DAVID AND BATHSHEBA

2 Samuel 11:1-27.

INTRODUCTION.

ILLUS.: The world news has been awash this year with the sexual behaviour of US President Bill Clinton. When Janet and I were in the States and Mexico in January the story about Monica Lewinsky had just broken. It was non-stop reporting and comment. It is still not over yet.

The heir to the British throne is constantly under media scrutiny with regard to his relationship with Mrs. Camilla Parker-Bowles.

Adultery and extra-martial sexual liaisons are so accepted as part of everyday life that on both side of the Atlantic the popularity of these men has actually risen.

We live in a society were adulterous relationships occur in their 1000’s every day. Marriage is no longer considered by the majority to be the only place were sexual activity is permitted. Anyone who holds the view that sexual relations should only take place between one man and one woman who are married to each other in a life-long commitment are considered out-dated, impractical and narrow-minded.

So what is the big deal with David and Bathsheba? He is just acting like princes and presidents throughout history. This may have been relevant in the old days but in our sexually liberated society is it really that relevant?

The Story of David and Bathsheba is recorded in the Bible to show us a number of things – two major lessons 1) that sin always has consequences 2) that sin is an offence against a holy God – no matter what people may think.

The Bible never flatters its heroes! All the men and women of the Bible have feet of clay and the scriptures paint a realistic picture – it doesn’t ignore or deny the  unsavory bits.

David is a man who loved God – he is still a man after God’s heart BUT he is not perfect – he sinned. BUT before we get on our moral high-horses we need to remember that his sin was no greater than your sin or mine! Sure, his was intensified because of who he was and because he handled it badly – but it was just sin – an act of disobedience that he later came to regret with bitter tears!

I am not trying to justified what David did but to put it in its proper perspective. If we tut-tut and shake our self-righteous heads in shame over what David did then we have completely missed the point – the warning that this story brings to us. 1 Corinthians 10:12 12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! (NIV)

This is not a finger-pointing exercise – this is a sad story in the life of a great man of God.

Maybe you are sitting here today and you have failed God miserably – not necessarily adultery – something else! Welcome to the club! We have all, in some way, failed God miserably! The consequences of some sins are more obvious and more serious than others – but they are all sinful.

David’s story is here to teach us about the seriousness of sin and the wonder of God’s forgiveness – it is also here as a warning to turn us away from sin when we are tempted.

We have learned many things from David’s successes and godly life – let’s see what we can learn from his failures

1. THE LEAD UP TO DAVID’S SIN.

As we look at this segment of David’s life we need to remember that we are not dealing with a wild rebel or sexual pervert, but with a godly man who fell into sin. And that sin had devastating consequences for his family, his kingship and the nation. Sin always has consequences even if we are foolish enough to think we had gotten away with it. That is why we need to take to heart 1 Corinthians 10:12 12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! (NIV)

We are never too old or too young to fall!

David was about 50 years old and had been king for about 20 years.

The seeds of this sin had been sown long before David went for an afternoon stroll on his roof patio.

Way back in chapter 5 when David became King over Israel we read these words … 2 Samuel 5:12-13 12 And David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.

13 After he left Hebron, David took more concubines and wives in Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him. (NIV)

David increased the number of women in his life – he was only doing what was acceptable for kings in those days to do –

No doubt he would have thought – “What is wrong with it, everyone is doing it!”

– Sound familiar!? –

The problems was that this action of David’s was in direct contradiction to God’s instructions … Deuteronomy 17:14-17

14 When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you and have taken possession of it and settled in it, and you say, “Let us set a king over us like all the nations around us,” 15 be sure to appoint over you the king the LORD your God chooses. He must be from among your own brothers. Do not place a foreigner over you, one who is not a brother Israelite. 16 The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them, for the LORD has told you, “You are not to go back that way again.” 17 He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold. (NIV)

He was not to accumulate large numbers of horses, many wives, or much silver/gold.

David was faithful on the first and third but he failed on the second. David was a man of passion. Even though he had a whole harem of wives and concubines his sensual passion was not abated.

King David took another man’s wife even though he had a whole Harem of women. The fact is that passion for sex is not satisfied by a whole Harem of women it is increased.

Having many women doesn’t reduce a man’s libido it excites it … stimulates it. David mistakenly thought as many do that to satisfy this passion I will have more women.

This is one of the lies of the secular society we live in “If you satisfy your drives then they will go away.!”

This doesn’t only apply to sex – if applies to money “Those who have, want more!” – the same is true of power, pleasure, pornography, food, alcohol, drugs, gossip, ….

We mistakenly think that we satisfy our desires and passions by indulging then when the reality is that we need to control them to satisfy them.

David allowed his sensual passions to get out of control.

BUT these also need opportunity. Things were well for David – he was at ease –

We are often most vulnerable when things are going our way – in hard times we tend to be more dependent on God, as David had been as a refugee and living in the desert – It is when life is easy and things are going well that we need to be extra vigilant.

2. THE ACT OF DAVID’S SIN.

2 Samuel 11:1    1 In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab ……………… But David remained in Jerusalem. (NIV)

David was in bed when he should have been in battle!

There is much truth in the proverb “The devil finds work for idle hands!”

If David had been were he was supposed to have been he would not have been wondering around on the roof after his siesta.

He looked down from his roof into a nearby courtyard and he saw a woman bathing – and was she a knockout, absolutely stunning! And David’s hormones go into overdrive!

WAS BATHSHEBA AT LEAST A LITTLE AT FAULT HERE for not being more discreet about where she bathed!

Feminists would chew me up and spit me out for even suggesting that Bathsheba should have been more careful as to where she bathed and how she dressed!

A woman should be entitled to dress and act as she pleases – and if a man is turned on by her behaviour and by what he sees, then that’s his problem.

BUT for Christians it is not enough to merely avoid sin ourselves – The NT insists that Christians must ensure that they do not become stumbling blocks to others.

I don’t want to cast blame on Bathsheba or try and minimize David guilt in this matter BUT it is very important in our society where ANYTHING goes to remember that if you are going to be part of the answer to the common battles with sensuality, rather than part of the problem, Then you need to give careful thought to your actions, your dress and your conduct!!

It is generally true that in the areas of sexual attraction – men are stimulated by what they see far more than women are. So men need to be careful what the look at and women need to be careful how the dress!

There is much in our society to tempt men sexually – whether the advert is for cars, computers or garden tools there is invariably a half naked / topless women draped over it! Why? – it is attention grabbing!

Men, we can’t stop seeing things – pornography is everywhere BUT we can stop gazing lingeringly at it.

ILLUS.: A goose and a vulture flying over the same areas – they both see a dead carcass BUT the vulture will descend to indulge!

David didn’t just see – he stared and lingered and lusted and sent for Bathsheba – not that Bathsheba resembled a dead carcass, anything but, she was a gorgeous knockout, stunningly beautiful.

Our desires and passions are incredibly powerful and at that moment David’s passions were out of control….

It makes no difference whether it is sexual desire, or ambition, or vanity, or power, or a desire for revenge, or love of fame, or greed for money …….. AT THAT MOMENT God becomes unreal to us and we lose all sense of reality, our only goal is to satisfy our desire!

When we are overwhelmed by desires of this intensity we are in no fit state to fight them ….. there is only one course of action, be like Joseph when faced with the over-sexed Mrs. Potiphar, and run for your life.

1 Corinthians 6:18          18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. (NIV)

1 Timothy 6:10-11 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. (NIV)

David is told that Bathsheba is the wife of Uriah – usual as people where mostly identified by relation to their fathers or grandfathers – was this a warning from a concerned  servant to his master “The Lady is married!” BUT David was not listening – his hormones were ruling his head!

2 Samuel 11:4 4 Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her. (She had purified herself from her uncleanness.) Then she went back home. (NIV)

Her menstrual cycle just finished – hence the purifying – the writer leaves no doubt that the baby later born in David’s – no excuses!

She came to David – he seduced her – the slept together – a typical one-night-stand. There is no indication that David forced himself upon her. But He was a powerful King and she a commoner!

Let’s be under no illusion – there was great enjoyment in this encounter – it was very pleasurable – Don’t let anyone fool you into thinking that sin is not enjoyable.  Of course it is enjoyable, why else would we do it?

The David only shows us the beauty, the ecstasy, the fun, the excitement, the adventure of stolen desires.

He [the devil] never tells the heavy drinker “Tomorrow you will have a hangover, you will eventually become a alcoholic, it will ruin your family and your career!”

He never tell the person who is a work-aholic it could destroy your marriage and you will end up lonely and bitter!”

He never tells the adulterer of the physical consequences and emotional debris that will result!

ILLUS.: sexual revolution of 1960’s/70’s told us marriage was outdated – trial marriages and co-habitation were better BUT “ Data from the general household survey (1993) shows that a couple who cohabit before marriage are, on average, twice as likely to divorce as a couple who do not cohabit before marriage”

Those who cohabit are far more likely than married men/women or singles to experience depression, anxiety, insecurity, neurotic behaviour ……. Abortion is about 8x higher among cohabiting women than among married women …… [EN – Sept.’98 pp.12-13]

We could go on and on …. All the consequences we are not told!!!

When the penalties of sin are due the devil is no where to be found!!

3. THE COVER UP OF DAVID’S SIN.

“David I am pregnant!”

At this point David had two courses of action – he could fall on his knees in repentance towards God or he could attempt to cover up – He chose the latter!

He went to elaborate plans to get Uriah back to Jerusalem to sleep with his wife but Uriah at this point was far more honourable than David – the plan didn’t work so the next thing was to remove Uriah altogether.

He implicates Joab, his commander in Chief in a devious murder plot and Uriah is eliminated – killed in the heat of battle!

David probably breathed a sigh of relief – it was done and he had gotten away with it!

He waits till Bathsheba’s period of mourning is over then he marries her and in due course the baby is born.

BUT even in David’s day people could count to nine!

So who is David hiding from? When you act in panic you don’t think logically. In fact you don’t think. You react! We cover up, deny, smear over, scheme until we have enmeshed ourselves in a maze of lies that we can’t untangle!

4. THE CONSEQUENCES OF DAVID’S SIN.

Even if no one knew what David had done which seems unlikely we read these words …

2 Samuel 11:27 27 ………….. But the thing David had done displeased the LORD. (NIV)

Be sure your sins will find you out!

What a man sows that also shall he reap!

For the rest of his life David would bear the consequences of the one night of sensual pleasure!

We will see next week David’s repentance and God’s amazing forgiveness and restoration of fellowship with David. However there were consequences – there always are!

Already we have seen how David’s uncontrolled passion entangled Bathsheba – It cost Uriah his life as well as some other warriors  .. 2 Samuel 11:24 24 Then the archers shot arrows at your servants from the wall, and some of the king’s men died. Moreover, your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead.” (NIV)

Joab, the Army Commander-in-Chief, was implicated – this would come back to bite David in the future!

ILLUS.: From the Daily Star – Teacher Peter Simpson jumped in front of a train because accused of indecently assaulting a pupil – a history – marriage breakup … READ…

Carl and Susan split up because Carl had a liaison with Sarah – see the hurt it is causing both of them and their Children Billy and Libby — {Neighbours}

Now only does it affect those around David – we know from Ps. 32 & 51 that David became trapped in a whirlpool of misery. Sleepless nights, Physical illness, Fever, loss of weight, haunted memories — and worst of all so terribly alone, a million miles from God. And he stayed that way in a tangled mess until a friend had the courage to say to him “David, you are the man!” “You are guilty!”

This story stands as a stark warning of the seriousness of sin and its consequences. Our nation is littered with broken hearts and broken lives as a result of sexual infidelity. I won’t bore you with statistics they are readily available [see the latest issue of Evangelicals Now – Lead article “Figures behind family policy”] – Not only is there a huge emotional cost but also a massive financial cost to the nation!

So it is a warning!

BUT if we are guilty – and to a greater or lesser degree we all are, maybe not sexual sin but then surely another areas – we need to know that God is gracious and forgiving if we repent – next week!

Maybe some have been the victims of others sins –

ILLUS.: Children, abused and abandoned; wives whose Husbands walk out; employees whose bosses mistreat them …………

The Bible is full of stories of how God cares for the victims – those who suffer as a result of others sins – God doesn’t always fix everything up, there are certain circumstances of life that just don’t get fixed – some things can’t be undone!

But that doesn’t mean God doesn’t care – he does! And he comforts!

God also forgives the sinner who repents even if he doesn’t remove the consequences.

Forgiveness is freely available to repentant sinners – it is free but it is not cheap, it is very costly – it cost Jesus Christ his life!

This story is not finished – the wonder of God’s grace is seen in his forgiveness of David – next week – don’t miss it!

KINDNESS REJECTED

2 Samuel 10:1-19.

Introduction.

We saw last week how David showed unconditional kindness to Mephibosheth – he was the son of Jonathan, David’s best friend who had died some 15-20 years earlier in battle against the Philistines. M’sheth was therefore the grandson of King Saul, David’s predecessor and jealous enemy.

M’sheth was disabled – crippled in both feet – and David brings him from isolation and hiding in a desolate place to the palace in Jerusalem and gives him all the lands that had belonged to his grandfather, King Saul, BUT more than that David brings him into his family and treats him as his own son with all the privileges that has.

David shows great love and kindness to M’stheth for the sake of his friend Jonathan.

The chapter before us today is a parallel account of David showing unsolicited kindness to Hanun, because he was the son of the late King Nahash, king of the Ammonites.

These are parallel accounts in that they show David’s expression of kindness BUT they are also contrasting accounts in that while M’sheth accepted David’s kindness with humble and joyful gratitude, Hanun rejected this offer and took offence.

These accounts are helpful to us because they graphically illustrate the way God deals with people (he shows kindness – he is slow to anger and rich in mercy) AND it also shows the differing ways people respond to God’s dealing (acceptance or rejection).

