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1 Samuel 30 (Part 1) Bible Study - Pastor Daniel Batarseh · Bible Study with Pr. Daniel Batarseh | Verse by Verse Series | Maranatha Bible Church - Chicago

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This is not our final study. In 1st Samuel, we're almost
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there but this is the second last study and we will be
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exploring together. First Samuel chapter 30, And oh,
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what an encouraging chapter. This is Bless my soul.
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Deeply studying it. Notice, it's a lengthy chapter
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and so we're not going to cover all of it.
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But there is sufficient for us in the verses that we will.
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We will cover today. Don't you love the word of God?
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It's the Living Word. And Lord we thank you as we pray
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coming to the scriptures with great anticipation and
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excitement because we believe that you speak, we believe that
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you speak primarily through your word and it is sufficient for us
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and we thank you for this house. We thank you for people who have
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come because of a love for your word.
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And Lord made that love. Not be a love for me or
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knowledge. May be a love for the person
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that we are discovering and maybe a love.
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That's so impressive us that it causes us to love in like
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manner. We ask Lord that you would give
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us wisdom that you would cancel all confusion that Lord, as his
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word is delivered, it would not be delivered with stammering
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lips. There be Clarity of thought,
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there'd be even discussion. More importantly, though.
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We pray that this would cause us to worship.
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If you even as we sit here today and silence, we pray that the
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word washed over us would cause us to worship you.
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And to adore you too, love you. We thank you for this chapter
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and we trust that you will speak to us.
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Now, in Jesus name we pray, amen.
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Last week, you and I examined how God's providential kindness
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interrupted. David's pursuit of further
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disobedience, And it was a reminder for us how the lord
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always provides a way of Escape in every Temptation.
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Remember that. And every Temptation whether
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that is Temptation to be severely angry and to explode,
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whether that's temptation to lust with us, temptation to lie
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with us, temptation to steal. No matter the category of sin.
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There is one thing they all share in common.
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There is an exit door ordained by God.
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Every time. But more than that, we also
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learn that God in that moment. As David is trying to make his
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way to fight against his own people and against the one that
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he said he would never touch with his hand.
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The Lord overflowed Mercy on David. and is because we learned
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in part because David showed Mercy in so many ways,
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especially in his struggle against all, God shows Mercy to
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those who are merciful And so remember that for the rest of
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your life, be merciful Jesus himself, said it that those who
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are, merciful are blessed for, they will obtain mercy.
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And so continue to be a person who displays compassion and
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understanding, no matter, no matter who says, what or who
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does want, and we would imagine that after such an obvious
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intervention from Heaven, that David would be awakened from his
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spiritual Slumber. And would realize, would realize
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that God is The indeed of my entire devotion and would make
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way back to where he belongs to. That was the promised land.
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You would think that as you see this before you, that there
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would be an alarm in your conscience.
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This is God, this is God. Putting an obstacle even even as
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you're attempting to disobey him.
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But we don't see any indication of that.
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The only thing that we see really is the end of the chapter
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in. 29 verse 11. What do we read?
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So, David set out with his men, early in the morning to return
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to the land of the Philistines. But the Philistines went up to
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Jezreel. That's it.
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We don't know why he's going back there.
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I mean his home is there. That's all we know but we don't
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know what he's planning to do. Is you plan to pack his bags and
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go home? Is he plan to stay there longer
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and wait for the war to just finish so that they can come
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back and he can continue. Hopefully thinking that's all
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will die in that war we have no idea what's going through his
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mind. But what we will know is that as
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we come to this chapter, we will discover that this Interruption
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by God, the rejection of the commanders of the Philistines.
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Played a part in a much grander scheme.
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Of God's attempt and trying to Rouse up his servant back into
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total Devotion to him again. And so, let's read here in verse
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1 of chapter Thirty. Now when David and his men came
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to ziklag on the third day, the amalekites had made a raid
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against the - and against ziklag, they had overcome ziklag
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and burned it with fire and taken captive, the woman and all
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who were in it both small and great, they Killed no one but
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carry them off and went their way.
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It was a three-day journey to head back to ziklag.
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Remember ziklag was the town that he's the king of the
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Philistines had given to David and his men and so for quite
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some time ziklag was home. It was their headquarters and
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these people, as they came back, the Israelites with David They
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saw it, a distance smoke rising from the Horizon and you can
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imagine the Panic that ensued in their hearts as they realize.
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That their town has been rated that their homes have been
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invaded. And what we can see here is that
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the amalekites must have had some Intel that David and his
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men had left to join the Philistines to fight against
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Israel. And so they thought this is the
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perfect opportunity to invade a defenseless home base.
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And one reason why we think that David comes against or rather,
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the amount has come against dick, like and particular is
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because remember, while David was in zick, like he was making
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raids on who the enemies of Israel, including the
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amalekites. We learned that in chapter 27.
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So this was Revenge. This was this was to get back at
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David and his men. And it is here that we learned
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something. So important concerning God's
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providential dealings with you and I, yes, you and I even
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today. What is that?
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Remember chapter 29 when God was obviously making it clear that
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David had to turn back and he was almost even forcing him to
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do. So, there was more than one end
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in mind in the mind of God. Hey, the primary reason was
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obviously to rescue David from committing a sin that he would
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regret for the rest of his life, which is a glorious thing.
