2 Samuel 16 (Part 1) Bible Study | Pastor Daniel Batarseh

Second Samuel. Chapter 16.

2 Samuel 16 · chapter mention

This storm might make this Bible study little bit more special

right? You made it tonight and we'll

trust that will endure it tonight as well.

Can we pray again? Yes.

Lord. Oh Lord, we love you.

You are everything to us. Lord.

We thank you for the Saints in this land and whom is all our

Delight. We thank you Lord because the

Saints of the land or the excellent ones.

O Lord O. We are imperfect though.

We missed the mark many times because of Jesus Christ.

We are excellent and your gentleness has made us great.

Your blood has made us clean Your spirit has sealed us

forever as adopted Sons and Daughters.

Lord, we are more detached from this world than ever.

We say, come Lord, Jesus, bring your rule and your rain,

establish your throne in Jerusalem, and stretch, out your

scepter. And bring righteousness and let

your glory cover the Earth as the sea covers this world until

then make us ready. Lord, make us ready for your

return to not shrink from shame but to be brought before your

presence with ultimate joy and confidence that we have served

you. Well I thank you for my brothers

and sisters who are able to be here tonight.

We bless those who curse. Couldn't for any other reason.

We ask Lord that this night would be sanctifying and

glorifying onto you in the precious name of the true king.

Amen. Amen.

Tonight, I want to speak to you about.

We're going to study about 22 interactions that David had with

two different individuals at a moment of Crisis and his life,

remember where David is at at this moment, David is wandering

through the Wilderness Again, David has fled his home, his

throne, his City and his now, Escaping The Wrath of his son

and his with Some of his family and some of his loyal

supporters, but on his way to a safe haven, there are two

different characters who enter into the scene, two different

characters who arrived where David is and engage with David

and pretty staggering ways. The first one is someone you are

familiar with if you are familiar with this book of the

Bible, his name is ziba, ziba is the chief servant of who fetish

ethe, correct. He was assigned by David to

exercise oversight over mephibosheth land.

His property his Harvest since mephibosheth was lame, Ziva is

going to approach David with supposed kindness and

generosity. That's what you're going to

anticipate and see from the first few verses unlike ziba, we

have a different individual who will now appear on the scene and

we are not familiar with him for, he's introduced to us for

the first time and we see here that is name, is shammai that I

say that right? Pastor, Daniel, correct, I

passed the Hebrew, test that bible study.

Chimay. And on the other hand, when it

comes to shh by, he will not approach David with Charity.

He will come with a vicious and disgraceful spirit.

And we're going to examine each of these interactions more

carefully and trust that as we look at these two, the spirit of

God has prepared something for us to learn in our own Walk With

Jesus and our own walk in this path of faith that we are

embarking on. Each of us are, are walking in

this journey of obedience until we are called to Glory so let's

do that. Read the first few verses of

chapter 16 with me and let's pause and reflect further verse

1 when David had passed a little Beyond The Summit.

Ziba the the servant of mephibosheth met him with a

couple of donkey saddled bearing, 200 loaves of bread,

100, Bunches of raisins 100 of Summer, fruits and a skin of

wine and the King set to ziba why have you brought these Z by

answered the donkeys are for the Kings household to ride on the

bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat and the wine

for those who faint in the wilderness to drink.

And the King said, and where is your master son?

Ziba said to the king behold he remains in Jerusalem for he said

today, the house of Israel will give me back the kingdom of my

father. The king said to zieba, behold

all that belonged to my fetish f is now yours.

And ziba said, I pay homage. Let me ever find favor in your

sight. My Lord the king.

Fascinating, we see here in verse 1, when David had passed a

little Beyond The Summit, a piece of information that helps

us recall. The treacherous Journey that

David was on. Let us not forget that.

He is Barefoot, empty-handed, emotionally exhausted.

And I bring that up to you because those set of

circumstances that an individual does not necessarily set up that

individual for the best kind of discernment or Making abilities.

We're going to discover that as we look further into David

situation, it's not hard to imagine how David is in great

need. He is in want, he is desperate

and providentially. We see this wonderful Act of

Grace coming from a surprising guest.

Verse one. Tells us who it is, zebra the

servant of mephibosheth met him Now he comes with this abundant

Supply and we're even told the exact receipt of this care

package, but David has his suspicions.

David has his reservations and you get that impression based on

his initial question to the arrival of ziba, he says it why

have you brought these the first thing?

The king wants to do is pull out of ziba and honest reason his

true motive and being risky with his kindness.

This is not just charity without a cost.

There was a high cost to this knowing that there is a civil

war that's about to break out. And Ziva gives the answer,

right. And he convincingly tells David

that he has compassionately loyal to him, and his men and

his family. I've come all this way to help

you. I've come all this way because

you were on my mind and this is where things get interesting.

Once David hears that he responds with yet.

