Great hymn. We're going to turn in our
Bibles to First Samuel chapter 20.
First Samuel chapter 20, as you find the place, I do want to
preach what I'm calling A1 off topical message and we'll apply
it as the Lord gives help next week in the will of God.
We'll return then to Thessalonians and try to finish
off chapter 5 at least. First Samuel chapter 20, we'll
read from the verse 11. The words will come up and
scream. For those that are on the
Internet, let's hear the word of God.
First Samuel chapter 20, verse 11.
And Jonathan said unto David, Come and let us go out into the
field. And they went out, both of them
into the field. And Jonathan said unto David, O
Lord God of Israel, when I have sounded my father about
tomorrow, anytime, or the third day, and behold, if there be
good toward David, and I, then send not unto thee, and show it
thee, the Lord do so, and much more to Jonathan.
But if it please my Father to do thee evil, then I will show it
thee, and send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace, and the
Lord be with thee as he hath been with my father.
And thou shalt not only while I, while yet I live, show me the
kindness of the Lord, that I die not, but also thou shalt not cut
off thy kindness from my house forever.
No, not when the Lord hath cut off the enemies of David,
everyone from the face of the earth.
So Jonathan made a covenant with the House of David, saying, let
the Lord even require it at the hands of David enemies.
And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved
him, for he loved him as he loved his own soul.
Then Jonathan said to David, Tomorrow is the new moon, and
thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty.
Amen. We know the Lord's stamp of his
own approval and blessing, this reading of his own precious and
infallible word. Amen.
Now my text this morning is taken from first Samuel chapter
20 and verse 18. It reads as follows.
Then Jonathan said to David, Tomorrow is the new moon, and
thou shalt be missed because thy seat will be empty.
They have entitled this message the silence speech of an empty
seat. The context of our text is a
moment filled with great tension and fear and uncertainty.
David once celebrated as a hero of Israel after the death of
Goliath of Gath. It's now a fugitive.
King Saul's jealousy has turned murderous, and David's life
hangs in a balance. Jonathan, Saul's son, and David,
his closer friend, are having a meeting before the feast of the
new moon. They agree on a particular test
to prove whether there's murders intent in Saul's heart or not,
and as part of that test, David will not appear at the King's
table during the feast of the New Moon.
Notice what Jonathan actually said to David.
Tomorrow is the new moon, and thou shalt be missed.
We can ask why. Here's the answer.
Because thy seat would be empty. Beloved, listen to me carefully.
The Holy Scriptures often speak to us not only by what is
present, but also by what is absent.
Do you know that God uses silence silence speech to teach
His people? And then our text?
Notice that Jonathan speaks of such a silent speech.
David's seat at the King's table will be empty.
Oh yes, the feast will go on, the food will be served, the
places will be set, but one seat will be empty, and that one seat
will proclaim a silent sermon. It will preach A sermon louder
than the rest. Notice that Jonathan says thou
shall be missed. I believe these words were
uttered in sorrow. David, the Lord's anointed, has
been forced into hiding. Saul, the once chosen king, has
hardened his heart against David.
He's intent in lifting up his hand against the innocent.
So Jonathan, a godly son in an ungodly home, speaks lovingly
and tenderly and affectionately to his friend.
You see, this is about more than a seat at the table, because
that seat at the table speaks of a place that's no longer filled.
It speaks of an empty place of fellowship.
It speaks of an empty calling. It speaks and proclaims A solemn
sermon to every generation. Because that empty seat speaks
to us about purpose and time and value and loss and
responsibility. When Jonathan uttered these
words, he was speaking simply from his heart.
He was speaking sorrowfully to his friend.
And yet, as I thought about them, they echo a very deep
meaning. So this morning I just want us
to consider before we return to Thessalonians, I want us to
consider this the silent speech of an empty seat.
Firstly, think about the transitory nature of an empty
seat. You see, everyone of us here
understands the phrase, even the children.
Thy seat will be empty. For all of us in our homes have
empty seats, seats that are no longer filled.
The silence of an empty seat has preached to us at the dinner
table, caused a tear, caused a pang of grief, stirred up
memories in our mind and heart. The same applies to the House of
God. We think of Saints who have been
called home to glory. We think the same when we visit
the graveyard to lay flowers at the tomb of a loved 1.
