I'm eager to open up the word of God with you.
And so, please meet me in the book of 1st Samuel, chapter 24,
As I was studying today, I was thinking to myself.
I can't believe we're almost finished this book.
Just a few more chapters before we enter into the second part of
this Grand Story in second Samuel, but we are taking our
time, and that's why we're still in the same chapter as we were
last week. So meet me down in verse 8.
If you've come to Bible study tonight, you've come to an
exciting portion of the book of 1st Samuel.
And the reason is because For the First Time, in about five
chapters, Saul and David are going to meet face-to-face,
they're going to have a conversation.
For the longest time it seems like it's been so normal to see
David just running from this predator and he has been for
good reason but at this moment The Fugitive is going to change
directions and he's actually going to approach the very man
that is trying to kill him. And for good reason, this daring
move might seem to be unwise for some, but there seems to be this
confidence that David Acquired and I think it has to do with
what he experienced in the cave that you.
And I read about last week. I think David realized something
that God at any moment can disarm and subdue his enemies.
And a moment, he just saw how weak saw could become in a
moment. How vulnerable?
How susceptible, God brought salt to David, on a silver
platter. And I think there is something
energizing about that, where he felt, he felt the need and the
grace, to be able to, now peek out of that cave, and to
confront Saul, And as we read these verses, as we finish this
chapter today, there is so much in here, but I think there's a
theme and that is just insights of how to confront someone when
they are in wrong. How to approach someone when
they are in sin, how to deal with someone who has wronged,
you And that is very important to our god.
That is important to the head of the church Jesus has given
instructions of how you and I ought to deal with others who
have sinned against us. That that tells us that you.
And I as Christians you're most likely going to be wronged and I
want to I want to just tell you how to time, it's going to
happen more than once. This might even further
disappoint you. It might happen more than once
from the same person and that could happen with multiple
people. So multiply that with every
person that you know, even if they're Christian.
So it begs us to know. Lord, how do I deal with this?
How do I go about this? If I'm asking you to actually
make me like like your son then surely, I need to know how to be
like your son when I've been treated with with so much evil
and wickedness. And it's not as black and white
as you and I might think. And so I know we prayed but I
think it's good to pray again. Let's ask the Lord to help us.
Lord, we need you in this Bible study.
We are grateful that we have the word of God in our hands but we
need the spirit that helped us understand it.
Thank you for this family. Laura, thank you for bringing us
in the same place to expound the scriptures.
Lord. We know that this can easily
become a sermon but we wanted to be a study and so energized, our
minds and create Opportunity by your perfect wisdom for
conversation and for shared insights Lord.
We just pray that you would lead us and conduct this meeting to
your pleasure. I'll or we need you to help us
because this can easily become a dead teaching session, but we
know that your word is life. We also know that your word must
be assisted by the power of the Holy Spirit.
And so we back in you, we ask that this would be true on this
Friday evening. At this Bible study, we trust
that you will do it because you're faithful and you're eager
to speak to us in your name. We pray these things.
Amen. Let's read verse 8.
After word. After word, after that whole
incident in the cave where David sauce on those men, convinced
him to kill him once. And for all after all of that,
David didn't do it. But he does something here,
afterward, David also arose and went out of the cave and called
after saw my Lord the king, and when Saul look behind him, David
bowed with his face to the Earth and paid homage And we can just
stop there for a moment. Consider this at David in that
cave, did not exercise his sword with vengeance but David still
is going to do something about Saul and what David is going to
do in this moment is utilize a different instrument, a
different weapon, a weapon that God encourages you and I to use
when we are being treated with such contempt and wrong and that
is the weapon of returning good for evil.
That is the response of doing. What doesn't make sense to the
Natural mind to the most undeserving?
And so he approaches him at a safe distance.
We have reason to believe because even saw later on the
chapter, he can't really recognize David's voice and
either. That's because of the distance
or his mind has been. So damaged that he can't even
understand who's speaking to him, but it seems like David is
acting and wisdom and there's a distance, and he comes up and he
calls he calls for Saul now, here's my question in these two
verses. What what kind of phrase that's
all repeatedly used? when it came to identifying
David, That son of Jesse. With humiliation and mind with
an attempt to bring such contempt of his lowly because of
his lowly upbringing and his background that son of Jesse
that nobody up to this point we've seen that being used
repeatedly, son of Jesse, son of Jesse, son of Jesse but then
when it comes to David addressing Saul, what does he
say? My Lord, the king.
He didn't say you rascal.
He didn't say you evil Wicked King.
He didn't say you lunatic, he didn't say, you maniac.
He said, my Lord, the king. Is he showing face here?
Is he just pretending? Is he just trying to seem Pious?
