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2 Samuel 16 (Part 2) Bible Study | Pastor Daniel Batarseh · Bible Study with Pr. Daniel Batarseh | Verse by Verse Series | Maranatha Bible Church - Chicago

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I'm glad that you have the scriptures because in this
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particular study, you're going to benefit the most as your eyes
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are following with me, through the text.
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That's how you're going to benefit the most that's true for
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every service. But especially this one, because
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the text Will very much speak for itself and you're going to
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see some things that are very interesting that will bless you
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and maybe even challenge you to be more careful with your
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reading of the Bible. So, here we are.
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This is the scene that is presented before us tonight.
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David and his men have finally found a place a destination
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where they could receive refreshment and refuge from
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unforeseen on slots. And we know that they're at this
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place and they just recently David namely experience to
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specific types of attacks from two different kind of
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individuals, the first person who appeared to David at a very
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weak point was named what ziba and ziba came to David and
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convince them that mephibosheth was disloyal and betrayed him
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and through that gained a certain settlement.
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So Fish sleep. So David was deceived and not
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too long after that there's another individual that
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approaches David during the Wilderness.
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And his name is shammai and shammai was different from Ziva
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because he wasn't coming with conniving tactics, he was openly
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scorning him, rebuking him and slandering him with no shame.
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And David was just walking along absorbing all that was being
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said without without any plan to retaliate.
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Now, David is at the Jordan, he's with his men, he's with his
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family. At least some of his family and
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the scene shifts from David at the Jordan to Absalom entering
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into Jerusalem and that is where we're going to begin.
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And when we come to this portion of scripture and end chapter 16,
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what you're going to see is three individuals who will
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surface now. Including Lum and their
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interactions with one. Another have been clearly
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preserved by God for our instruction and that is
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precisely how we're going to approach this Bible study.
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You and I are just going to examine the actions of the
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separate individuals and see what it is.
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That God desires to tell us and teach us about us and about
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others. In light of his wisdom, his
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Revelation, his knowledge. And so, let's read and as we
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read, Us pause and consider each of these characters and analyze.
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What it is exactly that we can learn and benefit from them in
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order to be trained in righteousness, trained and
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discernment trained in godliness for the glory of Jesus Christ.
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So, you're in second, Samuel chapter 16, and we read here in
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verse 15, Now, Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel
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came to Jerusalem and a heath offal with him.
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And when who shy the, our kite David's friend.
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Came to Absalom who shine said to Absalom long live the king
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long live. The king and Absalom said to his
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shy. Is this your loyalty to your
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friend? Why did you not go with your
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friend? And as I said to Absalom, know,
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for whom the Lord and his people, and all the men of
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Israel have chosen his, I will be.
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And with him I will remain. And again, whom should.
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I serve? Should it not be his son as I
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have served your father. So I will serve you.
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These verses you're reminded with me that this was shy.
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David's friend is the same hushai that followed David Into
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the Wilderness and expressed his desire to remain with him.
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But we find who shy in Jerusalem.
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Why is he in Jerusalem now? Because David instructed him and
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assured him, that it would be more beneficial if he had went
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back to Jerusalem and played a certain role with the prayerful,
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hope that he would frustrate the counsel of ahithophel.
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So that is exactly why who shy is here.
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And he comes here. Which tells us that he is, he's
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definitely loyal to David, he loves David, the seems to be an
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honorable sacrifice a very risky one as well, there's no question
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about that. But what we can question or what
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can come up in debate is his method.
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Is his method? Read again, verse 17 and
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Absalom, excuse me, verse 16. When hoshide, the archive
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David's friend, came to Absalom who shines with Absalom long
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live, the king long live, the king and then, in verse 18, down
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to verse 19, he seems to be expressing his transfer of
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Allegiance from David. To Absalom.
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And here's what we have to do. We have to ask two questions at
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this point. The first question is this and
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I'm inviting you to answer. It is who shy being truthful
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here. Is he shy being truthful here?
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Or is this? The implementation of deception
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at work? Who says that this is, this is
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right? This is permissible.
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Hesitating hands. If he was thinking about David,
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then, perhaps. So remember, David was the one
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who commanded him, right? David was the one said go and
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play the part. Play the part, as though, you
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are a counselor to Absalom and then again, try to try to thwart
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the Council of a heath offal perhaps.
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And there are some, who would say so, Anybody want to argue
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against our dear brother? Or disagree with him.
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Kindly, the spirit of Christ likeness Is who shy being
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truthful? Some would say yes.
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Some would say no, some would say who shy is being very, very
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clever with his wording. With each verse where he shines
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something, I want you to consider how he is presenting
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himself to Absalom. Look at verse 16 again.
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What did he say? Long live the king long live?
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The king. Which king?
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Good points, right? Which king is a Long Live King
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Absalom that he know it's a long live.
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King Absalom long live the king. He could be referring to David.
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And it could be very true that in his own heart.
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He is declaring the true king to truly live.
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And to truly be preserved by God, interesting?
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Right? So it could be interpreted as
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Absalom Absalom interpreted that way, obviously, but it could
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also be understood as David. Heralding, his loyalty to the
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true king. Okay?
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Now, let's come back here in verse 18, and he's shy, said to
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Absalom, know for whom the Lord and thus people and all the men
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of Israel have chosen his Is I will be in with him.
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I will remain very interesting. You know why?
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Because he's doing what he did again.
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In verse 17, who shy is refusing to name names.
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He's not naming any names here, but what he is doing is he's
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identifying The Authority that he is submitting to buy one by
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one referring to the Lord in whom.
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The Lord has chosen whom the Lord, choose Absalom, David whom
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the Lord has chosen, who did the Lord really choose David?
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Then he goes on to say, who the people have chosen.
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And again, that's very ambiguous.
