The Merciful King

TURN to 2 SAM…19..(PICKING UP in V.8B)

OPEN in PRAYER

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INTRO: “THE PROOF COMES DURING HARD TIMES”

· THE TEST FOR CHRISTIAN ETHICS AND LIVING RIGHT BEFORE GOD COMES ONLY REALLY DURING THE HARD TIMES.

SUPER REVELATORY!

EASY to DO RIGHT THING,, WHEN IT’S EASY...

HARD to DO RIGHT THING,, WHEN IT’S HARD...

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EASY to LOVE THOSE WHO LOVE YOU....

BE KIND WHEN in GOOD MOOD & SLEPT WELL

to FORGIVE, WHEN TRANSGRESSION = SMALL...

—>> IT’S EASY TO DO THE RIGHT THING, WHEN THE TERMS ARE RIGHT…

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CHURCH, OUR GOD HASN’T CALLED US TO MERELY EASY THINGS.

JESUS TAUGHT---LOVE ENEMIES,,

EVEN TAX COLLECTORS LOVE THEIR FRIENDS!

LOVING the LOVABLE = 1ST MILE… JESUS CALLS US to 2...

THE BARE MINIMUM,, EASY-GOING LIFE…ISN’T SUFFICIENT for the CHRISTIAN...

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(NEED) AND THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS WE NEED THIS TEXT TODAY,

WE’LL SEE:

A QUALITY of the KINGDOM of GOD THAT’S DIFFICULT BUT NECESSARY to LIVE OUT...

(T) BUT BEFORE WE DIVE INTO THIS WEEK’S TEXT, I WANT TO OFFER A QUICK RECAP TO BRING EVERYONE UP TO SPEED.

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RECAP: “COSTLY GOOD NEWS”

LAST WEEK:

SHORT-LIVED BATTLE BETWEEN DAVID’S MEN & ABSALOM’S ARMY

**NOTE ABSALOM’S REBELLION

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CIVIL WAR in ISRAEL:

DAVID DIVVIES UP MEN INTO 3 CAMPS

THEY DESTROY ABSALOM’S FORCES

ICING on CAKE: ABSALOM GETS STUCK in TREE!

JOAB KILLS ABSALOM

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TEXT ENDED:

PEACE in ISRAEL!

DAVID = SORROWFUL,, SON is DEAD

WE LEARNED: SOMETIMES GOD’S DELIVERANCE = COSTLY,,

& WE CAN’T AVOID PRESENT CONSEQUENCES, BUT WE CAN CHANGE the FUTURE BY SOWING SOMETHING DIFFERENT...

JOAB REBUKES DAVID —> VICTORY TURNED INTO MOURNING

(T) AND SO NOW THAT THE CIVIL WAR IS OVER, AND DAVID ALONE IS LEFT,

WE’LL SEE HOW THE SITUATION IN ISRAEL PANS OUT,

LOOK W/ ME @ 2SAM…CH.19...,, 2ND HALF of VS 8...

THE TEXT SAYS,

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Text: 2 Samuel 19:9-40 ESV

Setting/Inciting Incident (v8b-10)

2 Samuel 19:8–40 (ESV)

8b Now Israel had fled every man to his own home.

9 And all the people were arguing throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies and saved us from the hand of the Philistines, and now he has fled out of the land from Absalom.

10 But Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why do you say nothing about bringing the king back?”

OUR TEXT BEGINS WITH A PROBLEM: NO KING in ISRAEL! (NORTHERN TRIBES SPECIFICALLY)

DAVID = REJECTED & FLED

ABSALOM = DEAD

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MEN RECOUNT DAVID’S PAST ACTIONS

IT WAS THE KING WHO DELIVERED US -- HAND OF OUR ENEMIES,

&& HE SAVED US — FROM PHILISTINES (EMPHASIS HEBREW).

THEIR CONCLUSION:

DAVID = GOOD GUY,, HELPFUL in PAST

ABSALOM = DEAD

SO WHY NOT BRING HIM BACK??

(T) IT’S MAYBE NOT THE BEST REASON FOR BRINGING DAVID BACK,

BUT IT DOES MAKE SENSE,

SO WE’LL SEE HOW THIS GOES.

LOOK W/ ME @ VS 11.

THE TEXT SAYS,

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RISING ACTION (V11-15)

11 And King David sent this message to Zadok and Abiathar the priests: “Say to the elders of Judah, ‘Why should you be the last to bring the king back to his house, when the word of all Israel has come to the king?