Absolutely not. Because, before this we know
that in private, he addresses salt to those men that really
didn't feel. The best way about Saul, he's
still the Lord's anointed And so even behind his back he was it
was respecting this man and Shirley before his face he was
honoring. This man, how do we make sense
of this? What do we make of this?
Is he condoning? Saul sin?
Is he ignoring his pure wickedness?
No, he's actually, he's respecting the office.
And the position that he has though, he might be unfaithful
in it, there is a loss of the sense of respect for authority
in our culture, even for those who are doing, right?
Even for those that are doing what they should be doing there,
still this growing loss for respect and honor and that is a
dangerous sign. Of where we stand and in our
morality. But here we see that there is
still sense of respect and honor that is demanded.
And what's important about that is you and I and life might be
failed by those who are in positions of authority.
You might be let down by a father but you have to
understand He's still your father.
You might be disappointed by spiritual leader by a pastor by
someone, who teaches a Bible class, whatever it may be.
But regardless that person is still holding a position of
authority. You might be caught up in the
frenzy of people who are doing much to, to the names of
politicians, including the president.
But regardless, he's still the president.
He's still a president even though he's not serving as some.
What many would say as a faithful politician consider
that consider that, as you prepare to confront someone in
their wrong, that there is still has to be a level of respect and
dignity and the way you approach that individual That is
important because no matter how true something is no matter how
sobering the confrontation might be, it should never cross the
line into ridicule and into mockery.
And David proves that with such balance and I'm fully aware that
there's a temptation to maybe not kill someone with an actual
sore. But with the sword of your
tongue and yet this man, still restrains that weapon because he
is still walking in the fear of the Lord.
And so he calls out my Lord, the king and saw hears this voice
and this must have been confusing because he thought he
was alone in that cave. So very quickly, I'm sure he
turns around only to see the very that you've been looking
for for who knows how long And the moment that David realizes
that he has Saul's attention, not only did he address him with
respect, but with with a posture of humility, he takes his his
face and he bounced before boughs before him as a way of
saluting, somebody who is Superior in rank.
And it reinforces again, the absolute necessity that you and
I in our confrontation and even in our communication of
conviction it has to come from a posture of great great.
Respect and humility. And this man is displaying that
ever. So clearly, It may be so with us
because we can lose the the power of what we want to say,
when the package, when the package is Given In the Flesh,
even if the message is spiritual, even if it lines up
with God's word and what we see here is after he gained Saul's
attention and after he already is showing himself to be a man
who really reflects the character of God.
He asks his first question And it is, it is insightful when you
meditate upon the question that he brings its found in verse 9.
And David said to Saul, why do you listen to the words of men
who say behold David seeks your harm?
Why do you listen to the words of men, who say, behold David
seeks your harm? It seems like David is fully
aware that the fuel to Saul's crazed Pursuit after him was the
words of others who were instigating and who were
encouraging him to continue to pursue David and Amanda to kill
him. And we studied that with a man
named who do a grammar, do idea to might David was Aware that
the main cause for these priests to be slaughtered and for salt
to be ever. So motivated to pursue the
innocence of this man is because of what another person said now
you and I know the deep-rooted reason why Saul is doing this,
this wasn't just suggested, this was only fueling.
The slander was only fueling, but this was something birth
within his own bosom. This was something that went all
the way back to 1st Samuel 18, when a bunch of women of Israel
began to saying that David was more Victorious than Saul and so
you know this we've been studying it that the reason why
Saul is doing this is because he has a jealousy.
There's Pride. There there's there's a hidden
Evil Within his heart that was not tamed by the power of the
Holy Spirit. And because of that, it, let
loose into all this carnality But what's so amazing here is
that, I think that David is not addressing that with great
wisdom. One would say he's not aware of
the reason. Okay.
But could it be that David is not going to spend his time.
Pull pointing at the motives of Saul and is instead going to
just deal with the clear evidence for the wrong that he
is performing? Instead of trying to investigate
things that are hidden. He instead goes to the things
that cannot be denied. And I think this is very
important. There's great wisdom here
because you and I, as Christians, we are not called to
make judgments on people's hidden motives. as tempting, as
it may be to try to figure out why it is, people do what they
do, unless it is clear, unless there is evidence, unless it is
obvious you and I actually commanded not to judge the
things that only God can determine And and looking at
what David is doing here though, we can debate, why he's asking
this question primarily there is still a practical wisdom in this
theme tonight of how you and I should deal with other people's
wrongs against us and if you want proof of what I'm saying,
it's in it's in the New Testament, which Comforts a lot
more people because when it's old it's like, yeah.
New Testament. 1st Corinthians chapter 4.
Look, what. Paul says to Christians and I
want you to see this for yourself and I mean, talk about
the pursuit of Holiness, how these things are so specific.
To our lives. We read here.
Paul says therefore do not and First Corinthians 4:5 do not
pronounce judgment before the time.
