Latest / Bible Study with Pr. Daniel Batarseh | Verse by Verse Series | Maranatha Bible Church - Chicago / 2 Samuel 12 (Part 1) Bible Study | Pastor Daniel Batarseh

Transcript

2 Samuel 12 (Part 1) Bible Study | Pastor Daniel Batarseh · Bible Study with Pr. Daniel Batarseh | Verse by Verse Series | Maranatha Bible Church - Chicago

0:04
Good evening, get to see you here again tonight.
0:08
And if you've been with us in the past few weeks, you know,
0:11
exactly where we are in the scriptures.
0:13
If you do not know where we are tonight, we are in a study in
0:16
the book of second, Samuel and the Lord has led us in his
0:21
timing with the pace that we trust.
0:23
His spirit is using for us to understand this book in chapter
0:26
12 and second Samuel chapter 12 is where we are today.
0:32
And as, you know, usually what we do is we'll read a portion of
0:37
this chapter or of a chapter, and then I will open it up for
0:41
us to give our insights our observations.
0:44
But for the sake of this study, we're going to read through
0:49
these verses. And I will ask questions along
0:52
as we go along with our time tonight, verse by verse, but we
0:56
will still read it together. And tonight, we will most likely
1:00
just cover the first five or six.
1:02
Has it is a lengthy chapter as you can see, but we will take
1:06
our time not knowing how much time, but we will take our time
1:10
to try to allow the word of God, to make an impact on our hearts,
1:15
as we digest, the meat of God's word.
1:19
Are you there with me and second Samuel, 12, There we are in
1:23
verse 1. Here's what God's word says to
1:27
us tonight. And the Lord sent Nathan to
1:31
David. He came to him and said to him,
1:36
there were two men in a certain city, the one rich, and the
1:41
other poor the rich. Man had very many flocks and
1:45
herds, but the poor man had nothing, but one little ewe
1:50
lamb, which he had bought and he brought it up, and it grew up
1:55
with him. And with his children, a used to
1:59
eat of his morsel and drink from his cup and lie in his Arms
2:04
where the Hebrew was saying his bosom.
2:06
And it was like a daughter to him.
2:09
Now, there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was
2:13
unwilling to take one of his own flock, or herd to prepare for
2:18
the guests who had come to him, but he took the poor man's land
2:24
and prepared it for the man who had come to him. then David's
2:29
anger was greatly kindled against the man and he said to
2:34
Nathan as the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves
2:39
to die and he shall restore the lam for fold because he did this
2:45
thing and because he had no pity, Would you pray with me?
2:53
Lord, we ask that you would give us the spirit of wisdom and
2:55
Revelation as it is Promised in a fusion one.
3:00
We ask Lord that we would experience the enlightenment of
3:02
our eyes. Lord, as you touch the minds and
3:06
the hearts of your disciples and the Gospel of Luke, we pray that
3:10
we would experience that same Grace and Lord may this word get
3:14
in us and have its way in US. It may you be glorified not
3:19
through just the understanding of it.
3:21
But through the obedience that it demands, this is our prayers.
3:25
We come as your disciples, your students in this place.
3:30
In Jesus name, amen. The last thing that you and I
3:35
read in our last week's study, was that David had committed
3:41
atrocious crimes and the lord's name was silent in chapter 11
3:46
until the very last part of that sacred texts where we learned
3:51
that the Lord clearly knew what was going on.
3:55
He knew it all along and what David had done displeased the
4:00
Lord. Now between the last phrase of
4:04
chapter 11 and the beginning of chapter 12, a few months have
4:09
passed by and the Lord we can assume was silent in David's
4:14
life but now he's going to shake things up.
4:19
He's not going to allow David to get away with this.
4:22
He's not going to allow sin to just be brushed under the
4:24
carpet. The Lord now is going to bring
4:27
to the surface with David thought that he had successfully
4:30
concealed. And the way in which the Lord
4:33
will do this by sending a profit, one of his faithful
4:36
Messengers by the name of Nathan.
4:39
Now, this is not the first time that you, and I have been
4:40
introduced to this man of God. This is the second time.
4:44
Does anybody remember where we first were introduced to Nathan
4:46
the prophet? It was at another critical point
4:49
in David's life. When David wanted to build God,
4:55
a temple. Nathan came, gave him the green
4:58
light, the Lord spoke to me says wait, go back and tell him that.
5:01
He's not going to do it. His son will do it.
5:03
And while you're at it, give him these promises that are going to
5:06
come through an oath, a covenant.
5:10
So before we come to this, we have to realize that Nathan was
5:13
sent by God to give good news to David news that would that would
5:16
deal with his his seed and the Messiah ultimately in these
5:20
wonderful glorious things that David did not.
5:23
He was overwhelmed by the grace of God, but Nathan.
5:25
I was coming with a different message.
5:28
And before we move on with our text, it's important to meditate
5:32
on who this person is and the great loyalty that he had to his
5:36
God. If to understand for Nathan to
5:39
come with this difficult word is not an easy thing.
5:45
I'm sure I can speak on behalf of most people who would agree
5:48
to say that confrontation is not an enjoyable experience, some
5:51
enjoy it for some reason, they enjoy it.
5:56
I don't know, maybe gets their blood going.
5:58
I don't know what it is, but for the most part, it is
6:01
uncomfortable. It is even uncomfortable for the
6:04
one who is in the right? And is correcting, the person
6:07
who is in the wrong, it requires a great wisdom and courage in
6:11
order for it to be done successfully.
6:13
And with the least amount of awkwardness as possible.
6:16
How much more for Nathan, the prophet, who is not coming
6:20
before any ordinary, man, he is approaching more than just a
6:24
friend but a king. A king, as we learned last week
6:29
through his word can determine whether a man lived or died and
6:33
there was no one who can stand up to such a verdict.
6:36
This man had unprecedented Authority and ability and this
6:43
is the man. Nathan is being sent to to
6:46
confront him about his sin and Nathan already received the
6:50
Revelation from god of what David had done.
6:54
And you know what he did do, you didn't just committed.
6:56
Adultery. He killed the husband so that he
6:59
can have the woman as a wife. And so here's what would go
7:04
through. My mind as a prophet who
7:07
received the Revelation from God, I need you to speak today
7:09
because he committed adultery and he killed Uriah Lord Uriah.
7:15
Uriah Uriah was a godly man. He was a blameless, man.
7:19
He was a man of conviction and loyalty to the king and the
7:22
kingdom and to the god of the Kingdom, you're telling me David
7:26
eliminated Uriah without hesitation.
7:31
Here's what we're going through my mind as a prophet.