You see an empty seat. Reminds me that life is
temporary, that life is transitory.
There's a transitory nature to seek.
Life is transitory. It reminds us of the brevity of
life. Did Job not say Job 14 and one
man that is born a woman is a few days and full of trouble.
As the sparks fly upward, Did Moses not pray?
In Psalm 90, verse 12, Teach us to number our days, that we may
apply our hearts unto wisdom. Not our years, not our months,
not our weeks, but our days. Because we're only promised one
day at a time. We're not even guaranteed
tomorrow. One day we are born and we
celebrate that special birthdays.
We grow in strength. We go to school, university and
then we go out into the field of work and labour in Our Calling.
And if the will of God, we progress in the middle years and
then we grow old and one day our seat will be vacant.
One day our seat will be empty. One day we will die.
And in the home, when a father's seat is empty, leadership is
missed, stability is gone, strength is no more.
When a mother's seat is empty and the home is broken because
mummy is gone, then you think of the mummy's nature and prayers
and love and warm compassion. It is missed most kingly.
How when a child's seat is empty, doesn't the joy go out of
the home and the laughter and the hope?
Oh, it has gone. Life becomes an existence.
You see, the reality is this. Listen to me carefully.
Husbands leave empty seats, wives leaves anti seats.
Fathers and mothers leave anti seats.
Children and young people, parents, friends, neighbours,
Saints of God, work colleagues, they all leave anti seats.
One day the cool hand of death comes and takes these away from
the place that they once occupied.
The places where they once sat is empty.
The dinner table changes. The church Pew changes the Kirk
session room changes the committee room changes the
prayer meeting seats that were once filled and occupied.
Places where there was laughter and wisdom and love.
Strength. It's become vacant.
Listen to me carefully. David's seat was empty.
Why? Because.
Of the transitory nature of the empty seat.
David's seat was empty because life had shifted, Circumstances
had changed. Nothing in this world is
permanent, James tells us. Life is like a vapour that
appears for a little while and then vanishes.
The way James, 4 and 14, the silence of an empty seat teaches
us that physical life is tampering.
You're only here for a little time.
You used to visit a woman in Ballymena, and she had a little
sign outside her door, and it was in Latin.
And it I asked her one day what it meant, for I didn't know
Latin, and she said it just means here for a little time.
Every time people enter that home, that sign was preaching a
sermon here for a little time. I don't think it she meant it
literally, but but that's what the sign said.
Life was tampering only here for a little time.
You know, I can look back, think of the day I was born.
I think of where I went to school.
I think of what happened when I left the secondary school, the
big school, through the school bag into the river.
Ban 16, started my first job. You can do the same.
Look at your life now. Some of you're in your 20s, some
of you're planning your wedding, some of you're in your 30s.
Soon you'll be 40, soon you'll be 60, soon you'll be 80.
And I want to emphasise, life is not a rehearsal.
And so often we look back and we realise that our life is
virtually gone and we can look back with regrets and missed
opportunities and bad choices and, and, and and and choices of
consequences, remember, and the end of life.
We're going to stand before God and we'll give an account.
Romans 14 verse 12 then teaches us, then every one of us will
give an account of himself to God, account of our time, how
we've used it, account of our talents that God has given us.
Are we guilty of burying those talents?
Account for the tithe and the offering.
Too many rich have served themselves, they haven't served
the Saviour. Give an account of our thoughts.
Why? Because man's chief end us to
glorify God and enjoy Him forever.
We all must needs die. There is but a step, David said,
between me and death. Boast not thyself of tomorrow,
for no man knoweth what a day may bring forth.
The Saviour taught in Matthew 6 and 33.
Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
We've already asked the question, What is your life?
It is a a vapour that appeareth for a little time, and then
vanisheth away. How quickly things change.
We can apply it to the home. We'll apply it to the classroom,
the university. We can apply it to the
workplace, we can apply it to the church, we can apply it to
the community and society. No man is an island.
One day our seats where we have occupied now would be empty.
And it's not only death that comes and brings those changes.
Divorce brings changes. Desertion, distance, decisions
all impact the transitory nature of the empty seat very quickly.