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But we also see, secondary reason, and it is what.
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Well, while David is, a three-day Journey away from
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home. The amalekites have come in and
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have kidnapped his wives and his children with the other six
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hundred men and God was trying to get David back to ziklag in
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order to deal with the issue. Think about that.
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What if what if God had delayed What if David had lingered?
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What if, what if David had his way and move forward into the
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ranks and start fighting with the Israelites?
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Obviously, that's the worst outcome.
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But there were also been a worse outcome in his own personal life
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with his wives, and his children, who were taken as
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slaves time was of the essence. And so, even the timing even
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when he's was like, you got to leave by the morning from a
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human standpoint, that doesn't seem to have any kind of
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inclusion of a great Our problem at hand, but in God's mind, he's
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orchestrating this. And he's bringing back David,
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where he needs to be. Yes, he's redirecting him from
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not doing what he's supposed to do, but he's also reserving him
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to fight for what really matters.
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And I think that's one of the most encouraging things
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concerning God's leading in our lives.
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As we just sang about Because the hostility that David
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experienced though, it may have offended him.
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The rejection might have might have heard him, but it was the
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necessary means to bring him where he was supposed to be.
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God didn't speak in chapter 29 from heaven with a booming
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voice. David ziklag has been invaded.
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You must hurry back and rescue your family.
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That's what we always want. We want the booming voice, we
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want, the audible leading You know what?
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God used to get David where he was supposed to be the rejection
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of people. Ready for this closed doors.
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A change of plans overnight, you spent three days?
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Walking all the way here? Well, you got a three-day walk,
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all the way back. Normal events that you and I
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have experienced throughout our lives.
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But all of them necessary pieces to the providential puzzle of
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God's purpose in your life. Do you believe that you must
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believe that you must believe that?
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Because that is, that is that is our inheritance as children of
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God that is God's promise for each of us here that he moves
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things around to bring us to certain Post in life and that is
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the sweet sweet experience of what you.
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And I have heard so many times throughout this book and that is
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Providence Providence often pushes us To a certain
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assignment or certain need that God has in mind and you and I
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have to trust the transitions that get us there even if
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they're painful, even if they're disappointing.
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Even if they might hurt regardless you and I as we walk,
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this walk with the Lord God like he does with the man after his
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own heart uses. Things that seem normal on the
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surface but have a supernatural purpose in the background.
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I can't think of any other way to no peace in this life.
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That's a really believe that that is opportunities Slam in my
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face, that as things forcefully moved me to a different
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location. Whatever the case may be, I know
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one thing there is a God in the background who has a story
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writing, And it's for his glory ultimately, and that's what
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David is seeing here. We don't see any song written
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about God's Providence. Bringing him back here at the
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certain time but we can praise God over it because we have the
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commentary as we read it right here.
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So we read now in verse 3 and when David and his men came to
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the city, they found it burned with fire and their wives and
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Sons and Daughters taken captive, then David and the
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people who were with him, raise their voices and wept until they
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had no more strength to weep. Have you ever cried like that?
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Weeping until they were exhausted.
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I mean, there are already bone tired from walking three days.
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And now, instead of coming home to a warm welcome and a warm
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meal, the only thing warm is their houses.
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Burnt ash And they are so distraught that these grown men,
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these Warriors fall to their knees and they heaving.
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The weep to the point where it makes them even more exhausted
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than when they arrived. It would be wrong to assess the
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Brokenness that David is experiencing or the pain as an
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example of how the righteous suffer greatly from time.
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To time, it wouldn't be right to interpret it this way, nor would
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it be right to primarily make this about how you and I should
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depend on the Lord and trust him in all things?
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Why is that I argue because the reason why David is even
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experiencing this heartache, is a result of God's discipline.
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God's loving chastisement in David's life.
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It is impossible. For a genuine child of God to
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remain and persistent sin without God, stepping in as a
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loving dad to do something about it.
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And David has been outside of the will of God for a year and
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four months and all he seems to have been experiencing was good.
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He was flourishing, he was safe from Saul.
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He was gaining much spoil. He was getting favor from the
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Philistines and the script changed.
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Because when you and I are born again, we'd only get heaven, we
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get a Heavenly Father, And this heavenly father is the perfect.
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Father. Perfect and wisdom perfect in
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his provision. Perfect in his chastisement.
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And I want you to see at least two things about God's
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discipline. What I mean, discipline, I mean,
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and active, and an intentional Affliction upon you and me in
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order to bring us somewhere. Here's the first thing.
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God's discipline in a Christians life.
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Is not implemented without patience.
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God is extremely patient. Very patient.
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When we hear about God's discipline, sometimes people get
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nervous because they interpret it in the lens of the
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discipline. They might have experienced from
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their own parents and that can be very, very muddy.
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Because even the best of dads can get it wrong, even the best
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of moms can can allow their anger to infiltrate their
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discipline? They do it out of frustration,
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more than out of love, they can be excessive.
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They can even be wrong, all together.
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But God does not treat our sin evenly, he does not overreact,
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he'd never loses control. He is not Reckless.
