Latest / Bible Study with Pr. Daniel Batarseh | Verse by Verse Series | Maranatha Bible Church - Chicago / 2 Samuel 19 (Part 2) Bible Study (David Returns & Pardons His Enemies) | Pastor Daniel Batarseh
Transcript
- 0:00We haven't been in Bible study for a while and so this is
- 0:03especially exciting for me. I hope it is for you, that's why
- 0:05you're here. So let's go to 2nd Samuel 19
- 0:07together, second Samuel, chapter, 19.
- 0:12We didn't complete this chapter and it's because first and
- 0:16second, Samuel has the reputation of having very
- 0:18lengthy chapters and that should be okay for us because we're in
- 0:22no rush, I hope and that's evident by the fact that we've
- 0:26been in this book for quite some time but we are coming near the
- 0:30end and so enjoy every moment of it.
- 0:32Let's go to 2nd Samuel, 19 and place your finger with me here
- 0:36verse 9 because that's where we left off and verse 9.
- 0:39Here's what happens. David now is prepared to return
- 0:45to his throne For many chapters we've seen David exiled, he was
- 0:50made a fugitive by his own son who rebelled against them and we
- 0:54took some time to study, invest and investigate, David's Journey
- 0:58out from Jerusalem towards the Jordan.
- 1:02And part of that study, was, we saw that David had some
- 1:06conversation. Some interactions with specific
- 1:09characters that brought some valuable insight to us and
- 1:12different manners. But what we're about to see here
- 1:15upon his reinstatement, Moment is a mirroring almost because as
- 1:20David is now returning to Jerusalem, were also going to
- 1:24see for the rest of this chapter him, engaging with individuals,
- 1:28some of the same individuals that he engaged with when he had
- 1:31initially left. And we shall have no reason to
- 1:34doubt that the Holy Spirit, preserve these conversations for
- 1:37us for the sake of our sanctification.
- 1:39That's what I'm looking forward to see with you.
- 1:41In fact, there are four conversations that David has
- 1:45with four different people. Are groups of people.
- 1:49The first one will be with the Elders of Judah.
- 1:51The second will be with somebody that you're familiar with, and
- 1:54that is Chef Mei or Chamois, thirdly.
- 1:58We will see David being visited by mephibosheth.
- 2:03And lastly, we'll see character that we've seen briefly just for
- 2:06a flash of a moment, but now there's actually going to be an
- 2:08in-depth conversation with a man named barzillai.
- 2:12Forgive me if I'm not pronouncing these names
- 2:13correctly or accurately, I'm trying my best and you
- 2:16understand as long as you see it here and then you've been does
- 2:18not here with his Hebrew knowledge to correct me.
- 2:20So I have a little bit more freedom today so David is now
- 2:23going to have these kind of engagements.
- 2:27Upon his re-entrance to his rightful place.
- 2:32Laurie. Pray today.
- 2:35We want to have freedom but we also realize you deserve
- 2:39reverence and honor. This is your word.
- 2:42It's holy You Are Holy made. A delivery of this word be
- 2:45honorable to you either be nothing of it.
- 2:48That is confusing or dishonoring or met the reception of your
- 2:51would be equally. Honorable, and more importantly,
- 2:55may it be embedded in our hearts to produce lasting?
- 3:00Genuine sincere, obedience to your name in these last days.
- 3:05Lord, we want to know you more, we want to draw closer to you.
- 3:09Should you Terry, should you Teri, Teri?
- 3:11Do we want to be found? Faithful for the rest of our
- 3:13days. But if you do return, help us
- 3:16Lord, to be found with our hearts burning and love with
- 3:19you. We ask these things from the
- 3:21bottom of our hearts. In Christ's name, we pray.
- 3:25Amen. Let's read verse 9.
- 3:29And all the people were arguing throughout all the tribes of
- 3:33Israel saying, the king delivered us from the hand of
- 3:37our enemies and save this from the hand of the Philistines.
- 3:40And now he has fled out of the land of from Absalom.
- 3:43But Absalom whom we anointed over us is dead and battle now.
- 3:47Therefore, why do you say nothing about bringing the king
- 3:51back? King, David sent this message to
- 3:54zadok and abiathar. The priest, say to the Elders of
- 3:58Judah, why should you be the last to bring the king back to
- 4:01his house when the word of all Israel has come to the king?
- 4:06You are my brothers, you are my bone and my flesh?
- 4:09Why then, should you be the last to bring back the king and say
- 4:14to amasa? Are you not my bone in my flesh?
- 4:16God do so to me and more also, if you are not commander of my
- 4:21Army, from now on, In place of joab.
- 4:25David is returning to his rightful place in the first
- 4:28category of people that he engages with are the Elders of
- 4:31Judah. What happens?
- 4:33Well after the news of absence defeat reaches back to the
- 4:37nation of Israel, a debate erupts within its borders.
- 4:43And the debate is around what the nation should do with King
- 4:47David. And so we see here that they
- 4:51rehearse what David had done in the past.
- 4:54They acknowledged that he had departed from them.
- 4:59They even admit that they have chosen Absalom as a as which was
- 5:05the result of David's exit. And lastly, there is criticism
- 5:09from the people concerning the leadership of why they are
- 5:11hesitating to bring David back to send word, for him to return.
- 5:16And so things are not looking good within and among the people
- 5:20of God at this point. and we see here that, What these people are
- 5:27doing. At this specific time is
- 5:32insightful. Concerning the human nature
- 5:33itself. Did you notice the timing of
- 5:37which the people decided to consider?
- 5:41David to come back. One was it look here again, it
- 5:44says here, but Absalom whom we in verse 10, whom, we anointed
- 5:49over us is dead in battle now, therefore now, therefore so we
- 5:58expect David to come back, right?
- 6:00Because Absalom is opposition is dead and his devious plot to
- 6:04topple, the kingdom died with him, but look at the people.
- 6:08The people now are entertaining the possibility of David coming
- 6:12back. Only When what, when their
- 6:15choice failed them? when their governance
- 6:20disappointed them, When their decision to oppose God's
- 6:25anointed ended up turning against them.
- 6:30And I looked at that and I thought to myself the thoughts
- 6:33of these Israelites is so similar to the testimonies of
- 6:37many perhaps even many of us today, how many of us can
- 6:41rightly admit that Christ only became attractive when our
- 6:45alternative choices. Let us down.
- 6:49And that is what people are doing today.
- 6:50There are people today, maybe even the sound of my voice who
- 6:54are not giving their total surrender and Devotion to Christ
- 6:57because they've been giving some perfumed Hollow promise from
- 7:02another king that they will be under greater Prosperity Greater
- 7:05Joy, greater sustenance under their rule instead of Christ
- 7:08rule And that's a pathetic motive, right?
- 7:12I mean I can say rifle that was my testimony.
- 7:14That when I tried everything else in it all failed then I
- 7:19knew where to turn to and I knew who to turn to that was Christ.
- 7:23And again it's it's not the most attractive way to coming to
- 7:30somebody for forgiveness, but Christ is so great.
- 7:33She still willing to embrace us despite that how Despicable that
- 7:37reason is Christ is still willing and this is not just a
- 7:40summer. From an Old Testament, text is
- 7:42the very teaching of Jesus in Luke 15.
- 7:44You don't have to turn there but you know, very well, The
- 7:46Prodigal Son, The Prodigal Son, did not come back to the father
- 7:49at the peak of his success. He did.
- 7:51So when his face was caked with mud, and when he was in the muck
- 7:54and the mire, only when everything was lost, only when
- 7:57he was absolutely at the bottom of the pit, could he look up and
- 8:02say, I need to go back to my father.
- 8:06And the father didn't cross his arms and tap his foot and say,
- 8:09look at you, this is when you come back.
- 8:11No, he Embraces him. He puts a royal robe on him.
- 8:13He puts a ring on his hand, he cuts the fattest caffeine.
