Well, we've arrived the last chapter of our study in the book
of 1st Samuel. And so I hope you have your
Bibles because we are going to cover this verse by verse First
Samuel chapter 31. Last week, you and I received a
glimpse of David's life. A final glimpse of his life in
this story and it was themed by repentance renewal restoration
and that should encourage our hearts.
Because as we come to the close of this book, we know that David
was fully restored in his walk with the Lord, But the holy
spirit before the curtain completely Falls and the lights
turn off on this stage of this section of an epic, Redemptive
portion of God's history and his work.
In the world, we are going to get a glimpse of Saul's final
moments of his life. Not in the same way of David
because David is going to be reintroduced to us and second
Samuel, but that is not the case for Saul.
This chapter is where it all ends for the men.
This is where we will never see him again.
This is a detailed account of Saul the first king of Israel's
death, And just like every other portion of scripture though it
is a historical account, it still has so much to offer us
regarding our own walk with the Lord, especially the life of
Saul who lacked that walk with the Lord and it should cause us
to cling to the Lord, all the more, when we see just what is
possible. When we turn away from God, when
we walk away from our King and we choose to be Sovereign over
our own lives. It is a very very dangerous
direction, that one would head in two.
But I think it's fitting that. As we as we close this book
tonight that we would just pray. Thank God and ask him to help us
in the remainder versus here and then trust that he will speak to
us as he has in the past few months.
Can we pray together? Let's pray.
God, we thank you for this book. Lord.
We are so prone to forget all that we hear even even by
tomorrow, we can forget what we hear but we ask that you would
be so gracious to us and that these things would be etched on
our hearts. Lord, write them on the tablet
of our hearts. Let them be remembered.
Let them make such an impression on us that it would change the
course of Our Lives. Lord, we pray.
Oh, how we need the presence of the Holy Spirit.
How we need the power of God lord, we confess our weakness.
We confess that a church service can be so dead, they can be so
repulsive because it lacks your presence, Your Truth.
Your love in our hearts, Lord, breathe.
He's on us, a fresh breath of God.
Breathe on us. You alone can make dry bones
live again. You alone can bring a Reviving
to our hearts. You alone can ignite a fire in
our bosom. And we just ask that your word
would do that. Because Jeremiah says, it is
like a fire and Jeremiah says, it is like a hammer that smashes
The Rock. Lord, we just pray that this
Bible study would not become like an ordinary study, just a
transfer of data, but no life Lord, let life be known here.
We beg of you. We just pray that tonight would
be a Monumental Not Just moment for this ministry but for our
own lives, only you can do it. Only, you can do it.
Lord, Jesus, in your name, we pray.
Amen. Let's read verse 1.
Now, the Philistines were fighting against Israel and the
men of Israel fled before the Philistines, and fell slain on
Mount gilboa and the Philistines overtook Saul and his sons and
the Philistines struck down Jonathan and have been a dab and
malky schewe, the sons of Saul the battle pressed hard against
Saul and The Archers found him and he was badly wounded by The
Archers, then saw said to his armor Bearer, draw your sword
and thrust me through with it. Less these Um, sighs come and
thrust me through and mistreat me.
But his armor Bearer would not for he.
Feared greatly there for Saul took his own sword and fell upon
it. And when it's armour-bearer saw
that saw was dead. He also fell upon his sword and
died with him. Thus Saw died and his three sons
and his armor Bearer and all his men on the same day together.
There's so much that will be said that could be said, I would
tell you ahead of time that we may not be able to cover all
that these verses can offer and that is certainly true.
When we revisit tax to the Holy Spirit, seems to bring new
light. But look at verse one with me
very quickly. This is what I take out of it.
When there's a summary of what's happening in this verse now, the
Philistines were fighting against Israel and the men of
Israel fled before the Philistines and fell slain on
melt gilboa. The first thing that my mind
goes to and perhaps, Oops, your mind goes somewhere else is how
David was planning to be a part of this war.
It's almost Unthinkable that that righteous man was going to
participate in this battle against his own people, that
David was actually going to have blood on his hands because he
would be associated with those who have killed the Lord's
anointed and his sons and the people of Israel all together.
It's just a horrific thought, but you've heard it so many
times when we came to that study of where our hearts can take us,
when we separate ourselves from God's Rule and law and his
spirit Control over us. We can we can do unspeakable
things. I can tell you that there are
Christians who have done things, that even the world hasn't done
because they have left the comfort of the Holy Spirit and
his fear and even Paul have seen that.
Remember, when Paul with the Corinthian Church?
He says this is this is not even stuff that the world does in 1st
Corinthians 5. He said, how are you guys even
tolerating this in the world were the world would blush at
this? And so, when I look at this, I
not only think of what David could have been doing.
I also think of God's mercy because the only reason why
David is not participating in this activity is because God
intervened with his love God. Providentially came in with his
power and created a conflict so that when David was with the
Philistines, the leader says you gotta get out of here.