Another question with all of this presented, before I'm

understanding ziva's position, where he came from, naturally,

he demands for an answer concerning mephibosheth.

Where is he? I see that you brought this, but

where is your master son? And this is how he answers, you

know? I knew that you would bring that

up. And so I have to let you know

that unfortunately, he is very excited about your exit.

And he quotes him saying today, the Kingdom of Israel will give

back to me what belong to my father.

Now, before we move forward, can I ask you something?

My fellow students of the Bible and I trust that your

Discerning. I trust that we will grow in

discernment. Are there red flags with this

presentation and explanation that came forth from ziba?

I see some heads nodding but I'm going to ask you what it is.

Why is this concern is this? Just seems like love this seems

like loyalty. This seems like Allegiance.

This seems simple. It seems odd and it doesn't seem

surprising that yet another person at the right opportunity,

shows his true colors and says yeah this is good for me.

What's happening to David? He deserves it.

David's already heard that many times before, so this is not

something that shocks us and it probably doesn't shot David but

are their Flags now you're nodding your head so I'm going

to ask you what are the flags Okay, so he is from Saul's

lineage. But why is that suspicious?

We know that. And he experienced Grace from

David, he experienced favor and he even expressed early on in

David's reign of his love for him and how he's undeserving an

unworthy to be treated in such a way.

But what more about this again, the presentation may be more

specific, what he brought and what he said when he quoted his

master, let me ask you this question.

Is ziba here inferring that he is the one to be credited.

For these resources he is, is he not?

He is posturing himself in such a way where it seems like he is.

The benefactor he is the one who conjured up this whole thing and

was the loyal friend when everybody else is abandoning

him, that's the Persona that he is projecting.

Why is that suspicious? Think back to what he was called

to do for the rest of his life when he was when David was

trying to show Grace to mephibosheth.

Okay, go back now to 2nd Samuel 9 and you'll see what I'm

talking about here. We should be alarmed.

By ziva's attitude here with what he is, bringing to David,

and I'll tell you why. And second Samuel, 9 look at

verse 9. Then the king called ziba, Saul

servant, and set them all that belonged to Saul and to all his

house, I have given to your Masters grandson.

Is it clicking yet and you and your sons and your servants

shall till the land for him and shall bring in the produce that

your Masters grandson may have bread to eat, but mephibosheth,

your Masters grandson. She always eat at my table now

ziba had 15 sons and 20 servants, David commanded that

ziba would be in charge of the property that belonged to saw

and was transferred all together over to mephibosheth.

He did. Not own a thing.

He just managed it. He had no right to one acre.

One inch of an acre. He was simply supposed to

supervise and come to the aid of mephibosheth if that is true.

Where did this stuff come from? Do you understand the question,

the understand the, the correlation here if this, none

of this belonged to Ziva because he obviously had no right to

this stuff. Then the discerning.

In person would say, well either mephibosheth sent you, these

things to me or you stole them. Whatever option you go with it.

Puts a bad light on ziba. Secondly, look back at his

allegation like think and Ponder deeply about what he's actually

saying about mephibosheth. He's saying what mephibosheth,

that now today, the house of Israel, give me back the kingdom

of my father. Does that really make sense?

This is a really makes sense from a fetish F to interpret

what just happened as an opportunity for the dynasty of

salt to be revived. David didn't just abandon the

throne and leave it vacant Absalom sabotaged it, the son of

David has taken over Furthermore, even if that is the

case, to think that a crippled man has the confidence to

believe that he can have and gain a following to then fight

against Absalom is just daydreaming, it's silly, its

outlandish. So there's something about this

statement concerning mephibosheth, mephibosheth

character, David knew him, right that can be debated because

David knew a lot of guys and they turned their backs on him

but his condition like he's lame.

He couldn't even receive the produce from his own land and

he's going to lead a revolt and he's going to try to win the

throne from Absalom. It just it's absurd.

It doesn't make sense. At least to us because you're

sober minded. You're reading this with a

clear. Understanding, a clear

perspective, David is not in the best place here.

So put yourself in the Kings shoes.

Although these things are flags there.

Blinking warning signs, you have a man. who has experienced a

series of rapid betrayals It doesn't seem too far-fetched

that yet another person who has received an experience, the

kindness of David is now turning his back on him.

But the problem is, you can't believe everything you hear.

And I believe hear that zieba was very aware of David's

condition his plight and he took advantage of it.

And this is the lesson for us as followers of Jesus Christ.

This is a reminder that Temptation and deception often

rears its ugly head at strategic moments that most of us are

unaware of and are not very Vigilant in.

David here it is in a very very poor state of mind.

And that's when Z becomes And brings about this idea about

mephibosheth with an ulterior motive, of course.

So let me let me present this to based on, looking at David.

May I warn you, my brother, and my sister, number one, that you

and I are very susceptible to making poor judgments.

