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