Sermon
1 Samuel 25 (Part 1) Bible Study - Pastor Daniel Batarseh
Publisher transcript
Transcript
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First Samuel chapter 25. Let's meet there together.
1 Samuel 25 chapter mention
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Now before we begin reading, scan through the chapter, it
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looks like a pretty lengthy. One does not.
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So you know what that means. We are not going to be covering
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all of this and this night, but we are going to take our time,
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and we are going to cover a good portion of it nonetheless.
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I would like for us to actually pray one more time just before
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we explore these verses. Lord, we thank you for Gathering
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Us in this place. We ask that you would bless this
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time of study as we as a family come before your word.
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Lord, we ask that you would touch our hearts arrest everyone
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during thought Lord calm. Our emotions.
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Help us receive the food that you have prepared for us at your
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table, where we pray that you would assist us in the
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communication of your word and the understanding of your word
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and more importantly, in the application of these truths in
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our lives. Just as a result of this study
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tonight, father, have your way in us and through us for the
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glory of your son's name. We ask these things in his name.
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The living name, they're the reigning name.
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And the name that every knee will bow to.
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At the end of it. All in Jesus name we pray.
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Amen. Our Study last last week.
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Concluded with a surprising encounter between David and
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King, Saul these two, men after a long while have finally met.
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And in that scene, we saw a stirring, a stirring moment
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where this King was obviously shook with conviction and
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displayed, a visible Brokenness and even confessed, his sin out
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loud and admitted that he was evil in comparison to.
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Righteousness, displayed through David.
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And when I when I read that and when you read that, when we
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learned what we saw there, we saw a man.
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And David handled this confrontation, which such Grace
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With such wisdom in a way that made him look like a bigger
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giant than Goliath. This man towered over the
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sinfulness of another with compassion with respect with
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honor and with love and as Saul stood in the shadow of a man's
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righteousness. We believe that he actually even
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repented. Because at the end there, the
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last verse of the previous chapter, he chooses to go back
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home. And it seems like this Manhunt
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is put to a halt for good and it begs.
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The question as we concluded the last chapter, is this done.
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Now, is this finally over? That's all finally surrender.
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The future of the Kingdom to God, Sovereign selection.
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And to us who are not familiar with the larger story, if we're
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just following as we go and learning as we go we might
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think. Yeah, it looks like it
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especially as we come to this chapter because as we read
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through chapter 25, you and I are not going to see a struggle
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between David and Saul. We're going to see David facing
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a new challenge. We're going to see David.
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Being confronted by another enemy and we would think that
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once this enemy and saw was put away that it would be just a
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wonderful Journey to the throne but oh no another one rears its
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ugly head and harasses this man of God.
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But before we come to this never-before-seen character and
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the different players in this chapter that will shape David's
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future you. And I are now reintroduced to
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somebody that we studied Since the beginning of this book, but
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we haven't seen for a long time and it's in verse 1.
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Now, Samuel died and all Israel assembled and mourn for him and
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they buried him in his house, a trauma.
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This story, this exhilarating Journey to the throne was
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abruptly. Interrupted by the sudden news
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of Samuels death. It was unforeseen.
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The last thing that we really saw of Samuel was that he was
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old in age, David fled to him for some relief.
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After Saul began his Conquest against him.
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And then now, this Prophet who the nation says, you're getting
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old. And they use as an excuse to get
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a king for. Their people has finally
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departed from this world and entered into the next.
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Now, think about this in light of David's life, Samuel Shirley
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was close to David, he played a supporting role.
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I mean, he was there from the beginning of this whole story
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concerning his Anointing and his calling, he was even a source of
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relief and strength. Because when, when Saul came to
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attack him initially, he flees first to Samuel and he explains
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everything, and I'm sure samyaza man of God.
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Just instructed him and encourage them, and rehearse,
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the promises of God over him. But now this this man is gone.
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This man is gone out of pivotal time in Israel's history and we
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can imagine what this made David feel like and if he's not
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Watchful. He could he can end up in panic.
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He can end up now. Almost realizing, what else am I
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going to do? Who else here is for me?
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And we would hope and said that, he would be more reliant on the
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one who never dies. Who can't die and the one who
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never sleeps for that matter. And we should be encouraged
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that. We don't know what swirling and
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David's mind. Then in the second part of verse
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1 we see us a certain posture. That is encouraging, then David
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Rose and went down to the Wilderness of Paran then David
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Rose. That's that's that's a good
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thing. David was able to get up and
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David was able to move on Because no matter what this did
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to his heart, no matter what kind of discouragement as
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inconvenient of samuells death might have been this man knew, I
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still have a Ministry to fulfill, I still have a purpose
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to accomplish. God still has a purpose for me.
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I still have my life to glorify him and what a wonderful
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illustration of how to deal with unexpected sorrow in our lives.
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Because the sorrow that we experience in life, whether it's
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the grief intentionally caused by other people, because they
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are sinful, just like you. And I, and if we're not
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restrained, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we were capable of
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such great evil. Even to the closest ones to us,
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whether it's the intentional pain caused by others or it is
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the, the grief that we experience because of the
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consequences of sin in the world IE death, none of that should
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ever ever determine our devotion to the It should not influence
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our steadfast this, to God. Our love to him, our service to
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him. Should never be altered.
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Even though our life might receive a shock that would alter
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the direction of it. It's amazing.
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How sorrow can determine our spiritual disciplines.
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It's amazing how we can be influenced by the emotional pain
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of a loss. Or of disappointment, I brought
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this up, many many, many months ago, but let me bring it fresh
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to our memories. Do you know why?
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Peter, and the two others fell asleep in the garden?
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While Jesus was sweating blood, praying to the father people say
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because it was late at night. No, Luke tells us that their
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eyes were heavy because of what Who knows?