He's talking to Believers and he's actually talking to
Believers that are judging Paul's Ministry and questioning
his motives. Do not pronounce judgement
before the time before the Lord comes, who will bring to light
the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the
purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his
Commendation from God. There is a Time coming my
brother. There's a Time coming.
My sister were the Lord himself will investigate with perfect
Justice and perfect evaluation. The reason why some people do
that, which is wrong. And more than that, the Lord
will also reveal. Why the people standing before
him did good. And what Paul is saying here is
leave that kind of judgment. To the Lord, don't get yourself
occupied with something that solely belongs to God himself.
Because that is a great Temptation, not just to look at
people who are doing evil and saying, why are they doing that?
But even looking at people who are doing good and be like, you
know, I think, I think he's a pastor, because he does this, or
he wants this, Paul says, don't do that.
That solely Belongs to the Lord because how embarrassing it will
it be for you on Judgment day when you were wrong.
And you actually told other people, the reason why you think
they're doing it and it all comes to light and you, you're
the one. Who will find rebuke from the
Lord? It's pastas resist that
Temptation, resist it with everything within you, by the
power of the Holy Spirit, leave that to the Lord.
Now, when you come back to this text others, believe that the
reason why David is speaking about the slander of men rather
than addressing Saul since straight up is because in love,
he wants to cover sauce in and he's willing to shift the blame
on others so that there can be clear communication between two.
I think that's reading way too much in the And it's clear from
the text itself. That's that David is not trying
to dismiss all is wrong. He's actually questioning his
wrong when he brings up the lies of others.
Read the verse slowly and realized that Saul is guilty.
Saul is guilty and how he responded to what other people
were saying. Falsely about David, go back to
the verse, what does it say? David said to Saul, why do you
listen? Why do you listen?
For salt to entertain, for salt, to believe, and to act upon the
false statements made by others about David.
Listen is no less of a crime than the slander itself.
For salt to entertain, for salt, to believe and enforce.
All to act upon what other people were saying, is no less
of a crime than those who instigated the lives to begin
with. you and I are stewards of many things in this life and one
of the things that you and I are responsible for is what we do
based on what we hear, what you and I do based on what we hear,
the Lord will hold us accountable for And there are
many people who do certain things that are wrong and then
when they realize they're wrong, they will point to the
misinformation. That was given to them thinking
that that somehow justifies it and it doesn't a failure to
investigate a failure to be Discerning, never excuses, doing
something wrong or treating somebody differently based on
something that you're not sure about the understand.
This is an extremely important. I'm trying to Save You Tonight
from destroying things that can be A bird and could be a
blessing. We see here that saw was held
responsible because of why he listened and he believed, and he
moved based on that and you and I have to understand very very
carefully. That there is just as much
trouble for the person who acts upon false information in the
person who sharing that false information to begin with
example potiphar. Not notice, I didn't say,
Potiphar's wife. I said potiphar part of his
wife, framed, an innocent man and part 2.
Fur threw him into prison. And we always focus on
Potiphar's wife. What about the man who believed
something that he should have investigated be very careful in
your Christian walk? You and I will be held
responsible for what we do based on what we hear.
And I think a lot of people don't believe that, but we see
that here by Holy Spirit and so David.
David confronts him about this but we see what he does.
In the next verse behold verse 10, this day your eyes have seen
how the lord gave you today into my hand and the cave and some
told me to kill you but I spared you.
I said, I will not put out my hand against my Lord for he is
the Lord's anointed. and so David now goes from questioning
him, To now, actually bringing something to his attention that
he did not know. David, I was going to prove his
innocence. He's going to show how all those
lies were wrong and what saw was doing was not just wrong.
It was sin and it was wickedness.
And so he says behold do you not realize I'm translating here?
Do you not realize what God just did right here right now.
And saw was completely unaware of the fact that his casual
visitation to the facilities was actually the Lord setting them
up in a way for him to learn that he had escaped yet another
intervention of possible judgment.
I mean, so many episodes where God had spared saw one after the
other. And here is another one that
David is highlighting to Saul. You missed it.
If it wasn't for me approaching you right now, you would have
not understood this. The Lord set you up. the Lord
made this show possible for me to actually deal with you once
and for all and Saul was blinded by this saw was unaware of this
and this isn't, this isn't deal with the theme that we're
speaking about in this chapter, but it's a wonderful point that
consider nonetheless. It is a wonderful illustration
of how those who are in sin are blinded by the the mercies that
follow them though. They are undeserving of those
Mercies Speaks of those who do not acknowledge the lordship of
Jesus Christ. And he speaks of those who fail,
to a tribute to him all the wonderful things that they
enjoy. Like Saul, who didn't know what
just happened moments ago. There are sinners tonight who
have healthy bodies and full bank accounts and great
families. And successful businesses that
do not realize that, though, they deserve to be judged
eternally at this very moment. They are instead.
