempted to act or speak in self-righteous indignation? The Bible is clear. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. We are justified only by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus (Romans 3:23-24). At our very best, we are "chief among sinners" called by the grace of Jesus to stand in His righteousness and be ministers of reconciliation.

Father God, keep me mindful of the great debt that You paid so that I might have life. Keep me aware of the desperate need of those around me for the life and grace that only You can give. Use me to make the appeal of grace on Your behalf. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2025
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
SUBSCRIPTIONS - To receive the Words of Faith devotion five days a week, send an e-mail message addressed to join-words-of-faith@hub.xc.org. To stop receiving Words of Faith, send an e-mail message addressed to unsubscribe-words-of-faith@hub.xc.org. The daily devotion and archive are posted at https://www.faithfellowshipweb.com/blog
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2025 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.