Second Samuel, chapter 4 in the word of God, is a reference
point tonight. Last week, we had our Q&A the
week before, we had a prayer night, and so it has been two
weeks. Since we've come to this text
and so there's a special excitement for tonight.
I hope you feel that same excitement Second Samuel,
chapter 4. And as we come here, I cannot
help but feel the need to pray before we go to school.
Can we pray one more time? Father, we are deeply aware that
without the Holy Spirit. This meeting is vain.
Lord, we are fully convinced that the holy spirit is the
Difference Maker. He is the factor that brings
something that can be deathly dull and bring it to life with
Vigor. And we just ask oh God.
That that would be the case tonight.
You even told your own Apostles that they could not even witness
apart from the gift of God in the Holy Spirit and we need him
tonight. We do not assume that our gifts
are enough. Do not presume that.
We can do this apart from your power.
We are, we are dependent upon your grace.
Even for a study, that might not be as formal as a conference or
Sunday morning meeting Lord, be in our midst and let us sense
your nearness, more importantly, let us sense the power of your
word being driven into our hearts in a way that brings life
to our being. And produces the fruit that you
desire. We commit this study into your
hands in Jesus name, we pray. Amen. second Samuel chapter 4,
it is in this chapter that we continue the transition of
Israel's monarchy David is very close to being rightfully
crowned as the king, not just of Judah, but of all of Israel and
before that will take place, there will be a Monumental
pivotal moment that will occur, which we will read of in chapter
4, something huge happened before this.
And that was the death of Abner. Who is the commander of the
Kingdom of Israel? Who was ruled by ishka, Chef
Abner was assassinated, Abner was Unjustly taken from this
Earth and David mourn that loss and David is going to see even
more Injustice performed at a time when there was great
uncertainty and instability in this nation.
And so as you and I come keep in mind that things are teetering.
Everything now is being shaken. The news of Abner's death is
sending a chill down people's spines and that is certainly the
case for the king of the majority of the tribes ishka
shot. We read here in the first few
verses, his response and what is going to happen to him as a
result of this man's death verse 1.
We read when ishka, chefs, all son, heard that Abner had died
at Hebron, his Courage failed. And all Israel was dismayed now,
Saul son, had two men who were captains of rating bands.
The name of the one was banana and the name of the other Rahab
son of Sons of Ramona man of Benjamin from be wroth for be
wroth. Also is counted part of Benjamin
the bureau theit's fled to get I am and have been sojourners
there to this day. Let's pause here.
Verse 1 is crucial rich with application.
The first thing that we see is Ish besets response to the news
that report of Abner's death. Very plainly.
We're told that his courage had failed.
Now that means more than him being distraught emotionally
because someone that he knew and partnered with was now taken
from him, this speaks of Hope being dashed.
As Abner was a valuable asset and now he was he was gone and
Ishmael Seth realized what this would mean for him.
And it's very simple. He was going to face a losing
battle already ich Mich. At knew that he would stand
absolutely no chance before the true king of Israel.
Now that Abner is not is not there.
And the reason why is because it was Abner's idea to raise up
ishka to be the king and any success that they knew.
During those seven years was due to Abner and now-ish Bischoff is
all by himself. He's standing alone and you have
to face these challenges alone and he knew that he was not up
for the task. This man was not a true king, he
was a puppet ruler. He was used by Abner for Abner
to maintain the position of power and I'm sure he was aware
of his weakness based on this verse.
And he's going to realize very soon just how weak he is.
But notice the principal here, his courage failed.
Why? Why would a man?
Like ishka thesz feel like he failed in his courage and his
strength and his confidence? Any idea?
Somebody said it. his Hope was in, who In men and amen.
A strongman and accomplished man.
A confident man, a military man. But a man nonetheless.
And if you and I want to know consistent stability, in life,
please do what I'm about to tell you to do and that is to never
put your confidence in a mere mortal.
It is an extremely dangerous habit, and the habit of many, to
be able to think that your faith is dependent upon somebody else.
Who is made of dust just like you.
You will know great, great distress in your short life by
simply keeping your perspective and trying to find your
salvation. Not the salvation of your soul,
but deliverance from many things and someone who might even
promised to bring Salvation because that responsibility in
that ability Belongs to the Lord Of Glory alone.
And that is an important word for us today and you would be
amazed to know that if you just put that lens to see how that
exhortation is found from Genesis to revelation.
It makes you wonder how much God knows of the temptation of even
his own children to lean upon Dustin Ash.
I want to show you this. This is one Psalm and it's
encouraging to just read a big portion of it because this Psalm
is literally dedicated to that theme.
And if David wrote it, the author is known as unknown.
That it's even more inspiring because this man was a king
himself, but go to Psalm 146 very quickly and notice a few
verses with me, beginning in verse 3 and really you don't
even need it. Bound on these verses, they're
just so self-explanatory. Consider these charges in a day
where political leaders are being seen as Messiah figures in
2022. And consider these verses as
even spiritual leaders, and the past few years have been falling
short and disappointing, the Evangelical World in different
ways. Look at verse 3, put not your
trust in princes. In a son of man in whom, there
is no salvation. When his breath departs, he
returns to the Earth on that very day, his plans.