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When God disciplines he knows exactly what to prescribe at the
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right time and David here has been again outside of the will
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of God for almost a year and a half.
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No sign of God's heavy hand, no, no, God, even waiting as he
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often does with you and I waiting and allowing your Since
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to do the work with all this sermons, that you have heard and
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all the podcasts that I have listened to, to allow the truth
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that has been residing within to.
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Hopefully do its work or maybe even as we often, have
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experienced God's mercy being dispensed, even in the midst of
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our disobedience. Allowing his provision, and his
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goodness to kiss us instead of experiencing The Sting of his
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Divine Rod immediately. And so, there are times in which
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God just Waits And he sends a kind warning.
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And and and he just allows even sometimes the natural
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consequences of sin to wake us up.
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But eventually, when nothing seems to get our attention.
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He knows exactly what to do. And that is the second point of
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God's discipline. It is what God's discipline is
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painful. God's discipline in Akron.
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I'm not talking about non-believer.
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Like you don't want it, wasn't what God does.
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When a non-believer? Yes, you can convicted them but
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when they persistence in he doesn't discipline and he lets
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him keep going in their sin. He doesn't do that with a
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Christian. He doesn't do that with a child
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of God. God's discipline is painful.
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Notice here in verse 4 again, what do we read then?
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David and the people who were with them raised their voices
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and wept until they had no more strength to weep that hurts.
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That hurts. And the reason why it is painful
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is because in pain, there is corrective power.
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Could have God getting David's attention some other way.
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Could he have prohibited the amalekites from invading?
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Could he have kept his family from being kidnapped?
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Absolutely. But what is God trying to do
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with someone who's clearly been in such a season where he is not
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responding to even the mercies of God?
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He allows sorrow. And he wants the sorrow to be in
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connection to the sin for what reason for the same reason why a
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good father would discipline his son or his daughter so that you
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would never make that mistake again, that you would never
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entertain that sin again. That you would be trained by
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that discipline in order to cause you to walk in the
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direction that your heavenly father desires for you. and
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God's methods of discipline very They do.
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Sometimes they include loss like David.
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He lost a lot and God can allow permit even actively cause a
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loss in our lives, a loss of finances, relational loss.
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Even something to do with our own bodies can be affected when
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God disciplines. If you don't believe me, read
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1st Corinthians 11 but a bunch of Christians from Corinth.
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We didn't respect and Revere the table of the Lord, some of you
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are weak. Some of you are tired.
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Some of you even died. Where is that coming from Satan?
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No, it's coming from God. But here's, here's what's so
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important. No matter how severe God's
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discipline is in our lives. It never occurred never exceeds
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or goes beyond the purpose of sanctifying us.
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It is always for a good. It never is never meant to
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destroy us, to embarrass us to demean us.
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When God looks Upon a Child who's walking Wayward and he
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does something intentional, he causes some kind of Affliction
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in our lives. It is meant to do what?
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Hebrews 12 tells us, remember that passage, maybe you haven't
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read it. So read it with me and Hebrews.
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12 verse 10. It is one of the most clear
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passages about how God disciplines us.
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It is not mentioned much. It much Christian conversation.
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Have you ever heard somebody ever say to you as a Believer?
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He had. God discipline me.
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Anybody. It's very foreign. it's very
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foreign, but look at what Hebrews 12 10 says, Speaking
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about Earthly fathers for they disciplined us for a short time
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as it seemed best to them, but he being God disciplines us for
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our good that we may share his holiness.
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For the moment, all discipline seems painful rather than
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Pleasant. So here's an understanding in
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your walk with the lord. It's not always going to be
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pleasant to the to the flesh. There is going to be pain
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involved if we are true children of God and not because Satan got
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ahold of us that he's slipped through God's Sovereign hand and
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poked at you and now you're in pain.
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No, sometimes there. There is a pain that is directly
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coming from God himself. but later a yields, the peaceful
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fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it, And
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so yes, we're being told you're plainly that there is certain
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pain in our lives. That is a result of God's
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response to our sin. Now have a question because we
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have to ask questions to text in order to receive Revelation.
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That's the best way. When you read your Bible, you
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ask that have a conversation with the Bible.
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You know what my question is? Whenever I think about the
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discipline of God, How do I know when he's disciplining me?
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Right. How do I how do I decipher
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between this is God disciplines me.
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That's why I'm experiencing this Affliction or this is God
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testing your this is a trial or this is spiritual warfare.
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How do I make that distinction? Because I don't want to say that
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God is disciplining me when he really isn't and I don't want to
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fail to see God's discipline me when he actually is.
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Is that a valid question Anybody have an answer.
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Or at least a possible answer. That's a good point.
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What does the Affliction lead us to?
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What is the result of that affliction?
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Hebrews tells us that it will yield peaceful and righteous
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fruit, righteous fruit. Yeah, that is one way I believe.
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but I might push back and say well just because God
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disciplines us does that automatically mean that there
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will be peaceful and righteous fruit, have you ever discipline
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a child and not see the result that you hope for some parents
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can say, yes But that is a good observation.
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I will say so yes, anything else.
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Sure. So same idea it will make us
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more holy. So the end result, the end
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result will prove about how do I know.
