What In The World Is God Doing?
Notes
Transcript
What The Enemy Does v. 1, 2
What The Enemy Does v. 1, 2
Context:
2 Samuel 14:25
Now in all Israel there was no one who was praised as much as Absalom for his good looks. From the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.
2 Samuel 15:6
In this manner Absalom acted toward all Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
2 Samuel 15:13–14
Now a messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.” So David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise, and let us flee, or we shall not escape from Absalom. Make haste to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly and bring disaster upon us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.”
2 Samuel 16:5–6
Now when King David came to Bahurim, there was a man from the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei the son of Gera, coming from there. He came out, cursing continuously as he came. And he threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David. And all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left.
2 Samuel 15:30
So David went up by the Ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered and went barefoot. And all the people who were with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went up.
Consequence of Sin with Bathsheba: 2 Samuel 12:11–12
Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, before the sun.’ ”
2 Samuel 16:21–22
And Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go in to your father’s concubines, whom he has left to keep the house; and all Israel will hear that you are abhorred by your father. Then the hands of all who are with you will be strong.” So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the top of the house, and Absalom went in to his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.
Increase
David has been betrayed by family and friends.
The shear number of people that joined forces with Absolom is astounding.
Rise Up
At some point this goes from an interior feeling to tangible action.
David is forced out of the palace by Absalom's forces.
Discourage
“There is no help for him in God.”
God is not going to help him.
God doesn’t care about him.
David now has a choice, does he listen to the voices of discouragement?
Sometimes as with David those voices are from others.
A father who says you will never amount to anything.
A boss who frequently berates you.
Other times the voice of discouragement is from within your own heart and mind.
What David Does v. 4, 5
What David Does v. 4, 5
Cries Out v. 4
For help
He has a significant need.
What is the most important thing about crying out for help? The most important thing is who hears you.
David cries to the Lord and the Anointed One from the holy hill of Zion answers.
Our Question: Who are you crying out to for help?
Goes to Bed v. 5
Say what?
Does a person in David’s circumstances generally get a good nights sleep?
So how does David manage it?
Trust
First Thought: I can’t do that.
You probably trust God more than you realize because God sustains us more than we realize.
You went to sleep last night and you didn’t have a heart attack or brain aneurysm. Why? because God sustained your life.
Whether we like it or not we have to trust God for every moment of life that He chooses to give us.
The implication then is that we can trust Him for the things we don’t think about we can surely trust Him for the things that consume our thoughts as well.
Psalm 4:8
I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.
Second Thought: David can sleep in the midst of his troubles because of what he knows about God. This is David’s theology.
What God Does
What God Does
Guards v.3 - How many times in your life do you think the Lord protected you from something that you don’t even know about? We often come upon the scene of a car crash and think, wow if I had been here just a few seconds earlier that could have been me. So we thank God for His protection in that moment. From a human perspective that is in some way the correct response because of how we view time, but we should understand that from God’s perspective you were never in any dander because He is perfectly sovereign.
Psalm 7:10
My defense is of God, Who saves the upright in heart.
Psalm 18:2
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Psalm 18:30
As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.
Psalm 28:7
The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I will praise Him.
Encourages v. 3
God lifting the head of David is a figure of speech for encouragement. A person with a head cast down is discouraged.
The most important aspect of David’s head being lifted is the one who does the lifting.
Psalm 27:6
And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.
Listens v. 4
Does God actually hear our prayers?
Psalm 139:1–4 “
O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.
Isaiah 1:15 “
When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood.
Here we have an example of when God chose not to listen to the prayers of Israel because of sin they were holding on to.
Proverbs 28:9
One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination.
The most important verse is 1 John 5:14
Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
Sustains v. 4
David slept peacefully because He knew of the sustaining power of God.
God sustains the universe physically: Hebrews 1:3
who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
God sustains us personally: Psalm 54:4
Behold, God is my helper; The Lord is with those who uphold my life.
God sustains your salvation: John 10:28–29
And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.
Acts v. 7
Horton: We frequently distinguish natural and supernatural causes, but this too may reflect the false choice of attributing circumstances either to God or to nature. The Scriptures know nothing of a creation or a history that is at a single moment independent of God’s agency. The question is not whether God is involved in every aspect of our lives but how God is involved. Therefore, with respect to providence, the question is never whether causes are exclusively natural or supernatural, but whether God’s involvement in every moment is providential or miraculous. (369, italics original)
We believe in God’s providence. That arm of God’s sovereignty where He by natural means controls the events of our lives and the world.
Note the story of Joseph.
Saves v. 8
God saves us from physical enemies which is what David probably has in view here. Even when David’s enemies thought that God was far from him.
David’s cry for physical salvation serves as a picture of the salvation found in Christ that saves us from sin. God saves us from ourselves.
Acts 4:12
Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
David’s words are an expression of humility. He knows he cannot save himself.
Blesses v. 8
God blesses those that are His.
In the Psalms being blessed is primarily being rightly related to God
Psalm 2:12
Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, And you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.
Jeremiah 17:7–8
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, And whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.
Perhaps David’s thought is to his reader here is, if you want God’s blessing make sure that you are his.