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2 Samuel 5 (Part 1) Bible Study | Pastor Daniel Batarseh

Bible Study with Pr. Daniel Batarseh | Verse by Verse Series | Maranatha Bible Church - Chicago

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  1. I'm eager to get into the ward with you.

  2. And so, would you meet me in second Samuel chapter 5?

    2 Samuel 5 chapter mention

  3. It's been two weeks since we've come to this book.

  4. And so, I'm especially excited to return to this text with you.

  5. Meet me in second Samuel chapter 5 and when I hear the rustling

    2 Samuel 5 chapter mention

  6. of the leaves, cease will pray. Lord.

  7. We thank you for another Friday night for you have in your

  8. sovereignty allowed us to be in this place.

  9. Lord, it was our desire but more importantly it is your will for

  10. us to be in your house at this time.

  11. And will we recognize that? And we are overwhelmed by the

  12. privilege of being able to receive spiritual food for our

  13. souls. And Lord, we ask that there

  14. would be life in the delivery of this study.

  15. And they're also being openness in the reception of every word

  16. that you have prepared for us, Lord, cancel every distraction

  17. externally internally and Lord, would you subdue anything that

  18. would try to exalt itself above or against the knowledge of God?

  19. We want to be molded and shaped into the very image that you

  20. that you have predestined for us that is our longing and our

  21. yearning. Thank you.

  22. That that desire? Loan is a miracle, granted by

  23. the Holy Spirit we are fully aware that.

  24. We are a product of your grace and power.

  25. Now Lord made that Grace and power continued as you sanctify

  26. us more and more in Jesus name. Amen.

  27. For quite some time. You and I have been studying the

  28. life of David carefully throughout the scriptures as we

  29. have taken the time to pause at almost every episode, that would

  30. try to record this man's dramatic Journey to the throne

  31. of Israel. And so much has been learned

  32. already from the days of David as a humble Shepherd boy, in his

  33. father's field. It was no small Expedition from

  34. his days of his first encounter with the prophet Samuel to the

  35. establishment of his government in the city of Hebron.

  36. But what felt so far? And what seems so long is now

  37. here? Meaning as we open to this

  38. chapter you and I are really standing at the threshold of the

  39. Fulfillment. Of the prophetic call over

  40. David's life. You have to remember that David

  41. was called to be the king of all of Israel.

  42. And at this moment, he's about to be recognized and he's about

  43. to be crowned as such. And this is really a David's

  44. third and final anointing David's life is made up really

  45. at their Monumental things throughout his life, but there

  46. are three anointings that David experience throughout his life.

  47. The first one was a private anointing.

  48. It was performed by Samuel at the house of Jesse.

  49. David's, father. The second anointing was a

  50. public anointing. It was the anointing that took

  51. place with the tribe of Judah, his Kinsman, where he became the

  52. ruler at Hebron. And now we come to the third and

  53. final anointing which I would refer to as the Pinnacle

  54. anointing. So you have the private, you

  55. have the public and now you have the Pinnacle, you have the

  56. climax so to speak of Is call where he is now going to be

  57. designated the ruler over every tribe of Israel.

  58. Which was in fact, God's Will from the beginning.

  59. And so as we arrived here to this chapter, we are really

  60. coming to a new chapter in David's life, and it is no small

  61. chapter up to this point. You and I got a glimpse of the

  62. humble Shepherd, boy, the son of Jesse, unknown unnamed unsung

  63. hero. And then we saw David Elevate as

  64. the servant of Saul A particular honor was given to him a

  65. particular promotion was given to David.

  66. And he went from the servant of Saul to the hero of Israel.

  67. Celebrity praise adored love cherished and he went from being

  68. the hero to The Fugitive of Israel unjustly.

  69. He was exiled, he was driven out of his home out of his, his work

  70. out of his familiarity Into the Wilderness.

  71. And from there, we know that through series of events, he

  72. Came the king of Judah and now we will see him as the king of

  73. Israel from this moment on for the rest of our study, in this

  74. book you and I will be whole just that we will examine the

  75. life of David in the position that God had ordained for him,

  76. the ruler and the leader of this chosen people.

  77. And it is in the first five verses of chapter 5 where we're

  78. going to spend our study. There's a lot of verses here.

  79. I thought we were going to go longer but as I study, I thought

  80. you can't pass these five verses at least in my eye.

  81. Estimation and what these five verses really served is as a

  82. really a summary of David's inauguration into this new role.

  83. But this summary, listen should not be skimmed over.

  84. Because if you and I have the discipline and the desire to

  85. know what God will say, he has much to say in these verses that

  86. we would think are just transitional and so let's read

  87. these verses. First one, then all the tribes

  88. of Israel came to David. I'd had Braun and said, behold

  89. we are your bone and flesh in times past when Saul was King

  90. over us, it was you who let out and brought in Israel.

  91. And the Lord said to you, you shall be Shepherd Of My People,

  92. Israel, and you shall be Prince over Israel.

  93. So all the Elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron and King.

  94. David made a covenant with them at have brown before the Lord

  95. and they anointed David King over Israel.

  96. David was 30 years old when he began to Reign and he reigned 40

  97. years at Hebron. He reigned over Judah, seven

  98. years in six months and had Jerusalem, he reigned over all

  99. Israel and Judah, 33 years You have your Bibles.

  100. Look at the first verse, and in the first verse, I argue that

  101. there are at least two things that we can learn One deals with

  102. a commendation of David. The other deals with a

  103. condemnation of the general population.

  104. One is a scornful thing concerning the Israelites and

  105. one is a praiseworthy thing concerning The Man David, let's

  106. deal with the condemnation of Israel.

  107. Notice here that some time has passed between David.

  108. Being remember, the king of Judah and David becoming the

  109. King of Israel. How much how much time has

  110. passed? Does anybody remember the exact

  111. number of years? We just read it but Seven years,

  112. seven years for seven years, David occupied just one faction.

  113. One part of this nation. And what's interesting is at the

  114. same time, we learn here by confession of the Israelites

  115. that during those seven years, they were fully aware that David

  116. ought to be the king over all of Israel.

  117. Then they say that and the Lord said in the second part of verse

  118. to, you shall be Shepherd Of My People Israel.

  119. So for seven years, at least seven years, the people believed

  120. and understood that David was the true king, Natasa the son of

  121. Saul, but David, but throughout those seven years, they were

  122. unwilling and held back from uniting and acting upon that

  123. truth. And so this is an indictment.

  124. In fact let me be more specific. What we have before us is yet

  125. another example of the distress of even the devastation that

  126. comes from you You want to catch this delayed?

  127. Obedience delayed obedience. I mean, they knew very well that

  128. David ought to be the king and they did not did not work

  129. towards that goal. They didn't make it happen, they

  130. trusted in something else, they believe the Ally.