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Or at least have a greater idea that even as I am undergoing the
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pain that this is God's discipline.
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If you want to come one step closer to understanding whether
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or not a certain pain or Affliction or trouble in your
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life, is an act of work of God. Here's what I believe is the
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main way to bring Clarity examine yourself.
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Is there a sin in my life that I am refusing to repent of and
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choosing to hold onto? And if there is something
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obvious, if there's something in your life, that is so clear.
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So, so obviously against God's word you've been fighting, even
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your conscience about it and for some coincidental reason, there
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is also this turbulence in your life.
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You can make a safer connection. It would be wrong to make a one
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size fits all about about suffering and say that it is
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always God's discipline because that is not the case.
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But we are One Step Closer by asking the simple question by
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meditating, by reflecting in our hearts, is their sin.
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And if God is good father and you come before the Lord with
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that question, those should be obvious already.
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Do you think that he would not give you the answer?
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You'd be amazed to know how he will awaken your conscience or
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how he will speak or highlight something in your life most of
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the time. It is obvious anyway and so that
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is true that is so important to understand but as we look here
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While we are enduring that certain chastisement, we are
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also in the same verses and courage to have hope within it.
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And how comforting is that how assuring it is to know that as I
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am experiencing some kind of divine Rod, it is meant to lead
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me back to where God wants me to be.
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And if I respond to it appropriately, then I can
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actually know a Righteousness. By rejecting the very sin that
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put me in this position to begin with.
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And so God is getting his, his servants attention back in first
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Samuel, 30 by causing a great great trial to be so obvious,
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because he doesn't let his children keep going in sin
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without doing something about it.
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So, we come back to First, salmon 30, And what do we see
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verse 6 and David was greatly distressed for the people spoke
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of stoning him because all the people were bitter and soul each
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for his sons and daughters. But David, strengthened himself
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in the Lord, his God. Okay, David's in a lot of
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trouble here. One, your family's gone.
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They've been kidnapped and most likely, they haven't been killed
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because they're going to be used as slaves now. and what that
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tells me is, David's family had to pay for David's in because
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David is they'll the head of the house.
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He's the leader of the home because of his failure to lead
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right. His wives.
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So weird to say wives when the Old Testament though his family.
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Pay the price. Secondly, on top of that, the
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men who were supporting you, now want to Stone you How comforting
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is that? And the reason why is because of
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David's in again, David LED them to this place.
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And now these men are embittered, because of the
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failure of the one that they put their trust in.
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And that is, that is a disappointing thing.
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Because what we realize here is that, as you can imagine the
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smell of Ash and burned, wood is filling the air mixed with the
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sound of the voices of trusted men, wanting to murder you and
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trying to manage the gut-wrenching.
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Anxiety, that you're feeling because you have no idea what
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happened to your babies. What are you going to do?
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We read it. David strengthened himself.
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In the Lord, his God. That discipline did some good
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work? Very, very quick work to David
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Soul. It's been a year and four months
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and there was no indication during that time that David did
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anything with the Lord. Affliction has a very strange
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way of winning back, our affections to God.
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Psalm 119. Verse 67.
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I would encourage you if you want homework.
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Here is an assignment one of these days.
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I've done it in a blessed. Me so much read Psalm 119 and
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one sitting just read it in one sitting and you feel like you
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drank out of a fire hydrant. It's so overwhelmingly good.
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This is one of my favorite verses in that giant of a
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chapter all to do about the glories of the word of God and
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Psalm 119 verse 67. What is the psalmist say before
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I was afflicted I went astray. But now I keep your word.
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Before I was afflicted, I went astray.
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But now I keep your word implying, your Affliction, drew
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me back to an abiding of the word of God and the word of God.
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The Affliction also implying was caused because I've strayed away
28:41
from the word of God, but there is some intentional Act of God
28:46
that cause severe pain in my life.
28:48
That brought this strength st. Back to the feet of the Master.
28:55
Affliction, does that. There's a wisdom in it misery
29:01
can bring a momentum to us again.
29:05
Because how true is it that we are often in the worst spiritual
29:09
condition when everything is going well.
29:13
But oh, isn't it amazing how we hit our knees, man?
29:19
When we get the news. When the slip comes in and you
29:24
no longer have a job. When a loved one is stricken
29:27
with some kind of sickness. There is an Affliction from God
29:32
that brings us back to him with hearts that are swelled with
29:38
love and dependency again. And when you come back to David
29:44
situation, that's exactly what he is experiencing.
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But I want to say this, Affliction doesn't have to be
29:51
the reason for your affections to be awakened for God doesn't
29:55
have to be it's one way, but David could have avoided this
29:59
all together, but we agree on that.
30:01
Could have David avoided. All of this.
30:04
What critical point should have David encouraged himself,
30:07
strengthened himself in the Lord.
30:10
First Samuel, 27 verse 1, when he was saying in his own heart
30:14
sauce, still going to come after me.
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I gotta get out of here. I gotta move locations.
30:21
I argue David. That's when you should have
30:23
strengthened yourself in the Lord.
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You could have you could have avoided so much.
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I here's my question, studying it.
