1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:02,400 Thank you. Amen. 2 00:00:02,440 --> 00:00:04,120 Amen. I'm sure all of you can say 3 00:00:04,120 --> 00:00:07,320 something, but for those who shared that blesses me to know 4 00:00:07,320 --> 00:00:10,760 that the Lord is doing a work in this place every single week, 5 00:00:11,560 --> 00:00:14,880 and that's no different in our final session in this book, we 6 00:00:14,880 --> 00:00:16,760 can anticipate and expect the same. 7 00:00:16,760 --> 00:00:19,640 So maybe you're already there. If you're not, meet me in Second 8 00:00:19,640 --> 00:00:23,720 Samuel 24. This will not be a full on Bible 9 00:00:23,720 --> 00:00:25,480 study, so you don't have to be nervous. 10 00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:33,720 This will be a shorter one. And second Samuel 24 And Lord, 11 00:00:33,720 --> 00:00:36,320 we do give you all the glory for every testimony that was spoken, 12 00:00:36,320 --> 00:00:38,640 unspoken. And we know that there are 13 00:00:38,640 --> 00:00:42,160 things that you have done that we might not remember but are 14 00:00:42,160 --> 00:00:46,080 shaped by. And we thank you that you are 15 00:00:46,080 --> 00:00:48,600 always working. And when we submit ourselves 16 00:00:48,600 --> 00:00:53,000 under your word, so we can anticipate transformation as 17 00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:56,480 long as we yield to the Spirit. And so even tonight, give us 18 00:00:56,480 --> 00:00:58,920 ears to hear your thoughts, your final thoughts. 19 00:00:59,320 --> 00:01:03,160 Well, you have ordained for us to know through this final 20 00:01:03,400 --> 00:01:07,920 snippet of the story of David. In Jesus name we pray. 21 00:01:08,360 --> 00:01:12,480 Amen. What are the final thoughts that 22 00:01:12,480 --> 00:01:15,800 the Holy Spirit longs to imprint in our hearts as we come to the 23 00:01:15,800 --> 00:01:19,680 finale of this epic story? That was my question when I came 24 00:01:19,680 --> 00:01:22,720 to this latter portion of Second Samuel 24. 25 00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:26,320 And that is what we will seek to understand the mind of God. 26 00:01:26,940 --> 00:01:30,540 The clear themes that he has established in this not just. 27 00:01:30,540 --> 00:01:32,140 For us to know deeper insights but. 28 00:01:32,140 --> 00:01:36,340 For us to take away something as we transition from this book and 29 00:01:36,340 --> 00:01:38,580 move on to whatever the Lord has for us next. 30 00:01:39,420 --> 00:01:43,140 There are obvious instructions here, by way of example, by way 31 00:01:43,140 --> 00:01:48,740 of testimony, that are meant to be held onto on our bosoms, and 32 00:01:48,740 --> 00:01:51,380 to be. Kept with a firmness in our 33 00:01:51,380 --> 00:01:53,020 memory. And more importantly, in our 34 00:01:53,020 --> 00:01:56,340 practical obedience. And so as we come here, we 35 00:01:56,340 --> 00:01:59,300 realize that David has been given to us in the scriptures as 36 00:01:59,300 --> 00:02:02,100 a model for many things, and that is no different with this. 37 00:02:02,700 --> 00:02:05,420 Near the end of his life, at the end of this portion of his life, 38 00:02:05,420 --> 00:02:07,740 in this book at least, there are Nuggets of. 39 00:02:07,740 --> 00:02:11,740 Truth that we can anticipate to. Enrich our fellowship with the 40 00:02:11,740 --> 00:02:13,740 Lord. And so I want us to begin in 41 00:02:13,740 --> 00:02:17,420 verse 15. Here, let's look at what the 42 00:02:17,420 --> 00:02:20,530 Lord wants to say. Through a man who has been 43 00:02:20,530 --> 00:02:24,690 crowned with the exaltation of someone being after God's own 44 00:02:24,690 --> 00:02:27,050 heart. Verse 15. 45 00:02:27,970 --> 00:02:31,010 So the Lord sent the pestilence on Israel from the morning until 46 00:02:31,010 --> 00:02:33,810 the appointed time, and. There died of the people from 47 00:02:33,810 --> 00:02:38,010 Dan to Beersheba 70,000 men and when the Angel. 48 00:02:38,010 --> 00:02:40,890 Stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy the Lord, 49 00:02:40,890 --> 00:02:44,330 relented from the calamity, and said to the Angel who was 50 00:02:44,330 --> 00:02:47,530 working destruction among the people, It is enough now. 51 00:02:47,530 --> 00:02:50,880 Stay your hand. And the Angel of the Lord was by 52 00:02:50,880 --> 00:02:54,280 the threshing floor of Arauna the Jebusite. 53 00:02:55,080 --> 00:02:57,680 Then David spoke to the Lord when he saw the Angel who was 54 00:02:57,680 --> 00:03:01,560 striking the people, and said, Behold, I have sinned and I have 55 00:03:01,560 --> 00:03:05,160 done wickedly, but these sheep, what have they done? 56 00:03:05,360 --> 00:03:07,560 Please. Let your hand be against me and 57 00:03:07,560 --> 00:03:12,720 against my father's house. So you come to this point where 58 00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:16,990 the curtain is about to close. And we get this final glimpse of 59 00:03:16,990 --> 00:03:20,230 one of the most highly esteemed figures in not just the 60 00:03:20,230 --> 00:03:22,190 Scripture, but redemptive history. 61 00:03:22,910 --> 00:03:25,310 And what is? What is it that we see in this 62 00:03:25,310 --> 00:03:27,190 closing text concerning this man? 63 00:03:27,990 --> 00:03:29,350 It's. Not the most encouraging 64 00:03:29,350 --> 00:03:31,830 thought. It's not a high note, especially 65 00:03:31,830 --> 00:03:35,350 as we're planning to depart from this, this narrative. 66 00:03:36,110 --> 00:03:40,150 What you and I are facing concerning David right before 67 00:03:40,150 --> 00:03:42,670 the credits are about to roll, is him sinning. 68 00:03:43,870 --> 00:03:47,750 David Sinning. You would think that there would 69 00:03:47,750 --> 00:03:49,510 be a greater climax. You would think that there'd be 70 00:03:49,510 --> 00:03:51,350 a greater end to the story, but instead we. 71 00:03:51,350 --> 00:03:54,870 Find something that is dark, something that is disheartening 72 00:03:55,270 --> 00:03:57,870 and there's value in it. There is value in it. 73 00:03:57,870 --> 00:04:01,110 There's there's warnings in this for us to know how to finish 74 00:04:01,110 --> 00:04:06,550 well, to be vigilant and concerned and aware all the way 75 00:04:06,550 --> 00:04:08,270 until the finish line. We can. 76 00:04:08,390 --> 00:04:10,430 We can learn that and we learned that last week. 77 00:04:10,430 --> 00:04:12,690 But. I'm not sure if that is the 78 00:04:12,770 --> 00:04:15,450 primary point that the Holy Spirit wants to highlight 79 00:04:15,450 --> 00:04:20,649 concerning David as we face him. Before we turn away from him, so 80 00:04:20,649 --> 00:04:24,610 to speak. Perhaps the spirits desire as a 81 00:04:24,610 --> 00:04:29,410 take away is more of seeing David as a repentant man than a 82 00:04:29,410 --> 00:04:31,690 sinning man, and there's a big difference. 