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He could be referring to whom the true and Discerning people
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of Israel have chosen which are Would be Again, David.
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And then verse 19 is where it gets a little tricky.
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Verse 19 would make this possibility less possible
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especially if you carry the ESV in your hands because look at
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verse 19, says. And again, whom should i serve
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Should it not be his son? As I served your father, so I
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will serve you. Who here doesn't have any SV.
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Who here has a King? James King, James who here has a
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new King James? It's okay.
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Who here has that nasb when any has be okay.
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Is there a word that sticks out in verse 19 that you did not
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hear me? Read in verse 19 of this text in
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the ESV presence. Is that not?
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The truth, is not the case presents.
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So how does it read and reads here and those different
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versions which are faithful translations as well?
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He says, should I not serve in the presence of his son?
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Should I not serve in the presence of his son following it
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up with as I've served in your father's presence?
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So I will be in your presence. I think that's an important word
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to make this case. He's not indicating, I will
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serve you directly but I will serve where in your presence is
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it possible for him to serve in the presence of Absalom though?
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Truly serving David. We can make that case.
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Is it possible for him to be in the presence of Absalom but
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truly seeking to honor God and righteousness?
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Yes absolutely. And so the conclusion that one
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can make is that who shies being intentionally ambiguous but then
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one can counter that and say true.
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But at the same time can we not say that he is being misleading?
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And I think that's an equally valid point and when I was
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looking at this and studying this what came to my mind is
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something that has come up in our Bible study before in
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different situations and this is the subject that we need to
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consider. Again, doesn't hurt to revisit
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it situational ethics, have you heard the term situation ethics
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situation? Ethics teaches that?
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There is no moral law. That is binding to all
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Circumstances. Meaning, it requires Discerning
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of the situation. To determine whether or not even
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unethical means should be implemented in order to achieve
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a greater good or avoid a greater evil.
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Does that make sense? That's, that's the theory of
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situation, ethics. And you have some people who
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really hold firm to that and you have even some Christians who
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might not Say that they hold to that but interpret the Bible in
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that way and apply God's word and God's law in that way.
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And they will use different language for.
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It's not, it's not the code of the law, it's the spirit of the
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law different things such as that to try to say that God's
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clear word about different situations.
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Cannot be rigid, there must be flexibility, depending upon the
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potential outcome of one's decision.
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And sometimes holding to God's law is not the best option or
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the most beneficial option in seeing Something good.
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Come out of it, for example. Can a man steal if he's trying
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to, you know, save his starving family.
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Can someone give themselves to an immoral act?
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If they are being threatened with further mistreatment or
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further imprisonment, And here's the most famous one, is it okay
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to lie? Sometimes, if in lying, we are
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protecting someone from being harmed or hurt.
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Now it's now it's coming close to home, right?
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And I can give you different real-life scenarios and
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situations that would make this much more difficult.
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To come to a conclusion. I think that's dangerous
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territory to tread on very dangerous territory to the tread
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on, because with our sinful Hearts, we are very capable of
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pushing the boundary and what you can have people doing is
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applying situation ethics to situations that are so obvious
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and so clear, but in the name of this will be a greater good or
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this will alleviate suffering or this will help with this.
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They're willing to dismiss anything that can be purchased
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interpreted as favorable or beneficial.
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Very dangerous territory tread on.
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And again, you have some people who hold to this view because
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they hold to this View. They even wanting to honor God's
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word will use proof text in the Bible to prove that sometimes in
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some circumstances with some situations God does allow a
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leniency with his law in order to achieve a greater good or
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avoid a greater evil. Can you give me some familiar
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stories that come to mind? Rahab Ray.
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What did Rahab do? She brought in the spies?
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She told them to go in a certain direction and then what, when
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the people came to ask about them, our brother just said it,
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she lied. She lied in order to protect
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God's men. And where people go from, there
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is even God affirms Rahab in the New Testament to confirm that
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sometimes this is applicable, can I show you the two texts?
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Because Raves only mentioned twice in the New Testament, as
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anybody know, which texture is mentioned in.
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Hebrews 11 is one where's the other one?
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Yes, but I'm pertaining to what she did in.
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Joshua James, go to Hebrews 11 quickly and I want you to see
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Hebrews 11 31, Here is the first mention of Rahab being praised
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for her faith. And this is what I said, Hebrews
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11 31 by faith Rahab. The Prostitute did not perish
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with those who were disobedient because she had given a
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friendly. Welcome to the spies.
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So she's being praised for her faith, because when the spies
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came to her front door, she embrace them, she welcomed them.
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And she preserve them. True.
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I go to James 225. Notice what is being said,
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notice what God is praising. And notice what he is omitting
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James 225 the second verse dealing with Rahab in Joshua and
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in the same way, was not also Rahab The Prostitute justified
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by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by
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another way. Okay, so in the two instances
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where she is mentioned in the New Testament, we are told that
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she had true faith in that she welcomed.
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The spies one, number two and James.
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She had true Faith because that fate had Works following it.
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And what were the works that she, again, received the
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messengers and then sent them out by another way.
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Is there any indication that God here is commending her lying?
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no, it's totally absent actually So, you see how we have to be
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very careful with how we divide the word of God, and how we
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interpret certain things. She is mentioned, she applauded.
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She is championed. But for specific things, her
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welcoming despise her, receiving the spies, and then her sending
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out the spies instead of giving up the spies.
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To the men in Jericho nothing about her being dishonest.
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Nothing about her. Saying what's not true nothing
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of the sort, okay, give me another scenario.
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That is often referred to concerning this situation.
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Ethics very good. The Hebrew midwives in Exodus
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chapter 1, you know the story. They were instructed by Pharaoh
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that when they were to help give birth in labor to the Hebrew
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woman that they were to kill certain Offspring, right?
