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2 Samuel 12 (Part 3) Bible Study | Pastor Daniel Batarseh · Bible Study with Pr. Daniel Batarseh | Verse by Verse Series | Maranatha Bible Church - Chicago

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Amen, you sang with strength tonight.
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I felt the strength of your voice tonight.
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More importantly God sensed it and it was glorious.
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I'm sure to him. Now, we worship in his word.
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So do you have a Bible in your hands?
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If you do meet me in the book of second, Samuel and let's go to
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our final study of the chapter that we've been studying the
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past few weeks, chapter 12, Second Samuel, chapter 12 is
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where we are tonight and we will be looking at the remaining and
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concluding verses of this chapter.
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Second Samuel, chapter 12 and place your finger.
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There are verse 15 because that's where we're going to
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begin verse 15. Lord, this is your word.
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We love your word. We love you.
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We Fear you, we honor, you Lord speak to us through this study
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that at touch our hearts, that it caused us to see that.
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You are the truth. Louis that these things would be
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applied to us guard our minds and our hearts from confusion
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distraction. Anything that was sabotage.
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The sanctifying work of your word as we sit under the washing
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of it. In Jesus name we pray.
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Amen, verse 15 tonight. It's going to set the tone.
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It's going to really establish the theme for the study that we
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are embarking on together. And so we're going to read that
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pause. And then we're going to continue
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to read and so look at verse 15. It starts a little bit awkward,
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but remember the numbers in our Bibles, the references, the
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chapters. And the verse numbers are not
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inspired necessarily though. God has used it mightily to help
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us know the word verse 15 reads. The Nathan went to his house and
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the Lord Afflicted, the child that you re has wife board to
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David and he became sick. The part I want you to see his
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and the Lord Afflicted the child that you riyas wife.
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Board to David and he became sick, the Holy Spirit.
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Clearly and plainly wants to tell us that the Fatal disease
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that was placed upon this baby was a direct Act of God.
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That might be disturbing to us initially, that might be a
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another proof text for the atheist or the agnostic who
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would try to find ammunition in our own word to assault the
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character of God, and they might even trouble.
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The uninformed believer, who doesn't know how to explain
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these complicated matters, that we see in the holy word of God.
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But out of all the things that we can, we can talk about, we
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can spend the next hour discussing.
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Cussing evil in our world and God's role in it and our
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responsibility in that. But if there's one thing for the
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sake of this study, that we must ensure that we don't
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misinterpret about what we see in this context is that the Lord
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does not afflict David's son because of David's sin.
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In other words, he's not punishing David's son.
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What the Lord is doing, is chastising David?
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He's chastising David, not David's, son and in God's
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perfect wisdom. He sees it and finds it
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necessary that in the early blossoming stages.
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As early, as you can. Imagine of this baby that that
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life would be removed in order to perfect the work that the
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Lord wants to see happening in David's heart.
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And so, let's just make that clear here, right?
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David's, son is not paying for Davidson.
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It is David's son. Who will lose his life in order
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to discipline David and there's a great difference there.
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I know it sounds similar, but it's, it's not and it's not
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trickery here, there is a very important lesson in that and
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we're going to see The Hope even in this son's death.
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As, you know, very well last week you and I briefly discussed
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the why? Wise and the ways of God's
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discipline pertaining to his children.
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God is our heavenly father. He is the father of all spirits,
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but he is specifically responsible and he has a
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specific affection for those who have put their trust in the Son
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of God. And so we looked at some of the
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wise why does God discipline? Why does he allow painful
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circumstances to occur? Why does he permit in the lives
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of those that belong to him? And the ways in which he does,
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it the ways in which he doesn't? And the ways is Perfect.
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It's there's not just there's not a chart of how he
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disciplines, it's perfectly orchestrated and ordained for
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specific sins and the specific lives of each of his children
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order to bring about the best result in their sanctification.
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But in this study, we're going to look at the fruit of God's
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discipline. We're going to see the results
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of God's discipline in the life of his son of his servant of
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David namely and so I want you to see that.
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I want you to keep that in mind. That's Is the framework that
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we're going through the fruit? The fruit of when God puts his
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finger on us in order to apply pressure in order to bring about
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some kind of pain for the sake of growing us and helping us
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learn. Why sin should not be something
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we even entertain. So let's read now in verse 16.
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David, therefore, sought God on behalf of the child and David
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fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground.
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And the Elders of his house, Stood Beside him to raise him
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from the ground, but he would not nor did he eat food with
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them? When you, and I turn away from
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the Lord, when any of God's children turn away from the
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Lord, from for a prolonged season of time and remain in a
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state of stubborn unrepentant, the method, by which the Lord
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will bring us back to him is often through Affliction
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affliction. He will call for specific
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circumstances to occur in us around us, very much close to us
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in order to awaken something in us.
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When you look here of David situation, we might wonder why
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would God go to such an extent? And then we might broaden that
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question to why does he allow any suffering to happen
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especially the suffering that doesn't make sense in the lives
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of those who are seem to be least deserving of it.
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And though, again we can spend the rest of this time.
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Exhaustively answering that. Here's one thing based on the
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example that is set before us where we can have somewhat of a
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clear answer of why God implements this kind of method.
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The utilization of suffering, it is not that the Lord has
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nonsensical delight and seeing us deal with certain burdens.
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It is because our sinful nature often requires it. our sinful
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nature often requires and demands that God apply painful
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predicaments in order to push us where we need to be, And that is
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exactly what is happening here to David, David.
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When he was left alone was going along just fine for several
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months. Living as a hypocrite living
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distant from God and distant from True godliness.
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And it wasn't until the child was smitten that something
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happened in him where he put himself in a place that he is
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not known for for too long. And that is the presence of God
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in true. Humility.
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And in true worship David has not been in this kind of place.
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For several months. And the psalmist in Psalm 119
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verse 67, says, something very insightful.
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He says, before I was afflicted, I went astray before I was
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afflicted, I went astray, and then he goes on to say.
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But now I keep your word. Meaning, if I just kept going I
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would have kept going but it was the Obstacle of Affliction, the
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interruption of sudden suffering, that brought me to
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the place where I now Embrace and keep your word Affliction
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was the instrument. It was for a man like David and
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it is still today for many of us.
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And in fact if you read here in the one verse that we just read
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verse 16 you will see that three things happened to David three
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things happen to David as a result of God's chastisement in
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his life first thing. Is that David?
