David as a Father - 6/21/26 - Meadows Baptist Church - Pastor Charlie Branch

Welcome to the podcast of Meadows

Baptist Church of Walnut Cove, North

Carolina. We're so glad you joined us

today. If you enjoy today's message, be

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with your friends. Now, let's join

Pastor Charlie Branch with a word from

God.

I tell you what, church, that right

there didn't help you. There ain't

nothing I can say going to help you this

morning. And uh you say, "What do you

mean, preacher?" I'm telling you this.

If you can't think about what he's done

in your life,

>> come on.

>> And get happy.

>> Amen. Come on.

>> Amen. I'm telling you, the fact that

we're even allowed to be here,

>> the fact that we're on the right side of

the ground this morning in our right

mind, God has been so good to us.

>> And I want to say this, he has done so

much

>> and he has done more than we could ever

imagine. Amen. And I appreciate that

good singing this morning very, very

much. I want you to turn with me to the

book of 2 Samuel, chapter number 12.

While you're finding your place there, I

was praying this week and not preaching

from this text today. We'll be in 2

Samuel 12. But I ran across this verse

and I've studied this many times, but I

just wanted to share this with you this

morning. And uh before I get into the

message there, 2 Samuel 12, Jesus was

talking to his disciples in John 16, and

he was telling them that he was going to

leave them and was talking to him about

how he was going to have to go away and

that the comforter was going to come.

And he said this in verse number verse

number 26. He said, "At that day, you

shall ask in my name, and I say not unto

you that I will pray the father for

you." In essence, what he was saying was

that he's telling them when the Holy

Spirit comes, I'm you're not going to

have to come to me and ask me to pray

for the father, pray to the father. He

said, but you're going to have to talk

to the father. And he says this in verse

27, and this phrase has been just jumped

off the page at me this week, that first

phrase of verse 27, what does that say?

For the father himself loveth you.

>> Amen.

You say, "Preacher, I know that, but

have you thought about it?"

>> Amen.

>> The father himself

loveth you.

>> Jesus looked at them boys, all of them

failures, and he tells them in the next

few verses, he says, "Every one of you

is going to leave me." He said, "I'm

going to be left all alone. Y'all are

all going to walk away." But he said in

verse number 32, he said, "Every man

will be scattered, every man to his own,

and shall leave me alone. And yet I am

not alone because the father,

>> Amen,

>> is with me.

>> Amen.

>> I want to tell you what that got away

with me this week. Just to think about

the fact that he loves me. The father,

God the father himself. You realize

there's nobody higher than him.

>> Amen.

>> And he himself loves me.

>> And when I'm alone, all alone, he is

still with me. Amen. I'm telling you

that'll help you this morning. Amen.

Bless the name of the Lord. 2 Samuel 12

and I'll share with you the thought

that's on my heart

and I was praying about the service

today and just thinking about the fact

that God loves us. And uh I tell you

this, there's nobody in this room

perfect. Amen.

>> We all need God's help. And I want to

preach this morning out of this text. I

want to look at David for just a little

while and I'll say a little bit more

about it here in just a minute. But I

want to read 2 Samuel 12 verse number

Let's read verse number 23

through 25.

2 Samuel 12 verse number 23. You find

your place if you would stand on

reference to the reading of God God's

word if you're able this morning. If

you're not, don't do that. But if you're

able, let's stand. Let's read there

verse number 23 or verse number 22.

2 Samuel 12. And he said, "While the

child was yet alive, I fasted and wept.

For I said, who can tell whether God

will be gracious to me that the child

may live? But now he is dead. Wherefore

should I fast? Can I bring him back

again? I shall go to him, but he shall

not return to me." Verse 24. And David

comforted Ba Sheeba his wife, went in

unto her, and lay with her, and she bare

a son, and he called his name Solomon.

Notice this. And the Lord loved him. And

he sent by the hand of Nathan the

prophet, and he called his name Jedodiah

because of the Lord. Now, Father, I ask

you humbly this morning as we've

gathered here today to worship. I pray,

Father, you would remove every

hindrance. Lord, I realize, Father, this

morning that there's lost people here

today. And God, I pray, Father, that

your grace and your mercy, Lord, would

reach out to them. God is there's no

doubt in my mind it already has. Lord,

when they sang those songs talking about

what God has done, Lord, their heart,

they don't know what you've done. But

Lord, I realize this morning that the

greatest thing they could realize this

morning is that you have done all for

them.

>> They can be saved. They can be forgiven

today. And Lord, I pray that you would

work in their heart, draw them to a

place of conviction and repentance. And

I pray for every father that's here this

morning, God, that we would be

challenged and changed by the word of

God. I pray that we would see no man

save Jesus only and help us to receive

with meekness the engrafted word this

morning. And Lord, I ask you, God, you

would give me liberty. God, I need it

this morning. Hide me behind the cross.

And Lord, be sure to thank you for what

you do because we ask it in Jesus name.

Amen. You can be seated. Thank you for

standing this morning.

2 Samuel 12 introduces us to a stage in

David's life where David has sinned

against the Lord. Chapter 11 tells us of

David's sin with Ba Sheba and his

intentional murder of Uriah on the

forefront of the hottest battle. And

when I think about David, most of the

time we think of David as the psalmist

or uh the king David. We think of him as

the root of Jesse. We think of him as

the prophet. We think of David as a lot

of things, but I want to tell you the

greatest title that David had is the day

that we're celebrating. And that is that

David was a father. David was a daddy.