Perish blessed is. He whose help is in the god of
Jacob. Whose hope is in the Lord, his
God who made Heaven and Earth the sea and all that is in them
who keeps Faith forever. Meaning he is faithful forever
verse seven, who executes Justice for the oppressed who
gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners
free. Here's what the psalmist is
trying to say. Your confidence.
In God can't be a theological Theory.
It's not something that you put in a catechism.
It's not something you put in a doctrinal statement, your trust
should actually be feelable. And there should be a system of
belief that actually really believes that God can intervene
in your life at a particular moment.
I mean that's why he gives these examples beginning in verse 6
and 7, he executes Justice for the oppressed.
So on a day like are they were the justice system is so broken
and corrupt, we are told to put our trust in the one who can
execute True Justice, what else who gives food to the hungry.
Well, that's comforting to me in a day where we're talking about
food shortages and where the whole world now is not knowing
how we're gonna be able to fill our grocery shelves, shelves,
and all this talk and rumors of how we can at any moment.
Lose what we were Comfortable with on a day-to-day basis but
he can actually put food on your plate.
He can actually do that. And if you really want to know
whether or not your faith and your trust and your dependence
upon the Lord, I mean it's really by asking yourself a
simple question. All you have to do examine your
own heart and just ask yourself this question.
Do I actually believe? Do I really, really trust that
God is able to supply? Fly. do I actually believe that
you'd be amazed to know how many people say it sing it quote it
print it wear it but when it really comes to it, there is no
true, trusting God and it shows the fear in people.
The worrying people. And the psalmist is very clear
here. You can actually rely on God.
I'm not talking about like one day in eternity, you will
restore all things. I'm talking about now.
Like right now like tomorrow he can send Ravens, he can make
your enemies even come and be at peace with you and provide for
you. And so you and I have to have
that trust constantly and this Manish Bischoff has opposite
conviction. He stands in great contrast to
the Mighty Men. David David, who was able to
literally stand alone in a valley?
When there is a bunch of soldiers behind him, biting
their nails and scratching their heads and actually believe.
I mean I may not see him but he is here, he is actually here and
he will be the force behind this weapon as I sling.
Into your face. And he will be the one that will
sustain me and guide me throughout it all.
We see a great contrast between two kings, who had two different
levels of understanding of, who the true God is, and what he's
able to do. You know what, so encouraging
though, is that there is an obscure verse a verse that many
people often don't quote that promises us that God is able to
even make us like this Brave hero David.
God is actually able we look at a scripture like David.
We look at this character and were inspired by him and yet God
wants to assure as there's a particular promise that he is
able to infuse that same courage, that David knew that we
are inspired by and actually live it for ourselves.
Can I show you that verse? It's in Zechariah Chapter 12.
Verse 8. This is speaking about a future
day when Jerusalem will be surrounded by foreign enemies,
but this tells me what God is able to do even now in my life.
And Zechariah Chapter 12 verse 8, notice the promise that God
gives the Israel for a future time and a promise that I
believe is available today. Zechariah Chapter 12, the
prophet Zechariah Chapter 12 verse 8.
We read on that day. The Lord will protect the
inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the feeblest among them on
that day. Shall be like, who David the
feeblest? The weakest.
Those who can't lift their head and confidence, even them shall
be like that. Mighty warrior David.
I take that and I say Lord make me like that.
Now today, and this time And then he goes on to say, in the
House of David shall be like God, like the angel of the Lord
going before them. This is not the point of the
study, but if you want to Old Testament verse that confirms
the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, it's there.
Did you see it? Look at it.
And the House of David shall be like, God, the like who the
angel of the Lord, who is the Angel of the Lord, the
pre-incarnate Christ. So all you need to do is find
the verses that prove that the angel of the Lord shares the
prerogative, 's and the abilities that Yahweh himself
has. And then you could come to a
verse like this which is plain and clear shall be like God.
Like the angel of the Lord, the angel of the Lord is God.
And Jesus is the Angel of the Lord.
Going before them. It should be Seth here, Saul
son. His courage failed.
Because he put his trust in a man.
What do you do? What do you do when you lose
your job? What do you do when somebody
that you trust? That somebody that brought so
much encouragement and hope and joy into your life is taken from
you? Do you lose courage?
Yeah, my sting But we are to be like David and we can be like
David by the help of the Holy Spirit.
Let's come back to 2nd Samuel 4 and verse two and three.
Now Saul son had two men who were captains of rating bands,
okay? All for a sudden we are
introduced Two two characters we never heard of them before their
names. Are banned.
Nia and Ricotta and their sons of a man named Ramone and for a
specific reason. The Holy Spirit finds it
necessary to give us some background about who these
characters are. And all that we're told about
them is one. They were sons of a man of
Benjamin and to that they were military men in this Kingdom,
specifically leaders of rating bands, And the question that we
should always be asking when we come to text, that seem to be
out of place, would seem to be expanded more to.
What we would think is necessary is why Why is this given to us?
Why are we told these things? Why not?
Just give us the name of these men and just tell us what
they're about to do know, before we even see what they're about
to do. We are told who they are and so
I present that question to you. Why do you believe the Lord?