When we are emotionally wounded. Or overwhelmed.

I've seen it throughout my sojourning throughout my

pilgrimage in Christ, that there is a certain attraction to sin

or false Notions when a person responds to pain of any kind in

order to medicate it or search for some kind of immediate

relief happens in so many scenarios.

I've seen it in so many cases. I've seen young men have their

heart broken and so, they flee to print Geography, I've seen

people who have been traumatized and their child and so they

justify destructive Behavior to themselves and toward others.

It's a common trait of Sons. And Daughters of Adam that when

we are emotionally shattered, we tend to be drawn to certain

frames of mind that invites sin and harm on so many levels.

But not just when we are emotionally worn out, consider

this that David here is in danger because he's physically

worn out. Physically worn out.

You know, we tend to tell people not to make commitments when

they're overly excited, even with our gospel presentations,

people say that right? Consider the cost count, the

cost don't get whipped up in your emotions here and make

these vows that you're not going to keep when you're sober and

your emotions. And yet, we tell that the people

who are excited and we don't tell them that when they're

exhausted. Exhausted.

You saying, brother, are you preaching psychology and on

preaching Bible to you? There's so many examples of

this, let me give you the most prominent one, Elijah.

Elijah was so fatigued. So mentally drained, that he

interpreted so many events out of its place.

He magnified things beyond what they were and what I find so

fascinating is that when God is ready to instruct his servant,

he doesn't give him any kind of any kind of charge concerning

his spiritual State before. He lets him sleep, drink and

eat. Before he addresses, Elijah, he

ensures that his body is replenished that his mind is

nourished, and that he is in a normal State of Mind.

Even before he speaks spiritual. Truth them, in some cases, that

is true. And some cases before a person

even receives some instruction from the word, they need to go

through all these other things beforehand.

I know that doesn't sound very spiritual, but look at Elijah as

an example and there's so many other cases of that.

The Bible wants you to be wise, Bible wants me to be wise,

right? Can I give you some Word of

Wisdom? Don't make major decisions when

you are not feeling well. I know that's not a tweetable

quota from a Bible study, but I want to help you in Practical

life. So does the bible?

You're a representative Christ and and life is determined Often

by our decisions. So let me give you a word of

caution. When your body is tired, when

your mind is overwhelmed refrain from making judgments refrain

from making serious decisions that you might regret later on.

I tried to make that a discipline of mine especially

being in Ministry. There are texts that I am not

going to answer until tomorrow. There are situations that arise

and I just absorb it and I process it and attempt not to

make some kind of committed decision or choice.

That I might look back and say, I wish I had waited on Do the

same in your own life exercise. The discipline to pull yourself

away before you're pulled into something because of your flesh,

not being in accordance with the will of God because it is weak

in one way or another. David is going to make a very

silly conclusion out of all of this.

He's actually going to make a very rash decision and I believe

it on some of us because he's flustered, he's flustered and he

just wants to deal with it immediately and he wants to kind

of find some some reprieve some relief.

Leaf. And what does he do?

You read it in verse 4. Then the king said, the zebra

behold all that belonged to my fetish at the is now yours.

Now, you can tell the frustration there so you know

what whatever, whatever was given him, it's just now yours.

Unwise. Not good.

Sometimes the decisions that we make are irreversible.

The best he could have done is just hear what Zeba had said.

Thank them for it. And then process all that is

happening, including that updated news about mephibosheth

statement, the parents statement, you know what,

Proverbs 18 17 says, right? Proverbs?

1870 says the one who states his case first seems, right.

The one who states his case first seems right until another

comes and examines him. Until another comes and examines

him. Learn not to believe everything

at face value when it comes to a complicated situation.

Understand that it takes complex process in order to understand

the truth of the matter. At least to come close as close

as possible to the truth of the matter.

With all that being said, I probably gave it away, but maybe

there is somebody here who's skeptical?

Is he telling the truth? After all that, how can you say?

Yeah, right is ziba telling the truth.

We don't have to guess because the facts of the matter will

surface don't they even will return to Jerusalem after they

have victory over Absalom. And who comes to me David

fetishes? Look at chapter 19 and I want

you to see how we are introduced to this man.

Who wasn't there to speak for himself when Zeeb approached

David and in second, Samuel 1924, What do we read?

And my fab bichette, the son of Saul came down to meet the king.

He had neither taken care of his feet, nor trimmed his beard.

Nor washed his clothes from the day, the king departed until the

day he came back and safety. So the sight of mephibosheth as

he approached the Vindicated King is one of morning.

He's grieving and we're told that since the day David was

made a fugitive that he endeavored to be such a man one

who is lamenting the loss of a friend of his king of his ruler

of the one? He believed to be God's anointed

that why is that more than just a Sentimental Act?

