2 Samuel 17 (Part 1) Bible Study | Pastor Daniel Batarseh

Please meet me in second Samuel chapter 17.

2 Samuel 17 · chapter mention

I hope you're okay to pray with me again.

Lord, we invoke your name and we ask that your power would be in

the midst of this place. I thank you, Lord, for the

precious saints were able to be here we, thank you, Lord, for

the Saints who are watching glorious that in this very

moment, your word would come forth and it would do what only

you can do as James says that it would save us.

Not just in Salvation but save us from our sins.

Save us from lies. Save us from Temptation.

Save us from ideas that are not in alignment with your truth

that can lead to confusion and deception, Lord.

We pray that there would be a rescuing and at the same time

that there would be a stirring of adoration for you.

Lord, we don't want to just know things we want to know the god

of the word, please draws closer to you.

Help us Olga through this study. Love you personally and then

reflect you close. And more accurately than we did

before this meeting, we bless the name of your son and we ask

that he would be glorified in this study.

In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Last week, if you were here, you know, that our study concluded

with a sheath offals, horrific advice for Absalom about how to

better secure the throne that he sabotaged his father's throne.

And the advice that was proposed was for Absalom to violate his

father's concubines publicly. So that the Ian would receive

that statement and that statement would be that a new

Revolution has arrived. A new government has been placed

and that it is the real deal as aggressive.

And as audacious as such a move was he thought was advice is not

going to cease here. It's going to continue into

chapter 17 and what you're going to learn very quickly is that

his proposal in these verses will prove To be more severe

than what we learned last. But I thought foes counsel here

is not the only thing that you and I are going to read if

there's going to be another set of instructions that are going

to be presented and it's going to be presented by no other than

who shy who shy who is the secret friend of David who is

strategically in the courts of Heath offal and who has the plan

to thwart? The council that he fell for,

we're coming to that point. This is a very critical chapter

for David's life for the king. Of Israel for the future of this

nation and what you and I are going to do as we examine these

opposing views is that we ourselves are going to receive

counsel meaning, as we look at these words, as we look at these

instructions, these statements, these promises, we are also

going to learn some things about our own walk with the Lord.

Because the Holy Spirit, obviously preserved, the details

of what I thought will have the same what Housh I have to say

for more than just a historical account or a colorful episode

and Bible. There's something instructive

here. And I say that, every single

week to reassure you that when you come to the Old Testament,

you're not just reading something for you to get some

more data for a Bible trivia. Okay, you're getting something

for your walk with Christ, you getting something pertaining to

your worship for him and how to navigate through this life.

As you represent his name and you're going to find that God

willing in these verses. So as we come let's read the

first three verses right? We're continuing.

There's no chapter breaks in their original text and so the

word begins in verse one with moreover.

Moreover, I thoughtful set to Absalom.

Let me choose 12,000 men, and I will arise and pursued David

tonight. I will come upon him while he is

weary and discouraged and throw him into a panic and all the

people who are with them will flee, I will strike down Only

The King and I will bring all the people back to you.

As a bride comes home to her husband, you seek the life of

only one man, and all the people will be at peace.

So I fell for just finished telling him take.

David's concubines go up to the rooftop and violate them.

That was a political statement as you learned last week.

And now he continues because I fell for, doesn't want to just

sever the potential reconciliation between Father

and Son, he thoughtful wants to eliminate David completely and

he wants to Apparently, give Absalom the assurance that you

can now completely destroy any potential future threat from

David and his men by listening to what I have to say, but

there's something deeper going on here.

Is there not we learned that last week and it's just

reinforced here again. Actually, there are three things

that I personally have observed in these verses and maybe you

will see them as well. What are some things?

Maybe you see something that I didn't see which will be great

to discover but what are some Some things that you discover

here with the first three verses with Opals advice that stand out

to you. And I know some who revisit

this. They've told us, we listen to

the study but we didn't hear what the people have to say.

It's very difficult to pass the mic around.

So I'm going to repeat what you have to say, which is going to

require something from you. Please don't let your answer be

too lengthy. And try to be as concise as

possible so that I can repeat it for future people who would do

watch who can't make it or work and they want to watch this

study later. Okay, as I make sense, just an

added rule. To our study.

What stands out to you from these first three verses?

Yes. I fell for ya.

Because it's like he's taking Revenge.

Okay? Very good.

I'll stop you there. I thoughtful is proposing that

he killed David. Let's hold on to that.

Thought any other observations? Yes.

He wants to do it now. He wants to do it immediately.

He wants to do it this very night.

So there's urgency here. Very good.

Yes. Why does he need 12,000 men to

kill one man? Interesting thought.

Yes, so he has some kind of a strategy here.

Very good observation. We'll get to that in a moment he

uses, I will quite a bit. Yes.

Very good. You guys are doing great.

Look at, look at the condition of David described here by I

thoughtful, while he is weary and discouraged.

Very good, last one. Yes.

Oh, you guys are doing so well. He promises Absalom that if all

goes through with his plan, there will be peace among the

men as a result. Very good.

You guys are excellent students of God's word.

Let's notice the first thing here notice first.

The amount of times that Absalom says, I will strongly suggesting

that he wants to be the one to lead the attack on David.

So he says, let me choose, then he goes on.