7:33
If David was willing to kill a man like Uriah, what's going to
7:37
stop him from putting a knife to my throat, putting my head on
7:41
the chopping block. So yes, he received the
7:45
revelation of the murder but he is now being commissioned to go
7:49
to the murderer. And to speak with such boldness
7:55
and courage and fearlessness. And if you and I can't perceive
7:59
the potential danger of this Mission, just think about the
8:02
roster of prophets. moving forward from this text who have
8:09
had to been petrified of coming before kings and we're not
8:13
treated as nicely as Nathan was in this text, even all the way
8:17
up to the last prophet of the old Covenant, by the name of who
8:21
Who's the last Old Testament Prophet?
8:24
Good John the Baptist John. The Baptist had a very similar
8:29
operation King Herod. Had his brother's wife, John,
8:34
the Baptist, spoke up against Herod and guess what happened to
8:38
him? You know, he was thrown in jail
8:40
and eventually he lost his head. Jeremiah was thrown into
8:44
cisterns and here's Nathan. Now wanting to come obediently
8:50
to the Lord with the high probability that he probably
8:53
will pay for it. So, be careful if you want to be
8:57
a spokesperson for God. It's not just about getting
9:00
invited to conferences. In fact, the more you are
9:03
faithful to God's word the lesson B, you actually get, by
9:05
the way. Here's Nathan.
9:09
Despite the unfortunate possibilities at hand, we are
9:12
told that the Lord sent him and there's no indication of
9:14
hesitation, he will go before him and he will speak Faithfully
9:19
on behalf of God. Now it's understandable.
9:21
Listen, that when we think about radical obedience that our minds
9:24
race to the risks of living such a life, but don't limit it to
9:30
just the risks if there are Rewards.
9:34
And the ultimate reward as we know is bringing a smile to our
9:37
god, that is our chief Duty and our Delight.
9:40
But second to that is how there is the great chance that we can
9:45
be instruments of seeing people's lives changed.
9:49
You see, Nathan here by being obedient would be the very means
9:53
by which the course of David's. Life would turn for the better
9:58
Nathan by being obedient selflessly submitting to what
10:01
God had told him to do. Would be the very reason, why
10:05
David's conscience would awaken. And that his fellowship with the
10:09
Lord would be restored. What if, what, if Nathan
10:13
reserved himself what he had step back?
10:15
What if you just step back to? This is just too much.
10:17
I can't do this. Risking my friendship with this
10:20
man more more than that. I'm potentially risking my life.
10:25
We don't know what would have happened to David.
10:27
I'm sure God would have rate somebody else up, but the point
10:30
is see here is in this particular situation.
10:33
Nathan is going to see a double reward.
10:35
He's going to obey God and he's going to see David obey.
10:39
God we can't afford as a ministry as Christians to dilute
10:44
the truth for fake Rewards or for self-preservation sake.
10:49
There's too much at stake here. And we see that here with David,
10:53
where David will actually make a pivotal turn in his life and it
10:58
came through a faithful messenger.
11:01
But did you notice something else?
11:02
In verse 1, we read here that it was the Lord who sent Nathan.
11:09
Who initiated the process of reconciliation, David, or God
11:13
God. So after some time had passed
11:18
though, the Lord was displeased in his heart with what he saw,
11:21
David doing the Lord remain silent.
11:24
And that is a picture of his patients.
11:27
Well, David confess, will he come to his senses?
11:30
Will he? Humbled himself and bow before
11:33
me and ask for forgiveness and he doesn't, he doesn't So what
11:38
is the Lord do? He initiates the plan, he
11:43
reaches out to David. He seeks him and he finds him
11:50
and he pleads with him through rebuke.
11:52
Yes. To confess it to come humbly
11:55
before him. And that is an important fact,
11:58
to keep in mind for the next few weeks as we will be in this very
12:01
chapter because all that we are going to read moving forward.
12:04
As Cutthroat as Nathan's, words are going to be as severe as the
12:08
consequences will be for David's life, and for his family for the
12:12
nation as a whole. Everything was motivated by
12:16
divine, grace mercy. Right?
12:20
This is the Lord wanting to not destroy David, but restore David
12:25
and just like a doctor who sometimes has to bruise in order
12:28
to heal. This is the exact way in which
12:31
God approaches sinners. The gospel we preach is not
12:36
intended to shame. It's not intended to add guilt
12:41
and keep people living with that guilt.
12:43
It's meant to bring in, it's meant to reach out and to pull
12:49
people out of the mire. And the picture here on a very
12:53
individual level is magnetized. When we understand who God sent
12:57
for Humanity, For David, he sent Nathan for the whole human race.
13:02
He sent his son and his son came to a world hiding in darkness.
13:08
Not pursuing. God but hiding from God turning
13:12
their backs to God, not just week like what Roman says, but
13:16
in the same chapter of Romans 5 enemies of God, And this is,
13:21
this is when God came and when God sent his son and like a
13:26
physician with a cure for a lethal disease, he's better than
13:30
any physician you can imagine because we go to the doctor, say
13:33
I'm sick, I need help and the doctor may help us, but this
13:37
doctor goes out to those who aren't even asking for the help.
13:41
And saying I'm here to help you. And that is why you should never
13:44
believe the lives Satan, or of the flesh that God is hesitant
13:48
to forgive. no matter how repeated the offense may be no
13:53
matter how severe the offense, maybe you have to understand
13:56
that like a physician who takes great joy in his practice and
14:00
finds the greatest reward and seeing people healed this God,
14:03
our God finds great Delight in coming to you and binding, you
14:09
and providing bomb for you and restoring you And so as you even
14:15
in that state of fallenness, you come with the confidence knowing
14:19
that the Lord will embrace you and bring what you need to be
14:22
exactly who he's called you to be.
14:25
And the patience of God again I mentioned it but let me say it
14:28
again. The patience of God.
14:29
Do we not see this magnetizing in our universe in our world
14:33
today, the very reason why the Lord has not crashed through the
14:36
skies and 2023 though. We may later this year, I don't
14:40
know, I'm not setting any dates but it's because he wants people
14:44
to repent. He's waiting for more to come to
14:48
their senses and say, I need to be reconciled to my Creator, to
14:51
the judge of the universe. And he's prolonging because
14:55
here's the thing, when he comes, it's over, there's no Second
14:59
Chances, we're not, Universalist where everybody ends up going to
15:01
heaven. One day, I know it's becoming
15:03
more popular, but it's not biblical when he comes, it's
15:06
done. And when I mean, it's done, I
15:08
mean, it's done not like we're all.
15:10
If you're not in Christ, you're annihilated know, there is a
15:13
second death in which you keep dying.
15:16
Being in the same way that you and I who are in Christ, will
15:19
keep living so God in his great. Kindness is patient because he
15:26
has a revelation that evens. Unfortunately, most of his
15:28
children understand that eternity is really eternity and
15:32
its final So, he sends Nathan, he comes to David.
15:39
And he brings a parable, you heard it is, pretty clear,
15:42
pretty straightforward. But let me ask you this
15:45
question, I'm asking to hear some answers.
15:48
Why is it that when Nathan does come to David, that he does
15:52
present a story and it's a fictional story.
15:55
It's an allegory, it's metaphorical.