Swimming in the grace of God. And I see something here about
David that speaks to the responsibility of the Christian
like David here, who is making known to solve the goodness of
God. So you and I are called to
highlight what God has done to those who are unaware of his
goodness. You realize that you deserve
judgment and yet God is giving you Mercy.
Do you realize that yet while you're an enemy Christ?
Came and died for you? David is highlighting the mercy
of God, to an undeserving Sinner and you and I have the same
responsibilities as we communicate this gospel to
souls. There are walking around going
in and out. Not realizing that.
There is a God and his providential love, who is even
providing for them, protecting them to a certain extent and
David makes that known. But let's come back to this this
theme. Now we came here, it's come back
here. The theme of how we should deal
with people that wrong us or who are in sin.
David says, something in here that a lot of people Miss
Supply. And the in the Christian world
look here at the second part of verse 10, the last part.
But I spared you. I said, I will not put out my
hand against the Lord for. He is the Lord's anointed.
Have you ever heard the phrase? Touch?
Not. My anointed.
Have you ever heard the statement, have you ever even
been warned? Do not touch the Lord's,
anointed anybody here heard that?
Wow, I was expecting way more to hear it, you've never heard it.
Okay, it's a common phrase, It's a common phrase, among many who
misinterpret not just in this text but in different parts
where it's kind of its kind of a code touch not The Lord's
anointed. And how people have
misinterpreted that is that leaders, spiritual leaders
should never be confronted. Should never be corrected,
should never be rebuked, should never be approached, should
never be criticized. In fact, they are above all that
because if you say something against somebody who's in
spiritual leadership, God will judge you for that.
And they use David exam as an example here to how David would
not touch the Lord's. Anointed, even though saw was in
so much wrong, David dare not do anything to say something.
This is how they interpret it to criticize or to speak about a
man of God. Even though he's in wrong,
Here's the problem. None of those things and we can
go to different portions of scripture.
That Echo what David is saying. None of those things, entertain
for a split second that you and I cannot confront approach or
deal with someone who is in a leadership position.
When they are in sin, when David says, I will not touch the
Lord's. Anointed.
He's speaking about physical harm.
I got killing him. In fact, the very context just
destroys that argument, he is confronting him, he's dealing
with his sin head on. And so many of you haven't heard
it, I can tell you of some places where they use it all the
time and even leaders teach about it.
This is not the same thing. People mistakenly warn others
with a text like this. That leaders are excluded from
accountability or examination wrong.
Is there a way to do it? Absolutely.
And there is specific. There's a specific protocol of
how to do it, but it doesn't say that they're exempt from it,
completely that may not be beneficial to you.
Now, it may come At a future time.
And if somebody warns you about it, just just remember, it's not
talking about you stabbing somebody with an actual sword.
And so we come back to this verse, behold this day, your
eyes have seen how the lord gave you today into my hand in the
cave. And then we come here and we see
something else. And verse 11.
See my father, notice how he calls him my father.
See my father, see the corner of your robe in my hand for by the
fact that I cut off the corner of your robe and did not kill
you. You may know and see that there
is no wrong or treason. In my hands, I have not sinned
against you though. You hunt my life to take it.
So now David is not trying to give an appeal with words now.
He pulls out evidence, he pulls out the briefcase and he takes
his ziplock bag with the strongest piece of evidence that
would just make this irrefutable he takes a piece of the robe,
the robe that he cut, and he says here, What you going to do
with this? Is this not clear enough for
you? Do you not see the evidence?
And I look at that, and I see a practical application here.
And here's the practical, application believer.
The Believers duty is to ensure that by the wisdom of God, by
walking with the Lord, by living in the fear of the Lord, that
there is no evidence that we can give Satan to muddy our
testimony When is Satan's tactics and he's done it to so
many men of God in the scriptures and Men of God.
And women of God today is to make the testimony of a
Believer, especially those who are affected for the kingdom of
murky and questionable. So that their message and that
their Ministry would be hindered from being fully effective.
It's a very despicable practice but it's one of his tactics,
nonetheless. And David, he remember going
back to verse 9, he's dealing with people that are saying
things about him and yet in this moment, he has evidence that
will shut all of their mouths. And the application here is you
and I should not be overwhelmed or concerned or busy ourselves
with hunting. Every lie that somebody says or
every exaggeration or the spread of misinformation don't occupy
yourself with these things. If you're going to busy yourself
with anything, it is to live with a clear conscience.
I'm telling you this not for you to be fearful, but I'm telling
you to be prepared. For those who serve the Lord,
one of the enemy's strategies is to make sure that he can.
As we heard Sunday, poison, the minds of others.
Don't busy yourself trying to unpause in them.
Busy yourself with making sure that you are walking in the
light. That's all you have to do.