You have no right to be with us and you and I see it through the
lens of God's power and control. And we recognize that was God
that That was the Lord, making sure that David would not move
forward in his sin and his sin. And you and I know something of
God's mercy, the greatest manifestation of God's grace and
our lives. The thing that has put a stop to
us heading towards destruction on that Broad Road is the cross
of Jesus Christ. And if we're thinking, what
could have David done? If God had not intervened, what
could have shame would he have brought to his name?
What kind of what kind of consequences could have
resulted? If he had participated in this
war? Once you do something
devotional, and ask yourself, where do you think you would be
if you did not realize God's mercy in the cross of Jesus
Christ, have you ever thought about that?
Have you ever thought where you would be right now on a Friday
night? If Jesus Christ didn't change
your heart. Have you ever thought where you
would be, what kind of decisions you would be making?
What kind of consequences you would be living with if Christ
did not come and flood your heart with the revelation of his
love? I wonder My heart ever becomes
dull. I tend to think about it.
Lord, where would I be right now?
In this very moment this hour, what would I be thinking?
Who would be in my company? What would my decisions?
Look like, what would what would my convictions be?
What kind of scars would I have inherited?
And David, if you were to ask him, where would you be apart
from the grace of God? He would tell you, I probably
would have such a wretch of a testimony because I would have
been part of a great Act of treason and disgrace.
And you, and I can think, and think often of how God's mercy
has saved us from, so much save this from so much.
But we read here in verse 2, before we recognize that Saul
and learn of his death, we are told that his sons have died.
Three of his sons have died. Jonathan have been a dab and
malky schewe. Now here's the thing.
I can understand Saul dying. To be honest, I don't really
have much issue with it. That man, had it coming.
All the blood that he shed his have died.
Three of his sons that seems just That seems right that
punishment would come with no repentance after so many chances
you still resist, this makes sense but my heart is a little
honest with you and I maybe it's true and it resonates with your
own heart. Why his sons Why did they have
to die the same death as their father?
Now we could take a further and say abinadab malky.
Sure, I don't know much about them.
I'm going to make the conclusion that they were and full
participation with their father that they were willing to join
him on his quest to hunt for an innocent man.
The Lord's anointed in David and so they had that coming to your
Allegiance is with evil. You'll inherit evil that just
makes sense. But oh Jonathan Precious
Jonathan God-fearing. Jonathan humble, Jonathan.
How can this man be numbered among the transgressors?
How can this man be found on the same Hill bloodied and bruised
and destroyed among the wicked? You know, what?
Some people say, the popular interpretation of this.
Is that God for saw the trouble? That would come if Jonathan had
continued to live. In other words, there would have
been a potential division in Israel.
If Jonathan Saul's son continue to Live While David occupied the
throne, perhaps there would have been a civil issue in Israel
concerning who the true successor was And so God spared
much much, much trouble knowing ahead of time.
What was to come about? And so he removes Jonathan off
the scene in order that David's Journey not just to the throne
but on the throne would be much easier and less turbulent.
That is the popular interpretation.
I don't know if I can, I can lean towards that.
Why would that be the case? Maybe you agree with that and I
can give you at least two reasons why I don't number one
hasn't Jonathan already proven his loyalty.
If Jonathan really wanted to get rid of David, it was it was when
his dad was in power. No.
That's the time when you're going to do it.
Now, when David becomes king and he has everybody on his side,
you want to do it when it's in seed form that would make sense.
But we see the exact opposite he humbles himself.
He says, I want to be second in command.
I want to be by your side. I want to be your eighth.
I recognize God's hand on your life makes sense, but there's
even a second reason I believe and it's a very strong one if
God really. Lee wanted to eliminate the
threats from Saul's line that potentially could cause issues
down the road, with David being on the throne.
Then why didn't he take care of the other one?
How many sons were killed in the battle?
Is that all of Saul's Sons? Would you like to know the
answer? It's in second.
Samuel chapter 2, just a few chapters to the right?
And notice what happens. In second Samuel chapter 2 verse
8. But Abner, the son of nerve
commander of Saul's Army, took ish bichette the son of Saul and
brought him over to Mahon Ian and made him King over Gilead,
and Ash rights and just real and Ephraim him and Benjamin and all
Israel. So there was another son of Saul
who for whatever reason was not in battle on this particular day
and when Saul was eliminated Abner the commander of his army
took ishka chef and made him King over the remainder lands of
Israel. So hold on for a second.
If the popular interpretation is God wanted to remove the threats
and David's life, moving forward then he missed somebody.
No. Maybe you agree, I don't know.
We can talk about it afterwards. So then why?
Why? Why did why did Jonathan died?
Here's my answer. I don't know.
You can appeal to mystery sometimes.
Because there are some things. That we just don't know.