30:32
What would have that year and almost six months would have
30:35
looked like if at first Samuel 27:1 you you consoled and you
30:40
got before God even though everyone was around.
30:43
You ready to kill you? What could have that look like
30:47
for you? David.
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So don't just pray in crisis, don't just read the word in
30:52
crisis. Don't just attend and serve in
30:55
crisis. Avoid the crisis, avoid the
30:59
crisis and let your strength being the Lord day by day. when
31:05
you feel like you shouldn't pray is when you should actually pay
31:09
the most When you feel like everything is so wonderful and
31:14
you could ignore this word and God speaking into your life,
31:17
that should be the time in which you open that Bible, crack it
31:21
open, and put your face in it. But regardless David was aware
31:28
of the goodness of God. He was aware of the kindness of
31:31
God and he knew that even though it's been a year and four
31:35
months, in that moment he can cry out to God.
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Is not what we see verse 7 and David said to Abby and are the
31:42
priest, the son of a hi Malik, bring me the ephod.
31:45
So I Bea Arthur brought the ephod to David and David
31:48
inquired of the Lord. Shall I pursue after this band?
31:52
Shall I overtake them? He answered him, he answered.
31:56
Him. He answered him on the first
31:59
phone call. You try ignoring your best
32:05
friend for a year and four months don't answer their text
32:08
messages. Don't answer their emails, don't
32:10
answer the knock door. And see how that turns out.
32:15
He answered him pursue for you shall surely overtake and shall
32:18
surely rescue. Let that touch your heart.
32:23
It's been almost a year and six months.
32:27
No prayer. Life know.
32:28
Psalm written nothing. And when you're in trouble, you
32:33
can look up to heaven, call upon God, and God is willing to
32:36
answer you. Now, this will not move our
32:39
hearts. If we view God as some divine,
32:43
Vending machine. Where if we just push the right,
32:46
buttons will get the right product.
32:49
But it will minister to us if we view God, as he is as a person
32:54
with a mind with a will with emotions, this is a mega display
33:01
of practical love from our God. I praise God.
33:09
That he does not show Mercy as men would show.
33:12
Mercy. I praise God, that he's not like
33:15
the common man, even the best of men, God's Mercy is greater than
33:20
10 million men combined. What if God was counting tabs
33:30
here? And reserves his benevolence
33:37
because of the way, David treated him for a year and four
33:39
months. Oh, you think you can just pray
33:41
whenever you want, where you been No, such thing.
33:48
Great is his love. Great is his Mercy, greatest,
33:51
his friendship, it's unlike any other friendship.
33:54
You will ever know. As David just Falls in his
33:57
Brokenness and humbly just speaks to the Lord.
34:02
God sees him in that moment and he answers immediately.
34:07
When is Satan's greatest lies to you and I've seen it throughout
34:10
Ministry, is when people fail greatly.
34:15
And they feel as though they cannot crawl the way back to
34:17
God. If you do that, you are no
34:23
different than Peter who refused at one point for Jesus to wash
34:26
his feet. What did you just say?
34:31
You don't have a part of me. If you don't allow me to do
34:32
this. They were already washed.
34:37
They're already washed signifying how God that his
34:40
saving work and then but as they walk throughout this world and
34:43
picked up, dirt Christ also wanted to wash their feet.
34:49
Would it be mind-boggling to you to believe that Christ is just
34:52
as eager to sanctify, you as he did, when he justified you Or do
34:58
we think his love was reserved on the cross?
35:00
And now he has to deal with a bunch of inconsistent Christians
35:04
with Sigh every time. What a display of love.
35:14
Now, it is here that I want us to consider the evidence of a
35:19
changed heart. This is a turning point in
35:21
David's life. And in this time, we see, I
35:24
think, at least three marks of a man who is truly experience the
35:28
mercy of God in such a way, that it had its effect or even beyond
35:31
that who's truly been trained by the discipline of God.
35:35
It was very quick and it should be And here's how you know,
35:40
somebody is in the right place with the Lord.
35:45
Here's how you know that a heart is healthy and holy even though
35:49
like David, it has been calloused and crusty because of
35:54
a season of Walking with your back towards the Lord.
35:58
And the first thing I would say, it's not just in the fact that
36:02
David did pray, but how he prayed, Look at, he says here in
36:08
verse, verse 8, and David, inquired of the Lord shall I
36:12
pursue after this band, shall I overtake them?
36:17
Yes. That's kind of obvious.
36:22
Your family has been kidnapped. Why are you asking, why would
36:28
you even, why would you even consider that?
36:30
As as a, as a thought? You know what?
36:36
I see here, though. I see a man who hasn't inquired
36:40
of the Lord who hasn't sought the Lord for a year and four
36:42
months. And once he was just showered by
36:45
the mercy of God mixed with the obvious discipline of God.
36:50
This man is, is displaying a childlike earnestness and a
36:54
dependency on the Lord again. There are things in the Bible
36:59
that are so clear. You and I don't have to pray
37:01
about whether we should do it or not.
37:03
Lord, should I forgive my enemy? That's not.
37:07
Why are you even doing that? Don't do that.
37:09
It's there. But there is something beautiful
37:13
here. About someone who longs to have
37:18
God's blessing and Direction. And all things, there is this
37:22
sense of invitation in all matters.