The author of these verses wants to tell us about where they're
from. Well, one, where are they from?
Which tribe do they represent? Ring a bell.
Benjamin ring a bell. Who's from Benjamin Saul is from
Benjamin, right? So we realize that these men
come from the same tribe and that is supposed to cause us to
believe at least that whoever these men are because they come
from the same tribe, they're going to be loyal to Saul's
house. There's some Fidelity that there
is some kind of partnership there just because they share
the blood of Benjamin. And so we're anticipating that
not knowing what they're about to do.
We're anticipating that they will come alongside.
They will be in partnership with especially because they are all
from Benjamin. They're supposed to be loyalty
here, and we're going to actually see the opposite and a
few verses. But read carefully is something
else supposed to be conveyed. And I think there is look at
these words here in parentheses, for beer off, they came from be
Roth. Also is counted part of
Benjamin, so that there is this clarification.
Yeah. These men come from be Roth but
be Roth. Remember they are actually part
of Benjamin implying that perhaps there's some confusion
there that broth actually isn't part of Benjamin.
So the author inspired by the spirit.
Says no, no, no, they are actually connected.
Are these men from Benjamin? Answer, yes, or no.
Yes, or no. This is where it's so good to be
students of the Old Testament, the holy spirit's expecting us
to be students of the Old Testament so that when we come
to a verse like this, we go, interesting, interesting,
something is about to happen based on the background of where
they come from, does anybody know this is, like level 10 for
Bible quiz, be Roth, you have your hand up.
So you might know Here habits previous two, venti mocha.
Okay, say that again their inhabitants of Very good.
Did you study before tonight? B.
Roth is a specific town that was inhabited before the conquest
took place. and the mention of that is found in the very book
that describes the conquest of Israel into the land of Canaan,
which is the book of what Joshua, it's a turn with me
quickly to Joshua chapter 9, and I want you to see the reference
to be Roth. And to see which context of
finds itself. Joshua 9:17.
And the people of Israel set out and reach their cities on the
third day. Now their cities were gibeon, he
fira be wroth and curia. Theorem, do you see it, there be
wroth. So now we're told that Joshua
and his men, they approach these towns and were told that they
didn't attack them. They didn't attack them.
And the reason is because these towns were occupied by certain
group of people who made a covenant with the nation of
Israel, that's what the whole chapter is about.
Do you remember that chapter when we had a whole study about
which group of people, it's in the chapter, you can just peek
and see the name early on the gibeonites, the gibeonites who
made a deal with Israel and that deal would Shield them from
being annihilated like the Of the inhabitants of the land of
Canaan and how did they do that? What's this whole chapter about
it's really about how Israel was deceived?
So these gibeonites were very clever that they came with old
clothes. They came with dried bread and
wine skins that were broken and they made it appear as though
they had come from a distant land, so that when they
approached Joshua and the leadership, they make a covenant
with them, because they themselves knew that Israel was
sent by God, to bring about total Destruction, and they
didn't want to be in that number.
And Joshua failed. We're told in that same chapter
to seek counsel from the Lord and in doing so they make a
covenant with somebody that they were meant to actually destroy
and then because of that Covenant it overrode, even the
campaign itself to take over and they honor that promise and they
brought into subjection to be slaves.
And they survived and now the holy spirit with that reference,
the fact that they were part of be Rocky came from be rotten and
later on once they actually Conquest it Benjamin, The Tribe
of Benjamin occupy, that area is wanting us to have the
affiliation made. These men came from a town that
deceived Israel. Something suspicious on its way.
Something discrete, something cunning is being planned here.
That's exactly what we are being given with this reference before
us. And we're going to see how they
are going to actually operate in deception to accomplish a
certain goal. And then we think we're done
here with new characters until we come to verse 4.
If you thought verse 3 was with strange verse 2 and 3 look at
verse 4, Jonathan the son of Saul had a son who was crippled
and his feet He was five years old when the news about Saul and
Jonathan came from Jezreel and his nurse took him up and fled.
And as she fled in her haste, he fell and became lame and his
name was mephibosheth. And so now this seems out of
place a little bit. Again, I ask the question, why,
why out of the entire narrative was it necessary to put
mephibosheth? and introducing him and even his
disability here at this point, you have any idea why Because by
Design, there is a case being made here, there's something
trying to be communicated, why bring up mephibosheth now?
Why not later? He's going to be mentioned
later. But why at this point?
He's another are very good and so he's actually the next male
Heir in line after ishka, chef. And so, what's happening here is
we are actually being revealed and where they're being exposed
to the feebleness of this Kingdom, just how weak sauce
Dynasty has become because we're being prepared for Ishq, has to
be assassinated. And the next person in line is
apparently, John. In son, mephibosheth, and he's
crippled at the feet. And at this point, if you do the
numbers, if he was five years old, when he heard the news of
his dad and his grandfather being slain at War seven years
has passed. So he's around 12 years old.
This is supposed to be the next king in line.
And what we're trying to understand here, what we're
being told is this dynasty is near Extinction, it's almost
completely gone. And even though ishka Chef is
going to die, David has no worry to be concerned about a rising
King, who will fight against him, because this is who he has
to actually face if he faces him at all. and so we see here that
we are being given a description of just how broken And just how
crippled no pun intended, saws house has become.
