2 Samuel 4 Bible Study | Pastor Daniel Batarseh

Second Samuel, chapter 4 in the word of God, is a reference

2 Samuel 4 · chapter mention

point tonight. Last week, we had our Q&A the

week before, we had a prayer night, and so it has been two

weeks. Since we've come to this text

and so there's a special excitement for tonight.

I hope you feel that same excitement Second Samuel,

2 Samuel 4 · chapter mention

chapter 4. And as we come here, I cannot

help but feel the need to pray before we go to school.

Can we pray one more time? Father, we are deeply aware that

without the Holy Spirit. This meeting is vain.

Lord, we are fully convinced that the holy spirit is the

Difference Maker. He is the factor that brings

something that can be deathly dull and bring it to life with

Vigor. And we just ask oh God.

That that would be the case tonight.

You even told your own Apostles that they could not even witness

apart from the gift of God in the Holy Spirit and we need him

tonight. We do not assume that our gifts

are enough. Do not presume that.

We can do this apart from your power.

We are, we are dependent upon your grace.

Even for a study, that might not be as formal as a conference or

Sunday morning meeting Lord, be in our midst and let us sense

your nearness, more importantly, let us sense the power of your

word being driven into our hearts in a way that brings life

to our being. And produces the fruit that you

desire. We commit this study into your

hands in Jesus name, we pray. Amen. second Samuel chapter 4,

2 Samuel 4 · chapter mention

it is in this chapter that we continue the transition of

Israel's monarchy David is very close to being rightfully

crowned as the king, not just of Judah, but of all of Israel and

before that will take place, there will be a Monumental

pivotal moment that will occur, which we will read of in chapter

4, something huge happened before this.

And that was the death of Abner. Who is the commander of the

Kingdom of Israel? Who was ruled by ishka, Chef

Abner was assassinated, Abner was Unjustly taken from this

Earth and David mourn that loss and David is going to see even

more Injustice performed at a time when there was great

uncertainty and instability in this nation.

And so as you and I come keep in mind that things are teetering.

Everything now is being shaken. The news of Abner's death is

sending a chill down people's spines and that is certainly the

case for the king of the majority of the tribes ishka

shot. We read here in the first few

verses, his response and what is going to happen to him as a

result of this man's death verse 1.

We read when ishka, chefs, all son, heard that Abner had died

at Hebron, his Courage failed. And all Israel was dismayed now,

Saul son, had two men who were captains of rating bands.

The name of the one was banana and the name of the other Rahab

son of Sons of Ramona man of Benjamin from be wroth for be

wroth. Also is counted part of Benjamin

the bureau theit's fled to get I am and have been sojourners

there to this day. Let's pause here.

Verse 1 is crucial rich with application.

The first thing that we see is Ish besets response to the news

that report of Abner's death. Very plainly.

We're told that his courage had failed.

Now that means more than him being distraught emotionally

because someone that he knew and partnered with was now taken

from him, this speaks of Hope being dashed.

As Abner was a valuable asset and now he was he was gone and

Ishmael Seth realized what this would mean for him.

And it's very simple. He was going to face a losing

battle already ich Mich. At knew that he would stand

absolutely no chance before the true king of Israel.

Now that Abner is not is not there.

And the reason why is because it was Abner's idea to raise up

ishka to be the king and any success that they knew.

During those seven years was due to Abner and now-ish Bischoff is

all by himself. He's standing alone and you have

to face these challenges alone and he knew that he was not up

for the task. This man was not a true king, he

was a puppet ruler. He was used by Abner for Abner

to maintain the position of power and I'm sure he was aware

of his weakness based on this verse.

And he's going to realize very soon just how weak he is.

But notice the principal here, his courage failed.

Why? Why would a man?

Like ishka thesz feel like he failed in his courage and his

strength and his confidence? Any idea?

Somebody said it. his Hope was in, who In men and amen.

A strongman and accomplished man.

A confident man, a military man. But a man nonetheless.

And if you and I want to know consistent stability, in life,

please do what I'm about to tell you to do and that is to never

put your confidence in a mere mortal.

It is an extremely dangerous habit, and the habit of many, to

be able to think that your faith is dependent upon somebody else.

Who is made of dust just like you.

You will know great, great distress in your short life by

simply keeping your perspective and trying to find your

salvation. Not the salvation of your soul,

but deliverance from many things and someone who might even

promised to bring Salvation because that responsibility in

that ability Belongs to the Lord Of Glory alone.

And that is an important word for us today and you would be

amazed to know that if you just put that lens to see how that

exhortation is found from Genesis to revelation.

It makes you wonder how much God knows of the temptation of even

his own children to lean upon Dustin Ash.

I want to show you this. This is one Psalm and it's

encouraging to just read a big portion of it because this Psalm

is literally dedicated to that theme.

And if David wrote it, the author is known as unknown.

That it's even more inspiring because this man was a king

himself, but go to Psalm 146 very quickly and notice a few

verses with me, beginning in verse 3 and really you don't

even need it. Bound on these verses, they're

just so self-explanatory. Consider these charges in a day

where political leaders are being seen as Messiah figures in

2022. And consider these verses as

even spiritual leaders, and the past few years have been falling

short and disappointing, the Evangelical World in different

ways. Look at verse 3, put not your

trust in princes. In a son of man in whom, there

is no salvation. When his breath departs, he

returns to the Earth on that very day, his plans.

