Second Samuel chapter five, meet me there.
And as you come to this chapter meet me in verse 6.
Second Samuel. Chapter 5 verse verse 6.
And the King and his men went to Jerusalem against the jebusites,
the inhabitants of the land who said to David, you will not come
in here but the Blind and the lame will Ward you off thinking,
David cannot come in here. Nevertheless, David took the
stronghold of Zion that is the city of David and David said on
that day, whoever would strike the jebusites.
Let him get up the water shaft, to attack the lame and the
blind. Who are hated by David Soul.
Therefore, it is said the blind and the lame shall not come into
the house and David lived in the stronghold and called it.
The city of David and David built the city all around the
Milo, Inward and David became greater and greater for the
Lord. The god of hosts was with him.
Lord, this is your precious word.
We want to savor it tonight. We want to be nourished by it
tonight and father, we are excited to be in your house
tonight. Lord, open our minds disarm our
hearts and let the implanted word save our souls, save it
from sin, save it from Fear, save it from discouragement say,
From deception. We pray that there would be a
special touch on this Bible. Study Lord, we long to
fellowship with you and you have given us the means through your
word. Now let this word wash over us
cleanse us. Polish us, whatever needs to be
done for us to have a greater reflection of the person of
Jesus Christ. Oh, we are we are so honored.
Father to be in this place in your presence with your people
in Jesus name, we pray. Amen.
In a brief five versus if you were here last week you and I
read the Fulfillment of Samuel's prophetic word and God's promise
to David because he was finally inaugurated as the king over all
of Israel not just Judah but overall the tribes and in our
study tonight we will quickly note how David proved to be
God's chosen man. For the assignment because
almost Idiot Lee. He is going to make great
advancements for the nation. And when we see this, what we
also recognize is that in the following chapters, it will
really be just like a series of conquests and campaigns that
David is able to achieve and it will be a direct result of his
gifted leadership and his love for God.
And for God's people, and each story will give us the necessary
instructions to understand who God is and his ways with man,
but even with that General observations of this new action
in our study of the life of David as the king of Israel, we
already have something to consider and meditate, and it is
this and the same way that David brought about immediate
blessing, the moment, Israel recognize and elected him as the
king So it is with the person who submits to the lordship of
Jesus Christ, there is sudden reward, there is immediate
blessing, and if you're a follower of Jesus Christ, you
know, you know, that the moment you have truly repented and
believed on his name, there is this infusion of Peace.
This overwhelming Joy, this burden of sin that rolled off of
your back. And as a follower of Christ, You
know that that is just the beginning.
That is just the Genesis of the rewards that will follow us who
chose to follow him. And here's what's amazing in
this in this study, the way we're going to frame our
application is that in the same way, we see unique features that
are attributed to the kingship of David.
It will point to the ultimate fulfillment of the
characteristics that are found in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ,
when he takes up ownership of a life and when he will ultimately
take ownership of our world, And so we read it.
What was the first thing that King David sought to do as the
newly established leader? He, he thought it necessary to
create a headquarters, a political capital for Israel.
And the choice was Jerusalem. Any idea why Jerusalem?
Not many reasons, but there are some reasons.
Has anybody been to Jerusalem other than our Elder you've been
anything unique about Jerusalem? That would make this a good
choice for a capital. Very good.
Did you hear it? This was a strategic move
geographically. Speaking Jerusalem is a
mountainous region. It is hilly.
It is Rocky. And so it provides natural
fortification. And this is what David saw to do
to create his Citadel in a place where any enemy Invasion will be
much more difficult to accomplish.
And so he goes and there are other reasons.
There are other political reasons, but here is one to
consider that, this is a great move in terms of me.
A Terry genius. But as we read, David would not
plant his flag so easily in Jerusalem because it was already
occupied by the jebusites. And in case we have forgotten,
the jebusites are just one of the people groups who were the
inhabitants of the land of Canaan before Joshua LED Israel
into the promised land to overtake it and apparently we
read it. The jebusites resided with the
Israelites for centuries. And the main reason, why is
because there was a lack of ability or rather, a lack of
willingness, a lack of faith, from a particular tribe of
Israel, to remove the jebusites from the scene so that they can
have all that. God, purchased for them in the
promised land. Can you guess which tribe it was
that failed at the assignment of removing the jebusites.
Very good. The tribe of go to Judges
chapter one so you can see it. Judges one rewind a little bit
and look at judges one 1:21 and you'll see the answer our
brother said it but it's good to see it.
In our Bibles here is the tribe that failed. judges 121, but the
people of Benjamin did not drive out the jebusites who lived in
Jerusalem. So the jebusites have lived with
the people of Benjamin and Jerusalem to this day and
hundreds of years have passed from that moment and up to
David's Dynasty. Starting, we see the jebusites
are still there. Now, we went through judges to
see why this was the case, it was a lack of faith, ultimately
because God promised them that every single one of the enemies
can be overthrown and because of their own human wisdom or their
fears, they allowed some of these inhabitants to remain as
Neighbours when that was not, the will of God.