- 8:15He has a celebration And we see David here willing to come back
- 8:19to people only after great loss. And he is reflecting some
- 8:25measure of the grace of God. Is he not?
- 8:28Absolutely. But you know as much as that
- 8:30truth is common. Right that the grace of God.
- 8:32Is there at all times at all moments.
- 8:34No matter how much we have disappointed.
- 8:35God turned away from God. He's willing to take us back.
- 8:38There's another truth, tied into this.
- 8:40That's not emphasized much and this is it.
- 8:43Why do you have to wait for your world to collapse before you
- 8:45consider Christ? You don't have to Okay.
- 8:48It's a testimony of many and it's indicative of the, the
- 8:52stubbornness of our human nature.
- 8:53But why do we have to you don't have to.
- 8:55Maybe you're a person here, who, who hasn't surrendered yet?
- 8:59And my question is you don't have to wait until you get some
- 9:01scars before you do. See you see here?
- 9:05These people realizing what? King David had done.
- 9:08Look here, again, in verse 9, the king delivered us from the
- 9:10hand of our enemies and saved us from the hand of the
- 9:12Philistines. David actually did something for
- 9:16us. And it's only now, do they
- 9:18realize that Absalom didn't actually deliver, right?
- 9:23He actually fellas, but you don't have to realize that in
- 9:26hindsight, you can actually know that.
- 9:28Now, it was true for David Wright because these people were
- 9:31deceived, Absalom did nothing. He showed nothing for himself
- 9:36before he became king, he just showed him his hair and he just
- 9:40sweet-talk them and they ate it all up, but David prior to him
- 9:44becoming king showed and proved himself.
- 9:47Over and over again. And the people realize he is
- 9:51shepherdess even the during the days of Saul, he is worthy to be
- 9:54our King, okay? I say apply that to Christ, step
- 9:59back and realize that God has given us a book.
- 10:02A testimony of the person of Jesus Christ and evaluate him.
- 10:06Look at his life, look at his promises.
- 10:09Look at what he was able to do. Look what he is able to do.
- 10:13And understand that an honest assessment of Christ in the word
- 10:17of God will bring you to this conclusion.
- 10:19No one else is like him. And no one else can deliver like
- 10:23he can deliver and no one else can deal with the foundation of
- 10:29Humanity's problem like him. And you and just from that
- 10:34assessment, be wise enough to say, okay, I don't have to
- 10:37explore with other options. Why don't I save myself time?
- 10:43Why don't I save myself hardik and just give myself to Christ
- 10:46now? That's why people who have the
- 10:48testimony of. I remember following Jesus ever
- 10:52since I remember those kind of testimonies are precious, they
- 10:57are precious. They might not be as dramatic,
- 10:59and that's what people feel. Sorry about concerning the
- 11:01testimonies, I don't have this. This Grand moment where things
- 11:03change. I wasn't a gang member.
- 11:06I wasn't a drug dealer, I wasn't this, I was in that.
- 11:09Yeah. But by God's grace you came to
- 11:11an awareness of his goodness and he has preserved you from all
- 11:14perversion and pain. Give him glory for that.
- 11:18And let it teach others that they can also make that choice
- 11:24as early on as possible and they can raise their kids with that
- 11:26hope and that ambition and that we can show the world that he is
- 11:30worthy to be served. We don't have to experiment with
- 11:32the world before we give him our Allegiance. we see here that
- 11:37these people had to experience loss, before they realize that,
- 11:42The anointed one is the true one 20,000 Israelites died in the
- 11:47Civil War According to second, Samuel 18.
- 11:50And again, it shows that sometimes it takes great loss
- 11:53before people realize. Okay, I'm done Christ.
- 11:57Forgive me. I bow before you your, your, my
- 11:59Lord forever. And there's a, there's a verse
- 12:03that I shared a prayer meeting last Wednesday, and it's a verse
- 12:04I want to share with you. You heard me earlier saying that
- 12:06I've been reading jeremias Jeremiah's book The Weeping
- 12:08prophets. Writings, there's one verse that
- 12:12I read probably two weeks ago and it's been in my heart since,
- 12:15and I can't shake it off and I don't want to shake it off, it's
- 12:19in Jeremiah 17 14. Jeremiah praise again, he prays
- 12:22to the Lord and he says to me, so powerfully says Heal Me O,
- 12:24Lord, and I will be healed. Save me and I will be saved for.
- 12:32You are my praise. What is he saying there?
- 12:38Heal Me O Lord and I will be healed, save me and I will be
- 12:40saved. Meaning Lord, if you really
- 12:44extend your hand of healing, I know that it will be effective
- 12:47if you really reach out to save me.
- 12:49I know that I will be saved. You actually deliver with your
- 12:53promises. You actually produce results
- 12:57with your claims. There, a lot of people claim to
- 13:01heal their lot of people who claim to say but they can't
- 13:04actually deliver. But Christ can.
- 13:08That's what Jeremiah says. You're the only one out of
- 13:11everybody else. All these false gods and all
- 13:13these false prophets. You're the only one that can
- 13:15actually come through. So heal me.
- 13:18And if you do heal me, I know I'll be, he'll save me.
- 13:21And if you save me, I know I will be saved.
- 13:24He comes through the anointed one can come through.
- 13:28Our anointed, one will come through.
- 13:30If you call upon him in sincerity and Truth.
- 13:32Look at verse 11 and King David sent this message to zadok and
- 13:35abiathar. The priest, say to the Elders of
- 13:38Judah, why should you be the last to bring the king back to
- 13:41his house when the word of all Israel has come to the king?
- 13:44So David Gets a message that there is this disruption in the
- 13:48nation and there's this argument and debate and strife about what
- 13:52they should do. But with that, That I mean
- 13:55that's encouraging right? The people are actually
- 13:57considering to bring me back but with that there's a
- 14:00disappointment because among all the tribes there is one tribe
- 14:05that is actually showing little to no interest for David coming
- 14:07back and it's the tribe that you would expect the strongest and
- 14:11loudest sponsorship from which tribe is that Judah?
- 14:16Is David from Judah. Absolutely.
- 14:19So, the people closest to him, the people nearest to him, the
- 14:23people that he shares his Heritage with, are the ones that
- 14:26are actually expressing no sign of longing for his return.
- 14:32I think this is a really sober and practical reminder for
- 14:36Servants of God today for the Christian life.
- 14:38In general that oftentimes where you expect the strongest support
- 14:44from is where you actually don't get it.
- 14:47And the least expected people to actually stand by you in times
- 14:51of need actually do arrive. That's not to make you bitter
- 14:56and that should not make you cynical but it should make you
- 14:58prepared. Prepared to realize that even
- 15:02the greatest of people, even the people who share your blood or
- 15:06even share your faith. Might not show up the way you
- 15:09thought they would show up. And if you think that's unique
- 15:11to us, that's actually something that the greatest men of God
- 15:13experience. Paul himself said at the end of
- 15:16his last letter, in 2nd, Timothy 4 verse 16 at my first defense.
- 15:20No one stood by me. No one stood by you.
- 15:25After all the churches, you planted after all the people
- 15:28that saw your miraculous power, God's power through your life.
- 15:31After all the pain and all the letters.
- 15:34No one, stood by you. At your first defense.
- 15:36Yeah. No one stood by me at my first
- 15:38defense, then he says in verse 17, but the Lord stood by me.
- 15:42But the Lord stood by me and what strengthen me?
- 15:46You know what that tells me the Lord standing by Paul wasn't
- 15:50just some doctrinal idea, it was something you actually
- 15:53experienced. I actually experienced the
- 15:56infusing strength of Christ in my life when in the absence of
- 16:02everybody else. You know what, I find
- 16:05interesting often times what you'll know is that the personal
- 16:10Fidelity of Jesus Christ that experience will be heightened in
- 16:15the midst of relational turmoil. And so, don't let the letdowns
- 16:21and the disappointments of others.