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And they refused to do so. And when they refused to To do
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so. And they were asked, hey, what's
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going on here? Is that, you know, these Hebrew
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women, they're tough, they're tough and they're really, really
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fast at giving birth. So, by the time we get there, we
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just can't catch up. And then we're told that God
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blessed the Hebrew midwives by giving them families of Their
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Own. And here's how people can
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misinterpret. What's happening.
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God bless them because yes they did stand for truth but they did
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also have to lie in order to stand for truth.
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So you can see the equation here, how it can be problematic.
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But revisit Exodus 1 and go to 1:20 and see this with me.
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Notice, you got to be careful reading the scriptures.
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Exodus 1 verse 20, so God dealt well with the midwives and the
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people multiplied and grew very strong and because the midwives
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feared God, because they feared God.
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He gave them families. He gave them families know some
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might disagree with what I'm saying here.
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Because of the fruit of their actions, right?
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There was obvious blessings though they might have used
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questionable means to achieve righteousness.
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And we even come to shine, we realized that that the who shy
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comes very cleverly, right? And I really I can sense that
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he's doing the best that he can hear.
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God is going to honor. God is going to honor in that.
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He's going to vindicate, his servant, he's actually
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overthrow. I feel First Council through who
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shies presence in the courts. The way I look at it is that
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just because God is silent about something doesn't mean he's
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except sit, right? And just because he's quiet
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doesn't mean he affirms it. so when you take all these things
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into consideration, realize that the fruit coming out of it is
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because of God's mercy. More than anything else, his
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kindness, and his willingness to work.
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Sometimes through muddied means in order to achieve something
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that would glorify and honor him.
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It's a merciful thing, it's not a accepting thing.
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God doesn't justify dishonesty in certain situations.
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He Champions Truth at all times and in all places and in all
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situations, Now someone said and then they bring up certain
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situations. We what would you do if and what
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would you do? If what would you do if and I
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get it gets really complicated and what I loo to and perhaps
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you wouldn't agree with my application of is that I see the
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disciples promised by God that when they were to be put in a
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situation where they stand before, Governors and Kings,
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they were not to meditate on what they were to say, but they
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would trust the Holy Spirit would give him exactly.
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What they needed to say and Trust in his spontaneous
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Sovereign assistance and very difficult and complicated
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moments. And there are wonderful stories
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of that and Nazi Germany and other situations and other
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historical places where that was the case that the Holy Spirit
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somehow was able to in that moment in part A Certain with
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them a way of presenting yourself and the case or the
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scenario and and God got comes through.
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So it's interesting right? It's interesting to see this at
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play and I love how the Bible preserves this in order to show
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us that through human agency. See, which means through
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imperfect vessels. He often is he always is,
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merciful, and kind, when we try to honor him, that's what we can
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learn from her shy there. Know if he thought situational
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ethics was going to come from 2nd Samuel 16, but we must move
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on and we see Absalom and verse 17 and Absalom set to who shy.
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Is this your loyalty to your friend?
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Why did you not go out with your friend?
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Now despite the verbal confession long live, the king
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long live, the king NG Absalom was suspicious.
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He had his reservations. And the reservations that
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Absalom has here is actually praiseworthy concerning who shy,
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don't you think? I love how the reference.
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He gives the David is your friend twice.
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Is this how you treat your friend?
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Is this your loyalty to your friend?
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Why didn't you go to your friend, your friend, your
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friend? You know what, that tells me,
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this is what it tells me that there was something about who
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shies reputation in relation to David that made his current
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actions and behavior out of character.
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It was out of line, there's something off here and even
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Absalom could pick on the out of line, kind of behavior that who
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shy is demonstrating. And I think that is commendable
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for who shy extremely commendable.
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Because here's the picture the devotion, and the purity of his
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loyalty to King. David is something that you and
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I should aspire. To reflect in our devotion and
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loyalty to the Lord Jesus Christ.
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That's what I take out of it. That we should live.
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So constantly Let me, let me reserve my thoughts for after
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what I'm about to say. We should be so constant and so
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obvious with our loyalty to Christ.
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That to some degree, those of the world, even our enemies.
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Should not be mistaken that we belong to the son of God.
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We should orchestrate our lives in such a way that people can
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realize, though. They may not agree with us, they
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would at least realize and understand you really do belong
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to Jesus Christ. Don't you?
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You really take this man seriously your faith seriously
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and I can't think of anything more disheartening than to be in
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the presence of unbelievers in close proximity for a certain
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amount of time. And then never learned that I
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actually am a friend of Christ. That'd be so, disappointing to
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me. Not that.
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I would try to force anything but that if they know me close
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enough, if they know about my life, my family, my schedule, my
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my activities, my convictions and they can't come to the
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conclusion that I have an association with Jesus Christ
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that would break my heart. That would break my heart if I
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was too shy in this moment. And Absalom said this to me, I
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would try not to smirk. And I see this as David as a
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prophetic picture of Jesus Christ.
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And let me tell you, regardless of the accolades of this world,
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regardless of the positions in this life and that, whatever you
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can attain there is no greater badge of honor than for others
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to know that you supremely are loyal to Christ.
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There's nothing better than that.
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Nothing better than that. And the only way you can achieve
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such a place is when you are absolutely consumed with a
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desire to honor the Lord, in all things, I'm afraid that Zeal is
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missing in a lot of people. Zeal for God's house.
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Remember Christ. It was it was told that Zeal for
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your house, has consumed me you read of the psalmist in Psalm
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119 that tears were streaming down his face for what reason
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because they break your law. And so strive to buy the holy
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spirit's help to live with an absolute ambition to honor
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Christ. In all things in all ways, Don't
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Be Afraid, don't be shy, don't be timid.
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Don't be don't be intimidated by anybody about anything,
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especially when it comes to your Devotion to Christ.