12 You are my brothers; you are my bone and my flesh. Why then should you be the last to bring back the king?’

13 And say to Amasa, ‘Are you not my bone and my flesh? God do so to me and more also, if you are not commander of my army from now on in place of Joab.’ ”

14 And he swayed the heart of all the men of Judah as one man, so that they sent word to the king, “Return, both you and all your servants.”

15 So the king came back to the Jordan, and Judah came to Gilgal to meet the king and to bring the king over the Jordan.

APPARENTLY DAVID HEARS the PONDERINGS OF THE MEN OF ISRAEL

SENDS to JUDAH (SOUTH) && HIS OWN TRIBE!

??? HOW COME YOU DON’T WANT ME BACK TOO ???

DAVID SENDS & REMINDS: “WE’RE FAMILY!”

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DAVID TAKES AMASA to REPLACE JOAB!

(AMASA = COMMANDER of ABSALOM’S ARMY)

DAVID PROVES HE WON’T BE HARBORING OFFENSE...

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FASCINATING SITUATION,, LOTS of MOVING PIECES...

ONE PROBLEM: NO ONE = MENTIONING WHAT GOD WANTS,, OR GOD’S DECREES...

ISRAEL: RECOUNTS DAVID’S SUCCESS & the GOOD TIMES...

IN JUDAH: DAVID = FAMILY

WE MUST REMEMBER: ISRAEL = GOD’S COVENANT PEOPLE,, BELONGING to HIM!

(Q) SHOULDN’T GOD,, the HEAVENLY KING of ISRAEL HAVE a SAY in the EARTHLY KING??

REMEMBER, DAVID = KING OF GOD’S CHOOSING.

SAMUEL WAS SENT BY YAHWEH FOR DAVID...

GOD ELEVATED the SHEPHERD BOY & MADE HIM GREAT

DAVID’S BLESSINGS = GOD’S DOING

TRUE QUESTION to ASK: IS GOD DONE WITH DAVID?.... OR NOT?

NOT HIS SUCCESS

NOT HIS COUSINS

RESUME ASIDE....WHAT DOES GOD WANT?

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WHEN MAKING DECISIONS in LIFE & CHURCH.... THIS SHOULD BE OUR QUESTION.

WHAT DOES GOD WANT?

WHAT DOES GOD’S WORD SAY?

NOT:

WHAT’S CONVENIENT?

WHAT’S PRACTICAL?

WHAT’S EVERYONE ELSE DOING?

WHAT’S WORKED in the PAST?

SO MANY CHURCHES FALL PREY to PRAGMATISM,, DOING the PRACTICAL THING,,

OR DOING WHAT THEY’VE ALWAYS BEEN DOING...

OR WHAT EVERYONE ELSE is DOING…

—>> RATHER THAN SEEKING GOD & HIS WORD...

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WHAT DOES GOD WANT?

—>> SEE BECAUSE GOD WASN’T EVER DONE W/ DAVID...

IN GOD’S EYES, IT ALWAYS WAS:

“KING DAVID” NOT “KING ABSALOM”

(T) TODAY’S TEXT: NO ONE BRINGS UP GOD,

NO ONE SEEKS GOD,

NO ONE ASKS EVEN WHAT GOD HAD SAID IN THE PAST.

OUT OF SHEER CONVENIENCE, IT SEEMS, DAVID WOULD MAKE A GOOD KING, AGAIN.

JUDAH MEETS DAVID @ JORDAN to BRING HIM OVER....WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 16.

THE TEXT SAYS,

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CLIMAX: DAVID PARDONS HIS ENEMIES (V16-38)

16 And Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjaminite, from Bahurim, hurried to come down with the men of Judah to meet King David.

17 And with him were a thousand men from Benjamin. And Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, with his fifteen sons and his twenty servants, rushed down to the Jordan before the king,

18 and they crossed the ford to bring over the king’s household and to do his pleasure. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was about to cross the Jordan,

19 and said to the king, “Let not my lord hold me guilty or remember how your servant did wrong on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem. Do not let the king take it to heart.

20 For your servant knows that I have sinned. Therefore, behold, I have come this day, the first of all the house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king.”

JUDAH GOES to MEET DAVID @ JORDAN RIVER…BUT NOT ALONE.

REMEMBER SHIMEI??