  131. And what we see here is that they had the full Revelation,

  132. they had the light, they had what God wanted, they had to

  133. decree. And on top of all, they had

  134. David himself, proving his calling because of his

  135. leadership abilities being confirmed, Throughout his life

  136. before them. And what we, what we behold now

  137. is this, that this is a commentary, the unfortunate

  138. reality of so many, who knows? So much about God, who hurts so

  139. much gospel. And yet, at the same time,

  140. refused to submit to the truth. That, that a demands.

  141. Maybe you're that person in here.

  142. This is what like your seventh hundred sermon and yet nothing

  143. has changed. Your heart is not fully given

  144. over to Christ. I look at this and I think to

  145. myself what loss consider and count the loss of this nation

  146. because of this prolonged, pause of making David King.

  147. Remember the casualties between the civil war with each

  148. bichette? And David remember that realize

  149. that at the same time, the Things are still a pressing, the

  150. nation of Israel, you still have that going on as well.

  151. They were so busy with their internal strife.

  152. They can't even deal with the Real Enemy.

  153. Welcome to most of the problems in local churches.

  154. On top of that, you you see that there is the sluggish Rise Of

  155. The Nation on the global scale which will, which will

  156. accelerate once David becomes king.

  157. And so, they're robbing themselves are those Abundant

  158. Blessings in various ways as well.

  159. Here's what I want to tell you. Our loss is always outweigh.

  160. Whatever gain we think we attained when we pacify our

  161. conscience and think we could pave Our Own Way in life.

  162. You will always lose. Always, again, whatever.

  163. When you think you're getting, it will always always, always be

  164. outweighed by the lawsuit every time.

  165. People tend to comfort that kind of compromise by rehearsing

  166. Christian lingo. Well, God will restore the years

  167. that the locusts have eaten, God will redeem the years that I've

  168. burned up for myself and and God will miraculously just make it

  169. all. Okay, again, can I give you the

  170. biblical answer? Yes, and no.

  171. Yes, and no. I know I might have shattered

  172. your coffee mug but it's, yes or no.

  173. If you mean that God will redeem the years though?

  174. You knowingly? Understood what it meant to

  175. follow? Jesus Christ, and still went the

  176. other way that he will forgive you restore you and use you

  177. again then yes, he will redeem. But if in that same argument you

  178. believe that God was somehow miraculously. restore those

  179. years and that time, The know there is a cost to Disobedience,

  180. I know people won't tell you that, but this preacher will

  181. tell you that there is a heavy cost of Disobedience.

  182. But I will also say this because I've counseled many people who

  183. grieve over their loss, who rehearse the fact that they knew

  184. very well what they were doing when they were out in the world

  185. and they can't seem to get over it.

  186. And so, let me say this, if this is you, if even tonight is

  187. Edition decision for you to say enough is enough, I'm not going

  188. to Favor between what is true. And what is false.

  189. I will not serve bail and the Lord.

  190. I will serve the Lord. Only do not overthink, do not

  191. prolong your meditation. Pondering too much about the

  192. years or the months or the weeks that you've wasted living for

  193. yourself. If you're going to put your

  194. energy into anything, put it into this that with whatever

  195. time you have left. That God would use it maximally

  196. for his glory just do that. Lord, I walked away.

  197. I failed to understand the significance of your will for my

  198. life of obedience to your word, but I can't do anything.

  199. These scars will remain, but I want to make the rest of my life

  200. count, and that's a prayer God will answer.

  201. That is something he will redeem because he is that good.

  202. That gracious. Do you realize that, there's a

  203. contrast between Saul and David? And these first two verses

  204. especially in verse 2, in the people's mind you have Saul and

  205. David and these Do men, really symbolizes spiritual truth.

  206. They saw that King saw was a disappointment.

  207. And they realize that David was the truth, and he was the one

  208. that would bring true fruit. So, here's how you have to

  209. understand, Saul symbolizes your choice and mine in the flesh.

  210. David symbolizes, God's purpose. And what we see here is that

  211. every time we Elevate our desires, our wisdom, our

  212. purposes, it will never fail to fall short, and to lie to you

  213. about its promises. All the time.

  214. But when you see David, when you see God's choice, you will never

  215. go wrong. You will never go wrong and an

  216. honest evaluation of any life that is lived in a season of

  217. sin. Will confess that my personal

  218. ambition did not live up to the expectations that persuaded me

  219. to begin with. It will never be able to satisfy

  220. you in the way that Christ Jesus can satisfy because your soul

  221. was designed to be intermingled with him.

  222. And so, listen, you don't have to waste several years to do

  223. that. I remember preaching on a youth

  224. conference and right after I preached on a very similar

  225. subject, a young man, 18 years old, sat in the front row and he

  226. seemed like he was disappointed with my message and so I saw

  227. with and I say why Why the grief?

  228. I didn't say like that was much kinder.

  229. And he said, I hear what you're saying.

  230. But I'm not convinced. I'm going to college and I will

  231. do what I think I want to do. And when I'm ready, I'll come

  232. back. Said it doesn't work like that.

  233. And I looked at him, I said, you're not, you're not curious,

  234. you're hungry. You're not curious.

  235. You're hungry. I tell you the buffet that

  236. you're headed, towards is going to make you very sick.

  237. So why don't you settle it now and save your years and save

  238. psychological and spiritual damage.

  239. And just give your heart to the Lord.

  240. Now, He's warning you now. He's in love, calling your

  241. attention. Now he knew exactly what you

  242. were thinking. He knew your premeditated sin,

  243. he knows what you signed up for and he wants to rescue from

  244. that. And guess what?

  245. Never gave me an answer. I don't know where he is to this

  246. day. Why don't you spare yourself in

  247. the mistake of believing that you can govern your own life and

  248. give it to the one who made it? And no joy that no other Joy can

  249. give. This is the condemnation of the

  250. nation of Israel. It took him so long to finally

  251. act upon the truth that they knew the bottom of their hearts.

  252. But look at the Commendation of David verse, to entice past when

  253. Saul was King over us. It was you who let out and

  254. brought in Israel. So here's what's amazing,

  255. they're acknowledging. The throat Saul's years as King

  256. David was really the blessing. David was the one who really

  257. served them and saw who was supposed to guide and lead the

  258. nation failed to do. So as we just heard now, many

  259. things can be said about saw, many things can be said about

  260. Israel and this tax. But I want to just focus on

  261. David on in a very personal way, what they're not saying is

  262. David, you try to usurp the authority of sawing, you try to

  263. push you away to the throne. We know we've studied enough of

  264. David to see that he had the Opposite attitude in humility

  265. waiting upon God to be promoted to that place.

  266. All they're saying is, you've proven your gifting, you've

  267. proven your leadership abilities to be the king over our people,

  268. but look at it in a relevant way.

  269. Look at it. On a personal note, this verse

  270. helps us to see saying something about David and something about

  271. ourselves that you do not need any seat of Honor, any place of

  272. authority to be able to bless people.