Perish blessed is. He whose help is in the god of

Jacob. Whose hope is in the Lord, his

God who made Heaven and Earth the sea and all that is in them

who keeps Faith forever. Meaning he is faithful forever

verse seven, who executes Justice for the oppressed who

gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners

free. Here's what the psalmist is

trying to say. Your confidence.

In God can't be a theological Theory.

It's not something that you put in a catechism.

It's not something you put in a doctrinal statement, your trust

should actually be feelable. And there should be a system of

belief that actually really believes that God can intervene

in your life at a particular moment.

I mean that's why he gives these examples beginning in verse 6

and 7, he executes Justice for the oppressed.

So on a day like are they were the justice system is so broken

and corrupt, we are told to put our trust in the one who can

execute True Justice, what else who gives food to the hungry.

Well, that's comforting to me in a day where we're talking about

food shortages and where the whole world now is not knowing

how we're gonna be able to fill our grocery shelves, shelves,

and all this talk and rumors of how we can at any moment.

Lose what we were Comfortable with on a day-to-day basis but

he can actually put food on your plate.

He can actually do that. And if you really want to know

whether or not your faith and your trust and your dependence

upon the Lord, I mean it's really by asking yourself a

simple question. All you have to do examine your

own heart and just ask yourself this question.

Do I actually believe? Do I really, really trust that

God is able to supply? Fly. do I actually believe that

you'd be amazed to know how many people say it sing it quote it

print it wear it but when it really comes to it, there is no

true, trusting God and it shows the fear in people.

The worrying people. And the psalmist is very clear

here. You can actually rely on God.

I'm not talking about like one day in eternity, you will

restore all things. I'm talking about now.

Like right now like tomorrow he can send Ravens, he can make

your enemies even come and be at peace with you and provide for

you. And so you and I have to have

that trust constantly and this Manish Bischoff has opposite

conviction. He stands in great contrast to

the Mighty Men. David David, who was able to

literally stand alone in a valley?

When there is a bunch of soldiers behind him, biting

their nails and scratching their heads and actually believe.

I mean I may not see him but he is here, he is actually here and

he will be the force behind this weapon as I sling.

Into your face. And he will be the one that will

sustain me and guide me throughout it all.

We see a great contrast between two kings, who had two different

levels of understanding of, who the true God is, and what he's

able to do. You know what, so encouraging

though, is that there is an obscure verse a verse that many

people often don't quote that promises us that God is able to

even make us like this Brave hero David.

God is actually able we look at a scripture like David.

We look at this character and were inspired by him and yet God

wants to assure as there's a particular promise that he is

able to infuse that same courage, that David knew that we

are inspired by and actually live it for ourselves.

Can I show you that verse? It's in Zechariah Chapter 12.

Zechariah 12 · chapter mention

Verse 8. This is speaking about a future

day when Jerusalem will be surrounded by foreign enemies,

but this tells me what God is able to do even now in my life.

And Zechariah Chapter 12 verse 8, notice the promise that God

Zechariah 12:8

gives the Israel for a future time and a promise that I

believe is available today. Zechariah Chapter 12, the

Zechariah 12 · chapter mention

prophet Zechariah Chapter 12 verse 8.

Zechariah 12:8

We read on that day. The Lord will protect the

inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the feeblest among them on

that day. Shall be like, who David the

feeblest? The weakest.

Those who can't lift their head and confidence, even them shall

be like that. Mighty warrior David.

I take that and I say Lord make me like that.

Now today, and this time And then he goes on to say, in the

House of David shall be like God, like the angel of the Lord

going before them. This is not the point of the

study, but if you want to Old Testament verse that confirms

the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, it's there.

Did you see it? Look at it.

And the House of David shall be like, God, the like who the

angel of the Lord, who is the Angel of the Lord, the

pre-incarnate Christ. So all you need to do is find

the verses that prove that the angel of the Lord shares the

prerogative, 's and the abilities that Yahweh himself

has. And then you could come to a

verse like this which is plain and clear shall be like God.

Like the angel of the Lord, the angel of the Lord is God.

And Jesus is the Angel of the Lord.

Going before them. It should be Seth here, Saul

son. His courage failed.

Because he put his trust in a man.

What do you do? What do you do when you lose

your job? What do you do when somebody

that you trust? That somebody that brought so

much encouragement and hope and joy into your life is taken from

you? Do you lose courage?

Yeah, my sting But we are to be like David and we can be like

David by the help of the Holy Spirit.

Let's come back to 2nd Samuel 4 and verse two and three.

Now Saul son had two men who were captains of rating bands,

okay? All for a sudden we are

introduced Two two characters we never heard of them before their

names. Are banned.

Nia and Ricotta and their sons of a man named Ramone and for a

specific reason. The Holy Spirit finds it

necessary to give us some background about who these

characters are. And all that we're told about

them is one. They were sons of a man of

Benjamin and to that they were military men in this Kingdom,

specifically leaders of rating bands, And the question that we

should always be asking when we come to text, that seem to be

out of place, would seem to be expanded more to.

What we would think is necessary is why Why is this given to us?