It would have generational consequences as we see here in
our study. But isn't this?
Isn't this something? Telling about someone from
Benjamin who was one of the main characters that we study who is
from Benjamin again, Saul and Saul was the king of Israel for
forty years. And isn't it strange that he did
not take it upon himself to do? What Benjamin was supposed to do
and that was overthrow the jebusites?
I mean, just add that to the list of failures that he
already. You already.
Did you already failed to do? he failed to overtake the
Philistines, he fare to defend the people from outside forces
and he ultimately failed here doing what was originally
Commander for this tribe and that was to ransack the enemy
from within But here's what significant Benjamin as we heard
last week. A portion of them, at least they
humble themselves. And they looked at David, and
they said, this is God's choice. This is, this is the king, the
true, king knots all not his descendants, this man has truly
been anointed of the Lord and the moment that they chose to
submit to the will of God, David could deliver, what Saul could
never provide That's Jesus. When you and I stubbornly, try
to govern our own lives, our dreams, our passions, our flesh,
our sin thinking, that we can rule ourselves well and refuse
to Bow before the anointed one of the Lord, then you will
never. When I mean never, I mean never
you will never know triumph over that which seeks to have
dominion over you. And you have people who are not
even Christian who can confess that there are certain habits
and decisions that are self destructive destructive to
others. They may not label it as Sin but
it is sin and you might even have professing Christians.
Not truly born again, but they profess to be Christians and
they can never seem to overcome certain things in their lives.
And I want to tell you, the reason is, is because you have
refused to give yourself to the lordship of Christ in totality.
And in the truest sense of the word, you have not arrived there
because the only solution for you to know.
Genuine freedom is to genuinely submit to Christ as Lord And if
not, then you will be like many people and just like The Tribe
of Benjamin, you will resolve that, you know, I guess I cannot
overcome this. And I will just live comfortably
and tolerate these ungodly habits in my life that are
eating up my soul and destroying me and others.
That's what people do. They just, they just live with
their sin. When there is one who can
conquer. As we sang, every sin, every
sin, And some might objectives say well I do profess that Jesus
Christ has, he's my king, he is my king.
And yet at the same time you are a slave to lust a slave to Pride
a slave to greet a slave to Envy.
I encourage you to be honest with yourself and ask this
question is Christ. King of all remember David
before he was king of Israel was king of One Tribe tribe of
Judah. And what's interesting is that
Was a neighboring tribe to Benjamin.
Meaning David as king of Hebron was very close.
Physically, speaking to The Tribe of Benjamin and yet they
still never knew victory over the jebusites.
And so you have some people who think Jesus is close to me, he's
close, he takes up my Sunday afternoon.
He takes up my my conversations with my Godly mother who tries
to remind me of what it means to be a true follower of Christ.
Yeah, he takes up my One of my apps out of my Hundred apps.
I get a verse of the day. He's close.
But you haven't crowned him yet. You haven't truly crowned him as
Lord. And so he's somebody that Trails
behind you that you take a peek at some times, but he doesn't
rule over you. And so you will never know
victory in this way, no matter how close Jesus until you remove
yourself from the Throne of your will and take the crown of your
life and place it on his blessed brow, you will remain defeated,
you will not know the maximum force of God's promises that
have been purchased in Jesus Christ.
But can only be unlocked and access through surrender to his
lordship. So look at this example and
never forget it. This happens in so many ways.
I remember speaking to somebody who have never met.
It was through a friend who said please, there's somebody in this
person was was successful on YouTube.
And this person said I suffer with anxiety.
I suffer with. I just talked over the phone
with, with a lack of assurance of my future.
Can you give me any Biblical verses or truths?
That can help me and what came to mind was Philippians 4:7,
right? That the, the peace of God, the
peace of God can provide such a healing and guard your minds in
your hearts in Christ Jesus. And here's the thing, you can
give that to somebody who's unregenerate, you could Point
them to that truth, but if you read on in verse 9 of the same
text, Paul speaks not about the peace of God, but about the God
of Peace. In other words, you can't have
the peace of God until you first have the God of Peace.
You can't have the blessings and the benefits and less you,
crowned him as Lord. And lets you determine when your
heart everything and all that I have belongs to you and some of
the the best ways of evaluating whether this is true in our
lives. I mean, you know, in your heart
of hearts if he's truly Lord but cut up the segments of your life
and ask yourself business belong to Christ.
Does this belong to Price. Does this belong to Christ?
Do I submit to Jesus lordship here?
Do I submit to Jesus of lordship here?