83 00:04:33,290 --> 00:04:36,290 A man who knew how to return to the Lord. 84 00:04:37,120 --> 00:04:39,760 Despite the many seasons he had, where he remained close to the 85 00:04:39,760 --> 00:04:44,480 Lord, in those moments where he fell short, veered off, turned 86 00:04:44,480 --> 00:04:47,640 his back. What you see, even at the final 87 00:04:47,640 --> 00:04:50,960 moments of his life, is a failure, yes, but also a 88 00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:54,960 success. A man who knew to confess his 89 00:04:54,960 --> 00:04:58,480 wrong. A man who knew to call out to 90 00:04:58,480 --> 00:05:02,920 God for restored relationship. A man who understood the nature 91 00:05:02,920 --> 00:05:05,680 of sin and its violation of primary offense. 92 00:05:07,180 --> 00:05:10,460 If there's anything that made David so special and unique, it 93 00:05:10,460 --> 00:05:15,060 was not so much his victories. The favor that he experienced 94 00:05:15,060 --> 00:05:17,020 was not because of his faultless record. 95 00:05:17,340 --> 00:05:20,380 I believe what it is, is a willingness to humble himself 96 00:05:21,100 --> 00:05:26,420 every time he did do wrong. He knew how to part his heart 97 00:05:26,420 --> 00:05:28,540 with a. Passionate desperation. 98 00:05:28,540 --> 00:05:32,140 He knew how to be broken before God, and he actually pursued 99 00:05:32,140 --> 00:05:37,870 change following his confession. That's what made David David 100 00:05:38,870 --> 00:05:42,190 Psalm 51, right, those. Different Psalms of confession 101 00:05:42,190 --> 00:05:46,270 and Contrition and. Absolute shattered soul, like 102 00:05:47,190 --> 00:05:51,030 please before his maker. And that's what we see David 103 00:05:51,030 --> 00:05:54,230 doing. Here a man who understood that 104 00:05:54,830 --> 00:05:57,950 what made? His sins so ugly and vile and 105 00:05:57,950 --> 00:05:59,710 disturbing above everything else. 106 00:05:59,710 --> 00:06:01,670 Was that it? Fractured something with his 107 00:06:01,670 --> 00:06:06,090 fellowship with God, and he knew how to, at least as soon as 108 00:06:06,090 --> 00:06:09,650 possible, seek that relationship to be restored. 109 00:06:11,610 --> 00:06:13,410 And so I look at this and I think, Lord, what are you trying 110 00:06:13,410 --> 00:06:15,010 to say? Why are you showing me David in 111 00:06:15,010 --> 00:06:17,490 this kind of a light? And I believe in one way, it's 112 00:06:17,490 --> 00:06:23,770 for him to instruct us of how to live repentantly before God from 113 00:06:23,770 --> 00:06:29,290 beginning to end. Learn this thing about your God 114 00:06:29,290 --> 00:06:30,610 that He. Cares for you. 115 00:06:31,230 --> 00:06:34,990 Not just when you're doing good, but even when you fall short and 116 00:06:34,990 --> 00:06:39,270 disappoint and fail to meet the standard and know that. 117 00:06:39,270 --> 00:06:42,830 The same God who kept accepting David, restoring David though 118 00:06:42,830 --> 00:06:44,870 consequences might have remained the. 119 00:06:44,870 --> 00:06:49,190 Heart he had for David is an invitation for you and I to 120 00:06:49,190 --> 00:06:52,710 realize that though I may stumble between now and where I 121 00:06:52,710 --> 00:06:56,230 meet the Lord face to face, I can have the confidence that 122 00:06:56,230 --> 00:07:00,190 when I truly repent, he will truly receive me all the way to 123 00:07:00,190 --> 00:07:03,050 the end. I mean you would think after all 124 00:07:03,050 --> 00:07:04,690 that you experienced that by the end you. 125 00:07:04,690 --> 00:07:08,130 Would be spick and span you. Would be absolutely spotless. 126 00:07:08,130 --> 00:07:11,450 You would be shining and yet you still got dirt on your feet. 127 00:07:12,690 --> 00:07:14,690 You. Still were you still manage to 128 00:07:14,690 --> 00:07:17,770 mess up when you're about to to leave the earth? 129 00:07:17,770 --> 00:07:20,930 Because in first Kings one he does leave, he enters into 130 00:07:20,930 --> 00:07:23,490 glory. And yet this is the portrait we 131 00:07:23,490 --> 00:07:26,620 have of the man. And God wants us to know that 132 00:07:26,620 --> 00:07:29,620 when he comes broken before him, he He supplies, He provides 133 00:07:29,620 --> 00:07:33,260 mercy, and He will for you. His love is patient, and it 134 00:07:33,260 --> 00:07:36,740 endures until the end. I look at David here and I get 135 00:07:36,740 --> 00:07:37,780 that inspiration. Look at the. 136 00:07:37,780 --> 00:07:39,820 Quality of his repentance. Look at verse 17. 137 00:07:39,820 --> 00:07:42,340 Then David spoke to the Lord when he saw the Angel who was 138 00:07:42,340 --> 00:07:43,860 striking the people, and said behold. 139 00:07:44,180 --> 00:07:47,020 I have sinned and I have done. But these sheep, what have they 140 00:07:47,020 --> 00:07:48,900 done? Please let your hand be against 141 00:07:48,900 --> 00:07:51,580 me, against my father's house, and against my father's house. 142 00:07:52,060 --> 00:07:56,540 Did you remember verse one? Is what David saying what he's 143 00:07:56,540 --> 00:07:58,140 saying here? Is it completely accurate? 144 00:07:58,260 --> 00:08:01,620 What have these sheep done? It's not completely accurate. 145 00:08:01,940 --> 00:08:05,900 Because verse one tells us that Israel kindled the anger of the 146 00:08:05,900 --> 00:08:10,340 Lord again, and we came to the conclusion that even David being 147 00:08:10,340 --> 00:08:14,100 incited to sin was the instrument that God used to 148 00:08:14,100 --> 00:08:16,580 bring discipline to the nation, as you brought up earlier. 149 00:08:17,900 --> 00:08:21,340 So if there's anybody who's more at fault, if you want to, if you 150 00:08:21,340 --> 00:08:24,700 want to see it that way in the circumstances, actually Israel, 151 00:08:25,220 --> 00:08:28,260 they clearly did something before David number the people, 152 00:08:28,260 --> 00:08:31,460 and David's numbering was actually again, the means by 153 00:08:31,460 --> 00:08:34,500 which more discipline would come to the nation, though David was 154 00:08:34,500 --> 00:08:35,940 at without. It's not that he was without 155 00:08:35,940 --> 00:08:39,059 fault, but to say that the sheep have done nothing is not 156 00:08:39,140 --> 00:08:42,820 entirely true. They did do something. 157 00:08:42,900 --> 00:08:45,180 God's Just not just. Pulling a random stunt here. 158 00:08:46,240 --> 00:08:49,560 He's clearly showing something in light of a specific act that 159 00:08:49,560 --> 00:08:53,160 needed to be chastised. And David here, though at the 160 00:08:53,160 --> 00:09:01,360 same time he still, he still sees his fault because we have 161 00:09:01,360 --> 00:09:04,160 the evidence to say, well, it's really Israel's fault and Israel 162 00:09:04,160 --> 00:09:06,880 should be the one that's pleading instead of David. 163 00:09:07,040 --> 00:09:08,440 But you know who doesn't make that argument? 164 00:09:08,440 --> 00:09:11,720 David, look at his, look at his confession. 