And that troubles us especially when it comes to the righteous
suffering. When there is something that's
premature concerning someone's life, whether its death or
disease, or trauma, we wonder why a lot of things have
explanation. You made sinful choices that led
to this. But when you have a man who had
moments where he showed greater Faith than even David, who is
willing to risk so much to be associated with him to be taken
at such a young age at the prime of his life and let's take it
even further. I think David could have really
used Jonathan and his life moving forward.
Jonathan offered so much to David and I'm sure he had so
much yet to offer with all the challenges that lay ahead.
With all the Temptations that lie ahead, if he was able to
speak into his ear at critical moments of his life, that
changed his vision and gave him Faith.
Why would God removes somebody so precious and beneficial to a
man of God like David, Here's the here's the answer, I don't
know. I don't know.
And sometimes that's where we will find ourselves with, with
God's leadership in our lives or in other people's lives.
We're almost stunned. He was in the prime of his
ministry. Why did God take him?
She was a mother of two young children.
Why is she gone? Serving the lord with everything
within them. This generation could have used
that Voice, we just don't know and sometimes the scripture
gives us hints. Let's uh speak into God's mind
to see that. He obviously knows something
that we do not and he calls us to just rest in the way he
orchestrates. His people in this life, can I
show you? One example of that.
It's a powerful portion of scripture that actually has
brought many answers to these conflicts in my own heart.
Not giving me the exact commentary on every particular
circumstance. But enough for me to say God,
you clearly know what's happening.
And you are incredible in your dealings with, man.
Even though it may, it may cause some friction to my faith.
Isaiah chapter, 57. Take it to your to your heart
and let it live there for the rest of your life and 57:10.
And to look at this glorious Insight of how God deals with
the righteous and mysterious ways.
And yet at the same time, let's just get a little glimpse into
the way he works. Notice what it said, in Isaiah
57 verse 1, the righteous man perishes and no one lays it to
heart, devout men are taken away.
While no one understands for the righteous man is taken away from
what calamity. I like, how the King James puts
it. That the righteous man is taken
away from the evil to what to come.
He enters into peace, they rest in their beds, who walk in there
uprightness. You understand what the Lord is
saying here? We don't understand why devout
men are taken away. We don't understand why the
righteous are taken away, the righteous and the land.
And here's one reason, among a thousand.
For the righteous man is taken away from a future evil that
will come, and God wants to spare them from that suffering.
God does not want certain people to endorse certain kinds of
Evil's whether it's societal or personal and so death for the
righteous is a means to rescue them so that they can be
protected from something that otherwise could have caused
unnecessary harm or pain. That's just a drop in the
bucket. Of how God works in the lives of
the righteous. So why did God take Jonathan?
I don't know. But all I do know according to a
verse like this among many others is that there is
something very good that he has in mind for doing.
So I hope that blesses your heart never forget that
scripture. And so three of his sons died.
Including Jonathan, it is tragic, but God is wise and he
is still in control and he's still righteous and we read on
and what do we see that the battle pressed hard against
Saul? And then in verse 4 we read
something interesting. Saul said to his armor Bearer,
draw your sword and thrust me through with it.
Leslie's uncircumcised, come and thrust me through and mistreat
me. But he wouldn't do it.
He says he would not do it for he feared greatly.
And so just imagine this king with arrows in his body bleeding
knowing that he's going to die and so he calls upon his armor
Bearer his assistant and he says, just finish me off.
Rid me of the Earth, let me die. And there's some irony here.
He would not touch him because he feared greatly and listen,
the fear that this armor Bearer had this unnamed man was a
righteous, holy fear. He would not touch Saul.
Do you know how? I know that this was a good fear
because when you go to chapter one of the next book, notice
what David says? Because apparently, somebody did
touch Saul. Somebody did do what this armor,
bear would not do and kill Saul, even though he was, and his
dying moments and the News came to David and when David heard
it, he condemned the man who did it by saying, what and first and
second Samuel 114. David said to him, how is it?
You were not. Not Afraid.
Not afraid to put out your hand, to destroy the Lord's anointed
He condemned it, he didn't commend him.
He rebuked him. In fact, he had him executed and
so you take that truth with this armor bear and what he did not
do and you realize that what he did was a very good thing, a
very holy thing. And it's because he possesses
something that saw himself lacked a fear.
A holy righteous fear something that you've heard many times
from this pulpit. And here's just one example of
how this fear, the sense of reverence, this awareness of
God's ability to hold us. Accountable for what we do, what
we don't do it prevents you from moving forward and doing certain
things. It paralyzes you in a holy way.
Wrong fear paralyzes, you from doing, right?
Good. Holy fear.
Paralyzes you from doing that. Which is wrong.
Do you understand it freezes you in that moment?
And you realize, I can't move forward and makes makes your
feet as though. It was just swallowed with
cement and I can't keep going in this Direction.
That's what that's what holy fear does and Saul act it his
whole life and because he lacked it, he had come to this moment
where he's asking, somebody to assist him in his suicide, If
Saul had with this armor Bearer had, perhaps he would not be in
this desperate devastating situation asking to be helped to
kill himself. And so, this armour-bearer.