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Therefore sought God. He sought God.
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That's the first thing. A preacher.
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Cleverly said, you cannot live wrong and pray, right?
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You cannot live wrong and pray, right?
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Unless you're praying is, of course, you're confessing of
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that wrong. And it's not too much of a
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mystery. It's not difficult to understand
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that you and I are barred from experiencing genuine sincere.
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Real fellowship with God. If we cherish sin in our hearts,
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and what God does to awaken a longing and a desire for him
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again is what we see here with David, he ordains distress He
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allows things to happen, so that we would do, what we would not
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do. If we did not see before us
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things that do not please us at the moment and yet, David, when
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the shock came to him, he dropped to his knees.
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Now, you would wish David had done this before.
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All of this had happened. You would think that a David
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States strong in his prayer life.
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He wouldn't have fallen into temptation.
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Nonetheless, he is where he's supposed to be.
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The second thing is in the same verse David, therefore sought.
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God, here's the second part on behalf of the child.
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So, Not only was there a rekindled desire for God
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himself, but there is something reinstalled reinstate, and
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that's compassion, that's compassion.
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David had many wives, David had many children.
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David was a warrior. David was someone who saw a lot
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of Bloodshed. And we saw earlier, we were
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faced with the coldness of David's heart, the same man who
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would weep when his enemies died was totally unmoved.
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When he when he called for the death of an innocent man, one of
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his best men sin brings devastating shifts to the soul.
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And so you see now David who in the last time we saw him dealing
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with death a death that he asked for that, he commissioned and
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didn't have one tear come down that cheek now, we see David
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tenderized and pleading with God and seeking God, and fasting for
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this little boy to remain alive. And so we already see how the
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chastisement of the Lord here. Has made David soft again.
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And not only just in this occurrence.
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Scroll down to verse 24. Look at verse 24. then David
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comforted, his wife Bathsheba See, even though, after the news
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of the death, came David still found the strength in his
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sorrow, people to come to his wife, Bathsheba and to comfort
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her. To encourage her to build her,
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to keep her eyes on the truth. And the truth of who God is, so,
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we see now how the discipline of God has made this man to be who
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God called him to be not just toward God, but toward others, I
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see a third thing in the same verse.
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We see the David sought God, we see that David saw, God on
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behalf of the child. And lastly, we read and David
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fasted. David fasted and went and lay
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all night on the ground. I see David's fasting, your
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something more than just an expression of the seriousness of
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his devotion. In this moment of pleading with
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the Lord, why do people not fast generally any idea?
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Well, let me, let me make this, let me make this clear fasting.
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Biblically is not things. Like, I'm not going to watch
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Netflix for two months, that's not fasting.
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That's discipline. It's not fasting.
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Fasting is not. I'm going to get off Tick-Tock
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for three hours. That's not fasting.
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Okay, fasting biblically. Is not eating food, physical
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food for the purpose of devoting that time in which you would
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prepare and eat to prayer instead.
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So that's, let's just establish that, right?
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I remember sitting in a meeting and somebody said, you know,
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we're going to all as a young adults, we're going to, we're
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going too fast, and just think about what you want to give up.
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And some people just give it the most ridiculous things.
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Actually, a funny story, I remember that time, I brought if
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somebody that was not a believer in, he brought his girlfriend at
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the time and he was sitting in that meeting.
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And he got so excited about the idea that he looked at me.
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He says me my girlfriend aside, we're going too fast being
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intimate together. So that's, that's not how
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fasting works. You need to repent and stop
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doing that. That's not something you fast
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but I admire his enthusiasm non-believer.
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Why do people generally not fast?
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Because they want to eat. This is very simple.
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It wasn't a mysterious thing. It wasn't a deep thing.
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It's that idea of being unwilling to resist the impulses
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of the flesh that cry. I want to eat.
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And it's the weakness in so many that succumb to the impulses of
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the Flesh. And so, to impose some
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restriction for a period of time and to feel your bones, weak and
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your mouth feeling dry and headaches, for the sake of
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prayers, just not the most flattering invitation. and so
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people generally don't fast because people, Don't want to
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have self-control in that area. I know there are medical
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reasons. I'm not going to get into all
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that, but generally, that is the case.
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And David, what you see here in this moment is ruling over the
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Cravings of the flesh. Here, we see a man who had such
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a strong conviction in the pursuit of God at this time,
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that he could not even be physically removed by his
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trusted servants. When he was locked in, in that
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place of, I'm going to seek God. And you know what, what came to
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my mind when I looked at this and I deserve this, I thought
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the mess of only David had such self control.
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When it came to his flesh, wanting another man's wife. if
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David could only find the conviction and him to say that
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person does not belong to me, even though my eyes and my
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imaginations and my fantasies are calling out for her, I will
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not be moved if only he was just as resilient in the will of God
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instead of giving over to idleness and lounging around, on
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the couch, where everything started from Nevertheless, God's
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discipline now has led him into the place where he could relearn
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what it means to be an overcomer.
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You see David here is experiencing this thing of sin
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and God is turning up the heat. He's experiencing The Sting of
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his past sins so that he can be prepared for tomorrow's
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Temptations. He would remember the weight of
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this, the seriousness of this, the consequences of this so that
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when the invitation comes again, he goes, I've been in this
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neighborhood before. I'm not going down that road
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again. How can we summarize what's
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happening to David? I quoted Psalm 119 verse 67,
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where he says, before I went astray or before I was
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afflicted, I went astray. But now I keep your word but in
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that same chapter in Psalm 119 verse 71, the psalmist says, it
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was good that I was afflicted. It was good for me that I was
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afflicted. So past tense.
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Now in hindsight, I look back in my Affliction I looked back at
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the discipline of the Lord and knowing who I am today, I can
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say it was good. It was good that God allowed
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these afflictions to arise in my life because he says that I
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might learn your statutes Spurgeon, said it in his own
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way. Spurgeon said, I have quote, I
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have learned to kiss the waves. That throw me up against The
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Rock of Ages. I've learned to kiss the waves
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that throw me upon the Rock of Ages and so David.
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Spurgeon men of God today. Woman of God, today will
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understand that as daunting as a discipline of God, is there is
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good in it. In the end, there is a Holiness
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to be shared as a result if we are trained by it appropriately.
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Now what do we see here in verse 18 on the seventh day?