  273. This is David prior to him, being King.

  274. He's becoming King. Now, leading up to this point.

  275. Still, the people had a lasting impression made upon them based

  276. on David's presence in their lives and that is something

  277. extremely encouraging for the person who yearns to be used for

  278. the glory of God. Why do you have to believe that

  279. in order to be effective? There needs to be some elevation

  280. of status or some popular vote or some credential.

  281. It's a simple as honoring, what God has brought to you, and what

  282. has he's given through you and then just walking in that.

  283. It's a simple as that. There's no need to complicate

  284. it. So put your soul at rest, settle

  285. it in your heart that you rather remain in obscurity.

  286. If that means that you will be fruitful A true success in the

  287. economy of God is not measured by your exalted status and

  288. Christian them. I know for some people it is.

  289. You heard it at the conference simple service.

  290. Simple service to the ones that got in his Providence has

  291. brought before you and just enjoying the knowledge that you

  292. are, simply pleasing your master and whatever he demands of you.

  293. In fact, if Saul teaches anything is that you can have

  294. the position, you can't have the degrees, you can't have the

  295. credentials, you can have the position and be totally bankrupt

  296. of true substance. Saul did nothing for his people

  297. at least in the latter years. David wasn't king.

  298. And they said you let us out you blessed us.

  299. You served us. Well, praise God.

  300. So you'll never have a YouTube account who cares serve God

  301. you'll never be invited to a conference who cares serve God

  302. it doesn't matter nobody will write about you who cares?

  303. Serve God. That we come to verse three.

  304. We cease all the Elders of Israel.

  305. Came to the king at Hebron and King David made a covenant with

  306. them and have brought before the Lord and they anointed David

  307. King over Israel. So here's what happens.

  308. You have the Elders of Representatives of the tribes

  309. who approached David and it is at this point that they want to

  310. acknowledge Him and say you are the king.

  311. Here's what's amazing, here's why we need to know the totality

  312. of the scriptures. The complimentary book found in

  313. first Chronicles gives us even deeper details of what's

  314. Happening. Now this event is huge.

  315. And so huge is this event that in first Chronicles chapter 12

    1 Chronicles 12 chapter mention

  316. you can turn there now and tuck your hand in that place.

  317. And First Chronicles chapter 12, you have a list of the military

    1 Chronicles 12 chapter mention

  318. Of David and the tribes who chose to send certain amount of

  319. men to join the military. And what's amazing is when you

  320. look at the inventory, there is insightful and instructive in

  321. sight. About these men and the quality

  322. of men they were and how they contributed to the kingdom of

  323. David and that can be translated in certain truths about the

  324. kingship of Jesus Christ, things that will stir our hearts.

  325. As we have declared him to be Lord over our lives.

  326. And so if you're there first Chronicles chapter 12, look here

    1 Chronicles 12 chapter mention

  327. with me and verse 23. So this is the same event.

  328. But Chronicles gives us a different vantage point of the

  329. same occurrence. These are the numbers of the

  330. divisions of the Armed troops who came to David and Hebron to

  331. turn the kingdom of Saul over to him, according to the word of

  332. the Lord. So now you have two divisions of

  333. the army coming, we're not going to go over each tribe, only

  334. highlighting a few. And so you have all 12 tribes

  335. the number of men and most of them and certain qualities

  336. attached to these tribes that I hope will get you to realize the

  337. No significance in light of Jesus Kingdom.

  338. And those those who join his kingdom and were part of his

  339. kingdom. Look at verse 26.

  340. Let's go to the tribe of Levi. First, Chronicles, 12:26 of the

  341. Levites 4,600. The prince, your whole idea of

  342. the House of Aaron and with him, 3,700 tzaddik a young man,

  343. Mighty and Valor and 22 commanders from his own father's

  344. house. What's interesting at the fact

  345. that the Levi's are participating in this any idea?

  346. Not that they don't have men who land.

  347. Okay, that's one thing but in relation to the military

  348. operations, the priest, Their designated as worshippers.

  349. They are what their mediators between God and people namely

  350. the nation of Israel and so they're set apart for a

  351. different purpose. What are they doing?

  352. Taking up arms and joining the ranks now they're different

  353. arguments. I argue that if you look at

  354. different scriptures you'll see that one of the roles of the

  355. priest is that they were to actually physically guard and

  356. protect the house of worship. And so I think that this is the

  357. intention behind their participation that they're not

  358. necessarily going out to fight like the different tribes were,

  359. but they would be designated for a certain operation that is

  360. connected to the house of God. But besides the point notice

  361. that when the Levites are brought up, there is a

  362. particular man. That is highlighted and this man

  363. here is found in verse 28 zadok. And all were told about tzadik

  364. is that he was a young man Mighty and Valor Here's what I

  365. take out of this in light of our relationship.

  366. With the Lord Jesus. This should excite the young

  367. believer and seeing that God has a particular honor and takes

  368. note of what you. And I do with our youthful

  369. years, This is a young man and that is important to God.

  370. The spirit highlights that and connection to David.

  371. And we see that the spirit also highlights that in different

  372. portions of scripture and this dispensation in God's Redemptive

  373. history. But I also see something here

  374. that those who might be skeptical of the young in our

  375. generation, the Youth of Our Generation take note, and

  376. understand that we should never lower expectation of who God,

  377. can recruit into his army. It looks bleak out there, it

  378. looks very, very scary. But know this that God can in

  379. fact, move Hearts to the degree that even the young can be

  380. intentionally devoted to the cause of Jesus Christ.

  381. If we're not careful, not only will our efforts.

  382. Diminish and reaching and preaching to gen Z and the

  383. future Generations. Or if we do see somebody who

  384. comes into our church and they have this Zeal and this passion

  385. and excitement, even though their theological vocabulary

  386. might not be so developed we would Overlook them or even

  387. dismissed the idea of investing in them because we think what?

  388. Well, this is this is emotional. And I remember that day when I

  389. was like that too and and and they're just going to become

  390. normal. Normal and things will get busy.

  391. And so, just, okay. This is very cute, and it's

  392. very, it's very exciting to see. It's going to wear off.

  393. I remember hearing somebody recently asked actually saying

  394. in light of all the things that we're seeing in our Evangelical

  395. circles, all these popular pastors who are falling left,

  396. right and center and everybody's trying to understand how this is

  397. happening. And I heard somebody say this

  398. comment that I've never heard before up to this point.

  399. That one of the common denominators of all these

  400. pastors who are falling, who have great platforms, is that

  401. they all started very young in Ministry.

  402. Meaning they all started in their 20s or 30s in their

  403. leadership positions and that young in faith young and years,

  404. young, and number, and I think, to be honest, the Apostle Paul

  405. will have some trouble with that interpretation of the scandals

  406. in our day. And I can show you many biblical

  407. examples of how that is not the case.