That's all you need to do. And what I think is so
incredible is people just don't realize the seriousness of what
I'm presenting that this is. This is a tactic.
It happened with Joseph at happened with Daniel at happen
with our Lord. And it happened to Paul that man
experienced that throughout his ministry.
And I want to show you just how important it is to ensure that
you and I have a clear conscience so that when these
tactics of Satan surface you'll be ready.
You'll be ready. So come with me to the book of
Acts and look with me here. Paul found himself in court, I
believe in America, we're going to see many more Christians in
court in the next few years. And here in chapter 24, listen
to this, he's standing for governor Felix, and there's a
whole court case. And this man took two lists is
sophisticated. And he begins to accuse him in
front of the governor and other people look here with me and
verse 2. And when he had been summoned to
to this began to accuse him saying and let's just scroll
down here. And verse 4.
But to detain you, no further. I beg you in your kindness to
hear us briefly for we have found this man.
Paul a plague one who stirs up riots among all the Jews
throughout the world and is a ringleader of the sect of the
nazarenes. He even tried to profane the
temple, but we seized them by examining him yourself.
You will be able to find out from him about everything of
which we accuse him. Wow, pretty confident guy.
Accuse everything that you're going to find out, you
investigate it. You're going to see that.
What we're saying is true. You're so bald, man.
So here's here's Paul standing before Governor.
Here's Paul at the brink of his ministry, potentially being
hindered and this is what I love and the same chapter.
You come down to verse 13. And look at the answer that Paul
gives Neither. Can they prove to you what?
They now bring up against me. Yeah, that's right.
They can't prove it. They can't.
What a wonderful Shield Integrity is.
What a wonderful protection living in the fear of the Lord?
Is it provides a boldness and a courage.
It does not make one frantic. When there are things being said
no no they are steadfast because that is the power of a
conscience that is in the clear. Would you like to know how Paul
can say such a statement like this?
Without being shaken without without stuttering, in his
words, while the inside is in the same chapter, look at verse
16. So I always take pains to have a
clear conscience toward both God and man, that's how I take great
pains. I make sure that I am in right
standing in the presence of God. Yes, Jesus position, he makes us
right, but practically, I make sure that there is no offense.
There's no disobedience in my walk with the Lord first.
Notice the order, a clear conscience before God first, and
then, man, not the other way around.
And then to my fellow man. And if there's any wrong that
I've done before the Lord, any wrong that I've done to my
fellow man I take great pains to ensure that I clear my record
that I make right what I have done wrong.
And that is what you and I inherit when it comes to these
satanic accusations in our lives, this conviction for a
clear conscience will protect you, it will guard you.
And it will keep us from doing what. bringing blasphemy to the
name of God before the Gentiles, like Paul said to the Romans, In
this world where the media and the culture is just drooling for
another scandal in the Evangelical world.
It's just waiting for another failure.
Just waiting for another moral hypocrisy.
You and I can can do what David did back in this verse and verse
11, 3 times, he repeats the same word you know what it is.
Si si si si. In other words, just look at my
life. I have nothing to hide from you.
I have nothing to be embarrassed about, have nothing to be shy
about have nothing. I had nothing si si, oh, what a
wonderful testimony that is for those who would want to defame
our faith, for those who would want to through the enemy's
conviction. Bring about a hindrance to our
Ministries and unfortunate. I want to bring you a heads up
to this. It might be true.
That there is great power that
when you and I have through a holy life, a blameless life, a
life that reflects the character of God though, not perfect
blameless. Still, the enemy is a clever
fellow and he can still he can still gather evidence against
you and I Saying, what are you talking about?
So here's David holding a piece of Saul's rope to prove his
innocence and I'm asking you to reflect on a story where
somebody else was holding another piece of garment that
condemned an innocent man. Who is that very good?
Joseph. And so there you see a different
Paradigm to this? Joseph was innocent, Joseph was
right, and yet it looked like it looked like there was evidence
against him. These see how tricky this is,
the see how it's not black, and white and Christianity.
So then what are you doing? It just everything you just said
about walking route. So you're saying that no matter
what you do like Joseph, even though you stand for God and you
choose to obey him when nobody's looking, you can still be
falsely accused. What am I supposed to do with
that? Then this is intimidating.
No, don't be intimidated. Even though that garment and
that woman's hand, symbolize a man, it was a trophy of a Man
Who Loved and honored God she Twisted it sure.
So then what's our duty then if we can't predict these things
very simple do what David does back in verse 12 of 1st Samuel,
24, May the lord judge between me and you.
May the lord judge between me and you may the Lord avenge me
against you but my hand shall not be against you.
I've talked to different people who have been Disturbed in their
Christian experience because of things that have been said about
them, but it is a verse like this, that should encourage you
to know how to rest. In God's sovereignty.
