1 Samuel 31 Bible Study - Pastor Daniel Batarseh

Well, we've arrived the last chapter of our study in the book

of 1st Samuel. And so I hope you have your

Bibles because we are going to cover this verse by verse First

1 Samuel 31 · chapter mention

Samuel chapter 31. Last week, you and I received a

glimpse of David's life. A final glimpse of his life in

this story and it was themed by repentance renewal restoration

and that should encourage our hearts.

Because as we come to the close of this book, we know that David

was fully restored in his walk with the Lord, But the holy

spirit before the curtain completely Falls and the lights

turn off on this stage of this section of an epic, Redemptive

portion of God's history and his work.

In the world, we are going to get a glimpse of Saul's final

moments of his life. Not in the same way of David

because David is going to be reintroduced to us and second

Samuel, but that is not the case for Saul.

This chapter is where it all ends for the men.

This is where we will never see him again.

This is a detailed account of Saul the first king of Israel's

death, And just like every other portion of scripture though it

is a historical account, it still has so much to offer us

regarding our own walk with the Lord, especially the life of

Saul who lacked that walk with the Lord and it should cause us

to cling to the Lord, all the more, when we see just what is

possible. When we turn away from God, when

we walk away from our King and we choose to be Sovereign over

our own lives. It is a very very dangerous

direction, that one would head in two.

But I think it's fitting that. As we as we close this book

tonight that we would just pray. Thank God and ask him to help us

in the remainder versus here and then trust that he will speak to

us as he has in the past few months.

Can we pray together? Let's pray.

God, we thank you for this book. Lord.

We are so prone to forget all that we hear even even by

tomorrow, we can forget what we hear but we ask that you would

be so gracious to us and that these things would be etched on

our hearts. Lord, write them on the tablet

of our hearts. Let them be remembered.

Let them make such an impression on us that it would change the

course of Our Lives. Lord, we pray.

Oh, how we need the presence of the Holy Spirit.

How we need the power of God lord, we confess our weakness.

We confess that a church service can be so dead, they can be so

repulsive because it lacks your presence, Your Truth.

Your love in our hearts, Lord, breathe.

He's on us, a fresh breath of God.

Breathe on us. You alone can make dry bones

live again. You alone can bring a Reviving

to our hearts. You alone can ignite a fire in

our bosom. And we just ask that your word

would do that. Because Jeremiah says, it is

like a fire and Jeremiah says, it is like a hammer that smashes

The Rock. Lord, we just pray that this

Bible study would not become like an ordinary study, just a

transfer of data, but no life Lord, let life be known here.

We beg of you. We just pray that tonight would

be a Monumental Not Just moment for this ministry but for our

own lives, only you can do it. Only, you can do it.

Lord, Jesus, in your name, we pray.

Amen. Let's read verse 1.

Now, the Philistines were fighting against Israel and the

men of Israel fled before the Philistines, and fell slain on

Mount gilboa and the Philistines overtook Saul and his sons and

the Philistines struck down Jonathan and have been a dab and

malky schewe, the sons of Saul the battle pressed hard against

Saul and The Archers found him and he was badly wounded by The

Archers, then saw said to his armor Bearer, draw your sword

and thrust me through with it. Less these Um, sighs come and

thrust me through and mistreat me.

But his armor Bearer would not for he.

Feared greatly there for Saul took his own sword and fell upon

it. And when it's armour-bearer saw

that saw was dead. He also fell upon his sword and

died with him. Thus Saw died and his three sons

and his armor Bearer and all his men on the same day together.

There's so much that will be said that could be said, I would

tell you ahead of time that we may not be able to cover all

that these verses can offer and that is certainly true.

When we revisit tax to the Holy Spirit, seems to bring new

light. But look at verse one with me

very quickly. This is what I take out of it.

When there's a summary of what's happening in this verse now, the

Philistines were fighting against Israel and the men of

Israel fled before the Philistines and fell slain on

melt gilboa. The first thing that my mind

goes to and perhaps, Oops, your mind goes somewhere else is how

David was planning to be a part of this war.

It's almost Unthinkable that that righteous man was going to

participate in this battle against his own people, that

David was actually going to have blood on his hands because he

would be associated with those who have killed the Lord's

anointed and his sons and the people of Israel all together.

It's just a horrific thought, but you've heard it so many

times when we came to that study of where our hearts can take us,

when we separate ourselves from God's Rule and law and his

spirit Control over us. We can we can do unspeakable

things. I can tell you that there are

Christians who have done things, that even the world hasn't done

because they have left the comfort of the Holy Spirit and

his fear and even Paul have seen that.

Remember, when Paul with the Corinthian Church?

He says this is this is not even stuff that the world does in 1st

Corinthians 5. He said, how are you guys even

tolerating this in the world were the world would blush at

this? And so, when I look at this, I

not only think of what David could have been doing.

I also think of God's mercy because the only reason why

David is not participating in this activity is because God

intervened with his love God. Providentially came in with his

power and created a conflict so that when David was with the

Philistines, the leader says you gotta get out of here.