15:58
I don't believe it's a real incident, but why doesn't Nathan
16:01
just Storm Into The King's courts, guns a-blazing, You are
16:06
the man you thought you can hide from God.
16:09
I come over here. He's found you out.
16:11
Why didn't he do that? Yes.
16:17
Okay, so he's dealing with somebody who is in a particular
16:20
state of the heart in which he can't give proper judgment,
16:24
concerning himself. Is that what you're trying to
16:25
say? Okay.
16:28
Say that again. So the story is a tool to try to
16:35
stimulate David to come to his own senses in one way someone
16:38
had their hand up over here. Yes.
16:44
So, David was a Shepherd before and there is a strategy here to
16:48
appeal to the emotions. I believe that is part of it.
16:51
Yes. Okay, so there is an aspect of
16:55
this, that grabs the attention. A story has a way of grabbing
17:00
people's attention. I see the all the time from
17:02
standing on this side of the congregation.
17:03
The moment you start seeing story people, they lean in,
17:07
alright, they lean in that, I'm here.
17:08
What is he going to say? Yeah, there is there is a
17:11
gripping element to a story. Absolutely.
17:15
A lot of hands good. Yes.
17:19
Yes. Okay.
17:22
So David is not only a Shepherd but he stands in the place of a
17:25
judge and the story. Could it be that Nathan is
17:28
presenting a scene that would provoke judgment to be made by
17:33
David not realizing these actually condemning himself.
17:37
Yes. Yeah, you have your hand up.
17:44
Very good. Yes.
18:00
So just like you we're here on Sundays.
18:02
If you're here on Sundays, we know we were going through some
18:04
of the Parables of Jesus. And one of the purposes of The
18:06
Parables is to position the here, to be honest with
18:10
themselves will I inquire more about this truth or lie rejected
18:15
and not inquire more? About it.
18:16
So there's a pulling factor to this that will entice the honest
18:20
heart to come to a conclusion concerning the story in an
18:24
unbiased matter, but in reality is actually dealing with the
18:28
very audience that it's being presented to you all touched on
18:33
it. And you have to understand here
18:35
that Nathan is approaching a man who is taken great measures to
18:41
cover his sin. Right.
18:43
I mean, he went to the point of killing one of his great men.
18:47
Nathan is aware of this and so Nathan needs to come with great,
18:51
wisdom and discernment in order to find some kind of softness
18:56
in. David's heart to lead him to the
18:59
place of at least admitting his wrong.
19:01
And the way in which he does, this is by providing a technique
19:06
that would position David again, to be an observer To be an
19:10
observer in essence. What Nathan is doing is he's
19:13
confronting his audience in a non-confrontational way.
19:18
And so through this story, he causes David to be an observer
19:23
and with the specific ingredients within the story to
19:26
invoke and to arouse a sense of justice and then hopefully to
19:33
make a verdict about this story and essentially cornering
19:39
himself. And so this is a tactic this is
19:43
a tactic that is important to understand because it disarms
19:46
David and not only does it disarm David initially but it
19:50
goes further than that it leaves David with no Escape when it is
19:56
revealed that he is the very theme of the story because now
20:00
David what does he do? The condemnation that he makes
20:04
in the story, he makes against himself so it's much more
20:07
difficult to take back your word.
20:10
Then it is to reject somebody else's word, concerning you.
20:15
This is brilliant. This is Holy, Spirit lead.
20:19
And here's what we can take, just from asking the question.
20:22
Why is Nathan coming with this? Kind of delivery as Believers in
20:26
Jesus Christ, part of our responsibility?
20:30
Is that you? And I have to correct.
20:32
And we have to be open to be corrected, the Church of Jesus
20:37
Christ on the earth. One of its primary functions, is
20:39
accountability, row Christians are dangerous and they are, they
20:47
are not a reality in the New Testament.
20:50
To go back to the early church and to meet a Christian who did
20:53
not and was not a part of a local assembly was a foreign
20:57
concept. When you're a Christian, you're
20:59
part of the body of Jesus Christ in a very practical real and
21:03
consistent way. And part of that experience is I
21:06
need people in my life to correct me and to call me out
21:10
when I need to be called out. And because that is part of our
21:14
responsibility, as believers. We have a goal and I goal is to
21:20
restore that goal. That goal is to bring back.
21:22
Somebody who has gone off a stranger, Who had who is
21:25
entertaining something that they shouldn't and yet with that
21:29
ambition and mind in great humility.
21:32
We often also have to remember that there is a consideration of
21:36
how we do that carefully. Unless the ambition, which is
21:41
righteous and holy is spoiled by foolish and immature
21:46
methodologies. You see Nathan here, was
21:50
directed by God. He received a revelation from
21:52
God, about his friends sin, but I'm under the persuasion that it
21:57
was not just the revelation of his sin, but the very delivery
22:00
was designed by the same God. But the words that were put in
22:04
Nathan's mouth came from God and it proved to be most effective.
22:10
So I want to briefly mention this, if you are a serious
22:12
believe in and I'm assuming all of us here are it's important to
22:16
understand that in those moments where we are faced with somebody
22:19
that we know who he is, who is going astray, who is not
22:24
implementing true, Christian, practice in their life, be
22:28
careful. Be careful how you approach
22:31
them. Pray wait on God.
22:33
Seek the Lord at times seek the counsel of mature spirit filled
22:38
Believers, lest our righteous mission.
22:43
Is destroyed because of our flesh or because we thought
22:49
doing it one way would work. When in fact, it was not with
22:52
the wisdom that God's spirit would provide.
22:53
Otherwise Nathan comes with great discernment and now we've
22:57
read this, but we're going to dissect it to understand the
22:59
details of the characters and some of the descriptions and
23:02
they will be rich. It will be rich if we pay
23:04
attention. So we heard it right?
23:07
The parable here is about two men or is it Maybe more than two
23:12
men. There's a rich man.
23:14
A poor man. Both different socio-economic
23:17
classes. And there's somebody else that
23:20
will come on the scene that will touch on in a moment.
23:22
But here's here's just a rule when you and I ever come towards
23:24
a parable. When we read a parable, the
23:26
Temptation is to decode every detail and to try to find a
23:30
meaning behind every feature that is presented in the
23:34
allegory. That is dangerous because the
23:36
intention of Parables is not necessarily to bring an
23:39
allegorical interpretation behind every single thing in the
23:42
scene. That's how people get into wacky
23:45
interpretations of things. What we have to understand is
23:48
that the general goal of this is to again present a case of
23:53
Injustice right there is this particular Bullseye here and
23:57
that alone would suffice in order to bring David where he
24:01
needed to be nonetheless, what, Nathan presents to David
24:06
parallel. So closely to the real play book
24:09
that we read in 2nd Samuel 11. The characters are like the
24:14
theme is so near. In fact, we have confidence to
24:17
interpret this carefully because in verse 7, we're not going to
24:21
touch on that Nathan ends up saying to David.