Why are we told these things? Why not?

Just give us the name of these men and just tell us what

they're about to do know, before we even see what they're about

to do. We are told who they are and so

I present that question to you. Why do you believe the Lord?

The author of these verses wants to tell us about where they're

from. Well, one, where are they from?

Which tribe do they represent? Ring a bell.

Benjamin ring a bell. Who's from Benjamin Saul is from

Benjamin, right? So we realize that these men

come from the same tribe and that is supposed to cause us to

believe at least that whoever these men are because they come

from the same tribe, they're going to be loyal to Saul's

house. There's some Fidelity that there

is some kind of partnership there just because they share

the blood of Benjamin. And so we're anticipating that

not knowing what they're about to do.

We're anticipating that they will come alongside.

They will be in partnership with especially because they are all

from Benjamin. They're supposed to be loyalty

here, and we're going to actually see the opposite and a

few verses. But read carefully is something

else supposed to be conveyed. And I think there is look at

these words here in parentheses, for beer off, they came from be

Roth. Also is counted part of

Benjamin, so that there is this clarification.

Yeah. These men come from be Roth but

be Roth. Remember they are actually part

of Benjamin implying that perhaps there's some confusion

there that broth actually isn't part of Benjamin.

So the author inspired by the spirit.

Says no, no, no, they are actually connected.

Are these men from Benjamin? Answer, yes, or no.

Yes, or no. This is where it's so good to be

students of the Old Testament, the holy spirit's expecting us

to be students of the Old Testament so that when we come

to a verse like this, we go, interesting, interesting,

something is about to happen based on the background of where

they come from, does anybody know this is, like level 10 for

Bible quiz, be Roth, you have your hand up.

So you might know Here habits previous two, venti mocha.

Okay, say that again their inhabitants of Very good.

Did you study before tonight? B.

Roth is a specific town that was inhabited before the conquest

took place. and the mention of that is found in the very book

that describes the conquest of Israel into the land of Canaan,

which is the book of what Joshua, it's a turn with me

quickly to Joshua chapter 9, and I want you to see the reference

Joshua 9 · chapter mention

to be Roth. And to see which context of

finds itself. Joshua 9:17.

Joshua 9:17

And the people of Israel set out and reach their cities on the

third day. Now their cities were gibeon, he

fira be wroth and curia. Theorem, do you see it, there be

wroth. So now we're told that Joshua

and his men, they approach these towns and were told that they

didn't attack them. They didn't attack them.

And the reason is because these towns were occupied by certain

group of people who made a covenant with the nation of

Israel, that's what the whole chapter is about.

Do you remember that chapter when we had a whole study about

which group of people, it's in the chapter, you can just peek

and see the name early on the gibeonites, the gibeonites who

made a deal with Israel and that deal would Shield them from

being annihilated like the Of the inhabitants of the land of

Canaan and how did they do that? What's this whole chapter about

it's really about how Israel was deceived?

So these gibeonites were very clever that they came with old

clothes. They came with dried bread and

wine skins that were broken and they made it appear as though

they had come from a distant land, so that when they

approached Joshua and the leadership, they make a covenant

with them, because they themselves knew that Israel was

sent by God, to bring about total Destruction, and they

didn't want to be in that number.

And Joshua failed. We're told in that same chapter

to seek counsel from the Lord and in doing so they make a

covenant with somebody that they were meant to actually destroy

and then because of that Covenant it overrode, even the

campaign itself to take over and they honor that promise and they

brought into subjection to be slaves.

And they survived and now the holy spirit with that reference,

the fact that they were part of be Rocky came from be rotten and

later on once they actually Conquest it Benjamin, The Tribe

of Benjamin occupy, that area is wanting us to have the

affiliation made. These men came from a town that

deceived Israel. Something suspicious on its way.

Something discrete, something cunning is being planned here.

That's exactly what we are being given with this reference before

us. And we're going to see how they

are going to actually operate in deception to accomplish a

certain goal. And then we think we're done

here with new characters until we come to verse 4.

If you thought verse 3 was with strange verse 2 and 3 look at

verse 4, Jonathan the son of Saul had a son who was crippled

and his feet He was five years old when the news about Saul and

Jonathan came from Jezreel and his nurse took him up and fled.

And as she fled in her haste, he fell and became lame and his

name was mephibosheth. And so now this seems out of

place a little bit. Again, I ask the question, why,

why out of the entire narrative was it necessary to put

mephibosheth? and introducing him and even his

disability here at this point, you have any idea why Because by

Design, there is a case being made here, there's something

trying to be communicated, why bring up mephibosheth now?

Why not later? He's going to be mentioned

later. But why at this point?

He's another are very good and so he's actually the next male

Heir in line after ishka, chef. And so, what's happening here is

we are actually being revealed and where they're being exposed

to the feebleness of this Kingdom, just how weak sauce

Dynasty has become because we're being prepared for Ishq, has to

be assassinated. And the next person in line is

apparently, John. In son, mephibosheth, and he's

crippled at the feet. And at this point, if you do the

numbers, if he was five years old, when he heard the news of

his dad and his grandfather being slain at War seven years

has passed. So he's around 12 years old.

This is supposed to be the next king in line.

