Arise

2nd version of “Don’t Breakdown”

Our focus this morning comes from the first three words of second Samuel, chapter nineteen verse 7

2 Samuel 19:7a (NASB95)

7 “Now therefore arise

have you ever felt a breakdown coming on?

where so many things are going wrong

or pressures of life are increasing constantly

or you’re going through a traumatic experience

or your have heartache in the core of your being

or a particular issue won’t go away but keeps getting worse

or even some combination of all the above

you feel you are about to lose it?

in today’s narrative, a King named David is about to have a complete breakdown

His breakdown is because of grief and regret

He has received word of the death of a loved one, and the reason for the death of this loved one can be traced back to David’s actions.

He feels responsible for this terrible situation

so let’s look at . . .

How did King David get to the point of a total breakdown?

Years before (10-15 years) David committed adultery with a friend’s wife, and she got pregnant. Then when he could not cover up his adultery, he had that friend murdered (sent orders and told them to make it look like an accident)

of course God saw it, and sent the Prophet Nathan to confront David.

And David repented of his sins. He was sincerely sorry for what he had done (Psalm 51).

God forgave David, but God had the prophet Nathan tell him there would be serious consequences for his actions.

The prophet Nathan told David that this child in Bathsheba’s womb would die, and the child died.

The prophet Nathan told David that one of the consequences of David’s sin, was that evil would rise up against him, from his own family

nice way of saying that someone from your family will try to kill you

you turned on a friend, you will reap back that a family member will turn on you

Another consequence of David’s sins would be that someone would take many of his wives

you took one wife, you will reap back that someone will take many wives from you

and some time later, King David’s son Absalom revolted, declared himself king, and tried to kill his father, but David managed to escape with some loyal soldiers

Absalom wanted to let everyone know that he meant business, he wanted everyone to know that there is no middle ground, no possibility of reconciliation, or peace treaty . . . . so he slept with his father’s concubines and lets everybody know it

And it finally gets to one decisive battle, the greater army of Absalom squares off against David’s smaller army . . the winner will be king.

in these events, David clearly sees the consequences of his actions, just like the prophet predicted. So he was ready to forgive Absalom. Therefore, before the battle, David specifically instructed his soldiers that if they win, do not harm his son Absalom

because he still loves his son dearly and because he feels responsible;

though Absalom is accountable for his actions, David knows his own sins set this all up

the battle starts, and by the power of the lord, David’s forces defeat the greater forces of Absalom

Absalom attempts to escape on a donkey, but his hair was so long (he was known for being handsome and having extremely long hair), his hair gets caught in a tree he was passing under, and Absalom is found swinging helplessly from that tree

one of David’s soldiers saw Absalom, but would not kill him because he remembered David’s instructions

but Joab, David’s army commander and cousin, kills Absalom (2nd cousin) without hesitation

news get backs to David that they are victorious, and that Absalom is dead

David won, but he lost . . . some of you understand how hard it is to celebrate a win when you have also suffered a defeat

you got a promotion, but not the one you deserved

the truth came out and you were exonerated, but the false rumors linger on

you got much better from the sickness, but you never fully recovered to 100% health

you won . . . but you have lost

and David, though victorious, goes into mourning over the death of his son

add in feeling guilty for not being the best dad (we see that in the Bible too)

add in feeling guilty that his sin contributed to this chain of events

then of course there is just the love from a father to a son

and David is full of sorrow and regret

and he begins to weep and weep

2 Samuel 18:33 NASB95

33 The king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And thus he said as he walked, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”

David begins to break down

David feels like life isn’t worth living

David is starting to feel numb and disconnected from others

David is unable to perform his normal tasks as a victoriou king . . . he just walks and weeps

David who has basically been a hero his whole life begins to break down

the slayer of Goliath begins to break down

the one who wrote, “The Lord is my shepherd” begins to break down

the one who wrote,” I will bless the Lord at all times”

begins to break down

and though you may have handled a lot in the pass

though you’ve been the problem solver in the pass

though you’ve been the noble one, the godly one, the patient one, the spiritual one

you can still run into something that makes you feel that you can’t handle it!

and you can begin to breakdown . . .

and if you are on the verge of a breakdown, God has sent a word today!