Why is what mephibosheth doing or what he had done more than

just an emotional appeal or statement about his love for

David, and he idea Who was raining while mephibosheth was

doing this. Absolutely.

Why would a man like me, fetish us, being a state of mourning

and lamenting when a new King has come to the throne?

I don't know about you, but if there was an Absalom supporter

who saw mephibosheth acting like this, could have put him in a

lot of trouble. If it was just come here.

Why are you not trimmed? Why are you not clean?

Could have been treason, could have been the problem.

And yet he was willing to risk his own life in order to just

communicate his great and deep allegiance to David.

That's a statement. Moreover David now engages with

him. He says why didn't you come with

me? He tells them, honestly, why

didn't you come with me? Mephibosheth explains ziba is a

liar. He slandered me.

He said something about me. That is not true, David.

And this is what David does. This is, this is how he judges

the whole thing. So, you know what, fine, half of

it goes to ziba, half of it. Goes to you.

We'll split it down the middle, it belongs to both of you now,

and some might question David judgment.

You have every right to question it because when we come to that

chapter, you'll realize that with David did was in connection

to a lawn Deuteronomy. That will determine what his

judgment whether he was right, or it was off.

But more than that, I want you to see for the sake of this

chapter, how mephibosheth responded to that misdirected

settlement. What is his reaction look down

at verse 30. And mephibosheth said to the

king o, let him take it all. Since my Lord, the King has come

safely home. What a response.

Okay, fine. Mephibosheth I know it all

belong to you at first, but we have a complicated story, your

half of it goes to Z behalf of it, goes to you and fetish with

with his beard and his smell, and his clothes.

And his untrimmed features says let him take it all.

He can have it all because my king is back.

You know, I was meditating on this and I thought to myself, I

wonder if Solomon borrowed this tactic when it came to his first

major judgment that made national news.

You remember that two women making an argument a case that

the baby and one of the woman's arms belonged to one or the

other. And eventually Solomon says

bring me a sword. Bring me a sword, says, cut the

baby in half the living child in half and give each half to these

women. And what is the true mother say?

Oh let the Child live. Let the Child live.

She can have the baby. They and Psalm says, you're the

right one. I wonder if he knew this story

and borrowed that tactic in wisdom and applied it to that

situation. Food for thought.

But what's more and more powerful to consider.

Now at this point is to see that mephibosheth proved his

innocence. I believe, I mean, how much more

do you need than this? Because nothing mattered to this

man, more, this revealed that nothing mattered to him more

than knowing that the king that he loved was exalted.

And that his kingdom is now established.

I don't care about anything else.

This is this is what it's all about and this is all I need and

this is this is here and so forget about everything else.

It doesn't move me. Doesn't change anything about me

because the object of my desire, My Affection is before me.

It's not in land. It's not a gnomes, it's not an

opportunity. It's not an any experience.

And I looked this eyes, man. I have something to learn from a

famous chef. God, help me.

God help you. Here's what we can learn the

secret to overcoming the irreversible.

The irreversible and unjust damage that is caused by others

is to be so enamored. By the king.

That when things are even taken from you or added to you, you

won't be shaken. Because your treasure is in

someone already. And everything about your

treasure is in him and so whatever comes or goes does not

make a difference. You know I when I looked at what

happened to mephibosheth it confirms to us just how heinous

and Despicable the sin of slander really is think about it

because life and death is in the power of the tongue.

Somebody's own words a false witness can literally Alter

somebody else's future in dramatic ways.

And if it's not like in mephibosheth case where

somebody's false report steals, possessions or position, what it

tends to regularly do is taint the reputation of certain

individuals in the minds of others, often permanently.

No wonder why God hates the sin. And that happens to mephibosheth

his life Naturally. Speaking will never be the same.

The king ordered that half of what he had on.

His estate is gone, and there's no indication that it was fully

recovered slander can do that. That's why people who do

slander, who lie, who are very loose with their tongue will be

held accountable to God. It has severe consequences.

Be very careful how you handle people's names.

Be very careful of your suspicions, though.

They should be there sometimes. Let it remain internal as long

as possible before they come out because it can do damage to

people that you never intended to do and unfortunately for

Slanders they intend to do it. and yet this man is so unmoved

because the king is here, the king is before me.

And I thought to myself, that is the secret, is it not?

Is that not an indication of what it is?

That is required of me. If I want to know true,

spiritual success and even soar above, all the slurs and all the

lies. And all the vomit that comes

from people who don't fear God. Lord help me be like Mary of

Bethany who was silent in the presence of her critics and

accusers. Why?

Because she was so caught up in worshipping Jesus Christ.

Be so consumed in that moment of realizing with the limited

Revelation that she had, I'm going to anoint him with all

that I have. I'm going to break it with no

thought of getting anything back, porting out all in Christ.