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And what he has said in his word, He's Worthy.
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You know what? Thought came to mind?
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You might think it's not relevant, but I thought about
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it. Do you want to know?
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Or do you know the first category of people that will be
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thrown into hell? According to revelation, Right.
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Revelation 21 tells us that out of the list of people who will
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be thrown into the Lake of Fire. The first thing that is
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mentioned, are the Cowardly The Cowardly, not the murderer.
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Not the deceiver, not the sexual moral, not the greedy.
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Not the Pervert, the Cowardly now.
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That is not speaking about those who are who have a disposition
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of being timid. Or a little bit lower in tune,
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concerning their personality, the Cowardly, those who, when
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they come to a decision to either honor Christ or honor
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manner, honor of choose man or self.
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Those are the people who are listed first as being condemned
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for eternity, the Cowardly, don't be a coward.
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Be courageous for Christ, stand for Christ, no matter what it
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costs you. I don't care what the cost is.
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Christ is worthy of honor. He is worthy of honor.
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Be willing to lose friends. Be willing to lose family, be
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willing to lose your job, be willing to lose whatever you
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have to lose. That's how much Christ is
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Worthy. And I want to be his friend.
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His shine makes his case Absalom lets his guard down, and he
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allows them into his courts. And before we explore why, his
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doubts were so quickly, evaporated reminded here of ziba
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and David, I couldn't help, but make the connection.
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Why was David deceived by ziba? Because of two things, who
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remembers the two things. One, he was emotionally wounded
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and that played a role and we are susceptible to making ill
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judgments when we have been wounded in one way or another,
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especially by other people. And so after being wounded by
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one betrayal and one active distressed after the other, when
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the news came of another potential betrayal, he was just
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willing to absorb it and believe it emotional wound.
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Secondly, what was the second thing?
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Physically deficient he was drained.
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He was tired. It was a difficult day.
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And we also learn in different examples of the Bible, that,
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when we are in that place of being weak, we can also make bad
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judgments. We are foggy in our discernment,
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in our decision-making, abilities.
28:56
But Absalom is willing to believe who shy, not because he
29:02
was emotionally feeble, not because he was physically
29:06
depleted, and no way, no shape, no form, obviously. but what
29:12
wizard that contributed to his willingness to literally invite
29:18
The very thing that would lead to his downfall, any idea.
29:23
There was something occupying absalom's heart that made him
29:28
vulnerable to something that would actually be his very
29:32
detriment. If you want the answer, you're
29:35
going to be surprised of what reference I'm going to give you
29:39
Obadiah. When's the last time you were
29:41
told to turn to Obadiah. Obadiah, 1:3, Obadiah 1, verse
29:49
3, and you're going to get your answer. and when you're, when
29:52
you get there just Declare what you believe to be the answer
29:57
concerning Absalom? Who said it?
30:07
Did you hear it? What did what did the prophet
30:10
say concerning the people of Edom?
30:13
the if your heart is deceived you, he told that to a nation,
30:20
And prize relevant to the individual.
30:23
As much as it is to a nation and the fate of both is the same in
30:28
Adventureland inevitable downfall.
30:31
The pride of your heart has deceived you was Absalom a proud
30:35
man, there's no doubt about it, extremely proud and here's how
30:40
proud he was that when Housh I came forward with this
30:44
ambiguous. Presentation.
30:49
He automatically applied and assumed that he was speaking
30:53
about him. And he took one who shines said
30:58
and acknowledge himself in it, when we know that, it could very
31:03
well be something. Here's the lesson that you and I
31:09
can learn concerning this pride has away.
31:14
Of telling you about you and about others.
31:18
Something that is untrue. Pride, lies to you.
31:22
Pride exaggerate things to you Pride, Miss translates and
31:26
misinterprets events. And everything in between.
31:35
And that is precisely What's Happening Here with this man.
31:38
He interprets his eyes Words As for himself.
31:42
And here's the, here's the, the series, the sequence of what
31:45
Pride does, it begins with high fonts of yourself and those
31:49
thoughts of yourself create a belief system.
31:53
And that belief system again, makes you believe is about you.
31:56
About even God about things around you about how things play
32:00
out about other individuals. And then because you believe
32:03
that, if you believe that long enough you in that leave system,
32:06
end up inviting things into your life that end up destroying you.
32:14
And sometimes that discipline can come directly from God
32:17
because of like the edomites. They thought of themselves as
32:19
lofty and indestructible and nobody can penetrate their
32:23
Fortress. And God said, I'm going to deal
32:25
with you and show you how I can do it.
32:27
Or God will just allow the foolishness of your own Pride to
32:33
destroy whatever you think you can preserve by your might buy
32:37
your beauty by your gift, by your charisma.
32:39
And so Absalom here because of his pride opens the door for an
32:44
enemy to come in. It's quite frightening to
32:49
realize that. And so, living presence of the
32:56
Lord. Spill your heart out.
32:59
Glory constantly asked him to keep you long.
33:03
Ask him to keep his the scariest thing about deception as you
33:05
don't know, you're being deceived That's the nature of
33:09
deception. It's very difficult for somebody
33:12
to realize, I'm deceived right now.
33:14
The whole, the whole thing about deception is you think you're
33:17
right? You think you're in the right,
33:20
you think you're headed the right way?
33:23
And so stay low, stay close, stay under the word.
33:28
Stay in the presence of the Lord, stay with people in your
33:30
life that are not afraid to. Look at you and say brother and
33:33
call you out sister and say something to you.
33:38
But there's something else at play here.
33:41
Absalom. And one way is being deceived.
33:44
He's being tricked. Do you remember how Absalom?
33:49
Got his revenge against his half-brother amnion.
33:54
What did he do? He deceived them, he invited him
34:01
for what he said, would be a feast.