I say I will, I will, I will, I will, there's no mention of you

will. There's a mention of we will

He's hopeful wants to take on this campaign himself and it's

because I thought was motivated by personal interest and that

personal interest as you know, is stimulated by lodging

bitterness. There should be no doubt in our

minds. That the reason why this plot is

proposed is because I, he filfil wants to satisfy the thirst of

Vengeance because of what David did to his granddaughter

Bathsheba, let me have David myself.

So, we should not believe for a second.

That the reason why I thoughtful is standing in the presence of

Absalom is because he's somewhat convinced that Absalom is the

legitimate King appointed to be the ruler of the people of God,

in fact, by virtue of a slip-up, we actually have evidence of

what a heath offal really believe that about this whole

predicament about this whole Feud about this whole conflict

that anybody Catch it. Let's look back again here, and

verse 2 at the end. He says, at the end of verse 2,

I will strike down Only The Who The king.

Hold on. I thought, I thought Absalom was

the king, isn't that? Why you are where you are?

No, he refers to David as the king.

Goes to show what he really believed about who the true king

was. And it's it's sad to see that

even though he knew the truth, he was still willing to side

with Rebellion. He was still willing to side

with falsehood and I believe here, we have a little glimpse,

a little insight of who it is and why it is some people are

deceived and embrace wickedness. There is a great amount of

people who are deceived because they are naive.

And there are others who are willing to walk in deception,

not because they're concerned about what's true, what's not

true, but because whatever system of belief, they are

ascribing to will ultimately gratify the flesh.

This will satisfy my Personal Agenda, my personal interest, my

personal itch, And so they give themselves over to something,

just like, I hate filfil again. Not because they care about

what's right or what's wrong, but because they're motivated by

self-interest. you know, I've talked to many atheists

throughout my walk with the Lord, and I've come to this

conclusion, that most atheists, if not almost all of them except

for a few Most atheists are atheist not because of the

evidence supposed evidence but because of the implications of

what it means to admit that there is a God who has a moral

standard. That's why they're atheist

because to ascribe to an idea that there is a God who has

objectively provided Truth For Humanity, demands accountability

and I don't want accountability. I want my sin.

So don't be duped by all the smoke screen of scientific

evidence and all the other things that they try to persuade

people with. It's fascinating to me how most

of these people are very angry at something that doesn't exist.

It's amazing how when you when you even when you push on the,

the real reason why it is that they don't want to even

entertain the possibility of a god being true.

It comes down to this. I want to be the god of my own

life. I want to be the master of my

own fate. I'm telling you there's probably

only a handful of people that I've encountered with that were

in that place of unbelief because they just needed some

questions answered. You can answer as many questions

for so many and they would still not be satisfied because

ultimately they want to satisfy themselves, not please God.

I thoughtful presents that as an example.

Here he is driven by bitterness and he wants to satisfy that

bitterness and to him. It didn't matter of David was

the true king or not David was the object of his desire.

And you know, what Paul says something about those who are

walking as enemies of Christ. He says that there are, there

are people who are walking as enemies of the Cross of Christ.

Why? Because in Philippians 3, 19,

their God is their belly. And their minds are set on

Earthly things. Right.

And that is why for some no matter how much truth you give

them, no matter how many answers you give them no matter how much

evidence you provide for them. They will not change.

They will not budge because ultimately they are anchored.

In one thing I want to please myself and not please this God

that you're proposing to me. There's a second thing in some

of you have mentioned that we can't move forward here without

acknowledging something that you and I have learned in the past

few studies. At this point of David's life,

look at the description of David.

Again, I thoughtful wanted to attack him at this point because

he knew that David was weary. He knew that he was Couraged.

And remember, when Zeba and shammai approach David in the

wilderness, we concluded those very two things about David when

he was deceived by ziba and slandered, by shammai, right

that he was emotionally dejected and he was physically depleted.

And we know obviously see here, that that's confirmed by, I feel

foes human wisdom and he realizes this is the time.

Now to overtake him, this is the time not to come after him and

Satan is no. Friends.

Just to reinforce some of the you and I learn about that.

Satan is no different. He looks for an opportune time.

He considers the whole man, you are, you are Spirit, soul and

body, right? And what we do with this body,

can affect what happens to our soul.

And so the enemy considers the whole man and he evaluates when

and how to come and to pounce, right?

And if it's true, that discouragement is one of his

sweetest opportunities for him. If it's one of the the footholds

He uses and enjoys the most, then we have some insight of how

to do Warfare. We have some insight of know how

to Shield ourselves against his tactics and to help our brothers

and sisters out in Christ. And here's the one thing I want

to drive into your heart, encourage one another often

often. Guys, there's enough garbage out

there, there's enough discouragement out there in the

world, right? Let the house of God be a

charging station of Hope. Let that be what we should

expect when we come into this place.

So just lay off on the drama, we have enough at work.

Some people here are not and Christian households.

They have enough drama at home. We see enough of it, on our

YouTube headlines and all the things that pop up on our

phones, it's all out. There may this place be an oasis

and what that will require my brother and my sister is for you

to be filled with God's word so that your counsel and your

encouragement can be laced with the promises of God, because

there's no greater encouragement than that.

And at the same time, it will also require us to reveal our

wounds from from time to time and to expose ourselves to

others so that we can receive the sweet counsel of a friend.

Scripture says that he who isolates himself, what is he

doing? He's escaping all sound

judgment. There is an importance in

community, as you're going to see here, there's importance of

coming together and if Satan feeds off of discouragement, and

let's give them nothing to work with.

Right. And one of the ways in which we

can do that is by pouring out such a small thing to do, right?