You have no right to be with us and you and I see it through the

lens of God's power and control. And we recognize that was God

that That was the Lord, making sure that David would not move

forward in his sin and his sin. And you and I know something of

God's mercy, the greatest manifestation of God's grace and

our lives. The thing that has put a stop to

us heading towards destruction on that Broad Road is the cross

of Jesus Christ. And if we're thinking, what

could have David done? If God had not intervened, what

could have shame would he have brought to his name?

What kind of what kind of consequences could have

resulted? If he had participated in this

war? Once you do something

devotional, and ask yourself, where do you think you would be

if you did not realize God's mercy in the cross of Jesus

Christ, have you ever thought about that?

Have you ever thought where you would be right now on a Friday

night? If Jesus Christ didn't change

your heart. Have you ever thought where you

would be, what kind of decisions you would be making?

What kind of consequences you would be living with if Christ

did not come and flood your heart with the revelation of his

love? I wonder My heart ever becomes

dull. I tend to think about it.

Lord, where would I be right now?

In this very moment this hour, what would I be thinking?

Who would be in my company? What would my decisions?

Look like, what would what would my convictions be?

What kind of scars would I have inherited?

And David, if you were to ask him, where would you be apart

from the grace of God? He would tell you, I probably

would have such a wretch of a testimony because I would have

been part of a great Act of treason and disgrace.

And you, and I can think, and think often of how God's mercy

has saved us from, so much save this from so much.

But we read here in verse 2, before we recognize that Saul

and learn of his death, we are told that his sons have died.

Three of his sons have died. Jonathan have been a dab and

malky schewe. Now here's the thing.

I can understand Saul dying. To be honest, I don't really

have much issue with it. That man, had it coming.

All the blood that he shed his have died.

Three of his sons that seems just That seems right that

punishment would come with no repentance after so many chances

you still resist, this makes sense but my heart is a little

honest with you and I maybe it's true and it resonates with your

own heart. Why his sons Why did they have

to die the same death as their father?

Now we could take a further and say abinadab malky.

Sure, I don't know much about them.

I'm going to make the conclusion that they were and full

participation with their father that they were willing to join

him on his quest to hunt for an innocent man.

The Lord's anointed in David and so they had that coming to your

Allegiance is with evil. You'll inherit evil that just

makes sense. But oh Jonathan Precious

Jonathan God-fearing. Jonathan humble, Jonathan.

How can this man be numbered among the transgressors?

How can this man be found on the same Hill bloodied and bruised

and destroyed among the wicked? You know, what?

Some people say, the popular interpretation of this.

Is that God for saw the trouble? That would come if Jonathan had

continued to live. In other words, there would have

been a potential division in Israel.

If Jonathan Saul's son continue to Live While David occupied the

throne, perhaps there would have been a civil issue in Israel

concerning who the true successor was And so God spared

much much, much trouble knowing ahead of time.

What was to come about? And so he removes Jonathan off

the scene in order that David's Journey not just to the throne

but on the throne would be much easier and less turbulent.

That is the popular interpretation.

I don't know if I can, I can lean towards that.

Why would that be the case? Maybe you agree with that and I

can give you at least two reasons why I don't number one

hasn't Jonathan already proven his loyalty.

If Jonathan really wanted to get rid of David, it was it was when

his dad was in power. No.

That's the time when you're going to do it.

Now, when David becomes king and he has everybody on his side,

you want to do it when it's in seed form that would make sense.

But we see the exact opposite he humbles himself.

He says, I want to be second in command.

I want to be by your side. I want to be your eighth.

I recognize God's hand on your life makes sense, but there's

even a second reason I believe and it's a very strong one if

God really. Lee wanted to eliminate the

threats from Saul's line that potentially could cause issues

down the road, with David being on the throne.

Then why didn't he take care of the other one?

How many sons were killed in the battle?

Is that all of Saul's Sons? Would you like to know the

answer? It's in second.

2 Samuel 2 · chapter mention

Samuel chapter 2, just a few chapters to the right?

And notice what happens. In second Samuel chapter 2 verse

2 Samuel 2:8

8. But Abner, the son of nerve

commander of Saul's Army, took ish bichette the son of Saul and

brought him over to Mahon Ian and made him King over Gilead,

and Ash rights and just real and Ephraim him and Benjamin and all

Israel. So there was another son of Saul

who for whatever reason was not in battle on this particular day

and when Saul was eliminated Abner the commander of his army

took ishka chef and made him King over the remainder lands of

Israel. So hold on for a second.

If the popular interpretation is God wanted to remove the threats

and David's life, moving forward then he missed somebody.

No. Maybe you agree, I don't know.

We can talk about it afterwards. So then why?

Why? Why did why did Jonathan died?

Here's my answer. I don't know.

You can appeal to mystery sometimes.

Because there are some things. That we just don't know.