And when people saw that and were offended by that, there is

no indication that married defended herself She didn't

speak up, she wasn't at the feet of Jesus and looked up to Judas

and the boys is a. Don't you guys realize that I

love the master? She didn't say anything of the

sort. She did not defend herself one.

But you know, we did though. Jesus.

Jesus defended her. She was busy worshipping.

And she left her cause her character in the hands of the

master. Maybe I love you, I love you.

So bear with me. Maybe the reason why you are so

consumed with what people do or say is because you're not

consumed with Christ enough. Have you ever thought about that

solution? Have you ever thought that these

flares and these reactions and these sleepless nights is

indicative of something deeper? Maybe maybe I'm too busy and I

put too much value in what people say and I'm not sitting

at the feet of Jesus long enough.

Sure. That woke up some of you.

It's good. So those are the lessons from

ziba but let's move over to our next character here in verse 5.

When King David came to Behold Him?

There came out of a man of the family of the House of Saul

whose name was shammai the son of Gera.

And as he came, he cursed continually and he threw stones

at David and all the Servants of King, David and all the people,

and all the mighty men who are on his right hand and on his

left and shammai said as he cursed, get out, get out you men

of blood. You worthless, man.

The Lord has Avenged on you all the blood of the House of Saul

and whose place you have rained. And the Lord has given the

kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom.

See your evil is on you for you are a man of blood seems like a

nice guy. Ziva might even subtle with his

scheme to try to manipulate the situation for personal gain.

But this attack in is here is everything but subtle.

You can't get any more of an obvious and direct demonstration

of someone's hatred for someone else.

It's right here. It's public.

It's clear. It's loud.

It is accompanied with objects being thrown in the air.

This is the kind of meant to Maya's. and when you look at

ziba and shamima, you kind of get though, they are different

in their schemes. You get a clue of how the enemy

Works in our own battle with him.

All right, this isn't like zebra, the enemy work

deceitfully sometimes. He has a presentation when in

fact there's a different goal he's deceptive and yet at the

same time like shammai he often attacks openly and clearly and

you know exactly who you are facing and dealing with.

Ziba is a liar. So is Satan shammai is an

accuser. So is Satan a wonderful picture

of a natural thing that's happening at points of spiritual

truth. And do these two different in

their approach to David. They have one thing in common,

they're both connected to the house of Saul and this is a

direct descendant from Saul. So we see here that shammai is

very angry, very hostile, very aggressive why we heard it

because he really believed that David unjustly took the throne

from Saul. And even killed for it.

This is how he proceeded. This is how we understood, why

David was promoted the way he was promoted question.

Is it true? It's not true.

David didn't touch the Lord. Anoint the Lord's anointed.

Who touch the Lord's. Anointed The Lord.

The Lord touched the Lord's anointed, David had nothing to

do with this. And I look at shamya and I think

to myself, that's a bitter guy. I mean, that's a guy with

pent-up anger that just waited for the right opportunity to

speak up and let it all out. When the man, like, David is at

his weakest. Shh my comes up and he makes his

his true feelings known and and when we re here that David came

to bahurim, it's believed that this is in the region of

Benjamin, The Tribe of Benjamin. And it was a city that hosted

very strong, Saul supporters, even during David's Reign.

So you still had people who believe that the throne belonged

to Saul and here's a strong obvious case of that.

But imagine being a person. So embittered, so filled with

anger and wrath and unforgiveness.

Based on something that doesn't have any.

Genuine proof and could have been easily misinterpreted.

Here's what I'm trying to say, you have very troubled people,

even in the church very disturbed Souls that are

harboring, hideous feelings that are being absolutely destroyed

from within, Because they have mishandled misinterpreted

misjudged actions or events either from people or even from

God himself. And they're just living with

that. Erosion that poison of hatred

and disgust based on something that doesn't even validate it.

That doesn't even have proof for it that has been, again,

magnified to be something Beyond of what it really was.

You have people like that. And this is what we see here.

A man who is angry about something that's not even really

true. That's not true at all.

When I saw this, I thought to myself, this is unfortunately,

the case of many people who claim to be Christians.

But here's what we see us, look at his words and I want you to,

I want you to say what stands out to, you look here at verse

8, the Lord has Avenged on you all the blood of the House of

Saul and whose place you have rained and the Lord has given

the kingdom into the hand of your son.

Absalom, what stands out to you from that?

What stands out to you? It's okay gentleman, don't worry

about it, don't worry about it. Nothing stands out to you.

Okay. Absalom was a man of blood,

sure. But look at the words that

shamai is using, that's what I am pointing to.

That's what I'm trying to bring your attention to.

Thank you. He's invoking.

The name of the Lord twice, the Lord.

The Lord. I mean look, you might know the

name of the Lord but the way you're acting.

Makes me question, why you would use the name of the Lord?

Isn't it amazing that you have somebody?