And what we're trying to understand here, what we're

being told is this dynasty is near Extinction, it's almost

completely gone. And even though ishka Chef is

going to die, David has no worry to be concerned about a rising

King, who will fight against him, because this is who he has

to actually face if he faces him at all. and so we see here that

we are being given a description of just how broken And just how

crippled no pun intended, saws house has become.

But these verses have so much more to offer us than just that.

These verses have so much truth richness for application, and,

and precepts for the people of God.

You know, I read this and I couldn't help that the

condition, the disability of mephibosheth, that he would have

to live with, for the rest of his life was something Beyond

his control. Somebody who was, who is called

to take care of him, nurture him.

Secure him, failed him. And dropped him.

So this, this Guardian, this nurse, when they heard the news

that the Philistines have won the war she panicked.

And she picked up a five-year-old.

I mean, if you have a five-year-old that's not, that's

not necessary. But for whatever reason, she

picks up mephibosheth and she runs.

And as she runs whether she tripped or she lost grip, this

young boy Falls, maybe over a balcony, made with down some

stairs and both his feet were broken.

Because of failure to heal, right?

He would live with this condition where he could not

walk for the rest of his life. And I look at this and I cannot

help but think that this physical picture is what happens

to many people emotionally mentally.

You can even say spiritually. At some point in their lives.

What do I mean by that? You'd be amazed to know how many

people today are fractured because of something that

happened to them when they were young.

And many of you perhaps can attest to the fact that your

parents who were supposed to nourish you and love you.

And Supply Grace and wisdom and strength failed.

You In other words, dropped you. And just like this nurse they

didn't operate in. Good faith, they didn't have an

anchoring trust in the Lord, a conviction that he is in

control, or they didn't abide by his word.

And instead they operated in fear, or lack of wisdom or

self-interest and their failure contributed to the Brokenness of

your development, you'd be again, amazed to know how many

people who are adults and have children today are suffering in

their marriage and in the way they relate to their children,

because when they were children, They were let down either by the

action of a father or mother or the failure to act in the way

that they should have Act. So, what do we do?

Because I am not in the camp that believes just because

something happened in your developmental years, that you're

stuck like that for the rest of your life.

Modern psychologists might say that, and then just medicate you

and call you to just live to blame people for the rest of

your life and then justify your Brokenness.

Somebody cleverly said that even a broken crayon can draw

straight. It just depends who holds it.

And a broken life if it is placed in the hands of a perfect

God. Can produce good and see

Holiness and wholeness because of his goodness, as you've

submitted to his lordship and his Shepherd like leadership.

Again, we offer counsel and we sit with people and so much

trauma that is come from upbringings resurface and

manifest in sinful Behavior. But I can't find one place in

the Bible, where that is justifiable.

Your father wounds do not permit you to be broken and cause

others to be broken. Your mother wounds do not permit

you to act in a certain way because you fail to have an

example, I'm not negating. The fact that there is an

influence there and there is some kind of a contribution

there but I cannot confidently say that you are to be stuck

there because my redeemers to Great, his gospel is too

powerful. His love is overwhelming.

And that Brokenness in the right hand, can draw a beautiful

picture out of your life. If you just trust him and Trust

in his word and allow him to heal you And I'm not being

overly simplistic by saying that a Wan can be just you know,

waved over your head and everything will be solved.

But what I am saying is that as you continue to just be there in

his presence, in his word surrounded by people who can

console you and Lead You you will know wholeness and healing

in Jesus name. Unfortunately, you have people

who who live pointing to finger and even if that finger points

to the past and you know what Isaiah says in Isaiah 58.

God even rebukes the nation for many things even though they

were fasting and praying because one of the things that they were

doing was continually pointing the finger.

You will not know healing if you do that, you will not know

restoration if you do that. God wants you to look up and

stretch out your hands to him and allow him to wash over you

in a way that will transform you for good.

That's possible. We have something that modern

psychology doesn't. We have something that this

world cannot figure out any man be in Christ.

He is a new creation New Creation.

He doesn't patch you up, he renews you Every part of who you

are past trauma, present, trauma, and whatever is to come,

he can Shield you and keep you. This is a gospel of Hope and

mercy. That's the Practical thing that

I see. But do you see the prophetic?

Here is mephibosheth who has experienced a Brokenness because

of a fall caused by another sound familiar.

You're a son or a daughter of Adam as am?

I And you and I are spiritually broken.

We are disabled. We are able to walk in the ways

of God. We are unable to keep in step

with his commands because of because of our forefathers Who

in essence dropped, the human race, and you, and I cannot walk

in our own strength. To keep up with his righteous

demands but what we will see, in a few chapters is David himself.

Asks, for a descendant of Saul and he discovers that

mephibosheth is alive. And what does he do?

He vows to be kind to him and so he invites this man who could

not walk on his two feet to sit at his table.

And in second Samuel chapter 9, we read there.

2 Samuel 9 · chapter mention

That mephibosheth was treated as one of the king's sons and he

continually fellowship with David and was provided for and

was treated. With unusual kindness because

because legally technically this man is an enemy to David and his

kingdom. And yet he still extends mercy

and does above and beyond what anybody would do with an enemy.

And you and I though broken because of a fall, thousands of

years ago, Noah greater reward than the fetish F.