24:23
You're the man, you are the man, the man that I was talking about
24:27
in that short little Parable, that's you.
24:29
That's you. So we know that Nathan is
24:33
intentionally choosing these characters and the descriptions
24:37
Wisely in order to listen to come as close as possible to
24:43
David's error without totally unveiling that it's him.
24:48
Because if David caught on, he could have given different
24:50
judgment and is hypocrisy, right?
24:52
He could have done that, but it was, it was to create a thin
24:56
enough veil in which you can see pass through it but not
24:59
completely So let's do that. If we have the license to look
25:04
at this in Greater detail than just to see a general idea.
25:07
Then let's do that the rich man. And the poor man who are they
25:11
Who's the rich man? Who's the poor man?
25:16
Well, the poor man had a little lamb.
25:18
You know lamb who's that? Very good that is, right.
25:23
And we read something about the relationship between the poor
25:25
man. And the ulam look here, briefly
25:27
here with me in verse 3, and notice that the little lamb grew
25:31
up with him. That's what it says here.
25:33
He brought it up, and it grew up with, and I believe that
25:36
suggests the history, the long history that Uriah had with his
25:41
wife, it could be that they've known each other since
25:43
childhood. It could be that they were even
25:46
high school sweethearts. So to speak.
25:48
They had a long history of intimacy of friendship.
25:53
And whether that is the case or not, what we have to understand
25:55
is that Nathan's intention here is to create a sense of the
26:00
special bond that the poor man had with the little ewe, Lamb
26:04
with a little pet animal, so that David would feel the
26:08
significance of the crime of this rich man taking away.
26:12
Not just some little animal but something that was cherished by
26:16
this man and his family, it was to make it make it seem so much
26:20
more severe than what we would. Imagine just hearing somebody
26:24
taking a lamb from somebody else's field and we read on a,
26:27
we see something else in verse 3.
26:29
Look how look how carefully Nathan is speaking here and I'm
26:32
going to ask you if it sounds familiar from our last study in
26:35
chapter 11, he says here in avert the second part of verse
26:39
38 used to eat of his morsel and drink from his cup and lie in
26:45
his arms. That sounds familiar.
26:53
Does it. What does it sound like?
26:57
Scroll back to chapter 11. And you'll see it.
27:03
Second, Samuel 11 and look at verse 11.
27:05
This is when Uriah explain to David, why?
27:07
He didn't go into his home. Now it there's a light bulb,
27:11
right? Second Samuel, 11:11 Uriah said
27:14
to David, The Ark in Israel and Judah dwell in booths, and my
27:17
Lord job, and the Servants of my Lord are camping in the open
27:20
field, shall I then? Go to my house to eat.
27:24
And to drink and to lie with my wife.
27:30
As you live and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing.
27:35
I don't know how strong David's memory was.
27:40
But it makes me wonder if his heart start racing a little bit
27:44
or maybe not, he was completely oblivious to the nudge.
27:48
The Nathan is providing here so far.
27:51
Everything seems clear. We have our characters in place.
27:53
The description makes sense, but when people come to this text,
27:57
they often miss another important character.
28:00
And I believe it's a great disservice to what this Parable
28:02
can offer. Not just to David, but to us,
28:05
there's somebody else here. There's somebody else here that
28:08
we need to touch on who is he He very good.
28:12
The Traveler verse four other cane a traveler to the rich man.
28:19
Here's my question. Who is he?
28:23
Very good that you hear the answer.
28:26
Temptation. The Traveler speaks and
28:30
signifies passing lust. Temptation arriving to the front
28:39
step of your heart. And if it is true, that the
28:43
traveler symbolizes, what we can generally ascribe to us
28:47
temptation, then there are so much to learn about how
28:51
Temptation works even in this snapshot, Here's at least two
28:58
things that I gather from from this realization that the
29:01
traveler is Temptation and it's true for David and it's true for
29:05
you. And I today because Temptation
29:07
hasn't changed much since the beginning of time, if this is
29:11
true, then know this one thing, believer temptation is a
29:16
frequent visitor And the same way.
29:19
The rich man was suddenly visited by this traveler
29:22
Temptation. Often comes unannounced.
29:25
Now. You and I have his response
29:27
responsibility to limit the frequency and the intensity of
29:31
its presence. But even with all the
29:33
restrictions and all the disciplines that we apply
29:36
Temptation has away? To make its voice gnome.
29:41
And to provoke us without announcement.
29:46
And that is exactly what we see here.
29:48
Although, David did a terrible job of guarding his heart.
29:52
This point that I'm presenting to you, is meant to comfort us.
29:56
It's meant to comfort us because the visitation of Temptation is
30:00
not the same as indulging in sin.
30:04
You have many believers who live on unwarranted guilt, because
30:07
they have mistaken. Intrusive thoughts with Unholy
30:11
imaginations. And so they're robbed of Joy,
30:15
the robbed, the faith. They fail to believe the
30:19
goodness of God and the power of God because they don't interpret
30:22
Temptation carefully. Remember the words of the
30:26
Apostle, Paul, when he describes briefly the nature of our
30:29
spiritual warfare? Now, the words that I'm in a
30:31
quote to you primarily in context deal with the weapons
30:35
that we have in our hands, when it comes to rescuing other
30:38
people from bondage, but the same words, also help us know
30:43
how to defend ourselves when it comes to invasions, in our own
30:47
hearts and our own minds. You know, the verse and second
30:50
Corinthians 10:5. He describes the nature of
30:54
warfare which is very, very different than how people
30:56
emphasize Warfare today. When you tell speak, when you
31:00
ask questions about spiritual warfare today, automatically
31:02
demons demons manifesting weird things happening.
31:04
Things flying around the are dark objects in your room.
31:08
When you ask the Apostle. Paul, what is the nature?
31:10
What is the essence of spiritual warfare?
31:12
They'll demons are real. Demon possession is real
31:13
manifestations of evil, all real.
31:15
That's true. He describes it here in verse 5
31:19
of second Corinthians 10, we destroy arguments.
31:23
Remember that every lofty opinion raised against the
31:28
knowledge of God. So far, we have arguments
31:31
opinions, knowledge of God and take every thought captive to
31:35
Christ. what is the realm in which opinions and arguments and
31:43
knowledge and thoughts dwell in What realm?
31:52
The mind, the conscience, your thinking, your meditations, the
31:58
things that are unseen. This is the arena of spiritual
32:03
warfare, the mind. And the idea here is that with
32:09
the truth, this is what Paul is saying with the truth.
32:11
The truth has so much power that it is able to identify and
32:15
capture that which stands in contrary to the truth and then
32:20
make it subject to the lordship of Jesus Christ.
32:24
That is, then the weapons of our Warfare, right?
32:28
So listen, Believers, we don't take up arms to fight against
32:33
our enemies know, we take the sword of the spirit and those
32:36
that come with, philosophies and false doctrines are Warfare, is
32:40
not a shouting match. It's not our fists.
