1 Samuel 29 Bible Study - Pastor Daniel Batarseh

That's around. Man, you may be seated.

Welcome to Bible study. I never feel failed to feel

rather a particular Joy, after Sunday, when there is that

Monday Tuesday, Wednesday, we do meet here, but my soul never

ceases to Bubble Up with excitement knowing that we're

coming together on a Friday night to open up God's word.

That's one of the, for me, at least one of the indications.

I know that the Lord has changed my life before I got saved.

You would have to drag me to get to church.

But I got saved. I was glad when they said unto

me, let us go to the house of the Lord.

Amen. Well, it's our time to Worship

in giving. If it's on your heart to do

that, you can do that now. And I really don't have much to

say other than the wonderful announcement that this Sunday in

the same Sanctuary, we will be baptizing a few disciples in

that tank behind me and it's going to be unique service.

Because most of it is going to just be hearing testimonies from

people who have been changed by the Gospel.

And so we are excited for that service and we ask that you pray

for those who are planning to be baptized.

Just a personal observation throughout my time in Ministry.

I just learned that Satan really hates baptisms and I don't know

what that is. I don't know what that buzzing

noises but if you guys can figure that out please, and so

please pray for those who are planning to be baptized.

Pray for them eve even afterwards, even after they make

that Step of obedience, we just heard I believe a couple weeks

ago that there is not just Temptation before.

Baptism there, even temptations that are wait after obedience

after obedience, not just before planned obedience, but even

afterwards. So, pray for our brothers and

sisters who are planning to make that great, great great step of

obedience where they're going to publicly testify what Christ has

done for them. No wonder Satan hates it.

And so that's this Sunday. We're excited, come worship with

us. And we will give God glory

together. I'm reading 2nd Chronicles in my

personal readings and I've stumbled upon something that

never fails again. To move my heart in a different

way. Vanessa was one of the Kings of

Israel and I wanted you to just hear the description of the

depth of his wickedness. It says here in second

chronicles 33 verse 34, he rebuilt the high places that his

father has a kaya had broken down and he erected altars to

the Bales and made a schroth and worship all the host of heaven

and serve them. And he built altars in the house

of the Lord, of which the Lord had said in Jerusalem, Jerusalem

shall my name before. Room.

And he built altars for all the host of Heaven, in the two

courts of the house of the Lord and he listened to this.

He burned his sons As an offering in the Valley of the

son of hinnom and used fortune-telling an Omens and

sorcery and dealt with mediums and with necromancer's, he

burned his own children. And then you read about how the

Lord punishes manasa he brings him out of his his Palace by

Hooks and then he is placed in Chains in Babylon and then in

verse 12 imagine this and when he was in distress, he entreated

the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly

before. God the god of his father's, he

prayed to him and God was moved by his entreaty and I heard his

plea and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom.

God was moved by this man's entreaty.

You slaughtered your own children by fire you sought

demons. You change the whole floor plan

of the temple. The house of God, that was

meticulously supposed to be kept in a certain way.

And yet with all of that wickedness heaped upon his

resume, he was in distress, he humbled himself before God and

God was moved by this man. Never forget this, the god of

the Bible. Is much more merciful than, man.

And that's why David when he had a choice to know what kind of

punishment he would receive for his Disobedience said, let me

fall into the hands of God and not into the hands of man.

We are much less forgiving. We are much less compassionate

and merciful in comparison to this God. and the exciting thing

about this is that tonight if you've come here with great sin,

maybe even freshly committed. Just be humble before God

tonight and entreat of the Lord. And based on the sincerity of

your heart in his presence, he can be moved by that.

And give you what? You don't deserve.

This is the guy that we're worshipping tonight and I'm so

glad that you're here to worship him.

Let's continue to do that. Lord, we pray.

That in this place, we would sing with all our strength and

that we would give you the praise that you deserve.

Lord. We know that there is a

necessity for quietness for that is a reflection of reverence

when we hear your word and when we, when we listen to what you

have to say to us but Lord, at the same time.

There is a call to be passionate in our worship.

And to give you the whole being. Even in singing and solo with

just a glimpse of who you are through this text that we've

just heard me you receive adoration from this place and be

blessed by our worship. As we look to the heavens.

And give glory to the one who is much more merciful than man.

We ask these things in Jesus name.

Amen. Let's stand and Worship the Lord

together. You guys standing back there,

there's plenty of room so, come on in.

What is that? Filled with wonder awestruck

Wonder Jesus. Your name is power.

All creation. With all creation.

I sing praise to you. I Stay.

It's like we said before you're amazed at your love, but your

heads. Slowly.

Does love that. Indescribable.

We come before you Lord, we thirst, we hunger for you.

We adore you. We worship you.

We love you because you have loved us first.

We adore you. We adore your words are long and

long to hear from you hear your voice.

Shine Your Face upon his, love your presence, your presence,

your world, or in a forest. We pray in faith.

Jesus Christ. It was if you have your Bibles

were there in first Samuel 29 are we not?

so, let's meet together in the scriptures and first Samuel

1 Samuel 29 · chapter mention

chapter 29, And if you just look over to the right of that

chapter, you see that there's only a couple of left so we're

almost there. No rush of course, but it's

amazing, how things. How things happen so quickly.

Why don't we pray and ask the Lord to help us?

Lord, we ask that your Holy Spirit would help us with this

study. Lord, we pray that there would

be no interference of men's opinions or his thoughts.

We ask Lord that you would open our minds as you did to the

disciples to understand your word.

We ask Lord that you would now reach into our hearts, and I'll

our hearts to burn. As you teach us the scriptures,

we pray that it would be the voice of the Shepherd, that

would be heard tonight at the voice of man.