2. REACHING OUT IN KINDNESS. v1-2.

David is a good warrior and military leader and we could think that as a result he is hard and callous. But that is not so David has a kind and comapssionate heart – we have seen this in his treatment of King Saul, of Abner (Leader of the Northern tribes before the kingdom was united) and of M’sheth.

Once again we have David wanting to show kindness – he had shown kindness in Home Affairs, now in Foreign Affairs – this time to Hanun. Hanun’s father has died and David sends his condolences – At some time in the past the late King Nahash had shown some unspecified kindness to David – possibly when he was on the run from king Saul. David had been friendly to the father and he wants to reassure his son and sucessor that he intends to continue the kindness and good will.

Actually the Ammonites were not the best neighbours but they were related to the Israelites who were commanded to treat them kindly …. Deuteronomy 2:19 19 When you come to the Ammonites, do not harass them or provoke them to war, for I will not give you possession of any land belonging to the Ammonites. I have given it as a possession to the descendants of Lot.” (NIV)

Lot was Abraham’s nephew – Abraham being the father of the Jews – The Ammonites were the descendents of Lot’s incestuous relationship with his younger daughter .. his two daughters got their father drunk and sleep with him…… Genesis 19:36-38

36 So both of Lot’s daughters became pregnant by their father. 37 The older daughter had a son, and she named him Moab; he is the father of the Moabites of today. 38 The younger daughter also had a son, and she named him Ben-Ammi; he is the father of the Ammonites of today. (NIV)

They were not friendly towards Israel – Saul had had his run-ins with them.

So why did David act kindly towards them?

There is not hint of insincerity or duplicity in David’s action. David is kind hearted – he wants to show kindness to everyone, even to the Ammonites.

There are times when David acts serverely but these are usually when he is implementing God’s justice as God’s king!

However in his personal attitude we observe how David has grown in his kindness and compassion towards others.

Most ancient kings wanted to be domineering and harsh with neighbouring nations, but not David.

In this David is becoming like God – he is growing in holiness – he is exhibiting compassion and mercy rather than deliberately fomenting discord and cememnting prejudices and animosities.

Later it was Jesus who told us to love our enemies!

This is the kind of goodwill that God has to everyone everywhere. True, the Bible teaches about the way God sovereignly choses, but that should never make us question God’s love for all men and women everywhere. …

1 Timothy 2:3-4 3 This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, 4 who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. (NIV)

He takes no pleasure in the death of a sinner … Ezekiel 18:23 23 Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live? (NIV)

God does not want anyone to perish … 2 Peter 3:9 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (NIV)

God loves you and me! Christ died for you and me! David shares this kind characteristic of God.

It is easy to show kindness and compassion to those we like – but God calls us to have hearts like David – or better still hearts like Christ to whom David pointed.

We tend to be harsher on people than God would be – we tend to write them off – and we would probably have defended David if he had left Hanun well alone BUT God reaches out even to the Hanuns of this world and makes some of them his disciples.

Is this not an indictation as to how God’s people – US! – should reach out to a sorrowing world?

2. REJECTING OFFERED KINDNESS WITH INSULT. v3-5.

Have you ever done something kind for someone and had bitten your head off for your trouble!

David’s kind act is received with suspicion. Hanun acts foolishly in having a suspicious attitude for no reason – His suspicions were not his own – at least not at first. They were fuelled by the suggestions of his noble advisers! It is a pity he did not think for himself.

Hanun had no reason to be suspicious of David – He would have done well to simply receive David’s ambassadors with politeness and thanks.

However, not only does he reject David’s kindness but he insults the messengers by sending them away half naked with their beards foolishly disfigured………….. 2 Samuel 10:4 4 So Hanun seized David’s men, shaved off half of each man’s beard, cut off their garments in the middle at the buttocks, and sent them away. (NIV)

Everything Hanun does is ill-advised.

He recklessly rejects David’s kindness; even more foolishly he responds with calculated insult; he then assumes that David will attack him and he prepares for war persuading the Arameans to join him.

Initially David does not retaliate. He simply treats his own ambassodors with kindness and prevents them from being humiliated back in Jerusalem .         …… 2 Samuel 10:5

5 When David was told about this, he sent messengers to meet the men, for they were greatly humiliated. The king said, “Stay at Jericho till your beards have grown, and then come back.” (NIV)

Beards were grown long in those days among the Israelites and David’s concern for his men shows his sensitivity to their proper dignity and self-esteem.

We don’t know what David would have done – whether or not he would have declared war – but before David can react in any way Hanun prepares for war. David’s kind act is not only rejected but seems to lead to deeper feelings of hostility.

David was actually being treated the same way God is treated. If David’s kindness is God-like, the response he gets is also typical of the response God gets. God’s loving ways are not only ignored by the world, they are rejected with calculated insult.

We have here a parable of how the Lord’s disciples will sometimes be treated as they bring the message of the gospel to the world.

Many an ambassador for Christ has been humiliated, persecuted or even killed for bringing the message of salvation. So many have despised the true message of God. We only have to read the scriptures and read history to know how Christians have suffered for being Christ’s ambassadors – there is no reason to suppose that the 20th century is any different.

Christians are called to be witnesses of God’s grace and mercy and salvation to the people of the world – there is one gospel to tell – the good news of Jesus Christ. BUT there are two basis responses that result from this witness.

As with David – M’sheth responded positively and Hanun responded negatively.

Likewise some people accept the gospel with gladness and others reject it by willful hostility or passive indifference.

Thus Paul writes in the NT in …. 2 Corinthians 2:15-16 15 For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. ……. (NIV)

God has been kind and merciful and gracious to us and he requires that we act in such a way to others – even those hostle to us.

3. RESULTING CONSEQUENCES OF REJECTED KINDNESS. v6-19.

Many an international war has been started over what appears to be a trivial matter.

The rest of the Chapter details the battles that followed – the Ammonites and their allies, the Arameans,  were soundly defeated by David and his army. In the end David is rewarded for his act of kindness by his kingdom being extended – it ultimately works out to his advantage. At the end of the chapter the Ammonites are defeated, the Arameans are too afraid to help them, and David’s  rest from his enemies is even more secure.

David didn’t want the war on his own territory so he takes the initiative and sends Joab ahead. With careful planning and military skill and a dependence upon God they go into battle …. Joab says to his men   2 Samuel 10:12 12 Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. The LORD will do what is good in his sight.” (NIV)

…. and God does give them the victory.

We can look at these events and others like them in the OT and think this is all very blood-thirsty and barbaric – all very sordid to our enlightened eyes. I think such a judgement would be rather hasty for us who have lived through a century of such dreadful atrocities.

So what are we to make of this battle of David against the Ammonites. The significance of this and other events like it need to be seen in the context of the flow of redemptive history. We often find it difficult to reconcile this violence and blood-and-guts with a picture of a God of love!

Maybe we have tried to sanitize God too much and squeeze him into a mould of our imaginations rather than allowing God to be God. We have to balance the view of God as a God of love – which he is – with the view that he is also a God of justice and judgement.

These events in history – esp. those in scripture relating to God’s people – are not simply random, arbitary events. History doesn’t just happen BUT God is working out his purpose as year suceeds to year. That doesn’t mean that God is responsible for all the wars and atrocities – he has given humans a certain amount of freedom and we continually misuse and abuse it.

BUT God has things to teach us through history -esp. the history of Israel, his chosen people. History illustrates theology.

Here the victories of Israel under David are vindications of the Lord’s cause and the Lord’s kingdom against the presumptions and rebellions of his enemies. Israel’s defaet of Ammon and the Arameans indicates God intention to preserve the honour of his name and the integrity of his people. God takes note when his disciples are abused and insulted as David’s kindness to Hanun was.

When God’s people are abused, mocked, persucuted, insulted or even just ignored and considered irrelevant – God notices … and these will work for the Christians eventual good  ……2 Corinthians 4:17 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. (NIV)

BUT those who reject God’s kindness and mock God’s people are storing up for themselves the eternal judgement of God  — unless, of course, there is repentance and a turning to Christ in saving faith.

David’s kindness ans love towards Hanun was not only ignored but rejected with calculated insult.

Then love was replaced with wrath. David who had once offered friendship now takes action against him.

So too with God and his love. At present God’s Son, Jesus Christ is on offer as a channel of His love.

Soon the one who is the Saviour will return as the Judge! Those who rejected Christ’s love will face wrath! Those who rejected mercy will face justice!

There is so much in this world that is unfair – and we often feel frustrated and helpless in the face of injustice. BUT God keeps accurate records and he will render just judgement.

One day every person will stand before God and be held to account – Romans 14:10 10 ….. For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. (NIV)

– and there will be no partiality and no excuses. All the records will be squared up!

We are living in the time of God’s kindness when he is reaching out to the people of the world through his Son Jesus Christ and through his people – the Church. That should spur us Christians on to greater effort in the task of evagelism. It should also be a spur to holy living

For the person who has not come to God in repentance and faith in Jesus Christ this comes as a severe and frightening warning that God’s judgement is coming. We can’t reject or ignore God’s kindness to us with impunity!

Hell is just as real as heaven! And every person is headed for hell until they come to Christ!

We don’t like to talk about this much today – it offends our sensibilities – but I would be a failure as a preacher if I never preached about hell and the judgement of God. The  Bible clearly teaches it ….

John 3:36 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.” (NIV)

Romans 2:5    5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. (NIV)

BUT there is a way out …

1 Thessalonians 1:10 10 …… Jesus, ….. rescues us from the coming wrath. (NIV)

God’s love longs that we accept his kindness — he went to extraordniary lengths to demonstrate his love by sending his Son to take our judgement upon himself.

But God’s justice demands that those who reject His kind salvation will be punished.

Peter in writing about Christ’s return as Judge – says that just because it is a long time since Christ promised to return we must not think that he has forgotten or is slow at fulfilling his promises  … there is a purpose for the delay ..

2 Peter 3:9 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (NIV)

The Millenium is almost upon us – 2000 years since Christ came the first time – His return in immanent! His first coming was a Saviour – His second will be as Judge! To those who have rejected him it will be a terrifying experience! To those who have accepted hm it will be a joy and a delight!

May we each learn to live in the light of His coming!

“Love in spite of ……”

2 Samuel 9:1-13.

INTRODUCTION.

David is a very successful military leader – he is a battle-hardened soldier. He has now become king over all Israel. He is not only a good military leader but he is politically astute and has united the nation of Israel around him. He is powerful and famous but he is also fair and just.

2 Samuel 8:13-15       13 And David became famous …………….

14 ……………. The LORD gave David victory wherever he went.      15 David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people.

At this point in his life David is in a position that would be the envy of any political leader. He is powerful militarily, politically, economically and he has the support and favour of the nation. Probably as powerful as any human leader could ever hope to be – as close to absolute power as is humanly possible.

BUT we know that power can corrupt and as the adage goes “Absolute power corrupts absolutely!” – was this to be true of David.

Chapter 8 gives us a summary of some of David’s military campaigns – decisive victories!

Chapter 9 gives us a picture of another side of David – his compassion and kindness. This is not the first time we have seen David act graciously and generously – it won’t be the last time either.

David is a man of amazing generosity. In all the struggle he had learned to forgive people and he had learned to show kindness and compassion, even to his enemies. This is one of the reasons why David is called “a man after God’s own heart” – he is acting in a God-like manner. This is what godliness is – it is being like God in kindness, in love toward enemies, in generosity without gullibility or weakness.

This story of how David acts towards Mephibosheth is a wonderful illustrative picture of how God acts towards the human race.

Before we make comparisons with God and Humanity let’s look at this story first.

1. MEPHIBOSHETH’S CURRENT POSITION.

Who is this Mephibosheth?

1.1. Descendant of Saul.

2 Samuel 9:6   6 … Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, …..

Saul was David’s predecessor as King of Israel and Jonathan was Saul’s son. Saul was not a good king and God determined that none of  Saul’s descendants would be king after him. Jonathan, Saul’s son knew and accepted that David, and not he, would be king after Saul. David and Jonathan became best friends. Neither allowed Saul’s jealousy and hatred of David to destroy their friendship. When Saul was killed in battle with the Philistines Jonathan fell with him. BUT Jonathan left a son named Mephibosheth.

1.2. Disabled in both feet.

Mephibosheth was disabled. How did this come about?

It was common practice in those days that when a king was defeated and a new king took his place that the new king would kill all members of the defeated kings family. Knowing this, when news of Saul’s and Jonathan’s death broke, the nurse looking after Jonathan’s son fled.

2 Samuel 4:4   4 (Jonathan son of Saul had a son who was lame in both feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up and fled, but as she hurried to leave, he fell and became crippled. His name was Mephibosheth.)

At least fifteen years or more must have past since this incident as we know from v12 that Mephibosheth now has a son of his own. All this time he has been keeping a low profile for fear of his life.

In order to keep out of the way he has been living in and out-of-the-way place.

1.3. Destitute and hiding in a desolate place.

v4-5 tell us that Mephibosheth is living in a place called Lo Debar [lit. ‘no pasture’]. Since it was customary to kill anyone from the previous dynasty, individuals like Mephibosheth were either exterminated or hid for the rest of their lives. He had hidden himself away on the east side of the Jordan River and the only one who knew his whereabouts was Ziba, an old servant of King Saul.

2. DAVID’S COVENANT PROMISE.

2 Samuel 9:1   1 David asked, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” (NIV)

Why was David concerned about showing kindness to a descendant of his arch-enemy? Because David had made a promise! Infact he had made two promises.

2.1. Fulfilling a Promise.

… FOR THE SAKE OF JONATHAN.

in 1 Samuel 20 when Dvaid was on the run for his life – fleeing from the murderous King Saul, says  Jonathan…….. 1 Samuel 20:13-14 13 But if my father is inclined to harm you, may the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if I do not let you know and send you away safely. May the LORD be with you as he has been with my father. 14 But show me unfailing [loving]kindness [grace] like that of the LORD as long as I live, so that I may not be killed, (NIV)

Jonathan knew that David would be king and was asking David to be gracious to him and his family. Without hestitation, David agrees …. 1 Samuel 20:17

17 … David reaffirm his oath out of love for him [Jonathan], because he loved him as he loved his own life. (NIV)

… FOR THE SAKE OF SAUL.