  408. And here's an example before us did that happen to tzadik He was

  409. a young man Mighty and Valor meaning he was courageous.

  410. He was Fearless what happened to tzadik any idea that he fall off

  411. into the Wayside that he'd disappear in the background that

  412. he just become a normal servant and the kingdom of David Who is

  413. addict? when we get to First Kings

    1 Kings 2 chapter mention

  414. chapter 2, many believe that the same tzadik is the tzadik who

  415. Solomon ordained to be the highest priest in his kingdom.

  416. And so tzadik who started out as is this young man?

  417. This Warrior ended up becoming a leader of worship.

  418. So, do not despise those who are young.

  419. Do not despise what God can do in you young, man.

  420. Young woman, believe that he has much to invest in you.

  421. In the more time you give him the more he can do in you.

  422. And so now we come down to verse 29, we're still in first

  423. Chronicles 12, when we come to another tribe, The Tribe of

  424. Benjamin. and what's interesting here is as we come to this

  425. tribe, it is a very unlikely people group to have any kind of

  426. involvement with David's ordination for the simple reason

  427. of what Saul is from The Tribe of Benjamin.

  428. Is he not? And here we read of The Tribe of

  429. Benjamin. And what do we told about this

  430. tribe? Verse 29 of the Benjamin i'ts

  431. The Kingsmen of saw three thousand of whom the majority

  432. had to that point kept their allegiance to the house of Saul.

  433. And so it seems strange and it seems unlikely, but it happened

  434. the Bible highlights, the fierce loyalty of this tribe to their

  435. brothers saw they share the same blood and so strong, where their

  436. ties to this man that even up to this point.

  437. When David became the nationally recognized King, a majority of

  438. them said now we're not going to admit it.

  439. The jealousy was too intense. 2nd was so tense.

  440. They would not even dare to give him the attention.

  441. And that the other tribes were giving him.

  442. And yet at the same time in this tribe, we were told that 3,000

  443. did they did say, yes, they did wholeheartedly and humbly

  444. acknowledge it, and they were willing to separate themselves

  445. from their brethren in blood to come to pledge.

  446. Allegiance is something that is deeper than blood, and that is

  447. the things of the spirit. And so they approached David,

  448. they acknowledged, David, and great humility.

  449. And that's exactly what the Bible highlights with this

  450. tribe. They're great willingness Enos

  451. to Humble themselves to God's will, over any emotional or any

  452. logical, understanding of what should take place in their

  453. lives. And it's amazing to think how

  454. these men were willing to hold on to Saul's Dynasty.

  455. Even when it was looking terribly wrong.

  456. Remember, before this for seven years, the kingdom of Saul and

  457. his son is beset was getting weaker, and weaker, and weaker.

  458. And yet up to this point, almost, you can say to the last

  459. second The Tribe of Benjamin would not dare say, David is the

  460. true king. But then 3000 said, yes.

  461. How does that resonate with you? And I and light of Jesus Christ.

  462. Here's how it should resonate. Do you know anybody who is

  463. extremely stubborn and their sin?

  464. Do you know anybody who can almost never be persuaded to

  465. consider the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

  466. Is there any hot head hard-headed people that you love

  467. dearly? It seems like they were never

  468. even. Think about the condition of

  469. their soul, their Eternal destination.

  470. Well, be inspired by these men because what we see here is

  471. possible for them, there is hope in this.

  472. Even the most unlikely candidates can actually bend the

  473. knee at the cross of Jesus Christ.

  474. So, don't give up, and don't lose hope.

  475. Even though people like this tribe could not be easily

  476. shaken, though. Their worlds were being shaken.

  477. It's possible that at the right time, they can say yes to the

  478. Lord. And what I mean, when I, what I

  479. think is so amazing here is that this is not just a reflection of

  480. the hearts of this. This people group at a heart of

  481. David, the grace of God willing to accept these men without any

  482. hesitation without any rebuke, without any program, they need

  483. to enroll in in order to prove their loyalty to himself.

  484. He receive them immediately. And you can say, as I said at

  485. the last second, I mean really, when they lost all hope it was

  486. like, we have, we have nothing now.

  487. Like David is our only option so to speak.

  488. Now they didn't come with that attitude.

  489. I don't think they came because they know they lost, but they

  490. did come when they lost all hope because we re later on that.

  491. Every tribe came with wholehearted Devotion to David.

  492. And so, this this group of 3,000 genuinely came to David, but

  493. they came at an interesting time when life failed them.

  494. When plans failed them. And I've talked to people who

  495. have even expressed honestly, but I kind of feel guilty that I

  496. came to the Lord at a low point in my life.

  497. Like, what does that say about my love for Christ?

  498. I only came to him when everything was broken, when I

  499. hit rock bottom, I mean, is that really a way to give myself to

  500. somebody and to their cause and to their message and and I just

  501. don't feel like it's right and I always respond the same way.

  502. You are the perfect candidate for Jesus Christ.

  503. Because he said, come to me all who are heavy laden?

  504. All who are weary all, who are sick and tired of life if I can

  505. paraphrase. Who are overwhelmed who are

  506. burdened, who are carrying something that is overwhelming.

  507. Them come to me. And so he beckons you to come at

  508. that time. He doesn't look at you and say,

  509. oh, now you come. So those years when I was

  510. telling you to believe on me and everything was going well, you

  511. said no, but now that you need help you want some.

  512. That's not our Lord. That's us, that's not the Lord

  513. Jesus. And so, even though this tried

  514. came at the last second, it's a reflection of how God is willing

  515. to swing open the gates of Heaven.

  516. Even in your dying breath though, with every other breath,

  517. throughout your life, you lived it for the devil and your flesh.

  518. No, I don't propose that. You wait for your dying breath,

  519. you might not get one. In other words, you might not

  520. have that bed where you can lay and contemplate Your Existence

  521. without pain intruding with your thought process.

  522. Wait, no. Now But for that rare case,

  523. realize that Christ arms are still open like the thief on the

  524. cross. These men came to David when

  525. when they lost all hope is Christ any less gracious.

  526. I know, you know, the answer to that.

  527. Now, we move on to the next track.

  528. Look at verse 30. Therefore mites 20,800 Mighty

  529. Men of Valor famous men and their fathers houses.

  530. So here's a spotlight now coming to this tribe and what is

  531. brought forth is the fact that among these men, they were

  532. famous men from their tribe, even famous Across the Nation.

  533. And I think that's quite interesting because The spirit

  534. of God saw it necessary to highlight their prominence,

  535. their exalted status their success, and how they were

  536. eagerly willing to Humble themselves to God's program and

  537. presided over them. They said, yes, we are

  538. significant individuals, but we see something greater than us.