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The child died, that's so sad. Because on the eighth day, what
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would happen to a male child he would be circumcised right?
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He would be recognized in the house of God, he would enter
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technically into Covenant with God.
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And before that day came, God says you're coming with me.
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On the seventh day, the child died and the Servants of David
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were afraid to tell him. That the child was dead for,
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they said, behold. While the child was yet alive,
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we spoke to him and he did not listen to us.
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How then can we say to him? The child is dead.
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He made do himself some harm. So here's the, here's the news
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David after seven days of consecutive fasting and prayer.
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while he's still laying out, their broken shriveled-up
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exhausted, believing hoping The news comes to the servants as
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they look at him from a distance and they said, how is he going
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to handle this one? And the holy spirit gives us the
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perspective of the servants on this, this awful news and I
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looked at this and I thought to myself, yeah, their hesitation
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to be the bearers of this terrible tragedy is
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understandable. Because in there thinking, if
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he's like this, while the child is alive.
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What's he going to do to himself?
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Once we find out that he's gone, And they were convinced that he
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would be so hysterical that he would hurt himself.
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And so they were very very careful to just barge in there
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and give him this. This update.
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And David here is a unique leader, right?
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He had he had a, as a king, the prerogative and the right, and
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the necessity having an Entourage by him at all times.
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And when I realized this, I thought here are these Witnesses
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of David's, whole, predicament and ordeal there Witnesses of
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it. And he had an audience, he had
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an audience and there they are. Assessing this whole situation
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and assessing how he will deal with it, and how he might
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respond to it. And so, David was unique as a
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leader. Here's the, here's the truth
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with us. All of us, no matter who you
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are, no matter who you are, all of us have an audience.
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All of us do, there is someone who knows you?
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Who knows about your life? Who watches your life?
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Whether closely At a distance. And that should mean something
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to us, especially as we are called to be Witnesses.
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We are called not just by our words but through our lives to
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present a case for Christ. And what people will do, whether
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you are aware of it or not, whether you like it or not or
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whether you like to pause that or not, is that, there are
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people who are constantly evaluating our activity or
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inactivity our actions, our reactions, our attitudes, and
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all cases. And here we see these men doing
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just that watching, David wondering how is he going to do
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with all of this? And if you think this is just a,
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like, an isolated kind of interpretation of this thing,
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know it, you see, it throughout the scriptures.
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I'll never forget reading the book of Acts and seeing this
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little phrase at one point in Paul's Ministry and when I, when
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I read that, it made an imprint on my heart because it reminded
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me and I hope it will remind you in the future that there will be
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people watching and there will be people registering and there
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will be people putting the pieces together especially as
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you and I, Indoor God's, providential dealings, that
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seemed very uncomfortable at the moment.
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Can I show you that verse? It's so simple but to meet so
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deep to Impala and Silas were in prison, in Acts 16 verse 25.
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With bleeding backs, dry mouths, bruised bodies.
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Chained at the feet chained by their hands.
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Here's a description of we have that we have of the scene in
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Acts 16 and verse 25. Look at this about midnight,
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Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and this
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is the phrase and the prisoners were listening to them.
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And the prisoners were listening to them.
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What a strange sound, it must have been to these criminals
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that in that Midnight Hour. Hymns, were being sung and being
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echoed through the corridors and in those prison cells.
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I don't know if Paul and Silas knew that the prisoners were
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listening to them, but the Holy Spirit wants to tell you and me
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that the prisoners were listening to them in their
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suffering. They were assessing.
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They were evaluating. They were wondering they were
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considering how is it that these men are singing.
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And remember, there was a Jailer in this whole ordeal once God
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ordained for an earthquake to her current to set these men
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free there is a Jailer who knew to run to them and say, what
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must I do to be saved. and so, whether you realize it or not
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with the burden that you're carrying, You're making a
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statement day by day. How you deal with those
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situations, is telling a story to others.
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And you might be aware of it or like these two men.
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You might not be aware of it. The scripture is even in a very
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controversial place in the Bible when it talks about head
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coverings, Paul alludes to the presence of angels, as the
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motivation for obedience in that specific corporate call of
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obedience, the presence of angels who are witnesses.
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There's much debate about that. But the whole idea is this
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there's people who are watching There's an unbelieving crowd was
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watching. There are weak, believers who
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are watching? There are other people who are
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going through similar storms, who are watching.
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So may God Empower us not to give in to the Flesh and lose
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the opportunity of making a profound impact on those who
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need to see some hope. They are wondering.
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What's this man going to do? Now, we come back in verse 19,
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we read, but when David saw that his servants were Whispering
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together, David understood that the child was dead.
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And David said, to his servants, is the child dead.
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They said he is dead. You get the feeling that these
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servants wanted to just rip off the Band-Aid as fast as
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possible. And they were very short with
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their announcement. They didn't want to give any
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philosophical explanation or try to comfort him early on or try
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to do anything other than just confirm what he asked.
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And you can imagine the tension that just filled the air, you
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can imagine the suspense. And they're holding their
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breath, maybe some even closing their eyes.
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David was a passionate man, David could, erupt and praise
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and prayer and dance. Who knows what he's about to do
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now. And as they're there, waiting to
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Behold a site. That they would not want to see
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based on their own calculations that suspense is now replaced
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with bewilderment Because in verse 20, we see exactly what
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David does. Then David arose from the earth
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and washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes and he
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went into the house of the Lord and worshiped.
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Is this for real? No Sigh, No disappointment.
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He Springs up. Takes a shower changes.
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His clothes. And goes to Friday night, bible
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study. And I look at this and I think
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to myself before looking at the response of these men, there is
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something here about worship that God wants to say.
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Because the Bible puts David in a position as a historical
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example of what a man or a woman after God's heart looks like.
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So, if that's the title, that David receives then, perhaps
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evaluating his life will help us know how we can come into that
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place of being worshippers of his caliber.
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What do you see about worship here?
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That you think? Give specific glory and honor to
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God. What is true worship?
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Look like, can I tell you first that?
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True worship is offered when things don't go our way.
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True worship is often when things don't go our way, it's
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not conditional, it's not contingent upon anything.
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It's not enhanced when the prayers are answered and it's
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absent. When we feel like God is not
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giving us our wishes. That's not how worship Works
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worship. Here's plain and simple.