Amen. And I want to preach on that

thought today on David a father. You

say, "What do you mean?" Well, I said

that it's the greatest title he had

because before he was ever a king, he

was a daddy. Amen. before he was ever uh

blessed in in such a way by God as he

was in his kingship, he was a daddy. And

I want to say this, there's no higher

title that you hold this morning,

father, than that title of dad. Amen.

And uh when I think about this text, I'm

reminded that as that was the greatest

gift David was given, it was also what I

believe David's greatest failure.

>> And I this ain't probably ain't going to

be a shouting message, but I'm going to

share it with you. Amen. You look at

David's life, history tells us that

David had probably it's about 20

children that were named from about

seven or eight different wives. Amen.

And we know the Bible stance on that.

God is not for polygamy. Somebody say,

"Amen."

>> David was blessed by God in spite of all

of his failures. But I I notice in this

text, David has sinned with Ba Sheba.

And out of that, David has went a year.

And in this sin, he has somewhat covered

it up in the murder of Uriah. But how

many of you know the Bible says, "He

that coverth his sin shall not prosper."

Amen. But he that confessth and

forsaketh them shall have mercy. And

David here in the text has tried to

cover his sin. But if you try to cover

your sin, God will uncover it. But let

me say this, if you uncover your sin

before God, God will cover it. Amen. God

will take care of whatever you need in

your life this morning. But I want to

say David has tried to cover his sin.

And when I look at this text, you'll

notice a few things. By way of

introduction in chapter 12 and verse

number one, you notice the preacher

shows up in verse number one. And the

Lord sent Nathan, notice this, unto

David. And God has done told the

preacher man, "All right, David has

sinned against the Lord." Nathan's

probably picked up on it. And I want to

say this. I think it's a great character

of Nathan that many times throughout the

ministry of David when David got out of

line that God went to Nathan and told

him, "Hey, you need to go straighten him

out." Amen. And I want to say this,

every one of you needs somebody in your

life. Amen. That's going to help you

stay straight. Amen. You husbands, you

need your wife. You wives, you need your

husband. Amen. You need somebody. Amen.

In this church, you need this preacher.

Amen. I love each and every one of you.

But God has entrusted me to be your

pastor. And whether you like it or not,

you need me this morning. Amen. And I

want to say this. I need you. Amen. But

I notice David has been called out.

Nathan here has been called sent to

David because of his defilement and over

God's hot displeasure with him. Notice

verse 27 of chapter 11. But the thing

that David had done, what's your Bible

say? Displease the Lord. God had noticed

David's sin. And I want to say this,

your sin is never hidden from the eyes

of an allseeing God. And the preacher

comes to David in this text. And God has

a word for David when he is in his sin.

I notice not only the preacher, but I

noticed the parable in the text. You

see, there is a parable of a rich man,

of a poor man, of a lamb, and of a

traveler that's mentioned in verses one

down through verse number six. And

Nathan tells this story to David. how

the rich man and the poor man in the

text the rich man had exceeding many

flocks and herds which represents David

and the poor man had nothing save one

little U lamb and that poor man is Uriah

and that little you lamb is Ba Sheeba

and the Bible says in verse two verse

three that he had bought and nourished

up and it grew together with him and

with his children it did eat of his own

meat and drink of his own cup and lay in

his bosom and was unto him as a

daughter. Verse four, and there came a

traveler, and this represents the devil

or David's flesh. In verse four, the

Bible says that he spared to take of his

own flock. That's the rich man and of

his own herb to dress for the wayfairing

man that was come unto him. But he took

the poor man's lamb and dressed it for

the man that was come to him. Verse

five, David's anger was greatly kindled

against the man. You see David here in

the text, he gets angry at this story

that Nathan tells. How this man steals

the little U lamb in the text. And out

of this, David foretells his own

punishment. Look what he says. As the

Lord liveth in verse number five, the

man that hath done this thing shall

surely die and he shall restore the lamb

fourfold because he did this thing and

because he had no pity. And Nathan gives

him this parable. The preacher tells him

the story. And you notice out of all of

this, David rebukes this man and gets

angry at this man for taking this little

U lamb. But notice what the Bible says

in verse number seven. And Nathan said

to David, here's the proclamation.

Notice it, church, thou art the man.

>> Right?

>> And you know what? I believe David's

heart just melted.

I believe on the inside he just withered

away because the preacher had given the

parable and the proclamation was right

at him. How many of you ever been in

church on Sunday? Amen. And the preacher

preach a sermon and he might as well

have called your name from the time that

he stood up to the time that he sat

down. Amen. I've been there. Amen.

You've been there as well. Amen. And I

want to say this this morning. It's good

for us to realize that we are the

problem. I'll say this. You see, man,

it's amazing the hypocrisy and the

inconsistency of David. David was mad at

this man for taking this little U lamb,

but he had took another man's wife.

You're

>> right.

>> He was mad at this man for murdering a

lamb, but he had killed another woman's

husband.

>> Right.

>> Amen. David has committed a greater sin.