So filled with this kind of anger and bitterness who can

comfortably and freely, attach the name of God to their claims

to their statements. Moreover You have a man who is

invoking the name of the Lord while breaking the law of the

Lord? How is he breaking the law of

God in this? I'm saying he is actually

violating a specific law in his attitude towards David in

Exodus, 20 to 28. We are told that you and I will

namely Israel, but it applies to us in some way should never

curse a ruler of the people. That's exercise 2228.

You should not revile God and you shall not curse a ruler of

the people. And that's exactly what he's

doing cursing continually. So here's a man who's invoking

the name of the lore while breaking the law of the Lord?

And it's apocryphally at its finest.

But have you ever wondered? Why is it that unsanctified

Unholy carnal? People have the strange

comfortability and confidence to invoke the name of the Lord.

I dealt with it. So many times, I've gotten in

emails, I've gotten in letters, I've gotten in face-to-face,

encounters, where you have people who invoked the name of

the Lord and they have no right to invoke the name of the Lord.

Can I tell you why? Because it adds authority to

their claims even though they are false and makes their case

more and compelling. When in fact it is dangerous.

It is one of the most prominent ways that the name of our

precious and blessed God is blasphemed.

In order for an argument to see more Winsome and more

convincing, God's name is, is brought into something that it

shouldn't be brought into. And that's what we see God's

name. Wielded as a weapon not to

strike down that, which is false not to strike down that which is

false. But to do what but to confuse

and mislead those who are in the truth, You know, this, but it's

worth saying again, be aware of that kind of form of

manipulation. Be aware of that kind of form of

manipulation. Just because somebody is

Godless, say, Godless and a strong language Godless, and

careless enough to attach God's name to ridiculous arguments or

statements does not make it credible at all, even in the

slightest, This is this is psychological tactics to take

the name of the Lord to invoke fear in David and you have

people who do the same today in 2023.

The Lord told me to tell you, the Lord said this to you, the

Lord is warning. You Okay.

So based on my experience with the what the Lord told people to

tell me, there's, there's a to conclusions either.

The Lord is Unfaithful and doesn't mean what he says, or

people are liars. I'm going to go with the ladder.

And so be careful of that, right?

We're seeing this is, this is, this is an attack in.

God's name is involved in it in the same way that we saw David

respond to the onslaught of his son, Absalom.

His his beautiful is beautiful and humble attitude, we have

additional wisdom given to us, and how you?

And I can properly pivot persecution when it comes our

way. Okay, let's look at that in

closing very soon. Look here in verse 9.

Then abishai the son of Zechariah said to the king.

Why should this dead dog curse? My Lord, the king.

Let me go over and take off his head.

Noble. You see a man who is passionate

about the reputation of his King?

Probably not the best solution to dealing with this.

You're not going to find this kind of example, instruction in

the sermon of the mount. Do you think abishai meant it?

Yeah, if David gave the word shammai would have no mouth to

say anything. And David doesn't allow him to

as much as we can sympathize with a boucher's feelings.

What strikes me is how David interprets.

And comprehends, what's taking place?

Look here, in verse 10. But the king said, what have I

to do with you? You sons of Zechariah if he is

cursing? Because the Lord has said to him

curse David, who, then shall say, why have you done so?

I wish. I what am I gonna do with you

guys? Honestly, every solution for you

is to kill somebody. What if God told him to curse

me? What are you gonna do about it?

Can you do about it? If God told him to curse me, let

him curse me. Now, it's obvious to us, I hope.

That David didn't have the theology where God in some

instances encourages somebody to break his law.

We already established that. What chemise doing is breaking

the law. You do not curse the ruler of

the people. So what is David doing here?

David is doing what he did when he understood.

What I was taking place with Absalom totally seeing God's

sovereignty in this and that that just ministers to me that

when you have something as gigantic as absalom's treason.

Down to a pesky individual who can't keep his mouth shut.

David was able to see the umbrella of God's sovereignty

over at all when I lost my Throne, when I lost my home, I

see God's sovereignty when I have this person at work that

doesn't seem to stop annoying me and persecuting me, I see God's

hand at work. saying how well in some cases, The Lord uses not

inspires, but uses the heart of evil vile despicable brutal men

to bring about some kind of maturity in US.

That's what's Happening Here. David is walking hearing the

echoing voice of this madman on a hill while dust is flying in

the air and stones are being thrown, David is understanding

that he is under God's discipline and perhaps this is

part of it, perhaps this is part of it and if that is true, then

David could embrace it and absorb it and say, okay this is

if this is what God has a lying then let it be.

So and think about it, Although this is a false accusation, is

there some truth in it? Why.

Yeah, so that's one example of what David had done and that's a

different scenario but I think we can look back and just say

David is a man of blood, not concerning the house of Saul.

because of Uriah, even Exactly. You cannot build me a house

because you are what man of blood, right?