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We see here that the heartbreaking news of this
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child's death could have easily been a severe blow to the soul
27:50
of this man but again what you see instead is that this man
27:53
gets up and his attitude here of of Honor immediate honor.
28:01
Clearly clearly showcases his strong confidence in The
28:06
Sovereign, decree of God, you know, how David can do this
28:10
because David had a theological base in his framework of faith.
28:17
And in his understanding of the character of God, he knew this
28:21
one thing that seems so simple, but needs to be embedded in our
28:26
hearts. To see the full force of it in
28:28
our lives. God is good.
28:31
God is good all the time. Right.
28:36
And if I'm in the hand of God, if I've given my life to God,
28:40
then I can trust that whatever he allows Salon fold, whatever
28:44
he closes, whatever you opens, whatever he multiplies, whatever
28:46
he removes. No matter the mystery of it, no
28:50
matter the complexity of it, no matter how I might even
28:53
contradict certain things that I'm seeing in my life and
28:55
believing God for he's good. So it is good.
28:59
It has to be good. It has to be good.
29:05
And if you can get that down deep in your heart then you will
29:09
also stand amazed that what your mind and your thoughts, and your
29:14
reflexes would be even as you face on Untold an unforeseen
29:19
pain. I know it's easier said and
29:22
done. but if you trust that God has saved you for all of
29:27
eternity and I pray that every person here does If you, if
29:31
you've entrusted death into the hands of the Living God then,
29:36
then why reserve your faith to believe that?
29:39
Everything he allows in your life is also for your good.
29:46
It's so much easier. Apparently, for believers to
29:48
trust God, that he's going to take us to heaven, but for
29:51
whatever the case may be, we seem to have very much
29:54
difficulty to believe that he can lead us through this life.
29:59
And that shouldn't be the case. If you believe in for eternity,
30:04
he can believe in for your 70, 80 years here.
30:08
So this man showing us that true worship says, I don't know
30:11
what's happening. I don't know where this is
30:13
going, but I know who you are, and that is enough for me to
30:16
say, I'm safe. You are good.
30:18
I will glorify you. Secondly worship.
30:24
True worship is offered even in the midst of Sorrow.
30:26
This is really hard. God is Not void of sympathy or
30:31
compassion, he allows for grief, he allows the for us to mourn,
30:35
he allows for us to break down. He allows for us to take some
30:38
time to process the loss of this person, or that thing Jesus, the
30:44
son of God, even had tears streaming down his face.
30:47
His friend's funeral knowing that in a few moments he was
30:49
actually going to call him from his tomb.
30:52
God is very understanding. but there is for some when they
31:02
endure any kind of suffering. They allow it to go to the point
31:06
where their walk with the Lord receives a death blow.
31:13
And no matter what dies, whether it's an opportunity, a Ministry
31:17
relationships or person because of maybe a poor understanding of
31:24
how God works. They allow other things to die
31:27
as a result, that's unnecessary their attendance dies, their
31:30
service to God, dies, their praise dies.
31:34
Their witness dies. And they just remain in the
31:41
place of numbness and they just cruise through life.
31:45
And that is not God's Will and that is not what the Holy Spirit
31:48
wants to do in us. He wants to do so much more in
31:50
US. He wants to elevate us, and
31:54
bring us above all of that to soar with Supernatural strength.
32:01
Heartache, heartache is powerful.
32:06
But it should never come to the point where it kills our heart
32:11
for God. And so trust that God is able to
32:16
energize within you, true worship, even in the midst of
32:19
pain. Thirdly, true worship is not
32:22
just something that can be done in the midst of sorrow and God
32:25
is worthy of it even in the midst of sorrow.
32:27
But true worship is offered as highest priority.
32:30
David went to two houses after he heard the news of his son's
32:34
death. Let's read that again.
32:36
David Rose from the earth and washed, and anointed himself and
32:38
changed his clothes. And he went into the house of
32:40
the Lord and worship, he then went to his own house.
32:44
And when he asked, they set food before him, then he ate two
32:46
houses, which one did he go to First?
32:50
Yeah. some have trouble if the meeting extends because they
32:55
know that lunch time is being compromised, David fasted for 4
32:59
days and when he knew that he got an answer to his prayer,
33:04
maybe not the answer that he wanted, but when he knew he got
33:06
an answer, no, your son isn't going to live.
33:09
The first thing that he does is, I'm going to worship God.
33:12
You would think that he would go and order a meal.
33:16
It's food sin. No, it's the principle behind
33:18
what we see here in the principle is this that unless
33:21
worship honor service to God, is preeminent in our lives and
33:26
everything follows that it ceases to be true worship.
33:31
If worship the God has for third or even second place in our
33:35
priorities, no matter what, we steam it to be to God.
33:40
It is not true worship. True worship is only when
33:45
everything revolves around our responsibility and our affection
33:50
to the things of God into the person of God himself.
33:54
And so worship, you've heard me say this before, but it's worth
33:56
repeating worship for a lot of Believers.
33:59
Today's, a matter of convenience, and as long as it
34:02
is painless, and as long as it doesn't come with too, great of
34:05
a price, as long as my time is not affected in.
34:08
My plans are not altered then I will worship.
34:10
That's not worship. That's idolatry.
34:14
It's idolatry even in that you realize that you and I are
34:18
worshiping ourselves. We don't put the gift on the
34:24
Altar and realize when the altar is going to be consumed, we
34:26
removed the gift. That's not how it works.
34:28
But that's a wonderful imagery of what we can do in our
34:30
spiritual walk with the Lord. And so, true worship is
34:34
sacrifice. And it will call for great
34:37
sacrifice at times. And what will determine whether
34:40
or not? It is legitimate worship.
34:41
Is Lord, you have first place in all things.
34:48
You have first place in all things, and I think that is
34:52
increasingly being a lost posture.
34:58
In an age of much convenience and many other Ambitions in
35:01
life. But here's David, it moves me to
35:04
the core. I mean, here's this guy.
35:06
He peels himself off the carpet. and the first thing that comes
35:12
to his mind when he gets a no look, if I read that verse in
35:16
isolation, with a blurred understanding of the of the
35:18
context, you would think David did this because he got a, yes,
35:23
Your son will be healed and hear your son is healed.
35:25
David how it gets up and washes up?
35:27
And he goes to the house of look.
35:28
No, it was because of a, no a, no, that's worship God.
35:34
You're worthy. You don't owe me anything.
35:37
You already gave me your son. I have eternal life.