- 16:23Even Christians, even Christian leaders Cause you to raise your
- 16:27fist to Heaven. Know if anything, let it
- 16:29encourage you to draw near to Christ to seek his presence and
- 16:33to believe that he will actually strengthen you, he will actually
- 16:37make his Fellowship known to you.
- 16:40You know what David is experiencing here is what Christ
- 16:42ultimately experiencing his visitation here on Earth.
- 16:46His own did not receive him. His own did not receive him.
- 16:53And so, what that tells me is that even in the particular
- 16:56suffering of rejection or negligence, I can fellowship
- 17:02with Christ like I couldn't draw nearer to Christ and expect that
- 17:06as I pour my heart out to him, he sympathizes he knows and if
- 17:12you're going to serve the Lord, there is one thing that I can
- 17:15promise you with all the joys and all the testimonies and all
- 17:18the Wonders, that Ministry comes with.
- 17:21People would disappoint, you're not talking about the Heathen
- 17:23out there. I'm talking about people who
- 17:24Phillip use, they will people who wear suits and ties, they
- 17:28can and so learn now, and believe now and even practice
- 17:32this truth. To fellowship with the Lord and
- 17:35to expect him to be there. When everybody else isn't, This
- 17:40is something that David here is expressing.
- 17:42Where are you? You're my flesh and your my
- 17:44bone. You're supposed to be the
- 17:45closest to me. So where are you?
- 17:49And there seems to be some kind of conviction because their
- 17:51suede, we're told that their Suede and verse 14 in each
- 17:54suede, the heart of all the men of Judah as one man, so they
- 17:57sent word to the king. Now, here's what I find
- 18:00fascinating before we move on to the next point.
- 18:03Isn't David? The Conquering King.
- 18:06They didn't just win. The opposition.
- 18:07Didn't just overthrow Absalom. So to speak.
- 18:10Doesn't he have every right to March, right?
- 18:14Back into Jerusalem, to take his scepter, to reclaim his crown to
- 18:18sit on the throne and to govern the nation, whether they want to
- 18:22or not. The answer is yes.
- 18:26Evidently. David does not entertain the
- 18:32option of forcing his rule on people who are hesitant or not
- 18:38interested in making them him, King over their lives.
- 18:43News. Flash Christ isn't any
- 18:45different. It's not a force himself.
- 18:48I know some people might feel logically disagree with me on
- 18:50that. But you read this book cover to
- 18:54cover and what you realize about the heart of God is that he
- 18:56genuinely desires you to genuinely desire him and he was
- 19:01so respect your choice. That he will allow you to reject
- 19:05him. You can reject them all you
- 19:08want. You can reject them persistent,
- 19:11you can reject them until your dying breath, and he won't Bend
- 19:15you. If, you know, the truth, hear
- 19:18the truth and refused. He won't Bend you and to make
- 19:20you a robot in your Devotion to him.
- 19:23Now, that choice of rejecting will come with consequences
- 19:26consequences that if not granted.
- 19:30With disqualified God and other aspects of his character, namely
- 19:34his Justice, because this isn't just a friendship here, we're
- 19:37dealing with a king, we're dealing with a judge, we're
- 19:39dealing with one who gave a moral law to humanity.
- 19:42So we're talking about relationship with Jesus.
- 19:43We're not talking about, Jesus being lonely, and he wants
- 19:47Humanity to occupy more space in heaven, because it's a really
- 19:50big place. No, it there is a personal
- 19:53relationship but we're dealing with the cosmic ruler of the
- 19:56universe who is dealing with a Celestial Ball filled with
- 20:02enemies. And he extends reconciliation to
- 20:07us and I'll respect your choice. Do you want Christ?
- 20:11He'll come. You don't want Christ.
- 20:13He'll leave you to yourself. You leave, you with your Idols.
- 20:16He'll leave with your, with your sin.
- 20:19And he'll let you do what you want to do in these 60 50 40, 30
- 20:2480 years and then you'll face some and then explain your
- 20:27rejection. So David here, doesn't impose
- 20:32his will David. Your doesn't force himself back
- 20:35into the boundaries of Israel. He waits.
- 20:38Do you want me to come back or not?
- 20:40Do you want to receive me or not?
- 20:41Do you want to accept me or not? And he persuades them there.
- 20:44Persuaded And they invite him. They meet him at the Jordan but
- 20:49look here verse 13. Something interesting happens.
- 20:51Because everything up to this point is very commendable
- 20:52concerning David. I argue verse 13 is questionable
- 20:56concerning his judgment. And say to amasa, are you not my
- 21:01bone in my flesh? God do so to me and more also,
- 21:03if you are not commander of my Army from now on in place of
- 21:06joab, why does he do this? Well, before we answer that
- 21:10question, does anybody remember who amasa is?
- 21:13Yes. Very good.
- 21:17Well let's turn back if you want the answer in 2nd, Samuel 17 and
- 21:21notice here with me. In verse 25, exactly who a
- 21:24masses. Now, Absalom and second, Samuel,
- 21:2917 Absalom had said amasa over the Army instead of joab.
- 21:34A Masa was the son of a man named Ezra the ishmaelite who is
- 21:38married to Abigail the daughter of nahas shifts, their Observer
- 21:41Aya. Jobs, mother first things first,
- 21:45a Masa is a relative to David. He's another nephew of David's,
- 21:50making a Masa and job cousins So we know here that there's blood
- 21:55relationship, right? But more importantly, not only
- 21:58is this a relative to David, this is one of David's Traders
- 22:03Absalom chose a messiah to be the general over the army of
- 22:07Israel and there is no indication that he refused.
- 22:11So we're dealing with a person who has committed great treason.
- 22:16With that background. What is David doing?
- 22:20And giving a massage a promotion upon his return to making him
- 22:25the commander of his army. Any ideas I have to maybe you
- 22:29have more any ideas. Yes, okay, so this is there's a
- 22:34little personal thing to this, right?
- 22:36You killed my son. I'm going to teach you a lesson.
- 22:39I know how much job you prize your position.
- 22:42I know what you do to people who try to or threaten your
- 22:45Authority. Authority.
- 22:47You're gone. Okay, there's a personal aspect.
- 22:50But before that, there is a political move here.
- 22:53Here's the political move, again.
- 22:54He's trying to persuade the heart of Judah, and of the
- 22:58nation as a whole. And so, and showing his
- 23:00willingness to forgive them. Despite the fact that they chose
- 23:04Absalom, he brings in a traitor and he promotes him.
- 23:09And he proves to them, I'm willing to forgive, watch me a
- 23:12masseur. You're my new general.
- 23:14But he's trying to accomplish more than one thing here and we
- 23:16touch our brother touched on it. There's a personal aspect to
- 23:19this. It's clear here that that David
- 23:23learn who was responsible for his son's death job.
- 23:27Joe, I've Dishonored his word and that was the line crossed
- 23:31for David. And so he takes a messiah and he
- 23:33says amasa I'm going to make you now the general.
- 23:37And you're going to take jobs place, it seems like a very good
- 23:41political move. But unfortunately, this decision
- 23:44was mixed with personal bitterness, Was this wise or
- 23:49unwise politically speaking politicians?
- 23:53Would love that. That's a good move.
- 23:58Personally and even in God's economy, wrong many reasons why
- 24:03it's wrong. Let me give you one.
- 24:06A Masa was incompetent as a general, was he not how do we
- 24:11know that? Well, he was the general of
- 24:13absalom's army a much larger Army than David's forces.
- 24:16And yet he still failed to come close to Bringing victory for
- 24:20Israel. And yet, David is still willing
- 24:23to put him in a compromising position for the sake of what to
- 24:27get back at somebody else. And Amazon the next chapter is
- 24:30going to show just how disqualified he is, because he's
- 24:33actually going to because of his incompetence.
- 24:36Can actually play a role in the potential Civil War to ensue as
- 24:40a result of his lack of ability. Here's here's a lesson from this
- 24:46and it's important especially for leaders in any capacity.
