Father, Misunderstood
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5 And David said, Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be builded for the Lord must be exceeding magnifical, of fame and of glory throughout all countries: I will therefore now make preparation for it. So David prepared abundantly before his death.
Introduction
Introduction
David’s life is very interesting because as successful as he was, and as much as he was a man after God’s own heart, God would not let him build the temple.
6 Then he called for Solomon his son, and charged him to build an house for the Lord God of Israel.
7 And David said to Solomon, My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build an house unto the name of the Lord my God:
8 But the word of the Lord came to me, saying, Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars: thou shalt not build an house unto my name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight.
9 Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about: for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days.
Notice it was not because of his adultery with Bathsheba or the murder of Uriah that David could not build the temple, it was because he had shed blood. He was a man of war, and the builder of God’s house had to be a man of peace.
Solomon learns much from his mother, Bathsheba, we see that in Proverbs 31, but he also learns from his father David.
It was David who teaches him to seek wisdom.
1 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, And attend to know understanding.
2 For I give you good doctrine, Forsake ye not my law.
3 For I was my father’s son, Tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.
4 He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: Keep my commandments, and live.
5 Get wisdom, get understanding: Forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
It was David that taught him this.
5 In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.
6 And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.
7 And now, O Lord my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.
8 And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.
9 Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
10 And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.
11 And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;
12 Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.
Why did he ask for that? His father taught him.
Fatherhood today is completely misunderstood.
The attitude towards father is completely different than it was in the Scripture.
In Jewish culture when a father spoke people listened, and now it seems that men have become invisible, and their unique gifts and responsibilities are something anyone can do.
Fathers today are either represented as tyrants, or buffoons, or both.
The very best portrayal of a father today is a meek, doughty, self-loathing man who manages to keep his mouth shut and listen to the women in his life.
Father is misunderstood. Even our heavenly Father is misunderstood.
Why?
1. He is misunderstood because his focus is on the future.
1. He is misunderstood because his focus is on the future.
David spent his last few years preparing for Solomon’s future. Solomon may not have understood why he wasn’t always available to play ball, but later he would.
2 And David commanded to gather together the strangers that were in the land of Israel; and he set masons to hew wrought stones to build the house of God.
3 And David prepared iron in abundance for the nails for the doors of the gates, and for the joinings; and brass in abundance without weight;
4 Also cedar trees in abundance: for the Zidonians and they of Tyre brought much cedar wood to David.
He was preparing his children to do great things.
2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
He’s preparing great things for us.
Many things a mother did for us as children was temporary, but a father will leave a lasting imprint on our life.
22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children: And the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.
He makes a preparation financially, physically, morally, and spiritually for his children’s future.
5 And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.
And he went and got his children, and made a sacrifice, said, “They might have sinned secretly, and they don’t know it.” How he was a real father, and God give him all those children back, at the end. 54-1006 - "Law Or Grace"
10 And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.
Where was those sons and daughters? In Glory, waiting for him. See? He give them, every one to him. See, there wasn’t a one of them lost. 54-1006 - "Law Or Grace"
He may have been misunderstood because he was at church instead of at the family party, but it made a difference for their future.
2. He is misunderstood because he is the primary source of discipline in the home.
2. He is misunderstood because he is the primary source of discipline in the home.
24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: But he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
Usually it’s the father who does the spanking.
5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
He chastens us because He loves us.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Now, the reason that the Holy Spirit today would rebuke and tear down the church, you remember, the Laodicean age, He says, “As many as I love, I rebuke. As many as I love, I rebuke.” Thank God for rebuking; a real Father, to straighten us up and get us out. 61-0210 - "Abraham's Covenant Confirmed"
Now, sometimes I preach pretty rough because I see that’s, somebody getting out of line, you see, you’re supposed to do that. A real daddy will, why, he’d shake you and say, “Here, get back here in line,” if he’s a real, true father.
So sometime your pastor has to wade down on something, just love him that much more, because he’s a real father to you, see, trying to keep you lined up, because he’s watching over your soul, which the Holy Ghost has made him the overseer of the church. 62-0124 - "Have Not I Sent Thee?"
My daddy was awful good at that. Yes, sir. He believed in the golden rule. It laid up over the door, had all the ten commandments out on it, a hickory stick about that long, brush on the end of it. I tell you, that made discipline in the Branham home. But we love him.
What would we have been if he hadn’t have did it? That’s the way God is; He brings discipline to His children, trying them, whipping them when they’re wrong.
I’m happy that my heavenly Father gives whippings to those who are wrong, and corrects me when I’m wrong, gives me whippings, makes me straighten up, walk like you should walk. 55-1118 - "The Faith Of Abraham"
God has give us the perfect assurance that we are His children. And as His children, He corrects us just like I correct my children, you correct your children. When in the wrong, we correct them. If my children does wrong, then it’s my duty as a father to correct them.
And then, if God’s children does wrong, it’s His duty as a Father, and He will correct you. Just remember that, you’ll be corrected.
But as long as you’re His child, the world better keep their hands off of you (that’s right!), for He said, “It’s far better for you that a millstone was hanged at your neck and you were drowned in the depths of the sea than even to bring an offense upon one of these little ones that believe in Me.” 59-1223 - "Questions And Answers"
Sometimes earthly fathers overcorrect their children. (Some pastors do as well)
21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
Make sure they know you love them.
Our Father knows that we needed an advocate.