We pray that you would be known, you would be loved.

You would be taught and that you would be understood with greater

Clarity. So that you would receive what

is your dual or thank you that the Christian Life does not end

up being forgiven. That is where it starts and we

now come to grow in our relationship with you.

So help us in this text to do just that we pray that you would

arrest every intrusive thought every emotion that would try to

challenge these truths Lord just wash us a fresh and give us the

right posture to receive all that.

You have to say in Jesus name we pray.

Amen. Well, two weeks ago, you and I

together We examined the lowest and arguably the darkest point

of Saul's life as it is described to us.

In first Samuel chapter 28, And in that chapter, we not only see

1 Samuel 28 · chapter mention

the lowest point of Saul's life, but we actually are given the

last detailed account of his life.

Before his ordained death, that will be described to us at the

End of This Book. But after reading that chapter

and looking into his strange encounter with the deceased

Prophet the prophet Samuel. We also have been left in

suspense, concerning David situation.

Where was David at the time? When saw was working with a

witch and indoor trying to channel and communicate with the

dead? Do you remember Where was he?

Was he in the cave? Oh no, nobody knows.

It's only been a couple weeks. Where was David?

Ha ha, thank you. He was among the Philistines

residing comfortably. Presumably flourishing.

In the territory of his enemies and the enemies of God.

And what we think David is doing there is believing that he is

actually safe safe outside of God's Will and whatever

misconception and false security.

He might have been experiencing it would all be rudely

interrupted by a command from the king of the Philistines.

To have him and his men joined the Philistines to fight against

the nation of Israel. And what was David's response

and first. Samuel 28 before we went into

Saul's final chapter before his death.

Well, let's look back and first Samuel 28 verse 2 just to

1 Samuel 28:2

refresh our memories. David said to a quiche very

well, you shall know what your servant can do and I he said to

David very well. I will make you my bodyguard for

life. Now, David's answer seems to be

too ambiguous to make a strong conclusion of what he meant by

this, but hopefully, this chapter chapter, 29 will give us

some clarity. And I believe that, that Clarity

will give even greater indication of just how miserable

and horrible the condition of his spiritual life has come to

after many months being where he was not supposed to be.

What will you do? David.

That should be our answer. That should be our anticipation

as we approach this chapter and what we will learn is that as

much as David might have had a plan in his mind.

It will be met with God's Providence that will challenge

him for his good. It's a very short chapter, we

will cover all of it by God's grace.

And so let's begin in chapter 29, beginning in verse Year One,

Now, the Philistines had gathered all their forces at a

fake and the Israelites were in Camp by the spring that is in

Jezreel, as the Lords of the Philistines, were passing on by

hundreds and by thousands and David and his men were passing

on, in the rear with a. He's the commanders of the

Philistine said, what are these Hebrews doing here?

And I he said to the commanders of the Philistines, is this not

David? The servant of Saul king of

Israel, who has been with me now for days and years.

And since he deserted to me, I have found no fault in him to

this day and let's just stop there because there's enough

there in verse 12 meditate upon verse 1.

We are told that there is a Face-Off between the Philistines

And the nation of Israel. And this verse is more than just

a description of the battle line between these two ancient foes.

This first verse is actually the description of the means by

which saw will meet his frightful fate with death, which

was God's judgment upon him. If that's the case, then verse

one should disturb us to a certain extent more

specifically, the posture of the nation of Israel should be a

little disturbing to us. In light of what we know about

Saul more specifically, in light of what's all knew about, what

was about to transpire, did song, know what was going to

happen to him. Going into war with the

Philistines. Yes or no.

Yes, it's all know what was going to happen to the people of

Israel when they were going to go to war with the Philistines.

Look back at 28:19. Verse 19 of the previous

chapter. This is what Samuel says, this

is what he prophesized oversaw. Moreover, the Lord will give

Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines and

tomorrow you and your son's shall be with me.

That is not to say that they're going to be in heaven with him.

That is to say that they're just going to be in the grave with

him. They're going to meet him in the

place of death. The Lord will give the army of

Israel. Also into the hand of the

Philistines. It's set, it's been determined.

It's been prophesied. When you go to war with this

nation, you're going to lose, you're going to die with your

son's, and not only that, but the people of Israel be under

subjection to their enemies. Now, with all of that into

consideration, To me, reading verse one is a little

heartbreaking. Because my question is, if so

knew what was going to happen, then where is the leadership of

this man? Where is the leadership of this

man who's been made aware of the future faith of his own life and

the life of his people? In other words, where's the

Brokenness? You heard it during the break.

While we were worshiping. Where's The Humbling of

yourself? Where's the fasting?

Where's the call to repentance? Where's the desperation of

seeking God? It's not there.

It's not there. Even though this man has been

told Point Blank, you're going to die tomorrow, and your people

also are going to be slaughtered.

He just positioned himself as though he didn't know anything.

And I wonder if it's because Saul is so out of touch with God

and he's so uninformed about the character of God that he could

not even come to believe that the Lord would respond with

Mercy if you had, but just humbled himself before him.

That's what I think. I think saw does not know who

God is and therefore he does not respond accordingly.

Doesn't respond appropriately to the warning that has been given

to him. Just going to resume and move

forward. It's quite disturbing.

And sauce, failure here to desperately cry out to God.

I believe is an is an image. It's an illustration of the

wicked today of people who hear about the warnings of their own

faith. The judgments that will come

upon them because of their Disobedience and denial of the

gospel, and their refusal to respond to that warning

appropriately. They just are able to move on

with their lives, whether it's because they don't believe that

it's going to happen whether it's because they don't

understand that God is merciful, they can't register that

regardless Saul here is at fault.