- 24:48But it's especially important, it's important for all of us in
- 24:51our decisions in life. Never make a decision.
- 24:57Never make a decision about especially in the context of
- 25:00ministry. Never make a decision to promote
- 25:02or place. Somebody in a particular
- 25:05position. If your motive is inspired by
- 25:10anything that is personal God has set qualifications.
- 25:15Listen, not just for positions in Ministry before a spouse for
- 25:19your friends and when you for whatever reason, no matter how
- 25:25strong, your reasoning is no matter.
- 25:27A stronger feelings are when you decide to compromise on those
- 25:30qualifications. You will realize soon enough
- 25:34that you're going to invite trouble.
- 25:35Though you satisfied some initial desire in your decision.
- 25:41That's true for marriage. That's true for friendship.
- 25:44That's true for Ministry. There are people who say just
- 25:47bring this person on in Ministry because if not, they're going to
- 25:49cause problems. That's not how you choose people
- 25:51in Ministry. Choose this person because
- 25:57because, you know, they're going to offer this to you.
- 26:00They're going to offer that to you.
- 26:01They're gonna, they'll fulfill your fantasy.
- 26:03They have something to do with this.
- 26:04They have to somebody. That's not how you choose a
- 26:06spouse. All right?
- 26:08It's not. But these are my friends and,
- 26:11and I grew up with them and we're family.
- 26:13And if I choose to follow Christ and not give in to what they
- 26:16want, that it might cause issues, and we have history and
- 26:19they've helped us out over the years.
- 26:20That's not how you choose your friends.
- 26:23It may satisfy something in the moment, the time being, but a
- 26:26will invite trouble. It will invite heartache
- 26:29eventually. That's what we're going to see
- 26:30with Amazon and so David here. Chooses this man, you know what
- 26:35I find so interesting because obviously his blood is still
- 26:38boiling about what job did to his son Absalom, but go to First
- 26:41Kings chapter 2 and I want you to see something.
- 26:44That is omitted that is I think instructive about David's
- 26:49development. If you go to verse 5, he speaks
- 26:52about joab. To his succeeding, son Solomon
- 26:58and he rehearses what? Joe I've had done.
- 27:01Making him, worthy of some kind of punishment first Kings. 25
- 27:06David says, moreover, you also know what job the son of
- 27:10Zechariah did to me, how he dealt with the two commanders of
- 27:15the armies of Israel, Abner, the son of Nur and a Messiah, the
- 27:18Son of japheth er whom he killed Who's missing here?
- 27:29His son, he doesn't mention Absalom.
- 27:33I mean here we see in chapter 19 that what's motivating him is
- 27:37what job did two apps on. At least we presume.
- 27:38So it makes sense in light of the context But as time goes by
- 27:42as years goes by think David himself.
- 27:44Even learned that absalom's death was necessary.
- 27:49It's amazing. What time teaches us.
- 27:51It's amazing. What reflection teaches us.
- 27:54It's amazing. How emotions and feelings can
- 27:58blind Us in the time being but God loves to use time.
- 28:06To show us. Where we were wrong.
- 28:11And hopefully doesn't take too much time and hopefully we can
- 28:13learn before before years go by where we could have been, right?
- 28:18Right. So this is the Elders of Judah,
- 28:21but now we come to verse 16. The second person that David
- 28:24interacts with, and shammai the son of Gera the Benjamin a'ight,
- 28:30From bahurim hurry to come down with the men of Judah to meet
- 28:33King David and with him were a thousand men from Benjamin and
- 28:37zebra. The servant of the House of Saul
- 28:40with his 15 sons and 20 servants rushed down to the Jordan before
- 28:43the king and they crossed the for to bring over the Kings
- 28:46household and to do his pleasure.
- 28:49And shammai the son of Gera fell down before the king as he was
- 28:52about to cross the Jordan verse 19 says, and said to the king,
- 28:56let not my Lord. Hold me, guilty or remember how
- 28:58your servant did wrong of the day.
- 29:00My Lord the king but Jerusalem, do not let the king.
- 29:03Take it to heart for your servant knows that I have
- 29:06sinned. Therefore behold I have come
- 29:08this day. The first of all, the house of
- 29:10Joseph to come down to meet the Lord the king.
- 29:14You remember shamai? The scoundrel troublemaker.
- 29:20When David was barefoot, headed back to the Jordan, with his
- 29:25back towards his home, his family is his throne, his
- 29:28kingdom, he cursed him from the hilltop, he threw rocks at him,
- 29:33he denounced him, he falsely accused him and now we see this
- 29:37man. coming to David falling before him, confessing his sin
- 29:42and pleading, for pardon, And here's what's tricky.
- 29:47Sometimes about Old Testament, narratives, you don't get
- 29:50commentary at times of whether or not something is sincere or
- 29:55whether or not something is suspicious.
- 29:56If something is, insincere, something is authentic?
- 30:00And so you come here, and I can see how there can be debate,
- 30:03whether this man was actually true or if he's actually
- 30:08presenting worldly sorrow. So let's gather the evidence
- 30:12shall we? I mean, look at it, you heard me
- 30:14read it, but look at it for a few moments.
- 30:15And gather, the evidence for yourself is shit, my I hear
- 30:19being honest, is this actually a genuine repentance or is this
- 30:22something more? Is he being clever?
- 30:25Is he being shady? Let me show you.
- 30:28Some of the things that I noticed the timing of his
- 30:31repentance maybe you already caught on to that.
- 30:34It says here in verse 16 that he hurried to come down with the
- 30:38men of Judah to meet King David. So the Of of Judah said,
- 30:41alright. You persuaded us were coming to
- 30:43fetch for you, so they go down to the Border, they meet him at
- 30:46the Jordan and it seems, as though, the moment, the news
- 30:49went out that it is confirmed. David is coming back to the
- 30:54throne. She my knew he was in trouble
- 30:57and so he makes it an urgent matter to flee toward David in
- 31:02order to beg for his pardon. That's an interesting timing.
- 31:08What else stands out to you? What stands out to you from
- 31:11verse 17? How many people came with
- 31:17shamai? Thousand.
- 31:20I'm surprised a guy like that had a thousand friends, to be
- 31:23honest. Most of us have a thousand
- 31:25friends on Facebook and we probably 85% of those aren't
- 31:28really friends, right? This guy was able to gather a
- 31:30thousand friends or comrades or citizens of his tribe, a
- 31:35thousand of them. And here's what I'm wondering,
- 31:37is this necessary, and what is it all about him in any way?
- 31:41Why are you bringing a thousand people with?
- 31:43You seems kind of show it to me. And so, there's something
- 31:47suspicious about even that, right?
- 31:49And and there's different speculations.
- 31:51Maybe by orchestrating this welcome party, which softened
- 31:55David up. So that if there was any hint of
- 31:58him, executing immediate judgment, it would be halted by
- 32:01this bouquet of The Tribe of Benjamin, very clever.
- 32:07But it's like, what are you doing this for, you know, and
- 32:10and then you see him falling before David?
- 32:13That's a, that's a posture of humility, that's difficult to
- 32:15argue with but then, You can challenge it with this backdrop
- 32:19of a thousand of his own people watching this take place.
- 32:22So there's some kind of some kind of display demonstration
- 32:27that is a little bit over-the-top and when people do
- 32:30things over the top you wonder what the real motive is.
- 32:34Okay, what else do we see? Your anything else that stands
- 32:36out? We see his, his physical posture
- 32:39and verse 19. Now we see his words.
- 32:41What does he say? Let not my Lord.
- 32:45Now he's your lord uh let not my Lord.
- 32:47Hold me guilty or remember how your servant interesting did
- 32:52wrong on the day. My Lord the king.
- 32:54Oh now he's King. The king left Jerusalem.
- 32:58Do not let the king. Take it to heart for your
- 33:01servant. There it is.