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So yeah. If you know sorrow.
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Sorrow. It was the what they heard in
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John 13 to John 16, all the things about Jesus departing and
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all these things. I just mess with their minds.
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They didn't understand how it all fit with him being the
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Messiah and the sorrow of that crippled them.
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And it caused them not to pray and not to be ready to withstand
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The Temptations. That would come through the
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Betrayal of Jesus Christ. You and I have to be extremely
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careful of how we manage the things in life that disappoint
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us or grieve us. This man was able to get up and
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move forward and he did just that, but it's worth also
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mentioning not just the response of David, but the reaction of
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the nation. What do we read here in verse 1
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and all Israel assembled and mourn.
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For this is not an ordinary funeral.
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This was like a Statewide event everybody from around the
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country. Came to pay homage to this man.
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And, and what's disappointing about this verse as much as it
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looks honorable and respectful, what's this?
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Urging is the fact that the same people that are showing such
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respect in his death, were the same people that were very slow
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to honor this man's counsel and instruction during his ministry.
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I mean when he try to restrain them from asking for a King when
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he warned and they could care less the apostasy that this
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respect and I think it speaks of a pattern among the people of
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God, the people of God have this weird habit, Of showing respect
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to Servants of God, when it's too late.
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You know, there are many people today that right about these men
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of God that have shook history and have influence the
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advancement of the gospel. And I believe, when these people
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talk about these men and write about these men and have
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conferences about these men, these performers and all these
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other people. Here's what I believe.
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Most of these men that would applaud them.
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Now, probably would have criticized them in their
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lifetime. And Jesus pointed out that same
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hypocrisy with the Pharisees because they were persecuting
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him. But at the same time, there were
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adorning the, the tombs of the prophets of old.
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These are you kidding me? You you just you're not
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understanding this. It's a very sad picture that we
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see here but I think on a practical note when I read
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something like this in light of how they're inconsistent, if you
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look at it on a personal level, I think how we can apply it as
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this that we should not hesitate to show our appreciation to
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those who have been a blessing to us in Christ and we should
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not be slow to show that sense of honor and love to those who
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Advance the kingdom of God. Who have contributed to our
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nourishment spiritually? Let me put it this way.
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Expressing honor shouldn't be a practice, only at funerals.
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We should be those who know how to respect and love and
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appreciate those who are blessing while it counts.
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And I think we see something here that is true of people
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today. David Rose.
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But look at verse 2 and there was a man and my own whose
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business was in Carmel. The man was very rich, he had
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3,000 sheep and a thousand goats, he was shearing his
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sheep. And caramel.
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Now, the name of the man was nabal and the name of his wife,
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Abigail the woman was Discerning and beautiful but the man was
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harsh and badly, behaved he was a kilobyte We are now introduced
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to this man. This man that David is going to
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be challenged by and the Lord found it necessary to provide a
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certain details about him and it would do us some good to pause
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and reflect how these things can be.
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Applied, these specific insights about this man that ball So,
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look at those two verses and tell me some things that stand
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out to you concerning him. Okay, very good.
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So we see here that he was a descendant of Caleb and we're
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going to get to that in a moment.
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That's an important highlight clearly.
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The Bible mentions, it for a reason.
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He's a descendant of that, great hero of Israel.
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Caleb will get to that. Any other observations about
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this man? He's rich.
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Not just Rich very rich. Anything else?
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Very good observation. Abigail doesn't seem to reflect
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the same attitude and character as her husband.
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And I think that's sufficient observations for us to consider
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first. The man was not just Rich very,
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very wealthy and riches. And abundance are not a bad
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thing in itself, but the purpose of this being brought up is that
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we should compare and contrast, what he owned to the lack that
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is found in his character. Because what do we told here?
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He was harsh and badly behaved and there are many people today
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as you know, who are rich and possessions, but are spiritually
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bankrupt at the same time, their identity orbits around what they
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have the experiences that they can purchase.
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And yet at the same time, they are poor toward God.
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Everything about their existence resolves and revolves around
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what they can touch and feel. And what what Produces in terms
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of surface level enjoyment and that's a sad thing.
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Let me tell you this a person like Mabel is a miserable
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person. I don't care what he's or
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pleasure, they have access to what good is it to have an
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abundance of resources while your soul rots?
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And I would say the same two fathers who Focus so much on
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their business. While their children are being
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neglected, and they become Wayward, and Rebellion
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rebellious, and sinful and all these things.
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We put so much attention on what we can have and what we can do
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while so much that really matters around us dies and
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Withers away. This man did not have the
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character of his ancestor, Caleb that we're going to look at in a
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moment. He was a Kayla B, who is Caleb?
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Give me a summary of who Caleb is.
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How does he stand out in history and Israel's history?
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Very good. He was one of the twelve.
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But he's in a very, very important.
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One of the twelve, he is one of not just 12, but the to who's
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the other man, very good who brought a positive report, had a
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faithful outlook on, Conquering the promised land.
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And so this man Caleb was a champion and Faith.
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He demonstrated, and he stood out from the nation concerning
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trusting, God and Holiness and holy following the Lord.
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And what's interesting? Is that the Holy Spirit goes out
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of his way to tell us that nabal had this kind of Heritage, this
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is who he was connected to. And yet enabled chose to stand
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out in a different way. He chose to stand out as one who
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was a fool Who is a fool who did not walk in the ways of the
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example of his own family line, which is a sad thing, which is a
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reminder that parents as much as we have great promises.
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That if we apply the principles of God's word to our children,
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they still have a decision to make on their own.
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Mother and father, you are not their savior, you evangelize
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your children and you leave the saving work to Jesus Christ.