But these verses have so much more to offer us than just that.
These verses have so much truth richness for application, and,
and precepts for the people of God.
You know, I read this and I couldn't help that the
condition, the disability of mephibosheth, that he would have
to live with, for the rest of his life was something Beyond
his control. Somebody who was, who is called
to take care of him, nurture him.
Secure him, failed him. And dropped him.
So this, this Guardian, this nurse, when they heard the news
that the Philistines have won the war she panicked.
And she picked up a five-year-old.
I mean, if you have a five-year-old that's not, that's
not necessary. But for whatever reason, she
picks up mephibosheth and she runs.
And as she runs whether she tripped or she lost grip, this
young boy Falls, maybe over a balcony, made with down some
stairs and both his feet were broken.
Because of failure to heal, right?
He would live with this condition where he could not
walk for the rest of his life. And I look at this and I cannot
help but think that this physical picture is what happens
to many people emotionally mentally.
You can even say spiritually. At some point in their lives.
What do I mean by that? You'd be amazed to know how many
people today are fractured because of something that
happened to them when they were young.
And many of you perhaps can attest to the fact that your
parents who were supposed to nourish you and love you.
And Supply Grace and wisdom and strength failed.
You In other words, dropped you. And just like this nurse they
didn't operate in. Good faith, they didn't have an
anchoring trust in the Lord, a conviction that he is in
control, or they didn't abide by his word.
And instead they operated in fear, or lack of wisdom or
self-interest and their failure contributed to the Brokenness of
your development, you'd be again, amazed to know how many
people who are adults and have children today are suffering in
their marriage and in the way they relate to their children,
because when they were children, They were let down either by the
action of a father or mother or the failure to act in the way
that they should have Act. So, what do we do?
Because I am not in the camp that believes just because
something happened in your developmental years, that you're
stuck like that for the rest of your life.
Modern psychologists might say that, and then just medicate you
and call you to just live to blame people for the rest of
your life and then justify your Brokenness.
Somebody cleverly said that even a broken crayon can draw
straight. It just depends who holds it.
And a broken life if it is placed in the hands of a perfect
God. Can produce good and see
Holiness and wholeness because of his goodness, as you've
submitted to his lordship and his Shepherd like leadership.
Again, we offer counsel and we sit with people and so much
trauma that is come from upbringings resurface and
manifest in sinful Behavior. But I can't find one place in
the Bible, where that is justifiable.
Your father wounds do not permit you to be broken and cause
others to be broken. Your mother wounds do not permit
you to act in a certain way because you fail to have an
example, I'm not negating. The fact that there is an
influence there and there is some kind of a contribution
there but I cannot confidently say that you are to be stuck
there because my redeemers to Great, his gospel is too
powerful. His love is overwhelming.
And that Brokenness in the right hand, can draw a beautiful
picture out of your life. If you just trust him and Trust
in his word and allow him to heal you And I'm not being
overly simplistic by saying that a Wan can be just you know,
waved over your head and everything will be solved.
But what I am saying is that as you continue to just be there in
his presence, in his word surrounded by people who can
console you and Lead You you will know wholeness and healing
in Jesus name. Unfortunately, you have people
who who live pointing to finger and even if that finger points
to the past and you know what Isaiah says in Isaiah 58.
God even rebukes the nation for many things even though they
were fasting and praying because one of the things that they were
doing was continually pointing the finger.
You will not know healing if you do that, you will not know
restoration if you do that. God wants you to look up and
stretch out your hands to him and allow him to wash over you
in a way that will transform you for good.
That's possible. We have something that modern
psychology doesn't. We have something that this
world cannot figure out any man be in Christ.
He is a new creation New Creation.
He doesn't patch you up, he renews you Every part of who you
are past trauma, present, trauma, and whatever is to come,
he can Shield you and keep you. This is a gospel of Hope and
mercy. That's the Practical thing that
I see. But do you see the prophetic?
Here is mephibosheth who has experienced a Brokenness because
of a fall caused by another sound familiar.
You're a son or a daughter of Adam as am?
I And you and I are spiritually broken.
We are disabled. We are able to walk in the ways
of God. We are unable to keep in step
with his commands because of because of our forefathers Who
in essence dropped, the human race, and you, and I cannot walk
in our own strength. To keep up with his righteous
demands but what we will see, in a few chapters is David himself.
Asks, for a descendant of Saul and he discovers that
mephibosheth is alive. And what does he do?
He vows to be kind to him and so he invites this man who could
not walk on his two feet to sit at his table.
And in second Samuel chapter 9, we read there.
That mephibosheth was treated as one of the king's sons and he
continually fellowship with David and was provided for and
was treated. With unusual kindness because
because legally technically this man is an enemy to David and his
kingdom. And yet he still extends mercy
and does above and beyond what anybody would do with an enemy.
And you and I though broken because of a fall, thousands of
years ago, Noah greater reward than the fetish F.