And that troubles us especially when it comes to the righteous

suffering. When there is something that's

premature concerning someone's life, whether its death or

disease, or trauma, we wonder why a lot of things have

explanation. You made sinful choices that led

to this. But when you have a man who had

moments where he showed greater Faith than even David, who is

willing to risk so much to be associated with him to be taken

at such a young age at the prime of his life and let's take it

even further. I think David could have really

used Jonathan and his life moving forward.

Jonathan offered so much to David and I'm sure he had so

much yet to offer with all the challenges that lay ahead.

With all the Temptations that lie ahead, if he was able to

speak into his ear at critical moments of his life, that

changed his vision and gave him Faith.

Why would God removes somebody so precious and beneficial to a

man of God like David, Here's the here's the answer, I don't

know. I don't know.

And sometimes that's where we will find ourselves with, with

God's leadership in our lives or in other people's lives.

We're almost stunned. He was in the prime of his

ministry. Why did God take him?

She was a mother of two young children.

Why is she gone? Serving the lord with everything

within them. This generation could have used

that Voice, we just don't know and sometimes the scripture

gives us hints. Let's uh speak into God's mind

to see that. He obviously knows something

that we do not and he calls us to just rest in the way he

orchestrates. His people in this life, can I

show you? One example of that.

It's a powerful portion of scripture that actually has

brought many answers to these conflicts in my own heart.

Not giving me the exact commentary on every particular

circumstance. But enough for me to say God,

you clearly know what's happening.

And you are incredible in your dealings with, man.

Even though it may, it may cause some friction to my faith.

Isaiah chapter, 57. Take it to your to your heart

and let it live there for the rest of your life and 57:10.

And to look at this glorious Insight of how God deals with

the righteous and mysterious ways.

And yet at the same time, let's just get a little glimpse into

the way he works. Notice what it said, in Isaiah

Isaiah 57:1

57 verse 1, the righteous man perishes and no one lays it to

heart, devout men are taken away.

While no one understands for the righteous man is taken away from

what calamity. I like, how the King James puts

it. That the righteous man is taken

away from the evil to what to come.

He enters into peace, they rest in their beds, who walk in there

uprightness. You understand what the Lord is

saying here? We don't understand why devout

men are taken away. We don't understand why the

righteous are taken away, the righteous and the land.

And here's one reason, among a thousand.

For the righteous man is taken away from a future evil that

will come, and God wants to spare them from that suffering.

God does not want certain people to endorse certain kinds of

Evil's whether it's societal or personal and so death for the

righteous is a means to rescue them so that they can be

protected from something that otherwise could have caused

unnecessary harm or pain. That's just a drop in the

bucket. Of how God works in the lives of

the righteous. So why did God take Jonathan?

I don't know. But all I do know according to a

verse like this among many others is that there is

something very good that he has in mind for doing.

So I hope that blesses your heart never forget that

scripture. And so three of his sons died.

Including Jonathan, it is tragic, but God is wise and he

is still in control and he's still righteous and we read on

and what do we see that the battle pressed hard against

Saul? And then in verse 4 we read

something interesting. Saul said to his armor Bearer,

draw your sword and thrust me through with it.

Leslie's uncircumcised, come and thrust me through and mistreat

me. But he wouldn't do it.

He says he would not do it for he feared greatly.

And so just imagine this king with arrows in his body bleeding

knowing that he's going to die and so he calls upon his armor

Bearer his assistant and he says, just finish me off.

Rid me of the Earth, let me die. And there's some irony here.

He would not touch him because he feared greatly and listen,

the fear that this armor Bearer had this unnamed man was a

righteous, holy fear. He would not touch Saul.

Do you know how? I know that this was a good fear

because when you go to chapter one of the next book, notice

what David says? Because apparently, somebody did

touch Saul. Somebody did do what this armor,

bear would not do and kill Saul, even though he was, and his

dying moments and the News came to David and when David heard

it, he condemned the man who did it by saying, what and first and

second Samuel 114. David said to him, how is it?

You were not. Not Afraid.

Not afraid to put out your hand, to destroy the Lord's anointed

He condemned it, he didn't commend him.

He rebuked him. In fact, he had him executed and

so you take that truth with this armor bear and what he did not

do and you realize that what he did was a very good thing, a

very holy thing. And it's because he possesses

something that saw himself lacked a fear.

A holy righteous fear something that you've heard many times

from this pulpit. And here's just one example of

how this fear, the sense of reverence, this awareness of

God's ability to hold us. Accountable for what we do, what

we don't do it prevents you from moving forward and doing certain

things. It paralyzes you in a holy way.

Wrong fear paralyzes, you from doing, right?

Good. Holy fear.

Paralyzes you from doing that. Which is wrong.

Do you understand it freezes you in that moment?

And you realize, I can't move forward and makes makes your

feet as though. It was just swallowed with

cement and I can't keep going in this Direction.

That's what that's what holy fear does and Saul act it his

whole life and because he lacked it, he had come to this moment

where he's asking, somebody to assist him in his suicide, If

Saul had with this armor Bearer had, perhaps he would not be in

this desperate devastating situation asking to be helped to

kill himself. And so, this armour-bearer.