See David was. Lord of One Tribe but not all
tribes. So the tribes would not know
total blessing. And in the same way, if you give
Christ part of your life, you will not know all of his
Blessing. In fact, you will know none of
it is either Lord of all or not Lord at all.
And so, we see that David here. Finally becoming king of all the
tribes. Namely, and more specifically
Benjamin, Benjamin can finally know after centuries of bondage,
after centuries of bondage, the moment David was crowned, their
freedom came. I believe, listen, I believe
this gospel is more powerful than a thousand years of
counseling. A thousand years of it.
It's better than any rehab program.
It's better than, and I'm not against those things.
I'm just saying if they're not lace with Biblical truth, and
empowered by the spirit, you will not know true, Freedom.
True freedom is in Christ, is in this gospel.
The wisdom of God's word, receive by faith.
I've seen in my own life, I've seen in other people's lives and
I will believe it for those who need Freedom.
Did you notice the taunt of the jebusites and the second part of
verse 6, they said to David, you will not come in here but the
Blind and the lame will Ward. You off thinking, David cannot
come in here. Unfortunately this is an ugly
picture of Pride and this Pride was bread because of this
undefeated resistance against the Israelites the jebusites new
a history of strength. So to speak and success because
of the uniqueness of the fortification.
And so now when David comes as a challenge like If we put blind
and deaf people on these walls, they can defend against you.
And so there's scorned here, there's mockery here, there's
belittlement here. And this is prophetically.
A picture of the wicked today, who mocked Jesus, who think they
can resist against the sovereignty of Jesus who can
thwart Jesus, who can ward of Jesus, and what was true here
with David will be true one day, when Christ himself will invade,
not just the world Jerusalem and set up his headquarters.
For a thousand years and no matter what anybody says, or
thinks they will not be able to stop him, he will have his way,
he will conquer. The nation's, he will rule and
Reign, and the Kings, and the president.
And the prime minister's will have to accept it.
They will have to, I love that in verse 7, the first word
nevertheless, despite the mocking and the blaspheming and
the hating is Jesus will ultimately have his will and he
will conquer. What seems to be on conquerable.
He will make his presence and power known and everybody will
be able to realize it and here's what's so encouraging.
Because like I said, nevertheless right?
David took the stronghold of Zion that is the city of David.
Now, let me relate that back to sin, no matter how strong that
sin has been in your life. No matter how pesky it's been,
no matter how stubborn it's been no matter how Relentless.
It's been Christ can overcome it.
He really can break bondages. He really can break chains and
so don't believe the lies of sin, don't believe that the
Temptations don't give up, give yourself to Christ over and over
again and watch him. Create a true synodal as he
brings down strongholds by his power.
Nevertheless We see you that there's a prophetic picture, but
here's the Practical picture. What a dangerous illustration
for the proud. Here's the lesson that the fate
of The Proud is ultimately a downfall for any kind of person
for any, kind of individual for any kind of project for any kind
of ministry. Anything that is done with
arrogance or anything. That is that produces a sense of
strength and self-glory will result in God, finding a way to
bring it to the dust every single time.
And they seem so confident right?
The Holy Spirit could have could have hidden this thing about how
these jebusites were flaunting their strength in the face of
David. And God, he could have hidden
it, but he wants to surface it to teaches a valuable lesson.
The proud cannot get away with their pride.
And God takes into consideration.
Every Bose every high and lofty thought and he will indeed do
something about it. In fact, what do you see here in
verse 8 and David said on that day, whoever would strike the
Zeb jebusites, let him get up the water shaft to attack the
lame and the blind who are hated by David Soul, hated by David
Soul. Well, what did he hate you hate,
he hated the pride that was spewing out of their mouths.
The stench of conceit and arrogance, that's what he hated.
And like our Lord. Jesus has a special hatred for
Pride, he does. I know that might conflict with
the Sunday school version of Jesus, who would not dare blush
with righteous indignation. But as always, happy and glad
Meek and Mild he hates with a perfect hatred.
And one of the things that arouses his judgment Is pride.
Is pride. In fact, there is a prophecy
about what Jesus will do, like David in a grander way when
Jesus, the son of David, the descendant of David will come
and establish his worldwide Empire.
And the prophecy which is really encouraging to me, is in a book
that perhaps many people don't read, Zephaniah.
Have you heard of him? He's in there, Zephaniah, find
him if you can't find them. There's a table of contents.
That's there for the humble. To say, I will go there to find
Zephaniah. when you go to Zephaniah, go to chapter 3 and I
want you to see prophecy about what the King of Kings will do
when he invades. The nation's Zephaniah 311.
Are you there? Yes.
You brought your textbook to school.
Zephaniah. 311 on that day, on that day.
You shall not be put to shame. He speaking to the nation of
Israel, you shall not be put to shame because of the Deeds by
which you have rebelled against me.