WHEN DAVID FLEEING JERUSALEM:

SHIMEI (DESCENDANT of SAUL) PELTS DAVID W/ ROCKS,, INSULTS,, DIRT & DUST...

CURSING & BELITTLING DAVID

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ZIBA ALSO SHOWS UP:

SERVANT to MEPHIBOSHETH,,

HE’D SHOWED UP W/ PROVISIONS for DAVID

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NOW DAVID = KING,, SITUATION = DIFFERENT...

SHIMEI SHOWS UP,,, ACKNOWLEDGING HIS SIN...

BRINGS MEN W/ HIM

FIRST FROM NORTH to ACKNOWLEDGE DAVID in PERSON

HIS CURSING & ROCK-THROWING HAVE STOPPED

1ST in LINE for MERCY

(T) SO, HOW WILL THIS GO?

LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 21.

THE TEXT SAYS:

21 Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered, “Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the Lord’s anointed?”

22 But David said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should this day be as an adversary to me? Shall anyone be put to death in Israel this day? For do I not know that I am this day king over Israel?”

23 And the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” And the king gave him his oath.

FAMILIAR SCENE...

1ST TIME W/ SHIMEI,, ABISHAI OFFERED to REMOVE HIS HEAD

NOW AGAIN,, ABISHAI OFFERS to KILL HIM...

COMMANDED in O.T. LAW,, NOT to CURSE a RULER of the PEOPLE!

SHIMEI HAD CURSED the LORD’S ANOINTED...

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DAVID—AS KING,, CAN DO WHAT HE WANTS.

HE OFFERS MERCY.

INSTEAD of DEATH WARRANT,, SHIMEI RECEIVES DAVID’S OATH!

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HOW COULD DAVID DO THIS??

CONSIDER DAVID’S LIFE:

RECEIVING HIS KINGDOM BACK BY GRACE

DAVID’S LIFE HAD BEEN SPARED BY GOD’S MERCY,,

—>> IF GOD SPARED DAVID from the DEATH PENALTY…

SURELY DAVID COULD SPARE OTHERS...

(T) AND WITH THE KING RETURNING TO JERUSALEM WE SEE HE’S ENCOUNTERING ALL SORTS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO RIGHT WRONGS.

SO, WHO’S HE BUMP INTO NEXT?

LOOK W/ ME @ VS 24...

THE TEXT SAYS,

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DAVID’S ENCOUNTER W/ MEPHIBOSHETH (V24-30)

24 And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king. He had neither taken care of his feet nor trimmed his beard nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came back in safety.

25 And when he came to Jerusalem to meet the king, the king said to him, “Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?”

26 He answered, “My lord, O king, my servant deceived me, for your servant said to him, ‘I will saddle a donkey for myself, that I may ride on it and go with the king.’ For your servant is lame.

27 He has slandered your servant to my lord the king. But my lord the king is like the angel of God; do therefore what seems good to you.

28 For all my father’s house were but men doomed to death before my lord the king, but you set your servant among those who eat at your table. What further right have I, then, to cry to the king?”

HAVEN’T SEEN MEPHIBOSHETH in a WHILE...

DESCENDANT of KING SAUL

SON of JONATHAN

DAVID SHOWED COVENANT-FAITHFULNESS to HIM

STANDARDS of THAT DAY— KILL the PRIOR KING’S DESCENDANTS...

DAVID PUTS COVENANT B4 CULTURE!

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PROBLEM: WHEN DAVID FLED,, ZIBA CAME as OPPORTUNIST

“HE SAID—SHE SAID”

ZIBA SAID: MEPHIBOSHETH BETRAYED DAVID

MEPHIBOSHETH SAID: ZIBA BETRAYED HIM

SCHOLARLY CONSENSUS (LARGELY): ZIBA MADE UP HIS STORY & LEFT MEPHIBOSHETH BEHIND

**REMEMBER MEPHIBOSHETH = CRIPPLED!**

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MEPHIBOSHETH DEFENDS HIMSELF… && HIS APPEARANCE DEFENDS HIM TOO!

DALE DAVIS EXPLAINS, “INDEED, HIS DISHEVELED APPEARANCE SHOWED THAT HE HAD FORCED HIMSELF TO SHARE DAVID’S EXILE IN SPIRIT.”[1]

(T) SO, WHAT DOES THE KING DO WITH HIM?

WHOSE STORY WILL HE BELIEVE?

LOOK W/ ME @ VS 29...