Because we have the true king of Israel, the son of David who
bids us to come and who doesn't just treat us as a son or a
daughter, but actually adopts us And cause us as his own and we
have continual fellowship with him, not just now, but forever,
and ever, and to glory. And so, we even see the gospel
here. When you partner this verse with
second, Samuel, 9 and Beyond you, see that the gospel picture
of a king taking as in the words of men fetishes a dead dog, like
you and me and then crowning us with goodness and love and
mercy. So, we come back to our main
text. and we see in verse 5, what these two Scoundrels, these
brothers are going to do And verse 5, we read now the sons of
Ramon, the bira theit Rahab and bana set out and about the heat
of the day. They came to the house of ishka
Chef as he was taking his Noonday rest and they came into
the midst of the house, as if to get wheat and they stab them in
the stomach, then of a cob and Bandai, his brother escaped.
Read the Bible slowly. What stands out to you in these
two verses? What details?
That could provide some kind of application in our New Covenant
Walk With Jesus Christ? Can we draw out from these
things? Anything else stands out from
you before you rather? If you have something feel free
to lift your hand and contribute.
It's a big classroom. I know it's intimidating but
where he got stabbed in the stomach.
Okay, there's something there to observe.
And talk about stab-in-the-back. That's one thing stabbed in the
stomach. That's pretty cruel.
Anything else? Very good.
Someone is taking a siesta. A Noonday rest.
Seems to be a routine as well. Great observation anything else?
Very good. You guys are wonderful students.
They came in as if to get wheat, let's just stop there for a
moment. Notice, the first thing we are
told in verse 5, as he was taking his Noonday rest, very
common Middle Eastern heat. You would work early hours in
the day and take a time off. People still do this in
different parts of the world and I work in the coolness of the
evening. And so, we see that this is some
kind Routine that the King was a part of and this routine was
obviously known to his servants as men.
And unfortunately, it was known to these two men.
And so they come at a specific time where he is, he is sleeping
and that is condemnation to them.
That they came to a man in the most vulnerable state that you
can be in which is in your sleep and they assassinate him.
But this is also an indictment against ishka chef Because we
know that Abner has been killed. We know that the nation is an
uproar. We know that people are
dismayed, we know that there's political upheaval and that's
when you take a nap. What's running through your mind
to give you the ability to even lay back and close your eyes and
actually fall asleep. No, indication of planning.
No indication of praying. No indication of communicating
your sleeping. And it's in that place where he
is actually killed. Listen rest is good, rest is
necessary, rest is encouraged. But there's a difference between
race and excessive slumber. Because Slumber spiritually
speaking makes us sitting ducks. And David will fall into the
very same trap and just a few chapters when he was supposed to
be at War, but instead, he was lounging on his couch and not
just his life, but the life of the nation would never be the
same because he chose to be in a place of rest, when he was, in
fact, supposed to be in a place of battle. you and I put our
souls in grave Jeopardy when we are idle I fear for Christians
who do more sitting than serving.
And I am very worried for Christians who do more playing
than praying, especially in a time where you and I are living
in great shifts that are occurring worldwide, that will
Usher us into a world and a system and a reality of no
return. That will impact even the way
the church will operate and move about freely with the gospel in
the Great Commission. You know, you and I may look at
issue is Seth and think that he is crazy for being able to
sleep. But let me tell you something.
Even in the past two years, with all the events that took place,
you still have Christians who are asleep.
I mean, at most, you had somebody who just woke up and
then they just went back to sleep because they hit the
snooze button. There are still many many
believers who do not realize, and understand the significance
of the times that we're living in.
And it's no wonder Jesus prophesied that he prophesied
that even need the time. In the culmination of the age.
You're still gonna people engaging in business and
marrying and vacationing and investing in like at any moment.
The sky is going to split open, he's going to come.
So, even during the tribulation period, you're going to have
these activities happening. It's not going to be like those
apocalyptic movies for everybody's hiding.
And eating a can of beans with an AK-47.
You're gonna have people actually engaging in day-to-day
life distracted by these things. Even though at any moment, the
millennial kingdom is going to crash through.
And set up a world that we desperately need.
And so you and I have to be very, very careful, because when
I speak about sleeping, what I'm speaking about, a spiritual
Slumber, and spiritual Slumber is simply this and inactivity or
an unresponsiveness to the things of God or the events that
point to the necessity, to be on alert, the inactivity in the
unresponsiveness, to the things of God.
When in fact, we should heightened our awareness, and
our involvement, and our participation in the things of
God, because they events around his demand, such a posture and
such a participation Let me read this verse, you don't have to
turn there. Look up, Paul tells the Romans,
just just because people think sometimes we go overboard with
that kind of talk. Romans 13:11 besides this, you
know, the time that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep.
Paul says, wake up from sleep. Don't you realize the hour that
were in for salvation is nearer to us now than when we first
believed. Stay on the Roman Church.
I mean, even a few years after the church was birthdays, they
fell asleep. How much more now wake up.
Don't you see this? Don't you realize this Hebrews
10 says, I'm paraphrasing that you should continue to meet and
encourage one another, all the more as you see the day Drawing
Near, that's why we my heart was broken that when a global
pandemic happened, we were closing churches down.
No, no Hebrews. Hebrews actually says have more
meetings. Let me remind you, okay?