32:43
It's not who can be this, and who can be that it's with this
32:46
sort. And then this working in the
32:49
minds of others and then rescuing people pulling down
32:52
strongholds and intake. Him thoughts captive to the
32:56
lordship of Christ and yet at the same time that applies to
32:59
us, even as Believers, this description of warfare is real
33:03
even more real. After you become a Christian,
33:06
here's the way I like to look at it.
33:08
I like to think of unrighteous thoughts as day-to-day
33:11
intruders, And they're clever and they're consistent and
33:17
persistent and here's their goal, every single day.
33:19
The moment I opened my eyes to the moment.
33:21
I lay my head on my pillow every night.
33:22
Here's what they do, and they do the same for you.
33:24
Just giving you a heads up. They want to come in and they
33:29
want to apprehend your affections and your attention
33:33
and your reasoning and submit it to sin every single day, every
33:38
waking moment. And the principle of this verse
33:42
indicates that you and I have a responsibility by the power of
33:46
the spirit to arrest those false ideas to stop them and keep them
33:51
at Bay the moment, you're able to recognize that they do, stand
33:55
in contrast to the will and wisdom of God.
33:59
And if we fail to see the threat, that these thoughts are,
34:03
then they will come in, and they will set up a stronghold and
34:06
down the road. They will become much more
34:08
difficult to pull down when you really want to, This traveler
34:14
wants to come inside, he's not interested in waving through the
34:18
window and passing by. He wants to be a guest and more
34:22
than a guest. He wants to be the master of the
34:24
home. Which the Richmond ends up,
34:27
doing he ends up serving this man.
34:29
A feasts as though. He becomes the king.
34:32
Yes, there's a general sense in which the he's hospitable, but
34:35
there is this almost this just change of roles here.
34:40
This man seems to now occupy the authority of the place
34:45
temptation is the same. It comes in seemingly innocent
34:49
distant. And through our tolerance, it
34:54
can change very quickly, which brings me to the second Point
34:56
tentation must never ever be entertained.
35:01
Temptation must never be entertained.
35:03
Unfortunately David's case he does the traveler comes by and
35:08
instead of showing this unwanted guests away he opens the door
35:12
and says have a seat have a seat when a David do that in real
35:16
time. I argue when he was standing on
35:19
his rooftop and he looked and he gazed at bathsheba's body while
35:22
she was bathing. That was when the traveler came
35:25
to his heart. He says, hey You never seen me
35:29
before. But yeah, you have an extra seat
35:32
at your table and when he did, he open the door when he
35:35
inquired for her and sought for more information.
35:40
Flirting with the line of sin and it end up conceiving into
35:45
sin. Here's the thing, never forget
35:48
that the way Temptation evolves into sin is when we entertain
35:53
it, instead of pushing it away, that's when it morphs into
35:57
something that is dangerous. And the state of our sin is
36:01
always strengthened always, strengthened by our persistent
36:06
attention and affection, that we give to it, the more attention.
36:10
And the more affection that you give to it, the stronger, it
36:13
becomes. And I argue that the rich man
36:15
would have never ever ever been willing to steal that lamb if
36:21
you had first made the decision to keep that door closed.
36:25
And to tell that traveler to go somewhere else.
36:30
So here's the point, based on this alone, we see a very, very
36:32
important principle that applies to us today.
36:35
That it is manifestations of evil, actions begin with
36:40
meditations of evil things manifestations of evil actions.
36:44
Always always always begin with meditations, on evil things.
36:51
And that's why you and I have to train ourselves if you want to
36:53
graduate in spiritual warfare and the effectiveness of victory
36:57
over sin that you and I have to be convinced of this one
37:00
foundational truth and it's this thoughts.
37:04
Are dangerous. Thoughts are dangerous.
37:09
And we have to train ourselves to be aggressive with those
37:12
thoughts and not be passive, allowing them to just walk by in
37:15
the front. Lawn of our hearts to say no, I
37:19
have to deal with you because you have a plan and if you stay
37:22
here long enough, things are going to change quickly and that
37:25
is exactly what spiritual warfare is all about.
37:27
Let me prove it to you in the words of Jesus.
37:30
And again it's one of those things where we we passed
37:31
quickly and we don't understand the implications of but I would
37:33
encourage you to turn there and Mark 7:21 look at this series of
37:38
Bullet points that Jesus makes that illustrates what I'm trying
37:42
to communicate. Effectively.
37:46
Hopefully. look at the New Testament, Mark, 7:21 Down to
37:52
verse 23. Here's what the Lord says, when
37:54
he's trying to explain the source of the evil in this
37:57
world, For from within out of the heart of man, come evil
38:04
thoughts, sexual immorality theft murder, adultery coveting,
38:09
wickedness deceit, sensuality Envy, slander Pride, foolishness
38:16
all these evil things come from within.
38:18
And they defile a person because I'll tell you the source, it's
38:22
the human heart. You know, when people come and
38:25
they say well there is a good God in heaven.
38:27
Why doesn't deal with all the evil in this world?
38:29
I'll tell you why, because you'd have to get rid of you.
38:32
That's why and me because that's where it comes.
38:35
The sewage of the filth that is polluting our world.
38:40
Is that thing? That is in us?
38:43
What did Jesus mention first? Evil thoughts.
38:52
That is by Design. The reason why Jesus starts with
38:56
evil thoughts in this list of filthy things is because that's
39:01
where it starts. The following things that he
39:04
lists your all these iniquities begin with the thought life.
39:09
That's why he starts with evil thoughts.
39:12
So comes from the heart, it goes to the mind and what you do with
39:15
the mind will determine what happens with your hands.
39:17
What happens with your mouth? What happens with your eyes?
39:19
What happens with your feet? And if that is true, if it comes
39:24
from Evil thoughts, that I know one thing wrong thinking, is
39:27
what leads to wrong living. And if that is true, then true
39:32
victory in our sanctification, will only come.
39:34
When you. And I understand that,
39:37
understand that, what occurs in the mind will eventually
39:40
manifest in the direction of our steps.
39:44
So, we have to take our thinking, seriously, we have to
39:47
understand that they're not just harmless things that float
39:49
around, if they stay. And they pull up a chair and
39:51
they sit for a while. Next thing, you know, it becomes
39:54
a pattern, next thing, you know, becomes a stronghold next thing.
39:57
You know, it begins to pull at you and direct you and cause you
40:02
to make decisions that you never thought you would.
40:04
And it all started with a traveler who knocked on the door
40:06
of your heart. So here's what I think, taking
40:11
captive thoughts. Looks like in a very practical
40:13
way that when those things come like a flash, you address it
40:18
with the truth of God's word and you call it to submit the
40:23
authority of Jesus Christ. As a blood-bought.
40:26
Christian, you're not welcome here, you know, you have a lot
40:29
of Christians who are tormented by Blasphemous thoughts,
40:31
especially newborn Christians. I've heard it throughout the
40:34
years brother, I can't believe these, thoughts are coming
40:36
through my mind and here's my simple thing.