165 00:09:11,720 --> 00:09:15,420 He doesn't charge anybody else. He doesn't try to escape from 166 00:09:15,420 --> 00:09:17,940 the equation. He doesn't point fingers. 167 00:09:19,300 --> 00:09:23,380 He he realizes that he has a part to play in it, and that's 168 00:09:23,380 --> 00:09:27,020 enough for him to come openly before the law and saying I'm 169 00:09:27,020 --> 00:09:32,860 wrong, I'm wrong, I'm wrong. In this you don't find people 170 00:09:32,860 --> 00:09:34,420 confessing like that, even if the. 171 00:09:34,980 --> 00:09:39,020 Is there the endemic nature in us? 172 00:09:39,370 --> 00:09:43,970 Likes to twist and turn and justify an excuse. 173 00:09:44,650 --> 00:09:48,250 And even though you might not be able to evade your involvement, 174 00:09:48,250 --> 00:09:51,970 you try to at least esteem others as more guilty than 175 00:09:51,970 --> 00:09:53,930 yourself. Isn't that how we confess when 176 00:09:53,930 --> 00:09:56,450 we're confronted? Nothing of the sort with this 177 00:09:56,450 --> 00:09:58,810 man? Doesn't even include Israel. 178 00:09:59,050 --> 00:10:01,890 He sees himself completely guilty in all of this and he 179 00:10:01,890 --> 00:10:03,610 says I'm guilty. Just deal with me. 180 00:10:04,570 --> 00:10:06,690 That's the kind of repentance that this man had. 181 00:10:07,290 --> 00:10:10,530 That's the kind of quality of confession that he conveyed, and 182 00:10:10,530 --> 00:10:12,570 that is the kind of repentance that God honors. 183 00:10:14,050 --> 00:10:16,530 And so I see here that true repentance is not me spending 184 00:10:16,530 --> 00:10:18,610 time looking at others people's wrongs. 185 00:10:18,930 --> 00:10:22,050 But primarily holding yourself accountable if it if it's 186 00:10:22,050 --> 00:10:23,850 required of you. But there's. 187 00:10:23,850 --> 00:10:25,970 Something else here in verse 17 that I think is insightful, 188 00:10:25,970 --> 00:10:28,930 right? He wants to take all the blame 189 00:10:28,930 --> 00:10:27,170 for himself. He has a sympathetic. 190 00:10:30,090 --> 00:10:34,570 He wants to be a leader who has this compassionate care for his 191 00:10:34,570 --> 00:10:37,680 own. But look at this heartfelt and 192 00:10:37,680 --> 00:10:43,000 noble deed and see it as a request, a request that God 193 00:10:43,000 --> 00:10:44,560 didn't answer. This is a prayer. 194 00:10:45,360 --> 00:10:48,240 What is his request? Please let your hand be against 195 00:10:48,240 --> 00:10:50,320 me and against my father's house. 196 00:10:50,880 --> 00:10:53,480 Did God answer that prayer? Essentially what he's saying is 197 00:10:53,480 --> 00:10:55,600 wipe me off the face of the earth, me and my dad's house. 198 00:10:55,760 --> 00:10:57,320 Just get rid of all of us if it needs to be. 199 00:10:57,480 --> 00:10:59,680 If it's. Between me and Israel to Take Me 200 00:10:59,680 --> 00:11:05,720 Out, that's a prayer. Words that carry weight. 201 00:11:05,720 --> 00:11:07,760 Words that have been inscribed in the scripture, words for us 202 00:11:07,760 --> 00:11:10,200 to consider. And I look at this and I and I 203 00:11:10,200 --> 00:11:12,600 couldn't help but step back and kind of chuckle when I read it 204 00:11:12,600 --> 00:11:14,880 and meditated on it. Because what you have here is 205 00:11:14,880 --> 00:11:18,000 yet another example of how the Lord and His goodness does not 206 00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:22,560 answer all your prayers. He does not. 207 00:11:22,560 --> 00:11:27,240 No matter how pure, how sincere, how selfless your request might 208 00:11:27,240 --> 00:11:30,640 be, that doesn't determine whether or not God should answer 209 00:11:30,640 --> 00:11:32,680 it or not. This is a. 210 00:11:32,760 --> 00:11:36,500 This is a. A very humbling thing for David 211 00:11:36,500 --> 00:11:41,380 to do. And yet God doesn't move upon 212 00:11:41,380 --> 00:11:44,660 it. You should thank God. 213 00:11:45,420 --> 00:11:47,020 If you want to reflect on anything at the end of this 214 00:11:47,020 --> 00:11:49,060 book, you should also reflect on your own life. 215 00:11:49,060 --> 00:11:51,940 And thank God that he didn't say yes when you wanted to say yes 216 00:11:53,100 --> 00:11:54,660 and he didn't move the way you wanted. 217 00:11:54,660 --> 00:11:56,060 And you should. You should have, you should be 218 00:11:56,060 --> 00:11:58,540 thankful. You should be thankful. 219 00:11:58,540 --> 00:12:00,580 And that seems. To conflict with the bold 220 00:12:00,580 --> 00:12:03,740 invitation we have throughout the Bible of radical prayer, 221 00:12:03,740 --> 00:12:07,060 Things like James 5/17. Were in a new covenant context, 222 00:12:07,060 --> 00:12:08,980 we're given the. Illustration of Elijah who 223 00:12:08,980 --> 00:12:12,220 prayed and when he prayed it didn't rain for three years and 224 00:12:12,220 --> 00:12:15,260 six months, and when he prayed again, heaven gave rain in the 225 00:12:15,260 --> 00:12:19,220 earth bore its fruit. How much more extreme can you 226 00:12:19,220 --> 00:12:22,260 get of an example to pray? Radically. 227 00:12:23,220 --> 00:12:26,420 And we love to go to James 517 to encourage people in prayer, 228 00:12:26,900 --> 00:12:31,060 but we don't consider other factors of Elijah's praying to 229 00:12:31,060 --> 00:12:33,770 instruct our prayer. Oh, what do you mean? 230 00:12:33,970 --> 00:12:37,490 Have you ever meditated upon the prayer Elijah made that God 231 00:12:37,490 --> 00:12:40,170 didn't answer? Do you know which prayer I'm 232 00:12:40,170 --> 00:12:41,650 talking about? Can I show it to you in First 233 00:12:41,650 --> 00:12:44,170 Kings 14? Excuse Me 19, verse 14. 234 00:12:44,850 --> 00:12:50,770 Excuse Me, 19 Verse four First Kings, 19 verse 4 is what 235 00:12:50,770 --> 00:12:52,930 happens when you do a quiz with all these references. 236 00:12:54,090 --> 00:12:59,290 First Kings 19 verse 4. This is a prayer that Elijah 237 00:12:59,290 --> 00:13:01,890 makes. After a very. 238 00:13:02,370 --> 00:13:04,930 Mountaintop experience, no pun intended. 239 00:13:08,810 --> 00:13:10,810 And he says this when he's threatened by Jezebel First 240 00:13:10,810 --> 00:13:08,290 Kings 19/4. There's a very low point that 241 00:13:08,290 --> 00:13:14,250 meets. But he himself won a day's 242 00:13:14,250 --> 00:13:18,170 journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom 243 00:13:18,170 --> 00:13:24,650 tree, and he asked that he might die, saying. 244 00:13:24,650 --> 00:13:27,850 It is enough now, oh Lord, take away my life, for I am no better 245 00:13:27,850 --> 00:13:30,650 than my father's. What's his request? 246 00:13:30,970 --> 00:13:33,540 Kill me. I'm done. 247 00:13:34,100 --> 00:13:35,140 I'm. I'm done. 248 00:13:36,460 --> 00:13:37,540 I'm done. I'm finished. 249 00:13:37,580 --> 00:13:39,060 I'm. I'm submitting my two weeks 250 00:13:39,060 --> 00:13:41,900 notice. Thank you for calling me as a 251 00:13:41,900 --> 00:13:43,940 prophet, but this is it. I can't see any more future in 252 00:13:43,940 --> 00:13:45,660 this. I want to retire early. 