And to be completely committed to the judge will bring all
things to the light. Trust yourself in, trust
yourself into his hands at all times.
As tempting as it is, sometimes to to defend yourself into
unconvinced people and to convince people, don't worry
about that. Don't get so caught up in that.
Learn to just leave it to the Lord. that is important, because
There is a day as you heard earlier when we're God is going
to gather all the evidence and this is so comforting and he
will show, who is right? And who is wrong.
And that's why Paul in that same scripture where he says don't
judge before the time earlier. He says it is a little thing to
be judged by you, or by any human court.
It's a small thing to me. It's a, it doesn't affect me
very much. Why?
Because he says, that in verse 3, of First Corinthians for Nana
verse 5, he goes the Lord's going to bring out the light,
like, you got to believe that. You got to really believe that
and there's a lightness to that. There's a confidence to that
even if you're thrown in jail for 15 years, Just trust the
Lord really trust, like, come on, like, trust the Lord.
Amen. I trust the Lord, I trust you
with my okay, trust them. Then really trust them like when
it gets ugly, trust them. Like you let your soul actually
commit. These things to him.
I give it to you. Lord deal with it.
Do that. Don't just think about it, do it
and experience The Liberation from it, where you can say,
like, Paul, it's a little thing. He looks at Saul from a
distance. He goes, look, I have evidence.
Even if you have evidence that God is going to, God is the one
who will bring all things. So, I'm leaving this into God's
hand. What a wonderful thing it is to
know to lead people into God's hands.
We can continue with the verses following to this.
He kind of repeats himself in different ways to emphasize his
point, but I think it's good to get to Saul's reaction now.
Aren't you? Eager to know what's always
going to do? How is Saul going to respond to
this, to this presentation? That is immaculate?
That, I mean, how do you argue against this?
I don't know if this is saying the text, if you looked at the
corner of his robe and he looked, and he says it's real,
it's legit, he actually did this, we don't know, but we see
his response and it is quite telling.
It's Very, very, very shocking. Join with me, come to verse 16
as soon as David had finished speaking, these words to Saul
Saul said, is this your voice? My son, David.
And so lifted up his voice and wept.
We have to read slowly. How did how did he address
David? my son, David, not the son of
Jesse, My son David, wow. Seems like somebody's heart is
softening. And I think the iciness of this
man's heart is melting here because now it's translating it
to actual tears. There's an outburst, he's
weeping. He's weeping out loud audibly.
I don't know if it echoed Into the Wilderness into that cave.
I don't know, but he's broken. I mean this is not what we saw
earlier when Jonathan confronts his dad and he says what are you
doing with David? And and you can tell that he's a
little convicted and he goes you know as the Lord lives I will
not put him to death and he comes back and then he ends up
doing what he did before this time.
There's actual tears. There's like visible remorse.
This is exciting. In fact, it gets even more
exciting, because look what he says in verse 17.
He said to David, you are more righteous than I for you, have
repaid me. Good.
Whereas I've repaid you evil. This is like Revival happening
right now. you are more righteous than I Is this
confession? This is, this is admitting that
he's in the wrong. This is admitting this, the
righteousness of this man, eclipsing, his Darkness.
You've repaid me with good while I'm treating you with evil and
it breaks him. and when I read this today, I looked at that
phrase, you are more righteous than I And this is why reading
the Old Testament or reading the scriptures with rearview
mirrors. Brings about Revelation, I've
seen that phrase before. I've seen this phrase before.
If you know where this phrase is found it, I'll give you a
high-five after the service. who else said you are more righteous
than I Before we're talking before this moment, we're
talking about, we're talking about early in the book. let me
let me make it more specific, she is more righteous than I
Very good but you're a pastor. So now joking has nothing to do
with you being a pastor. You read the word of God.
Did you hear his answer? Come with me to Genesis chapter
39. I'll still give you a high five
after the service. Genesis 39.
Excuse me, 38 Do you remember the story between Judah and
Tamar who here knows of the story?
Lift your hand just so I can know how much to go in depth
with this. Remember Judah, one of the sons
of Jacob? He goes into He goes into an
area that he shouldn't be going into and he marries somebody.
You shouldn't be marrying, he has.
He has three sons with a Canaanite woman, the first to
die and Judah kind of interprets this and he goes, there must be
something wrong with her because whenever she marries one of my
son's they die. So I'm going to keep the
youngest one and he promises her when he's old enough.
I'll give him to you. Why is that happening?
Because, you know, that in the Old Testament, there is a law
that when a man dies The brother should fulfill a certain
responsibility and providing Offspring to that Widow.
And so, when Judah reserves the youngest for Tamar that was that
was sin. And so tame, our takes things
into her own hands, she kind of knew her father-in-law enough
and and that's unfortunate because she dresses herself up
as a prostitute. She hides her identity and this
man goes into a certain place and he requests for her and she
says, yes, but upon a condition, she asked for a certain things
from him because he didn't have payments.