Is someone to be more noble and honored than this King?

He is more royalty than this leader.

I don't care what kind of crown he was wearing.

I don't care what kind of Throne.

He sits on this armor. Bear was more Rich, more

prosperous, More Valiant and more strong than King Saul ever

was, because he had something that King Saul never had a fear

of God, fear of God. Get this fear, ask God to make

this fear real in you and you will see the great prevention

and protection. That will come from.

It one that saw obviously did not have and it led him into

great danger. But notice the motive of why

Saul is asking for this. This armor Bearer to slay him.

He says, so that these uncircumcised come and thrust me

through. I don't want them to mistreat

me. I don't want them to humiliate

me and it makes you wonder if he remembered the days of Judges

when when Samson was taken by the Philistines, and he was made

a fool, he was turned into a clown.

Saul says, I would not have it. kill me, kill me so that they

would not have a chance at me, but I think it's even more than

that, so that The story would be told that I died in this way and

not in a way that would humiliate my name.

For the rest of History. Do you know what I see here?

Saw since we've known him except for the first few steps of his

rule as a king. Had a priority in life that

superseded all other motives all other desires and that was this.

I want to win the honor of man. No matter what it costs me, I

want people to love me. I want people to praise me.

I want people to adore me so much, so that, even if it costs

me to displease God, I will do it.

And he has proven it in so many ways.

He took the credit from his own son, Jonathan when he took over

a Garrison of the Philistines, he said Saul has done this move

forward and what happens Saul himself?

Elf creates a monument after a failed attempt to take over the

amalekites. Move forward a little bit after

that when Samuel rebukes him and says you disobeyed God saw was

not concerned by the fact that he sinned against God.

He says, okay, okay, I sent but would you walk with me back?

So that the elders and the rest of the people know that I still

have favor with you and favor with God though, he had

fractured his relationship with the Lord.

It wasn't about the relationship of the Lord.

It was my reputation, Samuel, please.

Let's go to the house of God together so people don't think

that you're angry with me. Saul spent years chasing a man

because they sang more about him than himself.

And here's Saul listen to this. In his final moments of Life,

what's rushing through his mind. I want to make sure that I die

with a certain dignity. What should have you been doing

saw? Crying out to God.

For Mercy, you're about to meet your maker.

And God was merciful enough to you to tell you prophetically

that you were going to die in this way.

And yet, with all the heads up and all the warning, you were

still concerned about how your name will be treated, how your

body will be handled, what kind of dignity you will die with.

So this man went to the Grave with this self-absorption, with

this longing for his legacy to be recognized in a certain way.

And so severe was this. So cancerous was this desire,

you know what he's willing to do?

He's not now willing to kill a man like David, he's willing to

kill himself. I'm willing to kill myself.

So that I can, I can leave behind a certain taste in

people's mouths. You know, when I looked at this

I thought it is no different today.

The Great Lengths that people are willing to go to in order to

win the approval of man. The praise of, man, the love of

man, the recognition of man. You know, we've come to a point

in our society. That the things that go viral

today are just people embarrassing themselves.

The United recognize that things that are viral today, are not

talented things, they're not Noble things, they're not holy

things, they're stupid things. And sometimes they destroy that

person's reputation, sometimes it destroys their own bodies.

The Great Lengths that people are willing to go to do you know

that even suicide attempts, listen to how messed up.

This, is that when people kill themselves they do it for

attention. That they didn't get any

recognition throughout their lives.

So they think to themselves at least when I do this, I can get

some people to recognize my life and recognize me and to mourn

over me and to lament over me. So, I will kill myself.

And so I want to tell you today, that there is nothing.

That I can think of apart from sin itself.

That is more deadly than to be dominated by this desire.

Of people would just love me all that people would just recognize

me. And I just need this attention.

You headed for some dangerous decisions.

This man went from willing to destroy his family, destroy

David to, now willing to kill himself for the sake of not

being known as a failure. I don't want to read too much

into this but I'm wondering. Saul's calling.

According to 1st, Samuel 9 was that he was anointed to take

care of the Philistines to get rid of them.

That's exactly why he was anointed.

And here he is being overtaken by the Philistines.

He's a failure. He's a failure.

And he rather be known as dying from his own man than dying from

his enemies, the enemies that he was anointed to destroy.

But, no concern about eternity. No concern about meeting God.

All these concern about is me, me me until his dying moments.

If you and I think that it will take a deathbed for somebody to

truly repent. You're wrong.

People will die with their pride.

People will die with their love for money.

People will die with their lust. People will die in their sin.

We scroll down and notice something in verse 6, thus all

died and his three sons and his armor Bearer and all his men on

the same day together. On the same day, saw his sons

and his army were annihilated And that's a very Grim picture.