And isn't that the truth? Amen. this

morning that so many times we want to go

around picking specks out of our brother

and out of our sister's eyes when we've

got a 2x4 sticking out of ours. Amen.

What I'm saying is the proclamation set

down the punishment. David is the one

that's in the wrong. And God through the

mouth of the preacher sticks his finger

in the face of David and reveals that he

is the one that is at fault. But he also

doesn't only remind him of his sinner,

but he reminds him of his blessings. In

verse number seven, he said, "I've

anointed thee king. I delivered thee out

of the hand of the s hand of Saul, King

Saul, and I gave thee thy master's house

and thy master's wives under thy bosom,

and gave thee the house of Israel of

Judah. And if that had been too little,

I would moreover have given unto thee

such and such things." And David, Nathan

tells David, "Look, God would have done

anything that you asked, but this one

thing, you just had to have it.

>> Come on.

>> You wasn't right with me.

>> You didn't appreciate me." And the

proclamation declares the punishment of

David in verse number 12. He reveals

that David is the sinner. He reminds him

of his blessings. And he requests an

answer for his actions. In verse number

nine, "Wherefore hast thou despised the

commandment of the Lord?" He asked David

why did you do this? And then he says in

verse number 10, now therefore the sword

shall never depart, notice this phrase,

from thine house.

You see, David was a king. David was a

psalmist. David was a preacher. David

was a prophet. David was a man after

God's own heart. But you know where

David's greatest failure was? His

family. And you know what? I don't care

how much you say that you do for the

cause of Christ, but if you fail your

family, you have failed God.

>> Amen.

>> That's right.

>> Amen. You have failed the Lord. And the

Bible says that his punishment in this

text is this. There would be death of

his children. Therefore, the sword shall

never depart from thine house because

thou hast despised me. Not only death of

his children, but defilement of his

house. In verse 11, behold, I will raise

up evil against thee out of thine own

house, and I will take thy wives before

thine eyes, and give them unto thy

neighbor, and he shall lie with thy

wives in the sight of the son. So

there's death of his children,

defilement of his house. And then

there's the display of the wickedness.

Verse 12, for thou destly, but I will do

this thing before all Israel, and before

the son. You remember what I said? If

you try to cover your sins, God will

uncover them.

>> Amen.

>> Amen. You try to hide them, God will

take them out of hiding and put them on

display. Amen. You say, "Preacher, why

would God do such a thing as that?"

Well, you got to remember, judgment

begins with the Lord.

>> Amen. He's the one that's responsible

for retribution. You say, "Preacher, is

this going to get better?" Yeah, it's

going to get better, but you're going to

have to hang on with me. Amen. I'm

saying all of this because of David's

decisions. You understand what God has

said. These are not threatenings from

God, but these are sure prophecies of

punishment that we know from the pages

of scripture would come to pass and did

come to pass.

>> Amen.

>> God told David exactly what was going to

happen. And let me say this to you,

Daddy, this morning. God has told you

some things that's going to happen to

your family and to your life if you

refuse to obey the commandment of the

Lord. Amen.

>> Amen.

>> You're in danger this morning. Notice

this. You say, "Preacher, well, what can

I do?" Well, you see that this sin has

debased David. He He has defiled Bath

Sheba. He's killed Uriah. Uriah's dead.

Joab's disloyal to him. And the sin of

David has done much hurt. And I'll say

this, it's hurt more than just David.

But I want to say this, David is in a

grave place in this text. But I want to

say this, when you get to rock bottom,

I'm thankful, friend, you can tap into

the top of the Lord. Amen. And David in

this text, the Bible says in verse 13,

look at this. And David said unto

Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord.

And I want to talk to you for a little

while. Four things about David as a

father. Now, we we think when we think

about David this morning, y'all y'all

y'all y'all here with me this morning.

Y'all all right? Y'all real quiet this

morning? All right. Y'all going to have

to help me preach. I'm going to preach

longer. Amen. Amen. Is that all right?

I'm going to preach a long time if you

don't say amen. Okay.

But four things about David as father.

When we think about David, what are the

chapters we think about? We think about

about 1st Samuel 17 when he's wiping out

Goliath.

We think about David as king. He's

taking out Saul, running from Saul. We

think about David in Psalm 51 when he's

praying in repentance for his sin with

Ba Sheba. We think about all kinds of

different stories, but very seldom do we

think about David and his children. Very

seldom do we think about David as a

father. But in this chapter, we see

probably I I want to say one of the

greatest turnarounds in all the word of

God in the life of a daddy. You say,

"Preacher, what does that mean?" Well, I

don't know where you're at as a dad this

morning, but I can say you're in one of

these four places this morning. And I

want you to notice four things this

morning about David as a father. And I

number one, I would say this morning, we

see a broken father in this man David.

You say, "What do you mean?" Well, verse

13, look what the Bible says. "And David

said unto Nathan, notice it. I have

sinned against the Lord." What was his

sin? Well, his sin was with Ba Sheba.

His sin was against Uriah. His sin was

against those men that died because of

that battle that he put Uriah in to die.

His sin was adultery. His sin was

murder. His sin was fornication. Well,

let me tell you what his sin was. Number

one, his sin was turning his back on

God.

>> Amen.

>> Amen. And David in this text is broken.