Pause, there is not wonderful. We will not be put to shame.
We will not be put to shame because of the redeeming blood
of Jesus as we stand before him. He will not rub, our Deeds of
rebellion against us or in our faces.
I praise God for that. But look at this for then.
I will remove from your midst. You're proudly.
Exalted ones. And you shall no longer be
haughty in my Holy Mountain. One of the first things that
Jesus Christ will prioritize in his return, is that he will rid
the Earth of those who are proud.
He will cleanse the lands from those who have a sense of
Independence. Defiance against God, who glory
in their positions, who boast in their possessions, who think?
They are not accountable to anybody who have no thought or
regard. Were the one who created him.
One of the first things on Jesus To Do List when he returns is.
Let's get rid of the lands from those who exalt n't.
And who believe they are something apart from me.
And it will be a successful campaign.
No matter what these proud men have accomplished, no matter
what kind of strength or resources, they have behind
their name. They will be removed, but not
just that they will be replaced. In other words, there will be a
Remnant left and that's in verse 12.
But look what the Lord says, I will leave in your midst of
people humble. Humble and lowly.
They shall seek refuge in the name of the Lord.
Those who are left in Israel. They shall do no Injustice and
speak, no lies. Nor shall there.
Be found in their mouth? Deceitful tongue for?
They shall graze and lie down and None Shall make them afraid.
So, here's what you have in contrast to the wicked who will
be judged and the millennial Reign.
The citizens of God's kingdom will be characterized by
humbleness and lowliness. And although, this is a future
promise, understand something, as Believers, we believe and a
present, and future reality of God's Kingdom.
So we believe that we are citizens of God's kingdom.
Now, that Christ rules in the heavens triumphantly that he
abides in our hearts, that we have been commissioned as
ambassadors, from a Heavenly Embassy, and to these worldly
embassies. And as we Faithfully represent
him, we await the physical manifestation of His worldwide
domain. So there is a present and not
yet aspect of God's kingdom. Why do I bring that up?
I bring that up because if Christ truly rules over a life
in the now that I am under the conviction that the realities of
the future Kingdom will be present in the heart of the
believer today. In other words, if Christ will
be king will cause Pride to be removed and replaced with
humility, then Christ who rules in the heart.
Now will have the same effect will have the same work will
have the same result. And this is what I want to
present to you because if you want to know whether or not the
rule of crisis in affecting your life, then here's just one
example. Among many, if Christ is really
my king, then you will know something of a work, a removal
of self-regulation, and a replacement of Integrity that
reflects the lowliness of Jesus Christ.
And if we desire to know that, then all you have to do is see
how Zephaniah describes, what humility looks like, what
humbleness looks like. If you really, if you really
want, to be honest before God, and before yourself Lord, are
you really the king of my life? Because I see that one day, you
will become king and when you do become king, you will do
something of a work. Of a removal of Pride and a
replacement of humility. Is that true of me?
We'll look at the effects, look at the features of the humble
and lowly, who will be citizens of God's kingdom.
What do you see there in verse 12, what's the first thing?
What will the humble and lowly do?
They will. Seek refuge in the name of the
Lord. That's how you know, there's
there's a work of Christ kingship in a heart.
You now have this new understanding that God himself
is the source of your strength that he is the source of your
power. He is your provider, he is your
protector and he is the one that receives all the credit for any
good that you enjoy Here. And Now, And so, there is this
realization. I cannot depend on myself
anymore. I do not find anything within
myself, all that I need and all that I have comes from my refuge
who is God himself. And so that's an inward
acknowledgement that comes to life.
When Jesus, Jesus lovingly takes his place in your heart and it
becomes an outward acknowledgement as well.
There is this boasting. So to speak in Christ, he is the
one who is My All In All He is the one who has control, he is
the one who determines all things.
My hope is in him, not just for my salvation, but in everything,
in all things, he is my refuge. This is where I live Under The
Canopy under the banner of God is my fill in the blank.
And so the first thing that you can expect from somebody who has
truly made Jesus king is that they know that from him and
through him and to him are all things.
The David believe that when he became king he did, I don't want
you to turn there, but but we read it later on in the very
same text that we're studying when he actually overtakes the
jebusites. We have a, we have an awesome
commentary about David's attitude.
Here it is and chapter 5 of second, Samuel verse Listen to
this, just listen to this, and David knew that the Lord had
established him King over Israel.
And that he had exalted his kingdom for his sake.
No, for the sake of his people, Israel?
What a frame of mind that even after success, over an enemy,
that could not be taken down for hundreds of years.
David knew as a response, this is God.
This is him, not only is it him but I know that I bring brought
to this prominent position, not not for my ego.
Not because I have some special favor in God's eyes so that I
can enjoy Authority and enjoy access to whatever I want.