  539. And so famous men, came and surrender to the call of God.

  540. Here's what's amazing. When you and I know of somebody

  541. who becomes famous or successful, whether in in the

  542. Darrell more secular realm. If I can use that word.

  543. We often think they're a lost, cause it's done.

  544. And that's not a wrong assessment because we know the

  545. grip that power and fame and accomplishments, we know that

  546. what that grip can do, and it can Cloud someone's judgment

  547. very quickly to see their own need to be saved or to

  548. prioritize God's purposes in their lives. but what's amazing

  549. here is that these men this man proved otherwise, Listen success

  550. is no rival to the satisfaction that God can bring.

  551. It's amazing. I've talked to so many

  552. Christians throughout my time in Ministry, who are more

  553. passionate about personal success than a month, the cause

  554. of Christ. It's disappointing, it's

  555. heartbreaking. But what we see with these men

  556. as that, no matter how successful you become, it will

  557. never fill that void. It will never feel that what as

  558. anybody, who had a amount of money in mind to make and they

  559. get there, and what happens? They want more and when they get

  560. there they want more when they get there.

  561. That's what Ecclesiastes says as anybody who has a number of

  562. followers on their social media, they get that what happens?

  563. It's just these digits on the screen.

  564. It does not fill the soul and these men here prove that no

  565. matter what, Heights you reach in this life, there is no

  566. greater satisfaction and being in the will of God and they do

  567. that here. And they surrender.

  568. And here's another thought to consider, you have those like

  569. the Pharisees who have prominence, who have Prestige,

  570. and they discourage the possibility, or the mock, the

  571. concept of anybody of importance following Jesus Christ, right?

  572. The remember what they said when they send the soldiers out to

  573. arrest Jesus in John chapter 7, I love that verse.

    John 7 chapter mention

  574. They come back and they're empty hand and the fears that were.

  575. Where is he? Like no one has spoken like this

  576. man. I just can't imagine what it

  577. was, like, they were Spellbound. When they heard Jesus speak,

  578. they came. I can just imagine with

  579. aggressive faces. They came with intimidation, and

  580. as they stood there in the presence of the word, made

  581. flesh, and the Lord was just speaking.

  582. These glorious truths, they melted and they were mesmerized

  583. only to return like little puppies.

  584. No one's ever spoken like this man.

  585. And I want to read to you, I have it here before me, so you

  586. don't have to turn there unless you want to.

  587. I want to reach you how the Pharisees responded and John

  588. 747, the Pharisees answered them.

  589. Have you also been deceived have any of the authorities or the

  590. Pharisees believed in him? Like what arrogance had have you

  591. been deceived? And here's what they say.

  592. Do you know any authorities or do you know any Pharisees that

  593. believe in it? You know, here's the

  594. translation. Anybody who is intelligent,

  595. anybody who seems to be educated anybody who seems to be

  596. insightful or innovative. Such people don't follow Jesus

  597. Christ. Only only simple tends to do.

  598. Only people who need a crutch in life.

  599. Do only people who can't rely on their own strength or can't

  600. strategize and how to get themselves out of a rut.

  601. Those are the people, the authorities in the Pharisees do

  602. you and do you know any of them who have claimed that Jesus was

  603. the Messiah. So why would you consider it?

  604. And that's what we have in our Educational Systems to Do you

  605. believe that God created the world in seven days?

  606. Are you you believe and they mock the idea that if you

  607. believe these things that you have a low IQ or that you're not

  608. educated or that you were just isolated from truth, their idea

  609. of Truth. But we see that these men show,

  610. otherwise that it's possible. It's possible to be men of

  611. importance, men of success, men of his steam, High Steam, and

  612. still surrender to the will of God, joyfully And in the New

  613. Testament, you have many examples.

  614. If you didn't know it, you have many examples of famous people.

  615. Upstanding people in society who have chosen to follow Jesus, any

  616. ideas who think about it? Think of famous people who given

  617. their lives to Christ in the New Testament.

  618. I'm asking if you have an idea, lift your hand.

  619. The EF yo Pian eunuch. He was a high official in the

  620. courts of the queen. Yes Yeah, exactly.

  621. The man who decided to open up his tomb, untouched for Jesus

  622. burial. He was a secret disciple, but he

  623. was praised for his devotion. Any other famous people?

  624. Nicodemus. Yes, it is debated.

  625. Whether he truly follow Jesus, but it's kind of hard to see how

  626. he didn't love the Lord when he came to the burial site with 70

  627. pounds of ointment. That's what John says that's the

  628. last thing you see of Nicodemus. So Jesus confronts him.

  629. In John 3 and we see him speaking up in John 7 and when

  630. you come to John the end of John.

  631. Jesus is about to be buried and Nicodemus comes with Joseph and

  632. we were told with 70 pounds of ointment like he had to have

  633. brought a cart or something that's not very being very

  634. discreet. Sure.

  635. But there's like little people like not little people but names

  636. and little references that we don't even consider their,

  637. their, the end of Romans. Erastus, erastus, right.

  638. And he was the treasurer, he was a Treasurer in Rome, there's

  639. another one in Acts 13 one when those men were together

  640. worshiping and fasting and seeking the Lord and then Paul

  641. and Barnabas are set apart as a missionary team.

  642. There's a men in their men naive in the lifelong friend, Who.

  643. Who is he lifelong friend, to Herod the tetrarch, you go to

  644. Luke 8 and one of herod's household Herod, had a lot of

  645. people Herod, household manager was a follower of Jesus Christ.

  646. And so even had a man, man, I ain't, who was a lifelong friend

  647. to Herod, who obviously, including hated Jesus.

  648. And Mark, Jesus become a follower of Jesus, and he played

  649. a huge role in the early church action.

  650. So it's not impossible. It is possible.

  651. Christ. Can save to the uttermost the

  652. most unlikely, believe it. Now, let's move forward.

  653. Verse 31, do I still have you tonight?

  654. Verse 31 of the half tribe of Manasseh, 18,000 who were

  655. expressly name to come to make David King.

  656. This one, personally touches my heart who were expressly name to

  657. come and make David King. So, what's happening here?

  658. Is that the half tribe of Manasseh?

  659. They realized the Monumental shift that is taking place in

  660. Israel's history like this is huge, this is a huge turning

  661. point and instead of just sending anybody to the Shouldn't

  662. they hand-picked, they select certain emissaries write.

  663. These diplomatic ambassadors to represent their tribe so that

  664. they can go with great honor and that's because they saw how

  665. great of an honor, it was to be able to come and make David King

  666. to be able to acknowledge Him. And so, this was a, this was a

  667. marvelous thing in the eyes of this people, this is knows

  668. insignificant thing. This is not a small thing, this

  669. is a great thing. NG and so great, it was that

  670. they wanted to send their best. They want to send their best for

  671. this event to represent their Clan.