But you know what? I see something quite amazing

about it all his men. And this is the beauty about

studying the Bible. This is the beauty about being

familiar with the text because in your devotional time, you're

not just getting something. In the immediate context, you're

connecting true that you've gathered over the weeks and then

you're able to come to certain Revelations.

So here's an example of that, I read this the Saul died and his

three sons and his Armor Bearer and all his men.

And this thought comes to mind except 600 of them who were once

pledged to him, but fled him and were now joined to David,

Remember that man, that band of men, right?

600 men who were once under, the rule of Saul, who decided this

man is not God's chosen one, he is God's chosen one.

And so we will leave with our families to join and pledge our

allegiance to him, no matter what it costs us and it cost

them a lot. For years, they went from cave

to Cave living in discomfort Misery, the fear of the unknown

for years. They didn't know what was going

to happen. Next, there was challenging

circumstances, they didn't know how they were going to feed

their families. They didn't know where they were

going to settle. They didn't know when this was

going to come to an end. and with all of that, when you look

at the end of the story, Was it worth it?

Was it worth it to disconnect from Saul and to choose David.

And the answer is obviously to the same person.

Yes. Because judgment came, and they

were rescued from that judgment because of one decision that

they made years ago, we will side with David, the anointed

one of God. And you're a believer that has

pledged your allegiance to the anointed one of God.

Have you not? And the person of Jesus Christ.

And you and I even in the promised land America are still

in a wilderness. And there is much trouble being

associated with this Jesus. It is unpopular at times.

It is uncomfortable at times. It invites trials and

tribulations that perhaps you would have not walk through if

you just lived for your little American dream and your nice

little stuff and your sin. But the same way that it was

worth it for these men so shall it be with those who are under

King Jesus Rule and Reign today? Because just around the corner,

David is going to be exalted and he's going to sit upon a throne

and he will Usher in peace and security and surely, these men

will know a certain reward for choosing to serve David when it

costs them so much. So now it's hard now, it's

difficult. You have to put up with a lot,

but what is this brief moment? It is literally a breath and

compared to Eternity and there is a time when Jesus will come

and Rule and reign in this world and he will rid of Satan who has

been ruining this world as he's running this world and you and I

will know a sigh of relief that will echo down into the ages and

we will I'm sure if our minds allow us to to think to

ourselves. Why did We complain?

Why did we Pat out though that I would have suffered more o that

I would have sacrificed more and light of the glories that we are

enjoying today. We are not judged for all

eternity. We are spared and not just spare

but we are enjoying the riches of Christ being exalted.

Like these men will enjoy so much reward for choosing David

and not being among those who were slain And so we see that.

Yeah, all his men did. But there was a little Remnant,

a small little pocket of men who avoided it.

Who avoided it? Yes, a small little pocket.

You know, the more I walk with Jesus, the more I realize how

narrow the narrow road is man. It's really narrow more narrow

than I thought when I start walking with Jesus, But what

keeps a Believer walking when they feel their shoulders

rubbing against? The very narrowness of that

path. What's to come?

It'll be worth it when we see Jesus exalted. and so we see

that in verse 7, We're not going to cover that men of Israel,

fled certain men. Knowing what happened in the

Philistines came and occupied certain regions, but look at

verse 8, the next day, when the Philistines came to strip, the

slain, they found Saul and his three sons, fallen on Mal

gilboa. So they cut off his head and

stripped off his armor and sent Messengers throughout the land

of the Philistines to carry the good news to the house of their

idols. And to the people, So, it's all

you're worried about being mistreated.

They decapitated you and they're about to hang you like an

ornament in their walls. But I looked at this, and a

certain portion of its stood out to me in the King James and new

King. James, it doesn't say to carry

the good news. It would just say to publish it,

which is the same concept that he is to be in the nasb would

say. They came to carry the good news

to the house of their idols. And to the people we killed saw,

we killed his sons. We got their King.

We got their leader. And here's what came to mind

when I read this today. What was good news for the

enemies of God is bad news for the people of God.

What was good news for the enemies of God.

Is bad news for the people of God.

Now flip it. it is often the case that what is good news,

what is good news for the people of God is seen as horrific news

for those who are unbelieving and are enemies of God, And I

can't think of a more relevant application to that principle

than the recent leak. Of the document from the Supreme

Court that is planning to overturn.

Roe v-- Wade. Me want to see how an Old

Testament story can apply to today, there is one example.

Oh, do you think that Wicked people are some Fringe minority

that live and maximum security prisons.

Now all you got to do is just take a little peek into society

itself and realize that people who have nice jobs and nice cars

and nice little white picket homes are exploding with rage.

Because they have just learned that, it's now, possible for

them to not have the easy access to murder babies.

Like they would like to Evil. Is in your neighborhood.

Wickedness is just around the corner.

And you see it in the ancient times where he was good news to

kill those who belong to the true.