35:40
You Are Holy. I'm a creature.
35:43
You're the Creator. I'm your servant your, my
35:45
master. You are good.
35:48
I am skewed in my understanding of what is good.
35:51
My heart lies to me. Anybody else I think I know
35:55
what's best for me more than most people including sometimes
35:58
if I'm honest you but I refuse to believe that in this moment
36:01
you are good. Here's my worship.
36:04
Here's my worship. This is worshipped.
36:09
And what a testament and was look at verse 21.
36:12
Then his servants said to him, what is this thing that you have
36:16
done? They were like offended.
36:18
What is this thing that you have done?
36:21
You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive.
36:24
But when the child died? You arose and ate food?
36:27
It's just, there were confounded.
36:30
They were shocked. Trust in God when it is lived
36:35
out is often a spectacle, it's a spectacle.
36:41
When it comes out of our Bible, studies and comes out of our
36:44
book readings, and our systematic theologies, and it's
36:46
lived out, it has the ability to rock peoples world.
36:54
And not just the hope that we have, in adversity, right?
36:57
Hope is a powerful thing, especially in adversity.
37:01
But everything about our faith, the all-encompassing realities
37:05
are our faith. Not just hope.
37:06
For example, Holiness, even Holiness Holiness, when we
37:10
choose to consecrate our lives, and not join with the world that
37:13
has the ability to make people perplexed.
37:20
And so here you see these men, they're just dumbfounded.
37:23
Hey can you help me understand this You're living in an
37:27
opposite and parallel universe. This is not how things happen,
37:31
when you hear the death of a little child.
37:35
And David is not Faking, It David is not putting on a show.
37:38
This is real. You know, when I was reading
37:41
this verse, I was thinking about the, yes we don't we don't
37:44
grieve as the world Grieves according to 1st Thessalonians
37:46
4:13, but it's beyond that. It's more than just the hope
37:49
aspect. Do you remember that verse of
37:52
First Peter 44 and first Peter 44, Peter says into this
37:56
respect. They are surprised when you do
38:01
not join them in their flood of debauchery, and they malign you.
38:06
And they Milan, you tells the group of Christians here, that
38:09
when you as a Believer, allow the gospel to truly come in and
38:13
cause you to live a life, that is separated unto the Lord.
38:17
The unbelieving, the ones who were once your friends, they are
38:20
surprised when you don't join them.
38:25
And the flood of debauchery is like, hey, there's more room and
38:27
come swim with us. And when you say no and when you
38:31
say I'm sorry, I'm going to bible study on Friday night.
38:34
I'm sorry. I don't sleep in on Sunday.
38:36
I'm sorry. I don't do that.
38:37
Whatever the case may be, It has the ability again too.
38:44
To be a spectacle. And for people to wonder now, to
38:48
two things can happen as you live that out one is that it
38:52
brings such a challenge to the people that they inquire further
38:56
about the hope that is in you. What why are you like this?
38:59
Why don't you do this or secondly, it can create enemies
39:03
and they malign you and they mock you despise you.
39:07
And because the conviction is so real, the light is so bright, it
39:10
exposes the darkness and them that they begin to as a defense
39:14
mechanism. Now, turn on you and try to
39:17
shine, you and put you in a category of crazy or whatever
39:21
the case may be, that is not the case with these men.
39:23
As they witness David David, making a statement of unshakable
39:27
faith. These men had a genuine inquiry.
39:30
How, how does this happen? Can you tell us the secret to
39:36
your resolve? Or can you explain your behavior
39:39
here? David does he gladly does look
39:42
at verse 22. He said, while the child was
39:44
still alive, I fasted and wept for I said who knows whether the
39:49
Lord will be gracious to me. That the child may live but now
39:54
he is dead. Why should I fast?
39:58
Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again?
40:01
I shall go to him but he will not return to me.
40:07
You know, some might look at what David did here for the past
40:09
seven days as a waste pointless. Especially in light of the fact
40:14
that God decreed already and he made the charge.
40:17
Your son is going to die, he's going to die.
40:22
But David here does something and he explains something that
40:26
is consistent with the rest of scripture and it's an important
40:29
lesson about prayer. There are many examples in the
40:32
Bible when God pronounces judgment, whether to an
40:35
individual, or to a nation, and the response of the object of
40:40
judgment has actually brought about a different outcome.
40:43
That was decreed beforehand. In some cases the Judgment was
40:48
completely removed altogether and others.
40:50
It was reduced and in some cases like this one, it didn't move
40:54
one. Bit it stayed the way it was
40:57
intended to be originally. And so David here with his
41:03
praying. Was not wasting his time was not
41:10
doing something that he thought was just, you know, I'm just
41:14
going to show some piety here. He's not showcasing, anything
41:18
David, had another belief about how God works and this is it God
41:22
through my praying through my fasting can change course.
41:27
Now I know that gets complicated philosophically.
41:30
I know that it's complicated with the foreknowledge of God
41:33
and how God works and I get it. I'm not going to allow myself to
41:40
get so deep into this that I drown and I don't want you to
41:44
either. All I know is that there is
41:47
there is the truth that God does know all things.
41:51
That God has things determined on his prophetic calendar, but
41:54
at the same time, I look at things like you have not,
41:56
because you ask that, I'm going to believe that just a strongly.
42:00
I'm going to believe that just as strongly And so, what we see
42:04
here is that David prayed because David believed to some
42:10
extent, perhaps God will have mercy, perhaps God will have
42:15
mercy. I remember hearing a Q&A but
42:18
very respected minister in my books and it was a Q&A that
42:24
dealt with Revival and one of the questions and I believe it
42:26
was a brilliant. Question was Brother.
42:29
If if Jesus told us and the New Testament affirms that things
42:34
are only going to get worse, and worse, before his return.
42:38
Then why admonish, why fast? Why I extend prayer meetings and
42:43
have conferences around prayer for Revival for a mass, move of
42:49
the spirit, that would sweep in more souls into the kingdom of
42:52
God. How does that coincide with the
42:55
reality? That things are only going to
42:57
get? Darker and more vile and More
43:00
unbelieving in our world. And as much as I respected this,
43:04
man, he kind of went off in a different direction and he went
43:09
down this Rabbit Hole. So so the interviewer repeated,
43:12
the question and try to bring him back on course, and he tried
43:15
to answer it, but it didn't satisfy me at least, it didn't
43:19
satisfy me. And, and I, to me, it was just
43:22
like there has to be an answer that, because if we're believing
43:26
God for that, if we're asking God to move in our city, does
43:29
that work? Is it going to work?