253 00:13:46,500 --> 00:13:51,020 Beam me up. Kill me. 254 00:13:51,060 --> 00:13:54,060 This is his request. Destroy me. 255 00:13:54,500 --> 00:13:58,060 Does God answer that prayer? Does God answer that prayer? 256 00:13:59,240 --> 00:14:01,120 Not only did he not answer that prayer, he did the exact 257 00:14:01,120 --> 00:14:04,240 opposite of it. Does Elijah ever die? 258 00:14:04,240 --> 00:14:09,840 Let me ask the question. Again, did Elijah ever die? 259 00:14:10,240 --> 00:14:13,200 No, he didn't die. Doesn't. 260 00:14:13,200 --> 00:14:17,800 God have a sense of humor. He sends a chariot of fire and 261 00:14:17,800 --> 00:14:21,520 brings him up. And some people believe that 262 00:14:21,520 --> 00:14:28,000 Elijah still to return. God doesn't have to answer your 263 00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:32,410 prayer, no matter how passionate, no matter how 264 00:14:32,410 --> 00:14:34,850 consistent, no matter how strong it might be. 265 00:14:35,450 --> 00:14:37,010 Now you might think that what's the point of praying? 266 00:14:38,090 --> 00:14:40,930 What's the point of praying? That if God has a will, what 267 00:14:40,930 --> 00:14:43,530 does my? Dedication to supplication. 268 00:14:44,410 --> 00:14:46,410 What does that really determine? And I say. 269 00:14:46,410 --> 00:14:48,810 To you, this shouldn't discourage you from praying, it 270 00:14:48,810 --> 00:14:53,610 should only encourage you to pray even more radically because 271 00:14:53,690 --> 00:14:59,330 in your request as. Crazy as they might seem, as 272 00:14:59,330 --> 00:15:04,210 bold as they might seem. You are assured by a good God 273 00:15:04,650 --> 00:15:06,690 that he will never give you something that you will regret, 274 00:15:09,290 --> 00:15:11,130 that he'll never give you something that will diminish. 275 00:15:11,130 --> 00:15:13,330 His glory, That he'll never do something that will. 276 00:15:13,650 --> 00:15:18,250 Disqualify you from fulfilling his ultimate will for your life. 277 00:15:19,570 --> 00:15:23,730 The goodness of God, the wisdom of God, are the guardrails to 278 00:15:23,730 --> 00:15:27,920 our honest but misguided. Desires. 279 00:15:29,600 --> 00:15:31,880 So I look at David and I look at Elijah and I go, what's the 280 00:15:31,880 --> 00:15:32,880 point of praying? I go okay. 281 00:15:32,880 --> 00:15:34,760 Wow. God, you are so good that I can 282 00:15:34,760 --> 00:15:37,120 spill. My soul in your presence, 283 00:15:38,320 --> 00:15:41,040 thinking that this is exactly. What I need exactly what you 284 00:15:41,040 --> 00:15:44,760 should do and yet you are so kind to me that you. 285 00:15:44,760 --> 00:15:46,160 Will not. You don't work like a genie in a 286 00:15:46,160 --> 00:15:48,800 bottle. You are so kind to me that you 287 00:15:48,800 --> 00:15:51,000 will. Refrain from doing and acting 288 00:15:51,000 --> 00:15:52,720 upon my foolishness in the moment. 289 00:15:54,660 --> 00:15:57,220 And yeah, when that prayer does come, and it does align with 290 00:15:57,220 --> 00:16:00,460 your will, you will be more than willing to not just do it, but 291 00:16:00,460 --> 00:16:02,580 do abundantly, more than I can ask or imagine. 292 00:16:04,500 --> 00:16:06,620 That's the security we have in prayer. 293 00:16:07,340 --> 00:16:12,180 That's the assurance we have in intercession, David says. 294 00:16:12,180 --> 00:16:13,180 Cut. Off my house. 295 00:16:13,180 --> 00:16:16,180 Cut off my father's house. The Lord doesn't answer. 296 00:16:16,740 --> 00:16:21,140 Instead, he sends a profit, and this prophet has a better way, a 297 00:16:21,140 --> 00:16:24,060 better will, a better purpose. Verse eighteen of Second Samuel 298 00:16:24,060 --> 00:16:27,140 24 and Gad. Came that day to David and said 299 00:16:27,140 --> 00:16:31,860 to him, go up, raise an altar to the Lord. 300 00:16:31,860 --> 00:16:34,300 On the threshing floor are Una, the jebby site. 301 00:16:35,300 --> 00:16:41,480 So David went up at Gad's word, as the Lord commanded, and when 302 00:16:41,480 --> 00:16:43,920 Arauna looked. Down he saw the king and his 303 00:16:43,920 --> 00:16:47,960 servants coming on toward him, and Arauna went out and paid 304 00:16:47,960 --> 00:16:51,880 homage to the king. With his face to the ground and 305 00:16:51,880 --> 00:16:54,080 Arauna. Said, Why has my Lord the king 306 00:16:54,080 --> 00:16:57,440 come to his servant? David said to buy the threshing 307 00:16:57,440 --> 00:17:00,760 floor from you in order to build an altar to the Lord, that the 308 00:17:00,760 --> 00:17:02,680 plague may be averted from the people. 309 00:17:03,440 --> 00:17:06,880 Then Arauna said to David, let my Lord the king take and 310 00:17:06,880 --> 00:17:09,800 OfferUp what seems good to him. Here are the auction for the 311 00:17:09,800 --> 00:17:12,310 burn offering. And the threshing sledges, and 312 00:17:12,310 --> 00:17:14,869 the yokes of the oxen for the wood. 313 00:17:15,750 --> 00:17:18,109 All this, O King, Arauna gave to the king. 314 00:17:18,790 --> 00:17:21,270 And Arauna said to the king, may the Lord your God accept you. 315 00:17:21,270 --> 00:17:26,069 But the king said to Arauna, no, but I will buy it from you for a 316 00:17:26,069 --> 00:17:29,830 price. I will not offer burnt offerings 317 00:17:29,830 --> 00:17:32,270 to the Lord my God that cost me nothing. 318 00:17:34,030 --> 00:17:37,310 So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for 50 319 00:17:37,310 --> 00:17:38,750 shekels of silver. And David? 320 00:17:39,170 --> 00:17:41,570 Built there and altered to the Lord and offered burn offerings 321 00:17:41,570 --> 00:17:44,410 and peace offerings. So the Lord responded to the 322 00:17:44,410 --> 00:17:47,570 plea for the land, and the plague was averted from Israel. 323 00:17:50,770 --> 00:17:53,330 I have one main. Why question with this portion 324 00:17:53,330 --> 00:17:55,970 of. It's no surprise to me that the 325 00:17:55,970 --> 00:18:01,290 solution God gives to David in order to stop the plague from 326 00:18:01,290 --> 00:18:03,970 continuing is to provide a sacrifice. 327 00:18:04,090 --> 00:18:07,830 That's no shock to us. But my why question is the 328 00:18:07,830 --> 00:18:12,870 location of the sacrifice. Why was he instructed to go to 329 00:18:12,870 --> 00:18:15,070 the threshing floor of our una, the Jeb, you said. 330 00:18:15,070 --> 00:18:17,990 That's what I want to know, because that seems very random. 