- 33:03Again, I'm your servant knows that I have sinned.
- 33:06So, so more than so three times, he says my Lord three times, he
- 33:10says the king twice. He says your servant.
- 33:15Much different attitude and language than when David was in
- 33:18his Exile, right? Is it genuine?
- 33:22Well, we see him. Say something that's that's
- 33:25quite impressive. Three words, verse 20.
- 33:29I have sinned, I have sinned. Now, if if she, my would have
- 33:36just stopped there, right there would be much more to his case
- 33:41of being sincere. But unfortunately, he feels the
- 33:47need to continue to open his mouth and by continuing to open
- 33:52his mouth he says something that is utterly unnecessary and puts
- 33:56him back into the category being suspicious.
- 34:00If you are just said, I have sinned.
- 34:03Wow, perhaps we would have a wonderful testimony of a.
- 34:06Truly repented man, a very unlikely man who has repented
- 34:10but instead he goes on to add what?
- 34:12Therefore, behold. Like hey David.
- 34:16Check this out. Look, what I'm highlighting to
- 34:19you. Behold what I have come this
- 34:23day, the first of all the house of Joseph to come down to meet
- 34:28my Lord, the king. Why are you doing that?
- 34:30She my Why just be be humble be straight?
- 34:36No he has to make sure that David knows that before any
- 34:40other tribe. apart from Judah, any other member of the the 11
- 34:45different tribes had come shh my game and he showed his gratitude
- 34:52and he showed his penitent heart braggadocious I think
- 34:57Unnecessary, I think. So if you feel bad feeling a
- 35:02little off about shammai, don't feel bad.
- 35:04You know why? Because David did Abishai
- 35:10definitely did. Look at verse 21 abishai.
- 35:12The senator. I answered shall not shammai be
- 35:14put to death for this because you curse the Lord's anointed
- 35:16like he didn't buy any of it. I can see right through this
- 35:20guy. Let's just kill him right here
- 35:21now and don't be too hard on abishai.
- 35:23You know why? Because I believe abishai had a
- 35:25specific law in the book of Exodus in mind concerning
- 35:28shammai that he wanted to honor. You know what that law is?
- 35:31It's an Exodus 20 to 28 where we're told that we should not
- 35:35revile Our God or curse any leader of his people.
- 35:38Apple. And that's exactly what shammai
- 35:40did. And so, I be shy wants to in
- 35:44righteousness deal with shammai and David, seems to what?
- 35:48We see David often do extend Grace, is that right?
- 35:52But read your Bible carefully, read it slowly.
- 35:56And notice the choice words of David is what makes Bible
- 35:59studies, so fascinating. But David said, what have I to
- 36:03do with you? You sons of zuria that you
- 36:06should do this day. Be as an adversary to me really
- 36:09carefully with me, shall anyone be To death in Israel this day
- 36:13for. Do I not know that I am this day
- 36:15King over Israel and the King said to shamai, you shall not
- 36:18die. In the king, gave him his oath.
- 36:20What phrase or pair of words, stand out to you from David's
- 36:24answer. Very good.
- 36:32Very this day. How many times did he say?
- 36:35It says, shall anyone be put to death in Israel?
- 36:38This day 14. I do not know that I am this day
- 36:42to King over Israel and the King said, the sure, my you shall not
- 36:45die in the king, gave him his oath.
- 36:47He repeats the fact that it is this day that no one should be
- 36:51put to death. He doesn't want to interfere
- 36:54with this process of political, peace, and Harmony being sewed
- 36:58together. Right?
- 37:00He doesn't think it's wise, that this should be clouded by the
- 37:04execution of one of the members and could even discourage those
- 37:09who have also rebelled against David to consider him again, as
- 37:12a king. So he bypasses it and it seems
- 37:15as though he lets it go, or does he?
- 37:18He doesn't. Does he really Let It Go?
- 37:21Who says he lets it go. Well, based on my question.
- 37:23I think, you know, where I'm going with this, right at face
- 37:26value. It seems that he lets it go.
- 37:29But in fact, has it in his heart until his dying day.
- 37:35Joab was not the only individual.
- 37:38That David brought before Solomon his son, in order what
- 37:42to do with him upon his departure, shammai is another
- 37:46one. If you want proof of that, go to
- 37:47First Kings chapter 2, where we read about job, and look at
- 37:50verse 8 instead and notice what's really going on in
- 37:54David's heart. First Kings, 28.
- 37:59And there is also with you shamai the son of Gera.
- 38:02The Benjamin night from bahurim, who cursed me with a grievous
- 38:06curse on the day when I went to mahanaim, but when he came down
- 38:10to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the Lord saying,
- 38:14I will not put you to death with the sword.
- 38:17Now, therefore do not hold him Guiltless.
- 38:21For you are a wise man. You will know what to do or what
- 38:25you ought to do to him and you shall bring his grey head down
- 38:28with blood to Shield. So, David made an oath.
- 38:33I'm not going to kill you but there was fine print, I'm not
- 38:38going to kill you. And he honored his oath, but
- 38:43when it came to the transfer of the Kingdom to his son, he
- 38:46brings his son into his room. And he says, Solomon.
- 38:50I'll never forget what she my did to me.
- 38:53You're wise. I think you know what to do but
- 38:57just in case there's a loss of translation here make sure he
- 39:00doesn't go to the grave in peace.
- 39:04Interesting. Think there's some valuable
- 39:06lesson there. About forgiveness, maybe some
- 39:09would debate and say well know what David is doing, here is a
- 39:11just thing because she my did break the law.
- 39:15Wrestle with that. And your own understanding of
- 39:17this story and see how the Lord leads you, make sure you use the
- 39:20word of God. So she my is the second
- 39:23character, but now we come to the third, a very, very
- 39:25instrumental and important character.
- 39:27In the story, mephibosheth verse 24 and mephibosheth the son of
- 39:33Saul came down to meet the king. He had neither taking care of
- 39:37his feet, nor trimmed his beard. Nor washed his clothes from the
- 39:41day, the king depart until the day.
- 39:43Came back and safety. But a different presentation
- 39:47than shammai, there is no Entourage.
- 39:49There was no parade. This man came untrimmed,
- 39:53unwashed ungroomed showing that from the moment that he was
- 39:59gone. David was gone.
- 40:00He had not taken care of himself as a display of morning.
- 40:04And we have already covered this part back in second Samuel 16.
- 40:07Because remember ziba came to David and lied to David about
- 40:12mephibosheth loyalty to him. Yeah, you know mephibosheth he
- 40:15realized that you upon your departure that God perhaps is
- 40:19bringing the kingdom back to his father saw.
- 40:22And so he cut ties with you. I'm sorry to break the news to
- 40:26you and David prematurely acts upon that news.
- 40:30And what does he do? Who remembers what he does?
- 40:33He transfers all the property that belonged to my fetish.
- 40:36I think gives it over to Zeba and we came to this chapter to
- 40:40satisfy curiosity and to determine that Ziva was in fact
- 40:44lying and to learn a valuable lesson in life that you should
- 40:48not always listen to and absorb and act upon the news, from a
- 40:53person who initially gives it wisdom says you, wait and you
- 40:56investigate But David, like how the enemy does was so distraught
- 41:01emotionally and physically and because of his weakness was
- 41:05taken advantage of and he made a poor judgment.
- 41:09Now my fetish that comes back and we see in verse 25 and when
- 41:13he came to Jerusalem to meet the king, the king set them.
- 41:16Why did you not go with me? Mephibosheth.
- 41:19Genuine question, right? Look how he answers and he
- 41:23answered verse 26. My Lord O King my servant
- 41:25deceived me for your servant. Said to him I will saddle a
- 41:28donkey for myself that I'm a ride on it.
- 41:31And go with the King for your servant is lame.
- 41:34He has slandered your servant to my Lord the king but my Lord the
- 41:37king is like the angel of God do.