  672. How much more? How much more you?

  673. And I is ambassadors of Jesus Christ.

  674. Think about it. There is no greater identity.

  675. There is no finer purpose. There is no Superior rank in

  676. this world that can come close to being a servant of the most

  677. high. God Understand that and believe

  678. that because when somebody comes to Christ, we as a church we

  679. celebrate it. We celebrate it like Like, it's

  680. a birthday. Make a whole day out of it and

  681. rightfully so but it is also equally, no small thing not just

  682. to be born again, but to live for him in the day-to-day and

  683. you and I must be conscious of that at all times.

  684. These people realize that they realize it and they prepared

  685. themselves from head to toe. They calculated and they

  686. designated. So that through through this

  687. deployment of these ambassadors, people would realize these

  688. people are serious. I wonder if you and I feel the

  689. weight of that. When we go to social events, do

  690. you feel the uniform that you're wearing?

  691. I represent him or maybe in the simple way of dressing

  692. ourselves. I know that's controversial

  693. these days but the way we communicate our, how we are.

  694. I mean, does it ever occur to us?

  695. I have been commissioned. Like I represent a different

  696. Embassy Embassy not in Nations here but of a permanent one of

  697. one that is to come and take over all others.

  698. It's an honorable identity, but with that, great identity comes

  699. awesome responsibility, which means that you and I, wherever

  700. we go, must be aware that I am one of Heavens delegates.

  701. I'm a deputy. I'm sent by him.

  702. He is my king and I want to represent him.

  703. Well, More can be said about that but we go to verse 32 of

  704. issachar. So now this tribe men who had

  705. understanding of the times to know what Israel ought to do,

  706. 200 Chiefs and all their Kinsmen under their command.

  707. We're not told about the number of people they had but we are

  708. told of the quality of the people of this tribe and the

  709. thing that is brought forth, the comment that sticks out is that

  710. the men of issachar were Discerning men.

  711. They were able to interpret the times and then from that know

  712. what they should do at this time.

  713. So there is much debate about what it means, when they says

  714. they had understanding of the times.

  715. But based on the context and their participation, in all of

  716. this, it's pretty simple. These men were able to read the

  717. circumstances around them and then take the proper course of

  718. action that would benefit them and bring about the best

  719. results. Here's the thing.

  720. What we see with the men of issachar is something, every

  721. believer should be operating in And I've alluded, I'm not going

  722. to do it this time because I've done it in so many.

  723. So many segments, I've alluded to First Corinthians 7 about how

  724. Paul interprets the present conflict and distress of his

  725. day. And then based on what was

  726. happening in this day. By the spirit, brings about

  727. particular instruction of how Christians should live in light

  728. of the Civil distress, in light, of the cultural things that were

  729. happening. He said, okay, do you see what's

  730. happening here? This is how we ought to respond.

  731. And so you and I with with spiritual eyes and with wisdom,

  732. we must be at all times be able to look at Global events.

  733. What's happening in our nation and not try to find the

  734. particular date in which Jesus coming back.

  735. But allow these things to motivate us to straighten up for

  736. our Redemption is nigh. He tells that to the Romans,

  737. he's like I'm paraphrasing. But look at the our, our

  738. Salvation is nearer than ever. Before wake up from sleep.

  739. I said this a few weeks ago, I'll say it again.

  740. Christians have been asleep for the past two years.

  741. I mean, I'll hammer this truth and D me repetitive if you may

  742. But listen, you still have Christians who are more

  743. concerned that they can't go to their favorite spots or go to

  744. Vacations, or they're worried about their future than about

  745. how this relates to the prophetic timetable of the

  746. return of Christ. I heard more Christians complain

  747. how they couldn't go to this and couldn't go to that when

  748. everything broke out initially with the pandemic or whatever

  749. you want to call it. More concern about all of that.

  750. Now I can do this and I can do that in the fact that you

  751. realize that nothing like this has ever happened in our

  752. history. Like if this is that forget your

  753. little vacation spot, forget that you can't sit in your

  754. favorite restaurant. We're closer to the return of

  755. Christ more than ever. and so, to be honest, In the in the past

  756. two years, there was a lot of lack of discernment of anything

  757. else, so much lack of discernment to be honest.

  758. The secular people had more discernment, the most of people

  759. who are Christians They were able to see the severity.

  760. They were able to see how all of this will affect our future in a

  761. no-return policy way. And most Believers are just

  762. dragging their feet and Just wake up.

  763. Be alert. This is what we hear with this.

  764. What, we see here, these people who came to the ranks of David

  765. were an alert, people weren't aware, people were sensitive.

  766. People were calculated. People were serious, people, and

  767. Believers should be the same. Let's end with zebulun, shall

  768. we? Verse 33 of zebulun 50,000

  769. seasoned troops equipped for battle with all the weapons of

  770. war to help David. Now, here's the point with

  771. Singleness of purpose with singleness of purpose.

  772. This is what's brought forth to the surface.

  773. Okay? These men had undivided

  774. commitment to David and his kingdom, they were sold out.

  775. There is no other desire that they had.

  776. There is nothing to had preeminence more than the fact

  777. that David is our King, and we will do what he wishes and what

  778. you see here. It's pretty straightforward as

  779. a, not, if David had this, how much more the King of Kings, the

  780. true anointed, one capital, a capital O singleness of purpose.

  781. My affections are Divided here. I don't have like the pie.

  782. I don't have 75% for Jesus, five percent for my job. 10% for this

  783. and 2.5% for that. It's Jesus.

  784. All of it. And everything orbits around it.

  785. Jesus is not something orbiting around something else,

  786. everything revolves around that and that's exactly what these

  787. men are reflecting. And so you and I have to

  788. understand that if this is what David demanded, how much more

  789. our Lord David say these men politically economically.

  790. Christ saved us eternally. You know, it's one thing to

  791. volunteer for the kingdom of God when you feel extra motivated,

  792. or when you are not so worldly for a stretch of a few weeks,

  793. but that is not what Jesus asks of us.

  794. Unwavering commitment and conviction and faithfulness to

  795. the Cross of Christ. And here's what's amazing, it

  796. wasn't just zebulun, scroll down to verse 38 and what do we read?

  797. All these Men of War rate in battle order came to Hebron with

  798. a whole heart to make David King over all Israel.

  799. Likewise all the rest of Israel have single mind to make David

  800. King. That's the overarching

  801. commentary over every tribe, a whole heart.

  802. Like this is why we live. This is, this is what we exist

  803. for. This is why we're here.

  804. And notice the fruit of that, I want you to see the sequence of

  805. events and this is how it concludes in verse 40, be

  806. patient, as I read this and pay attention to the last few verse

  807. versus the last few words of the last first, and also their

  808. relatives from as far as it's a car and zebulun and naphtali

  809. came, bringing food on donkeys, and on camels, and on mules, and

  810. on auction, abundant provisions of flour.

  811. Cakes of figs, clusters of raisins and wine and oil, oxen,

  812. and sheep for there was Hawaii and Israel.

  813. There should be like a sigh for the reader because up to this

  814. point for years, for decades, there was enjoying Israel.