Because we have the true king of Israel, the son of David who

bids us to come and who doesn't just treat us as a son or a

daughter, but actually adopts us And cause us as his own and we

have continual fellowship with him, not just now, but forever,

and ever, and to glory. And so, we even see the gospel

here. When you partner this verse with

second, Samuel, 9 and Beyond you, see that the gospel picture

of a king taking as in the words of men fetishes a dead dog, like

you and me and then crowning us with goodness and love and

mercy. So, we come back to our main

text. and we see in verse 5, what these two Scoundrels, these

brothers are going to do And verse 5, we read now the sons of

Ramon, the bira theit Rahab and bana set out and about the heat

of the day. They came to the house of ishka

Chef as he was taking his Noonday rest and they came into

the midst of the house, as if to get wheat and they stab them in

the stomach, then of a cob and Bandai, his brother escaped.

Read the Bible slowly. What stands out to you in these

two verses? What details?

That could provide some kind of application in our New Covenant

Walk With Jesus Christ? Can we draw out from these

things? Anything else stands out from

you before you rather? If you have something feel free

to lift your hand and contribute.

It's a big classroom. I know it's intimidating but

where he got stabbed in the stomach.

Okay, there's something there to observe.

And talk about stab-in-the-back. That's one thing stabbed in the

stomach. That's pretty cruel.

Anything else? Very good.

Someone is taking a siesta. A Noonday rest.

Seems to be a routine as well. Great observation anything else?

Very good. You guys are wonderful students.

They came in as if to get wheat, let's just stop there for a

moment. Notice, the first thing we are

told in verse 5, as he was taking his Noonday rest, very

common Middle Eastern heat. You would work early hours in

the day and take a time off. People still do this in

different parts of the world and I work in the coolness of the

evening. And so, we see that this is some

kind Routine that the King was a part of and this routine was

obviously known to his servants as men.

And unfortunately, it was known to these two men.

And so they come at a specific time where he is, he is sleeping

and that is condemnation to them.

That they came to a man in the most vulnerable state that you

can be in which is in your sleep and they assassinate him.

But this is also an indictment against ishka chef Because we

know that Abner has been killed. We know that the nation is an

uproar. We know that people are

dismayed, we know that there's political upheaval and that's

when you take a nap. What's running through your mind

to give you the ability to even lay back and close your eyes and

actually fall asleep. No, indication of planning.

No indication of praying. No indication of communicating

your sleeping. And it's in that place where he

is actually killed. Listen rest is good, rest is

necessary, rest is encouraged. But there's a difference between

race and excessive slumber. Because Slumber spiritually

speaking makes us sitting ducks. And David will fall into the

very same trap and just a few chapters when he was supposed to

be at War, but instead, he was lounging on his couch and not

just his life, but the life of the nation would never be the

same because he chose to be in a place of rest, when he was, in

fact, supposed to be in a place of battle. you and I put our

souls in grave Jeopardy when we are idle I fear for Christians

who do more sitting than serving.

And I am very worried for Christians who do more playing

than praying, especially in a time where you and I are living

in great shifts that are occurring worldwide, that will

Usher us into a world and a system and a reality of no

return. That will impact even the way

the church will operate and move about freely with the gospel in

the Great Commission. You know, you and I may look at

issue is Seth and think that he is crazy for being able to

sleep. But let me tell you something.

Even in the past two years, with all the events that took place,

you still have Christians who are asleep.

I mean, at most, you had somebody who just woke up and

then they just went back to sleep because they hit the

snooze button. There are still many many

believers who do not realize, and understand the significance

of the times that we're living in.

And it's no wonder Jesus prophesied that he prophesied

that even need the time. In the culmination of the age.

You're still gonna people engaging in business and

marrying and vacationing and investing in like at any moment.

The sky is going to split open, he's going to come.

So, even during the tribulation period, you're going to have

these activities happening. It's not going to be like those

apocalyptic movies for everybody's hiding.

And eating a can of beans with an AK-47.

You're gonna have people actually engaging in day-to-day

life distracted by these things. Even though at any moment, the

millennial kingdom is going to crash through.

And set up a world that we desperately need.

And so you and I have to be very, very careful, because when

I speak about sleeping, what I'm speaking about, a spiritual

Slumber, and spiritual Slumber is simply this and inactivity or

an unresponsiveness to the things of God or the events that

point to the necessity, to be on alert, the inactivity in the

unresponsiveness, to the things of God.

When in fact, we should heightened our awareness, and

our involvement, and our participation in the things of

God, because they events around his demand, such a posture and

such a participation Let me read this verse, you don't have to

turn there. Look up, Paul tells the Romans,

just just because people think sometimes we go overboard with

that kind of talk. Romans 13:11 besides this, you

Romans 13:11

know, the time that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep.

Paul says, wake up from sleep. Don't you realize the hour that

were in for salvation is nearer to us now than when we first

believed. Stay on the Roman Church.

I mean, even a few years after the church was birthdays, they

fell asleep. How much more now wake up.

Don't you see this? Don't you realize this Hebrews

10 says, I'm paraphrasing that you should continue to meet and

encourage one another, all the more as you see the day Drawing

Near, that's why we my heart was broken that when a global

pandemic happened, we were closing churches down.