… we can understand David making such a promise to Jonathan, his best friend, but he makes the same promise to Saul, his worst enemy, also!

Recall how after David had spared Saul’s life in the cave, Saul said to David …

1 Samuel 24:20-22 20 I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands. 21 Now swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s family.” … 22 So David gave his oath to Saul. ……

David made this covenant promise to both Saul and Jonathan.

2.2. Finding a Person.

The word ‘kindness’ in v1 could equally be translated ‘grace’.

NB David says, “Is there anyone?”

He doesn’t ask “It the anyone qualified?” or “Is there anyone worthy?” BUT “Is there anyone?”

“Regardless of who they are, is there anyone still living who may be the recipient of my grace?”

Through Saul’s ex-servant Ziba it is discovered that a son of Jonathan is still alive – BUT he is disabled. It could be that Ziba is trying to warn David – “He is crippled in both feet – are you sure you want such a one around your palace – would it be good for the king’s image?”

David doesn’t hestitate “Where is he? Go and get him!”

We think in our modern society we are so magnanimous in our care of the disabled – David is way ahead of us!!

3. DAVID’S COMPASSIONATE PROVISION.

So Mephibosheth is fetched and brought to David’s court – Can you imagine how fearful he must have been?

3.1. Assurance.

2 Samuel 9:6-7           6 When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honour.         David said, “Mephibosheth!”

“Your servant,” he replied.

7 “Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. …………..

Mephibosheth’s heart must have stopped when a royal messenger arrived with the message – King David wants to see you in Jerusalem!

He must have thought that this was the end of his life!

In fact it was, in many ways the beginning – he was going to live and have a plave of honour at a level he had never known before “Don’t be afraid”, says David, “because I loved your father so much I want to extend that kindness to you his son”.

3.2. Restoration.

Not just words! David returns to him all the lands that belonged to his Grandfather, Saul, and commands the servants to farm the land as Mephibosheth is unable to do so.

3.3. Adoption.

2 Samuel 9:7 & 13     7 ….. David said to him, “…….. . you will always eat at my table.”

…….. 13 And Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king’s table, and he was crippled in both feet. (NIV)

David’s kindness is not remote – it is intensely personal – he does not simply give some material things in a detached way RATHER he adopts Mephibosheth into his family. “You will be like one of my own sons and will eat at my table!” It does not simply mean a free meal but a way of saying “You will be a member of the family with all the privileges that that entails”

This was to be a permanent arrangement – Sonship in the Royal Family and Secure for the Future!

4. GOD’S COMPARATIVE PICTURE.

The way David acts towards Mephibosheth is the way God acts towards you and me.

If David is like God in wanting to show kindness to Mephibosheth then Mephibosheth is like the human race.

What are the comparisons?

4.1. A Favourable Past Position.

M’sheth had enjoyed a place in the royal palace when his grandfather was king – uninterrupted fellowship with the king. So with Adam and Eve who walked with God in the garden of Eden – their fellowship with their Creator-God was uninterrupted.

4.2. A Fall brought Disability.

Disaster came when the nurse fled in fear and M’sheth suffered a fall – he was crippled for the rest of his days and went into hiding. Likewise, when sin came, Adam and Eve hid from God in fear. As a result of the fall, not physical but spiritual – a fall from grace – humankind became a spiritual invalid and will remain so forever on earth!

4.3. Lovingkindness for Anyone.

David wanted to show kindness to anyone from the house of Saul. And when he hears that there is someone and that someone is crippled it does not deter him in from what he has set his heart to do.

That’s the way grace is. Grace doesn’t pick and choose. Grace doesn’t love for things that have been done that deserve love. Grace works apart from the response or the ability of the individual. Grace is one-sided. It is God giving himself to someone who doesn’t deserve it, can’t earn it and has no way of repaying him.

This is what makes the story of David and M’sheth so memorable – The strong, famous and powerful king reaching out in love to a person who is everthing that he is not!

God’s offer of love and grace is to everyone and anyone. [Jn.3:16 – whoever – anyone]

4.4. Showing love for the sake of another.

David acted this way towards M’sheth because of his promise to and love for Jonanthan. So God, out of his love for his son Jesus Christ, shows his grace to us. And through Christ God is still seeking people who are spiritually disabled / dead.

David’s kind feeling towards M’sheth might easily had faded away – M’sheth had nothing to attract David. BUT since it was ‘for the sake of Jonathan’ it was more likely to be permanent.  David’s love for Jonathan was not going to change – David had sworn an oath. SO God’s love for us is not going to change…..

Romans 8:32 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all — how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? (NIV)

4.5. Assurance in the Face of Fear.

M’sheth was undoubyedly fearful when he came before David – probably thought he was to be killed. Most people react to God like that – we are afraid when he draws near. We have not lived as we ought – maybe God is against us. We have to learn to live on the grace of God. He is kind and gracious – we are not saved by giving him something – we are saved by receiving something.

Ephesians 2:8 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — (NIV)

God doesn’t want us to feel afraid of Him but rather safe and secure in hid presence!

4.6. Restitution of all things lost.

David restored M’sheth from a place of barrenness to a place of honour. He took this broken, disabled person froma hiding place where there was no pastureland and brought him to a place of plenty, right into the courtroom of the king.

What we as humans lost when Adam sinned in restored in greater measure in Christ…

Romans 5:19-21 19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

20 The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (NIV)

4.7. Adopted into the Royal Family.

M’sheth ate at the king’s table – treated like a son! He remained in Jerusalem under David’s protection.

Application is clear – This is what God does for every believing sinner – adopts us into the family of the heavenly king. He has chosen us and brought us into his family and says, “You sit at my table, enjoy my food, I give you my life!”

ILLUS.: two brothers arrived at school on the first day – register was taken.

Robert and James – both 6 years old – Birthdays 14 March and 17 May.

“Not twins” said the teacher “One of you must have made a mistake!” a note to parents.

Next Day a reply from the Father to say that the information the boys had given was correct.

“How is that possible?” asked the teacher.

“One of us is adopted”, came the reply.

“Which one?”

“Dad says that he can’t remember!”

God has adopted us as his children and he treats us like his own Son. Ephesians 1:5 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will — (NIV)

John 1:12 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God — (NIV)

Romans 8:17 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs — heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, ………. (NIV)

Does it not astound you that God should treat us this way!

With the love of God in his heart David went to a lot of trouble to meet the needs of M’sheth. He found out where he was and took the trouble to send someone to find him and brought him into the palace as a son!

God went to extraordinary lengths to send someone to find us and to bring us into his kingdom and sons and daughters.

If you are a Christians that is the privelege you enjoy.

If you are not a believer then let me assure you that God loves you this way and longs for you to accept his offer of love and forgiveness – and to adopt you into his family.

We are loved by the Fathers’ love for his Son. We are forgiven and received in Christ …. we are called to enjoy of relationship with God and reflect to to others.

Ephesians 4:32 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (NIV)

WHEN GOD SAYS NO!

2 Samuel 7:1-29.

INTRODUCTION.

ILLUS.: Martin Luther King Jr., the Black American Civil Rights leader, made many speeches at rallies but there is one that is most remember – or at least we remember one particular phrase: “I have a dream…”

Do you have a dream? Plans? Things you want to do?

Maybe you are still young and have your whole life before you – what are your hopes and dreams?

Or maybe you are sitting here and you used to have hopes and dreams but now things are dreary and life is routine and boring; the dreams you had never really materialised and now you are resigned to life as it is! Or maybe you are resentful that your dreams were shattered, or simply faded away!

Maybe your ideas and dreams were to serve God – you really wanted to serve God in some way – you were enthusiastic / you genuinely wanted to do something worthwhile for God / the Church.

Maybe even now you have good intentions and dreams about what you want to do for God.

1. DAVID’S GOOD PLANS. v1-3.

David has a dream – he has a desire to do something for God. After some 20 years of war and struggle he is now King David. God has blessed him and it is a time of peace. The Philistines are quiet – the nation is at peace – the Ark of the Covenant is now in Jerusalem and David is living happily in his newly-constructed palace.

We need quiet interludes in life. We need time to sit and gaze into the fire. To walk in the woods and kick the leaves. To lie on the banks of a river on a sunny day and watch the clouds float by. We need these times.

In our modern rushing lives we seldom have times to meditate and think without the hubbub of TV and Radio and Stereo and computer games and telephones …

It is often at times like this that we think and dream and hope….

Maybe at a Christian camp round the fire one evening you grasped a vision of what you could do for God – or after a Church service alone in your room you thought about how you could do something for God in response to all he had done for you.

That is where David was at – it began to bother David that the Ark of God was in  a tent while he was living in a beautiful house. From what we know of David there is no ulterior motive here, there is no selfish ambition. He has no desire to make a name for himself.

Sometimes our intentions can be good and noble – our motives are genuine; BUT our good intentions and genuine motives don’t of themselves add up to equal God’s plans.

It is often very difficult to distinguish between our ideas and God’s ideals.

We may even have friends, like David had in Nathan who will say,                    2 Samuel 7:3 3 ………., “Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for the LORD is with you.” (NIV)

2. GOD’S BETTER PROMISES. v4-17.

A Word About Freedom And Guidance. David has a heart concern to provide better housing for the Ark of God. As it turned out God was about to veto these plans. BUT it was not wrong for David to have spiritual desires – millions of people have plans and ambitions for business, for careers, for children etc…. Why should God’s people not have hopes and dreams for the work of God’s kingdom?

Paul wrote of his own desires Romans 1:11   11 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong — (NIV)

Paul wrote about Church leadership – 1 Timothy 3:1 …. If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task.

God gives us a lot of freedom. Generally it is good to cautiously follow our spiritual longings. For much of the time God gives us freedom. We do not need to seek God’s will for every minute detail – not that we don’t live in dependence on God, we do – but God’s will is not a hidden agenda that we need to extract from him for every detail of life.

Godly men and women of the Bible did not live that way. Most of the time God gives us freedom and expects us to use good judgement FOLLOWING the principles of scriptural teaching and scriptural wisdom. {Importance of Biblical study so we begin to think like God}

YET we have to ask God what his desire is. David did this when he shared with Nathan what was on his heart. He is asking, “What is God’s will?” NOT in the sense of  “What is God’s hidden agenda?” BUT  “What is God’s wish about this particular matter that is on my mind?”

Although God gives us a certain amount of freedom, we still consult him as we use our good judgement. We ask him for confirmation. Major [and minor] decision should be prayed over. God has the right to overrule our hopes and desires. Both Nathan and David were using their God-given freedom in seeking the best for God’s kingdom. BUT they both had to accept that God has opinions and desires of his own.

ILLUS.: We are God’s children – like with our own children – we teach them certain principles – as they follow those principles and get on with life we allow them that freedom. However there are times when as parents we step in and say “That is wrong – or that is not necessary at this moment – ….”

So God’s response to David is “NO! – I do not want you to build a temple for me”

1 Chronicles 17:3-4    3 That night the word of God came to Nathan, saying: 4 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the LORD says: You are not the one to build me a house to dwell in. (NIV)                  [ parallel passage to 2 Sam.7]

THIS ‘NO’ IS NOT DISPLEASURE OR DISCIPLINE.

There is no question here of sin. This is not God’s judgement coming on David because of some wrongdoing.

Was it wrong for David to think about building a temple? It is not a question of being wrong BUT a question of accepting God’s ‘NO’ and living with the mystery of God’s will.

As humans we tend to package things. And we expect God to package his plans for us just like we would. We want the logic that we use to be his logic. And when it isn’t we wonder what is wrong – because it is not working out as we would have worked it out.

ILLUS.: When I was 17 I went forward at a Missionary conference to offer myself to God for missionary work. Six years later I went to study at Theological College for 4 years. During that time I became interested in working as a missionary to the Muslim World. I met and married Janet during my college years. She had already worked as a missionary in Jordan and Lebanon – had spent 3 years at Bible College and was preparing to return to the Middle East. After finishing College we worked among the SA Muslim communities for 5 years. I studied Missions and Islamics through University.

For 10 years we prepared to go to the ME as missionaries. After a year in Portugal where I trained and practised teaching TEFL, we came to England en route to Turkey. For all kinds of reasons we could not continue on to Turkey – we were stranded in England – I worked as a carpenter and Janet went back nursing – for 3 years. Then God clearly led us to Binscombe – [I won’t go into those details] – We are in a place where there are no Muslims and everyone speaks English.

By human logic it doesn’t make sense! And there are times when I am completely baffled by God’s dealings with us. Was it wrong to desire to be a missionary in Turkey? No, I don’t think so!

Was it wrong for David to want to build God a Temple? …

When his son Solomon eventually did build the temple he said this                 … 2 Chronicles 6:7-9          7 “My father David had it in his heart to build a temple for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel. 8 But the LORD said to my father David, ‘Because it was in your heart to build a temple for my Name, you did well to have this in your heart. 9 Nevertheless, you are not the one to build the temple, but your son, who is your own flesh and blood — he is the one who will build the temple for my Name.’ (NIV)

you did well to have this in your heart.

God says in effect “David I commend you for the thought. I commend you for having a heart so sensitive to me that you want to build a temple for my glory. It is well that it was on your heart. It is not my plan for you to do that, but I commend you for such a thought!”

God doesn’t call everyone to build temples.

WHEN GOD SAYS ‘NO’ IT IS NOT NECESSARILY DISCIPLINE OR DISPLEASURE. IT MAY SIMPLY BE REDIRECTION.