2 Samuel 19:1 NASB95

1 Then it was told Joab, “Behold, the king is weeping and mourns for Absalom.”

up front warning, this will be a helpful word, but not an easy word

this verse says, “They told Joab”

the king is losing it, let’s tell his top army commander, his first cousin, maybe he can shake David out of it

Well Joab is gangsta cousin . . .

the thoughts of gangsters are usually wrong, just like any other sinner

but when gangstas hit on the truth, there is a helpful simplicity to the thought process of a gangster

kill or get killed . . . “get or get got” . . . ask questions later homeboy

Remember he is the one who killed Absalom without hesitation. “I know what the king said, but this is war”

so just note that God is speaking through this gangster, and this word is simple and straightforward, but it is not easy

if you are about to have a break down . . . .

Count what you still have.

2 Samuel 19:5 NLT

5 Then Joab went to the king’s room and said to him, “We saved your life today and the lives of your sons, your daughters, and your wives and concubines. Yet you act like this, making us feel ashamed of ourselves.

Joab enters the house, and just gets straight to the point!

you’ve made us all feel like fools for helping you, supporting you, and fighting for you

Stop counting what was lost, but count what was saved

Absalom is dead, but you still have other sons that are yet alive (around 15 in fact)

Adonijah, Shephatiah, Ithream, Shimea, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, Ibhar, Elishama, Eliphelet, Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Eliada

and your daughters, wives, and concubines

count them instead of counting what you lost

if you want to avoid a breakdown, don’t count what you wish you had, . . . . count the blessings you still have!

some of us are about to breakdown . . .

but we are still eating three meals a day

but you still have clothes on your back

while trying to decide which pair shoes to wear

about to breakdown while having shelter over our heads

about to break down while driving a car as we pass the homeless in the streets

count what you still have . . . sometimes you have to say “It’s rough, and I am going through a lot, but I still have . . . “

life

or I can still hear, or I can still see, or I can still talk

I can still walk

clothes on my back

I miss that loved one, but I have that other loved ones who are still here

i dare you to pay attention to what you still have

next if you want to avoid a breakdown . . . .

Understand, that God gave you the best of available options

Joab continues . . . .

2 Samuel 19:6 NLT

6 You seem to love those who hate you and hate those who love you. You have made it clear today that your commanders and troops mean nothing to you. It seems that if Absalom had lived and all of us had died, you would be pleased.

Joab is saying, I guess you wished everything was reversed?

that we died and Absalom lived?

that your supporters were defeated and the rebels were victorious?

David, you have to live in the now and understand that there was no other outcome for a person who tries to kills the king

no other outcome for treason against the throne, even if it was your son

Absalom had to die . . . or you and the rest of your family had to die

You are in her hollering, “I would have died for you”; but if you had died that automatically means that the rest of your family and every loyal person to you would have to die too

My king, cuzzo . . . there was only option A or B, there was no option C”

there was no scenario where you were victorious AND Absalom was allowed to live

Absalom openly slept with your concubines to let the whole world know there were only two options: him or you

in this situation, there were only two options; only two outcomes: them or us . . . where was no option that had a “we”

one thing that causes us to get close to a breakdown is when we think we missed out on an option

But as God’s child, and knowing that he loves you, you must understand that God has given you the best of the available options.

based on the situation, based on your actions, based on your decisions, based on his plans, based on what’s best for you, based on him knowing what’s ahead . . . God gave you the best of available options

often we are about to breakdown because we have misjudged the available options, our expectations were misguided . . . there was only option A or B . . . there was never an option C on the table

maybe you were dating a no good person

option A - God gives you strength to break away and you lose some of the best years of your life

option B - you stay with them and waste all the years of your life

there was never option C - where they change and become the person you always imagined