Just in case I offended somebody there.
The Bible predicts not just one pandemic, but pestilence has a
plural. Are we going to shut our church
down? Every time?
There's a pestilence that breaks out because more is coming
according to the words of Jesus. The church needs to be the
church and we submit to the Lord Of Glory.
Not to the Caesar. In the White House.
We'll see if this study stays on YouTube after that.
So Christians need a wake-up. Christians need to realize that
the moment we become inactive is the moment.
Satan is at the advantage. Which comes to the next Point as
our sister pointed out. What was that?
That they came in as though they were grabbing wheat.
This is deceptive and so we understand the relationship
between them being from be Roth and their their scheme over
here. It makes total sense.
Now they came in a certain way. They came in Cloak with
innocence with a different agenda when in fact they had a
murderous plot on their hearts and so they come in And they
look at a certain way. They act in a certain way they
speak in a certain way when in fact that a dagger in their
hands ready to plunge it into the stomach of a man who thought
that he was safe enough to sleep when he should have been on his
guard. And I think that sequence is
beautiful. I think the order of these
things is quite insightful. Because what we see here is that
there is obviously a failure to discern who these men were and
what they were doing, but that always follow spiritual
drowsiness. He was asleep.
And it makes you wonder where the guards were at.
And because their guards were down literally because he was
asleep unaware to be able to comprehend the events around
him. He could not see what was
coming. And so there was a lack of
discernment there. And that cost him.
His life deception is no small danger to someone who fails to
abide in the truth and walk in The Fellowship of the Holy
Spirit. And with God's people, but it is
a very small threat to somebody who's prayerful And who walks
with the Lord day by day and who receives the word of God, on a
consistent basis. Such a person is strong and is
able even by the grace of God to see past the things that are
masked with innocence and Purity and harmlessness and to be able
to understand the danger that can be in the Horizon.
Somebody who's walking with the Lord consistently is always a
few steps ahead of Satan. But someone who is not and is
asleep spiritually just, just like what we see here there
succumb to the schemes of the enemy without even seeing it
coming their way. And I would tell you that the
only way that you and I are going to have discernment and
these times were deception is going to intensify that's going
to be a major theme of the conference.
The lack of discernment is troubling among Christians.
It is troubling. And so, we have to understand
that if we want to know, a heightened discernment and an
ability to be ahead of the enemy's schemes, then it's going
to require to remain awake. The lack of discipline here,
seen a Nishka, Seth can be paralleled to the lack of
spiritual discipline and many today and that will contribute
to many in filtrations whether personally or into the into the
church at Large. And this is why we have to
understand. That remaining awake when
especially circumstances around us.
Are crying out. For answers, we got to be ready
with those answers. We read on a verse 7.
When they came into the house, as he lay on his bed in his
bedroom, they struck him and put him to death and beheaded him.
This is gruesome, this is vicious.
They took his head and went by the way, of their Arab all night
and brought the head of ish bichette to David at Hebron.
And they said to the king. Here is the head of ish bichette
the son of Saul your enemy who sought your life.
The Lord has Avenged my Lord, the king this day on Saul and on
his offspring. Two things stand out here.
One the way they address David. They were able to change their
Alliance very, very swiftly. Is this a genuine?
Is this is genuine conviction. Absolutely not.
They're no different than Abner. When Abner was able to realize
we're on the losing team now. He changed teams in order to
secure his position and preserve his life.
These men are no different Abner's dead, like we're done.
It's just not going to work where a sinking ship time to
jump off and they attempt to do so and they come with the
verbage and they come even with a parent.
Fidelity and faithfulness and loyalty.
And the fact that this is repeated, I thought like this is
repeating a lot. This theme is repeating a lot
and it's very very obvious. Why?
Because the holy spirit is trying to convey that, those who
stand for nobility and those who stand for righteousness.
Often do so, went, it will bring about some self-gratification
preservation or promotion but when the sign up sheet, comes
out to stand for the truth. When it cost you it knows.
But very few names. And so be reminded of that.
Don't be surprised if those who stand for the truth will not do
so when it will cost them something even those that you
thought stood for the truth, don't be surprised if the
numbers diminish don't be surprised if you see people
jumping ship. And that we have so many Old
Testament pictures of that preparing us to see that this
will be a possibility in our own Lifetime and it will because the
Holy Spirit prophesied it but notice what else they do.
Here is the head of is beset? The son of Saul your enemy who
saw your life the Lord. Avenged my Lord.
The Lord Avenged my Lord. They put God's name with it.
They attached the lord's name to it.
Believers often believe that taking the lord's name in vain
means throwing it out there with Without respect, or as a
expression of frustration or flippantly, that's not what it
means to take the lord's name in vain.
That's in part. one of the greatest ways that we can take
the lord's name in vain is when we take his name and attribute
it to a message or a decision or behavior and say this is because
of God That is one of the most Blasphemous things to really do.
And this is exactly what they're doing.
They committed this murderous crime and they said well this is
God, God is behind this God encourages us and God is doing
this for you, David and David wouldn't buy it.
But I meditate on this and I thought.
Why do people do that though? And this is coming.
Now, I'm coming in from a pastoral lens because over the
years, I realized that many people do this.