29 And the king said to him, “Why speak any more of your affairs? I have decided: you and Ziba shall divide the land.”

30 And Mephibosheth said to the king, “Oh, let him take it all, since my lord the king has come safely home.”

· ONCE AGAIN, DAVID EXHIBITS UNNECESSARY GRACE.

MEPHIBOSHETH DIDN’T DESERVE ANYTHING GOOD FROM DAVID!

NOW HE GETS PART of the INHERITANCE BACK

BOTH MEPHIBOSHETH & ZIBA = SPARED FROM KING’S JUDGMENT!

(T) AND THEN THE TEXT SAYS IN VERSE 31,

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31 Now Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim, and he went on with the king to the Jordan, to escort him over the Jordan.

32 Barzillai was a very aged man, eighty years old. He had provided the king with food while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a very wealthy man.

33 And the king said to Barzillai, “Come over with me, and I will provide for you with me in Jerusalem.”

34 But Barzillai said to the king, “How many years have I still to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?

35 I am this day eighty years old. Can I discern what is pleasant and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats or what he drinks? Can I still listen to the voice of singing men and singing women? Why then should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king?

36 Your servant will go a little way over the Jordan with the king. Why should the king repay me with such a reward?

37 Please let your servant return, that I may die in my own city near the grave of my father and my mother. But here is your servant Chimham. Let him go over with my lord the king, and do for him whatever seems good to you.”

38 And the king answered, “Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do for him whatever seems good to you, and all that you desire of me I will do for you.”

39 Then all the people went over the Jordan, and the king went over. And the king kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and he returned to his own home.

DAVID ENCOUNTERED MANY WHO BETRAYED HIM...

NOW HE ENCOUNTERS a FRIEND: BARZILLAI

"VERY AGED MAN”, 80 YEARS OLD

WEALTHY MAN

PROVIDED for DAVID WHEN HE FLED FROM JERUSALEM to MAHANAIM

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COUPLE THINGS WE CAN LEARN FROM HIM:

I. BARZILLAI HELPED SOMEONE WHO COULD DO NOTHING in RETURN

WHILE DAVID = RUNNING,, HE COULDN’T REPAY BARZILLAI

AND NOW BARZILLAI DESIRES NOTHING in RETURN!

HE DIDN’T USE DAVID LIKE ZIBA,, TO GET AHEAD.

HE DIDN’T KICK HIM WHILE HE WAS DOWN

HE HELPED DAVID WHEN HE WAS in NEED W/ NO ULTERIOR MOTIVES...

BARZILLAI DIDN’T HELP to GET AHEAD…TO LOOK GOOD…TO HOPEFULLY GET a R.O.I.

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CHRISTIAN, HOW OFTEN WHEN YOU HELP OTHERS, DO YOU THINK OF THE BENEFIT IT MIGHT BRING TO YOU?

THAT SOMEDAY THEY MIGHT RETURN THE FAVOR?

THAT SOMEONE MIGHT SEE THE GOOD THAT YOU ARE DOING AND PRAISE YOU FOR IT?

THAT YOU MIGHT RECEIVE SOME FORM OF BLESSING IN RETURN FOR YOUR GOOD DEEDS?

ARE YOU CONTENT to HELP the HELPLESS & TRUST THAT GOD WILL REPAY?

TO DO GOOD in PRIVATE…TRUSTING THAT GOD SEES...

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II. 2ND THING W/ BARZILLAI— HIS OLD AGE DIDN’T PREVENT HIM FROM BEING a HELP to DAVID

DALE DAVIS EVEN POINTS OUT THAT THIS MIGHT’VE BEEN BARZILLAI’S GREATEST MOMENT, GOD USED THIS MAN @ GREATEST POINT in HIS AGE...

BEING USED to HELP SPARE GOD’S CHOSEN KING! WOW!

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BARZILLAI’S OWN WORDS:

HE CAN’T TASTE GOOD ANYMORE

CAN’T HEAR GOOD ANYMORE

DOESN’T HAVE MANY YEARS LEFT

DESPITE BEING PAST HIS PRIME,,, GOD STILL USED HIM MIGHTILY!

IF YOU’RE STILL HERE, GOD CAN STILL USE YOU to BLESS OTHERS!

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BARZILLAI REFUSES REPAYMENT:

TRANSFERS BLESSING to CHIMHAM…POSSIBLY a SON/RELATIVE

BARZILLAI SAYS to DAVID: DO WHAT’S GOOD in YOUR EYES....