40:38
I know it's not proof. Sound doesn't really Take 5
40:41
counseling sessions. Here's my thing.
40:43
Do you want those thoughts in your head or not?
40:44
I hate them. Okay, good.
40:47
That's it. You don't want them, right?
40:48
No, I don't want to know what. Then just continue to saturate
40:52
your mind with the word of God and like, a dirty bowl of water.
40:55
Continued to pour clear water and eventually that water is
40:57
going to become clean. Just keep at it, keep at it. so
41:02
Temptation will visit us that you cannot help but opening the
41:07
door and feeding it and strengthening it is something
41:10
that we are held accountable for That's what he does.
41:15
He goes to his neighbor. He takes what belonged to his
41:19
neighbor and he fed that traveler.
41:21
That lust was something that was illegitimate.
41:26
Now we come to verse 5 and we see the reaction of David.
41:33
Then David's anger was greatly kindled against the man and he
41:38
said to Nathan as the Lord lives the man who has done this
41:41
deserves to die. Makes you wonder if David
41:45
believe that this was a true story.
41:49
Really, it makes you wonder like Nathan knew a guy and he's just
41:53
coming and he just sharing hey, look what happened and and and
41:56
David they're sitting perhaps on his throne and his his nose
42:00
begin to flare in his eyes become widen and his veins.
42:04
Start to stick out of his neck. I don't know how intense it was,
42:06
but it says he was greatly kindled, his anger was greatly
42:11
kindled and he erupts. And here's the thing that I find
42:15
quite Humorous. There is no call for Action
42:18
here. Nathan didn't demand a response.
42:23
but this so touched a nerve in David's heart that he could not
42:26
help but say something and everything went according to
42:29
plan, he makes a judgment and he calls out this rich man and he
42:34
condemns him When you and I look at that, there are things to
42:39
learn about his reaction, what stands out to you about his
42:42
response. Let me ask you this way.
42:50
Does that man deserve to die? Really.
42:57
Does he deserve to die for stealing somebody's lamb?
43:01
Exodus would disagree with you if you say yes.
43:04
So Exodus 22 verse 1, Exodus 22:1 gives the precise
43:10
punishment for this exact crime that has been depicted.
43:16
Exodus 22:1. Look how, look how clear it is.
43:20
If a man steals an ox or a sheep and kills it or sells it, he
43:27
shall repay five. Oxen for an ox and for sheep
43:31
four sheep. That is it no Capital
43:34
Punishment. No public hanging No.
43:38
Slashing of the sword. You stole that man's sheep.
43:42
You got to pay for fold. So if that is true, then what do
43:47
we make of David's response? It was harsh and it was
43:51
exaggerated. And what's interesting is verse
43:57
6, he actually does quote Exodus 22:1.
44:00
Does he not? He says it and he shall restore
44:03
the land fourfold. So he knew the scripture.
44:08
Hey guys, pay attention to this. You ready for this?
44:10
This one Might Sting brace yourself.
44:11
I love you brace yourself. It goes to show that a person
44:17
can be well acquainted with the scriptures and still have a
44:20
hardened heart. Told you my hurt, it goes to
44:27
show that it's not enough to be familiar with the Bible because
44:30
you have people like David who are living in, adultery know the
44:33
Bible inside and out. It's not enough, it's what you
44:39
and I do with that knowledge that determines the
44:42
effectiveness and the will of God being performed through his
44:45
written word. If the word of God does not draw
44:49
you closer to the god of the word, you're doing it wrong.
44:53
I'm doing it wrong. If it does not personally invite
44:58
me to no intimacy, if it does not create a greater reality and
45:03
recognition of God's person in my life with all that, he is his
45:09
presence and his power and his promises.
45:11
If that does not become real, if it doesn't create worship, if it
45:15
doesn't change my life, if it doesn't create a new framework
45:18
for my worldview, if it's not doing that.
45:22
Then the possibilities are endless and I can be a guy who
45:27
quotes scripture. Who tells people about scripture
45:31
like David? That's the Nathan.
45:33
And yeah, I'm meeting with somebody else's spouse behind
45:37
the scenes. So if you if you ever looked at
45:41
somebody and you heard something unfortunately the scandal of
45:43
some sort and you're saying, how is that possible?
45:45
It's possible, the Bible showing us, it's possible, it's
45:47
possible. The word of God is Not draw you
45:50
to the god of the word when I reading it according to the will
45:53
of God. And that's what he is showing
45:56
here, but he does more than just confirm his knowledge of the
45:59
scripture he goes above and beyond it.
46:03
He's calling for this man's death.
46:06
I mean, even God's law is not asking for that.
46:12
Think about that. And there's an important
46:13
principle here and it's a second thought. this teaches us, what a
46:20
heart distant from God is capable of And in this case,
46:25
it's cruelty among other things. When a heart is distant from
46:30
God, it is capable of many things.
46:33
And in this situation, it is cruelty because when you are
46:37
close to God, you become more like God.
46:41
And when you are far from God, you will become less like God in
46:46
many ways. And in David's case he is proven
46:49
to be less merciful than the God and the judge of the entire
46:54
world. Less merciful.
47:02
And that tells me something. That Sinners based on David's
47:07
reaction. Sinners are often unaware of the
47:11
sinfulness of their own sin. Sinners are often unaware of the
47:18
sinfulness. Of their own sin.
47:22
How quick for David to pronounce a judgment on this man to go
47:25
above What God Says. And to completely dismiss his
47:28
own sin in the process. Yeah, that guy deserves to die.
47:33
Kate, you didn't steal a lamb. You stole life.
47:39
Someone who is created in the image of God, you robbed
47:43
Covenant. You stole trust.
47:47
All these things. The list is quite vast of what
47:51
David stolen. It's interesting that Nathan
47:53
uses. The theme of thievery when he
47:56
wants to deal with and confront. David's murder and his adultery
48:01
because there is thievery in all of that there is a taking and
48:06
removing of somebody that doesn't belong to you.
48:08
And so what we see here with this man is that he is
48:11
expressing something that is not exclusive to him, it is true
48:16
with our nature that one of the signs of a hardened heart, is
48:20
being able to identify somebody else's shortcoming.
48:24
And feeling confident about your own standing and morality.
48:28
Okay, here's here's I'm going to prove it to you in Matthew 21.
48:31
Jesus gives a parable to the Pharisees and it's a parable of
48:34
the tenants, you know this. I'm sure there's an owner of a
48:37
Vineyard. He goes to a far country but he
48:39
leases it to tenants and when it comes to harvest time he sends a
48:42
servant or servants to acquire some of the Harvest.
48:47
The tenancy and they beat up one servant.
48:51
So the owner sends another servant the tenants come and
48:54
they killed this one. So no one comes back to the
48:57
owners of the owner sent another servant and they now they stoned
49:01
him. So now the strategy has to
49:03
change the owner of the vineyard says I will send my son.