331 00:18:17,990 --> 00:18:20,110 We're never. Introduced to this person, We 332 00:18:20,110 --> 00:18:22,470 never see anything of this person unless you go back to 333 00:18:22,470 --> 00:18:24,670 First Chronicles. And when you move forward to 334 00:18:24,670 --> 00:18:26,910 First Chronicles, you realize that he goes by another name, 335 00:18:26,910 --> 00:18:30,030 the name Ornan. But beyond that, there isn't 336 00:18:30,030 --> 00:18:34,110 much evidence, at least to the immediate reading, of why it is 337 00:18:34,110 --> 00:18:36,820 that the Lord. Is instructing David to go to 338 00:18:36,820 --> 00:18:41,340 this precise piece of real estate to perform this duty but 339 00:18:41,540 --> 00:18:42,820 the. Faithful reader, when you 340 00:18:42,820 --> 00:18:45,420 continue go through your Bible and you come to a text like 341 00:18:45,420 --> 00:18:47,700 First Chronicles that seems to repeat things that you've read 342 00:18:47,980 --> 00:18:52,060 and Samuel and 1st Kings and 2nd Kings, you were rewarded for 343 00:18:52,060 --> 00:18:55,660 your faithfulness. And there are suspense added to 344 00:18:55,820 --> 00:19:00,540 discovering the answer when you carefully realize that there is, 345 00:19:00,940 --> 00:19:05,870 there is enough to point to God's mind for this. 346 00:19:06,350 --> 00:19:09,310 Well, let's go to first Chronicles 21 and let's add to 347 00:19:09,310 --> 00:19:13,790 our suspense. Something occurs and First 348 00:19:13,790 --> 00:19:23,730 Chronicles 2126 and First Chronicles 2126 it. 349 00:19:28,780 --> 00:19:32,820 Says you're in the same account, but a different perspective. 350 00:19:33,060 --> 00:19:36,510 More added details. And David built there an altar 351 00:19:36,510 --> 00:19:39,350 to the Lord, and presented burn offerings and peace offerings, 352 00:19:39,350 --> 00:19:42,230 and called on the Lord. And the Lord answered him with 353 00:19:42,230 --> 00:19:45,270 fire from heaven upon the altar burn offering. 354 00:19:45,790 --> 00:19:48,830 Then the Lord commanded the Angel, and he put his sword back 355 00:19:48,830 --> 00:19:53,510 into its sheath. So David performs A sacrifice 356 00:19:54,390 --> 00:19:58,550 and something amazing occurs. The heavens open. 357 00:19:58,550 --> 00:20:01,350 Fire comes down and consumes the. 358 00:20:01,350 --> 00:20:05,340 Sacrifice on that altar. That kind of manifestation has 359 00:20:05,340 --> 00:20:10,020 only occurred a few times in the Old Testament, and it was a 360 00:20:10,020 --> 00:20:13,780 statement of divine approval, something that you could not 361 00:20:13,780 --> 00:20:15,740 disagree with, something that you cannot challenge. 362 00:20:15,740 --> 00:20:19,020 Remember what Elisha did before all the nation of Israel and the 363 00:20:19,020 --> 00:20:23,300 false prophets of Bailey sent fire from heaven to lick up the 364 00:20:23,300 --> 00:20:26,900 water, and that burnt offering on that altar. 365 00:20:27,380 --> 00:20:31,020 And so David is seeing this, but there's something deeper behind 366 00:20:31,020 --> 00:20:32,700 this. It's It's greater than a sign of 367 00:20:32,700 --> 00:20:36,340 divine approval. There is a message and this man 368 00:20:36,340 --> 00:20:39,020 David is enabled to interpret the message. 369 00:20:40,820 --> 00:20:45,380 There's a conclusion that David comes to based on this and the 370 00:20:45,380 --> 00:20:48,780 conclusion that he arrives to would have generational 371 00:20:48,780 --> 00:20:52,660 consequences. And that's what we see in First 372 00:20:52,660 --> 00:20:54,900 Chronicle. It's not 21 but 22 verse one. 373 00:20:56,020 --> 00:20:58,780 What judgment does he make? It's this. 374 00:20:58,900 --> 00:21:04,650 Then David said, Here shall be the House of the Lord God and. 375 00:21:04,650 --> 00:21:07,050 Hear the Altar of burn offering for Israel. 376 00:21:08,810 --> 00:21:10,010 We're not talking about the Tabernacle. 377 00:21:10,010 --> 00:21:13,890 We're not talking about. The tent, David, you remember 378 00:21:13,890 --> 00:21:18,770 this study desire to build a permanent house for the Lord, An 379 00:21:18,770 --> 00:21:23,290 established edifice that would. Be much more dignified and much 380 00:21:23,290 --> 00:21:25,770 more beautified for God to receive. 381 00:21:25,770 --> 00:21:27,930 Greater honor and greater worship. 382 00:21:29,070 --> 00:21:30,750 And David sees this, right? He he. 383 00:21:30,750 --> 00:21:33,190 He's there. He performs this sacrifice. 384 00:21:33,190 --> 00:21:37,030 Fire falls from heaven, he goes. This is where it's supposed to 385 00:21:37,030 --> 00:21:40,110 happen. This is where it's supposed to 386 00:21:40,110 --> 00:21:42,950 be built. This is where the foundation is 387 00:21:42,950 --> 00:21:47,590 supposed to be laid. Now, from a human standpoint, we 388 00:21:47,590 --> 00:21:49,630 can understand why he might come to that conclusion. 389 00:21:49,630 --> 00:21:51,910 With something like that, how much more do you need of a sign 390 00:21:51,910 --> 00:21:55,510 off for the project? But it's not until, again, you 391 00:21:55,510 --> 00:21:59,130 faithfully read your Bibles and not first Chronicles, but second 392 00:21:59,130 --> 00:22:04,050 Chronicles, you realize God's viewpoint in all of this God's 393 00:22:04,050 --> 00:22:09,090 strategy, God's reasoning. For it to be at this specific 394 00:22:09,570 --> 00:22:11,410 address, look at Second Chronicles. 395 00:22:11,410 --> 00:22:14,690 Now turn over to Second Chronicles Chapter 3 and look at 396 00:22:14,690 --> 00:22:20,130 verse one. Second Chronicles 3 verse one. 397 00:22:21,930 --> 00:22:24,450 This is when David's successor his son. 398 00:22:25,800 --> 00:22:29,840 Executes the project. He's been called to do it. 399 00:22:29,840 --> 00:22:33,440 David had the desire Solomon would implement it. 400 00:22:33,480 --> 00:22:36,760 And here's what we read. Then Solomon began to build the 401 00:22:36,760 --> 00:22:44,720 House of the Lord in Jerusalem on where Mount Moriah where the 402 00:22:44,720 --> 00:22:47,600 Lord now just to call. So just just in case you don't 403 00:22:47,600 --> 00:22:50,640 think that there is a different direction that took place 404 00:22:50,640 --> 00:22:52,840 between First Chronicles 22 and Second Chronicles 3. 405 00:22:53,180 --> 00:22:56,260 The Holy Spirit in his wisdom clarifies where Mount Moriah is, 406 00:22:56,500 --> 00:22:59,580 where the Lord had appeared to David his Father, at the place 407 00:22:59,580 --> 00:23:02,620 that David had appointed on the threshing floor of Ornan the 408 00:23:02,620 --> 00:23:06,020 Jebusite. The threshing floor of Ornan or 409 00:23:06,020 --> 00:23:08,900 our Una. The Jebusite was on Mount 410 00:23:08,900 --> 00:23:13,140 Moriah. Now it makes sense. 411 00:23:14,180 --> 00:23:17,140 Because in all of the scriptures there is only one other place 412 00:23:17,140 --> 00:23:20,600 where Mount Moriah is mentioned. Who knows it, Abraham in Genesis 413 00:23:20,600 --> 00:23:23,160 22, when he was called to sacrifice his son Isaac. 414 00:23:23,600 --> 00:23:27,120 That is the only place in all. Of the Hebrew scriptures where 415 00:23:27,120 --> 00:23:32,960 Mariah is mentioned Mariah in Genesis 22 Mariah in Second 416 00:23:33,000 --> 00:23:35,320 Samuel rather Second Chronicle IS31. 417 00:23:35,920 --> 00:23:40,440 Clarifying Second Samuel 24. First Chronicle is 22 Mariah. 