34:05
And he had his brother killed when he was supposed to be
34:09
celebrating with him and his brothers.
34:13
The Bible has a phrase about this whatever men's Souls that
34:17
he will also reap. This meant the seed somebody and
34:21
had him kill through the deception.
34:23
And now we have somebody coming to him cloaked and it will be
34:25
his death sentence. It's incredible.
34:28
How you see this play out. It's actually frightening to see
34:31
house. Housos precise, God is in.
34:35
Fulfilling his promises the laws that he is established in our
34:38
universe. This is what we learned from
34:41
Absalom right now. We come to our final characters,
34:44
a name that you've heard before. It's someone that you're
34:46
familiar with at this point of the story.
34:49
But for the first time, you're actually going to see and hear
34:52
his words, you've never heard from him, you never, you never
34:56
seen what he was saying, or how he thinks, but you've seen his
35:00
name, and you've seen his actions but now his mouth will
35:03
open. And that's what we see here in
35:05
verse 20. Then Absalom said that he felt
35:07
full, that's the person were speaking of he said to Annie
35:10
filfil, give your counsel What shall we do?
35:16
And he felt for said to Absalom, go into your father's concubines
35:21
whom he has left to keep the house and all Israel will hear
35:24
that you have made yourself a stench to your father and the
35:27
hands of all who are with you will be strengthened.
35:32
So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, by the way,
35:37
where did everything begin for? David's downfall?
35:41
On the roof. I wonder if it's the very same
35:44
roof. Whenever a man Souls that he
35:48
will also reap. On the roof and Absalom went
35:52
into his father's. Concubines in the sight of all
35:55
Israel. Okay.
35:58
Absalom very ambitious. His heart is inflamed, he wants
36:03
to secure his throne as quickly as possible and so he doesn't
36:07
hesitate to turn to I feel full and he asked this praise
36:12
consulted of the Kingdom. What do I got to do next without
36:16
skipping a beat and he focuses, take your father's concubines
36:21
and sleep with them and do it in such a way where everybody knows
36:24
about it, right? Let it be something that the
36:27
nation. Earns.
36:29
Now, at first, if you're unfamiliar with what's happening
36:32
here, you would think that this is a very strange, very, very
36:35
strange military strategy. What does this have to do with
36:39
anything and as absurd as it might be?
36:42
It's actually very political. It's not just, it's not just an
36:47
act of Revenge, it's actually very much a strategy because you
36:51
remember at one point in this study of our body, of our Bible
36:54
and the Book of second Samuel, we learn at one point that in
36:57
this time when In a kingdom would be transferred to another
37:00
kingdom or when a king would succeed.
37:02
Another one part of that would be the Trent of the previous
37:06
Kings Haram over to the new king because unfortunately all the
37:11
property including concubines people.
37:15
Would be now spoil or would be transferred over to a new
37:19
government. And so what you have going on
37:22
here is a statement and the statement is this by taking
37:27
David's concubines, Absalom was declaring that a Revolution was
37:30
here and that there is a new figure, there is a new what a
37:35
new King on the throne. So that is what you that is what
37:39
You observe. That is what you're seeing here.
37:41
That this is a statement of a grab of power.
37:45
All of this is now mine. And it was really a point of no
37:50
return. This was kind of like a signing
37:53
off. This is a very bold bold, bold
37:57
move made by Absalom At the same time.
38:02
Think about it. We know that God does not
38:06
condone this kind of practice, despite the cultural practices
38:10
of the day. God does not promote this kind
38:14
of behavior, especially in sense, because that's what it
38:17
is. And so with that into
38:20
consideration, we have to we have to rethink about Eiffels
38:25
advice here. It makes you wonder that despite
38:29
how familiar these actions were to the kingdoms and the Nations
38:33
and the civilizations and the empires of that time.
38:37
If there is something personal in all of this, There is.
38:42
Actually, you would be safe to say that I felt was probably
38:47
going to get more gratification out of this than Absalom one.
38:52
Why would we make that conclusion because you have the
38:54
background? Knowledge of who I felt full is?
38:56
Don't you? Who is he He is the grandfather
39:01
of Bathsheba. That's what you learn.
39:04
At the end of the book of second Samuel, you learned that and he
39:06
fell for was related to Bathsheba it because he was
39:10
raided the related to Bathsheba. It helps us solve the mystery of
39:15
why this man joined Absalom. His heart is absolutely plagued
39:23
with bitterness. And In This Moment, he saw, I'm
39:30
sure he saw some kind of satisfaction. and being able to
39:36
witness, Some of David's woman being violated on the very same
39:42
roof, perhaps, with David saw Bathsheba took her for himself.
39:50
Is that possible? Absolutely.
39:54
Can unforgiveness drive a man to such Unthinkable unimaginable?
40:02
Behavior. Imagination entertainment.
40:06
You better believe it. And this is what we see.
40:09
We see a man here, who is unhinged?
40:11
We see a man here, who is given completely and totally to his
40:15
offense. And personal offense is one of
40:20
Satan's favorite doors to put his foot in and to crack wide
40:26
open so that he can have his way through through a person.
40:32
This man will be literally driven to Suicide.
40:36
We're going to read that in the coming weeks, but for now, we
40:40
see somebody that we never thought would stoop so low.
40:44
And what you have to understand then is that Those who are given
40:49
over to offense or bitterness. Our candidates.
40:55
For personal catastrophe and catastrophe and other people's
40:59
lives and it can come from what we see in our.
41:02
He felt was life when you have a family member that has been
41:08
sinned against or that has been violated or that has been hurt.
41:12
And you just vowed Vengeance. You did this to my brother.
41:15
You did this to my mother, you did this to my husband, you did
41:18
this to my wife. I will live with the absolute
41:21
ambition to make sure that you pay a price.