No. But for the sake of God's
people, can you imagine that? I mean no wonder this man is a
man after God's heart. He realized that whatever he had
came from him. We studied that at Maranatha.
And so it is with Those who have Christ ruling in their hearts.
They have that recognition brimming in their souls.
But look at verse 13 and Zephaniah, you're still there,
right? What else has mentioned about
those who are humble and lowly? What are the characteristics
that describe such such people? What is he saying?
Yes. Yes.
First thing They shall do no Injustice. one of the main
reasons you want to know one of the main reasons why there is
Injustice in like our legal system, for example, selfish
gain selfish gain. There's a Personal Agenda,
though. They have a duty for the common,
good of the people, they will step on anything and anyone in
order to protect and provide for themselves.
Even if it's corrupt, even if it's evil, they don't care.
And the reason why I say that is the main reason is because that
is a main thing that the Lord himself brings up whenever he
deals with leaders who are unjust.
He tends to always point to bribery as the cause Right.
Self-preservation. Then being the top of the list.
And in terms of prioritization, that is the reason you can
replace Injustice with unfairness.
And the reason that there is unfairness is not because I'm
talking from a leadership standpoint is because not
because of a lack of competence per se, but because of self
self. And so I bring that up because
those who have Christ ruling in their hearts will not be unjust.
Which also means will not be selfish will not be unfair.
So let's break that down true citizens of the kingdom of God.
Under the administration of the humble leader of the nation's
leader of the universe. They're not going to show
favoritism. Right.
They're not going to, they're not going to manipulate others
and slander their neighbors so that they can promote self.
They're not going to allow themselves to be guided by
emotions or or by human wisdom, the standard of their judgment
the standard of their decisions, out of the fear of the Lord will
be God's word supremely. It will be God's will no matter
what it costs them. And so, you have to understand
that there is a a work that is done.
In terms of how we deal with others, we do not become
priority number one. We see that the good of others,
the glory of God takes place of us.
We're in the backseat of this whole thing.
We're in the back seat. That's what Jesus does when he
becomes king of a life. There's this the sphere of us,
elevating ourselves in a holy way fear of of bringing
ourselves to a place where everything revolves around us
and there is this conscious awareness.
Yes, our flesh gets strong sometimes, but there is an
awareness that this is not not what we're made for.
This is not what it means to be a Christian.
And we try to imitate the servanthood of the one who is
also King. Our brother mentioned that
there's a third thing, Zephaniah highlights, the work of Christ
when he sets up his Millennial Reign, not just in the fact that
those who are humble and lowly will be what taking the Refuge
in the name of God, or will refuse to do Injustice, but
there's another thing they will speak, no lies, nor shall there.
Be in their mouth, a deceitful tongue.
I'm going to be very bold and my statement here, okay.
If a person can comfortably deceive if a person can bend the
truth, without a sense of conviction, I know one thing
about that person, Jesus Christ is not their King.
Because he is truth and we are people who have been saved by
truth and we prize the truth. We are Sanctified by the truth
and so we are of Truth and about truth.
And so people who can, who can live in a habitual state of
lying and twisting and even exaggerating have some serious
questions to ask of whether or not the truth is really their
King. And God Because I see that when
Jesus becomes king his his population, his people will have
pure speech. They will have pure speech, they
will be honest, they will be forthright, they will not seek
to imitate. Any kind of manipulation, but
they will seek to instead imitate the character of their
King, their testimonies will be reliable.
You don't have to question their yes, or their know, anything,
that would even resemble a shade of questionable Integrity will
be, will be expelled by the strength of the spirit.
And so I'm just, I'm just giving this to you to help you read the
Bible with a deeper lens, right? If Christ will become king one
day and we Have to talk about the end times, right?
We love to talk about what Jesus will do it.
And out of curiosity, we talked about how a lion will lie with a
little puppy and, and the Wolf will be with the snake.
Okay? That's, that's all wonderful.
But but look at the implication what happens when Jesus becomes
king? And if it's going to happen,
then should have not how happen now to some degree.
Yes, it should. And so the same way, David comes
in and removes the proud and exalting ones in the It's that's
what Christ will do when he invades your heart, all those
voices and all those, those justifications that try to make
this whole thing about you and me, they died.
Jesus Christ, died on the cross for my sins.
Amen. Hallelujah.
But Jesus Christ also wants to crucify you and me, he does not
for our salvation but so that he can live through us Pop quiz.
Yeah. David when he announced that he
would invade the jebusites, did not say he would do it but he
offered it up as an assignment. As a challenge, he invited his
men to take it upon themselves to go in and to lead the attack
and presumably if they would do that, if one would do that, then
he would offer them some kind of reward.
And we learned later on that it was actually promotion to a
certain position. So here's my question, who did
it? Any idea.