I've personally have been the recipient of it on so many
occasions. Somebody will come, somebody
will write, somebody will send a message.
God is telling you, God told me to tell you.
Okay. Why?
And this I think at best its immaturity, it really is its
spiritual immaturity. And there is Grace to be given
for those especially when they first come to the faith.
Where for some reason they think that, you know, they're like
Isaiah or Jeremiah and God is speaking to them about
everything and they want to tell everybody what God spoke to them
that's at best. but that's not the case and that, that Grace
should be replaced with correction and serious
correction, especially for those who have matured in years in the
faith And it's going to come off strong, but it is strong because
this is a very serious thing. I believe one of the reasons why
people can so easily associate God's name again, to message, or
to a behavior or to a decision. Ready for this is because they
believe their name is superior to his Say whoa.
What do you mean by that? I'll explain because they have a
purpose and they have a Pursuit. Those are tribute God as a
source of a claim when it is not true assume.
That God's name will support The credibility in the validation of
their own name. In other words, the reason why
these men are doing what they're doing is because they want to
make it more convincing to David.
And the reason why many people today run around and use God's
name in vain is because they want to come off more convincing
and they believe that God's name should serve their name as they
try to make their name something.
And that is really the ugliness of this.
That's why that's why it's so horrendous.
And that's all it takes for some people to believe somebody.
Oh God said it. Okay.
And they submit to that and some of them live tormented because
somebody said God said, and God told me to get it.
Listen, it's in the Commandments God for saw that people would do
this regularly. And so don't be easily shaken.
Because somebody said thus says the Lord It's a tragedy and
it's, it has created trainwrecks throughout the ages.
But there's another reason why I believe people do this and they
actually the answer if you want to know, if you're interested
and really again, I'm coming from pastoral perspective,
because I've seen I've seen the Sheep wounded by this.
I've seen so many people broken, and so many people even
tormented because at one point, 10 years ago, somebody said God
said When in fact it wasn't God. Why do people do this?
Can I give you another strong reason.
It's actually found in a book where God often condemned those
who kept saying thus says the Lord, the book of Jeremiah look
at Jeremiah 14:14 very quickly just to get an Insight of why
this Behavior. So frequent.
And why some are in the habit of doing this.
Jeremiah 14:14, easy reference to remember.
But look at the look at the rebuke that the Lord offers.
When he looks down from heaven and sees all these false
prophets running around saying, thus says the Lord, that says
the Lord judgment isn't coming Invasion isn't coming.
Peace peace. And the Lord said to me, the
prophets are prophesying lies in my name, I did not send them,
nor did I command them or speak to them.
They are prophesying to you a lying Vision worthless
divination. And look at us and the deceit of
their own minds that is powerful.
And the deceit of their own minds.
So, do you want to know why even some today are running around in
churches and the whispering people God told me, I'll tell
you why, at least according to this verse, some people are so
Covetous or so Desiring, something to be true.
That they actually have come to a point where they believe God
told them. So, it's so overwhelming.
It's so gripping that they've come to a point where they
actually believe that the Lord is the one who is behind,
whatever it is, that is rumbling in their hearts.
And Jeremiah is told that's the deceit in their own minds. so,
they're actually under the persuasion that the Lord is the
one behind this because they have misinterpreted their
desires with his And so what you have with many people and this
can slip and being very practical tonight this can slip
and manifests even in dreams that people have.
So what you have is you want something so badly, you think
about something so often that it pops up in your sleep because
it's there in your subconscious, you've been entertaining it with
much busyness comes, many dreams, And what has to be God?
What has to be God? Because God spoke to Joseph in a
dream of Anna and and just it's, it's scary, it's really scary.
Now, there will be a time God willing where we can.
We can spend a study on how God or can God speak in a subjective
way. But oftentimes that's not the
case, you know, this and I have to say this, just in case people
on YouTube are ready to find anything.
The word of God is God's way of speaking to us.
Yes, but God can actually manifest in certain ways.
My concern is 99% of what people say is.
God is not God. And we see here that the
contribution too much of God said, is the deception in their
own minds. We won't stop there because we
have a few verses but we're almost there.
Let's go to 2nd Samuel for again, as we conclude.
These men says the Lord has Avenged, my Lord, the king this
day on Saul and on his offspring, verse 9.
But David answered with have been banned his brother.
The sons of Ramon, the Beer Authority, as the Lord Lives who
has redeemed my life out of every adversity.
I love that. As the Lord lives.
Now he's invoking the name of Lord in the right way, who has
redeemed my life out of every adversity?
What's he trying to say there? Contrary to you, Brothers.
I experienced the Lord and the way where he delivered me and
brought me to this point without the need of deception without
the need of manipulation without the need of unrighteous
activity. God is the one who made a way
God is one. Who brought me to this point.
God is the one who is behind all my success, I did not need to
participate in any sinful manner to advance the cause he paved
the path for me and remove every obstacle without the utilization
of shady activity bribery or exploitation.
For you to murder. This innocent man.
Is enough evidence for me to realize that God is not behind
what you're doing. The true God actually brought me
here without me needing to do anything.
That would grieve him or dishonor him to arrive.