43:32
Are we wasting? Eating our time or should we
43:34
just hold tight build bunkers and and just wait for the
43:38
return? And then I remember my own
43:42
personal reading not studying for any sermon.
43:44
Nothing of the sort just reading through systematically the word
43:46
of God. I came to the prophet Joel and a
43:48
text appeared to me and it answered the question.
43:52
It answered the question and my mind went directly to watching
43:58
that Q&A even years ago and I've watched it more than once and I
44:00
thought to myself. That's it.
44:03
That is it. Can I share it with you?
44:05
Joel chapter 2. Look at verse. 14 with me in the
44:09
Context here. The prophet Joel has has called
44:14
judgment upon the people of God. Namely Israel, the people of
44:19
Judah, It was inevitable. It was determined there.
44:25
The warnings already came, the prophets have already lined up,
44:28
and there was so much rejection and God decreed judgment is
44:31
coming. But look what Joel says.
44:33
There's a call for repentance and 12 and 13.
44:36
What look what, look what is said here in verse 14.
44:39
Who knows, whether he will not turn and relent.
44:47
And leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink
44:51
offering for the Lord, your God. You see that?
44:56
Who knows, isn't that? What David said, didn't David
45:00
say similar things, who knows whether the Lord will be
45:02
gracious to me? Who knows?
45:06
I don't know if God will. All I know is that God is able
45:13
and because God is able that's enough fuel for me to pray and
45:18
keep praying. Too fast and keep fasting to
45:22
seek and keep seeking. We are not fatalistic in our
45:27
faith. We're not among those who might
45:31
say it's all said and done just robotically move on and deal
45:37
with it as it comes. No there is a mysterious aspect
45:42
to this where he holy God who says one thing can be moved in
45:46
his heart through the prayers of his people.
45:50
And sometimes it's a yes and sometimes it's a no regardless.
45:54
I'm going to apply this to my prayer.
45:56
Life, who knows? And you know why prayer is so
46:02
important because David could get up with such confidence
46:06
knowing that he did his part by seeking God and knowing that he
46:10
saw God. So he got an answer and he can
46:13
move on now. I don't want to live my life
46:16
wondering. What if Do you see what I'm
46:19
saying? What if I had sought God?
46:22
What if I had prayed about the matter?
46:24
I just want to saturate everything in prayer and in as
46:27
God's providential leading occurs and whatever the outcome
46:30
may be, I can be at peace. I can sit down and have a meal.
46:34
I can come to the house of God and we rejoice and not doubt for
46:36
a moment because I know that I've done what he's called, it a
46:39
good do and let his Sovereign purposes, I saw him.
46:43
I saw them, I brought it before him, I gave it to him.
46:46
Here's the outcome, sometimes there's answers.
46:49
Sometimes there's knows who knows.
46:53
I did my part though. I did my part.
46:59
And David here, as I mentioned in this verse expresses,
47:02
something that has brought so much comfort.
47:05
Two families, especially parents who have lost the life of a
47:09
little child? What did he say at the end?
47:15
I shall go to him. But he will not return to me.
47:23
Bible students, some don't see this as the Assurance or some
47:29
Revelation that alludes to A little one being in the presence
47:37
of God and being pardoned for his sin.
47:41
Some simply see David statement here as him acknowledging that.
47:45
He's going to go to the Grave. And joined his son and death at
47:49
one point. He can't bring his son back from
47:51
the grave. I'm just I have my own lot in
47:54
that graveyard and I'm going to be there one day, just just like
47:57
he is, here's my problem with that interpretation.
48:01
It's very difficult to see how that thought is a source of
48:04
comfort. David has confidence here.
48:09
David is consoled here by a certain Revelation and I think
48:14
it's greater than I'm going to die.
48:16
Like my son died one day. David had as a psalmist, many
48:24
Supernatural, insights into the resurrection.
48:30
Into eternal life into New Covenant promises.
48:35
And so should not be a surprise to us that perhaps.
48:38
Even at this point he had some veiled understanding That the
48:43
judge of the earth knows exactly how to judge and that my son who
48:48
has died at a certain stage of life will be brought into the
48:51
presence of his Holiness. And I because I am righteous
48:55
because of God's mercy and Grace will join him one day.
49:02
And the comfort of David's Heart In This Moment is not just the
49:06
fact that his little boy is unnamed child.
49:11
Would be among the righteous forever, it's that he believed
49:14
one day, he will see him and recognize him.
49:17
I'll see him one day. I will go to him.
49:21
He will not come to me. I will go to him.
49:26
And there is much debate among among people concerning how God
49:30
does work and judge concerning those who are young, young in
49:35
age, young in life and you probably heard this.
49:39
There are some who actually believe that.
49:41
No, because you're born in sin. If you die, young, God will hold
49:45
you accountable because you've inherited Adam sinned and you
49:48
will not have eternal life. And there are others who who
49:50
have gathered the evidence of the New Testament of the Old
49:53
Testament. I've concluded there is There is
49:55
a point in life, in which you will be held accountable and
49:59
prior to that point, God will judge differently based on your
50:04
ability to know, right from wrong.
50:08
And that's the camp where I am in.
50:11
And that's not just because of my subjective interpretation of
50:15
Justice. That's because the Bible shows
50:18
us that there is a point in life, in which the Lord does not
50:22
hold us accountable, as he does with someone who is more
50:25
developed in their reasoning. So I want to give you these
50:29
references. So you can, you can write these
50:31
down, you want you to even turn there because you might sit
50:34
across a coffee table with somebody who is dealing with
50:37
sorrow dealing with the loss of a loved one and a child of all
50:41
things which is even more devastating.
50:43
So keep these references in mind.
50:45
Let's go, firstly to Isaiah 7. Isaiah 7 verse 15, and verse 16.
50:53
Isaiah 7 verse 15 and verse 16. This is in the context of the
51:06
prophecy of the Virgin who'll have a child.
51:10
We know that ultimately points to Christ but look at the
51:13
description of this child. In the immediate sense of verse
51:16
15 of chapter 7. He shall eat curds and honey.
51:22
When he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good.
51:27
Did you see that? When he knows how to refuse the
51:32
evil and choose the good verse 16 for before.
