Dad, Get Up and Worship

Sermon in a Sentence

As fathers, God can use our worst moments as doors of opportunity for restoration and worship.

The Highest Paid Dads

Three boys in the schoolyard were bragging about who had the highest paid father:

The first boy said, “My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a poem, and they give him $100.”

The second boy said, “That’s nothing. My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a song, and they give him $1000.”

The third boy said, “My Dad is ever better than that. He scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, calls it a sermon, and it takes 6 or 8 men just to collect all the money!”

Introduction

The prophet Nathan comes to David to point out his sin, not with just Bathsheba but against Uriah. He tells a parable to which David’s anger is misplaced. Nathan rebukes David by reminding him of what God had done for him, and the fact that if wanted more, God would have granted it to him. Choices have consequences and king or not, the bill comes due. Nathan tells David:

The sword would never leave his house

Raise up evil out of his own house

Take his wives and give them to his neighbor

Face open humiliation

God spared his life, but not the life of the child. David fasts for the the child, and on the seventh day, the child dies…

Returns to a standing position

300 Quotations for Preachers (Afflicted on Two Sides)

The godly have some good in them, therefore the devil afflicts them; and some evil in them, therefore God afflicts them.

THOMAS WATSON*

David’s sin and punishment drove him to fast and pray for the child’s life. For seven days, he laid on face interceding, fasting and praying for his child. The illness was not disclosed, but this child suffered for the sins of his father. As fathers, our decisions not only affect you, but they do affect your children. “Do not allow decisions to create consequences that your children have to pay for.” Yes, David was a man after God’s heart and shepherd of God’s people, his decisions knocked him down, but he couldn’t stay down. The word arise is qwm (קום) meaning to make a move, start, set our, advance. In this life, things will happen that are in and out of our control that keep us with our face in the earth.

Preparing for Worship

David prepares himself for worship and his new life after the tragedy of his unnamed son’s death. No doubt David looked like his present circumstances. Life has a way of leaving us defeated and discouraged where others can see it. Even in David’s sin, he was still God’s anointed and king of Israel. He was still the one after God’s own heart. He was still the one that killed the bear, lion, and Goliath. Tragedy changed him, and now God uses this tragedy to prepare himself for worship. While dealing the loss of his child, he remembers that his success and strength was found in the presence of the Lord. “People will always want you to stay with the stench of failure, but you have to decide to clean up.” David remembered his position as king and priest and he washed himself before he went to the house of the Lord.

Participant in Worship

Karl Barth says, “Christian worship is the most momentous, the most urgent, the most glorious action that can take place in human life.”

Worship has a way of reintroducing one to God. In his grief, David sought to spend time with God to gain a deeper relationship with His heavenly Father. What is interesting to note that David did not break his fast until after he had worshiped God; David’s hunger for a right relationship with God exceeded his desire for culinary delights. When others are content to roll around in dust, David chose to get up!!! Your reaction to tragedy will garner attention from those around you. David’s life was focused and motivated in God, and he explained his actions theologically. He knew that Yahweh was a God of great compassion and mercy—sometimes he relented and sometimes he didn’t. Yet, he did not think God unjust or unreasonable….

300 Quotations for Preachers (Afflicted on Two Sides)

The godly have some good in them, therefore the devil afflicts them; and some evil in them, therefore God afflicts them.

THOMAS WATSON*

The ABC’s of Being a Father A - Always trust them to God’s care B - Bring them to church C - Challenge them to high goals D - Delight in their achievements E - Exalt the Lord in their presence F - Frown on evil G - Give them love H - Hear their problems I - Ignore not their childish fears J - Joyfully accept their apologies K - Keep their confidence L - Live a good example before them M - Make them your friends N - Never ignore their endless questions O - Open your home to their visits