This is a true man of God. This is this is a true person
who believes in God's leadership in their lives.
If God really will bring you somewhere God will do it and you
don't have to do anything. That would break his heart or
take his name in vain. And then we come to verse 11 as
we close. He essentially says in verse 10,
the last time somebody said behold saw his dead and that he
was bringing good news lost his life verse 11, how much more
when wicked men have killed a righteous man in his own house
on his bed, shall I? Not now require his blood at
your hand and destroy you from the earth and David commanded.
His young men, and they killed them and cut off their hands and
feet, and hang them beside the pool at Hebron, but they took
the head of ishka shot and buried it in the Tomb of Abner
at Hebron. So David looks at these
mayonnaise as you guys set yourself up, you exposed
yourself, you're done. And as a king, who's supposed to
execute Justice, he has them executed kind of breaks my heart
a little bit because we see that he didn't do this with somebody
else. Who did he not do this with?
He was supposed to do this with somebody else, but because he
had a role that played in his success, he chose not to joab
jaw. He didn't do this with joy.
And so the inconsistency is a little disheartening but
nonetheless there is still something to applaud here.
David wants to make it very clear.
I will not condone this sin but more than He's doing something
very, very strategic and important by condemning these
men, these men. He is bringing Clarity that he
had no participation in this plot to the watching Nation.
I had nothing to do with this man being removed.
I did not, I did not try to extinguish saws house.
This has nothing to do with me and I will prove it.
The men who did this, I will have killed and so he is
confirming the righteousness of his own testimony.
Listen to this bike. Condemning evil.
And that is important because many people believe that our
relationship to sin as Christians is merely to shun it
and not participate in it but the Bible actually calls us to
go further than that. And how we deal with sin that is
around us and Ephesians 5:11 is our last verse.
It says very plainly. Take no part in the unfruitful
works of darkness but instead does anybody know the rest of
it? Expose them.
Take no participation, no part, no affiliation.
Even to the point where he says, don't even talk about these
things, because even mentioning certain sins in detail can be
spiritually, harmful. But we are to do again.
Not just, this is yourself. Go further than that, expose
them. You know what?
I means expose, confronted rebuke it.
Correct it challenge it, teach about it, clarify on it.
Expose them. And that's what David is doing.
Because if the church is not careful to address certain
things, then we put ourselves in a position where we can confuse
a watching world. Whether or not we are for it or
not for it. And I've heard pastors over the
years growing up as a Believer and even being in Ministry in
the past several years. I've heard different pastors
with with societal issues who refused to address these things
publicly because they think that it is not their job to bring
about clarification of where their Ministry stands on these
things that are clear in the Bible and I agree don't make
your Pulpit, something a soap box where you speak about every
single issue that comes up on a headline, but We are called to
speak on societal issues when they're about Sin.
We should be. Because we want the church to be
informed and we want the watching world not to be
confused of where we stand on these things.
And that is how we solidify Our Testimony as David did here.
He made a statement of where he stood, according to the law of
God based on his condemnation and not just his lack of
participation. And if we do that, then we will
know great success and being the light of the world.
And that is why the days that were living in are so
significant because if you've noticed we've seen one moral
issue Surface after the next, right?
And it is not just shook the world, it has been shaking the
church and if you watch carefully what is actually
happening? Is there is a divide taking
place and it's a good division what's actually happening Is the
churches. Who refuse to expose sin are
being exposed themselves? That makes sense the churches
who refused to address and speak about sin because these things
in society are, pressuring people to speak up, they end up
confessing that they're actually for these things.
I could not believe the deafening silence in the
Evangelical world. When Roe v--, Wade was
overturned. It was quiet.
It was too quiet. And you even had some who
blatantly said, this is an assault on freedom.
God is about choice and I said this is it.
This is it. And that's only going to
intensify and it is by God's Sovereign, will that in the
west, there's going to be a greater lying drawn between the
true. And the deceived.
The true and the deceived. So these are exciting times may,
I exhort you in closing. Stay awake.
Not time for not nap.
Not time to be asleep. Realize the prophetic
significance of the signs of the time.
And choose to be a part of what God wants to do in a redeeming
way in our generation Lori. Thank you for this Bible study.
But we realize that some things were repeated but we are
creatures of repetition. We realize that some things were
new and we thank you for fresh truth.
The Lord. And this time, we just want to
respond to you in gratitude that your word, even though thousands
of years written in a culture that is almost unrecognizable to
our own in terms of how things work and technology and
transportation, you still have things to tell us through that.
Through that time in history, in Israel's monarchy, you have
things to speak to us today. We bless you for that.
We thank you from everything that we heard today.
That it came from your heart. Into our own Lord.
If there's anybody in here, Who recognizes that they are
spiritually broken. And that they are a son or
daughter of Adam. They hear the voice of the king
to come. To sit at your table and you
have made a way through the cross of Jesus Christ.
You have made a way through the blood of the Lamb to redeem
them. And to adopt them, may they
sense your voice, beckoning them, and bidding them to
surrender to your lordship. And to see the love of Jesus
Christ for them. Even in their Brokenness.
We ask these things in Jesus name.
Amen. Can we stand and worship
together?