God, you and I are seeing it today and we will see it only

intensify in the days to come. But I want to tell you that this

warped. Mentality is a result of the

same result of what these men are doing, worshiping, false

gods. In the form of idolatry or in

the form of self worship. When you do that and you deviate

from the Lord, you inherit strange ways of thinking and you

believe and fight for that, which is evil, and that which

God condemns When this whole thing was really at its peak and

I'm sure it's going to revisit us when it really comes closer

to the date where they're going to actually make this law.

I thought to myself, all these people chanting, we must defend

a woman's right to choose. I thought you couldn't Define a

woman. Oh no.

But men have no right to weigh in on the abortion issue will?

I thought men can now get pregnant.

Well, you know, a fetus Is Not a Human Being, or really.

So why is it that in many places?

You can be prosecuted for double homicide if you kill a pregnant

woman? This is the inconsistency, the

self-sabotaging logic that a society inherits when they

reject God. They can't even keep up with

themselves. And I'm telling you, if you

think it's ridiculous today, it's only going to get crazier.

It's only going to get more maniacal and evil and twisted,

and warped. Let me give you an example.

I want you to actually answer this question on What occasion

would you give a gift to somebody?

Christmas birthday. Yeah, happy occasions for you

Romantics when you just want to surprise your loved one and just

give something to show your appreciation, right?

Have you ever thought about giving gifts to someone?

Because to preachers died and they're happy that they don't

have to hear your sermons anymore?

Some of you look stunned. I didn't just come up with that

that's in the Bible. Yes, let me show you just an

example of what we're headed towards you.

Think we're living in evil days today.

Go to Revelation chapter 11, I want to show you something

Revelation 11 · chapter mention

that's quite astounding. In Revelation 11 verse 9.

Revelation 11:9

We read, if we read of these two witnesses that have unusual

power and ability during the end times who will preach in a

certain way and even perform certain Miracles that will be a

testimony to a generation that the true God is, in fact alive

and well. And he commands for your

repentance and he calls for you to turn from your ways before

it's too late but in God's. Perfect Sovereign plan.

He after their testimony is Pleat will allow Satan to kill

these two witnesses and we're not going to cover who these

Witnesses could be. There's a principle that we want

to see here after these two witnesses are slain.

Notice what happens in verse 9 of Revelation, 11 for three and

a half days, some of the peoples and tribes and languages, and

Nations will gaze at their dead bodies and refused to let them

be placed in a tomb. It's why we got to read our

Bibles slowly think about it, peoples and tribes, and

languages, and Nations is that one nation or plural Nations.

Can you explain how John? Just under a hundred years

before Christ or after Christ. Saw something.

Where Nations at the same time, we're able to look at one event

in one part of the world and be able to simultaneously at the

same time, get a feed of what's Happening.

Any idea. Yes, the very thing that's in

your phone in some in our hands. And so, John even foresaw that

there is going to be an ability for Nations and tribes and

peoples to look at one event at the same time and and leading up

to our day processing. What is John seeing and now it's

like oh yeah, it's the iPhone. The Bible is amazing, isn't it?

And verse 10 and those who dwell on the earth Will Rejoice over

them and make Merry and exchanged presence because these

two prophets have been a torment to those who dwell on the Earth.

So not only are they going to broadcast it live?

The people around the world were it's going to be so depraved, so

ugly. So dark that when these two holy

righteous, men who will perform Miracles are finally dead, they

will send gifts to each other as though it was Christmas.

And I looked at that word torment, they were a torment to

those who dwell on the earth and that were torment is not used

often in the Book of Revelation. And when I said, where else is

tormented, use the exact same word, where is it used in the

even in the original and I realized just three chapters

later, you see it again and notice the context in which the

same word torment is brought up when it speaks about hell.

To those who take the mark of the beast, to those who worship

the Antichrist and verse 10 of Revelation, 14.

Look what the Bible says, he will also drink.

This is the consequence that judgment the wine of God's Wrath

poured, full strength into the cup of his anger and he will be

tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the Holy

Angels and in the presence of the Lamb, the same word torment,

so make the connection. Check this out.

The word used to describe the, the horrible pain and suffering,

that will come upon those who reject Christ and embrace.

The Antichrist is the very same word that is used to describe

the reaction of those who hear the preaching of two Godly men.

It was held to them. They don't want to hear the

truth. They didn't want to hear that.

They needed to repent. They didn't want to hear that.

God was coming. And so it was held to their

soul. The same way, it will be

literal. Hell for those who reject

Christ. Can you imagine that?

Can you imagine being so depraved to be tormented by

something that is happening right now?

I've seen some really disappointed faces while

preaching I've seen some but I've never seen somebody

tormented. That day is coming.

Consider that. And we scroll down here and are

taxed as we close very briefly, very soon.

Rather and verse 10, they put his armor in the temple of

ashtaroth and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth Shan.

But when the inhabitants of Jabez Gilead heard what the

Philistines had done to Saul all the Valiant men are rose and

went all night and took the body of Saw and the bodies of his

sons from the wall of Beth Chan and they came to jabish and

burned them. They're the reason why they

burned them. It's perhaps the stench.

There were so decomposed, they were so rotting.