37:25
There's a sense of committing, all that you do all your
37:28
projects, all your decisions, all your desires to the Lord.
37:34
Just like you would want to invite that person that you so
37:37
enjoy and trust and love. And our right heart in the right
37:45
place. Joyfully imitates such a posture
37:50
in their own walk with the Lord. Do you do that?
37:54
Is that true of your own life that you can?
37:56
You actually look at your past thoughts and your past prayers?
38:01
And is there an active communing and consistent longing for God's
38:07
wisdom and for his his Fellowship to be known and all
38:10
that you do. Even sometimes in the obvious.
38:17
Or is he just the emergency guy? Do you invite God into your
38:22
decisions? Do you see God for what he would
38:25
reveal for the best outcome in a Crossroads?
38:29
Those things that that kind of, that kind of knowledge of, of
38:34
your heart, really reveals? That it is in a good place.
38:41
But we read on and we see something else in verse 9.
38:43
So David set out And the 600 men who were with them, and they
38:48
came to the brook of the brook before, where those who are left
38:52
behind stayed, but David pursued, he and 400 men 200
38:57
stayed behind who are too exhausted to cross the brook.
39:03
Now, what we see here is that this is a side note.
39:07
It's interesting to notice that the same men who wanted to Stone
39:10
David now, want to support him all over again.
39:12
Just just like that, isn't it amazing?
39:17
And as a leader, David's walk with God, I believe what this is
39:19
showing influence, his men for the better.
39:24
It's amazing. What a man in a certain
39:26
position. Can do to others with their
39:30
personal decisions and David here as a leader has won his men
39:36
over to obedience to God again. Remember God says, yeah, I
39:39
pursue them and you will succeed and his men now are joining in
39:42
on that. But David influence has been
39:47
another way. Remember when he was pursuing
39:49
the Philistines or with the Philistines the Israelites.
39:52
Now here's what's amazing. The extent of his Disobedience
39:56
went even Beyond his his 600. Men can I prove that to you?
39:59
This is why we need to know the entire scripture as much as
40:01
possible. The scroll over the first
40:03
Chronicles chapter 12 and look what we were told.
40:05
There were told something about this scene that we have not been
40:09
told in this chapter or the prior chapter In first
40:13
Chronicles, 12 verse 19 and now wait till you turn your Bibles
40:17
there, I love stuff like this because it shows I can't skip on
40:20
a book that Chronicles are going to miss something that I read in
40:23
1st Samuel. And 1st Chronicles 12:19 and the
40:28
retelling of this scene, we read.
40:31
Some of the men of Manasseh deserted to David when he came
40:35
with the Philistines for the battle against Saul did, he did
40:39
not help them for the rulers of the Philistines took counsel and
40:42
sent them away saying at Peril to our heads, he will desert to
40:45
his master Saul. What do you get out of that?
40:53
the as David was ready to fight against Saul and Israel, some of
40:58
the men of Manasseh heard about it and they joined to help him
41:04
This guy was ready to start a civil war.
41:10
It just one decision with a group of a few men that is just
41:14
a small fraction of an entire nation.
41:16
And there's some people from Vanessa, the tribe her, David's
41:19
going to fight against all, wear it in on this and they wring
41:22
their hands and they move forward.
41:27
And so never ever ever negate the possibility of how our
41:30
personal decisions can touch somebody else and either
41:34
direction. And the more position we have,
41:38
that can be anything from a father mother older brother
41:40
pastor. The greater the consequences and
41:45
that can be greater and good, or greater in evil.
41:49
But praise God, he turns around we read in verse 20 as you went
41:52
to ziklag these men of Manasseh deserted to him adna Joshua bed
41:56
and it lists the names and verse 21.
41:58
They helped David against the band of Raiders for.
42:01
They were all Mighty Men of Valor and were commanders in the
42:04
army. Things switch real easily, and
42:09
men's emotions as well. Remember, when Paul, or when
42:13
Paul was preaching with Barnabas and Acts chapter 14, and in one
42:17
verse, it says, they praise them.
42:19
Like they were God's. Remember they start bringing out
42:22
sacrifice and they're ready to worship them as though, they
42:24
were Gods incarnate and Palmer? No, no, this is not why we're
42:28
here. We're here to turn you away from
42:30
this vain worship. Then the juice come in, they
42:32
whisper, in their ears and in the very next X versus the same
42:35
ones that were ready to worship Paul wanted to Stone him.
42:41
So, especially if you're a leader, be careful on, allowing
42:45
your Devotion, to the Lord. Be determined on how men feel
42:49
about you. God help you.
42:52
If you do. So fickle.
42:57
And so now these men are following David, they're all now
43:00
supporting him, they put their Stones aside and said man we
43:02
will use these Stones against the amalekites, okay?
43:06
But that's not the point. Besides the point, we remember
43:08
we're talking about evidence of a change heart, notice this?
43:12
How many end up going with David?
43:15
600. No 400.
43:20
Why 200 were exhausted? And rightfully.
43:25
So you can imagine you just been walking walking three days and
43:29
then you are Weeping your eyes out and you can't even imagine
43:33
another Day's Journey or mile or whatever the case was.