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The descendants of our own will have to make their own decision
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to follow Christ or not. And unfortunately, this man down
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the line, chose to love money over the god of Israel, but
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there's another reason why Caleb is mentioned from which tribe is
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Caleb from? That's Joshua.
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Caleb is from a different tribe. Good.
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Caleb, according to numbers, 13, is from the tribe of Judah.
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Why is that important in light of David's story?
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Where is David from? Very good.
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And so we expect, by reading this up to this point that,
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because in the balls from the same tribe is from the closest
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Kindred to David that he's going to treat him in a favorable way
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that he's going to come to his support.
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That their relationship is going to be built.
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But in fact, quite the opposite is actually going to happen.
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Which is a prophetic picture of the Lord Jesus Christ, that his
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very own despise them and treated him as though he was an
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enemy as David approaches the scene just as Christ came to his
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own. We are going to see Despicable
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response and reaction to this faithful man as it was toward
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Christ himself. Lastly, the detail every detail
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that was brought up is exactly what we want to touch on.
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We're told about something else concerning table, and it's not
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about him directly, but about his wife and we would think that
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Abigail her, to be this man's wife would reflect the kind of
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the same character. But to our surprise, we are
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actually told that she is beautiful and appearance and she
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is Discerning or she has good understanding.
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There are few times in the Bible that the biblical writers, go
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out of the way to speak about both men and women.
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But mainly women about their appearance and calling them
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beautiful. Could you name some Sarah.
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Yes, told she was beautiful. She was beautiful in her in her
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70s 80s, and 90s. I mean, Abraham was worried that
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even in that point of her life, men would kill him to take her.
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Imagine how she looked Sarah. Anything else, Rachel?
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Yes. Tamar Bathsheba very good.
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Yes. Yeah, sure.
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I mean will not specifically told me he had a thousand so I'm
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sure one of them look good. The daughters of job, Esther.
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And when you look at these mentions of how they're called
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Beautiful there, either, we're either told that they were
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beautiful, very beautiful or beautiful and form and an
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appearance. This is where Abigail stands
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out. There is a unique combination
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concerning her and it's that she was not just beautiful but that
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she had discernment. You won't find that combination
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unless, you know, of someone that I don't, you won't find
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that combination given to a woman.
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Apart from this one. And that's a wonderful thing
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because it speaks about an inner beauty and an outer beauty.
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She had both and that's, that's a great thing.
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Because oftentimes when somebody knows that they are beautiful or
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handsome, the Temptation there is that they neglect allowing
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the Holy Spirit to Chisel. The inner Inner Man to reflect
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Christ. They see the advantages that
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they can have just from their appearance and and they get
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caught up in that and that becomes pride and all this other
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mess. But this woman was the opposite.
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She realized that there was a need if not more of a need to
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focus on the Judy that is inward than outward.
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And I think that's very, very important to consider because I
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would not encourage you to neglect your outward appearance.
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I wouldn't but I would encourage you at the same time that if
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you're going to put your energy anywhere else, more than that,
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it should be. The thing that is hidden and
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it's not very hidden actually. Because I want to tell you this,
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that inner beauty can either Adorn your attractiveness or it
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can Eclipse it It can. And there is something about the
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character, the inner person because this all fades gravity
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will have its way, the curse of death will have its way, every
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one of us are dying. We're all decaying.
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It's going to come to a point where you're not going to look
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unless you're someone like Sarah, you're not you're not
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going to look like you did in your 20s and 30s but there's
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something that outshines all of that and it's the inner person,
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it's the hidden part of Who We Are.
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And outward countenance doesn't offer much in a relationship
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when there's trials and tests and Temptation.
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In fact, very beautiful people become very ugly in the wrong
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circumstances. But very people that might not
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have the most likes and the most shares on their pictures can
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become gorgeous. When that inner person shines
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because I'm telling you talk to anybody, long enough who has a
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conviction of the word of God and who's in a relationship in a
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long-term marriage. They'll tell you, what really
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matters when you enter into a relationship, I'm not dismissing
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being attracted. You should be God wired as that
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way, but I love how the fact that the Bible highlights that
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there is an inner and an outer beauty.
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Here, there is character. Not just countenance.
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Begs the question, doesn't it? How does a gal, like, Abigail be
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married to a belligerent fool? Like Mabel.
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The Bible isn't clear, so we can't have a dogmatic answer to
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it. And some would say that she she
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was forced into it. It was an arranged marriage.
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So she just had to live with this man apart from her choice.
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And she she stood her ground and she remain as a God-fearing
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woman. Some would say that she's
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Discerning now. But maybe in times past she was
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foolish. He entered into the wrong
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relationship and that understanding developed over
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time. That could be true as well.
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Regardless of what it is you and I should look at this as an
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illustration as a lesson. In a day in which you have the
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choice to say, yes or no, to a potential spouse in.
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Here's, here's what we should learn from it.
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That we should be extremely mindful of the qualities that
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would attract us in a person. Because whatever qualities
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attract us to a person. Those same qualities will
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attract certain realities in our lives.
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That makes sense, whatever, whatever draws me to a person,
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those same things will draw certain realities into my life.
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so some would say that Abigail did have a choice, And she chose
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to marry this man in order to have a secure future, she made a
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good choice. The guy was filthy rich.
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He got 3,000 sheep a thousand goats.
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I don't know what that means to you now, but back then I meant a
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lot. This wasn't just a safe life.
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This was an access to a luxurious life.
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And some would say I'm willing to put up with navels, rude,
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attitude, and his insensitivity to the things of God, because
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I'm safer with a man like this. And that would be a wrong
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assessment. That would be a wrong reason to
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be wedded to somebody because as much as the comfort that this
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man had to offer to his wife and two others.