It's such a small thing but it holds Dynamite power.

It can, it can blow away anxiety, Blow Away fear Blow

Away concern. And just a few words, the

ministry of encouragement. Well you may not be a preacher.

May not be a prophet. You may not be an evangelist.

You may not be a musician, but everybody here can encourage.

All right? I evil said he's discouraged.

Let's come now, let's throw him into a panic before he finds

strength and hope. All the enemy is no different,

please remember that. And please remember, when you

are discouraged to escape That place that state as quickly as

possible. Find a way to encourage yourself

in the Lord call a brother, call, the sister call a leader,

open your heart, pray with someone and you will know

lasting protection against the the schemes of Satan.

Lastly, another thing. Look at how he thoughtful

mentions, as we heard from our sister, a promise.

If everything goes well, according to his plan and the

promise was this, all the people at the end of verse 3 will be at

peace. Temptation, always promises us.

Some level of reward for our compliance with sin always

whether that's advancement and promotion, whether that's

lasting gratification, whether that's a peace of mind, whether

that's material gain or escape from trouble, whenever there is

premeditated Disobedience. It is always accompanied with

false promises always, And idea here is to see past through

that. I mean who would have thought

that the death of a righteous man of a faithful leader would

promote Tranquility in society. Yeah best of false peace among

the wicked but not the true and Lasting peace that comes from

reflecting God's justice and his law.

So remember that when Temptation comes your way and you meditate

on it, the reward that's attached to.

It is just as much of a lie as the Temptation itself.

Don't forget that. In verse 4, we read and the

advice seemed right in the eyes of Absalom and all the Elders of

Israel. What we expected that, why did

we expect that? Because we know how chapter 16

ended in the last verse of chapter 16, we are told we were

given a commentary about a, he fulfills Council.

It was Godlike. It was highly esteemed.

It was sought after it was trusted.

And so to see this response to this proposal as no shock to us

but what is a shock is verse 5. Then Absalom said call who shy

the our kite also and let us hear what he has to say.

Why you guys already made a unanimous decision?

It's already settled, it's right.

That seems good and yet all of a sudden we see that there's this

inspiration and in the man's heart to seek a second opinion

from who shy and so he summons him now humanly speaking.

This doesn't make sense, it doesn't?

You have the best counselor, the top guy who gave some every, all

the elders are nodding their head, they all give of their

thumbs up and in something in Absalom says, well it doesn't

hurt to hear another perspective so fetch for who shy humanly

speaking. It doesn't make sense but when

you put God in the equation it really does make sense.

Did we forget the prayer that David prayed while he was in the

wilderness? And when he learned that I

thoughtful joined forces with Absalom, what was this summation

of his prayer? Was a very short prayer, Lord,

turn the wisdom of. I feel fun to what foolishness,

if you want to reference for that second Samuel 15:31 when

2 Samuel 15:31

David learned what happened with a heath offal, His reflex was a

cry, and he sighed a supplication to heaven.

And he said, oh Lord, please turn the counsel of ahithophel

into foolishness. And what you're seeing here in

verse 6, of chapter 17 is God answering that prayer.

God is fulfilling what David requested.

And here's the point that I want to make upon meditation prayer.

Does the unexplainable really does prayer is a force that you

cannot imagine, but you have every right to utilize if you

understand what it can do to some degree.

If you just believe God's word about prayer can do prayer

prayer. Can touch the most unlikely

heart. Prayer can reach and arrive,

where no, man, can go, right? Prayer can intervene in the most

classified political conferences.

Prayer. Can also direct the future of

Nations and prayer. I love this point about prayer

prayer, out lives, the lives of those who prayed them.

Prayer is powerful. I wonder if that is what the

Holy Spirit intended to teach us at this moment to connect what

David prayed to Chapters earlier to this moment.

Seeing the Fulfillment of it for you to realize at least one

thing that a man broken and shattered, wandering in the

wilderness. Praying can affect the plans and

the counsel of wicked men in high places.

Yeah, that's Old Testament. God answered prayer differently

than why did James use an Old Testament figure to encourage

New Testament Christians. Elijah was a man with a nature

like ours and when he prayed something happened to Nature

itself, I mean if if you're telling us that we're in the new

dispensation, and God answers prayer differently, don't use.

Elijah of all examples to inspire Christians to pray.

A man who was also a prophet who entered into palaces and

courtrooms and who saw God do Mighty things when he prayed and

you and I are encouraged to do the same.

Another thing about prayer is that God remembered David's

prayer You might have forgotten that he prayed that prayer in

chapter 15, but God did not forget so much has happened.

So many updates between 15 and 17.

And yet, we know that God heard that cry held onto it and at the

perfect time answered it. God remembers When you pray, God

holds onto you. You might have forgotten that

you've prayed something God. Didn't?

This is how faithful the Lord is and he does it for his glory.

Prayer has power. God remembers prayer.

Can I ask you a question? How many times?

Did Abraham rescued. Lot from Sodom.

How many times? Good twice.

The first time. How did it happen?

Well, this is when initially lot decide to move into Sodom bad

move, bad move, chapter 13, chapter 14.

There's a war that breaks out between five Kings and for

kings, and who's caught up in the conflict lot.

Because Sodom was one of those kingdoms apps.

Rather Abraham is Uncle heard about it and he recruits 318

trained men and they go into the camp and they rescue lines,

right? By the strength of the arm God

did help them. It was a miraculous thing for

318, men to come into an army to bring out lat.