God could do anything, but because of his wisdom and his plans, because of freewill, that option was not available

and you are sad because God allowed you to waste some of the best years of your life instead of wasting your whole entire life,

you became successful or prosperous and friends/family are treating you differently now, and you are sad. But there were only two options.

option A - you can be successful and have jealous ex friends or

option B - or you can remain unsuccessful and keep your fake friends

there was never an option C - successful and the fake friends turn out to be real

and you are sad because God said I want you to be successful and know who your real friends are

a lie is told on you

option A - you can be exonerated but some false rumors persist anyway

option B - you pay the price for something you didn’t do

there was never an option C where you were cleared AND everyone thinks highly of you

and you are grieving and mourning because God chose to exonerate you in the eyes of most people

sometimes the option “everything turns out perfect” is not on the table/not available

and you have to trust that of the options that were truly available, God gave you the best one!

and Joab is saying, “King David”

you may not be where you want to be, but it’s better than where you could be

And I encourage you

maybe you didn’t get that open door, but thank God for the open window you managed to crawl through

you didn’t get green pastures and still waters, but thank God that he is still walking with you through the valley

some of us are crying/whining for an option that was never there

So David . . . .

count what you still have

and remember that God gave you the best of available options . . .

Joab continues

2 Samuel 19:7 NASB95

7 “Now therefore arise, go out and speak kindly to your servants, for I swear by the Lord, if you do not go out, surely not a man will pass the night with you, and this will be worse for you than all the evil that has come upon you from your youth until now.”

arise . . .get up .

David, I know you are hurting, but do what a king must do, even though it is hard to do

thank all of those loyal soldiers who put their lives on the line for you

let them know that you appreciate them

My Christian brother/sister, I know you are hurting, I am not discounting your pain

but still, you need to arise and do what a child of the king must do . . . whatever that is

arise and thank God, praise God, Serve god

arise and keep going forward

arise and fulfill your calling

arise and keep treating people right

arise and keep trying

don’t breakdown . . . . arise

don’t quit . . . arise

don’t give up . . . arise

enough crying . . . arise

don’t get me wrong, mental health is important, but it seems that society has started to tell folks that you SHOULD fall apart, that you should thrown in the towel, that you are SOOO fragile and can’t take nothing

raising kids is hard, so just take my kids, raise them for me

being in the workforce is difficult, so just quit working

being married is not a piece of cake, so just get divorced

inflation is out of control, so do something illegal

no, don’t do that . . . arise

Joab told King David, “Here is why you must arise: if you do not arise, things will turn out worse for you

you think are are sad now, watch how sad you will be if you do not arise

you think you are suffering now, watch how much suffering you will go through if you do not arise

Cousin, it’s tempting to give in and break down, but once again you need to understand the options before you

There is no option where you break down and things get better

there is not option where you break down and things remain the same

here are the two options

1. breakdown and things get much worse

2. or arise and eventually things will get better

I suggests you accept what God has allowed, press on, and watch things get better

don’t lose tomorrow because you are breaking down today

you still have a kingdom to restore, a temple to prepare for, a legacy to establish

Don’t breakdown because God is not through with you yet

And I tell you the same thing!

accept what God has allowed, press on, fight on, and watch things get better

don’t lose tomorrow because you are breaking down today

to give despair a chance to multiply

Arise!

invitation

two options on the table

walk with God, fight against God

heaven or hell

there is option C, just be a nice person = unsaved person (person who says they don’t need a savior)

I am here to offer you a Great Invitation! An invitation to

Become a follower of Christ

Join WMBC

Or Both!

but let’s talk about being a follower of Christ, first:

Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

Romans 5:8 - But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 10:9 - that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;

get saved, and then get in a church were you can grow and fellowship and serve

If you want to give your life to Christ, join WMBC, or both, talk to Assistant Pastor Tony Camell or Sis. Teena Camell after service. This is their picture on the screen.