God promises David many things – three stand out:-

• A great name, amongst the greatest on Earth. 2 Samuel 7:9 9 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men of the earth. (NIV)
• The desire for a Temple fulfilled through his son. 2 Samuel 7:12-13 12 When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever. (NIV)
• A kingdom and a house that will last forever. 2 Samuel 7:16 16 Your house and your kingdom shall endure for ever before me; your throne shall be established for ever.’ ” (NIV)

These promises, and many others, were fulfilled in the immediate future through Solomon, David’s son, who constructed the Temple and enjoyed a peaceful and successful reign.

But the promises go much further. David and Solomon were promised an eternal house and an eternal kingdom. The Kings of Israel that descended from David were to a greater or lesser degree all failures. It becomes clear that only a very unique Son of David could fulfil all these hopes.

The prophets began to expect a new David. The Psalmists looked forward to a king who would bring an everlasting kingdom. Isaiah speaks of a child born in the house of David whose name is “the mighty God”.

These promises can only be fulfilled in a much greater ‘David’ than David.

Like David: – he is a man of God’s choice.

– he did his work in the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

– he rules over the entire people of God.

– he delivers the people from their enemies.

– he does his work on behalf of the Father.

Jesus allows people to call him the Son of David.

We know he was born in the House of David.

Mary prayed – he would be given the throne of David.

It is the work of Jesus to build a house – a spiritual Temple. Jesus temple is the church. He builds it. The Church is God’s dwelling place in the Spirit {Ephesians 2:20-22}. Jesus is David’s seed raised up [ in more than one sense] raised up to establish God’s kingdom / God’s house. His throne will last for ever and ever!

This is what God was promising David. “David, you want to build me a house, that is a good intention, but ‘NO’, I have a greater and better plan to build you into a house – not stones and wood but a spiritual house and kingdom that will not deteriorate but will last forever!

3. DAVID’S HUMBLE PRAYER. v18-29.

David is in his prime. He is fit in body and mind. He is tested and mature. He has the trust and admiration of the people. He is energetically ambition to do something for God. He is crowned and enthroned. KING DAVID.

How will he handle his position? Will he become like other kings – tyrannical and imposing? Assertive and demanding?

2 Samuel 7:18             18 Then King David went in and sat before the LORD…….. (NIV)

This is incredible when we begin to consider the conditions under which David did it.

• He could have got angry with Nathan – “I am the King. don’t tell me what to do!”  — shoot the messenger!
• He could have got in a huff – “If you are going to be so ungrateful for my offer don’t ever ask me to do anything for you again!”
• He could have felt hurt and sorry for himself – “No one appreciates me , I will just keep to myself from now on!”

Not David – he has a heart for God – he allows himself to be stopped by God. And he goes and sits before God and acknowledges his sovereignty.

2 Samuel 7:18-22       18 …. and he said:        “Who am I, O Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? 19 And as if this were not enough in your sight, O Sovereign Lord, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant. Is this your usual way of dealing with man, O Sovereign Lord?

20 “What more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Sovereign LORD. 21 For the sake of your word and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made it known to your servant.

22 “How great you are, O Sovereign LORD! There is no-one like you, and there is no God but you, ………

David is acknowledging that God is the beginning, centre and end of all of life.

It is so easy for us to be so full of our own abilities, our own, careers, our own busyness, even our own work for God that we can easily lose sight of the fact that it is God and not ME that is the centre of life!

Those times when we stop and sit before the Lord – we become aware of the real world – God’s world! We then realise how much greater it is!

There are a number of traps we can fall into:-

• we can be so busy doing that we never have time / make time to sit before the Lord and listen!
• we convince ourselves that we can do nothing for God – and in a sense there is some truth in that – but we can use that as an excuse for pious laziness!
• we can have a stoic resignation that since “the will of God” is going to happen anyway we should just be resigned to the inevitable. That is a life of fatalism not faith!

David sat before the Lord. It was not passivity or resignation. It was prayer. It was being in God’s presence.

The prayer that David prays shows that he has listened to the Word of God through Nathan the prophet. Many of the things that David is praying – are God’s word that he is praying back to God. There is a great lesson here for us.

2 Samuel 7:25-27       25 “And now, LORD God, keep for ever the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house. Do as you promised, 26 so that your name will be great for ever. Then men will say, ‘The LORD Almighty is God over Israel!’ And the house of your servant David will be established before you.

27 “O Lord Almighty, God of Israel, you have revealed this to your servant, saying, ‘I will build a house for you.’ So your servant has found courage to offer you this prayer.

It takes immense courage to relinquish control of our lives to God – to give over our plans and to accept His!

David sat down – not stoic passivity but active participation  – the real action started. NOT David making God a house but God making David a house!

There is no danger that when we sit down before the lord that we will end up doing nothing. David did much before he sat down and he did much afterwards.

God commands and we obey; God sends and we go.

The Christian life is a gloriously active life as the Holy Spirit does the work of Christ in and through us. The danger is not that we do nothing when we sit before the Lord rather the danger is that we get so caught up in OUR God-plans that we forget about God!

When God says ‘NO’ it means he has a better way & he expects me to support it.

When God says ‘NO’ my very best reaction is cooperation and  humility.

David’s task was not to grumble and sulk about what he couldn’t do but to wholeheartedly get on with what he could do.

My task is not to sulk about that fact that God stopped us going to Turkey as missionaries but to get on with the task at hand. Easy? No!   Necessary? Yes!  With hindsight I see some reasons – only in heaven will I know fully why.

It is not always easy to know God’s mind – however we know enough of what God wants and we have difficulty doing what we DO know.

• The daily task of Bible study and prayer so that I might better understand the principles of God’s Word and with his Holy Spirit’s indwelling help make wise decisions about life.
• To be open to his promptings so that I don’t become deaf to his ‘NO’s’ and ‘YESes’.
• To have regular fellowship and worship with other Christians so I can learn from God through them.

Without these regular disciplines of ‘sitting before the Lord’  we will not easily hear the Word of the Lord.

As with David God wants to build each of us into a house/temple in which he can dwell and be glorified. 1 Corinthians 6:19 19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; (NIV)

That is also true of us corporately as a church .. Ephesians 2:21 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. (NIV)

There are 1000’s of good things to do – I can’t do them all – As a Church we can’t do them all – God has his plans for us – But we need to be sensitive to his directions and redirections – His ‘NO’s and his ‘YESes’’.

PARADERS OF THE LOST ARK!

2 Samuel 6:1-23

INTRODUCTION.

ILLUS.: A few weeks ago I was driving to Guildford on a Sunday morning to have breakfast with my friend Ian Buchannan. I was listening to Radio 4’s ‘Sunday’ programme. They were interviewing an Anglican clergyman and a Muslim Theologian (a lady). This came about because a leading Clergyman in the Dutch Reformed Church of Holland had suggested that it was about time Christians accepted Muhammad as a prophet of God. The Anglican was defending the Christian position of the uniqueness of Christ. The Muslim’s response was , “How can anyone be so arrogant as to suggest that there is only one way to God – surely there are many ways and we should accept them all!”

It is a familiar argument and on the surface it sounds reasonable – esp. to a Post-Modern Relativist like this lady obviously was!

“It is heresy, “ she said, “to say we can only worship God one way!”

Many would agree with her logic!!

{Let me point out that this is not orthodox Muslim theology and that she has been influenced by Western liberal philosophy. Also a Christian could challenge Muslims to accept Jesus not just as a prophet but as God’s divine Son who died on a cross as the Saviour of the world. While Christians don’t accept what Muslims believe about Muhammad – Muslim don’t accept what Christians believe about Jesus}

The point is – do we have the right to say that God should be worshipped in a particular way only!

I think this passage before us sheds some light on this. Some background is necessary to understand what is happening in this passage. [Some years ago there was a film which starred Harrison Ford called “Raiders of the Lost Ark” – the search was on to find the Jewish Ark of the Covenant]

So I have called my message today “Paraders of the Lost Ark”

Who are the paraders in this chapter – the main players are David – Uzzah – Michal (David’s wife).

1. THE ARK.

What is the ark – and its significance?

A rectangular box [approx. 4’ x 2’ x 2’] It was constructed of acacia wood and plated with gold – the lid was solid gold and on the lid at either end were two cherubim – angel like figures – they looked down on the centre of the lid which was known as the mercy seat! There were four rings placed on the sides of the Ark so that poles could be inserted to carry the Ark – this was the task of the Levites.

The word “ark” simply means chest or box.

The Ark is a symbol of the divine presence. Sometimes called the Ark of the Covenant indicating the agreement that God had made with Israel/ or sometimes the Ark of the Testimony because it contained tablets of stone on which the 10 Commandments were written – these were called, among other things, the Testimony.

After God had rescued the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and brought them into the desert en route to the promised land, he made a promise to them – really a reaffirmation of a promise made to their forefather Abraham viz. that He would be their God and they would be his people! A covenant with them that he constantly reaffirmed.

God instructed Moses, who was the leader of Israel through the desert, to construct a Tabernacle – a tent – to be a focus of worship and a symbol of God’s presence with his people.

The Ark symbolised experiencing the presence of God and being able to approach him. The different stages in approaching God were outside the Tent [the open courtyard], in the Holy Place, and in the Holy of Holies or Most Holy Place.

The open courtyard spoke of being outside fellowship with God – he had to be approached via blood-atonement and cleansing (altar and basin/laver)

The First section of the Tent / Tabernacle had three things in it, all of which symbolized fellowship with God. The table with bread symbolizing a fellowship meal with God, the seven branched lampstand symbolizing the light of God, a small altar burning incense symbolizing prayers mixed with incense provided by God / the prayers rising as a sweet aroma to the Lord.

In the smaller compartment, behind a curtain, was the holy of holies – in it was the Ark symbolizing God’s presence. In front of the ark was a gold pot of manna/ bread [speaking of God’s provision] and Aaron’s rod/staff [all the high priests descended from Aaron – the rod symbolizes approaching God through a priest who has offered blood-sacrifices].

Inside the Ark was the Law of Moses / 10 Commandments – there but not visible – symbolically showing that enjoyment of God’s presence was not hindered by the threatening law, BECAUSE the law was covered by the mercy-seat where the blood of sacrifice was sprinkled.

The Ark itself was the centre of this entire representation of God’s presence.

It showed God’s holiness because of the Law inside – perfect.

It showed God’s mercy because of the mercy-seat between the cherubim where the blood of sacrifice was sprinkled.

It showed God’s kingship because he was invisibly enthroned between the cherubim.

It was a place of worship – the cherubim standing in a posture of worship and readiness to do God’s will.

The only person ever to enter the Holy of Holies was the High Priest – once a year on Yom Kippur / Day of Atonement. Having carefully cleansed himself and offered blood sacrifice for his own sin, he then offered sacrifice for the sins of the people to ask God’s forgiveness and atonement.

When we come to the NT all these symbols have profound significance for the Christians – all are signs pointing to Christ – the great high priest and the sacrifice / lamb of God slain … he is the mercy seat/ the place of atonement.

The Ark was the central symbol of God with his people – a God who commanded them [tablets w. 10 commandments] provided for them [the manna] saved them [the rod – Aaron had used it to strike the waters of the Red Sea and part them, provide water in the desert, ……..]

The Ark was not a piece of memorabilia but a symbol of God’s continuing presence with his people.

This is the Ark that David went to collect from the house of an old priest, Abinadad. It was captured by the Philistines 30 years before when Saul was king. Now David wants it to be the centre of Israel’s life again – to remind the people that God is there KING and David is only really king under God!

They put the Ark on an ox-cart and the two sons of Abinadab, Uzzah and Ahio, walk in front and behind. Everyone is singing and dancing and having a good time – the oxen stumble and Uzzah puts out his hand to steady the Ark and God strikes him dead!

1. UZZAH’S UNDOING.

2 Samuel 6:6-7           6 When they came to the threshing-floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. 7 The LORD’s anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down and he died there beside the ark of God. (NIV)

Why did Uzzah die?  Why was he, as the text so bluntly says, struck down? We have difficulty with this – as with the death of Ananias and Sapphira in the NT – it doesn’t fit with our picture of God as loving and life-giver. The story doesn’t give details so we must fill in with what we know from the rest of scripture – that’s why I took time to explain about the Ark and the Tabernacle.

Uzzah was used to the Ark – it was in his father’s house for 30 years – he had probably helped care for it – it had become commonplace.

Uzzah is a person who imagines he can take charge of God – God in a box. It was not a reflexive act of steadying the ark as the oxen stumble that was the problem. It was a attitude build up over many years of thinking that he could manage God.

You see God’s instruction were very clear about how the Ark was to be moved. It was not to be touched by human hands but carried by Levites only, using poles placed through the rings attached to the Ark.

Uzzah ignored / defied these God-given directions. He substituted the latest Philistine technology – an ox-cart! Now clearly a well designed ox cart is more effiecient for moving an Ark than plodding Levites. BUT it is impersonal! Not God’s way!

Uzzah thought he was in charge of God – but God will not be managed. The eventual consequences of this attitude to God is death.

God will not be put or kept in a box – whether the box is constructed of wood / clever ideas / warm feelings.

As humans was are very good at developing an idea of what God is like and then worshipping our own creation.

ILLUS.: Years ago – when I was a teenager there was a record album called “Aqualung” by Jethro Tull – On the back cover was an alternative version of Genesis 1 – “In the beginning man created God and in the image of man created he God …….”

Heresy we say!

BUT consider this senario – we become Christians, we learn from God, we are obedient, we pray, we enjoy the freedom of forgiveness, our new found faith gives us meaning and hope to our lives. We take on responsibilities in the wonderful new world. Soon we are helping others and telling others — All this is good and right!!

Then we cross the line – we get bossy and cranky on behalf of God! We think we can do God’s work for him. We take charge of God!

We believe me I know – I have done it!

We don’t take care of God; he takes care of us! When we try to take charge of God – trim him down to a manageable size we lose a sense of reverence and awe, we lose the spirit of love and faith, we shrivel spiritually and we are in danger of dying to God!

Uzzah’s death was not sudden – it was years in the making – it was an accumulating of dead works, suffocating the spirit of praise and faith and worship!