Who accepted it and who achieved it?
And who was promoted any ideas? I'm going to give you the answer
in a few seconds, but it's going to be in a reference.
You have to turn there. You got you guys understand what
I'm saying, right? Okay, good.
Because the teacher always wants to make sure they're clear.
You guys understand that read verse 8 to see what I'm saying?
Whoever would strike the jebusites so he is not, he is
not leading the charge. She is trying to test the
loyalty and the strength of his men by making this an
opportunity for them to prove themselves.
So who said yes and who received it any idea?
Another lesson of how we need to know other portions of the Bible
to comprehend, whatever, we're reading in the moment, okay?
If you want to know the answer, I'm not going to give it to you.
You can have to turn to First Chronicles, First Chronicles,
chapter 11. You have it.
Well, let me give the reference and I'll ask you and First
Chronicles 11:6, do you have it Vivian?
What is it? Did you hear the answer?
Well, let's find out if you're right first Chronicles, chapter
11 verse 6, Sometimes that beats people to their Bible.
So David said, whoever strikes the jebusites.
First shall be Chief and Commander.
That's the reward. And Joe had the son of Zechariah
went up first so he became chief joab job.
Succeeded I learned something from this.
Job was very gifted. He was very gifted, he could
strategize. And then you couple that with
this fearlessness, and he was top-tier Soldier, he would, he
was somebody that you wanted on your team.
But here's what I take out of it because we already have a
background on job to know something.
About this achievement. And is this, that it is, it is
possible to be To be overwhelmingly talented or have
great ability and at the same time, walk and poor character.
If we were introduced to job at this point we would think he was
a man of Faith. A man of Courage, a man who
trusted in God's power and intervention but we already have
been introduced to job and he has been brought to us in a
negative light because job although he was a military
genius was a cold-blooded murderer.
And what's what's amazing? Here is that when you read on in
second Samuel, we come to the end of David's, Rule and Reign.
And there is a portion of this book that gives us a list of
David's, mighty, men. Have you read that chapter?
It's just one named after the next and sometimes with that
name comes with the very thing that made them stand out in
David's ranks as they were recognized for their
faithfulness to his his government. here's the thing,
we'll get there when we go there, but when you go to that
list of men in chapter 23, of second Samuel, you know what
you'll realize somebody's not mentioned guess who Joab is not
mentioned, hold on the chief and the commander of David's Army is
not even once recognized for his faithfulness and Fidelity to
David. How can that be?
In fact, you want to see something even more shocking?
I'm not going to tell you. You gotta turn the leaves of
sacred scripture and go to chapter 23.
I want you to see this with your own eyes and look here in verse
37 of chapter 23. This is near the end of the list
of the Mighty Men Who served alongside David and the Holy
Spirit honors. These men there's great great
great instruction in this but notice second Samuel chapter 23
verse 37 and this might have found you zoellick the ammonite.
Nah, hirai of beer off, the armor bearer of Joy, the son of
Zechariah. So, you're telling me.
That the guy secretary. His assistant.
Was named among the Mighty Men of David and joab was excluded.
Jesus. On the last and final day.
I will exalt and esteem those that we did not think he would
and will not recognize those that we thought he should.
If you're, if you're shocked by this, you're in for your
enforce, a shot that might last hundreds of years in eternity.
When you see who the Lord will promote and lavish with reward
and who he will not even identify as a servant despite
their history or their Ministry on Earth.
That's that's how much character means to the Lord.
Jesus. That's how much Holiness means
not. Our Achievements, not are
accomplished, not accolades, not what we have on our walls and
Frames. Not how many people love us and
share our stuff. None of that.
What he will esteem. The most is faithfulness done in
humility. And running this race.
As Timothy says, with the rules that he is established.
And so I see something here for myself, Lord I don't care if I'm
an armored beer on Earth, if you will.
Praise and commend what I was able to offer you from my
redeemed status, not for my Redemption but from my forgiving
place I'd rather be an armor Bearer than take over cities and
Nations. Give me a local church somewhere
tucked in some rural area. Instead of preaching Crusades
with thousands of people, if it means that at the end of the
day, you will look at me and smile.
I hope you have the same heart. Let's come back to 2nd Samuel.
Let's look at verse 9 and David lived in the stronghold and
called at the city of David. That's not an arrogant thing.
That's just a way of identifying, his headquarters
and David built the city, right all around from the Mellow and
word, and David became greater and greater for the Lord.
The god of hosts was with him. Now, in the next few verses,
what you and I are going to be hold is really just like a
snapshot highlight reel of all these good things that happen,
right? So almost as if you saw it on
film it be that time where you see just like just b-roll shots
with like dramatic music. We're just one good thing is
happening after the next but here's the issue.
If you read this too fast, you might lose sight of something
that actually is a hint of another spiritual.