So she would hold on to those things until he provided
something for in a future time. And the things that he gave
Cigna and Accord. It's almost like a modern
driver's license. It's a piece of identification.
It was undeniable. Some say there is there is
inscriptions on these things. Initials something that made it
so obvious that this belonged to so and so and so she not because
she was in lust but because she wanted to fulfill The Vow, she
wanted to fulfill what belonged to her and he was not making it
happen. So she does this.
He goes, he tries to gets payment, he bring he comes back
to the area, she's not to be founding asked around to like
there was no prostitute here, we don't know who you're talking
about now, come here to verse 24 in Genesis 38, about three
months later. Judah was told Tamar, your
daughter-in-law has been immoral.
Moreover, she is pregnant my immorality.
And Judah said, bring her out and let her be burned, not
knowing that he was the one who impregnated her.
As she was being brought out, she sent word to her
father-in-law. Now look at this, by the man to
whom these belong. I am pregnant.
Wow. So here she is with a little
bump that preparing the very steak where she's going to be
burned. And she brings out the elements
of his identification. And she goes, you want to know
who did this? Whoever this belongs to Just
like David, there is evidence. There is evidence.
Now, you know what Judah could have done to save face?
I don't know who that belongs to your dying today.
Men no room for excuses. The bump is enough.
Let her be burned. But as he's confronted with
evidence, something happens to him and look what he says.
She says please identify whose these are the Signet and the
court and the staff verse 26. Then Judah identify them and
said she is more righteous than I Since I did not give her to my
son. Sheila.
And he did not know her again. The paralleling situations,
right? Evil done evidence.
Given both response with conviction.
I mean you can even say that Saul was much more emotional
weeping and all these things and see this is this is what it
means there is, there's a confession of wrong.
But there's a difference. There's a difference.
What's the difference between judah's repentance and Sol's?
Did you say we're going to say the same thing?
Did you see the last part of the verse here in verse 26?
And he did not know her again. In fact, I challenge you to read
you the story from Genesis 38 to the end of book of Ghent, the
end of the book of Genesis. You will see a different Judah,
not just in the fact that he didn't sleep with her again but
in the fact that he treats the whole situation with Joseph and
Benjamin, he's willing to make himself a slave instead of
Benjamin. There's a different person after
this moment. when you compare Judah with the same words, with
with the appearance conviction there, there's a difference with
the sincerity of the remorse because he actually changed Saul
won't Saul said the right things, he had that he had the
right emotions, you can even say, but when you follow Saul,
after that moment, you will not see a difference, all you will,
in fact see the same Saul. Go back to 1st Samuel, I'll
prove it in just two chapters. First, Samuel 26:2.
And first name, a 26 to look what happens two chapters later.
So Saul arose and went down to the Wilderness of his, if, with
3,000 chosen men of Israel, to seek David in the wilderness of
Zin, if he's literally doing the same thing that he has done,
before the moment of his confrontation, the exact same
thing, the same amount of men, the same area, everything the
man didn't change. What happened to him them with
David? What many people do and
services, they were challenged. He got emotional.
He felt genuine conviction. But what he did here is, what
James warns, Believers not to do and that is to look intently
into a mirror. and then to turn around only forgetting what you
saw in that mirror, that's what it says.
And James says that after saying, do not be hearers only,
but doers of the word. And if you don't, it's like you
looking into the mirror, seeing who you are with, with the
mirrors, not lying to you. You're seeing what you get, is
what you see and then you go away and you forget what you
saw. And that's exactly what happened
with Saul. When that environment was left,
when the evidence was in there, when the emotion waned away, as
he moved on, as you went back home, that conviction died, more
and more and more. It was never responded to.
And so was a useless thing. It was impressive at first, but
it didn't really actually bring about change.
And so we have to beware of that of ourselves.
The measure of true repentance is not the tears that I cry or
the feelings that I have in the moment.
It's what happens to you after what happens to you after Judah.
He said the same thing as Saul but Judah we are told by Holy
Spirit commentary. He did not know her again.
Why would he say that? Why would the Lord put that in
there? Why is that important for us to
know to show us? He changed though, he admitted
that he was not as righteous. He strive by God's grace.
To pursue righteousness. So we come back to this text or
more closing in a moment here. So this man weeps and he cries
and he screams and he confesses and he says beautiful things and
we're going to find out in just after the next chapter that he's
going to do the same thing that he was doing before.
This is a sad sight indeed but what happens is as we come to
this point, he makes another confession and this confession
is quite impressive as well and verse 20 and now behold I know
that you shall surely be king and that the Kingdom of Israel
shall be established. In your hand.
Now, I know, but didn't know before.
Didn't-didn't, Jonathan say my, my father saw knows, you will be
king. He did know the whole time, but
now it's just, it just reinforced even more.