3. DAVID’S DANCING.

PETERSON – “Why did David dance?  He knew something about God that Uzzah was deaf and blind to. David had lived dangerously all his life – with lions and bear, taunting giants and a murderous king, marauding Philistines and cunning Amalekites, in the wilderness and in caves.”

He was with God – God was with him – running, hiding, praying, leading. God was his saviour, his shepherd, his refuge, his commander. God wasn’t tame – David had learned to live trustingly, daringly, openly before God.

God is not manageable – he is awesome —

ILLUS.: from “The Lion, the witch and the wardrobe” – C S Lewis // the children in the house of Mr. and Mrs. Beaver speaking of Aslan [a picture of Christ] coming to Narnia.

“Is he a man? Asked Lucy.

“Aslan a man!” said Mr Beaver sternly. “Certainly not. I tell you he is the King of the wood and the son of the great Emperor-beyond-the-Sea. Don’t you know you is King of the Beasts? Aslan is a lion – the Lion, the great Lion.”

“Ooh!” said Susan, “I’d thought he was a man. Is he – quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion.”

“That you will, Dearie, and make no mistake,” said Mrs Beaver; if there is anyone who can appear before Aslan without knees knocking, they’re either braver than most or else just silly.”

“Then he isn’t safe?” said Lucy.

“Safe?” said Mr Beaver; “don’t you hear what Mrs Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the king I tell you.”

God is not tame – but he is good!

David is honest with God. When Uzzah in struck down David is angry! He goes away and sulks for three months!

Why didn’t God strike David for his anger – because David was alive to God – he didn’t like what happened but at least he was treating God as God.

Uzzah never got angry with God he was far too well mannered and proper – besides it is difficult to get angry with a box!

David went home to Jerusalem and three months later having cooled down he reassembled the people and brought the Ark to Jerusalem in grand style.

David celebrated – he was not simply carrying out a religious duty or a political ceremony. He was worshipping – responding to the living God!

He was alive and open to God – he worshipped!

Of course all of life should be and offering of worship to God BUT there should be a time and a place when we set aside time to met together and focus wholly on God. Because God is confined to a specific time and place? NO! BUT because we are all to prone to self-centredness and we need to make a deliberate effort to focus on HIM.

I don’t want to get hung up on whether Dance is appropriate in worship or not – that is not the issue – it probably has more to do with culture than theology. Dance is never mentioned in the NT as a way to worship BUT that too, doesn’t mean it is wrong. Clearly it isn’t when we read the OT!! The way we express our worship is usually cultural / national or church culture!

You see it is not the outward expression of worship that is at issue – In the beginning of the chapter the people were having a great celebration and enjoying themselves immensely when the Ark was on the ox-cart BUT clearly God was very angry with them.

Our outward expression of worship – be it exuberant or sedate – is only acceptable to God if it comes from hearts that are alive to God – Clean hands and a pure.

The question this prompts – which we must all ask is this – How is my heart? Am I alive to God?

4. MICHAL’S MOCKING.

Michal saw David celebrate and enjoying worship with God’s people and she mocked him.

“The king ought to be acting like a king. He ought to do what other kings do; have the gods serve him, surround himself with pomp and ceremony, organise religion to make himself look important and kingly”

She was firstly embarrassed by David’s behaviour and then becaome comtemptuous of his exuberate celebrations.

2 Samuel 6:20

20 When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, disrobing in the sight of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would.” (NIV)

… dripping with contempt.

She is cynical and embarrassed by her husband.

It is all very well being a Christian and going to Church but don’t become fanatical – after all, everything in moderation.

There have always been cynics in the Church – cynical about theology,  preaching the Word, Church organisation, leaders and people alike – but worst of all they eventually become cynical about God himself.

NB – Michal had no children to the day of her death! 2 Samuel 6:23

23 And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death. (NIV)

She was barren!

When it comes to spiritual fruit in our lives, healthy productivity will never spring from a heart that is cynical and embarrassed toward God and his people.

We come to God now not through human priests and the blood of animal sacrifices sprinkled on a gold box inside a tent made of skins.

We have a Great high Priest who is Jesus Christ and we come to him through his cross – a place where he sacrificed himself / sprinkled his blood / in him we find mercy and grace and forgiveness.

We no longer see an Ark BUT rather a living Lord Jesus Christ – we don’t look at an Ark and see the Law of God written on Stone Tablets – Instead the Law of God has been written on our hearts … 2 Corinthians 3:3 3 You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. (NIV)

A heart for God is one that is given over to the fullness of the Holy Spirit as he makes the Word of God alive and real to us. We need to be Davids who haven’t lost a sense of the divine in ecclesiastical trappings!

When David brought the Ark back to Jerusalem and paraded it before the people he did more for the nation than he could ever have imagined – God was back at the centre.

Is God at the centre of our lives?

Are we like Uzzah? Do you have God in a box? nice and manageable! – it leads to death! We can’t dictate to God how we will worship him – we must come to him on his terms.

Are we like Michal? Religious – maybe, but don’t get too excite of God – it leads to spiritual barrenness! We can’t use God – he wants to bless us and use us!

OR are we going to be “Davids” – alive to God – not perfect, sometimes getting it wrong / sometimes being angry with God — BUT alive – with a heart for God!!

DAVID BECOMES KING OVER ALL ISRAEL!

2 Samuel 5:1-16

Introduction.

ILLUS.: Both my grandmothers lived into their nineties – one of them was a bit miserable and humanly speaking not without cause as she had a very tough life. The other one was delightful and everything one could want in a grandmother – we called her Pidge. I used to love listening to her talk about her life – she was born in 1896 – she remember the South African Anglo-Boer War, her husband fought in France during the First World War and her son in the desert and Italy in the second World War. She used to talk about the time the first car came to Johannesburg – the first aeroplane, the cat’s whisker wireless, as a young lady she had worked as a photographer and would show her big box camera with the black cloth she would put over her head ……… and on and on.

What would strike me as she talk – as I am sure it has many of you in your lives – the massive changes that have taken place this century. I think of the massive changes that have taken place in my lifetime and I was born in the second half of the century.

The question is, however, has all this change caused us as human beings to grow?  Are we better people? Do we care more? Love more?

David’s life had changed enormously. He had move from being an obscure shepherd in the hills of Bethlehem to being on the threshold of becoming King over all Israel. How has David changed? What has he learned? How has he grown?

1. 1.     CROWN – KING AT LAST! [v1-5]

David is now 37 years old. God has so worked the circumstances around David that the people want him to be their king. All the posturing and intrigue amongst the men [Abner and the sons of Zeruiah that we talked about last time]   surrounding David God has work to David advantage and to his [God’s] plan to make David his king.

For 7½ years David had been king of the single tribe of Judah, in the town of Hebron. Two years before that he was the leader of a guerrilla band at Ziklag. For 8-10 years before that he had been a fugitive in the desert, hiding from the jealous king Saul. Prior to that he was a musician in Saul’s court and a local hero as a killer of Philistines. He had made the headlines when he killed Goliath. We first met him as the youngest of Jesse’s eight sons when he was pulled out of the sheepfolds of Bethlehem and anointed future king of Israel.

Now some 20 years later he is the king – anointed by God and proclaimed king by popular consensus. 2 Samuel 5:3

3 When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a compact with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed David king over Israel. (NIV)

David has been patient – he has waited for God and now he has seen God fulfil his promises. Things hadn’t simply changed for David but he had learned to wait on God.

2. CONQUEST – ACHIEVING THE IMPOSSIBLE. [v6-8]

David now king over all Israel. His next task is to establish a capital city. If he stayed in Hebron he would be seen to be favouring Judah – if in a town of any other tribe he would be accused of the same thing. The was an ideal place Jebus, occupied by the Jebusites, a natural stronghold that seemed impossible to conquer. [MAP]

2.1. God has a habit of overthrowing strongholds.

It was thought to be impossible to overthrow – it had deep valleys on two sides [Hinnom to the south and Kidron to the east] the city walls and these deep valleys made it difficult to attack. It had once been occupied by the tribe of Benjamin but they had lost it to the pagan Jebusites. The Jebusites were confident that their city would never be taken by any invader … 2 Samuel 5:6

6 The king and his men marched to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites, who lived there. The Jebusites said to David, “You will not get in here; even the blind and the lame can ward you off.” They thought, “David cannot get in here.” (NIV)

So often human thinking in its pride imagines that it is secure. Often the world has felt confident that it can resist and even overthrow Jesus Christ. Many have attacked the gospel of Jesus Christ and his church, they have ridiculed the Bible as superstition.

This was not the first time David had faced ridicule – as a boy he had stood before a giant who ridiculed and mocked and despised him and we know what happen to that giant. David had learned that those who despise God are near to falling. He does not react to their sneers and insulting language, nor has he any personal animosity towards them. But he is determined to stand with God against those who oppose God.

For the modern Christian it is the same – we do not wage war as the world does – 2 Corinthians 10:3 3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. (NIV)

We are involved in a war – a spiritual battle – yet the insults that come to God and his people only serve to strengthen our resolve to stand for God. These strongholds that Christians are up against can be anti-God political empires [Communism with its atheistic teaching seemed so strong yet within 70 years this stronghold crumbled] It could me modern godless philosophies and there are plenty of those. It could be worldly wisdom or demonic opposition. These may cause Christians difficulties, even suffering but they can’t destroy. On the contrary …… 2 Corinthians 10:4 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. (NIV)

2.2 God can bring unexpected victories.

David wasn’t intimidated by the Jebusites confidence. David was given a surprising idea from God to go through the water tunnel and so capture the city from within. This water tunnel is still there today – it was rediscovered in 1867 – it is vertical at one point were buckets were lower to get water.

David had said on that day .. 2 Samuel 5:8

8 … “Anyone who conquers the Jebusites will have to use the water shaft to reach those ‘lame and blind’ who are David’s enemies.” That is why they say, “The ‘blind and lame’ will not enter the palace.” (NIV)

They were so confident that even Lame and blind could defend the city but David under God had other ideas.

If we are in touch with God there are times when God leads us in surprising ways. Things that we may have thought impossible that we have struggle over for years can suddenly be overcome.

May be a friend or family member who you have prayed for years can sudden and often unexpectedly come to faith in Christ.

ILLUS. My Dad – for whom we prayed for many years – my mom for 25 years – sudden and dramatically came to faith for a life of alcoholism.

Never give up wait on God and trusting him. David had learned that… 2 Samuel 5:9       9 David then took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built up the area around it, from the supporting terraces inward. (NIV)

3. CAPITAL – JERUSALEM, CITY OF PEACE. [v9]

3.1. God wanted David to have a Headquarters.

Jebus = Jerusalem. Jerusalem has since that time been highly symbolic and had great spiritual significance but we must be careful not to get over excited about the physical city of Jerusalem today. For centuries it was the centre of God’s work – the temple was there. BUT the spiritual symbolism is far more important than the physical city.

Jerusalem is a picture of heaven and of the people of heaven.

The king in his city with his people is a picture of the KING in his heavenly city amongst his redeemed people.

The earthly Jerusalem was David’s capital – the Heavenly Jerusalem is God’s capital from where the Greater son of David – the Lord Jesus Christ reigns.

[We must resist the temptation to find application to Christ in every detail. These are pointers to the coming Christ. Also, we must not think that David at the time was aware of any symbolism or messianic significance in his actions or the sequence of events surrounding him. All we can say is that David became king of Israel AND we with NT hindsight and the teachings of the prophets long after David can see the ultimate goal of history and redemption in Jesus Christ!!!]

In the story of the church different cities have been centres of influence – at the beginning for a while it was Jerusalem [destroyed on AD.70] Later it was Antioch, Rome, London, Geneva, Canterbury and more recently Manila, Nairobi, Bangkok and Sao Paulo. NONE of these is our capital city.

Heaven is our HQ. Heaven is where our instructions come from. Heaven is where our resources come from. Paul in .. Galatians 4:26 26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. (NIV)

Our reward is the heavenly city. By faith we enter it now and find it to be a city of peace.

3.2. God wanted David to have a place beyond the reach of enemies.

Jerusalem was almost invulnerable. The heavenly Jerusalem is the home of God’s people and is beyond defeat.

The earthly Jerusalem was so secure it was famous for its peace – name means “City of  Peace”. [Although because it is earthly it did fall – more than once] BUT our heavenly Jerusalem is a place of safety and peace, a truly impregnable city.

The world we live in is a turbulent, ever-changing place, full of uncertainty and instability. Consider how fragile the world economy is at the moment!

It is comforting and reassuring to know that as Christians we belong to a place / or rather a person who will keep us safe – forever! God is our security – not the DSS / NHS / our PPP’s / our life or endowment insurance policies!

4. CHANGE – “AND DAVID … GREW GREAT” [v10-16]

This time is David’s life is a watershed. So far in the story we have been looking at the Rise Of David. From now on he is not the future king – he is the king! From now on it is the Reign Of David.

Some things to learn from this phase of David’s life:……

4.1. David reaped the blessings of many years of preparation.

2 Samuel 5:10 10 And he became more and more powerful, [And David went on, and grew great, -kjv] because the LORD God Almighty was with him. (NIV)

David had been in preparation for years. He had learned many lessons of faith and of forgiveness. He had persisted in days of great opposition, fro the Philistines, from Saul, from Saul’s family. By years and tears of persistent constant faith had brought him to a time of reaping and fulfilment.

4.2. David received unexpected practical blessings.

2 Samuel 5:11

11 Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs and carpenters and stonemasons, and they built a palace for David. (NIV)

David had been consolidating the capital for God’s kingdom. Now someone else builds him a house while he is working for God.

He seeks God’s kingdom and finds other things being added to him.

Matthew 6:33 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (NIV)

4.3. David recognises that his ministry was not for his own sake.

God’s choice of any of us is never merely for our own sake. God chooses us to use us. He appoints us for the service of others. So David was made to know that he was being blessed for the sake of Israel.