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Look, what else was invited into Abigail's life as you come to
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verse 17. This is after David is fed up
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with Nepal. And one of the house servants
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comes to Abigail to warn of the imminent, threat that David and
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his men caused verse 17. Now therefore, this is the man
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speaking to Abigail now therefore know this and consider
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what you should do. For harm is determined against
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our master and against all his house and he is such a worthless
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man, that no one can speak to him.
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You see that? And against all his house, no
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matter what kind of comfort, or Leisure, this man, could offer
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because of his wealth with all those riches, he also invited
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danger to him. And to the ones that he loved,
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because he lacked the characteristics.
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That was found in his ancestor. Caleb for example and I want to
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tell you today that you have many Believers that are making
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decisions to be partnered with the wrong persons.
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They ignore the warnings of the scripture.
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They are, they're moved by the passions of their flesh.
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They prioritize with the Bible says not to prioritize to look
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for in a spouse and because of that, they invite harm into
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their future home, more than good.
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And those threats are not immediately recognized because
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we think that we possess a greater wisdom than God, we
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enter into something for life. And you find yourselves in
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situations that could have been avoided.
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If you just trust what God said to look for in person that you
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would link with forever and ever speaking to many young people in
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here who are praying and waiting and getting to know other
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people, make sure they fit the criteria of what a man or a
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woman of God is, they may not be perfect.
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I'm not saying you have to look for somebody who who is
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absolutely Immaculate. What I am saying is we're is
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their heart, do they fear God? Do they love God, that they
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submit to the word of God? I d.
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So what happens here is inverse for after?
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We're told of a description, concerning this man, David heard
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in the wilderness that Nepal was shearing his sheep.
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So David sent tongue 10 young men, And David said to the young
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men, go off to caramel and go to Nepal and greet him in my name
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and thus, you shall greet him. Peace.
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Be to you and peace, be to your house and peace, be to all that
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you have. I hear that.
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You have shears. Now your Shepherds have been
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with us and we did them no harm and they miss nothing all the
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time. They were in Carmel, ask your
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young men and they will tell you, therefore, let my young men
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find favor in your eyes for we come on a feast day, please give
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whatever you. Have at hand to your servants
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and to your son. David, here's what's happening.
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It's obvious that David performs some kind of service for Nepal.
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And so he sends his Messengers to go to this affluent,
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businessman to ask for some kind of compensation, because it was
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very common in this time that those who had flocks and crops
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would be rated against by, neighboring Nations and people
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groups. And because there's a lack of
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protection, they would ransack them and they would strip them
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to the Bone. And so, what David does as he is
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traveling through the Wilderness, he sees this man who
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had thousands of animals and he chose with his men to become a
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wall to protect and essentially, they are putting their life at
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risk for this stranger. And so, when it came to the time
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for these sheep to be sheared, David asks, for some assistance,
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he asked for some compensation, for his service from the bomb.
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Now I would kind of seem odd for David to do this because there
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was no prior agreement between Him and the ball to do this is
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so it seems a little awkward. You're kind of asking for
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something that was not even asked of you to begin with.
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But I think we can we can we can understand it this way.
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Remember David? And his men were fugitives and
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they were looking for anybody to help alleviate their suffering
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at this time. And so he approaches this man
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who was from his tribe and he asked for help but instead of
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being like a mooching beggar, he first helps him and he says
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look, we need some, we need some help, whatever you have to give
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to us. But I want to tell you, we're
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not just here to beg from you for no reason.
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We actually helped you, we protected your animals, we
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protected your property. Can you find it in your heart?
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To help me and my men? So that seems fine that seems
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reasonable. That seems like a very, very
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reasonable thing to ask for. But what's also important verse
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4 is that he comes at the time when there is shearing sheep.
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Look, there's no accident with that.
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David is a very sensitive person as a shepherd.
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He knows that the time of the, the shearing of the sheep was
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like the Harvest Time for the crops.
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It was a time when you gathered things in, it was a time when
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you not only celebrated what God provided for you, but in that
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celebration, you would actually even be more generous, you would
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give things out to others. And so, David came at a very
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Important time, you didn't come at a time, that would have been
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strenuous. It would have been awkward, it
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would have been inconvenient from the ball.
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He came at the time would have been most easiest from about to
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be a generous individual, that makes sense so far, okay?
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What's the point? That we just read 3445 versus
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how does this script? How is that relevant to my life?
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And we would say it has historical value, has a
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beautiful sequence to the story, but again, I want to read and I
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want to say Lord, why are you why are you telling me all these
-
details? You could have skipped through
-
all of that. Just gone straight to the point.
-
And I believe in part, one of the reasons is because we see
-
here an illustrative example of the wisdom that we should
-
possess as Christians in life. Christianity is a very practical
-
thing. God is interested in influencing
-
every part of our Lives, even the interactions that we have in
-
society. If you don't believe that, if
-
you think some spirituality, some Mystic thing that's
-
irrelevant to what you would call secular life, then you're
-
in trouble. But I look at this and I see, I
-
see a man here who was very mindful of another and who
-
approached him in a very wise way.
-
Because as Christians, Listen as Christians, you and I are
-
ambassadors of Jesus Christ and we are called to act and
-
interact. A way that would make our
-
testimony all the more attractive and more receptive.
-
Many people who hunger for Spiritual things, limit that to
-
their study of the Bible, for some exhilarating connections
-
between versus, oh, this is breathtaking.
-
How you put these things together, or they spend a time
-
trying to demystify hard to understand doctrines and my
-
question is that's wonderful. But are you asking how this
-
influences my Living. Because if you're not, then
-
doesn't matter how much you've discovered.
-
It's not going to prove fruitful in your life.
-
Let me say this and I don't mean to be, I don't mean to be harsh.