Because he should have known who God was.

He should have taken this warning.

Seriously, and he doesn't act. But Saul is a leader.

So I see another another illustration here from a

leadership standpoint that saw has been given the revelation of

the future of his own people, and it's not a good one.

It's dire, it's deadly, its judgment, and yet still saw as a

leader refuses to disclose to those people, what is about to

happen. And keeps it to himself.

So, it is with many preachers today, who understand what God's

word has to say, but refused to call upon those who will

experience this judgement from God, for whatever, fear fear of

making them fearful fear of losing their love and their

loyalty. Whatever the case may be saw

here is a, is an example of a man who's been given insight

about the fate of man outside of Christ and refuses to tell them

what they need to know in order. For that to change.

It's amazing, how you see New Testament pictures and Old

Testament stories? And so they just line up they

set up their post and they're going to go to war and that's

kind of the overview of what's happening and then we zoom in

for the first time and a few verses to David, we haven't seen

David since he said very well. You will see what you're

savoring is able to do. And now all of that happen and

we come back to David and where is he?

He's marching with the Philistines.

Toward the ranks to apparently, get ready to fight with them

against the Lord's anointed and the Lord's people.

But what do we see here? In verse two and three, we see

two verses that give us two comments.

That give us the condition of David's testimony as a servant

of the true God. So when the Philistines were

preparing to go to war, they were reviewing their ranks and

they made a very good observation.

What are the Israelites doing here?

What, what is this band of men who are surrounding around?

A quiche? Why are they on this tide?

And this disturb them and rightfully so and so they come

to the king and they rightly ask, hey, what are these Hebrews

doing here? And I read that, you know what

came to my mind. That's the question that David,

and his men should have asked themselves.

What are we doing here? Such simple self-examination

could have saved David and his men much unnecessary heartache.

If they just ask themselves that question at one point where

there is no evidence of such a thing they could have, they

could have actually realized we're not supposed to be here.

And I think it does christians, much good in their Journey with

Christ to pause once in a while. If you can't do it every night

as you lay your head, on your pillow, where am I?

Where am I, where am I with the Lord?

Where am I with God's people? Where am I pursuit of him?

Where am I pursuit of Holiness? Where am I in these different

areas? Lord search me and know me.

See that there be any wicked way.

In any where am I? Am I supposed to be where?

I'm supposed to be a, my veering off a little bit?

Am I headed towards the wrong direction?

And that I move from where I was supposed to be to a place where

I'm not, Supposed to be in that doesn't necessarily have to be

physical location. That can just be the posture of

your heart. Where am I?

And what we see here is that this question from the

Philistines implies that as children of God, just like the

Hebrews. Our spiritual identity calls for

a separation. It calls for a consecration.

From certain places properties and people.

When Jesus Christ, is crowned Lord, over your life and you get

up from the Throne of your heart, and you give him that

rightful place, something will come alive in you as him being

Lord of your life. And there is a distinction that

is made by the Lord in your life.

It's not popular, right? What I'm saying here is not

popular and where we get into trouble is like when David we

allow our own judgments and our own estimations to blur, the

boundaries that have been clearly marked by God's word.

That draw those distinctions for us.

Right. David David because of his

emotional condition because of his fear because of Temptation,

he blurred those lines and he physically crossed the border

that he shouldn't have crossed and so, will it be with you?

And I, if we do not uphold the scriptures and say this is what

will determine where I go. Who I Am with what I do, what I

own, what I give That's holiness.

And it's a joyful thing. It's a wonderful thing because

you and I are ambassadors of Jesus Christ.

And I'm seeing more and more that this kind of this kind of

preaching. And this kind of discipleship is

becoming less and less popular. And now, we have this idea,

whether we realize it or not, we're the idea of the culture

where we can determine our own reality and our own experience

is now seeping into Christendom. And so now you have people who

we can apply this way, who do not see the clear commands in

Scripture that we must be accountable to a group of

Believers. We must meet regularly with the

Church of Jesus Christ in a local setting and week after

week, after week, there's somewhere else.

And so, I would ask, I would ask the question that the

Philistines asked, and this way, why are you not here, Christian?

God commands you to be, whether it's here or elsewhere.

Why are you not here? That's not the same as people

were looking and praying for someplace but can't find a body

of Believers. I love the Lord.

I'm talking about people who are totally convinced that I can be

a lone wolf because they and their own judgments or because

of past hurts, whatever the case may be have blurred the lines,

through their filter and said, well, God will understand, no,

he doesn't understand, actually, his word is clear, it's so

clear. Or there are those shoe.

Find themselves in places and among people who deliberately

and intentionally entertain and engage with sin.

And the Philistines questions to a quiche is the question I would

ask to Believers. What are you doing there?

My brother. What are you doing with them?

My sister. The question is totally

appropriate. It's totally appropriate and

it's healthy, it's holy. I've always used this as

phraseology to help people not be afraid of holiness.

Are you afraid of Health for your body?

Anybody in here? Doesn't want to be healthy?

No, I don't think so. People pay money to be healthy

people. Pay dieticians people pay for

trainers, so that their bodies can be healthy.

Holiness is Health to your soul. Why are you afraid of it so

much? You pay the guy hundreds of

dollars a month to tell you what to do, he yells at you at the

gym. And a preacher who truly cares

about the health of your soul. What tell you how to be holy?

Because he loves you. God loves you.

But he doing here Hebrews, why are they among us?

But the second insight about the state of David Soul is found in

a, he shows response to this inquiry.

Look at verse 3, he said to the commanders of the Philistines,

is this not David? The servant of Saul king of

Israel, who has been with me now for days and years?