It's wonderful. It's a great testimony.

But what was the second time? Genesis, 19.

The Lord and to Angels visits Abraham in Genesis 18 and

Abraham receives Revelation about what's going to come to

Sodom and Gomorrah. So what does he do?

Did he get 318 men again as you get the sword as you get

Javelin? What does he do?

He prays He stands before the presence of God and he

intercedes on behalf of his nephew lot.

And we were told there after lot is rescued at the end of Genesis

19 and the Lord remembered Abraham The Lord remembered

Abraham, I love that Peril. I love how God gave us two

stories of lot being rescued. The first one was with the

sword, the first one was with weapons and men and strength,

right? Flesh.

It's not - it's just a different tactic.

And yet when that same man needed to rescue the same end,

he relies on prayer and it was just as effective as an army.

It was just as effective as Weapons, it was just as

effective as a strategy to go in physically to come out, prayer

went and prayer did what we often think, only our ideas and

our abilities can do does more than that.

Pray. Pray often, I'm going to end

this Bible study in a certain way.

I'm going to ask you by faith to actually pray about something

before you leave this place because we're not here to just

acquire information, we want to respond to the truth that we

receive pray. How much do you pray?

How much do you believe in prayer?

How much do you believe prayer can do all be reminded today,

that you can even sigh a prayer, you can be distracted and yet in

a little Mustard Seed Faith, utter a prayer, God will hear it

and you can change the heart of Kings.

So they called for who shine and who shy comes, and look at verse

7 and Housh, I said to Absalom. Let's read verse six and one who

shot came to Absalom. Absalom set to him.

Thus has I fofa spoken, shall we do as?

He says, if not, if not you speak.

Very direct. If I was hoosh, I personally I

would be intimidated. Why would he shy be intimidated,

any idea? Okay, so you already had a

consensus. Everybody agreed with what I

feel for have to say. Yes that is part of it.

Let's add to that when a Absalom came into Jerusalem and he was

met by who shies long live the king long live.

The king was Absalom suspicious, he was suspicious.

It's like this is how you treat your friend?

Is this your loyalty to your friend?

And who shy cleverly presented? His apparent shift of loyalty

without being too detailed. So some suspicions subsided and

here's the here's the Dilemma, not only do you have the popular

vote? If you have who shy now standing

against the Council of IE thoughtful, he might revive

those initial intuitions that Absalom had him put himself in

danger. This is a critical point for his

shy. This is actually a dangerous

place for his shy. The danger is that in this

moment, depending on how he answers can expose himself and

put himself a great harm, but there's another danger.

The danger is this to miss out on a golden opportunity to make

a difference for why he originally was sent to this

place. A very unique instance, a very

unique moment but the principle can be applied to Believers and

what they should expect in their pilgrimage believer.

There will be times if you're a Really loves the gospel and

wants to be used by the Lord. There will be times where you'll

be put in situations in which you will have the opportunity to

speak up and it might cost you something to speak up.

There will be times where you have the opportunity and you

might be the only source. The only voice of reason to

oppose evil. And to propose God's view, God's

will God's truth on a matter, whether it's controversial or

not. And in those decisions, you have

to make a choice before you make that choice.

And that choice is, am I willing to do this no matter what?

It cost me now we've all been in those different situations.

I'm sure in the past if you walk with the Lord long enough, even

in the early phases of walking, with the Lord, you felt the

pressure to remain quiet. While there is falsehood being

presented or blasphemy being uttered.

Whether that's at work, whether that's in the classroom, whether

that's at the family gatherings. We've all felt the intimidation

to just remain quiet and let it pass by.

Although you know that you must say something.

Can I can I give you a word of encouragement to help you

overcome those hurdles of your visited by them again, right.

Ask yourself this one simple question.

It's very simple. And and train yourself to ask

this question. When you walk into the places

that God has placed you, Why am I really here?

It's not deep but it's really helpful.

What is this? All really about?

Why did God in his Providence? Put me here with this

opportunity for this season, at this time, what is it?

Is it like who shine who shine was sent by the king to go there

with a specific Duty? Do I have the Heavenly Mandate

of the Gospel in the Forefront of my thinking, or are my goals

and our, my Pursuits muddied with temporal causes and

rewards. See oftentimes, they're the

obstacles and the hurdles to our witness have to do with things

tied to to the stuff under the sun reputation preservation.

Promotion. And this is a very important

word of advice here and exhortation.

We're now, we're seeing companies asking you to use

certain pronouns certain titles for things that are obviously,

in blatantly a violation of God's word.

So be encouraged by this, right? Ask yourself this.

What am I really doing? What is this really all about?

And if you're Christian, you can answer that easily.

I'm an ambassador. I am a representative of the

Lord Jesus Christ. And my purpose in life is not to

be prettier, not to be more in shape, not having more

comfortable retirement not to make as many friends as

possible. Not to be successful person.

It is to preach the gospel, that's your goal in life.

No matter what you do, what your gifts are that is ultimately the

reason why you're here. And if you can convince yourself

of that over and over, I'm telling you it will energize a

holy boldness. Because if that's your purpose,

then it doesn't matter what happens here, doesn't matter

what happens to you, it doesn't ultimately affect why you're

here and where you're going, so let that strengthen you.

Well I might lose my job, okay? He's going to take care of you.

Well, I might lose this person might make things awkward.