- 41:40Therefore what seems good to you. bichette highlights, the
- 41:46sin of slander and I believe this is one of the most
- 41:51despicable examples and honest examples of what the sin of
- 41:56slander can actually do. Notice that all it took was a
- 42:00brief report from a man that forever altered the future of an
- 42:04innocent man. Naturally, speaking with a
- 42:09vicious life would never be the same, he would lose much of his
- 42:12property, his reputation would be questioned.
- 42:19All because somebody chose to use the weapon of the tongue
- 42:21against him. This is why I believe God
- 42:24absolutely hates the sin of slander because life and death
- 42:27is in the power of the tongue. You don't need a torch to burn a
- 42:30man down, you can just use those words.
- 42:33You can just use an email, you can just use a tweet or two, you
- 42:36can destroy somebody. You think you can get away with
- 42:40it but eventually God will bring retribution on behalf of his
- 42:44servants. But what I also see with
- 42:47mephibosheth as a valuable lesson about how to deal with
- 42:50this kind of Grievous sin and notice what he says here.
- 42:54I because David David here's what he has to say and then he
- 42:57comes up with another judgment, he comes up with another
- 42:59settlement and he said, you know what, let y go further with
- 43:02this, half of the property, goes to Z behalf of the property,
- 43:05goes to you. Now we're going to touch on that
- 43:07in a moment. But let me remind you because
- 43:09we're creatures of repetition, that's how we need to learn.
- 43:11That's how we learn. Let me remind you something.
- 43:13So so, so instructive about method.
- 43:15Jesus answer in verse 30, The Fetish had said to the king o,
- 43:19let him take it all. Since my Lord the King has come
- 43:22safely home If that doesn't prove this man's innocence, I
- 43:25don't know what that is. But here this man his immediate
- 43:29reflexes, I don't care about any of this stuff.
- 43:34Never mind my property and I believe with that, never mind my
- 43:37reputation. And here's the thing that I
- 43:39learned about my fetish at that one of the ways to be an
- 43:41overcomer, one of the ways in which you can righteously deal
- 43:47with robbery, whether that is the removal of things in this
- 43:52life, even if that thing is your reputation and boy, do we love
- 43:55our reputations? It's to be so enamored with the
- 43:59King and to be so consumed about his will his program, his glory,
- 44:06his kingdom, that all this other stuff, even if it includes, you
- 44:09doesn't move you when it is affected, even if it's something
- 44:12as satanic as slander. All mephibosheth cares about is
- 44:17the exaltation of King, David. All he is excited about is the
- 44:20fact that he is returning to his rightful place so much so that
- 44:24he's bulletproof. When it comes to what happens to
- 44:27his life. And if you understand the truth
- 44:33about who Jesus is the reality, his future promises, what he
- 44:37will do when he comes back, how he rewards his servants, how he
- 44:40is the final judge about all things, including you okay?
- 44:43Do what you want? Say what you want. bring me to
- 44:47the stake with a figuratively or literally he has the final say,
- 44:54and so be like Mary of Bethany where you're so caught up in the
- 44:57worship of Christ that even though other disciples say
- 44:59things about you, you don't say anything and let Christ offend
- 45:02you that Christ offend you If I push that says take it all, it
- 45:08reminds us again, it makes me wonder if Solomon borrowed.
- 45:11His this tactic from his dad that when two women came and
- 45:15they argued about which baby living baby, belonged to him.
- 45:18He said, cut it in half. Cut the baby in half and what
- 45:23are the woman? Say.
- 45:24Something very similar to mephibosheth the true mother.
- 45:26Oh no. Let the child.
- 45:27Go to her. Don't put him to death and he
- 45:30goes, you're the real mom, you're the real mom.
- 45:34So makes you wonder is David testing.
- 45:37Is David testing the fetishes to see if he truly does Love David
- 45:40for who he is. By threatening to give what
- 45:44belonged to him away. Whether it was a test or not,
- 45:50what is for certain is that there is no evidence that David
- 45:53reversed or corrected this settlement Which begs the
- 45:57question is what David did here right or wrong when he said half
- 46:02of it goes to ziba have to go submit fetish at the right or
- 46:04wrong and you have to bring evidence if you're going to say
- 46:07one or the other. Put an elbow up if you say,
- 46:13right. You don't have to put it all the
- 46:16way up. Right, or wrong wise.
- 46:23Unwise, just strangest. Any comments.
- 46:31For the sake of time. Let me spare you.
- 46:35Wrong. Do you know why it's wrong?
- 46:38Not because it's my opinion because he went directly in
- 46:42violation to a law. Anybody guess what?
- 46:45Book I'm talking about What about what books in the Bible
- 46:50are all about law Lala? Leviticus is one, but it's not
- 46:55there. Law.
- 46:58Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy 19. I want you to see this for
- 47:02yourself with your own eyes. Deuteronomy 1916.
- 47:07See, this is why we need to know the Bible.
- 47:09We need to know all of the Bible, because it actually
- 47:11brings Clarity to places where it doesn't seem to have Clarity.
- 47:15So we can know for certain, we don't have to have debates, you
- 47:18don't have to read 10 commentaries.
- 47:19You can know for certain that David was wrong because the
- 47:22Bible says he was wrong Deuteronomy 1916.
- 47:25Here's what the law says, if a malicious witness arises to
- 47:29accuse a person of wrongdoing, then both parties to the
- 47:35dispute. All appear before the Lord,
- 47:37before the priest and the judges.
- 47:40And what are they supposed to do?
- 47:41Who are in office? Those days, the judges shall
- 47:45inquire diligently. And if the witness is a false
- 47:50witness and has accused his brother falsely, then you shall
- 47:54do to him as he is meant to do to his brother.
- 47:57So you shall Purge the evil from your midst.
- 48:00That's what David should have done.
- 48:03I'm surprised David didn't do it.
- 48:04He was a man who prays the law. He loved Allah.
- 48:06He devoured the law for whatever reason.
- 48:08He doesn't apply to in this situation but with David should
- 48:11have done was taken both of these parties.
- 48:13Bring them and set up a court date before the priest before
- 48:15the presence of the Lord before judges and do an investigation.
- 48:20Whenever you ignore God's law, Injustice and suffering, and
- 48:24sorrow is bound to ensue. And that's exactly what we see
- 48:30here. And this is the part that moved
- 48:34me even more about mephibosheth. I don't know if mephibosheth new
- 48:38this law. But he still even though this
- 48:43was an unfair conclusion, he still expressed his love and
- 48:47loyalty to David. I don't care about anything
- 48:52else. No, no, you have rights, the
- 48:55feather. Chef God has something in mind
- 48:57for you. And with an imperfect King, he
- 49:01still had this unwavering commitment to David How much
- 49:06more Christ, he perfectly deals with us, he never makes a
- 49:11mistake in his dealings with you and myself.
- 49:15And yeah, we are so quick to accuse him of Injustice, so
- 49:18quick to accuse them of malpractice.
- 49:21So quick to accuse him of being unfair.
- 49:25Yet, we know that he is absolutely unmistakably.
- 49:31Immaculate. He deserves our devotion, don't
- 49:35let mephibosheth outshine your Devotion to your king, he gave
- 49:39it to an imperfect King, a forgetful King, a misdirected
- 49:43King, and we have one who is perfect in all his ways and he
- 49:47be ever praised. Now we come to the final
- 49:50character. Are you still with me tonight?
- 49:52I hope so. Let's come to verse 31.
- 49:58Now barzillai the Gilead night had come down from Rogue element
- 50:03and he went on with the King to the Jordan to escort him over to
- 50:07the Jordan over the Jordan Bears.
- 50:09Ali was a very aged man, 80 years old.
- 50:14He had provided the king with food while he stayed at mahanaim
- 50:17for, he was a very wealthy man. And the King said, the bezel I
- 50:22come over with me and I will provide for you with me in
- 50:26Jerusalem, but Brazil, I said that the king.