DAVID RESPONDS: I’LL DO WHAT’S GOOD in YOUR EYES!

BLANK CHECK!

BARZILLAI RETURNS HOME

& CHIMHAM GOES W/ KING

(T) AND NOW, OUR TEXT IS GOING TO CLOSE IN VERSE 40.

THE SCRIPTURE SAYS,

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40 The king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him. All the people of Judah, and also half the people of Israel, brought the king on his way.

TEXT CLOSES on LARGELY GOOD NOTE..

DAVID HAD PARDONED HIS ENEMIES

BLESSING of BARZILLAI RESTS on CHIMHAM

ISRAEL & JUDAH BRINGING KING HOME ACROSS the JORDAN to GILGAL

(T) AND SO, WE CAN LEARN FROM THIS PASSAGE TODAY, THE IDEA THAT,

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HOMILETICAL IDEA:

· THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS A KINGDOM OF MERCY AND GRACE & THEREFORE THE PEOPLE OF THIS KINGDOM OUGHT TO BE GRACIOUS AND MERCIFUL.

GOSPEL: A KINGDOM OF MERCY

CONSIDERING DAVID’S MERCY.... WE MUST NEVER FORGET HOW MERCIFUL OUR HEAVENLY KING IS....

WHO WE WERE OUTSIDE of CHRIST:

ENEMIES of GOD

DEAD in TRESPASSES & SINS

WITHOUT HOPE & WITHOUT GOD

SLAVES to SIN

LIVING UNDER DOMAIN of DARKNESS

THIS = WHO WE USED TO BE!!

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SON of DAVID TOOK PITY ON US…

Romans 5:6–8 (ESV)

6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—

8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

KINGDOM of GOD = KINGDOM of MERCY to ALL WHO WILL RECEIVE IT...

SHIMEI DIDN’T DESERVE IT

MEPHIBOSHETH DIDN’T DESERVE IT

ZIBA DIDN’T DESERVE IT

BARZILLAI DIDN’T DESERVE REWARDS,, HELPING KING = PREROGATIVE

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LIKEWISE WE DON’T DESERVE MERCY

YET DAVID’S GREATER SON,, JESUS CHRIST,, LAVISHES MERCY UPON US

&& PROMISES REWARDS FOR FAITHFUL SERVICE to HIM!!

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IN MATT.18… JESUS TELLS PARABLE ABOUT FORGIVENESS:

PORTRAYS SERVANT’S DEBT to MASTER

BIGGEST NUMBER (10,000,, MYRIAD)

BIGGEST DENOMINATION (TALENT)

INSURMOUNTABLE!!

COULDN’T EVER BE PAID OFF in MULTIPLE LIFETIMES!!

the MASTER DIDN’T ENTER INTO a WORKS-BASED REPAYMENT PLAN…HE FORGAVE the DEBT!!

Colossians 2:14 (ESV)

14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.

IF YOU ARE in CHRIST,, YOU’VE RECEIVED a MERCY BEYOND COMPREHENSION!!

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SALVATION = FREE GIFT OFFERED to HOPELESS SINNERS...

THE GREATEST ACT of MERCY

CHRIST PAID the DEBT....TAKING the PENALTY....

SO WE COULD RECEIVE the CREDIT FOR HIS PERFECT LIFE BY FAITH...

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THE KINGDOM of GOD is ONE of MERCY...

&& THE SON of DAVID EXTENDS MERCY to YOU TODAY.... WILL YOU RECEIVE IT??

AND IF YOU ARE HERE TODAY AND YOU DON’T HAVE THIS HOPE,

OR YOU DON’T HAVE ASSURANCE,

OR YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING MATTERS OF FAITH,

I’D LOVE TO TALK TO YOU AFTER THE SERVICE TODAY.

(T) AND NOW, IN CLOSING, I’D LIKE TO SHARE A FEW TAKEAWAY THOUGHTS FOR YOU TODAY.

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TAKEAWAYS:

LEARN ABOUT GOD?

AGAIN & AGAIN in SCRIPTURE WE SEE GOD’S FAITHFULNESS....

CONSIDER HOW GOD PROVIDENTIALLY PRESERVES DAVID AGAIN & AGAIN

HE GAVE DAVID the THRONE in ISRAEL…AND HE WOULDN’T LOSE IT...