Is someone to be more noble and honored than this King?
He is more royalty than this leader.
I don't care what kind of crown he was wearing.
I don't care what kind of Throne.
He sits on this armor. Bear was more Rich, more
prosperous, More Valiant and more strong than King Saul ever
was, because he had something that King Saul never had a fear
of God, fear of God. Get this fear, ask God to make
this fear real in you and you will see the great prevention
and protection. That will come from.
It one that saw obviously did not have and it led him into
great danger. But notice the motive of why
Saul is asking for this. This armor Bearer to slay him.
He says, so that these uncircumcised come and thrust me
through. I don't want them to mistreat
me. I don't want them to humiliate
me and it makes you wonder if he remembered the days of Judges
when when Samson was taken by the Philistines, and he was made
a fool, he was turned into a clown.
Saul says, I would not have it. kill me, kill me so that they
would not have a chance at me, but I think it's even more than
that, so that The story would be told that I died in this way and
not in a way that would humiliate my name.
For the rest of History. Do you know what I see here?
Saw since we've known him except for the first few steps of his
rule as a king. Had a priority in life that
superseded all other motives all other desires and that was this.
I want to win the honor of man. No matter what it costs me, I
want people to love me. I want people to praise me.
I want people to adore me so much, so that, even if it costs
me to displease God, I will do it.
And he has proven it in so many ways.
He took the credit from his own son, Jonathan when he took over
a Garrison of the Philistines, he said Saul has done this move
forward and what happens Saul himself?
Elf creates a monument after a failed attempt to take over the
amalekites. Move forward a little bit after
that when Samuel rebukes him and says you disobeyed God saw was
not concerned by the fact that he sinned against God.
He says, okay, okay, I sent but would you walk with me back?
So that the elders and the rest of the people know that I still
have favor with you and favor with God though, he had
fractured his relationship with the Lord.
It wasn't about the relationship of the Lord.
It was my reputation, Samuel, please.
Let's go to the house of God together so people don't think
that you're angry with me. Saul spent years chasing a man
because they sang more about him than himself.
And here's Saul listen to this. In his final moments of Life,
what's rushing through his mind. I want to make sure that I die
with a certain dignity. What should have you been doing
saw? Crying out to God.
For Mercy, you're about to meet your maker.
And God was merciful enough to you to tell you prophetically
that you were going to die in this way.
And yet, with all the heads up and all the warning, you were
still concerned about how your name will be treated, how your
body will be handled, what kind of dignity you will die with.
So this man went to the Grave with this self-absorption, with
this longing for his legacy to be recognized in a certain way.
And so severe was this. So cancerous was this desire,
you know what he's willing to do?
He's not now willing to kill a man like David, he's willing to
kill himself. I'm willing to kill myself.
So that I can, I can leave behind a certain taste in
people's mouths. You know, when I looked at this
I thought it is no different today.
The Great Lengths that people are willing to go to in order to
win the approval of man. The praise of, man, the love of
man, the recognition of man. You know, we've come to a point
in our society. That the things that go viral
today are just people embarrassing themselves.
The United recognize that things that are viral today, are not
talented things, they're not Noble things, they're not holy
things, they're stupid things. And sometimes they destroy that
person's reputation, sometimes it destroys their own bodies.
The Great Lengths that people are willing to go to do you know
that even suicide attempts, listen to how messed up.
This, is that when people kill themselves they do it for
attention. That they didn't get any
recognition throughout their lives.
So they think to themselves at least when I do this, I can get
some people to recognize my life and recognize me and to mourn
over me and to lament over me. So, I will kill myself.
And so I want to tell you today, that there is nothing.
That I can think of apart from sin itself.
That is more deadly than to be dominated by this desire.
Of people would just love me all that people would just recognize
me. And I just need this attention.
You headed for some dangerous decisions.
This man went from willing to destroy his family, destroy
David to, now willing to kill himself for the sake of not
being known as a failure. I don't want to read too much
into this but I'm wondering. Saul's calling.
According to 1st, Samuel 9 was that he was anointed to take
care of the Philistines to get rid of them.
That's exactly why he was anointed.
And here he is being overtaken by the Philistines.
He's a failure. He's a failure.
And he rather be known as dying from his own man than dying from
his enemies, the enemies that he was anointed to destroy.
But, no concern about eternity. No concern about meeting God.
All these concern about is me, me me until his dying moments.
If you and I think that it will take a deathbed for somebody to
truly repent. You're wrong.
People will die with their pride.
People will die with their love for money.
People will die with their lust. People will die in their sin.
We scroll down and notice something in verse 6, thus all
died and his three sons and his armor Bearer and all his men on
the same day together. On the same day, saw his sons
and his army were annihilated And that's a very Grim picture.
But you know what? I see something quite amazing
about it all his men. And this is the beauty about
studying the Bible. This is the beauty about being
familiar with the text because in your devotional time, you're
not just getting something. In the immediate context, you're
connecting true that you've gathered over the weeks and then
you're able to come to certain Revelations.