41:27
There's people like that. and there's people who can be
41:31
offended not by something as scandalous as this, but by,
41:36
Challenge. By rebuked by correction.
41:43
And they can Harbor things in their own hearts and that
41:46
Blossom, it is something that they never thought could be true
41:50
of themselves. Can I ask you a random question?
41:53
May seem random but it's not Why did Judas betray Jesus?
42:02
Humanly speaking. I know there's prophecy.
42:06
I know that God's providential plan was at work through Judas.
42:11
Humanly speaking. Say that again, money was one
42:17
thing. And here's the thing, we do not
42:20
know for sure. There is no certain answer to
42:26
this and you have different theories about it.
42:28
Can I give you one theory that you probably never heard of?
42:31
I thought it was a strange theory that Judas in wanting to
42:34
see Jesus, fulfill his political messiahship to ushering in the
42:41
Kingdom, that they were all longing for.
42:43
Cause this whole thing too, To happen in order to force a
42:47
rebellion from Jesus and his following strange
42:52
interpretation. But I believe humanly speaking.
42:57
There are many ingredients that contributed to it.
42:59
One of them, we just heard. He was very greedy.
43:02
Very Covetous. Any other reasons you think that
43:04
Judas betrayed Jesus? Pride.
43:08
Why would you say Pride? Okay.
43:15
So there's a pride element to that will explore that further
43:18
in a moment. That's another strong one.
43:26
Could it be that Judas at some point?
43:29
Realize This is not the Messiah that I thought the Messiah would
43:34
be. And here you have, you have
43:40
Jesus constantly talking about now, him dying being given over
43:44
to the hand of the elders. Messiah dying that doesn't work,
43:50
right? And so we have two strong
43:54
points, right? We have the greed element
43:56
because we know he sold Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.
44:01
We have the element of him being disappointed, where he learned
44:04
probably registered. This is not who I thought this
44:08
man was supposed to be in. This is not what I signed up
44:11
for. So let me get out of this while
44:13
I can and this is the perfect time because you have people who
44:18
want him dead. I really like money so I can
44:21
just sell him, get out of this thing and get out of it with
44:24
something. And I think those are very
44:28
strong valid conclusions. There's a potential other
44:34
ingredient. That's not often spoken of, and
44:36
where it comes from again. It's not dogmatic.
44:39
It's not for certain is not established as a non-negotiable
44:43
interpretation, but it's an ingredient that comes from the
44:46
Bible that stems from the timing of when Judas implemented his
44:54
initial plan to betray Jesus. Go to Matthew 26.
44:59
Matthew 26. In Matthew 26, I want us to
45:10
start in verse 14. This is where we learn What
45:14
Judas? Was known for.
45:18
We read here in verse 14 and then one of the twelve whose
45:21
name was Judas. Iscariot went to the chief
45:24
priests and said, what will you give me?
45:27
If I deliver him over to you and they paid him 30 pieces of
45:32
silver. And from that moment, he saw an
45:34
opportunity to betray him. Right?
45:36
There's a very important word in verse, 14.
45:38
Can you guess what? It is then?
45:42
Because that word hinges, what happened before with What's
45:44
Happening Here? What happened before?
45:47
What was it that occurred before Judas?
45:51
Or perhaps even inspired, Judas or triggered Judas to go and
45:54
seek opportunity to or at least a plan to betray?
45:58
Yes. The breaking of the alabaster
46:01
flask what happened, in the breaking of the alabaster flask.
46:04
We know the story very well. Mary of Bethany comes as an act
46:08
of worship. She takes her most expensive.
46:10
Ointment cracks it open pores it on Jesus head, and who's there
46:14
to criticize her. But we're told here, scroll back
46:17
and look at verse 8 and when the disciples saw it, when the
46:21
disciples saw it, they were indignant saying, why this waste
46:25
for this could have been sold for a large sum and given to the
46:28
poor. But Jesus aware of this said to
46:31
them. Why do you trouble the woman
46:33
for? She has done a beautiful thing
46:34
to me for you always have the poor with you but you will not
46:37
always have me. And pouring, this ointment on my
46:40
body, she has done it to prepare for burial.
46:42
Again, that might be Judaism, burial cave, talking about this
46:46
death thing. I'm not very happy with.
46:48
It could be, truly I say to you. Wherever this gospel is
46:52
proclaimed in the whole world. What she has done will also be
46:55
told in memory of her. I find that one of the most
46:57
astounding statements that Jesus makes in the gospels.
47:01
What this woman has done will be accompanied with the gospel
47:03
message. How often do you hear of Mary of
47:07
Bethany when the gospel is being taught?
47:09
Very interesting, right? It makes more sense.
47:13
Now, when we look at because after this, we're told in verse
47:16
14, then one of the twelve whose name was Judas goes into trees,
47:21
okay, go to John 12 and look at the perspective of John Matthew
47:28
Mark, Luke John when you come to John chapter 12 again this
47:33
record is here preserved for us but with a different detail.
47:39
Verse three. Married therefore took a pound
47:41
of expensive, ointment made from Pure nard and anointed the feet
47:45
of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair.
47:48
The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume but
47:51
Judas Iscariot Judas. Iscariot one of his disciples he
47:59
who was about to betray him said why was this ointment not sold
48:03
for three hundred denarii and given to the poor.
48:07
So who's the main voice here of complaint, it's Judas.
48:13
In fact, he's the instigator. He's the one who cracks this
48:18
thing open, and I believe he's the one that inflames the other
48:22
disciples to begin to complain and criticize.
48:25
Listen, complaining is like the common cold, it's very
48:28
contagious. It's very contagious murmuring
48:32
accusations pulling up the - and things that that's so easy, and
48:37
it's very, very much contagious. Even among Christians.
48:41
So Judas is the one who speaks up he goes.