You see, David had realized some things

by the preaching of Nathan. I'll tell

you this, it's still preaching that gets

it done in this day and time. Amen. If

you're going to have some help, you're

not going to find it in 10 steps to a

better self-image. You're not going to

find it down at the the self-help

conference. Amen. You're going to find

it from a preacher. Amen. And the

preaching of the word of God. Amen.

>> Amen.

>> Y'all going to help me preach this

morning.

>> I see a father's brokenness. What does

he realize? Well, he has realized that

he has sinned against the Lord. David

said in Psalm 51, he said, "My

transgression, my sin is ever before

me." He said, "Against thee and against

thee only have I sinned and done this

evil in thy sight." David recognized

that his sin was against God. And you

know why he recognized that his sin was

against God was because he was seeing

the punishment upon his children.

>> You're right.

>> Notice the text. David is broken in this

text. He's realized he has sinned

against God. But you see, his sin has

birthed a child.

You say, "What do you mean?" Well, out

of this relationship with Ba Sheba, the

Bible tells us, chapter 11, turn back

here and look verse number five. And the

woman conceived and sent and told David

and said, "I am with child." David's

relationship with Ba Sheeba has

conceived a child. So, you know what's

happened? David has birthed a child in

sin.

>> Amen. It's a sinful relationship that

has birthed this child. And out of that

sinful relationship, the Bible tells us

in verse number 14 or verse 13, the Lord

also hath put away thy sin, thou shalt

not die. So we can rejoice in that.

David said the man ought to die.

>> Amen. That's what he told Nathan. He

said, "This man shall surely die." And

Nathan looked at him and said, "You

better be thankful. God's merciful."

Amen. You're not going to die.

>> You're right.

>> But somebody was going to have to

dies. Notice verse 14. How be it,

because by this deed thou has given

great occasion to the enemies of the

Lord to blaspheme. The child also that

is born unto thee shall surely die. You

know what was going to happen? David was

going to live. God forgave him. But this

son had to die in hisstead. And you know

what? David is broken.

He's broken because of his sin. He's

broken because he is going to lose his

son. David's fatherhood of this child

was nonetheless the same as the others

was was on with only one difference.

David brought this child into the world

in a sinful act.

And you know what? Because of that death

was going to hold stand around this

child for the rest of its life. You say,

"Preacher, why would God allow that?"

Well, let me ask you something. Why'

David do what he did?

>> You know, we get the question wrong.

>> Amen. We always say this stuff and this

is what atheists say. You know, why

would God allow this to happen? Why

would a loving God allow such and such

to happen?

>> Let me ask you this. Why would a people

who have been given mercy on top of

mercy on top of mercy and grace to do

what's right time and time and time

again? Why would we put oursel in the

situation where we know that judgment

has to come?

>> You're right.

>> Why would we bring ourselves to the

point, Dad? Why would we get our family

to the place where we're in a mess and

then we have to pray and try to bring it

out? Why not just prevent it from the

start?

>> Amen. Why not just bridle your lust? Why

not just take care of your wife? Why not

just live with your family and take care

of them and love them and cherish them

and protect them? Amen. Instead of

getting down the road and your son's

strung out and your daughter's been

messed up in the world. Amen. And then

YOU WANT TO PRAY AND ASK GOD FOR HELP.

I'M SAYING KEEP THEM OUT OF THE WORLD.

AMEN.

>> You say, "Preacher, well, what do we

do?" Well, I'm going to say this. If

you're broken, you're in a good place,

>> right?

>> I tell you this. I've known some Amen.

Some daddies that their children got out

of the world and they wasn't broken

about it at all.

>> You know what? The first thing's going

to have to happen for you. You're going

to have to get broken.

>> You're right.

>> You say, "Preacher, why is that?" WELL,

IT'S YOUR SIN that's brought this

judgment into their life.

>> You're right.

>> IT'S YOUR DEFILEMENT. IT'S YOUR

DESTRUCTION. IT WAS YOUR DECISION. And

you have brought the consequences into

their life.

Now, I know before you say anything, you

say, "Preacher, you always preach sweet

on Mother's Day." Well, if y'all was

here on Mother's Day, I didn't preach

sweet on Mother's Day. Amen. So, y'all

getting it double. All right.

>> I'm telling you the truth, though.

Here's what this thing comes back to.

Until you get broken, there's never

going to be any hell.

>> You're right. If you are not broken over

the state of your wavered children, if

you are not broken over the state of

your children living in sin, you cannot

have any help or hope for them. You see,

David brought this child into the world

in a sinful act, but God forgave David,

but the child suffered the consequences.

Let me say this. You know what? You'll

be forgiven for the things you do. But

your children will suffer the

consequences of your sin.

>> Amen.

>> What you do against God, they will

suffer for it.

Notice this. David has now realized that

the things he has done has defiled and

will destroy his home. And you say,

"Preacher, why? Why is it that David,

why is God going to take this child?"

Well, notice God tells the reason in

verse 14. "How be it? Because by this

deed, thou has given great occasion to

the enemies of the Lord to what?

Blasphe. The child also that is born

unto thee shall surely die." All right.

Now, let me let me tell you something

that the Christian world does not like

to hear. When preachers fall out,

families bust up, sin's revealed, you

know, and and everybody's like, "Well,

you know, that was kind of expected."