Lesson that is instrumental in our own sanctification, and so
let's just read it. So we see here that he takes
over the city. Not only does he take over the
city but he builds a city. He expands the city and it goes
beyond those borders, verse 11 and Haram king of Tyre, sent
Messengers to David and cedar trees.
Also carpenters, and Mason's, who built David, a house and
David knew that the Lord had established him King over Israel
and that he had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his
people Israel. So, now what he had next, you
have a form Pagan King Who realizes this this King.
David is is somebody special and so he wants to have some kind of
Allegiance with him. And so he sends a gift and what
does he do? He sends resources and Sons
work. Many says, let me build you a
palace in the city of David. And on top of that, more
importantly, despite the fact that there's great success here,
he maintains the health of his soul, how we see here that in
verse 12, as we heard he acknowledges God as the source
of all his success. God is the one who did this for
me and God brought me here to serve others and not serve
myself. And so this is great, this is
wonderful. And then we read on verse 13.
And David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem after
he came from Hebron and more Sons.
And Daughters were born to David.
And these are the names of those who are born to him in
Jerusalem. Chamois show, Bob Nathan
Solomon. If har Eli schewe, Neff, egg
yaffa, Eli shama Elida and Ellie fella that I do, okay, The
hebrew-speaking, man. So now we see that not only is
his kingdom expanding, we see that his family is expanding its
growing. Good thing or a bad thing.
Bad, thank you, red flag. Not a good sign.
If you get caught up in the hype of the Highlight Reel.
You think? Yeah?
What. Look at this, look, the
building. The city's becoming beautiful is
becoming stronger than whatever the jebusites could do.
We see that? Even now, there's a line says
outside, we see that there's there's International
recognition and look at David. He's as family is growing too.
Red flag red flag because you and I know her Bible is enough
to realize that David having more wives and more kids with
those wise is a direct violation of Deuteronomy 17, which
instructs the nation of Israel, that no King should have more
than one wife. What's Happening Here?
Everything was so good up to this point.
And if we're not familiar with that context, we would think
that this is harmless. This is okay, this is, this is
just part of the success. This is a warning.
This is a warning and here's the warning.
When we see how much God is doing to us.
And through us, we become strangely confident if we're not
careful that there are certain compromises that God will not
take into consideration. When we see how much God is
doing to us, I can use the word for ice and how much is doing
through us. Strange suggestions.
Begin to surface? That attempt to convince us that
there are certain doors that we can open.
And God will wink at it. and, This is the Temptation, not for
the suffering but for the successful you know, you have
many people who think that when you're suffering you're the most
vulnerable to sin and I say it is equally true if not more true
that when you're walking in success.
That's strange suggestions. Begin to surface in our hearts.
That caused us to entertain certain things that don't seem
to disturb us though. They are clearly wrong according
to God's heart. I remember I don't remember the
details of it but I remember reading it and it making an
impression on me years ago. Of a study of different pastors
who have morally failed. And when they sought to dig in
to see why, this was the case, one of the reasons was that some
of these men thought that because they were serving the
lord for so long that they can please themselves because they
thought that in doing. So they would receive relief and
God would understand because they have worked so hard for his
kingdom. This is what I'm trying to say.
Strange suggestions begin to surface and the place of
consistent service to the Lord especially when there is
promotion and more Effectiveness being realized And what happens
really is, people begin to think that rules don't apply or that.
God obviously is using me to the degree that he cannot remove me.
and so well-known minister in the 80s, and I won't mention his
name was Was exposed for a moral failure.
And one of the Back stories behind that was that God had
sent many warnings to this man. And one of those warning said,
you have, you have clearly neglected, your personal time
and prayer, your personal time in the word of God.
And you're neglecting your time with your wife and if you need
to shut down all the Ministries so that you can get back to the
basics to the very thing that will anchor, you and your
sanctification. And the response of this man who
did fall was something along the lines of we're bringing in a
million dollars, either a day or a week, we're reaching this many
people. I've been anointed by God and
you think I'm going to shut this all down.
And he dismissed the warning, and not only that, but with
arrogance, he responded to his accountability and within a few
months he was caught with a prostitute. and so what we see
here are our seeds of sin that will later on bring about sorrow
to David and the Very Kingdom that he thought would not be
affected by these decisions initially, And so let me make
that point. Again, we often think that we
are most vulnerable to send when we are suffering.
When in fact, we are more vulnerable when we are
succeeding. and so David at this concluding point, Had a
foothold. There was a foothold there that
as we will find out later on, would come back to bite him.
So we have to be careful. We have to be on watch.
We have to be on watch, especially when the fruit of Our
Lives seems to just falling everywhere and so many people
are benefiting from our lives and being blessed by our lives.
Let's look at a Ministry content.