51:36
The boy knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good.
51:40
The land, whose two kings you dread will be deserted.
51:44
So, Isaiah makes a clear and obvious line.
51:48
There is a line in which a child can cross in, which he knows how
51:52
to choose good, and he knows how to refuse evil.
51:55
And there is a part of that child's life according to verse
51:58
16 where he He doesn't know how to refuse evil and he doesn't
52:02
know how to choose good. So that's obvious right there.
52:06
There is a category of the unknown, according to a child's
52:11
ability to discern and make certain decisions.
52:15
Okay, that's Isaiah 7. Let's go to Deuteronomy 139.
52:23
Deuteronomy 139, here's the Lord. reminding the people of
52:29
who's going into the promised land only to From the original
52:35
generation are going in but not just Joshua and Caleb.
52:38
Joshua and Caleb were not. The only ones from that original
52:43
group of Exiles who are headed into the land of Canaan.
52:47
There's another group of people verse 39, of chapter one and as,
52:52
for your little ones, Who you said would become a prey and
52:57
your children who today have no knowledge of good or evil.
53:05
They shall go in there and to them, I will give it and they
53:09
shall possess it. so listen, God wiped away that entire first
53:16
generation, For anyone who is 20 and older, right?
53:21
But we see here, that specifically the little ones
53:24
your children and here's his reasoning.
53:26
I'm not going to restrict the promised land.
53:30
I'm not going to Bar them out for this main reason, they have
53:34
no knowledge of good or evil. so then if God is not willing to
53:39
judge little children in this life, With the severity that he
53:45
brought about to their parents. Then we got, we have some
53:48
insight of how he execute judgment concerning those who
53:52
have no knowledge of good or evil.
53:54
And I think that even applies to those who do not have the normal
53:58
mental capacity, even in their adult years to process things.
54:03
Right, even Romans 1, we see that there is Judgment based on
54:09
Revelation that's been given in nature.
54:12
And so God has revealed himself. God has exposed himself and
54:18
based on someone's ability to discern, that they will be held
54:22
accountable. What about those who can't?
54:24
Well, I think God will have Justice for them and mercy upon
54:29
them. And so, I believe there is a
54:32
stronger case here to understand that the Lord will Embrace in
54:37
his arms, will be wide open for little children.
54:40
I think we're going to see a lot of them and Glory.
54:43
I don't know how that all works. Well I don't know what age were
54:45
all going to be at I don't know what it is about the
54:49
resurrection body. That's Going to include all the
54:53
intricacies of. life and years, but Praise God.
54:59
He's a merciful Lord. And Judge.
55:02
David knew that. We should believe the same.
55:05
You and I have briefly looked at the fruit of chastisement, how
55:11
God disciplines and why God disciplines and what it brings
55:14
about, when one Embraces God's chastening hand.
55:19
But here's how I want to end and we're ending with that same
55:21
thought in mind because There is one very important.
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Way of Understanding God's discipline that if we ended here
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might leave some of us hopeless, especially for us who have maybe
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dramatically messed up. Because we understand that this
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is not the end for David's discipline for the rest of his
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life. He's going to no repercussions,
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he's going to no consequences until his dying day. and that
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could, That can make life pretty unlivable.
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Some might even want to call it quits.
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But that's not how the story ends.
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So, we have to close this study in the way that this story ends
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because it will impart so much hope for the Hopeless.
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Look at verse 24, then David comforted his wife Bathsheba and
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went into her and lay with her and she bore a son and called
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his name Solomon. And the Lord loved him.
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And sent a message by Nathan the prophet.
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So he called his name Jedidiah because of the Lord, look at
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verse 24, very carefully, then David comforted who his wife
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Bathsheba, go back to where we started in verse 15.
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And look at how the holy spirit before this verse identifies
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Bathsheba. Then Nathan went to his house
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and the Lord Afflicted, the child that who you riyas wife
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bore to David. So even after David got married,
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even after he thought he concealed everything and he hit
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everything. Verse 15 reminds us that the
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child that's going to be afflicted with this disease.
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Was not a child that was consummated in a legitimate way
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you riyas wife. You riyas wife the child that
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you riyas wife board to David that child that was conceived
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while Uriah was married to Bathsheba that child is going to
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suffer. And then you come to verse 24.
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When everything has settled, when that major blow came, and
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we are told by the same Holy Spirit.
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David comforted, not uriah's, wife, his wife Bathsheba his
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wife Bathsheba, that is not to say that God sanctioned this
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marriage meaning that he approved at the means by which
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this marriage came about, But it also doesn't mean that in God's
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mind, in order to rectify this whole mess that David had to
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sever ties with Bathsheba divorce.
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Her put her away and cut off. This marital Covenant with her
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because that would only add to the evil. someone once asked me
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on behalf of a friend, my friend had a past divorce.
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Before she knew the Lord, then she remarried.
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And there's another Christian friend of hers that told her in
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order for you to walk in Holiness, you need a divorce,
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your current husband and go back to your original husband.
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You're living in adultery. Do you see how these Bible
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studies help us in real life? Now, I know if you read it, if
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you read Deuteronomy 24, It's actually an Abomination.
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It's actually an Abomination to see a marriage covenant, that
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perhaps was not the right way for it to come about and to
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sever that tie to try to somehow make it holy again and make it
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right again. So what we see here is that,
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when David Mary's Bathsheba God recognizes it as a true
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Covenant, it's a true Covenant nonetheless.
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It was very ugly how it happened but it is a covenant nonetheless
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and more than a covenant. Here's how I see it.
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It's a new day. It's a new day.
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He changes his clothes. And now he comes into this point
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where he Comforts his wife. And now we are told His wife
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Bathsheba, Kate how it happened for you to come about to this
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place. It was horrendous but now that
1:00:03
you're here, Let's walk hand-in-hand with the Lord and
1:00:07
pursue honor to his name where we are right now.
1:00:15
And David will experience more subsequent series of suffering.
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We're going to see that for the rest of this Bible study, and
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second Samuel. But you know what's so profound?
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God's discipline does not nullify His blessings for us.
1:00:31
When God chastises us it doesn't mean that he completely cancels
1:00:35
his favor in our lives. You see?
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So he has now this relationship with Bathsheba.
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She's now his wife, they come together and they have a child
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and when they come together, have this baby.
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It's not that. Just this baby is provided by
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God, who gives life? No God goes.