418 00:23:44,800 --> 00:23:49,240 That's interesting. What is Mariah signify? 419 00:23:49,640 --> 00:23:54,080 Well, Abraham in Genesis 2214 gives it a different name. 420 00:23:54,480 --> 00:23:59,720 He called that place what the Lord will provide, Jehovah Gyra, 421 00:24:00,880 --> 00:24:08,640 the Lord will provide. And so that mountain symbolizes 422 00:24:10,360 --> 00:24:14,200 the provision of God's mercy ultimately. 423 00:24:14,200 --> 00:24:16,960 Fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ, but the. 424 00:24:16,960 --> 00:24:19,120 Message is there from Genesis 22. 425 00:24:19,440 --> 00:24:22,240 The Lord will provide a covering. 426 00:24:22,240 --> 00:24:24,000 The Lord will provide a sacrifice. 427 00:24:24,000 --> 00:24:25,520 The. Lord will provide grace. 428 00:24:25,520 --> 00:24:29,720 The Lord will provide mercy. And then many, many years go by 429 00:24:29,720 --> 00:24:32,160 and David experiences it on the same mountain. 430 00:24:33,520 --> 00:24:35,360 Here's a plague that's unleashed. 431 00:24:35,360 --> 00:24:37,720 He comes to the very same location. 432 00:24:39,000 --> 00:24:41,560 He performs a sacrifice and God provides mercy. 433 00:24:44,280 --> 00:24:46,280 Now tie this together. What is this symbolize? 434 00:24:46,440 --> 00:24:51,740 Further, the foundation of God's house is built upon that 435 00:24:51,740 --> 00:24:56,380 revelation. God's meeting place with man 436 00:24:56,900 --> 00:25:00,820 would be founded upon the provision of mercy. 437 00:25:02,660 --> 00:25:09,740 Man and God will meet upon that truth that He made away. 438 00:25:11,020 --> 00:25:18,470 He provided a way, and it is no different today for the Church 439 00:25:18,470 --> 00:25:21,870 of Jesus Christ. The true and the fulfillment of 440 00:25:21,870 --> 00:25:24,270 the meaning place, the ultimate desire of God's meaning place, 441 00:25:24,270 --> 00:25:27,790 your heart and mine. It's not founded upon anything 442 00:25:27,790 --> 00:25:29,030 different. It's founded upon the 443 00:25:29,030 --> 00:25:33,070 realization and the truth that God provided something for that 444 00:25:33,070 --> 00:25:37,270 to be possible. God's mercy makes a way for man 445 00:25:37,270 --> 00:25:40,950 and him to meet and to even add to that truth. 446 00:25:40,950 --> 00:25:43,590 Think about it. Our Auna, the Jebusite who later 447 00:25:43,590 --> 00:25:45,630 would occupy space on Mount Moriah. 448 00:25:46,230 --> 00:25:49,220 Was he a Jew? He was a Jebusite. 449 00:25:49,220 --> 00:25:52,940 The Jebusites were. Found in Jerusalem before Israel 450 00:25:52,940 --> 00:25:56,740 came in and conquered. So one person said it so 451 00:25:56,740 --> 00:26:01,580 cleverly that. It was the the territory of 452 00:26:01,580 --> 00:26:06,060 someone who was a stranger to the promises that would be the 453 00:26:06,060 --> 00:26:07,780 very meeting place between God and man. 454 00:26:08,180 --> 00:26:11,100 So you even have a picture of the Gentile who'll also be able 455 00:26:11,100 --> 00:26:14,540 to meet with the same God. The God who was primarily and 456 00:26:14,540 --> 00:26:18,180 exclusively the God of Israel would now be also willing to 457 00:26:18,180 --> 00:26:20,780 meet with jebby sites of the future. 458 00:26:22,420 --> 00:26:24,740 Isn't the Bible deep? And the Bible? 459 00:26:24,740 --> 00:26:29,460 Incredible. This is where the truth of God's 460 00:26:29,460 --> 00:26:32,100 house will be built upon that foundation. 461 00:26:32,100 --> 00:26:33,980 You don't have that foundation. You don't have a place to meet 462 00:26:33,980 --> 00:26:36,460 with God. You don't have the mercy of God, 463 00:26:36,460 --> 00:26:40,620 provided you have no chance to have a relationship with God to 464 00:26:40,620 --> 00:26:44,540 come close to his presence. No chance but God provided. 465 00:26:44,930 --> 00:26:47,050 And that would be the message for the House of God to be built 466 00:26:47,050 --> 00:26:50,130 upon Mariah. I can meet with him because he 467 00:26:50,130 --> 00:26:54,450 provided mercy. But I want to give you another 468 00:26:54,450 --> 00:26:57,570 practical point because Mariah doesn't just symbolize mercy. 469 00:26:58,410 --> 00:27:00,850 The two occurrences were Mariah's mentioned a specific 470 00:27:00,890 --> 00:27:02,930 act took place. What act took place? 471 00:27:03,210 --> 00:27:05,330 By the hands of Abraham. By the hands of David? 472 00:27:06,730 --> 00:27:08,450 What did they do? Sacrifice. 473 00:27:08,450 --> 00:27:11,010 Very good Sacrifice. Sacrifice. 474 00:27:12,170 --> 00:27:16,330 Mariah also points to sacrifice. Now let's stay in the lane of. 475 00:27:16,330 --> 00:27:21,570 God's house, God's house, would not only be built upon the 476 00:27:21,570 --> 00:27:23,850 foundation of His provision for mercy. 477 00:27:23,850 --> 00:27:29,090 God's house would be built upon the principle and the attitude 478 00:27:29,130 --> 00:27:32,250 of sacrifice. Abraham was willing to 479 00:27:32,250 --> 00:27:35,130 sacrifice. David was willing to sacrifice. 480 00:27:35,530 --> 00:27:40,850 And it was upon that willingness to give that God's house would 481 00:27:40,850 --> 00:27:43,890 be able to be built. Is it any different for God's 482 00:27:43,890 --> 00:27:47,770 house today? Answer No, it's not different. 483 00:27:49,050 --> 00:27:53,370 If there's anything in the name of Christianity, in the name of 484 00:27:53,370 --> 00:27:58,970 church, that would truly host the glory of God, it will not 485 00:27:58,970 --> 00:28:03,410 happen unless there is a collective willingness to 486 00:28:03,410 --> 00:28:09,290 sacrifice, to say Lord, whatever it is that you're asking of me 487 00:28:09,450 --> 00:28:12,130 to contribute. To the building of your name, 488 00:28:12,130 --> 00:28:15,730 your glory, your meeting place. So be it. 489 00:28:17,330 --> 00:28:21,170 It's no different today. The principle has not changed. 490 00:28:21,930 --> 00:28:26,010 If God's house is going to be built anywhere and truly 491 00:28:26,010 --> 00:28:29,850 contains substance, the glory of God in the person of Jesus 492 00:28:29,850 --> 00:28:33,250 Christ, then each of us have to be willing to say what is 493 00:28:33,250 --> 00:28:36,730 required of me. Abraham was willing to give up 494 00:28:36,730 --> 00:28:39,890 Isaac. And when David was given the 495 00:28:39,890 --> 00:28:45,330 opportunity to sacrifice, excluding personal expense, he 496 00:28:45,330 --> 00:28:48,170 shut it down. He shut it down, he goes. 497 00:28:48,170 --> 00:28:52,730 There is no way that I'm going to worship without it costing me 498 00:28:52,730 --> 00:28:54,690 something. You're going to give me 499 00:28:54,690 --> 00:28:56,010 something and I'm going to give it to God. 500 00:28:56,090 --> 00:28:58,890 I can't do it. That's not worship. 501 00:28:59,810 --> 00:29:04,090 In fact, the way he says it at First Chronicles adds a greater 502 00:29:04,090 --> 00:29:05,770 depth to it and First Chronicles. 