That's fine. What's going to be more?

Awkward is if that person knew that you knew the truth and you

didn't tell them and it costs them their Eternal Soul.

That's more Awkward trust me. At the same time I get it.

There are some people who hear this kind of message and they

feel it guilt. And they feel this this sense

that I gotta touch every passing person.

And I got a minister to at least one, two, three people a day.

That's not the case. They're still called to wisdom.

And who shine here is is going to implement wisdom in his

approach. I'm not saying go wild and be

crazy and just stand on cars, and yell, and stand in the bus

and just shout at people and stand in the office at lunch

break and don't do that please. At the same time, don't Let the

threats or the intimidations of this world silence, you?

This is going to this could potentially cause who shies

life. But why is he shy even here?

To begin with because King David said, go back.

I need you there. And I need you to represent me.

I need you to help me just remind yourself of that when you

wake up and you get into your car and you grab your coffee and

you go to work. Lord, help me.

Remember, it's more than a paycheck, it's more than a

paycheck. God will help you will give you

wisdom and so this is what happens.

He's about to speak up and he realizes, this is an opportunity

that I might not have. Again, this is a vital

opportunity because of a, he fulfills advice has received

David? Might be finished verse 7.

That who should I set the Absalom this time?

The So, that I fell for has given is not good.

Very wise men. Why do you think this is wise?

Because he's not altogether discrediting?

He thoughtful, he's saying this time.

It's not good. I like who shine.

He says this time, it's not good and then we read here in verse

8. He shy said, you know, that your

father and his men are Mighty Men and that they are enraged

like a bear robbed of her Cubs in the field.

Besides, your father is expert in war.

He will not spend the night with the people behold.

Even now he has hidden himself and one of the pits or In some

other place. And as soon as some of the

people fall at the first attack, whoever hears it will say there

has been a Slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.

What we see here is something very, very interesting.

The first thing that he says, is you look at verse 8, is that he

reminds Absalom That the task ahead is not as simple as a

heath opal made it to be right? This is more difficult and this

is more challenging than what you may think it is.

And he says a few things about his father, your father is a

mighty man, and he has mighty men with him.

He's an expert in war and they are mad.

They've been driven from their home, they've been driven from

their their families, their friends, their positions, the

Comforts their livelihood, they are not at the best place right

now. They are extra motivated to deal

with us. And so, he encourages Absalom to

plan carefully, he encourages Absalom more than that, to

really count the cost of what he is about to do.

And the tactic here. The strategy here though who

shies motive is different has been used by the Lord.

Jesus Jesus. Also in his call to

discipleship. Encouraged and charge people to

sit down and think before they actually Endeavor to commit

themselves to his cause, and he actually uses two illustrations,

very short Parables side-by-side to communicate to illustrate.

What it is that he requires of his hearers before they actually

make any type of confession. What are those two

illustrations? Do, you know what I'm speaking

about? While you're thinking about it,

turn to Luke 14 there. The answer will be in verse 28.

But if you know before, then what are the two Parables?

That Jesus is use that Jesus used in order to communicate,

the need to contemplate before committing to his cause anybody

have an idea. Okay, you're that's another one,

right? He uses that when it when it

came to Luke chapter 9 and several different people came up

Luke 9 · chapter mention

saying, I want to follow you and one said, you know, I really

want to do this and he's like, you don't understand what you're

getting yourself into in terms of comfort and Leisure.

The other one says, I want to bury my father, he told another

one, follow me and there's all these excuses and delays but

it's not. That's not what I'm referring

to. There's another two sets of

Parables a little lengthier than that that Jesus uses while

you're there. So you know it, look at verse

28. Eight.

Of Luke 14 for which of you Desiring to build the Tower.

There's not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has

enough to complete it, otherwise when he has laid a foundation

and is not able to finish all, who see it.

Begin to mock him saying, this man began to build and was not

able to finish. Then in verse 31 or what?

King going up to encounter another king and War will not

sit down first. And the deliberate, whether he

is able with ten thousand to meet him, who comes against him

with Tony thousand. And if not, while the other is

yet a great way off, he sends a delegation asks for terms of

peace to parables. They both have something in

common their different ideas, but they share something in

common and Jesus actually reveals it.

What is it? What are they both share in

common the Builder and the King they both have to sit down

there. Both expected to sit down and

count both of them. Sit down.

And meditate reflect evaluate what it is that you're really

going to do often times and modern gospel presentations.

We get people to reach the heat of emotion.

We put, we make things happen. So that there is, there is more

heart than there is head, and then we call for people to make

a decision. When they don't really realize

what they're getting themselves into urgency is undeniable with

the gospel. But urgency with

self-reflection, urgency with self-evaluation, urgency with

thoughtfulness urgency with Clarity, on the part of the

messenger to remind you to tell you to inform you.

What it is, it means to follow Jesus and for that person to

really contemplate their life and what they're willing to do

with this message and though they share the parable share,

The economy, there's two differences, the Builder.

Had to think about whether or not they can afford to commence

this project. Can I really give what it takes

for me to do this very thing? Am I willing to make the

expenses necessary to go full force with this thing?

Whereas the King has a different way of thinking, the King on the

other hand, is not necessarily counting what it might cost him

to move forward. The king is contemplating,

whether or not he should resist or make terms of peace with

opposing Force. So the king had to think I have

10,000 this king who wants to come against me, has 20,000,

will I go to war or will I submit to his demands?