>> Let me tell you this. When somebody who

has proclaimed the name of Christ, when

they fall out, you know what? That

angers the heart of God, not because

they fell out, but because the world

looks at them and they make fun of us.

>> You're right.

>> He said the enemies, you've caused the

enemies to blasphe. And let me say this.

When you as a church do not live right

out in this world

>> and you cause the world to blaspheme,

when you cuss like a sailor and you show

yourself, Amen. You walk around

unclothed as a churchgoer, as a

Christian, you know what you're doing?

You are causing the enemies of the Lord

to blasphe.

>> Amen.

>> Amen. And God don't take it lightly.

>> You know what? This boy is going to have

to die because of that. You're

>> right.

>> Notice it. You have given great occasion

to the enemies of the Lord to blasphe

the child also that is born unto thee

shall surely die. David is in a broken

place. But I want to say this. He didn't

allow his brokenness to keep him from

begging.

>> Amen.

>> You say, "What do you mean?" Well, I see

nextly out of this that there's a father

that's begging in this text. You know

what I'm not seeing in this day and

time? I don't see too many fathers

begging for anything.

>> Amen.

Now, I see a whole lot of fathers that's

lack sitting on a church pew and could

care less about what's going on in their

home.

>> You know what David does in this text?

Because of his brokenness, he finds

himself to a place to weep. Look what

your Bible says. The Bible says in verse

15, "And Nathan departed unto his house,

and the Lord struck the child that

Uriah's wife bear unto David, and it was

very sick." Verse 16. David therefore

besought God for the child. And David

fasted and went in and lay all night

upon the earth. You see, David's

brokenness led to him led him to beg God

to beseech the Lord. You see, David did

what we all must do when we fail, and

that is throw ourselves upon the mercy

of God. David is praying. He besought

God for the child. In verse 16, David is

persisting. The Bible said in verse 16

that David fasted and went in and lay

all night upon the earth. David is

begging God. He is doing everything that

he can. Why is that? Because he knows

that God is a God of mercy and that God

will have grace if he'll pray. Amen.

Hey, the Bible still says in 2

Chronicles chapter number 7 and verse

number 14, "If my people which are

called by my name will humble themselves

and pray and seek my face," he said,

"then will I hear from heaven and will

forgive their sin and will heal their

land." But you know what the problem is?

Nobody's broken.

>> You're right.

>> And because nobody's broken, nobody's

begging.

>> Amen. David did what we all must do when

we fail. We must throw ourselves on the

mercy of God. When we when we are in the

midst of sin's consequences, we must

persist in prayer. David is interceding

for this child. You say, "Preacher, how

long does it last?" Well, we see his

prayer and his persistence. But notice

the period. Verse number 18. And it came

to pass on the seventh day. David fast

and prays an entire week.

>> Why? because he didn't want that baby to

die because of his sin.

When's the last time you got broken

because of your sin? Watching somebody

else suffer for it. He's begging. David

represents to us how we are to intercede

for our children. We're to intercede

consistently, compassionately, and as

long as there is a chance for their

deliverance. You see, when the child

died, David got up. Notice what the

Bible says. They find out verse number

18 after the seventh day the child died.

Verse 19, David saw the servants

whispered about his death. Verse 20,

then David arose from the earth and

washed and anointed himself and changed

his apparel. Notice this. And came into

the house of the Lord and what? Worship.

David got up. He washed up. And he went

to the house of God and worshiped.

He said, "Preacher, why did he change

so quickly after he realized the child

had died?" Well, you know what he

realized? He realized that that death

was a deliverance for this child. And I

want to tell you something this morning.

We all get brokenhearted over babies

that die with cancer and sickness and

things like that nature. And that's the

hardest thing anybody could ever

experience. It's hard for us to imagine

miscarriages. And you know what? I I'm

seeing this day and time that godly

people are having miscarriages one right

after another.

good people, godly people that are

trying to have children. And then you

got these worldlings, amen, that they're

they're they're getting pregnant and

they're aborting them by the millions.

God ain't within a million miles of

that. And those people are going to

suffer the consequences for that. But I

want to say this, we ought to remember

that sometimes death is a deliverance

for a child.

>> If they're going to have a disease,

amen, and God takes them out of this

world prematurely, amen, it's the mercy

of God giving them grace because you

know where they go? They go straight to

heaven.

>> Go ahead.

And I want to give you this. All right.

We see David's begging. The father is

begging. Let me say this. You're not

much of a father if you don't pray for

your children.

>> Amen.

>> You see, the servants, they question his

actions. He he's he's got up. He's

washed up. He's worshiped. Now he's

ready to eat. In verse 20, they question

his actions in verse 21. But notice what

the Bible said in verse 22. And he said,

"While the child was yet alive, I fasted

and wept. For I said, "Who can tell

whether God will be gracious to me that

the child may live?" Well, to re

reiterate what I've already said, David

prayed because he knew God's merciful.

>> Amen.

>> You know what David said? You know what?

That man should surely die. God didn't

kill him. Amen.

>> And so, you know what he did? He threw

himself upon the mercy of God and said,

"Please spare the life of my child." You

say, "Preacher, well, there's no hope

for my child." Well, I'll tell you this.

You don't really love them if you're not

praying for them.

>> Amen.