So here's an example of that, I read this the Saul died and his
three sons and his Armor Bearer and all his men.
And this thought comes to mind except 600 of them who were once
pledged to him, but fled him and were now joined to David,
Remember that man, that band of men, right?
600 men who were once under, the rule of Saul, who decided this
man is not God's chosen one, he is God's chosen one.
And so we will leave with our families to join and pledge our
allegiance to him, no matter what it costs us and it cost
them a lot. For years, they went from cave
to Cave living in discomfort Misery, the fear of the unknown
for years. They didn't know what was going
to happen. Next, there was challenging
circumstances, they didn't know how they were going to feed
their families. They didn't know where they were
going to settle. They didn't know when this was
going to come to an end. and with all of that, when you look
at the end of the story, Was it worth it?
Was it worth it to disconnect from Saul and to choose David.
And the answer is obviously to the same person.
Yes. Because judgment came, and they
were rescued from that judgment because of one decision that
they made years ago, we will side with David, the anointed
one of God. And you're a believer that has
pledged your allegiance to the anointed one of God.
Have you not? And the person of Jesus Christ.
And you and I even in the promised land America are still
in a wilderness. And there is much trouble being
associated with this Jesus. It is unpopular at times.
It is uncomfortable at times. It invites trials and
tribulations that perhaps you would have not walk through if
you just lived for your little American dream and your nice
little stuff and your sin. But the same way that it was
worth it for these men so shall it be with those who are under
King Jesus Rule and Reign today? Because just around the corner,
David is going to be exalted and he's going to sit upon a throne
and he will Usher in peace and security and surely, these men
will know a certain reward for choosing to serve David when it
costs them so much. So now it's hard now, it's
difficult. You have to put up with a lot,
but what is this brief moment? It is literally a breath and
compared to Eternity and there is a time when Jesus will come
and Rule and reign in this world and he will rid of Satan who has
been ruining this world as he's running this world and you and I
will know a sigh of relief that will echo down into the ages and
we will I'm sure if our minds allow us to to think to
ourselves. Why did We complain?
Why did we Pat out though that I would have suffered more o that
I would have sacrificed more and light of the glories that we are
enjoying today. We are not judged for all
eternity. We are spared and not just spare
but we are enjoying the riches of Christ being exalted.
Like these men will enjoy so much reward for choosing David
and not being among those who were slain And so we see that.
Yeah, all his men did. But there was a little Remnant,
a small little pocket of men who avoided it.
Who avoided it? Yes, a small little pocket.
You know, the more I walk with Jesus, the more I realize how
narrow the narrow road is man. It's really narrow more narrow
than I thought when I start walking with Jesus, But what
keeps a Believer walking when they feel their shoulders
rubbing against? The very narrowness of that
path. What's to come?
It'll be worth it when we see Jesus exalted. and so we see
that in verse 7, We're not going to cover that men of Israel,
fled certain men. Knowing what happened in the
Philistines came and occupied certain regions, but look at
verse 8, the next day, when the Philistines came to strip, the
slain, they found Saul and his three sons, fallen on Mal
gilboa. So they cut off his head and
stripped off his armor and sent Messengers throughout the land
of the Philistines to carry the good news to the house of their
idols. And to the people, So, it's all
you're worried about being mistreated.
They decapitated you and they're about to hang you like an
ornament in their walls. But I looked at this, and a
certain portion of its stood out to me in the King James and new
King. James, it doesn't say to carry
the good news. It would just say to publish it,
which is the same concept that he is to be in the nasb would
say. They came to carry the good news
to the house of their idols. And to the people we killed saw,
we killed his sons. We got their King.
We got their leader. And here's what came to mind
when I read this today. What was good news for the
enemies of God is bad news for the people of God.
What was good news for the enemies of God.
Is bad news for the people of God.
Now flip it. it is often the case that what is good news,
what is good news for the people of God is seen as horrific news
for those who are unbelieving and are enemies of God, And I
can't think of a more relevant application to that principle
than the recent leak. Of the document from the Supreme
Court that is planning to overturn.
Roe v-- Wade. Me want to see how an Old
Testament story can apply to today, there is one example.
Oh, do you think that Wicked people are some Fringe minority
that live and maximum security prisons.
Now all you got to do is just take a little peek into society
itself and realize that people who have nice jobs and nice cars
and nice little white picket homes are exploding with rage.
Because they have just learned that, it's now, possible for
them to not have the easy access to murder babies.
Like they would like to Evil. Is in your neighborhood.
Wickedness is just around the corner.
And you see it in the ancient times where he was good news to
kill those who belong to the true.
God, you and I are seeing it today and we will see it only
intensify in the days to come. But I want to tell you that this
warped. Mentality is a result of the
same result of what these men are doing, worshiping, false
gods. In the form of idolatry or in
the form of self worship. When you do that and you deviate
from the Lord, you inherit strange ways of thinking and you
believe and fight for that, which is evil, and that which
God condemns When this whole thing was really at its peak and
I'm sure it's going to revisit us when it really comes closer
to the date where they're going to actually make this law.