That the best thing to do is to just burn them, it wasn't

because that was their primary choice.

Verse 13 and they took their bones and buried them under the

tamarisk. Tree and jabish and fasted 7

days. Look at verse 12.

All the Valiant men arose. Very dark chapter.

I mean, it's ends the book in a low. but there's a glimmer of

hope here and somebody made the wonderful observation, remember,

Saul, the king died, all of Israel's Army vanquished, yet at

the same time though, it seems such so despairing and so,

Filled with hopelessness. God had a king ready to be

exalted. He's waiting there.

And so these men thought that they had the king and the

kingdom, Destroyed and yet God and in a moment has another king

ready to be raised up destroyed all the armies of Israel.

Well looking for swallow, there are there are Valiant men still

in Israel. And here's the point, God always

has a people God always has a people listen.

I don't know about you that bless me especially with the

condition of the church in the west.

When all we've been seeing is a highlight reel of failures in

ministries, and administers always seen is one giant fall

after the next, some, even questionable in their walk with

the Lord to begin with. But who have a name big enough

to cause the, the Philistines of Our Generation.

To boast in their gods and boast in their way of life to say.

This is what this is the failure that the people of God are we

want nothing to do with them. They are weak.

They can't even stay consistent with our own convictions.

With all of that that's happening.

God still has a people. God is still raising up faithful

anointed leaders and God still has a remnant of valiant

courageous God-fearing. People always throughout all of

history that has always been the case, the choice you and I have

is whether we Want to be a part of that or not, and we all have

that choice. But here's my question, why the

men of Jabez Gilead? Why did they honor Saul?

Why did they show this? Great respect even risking their

own lives to go into enemy territory and to try to pull

down their bodies. Why any idea

Very good. Lord.

Did you hear the answer? This is not the first time that

we see JBS Gilead. In fact, jabish Gilead.

Is found just a few moments after Saul was truly anointed to

be king. And that's in first Samuel, 11,

and I want you to turn there very briefly, just to see what's

happening there. And first Samuel 11, The

ammonites threatened, a group of Israelites from jabish Gilead.

In verse 1. Then the hash the am and I went

up and besieged jabish Gilead and all the men of jabish.

Said than the hash make a treaty with us, and we will serve you.

But in the hash, the ammonites said to them on this condition,

I will make a treaty with you that I gouge out all your right

eyes and thus bring disgrace on all Israel.

You want to make a deal, here's the deal.

I won't kill you. Just let me make you all blind

at least with half your vision. They bring this news to saw the

spirit of God rushes upon Saul and he brings a mighty

Deliverance for the citizens of Jabez Gilead.

Years passed by saw looks a lot different than he did in first

Samuel 11. And yet in his death.

The citizens and the inhabitants of Jabez Gilead said he

delivered us. We must honor him.

We must respect him, he did something for us, we must do

something for him. Now we can apply that principle

in our need to honor on a horizontal level but what

greater motivation than to realize, what we what we must

give to Christ. We must give to him.

He is not an imperfect King. He is not a sporadic King, he

always is faithful. He doesn't just deliver us at

one time, he continues to deliver us and save us and

rescue us. And if that is the case, then

should we not risk it all to honor him?

Should we not? I remember when I first got

saved. And we did some little thing at

a church, a little skit. And they asked me to do as I

can. Okay, I'll do it.

So I just wanted to be nice. And they asked me to share a few

lines at the end of The Skit. So I did and it was all about

how Christ sacrificed for us and so I made the point if Christ

had sacrificed so much for him for us.

How much more should we sacrifice for him?

Amen. Amen.

Amen. Currents close.

You know and then I guess somebody in the crowd didn't

like what I said. And so they came up to me and

they said You know, you said, if Christ sacrificed so much for

us, what should we sacrifice for him?

And he said, brother, Christ's sacrifice everything.

We don't need to do anything for him.

And I had so many questions in that moment.

But I thought to myself, do you understand the depth of his

sacrifice? Do you understand the depth of

his sacrifice? Does it make you a mobile?

Is that the Revelation that you have that it makes you just sit

on your your hands? You see what Jeb has Gilly.

I did this great campaign. To honoring Saul was all pumping

from a heart filled with one thing and that's gratitude.

And that is the greatest quality of service to Christ when it

comes from the stream of Thanksgiving.

If not you will burn yourself out, if not, you will easily

fall into the pit of legalism. If what we're doing is not from

the place of Thanksgiving them. Why are we doing it?

Is it performance-based, is it? Because it's our duty?

What everything that you and I do comes from gratitude and the

depth of our gratitude comes from the depth of the revelation

of what he's done and that will affect the depth of our service

to him. So when somebody says something

like that to me just I don't know what it was but Only thing

I left from there was perhaps this man does not understand

what Christ deserves. Yes, we don't work to save

ourselves, that's that's basic. But what comes about in your

life when you reflect on what he's done and what jabish Gilead

is doing with something that happened years ago and you and I

likewise do something today based on what happened, 2,000

years ago, that affected you now that change you now, I would

love to end there but there's a verse left and verse 13 and

that's where I would like us to end and they took their bones

and buried them under the tamarisk.