49:08
Surely they will respect him. And when the sun is sent the
49:14
tenants realized who it is and they say he is the heir if we
49:17
get rid of him maybe this will be ours and so they kill the son
49:22
Jesus gives that Parable and that he asked the question to
49:25
these religious experts. Supposedly, what should be done?
49:30
To the tenants by the owner. And you know what?
49:34
The response to the Pharisees were, let me just read it to.
49:36
You don't have to turn there, but it's a Matthew 2141.
49:39
Easy reference to remember. Here's what the religious
49:42
leaders of the day said in Matthew 2141 they said to him,
49:46
he will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the
49:50
vineyard to other tenants who will give them fruits in their
49:53
seasons. And so, the Pharisees got all
49:58
excited because now Jesus is asking them a question about
50:01
morality and this is their chance to Puff out their chests
50:04
and prove just how dignified they really are and just how
50:07
much they can make a an accurate assessment concerning, what is
50:10
in just. And so they say he they should
50:13
kill him and not just kill MIT, take that Vineyard, and give it
50:16
to somebody else. Who will bear fruit from it?
50:17
Not realizing that they just predicted what would happen to
50:20
the gospel from Judah, Gentile. Not realizing that like David.
50:26
They condemn themselves. Because they would kill the
50:30
owner of the vineyard. And the point is this, that
50:34
between David and the Pharisees is a gap of hundreds and
50:37
hundreds of years. Hundreds and hundreds of years.
50:41
And yet the nature of man, and his self-righteousness is the
50:44
same. That again, we feel this strange
50:51
sense of boldness to be able to look at others call out their
50:55
sin, condemned them in their sin.
50:57
And yet at the same time, have this false comfort.
51:02
That we are righteous because what because we are able to
51:06
determine right and wrong outside of us and make these
51:09
kind of judgments. Or maybe this will hit home
51:14
more. We tend to justify ourselves,
51:18
not by not seeing sin analyzed, but comparing the weightiness of
51:21
arson in comparison to others. I know, I'm not, I'm not this,
51:26
but at least I'm not That kind of attitude that continued looks
51:33
outward and tries to measure up to other people's Holiness or
51:36
lack thereof will never win. God's favor will never win his
51:40
forgiveness. The way in which we win God's
51:44
favor and his grace in our lives.
51:47
Is when as we heard before he comes out with this art stretch
51:50
arm, the way our hand connects with his is when we just look at
51:53
ourselves and humbly confess and repent.
51:55
See, when I measure myself to your standard Lord, I fall
51:58
short, never mind to the person to the right or my left to you
52:03
and your law alone. I'm guilty.
52:05
This is who God shines his light upon.
52:09
And what it takes is a profit sometimes to awaken that
52:13
reality. And that's why we need men to
52:17
preach sin. To be direct with sin.
52:22
It's not just bring Theology and some theoretical matter and to
52:27
explain the mechanics of justification by faith.
52:29
Though that's important in sanctification by the spirit
52:33
There has to come a point in the delivery of God's word like
52:35
Nathan, where a finger can be pointed and saying you are the
52:39
man. You are the woman you, you not
52:43
just this abstract idea of God and what he did in the world.
52:46
But this relates to you, you will stand before God and you
52:52
will pay for your sins and less. You submit to the one who has
52:55
given his life for you. That's what we need to come to.
52:59
That's what shakes this kind of self-righteousness up.
53:04
And we see the wisdom of that. Here with Nathan, and would
53:08
Jesus, but you had your hand up. I want to address that before I
53:10
move on. Exactly.
53:34
Matthew chapter 7, right? Yes.
53:37
Yes. Matthew 7, you aren't unable to
53:40
perceive correctly when you are living and abiding in hypocrisy
53:45
you inherit a blindness. And you make Miss judgments all
53:50
the time and the worst kind of blindness that you can have is a
53:53
blindness toward yourself. That's the worst kind of
53:56
blindness, right? Yes.
54:04
Yes. Pay for fold.
54:10
There's no call for death. Yes.
54:22
Yes. Exactly.
54:24
Proverbs 36 in which the word? And the reason why sometimes I
54:28
repeat is because people don't hear where the word warns us
54:31
that if we add to his word then we will be reproved and
54:36
identifying as a liar. So David here gets too excited.
54:40
He makes this judgment And it's half true.
54:45
But what he doesn't realize is that he is indicting himself.
54:49
And there's so much more to say in this portion of scripture.
54:51
I won't. I'm going to end it soon.
54:53
We can go, we can go on but I won't.
54:57
I want to end on a specific observation.
55:01
It's not until you really read the following verses when you,
55:03
if you've read 2nd Samuel, maybe you have noticed, maybe, maybe
55:07
not. But what I find amazing is that
55:10
in the same way David unknowingly is making a verdict
55:15
of death upon himself. It kind of, It kind of reminds
55:20
us what happened to Uriah, right?
55:22
What do you write himself? Unknowingly held his own
55:25
verdict, his own oath, that would that would ultimately kill
55:31
him. And now that is is being served
55:34
back to David. He's being blinded by the fact
55:37
that he is actually lining himself up to be judged.
55:42
But it's even more precise in that.
55:43
It's actually scary, it cannot be coincidence.
55:48
That when even David calls out for this fourfold, restitution
55:52
to be made. That something happens to his
55:55
own life that deals with that, number four.
55:59
And we've had a couple of conversations about this, but I
56:02
want to show it to you. I want to show t.
56:04
As we just make these quick jumps to these references, I'm
56:06
going to join you in this. Things are going to look
56:10
absolutely and utterly different for David after chapter 12.
56:15
It's almost, as though, there are these clouds that just won't
56:18
go away. They just keep staying there and
56:21
it's in and pertaining to death. We see it here in chapter 12,
56:26
look with me quickly in your Bibles and you will appreciate
56:29
this. If you notice it with me here
56:31
and second Samuel, 12 verse 18, What do we see here in 2nd
56:38
Samuel? 12 verse 18?
56:42
We read here that on the seventh day, the child, the child that
56:46
Bathsheba born died. This child died stick around for
56:51
the next couple of weeks and you and I will try to understand how
56:54
it is that the child died instead of David dying.
56:58
What was the law for somebody who committed adultery?
57:02
You know who should have died David and Bathsheba.
57:06
Instead, we read that the child dies.
57:09
But is it just a child who dies from David's Offspring?
57:12
No, come to 2nd Samuel. 13. Now, we have another son.
57:21
And we read here about em, then write something happens to em
57:25
ninh. He commits his own atrocious
57:27
crime, and he's going to pay for it, through revenge and verse,
57:31
28, of second, Samuel 13, then Absalom commanded, his servants,
57:34
Mark, when a man's heart, is married with mine.
57:37
And when I say to you strike, and then kill him, do not fear
57:41
Heaven, that commanded, you be courageous and be Valiant so,
57:44
the Servants of Absalom did to admin as Absalom had commanded.