>> Preacher, they're too far gone. Well, if

you're not praying for them, they

probably are too far gone.

>> What if your prayer is the only thing

standing between them and predition?

>> Amen.

>> They're too far gone, preacher. Well,

they probably are going to be gone if

you don't pray for them. Amen. David

made sure that he did all that he could

do. And you as a daddy, you as a mama

ought to do all that you can DO TO SAVE

THEIR LIFE. AMEN.

>> I understand that, preacher. Well,

they've got to live in the world. No,

they don't.

>> That's right.

>> They don't have to be subdued and

subducted into this world. Amen. They do

not have to experience EVERY SIN THAT

THIS WORLD HAS TO OFFER. WELL, THEY GOT

TO SEW THEIR WILD OATS. NO, THEY DON'T.

>> FROM THIS PREACHER'S HEART, LET ME TELL

YOU THIS MORNING, THEY DON'T HAVE TO

LOSE THEIR PURITY. AND THEY DON'T HAVE

TO LOSE, AMEN. THEIR CLEANLINESS, AMEN,

WHEN IT COMES TO ALCOHOL AND SMOKING AND

doping and ALL OF THAT OTHER STUFF. THEY

DO NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT. YOU'RE

RIGHT.

>> I don't care what you believe about. I

DON'T CARE WHAT YOU SAY ABOUT IT. THE

END OF THE DAY IS THIS. THEY DO NOT HAVE

TO LIVE through that.

>> But you know what? IF THEY DO, IT IS

YOUR RESPONSIBILITY AND IT IS MY

RESPONSIBILITY TO PRAY FOR THEM THAT GOD

WOULD BRING THEM OUT of that.

>> Amen.

>> I'll say this. You say, "Preacher,

what's going to do that?" Well, you're

going to have to get broke about it.

>> You're going to have to be begging God

for it. But I want to tell you this, and

this is the most important one. I see a

father not only broken and begging, but

I see a father believing.

>> Amen.

>> You say, "What do you mean?" Look what

the Bible said in verse 22. "And he

said, while the child was yet alive, I

fasted and wept. For I said, who can

tell whether God will be gracious to me

that the child may live? But now he is

dead. Wherefore should I fast? Can I

bring him back again? I shall go to him,

but he shall not return to me." You see,

David is believing God. You say, "What

does that mean?" Well, his faith is here

expressed. Number one, in God's mercy

for the possibility of this child

living. Look what he said. Verse 22. Who

can tell whether God will be gracious to

me that the child may live? David

believed in God's mercy. God could have

healed that child in just a moment.

>> You're right.

>> You know what? They ain't a disease,

ain't a cancer, ain't a sickness. Amen.

There ain't a disorder that God can't

fix in a moment.

>> You're right.

>> And cleaned it up. But I'll tell you

this, God don't always do that.

>> Right. And David said, "I fasted and

prayed that God in his mercy might make

this possibility take place." David knew

firsthand the mercy of God on his life.

You say, "How is that?" Well, you think

about all the years of David's running.

All the times that he had run from Saul

and that God had protected him. David

was protected while he was with the

Philistines out of the will of God in

1st Samuel 28 and 29. David was

protected when he put that ark on a new

cart out of the will of God in 2 Samuel

6. and Oza died because of it. And David

speaks of these prayers in Psalms 32:es

number one down through verse number

six. David tells about the fact that God

has been merciful to him time and time

and time again. And David one more time

throws himself upon the mercy of God,

believing that God is able TO DELIVER

THIS CHILD. THE POSSIBILITY HE prayed

that God might bring it to pass.

>> Amen.

>> Here's what happens.

We decide in our mind our doubt and

unbelief. We forget about God. It's that

interesting. We get in a situation

that's just a little bit bigger than we

can handle. We just forget that God's

even in the world.

>> Amen.

>> This is just too big, preacher. It's

just too bad. You're

>> right.

>> It's just too awful. There's no hope for

this preacher. There there's nothing

that we can do. Let me say this. God can

do anything.

>> Right? And it is your responsibility to

believe in the possibility of God's

mercy showing up. But I'll say this. You

say, "Preacher, what if that possibility

don't come to pass?" Well, let me tell

you, it didn't come to pass in David's

life, did it? That baby died. But you

know what? David had something beyond

the possibility.

>> You say, "What do you mean?" Well,

notice the text again. 12:23.

But now he is dead. Wherefore should I

fast? Can I bring him back again? David

said, "He's dead now. What good is it

going to do me to fast? I'm not going to

pray him back to life again." You say,

"Preacher, well, that's doubt." No,

there's no doubt in this text. Because

notice what he says next. Notice verse

23. But now he is dead. Wherefore should

I fast? Can I bring him back again?

What's that next phrase, church? I shall

go to him. You see, David had faith in

God's mercy. David believed in God's

mercy for the possibility that his son

could live. But I'll tell you this,

David believed in God's mercy.

>> Amen.

>> For the promise that he would one day

live with that baby.

>> Right.

>> You say, "Preacher, what does that

mean?" Well, I can say this. The

possibility may never come to pass in

your life, but you've got a promise

beyond the possibility.

>> You're right.

>> That one day you'll live with him.

>> Amen.

>> You say, "Preacher, my mistakes have

have cost me my children. They don't

love me. They don't walk. They've walked

away from me because of what I did.