Tree and jabish and fasted seven days.

The Bible does not give details for no reason.

Sometimes the Revelation is in the small minut details and

here's the detail. Why do I need to know what kind

of trees saw was buried under? Do you know why?

Because this is not the first time that a tamarisk tree.

Is mentioned alongside with Saul.

And it's very significant to realize the last place where

Saul is mentioned sitting under this kind of tree and connecting

it with where he ends his life. The last time where Saul is seen

with a tamarisk tree, is in 1st Samuel, 5:40, and that is the

official. Last verse of this Bible study?

When you go there, you'll notice something quite powerful. 22:6.

Now Saul heard that David was discovered and the men who were

with him saw was sitting at gibeah under the tamarisk tree

on the height with his spear in his hand and all his servants

were standing about him. Do you remember this study?

Saul was at one of his greatest Heights or you can say greatest

Lowe's. With his jealousy and his pride

in his envy and here he is sitting underneath this tree

with a spear in his hand. And he is so consumed with rage

and so overwhelmed with evil that he even commands the priest

from knob to be slaughtered because he thought that there

were conspiring against him by helping David.

And so this man who's sitting in this position of authority but

not just Authority, who is sitting and using his authority

to perform. Great evil to satisfy his pride

to satisfy the lust of the flesh.

Check this out. God has a, such a wonderful

sense of humor. Kills him.

And has him buried by the bones, under the same type of tree.

And I think there's a statement there.

And here's the statement. God knows how to Humble the

proud. And the very same place, where

you exercised, your evil and your sin, and thought that you

were Untouchable and thought that you were surrounded by

supporters and thought you had so much Authority.

That very same place. Can become your grave, Listen,

God knows how to Humble the proud and he can do it in very

creative ways. And so he would not be known as

the great commander, who sat under the tamarisk tree, he

would be known as the man who was decapitated, brutalized who

failed in his mission and was buried under the tamarisk tree.

May God help us finish? Well, May God help us finish?

Well, I don't want to just start really well.

I want to finish well. I want to finish with on or not

before men. I want to finish with with God's

Commendation in my life. What use is it what use is it if

men right about you or praise you who cares?

But to know that we bring a smile to his face face because

no matter what's all new in his life, no matter what kind of

satisfaction that he would enjoy with the moments that he

received some kind of recognition.

All of that would fade as he stood before the glory of God.

God. So keep that in mind as we end

this book, what better way of ending it with the thought of

Lord, help me finish. Well, And please, if you are

sitting in a position like Saul was at one point where you think

you can hold onto your sin and cos more sin.

And entertain it with no Consequence.

The Lord is so merciful, he will get your attention.

He will let you experience his Mercy.

He will wake you up with his goodness.

All these things will come about but there comes a point where he

says enough is enough. Have to put an end to this.

And he did it with Saul and what awaits us.

What awaits us saw was the big problem, right?

He's out of the way, he's out of the way.

It's done. Now, it's just going to be a

Utopia and Israel. No, no.

We have a whole nother book with a brand new challenges with

brand new Revelations that come with it.

Let's just ask the Lord to help us.

Lord, we thank you for this study.

And we asked you from the bottom of our hearts.

Oh God. Please, please help us live for

you, right? Thank you.

Lord, that you still have a Remnant, thank you, Lord, that

you still have a plan that in these dark days, Laura things

are still under your control. Lord, we just ask that in these

times, we would be found among those who are courageous and

faithful unto you. Although we thank you for Jesus.

We choose to live for him now before Heaven, before painless

existence, before glories, that will in rapturous Lord, when

it's difficult when it's hard, when it's challenging, we choose

to pledge our allegiance to the Lord Jesus Christ.

And even if it's a small number or God, we still want to be in

that number. Lord, let these truths change

us, and Lord, prepare us for this next study, be with us as

you've been with us, in 1st Samuel in Jesus mighty name we

pray, amen. Amen.

Even before we sing, here's, there's benefit to this from

time to time. Sometimes, I don't want us to

just go with the routine because we go on autopilot mode, just,

just where you're sitting right now.

As we end this book, Reflect on all that you've heard in the

past few weeks and months. I know it can be overwhelming to

think about but just something that you maybe even just from

today. Apply it and then bring it

before the Lord, and just speak to the Lord.

And just, we'll just spend a few moments doing that.

Lord. I believe you're the same God

that, I, that I just heard about and Lord, I'm just asking you to

do a work in my heart. And even if your dull and even

if you were distracted, this entire Bible study, which is

very possible. Tell him tell him to help you

tell him to rescue from that place.

After that, we will fellowship and we will laugh and we will

enjoy ourselves, but just in this moment between you and God

and just if you guys can play softly, just something softly,

just even the guitar and then we will sing together and then we

will move forward, okay? Just fellowship with the Lord.