1:00:54
The extra step gives a message to Nathan.
1:00:56
The prophet who are the last time we saw him stuck his
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Prophet finger and His face and told him you are the man.
1:01:02
Now, now, Nathan comes back to reassure David and Bathsheba
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this baby that you guys have together, God loves him.
1:01:11
The lord loves this baby. And here's another name for this
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baby. Beloved of the Lord, right?
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And so this is a reassuring thing after this, painful whole
1:01:26
situation. God now wants to come and ensure
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that they know I still have something for you.
1:01:34
I have a plan for Solomon. I have a plan for your future.
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Yes, you're under my chastening hand and yes, you will know more
1:01:41
consequences to your sin, but I'm still here.
1:01:46
And I still love you and I still love what's happening in your
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family and I want to do something with your future.
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Sometimes people, they go through such shame and
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embarrassment and public scandal.
1:02:03
And they know that God is willing to forgive, but they
1:02:05
think that's it. Now I'm just in the backdrop of
1:02:08
the kingdom of God and it's done and I don't deserve anything.
1:02:13
I understand and they just live in the shadows of God's love,
1:02:17
while they look on and they see others who live more respectable
1:02:21
more, holy more consistent. And the extent of their joy and
1:02:26
service to the kingdom of God is just watching others be used by
1:02:29
the Lord while you just sit there and not make a mess again.
1:02:34
That's not how God works. They have a baby and Nathan
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says, the lord loves this child. And has this prophetic
1:02:45
reassuring message for David and it's even more than that.
1:02:48
Look at verse 26. Now job fought against Rabe of
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the ammonites and took the Royal City and job, send Messengers to
1:02:54
David. And said, I've fought against
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rob. A moreover I've taken the city
1:02:58
of waters now, then gather the rest of the people, together and
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encamp against the city and take it less.
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I take the city and it be called by my name.
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That's a very weird invitation something wrong with jobs
1:03:09
character here. Makes you wonder if the
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relationship with David maybe was altered after he realized
1:03:16
what happened to Uriah. It's not the point.
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Look at verse 29, so David gathered, all the people
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together and went to Rob and fought against it and took it.
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God still has used for David as a king.
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And you re later on that a crown was placed on his head.
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A crown was placed on his head. And it comes full circle.
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Right? Why did David come to this point
1:03:50
this low point because he didn't go to war.
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He didn't go to this very same battle that he was supposed to
1:03:57
go to. And so he sins and he sins and
1:04:00
he sins and it blows up in his face and then he's confronted he
1:04:05
repents and he he accepts the chastisement.
1:04:12
And the Lord says, okay, let's go back to where we left off.
1:04:19
Now. It is true that in the New
1:04:22
Covenant context, there are some sins that might disqualify some
1:04:26
people from certain leadership's in the church but does that
1:04:29
negate the principle that is here is that God still can use
1:04:33
you. God still has a future for you.
1:04:39
God still has a Plan of Redemption that goes beyond just
1:04:43
you having fellowship with him again.
1:04:45
There is still a place in his kingdom that he has much use for
1:04:49
you. And that is exactly how this
1:04:53
story ends before we move on to chapter 13.
1:04:59
A baby comes after baby was lost.
1:05:03
A crown was restored for the least deserving.
1:05:07
King in this whole thing. and when God does take us through
1:05:13
the grinder, And we need us. Sit us down, and confront us and
1:05:18
sometimes expose us. What he has in mind on the other
1:05:22
side of that, very dark period, that scripture calls in Hebrews
1:05:27
12 unpleasant at the moment. Is restored, Fellowship.
1:05:34
Restored utilization. And reassurance that you are
1:05:39
loved by the same father who disciplined you have hope
1:05:44
tonight have to have hope tonight let your faith be built
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up. Stop.
1:05:50
Living your life looking in the rearview mirror as your driving.
1:05:53
That's very dangerous. I don't recommend that.
1:05:57
When you're driving you're looking forward.
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You're not looking in the mirrors that look back when you
1:06:01
do that and you do that and I don't care how much of an expert
1:06:03
of a driver. You think you are?
1:06:04
You're going to hit something, you're going to stall, you're
1:06:08
going to get into an accident. It's the same spiritually.
1:06:10
If you keep looking back on things that God said it's done
1:06:13
and it's over. And I've forgiven you, it's not
1:06:15
going to be good for your tomorrow.
1:06:18
Just trust in the love of God rehearse these truths whether
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their promises that are clear and direct or stories like this.
1:06:24
He's the same God in Christ. Has made that possible through
1:06:28
his blood. Lord, we love you. this Bible
1:06:32
study has been a blessing to us, because your word is life.
1:06:38
Lord in this place. We have learned much about the
1:06:42
seriousness of sin in the past few weeks, as we looked at one
1:06:46
chapter, we realize how we can get into sin.
1:06:49
We realize what sin can do to us.
1:06:52
We realize that we can't hide it from you, we realize that you
1:06:55
will call us to account. We realize that we can live for
1:06:59
the rest of our lives with scars because of our sin.
1:07:02
But oh Lord. Thank you for the relief of
1:07:04
knowing that you love us. And you still have a purpose for
1:07:09
us. And that Lord, you use messages
1:07:16
and Messengers to remind us of these things.
1:07:20
And so Lord for the one that is burdened by their past, let them
1:07:25
confidently know. That you are committed to them.
1:07:34
Now, you have a calling for them.
1:07:39
And what, as we saw David worship you, when it made, the
1:07:42
least amount of sense to worship you.
1:07:46
Where we worship you with a thousand reasons and more.
1:07:52
And so for the one who is heavy because of a trial, the one who
1:07:55
has been praying and not getting an answer, the one who keeps
1:07:58
fasting and it seems like the know is becoming stronger.
1:08:01
Lord made that not ever been there Devotion to you.
1:08:09
The Lord has given the Lord has taken away.
1:08:13
Blessed. Be the name of the Lord.
1:08:16
And so Lord we end this Friday night giving you worship not
1:08:20
just in song but a life set apart for you.
1:08:23
Thank you that this Bible study has shown us again just how
1:08:28
awesome you are and your name we pray.
1:08:31
Amen, shall We Stand Saints. Love the Lord tonight.
1:08:38
Crown him with your praise Adorn, him with your words of
1:08:42
affection and truth. And let's bless him before we go
1:08:45
home. And see another tomorrow.