Was it days in years? Does anybody remember the

precise time? I heard somebody whisper how

long has David actually been in the land?

Look back at chapter 27, verse 7, the answers right there.

And the number of days, that David lived in the country of

the Philistines, was what? It's behind me, isn't it?

No, And the country of the Philistines was a year and four

months, what does he say? Days and years, people have a

tendency to exaggerate, don't they?

That's all I have to say about that.

David tendency to exaggerate days and years and then he goes

on to say, and since he deserted to me, I have found no fault in

him to this day, question. Is this a good thing or a bad

thing? good thing, bad thing, tell us

why Very good. Did you hear the answer?

Well, before I explain it, who would say this is a good thing.

I have found no fault in him to this day.

That good. Bat consensus, bad, bad bad, not

good, not good at all, and the reason why it's not good, it's

precisely what a brother just explained, are you telling me

that a ruler who hates the true God, worships false gods hates,

the people of the true? God has absolutely no criticism

for a man. Like David who's Apparently

after God's heart, that's concerning that is concerning.

We can be equivalent to. This is, is working closely with

someone else. An employer or a co-worker for

years and years and years and they've observed your life.

They would be with you even settings outside of the

workplace, and they cannot come to the conclusion that you are

born. Again, follower of Jesus Christ.

Wouldn't that concern you? That would concern me?

And in fact, I sometimes, tell people, if somebody was hanging

out with you day and night for an entire week and they could

Come to the conclusion that you are a follower of Jesus Christ.

Serious red flags. Can we say even a whole day?

I would say even a day. What marks us, what's something

needs to be different there? And apparently David after a

year and four months Blended in so, well among the Philistines,

is this ruining anybody's image of this man after God's heart?

It's amazing how the scriptures are honest with us.

The sad commentary to say the least, I remember doing my

internship at an advertising agency. as my final kind of

assignment final course, before I graduate, we had to be in the

advertising agency day in and day out working there for a

minimum of three months, and I was there for four And I was

extremely zealous. I was I was still fresh out of

the oven born again. And I was trying to find ways to

turn the conversation to talk about the Lord and was not

working. It was it was it was very

uncomfortable. For me, even is making things

difficult, Lordan, find a way. I'm only here for a few months,

you can find a way. So, find a way, and I believe

one way was presented on a consistent basis, every single

Monday. In that workplace, we got

together in a circle and no more than a minute.

Each every person told what they did for the weekend, every

Monday And so Monday after Monday, this person was still

hungover that person went to this new club.

That person did that. Some people went out did nice

things, good things and I just thought to myself, this is my

chance, every single Monday, And so, as it came to me, 22 year,

old college kid. Tell us about your weekend.

Well, Friday night we got together and prayed had Bible

study, Saturday night, we did evangelism and Sunday morning.

We had church and Sunday night. We had a young adults meeting

and the stairs that I got Like the as though they saw an alien

land into their office space week after week after week.

And that was it. And that opened up

conversations. How is a young guy like you?

Not? Not doing what other young

people supposed to be doing on the weekends.

Little snippet here. Little snippet there.

Little testimony, there. They should see a distinction

eventually. I'm not one of those who

unrealistically things that you should go to Every public place

stand on a table. I'm a Christian that doesn't

help anybody nor does it help your testimony unless the Lord

leads you to do that. Very rarely, we have to be

sensitive. We have to be wise wise as

serpents innocent as doves. But this, this is a specific

scenario after apparently days and years.

He's could not make a distinction with David.

In fact, he thought he was one of them.

That's hello. David has come with his walk

with the Lord. He camouflage in a wrong way.

the Converse for, But the commanders of the Philistines

were angry with him being a fish and the commanders of the

Philistine said to him, send the man back that he may return to

the place to which you have assigned him.

He shall not go down with us to battle Less in the battle.

He become an adversary to us for.

How could this fellow reconcile himself to his Lord being Saul?

Would it not be with the heads of the men here is not this

David of whom they sing to one another in. inches saw has

struck down his thousands and David his ten thousand The

interaction between a he's and his commanders is a great

example for us to consider when determining how discernment

plays, an important part of the Christian Life discernment is

very, very important for many reasons, because there are

wolves out there in sheep's clothing.

And there are so many warnings throughout the New Testament, of

the people who would come within the church and even into your

personal life with evil intentions.

And how you and I are able to be safe is to acquire something

called discernment. Where you are able to pick up on

the warning signs? That would make you pre-emptive

and protect yourself and protect the church from that, which

would try to destroy and harm. And what's amazing here is that

when you compare our, he's with the commanders of the

Philistines, you see a contrast I see a.

He said somebody who's very gullible He kind of takes things

at face value. He doesn't consider the elements

on beyond the immediate Whereas the commanders are able to

process the dangers ahead, the past about David and what he has

done and I bring all those things together to come to come

to a decision. That would be the most effective

and protective And it reminds me here, right?

It reminds me here of what Jude warns us about that.

There are certain people in verse 4 of Jude who have crept

in unnoticed, There are people who want to creep in.

To the church. And that's not a physical kind

of being unnoticed. The unnoticed there is the

intentions of the heart. And there are people in our

lives that want to creep in to do harm and in the context to

lead them into a perverted idea of Grace.

That's what Jude was talking about.

And in this case you can almost say that.

David David was the one who crept in to the camp.

You crept into the camp because as much as he should say, I

found no fault to him about him to this day, David was lying to

him throughout that time. Was he not?

Whenever I keep said, where do you get the spoil all?

Yeah, we dealt with these Israelites here and then he was

trying to convey that we were actually killing Israelites and

in reality he was killing allies to riche.