-
When I say it is true that many people lack simple, social
-
skills, it's true and they don't see how this this book should
-
impress and mold and shape your character and your conversation
-
and your reactions. That's what God is interested in
-
doing. He wants to mold us in a certain
-
way. And even one of the the reasons
-
why God has given us his word among the many reasons.
-
Yes, for salvation. Yes to know, God.
-
Yes. To all these great things that
-
are vertical. Here's one verse that made an
-
impression on me in Psalm 19:7. You don't have to turn.
-
There says that the testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the
-
simple Making wise the simple. What's a simple person because
-
somebody tell me what is simple or who simple person is?
-
A simple person isn't like a person who's minimalistic,
-
that's not simple. Okay.
-
A simple person is a naive person.
-
A simple person is a person who likes his judgment, who lacks
-
experience, who lacks knowing what to do in certain
-
situations, a simple person is a gullible person.
-
They believe everything that they here.
-
It's a person that doesn't understand the surroundings and
-
so they are unfiltered with their words and their actions in
-
a way that makes others look unfavorably on them.
-
Being simple is not a good thing and the Bible proust us that God
-
wants to Deliver Us from that. Immaturity for the sake of what
-
our testimony, our testimony. And you know, the main method in
-
which a person is saved from being a simple minded person.
-
The word of God. The word of God.
-
There is an impression, There's A discipleship that happens not
-
just by didactic literature do this, don't do this.
-
But even through examples in this like this, look at, look at
-
the way this man carries himself and conducts himself, and then
-
you filter that appropriately and there should be some
-
practical impression that is made from the word of God.
-
And if we're not careful in doing that, we can actually do
-
harm to our testimony. Now I've been told this over the
-
years, periodically, I don't know if it's true.
-
I hope it's not true. I really hope it's not true
-
because when I heard it I got Angry.
-
When I first heard it then I was told a second time and a third
-
time and I said, is this really a thing and maybe I got to do
-
some research on it. I was told once that the most
-
dreaded day of the week, For waiters and waitresses at
-
restaurants, guess what day it is.
-
Sunday afternoon. Sunday afternoon.
-
Why? Because you have hordes of
-
cranky Christians, who didn't eat breakfast that morning, who
-
sat in a to our service storm into places and they make rude
-
demands. And then they only leave that
-
place with a mess and little tip.
-
And I was told that waiter, they just they clench their teeth.
-
Because these churchgoers come in and they and I'll look, I'll
-
be honest, I've been over the years, I've been in some
-
settings where I saw that for myself so that's why when I
-
heard him like that might be true.
-
If that is true, what kind of testimony are we leaving to the
-
world? You see what I'm saying?
-
Like, we got to get really practical here and not just
-
limit our spirituality to how much Bible you acquire.
-
Like interactions with people like if, when I heard that I
-
said Sunday afternoon should be the most look for today for
-
waiters and waitresses. Because Believers coming to come
-
up with an attitude, they come in with a Spirit-filled
-
Radiance, that's what it should be.
-
And when I heard that I was like, that is so disappointing.
-
That is so discouraging. And David here, why I bring this
-
up is showing that kind of sensitivity.
-
He knows the timing of went when to come.
-
He knows how to articulate himself, he knows how to make a
-
request without being a burden. Do you see this?
-
I hope this makes sense. I know it's not like deep
-
theology. Wow, you've but who cares about
-
that if people hate us on Sunday afternoon, do you see what I'm
-
saying? This man to some degree at this
-
time. She causes be like, look at the
-
way he's speaking. Look at the way he is
-
approaching. And we should look that
-
throughout the especially your lord and savior.
-
When you read, Jesus, do you see how he interacts with people?
-
Or are you just trying to memorize the?
-
I am statements of him being the bread of life in the light of
-
the world. And that's great too.
-
We should know that as well. But look at the example, he
-
said, follow me, follow me. And I look at the Lord and I see
-
the recorded things in there that the holy spirit that is
-
necessary and sufficient for my development, my godliness.
-
And I look at my savior and I say, look at look how the Lord
-
spoke to his brothers, look how the Lord spoke to his enemies.
-
Look at the Lord, spoke about money.
-
Look how the Lord spoke I want to, I want to follow him.
-
It's very rare in Bible study say today we want to figure out
-
the mysteries of sovereignty and Free Will and that's great.
-
But God is extremely practical. But as much as we want to look
-
at practicality, we should look at the prophetic elements of
-
things. Now you you heard verse 4 and
-
verse 8 is there any kind of Illustration concerning David's
-
future, son? The Son of God himself when I
-
read that, I look at this and I see something of prophetic.
-
Prophetic implication. The David initiate, the good or
-
the the ball, and him come to an agreement.
-
First Now he initiated the good and what I see here is that
-
Jesus did the same. Christ did not wait for us to
-
ask him to help us Christ. Did not wait for us to beg him
-
or to make it Christ moved in and Christ made away while we
-
were yet enemies. While we were steeped in our
-
sin, while we were lost in our Darkness, Christ came.
-
And his perfect love and is perfect wisdom.
-
He died. And he provided a way to invite
-
us to know his goodness and to know his salvation and you know,
-
what Christ does now he sends Messengers like David did Of
-
what he had done. Especially to those who are
-
unaware, like Nepal was unaware of what David had done for him.
-
To those unreached people groups.
-
Do we send out people to say, do you know what Jesus did for you
-
and upon Christ initial advancement of his love and his
-
kindness. Does he then make claim Upon Our
-
Lives? He invites us into a
-
relationship with him, just like David.
-
I did this for you. Now, this is what I ask of you.
-
I died on the cross and I made a way.
-
Now you must repent and believe. And so I see your wonderful
-
little snippet of a gospel truth.
-
He first loved us before we loved him or anybody else.