No, no Hebrews. Hebrews actually says have more

meetings. Let me remind you, okay?

Just in case I offended somebody there.

The Bible predicts not just one pandemic, but pestilence has a

plural. Are we going to shut our church

down? Every time?

There's a pestilence that breaks out because more is coming

according to the words of Jesus. The church needs to be the

church and we submit to the Lord Of Glory.

Not to the Caesar. In the White House.

We'll see if this study stays on YouTube after that.

So Christians need a wake-up. Christians need to realize that

the moment we become inactive is the moment.

Satan is at the advantage. Which comes to the next Point as

our sister pointed out. What was that?

That they came in as though they were grabbing wheat.

This is deceptive and so we understand the relationship

between them being from be Roth and their their scheme over

here. It makes total sense.

Now they came in a certain way. They came in Cloak with

innocence with a different agenda when in fact they had a

murderous plot on their hearts and so they come in And they

look at a certain way. They act in a certain way they

speak in a certain way when in fact that a dagger in their

hands ready to plunge it into the stomach of a man who thought

that he was safe enough to sleep when he should have been on his

guard. And I think that sequence is

beautiful. I think the order of these

things is quite insightful. Because what we see here is that

there is obviously a failure to discern who these men were and

what they were doing, but that always follow spiritual

drowsiness. He was asleep.

And it makes you wonder where the guards were at.

And because their guards were down literally because he was

asleep unaware to be able to comprehend the events around

him. He could not see what was

coming. And so there was a lack of

discernment there. And that cost him.

His life deception is no small danger to someone who fails to

abide in the truth and walk in The Fellowship of the Holy

Spirit. And with God's people, but it is

a very small threat to somebody who's prayerful And who walks

with the Lord day by day and who receives the word of God, on a

consistent basis. Such a person is strong and is

able even by the grace of God to see past the things that are

masked with innocence and Purity and harmlessness and to be able

to understand the danger that can be in the Horizon.

Somebody who's walking with the Lord consistently is always a

few steps ahead of Satan. But someone who is not and is

asleep spiritually just, just like what we see here there

succumb to the schemes of the enemy without even seeing it

coming their way. And I would tell you that the

only way that you and I are going to have discernment and

these times were deception is going to intensify that's going

to be a major theme of the conference.

The lack of discernment is troubling among Christians.

It is troubling. And so, we have to understand

that if we want to know, a heightened discernment and an

ability to be ahead of the enemy's schemes, then it's going

to require to remain awake. The lack of discipline here,

seen a Nishka, Seth can be paralleled to the lack of

spiritual discipline and many today and that will contribute

to many in filtrations whether personally or into the into the

church at Large. And this is why we have to

understand. That remaining awake when

especially circumstances around us.

Are crying out. For answers, we got to be ready

with those answers. We read on a verse 7.

When they came into the house, as he lay on his bed in his

bedroom, they struck him and put him to death and beheaded him.

This is gruesome, this is vicious.

They took his head and went by the way, of their Arab all night

and brought the head of ish bichette to David at Hebron.

And they said to the king. Here is the head of ish bichette

the son of Saul your enemy who sought your life.

The Lord has Avenged my Lord, the king this day on Saul and on

his offspring. Two things stand out here.

One the way they address David. They were able to change their

Alliance very, very swiftly. Is this a genuine?

Is this is genuine conviction. Absolutely not.

They're no different than Abner. When Abner was able to realize

we're on the losing team now. He changed teams in order to

secure his position and preserve his life.

These men are no different Abner's dead, like we're done.

It's just not going to work where a sinking ship time to

jump off and they attempt to do so and they come with the

verbage and they come even with a parent.

Fidelity and faithfulness and loyalty.

And the fact that this is repeated, I thought like this is

repeating a lot. This theme is repeating a lot

and it's very very obvious. Why?

Because the holy spirit is trying to convey that, those who

stand for nobility and those who stand for righteousness.

Often do so, went, it will bring about some self-gratification

preservation or promotion but when the sign up sheet, comes

out to stand for the truth. When it cost you it knows.

But very few names. And so be reminded of that.

Don't be surprised if those who stand for the truth will not do

so when it will cost them something even those that you

thought stood for the truth, don't be surprised if the

numbers diminish don't be surprised if you see people

jumping ship. And that we have so many Old

Testament pictures of that preparing us to see that this

will be a possibility in our own Lifetime and it will because the

Holy Spirit prophesied it but notice what else they do.

Here is the head of is beset? The son of Saul your enemy who

saw your life the Lord. Avenged my Lord.

The Lord Avenged my Lord. They put God's name with it.

They attached the lord's name to it.

Believers often believe that taking the lord's name in vain

means throwing it out there with Without respect, or as a

expression of frustration or flippantly, that's not what it

means to take the lord's name in vain.

That's in part. one of the greatest ways that we can take

the lord's name in vain is when we take his name and attribute

it to a message or a decision or behavior and say this is because

of God That is one of the most Blasphemous things to really do.

And this is exactly what they're doing.

They committed this murderous crime and they said well this is

God, God is behind this God encourages us and God is doing

this for you, David and David wouldn't buy it.

But I meditate on this and I thought.

Why do people do that though? And this is coming.