The testimony needed for an empty seat.
Notice what Jonathan said. Then Jonathan said to David,
Tomorrow was the new moon and thou shalt be missed.
Underline that. You see, an empty seat testified
to a life that once mattered. It speaks of a life worth
living. Thou shalt be missed.
Let me ask the question this morning, as a professing child
of God, you have sang enthusiastically, dear Saviour,
the word mine, Mine by grace. Mine because of the blood
sacrifice of Christ. Mine, because Christ's love was
in your heart this morning. And that's why you come to the
House of God. Does your life speak of a life
that's worth living because you're living that life to the
glory of God? I remember often the life of the
late Matthew Arnold, a young man that was tragically killed in
his motorbike coming home from his work to go home to his young
bride and newly born child. And his motto for life was this.
Live your life. So to be missed does not apply
to us all. Live your life so to be missed.
If you weren't here, would you be missed?
Robert Mary Mcsheehan died at the age of 29.
Did you know that he was the minister of Saint Peter's in
Dundee? He was a powerful young Scottish
preacher. Whenever he died and was being
buried, the streets of Dundee were lying 6 and 7 deep.
The news reports were this. Jesus Christ walked in the body
of Robert Mary McShane in the streets of Dundee.
He was a godly minister. He was a godly man, a young
individual. I think he was training for the
ministry. He was visiting Dundee and he
decided to go to Mcshane's church.
The caretaker, of course, was there and he was showing him
round, and that was very kind of the caretaker.
And he said to the young man when he heard he was a preacher.
Would you like to see the room where Reverend McShane studied
in? Oh, yes.
What would you like to see? The table?
Oh, yes, that would be lovely. We can go one better, young
fella. I'm going to let you sit in his
chair. There's his Bible.
It's in front of you. The Bible was open.
Here's where he once prepared his sermons.
And son, if you want to be like machine, you put your elbows on
this table, you put your head in your hands as your head is
bowed, and you weep for the people of Scotland like Dundee.
See. Notice this word missed.
You'll not be missed unless you're living a godly, holy life
that's been influential and impacting upon others.
Matthew 6 and 33 teach us, but seek ye first the Kingdom of God
and His righteousness, and all these other things shall be
added unto you. That was our Bible text for
teaching the children on Wednesday night, and happiness
which people crave and holiness of heart and life and harmony in
families and in church fellowships and honesty.
All is included in in putting God first.
The seat is only noticed as empty when your life has made a
spiritual impact when your life has made a difference.
Solomon says the memory of the just as blessed Proverbs 710.
I can think of many influential people in their own life.
Late Doctor Paisley, late Doctor Douglas, the late Doctor SB
Cook, the late Doctor Alan Kearns.
Many others remember meeting for the first time the late Jim
McLennan over in Lisburn. I think of the encouragement of
the late Willie Hugh Baxter in the prayer meetings in those
early days in Lisburn. The life of the late Joe
Chapman. Another man in Coleraine comes
to mind, Mr William Mccune. These brethren are all home in
the glory. Their seats are empty.
But those seats that are empty all testify to a life well
lived, to the glory of God. And that applies not only in the
home, but applies especially in the House of God.
No, the empty seat says. Someone was once to hear.
Someone worshipped here. Someone radiated the beauty of
Christ here. Someone once prayed here.
Someone once lifted up their voice in praise.
Someone once gave themselves to the Lord here.
Someone once gave all their tithes and offerings and used
their influence for the Lord and served Him faithfully.
In other words, their seat testified to the Lord.
They did all that they could to further the work of God.
They were not a lover of themselves, they were a lover of
the Saviour. They put the Lord first.
Remember what we read in Psalm 12.
The David laments Help Lord, for the godly man seethes the
faithful feel from among the children of men.
Isaiah the prophet and Isaiah 57 verse one says the righteous
perisheth and no man layeth at the heart and merciful men are
taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away
from the evil to come. Could I ask the?
Question this morning. Where are the godly?
Men. And the godly.
Woman of a past generation, where are the spiritual giants
for the work of God today? Doctor Leonard Ravenhill.
Died in the year 1991. When he's died, his wife stood
weeping at the graveside. Someone thought they would come
in, comfort her. You know this is what they said,
Mrs Ravenhill. Don't be sad.