-
He first loved us, David first made the move, David sent
-
Messengers to the bow who was unaware of what David had done
-
and it was up to the ball to make a response and what he was
-
going to do based on this great kindness.
-
So what does he do? Look at verse 9.
-
When David's young men came, they said all this than the ball
-
and the name of David and they waited and the ball answered
-
David's servants. Who is David?
-
Who is this son of Jesse? There are many servants these
-
days who are breaking away from their masters, shall I take my
-
bread and my water and my meat that I've killed for my shears
-
and give it to Men Who come from.
-
I don't know where Wonderful. We read here.
-
So David's young men turned and came back and told him all this.
-
This is concerning. This is disturbing because how
-
the ball response to all of this.
-
Is very familiar to a man that we thought David dealt with once
-
and for. All right.
-
First, he pretends, that he doesn't know who he is.
-
Who is David? Then he goes on to say, who is
-
this son of Jesse? So clearly, you know, who the
-
guy is, Who is David? Who is this?
-
Son of Jesse sounds familiar. Yeah, that was salt.
-
Favorite way of referring to his enemy as son of Jesse.
-
And I look at this and it's quite humorous because we
-
thought that, even though the presence of saw was dealt with
-
and was not an immediate threat, the spirit of Salah is alive and
-
well, here gonna go very far without the same attitude facing
-
you on David. Who is this?
-
Son of Jesse? And the ball goes further than
-
that. It doesn't just degrade his
-
lineage and his humble beginnings.
-
He goes on to even say there are many servants breaking away from
-
their masters. What does that sound like?
-
The guys are Rebel. The guys causing trouble for his
-
boss guys running around. So he's even aware of the the
-
conflict between Saul and David and he puts all the blame on
-
David when David showed unusual loyalty to an undeserving
-
Master. This is what we would call
-
slander. Look at this kid running around
-
and causing trouble breaking away from his master.
-
We should be staying faithful to him.
-
If you only knew what he did for his master.
-
And so he's just heaping insult upon insult upon insult and it
-
reflects again, the attitude of those concerning Jesus Christ.
-
Then all the good that he had done for them.
-
While walking this Earth they say they were still able to
-
accuse him, spit on him ridicule, him tarnish him.
-
If you think that's bad, it gets worse.
-
Look at verse 11, shall I take my bread and my water and my
-
meat that I have killed for my shears and give it to The Men
-
Who come from. I don't know where this looks
-
like just more disrespect but it's more serious than that.
-
It's actually more severe than that.
-
Actually, it's wrath provoking concerning God because although
-
this seems like just being disrespectful to an undeserving
-
person, he's actually breaking two Commandments coded in the
-
law. And the Bible is actually
-
breaking God's word directly. By doing what he's doing here.
-
Is anybody familiar? I'll give you a hint.
-
Both of the laws are found in the book of Deuteronomy.
-
They don't, they're not part of the Ten Commandments.
-
Does anybody know what in the ball do is doing here?
-
Violating, which scriptures. Cal show you one, go to
-
Deuteronomy chapter 8. This is why we need to know the
Deuteronomy 8 chapter mention
-
law of God as we read narratives because it connects and it will
-
show the severity of this man sinned.
-
In this chapter, this whole chapter, if you remember in
-
Deuteronomy this whole chapter is dedicated to instructing the
-
people of God. To never forget the Lord
-
especially in their prosperity as they prepared to go into the
-
land of promise. God call them.
-
Don't You Dare Forget Me the source of your wealth.
-
The reason for your Prosperity Don't You?
-
Dare Forget Me and I think this is very applicable to Christians
-
in the west were very ambitious for promotion in life.
-
Look what he says here in verse 17, beware lest you say in your
-
heart, my power, and the might of my hand have gotten me this
-
wealth, you shall remember the Lord your God for it.
-
Is he who gives you power to get wealth that he may confirm his
-
Covenant that he swore to your father's as it is this day.
-
Now go back to what he has said. And 1st Samuel 25, what
-
reoccurring little word appears over and over again. and in
-
verse 11, what's the word my My bread, my water, my meet, my
-
shears. And this man goes in direct
-
contradiction to what the Lord warned his own people about when
-
they would become prosperous in the land of promise.
-
Don't say my don't do that. Don't you dare do that.
-
Because look, he doesn't just say, I am the reason why you
-
have your wife, he goes. I'm the reason why you have the
-
power to get your wealth, even the energy to wake up early in
-
the mind to think about the strategies and the deals that
-
you make, that comes from me. And when you fail to acknowledge
-
me, give thanks to me. Walk with me in your success,
-
you are robbing me of my glory. And that is no small offense in
-
the eyes of God. My my my Where's God?
-
I couldn't help, but compare this to Jacobs reaction after he
-
become very fruitful and his possessions and in his
-
offspring, he's about to face, Esau, he doesn't know what to
-
expect. So what he does is he sends
-
waves of people to help trying to ease, whatever wrath.
-
He has, so that by the time, he succumbs to Jacob, he would be
-
subdued to some degree. Because, remember, when Jacob
-
was told, go to your go to my brother's Land, by his mother go
-
to your uncle's place. She said, I will come to you
-
when your brother's wrath have subsided.
-
I did remember that I'll get news to you when he's not angry
-
anymore. So, just go for now and guess
-
what? She never brings news to him.
-
So the what Jacob is left with mom?
-
Never send me a message and emailed that Esau is calm down.
-
And as he's trying to go back, home news comes to me sauce,
-
coming with a few hundred of his boys.
-
So he sends wave after wave of people and gifts to present him.
-
So by the time he gets to Jacob, he's kind of he's more calm and
-
then he says, what's all this stuff?
-
When he finally meets him face-to-face and I love what
-
Jacob says you don't have to turn there, just listen to his
-
words in Genesis 33 11 he says here please accept my blessing.