I thought to myself, all these people chanting, we must defend
a woman's right to choose. I thought you couldn't Define a
woman. Oh no.
But men have no right to weigh in on the abortion issue will?
I thought men can now get pregnant.
Well, you know, a fetus Is Not a Human Being, or really.
So why is it that in many places?
You can be prosecuted for double homicide if you kill a pregnant
woman? This is the inconsistency, the
self-sabotaging logic that a society inherits when they
reject God. They can't even keep up with
themselves. And I'm telling you, if you
think it's ridiculous today, it's only going to get crazier.
It's only going to get more maniacal and evil and twisted,
and warped. Let me give you an example.
I want you to actually answer this question on What occasion
would you give a gift to somebody?
Christmas birthday. Yeah, happy occasions for you
Romantics when you just want to surprise your loved one and just
give something to show your appreciation, right?
Have you ever thought about giving gifts to someone?
Because to preachers died and they're happy that they don't
have to hear your sermons anymore?
Some of you look stunned. I didn't just come up with that
that's in the Bible. Yes, let me show you just an
example of what we're headed towards you.
Think we're living in evil days today.
Go to Revelation chapter 11, I want to show you something
that's quite astounding. In Revelation 11 verse 9.
We read, if we read of these two witnesses that have unusual
power and ability during the end times who will preach in a
certain way and even perform certain Miracles that will be a
testimony to a generation that the true God is, in fact alive
and well. And he commands for your
repentance and he calls for you to turn from your ways before
it's too late but in God's. Perfect Sovereign plan.
He after their testimony is Pleat will allow Satan to kill
these two witnesses and we're not going to cover who these
Witnesses could be. There's a principle that we want
to see here after these two witnesses are slain.
Notice what happens in verse 9 of Revelation, 11 for three and
a half days, some of the peoples and tribes and languages, and
Nations will gaze at their dead bodies and refused to let them
be placed in a tomb. It's why we got to read our
Bibles slowly think about it, peoples and tribes, and
languages, and Nations is that one nation or plural Nations.
Can you explain how John? Just under a hundred years
before Christ or after Christ. Saw something.
Where Nations at the same time, we're able to look at one event
in one part of the world and be able to simultaneously at the
same time, get a feed of what's Happening.
Any idea. Yes, the very thing that's in
your phone in some in our hands. And so, John even foresaw that
there is going to be an ability for Nations and tribes and
peoples to look at one event at the same time and and leading up
to our day processing. What is John seeing and now it's
like oh yeah, it's the iPhone. The Bible is amazing, isn't it?
And verse 10 and those who dwell on the earth Will Rejoice over
them and make Merry and exchanged presence because these
two prophets have been a torment to those who dwell on the Earth.
So not only are they going to broadcast it live?
The people around the world were it's going to be so depraved, so
ugly. So dark that when these two holy
righteous, men who will perform Miracles are finally dead, they
will send gifts to each other as though it was Christmas.
And I looked at that word torment, they were a torment to
those who dwell on the earth and that were torment is not used
often in the Book of Revelation. And when I said, where else is
tormented, use the exact same word, where is it used in the
even in the original and I realized just three chapters
later, you see it again and notice the context in which the
same word torment is brought up when it speaks about hell.
To those who take the mark of the beast, to those who worship
the Antichrist and verse 10 of Revelation, 14.
Look what the Bible says, he will also drink.
This is the consequence that judgment the wine of God's Wrath
poured, full strength into the cup of his anger and he will be
tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the Holy
Angels and in the presence of the Lamb, the same word torment,
so make the connection. Check this out.
The word used to describe the, the horrible pain and suffering,
that will come upon those who reject Christ and embrace.
The Antichrist is the very same word that is used to describe
the reaction of those who hear the preaching of two Godly men.
It was held to them. They don't want to hear the
truth. They didn't want to hear that.
They needed to repent. They didn't want to hear that.
God was coming. And so it was held to their
soul. The same way, it will be
literal. Hell for those who reject
Christ. Can you imagine that?
Can you imagine being so depraved to be tormented by
something that is happening right now?
I've seen some really disappointed faces while
preaching I've seen some but I've never seen somebody
tormented. That day is coming.
Consider that. And we scroll down here and are
taxed as we close very briefly, very soon.
Rather and verse 10, they put his armor in the temple of
ashtaroth and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth Shan.
But when the inhabitants of Jabez Gilead heard what the
Philistines had done to Saul all the Valiant men are rose and
went all night and took the body of Saw and the bodies of his
sons from the wall of Beth Chan and they came to jabish and
burned them. They're the reason why they
burned them. It's perhaps the stench.
There were so decomposed, they were so rotting.
That the best thing to do is to just burn them, it wasn't
because that was their primary choice.