Well, I'll tell you this. You can pray

for them and God can spare them. God can

save them. God can do a work in their

life. And you may never see it on this

side. But I'll tell you this. If you're

saved and you're right with God, Amen.

If you're saved, you're going to heaven.

Amen. And that promise goes beyond the

possibility.

>> You're right.

>> He was believing. David said he I shall

go to him. He knew his his lie. This

life is not all there is. I want to

remind you of that. This life's not all

there is.

>> Right?

>> There will be a glad reunion day.

>> To all of you that's lost your fathers,

this ain't all there is.

>> To all of you that may have lost your

children, they're out in the world, not

where they're supposed to be. This

life's not all there is. You're

>> right.

>> Notice this. This is where I want to get

to and I'll be done. You see, a father

believing that's the necessity.

Whatsoever is not of faith is what? Sin.

It's the prerequisite. David is

believing God. But I'll tell you this

and I'll be done. We see a father's

brokenness here. We see a father begging

in the text. We see a father believing.

You say, "Preacher, what comes out of

that?" Well, I see that there's a father

that's blessed in this text.

Said, "What do you mean?" Well, notice

verse 24. And David comforted Basheba,

his wife, went in unto her, lay with

her, she bare a son, and he called his

name Solomon. The Lord loved him. and

he's sent by the hand of Nathan the

prophet and he called his name Jedai

because of the Lord. You see, for the

first time in over a year, David's

finally doing what's right. See, David's

walked in disobedience to God up to this

point. David's walked out of fellowship

with God up to this point. But you know

what the death of that child did? It

brought David back into reality.

>> Amen.

>> The death of this child caused David to

get on his knees a place where he hadn't

been in a long time. Right.

>> You know what? What you lose may may

bring you back.

>> Amen.

>> To the place where you're supposed to

be. You say, "Preacher, well, that

innocent child had to lose its life.

That child went straight to heaven."

>> Amen.

>> You know what that child brought that

You know what that child was? That that

child was a reminder for David.

>> That child was a revelation for David.

Hey, son, you need to get back right

again.

>> But you know what? David's story doesn't

end there.

He's now doing what's right. You say,

"What do you mean?" Well, I see Ba

Sheba's blessed in this text. The Bible

says that David comforted Ba Sheba's

wife. Think about all that she's been

through,

>> right?

>> Bath Sheba lost her husband a year ago.

Uriah, he was killed in battle. Then,

not only that, she has this child with

David. Then, she loses this child. Can

you imagine that?

>> Amen.

>> Loses her husband and loses a child. But

you know what the Bible says? The first

thing David does is he goes to Ba Sheba

and what does he do? He comforts her.

You say, "Preacher, but this

relationship is so wrong." Well, the

Bible says they're married.

You

>> say, "What do you mean, preacher?" Well,

they're married. God God doesn't like

putting away. God hates putting away,

the Bible says. And so, you know what

he's doing? He's doing his husbandly

duty.

>> Right?

>> If you have a wife, I don't care what's

went on before that. If you have a wife

presently at this moment, it is your

husbandly duty to comfort and protect

her. You're

>> right.

>> Bath Sheba is blessed in this text.

She's lost your eye. She's lost her son.

He's broke. She's broken, but David

comforts her. There's Ba Sheba is

blessed. And then there's a birth that

is blessed. The Bible says that she bear

a son. Verse 24. They have another

child. And you know what? Out of this,

there is not only a birth that's

blessed. You think say, what was the

blessing about the birth? Well, this

baby didn't die.

This baby didn't get sick.

Anybody in the building

>> say, "What do you mean?" Well, they

there's Ba Sheba's blessed and there's a

birth that's blessed. Amen. Nothing

happens cuz let's just be real. Every

time somebody sin in the Bible, a lot of

times God up their womb.

>> You're right.

>> He could have made Basheba barren.

>> But you know what? There's another son.

>> There's a blessed birth. Basheba is

blessed. But I'll say this, there's a

blessed boy.

>> Amen.

>> You're right.

>> Amen.

>> Bible says she bare a son and he called

his name Solomon. What's that say? And

the Lord loved him.

>> You say, "Preacher, what does that

mean?" Well, you see this boy Solomon by

name, he's blessed not because of

anything other than just the mercy of

God on his daddy.

>> You're right.

>> You know what? You may never do anything

right in your life, Dad. And I and this

is the way I feel. Amen. I feel like

God's going to have to help me.

>> Amen. Some of y'all's young age you're

at right now, I'm thinking, man, I've

got a long way to go

>> till we get to that point. God's going

to have to help me.

>> Amen.

>> But I'll tell you this. You know why

Solomon was loved by God was because

David threw himself upon the mercy of

God.

>> Amen.

>> Solomon was loved by God because David

loved God. And the mercy of God on David

brought Solomon into fellowship with the

Lord. You say, "What does that mean?"

Well, the name Solomon means peaceful.

You know what David was saying? All this

time there's been turmoil. There was

death. There's despair. There's agony

because of his sin. And you know what?

When God forgave him, they had a son

he's named peaceful. Because you know

what? There was no longer enmity between

him and God anymore.

>> Amen. There was no longer strife between

him and God. But Solomon represented the

peace that was now between him and God

and in his home. I want to say this. I

don't know where you're at in your home,

but from this day forward, you can't

have a peaceful place.