-
That is brought to you because God has dealt graciously with
-
me. You see the difference?
-
God has dealt graciously with me.
-
This is all God my children, my possessions, my animals.
-
It's all from the Lord God has been gracious to me.
-
You know, there are many people who say that I asked them about
-
their business or whatever. God has been good to me.
-
That's wonderful. God has been good to me.
-
God has dealt graciously with me, but this is not the only sin
-
that enables committed. Enabling the bomb.
-
Go back to verse 11. And what does he say?
-
This is my my my so his attitude is a sin but his lack of action
-
is a sin as well. His lack of action is a sin as
-
well and it's back in Deuteronomy, not in chapter 8
-
but in chapter 15. Look at look how clear this
-
instruction is in chapter 15 of Deuteronomy. and verse 7, But
-
with the Lord speaks and Deuteronomy, 15 verse 7, if
-
among you, one of your brother's should become poor and any of
-
your towns within your land that the Lord, your God is giving
-
you, you shall not Harden your heart or shut your hand against
-
your poor brother, but you shall open your hand to him and lend
-
them sufficient for his need, whatever it may be, he can't get
-
any more clear than that. If there is anybody who is
-
supposed to have an open hand to his brother, it was a man from
-
the same tribe as David, who is in a condition outside of his
-
control. If Nepal had an ounce of the
-
fear of the Lord, if you really knew his word he would have
-
known that. He shouldn't have said, my my my
-
my my and notice the attitude, the perception, determine the
-
action. Because he said my my my my his
-
hands were closed but when you know it's God you're much more
-
generous person because it's not your own to begin.
-
With why don't? Why would I withhold something
-
that belongs to God. Anyway, so here it is.
-
But see that's that's what pride has pride is the fruit of
-
failing to recognize God's gracious.
-
Enablement in your success. Pride is the fruit of a failure
-
to acknowledge God's gracious, enablement in your success.
-
And it is the arrogance that blossoms because of how we view
-
our accomplishments in our own lives in the lives of others.
-
when you fail to see God and His gracious empowerment in your
-
life, for the most menial things, even we make more room
-
for arrogance to be a reality, in our hearts, my, my, my And
-
because of that Pride. Any help was choked any any
-
attempt to even extend Mercy was suffocated.
-
So the attitude precedes, the action, how you perceive things
-
will determine how you behave and act and move and plan.
-
So don't don't deal with the fruit deal.
-
With the root deal, with the root and let the fruit Blossom.
-
Naturally, when you have a heart that is convinced that God is
-
the one who is in control of all things.
-
So he says, I'm a can help to even if David didn't help him
-
with the flock, even if David didn't become his bodyguard for
-
quite a long time. Nepal was under Divine
-
obligation to help his brother just because the word of God
-
said. So but this man didn't fear the
-
lord and these sins because he failed to see the reason for his
-
wealth. And he failed to be responsible
-
with his wealth. The sins are going to lead to a
-
grievous consequence, as we're going to see the end of the
-
chapter. Let's come back to verse 12 as
-
we close. Unless you want to finish, but
-
we'll be here till very late. Deuteronomy, excuse me.
-
First Samuel, 25. Now what happens is, the news
-
comes back to these men. And they reach David and now,
-
here's what we're thinking, before we come to David's
-
reaction, we're thinking surely our hero David David, the same
-
man who would not even give to the suggestions of his own to
-
kill Saul will easily dismiss the comments of a stranger.
-
Is that the case verse 13? And David said to his men, every
-
man strapped on his sword and every man of them strapped on
-
his sword, David also strapped on his sword and about four
-
hundred men went up after David, while 200, remain with the
-
baggage, Is this the same David? I mean, just a few verses ago,
-
he was in a cave and the man that has been hunting, his life
-
was right before him like a Sitting Duck.
-
And his men were saying this is God, get rid of him will live
-
life in a new way, do it. And he refused to kill them.
-
He left Vengeance and God's hand.
-
And here's this guy named the ball who sends Messengers to
-
make some rude comments and he goes load him up, boys.
-
And you re later on he's not just coming after Annabelle.
-
He's coming after his entire household.
-
He goes if even one person survives I'm coming after every
-
person that breathes in that place, what happened?
-
It's just been a few verses. You have such a triumphal
-
victory over this temptation just a few hours ago to our
-
understanding last week. It might have been days or weeks
-
and now all for a sudden you want to do what we praise.
-
You not to do in our last study. It seems inconsistent.
-
But again, welcome to a humbling reflection of the human nature,
-
especially those who understand the will and the word of God.
-
What do I mean by that? We all fall short in many ways.
-
And I think one of the ways that we fall short but we don't like
-
to admit it is that for some reason we like to exercise the
-
fruit of the spirit towards some over others, For some reason, we
-
are more willing to be more self-controlled towards some and
-
in towards others there is less of that manifestation of the
-
grace and the rest of the fruit of the spirit that we see in
-
Galatians 5. Why?
-
I don't know. I don't really know what it is.
-
And it's a strange thing indeed. But it's a reality nonetheless
-
and it's worth addressing. Why is it like, maybe you're not
-
convinced? Let me say, let me say this way.
-
Have you ever noticed maybe when you're a younger especially you
-
are much more willing to be generous and patient with your
-
friends more than your siblings. Spouses are much more willing to
-
forgive their husband, or their wife or less willing to forgive,
-
but when it comes to somebody, in the church, they're much more
-
willing to be merciful and compassionate, and
-
communicative. No, maybe just me.
-
Why do we exercise so much more tenderness towards people that
-
we don't live with? But when it comes to our own
-
household we are so easily engaged in word Wars.