You and I need the sermon and it seems strange that we are

learning. That truth that valuable truth

from the Philistines. But how often is it true that

the wicked borrow the wisdom of God and don't give him credit

for it. Right.

There are many ways that you and I can protect ourselves from the

dangers of others who have evil intentions.

Who come in with a satanic agenda or fleshly agenda, that

include your expense? and that's So important that the

scripture encourages and instructs us to acquire this,

this quality so that we can we can travel through life and

navigate through it in a way that we see safety and victory.

And so, I want to show you just one way.

One way that you and your life in your Christian Journey, Cano

safety. As you acquire discernment, it's

not just praying that's important.

It's not just knowing your Bible, that's very important.

Those are the primary ways but let me show you another way.

You know this verse many of you have probably memorized it in

Proverbs 11:14 where there is no guidance of people Falls But in

Proverbs 11:14

an abundance of counselors, there is safety.

But in an abundance of counselors, there is safety.

And you can argue here that in this scenario with a quiche.

His counselors were the commanders of the Philistines

who had an eye, who had an ability to calculate in a way

that was able to help a quiche, evade, something that he could

have walked into to his own demise potentially Do you want

to know how you can be safer in this life?

And I can tell you and many years of pastoral Ministry,

there are evil people out there. There are wicked, men and Wicked

Woman. Satan hates the children of God,

and if you can wound you or lure you away from the will of God,

he will do it, and he's very creative.

So, then we need to have a discernment and one way that you

and I can know, safety and life, get an abundance of counselors.

Now, we caught this, we kind of shoot it off easily.

We kind of just say it and we don't realize the full

implications or the instructions of such a verse so that we can,

we can draw the most out of it. Here's one and Proverbs 11:14

Proverbs 11:14

but an abundance of counselors, there is safety nowhere in the

Book of Proverbs. Are we encouraged to only have

one advisor in our lives? I challenge you read The Book of

Proverbs and what is always commanded and encourage is a

multiplicity of counselors many men and women in your life that

can have their eyes upon you. Now, why do you think that is?

Why is not one person enough to speak into my life?

You minimize blind spots when you have more eyes.

And so, when you have different Vantage points, different life

experiences, speaking into the same situation with that balance

acquirement of advice, you come to a safer conclusion, in a

decision that you want to make. Yes, any other reasons.

Sure, we work together as a body.

And so we need to be dependent upon.

A plurality of people I would say so.

Yes. That pretty much really

summarize. The different experiences

different Minds working together for your good for God's glory.

Get an abundance of counselors. Acquire such thing.

Pray and ask God for such a thing in your life, and that's

why I believe in part god in his wisdom, instructed, the church

the local church to not just have a Moses figure.

One man on the top. That makes every single

decision. No, there is a plurality of

Elders that should be there that share that leadership position

for what purpose will each vantage point, is being

contributed. The blind spots are eliminated

at a greater degree when you have more people involved.

And I would say, if there is a safety with abundance of

counselors then, safe is the church with a plurality of

Elders. So that's another important

component about a local church, but not just local church or

talking about you as an individual.

Is it just important to have a multiplicity of Elders or

counselors rather should we go further than that?

It's not just the amount of counselors, It's the quality of

them as well. You can be seeking advice from

four different people whenever you make a serious life

decision, but they can be. So out of touch with God, that

they lead you to your own harm. All of them.

No, yes. Can I give you?

An example. I told you earlier, I was

reading through the book of 2nd Chronicles, another verse stood

out to me and it is this, it's about King ahaziah and look what

we're told here. And second chronicles, 20, 24

look, what's told about him He did, what was evil in the sight

of the Lord as the house of Ahab had done for after the death of

his father, you ready for this? They were his counselors to his

undoing. So as I had counselors advisers,

he had a board. But they consoled him, they

advised them to his own destruction.

So you can't just take Proverbs 11:14 and isolation, you must

Proverbs 11:14

consider the totality of scripture.

God, don't just bring people that are willing to speak into

my life. Bring me people who walk with

you, that can speak into my life.

That's all the difference. So let me give another layer to

you, as you pray for. Lee asked the Lord, especially

in the majority of the demographic of this place,

seeking the Lord about your future, do not just seek people

who might even have a title and Ministry.

Look for people who walk with God.

Who really walk with God? Now I go to church on Sunday and

I can't wait to go out know who really, really know God, who

loved his work? Who have a prayer life.

More than that. Who really love you?

Whose motives are not muddied by jealousy or insecurity or Envy

but you've learned over time that that such a person really

loves me. You want to know how one way

somebody really loves you, they will give you an unbiased.

Opinion. Seeking an abundance of

counselors, does it mean to check off the Box because you go

to people that you know what, tell you what you want to hear.

That's to your own undoing. Somebody who Loves Me Like Jesus

Loves Me, Do you know how Jesus loves you for God?

So loved the world that He Sent His only begotten son.

That's not the only way he loves you.

Who am I rebuke? I love Jesus said.

You know, the people I look forward to speaking to my life

that people who love truth more than they love me.

Who Loved righteousness more than how I might feel in a

moment who said, I'll say this because I love you, that's not

the way you should do it. You're doing it wrong.

Be careful of this and that And if you do that, if God

graciously presents those people into your life.

And I know he will, because he does not withhold any good gift

from his children. You will know safety in this

life. I like how the ESV puts it, it

repeats this instruction it repeats this Insight down later

in the Book of Proverbs. And it says those who have an

abundance of counselors, there is Victory not just security,

but victory How true it is. And I he sure as strange as it

sounds. Had that abundance of

counselors. Who spoke into his life and he,

he evaded something potentially, we don't know.