And so what you have here is really a complete picture of

contemplation at first. We ought to always think At

least. Initially, am I willing to go

full force with this? Am I willing to give everything

that I have? Whatever is required of me to

fulfill my call to discipleship, but the second presentation, the

second Parable is a different process.

Its this. Am I willing to resist this king

or make terms of peace with him? What I mean by that is the first

idea presents us. The cost of following Jesus

because there is a cost of following him, right?

This second, one has a different emphasis the cost of not

following him. Do I think that I can overpower

overthrow reject stand as an enemy to this coming King and

think I can succeed or will I bow the knee and surrender

before it's too late there is a cost to following Christ.

There's a greater cost of not following you.

And the person who hears, the gospel should think about both

paths and they're willing to pay the price to follow Lord or I

willing to pay the price to resist him and reject him have

my way. And Jesus.

Plain description, your shows that that's a, that's a failing

idea because this King has 20,000, you have ten, you will

not be able to overcome, he will be king, he will be Lord, you'll

receive worship whether you give it to him or not.

I thoughtful. Didn't present that kind of

argument who shy does. And he says absent realize what

you're up against and really think about it and plan

accordingly and then he goes into verse 9, you heard it.

He makes a different emphasis. He reminds Absalom now of the

planned counter-attack that is prepared by David and his men

because they are experienced Warriors and have Absalom is not

ready. The men that will be sent out

with a he Pho. Pho will be taken by surprise

and they will have consequences for the morale of the rest of

the people who are on his side. And so who shy is reminding

Absalom What you and I need to be mindful of concerning our

foe, right? The principal is alive and well

for us though, this is specific to a context.

The principal's still applicable.

We have an enemy, we have a foe and he's not inexperienced, he's

not inexperienced and listen, he is not unprepared to come

against the people of God from different angles.

And I'm afraid. That people who believe in

spiritual warfare because the scriptural thing.

Don't understand. The mechanics of spiritual

warfare, it happens all the time.

Paul says we do not wrestle against flesh and blood and

that's where many Christians fail already.

Because when they experience certain trials or persecution or

irritation from fellow professing Christians, what do

they do? They fight against flesh and

blood? You already.

You're already lost at the ABCs of spiritual warfare.

If you can't see past the understanding that we don't

wrestle against people, we wrestle against cosmic, power,

spiritual forces, principalities in high places.

If you can't get that, that's the ABCs.

And there's more to that. And here's what Paul says.

And, you know, this very well, he tells the Corinthian Church

in 2nd Corinthians 2 and he says, in verse 11 so that we

would not be outwitted by Satan. So that we would not be

outwitted by Satan. Why?

For we are not ignorant of his designs.

So, Paul expected Christians, not just pastors, not Apostles,

not prophets. Christians, who go to work?

Who make a living and humble ways.

You are not ignorant of Satan's designs, right?

Corinthian Christians. Okay, what was the context in

which Paul said that, anybody know.

Why did Paul say that at this point in 2nd Corinthians chapter

2? Let me remind you second

2 Corinthians 2 · chapter mention

Corinthians chapter 2. This is his second letter to the

Corinthians. There was a man that was

excommunicated from the church. The very same church that he

wrote In First Corinthians, he was excommunicated from the

church because of unrepented said, because of a gross sexual

violation, he was he was having affairs with his father's wife

and the people did not care. They tolerated it and Paul says,

get them out. Get him out, which is important

because for those who believe that Christians can be possessed

and that it's the spirit of lust that comes over you called and

said, I'm going to cast that demon that Spirit of lust out of

that man. He says no he needs Church to

this, play needs to go, just throw that out there.

Forever might be watching. And so this man.

Ends up leaving the congregation, right?

The people were obedient to Paul's Authority, but in second

2 Corinthians 2 · chapter mention

Corinthians chapter 2, you learn something.

You learn that the same man repents And the same man is

broken over his sin and he's seeking forgiveness.

He's seeking reconciliation with a very same church.

That was faithful and confronting his sin, and Paul is

urging them. Forgive him.

Paul is urging them, please restore him reassure him of your

love for him, and then he throws in that verse 4.

We are what we should not be outwitted by saying for we are

not ignorant of his designs. I want you to think about how

conniving the devil is when the people were willing to let the

man remain in his sin, Satan had Victory to some degree.

Satan would have enjoyed destroying that congregation by

allowing A little leaven to leaven the whole lump, right?

And once the people stepped in obedience and dealt with that

person's sin, Satan was right there to ensure that they would

not continue in obedience and what sense when this man

repented. The enemy who was willing to

allow this man to justify his sin and was pleased to see this

church justify. His sin is now ready to convince

them. Not to forgive this man for his

sin. And to withhold mercy and

restoration from this. Very same man. so, his schemes

Were right there, every step of the way.

When the sin was tolerated in some way, he was there.

When the scene was repented of and this man was broken over his

sin, he was right there to make sure that this man would not

know the Forgiveness of Christ through the people of God.

He's very, very conniving and his schemes were not just

hovering over this local church. They're equally at work in this

individual. what I mean by that again, when he was living in his

sin, that's a wonderful victory for the enemy.

That's just one other person who's failing in his testimony

for Jesus Christ. Satan.

Applauded at Satan. Love this Satan.

Encouraged it. And the same man, who overcame

And repented, we read here that the enemy was seeking to crush

him, not by his sin, but by his remorse, for his sin, excessive

sorrow and despair. Do you see how he's so

conniving? And he's so present.