Don't be downcast. Your husband was one of the
godliest men who ever lived, and your husband has gone home.
He has gone home to be with Christ.
He's at home in heaven. So don't be sad.
Smile. This is what she.
Said to the person who'd come to comfort her.
I'm not weeping for. Myself, these tears are not for
me and my children. I'm weeping for America because
this country doesn't know what an intercessor it has lost.
And who will? Wrestle with God now in prayer
for America. And the same can.
Be said for this United Kingdom. Empty seats in the.
House of God. Empty seats.
In the prayer meeting, empty seats at the communion table.
I'm very conscious. That individuals can't
physically always be in the House of God.
I think today of those who are in the hospital, if they could
change places with you, they would rather be here in the
House of God than in the hospital.
I realised that. Some are at home recovering from
strokes. Some are struggling with cancer.
Some are struggling with Parkinson's disease, some of
heart attacks. Others have legitimate work.
And I I stress that legitimate work because at the end of the
day, each of us are answerable and accountable to God.
But for those who. Are not I'll.
For those who. Are able bodied and I say this
to my own family and I said this to my family this morning before
I left the house. For those who are fit and able.
On a Sunday. Morning.
They should be in the House of God with the people of God,
worshipping the living and the true God through the Christ of
God and. When they're not.
Here then, they're missed as far as their physical presence is
concerned and everything else that flows from that you see in
Saul's house at that table. The empty.
Seat centred a message And what was the message?
Someone should be here. Someone is missing.
They're not here and all I'm saying.
This morning is this. They're accountable to God.
They're answerable to. Him on that day the book shall
be opened and he'll hold up the book, this book that says in the
book of Exodus, remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.
And we're ought people to be in the Sabbath day.
They ought. To be in the.
House of God with the people of God worshipping the living and
the true God through the Christ of God.
That's where they ought to be, and God will hold them
accountable. If they're not, I'll.
And they are able bodied and they've just decided to lie in
bed in Blanket Cathedral or they've decided to go to the
golf course or the swimming pool or play football or whatever
people do on the Sabbath day. The Bible says woe unto them
that perfaean the Sabbath. God has set a principle one day
and seven set aside. For praise and worship.
Six days they have to labour and do all that they have to do and
can do and want to do, but one day is the Lord's Day and our
country's the poorer. Because 10s.
Of thousands of Ulster people, non the Protestants, Orangemen
included, members of The Apprentice Boys, the Royal Black
Perceptory. They should be at the House of
God on the Lord's Day, but their seats are empty.
Those anti seats? Testify.
That they are missing, that's what I.
Mean by we have testimony. Testimony can be for.
Good. Many of the Saints who've gone
home left a good testimony. Many of the professing.
Saints. Are leaving a bad.
Testimony, because when it comes to the Lord's Day, they're
absent. One final thing.
The tragic news? Of an empty seat.
You see David's empty seat. Was tragic.
Because of the. Exposed and spoke of a broken
relationship. It spoke of a.
Threatened leadership. It spoke of the rejection of a
future king, which is different. And in.
The House of God when seats are empty.
That empty seat. With that person is missing.
It exposes. Something about the state of
their heart and their mind. It exposes a spiritual drift
from God. It exposes a a relational
distance with God. It exposes A gradual
disengagement from God. And the result.
Is a diagnosis of a slow spiritual sickness that's in
their heart and in their mind. What's the cause?
Very quickly, let me suggest backsliding in heart.
Individuals who don't care, full of spiritual neglect, half
hearted, not living in a real spiritual.
Prioritise. Relationship with the Lord
didn't the Lord Jesus say in Matthew 24 verses 12 and 13?
Here's one of the signs of the last days.
Because iniquity shall abound, the love of the many shall wax
cold. And that's one of.
The reasons why people have stopped attending to the House
of God. They they, they don't.
Have the love for the Lord that they ought.
Another calls is negativity. They've faced unjust criticism.
Do you know the? Unjust criticism chases away
true commitment. It drives true commitment out
the door. But sometimes that.
Criticism is necessary. I know criticism can be unjust
and people can be cruel and harsh in their words.