- 50:28How many years have I still to live?
- 50:30I like this guy. How many years have I still to
- 50:33live? That I should go up with the
- 50:34King to Jerusalem? I am this day, 80 years old.
- 50:37Can I discern? What is pleasant and what is
- 50:40not? Can your servant taste what he
- 50:42eats or what he drinks? Can I still listen to the voice
- 50:45of singing, men and singing woman?
- 50:47Why then should your servant be an added burden to my Lord?
- 50:49The king? Your servant will go a little
- 50:52way over the Jordan with the King.
- 50:53Why should the king repay me with such a reward?
- 50:56Please let your servant returned that I may die in my own City,
- 50:59near the grave of my father and my mother but here is your
- 51:02servant him ham. Let him go over with my Lord the
- 51:07king and do for him. Whatever seems good to you.
- 51:11The king answered him. Him, she'll go over with me and
- 51:13I will do for him. Whatever seems good to you and
- 51:15all that you desire of me, I will do for you.
- 51:20There's so much to say about this fellow.
- 51:23There are two things I want to highlight for the sake of time.
- 51:25Number one, his age scripture goes out of the way to tell us
- 51:28that he was a very aged man. He was 80 years old, 80 years
- 51:32old and he's walking all this way and he's willing to cross
- 51:36the border and all these wonderful things.
- 51:38The thing that I take out of this is that surely the Lord in
- 51:42all seasons of life, has opportunities reserved for us,
- 51:44to serve him and his people 80 year old man.
- 51:49I was fascinating, is that? That was the age?
- 51:51That who started ministry Moses? 80 years old, God had something
- 51:56for Moses at 80 not 1880, God uses members Ally at 80, not 28.
- 52:04And I find that encouraging and what's equally encouraging is
- 52:07that better zalaya was used by God, At 80 and so was Moses
- 52:12though. They're fruitfulness look
- 52:14completely different. You had an 80 year old man.
- 52:16That was used by the Lord to deliver a nation from another
- 52:19Nation like unparalleled, right? And yet you have this other 80
- 52:24year old man who brought beds and baskets of food to David and
- 52:31Mannheim and his men and just made their night, they're a
- 52:34little bit more comfortable. And both were still Servants of
- 52:38God. And I think what's important to
- 52:40know as Servants of God is to refrain from the comparison.
- 52:45The temptation to compares to compare yourself to another
- 52:48servant of God, right? Who might be used by the Lord in
- 52:52a different way though, they might be in the same season of
- 52:55life as you are, don't do that. Here's what you have to do is
- 52:58realize and recognize what God has presented before him to
- 53:02honor him in that. That's all he requires.
- 53:04That's all he requires. Don't look at others who are 30
- 53:08and see where they are to look at others.
- 53:09Who are 50 to 1? No, no, just look what God has
- 53:12before you and honor him there and that's all he desires.
- 53:16That's all he Longs for. But the next thing here is his
- 53:19refusal for the reward. He serves David, he honors David
- 53:24and he doesn't do it just like cuz he had nothing else to do.
- 53:26This isn't a retired fellow who was bored and not a lot of
- 53:30money, didn't know what to do with it.
- 53:32For the fact of this bezel, I chose to show his allegiance to
- 53:36David at a very very crucial time when Absalom was supposedly
- 53:40King. This was an act of treason.
- 53:44This was an act of betrayal. In absalom's eyes if Brazil, I
- 53:47was reported for this, he could have been even at 80 with a man
- 53:50like I've some easily easily executed and yet at that time,
- 53:56he chose to step up and show his loyalty to the truth.
- 54:02And when he was supposed to be rewarded for that, rightfully so
- 54:05he reflects it. And he says not to me, but give
- 54:08it to him him. This is your servant.
- 54:12We don't know who him Henry. He is and you don't have to turn
- 54:14there unless you go to 2nd 1st Kings to when you go to 1st
- 54:17Kings to. We are told that David tell
- 54:19Solomon deal kindly with the sons of barzillai First Kings
- 54:2427. So you make that connection, you
- 54:27come to the conclusion. That him must be a son of.
- 54:29There's a lie. So he's a son.
- 54:33And when I meditate on this, I thought what a wonderful lesson,
- 54:36here's the lesson. Then often one of the joys of
- 54:41being faithful to the Lord. Even in, especially in the
- 54:45latter part of life is that you can expect there to be
- 54:49generational Rewards. Kim Hem benefited from the
- 54:54loyalty and the Fidelity of his father.
- 55:01It trickled down to him. And I see so much in our Bibles
- 55:09that assures us that if we choose to walk with the Lord and
- 55:14stay consistent and persistent with the Lord, if God chooses to
- 55:19expand our seed. Then those under your
- 55:23responsibility, those in your life.
- 55:26We've been entrusted to. You will surely be blessed by
- 55:28you because of you in some measure, understand that your
- 55:31Disobedience the Lord doesn't just affect you, it will affect
- 55:36somebody else your obedience to the Lord will do the same, and I
- 55:40love to see this old aged man who made a decision to honor.
- 55:45God, who still had though, his body was Phil.
- 55:48He still had a pumping heart to serve God's people.
- 55:52And who been in it for him him him he benefit and to what
- 55:56extent did him him receive a reward.
- 55:59You know, I looked up his name. He's only mentioned three times,
- 56:03I believe, unless I counted wrong and second Samuel and he's
- 56:06only mentioned in one other place, at least his name and all
- 56:11of the Bible. And I think it'll be a nice way
- 56:14to end this Bible study by doing a little bible study, trivia
- 56:16guess which book Huh, not force Kings and a second Kings.
- 56:28Let me give you a hint. Many centuries have passed
- 56:32before he's mentioned again. Few centuries.
- 56:40Don't use Google. I'll give you a few more moments
- 56:47to think about it. If anybody gets this, if anybody
- 56:49does get this, I will give you a big hug after Bible study.
- 56:53So I'm not expecting it. But if you're somebody does come
- 56:55up with it or you'll have an Embrace for me.
- 57:01Not Hebrews, it's not in the New Testament there.
- 57:04So let's eliminate that. All right, it's not in the New
- 57:06Testament. You are very close Morgan.
- 57:12It is not an Isaiah, but you're very close.
- 57:16Jeremiah, I want you to see it in Jeremiah 41.
- 57:23Jeremiah 41. In verse 17.
- 57:37If you have the King James, it's even more clear.
- 57:39But I believe every word for word translation has the mention
- 57:42of it. It says and they went and stayed
- 57:45at Guru with him ham. Near Bethlehem intending to go
- 57:51to Egypt. Do you know how David rewarded?
- 57:55That was a lie. You know how he rode him him?
- 57:58He gave him a plot of land near his hometown.
- 58:04Here is a plot of land and it was named after him him and it
- 58:09remained there as a pillar. For Generations.
- 58:15You know, when Christ does return and he will return.
- 58:19In like fashion, he will reward the faithful.
- 58:24Right. And when he does reward the
- 58:27faithful and may we be found faithful.
- 58:30His treasures will outshine, whatever you imagined His
- 58:36prepared prizes will be on what you can even contemplate.
- 58:42I'm not sure if this is what barzillai expected, but I just
- 58:46find it to be something of a treat to see him, hems name,
- 58:49mentioned in Jeremiah and to give the familiar student of the
- 58:54Old Testament. A reminder that the king who
- 58:58came back rewarded and promised a reward and it lasted they
- 59:04lasted and again, as I mentioned earlier, with betters Ally, He
- 59:10chose to serve David and he was recognized for serving.
- 59:14David had a particular time in Israel's history when it was
- 59:17very difficult to side with David, you know, we're looking
- 59:21out in our world today and you don't need to be a prophet to
- 59:25understand that in America in North America, it's becoming
- 59:28increasingly day by day, more difficult to associate claim
- 59:35profess. Jesus Christ, I believe more
- 59:39than any other time in American history, I'm sure that's not up
- 59:42for debate. It's very obvious.