And he always seeks an opportunity to wedge himself in

whether that is with the Toleration of sin.

Or being merciless regarding people sin.

So we need the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, we need a

sensitivity to the word of God. And, you know, I was meditating

on this this afternoon and I thought to myself there's

there's so many profound truths that just shoot forth from that,

from that tax and that truth. And here's one of them how

essential the local churches for us as individuals.

Think about this for a second, the local church was used by God

to confront this man sinned. And the local church was also

used by God to comfort. This man regarding his sin, you

can't do all that. You think you can do without the

people of God, you're a fool. If you think so.

This man teaches me that God uses the local church to not

only promote Holiness but to promote the loving kindness of

God, that is how God expresses this to us, as individuals

through the members of his body. And this man would know that he

would know the loving rebuke of God's truth to the people who

uphold the truth. But he would also know the balm

of healing from the very same people, when this man learned

his lesson, turn from his wrong and fell into their arms, it's

the church, the local church. A healthy God-fearing wise

church is so necessary. For each of us, never forget

that. Never forget that.

There are many people who want to make many decisions about

their life moving here. Taking a job there.

Can I ask you something in your decision process and you're

thinking is there any place or what priority does the local

church have in your life? I'm so encouraged, when I meet

people that say, We feel like God is calling us here.

And, and then, in the very same breath, there's a local church,

that preaches God's word Faithfully, that has godly

people who want to imitate him and we're so excited to be part

of that Community. Like that's how Christians

think. We don't go places and move

places and do things for for just the same reasons that the

Gentiles do. That's not how we operate,

right? Nothing just throwing out there.

So, what happens? We see that t reminds him of the

strategies of David and we also have to be mindful the

strategies of the evil one. Now, let's come here.

We're closing very soon. In verse 11 of second Samuel 17,

it says, but my counsel is that all Israel be gathered to you

from Dan to Beersheba as the Sand by the sea from multitude

and that you go to battle in person.

So we shall come upon him and someplace where he is to be

found and we shall light upon him as do falls on the ground

and of him and all the men with him.

No one will be left. Okay?

This is where we see a strong contrast between the counsel of

ahithophel and the Council of who shy.

What stands out to you in the concluding remarks of this, man.

How many men did hoosh? I?

Advise, I thoughtful or Absalom to take the whole nation.

Take them all from Dan to Beersheba.

Don't just take 12,000. Take as many as you can.

So absalom's hearing something different Absalom is hearing.

Yeah the more the merrier, the more number the greater our

strength. The more number, the more

intimidating will be to my father and his mighty men.

And who shies mine? What is he thinking?

Let's buy some more time. It's going to require much more

time for you to gather all these men from the different tribes of

Israel. And that's precisely what he is

doing. He wants David and his men to be

better prepared for what is inevitable and that is an attack

from Absalom. Delay.

In this sense is good, it's good for David, but delay can be

deadly depending on what we hold off on.

Apart from salvation, there are many things that the Lord Jesus

calls us not to wait on there. Are many instructions to wait

upon the Lord. There are many things that you

don't need to pray about. You just don't you saying, what

do you mean by that? Well, there's some things that

are so clear in the scripture that the pray about it would

just to hinder you from doing what, you know, you're supposed

to do. Here's one thing you're supposed

to do when there is anger, when there's animosity, when there's

potential Strife, when there's tension with a brother or

sister, what are you supposed to do?

Matthew 5, 25 says. To meet with your accuser and to

settle with them quickly. Matthew 525, quickly settle the

matter with your accuser quickly.

And so there is emergency protocol in some regards right

or else like we just heard we give we give footholds to the

enemy. And so we should be equally

mindful of the things that call for us to rush into and things

that we should wait on God for. And so this concept of delay is

important for us, it was important for David.

It's important for us in different ways and concerning

our Warfare and unfortunately, some Believers don't realize

that and they don't understand that their delay in certain

areas, can actually empower the enemy more and more as each day

goes by, but there's a second thing.

What else stands out to you from who shies concluding remarks?

In comparison to Eiffel. We all very good.

What was I thoughtful saying over and over again?

Let me choose 12,000 men and I will, I will, I will, I will now

shy comes and he does say we but he does something else.

I want you to look here at the end of verse 11, he says you go

to battle in person. I've always said I'll do it.

I'll be more than willing to do it when he's shy comes.

Oh, you shy. Hey absolutely gather all the

men but don't let those men go without you lead that great

Army, make your presence known go in there and show yourself.

Let there be no confusion about who is going to receive credit

for this Victory would be shy is doing is appealing to absalom's

Pride. He's seeking to further inflate

his ego and he knows that Absalom is a man who cannot

refuse the opportunity of potential vainglory, right.

And so Absalom is getting excited.

He likes this because again, it just feeds his own Pride, it

feeds his own self-esteem, and he's willing to he's willing to

do this. And he does comply, he does

agree with it. And we look here at verse 14,

and we read and Absalom and all the men of Israel said, the

Council of who shy the, our kite is better than the Council of a

heath offal. And it's not because of anything

other than what we read following that for the Lord had

ordained to defeat the Good Counsel that he thoughtful.

This was a decree by God. Was it an arbitrary decree?

No. God didn't just decree this

randomly God, decreed this because God has a law.

There are many things in his law that applied to this day and one

of the things in his law is this that he exalts the humble and he

brings down the proud. In fact, James says that he

opposes the proud that were deposed in.