48:44
This is a waste and you have the other disciples according to
48:47
Matthew's gospel saying, yeah, this is a waste John highlights
48:52
Judas. And then he by the spirit
48:55
reassures is that he's not doing this for the righteous reasons.
48:58
Or righteous reasonings, at least.
49:00
What do we learn? He said this in verse 6, not
49:02
because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief and
49:06
having charge of the money back, he used to help himself to what
49:09
was put into it. So this was not a misguided
49:15
thing that Judas was a was upset about, this was a missed
49:18
opportunity for Judas. That perfume was very expensive
49:24
and in giudices mind if that was just given over to him.
49:27
Because we are told here, the next verse, excuse me, we're
49:30
totally on this verse that. We just read that he was a
49:32
treasure of Jesus ministry. He was the one who took in all
49:36
the donations and count it and distributed it, you how to spend
49:40
it and knew how to give it out to the poor, he was assigned
49:42
that position. The treasurer of Jesus ministry.
49:46
But we are told that he would help himself to some of those
49:50
donations. And what he saw here was a large
49:52
sum that could have been given and a great opportunity to make
49:56
more personal profit. So Judas here is very upset and
50:02
I think the disciples can understand why he's upset
50:05
because again, of his position The giftedness that he
50:09
apparently had was administrative.
50:11
And so, you see this man upset that there was a wasted
50:14
opportunity to wasted charitable donation to the ministry of
50:18
Jesus. But look, what happens verse 7.
50:23
Jesus said, leave her alone. Who is he speaking to?
50:28
According to this context, who is he speaking to Judas?
50:32
Jesus said, leave her alone so that she may keep it for the day
50:35
of my burial for the poor. You always have with you, but
50:39
you don't always have me if you connect.
50:41
What's happening here with the timeline of Matthew.
50:46
Then what you have is Judas, who openly speaks, and who is openly
50:51
rebuked. and once he is corrected by Jesus, For his
51:00
wrong attitude, and his wrong perspective, Matthew tells us
51:04
that then one of the twelve goes to the chief priest.
51:11
I'm not saying, again, this is for certain, I'm not saying this
51:15
is conclusive. I'm just asking you to
51:17
potentially consider this ingredient among the other
51:21
obvious ingredients of why Judas betrayed, Jesus.
51:26
The timeline suggest that after he was openly corrected by the
51:30
Lord. All right.
51:33
You want to do that to me? And he finds the chief priest.
51:43
I wonder how much of personal offense played in.
51:48
The evil scheme of Judas. To betray the son of God.
51:56
I wonder if there was one ingredient among the other
51:58
ingredients and if it is the case, notice my wording.
52:02
If it is the case, if that is true, if that did play A Part,
52:06
then what a lesson about offense, How it has the
52:11
capability of driving us to places to decisions to ways of
52:15
thinking that are absolutely destructive?
52:19
And so many ways? And they can come from things
52:24
like a he fell for were a great crime was committed against
52:27
someone you love. And it can also come from when a
52:30
faithful person in your life. Speaks up for something that is
52:35
obviously wrong, but you just didn't like it.
52:40
Satan loves this kind of Open Door and what's so disturbing
52:44
about Judas? If again, if that is the case,
52:46
if that is an ingredient in this complicated matter and this not
52:51
so obvious. Reason of, why Judas did what he
52:55
did apart from what we know from prophecy and God's Sovereign
52:59
will over. These matters is that Jesus was
53:02
perfect. Jesus is sinless, everything
53:08
that Jesus did and everything, that Jesus said it was in
53:11
perfect alignment with the will and the character of the father
53:14
and if personal offense, if Being stung by loving rebuke is
53:22
a part of this. Then it teaches something.
53:26
How you feel, doesn't justify your actions.
53:30
Right. There are many people who do
53:33
certain things or behave in certain ways or make certain
53:35
decisions because of feelings. This made me feel a certain way.
53:40
This made me feel like this or not like that.
53:43
And so this is why I did this and this is why I'm going there.
53:46
This is a Your feelings don't matter as much as truth.
53:53
What is truth? What is true in this situation?
53:57
No matter what it does to you no matter how flares you up?
54:00
No matter what consequences follow is it true is what Jesus
54:05
said, true Judas. Some people justify things in
54:13
their minds. And they try to justify to
54:16
others when it really stems from selfishness and pride.
54:21
Ego being wounded. Which brings us perfectly to the
54:28
ending of our studying 2nd Samuel 16.
54:31
Let's go to the last verse of this chapter In verse 23, we
54:35
didn't read it, but we'll read it now.
54:40
After and he fulfilled gave this Council to Absalom.
54:44
There's a commentary about his advice generally, that is quite
54:48
interesting. Now, in those days, the council
54:52
that he fell for gave was as if one consulted the word of God.
55:00
So, was all the counsel of a he thoughtful is steam both by
55:04
David and Absalom. Can you think about anybody in
55:09
your life? That has such a reputation that
55:12
every time you speak to them, it's as though their word is as
55:17
trustworthy as God's word is. That is astounding. and it's not
55:24
just saying that Absalom had that view even David esteemed
55:28
and he fulfills advice as such there was something so
55:33
authoritative insightful. Profitable effective about his
55:40
past Council, obviously, that it was esteem that he had this
55:45
amazing reputation and yet with this reputation, you come to
55:51
this point where he gives advice to Absalom, and it's so contrary
55:55
to God's heart. And you look at this and you
56:00
wonder, right? You wonder if this is an
56:02
exaggeration that people had you wonder if Absalom and David saw
56:09
this about a heath offal And esteemed him for a time.
56:14
But now, as we read this at this point because of the bitterness,
56:17
that's occupying his heart, his counsel can be seen as very
56:22
questionable and very untrustworthy, meaning he just
56:25
went sour. Something happened along the
56:27
line, and it's obviously due to his sin.