Verse 13 and they took their bones and buried them under the
tamarisk. Tree and jabish and fasted 7
days. Look at verse 12.
All the Valiant men arose. Very dark chapter.
I mean, it's ends the book in a low. but there's a glimmer of
hope here and somebody made the wonderful observation, remember,
Saul, the king died, all of Israel's Army vanquished, yet at
the same time though, it seems such so despairing and so,
Filled with hopelessness. God had a king ready to be
exalted. He's waiting there.
And so these men thought that they had the king and the
kingdom, Destroyed and yet God and in a moment has another king
ready to be raised up destroyed all the armies of Israel.
Well looking for swallow, there are there are Valiant men still
in Israel. And here's the point, God always
has a people God always has a people listen.
I don't know about you that bless me especially with the
condition of the church in the west.
When all we've been seeing is a highlight reel of failures in
ministries, and administers always seen is one giant fall
after the next, some, even questionable in their walk with
the Lord to begin with. But who have a name big enough
to cause the, the Philistines of Our Generation.
To boast in their gods and boast in their way of life to say.
This is what this is the failure that the people of God are we
want nothing to do with them. They are weak.
They can't even stay consistent with our own convictions.
With all of that that's happening.
God still has a people. God is still raising up faithful
anointed leaders and God still has a remnant of valiant
courageous God-fearing. People always throughout all of
history that has always been the case, the choice you and I have
is whether we Want to be a part of that or not, and we all have
that choice. But here's my question, why the
men of Jabez Gilead? Why did they honor Saul?
Why did they show this? Great respect even risking their
own lives to go into enemy territory and to try to pull
down their bodies. Why any idea
Very good. Lord.
Did you hear the answer? This is not the first time that
we see JBS Gilead. In fact, jabish Gilead.
Is found just a few moments after Saul was truly anointed to
be king. And that's in first Samuel, 11,
and I want you to turn there very briefly, just to see what's
happening there. And first Samuel 11, The
ammonites threatened, a group of Israelites from jabish Gilead.
In verse 1. Then the hash the am and I went
up and besieged jabish Gilead and all the men of jabish.
Said than the hash make a treaty with us, and we will serve you.
But in the hash, the ammonites said to them on this condition,
I will make a treaty with you that I gouge out all your right
eyes and thus bring disgrace on all Israel.
You want to make a deal, here's the deal.
I won't kill you. Just let me make you all blind
at least with half your vision. They bring this news to saw the
spirit of God rushes upon Saul and he brings a mighty
Deliverance for the citizens of Jabez Gilead.
Years passed by saw looks a lot different than he did in first
Samuel 11. And yet in his death.
The citizens and the inhabitants of Jabez Gilead said he
delivered us. We must honor him.
We must respect him, he did something for us, we must do
something for him. Now we can apply that principle
in our need to honor on a horizontal level but what
greater motivation than to realize, what we what we must
give to Christ. We must give to him.
He is not an imperfect King. He is not a sporadic King, he
always is faithful. He doesn't just deliver us at
one time, he continues to deliver us and save us and
rescue us. And if that is the case, then
should we not risk it all to honor him?
Should we not? I remember when I first got
saved. And we did some little thing at
a church, a little skit. And they asked me to do as I
can. Okay, I'll do it.
So I just wanted to be nice. And they asked me to share a few
lines at the end of The Skit. So I did and it was all about
how Christ sacrificed for us and so I made the point if Christ
had sacrificed so much for him for us.
How much more should we sacrifice for him?
Amen. Amen.
Currents close.
You know and then I guess somebody in the crowd didn't
like what I said. And so they came up to me and
they said You know, you said, if Christ sacrificed so much for
us, what should we sacrifice for him?
And he said, brother, Christ's sacrifice everything.
We don't need to do anything for him.
And I had so many questions in that moment.
But I thought to myself, do you understand the depth of his
sacrifice? Do you understand the depth of
his sacrifice? Does it make you a mobile?
Is that the Revelation that you have that it makes you just sit
on your your hands? You see what Jeb has Gilly.
I did this great campaign. To honoring Saul was all pumping
from a heart filled with one thing and that's gratitude.
And that is the greatest quality of service to Christ when it
comes from the stream of Thanksgiving.
If not you will burn yourself out, if not, you will easily
fall into the pit of legalism. If what we're doing is not from
the place of Thanksgiving them. Why are we doing it?
Is it performance-based, is it? Because it's our duty?
What everything that you and I do comes from gratitude and the
depth of our gratitude comes from the depth of the revelation
of what he's done and that will affect the depth of our service
to him. So when somebody says something
like that to me just I don't know what it was but Only thing
I left from there was perhaps this man does not understand
what Christ deserves. Yes, we don't work to save
ourselves, that's that's basic. But what comes about in your
life when you reflect on what he's done and what jabish Gilead
is doing with something that happened years ago and you and I
likewise do something today based on what happened, 2,000
years ago, that affected you now that change you now, I would
love to end there but there's a verse left and verse 13 and
that's where I would like us to end and they took their bones
and buried them under the tamarisk.