The Greek is a military term. Meaning God will actually raise

up a rank against the person who harbors and holds onto his

pride. That that to me is one of the

most frightening verses in the New Testament.

You know why? Because I already have the devil

fighting against me. I have Satan fighting against me

and you, I have the flesh, I have this world.

The last thing I need to fight against me as God.

Right. I needed to be on my side and I

want to be on his side. And the one thing that will

cause God to oppose a man is when he is proud.

And so because of absalom's Pride God had determined his

destruction. And he's actually going to use

the very Pride that he hates to destroy.

Absolutely. For the Lord, had ordained to

defeat the Good Counsel of a thoughtful.

I look at this so that the Lord might bring harm upon

absolutely. Remember the prayer that David

prayed O Lord, turn the counsel of ahithophel into foolishness.

Was in this long elaborate strategy that he asked of God,

no is a simple prayer. And what I see here is that

after praying that God was willing to answer, he's going to

defeat the Good Counsel but there's something added to that

so that the Lord might bring harm upon Absalom, David didn't

pray for that. In fact, when you see that

there's a war that will break down the neck, Chapter David

wanted to preserve Absalom. Remember, he asked whatever you

do, don't kill my son, remember that seems heartfelt, but the

very mess that David is in is because when he should have

implemented discipline, he didn't and Absalom cause of

Revolt, right? So no matter how strong David's

feelings were for his son. God knew what he needed.

And what he needed was for his son to be removed from his life.

David didn't pray that but God knew he needed that and when I

want you to understand is that when you pray, God always does

more than what you asked, that's what Ephesians tells us, right?

That he is able to do abundantly more than we can ask or imagine.

And so even with our limited view on things even even with

our little faith that we got, even though we have a linear one

dimensional perspective on matters.

When we partner with God, he does and he performs more than

we thought we needed or we knew we needed and we should trust

them in those things. And so, I'm encouraged to see

that that the Holy Spirit included that the Lord might

bring harm upon Absalom. That wasn't part of the prayer,

but that was a needed part of David's life.

And the Lord knew how to provide exactly that.

And so, I'm grateful that even in the New Testament were told

that we don't know how we ought to pray.

We don't know how we ought to pray, but the spirit of God,

intercedes for us. You know what that means.

It means this that when you pray and you don't have the right

words or you don't know how to exactly pray about the

situation. The Holy Spirit, takes your

fragmented, even sometimes your ramblings, your incoherent cries

and he perfectly presents it before.

The throne of grace. And God perfectly answers.

It all. He asked of you is that one

simple step of faith. God, I need you.

God, I don't know where to go from here.

I don't know how to deal with this God.

I think that the answer to this is this prayer.

Would you would you do that? Sometimes God doesn't in his

wisdom. Sometimes God does and often

times he doesn't, he does more. He does more.

Here's how I want us to end our time tonight.

I want you in all sincerity in your heart.

There's so much more in this, but we're going to pause to do

something. That is, I think, important from

time to time to respond immediately to what we learn

Just in your heart whatever you're dealing with at this very

moment, whatever it is that you're asking God for it could

be, it could be anything. To believe in the power of

Prayer. And you might be facing a

situation where somebody's heart.

Has no heartbeat. It's cold, as can be as dead as

can be as confused as can be. And there's Absalom, right?

He had no reason to ask for secondary Council and yet he

did, There's Something inspired in his heart to reach out.

Yes, it was for his discipline because he was unrepentant, but

let's pray the way Abraham prayed, not for the destruction

of those that we care for necessarily, but for their

Redemption, their rescue, their deliverance, and God will

remember your prayer, he will. So, in this, in this very

moment, I'm going to ask you before we sing a song before

anybody even comes up to the play.

Jay. To believe a fresh in the power

of intercession in supplication. Say God, I might be tired.

It might be the end of a work week, but what I heard, I

believe, and I want to present this to you and trust that you

will remember this and that you will bring it to fruition.

Can we do that? I'm going to join you.

I'm going to put my microphone down.

And I'm going to sit in that Pew and and do that very same thing.

Come up here. And called for us to worship

together. I grab the mic again

intentionally this quickly. To encourage you that you can

pray a short prayer 's and they are just as significant to God.

Scripture says Rejoice always pray without ceasing give thanks

in all circumstances for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus

for you. Make it a habit to pray.

Always as you walk as you drive, as you work with your hands as

you type on your computer to remain in communication with

your heavenly father, I'm going to ask the worship team to come

in and help us lead us in a final song.

And I want to encourage you to Worship the Lord Jesus tonight

with many things that were said, but with the one Revelation that

he remembers our prayers, he hears our cries, he is working.

When we don't see him working, he is faithful to his word.

Amen. Would you stand?

Hello. We do pray together.

Now thanking you for your goodness and we asked o God that

you would be exalted. As we end this night in your

presence with God's people, thanking you for the truths that

were laced in this chapter and Lord we are reminded again of

the powerful purpose of the local church in our lives that

you have ordained for your people in line.

Local assemblies. To push us into further

Holiness. And to receive us.

When we are broken or help us. Love your church, your bride,

your people, a fresh. We glorify you.

And we exalt thee, As we sing to you, in Jesus name, amen.

To push us into further Holiness.

And to receive us. When we are broken or help us.

Love your church, your bride, your people, a fresh.

We glorify you. And we exalt thee, As we sing to

you, in Jesus name, amen.