56:30
Whatever the case, maybe here's the point that you and I can
56:33
apply to our own lives. Great Men, great resources, even
56:38
great Ministries. That might have bless us at one
56:41
point, the might be praised by others are not your ultimate
56:45
Authority. They're not.
56:49
God's word. Forever.
56:53
His word. Indoors for the ages.
56:57
This is what you fall upon. This is what you refer to.
57:00
This is what you ultimately submit to God's word and he felt
57:05
was will come and go but God's word remains forever.
57:08
And that's what you have to understand.
57:10
Right? Because I meet some Christians,
57:12
I meet some believe is good-hearted Believers and the
57:14
way they interpret the Bible and the way they apply certain
57:18
things in life and Ministry is this way well so-and-so.
57:21
And they refer to a very well-known minister.
57:24
So-and-so says that so-and-so believes that so-and-so
57:28
interprets that and that is the that is the case closed for
57:31
them. I think it is, it's important to
57:35
seek the advice and the council and the commentaries of others.
57:42
But when something is clearly violating, what is playing in
57:45
the Bible, you go with the Bible.
57:47
I know this is simple, but you'd be amazed to know how many
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people who Champion the word of God, whose Sola scriptura,
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right? And at the same time, the reason
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why I, where they are in their theological framework and their
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personal walk with the Lord is completely orchestrated by
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somebody who has certain letters behind their name or certain
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popularity on YouTube. That's not the way you go about
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your walk with the Lord. You come to the Bible and you
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reflect everything that is said, preach taught blogged about Is
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it written? Is it written?
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And at the same time, may also say that there are some people
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that might have blessed you and that you might have seen that
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one point. It's not a surprise.
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If they do end up failing you for disappointing, you Or
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veering off into different beliefs or perverting the
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scriptures in different ways. At some later time in life, it
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happened to a he filfil been to preachers and ministers today.
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What do you do? You stick to the word of God,
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you stick to the God, who doesn't change?
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You put your hope your love, your adoration, your trust in
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him, not in the people that come and go. and so, even though I
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felt was Council was esteemed in such a manner, oh, he is He is
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coming down. Headfirst and unless the mercy
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of God intervenes, he will crash and he will burn.
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And those who follow him, also Crash and Burn.
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And so, it seems as though, I felt from Absalom are winning at
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this point, but there are still a chapter 17, and there's still
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a chapter 18, and we will learn many, many wonderful things.
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And if you want to know how trustworthy God's word is, Then
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you know that what is happening here?
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Although we are getting the human vantage point is actually
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God's word being fulfilled. What do you mean?
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What did Nathan tell David when he initially confronted about
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his sin? Let me remind you go to chapter
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12 and this is where we'll end. Nathan prophesied and 12:11.
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Thus says, the Lord behold I will raise up evil against you
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out of your own house, and I will take your wives before your
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eyes and give them to your neighbor and he shall lie with
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your wives in the sight of the Sun.
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God's word is always true. You know what's funny here?
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Much time has passed from Nathan's prophetic word to the
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actual fulfillment, as what we see in absolute.
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Remember, it took many years for for Absalom to wait to kill em
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and then even more years for him to wait before he usurped
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authority of his father years, have gone by seemingly making
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Nathan's word unfulfilled but here we are.
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God's word is true. Though, it may be delayed.
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It is true. And the same way people are very
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indifferent about the truth of God's coming, judgment.
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It's true. and all might be fine and dandy though may be more
1:01:10
difficult to say that now in this time of History, But no
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matter what is happening and how promising things look and no
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matter what candidate seems to be our nation's Messiah.
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God's calendar. God's word supersedes over at
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all. And it will ultimately determine
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all the events that you and I are walking through in this
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life. Christian.
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If there's anything you took out of this Bible study, is this
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God's word? God's word, God's word, God's
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word, love it. Learn it preach it.
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And by his grace livid, let's pray.
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Well, we do love your word. and we do ask Laura with the things
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that we've heard today that you would you would change us.
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Well, we heard before the service even began that your
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precepts, make us wiser. Wiser than the age wiser than
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our teachers, wiser than those who claim human wisdom.
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We pray o God that we would not be foolish enough to hear these
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things and not ask you to show them where they work and where
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they're supposed to work in US. Oh Lord.
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If there is unforgiveness in any heart, may we not think that we
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can tame it. By thinking that we can leave it
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in our thoughts without it permeating, our actions, our
1:02:35
decisions. Our attitudes, Lord dig deep
1:02:38
inside and uproot these things and set us free set us
1:02:43
completely free Lord. And Lord make our hearts, make
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our hearts rock-solid to not be so easily, moved by the failures
1:02:52
of others. Lord, we ask that in difficult
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times. Where we don't know what to do
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in order to see a greater good, give us wisdom, wisdom of the
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spirit to know how to move forward.
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That would best glorify you and best benefit, man.
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And Lord, we pray as we heard. That you would make us.
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So passionately loyal to you. That even the world would be
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able to say your friend of him, aren't you?
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You belong to him, you're a Christian.
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Lord, May Our Lives speak and testify of that.
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Lord. We just pray that regardless of
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what men say regardless of what resources claim, anything to
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know your word and to follow your word.
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Regardless of what's popular regardless of who says what?
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Lord give us the minds and the hearts to understand your
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perfect. Will we want to be in your will?
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Regardless of, who is a part from him?
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And outside of it though, we sing to you now because our
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hearts are full. Our hearts are full and knowing
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that much more of who you are through this Bible, and through
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this particular chapter that has been disclosed and open to us.
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We rejoice in your goodness And We Praise Your Great Name in
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Jesus name. We pray.
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Amen. Amen.
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Let's stand in. Bless him, shall we let stand in
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honor of the Lord?