A Ministry context here. If God.
So chooses to overwhelm us, with greater success in Greater
influence, in Greater reach, it is in those.
That we need to be peripheral. All the more look, I'll be
honest the the times, where we feel like we don't need to pray
or the times when we feel like everything's going.
Right. It's amazing what chaos and
Havoc. Does it throws us on our knees
but we must be a people who know early on that not just when
things are Troublesome but especially when all is well that
we would be even more vigilant. That we would be even more
desperate and more careful. Then if things were not going
our way, this is the kind of caliber that that we need to
reach as Servants of the Lord. Jesus Christ, right?
This is why stories like this are given to us so that we
ourselves would be equipped to know how to endure, not just
suffering. But success, Success.
I'll conclude with this, I'll conclude with the gospel.
Truth, making a full circle, perhaps you're in this place.
You've heard of Jesus Christ. You've heard of the essence of
the Christian message, right? You could talk to heathens and
I've talked to them, I've talked to them on the streets.
I've talked to them, not knowingly at the moment,
intoxicated talk them when they stumbled out of clubs and you
ask them what Jesus did for Sinners and they'll say he
forgave us on the cross, God sent it to die for Since I was
their stumbling over their own, their own breath.
And so you might have that general knowledge but I have a
question for you and it is this is he king of your life?
Is he King? Have you declared that?
He is the owner. He is the savior and he is the
master of your soul. And there's this prophecy.
Remember, I've been pointing to a lot of Prophecies of what is
yet to come, but there is a well-known prophecy that.
Has anybody ever memorized Isaiah 9:6?
We usually bring it up at Christmas time.
Does anybody know Isaiah 9:6 by heart?
Yes, for unto us. A child is born.
Child is given right? Yes.
Anybody know by heart. Go for it.
If, you know it. Okay, that's Isaiah 9:7.
So many of us know, Isaiah 9:6 but we don't continue to see
Isaiah 9:7 and its implications there.
Isaiah 9:7 tells us something concerning the second coming of
Christ. The first coming is in Isaiah
9:6 and the second coming is I Nee 97 Isaiah 9:7 tells and
reads of the increase of his government and of Peace.
There will be no end. So, when it actually sets up,
his government with his government will be unending,
peace. That's what this world is
looking for, right? But here's the thing, the theme
of unending peace will not be known until Christ.
Is made king without rival. Only when Christ is unrivaled
King. Well, we know unending, peace,
and listen. What is true?
Globally is true individually. I've been trying to make that
case all night that. If you want to know a piece,
that doesn't make sense. If you want to know resolve and
rest and wholeness in your soul, then you must make him King.
Today. And only then will you know, the
benefits of his kingship. Is your soul at peace with God?
Or are you, are you concerned about your Eternal Faith?
Your Eternal destination is your soul at rest to know that you
are living in the very purpose and design that you were created
for. And that is fellowship with God.
Is your sin under the blood of Jesus?
Or do you have this concern that as you stand before the Living
God? Which we all will and the
account of your life is brought forth.
That you have, no substitute, you have no payment, it will be,
it will be on your shoulders. I present to you the King.
Jesus Christ. Who is here to rescue you.
He is he wants to save you from your sin.
He wants to save you from that. Hollowness in your soul.
He wants to fill it with himself.
He wants to give you the assurance that you are safe for
all of eternity and he wants you to know the blessings that will
be in full fruition when he actually physically Returns on
this Earth today and day by day. He is a good King.
There's no one like him. He's a better King than you are
of your own life. You showed up in this world he
made you and determined. When you would come into this
world, I think he will be a better King than you.
And here's the thing, he is not a king who comes with an iron
fist. He is a king who comes to die
and he did to make that bridge between you and him so that you
can enjoy his presence forever and how do you do that?
You repent and believe you realize how good he is and has
goodness brought himself to the cross for your name and for your
sake and for your soul and then you acknowledge that by saying,
I don't want this. Send that put him on the cross.
I don't want the sin. That condemns me.
I want Be rescued by this this man who is the king of all
things, and he will save you. Lord.
We thank you for this study. And we ask Lord that in this
time. There would be a renewed Found
Love. For the realities that you've
purchased for us. When you become king and we
pray. And we ask that for those who
might who might not know you in this place that today, they will
bow the knee at your throne and they will say, Lord Jesus, I
confess you as my savior. I confess that God raise you
from the dead. I confess that you are the
living Christ and that you have come to rescue.
Sinners. I am a sinner saved my soul.
I long to be a citizen of your kingdom.
I long to live with you for all of eternity and Lord made this
may this night be a turning point for someone.
And may your kingdom grow through the ministry of
Maranatha, Bible Church. Help us be faithful ambassadors
of your kingdom and Jesus name we pray.
Amen. Let's stand and worship this
King together.