2 Samuel 5:12 12 And David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel. (NIV)

4.4. David continued in his polygamy.

v13-16

In this he was following the practice of ancient kings. The story of Genesis 2 must have been available to David in one form or another. It could have taught him another approach to marriage which would have brought him greater happiness had he been able to follow it.

The royal wives were a source of trouble for David – some were pagan. Four of David’s sons gave him great trouble and heartache as none of them came from a stable home background.

BUT remember the situation he lived in — and that God did not condemn him.

4.5. David continued to live in dependence on God.

Now that he was in a position of power we could understand if David had gone ahead and done things off his own bat – BUT NO! He consults God! Should he take the city? Should he fight the Philistines? Should he build a temple? ……

APPLICATION:….

David’s life has changed dramatically. Would he change and become a Middle Eastern tyrant? v.10 tell us that David “became more and more powerful” – only militarily and politically? I believe it was more than that! KJV says “he grew great..” –

This is not just a story of change BUT also of growth – this doesn’t always happen – for David or us – it can diminish us, it can stunt our growth and panic us into withdrawl, it can make us selfish and self-protective!

BUT change can be a catalyst for growth – it can stimulate and deepen and develop and enlarge our lives – it can make us bigger, not smaller, if we allow God to teach / mould us through all the changing scenes of life.

David could have lived on his passed victories against the Philistines and Goliath – on the past experiences of the wilderness and his youthful achievements – David was not content to live lazily on the past experiences – he wanted a vital life with God – so he allows God to make him into a man of prayer and obedience – a man with a heart for God. A man led deeper and deeper into life with God.

Peterson – “When we grow in contrast to merely change, we venture into new territory and include more and more people in our lives – serve more and love more. Our culture is filled with change; it is poor in growth. New things, models, opportunities are announced, breathlessly, every hour.  But instead of becoming ingredients in a long and wise growth, they simply replace. The previous is discarded and the immediate stuck in – until, bored by the novelty we run after the next fad. Men and women drawn always to the new never grow up.”

Don’t get me wrong. Change is inevitable – if we are not changing we are not growing. But change doesn’t automatically make us grow. On the other hand we can’t grow if we are never willing to change. If David had resisted change he would have remained a shepherd in the Bethlehem fields and missed all that God planned for him.

God wants us to grow – not merely change – and he wants us to grow in him. The Christian life is not something that we learn about and then put together with instructions from the manufacturer; it is something we become as God works his salvation in us and as we accustom ourselves to a life of belief and obedience and prayer.

Peterson – “The mistake we make in our technologically conditioned world is to look for what is wrong in our lives so WE can fix it, or what need doing so we can have something worthwhile to do. There are things wrong that need fixing and there are jobs that need doing. BUT the Christian life starts at the other end – not with us but with God. What is God doing that I can respond to? How is God expressing his love and grace so that I can live appreciatively and in obedience?”

God wants to change us – individually and as a congregation – not for the sake of change BUT to make us grow – “…to grow great..”

David was learning to have a heart like God. David didn’t change into a power-hungry, ego-centric despot when he became king, like other pagan kings.

He came to the people like a shepherd – David had grown to have a shepherd heart like God. 2 Samuel 5:2 2 …. the LORD said …., ‘You shall shepherd my people Israel, and you shall become their ruler.’ ” (NIV)

David would be king – not by lording over Israel but by being their shepherd!

Remember what was said of Jesus when he was born – Matthew 2:6

6 ” ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;   for out of you will come a ruler

who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'”

Everything that David knows about God he experiences – enters into, embraces, takes into himself.  It is not academic – God is not a doctrine he talks about – God is person who he knows , who leads him, who cares for him. God is not remote / abstract / distant – God is there with him in his day to day living. This is the stuff of salvation. What he experiences in God doesn’t just change his circumstances it changes David for the better – it makes him grow great / mature.

The Shepherd boy of Bethlehem becomes the shepherd king of Israel!

You may have been a Christian for many years – Are you willing to change and grow?

Maybe you are a young Christian – you look at the church and you would like much to change – and there are always things that need to change – BUT change for its own sake accomplishes little. Are you willing to allow God to mature you like he did David?

Apart from God we achieve nothing –  Following God / learning his lessons / obeying his words / …….. makes us more, not less. It makes us grow great!

AT LAST …. BUT!

2 Samuel 2:1 – 4:12

INTRODUCTION.

For most of us – or rather all of us – life never quite lives up to the expectations that we have. I don’t know about you, but when I was a school I always had the idea that life would be easier and more enjoyable when I didn’t have homework to do, or teachers telling me what to do – I could earn my own money and enjoy being free. I went from school to the army – my dreams were shattered. and so we could go on….

Maybe we have been through years of struggle – financial, healthwise, – or maybe after years of loneliness we enter marriage, or maybe after years of study we at last embark on own career — we emerge from these difficulties and think “These are going to be the best years of my life!”

God is going to use these years – he is going to bless us and give a sense of fulfilment in following him. BUT ….

Let’s hold off on the ‘BUT’ for a while and see what is happening in David’s life and what we can learn.

1. THE STORY SO FAR.

• When we began the story of David some time ago we saw how God chose David to be the future King of Israel. David was only about 17 years old.
• He rises to national prominence when he kills Goliath the Philistine giant.
• He becomes captain in the national army of King Saul and he is very successful as a soldier and leader of men. In fact, he is more successful than the King and the people know this and David becomes more popular than King Saul.
• Saul becomes insanely jealous and tries to kill David who is then forced to flee for his life.
• David makes some mistakes – he lies which results in the massacre at Nob – he takes refuge amongst the Philistines and has to feign madness to save himself from being killed.
• Then he takes refuge in the wilderness and here God molds David to depend whole on Him. David learns that God is his refuge and strength – that he will protect and provide and fulfil his purposes for David as he waits on God.
• During this time David builds up a significant band of followers.
• In spite of his military strength and opportunities to kill his enemy King Saul – David saves Saul’s life as he is God’s anointed and David will not try to force God’s hand – he has learned to wait on God.

2. A NEW ERA – “THE KING IS DEAD, LONG LIVE THE KING”

King Saul is now dead. Three of his sons, including Jonathan David’s dear friend are also dead. David has lamented these deaths. Not just of Jonathan his friend but also his enemy, Saul – but he laments nevertheless because Saul is God’s anointed king and David is a man after God heart.

But now Saul is dead. The way is open for David to become king. For a decade he had been on the run, hiding and living by his wits, relying on God to be his protection and refuge and provider.

Now that things look easier will there be any need for God?

If we are honest I guess we are all guilty of thinking we don’t need God so much when things are going well for us. When we are in a scrap, yes, we need him then but when things are going well for us then we don’t need God’s help – or so we delude ourselves! (Often unconsciously – we simply drift along)

3. THE DOOR IS OPEN – WHAT’S THERE TO PRAY ABOUT?

Look at the situation – God has promised David he will be King. The people know that David will be king. Saul is dead. Surely the logical thing to do is take the throne. “David the door is open, what are you hesitating about? Get on with it!”

As Christians we are under the Lordship of Christ / under God’s rule. To live our lives for Him. To follow a lifestyle that is according to the principles Jesus taught.

YET often we can be guilty of jumping the gun // of rushing ahead with things because we see that the door is open. “What’s there to pray about? Surely it is obvious?” // “I am in love with this guy, he is a Christian – why ask God surely it is what he wants?” // I have been offered promotion surely it must be the right thing to do – why pray about it? It will be more money!”

“Other Churches have used an evangelistic programme and it worked for them – we have the opportunity – let’s do it – it is obvious isn’t it why ask God?”

The door was wide open for David to become king BUT notice what David does…

• He remains calm and unhurried. 2 Samuel 2:1

1 In the course of time, David enquired of the LORD. ……..              Haste is often a sign of self-will. When we are not sure that something is God’s will but we want to do it regardless, we are generally in a hurry. BUT when we are sure we are in God’s will we can wait for God’s timing. David was willing to wait on God – he had learned that in the wilderness. [We will see how he later forgets this lesson]

• He prayerfully seeks God’s guidance.

2 Samuel 2:1

1 In the course of time, David enquired of the LORD. “Shall I go up to one of the towns of Judah?” he asked. The LORD said, “Go up.”

David asked, “Where shall I go?” “To Hebron,” the LORD answered. (NIV)

A new phase of life requires new guidance. He might have thought that he didn’t new God’s guidance / that ‘commonsense’ was enough to know that Hebron would be the best place for a capital. BUT David doesn’t take for granted that he knows God’s will.

The longer I am a Christian the more difficult I find knowing the will of God for my life. Oh I know God’s general principles revealed in scripture and those are difficult enough to obey / BUT I become uneasy when Christians glibly claim to knows God’s will / “God told me!”

If David, who was anointed to be king by the prophet Samuel had to come to God for guidance, how much more do I?

2 Samuel 2:2-4

2 So David went up there with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 3 David also took the men who were with him, each with his family, and they settled in Hebron and its towns. 4 Then the men of Judah came to Hebron and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah.

David is only King over Judah / just the southern part of the country. It will be another 7½ years before he is King over the whole of Israel.

David was going to have to overcome his enemies and rivals AND he was going to have to unite a divided people. These are the problems that face the leaders of God’s people in every generation. Jesus faced these problems and through his church still faces these problems today. Some within his professing church are more his enemies than his friends.

It is his purpose to unite the Church. Ephesians 4:13 13 … unity in the faith …

This was his prayer in John 17:21 21 that all of them may be one, ………

David’s task was not going to be easy – he had people around him who claimed to be on his side // who even believed they were on his side but would make his life difficult. They were doing their best to help but the problem was they were not interested in God’s interests. They believe that God is God – well sort of! BUT following God is not a way of life. They will do things, even ‘serve’ God, their own way.

4. “WITH FRIENDS LIKE THAT WHO NEEDS ENEMIES?”

A brief sketch of these chapters is necessary …    [MAP]

TWO KINGS.

• David becomes king in Hebron – over the southern tribe of Judah.
• Ishbosheth becomes king in Mahanaim – over the northern tribes. His name means “son of shame”. He was 41 – he was Saul’s only surviving son and heir. He was not a strong leader – in fact he was really a puppet king.

TWO SIDES.

• Two armies – led by Abner in the North and Joab in the South.
• The two armies meet at the pool of Gibeon – Abner and Joab each put forward 12 men to engage in a contest of arms. {like Goliath and David – this time 12 on each side}. Things get out of hand – what started as a contest turned into a riot and ended in a massacre. At the end of the day the body count was Israel 360 – Judah 20! David’s men, under Joab, won the day – although there are seldom winners in a civil war!
• Asahel is killed – He is Joab’s brother – Asahel is ambitious he goes after Abner and catches up with him but Abner warns him to go back – he doesn’t listen and Abner being the older and more cunning soldier kills Asahel.
• Joab wins the day but the death of his brother leaves a deep scar of resentment.
• Through this time David continues to grow stronger. (3:1-5)

TWO MURDERS.

• Ishbosheth is weak – Abner is the King maker – things don’t go well. Ishbosheth and Abner have a fall out over a woman – (What’s new!!) In his anger Abner promises to hand the North over to David. (He acknowledges that this is God’s will anyway)
• Abner wastes no time and goes to negotiate with David – and they come to an agreement.
• When Joab hears of it he is furious and goes after Abner and murders him – Revenge for his brother, Asahel.
• The second murder is that of Ishbosheth – With the death of Abner there is no real leader in the North – Two brothers, the Sons of Rimmon, murder Ishbosheth in his bed and take his head to David thinking that they will be rewarded – David is not impressed with their treachery and has them executed.
• The way is now open for David to become king over all Israel!

It is a messy, unsettled 7 years from the Death of Saul until David finally becomes King over all Israel.

The main players in this section are Joab and Abner. Both would have claimed to be for David. Joab from the beginning and Abner became a supporter later on.

ABNER is an opportunist. He is really the leader of the North – he is the King-maker – Ishbosheth is a puppet king! Abner is astute enough to realise that the future is with David and he works out diplomatic ways to hand the North over to Israel so he, Abner, can have a leading role in the new government.

He bullies Ishbosheth with God-talk. 2 Samuel 3:9-10 9 May God deal with Abner, be it ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the LORD promised him on oath 10 and transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and establish David’s throne over Israel and Judah from Dan to Beersheba.” (NIV)

He woos the elders and leaders of Israel with God-talk .. 2 Samuel 3:18 18 Now do it! For the LORD promised David, ‘By my servant David I will rescue my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from the hand of all their enemies.’ ” (NIV)

Abner is a smooth operator – he knows how to use the name of God when it serves his purposes.

We all have that potential – to use God as a front to get what we want – it is so easy to say “God told me …” or if we come from a different theological stable to say “I sense God is leading me to ….” or “I have really prayed about this and I am sure God wants me to …”

We need to be on our guard so that we wait on the Lord like David and don’t use the Lord’s name like Abner!

JOAB – David’s commander-in-chief – he is David’s nephew, the son of his sister Zeruiah – he is the typical strong man. He acts first and thinks later. He is loyal – he serves the idea that he believes to be right – in this case David as God’s anointed. If you get in the way of his ideal or are a threat to it he will remove you by fair means or foul!

He is a combination of hot-headedness, dogmatism and muscle.

Both of these men know that David will be king – both are jockeying for position, maneuvering and manipulating to claim positions of political and military prominence.

Why are they here in the story – we want to here about David a man after God’s heart. Why do we have to have these selfish, self-ambitious, hard-headed men in the story. We get wars and murders and political scandals in our newspapers and on our TVs everyday – why in the Bible? Why are people like Abner and Joab allowed to take up so much space? Why does David’s story get so messed up with these people?

5. A SLICE OF LIFE.

They are in the story because whether we like it or not this is the context in which God chooses to work out his story!