Look at verse 5, it's not this David of whom they sing to one

another. And dances saw has struck down

his thousands and David his ten thousands, A question for you.

We're coming to the End of This Book, very soon.

How many times has this song about David been referred to up

to this point? Think.

The song saw has struck down his thousands and David his tens of

thousands. How many times has been brought

up so far? Less 333.

Yes, yes you got it good guess but it's actually three the

first time in first, Samuel 18 the second time in first Samuel

21, when David initially came into the land of the

Philistines. Remember, then they said, isn't

this the one that they saying about and he falls to the

ground, he pretends to be insane.

And the third time here in 1st Samuel, 29, I find it

interesting. That this hit song apparently

reached the radio stations of the Philistines, right?

But more than that, every single time that this song about David

is is brought up. It is always in connection to

some kind of trouble. What happened.

When the first time it was brought up introduced to the

nation. Saw was filled with raging

jealousy. What about the second time?

It was how David was identified and he felt deeply in securing

fearful. That something was going to

happen to him. When they realize that this guy

is here in our camp and he's all alone.

And lastly, this song is brought up when there is great suspicion

about David. And I find that very interesting

when we consider something about the praise of, man, When

meditating on this point, I couldn't help but think about

this series of problems that introduce themselves when we

experience the praise of others. People shouldn't covet that

thing, man. People shouldn't long and yearn

for public admiration and acknowledgement because you have

no idea what kind of headaches come with it.

The responsibilities that come with it, the Temptations that

come with it. If you want a glimpse, just take

a little peek into Hollywood and see how people handle praise.

And David here every single time this song about him surfaces in

the scriptures, it's always tied to an issue.

That recognition that David had those for a good thing in a

great thing was packaged with problems.

And I want to say this men who covet woman, who long and urine

and desire and even pray for Visible success.

Are unaware of the risks that come with it.

Notice I said visible success because you and I should crave

to be fruitful for the Lord. You should pray, Lord, make me

as effective as I can be. Allow me to touch as many hearts

as possible. What I want to do as much damage

to the kingdom of darkness as possible, but that success is

not the same as longing for the approval of others, for what we

do totally different. Have you ever considered perhaps

that God is hiding you? And is hiding many of his

servants from the eyes of others in order to protect you and

others from the dangers that come with it.

Have you ever considered that? We should believe that those who

Faithfully serve God on a larger platform, and have a wider

public influence. Also have a Grace from God, to

do it. There's a Grace that comes with

it. And I want to show you an

example of that. Because this is a very real

thing in our day. It doesn't just happen for

leaders. Every single person in here, Is

invited into the temptation of being someone.

And guess what? All you need is an email and the

password to do it. People are doing stupid things

to try to get famous. Like stupid, they're running out

of ideas. Clearly because some of the

things I go viral like that's viral.

What is that? But so many people are being

magnetized to this idea of. I just want to be recognized, I

want to be known, I'll find I'll find fulfillment if I'm famous

and that even translates into Ministry.

Don't covet it, you have no idea what you're getting yourself

into. If God does give someone a

platform of God does give somebody a wide reach, he also

gives a Grace to that person to endure it.

That makes sense. Go to Genesis 11 with me in this

Bible study quickly. I want you to see an example of

what I'm saying. Genesis 11 verse 4.

Genesis 11:4

What do we read here? This is about the Tower of

Babel. Now look at, this is an amazing

comparison. In Genesis 11 4, we read then.

They said, come let us build ourselves a city and a tower

with its top in the heavens. And now what are they say?

And let us make a name for ourselves.

That's what people want to do today, right?

The Same Spirit of Babylon is here today.

Let us make a name for ourselves.

Let's become known. Let's let's make something for

ourselves less. We be dispersed over the Face of

the whole Earth. What end up happening to them?

Not good stuff. You go to the next chapter in

Genesis in Genesis 12. And what do you read in verse 1

and 2? Now the Lord said to Abram, go

from your country, and your Kindred and your father's house

to the land that I will show you.

And I will make of you a great nation and I will bless you and

do what make your name great. So that you will be a blessing.

See the difference? T difference between those who

are building a tower. Let us make a name for

ourselves. Totally self-absorbed.

Selfish ambition. Nothing to do with God,

everything to do with them. And here's God commissioning

Abram and he says, I'm going to make your name great.

I'm going to do it and the reason why I'm going to do it is

so that you will be a blessing. Not so that you can feel better

about yourself, not so that you can get more dopamine dumps,

when you go online and you see how many people love you and

praise. You now know that because I want

you to be a blessing. I'll make your name great.

Why is preacher said this and consider for yourself?

If you're a serious servant of God, who is sometimes visited by

this idea that if you're not famous, it means you're not

fruitful, you're not effective. If people don't love you and

praise you and invite you, it means that you're not really

filled with the spirit of God, whatever the conclusion people

come up with realize this, it is your duty to take care of the

depth of your ministry and it is God's job to take care of the

breadth of it. It is your responsibility to

take care of the depth of your ministry and it is God's duty to

make sure that it has the appropriate breath.

Isn't that freeing? No.

I hope it's freeing. It's just just serve the Lord.

Let him be pleased with you and whatever context he's put you

in. Yes seek to reach out.

Don't don't stay quiet. Don't put your lamp under the

bed. But don't covet something that

God hasn't given you a Grace for David had much trouble when it

came to that song. And people want articles written

about him and books, written about him and songs are in the

bottom. Will look at David every time

this song came up, it was associate with some kind of

headache. so we read on as we come back to our main text, In

verse 6 and 7 as we close very soon then a he's called David

and set them as the Lord lives you have been honest.