Tree and jabish and fasted seven days.
The Bible does not give details for no reason.
Sometimes the Revelation is in the small minut details and
here's the detail. Why do I need to know what kind
of trees saw was buried under? Do you know why?
Because this is not the first time that a tamarisk tree.
Is mentioned alongside with Saul.
And it's very significant to realize the last place where
Saul is mentioned sitting under this kind of tree and connecting
it with where he ends his life. The last time where Saul is seen
with a tamarisk tree, is in 1st Samuel, 5:40, and that is the
official. Last verse of this Bible study?
When you go there, you'll notice something quite powerful. 22:6.
Now Saul heard that David was discovered and the men who were
with him saw was sitting at gibeah under the tamarisk tree
on the height with his spear in his hand and all his servants
were standing about him. Do you remember this study?
Saul was at one of his greatest Heights or you can say greatest
Lowe's. With his jealousy and his pride
in his envy and here he is sitting underneath this tree
with a spear in his hand. And he is so consumed with rage
and so overwhelmed with evil that he even commands the priest
from knob to be slaughtered because he thought that there
were conspiring against him by helping David.
And so this man who's sitting in this position of authority but
not just Authority, who is sitting and using his authority
to perform. Great evil to satisfy his pride
to satisfy the lust of the flesh.
Check this out. God has a, such a wonderful
sense of humor. Kills him.
And has him buried by the bones, under the same type of tree.
And I think there's a statement there.
And here's the statement. God knows how to Humble the
proud. And the very same place, where
you exercised, your evil and your sin, and thought that you
were Untouchable and thought that you were surrounded by
supporters and thought you had so much Authority.
That very same place. Can become your grave, Listen,
God knows how to Humble the proud and he can do it in very
creative ways. And so he would not be known as
the great commander, who sat under the tamarisk tree, he
would be known as the man who was decapitated, brutalized who
failed in his mission and was buried under the tamarisk tree.
May God help us finish? Well, May God help us finish?
Well, I don't want to just start really well.
I want to finish well. I want to finish with on or not
before men. I want to finish with with God's
Commendation in my life. What use is it what use is it if
men right about you or praise you who cares?
But to know that we bring a smile to his face face because
no matter what's all new in his life, no matter what kind of
satisfaction that he would enjoy with the moments that he
received some kind of recognition.
All of that would fade as he stood before the glory of God.
God. So keep that in mind as we end
this book, what better way of ending it with the thought of
Lord, help me finish. Well, And please, if you are
sitting in a position like Saul was at one point where you think
you can hold onto your sin and cos more sin.
And entertain it with no Consequence.
The Lord is so merciful, he will get your attention.
He will let you experience his Mercy.
He will wake you up with his goodness.
All these things will come about but there comes a point where he
says enough is enough. Have to put an end to this.
And he did it with Saul and what awaits us.
What awaits us saw was the big problem, right?
He's out of the way, he's out of the way.
It's done. Now, it's just going to be a
Utopia and Israel. No, no.
We have a whole nother book with a brand new challenges with
brand new Revelations that come with it.
Let's just ask the Lord to help us.
Lord, we thank you for this study.
And we asked you from the bottom of our hearts.
Oh God. Please, please help us live for
you, right? Thank you.
Lord, that you still have a Remnant, thank you, Lord, that
you still have a plan that in these dark days, Laura things
are still under your control. Lord, we just ask that in these
times, we would be found among those who are courageous and
faithful unto you. Although we thank you for Jesus.
We choose to live for him now before Heaven, before painless
existence, before glories, that will in rapturous Lord, when
it's difficult when it's hard, when it's challenging, we choose
to pledge our allegiance to the Lord Jesus Christ.
And even if it's a small number or God, we still want to be in
that number. Lord, let these truths change
us, and Lord, prepare us for this next study, be with us as
you've been with us, in 1st Samuel in Jesus mighty name we
pray, amen. Amen.
Even before we sing, here's, there's benefit to this from
time to time. Sometimes, I don't want us to
just go with the routine because we go on autopilot mode, just,
just where you're sitting right now.
As we end this book, Reflect on all that you've heard in the
past few weeks and months. I know it can be overwhelming to
think about but just something that you maybe even just from
today. Apply it and then bring it
before the Lord, and just speak to the Lord.
And just, we'll just spend a few moments doing that.
Lord. I believe you're the same God
that, I, that I just heard about and Lord, I'm just asking you to
do a work in my heart. And even if your dull and even
if you were distracted, this entire Bible study, which is
very possible. Tell him tell him to help you
tell him to rescue from that place.
After that, we will fellowship and we will laugh and we will
enjoy ourselves, but just in this moment between you and God
and just if you guys can play softly, just something softly,
just even the guitar and then we will sing together and then we
will move forward, okay? Just fellowship with the Lord.