We find wonderful companions along the way of faith – those who encourage and help – men and women of grace and beauty, loyalty and prayer: – Jonathans and Abigails, Samuels and Ahimelechs. BUT we also find ourselves in the company of Abners and Joabs.

They are not fundamentally enemies – Joab and Abner would have claimed to be on David’s side; interested in God’s work in David. BUT really they are only interested in how David can further their work. Religion is a front to their self-interest.

David found these to be a constant thorn in his side — and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: [2 Samuel 3:39]

Zeruiah, David’s sister, had three sons, Joab, Asahel and Abishai: Although Joab was no blood relative he was like them in character.

Abner Killed Asahel and then Joab killed Abner in revenge – the two remaining sons Joab and Abishai would continue to be a thorn in David’s side for the rest of his life.

These men are fiercely loyal to David’s political interests but they comprehend nothing of David’s spirit; they don’t have David’s heart for God.

David is attempting to lead God’s people but amongst them are these sons of Zeruiah who are making life difficult. Pursuing their own agendas while they jockey for position.

BE AWARE THAT THERE WILL ALWAYS BE ABNERS AND SONS OF ZERUIAH

Some people don’t like to read the Bible, esp. the OT because they say there is too much fighting and brutality. BUT we must read it – because it is very similar to the kind of world we wake up to every morning – a world of shabby morality, opportunists, religious propaganda, …. and on and on … the many, many sons of Zeruiah that are too hard for us!

The kind of stories that we have looked at this morning point to the nature of sin – self-absorbed and no room for the Lord and both his righteousness and his blessings.

BEWARE THAT WE ARE NOT LIKE THE ABNERS AND SONS OF ZERUIAH

They also come as a warning to all of us – to our need of self-knowledge and humility before the measure of the Word of God.

There is something of the nature of Abner and the Sons of Zeruiah in all of us – we all have the potential, while pretending to put God first, to actually be using God and his people for our own selfish ends. And so we need to examine our own hearts before the Lord.

BUT THERE IS ALSO DAVID – “A MAN AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART”

In the midst of all this turmoil David is waiting on God and seeking God’s direction. We observe that David is acting honestly, peacefully and graciously; even towards his enemies…….

I said at the beginning that sometimes we enter a new phase of life thinking these are going to be the best years of my life. And Yes, some years may seem better that others.

BUT we must accept that this life in never without its problems and troubles – and if we are waiting for a better day, an easier time to serve God – it won’t come! There will always be circumstances and people to complicate life and make it messy. Life is never neatly packaged with no loose ends!

The challenge for David was to live for God surrounded by messy circumstances.

We live in the same world – and God calls us to live for him in this world!

Titus 2:11-14        11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope — the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. (NIV)

AT LAST …. BUT!

2 Samuel 2:1 – 4:12

INTRODUCTION.

For most of us – or rather all of us – life never quite lives up to the expectations that we have. I don’t know about you, but when I was a school I always had the idea that life would be easier and more enjoyable when I didn’t have homework to do, or teachers telling me what to do – I could earn my own money and enjoy being free. I went from school to the army – my dreams were shattered. and so we could go on….

Maybe we have been through years of struggle – financial, healthwise, – or maybe after years of loneliness we enter marriage, or maybe after years of study we at last embark on own career — we emerge from these difficulties and think “These are going to be the best years of my life!”

God is going to use these years – he is going to bless us and give a sense of fulfilment in following him. BUT ….

Let’s hold off on the ‘BUT’ for a while and see what is happening in David’s life and what we can learn.

1. THE STORY SO FAR.

• When we began the story of David some time ago we saw how God chose David to be the future King of Israel. David was only about 17 years old.
• He rises to national prominence when he kills Goliath the Philistine giant.
• He becomes captain in the national army of King Saul and he is very successful as a soldier and leader of men. In fact, he is more successful than the King and the people know this and David becomes more popular than King Saul.
• Saul becomes insanely jealous and tries to kill David who is then forced to flee for his life.
• David makes some mistakes – he lies which results in the massacre at Nob – he takes refuge amongst the Philistines and has to feign madness to save himself from being killed.
• Then he takes refuge in the wilderness and here God molds David to depend whole on Him. David learns that God is his refuge and strength – that he will protect and provide and fulfil his purposes for David as he waits on God.
• During this time David builds up a significant band of followers.
• In spite of his military strength and opportunities to kill his enemy King Saul – David saves Saul’s life as he is God’s anointed and David will not try to force God’s hand – he has learned to wait on God.

2. A NEW ERA – “THE KING IS DEAD, LONG LIVE THE KING”

King Saul is now dead. Three of his sons, including Jonathan David’s dear friend are also dead. David has lamented these deaths. Not just of Jonathan his friend but also his enemy, Saul – but he laments nevertheless because Saul is God’s anointed king and David is a man after God heart.

But now Saul is dead. The way is open for David to become king. For a decade he had been on the run, hiding and living by his wits, relying on God to be his protection and refuge and provider.

Now that things look easier will there be any need for God?

If we are honest I guess we are all guilty of thinking we don’t need God so much when things are going well for us. When we are in a scrap, yes, we need him then but when things are going well for us then we don’t need God’s help – or so we delude ourselves! (Often unconsciously – we simply drift along)

3. THE DOOR IS OPEN – WHAT’S THERE TO PRAY ABOUT?

Look at the situation – God has promised David he will be King. The people know that David will be king. Saul is dead. Surely the logical thing to do is take the throne. “David the door is open, what are you hesitating about? Get on with it!”

As Christians we are under the Lordship of Christ / under God’s rule. To live our lives for Him. To follow a lifestyle that is according to the principles Jesus taught.

YET often we can be guilty of jumping the gun // of rushing ahead with things because we see that the door is open. “What’s there to pray about? Surely it is obvious?” // “I am in love with this guy, he is a Christian – why ask God surely it is what he wants?” // I have been offered promotion surely it must be the right thing to do – why pray about it? It will be more money!”

“Other Churches have used an evangelistic programme and it worked for them – we have the opportunity – let’s do it – it is obvious isn’t it why ask God?”

The door was wide open for David to become king BUT notice what David does…

• He remains calm and unhurried. 2 Samuel 2:1

1 In the course of time, David enquired of the LORD. ……..              Haste is often a sign of self-will. When we are not sure that something is God’s will but we want to do it regardless, we are generally in a hurry. BUT when we are sure we are in God’s will we can wait for God’s timing. David was willing to wait on God – he had learned that in the wilderness. [We will see how he later forgets this lesson]

• He prayerfully seeks God’s guidance.

2 Samuel 2:1

1 In the course of time, David enquired of the LORD. “Shall I go up to one of the towns of Judah?” he asked. The LORD said, “Go up.”

David asked, “Where shall I go?” “To Hebron,” the LORD answered. (NIV)

A new phase of life requires new guidance. He might have thought that he didn’t new God’s guidance / that ‘commonsense’ was enough to know that Hebron would be the best place for a capital. BUT David doesn’t take for granted that he knows God’s will.

The longer I am a Christian the more difficult I find knowing the will of God for my life. Oh I know God’s general principles revealed in scripture and those are difficult enough to obey / BUT I become uneasy when Christians glibly claim to knows God’s will / “God told me!”

If David, who was anointed to be king by the prophet Samuel had to come to God for guidance, how much more do I?

2 Samuel 2:2-4

2 So David went up there with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 3 David also took the men who were with him, each with his family, and they settled in Hebron and its towns. 4 Then the men of Judah came to Hebron and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah.

David is only King over Judah / just the southern part of the country. It will be another 7½ years before he is King over the whole of Israel.

David was going to have to overcome his enemies and rivals AND he was going to have to unite a divided people. These are the problems that face the leaders of God’s people in every generation. Jesus faced these problems and through his church still faces these problems today. Some within his professing church are more his enemies than his friends.

It is his purpose to unite the Church. Ephesians 4:13 13 … unity in the faith …

This was his prayer in John 17:21 21 that all of them may be one, ………

David’s task was not going to be easy – he had people around him who claimed to be on his side // who even believed they were on his side but would make his life difficult. They were doing their best to help but the problem was they were not interested in God’s interests. They believe that God is God – well sort of! BUT following God is not a way of life. They will do things, even ‘serve’ God, their own way.

4. “WITH FRIENDS LIKE THAT WHO NEEDS ENEMIES?”

A brief sketch of these chapters is necessary …    [MAP]

TWO KINGS.

• David becomes king in Hebron – over the southern tribe of Judah.
• Ishbosheth becomes king in Mahanaim – over the northern tribes. His name means “son of shame”. He was 41 – he was Saul’s only surviving son and heir. He was not a strong leader – in fact he was really a puppet king.

TWO SIDES.

• Two armies – led by Abner in the North and Joab in the South.
• The two armies meet at the pool of Gibeon – Abner and Joab each put forward 12 men to engage in a contest of arms. {like Goliath and David – this time 12 on each side}. Things get out of hand – what started as a contest turned into a riot and ended in a massacre. At the end of the day the body count was Israel 360 – Judah 20! David’s men, under Joab, won the day – although there are seldom winners in a civil war!
• Asahel is killed – He is Joab’s brother – Asahel is ambitious he goes after Abner and catches up with him but Abner warns him to go back – he doesn’t listen and Abner being the older and more cunning soldier kills Asahel.
• Joab wins the day but the death of his brother leaves a deep scar of resentment.
• Through this time David continues to grow stronger. (3:1-5)

TWO MURDERS.

• Ishbosheth is weak – Abner is the King maker – things don’t go well. Ishbosheth and Abner have a fall out over a woman – (What’s new!!) In his anger Abner promises to hand the North over to David. (He acknowledges that this is God’s will anyway)
• Abner wastes no time and goes to negotiate with David – and they come to an agreement.
• When Joab hears of it he is furious and goes after Abner and murders him – Revenge for his brother, Asahel.
• The second murder is that of Ishbosheth – With the death of Abner there is no real leader in the North – Two brothers, the Sons of Rimmon, murder Ishbosheth in his bed and take his head to David thinking that they will be rewarded – David is not impressed with their treachery and has them executed.
• The way is now open for David to become king over all Israel!

It is a messy, unsettled 7 years from the Death of Saul until David finally becomes King over all Israel.

The main players in this section are Joab and Abner. Both would have claimed to be for David. Joab from the beginning and Abner became a supporter later on.

ABNER is an opportunist. He is really the leader of the North – he is the King-maker – Ishbosheth is a puppet king! Abner is astute enough to realise that the future is with David and he works out diplomatic ways to hand the North over to Israel so he, Abner, can have a leading role in the new government.

He bullies Ishbosheth with God-talk. 2 Samuel 3:9-10 9 May God deal with Abner, be it ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the LORD promised him on oath 10 and transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and establish David’s throne over Israel and Judah from Dan to Beersheba.” (NIV)

He woos the elders and leaders of Israel with God-talk .. 2 Samuel 3:18 18 Now do it! For the LORD promised David, ‘By my servant David I will rescue my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from the hand of all their enemies.’ ” (NIV)

Abner is a smooth operator – he knows how to use the name of God when it serves his purposes.

We all have that potential – to use God as a front to get what we want – it is so easy to say “God told me …” or if we come from a different theological stable to say “I sense God is leading me to ….” or “I have really prayed about this and I am sure God wants me to …”

We need to be on our guard so that we wait on the Lord like David and don’t use the Lord’s name like Abner!

JOAB – David’s commander-in-chief – he is David’s nephew, the son of his sister Zeruiah – he is the typical strong man. He acts first and thinks later. He is loyal – he serves the idea that he believes to be right – in this case David as God’s anointed. If you get in the way of his ideal or are a threat to it he will remove you by fair means or foul!

He is a combination of hot-headedness, dogmatism and muscle.

Both of these men know that David will be king – both are jockeying for position, maneuvering and manipulating to claim positions of political and military prominence.

Why are they here in the story – we want to here about David a man after God’s heart. Why do we have to have these selfish, self-ambitious, hard-headed men in the story. We get wars and murders and political scandals in our newspapers and on our TVs everyday – why in the Bible? Why are people like Abner and Joab allowed to take up so much space? Why does David’s story get so messed up with these people?

5. A SLICE OF LIFE.

They are in the story because whether we like it or not this is the context in which God chooses to work out his story!

We find wonderful companions along the way of faith – those who encourage and help – men and women of grace and beauty, loyalty and prayer: – Jonathans and Abigails, Samuels and Ahimelechs. BUT we also find ourselves in the company of Abners and Joabs.

They are not fundamentally enemies – Joab and Abner would have claimed to be on David’s side; interested in God’s work in David. BUT really they are only interested in how David can further their work. Religion is a front to their self-interest.

David found these to be a constant thorn in his side — and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: [2 Samuel 3:39]

Zeruiah, David’s sister, had three sons, Joab, Asahel and Abishai: Although Joab was no blood relative he was like them in character.

Abner Killed Asahel and then Joab killed Abner in revenge – the two remaining sons Joab and Abishai would continue to be a thorn in David’s side for the rest of his life.

These men are fiercely loyal to David’s political interests but they comprehend nothing of David’s spirit; they don’t have David’s heart for God.

David is attempting to lead God’s people but amongst them are these sons of Zeruiah who are making life difficult. Pursuing their own agendas while they jockey for position.

BE AWARE THAT THERE WILL ALWAYS BE ABNERS AND SONS OF ZERUIAH

Some people don’t like to read the Bible, esp. the OT because they say there is too much fighting and brutality. BUT we must read it – because it is very similar to the kind of world we wake up to every morning – a world of shabby morality, opportunists, religious propaganda, …. and on and on … the many, many sons of Zeruiah that are too hard for us!

The kind of stories that we have looked at this morning point to the nature of sin – self-absorbed and no room for the Lord and both his righteousness and his blessings.

BEWARE THAT WE ARE NOT LIKE THE ABNERS AND SONS OF ZERUIAH

They also come as a warning to all of us – to our need of self-knowledge and humility before the measure of the Word of God.