And to me it seems right that you should March out and in with

me in the campaign, for I have found nothing wrong in you from

the day of your coming to me to this day.

Nevertheless the Lord's do not approve of you, so go back now

and go peaceably that you may not displease the Lords of the

Philistines. So now, Dave, Cheering the

praise from a quiche. A huge was defending him.

And now he is speaking directly to him, and he's tying him,

you're honest. Did you see that the Lord lives?

You have been honest everything. But You have been honest.

Like was there any conviction in this man?

As he was hearing this? I've been lying to you for a

year and four months. And this meant looks at him,

he's just like oozing over him, you've been.

So honest, he goes on to shower him with all this praise and it

seems honorable, but we heard earlier that David did not Merit

that honor. You lived he lived as a liar.

So hypocrite double standard. But as much as, as much as that

is, true of David's case there is, there is a desire in The

Believer. At least there should be to

receive the respect of those who do not believe on the Lord.

Jesus Christ. How many scriptures in the New

Testament are given towards Christians that they should have

good standing with the world. How many, how many instructions

are we given that we should live in such a way that they cannot

blame us for anything. And and if anything at the day

of the visitation of the father, Praise him because of those who

have represented him. And so David unfortunately

doesn't Merit this praise but you and I should see this in a

different lion. It is this that something about

who we are outside of these walls would cause would cause

the man who don't believe in our God to at least be open to him.

Did you notice how he starts when he begins to speak to

David? I'm going to give it a few

seconds. Just look at the first verse and

tell me what stands out. What stands out?

As who lives? Is there are those capital

letters? As Yahweh lives what's Yahweh

doing on the lips of a pagan man.

How is he even invoking the name of the true God?

I don't know. And many people give different

reasons why he's doing this but in our case may be that because

of our Lives lived out before those who observe us, they would

be open to the god that we serve.

As the Lord lives. Does anybody remember the final

qualification for an elder in the local church?

This is important for you. Whether you're in this place or

in a different local church and you're supposed to look out for

for a true and genuine pastor, at one point, or at least

consider who a pastor will be over your life.

What's the last qualification for an elder according to 1st

Timothy 3? Yeah, did you hear that?

Does anybody know this that they should have a good reputation

with Outsiders? You know, that means

unbelievers. I personally have never heard

this. Maybe you have.

I've never heard of this. I've never heard of a church

that when seeking for an elder or a pastor calls the unbeliever

as a reference have you Can you imagine that you imagine

somebody who is who is being considered for an elder role?

The church calls that man's workplace and says, hey we're

Maranatha Bible Church and we're looking for so-and-so to be

potential Elder and we just want to know what's his attitude like

at work. How do you treat people?

How does he work under 10 situations?

Hey man, that's the qualification.

I'm not coming up with it. That's what God says.

They have a good reputation among Outsiders.

It's quite fascinating. How much this means to the Lord.

it turns your stomach to see that this day gone worshiping

Hisham vokes, the name of Yahweh when speaking to David because,

This man wasn't really living it.

But in our case, maybe, because we really live it.

So what happens verse 8? This is shocking.

This is where it gets a little controversial.

This is where it kind of debate can spark up.

Look how David answers and David said to a fish but what have I

done? What have you found in your

server from the day? I entered your service.

Until now that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my

Lord, the king. Huh?

I'm curious to know and and this is this is difficult because you

have people who have who have two different opinions about

what's taking place. Here you have some who find it

just way too difficult to believe that David is genuinely

disappointed that he has been rejected from participating in

this war against his own people. I understand that then there are

others who say just let the word speak as they as they do.

This is a plain revelation of where this man's heart has gone

being in the This place for so long.

You may be on either side regardless of it, neither.

Good. Neither a good weather.

Whether David is is pretending to be disappointed, so that he

can like seem convincing as he pulls back and he's like, I

didn't want to be in this position in the first place or

whether he's in actually agitated that he can't go

forward. Both are not good, are they?

Not good at all. But what if he was actually

genuine? What are you was?

Actually so Disturbed. Imagine being so disconnected

from God. That you found yourself cast

down because you couldn't sin the way you really wanted to.

Imagine being so upset that your compromise was being interrupted

by God's Providence. That is you wanted to tread on

deeper waters of the flesh. God was trying to get your

attention and one way or another.

I want you to see how the heart can be.

So warped. When a man like David spends so

much time away from God. when you spend time outside of the

unintentional Pursuit Of God godliness being with God's

people, for sanctifying reasons, There is no telling how the

heart can become so black. We would think that David be

able to see how this is, actually God.

Giving him the way of Escape. What do we learn from this?

This is God's Providence is and not think about it.

We've studied this book in-depth enough to see that this is just

another episode of the sequence of times that God's hand came

into the situation, to rescue David out.

Is it not think about how refreshing this could have been?

If David, if David here, after being in told you are going to

war, he not only has to not fight against Saul, he doesn't

have to fight against the Philistines, not to fight

against all the, you know what I mean?

It's like the best case scenario for you.

Not only do I have to fight against my own people, but I

don't have to fight against these people to try to get out

of it. I can just, I can just slip out.

But the difference between God's remember, God's Providence, in

David's life in so many ways, the difference between the past

interventions, and this one, I believe, is that in the past,

God seems to have manifest his Providence.

When David was walking in obedience, Right.

Is David walking in obedience here?

Very difficult to say, yes, And yeah, the same time.

God opens a door. With a light above it, that says

a merciful escaped. How?

Well again it's that principal at you and I heard a few Bible

studies ago the promise in the New Testament that there is no

temptation to Great to Fierce. So severe where there is not a

way of Escape God has ordered in the laws of the universe

concerning humanity that with every single Temptation God will

provide a way to get out of it. So none of us can call God

Alliance. A was too tempting.