AT TIMES IT’S UGLY

AT TIMES IT’S BAD

BUT GOD = FAITHFUL THROUGH it ALL...

GOD HAD MADE COVENANT W/ DAVID & IT WASN’T CHANGING!

(T) AND FOR US THIS MORNING,

APP: LIVING WITHIN THE KINGDOM OF MERCY

THOSE WHO’VE BEEN FORGIVEN...

THOSE W/ HOPE of ETERNAL LIFE

THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN RECIPIENTS of MERCY....

THERE’S a NECESSARY RESPONSE to that LEVEL of GRACE & MERCY

IF WE’VE BEEN RECIPIENTS of MERCY & BEEN FORGIVEN MUCH— WE OUGHT ALSO to FORGIVE OTHERS...

**SINS AGAINST US,,, PALE in COMPARISON to OUR SINS AGAINST GOD**

DAVID WAS a LOT of THINGS:

SHEPHERD..

GIANT SLAYER

MILITARY CHAMPION

KING

MAN AFTER GOD’S HEART

HE WAS ALSO FORGIVEN...

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DAVID COMMITTED MOST EGREGIOUS of SINS...

DAVID BROKE 4/10 COMMANDMENTS in RAPID SUCCESSION

COVETING ANOTHER’S WIFE—10TH COMMANDMENT

ADULTERY—7TH COMMANDMENT

MURDER—6TH COMMANDMENT

STEALING—8TH COMMANDMENT

TWO of THESE = DEATH PENALTY in O.T.!! SERIOUS SINS!!

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WHEN DAVID REPENTED,, HE WAS FORGIVEN.

GOD PUT AWAY HIS SIN

GOD SAID HE WOULDN’T DIE

**DAVID STILL FACED DIVINE DISCIPLINE & CONSEQUENCES…BUT DAVID’S LIFE WAS SPARED....**

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NOW DAVID HAD the OPPORTUNITY to EXTEND GRACE & MERCY as HE HAD RECEIVED IT...

MENTIONED EARLIER: JESUS’ PARABLE of the UNFORGIVING SERVANT

SERVANT = FORGIVEN of INSURMOUNTABLE DEBT...

THE FORGIVEN SERVANT GOES to FELLOW-SERVANT ---> DEMANDING REPAYMENT FOR MUCH SMALLER DEBT

WITHOUT MERCY CASTS HIM in JAIL...

HOW COULD HE???

—>> IT HAPPENS ALL the TIME!

WHENEVER a FORGIVEN CHILD of GOD HARBORS UNFORGIVENESS TOWARDS ANOTHER...

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CHRISTIAN.....ARE YOU WILLING to EXTEND MERCY & GRACE to THOSE WHO HAVE:

WRONGED YOU

CAUSED YOU ALL SORTS of PROBLEMS?

THOSE LIKE SHIMEI

WHO’VE CURSED YOU,,

THROWN INSULTS @ YOU

& BELITTLED YOU??

THOSE LIKE ZIBA

WHO’VE USED YOU,, FOR THEIR OWN GAIN??

THOSE LIKE MEPHIBOSHETH

WHO the WORLD SAYS DOESN’T DESERVE MERCY??

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WORLD SAYS: GIVE THEM a TASTE of THEIR OWN MEDICINE...

WORD of GOD SAYS: FORGIVE OTHERS as GOD in CHRIST HAS FORGIVEN YOU...

HOW COULD DAVID…WHO’D BEEN FORGIVEN of SO MUCH,, NOT EXTEND MERCY to ANOTHER??

HOW COULD ONE SPARED of DEATH FROM ADULTERY & MURDER......EXECUTE a ROCK-THROWER???

NOT ALWAYS THIS OBVIOUS & EASY

REF. INTRODUCTION: THE TEST COMES WHEN IT’S NOT EASY....

REMEMBER: the SINS of PEOPLE TOWARD US,, ALWAYS PALE in COMPARISON to OUR SINS AGAINST an ETERNAL, HOLY GOD....

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IF GOD’S KINGDOM = ONE of MERCY

&& WE ARE a PART of THAT KINGDOM…REPRESENTATIVES of THIS KING...

THEN WE OUGHT to BE PEOPLE of MERCY & GRACE

THOSE WHO FORGIVE OTHERS AS GOD HAS FORGIVEN US

FOR OUR KING is a MERCIFUL KING,, AMEN?

CLOSE in PRAYER