  815. And if there was any Joy, it was just bursts of superficial Joy.

  816. When they made Saul King that wasn't God's will, but it was a

  817. temporary relief but the pain that they knew the loss, the

  818. disappointment and then Abner came in.

  819. He made it even worse for another seven years.

  820. But everything was made, right and true Joy erupted in the

  821. hearts of the people, once David became king.

  822. What this is all about if you want to, if you want to just

  823. simplify the quest of every single person in life, is that

  824. every person is searching for joy.

  825. And they are experimenting to know what it is.

  826. That brings the most lasting and pain-free happiness in life if

  827. that's you in this place. Or if you're a person, Who can

  828. honestly examine your heart and say, I don't know if I have

  829. lasting joy. That doesn't mean if you have

  830. lasting joy that you won't shed tears and you won't be

  831. conflicted and you won't be tested and you won't endure

  832. trials. But with that it does mean is

  833. that down deep inside? There's this deep-seated

  834. contentment listen if you're a person in this place who can say

  835. look that's not really real here.

  836. I mean most my Christian experience is being stimulated

  837. emotionally because of Sure, had a good day and he preached a

  838. pretty well thought-out sermon. I want to just give you a

  839. question based on this, that will help.

  840. You know why it is, you're in that place because the sequence

  841. of events is clear, right? After certain things were done,

  842. then the joy was made known. So all you have to do is go back

  843. to verse 38 and ask yourself. Does Jesus Christ have my whole

  844. heart and a my of single mind to make him my king.

  845. If you can't answer that, that is the answer to the lack of joy

  846. in your life. Pretty, pretty simple, right?

  847. No program. You have to join no pyramid

  848. scheme. I don't have to yell at you and

  849. try to get you motivated. It's very simple with my whole

  850. heart and with singleness of purpose is Jesus.

  851. My king do. I want to make him my Lord?

  852. Do I really want to know him? If not, you will be insecure.

  853. Unfulfilled disappointed, hitting your head against the

  854. wall. Trying one thing after the next

  855. and you will be no different than the nation of Israel before

  856. this. Where they try different Kings

  857. before they came to the right one.

  858. And so answer that settle that, and I assure you that a joy that

  859. you've never known will be unlocked.

  860. But remember this, Joyce was preceded by a willful decision

  861. to say, Jesus Christ, take this stubborn brain of mine and

  862. rewire it so that it has single purpose for you.

  863. Take this heart that loves to flirt with myself and with

  864. everything else rewire it so that it is devoted to you and

  865. watch how the joy will flush out.

  866. Thing else in your life and keep you sustained in that Joy.

  867. It's as simple as that. Let's go back and with the two

  868. verses 2nd, Samuel 5, 4 and 5. And then we're done.

  869. But you don't have anywhere to go anyway, right?

  870. David was 30 years old when he began to Reign and he reigned 40

  871. years at Hebron. He reigned over Judah, seven

  872. years in six months and a Jerusalem he reigned over all

  873. Israel and Judah, 33 years The Bible has a tendency.

  874. To give a summary about something or someone and then to

  875. flesh it out in detail. So seems strange to read about

  876. David's full years in rain, and then describe the beginnings of

  877. his His government. but you can't skip over this because

  878. there's so much to learn just from that verse first verse in

  879. verse 4, David was 30 years old when he began to reign Just

  880. meditate on that. So, if he was 30 when he began

  881. to reign as the king of Israel, how long was he King overhead

  882. Braun? Seven years.

  883. So how old was he when he became king of Hebron 23 safely.

  884. So if he was 20 and whose years 23 years old, 23.

  885. Imagine becoming a king over a tribe at 23 years old now, that

  886. means he was 23 when he became king of Hebron.

  887. Then how old must have been when he was first anointed by Samuel.

  888. For sure he was under 20 years old.

  889. Most people believe you want to know what age 15.

  890. So who here is 15 years old. Evan, you lifted your hand.

  891. Some people even believe he was as young as 12 13.

  892. That's kind of hard to imagine, but here's the point, I want to

  893. make, he was anointed. Definitely under 20.

  894. Let's say, 15. he wasn't walking in the call of God for his life

  895. until 15 years went by And the point is very simple, God takes

  896. his time when he makes his men. God takes his time when he makes

  897. his men. I hope this point encourages the

  898. point. Before, this point, was to wake

  899. up, the person who's still at the ABCs of Christianity, like,

  900. you're still wondering if the Lord is really worth, giving

  901. everything to in your practical day-to-day.

  902. You love him. You know, he died for you, but

  903. you're just like, you have other things in life that are rivaling

  904. against that. I'm not we talk to you, okay?

  905. You can still pay attention, but who I'm talking to Is the person

  906. who really really wants to be used by God.

  907. You pray about it all the time. You have dreams about it.

  908. You long for it, you yearn for you have no you have no other

  909. desire in this life. I want to encourage you with

  910. this point, God takes his time when he makes his men / woman.

  911. I'm still in the process of breaking this out on my own

  912. mind, but it was just an observation I made today.

  913. When I realized that, the scripture says that he rained

  914. for 40 years, Because the first three kings of Israel each

  915. rained for 40 years, saw according to acts rained for 40

  916. years. David who followed?

  917. We were just told 40 years. You go at the end of Solomon's

  918. life First, Kings 11. He reigned for forty years So

  919. they share the same term of office, but how different that

  920. they all look. If you were to put Saul David

  921. and Solomon here and compare compare not just their Journeys

  922. but how they ended? How would you categorize it?

  923. Here's how it categorize. It David had a much different

  924. journey through that. Then the other to the other to

  925. ended in Devastation. The other two you can argue

  926. ended in apostasy the last that we see of solids, that he

  927. consults a witch, Which was punishable by death.

  928. And the last that you see of Solomon is what he's worshiping

  929. Idols because he thought it'd be a good idea to marry a thousand

  930. people. 700 wives and 300 concubines and they led him into

  931. apostasy that's how they ended David.

  932. You can't say that about David, he had hiccups, he sinned

  933. greatly during his Reign but he was a man after God's heart, 40

  934. years for Saul 40 years for Solomon, 40 years for David, and

  935. yet David stands out from all of them.

  936. What was the the factor? What was the Difference Maker?

  937. I think it's many things and it's worthy of an in-depth

  938. study, especially for leaders. How is it that David and

  939. comparison to the other two had an equal chance with the equal

  940. task do something. So, different and up with

  941. different results and a different Commendation from God,

  942. and based on this, I argue and I'm still processing perhaps.

  943. Part of the success was God's patient preparation with David

  944. You don't get anything close to David's, Journey to the throne.

  945. With Solomon and wood saw, do you?

  946. No. And it makes you wonder does it

  947. not during those years those 15 years.

  948. Did God do such a work in David that it was able to sustain him

  949. to the end. And that is not my subjective.