So there is some level of Truth in what shammai saying those

shamaya is unaware of it and is misguided in his Judgment of Who

David is. So what is happening here?

I believe God is allowing this to happen.

To keep David humble. Only David only David can know

what what was being translated here and David under the

discipline of God is willing to undergo it.

Is it a strange idea that God would allow a thorn in the flesh

to remain for the sake of the preservation or the growth of

one of his servants? No, it's not strange.

What did Paul say about the thorn in his flesh?

There is much debate about the thorn of the flesh.

But he elaborates when he says a thorn in the flesh, a messenger

of who. okay, second Corinthians, let's go there

verse 12, excuse me, chapter 12, verse 7.

Second Corinthians 12:7. Paul says.

2 Corinthians 12:7

So to keep me from being conceited because of the

surpassing greatness of the revelations, pause, you want

greater revelation of God and his word, be careful.

Be careful that you want to be used mightily by God.

You want these encounters with God.

Be careful to keep me from becoming conceited because of

the surpassing greatness of the revelations.

A thorn was what? Given me.

Given me something was given. It was granted by who By God, a

thorn was given me, and it was authored and permitted by God

Almighty last time. I checked a thorn is not the

most demanded gift out there. In fact it's one of the most

irritating things you can have though.

It's a small instrument. It can actually affect your

whole being if your conscience and aware of that thorn and Paul

confessed, it was given me that thorn was placed in me.

A messenger of Satan to what harass me.

Was that a physical ailment? Some say yes?

Was it? The persecution of the Jews?

That might be more convincing, but to keep me from becoming

Conceited. The key phrase, there is the

storm was given me. God, put it in Me.

God, granted it to me for a Sanctified purpose, though.

The instrument was a messenger of Satan, and though, the means

was harassment. It was uncomfortable and

somebody that I pleaded with the Lord three times.

Times to remove. But God in his wisdom knew that

this harassment would make you holy.

If you responded to it correctly and here you have shammai who's

harassing David and David, I'm sure had the same frame of mind

as Paul. Let It Be.

Let It Be side note, side note, my brother.

My sister side note. David here, receiving this kind

of treatment is also a nudge for us to consider the criticism of

others, even your own enemies. Consider the criticism of

people, even those who hate you. Why?

Can I tell you, one reason why pay attention to this, it might

help you with what you're enduring.

Because your enemies are often more willing to point out

something in you than your closest friends are.

Yeah, or no. Yeah, very bold.

Sometimes I'll make it public sometimes.

There are courageous enough to attach their name to the letter.

Not as courageous enough to go beyond that, though.

When criticism comes your way when, when you hear something

about you, that's unpleasant. What do you do?

You know what most people do? They throw it away, they don't

even look at it. They think this is this is meant

to discourage me into to destroy me and to derail Me.

Maybe maybe that's the intent. Maybe that's the mode and maybe

there is an ingredient of Truth in it.

That you should consider for yourself and prayerfully bring

you before the Lord. And see if God is using an enemy

to actually bring something to your knowledge that your friends

don't want to say to you. And so I can tell you from

experience that, I've heard many things from different people and

they're not. Usually amens.

God bless you, brother. And I've had to learn to say the

a lot of this is off. Lord.

Is there anything here? That might be true though and if

there is, can you show me? Confirm it to me so that I can

be more Sanctified in your sight and before the people that

you've called me to serve with. This is a call to wisdom, but we

don't see him just doing that. And I would come here to verse

11 and David said, abishai, and to all his servants behold my

own son, seeks my life. How much more now may this

Benjamin night, leave him alone and let him curse for the Lord

has told them to just leave them alone and here's what's so great

about David. I'm telling you, if you apply

this to your life you will know much relief, much much relief,

here's what happens here. David looks at a greater Problem

at hand and that enables him to ignore smaller ones.

He'll be hold my own son. Seeks my life.

How much more now made this Benjamin?

I have a bigger thing to deal with here.

My son now is after me and you want me to worry about some guy

up there in the Hills yelling, my name and throwing dust in his

own face. I'm not I don't have time for

that issue. Here I have a bigger fish to

fry. And so let me reserve my energy,

my focus on this, something that really matters now and David

situation. He's turning his perspective to

a greater problem to overshadow, lesser ones you're a Christian

and God calls you to look above and look even higher than

looking at something more monstrous and threatening in

order to relieve you from Lester thing.

Things. God calls you to look at other

things, hopeful things, glorious things, permanent things.

As we heard last week, he calls you to look at the greater

cause. So give up the right to give up

the throne. You have a Great Commission.

You have a purpose in this life, turn your eyes on eternity.

Turn your eyes to the reward. That will come with the soon.

Returning King, turn your eyes to the permanence of the glories

of the Resurrection. Turn your eyes to understand

that there is a Jesus who will vindicate.