43:36
And so two hundred men. Stop walking.
43:40
David looks back. And they look and they say boss,
43:45
we're tired. Can we stay back?
43:48
Can you imagine saying that when your wife and your children have
43:50
been kidnapped? Can you imagine doing that when
43:54
you're about to engage in combat?
43:57
And the more, the merrier, So one-third of your men, want to
44:02
take a break and stay back, that's not encouraging when
44:06
you're about to fight a war. And this could have given David
44:11
much reason to be angry. Discouraged, disappointed
44:19
frustrated kicking the dirt. What do we read here, in verse
44:23
10, but David pursued, but, David pursued, he and the four
44:28
hundred other men that were willing to go.
44:31
And here's the point that we gather from this here lies,
44:34
another Mark of a changed heart, a heart that is in, right
44:37
standing with got a heart that has been softened by the
44:40
discipline of God. By the mercy of God, there is a
44:44
firm unshakable trust in God's word even when your faith is
44:49
challenged. By unfavorable outcomes while
44:53
you walk, the path of obedience. your faith is firm even when it
45:02
is challenged by the circumstances that might
45:06
discourage you from moving forward, with the Zeal and the
45:09
consistency that God is calling for I read that and I thought to
45:14
myself, well let me apply to my life.
45:16
Let me apply it to this Church's life.
45:19
Because we're not here going to war with other people groups,
45:22
but we are going to war with a spiritual enemy.
45:24
So what will we do? My brother and my sister, if one
45:28
third of the people who regularly attend the prayer
45:30
meeting, don't come anymore. Do we still pray?
45:33
What are we doing? Friday's what are we doing
45:35
Sunday's of people? You know, this Bible studies too
45:37
much Bible. too much word of God, preached on Sunday and have
45:44
to church goes, do we preach Do we continue do we give ourselves
45:50
to the Lord? We move forward by the grace of
45:53
God. We do, we do. we do because
45:59
David does And he shows that here 200 out of this 600 move
46:05
his side and it says, David pursues.
46:08
Anyway, he moves for it because he's not doing it.
46:12
He's not doing it for the praise of these people.
46:15
He got a promise from God. He got a word from God.
46:19
He's doing it for God, he's doing it for the ones who need
46:23
his service, his family, his wives, his children, the others,
46:27
he's doing it for them. You have to believe that you
46:31
have to live like that, you have to serve like that. as this man
46:36
obviously does So that's the second sign.
46:40
This is the driving force of your devotion.
46:44
Truth must be on the driver's seat of your devotion truth.
46:50
Now how you feel truth, Truth. That's a healthy heart.
46:56
That's a healthy heart. I've learned over time that
47:00
emotion isn't the best indication of devotion.
47:04
I have learned that I've learned that people Jesus, we love You
47:09
give me the one. Why do they cry or not ours?
47:11
Consistent with the Lord then I'll show you a heart that
47:14
really loves him. Let's look at the third, Mark.
47:19
Shall we verse 11? They found an Egyptian.
47:26
In the open country and brought him to David, and they gave him
47:30
bread and he ate, they gave him water to drink.
47:34
And they gave him a piece of a cake of figs and two clusters of
47:37
raisins. And when he had eaten his
47:40
Spirit, revived for he had not eaten bread or drunk water, for
47:43
three days, and three nights. The third and final, Mark not
47:47
limited to this obviously. But in this case of a heart of a
47:51
heart that is in good standing, that is healthy.
47:54
That is Holy that has been softened by God's discipline and
47:57
mercy that has come to a realization that the Lord is
48:00
worthy of my total devotion is seen in this warm act of
48:03
kindness that he demonstrates with a man who was suffering in
48:08
the wilderness and was discovered We were all given a
48:12
detailed account of the treatment of this man, right?
48:14
I mean, look how detailed it is here, Brad and he ate and there
48:17
was water to drink, and he gave me a piece of a cake of figs and
48:20
two clusters of raises. I mean, why the details it's the
48:23
show is to show the account of the tenderness that was given to
48:27
this man. And there is not one indication
48:30
that David was offering such compassion with the intention of
48:35
receiving something in return. There is no clue.
48:39
Even hear that Dave. I knew that this man was
48:41
somewhat connected to the amalekites and so he wanted to
48:44
get some information from, none of that, it was a one-way
48:47
transaction of Mercy. Do you want to know if your
48:51
heart is in right standing with the Lord selfless, giving
48:55
selfless sacrifice selfless serving and excitement to do
49:00
that, which can bless others with nothing in return.
49:03
That's how, you know, your heart is there that God has done a
49:05
work in there. The way you view others, the way
49:09
you prioritize others, the way you treat others, the way you
49:12
honor others. I mean, this is the king to be.
49:15
This is a man on a mission. There are.
49:18
There are children and women. Who are, who knows, what with
49:23
vicious men and that is priority.
49:26
But even in the pursuit of this man's plan, he still has time to
49:29
stop on the side of the road and to give some mercy, somebody who
49:35
is in clear and obvious need of it.
49:38
Makes you wonder doesn't it doesn't it?