  950. Hermeneutic my interpretation of this to try to come up with

  951. something clever. That's a Biblical truth.

  952. What do I mean? Because when you take into

  953. account, David's preparation, it was riddled with suffering.

  954. So much suffering. And there is so much

  955. faithfulness that was demanded of him while he was hidden.

  956. But don't forget the pain, don't forget the Betrayal, don't

  957. forget the doubts. Don't forget the moments that

  958. were crushing to his soul. We explored so many Psalms that

  959. were birth in those years. And here's why I bring this up

  960. because the Bible tells us how character is develop and

  961. character is the necessary ingredient for longevity and

  962. Ministry. Romans 5, 3 and 5.

  963. Not only you don't have to turn there, just listen, just pause

  964. and just hear these words, not only that, but we rejoice in our

  965. sufferings Christian didn't say we endure in our sufferings that

  966. would make sense. We can endure.

  967. We have a good God, he gives us power.

  968. No no more than that, we rejoice.

  969. That's the infusion of the holy spirit in us.

  970. That's the work we Rejoice. Have you met a rejoicing

  971. suffering Christian lately rejoicing?

  972. I've met many suffering Christians, very few and I know

  973. the temptation to not very few rejoicing suffering Christians.

  974. And yet that's the standard Paul says we rejoice in our

  975. sufferings. Well why Paul tell us why

  976. knowing should Joyce connected to knowledge?

  977. Not something miraculous to come before you.

  978. That you can have a monopoly on and say, look what God did for

  979. me. And no no knowing something that

  980. suffering. Produces endurance and endurance

  981. verse for produces character. Suffering, produces character.

  982. With David and during those 15 years was powerful pruning that

  983. can only be known. Through sovereignly ordained

  984. trials and tribulations. He was developed in those years,

  985. there was something that was chiseled in the man and it hurt

  986. in the moment. But not as much as it would hurt

  987. to fall on your face and idolatry.

  988. Because of the lack of conviction because the lack of

  989. the fear of God, because of a lack of an experience of the

  990. goodness of God, through your suffering.

  991. So don't despise it, don't shrink from it.

  992. Don't don't don't shriek when you suffer.

  993. I'm speaking to the person who really wants to be used by God.

  994. Christian character is often matured in the school of

  995. suffering. So embrace it embrace it with a

  996. tight grip and rejoice as you embrace it, because Christ is

  997. producing something in you, producing something in you that

  998. Seminary, cannot give you producing something in you that

  999. a load of money. From your denomination.

  1000. Can I give you? Christ takes his time to make

  1001. his men and oftentimes the tools on his belt.

  1002. That he will use our painful in the moment but glorious in the

  1003. results. I'm wondering if I should finish

  1004. on a different note. David was thirty years old, when

  1005. he began to Reign and he reigned 40 years, 30 plus 40.

  1006. When did David die? At the end of his Reign.

  1007. So what age? Is that mess with anybody's

  1008. sunday-school imagination? It's even more strange.

  1009. When you go to First Kings chapter 1, and you see his

    1 Kings 1 chapter mention

  1010. physical condition, he could not even warm himself, no matter.

  1011. How many blankets they put on him.

  1012. I mean, when you read about the man and his dying days, you

  1013. think he was in his late 90s or early 100s, the man died at 70.

  1014. And here's what I find fascinating and I will end on

  1015. this now. If your hand is still tucked in

  1016. first Chronicles, go to the last chapter.

  1017. And if it's not turn there, And notice how the Bible parallels,

  1018. the description of David's Reign and concluding fashion.

  1019. Verse 26 of chapter 29. Thus David, the son of Jesse

  1020. reigned over all Israel. We've been reading that the time

  1021. that he reigned over Israel was 40 years.

  1022. We just read that he reigns seven years in Hebron and 33

  1023. years in Jerusalem. We just read that but notice the

  1024. added, notice the complement of this portion of scripture.

  1025. Verse 28, then he died at a good age.

  1026. Now, notice this full of days. Full of days.

  1027. Riches and honor and Solomon. His son reigned in his place. 70

  1028. years old, and he died at a good old age, right?

  1029. Full of days. now, even in our standard and Society to hear of

  1030. somebody dying at 70, you don't get the sense.

  1031. Yeah, that person was ready to go.

  1032. We know people who are in their late 60s, approaching 70s, like

  1033. my father is in his late. 60s is approaching 70 soon to me 70,

  1034. there's still life there. They're still there still

  1035. memories to be made there still fruit to be produced and so when

  1036. we think 70, we can still equate that with a tragedy as a loss,

  1037. but in our human reasoning. Because here the holy spirit

  1038. says David died, full of days. Because the Bible does not

  1039. equate fullness of life with the length but with the substance,

  1040. huh? The Bible equates, the fullness

  1041. of life, not in length, but in substance her go.

  1042. Jesus died. At 30.

  1043. Did he die? Prematurely no.

  1044. Did he die full? Yes.

  1045. Did he die satisfying? The will of God.

  1046. Absolutely. So we have to change our

  1047. thinking here. You can live 70 years and Die,

  1048. full full of days with richness. And you can live up to 300 years

  1049. and be a waste. Think about that, God forbid,

  1050. you can die like your lord at 33 years of age.

  1051. And still die with glorious purpose.

  1052. In comparison to somebody who lived three times as long as

  1053. you. So as Christians we don't we

  1054. don't again we don't equate success or blessing with

  1055. numbers. But that's not how we think.

  1056. Success is Not based on the number of people here, but on

  1057. the substance of each person that represents this ministry.

  1058. Success is Not equated to the number of dollars you have in

  1059. your bank account, but where your treasure is there, your

  1060. heart will be. Also Success is Not acquainted

  1061. to how long you live but what you do with your years and David

  1062. was a man who died at 70? No wonder I mean the guy went

  1063. through so many battles the brutality.

  1064. He put his body through Through it makes sense.

  1065. And yet God and his perfect with his, a time to go home, may we

  1066. live a full life. Full of days for the glory of

  1067. God though, we thank you for this Bible study.

  1068. Louis, thank you that even Through sickness, you're able to

  1069. be gracious to us. We just pray that the truths

  1070. that we heard would with minister to our hearts.

  1071. And that Lord, we would be able to leave here with instruction

  1072. from the holy spirit for our lives, but we worship you now.

  1073. We adore you and we remind ourselves that we are.

  1074. Subjects to your kingdom. You are a king and gladly

  1075. gladly, do we declare that you are King.

  1076. You are the greater David, the son of David, the ruling

  1077. raining, Lord, who will come back again.

  1078. And we will be hold you on a throne with a scepter in your

  1079. hands and the Nations will come to bow at your feet.

  1080. Thank you for calling us to be a part of that.

  1081. We are overwhelmed by your grace in our lives, in Jesus name, we

  1082. pray. Amen.

  1083. Let's stand worship together.