- 59:44That makes some people scared. That makes some people scared to
- 59:47have children. That makes some people scared to
- 59:48do ministry. We already seeing people in
- 59:51leadership positions that are demonstrating fear, and concern,
- 59:55for the sake of preservation of what a building of, what a
- 59:58paycheck, be a prophet die for your God died for him.
- 1:00:06And this might be a frightful sight, but let me tell you, I
- 1:00:08believe it's one of the most exciting times to be a believer
- 1:00:11in Jesus Christ. You know why?
- 1:00:12Because we get to serve Christ when it really does cost us.
- 1:00:17If this is the trajectory that we're heading in, then it's
- 1:00:19actually going to cost you to Bear the name of Christ and
- 1:00:24guess what? He's worthy.
- 1:00:26He's worthy of it. And guess what?
- 1:00:28Just like barzillai. And King, David King, David
- 1:00:31recognize that, this man served them at a very, very
- 1:00:34inconvenient moment of history. And I have no doubt in my heart
- 1:00:39that as Christ looks down upon this generation of Believers,
- 1:00:42even in the West. He will recognize, who will be
- 1:00:46faithful. You'll recognize who stood for
- 1:00:50him and who remained. And who chose to make a
- 1:00:53difficult decision, though? It's not difficult to say, I
- 1:00:57will side with the kingdom matter, whose sides against him,
- 1:00:59it wasn't popular to be with David.
- 1:01:05And in your lifetime and mine. It's going to be increasingly
- 1:01:09unpopular, you know, I was I don't have any social media.
- 1:01:12I recommend it. From time to time.
- 1:01:16I just allow my web browser to take me as far as I can go
- 1:01:19before says, you need the app before you can look further in
- 1:01:21these timelines. And I went on Twitter and I saw
- 1:01:24something about the lgbtq thing, you know, it's everywhere now,
- 1:01:28And I was some kind of legislation or something.
- 1:01:30That was being proposed and I read the comments to it and
- 1:01:33overwhelmingly, you know what people were saying anybody?
- 1:01:38Who stands against the LGBT agenda, there's more letters
- 1:01:41being added. I can't keep up.
- 1:01:42I'm just going to say LGBT the LGBT agenda should be arrested.
- 1:01:46That was the comment. Comment should be arrested,
- 1:01:48should be indicted, should be arrested should be imprisoned.
- 1:01:51That's the language. It wasn't like that a few years
- 1:01:54ago, it is like that. Now And it's going to go perhaps
- 1:02:00from Twitter comments. To actual law.
- 1:02:06If God doesn't have mercy on This Nation, God doesn't step in
- 1:02:09and spare us from the direction that we're headed to.
- 1:02:12And that will very likely be a reality.
- 1:02:16Get serious with your Devotion to God.
- 1:02:17Now, stop waiting until the knife reaches your neck.
- 1:02:22I look at some people, and I think, what are you waiting for?
- 1:02:24We had something unprecedented happened in the past three
- 1:02:27years. We had the whole world shut
- 1:02:29down. And we had the push for an
- 1:02:34antichrist system. So aggressively forced upon us.
- 1:02:39And God lifted that and has given us another opportunity to
- 1:02:42serve him with the little Freedom that we have left.
- 1:02:45And Christians are still not getting it.
- 1:02:47A lot of them are not. I don't know what has happened.
- 1:02:50To the Christians of this generation but they got very
- 1:02:53quiet generally speaking. I know some are very grateful
- 1:02:58that the doors have opened again and that were in these places
- 1:03:00again that we get to host meetings and do what we're
- 1:03:03doing. But for many people, something
- 1:03:07happened to them post covid. I can't put my finger on it, but
- 1:03:12it's eerily disturbing. I don't know if part of it is
- 1:03:16because we've been Hammering and people's minds, you know, where
- 1:03:19the church. We don't need to meet during
- 1:03:21that whole Fiasco and people are still holding on to that.
- 1:03:25Now that the doors are open and now church leaders.
- 1:03:27Who said they're saying, when do you come back?
- 1:03:28You need to meet. I don't know what it is.
- 1:03:32But it's concerning to me. May the Lord give us a Zeal.
- 1:03:38Maybe make us ready. Because he's already given us a
- 1:03:42very strong hint of how things can change very drastically.
- 1:03:46The Bible is the Bible of history but it's also a book
- 1:03:49that tells us the future, we know what's going to happen and
- 1:03:52it's not just to make us apocalyptic Buffs and prophecy
- 1:03:58hunters and it's to make us ready for what's coming.
- 1:04:03The stage is being set. The stage is being set.
- 1:04:08If I were to preach out of the Book of Revelation, especially
- 1:04:11Revelation 13, talk about the Antichrist and the Antichrist
- 1:04:13system back in the 80s. People think?
- 1:04:15Oh, that's way far off. If I preached a series on it,
- 1:04:17now we can look at everything and say, it's here.
- 1:04:20It's right, it's right. Before us.
- 1:04:23And it happened so fast. I never thought that in my
- 1:04:25lifetime at this point in my life.
- 1:04:27I would see what I'm seeing now. I never thought, I'm sure you
- 1:04:30feel the same way and here we are.
- 1:04:32I believe we're only at the threshold.
- 1:04:35So what are we going to do? Well we're going to get ready
- 1:04:39because he's worthy to be served.
- 1:04:41I'm excited. I don't want to be presumptuous.
- 1:04:44I don't be like Peter and make these boastful claims.
- 1:04:50But I do want to honor him. And I hope you feel the same
- 1:04:54way. Well, that being said, let's
- 1:04:56pray. Father, we thank you for this
- 1:05:13Bible study. And we thank you for people who
- 1:05:17love the church. We thank you for the people
- 1:05:20here. Who loves your truth.
- 1:05:25Who love to know all that you have to say Lord made that
- 1:05:28remain as our heartbeat moving forward.
- 1:05:33In this life we ask oh God that you would give us the resilience
- 1:05:38the boldness, the hunger, the passion to be close to you.
- 1:05:44To be ready to sacrifice, whatever you demand of us. as
- 1:05:49you are continually being pushed out of our nation, May we go
- 1:05:54with you into Exile. May we stand for you?
- 1:05:57No matter what absalom's rear their, ugly heads, no matter
- 1:06:02what the majority chooses to do with King Jesus, we choose to
- 1:06:07pledge our loyalty to him. Regardless, the cost low, we
- 1:06:11pray, That this church and the churches that are represented
- 1:06:19here that they would experience a fresh move of the spirit with
- 1:06:24not a part. But with and through the
- 1:06:27proclamation of the word of God, that there would be a revivals
- 1:06:30in our local churches, across the land, that there will be a
- 1:06:33Revival of Truth. There would be a Revival of the
- 1:06:36Gospel being declared in sound Doctrine being heralded.
- 1:06:40And a people who not just know this stuff but live it and apply
- 1:06:44it without shame without hesitation Lord, we choose to
- 1:06:48give you glory. We choose to honor you tonight
- 1:06:51in light of this study you are the son of David, the true and
- 1:06:55Lasting Eternal King and these things are, but Shadows these
- 1:06:59things are. But principles that point to the
- 1:07:03greater person and for this, we say come Lord, Jesus.
- 1:07:09Lord Rule and reign in this world forever and ever.
- 1:07:11We are tired of this world and yet Lord we trust and we know
- 1:07:15that your your return is at the perfect time and until then help
- 1:07:19us be busy serving. You inviting people to you.
- 1:07:25And being equipped by your spirit and by your truth to do.
- 1:07:27So with great fruit though, we love you, we honor you, we give
- 1:07:31you all our hearts, all our minds, all our souls in Jesus
- 1:07:34name. Amen, let's stand and Worship
- 1:07:37the Lord before we head back to our own little castles.
- 1:07:43And honor God tonight. And honor God tonight.