Now, I'm coming in from a pastoral lens because over the

years, I realized that many people do this.

I've personally have been the recipient of it on so many

occasions. Somebody will come, somebody

will write, somebody will send a message.

God is telling you, God told me to tell you.

Okay. Why?

And this I think at best its immaturity, it really is its

spiritual immaturity. And there is Grace to be given

for those especially when they first come to the faith.

Where for some reason they think that, you know, they're like

Isaiah or Jeremiah and God is speaking to them about

everything and they want to tell everybody what God spoke to them

that's at best. but that's not the case and that, that Grace

should be replaced with correction and serious

correction, especially for those who have matured in years in the

faith And it's going to come off strong, but it is strong because

this is a very serious thing. I believe one of the reasons why

people can so easily associate God's name again, to message, or

to a behavior or to a decision. Ready for this is because they

believe their name is superior to his Say whoa.

What do you mean by that? I'll explain because they have a

purpose and they have a Pursuit. Those are tribute God as a

source of a claim when it is not true assume.

That God's name will support The credibility in the validation of

their own name. In other words, the reason why

these men are doing what they're doing is because they want to

make it more convincing to David.

And the reason why many people today run around and use God's

name in vain is because they want to come off more convincing

and they believe that God's name should serve their name as they

try to make their name something.

And that is really the ugliness of this.

That's why that's why it's so horrendous.

And that's all it takes for some people to believe somebody.

Oh God said it. Okay.

And they submit to that and some of them live tormented because

somebody said God said, and God told me to get it.

Listen, it's in the Commandments God for saw that people would do

this regularly. And so don't be easily shaken.

Because somebody said thus says the Lord It's a tragedy and

it's, it has created trainwrecks throughout the ages.

But there's another reason why I believe people do this and they

actually the answer if you want to know, if you're interested

and really again, I'm coming from pastoral perspective,

because I've seen I've seen the Sheep wounded by this.

I've seen so many people broken, and so many people even

tormented because at one point, 10 years ago, somebody said God

said When in fact it wasn't God. Why do people do this?

Can I give you another strong reason.

It's actually found in a book where God often condemned those

who kept saying thus says the Lord, the book of Jeremiah look

at Jeremiah 14:14 very quickly just to get an Insight of why

Jeremiah 14:14

this Behavior. So frequent.

And why some are in the habit of doing this.

Jeremiah 14:14, easy reference to remember.

Jeremiah 14:14

But look at the look at the rebuke that the Lord offers.

When he looks down from heaven and sees all these false

prophets running around saying, thus says the Lord, that says

the Lord judgment isn't coming Invasion isn't coming.

Peace peace. And the Lord said to me, the

prophets are prophesying lies in my name, I did not send them,

nor did I command them or speak to them.

They are prophesying to you a lying Vision worthless

divination. And look at us and the deceit of

their own minds that is powerful.

And the deceit of their own minds.

So, do you want to know why even some today are running around in

churches and the whispering people God told me, I'll tell

you why, at least according to this verse, some people are so

Covetous or so Desiring, something to be true.

That they actually have come to a point where they believe God

told them. So, it's so overwhelming.

It's so gripping that they've come to a point where they

actually believe that the Lord is the one who is behind,

whatever it is, that is rumbling in their hearts.

And Jeremiah is told that's the deceit in their own minds. so,

they're actually under the persuasion that the Lord is the

one behind this because they have misinterpreted their

desires with his And so what you have with many people and this

can slip and being very practical tonight this can slip

and manifests even in dreams that people have.

So what you have is you want something so badly, you think

about something so often that it pops up in your sleep because

it's there in your subconscious, you've been entertaining it with

much busyness comes, many dreams, And what has to be God?

What has to be God? Because God spoke to Joseph in a

dream of Anna and and just it's, it's scary, it's really scary.

Now, there will be a time God willing where we can.

We can spend a study on how God or can God speak in a subjective

way. But oftentimes that's not the

case, you know, this and I have to say this, just in case people

on YouTube are ready to find anything.

The word of God is God's way of speaking to us.

Yes, but God can actually manifest in certain ways.

My concern is 99% of what people say is.

God is not God. And we see here that the

contribution too much of God said, is the deception in their

own minds. We won't stop there because we

have a few verses but we're almost there.

Let's go to 2nd Samuel for again, as we conclude.

These men says the Lord has Avenged, my Lord, the king this

day on Saul and on his offspring, verse 9.

But David answered with have been banned his brother.

The sons of Ramon, the Beer Authority, as the Lord Lives who

has redeemed my life out of every adversity.

I love that. As the Lord lives.

Now he's invoking the name of Lord in the right way, who has

redeemed my life out of every adversity?

What's he trying to say there? Contrary to you, Brothers.

I experienced the Lord and the way where he delivered me and

brought me to this point without the need of deception without

the need of manipulation without the need of unrighteous

activity. God is the one who made a way

God is one. Who brought me to this point.

God is the one who is behind all my success, I did not need to

participate in any sinful manner to advance the cause he paved

the path for me and remove every obstacle without the utilization

of shady activity bribery or exploitation.

For you to murder. This innocent man.

Is enough evidence for me to realize that God is not behind

what you're doing. The true God actually brought me

here without me needing to do anything.