But if men have become lovers of themselves, if men are me first,
men not the master first, if men make decisions but refuse to
bring in what's the will of God and not put the Lord first?
Because the mindset. Should be Lord, what is your
will? If we're living to the glory of
God, if we're putting the Lord first?
Lord, I want your will, not mine.
But sometimes when men. Don't get their way and it's
their will. Then they become argumentative,
they become critical. They can become twisted in their
thinking and that can impact upon others.
Here's another cause offence. People have unresolved.
Hurts and issues in their heart and mind.
In other words, they've been wounded in the House of God, and
the word spoken and hastened has brought an insult to them.
And how many? People because of offence.
Stay away from. The House of God.
Their seat is empty. Not only in the Lord's Day, the
prayer meeting, Sunday night, Sunday morning.
And we only really see them at special times.
Maybe weddings or funerals. Maybe they're happier at home on
the sofa. Maybe worse than that, they're
happier in or on the bar stool. Something is wrong.
Could I point out? This morning.
The Bible says. Demas has loved, have forsaken
me, having loved this present world.
Second Timothy 4 and 10. Demas wanted a.
Life of convenience rather than a life of consecration unto the
Lord. Doctor Martin Lloyd Jones was
asked one time about Demas. Was Demas saved and he said
this? Well, the last time we read
about Demas in the Bible, Demas is going in the wrong direction.
What direction? Are you going?
Are you going away from the House of God?
Away from the prayer. Meeting away from the Word of
God and the preaching of Christ. See, many are weary.
Today, and I'm well aware it's easy to get discouraged and
dispirited. I'm well aware of obstacles and
objections, but you know the hardest thing for a preacher?
Is to not see. People in the House of God on
the Lord's Day. Because it didn't have.
To be that way. David's absence.
Exposed and indifference, an offence, a spiritual dright,
unconfessed sin, a loss of love for the Lord.
It exposed Saul's. Hatred because the empty seat
revealed the truth in Saul's heart.
That Saul. Was out to murder David.
This was a warning, David was. Missed Is your seat empty
because of offence, Compromise. Neglect.
Is it empty because? Of the loss of love for the Lord
whenever your seats occupied I. Say this as we.
Finish your occupation occupies not only a seat.
But it strengthens. Others.
It shapes an atmosphere. It provides a sense of stability
and security to the House of God.
People reconnect with one another.
Relationships are strengthened and restored.
There's a sense of relevance. I've been to the House of God
today. I've met with the Lord.
I've heard him speak to me. There's a sense of
responsibility. You.
See our greatest. Need, and I say this as I
finish, is to know God. To know Jesus.
Christ as Lord and Saviour. To know that there's.
A Saviour in heaven who can set men free.
To know you have a soul. To know that you need God's
salvation. To know that only in this life
you can be saved. She has.
No empty seats in heaven. To get into heaven.
You've got to come and kneel at a seat.
You've got to kiss the Son and be reconciled to Him and be
redeemed by his blood. He invites us.
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that
we've obtained mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
And you can kneel before the Lord and cry out.
God, be merciful to me, the Sinner.
You can cry out. Lord, be gracious to me.
It's not what the. Dying thief did.
Lord, Remember Me when thy comest into thy Kingdom, because
do you see at the Lord's seat that's occupied?
Grace and mercy. That the net, through the cross
of Christ and on the ground of the blood God can bestow grace
and mercy to us. The tragic news of an empty
seat. It exposed.
All of these things, the indifference, the offence, the
spiritual dread, the unconversed sin, the loss of love for God.
But let's take this. Typology.
Home to our heart. There'll be no empty seats in
heaven. And one sat.
In the throne. And your duty and.
Responsibility is to kneel before that throne and receive
first from His hand. His mercy.
And his grace, let me ask you as we close have you confessed your
sin? Have you trusted Christ as your
Lord and Saviour? Can you say in truth, dear
Saviour, that word mine? You've tasted the grace of God,
the blood has been applied. Love for Him is in your heart,
and that's why you're here every Sunday.
You come out of. Love for him, you.
Come to meet with. Him you come to worship Him.
That's the. Kind of mindset.
That the Saints of. God had whom I mentioned.
That's the kind of mindset that we need.
The Lord bless. This topical message to your
heart.