I know. Not like now it's like, I know,
I know, We would applaud him, but this reveal something
disturbing about saw, what does it reveal about salts in?
He was willingly sinning, he was in Sydney ignorance.
He knew what God's word said about David and he still tried
to go against it and you and I have to understand that the
Bible provides a principle in life, that men will be judged
based on the degree of Revelation that they've been
given. They will be the more light you
receive. The more judgment will be in
accordance to that light. And so the more an unbeliever
receives understand the amount of gospel, that they have known,
that will be Take it into consideration on the final day
saw, here is knowing what he's doing is wrong and he's still
attacking, he's still resisting, he is still fighting against
God, and that's a scary thing, but it makes me wonder.
Ooh, it makes me wonder if the visual visualization of the
whole thing. Brought back a memory?
Do you remember what solid the Samuel a few chapters ago when
Samuel confronted him in his sin?
What does he do? He grabs Samuel.
The Prophet by the robe and what does he do?
After that? He rips it.
He rips it off of the profit and Samuel says, something quite
haunting. It was a prophetic word.
The Lord has torn the Kingdom of Israel from you.
This day. And has given it to a neighbor
of yours who's better than you. So imagine that.
Just imagine that with me and first time in 15, he grabs His
Garment, he rips the prophets garment and he has a piece of
his clothing and his hand and Samuel looks at him as this
shirt is all messed up and he goes God has torn the Kingdom
from you. And he's going to place it into
the hand of a neighbor of yours. Who's better than you fast
forward, David is standing before Saul, and he has a piece
of the Kings robe in his hand. Symbolizing his authority.
And Saul looks. And perhaps I'm not saying this
is like dogmatically true but perhaps that's the guy he knew
it before but now he's like that's the guy.
It's amazing. How artistic the Bible is. and
this man here says to David, I know that you're going to be
king. What's so encouraging about
this? Is that has a prophetic ring to
it? No matter how much salt fought
against David, no matter how much salt try to keep David from
the throne, no matter how much he tried to set up conspiracies
his efforts were all in vain and there came a time where he
acknowledged that David was the king.
From his own lips. And all the Sol's in history.
Who've attacked this gospel who try to contradict this gospel
who try to malign who've tried to bury who try to dismiss the
lordship of Jesus Christ. There is a day coming where with
their own mouths, they will confess that, he is the king of
kings and that he is the Lord of lords, that's what we're seeing.
There was a time that even the greatest enemy to David had to
confess, you are the rightful King, and I can't wait for that
day. We're all the princes and
presidents prime ministers. Will helplessly confess.
Jesus of Nazareth, the king of the universe.
That's going to happen. Let me end with this.
No. Psalm verse 21, says, swear to
me therefore that you will not cut off my Offspring.
He was so convinced that he's like just please make a promise
a similar promise that you made to my son just be be ever.
So merciful to my offspring. David agrees.
But look what David does in verse 22 David's wore this the
saw then Saul went home but David and his men went up to the
stronghold. you know, David confronted Saul and his sin
David was respectful saw apparently confessed.
He was remorseful, he was broken.
But they don't go back home together.
In fact, we're going to see in chapter 26, saw is going to
invite David to come back. Hey, return.
With me. I'm not going to do you harm
anymore. Was David wrong and not going
back. Or you can have to come to the
next Bible. Studies, to find out.
Let's pray. Louis, thank you for the word of
God. Oh, how rich it is?
We are amazed Lord how you can speak into our lives from a text
that seems so irrelevant. Lord Jesus.
As challenging as these truths. Are, they are extremely
difficult to perform a part from your power?
We are all susceptible of doing the exact opposite of what David
has presented us. And so, Lord, we just pray.
Help us be like Jesus. Help us be like Jesus.
Help us to know, to return good to those who do evil.
We don't know what that looks like.
We don't know what that. Manifest itself to be every
situation is unique. Or help us to be.
Among those by the grace of God, to live with a clear conscience
before you and before, man. so that even when there are
accusations, There would be a life filled with evidence of the
contrary. Again, Lord, we know that this
is not possible without your help below with our short lives.
We long to make it extremely difficult for the enemy.
To hinder our testimony For Your Glory.
Louis, thank you for Jesus Christ.
We thank you that he is the true king that no matter who is
Accused them accused his people. No matter who's try to argue
against them, try to prove other things to be true.
They will confess. They will confess the Lord.
Tonight, we confess, gladly, you're the true Risen.
Lord, you love us. We love you.
We worship you because of these truths tonight.
We worship you for the people that you've allowed us to walk
this journey with Blessed. Be Your Name.
We ask these things in the name of the one who can only save
that name. That saves any man who is
willing to be saved in Jesus name, we pray.
Amen, let's stand and worship. if the Lord together,