That would grieve him or dishonor him to arrive.

This is a true man of God. This is this is a true person

who believes in God's leadership in their lives.

If God really will bring you somewhere God will do it and you

don't have to do anything. That would break his heart or

take his name in vain. And then we come to verse 11 as

we close. He essentially says in verse 10,

the last time somebody said behold saw his dead and that he

was bringing good news lost his life verse 11, how much more

when wicked men have killed a righteous man in his own house

on his bed, shall I? Not now require his blood at

your hand and destroy you from the earth and David commanded.

His young men, and they killed them and cut off their hands and

feet, and hang them beside the pool at Hebron, but they took

the head of ishka shot and buried it in the Tomb of Abner

at Hebron. So David looks at these

mayonnaise as you guys set yourself up, you exposed

yourself, you're done. And as a king, who's supposed to

execute Justice, he has them executed kind of breaks my heart

a little bit because we see that he didn't do this with somebody

else. Who did he not do this with?

He was supposed to do this with somebody else, but because he

had a role that played in his success, he chose not to joab

jaw. He didn't do this with joy.

And so the inconsistency is a little disheartening but

nonetheless there is still something to applaud here.

David wants to make it very clear.

I will not condone this sin but more than He's doing something

very, very strategic and important by condemning these

men, these men. He is bringing Clarity that he

had no participation in this plot to the watching Nation.

I had nothing to do with this man being removed.

I did not, I did not try to extinguish saws house.

This has nothing to do with me and I will prove it.

The men who did this, I will have killed and so he is

confirming the righteousness of his own testimony.

Listen to this bike. Condemning evil.

And that is important because many people believe that our

relationship to sin as Christians is merely to shun it

and not participate in it but the Bible actually calls us to

go further than that. And how we deal with sin that is

around us and Ephesians 5:11 is our last verse.

Ephesians 5:11

It says very plainly. Take no part in the unfruitful

works of darkness but instead does anybody know the rest of

it? Expose them.

Take no participation, no part, no affiliation.

Even to the point where he says, don't even talk about these

things, because even mentioning certain sins in detail can be

spiritually, harmful. But we are to do again.

Not just, this is yourself. Go further than that, expose

them. You know what?

I means expose, confronted rebuke it.

Correct it challenge it, teach about it, clarify on it.

Expose them. And that's what David is doing.

Because if the church is not careful to address certain

things, then we put ourselves in a position where we can confuse

a watching world. Whether or not we are for it or

not for it. And I've heard pastors over the

years growing up as a Believer and even being in Ministry in

the past several years. I've heard different pastors

with with societal issues who refused to address these things

publicly because they think that it is not their job to bring

about clarification of where their Ministry stands on these

things that are clear in the Bible and I agree don't make

your Pulpit, something a soap box where you speak about every

single issue that comes up on a headline, but We are called to

speak on societal issues when they're about Sin.

We should be. Because we want the church to be

informed and we want the watching world not to be

confused of where we stand on these things.

And that is how we solidify Our Testimony as David did here.

He made a statement of where he stood, according to the law of

God based on his condemnation and not just his lack of

participation. And if we do that, then we will

know great success and being the light of the world.

And that is why the days that were living in are so

significant because if you've noticed we've seen one moral

issue Surface after the next, right?

And it is not just shook the world, it has been shaking the

church and if you watch carefully what is actually

happening? Is there is a divide taking

place and it's a good division what's actually happening Is the

churches. Who refuse to expose sin are

being exposed themselves? That makes sense the churches

who refused to address and speak about sin because these things

in society are, pressuring people to speak up, they end up

confessing that they're actually for these things.

I could not believe the deafening silence in the

Evangelical world. When Roe v--, Wade was

overturned. It was quiet.

It was too quiet. And you even had some who

blatantly said, this is an assault on freedom.

God is about choice and I said this is it.

This is it. And that's only going to

intensify and it is by God's Sovereign, will that in the

west, there's going to be a greater lying drawn between the

true. And the deceived.

The true and the deceived. So these are exciting times may,

I exhort you in closing. Stay awake.

Stay awake. Not time for not nap.

Not time to be asleep. Realize the prophetic

significance of the signs of the time.

And choose to be a part of what God wants to do in a redeeming

way in our generation Lori. Thank you for this Bible study.

But we realize that some things were repeated but we are

creatures of repetition. We realize that some things were

new and we thank you for fresh truth.

The Lord. And this time, we just want to

respond to you in gratitude that your word, even though thousands

of years written in a culture that is almost unrecognizable to

our own in terms of how things work and technology and

transportation, you still have things to tell us through that.

Through that time in history, in Israel's monarchy, you have

things to speak to us today. We bless you for that.

We thank you from everything that we heard today.

That it came from your heart. Into our own Lord.

If there's anybody in here, Who recognizes that they are

spiritually broken. And that they are a son or

daughter of Adam. They hear the voice of the king

to come. To sit at your table and you

have made a way through the cross of Jesus Christ.

You have made a way through the blood of the Lamb to redeem

them. And to adopt them, may they

sense your voice, beckoning them, and bidding them to

surrender to your lordship. And to see the love of Jesus

Christ for them. Even in their Brokenness.

We ask these things in Jesus name.

Amen. Can we stand and worship

together?