503 00:29:08,110 --> 00:29:14,870 He says in verse 24 of chapter 21 First Chronicles 2124. 504 00:29:14,870 --> 00:29:20,190 But King David said to Ornan no, but I will buy them for the full 505 00:29:20,190 --> 00:29:22,030 price. And this this touched me so 506 00:29:22,030 --> 00:29:25,590 deeply. I will not take from the Lord 507 00:29:25,590 --> 00:29:31,510 what is yours, nor offer burn offerings that cost me nothing. 508 00:29:32,430 --> 00:29:37,680 I will not do what? Take for the Lord what's yours. 509 00:29:38,920 --> 00:29:44,560 I want to reach into my pocket and give something from myself 510 00:29:45,680 --> 00:29:51,360 I'm not here to take from you. And then by taking from you, 511 00:29:51,360 --> 00:29:53,600 claim that it's something from me. 512 00:29:54,520 --> 00:29:57,400 That's not going to happen because that's not true worship. 513 00:30:00,200 --> 00:30:05,670 And yet, if we're not careful. We can fall into the trap of. 514 00:30:05,670 --> 00:30:08,150 Assuming that we're really giving something to the Lord, 515 00:30:08,150 --> 00:30:10,590 when in reality we're doing what David said he would not do. 516 00:30:12,350 --> 00:30:15,150 So when it comes to contributing whatever is asked of us to 517 00:30:15,150 --> 00:30:17,030 building God's house today, many. 518 00:30:17,030 --> 00:30:24,110 People have esteemed their sacrifice of almost doing God a 519 00:30:24,110 --> 00:30:30,110 favor by barely being there. When the people of God meet 520 00:30:30,590 --> 00:30:35,060 right, they interpret their sacrifice as. 521 00:30:36,220 --> 00:30:41,620 Being in an environment or being present or just taking from 522 00:30:41,620 --> 00:30:48,340 others while not giving and being satisfied with that 523 00:30:48,340 --> 00:30:52,100 standard. So there's more, there's a, 524 00:30:52,140 --> 00:30:56,140 there's a greater calling to me than saying I'm going to just. 525 00:30:56,340 --> 00:31:00,330 Receive from another person's gift and. 526 00:31:00,450 --> 00:31:03,490 Experience the blessing of their gift, whether that gift is music 527 00:31:03,490 --> 00:31:07,650 or preaching or any other kind of ministry, and me receiving 528 00:31:07,650 --> 00:31:11,410 that gift, that being my act of worship to God, it could be, 529 00:31:11,410 --> 00:31:13,650 but. You can also miss out by not 530 00:31:13,650 --> 00:31:15,530 doing what David said he would do and that say, OK now what do 531 00:31:15,530 --> 00:31:18,610 I give to the Lord? What do I give to the Lord? 532 00:31:20,210 --> 00:31:21,890 And so. What a way to end the book of 533 00:31:21,890 --> 00:31:25,530 Second Samuel to be challenged with the quality of our 534 00:31:25,530 --> 00:31:30,060 sacrifice. If we are truly a people that 535 00:31:30,060 --> 00:31:34,740 want to do something substantial for the building of God's House 536 00:31:34,740 --> 00:31:36,340 of our day, which is the Church of Jesus. 537 00:31:38,780 --> 00:31:43,140 So here's my one. Here's the the one tip of the 538 00:31:43,220 --> 00:31:46,420 arrow that I just want to just launch into your heart as we 539 00:31:46,420 --> 00:31:48,580 close this book. Do you? 540 00:31:48,580 --> 00:31:52,620 Realize the high calling and the great honor it is that you. 541 00:31:52,620 --> 00:31:57,260 Get to play a part in giving something to the House of God. 542 00:31:57,930 --> 00:32:01,970 Of of actually being involved with the the growth and the 543 00:32:01,970 --> 00:32:04,810 strengthening of God's house today. 544 00:32:05,010 --> 00:32:08,890 Never mind a temple with gold and colors and symbolism we're 545 00:32:08,890 --> 00:32:11,130 talking about. People from different tribes and 546 00:32:11,130 --> 00:32:14,770 tongues and races that can come together and experience the 547 00:32:14,770 --> 00:32:19,650 presence of God. You have that calling in this 548 00:32:19,650 --> 00:32:23,260 life. Name something better than that. 549 00:32:23,260 --> 00:32:25,460 Apart from your personal walk with the Lord, name something 550 00:32:25,460 --> 00:32:26,580 about that. I don't care how much money you 551 00:32:26,580 --> 00:32:27,700 make of the job. I don't care about the 552 00:32:27,700 --> 00:32:29,020 promotion. I don't care where you get to 553 00:32:29,020 --> 00:32:30,460 travel. I don't care the vehicles you 554 00:32:30,460 --> 00:32:33,300 used to travel. I don't care about the fashion 555 00:32:33,300 --> 00:32:34,700 style. I don't care how you chisel your 556 00:32:34,700 --> 00:32:39,620 body over time. Nothing can come close to the 557 00:32:39,620 --> 00:32:43,500 high calling of knowing that I get to actually be part of 558 00:32:43,500 --> 00:32:46,180 building something that will be ultimately eternal. 559 00:32:48,380 --> 00:32:51,580 How can you not give something to that cause? 560 00:32:52,000 --> 00:32:55,000 Where moth and rust can't destroy, Where thieves can't 561 00:32:55,000 --> 00:32:58,040 break in and steal, How can I be casual? 562 00:32:58,040 --> 00:33:01,120 How can I be distant? How can I reach for the bare 563 00:33:01,120 --> 00:33:03,640 minimum? Why would I not want to excel? 564 00:33:03,640 --> 00:33:07,360 Why wouldn't I want to orbit my entire life around knowing that 565 00:33:07,360 --> 00:33:11,640 I've been invited to participate in something that will remain? 566 00:33:11,640 --> 00:33:15,920 For the ages that's I want you to think beyond. 567 00:33:15,920 --> 00:33:18,920 I want you to think about what it is that God has called you to 568 00:33:18,920 --> 00:33:23,120 as we close this book. David was actually offended by 569 00:33:23,120 --> 00:33:28,880 the thought of just giving something cheap to the Lord so 570 00:33:28,880 --> 00:33:30,640 that he can satisfy his conscience. 571 00:33:30,640 --> 00:33:34,600 No way. This is too awesome for me not 572 00:33:34,600 --> 00:33:38,680 to be totally invested in. This is too great for me not to 573 00:33:39,120 --> 00:33:41,520 not to consider this the purpose of my life. 574 00:33:42,080 --> 00:33:46,000 It's it really saddens me when I meet believers, when I look at 575 00:33:46,000 --> 00:33:48,400 others and you can tell that their distance. 576 00:33:48,830 --> 00:33:51,510 From the purpose of God in the building of God, the Church of 577 00:33:51,510 --> 00:33:54,430 Jesus Christ. I, I, I look at them and I don't 578 00:33:54,470 --> 00:33:57,550 envy them one bit. My heart breaks for them because 579 00:33:57,550 --> 00:34:01,830 they're missing out. They're missing out on on having 580 00:34:01,830 --> 00:34:05,910 something so significantly done through their hands and their 581 00:34:05,910 --> 00:34:10,590 heart and their participation. And so if the if there's any 582 00:34:10,590 --> 00:34:14,830 meditation to leave off with in these final verses is Lord, 583 00:34:15,630 --> 00:34:19,530 thank you. For allowing me to 1 be part of 584 00:34:19,530 --> 00:34:22,610 your house, be a living stone in this house, but also. 585 00:34:22,610 --> 00:34:26,489 To be invited to do something about it, concerning its growth, 586 00:34:27,130 --> 00:34:29,650 concerning its effectiveness, its fruitfulness, its fragrance 587 00:34:29,650 --> 00:34:34,690 on the earth. And so if there's anything to 588 00:34:35,290 --> 00:34:39,690 self reflect on its Florida, what am I giving you that cost 589 00:34:39,690 --> 00:34:44,170 me something? Costless Christianity is 590 00:34:44,170 --> 00:34:47,600 powerless Christianity. It's cheap. 