57:48
Then all the king's Sons arose in each mounted, his mule.
57:50
Owl and fled. A second, son dies.
57:56
Go to chapter 18. Read something else of another
58:03
son of David, his name is Absalom, Absalom commits treason
58:08
and he tries to usurp the authority of David.
58:10
His father and take over the kingdom and they go to war.
58:14
And you guessed the right absent ends up in verse 15, dying.
58:19
Look at verse 15. What do we read here?
58:22
It says, and 10. Young men joab's armor.
58:25
Bearers surrounded, Absalom and struck him and killed him.
58:30
How many sons have died so far? Go to 1st Kings with me. 1st
58:37
Kings in chapter 2. We have another son of David and
58:43
he wanted to follow in the footsteps of Absalom.
58:48
And he tries to become the successor and try to take the
58:52
place of Solomon, as king of Israel.
58:55
And it says here in 224 and Nathan said, my Lord, the king.
58:58
Have you said I shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my
59:01
throne for his gone down this day.
59:03
And I sacrifice oxen fatten cattle and sheep, and abundance
59:06
and as invite all the king's Sons, the commanders of the army
59:09
and I be author. The priests and behold, they're
59:10
eating. And drinking before him saying
59:12
Long Live King adonijah. Now you come to chapter 2 and
59:15
you read here, in verse 24. What happens to this man?
59:19
It says you're not there for as the Lord Lives who has
59:21
established me and placed me on the throne.
59:23
This is Solomon of David, my father who has made me a house
59:26
as he promised adonijah shall be put to death today.
59:32
How many sons of David have died?
59:38
Four. This man shall surely die and he
59:45
shall pay for fold. Because he had done this thing
59:52
and had no pity. David couldn't pay back.
59:58
You write your eye is gone. I don't think it's coincidence
1:00:02
that for of David's sons died. After he made this verdict.
1:00:08
And here's here's what's even more precise.
1:00:14
Out of all those four deaths, you can argue that the baby was
1:00:17
was something that really grieved David, but he was
1:00:21
comforted when he realized that the baby would be in the
1:00:24
presence of God and that he would see him one day.
1:00:26
But out of all the four which one hurt David, the most Yeah.
1:00:31
And it's strange, right? There's some favoritism there,
1:00:36
even after all Absalom had done oh Absalom.
1:00:41
Oh Absalom. I'll give you one Theory, why I
1:00:46
believe David was so grieved about Absalom.
1:00:48
When it came to the death of his baby, he was comforted, knowing
1:00:52
that he would see him again. I don't know if he felt the same
1:00:54
way about Absalom. Oh Absalom.
1:00:59
Oh Absalom. I don't know if David had a
1:01:03
feeling that he wasn't going to see Absalom again. but you know
1:01:07
what's fascinating about absalom's, death, when you
1:01:10
connect it, to this moment of David's life here in chapter 11
1:01:13
and chapter 12, How did Absalom die?
1:01:19
By the same hands that killed Uriah.
1:01:24
Job. Joy think about all of those
1:01:28
pieces? David not knowingly, calling his
1:01:32
own death, warrant, just like Uriah David calling for a
1:01:36
four-fold, restitution David seeing a four-fold punishment,
1:01:40
come to his descendants, and David out of all those for
1:01:43
seeing the most prized child that he had suffer at the hands
1:01:47
of the same one that he asked to killed an innocent man.
1:01:52
Is in the Bible, fascinating. Isn't God.
1:01:55
Holy Does not God mean, what he says when he says with the
1:02:01
measure of judgment that you use will be used against.
1:02:05
You only the Lord teach us to be just holy merciful.
1:02:13
Trusting that he considers what we say, and every matter.
1:02:19
And if we want this, he'll be faithful to keep us.
1:02:21
And guide us much more can be said, but we will wait until
1:02:24
next week shall we? Let's bow our hearts before the
1:02:26
Lord. Lord.
1:02:43
We are fully aware that we have been and we will continue to
1:02:47
Trek through the terrain of scripture that is sobering.
1:02:55
Heavy. Perhaps unpleasant.
1:03:06
But Lord, it is your word nonetheless.
1:03:11
And we trust that you have so much value reserved for us as we
1:03:14
explore these truths carefully. We asked, oh, Lord, based on the
1:03:18
first few verses of this chapter.
1:03:22
That we would be. Free from any level of
1:03:27
hypocrisy, that our eyes would not be clouded by
1:03:31
self-righteousness. That we would not be fooled. by
1:03:39
the concept that the pursuit of godliness is knowledge, merely
1:03:45
And Lord help us with the awareness of our own sin to be
1:03:49
faithful, friends. Faithful are the wounds of a
1:03:53
friend. To be like Nathan.
1:04:00
If we know about somebody sin or they're drifting away to to love
1:04:04
them enough to call their attention back to you.
1:04:14
And Lord, as we prepare to continue to dissect this word.
1:04:20
May our hearts never be divorced from how it applies to our
1:04:23
lives. Keep Us close to your word,
1:04:26
Lord. And regardless of what it is
1:04:31
that we are facing may cause us to worship you and to Adore You
1:04:36
Lord, we are amazed at the intricacies in the consistency
1:04:41
and the supernatural authorship of this word.
1:04:48
And so Lord we just trust that your Holy Spirit would take what
1:04:51
we studied together and minister to us exactly the way we need to
1:04:55
be ministered. But in this moment we just
1:04:58
silently absorb all that was said.
1:05:03
With gratitude that this tax has been made clear to us tonight.
1:05:13
Your name we pray. Amen.
1:05:15
I encourage you just just briefly, I'm not going to keep
1:05:19
you long but even before we jump straight into singing, one of
1:05:24
the joys of Bible study is that sometimes when you discover
1:05:28
something this is what happens to me.
1:05:31
I pull away from my chair because I get so thrilled of
1:05:34
what I just saw that I have to like do something else.
1:05:37
I got to like walk around, I got to grab a drink or something.
1:05:40
It just it's almost as though just NG happens to your soul and
1:05:44
which you have to take some time to register it.
1:05:47
I think we can sabotage that when we just, let's okay, let's
1:05:50
get going. Here's what I want to do and
1:05:52
it's not going to be long, just with what you heard, what we
1:05:55
studied, what we share with one another.
1:05:57
Let just silently Church, doesn't have to be noisy, just
1:06:02
silently, just pause before we even sing to just consider some
1:06:05
of these things. And maybe it could be as simple
1:06:08
as God. Your word is amazing.
1:06:10
Help me just see more in your word, it can be just that And
1:06:14
just talk to the Lord with what you heard.
1:06:16
And then we will sing, and then, and then you'll be able to
1:06:19
safely, go home. But just, if we can just take
1:06:21
one minute, just 60 seconds of meditation before we even sing
1:06:26
one song. And when you guys are ready,
1:06:28
we'll sing all together, please do so.