-
You see what I'm saying? For some in some circumstances,
-
with different people we can look, we can look really, really
-
good. And we can even feel the
-
strength to actually look like Jesus, but in, in other
-
situations, we give in so easily, especially with certain
-
people. I don't want to prove to you how
-
some who say, well I just I have an anger problem, brother.
-
I can't control myself. I can prove it that, you can
-
control it more than, you know, because as you're barking at,
-
whoever it is that you're barking at home.
-
How would you act when the pastor shows up at the door and
-
knocks unannounced, that anger is going to go away real quick?
-
When you answer that door, I have a hunch.
-
And so, it's really a picture of how we are able to know to just
-
exercise this thing in some settings, better than others.
-
And it's, it's, it's a part of our fallen human nature and we
-
fall short. But I don't want us to ever be
-
satisfied by being able to point where we're Victoria's in some
-
areas and not in all areas, because that's what we should
-
strive for as Believers in Jesus Christ.
-
Because the most effective testimony is the one that is
-
consistent in every context. This was convicting to me.
-
Because I couldn't help but think about the men of David as
-
they saw him. Give the instructions within a
-
moment's time to strap their swords.
-
But just few moments ago, he was able to be such a wonderful
-
example and it's like, what, how did that work?
-
We saw know this man. Yes.
-
But as an encouragement to us is a not that though we are
-
inconsistent. God does not give up on us and
-
he works on us and he pierces a little bit on a Friday night
-
when it's like, I could have been somewhere where I wouldn't
-
have to be confronted, but the Lord cares about our consistency
-
with all people, and all things. And so I want to be, I want to
-
be just as patient with my, brother's, My Blood Brothers,
-
then with the people that I see at church, I want to be I want
-
to be just as resolved and calm with those that I'm familiar
-
with. Then with the person that just
-
knows me as the person that shows other church and lift
-
their hands and worship and love God.
-
And the Holy Spirit will help us.
-
He wants to help us. He wants to mold us and shape
-
us. There's a reason why God gives
-
us this honest. Scenario of David's flippancy
-
with a conviction that seems to be conquered only in one setting
-
and not the Which brings me to the final Point, notice, how no
-
ball comes up to David to test him and to challenge him in a
-
time when he was at peace with Saul?
-
It's like this. All thing was dealt with.
-
It's like wonderful like breath of fresh air and all for a
-
sudden. Now ball comes up.
-
And it's a reminder that we've heard in so many Bible studies
-
in the book of 1st Samuel. The necessity of us as Believers
-
to remain on guard at all times. David was on guard from a
-
military standpoint. He was always there.
-
He was Vigilant. He was just, he was so he was so
-
craft while he was. He was like a ninja of his time,
-
right? But he was not as secure.
-
And as Vigilant with his inner man with his inner man, and we
-
are all susceptible to falling into Times of Temptation.
-
When we fail to remain guarded our, when we, when we look at
-
seasons of life, where we seem to be doing really well and then
-
we let ourselves loose in terms of our awareness and our
-
watchfulness. I was listening to a story of a
-
man who was speaking about his testimony of overcoming
-
pornography. I believe it was a testimony and
-
he had said, you know, I vowed to overcome this sin.
-
I vowed to see victory over it. And so what he did was for 90
-
days, he didn't engage with anything.
-
He was so severe and his exposure of things.
-
And then, for whatever reason, because there was such a long
-
time, I guess, a victory over this, he goes on his computer
-
and he sees just two pictures of two attractive woman, and he
-
thinks himself, he thinks himself, they're just pictures.
-
He let his guard down and he relapsed again.
-
And I listen to that earlier in the week, I was listening to
-
that testimony and as I was studying this, the connection
-
was made, his guard wasn't up at all times.
-
There's a time of Victory time of peace, and because of that,
-
he became lazy and his vigilance.
-
And that's when the enemy came in and for whatever reason,
-
David is the same, he saw great great Victory.
-
And then when another opportunity came, the same
-
Temptation he gave in because he was not, as guarded as he should
-
have been. And usually, we are not as
-
guarded when we are in seasons of great joy, peace prosperity
-
when everything is going well as when we seem to be the weakest
-
So remain strong. God is faithful.
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Oh, I wish that time can go back, so we can finish this
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chapter, but we're not, we're not.
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I think that's enough for tonight.
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Let's pray. Well, what a wonderful study in
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this chapter sobering. Oh God honest.
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Clear. It confronts us like many of
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these chapters have. But Lord, we pray in this moment
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as we heard earlier. That we would glean everything
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that we've heard and apply it to our own context help us.
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Oh, God, help us. Lord, Deliver Us from
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Simplicity, Deliver Us from immaturity.
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Save us from being inconsistent as David was, surely.
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You've given us this example, for us, to examine our own
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lives, to say, where is it in areas of my life, where I feel
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like I can I can walk in this way with these people in this
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context, but another times I'm a different person.
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Lord, we want to be. We want to be saved from such
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things. We want to be safe from such
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things. I'll or we think about all the
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examples and the stories that we've heard up to this point and
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we are so thankful that you speak clearly through David's
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story. And Lord, perhaps one point
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meant one thing more than another.
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We just pray that whatever was said we would cherish it in our
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hearts and we would pray fully ask you to manifest it in our
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lives. Thank you.
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Lord, that you first loved us. You acted on our behalf while we
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were in sin loving Darkness, you rescued us.
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You made a way. For any person in here, who
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doesn't know that may that may be known tonight that you have
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died for them. And you're waiting for them to
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respond. Bless your Holy Name.
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Lord, we love you, we honor you, we have reverence toward you, we
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are in awe of the wisdom of your scriptures and Lord, we just
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worship you in light of the Living Word, that speaks.
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So clearly We give you glory now in Jesus name.
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Amen.