1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
How can you preach predestination, of God’s foreordaining and setting, unless there’s a sin atonement somewhere? Why is it? Each day you make a mistake, each day you do wrong. But if you’re born again, man or woman, as soon as you make the mistake, God knows you’re sorry for it.
You would stand in the presence of President Roosevelt or anyone else, and say, “I’m wrong, God forgive me for this thing.” Why? And there’s where the Blood atonement…
You notice that “s-i-n-s.” A sinner is a sinner, he does not commit sins. But the church commits sins, does wrong, gets a wrong thought, wrong impression, makes scrupples, wobbles like a little child walking, trying to learn how to walk.
He just don’t know how to walk good yet, ’cause he’s a little boy. But we have a Hand that reaches down if we…gets us and steadies us, and say, “Make this step this a-way, son.”
He doesn’t pick us up and spank us because we made a mistake, He doesn’t beat us to death because we’re trying to walk. He loves us like we love our children.
A real, real daddy wouldn’t whip his child when he’s trying to walk, if he falls down on the floor. Reach right down with a big strong hand and pick him up, take both hands a hold of him, say, “This is the way you do it, son. Walk like this.”
That’s the way God does His Church! Reaches down and gets him in His arm, picks him up and say, “Walk like this, son. Here, don’t say it like that, talk it like This. Now, I don’t care what the church says, what this says, what that says, you say it like This. Like This, this is It!
If My Word preaches It, you stay right with It, walk with It. Stay right with It. Don’t care what everybody else says, stay right with It. Walk like This. This is the way you make your steps.”
Our sins; an atonement love for our sins, or we’d never have a chance. How we could just anchor on them Words! 60-0522M - "Adoption #3"
3. He is misunderstood because his work is done out of sight.
3. He is misunderstood because his work is done out of sight.
Almost everything our mother does for us as a young child, we see her do it.
We see her in the kitchen. We see her folding the clothes. We know she’s there if we get sick.
Dad is at work.
Ever since man had to leave the garden of Eden he’s had to leave the home for work.
19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
He’s under-appreciated many times because he’s out of sight.
Our Heavenly Father is the same way.
He’s always working, we just don’t see it.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
The animals are fed by God.
21 The young lions roar after their prey, And seek their meat from God.
22 The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, And lay them down in their dens.
23 Man goeth forth unto his work And to his labour until the evening.
24 O Lord, how manifold are thy works! In wisdom hast thou made them all: The earth is full of thy riches.
25 So is this great and wide sea, Wherein are things creeping innumerable, Both small and great beasts.
26 There go the ships: There is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein.
27 These wait all upon thee; That thou mayest give them their meat in due season.
28 That thou givest them they gather: Thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good.
29 Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: Thou takest away their breath, they die, And return to their dust.
30 Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: And thou renewest the face of the earth.
If He made a world like this, even though it’s perverted by Satan, what about the one He’s preparing for us now?
How beautiful heaven must be.
If He made the Grand Canyon, If He made the most beautiful places in this world, what about the place He is going to prepare for us?
(Show pictures)
9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
Now, we find, this life holds all kinds of evils, so therefore the life that is to come won’t have it. This one has lust, and sickness, death. Because, what is it? It’s not the house that He’s gone to prepare.
This is a pesthouse. How many knows what a pesthouse is? [Congregation says, “Amen.”—Ed.] Sure. Well, that’s what you’re living in. A pesthouse is where they put all the diseased people. Well, that’s just what sin done to us, put us in an earthly pesthouse.
They wouldn’t let anyone else come in the pesthouse, because there’s all kinds of germs flying around in there, and the people will take these germs and be sick, themself. And sin brought us into the devil’s pesthouse.
Oh, but the other one is called, “My Father’s House.” “I’ll go and prepare a place for you. Take you out of this pesthouse and deliver you into My Father’s House.” Amen.
There you are; take you out of this old earthly pesthouse. He’s gone to prepare a place, a perfect place where no evil exists, no sickness exists, no old age exists, no death exists.
It’s a perfect place calling you to that perfection, and you have to be perfect to get there. The Bible said so. Jesus said, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father in Heaven is perfect.” It’s a perfect Kingdom, so it must be a perfect people come.
Because, you have to stand and be married to a perfect Son of God, and you must be a perfect Bride. So how can you do it through anything else but the perfect Word of God, which is, “The Waters of separation, that washes us from our sins”?
The Blood of Jesus Christ, think of It, the dripping, Bloody Word. Amen. The Blood, the Word of God bleeding Blood, to wash the Bride in. Amen. Yes, sir.
She stands perfect, virgin, unadulterated. She never sinned, in the first place. Amen. She was trapped into it. There’s the Father’s House that He’s gone to prepare. 65-1205 - "Things That Are To Be"
You never saw God feed a sparrow, but He’s working all the time. You don’t see Him perfecting you but He’s doing it.
You never saw what he was arranging to bring you to this place, but He’s working.
We probably don’t even remember all the details of the day we got saved, but our heavenly father was working behind the scenes, getting us ready for that moment.
You might not understand Him. Even Jesus cried out “Why have you forsaken Me?”.
39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
He was learning to obey His Father.
8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
Example: The older I get the smarter my dad is.
(Tell dream about dad)
Conclusion
Conclusion
Like David making preparation for Solomon’s work, He has been preparing a way for you to sit in His throne.
You may be a misunderstood Father. So was He.
You may have misunderstood your earthly father. Maybe even misunderstood your heavenly Father. If so, just surrender your life to Him.