It was too confining none, nothing of that sort.

But at the same time here, I can't help but entertain the

possibility. Just just, this isn't dogmatic

here. This isn't like it's not, it's

this or nothing else. But just think with me here at

this Bible study, That maybe God was merciful to David.

Because I'm more than one occasion.

David has been merciful to Saul. David wrote something in one of

his songs and what he wrote at one point.

In Psalm 18, verse 25 turned there, as we close, this Bible

Psalms 18:25

study, Psalm 18 verse 25. As we go there, actually, before

Psalms 18:25

we go to verse 25, let's scroll back to verse 1.

Psalm 18 verse 12, the choirmaster a Psalm of David,

Psalms 18:12

the servant of the Lord, who addressed the words of this song

to the Lord, on the day, when the Lord rescued him from the

hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul.

So, that's the context. David has experience, not just

deliverance from his main enemy saw, but from all his enemies,

You scroll down and you look at verse 25.

And what do you read with the merciful you show yourself what

merciful? With the merciful.

You show yourself merciful. Blessed, are the merciful?

Why? For they shall be one.

Shawn Mercy. What David is writing here is a

principle of divine Administration and it can be

summarized in this, you ready? That God offers a certain level

of Mercy. To those who are in this life,

merciful to others. I want you to never forget this

truth. It's very important.

Mercy means many things, Mercy include showing compassion and

forgiveness, and reserving personal Vengeance or punishment

upon somebody who deserves it. Mercy goes beyond that.

I believe it's much more Broad in its understanding.

Why? Because you see throughout the

gospels men in their physical ailments or in their suffering

and their distress son of David have what mercy on me?

And Jesus acted because he is a merciful god in what way by

alleviating suffering. By lifting people's burdens by

showing care, and compassion, by giving attention to those who

are desperate for certain attention, David has been

merciful many times. Could it be just a thought to

entertain even in conversation afterwards?

Here's God, extending Mercy to a man who has been merciful.

Would you like God to be merciful to you in this life?

Be merciful to others. Be merciful to others.

Be understanding, isn't God understanding with you, how many

times have you failed? And you've come to God and ask

for mercy and he's giving it to you.

Why would you reserve it from somebody else?

With this verse tells me if I just read it simply and not try

to explain it away, I just read it simply by honoring the

context. And the totality of scripture is

that God will look at my life. Yes, of forgiving sinner.

Yes, the cross absorbed all of God's judgment, but as I live

practically as a representative of Christ, if I want to no

mercy, following me all the days of my life.

Then I better be ready to give it to others.

Here's Mercy. I will shower you with Mercy.

Don't be unforgiving, don't like compassion.

Don't give people an idea because you've done this.

I will make you be punished for it.

I will do whatever I can to shame.

You embarrass, you ruin your reputation, make life miserable

for you because of what you've done to me.

God is merciful to those who show Mercy.

Remember that? Let's pray.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my

life. Louis, thank you for this

precious study. How when David was in deep

trouble, your Providence gave him a way out. thank you, Lord,

that you did not abandon David even though he abandoned a part

of his heart, To his flesh. Lord, we ask that we would be

equally as merciful as you've been to us.

Forgiving, those who have hurt us.

Extending kindness to those who might have extended pain.

You expect Mercy to flow from our hands and our lips.

Would you find it in us and Lord, when we lack the

motivation or when our flesh would argue, otherwise Laura

just dominate our hearts. Dominate.

Our hearts. We thank you for this Bible

study. We thank you that you've spoken

clearly to our hearts and now Lord with what we've learned in

the short chapter may be applied to the chapters of Our Lives.

We bless you and we worship you. We give you all praise and glory

and honor. And what even as we sit in our

pews and reflect on what we heard.

May what we reflect upon give us the clear answers to where we

are today with you. We want to be where you want us

to be. Thank you that your word aligns

us. And puts a light to our path to

help us. See where we're going.

We bless you, Lord for you. Are the Living God.

The god of David is our God and we give you all the glory and

praise in Jesus name we pray. Amen.

What's sweet fellowship with his word tonight?

Well, we thank you that you have guided us through this chapter.

We thank you that we have tasted honey tonight.

We thank you that. Our souls feel like they've been

water that we have. Feasted at a banquet the

beginning of this weekend. Lori, pray that we would

remember that final Point especially that you are merciful

to those who show Mercy. Help us be a merciful people

especially as we Continue in life together and offense, will

surely. Come, we would be like our King

We would be good and gracious. We ask Lord that you would guide

us this weekend at Lord. We would have good testimony

with the world that we interact with.

And Lord, this coming Sunday, you would give an extra measure

of your peace and joy as we celebrate the lives that you've

transformed or protect their minds.

Even now as we pray and we pray for the family Dynamics, the

storms that might be caused. Oh Lord, by this decision to

step out on obedience towards speak peace into those homes, as

you did the Sea of Galilee. And Lord, may we come into a

sanctuary with a people that will offer to you.

A great sacrifice of Thanksgiving and praise speak.

Precisely through these testimonies and may there be

greater fruit out of this obedience from these people who

are stepping out in faith. We give you maximum glory and

praise for all that. You have done all that you are

doing and all that you will do. In the precious name of Jesus.

We pray. Amen.

And amen. And amen.

Fellowship with one. Another, if you can stay for

those who are getting baptized in your here, just know that you

will be getting an email tomorrow.

You're getting an evil tomorrow early in the day to know how you

can prepare with the practicalities of that day.

And so we can't wait to see you Sunday.

God bless you guys have a wonderful night.