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Text: 2 Samuel 16:11-12
Guilt is a compelling thing. It’s universal. In some cultures, it’s stronger than in others. Dad’s question about being a good parent.
David is fleeing Jerusalem because his son Absalom has taken control of the country and forced his own dad into exile. Much of this has happened because of a series of David’s parental mistakes.
Sources of guilt
- Religious guilt
- Victim guilt – This is my fault.
- Survivor guilt
- Parent guilt
- Caregiver guilt
- State/Legal guilt
Results of guilt
- We’re not talking about good guilt here. We’re talking about weaponized guilt. Guilt is used to immobilize and suppress righteousness.
- Parental guilt forces you to accept things you shouldn’t accept
- Accept sin
- Let him alone, let him curse
- Causes you to abandon truths that you know
- Predators use guilt this way. The predator says, What I’m doing to you is your fault!
- The devil is a master at immobilizing people with guilt.
- Parental guilt burdens you with unreasonable standards
- There is no joy, just duties that you can never do enough of.
- Never accomplished, never doing enough.
- Prison, bondage
- Unnecessary sorrow – Matthew 23:1-4
- 2 Corinthians 2:4-11 accuser of the brethren get an advantage
- Religions can work this way where people feel guilty about things that have no bearing on reality. Don’t eat meat. Don’t marry. Things like that.
- Parental guilt makes life hard for people around you
- 1 Kings 2:8-9, 36-46 David will eventually leave what needs to be done with Shimei to Solomon. He will regret that he didn’t take care of the problem and made it now someone else’s problem.
Dealing with this guilt
- Stop your sin.
- Quit piling bad decisions on top of bad decisions
- Acknowledge your past sin but stand firm.
- Let your kids know you own your own guilt, but you also own the responsibility to do the right thing.
- Sinners have been put in charge of sinners since the beginning of humanity.
- Get to the truth of the matter.
- Consider how you’re inaction is affecting your family and the people around you.
- Get strength from the advocate, 1 John 2:1