49:40
Make you wonder that if David was so quick to show this
49:44
kindness because he just drank a fresh dosage of God's mercy for
49:49
himself. Just like in his prayer that
49:55
earnestness I see here in earnestness to take, any
49:59
opportunity that is given to be able to be practical in your
50:03
righteousness. And the more the Holy Spirit
50:07
influences us. The more selfishness is drained
50:11
from us. And David shows that here.
50:17
He brings this man, his spirit is revived, he rescues him, And
50:25
we read in verse 13. And David said to him to whom do
50:29
you belong? And where are you from?
50:32
He said, I am a young men of Egypt servant to an amalekite.
50:36
A my master left me behind because I felt sick three days
50:40
ago. Very similar to how Satan treats
50:44
his servants. He uses them and he gets rid of
50:47
them when they do the job. Verse 14, we had made a raid
50:53
against an egg up, then he goes on to say in verse 15 and David
50:57
said to him, will you take me down to this band?
51:01
And he said, swear to me by God, that you will not kill me or
51:04
deliver me into the hands of my master and I will take you down
51:07
to this band. You know what, I see here,
51:12
something that you've heard pounded, I'm sure throughout the
51:15
study and first Samuel. Sweet.
51:19
Sweet Providence. Isn't it wonderful to see that
51:26
in this? Act of Grace without interest or
51:31
return on investment in mind. Was the the very Insight he
51:38
needed to get to where he needed to be.
51:44
And what I see here is a principle that we all should
51:47
live by that. You've heard so many times, we
51:49
even heard it in the Book of Ruth.
51:50
I'm reminded of Ruth when I read this, That Providence is in our
51:58
favor on the path of obedience. If you want God to orchestrate
52:05
your life, with the Symphony of his sovereignty, Just walk
52:13
according to his word, that's it.
52:17
And watch as you bear fruit and watch as you obey and watch as
52:20
you serve and act act, humbly and treat others.
52:25
In a certain Manner and free all these things.
52:27
Watch how These things have a disguise of blessing.
52:36
Not that. That's why we do it from time to
52:39
time. God will surprise us through his
52:42
Providence and move us from one step to the next on the path of
52:47
faithfulness and trust in him. I want that for my life.
52:55
I hope you want that for your life and the way to see God
52:58
unfold and to reveal his goodness.
53:03
It's the simply. Trust and obey.
53:09
And that's what David does. I don't want to think too far
53:13
into this, but it makes me wonder.
53:14
What would have happened to David?
53:16
If he had just ignored the man. What if he had just shoot away
53:21
the, the obvious opportunity to be like what Jesus said and that
53:24
was the Good Samaritan. I'm sure God would have had
53:28
mercy on him still, but makes you think, what would his
53:31
journey been a little bit more difficult?
53:32
More complex, more delayed. I don't know.
53:34
I don't want to, I don't want to speak into the text.
53:37
But I do see something. That's something you and I can
53:39
apply to our own lives. Just just walk as he walks abide
53:45
in his word. Remain there.
53:47
No matter how difficult it is, no matter how challenging it is,
53:50
no matter how inconvenient, obedience maybe like, it was at
53:53
this time and believe that God will lead and his Providence
53:58
will be in our favor for his glory.
54:00
Can you say Amen to that? Amen.
54:03
Let's pray. Lord with what a thrill to get
54:31
an insight into your mind. And to see how you have given us
54:36
this story. Not merely To be moved
54:39
emotionally. Or to have our intellect
54:45
stimulated. Father, we thank you that you
54:48
are the same God. The same God who governs our
54:53
lives today. And what we think about how your
54:59
mercy is so available. Your kindness, is there ready to
55:04
be engaged with as we simply stop.
55:08
And give up. On our Silly Ways.
55:14
We thank you that we can cry out to you and sincerity, and you
55:17
will consider that prayer immediately.
55:21
We thank you o God that you discipline us.
55:25
And you do not treat us as the wicked are treated.
55:29
By giving us up to our own ways so easily.
55:35
Lord tonight in this Bible study, we are overwhelmed by
55:38
your love. And Lord a study like this.
55:44
We ask that it would excite us unto obedience afresh.
55:51
Lord, perhaps there are some in this place tonight.
55:58
World trying to obey you but I find it very difficult to do.
56:02
So May they be reminded of your purpose and your promises in
56:07
their lives. Or perhaps, there are some here.
56:14
Who have not yet been awakened by discipline. but you are using
56:19
this study to get their attention before you have to O
56:24
Lord, may they respond appropriately?
56:30
May not have to take a severe blow.
56:34
For them to be soft and again. And Lord help us trust your
56:42
leading in our lives. as we heard in the beginning of this
56:46
study, That the rejection and the closed doors and the
56:53
inconvenience, all had a purpose.
56:57
Help us believe that in all seasons.
57:01
But we worship you. We sincerely give, thanks to
57:04
you. We love you with everything
57:06
within us. We Adore You, O Lord, that
57:09
you've not left us to ourselves in this life.
57:12
Lord, this life is difficult as it is.
57:15
We cannot imagine it without you and so we praise you for
57:19
rescuing us. and for giving us the assurance that you are with
57:24
us, Be blessed by our worship now as it comes from a heart of
57:32
genuine Thanksgiving. In your name, amen.
57:35
In your name, amen.