You one day, turn your eyes and understand that there is

something bigger than this life and more powerful than what

people can do to you. Turn your eyes there, see what

we're seeing here in principles that David's Was the very means

by which he would know, longevity and his purpose in

life. And if you don't have the right

perspective, you will not last long.

I guarantee it. You won't.

And every little thing that comes your way and every little

problem and every little peep of persecution will just be added

on to you until you finally collapse the way in which arrows

bounce off of you, is when you have the shield of faith on you

and part of that Shield of faith is looking beyond, what is seen

the things that are unseen for the things that are seen are

transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal Look

Beyond. Look Beyond David did that and

it gave him enough fuel to move forward and I guess you can say

he did that to some Regard in verse 12.

It may be that the Lord will look on the wrong done to me

that the Lord will repay me with good for his cursing today.

You have to cultivate a prospective and train your eyes

to be set on the realities that Outlast.

The temporary harassments of today.

Verse 13. What did that perspective do?

So David and his men went on the road while shamaya went along on

the hillside, opposite him and cursed as you went and threw

stones at him in flung dust, didn't change a thing about his

circumstance. If anything, you have an

emboldened shammai who sees a week limping, man, and decides

to just continue in his embarrassing Behavior.

Nothing changed around him, but David had the fortitude to move

forward because of what you just learned.

The Lord will deal with it. The Lord might reward me.

I have bigger things to deal with in life.

One of the ways in which you'll be able to in your service to

God. Dust off the things that try to

cling to. You is realize that people who

tend to cause problems, often do not have an eternal perspective,

just you deal with people in a different different grid of

life, just move forward. And I love how this section of

scripture ends verse 14. And the king and all the people

who were with them, arrived Weary at the Jordan and there,

he refreshed himself. As much as I recall to be

comforted, by the Grandeur of our perspective and that

perspective, reaching to the point where it touches an Unseen

World, that doesn't mean that your only source of comfort in

this life is a future. Is a future promise that is yet

to be realized. What I see here is that the Lord

is capable and able to provide tangible comfort and refreshment

in the affliction Not just beyond the Affliction but in it

during it he knows how to prescribe the right amount of

support so that you can continue to move forward and that which

he called you to do. And the first that came to mind,

I'll and I really mean it here. This is actually my last verse

his second Corinthians 1. 2nd Corinthians chapter 1 and verse

3. Blessed.

Be the God and father of our Lord.

Jesus Christ, the father of mercies and God of All Comfort,

what a title to get from God about God?

The God of all comfort, you know what it means for God, to be the

God of All Comfort. It means that he has comfort for

every situation that requires comfort.

That's what we see in verse 4, who comforts Us in all our

reflection. It doesn't say Who Will Comfort

us one day from our affliction, Says who comforts Us in all our

Affliction during it, he's able to supply and extend a helping

hand in which you can actually know the surging Grace.

That is able to energize you it faithfulness and worship to the

Lord here. You have David who is living in

the shadow of a man. Opposite of him, hurling, at

him, with the thoughts of betrayal and people with

ulterior motives who are opportunist and take advantage

of crises to have their own agenda moving for.

He is just surrounded by chaos. And yet, verse 14 tells us that

he was brought to a place where God providentially allowed him

to be refreshed, God opened a window for a cool breeze to come

by and for this meant to take in a deep breath.

After enduring the heat of people's evil and God can

Comfort us in many, many ways, and even in mysterious ways, did

you consider this? The thought crossed your mind

that while David as we heard was weary and exhausted.

That the Lord used a man who brought all this stuff for the

sake of trying to get what he knew.

He would get if he convinced David.

And though this man had a very evil and self-centered goal, the

Lord used that kind of a man to nourish his own man.

Just incredible reminds me of the unclean bird that came and

fed Elijah unclean sometimes. And often times God uses

mysterious and unpredictable instruments to help us and to

guide us and to empower us and to strengthen us.

Let's pray. Lord, we love you again.

We love you more than when we told you, we loved you before we

started, because we have been Sanctified by the truth.

Your word is truth. We feel richer than when we

entered into this place. We feel more equipped than when

we entered into this place. We feel more blessed than we

entered into this place. So, we ask that you would help

us. Be lovers of your word doers of

your word. Strengthen us.

To be discerning. To be mindful of your

sovereignty. In larger perspective of what

really matters. What is true and Lasting.

And help us. Oh, Lord.

Be so overwhelmed by our knowledge of the glory of Jesus

Christ. That even when dogs surround us

and lies. Our targeted toward us that we

can. We can silently embrace it

because we are already in a murdered by who is before us.

May that be the the quality of faith that this church has in

Jesus name, we pray. Amen.

Let's Stand Together. May that be the the quality of

faith that this church has in Jesus name, we pray.

Amen. Let's Stand Together.