>> You're right.

>> You say, "Dad," you say, or you say,

"Preacher, how do I do that?" I want to

say this. The Bible tells us in verse

number 25, "And he sent by the hand of

Nathan the prophet, and he called his

name Jedai because of the Lord." You

know what interests me about this text

is the fact that when Solomon is born,

Nathan left his house. The last thing

that the preacher had to say to this man

was, "Look, your baby's going to die."

And you know what? When the preacher

shows back up again, you know what he

says? He's coming to tell him about his

next child. Not that he's going to die,

but that he's going to be divinely

blessed.

>> Amen.

>> By God.

>> Amen. And I'll say this,

it's wonderful when God puts it in my

heart and I see it in these kids. I can

see that God wants to do something in

their life. I can't explain that to you.

Something about God gives the vision of

the pastor. I don't know how all that

works, but I can tell you this. I see

some of these kids and God wants to do

something in their life, but you know

what? I see some of them and I see some

of them and ain't going to make it

because of daddy and mama's decisions.

Amen.

>> You say, "Preacher, you got some

something special with God." No, I'm

just telling you, he gives a pastor

discernment.

>> Say, "Preacher, you don't know

anything." Well, I tell you what, I may

not, but Nathan did. Notice verse 25. He

sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet,

and he called his name Jedai. What's

that say? Because of the Lord. You know

what that name Jedodai literally means?

It means beloved.

means beloved. You know what?

God blessed David's house when he

finally decided,

I'm gonna turn it all over to you.

>> Amen.

>> He lost a son. But you know what? God

gave him another one. And this one was

loved by the Lord. Why was that? Because

David did what David was supposed to do.

Every head bowed and every eye closed. I

want to ask you this question. Let me

ask you, Daddy, do you want your

children to be blessed?

Do you want your children to be blessed?

Say, "Preacher, my children are grown

and gone." Well, you still got children,

don't you? Do you want your children to

be blessed? You don't know how you do

that? How how you get that? You love

God. You can't control what they do, or

who they are now. But you know what you

do? You love God.

You serve God in spite of what they do,

where they go, who they are. You love

God and be who you're supposed to be.

And God will do in their life what they

cannot do for themselves.

Let me ask you, are your are your are

your children broken because of your

past?

You know what you need to do? You need

to intercede.

Say, "Preacher, my children are

suffering because of my mistakes."

You know what you need to do? You don't

need to go in a corner somewhere and

have a pity party, but you what you need

to do is go find your prayer closet and

beg God to intercede on their behalf.

Let me ask you this. Do you need

forgiveness from God?

You know how you get it? You acknowledge

your sin

and you get broken.

You'll never get better until you get

broke.

You'll never know the joy

of what it really means to be a father

until you're close to the one who is

your father.

And I go back to what Jesus said. He

told those disciples, he said, "The

Father himself loveth you.

You're never alone because the Father's

always with you."

I want to ask you this morning. You say,

"Preacher,

preacher, I've not been the dad I should

be.

Preacher, I've failed miserably.

Preacher, I really I've realized today

that

God's pointed out some things in my life

that I am broken over. I realize it's my

fault. And I'm going to do my best to

beg God for mercy.

and I'm going to believe him that

whether the possibility comes to pass or

not, that his promises are true and that

I'm going to be blessed because I'm

going to do what God tells me to. You

said, "Preacher, would you pray for me?

God, help me do that." Daddy, you be

honest.

You just slip your hand up. I'll pray

for you.

I'll do that.

Say, "Preacher, I know I need to step

up.

God knows you hard."

You know what the truth is? Every one of

us

need more of that. You need to be broken

over your sin. You need to be begging

God for your children. You need to be

believing God for your family.

That's the only way you can ever expect

blessing from God.

Father,

I know it's been a different day today.

Lord, I've tried my best to deliver the

message you laid on my heart.

And God, I know these daddies, they're

hard workers, and I appreciate them.

Well, I don't think any of them's lazy.

God, I've seen them work. I've seen them

serve.

But Lord, all of that labor and all of

that serving that they do, Father, be in

vain if they lose their family.

And God, I pray that you would help

them.

Help them to keep their family close to

you.

Help them to stay on their knees, keep

their sin confessed. Lord, if they are

in sin, help them to confess it, get

broke over it, and forsake it and beg

you to get back to a place where they're

supposed to be.

believe your word and your promises,

God, that you can bring deliverance.

Lord, I ask you humbly this morning that

you would help us all to take these

verses and apply them to our hearts and

lives. Save the one that's nearest hell

today. We ask it all in Jesus name. For

his sake we pray. Amen.

Amen. Well, I appreciate you being here

today and uh I tell you this, I'm

thankful that we don't have to be like

David.

>> Thank you for joining our service today.

We'd love it if you join us in person

the next time you are able at Meadows

Baptist Church. Our physical address is

2988 Stewart Road in Walnut Cove, North

Carolina. Our service times are Sunday

school at 10:00 a.m., Sunday morning

worship at 11:00 a.m., Sunday evening

worship at 6:00 p.m., and Wednesday

evening Bible study at 7:00 p.m. For

more information, visit us at

meadowsbaptisturch.com.

Thanks again for tuning in.