591 00:34:47,920 --> 00:34:50,400 It's empty. It does nothing for you, and it 592 00:34:50,400 --> 00:34:51,880 does nothing for people around you. 593 00:34:52,760 --> 00:34:56,600 And the next time you feel like your walk with the Lord, your 594 00:34:56,679 --> 00:34:59,520 participation as a member of the Church or another church, you 595 00:34:59,520 --> 00:35:02,920 feel like it's actually demanding something of you. 596 00:35:03,200 --> 00:35:07,720 Don't complain, rejoice and knowing that. 597 00:35:08,040 --> 00:35:11,320 Costly worship is true worship and knowing. 598 00:35:11,320 --> 00:35:14,800 That investing in this way actually will make a difference 599 00:35:15,360 --> 00:35:19,050 for those around you, for yourself, ultimately for the 600 00:35:19,050 --> 00:35:24,410 pleasure of God. And so the way I at least ended 601 00:35:24,410 --> 00:35:29,530 this personal experience through Second Samuels, just with that I 602 00:35:29,530 --> 00:35:31,490 felt. Many, many times in my walk with 603 00:35:31,490 --> 00:35:34,970 the Lord that serving the Lord costs me something. 604 00:35:37,450 --> 00:35:41,170 Anything from my time or a lunch, right? 605 00:35:42,090 --> 00:35:46,170 And yet I want to ask the Lord, and I want you to ask the Lord 606 00:35:46,170 --> 00:35:50,610 with me to say, no matter what it does cost me, I wouldn't have 607 00:35:50,610 --> 00:36:09,090 it any other way. It's a privilege to go home 608 00:36:09,090 --> 00:35:54,050 tired that week. It would be a greater cost for 609 00:35:54,050 --> 00:35:57,490 me not to give something worthwhile for the cause of 610 00:35:57,490 --> 00:36:01,650 Christ. See it that way, See it that way 611 00:36:01,650 --> 00:36:03,810 instead. That it's not really a cost. 612 00:36:03,810 --> 00:36:05,010 It's not really a price. It's a. 613 00:36:10,250 --> 00:36:11,290 Why? Because you. 614 00:36:11,290 --> 00:36:15,870 Served the people of God. Because with your free time, you 615 00:36:15,870 --> 00:36:18,070 could have done 1000 different things, but instead, because of 616 00:36:18,070 --> 00:36:21,750 the joy of loving the Lord and loving his people, you spent 617 00:36:21,750 --> 00:36:24,190 yourself giving something costly to him. 618 00:36:25,510 --> 00:36:27,590 This is not punishment. David's not like, well, I better 619 00:36:27,590 --> 00:36:28,870 do it, or else this plague might go on. 620 00:36:28,870 --> 00:36:30,070 If it's not genuine, that's not his. 621 00:36:30,270 --> 00:36:31,990 That's not the way he's thinking, if you want. 622 00:36:31,990 --> 00:36:34,870 Proof that you read the end of First Chronicles and you see the 623 00:36:34,870 --> 00:36:37,470 rejoicing David had when. He knew that he can enter into 624 00:36:37,470 --> 00:36:41,110 his personal treasury and dump it all out for Solomon to have 625 00:36:41,110 --> 00:36:45,920 something to build with. The guy was just over the moon, 626 00:36:46,080 --> 00:36:49,080 knowing that he can go into his. Personal bank account and 627 00:36:49,080 --> 00:36:52,760 withdraw every single penny knowing that it would go to the 628 00:36:52,760 --> 00:36:55,000 glory of God beyond his Life, OK? 629 00:36:55,040 --> 00:36:58,680 That's an old covenant man with a very blurry, though a profit. 630 00:36:58,680 --> 00:37:01,560 A blurry understanding of what you and I have clear vision of 631 00:37:03,720 --> 00:37:06,400 so as. Believers, may we not squeal, we 632 00:37:06,400 --> 00:37:08,600 mean may we not murmur, we would not complain. 633 00:37:09,330 --> 00:37:12,970 Tell me something greater in your life than contributing to 634 00:37:12,970 --> 00:37:14,850 the cause of the gospel moving forward. 635 00:37:14,850 --> 00:37:19,170 Tell me. Tell me nothing. 636 00:37:19,890 --> 00:37:22,170 Absolutely nothing. And we're willing to do it for 637 00:37:22,170 --> 00:37:23,570 other things. We're willing to go overtime for 638 00:37:23,570 --> 00:37:25,290 extra bonus. We're willing to go overtime for 639 00:37:25,290 --> 00:37:26,690 overpay. We're going to do all that 640 00:37:26,690 --> 00:37:30,000 stuff. But may it be that what we do 641 00:37:30,000 --> 00:37:32,640 for the Lord outshines anything else that we do for ourselves, 642 00:37:32,880 --> 00:37:35,360 for our income, for a vacation that we want to go. 643 00:37:35,520 --> 00:37:40,120 May it be that we have this kind of heartbeat that David had for 644 00:37:40,120 --> 00:37:42,880 the House of God. That's our prayer. 645 00:37:42,880 --> 00:37:48,520 Lord, thank you for this powerful thought in such a 646 00:37:48,520 --> 00:37:52,280 powerful book. Thank you. 647 00:37:52,280 --> 00:37:58,690 That the truth of your house being built is built upon the 648 00:37:58,690 --> 00:38:03,850 truth of mercy, and also the need for personal sacrifice. 649 00:38:05,810 --> 00:38:10,770 And so. Lord, may we be sobered, may we 650 00:38:10,770 --> 00:38:15,330 be shaken not unto condemnation. Or guilt. 651 00:38:17,010 --> 00:38:21,130 But unto the realization of what a great honor it is to know that 652 00:38:21,130 --> 00:38:25,910 you would include our sacrifice and the grand storyline of 653 00:38:25,910 --> 00:38:29,550 redemption in this world. And when we lose sight of that, 654 00:38:29,550 --> 00:38:31,390 Lord remind us of David's heart posture. 655 00:38:32,230 --> 00:38:36,790 Who would did not dare miss the opportunity of giving something 656 00:38:37,830 --> 00:38:41,150 that would glorify you and bless others? 657 00:38:42,150 --> 00:38:43,750 We worship you now for this book. 658 00:38:44,470 --> 00:38:47,510 We worship you for these past years, few years, and 1st and 659 00:38:47,510 --> 00:38:49,550 Second Samuel. And we give you all the glory 660 00:38:49,550 --> 00:38:50,510 for the things that we've learned. 661 00:38:50,510 --> 00:38:52,870 May we retain it. Lord, may you help us retain it 662 00:38:53,510 --> 00:38:57,310 and may get into our actions, our reactions, our interactions 663 00:38:58,030 --> 00:38:59,510 that you may be glorified in at all. 664 00:39:00,150 --> 00:39:02,310 In Jesus name we pray. Amen. 665 00:39:03,470 --> 00:39:06,910 Well, with one song left to sing tonight, sing with all your 666 00:39:06,910 --> 00:39:09,710 might, rejoicing in that. We have completed yet another 667 00:39:09,710 --> 00:39:16,750 book in God's holy word. He's been good to us. 668 00:39:17,310 --> 00:39:19,670 He's been so good to us. Well, why don't we stand and 669 00:39:19,670 --> 00:39:24,720 worship the Lord? Play Akshay Song.