There is something of the nature of Abner and the Sons of Zeruiah in all of us – we all have the potential, while pretending to put God first, to actually be using God and his people for our own selfish ends. And so we need to examine our own hearts before the Lord.

BUT THERE IS ALSO DAVID – “A MAN AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART”

In the midst of all this turmoil David is waiting on God and seeking God’s direction. We observe that David is acting honestly, peacefully and graciously; even towards his enemies…….

I said at the beginning that sometimes we enter a new phase of life thinking these are going to be the best years of my life. And Yes, some years may seem better that others.

BUT we must accept that this life in never without its problems and troubles – and if we are waiting for a better day, an easier time to serve God – it won’t come! There will always be circumstances and people to complicate life and make it messy. Life is never neatly packaged with no loose ends!

The challenge for David was to live for God surrounded by messy circumstances.

We live in the same world – and God calls us to live for him in this world!

Titus 2:11-14        11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope — the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. (NIV)

Enemy – Love!

2 Samuel 1

INTRODUCTION.

ILLUS.: Imagine in business – you are young and you are reasonably successful. Because of your popularity and success some older and more powerful person – a person who you respect and have a close relationship with – becomes jealous and feels threatened although as far as you know you have done nothing that should cause him/ her to feel that way. The result: pressure is brought to bear – the business rug is pulled out from under your feet – you suffer tremendous loss financially, your family suffers and for 10 years you are in the economic wilderness but you know that if that person was out the way you would be able to recover and be successful again.

Then one Day the news reaches you that this person has died …. What is your reaction?

The normal human response would no doubt be one of relief, pleasure, satisfaction (he/she got his/her just-desserts).

We naturally like to see those who have made our lives miserable or difficult in some way  get a taste of their own medicine.

ILLUS.: May be at school you were bullied – then the bully got sorted out by someone and you cheered them on.

If I am honest I would be on the cheering side.

David was in a much worse position than any of us have ever been in – Not only did he loose everything he had but he was then pursued by King Saul who want to kill him. For about 10 years David was on the run for his life!

The comes the news that King Saul is dead – not only is David’s enemy Dead BUT the way is now open for David to become King. We would expect him to be over-joyed or at least a little pleased.

BUT first he has the bearer of the news killed and then he laments Saul’s death and instructs his men and the nation to do the same!! What an extra-ordinary response to the death of a bitter enemy.

Why did David have the Amalekite, who brought the news of Saul’s death, killed?

1. DEATH OF AN OPPORTUNIST.

What do we make of David’s response to the messenger who brought the news of Saul’s death?

The Amalekite’s story is different to the account given in 1 Sam.31. –

After David and his followers had mourned and fasted for Saul and Jonathan- David questions the Amalekite messenger.

He asks two questions … 2 Samuel 1:13-14

13 David said to the young man who brought him the report, “Where are you from?”

“I am the son of an alien, an Amalekite,” he answered.

14 David asked him, “Why were you not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?” (NIV)

• Where are you from?

His answer -“I am the son of an alien, an Amalekite,” – an alien was a foreign resident in the nation and had certain privileges – he might even have been a believer. Whether this is true or a cover up we will never know BUT if it is true he MUST have known about Israelite religion and society — esp. the status and role of the king as the Lord’s anointed. The office of the King of Israel was held in very high honour by the people of Israel. If he was a resident alien as he claimed to be he must have known that!!

• Why were you not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?

The Amalekite messenger was without excuse – it was not enough to plead that Saul requested it, or that it was euthanasia — still less could he admit to murdering Saul to help David onto the throne.

This man was an opportunist – he claimed to kill Saul [which was a lie but unknown to David at the time] so out of his own mouth he condemned himself for murder and treason.

By killing the king he had usurped the prerogative of God himself; something which David himself had refused to do.

2. DAVID’S “LAMENT OF THE BOW”

                   – equivalent of “Candle in the Wind!”.

We are not unfamiliar with the picture of national mourning. The images of  Kensington gardens carpeted with flowers in the wake of the death of Princess Diana are still fresh in our minds.  The route of the funeral cortege lined with 1000’s of people standing in silent tribute.

How does David respond to Saul’s death – and Jonathan’s.

We have this wonderful song of Lament to Saul and Jonathan..

It is not surprising that we have a beautiful statement about Jonathan. He was David’s best friend. He was deeply grieved at the loss of his friend.

2 Samuel 1:25-26

25 “How the mighty have fallen in battle!

Jonathan lies slain on your heights.

26 I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother;

you were very dear to me.

Your love for me was wonderful,

more wonderful than that of women. (NIV)

David’s love for Jonathan is not indicative of a homosexual relationship as some modern defenders of that practice like to imagine. This is an expression of covenant brotherhood, and masculine affection without any sexual overtones whatever.

Keddie “David speaks here of the camaraderie of youth and war, of the brotherhood of adventure and the risk of death, of the confidence of men in each other when their lives depend on the faithfulness and courage of the other.”

What is surprising is David’s response to the death of Saul. We might expect him to be pleased – after all Saul had made David’s life pretty miserable for a whole decade – in fact he had tried to kill him. As long as Saul was alive David would not be king.

But all the tough years in the wilderness – on the run – living in caves – have taught David something. Rather God has taught David something. David had learned to view Saul, not as the deranged maniac who want to kill him BUT rather to see him as God’s anointed. In spite of Saul’s ill-treatment of David, he loved Saul, so when he hears of Saul’s death he is in great anguish of heart and laments.

It is right and proper to lament in the face of death. This is what David did.

Death and loss and disappointment are part of life and when we try to push it to one side, not think about it, soft-pedal it … we deprive ourselves of an essential part of life.

Is it not interesting that 70% of the Psalms are laments? Is it any wonder that when we are going through tough times we so often find comfort in the Psalms? WHY? Because here is someone who is expressing what we feel. Most of these are written by David – “The man after God’s own Heart!”

David did not have a stiff upper lip – he had a soft heart and he knew how to cry.

It is so contrary to the culture in which we live …

Listen to Eugene Peterson

.. this is good …

“We have a style of print and television journalism that reports disaster endlessly and scrupulously: crime and war, famine and flood, political malfeasance [depravity] and societal scandal. The one virtually foolproof way for getting noticed in our culture is to do something bad. The worse the act, the higher the profile. In the wake of whatever has gone wrong or whatever wrong has been done, commentators gossip, reporters interview, editors pontificate, Pharisees moralize; then psychological analyses are conducted, political reforms initiated, and academic studies funded. But there is not one line of lament.”

David lamented because he choose to view Saul from a divine perspective

3. DAVID’S ATTITUDE:

Divine perspective.

NB how David in this chapter [in previous chapters] refers to Saul as the “Lord’s anointed” – This is the key to David loving the one who was his enemy.

And this is the Key for us – How are we to love those who are unlovely, difficult, a pain-in-the-neck, who go out of their way to make life miserable for us – how are we to love them. The first step, like David, is to see them as God sees them.

The foundation upon which David based this attitude was his love for God. The foundation upon which we can built love for friends and enemies is a love for God.

David had a heart for God – he loved the Lord beyond all else!

The love we are talking about here is not “long-stemmed roses, candle-lit dinners and boxes of chocolate”. – as wonderful as such things are – these romantic / sentimental things are good but NOT a foundation for the kind of Love God requires.

Our memory verse at the moment is … Mark 12:30 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ (NIV) [cf.Dt.6:5 MIGHT = mind+strength]

THE HEART – to Jewish thinking the heart is the centre of the being – the part that knows. To us heart is the emotions NOT so in Jewish thought.

So truth and heart are closely connected.

We cannot love God as we should unless we know the truth about him.

The truth about God is not what people think God is like  – that is why there are so many misconceptions about God ….

ILLUS.: Someone may say “I don’t believe in God”  Ask “Tell me about this God you don’t believe in!”  RESPONSE “I don’t believe in that kind of God either!”

The reason people don’t know the truth about God is because they don’t expose themselves to God’s revelation in Scripture and ultimately through Jesus Christ whom scripture reveals.

BUT we can only love God with all our hearts  when there is obedience and worship.

We can only worship God to the extent that we know Him – the truth about him – if our concept of God is false our worship will be false – SO having a heart for God is having a desire to know the truth about him AND to know him as he really is — and then bowing to him as Lord over all in obedience and worship.

THE SOUL – the soul is the centre of the will – it is wanting / desiring the Lord … as the Psalmist …

Psalm 116:12 12 What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me? (KJV)

Psalm 116:12    12 How can I repay the LORD for all his goodness to me? (NIV)

With the HEART I know the truth of God

With the SOUL I desire to please and thank him.

A desire to know him completely and to bring all that I have and am under his Lordship / control.

As expressed in another Psalm 86:4 …..for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. (NIV)

OUR MIGHT – speaks of action. “We discern who he is, we desire to respond and then will our might we do whit is his will.” [Briscoe]

Our obedience to his commands is the core / essence of our showing that we love him.

John 14:15        15 “If you love me, you will obey what I command. (NIV)

More than just trusting him for salvation ~ it is life-long obedience …

Psalm 116:2      ……..        I will call on him as long as I live. (NIV)

He calls us to love Him “with heart, soul and might” …….

1 John 4:19       19 We love because he first loved us. (NIV)

Jesus asks us the same question he asked Simon Peter after his resurrection …

John 21:16        …. Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?”

Forget everything else for that moment … “Do you really love Jesus Christ?”

If you do tell him so and commit yourself to him “heart soul and might”

Enemy-love.

The extent to which we love God with all our heart soul and might will be the extent to which are able to love the unlovely / and our enemies, like David was able to love Saul. Because David had a heart for God.

From a human point of view David should have hated Saul and been delighted at his death – BUT he wasn’t because he love God with all his heart and he had a divine perspective on the situation.

David understood what Jesus would later say in .. Matthew 5:43-44

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, (NIV)

NB – Jesus often said “You have heard it said….” or “It is written …” .

“It is written …” refers to OT scripture….

“You have heard it said….” – refers to the oral teaching / traditions –

The popular teaching by the rabbis was “Love your neighbour and hate your enemy”  BUT that is not what God said – David knew that!!

BUT Jesus statement is unambiguous “Love your enemies!” This is one of the greatest challenges and greatest opportunities for Christian disciples — If Christian don’t love their enemies who on earth will??

What does David teach us about enemy love??

ENEMY LOVE – [love for your enemy]

** refuses to take advantage. – Remember the time David could have killed Saul and he refused … 1 Samuel 26:9       9 But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the LORD’s anointed and be guiltless? (NIV)

David understood the Lord’s instructions in Deuteronomy 32:35

35 It is mine to avenge; I will repay……

Is there someone who has hurt you and you would just love to “get even” – God calls us to a different approach!!

** respects the enemy’s dignity.

When David heard what the Philistines had done to Saul – beheaded him and nailed his body to the wall of Beth Sahn and then how the brave men of Jabesh had rescued the bodies of Saul and his sons – David commended them for their bravery – He had respect for the dignity of Saul.

Are there those we would love to see shamed of degraded in some way??

** regrets the enemy’s downfall.

2 Samuel 1:19   19 “Your glory, O Israel, lies slain on your heights. How the mighty have fallen! (NIV)

Look how David refers to Saul the mighty – Your glory, O Israel [the beauty of Israel].

There is something about human nature – when we have been knocked down we love to see that enemy fall… “At last they got what was coming to them!!”

1 Corinthians 13:5-6 5 [LOVE] …. keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil …..

** avoids triumphalism.

2 Samuel 1:20

20 “Tell it not in Gath, proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines be glad, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised rejoice. (NIV)

David didn’t have an army of spin-doctors ready to pounce on and exploit every weakness and failure of his opponents!! He put down a news blackout! He was not going to trumpet the fall of his enemy to satisfy the tabloid readers of his day!!

** recounts the enemy’s strengths.

2 Samuel 1:22

22 From the blood of the slain, from the flesh of the mighty,

the bow of Jonathan did not turn back, the sword of Saul did not return unsatisfied. (NIV)

David could have said many negative, but true, things about Saul. Instead he choose to focus on his strengths – his courage, / skill as a warrior and military strategist!

It is easy to criticise and cut down BUT enemy-love, as hard as it is, does the exact opposite. It capitalizes on the strengths and gives credit where it is due.

** restrains criticism.

2 Samuel 1:23

23 “Saul and Jonathan — in life they were loved and gracious,

and in death they were not parted.

They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. (NIV)

Saul and Jonathan had their problems in the father/son relationship BUT David choose to draw and veil over them and to forgo criticism — it wasn’t necessary!!

** reveres the enemy’s well-being.

2 Samuel 1:24

24 “O daughters of Israel, weep for Saul,

who clothed you in scarlet and finery, who adorned your garments with ornaments of gold. (NIV)

What was left of Saul? – an urn of charred ashes. …. and his memory!  So David asks the people to remember with gratitude the things they can remember with gratitude. He wants whatever is left of his enemy to be revered!!

JESUS … Matthew 5:43-44

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, (NIV)

God himself did … Romans 5:8 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (NIV)

Jesus did it … “Father forgive them, they don’t know what they are doing.”

David did it  … “How the mighty have fallen!”

And us … we are called to be like Christ.

Think about the one who has harmed you / disgraced you / cut you down /  abused you ///

Jesus calls us to love / forgive such people — not to wait for nice warm feelings towards them and then act BUT in faith and in dependence on him to act towards them in love ..

ILLUS.: From the Life of Corrie Ten Boom “The Hiding Place” {last two pages} –  when after the war she meets the SS guard from Ravensbruck – the first of her captor she met since her time in the Nazi concentration camp.

As Christians we have an incredible opportunity to show the love of Christ – to live christianly before God and others.

Take my life and let it be

all you purpose, lord, for me.

…

Take my motives and my will,

all your purpose to fulfill;

take my heart – it is your own,

it shall be your royal throne.

…

Take my love – my Lord, I pour

at your feet its treasure store…