RTBS: 07/22 The Bronze Serpent (2)
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Tonight we are going to look at a very unique story
One that I would guess you most likely have never heard
And the prophecy given in this story is so direct and clear to what we looked at Sunday
Sunday we looked at John 13, when Jesus is sitting at the last supper table, and he begins the dinner by washing the feet of the disciples.
This includes Judas, the one who would betray him, and Peter the one who would deny him.
But Jesus often will reference phrases found in OT scripture, that is intended to bring much more meaning to what he is saying.
Sometimes he will clearly specific that this is what the scriptures say, and even explain what the connection is, and other times its a simple reference to a specific phrasing that he doesn’t clarify.
Now you may ask, why does this matter?
So Jesus likes to reference OT stories that somehow connect to what he is going through, so what? I could do the same thing
Well OT prophecy is so important because it isn’t something Jesus is connecting in his time to a current event, it is a prophecy of what would happen in the life of Jesus
And when we see Jesus time and time again show how so many different sections of OT scripture foretold an event or a lesson in his ministry, that does two things
1. It proves he is who he says he is
2. It shows that the entirety of scripture is pointing to him
He isn’t backing up and exalting the truth of the OT, the OT is backing up and exalting him, and that is it’s overall purpose
So yes it is very important, but it also does one other thing for us.
It teaches us more about what is happening in the life of Jesus
It’s sort of like a reference link to more info
EX: Like with the story of the Bronze serpent. Jesus could have spent all of his time with Nicodemus explaining all the connections and comparisons we made last week when he referenced how the story connected to him
But instead he just says, i will be lifted up, like in the story of the bronze serpent, and then the reader or listener can learn more about what he means by going and studying that story in depth
And this overall understand is the overall purpose of the OT
The OT is in many ways like Jesus’s reference link system
When he wants to expound on a viewpoint or a lesson, he will connect that to an OT passage that does it for him, and proves his message in the process
And tonight we are going to look at another example of this.
Jesus is sitting with his disciples at the last supper and he says this phrase....
18 “I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.’
So this is one of those instances where Jesus is specifically referencing a passage of scripture, so there is no inferrence as to what he means by saying this phrase.
He is clearly stating that the reference to this story is a prophecy of me
So what is this prophecy?
Well to understand the story we need to go all the way back to the time of David
CONTEXT
OT Overview Structure Review
3 Men to Remember
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob
All in the book of Genesis
Jacob has 12 sons - became the 12 tribes of Israel = Israelites
One son Joseph was sold by his brothers into slavery in Egypt
Joseph is eventually put into a place of authority
His family moves there and multiples over the span of about 400 years and become slaves in Egypt
The a baby named Moses is born
He would eventually be sent by God to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt
He would lead them through the wilderness to the land that God had promised Abraham
The people now dwell in the promised land, and are led by Judges and other leaders, but they desire a king instead of being led ultimately by God.
God allows them to have a king, but he warns them the king will not be beneficial to them.
A man named Saul is anointed as the first king
and as Saul continues to sin against God, God chooses to anoint a new king, a young shepherd boy named David
David eventually becomes the sitting king and rules over Israel in an incredible way, and he is called a man after God’s own heart
David also receives a promise from God, a covenant, that someone from his line would rule on throne of Israel forever
STORY
So over the years David has grown Israel tremendously
they are victorious over their enemies
They are financially stable
And all that changes one day when he looks at a woman bathing on a roof, he chooses to sleep with her, and then he kills the woman’s husband, one of his military leaders by sending him to the front lines
God punishes David for this by striking the child that was born out of this sin with a sickness, and the child dies
As soon as David is confronted of his sin, he is ultimately repentant, and he starts to pray that God would save the child
He is fasting, laying on the ground day and night crying out to God that the child would not die
And God does not save the child, he doesn’t answer his prayer
And notice what the Bible says about what David did in response.....
20 So David arose from the ground, washed and anointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he went to his own house; and when he requested, they set food before him, and he ate. 21 Then his servants said to him, “What is this that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive, but when the child died, you arose and ate food.”
22 And he said, “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who can tell whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ 23 But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.”
So just see the heart of David here
He was in tremendous sin, God punished him tremendously for it
And after all this David still worships God
But this would really be the beginning of the end for David
From this point on until the end of his reign David would face a great amount of hardship
David would have multiple sons, from many different woman.
David had many wives, as scripture clearly prohibited
17 Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away;
However this was a sin that nearly every king was involved in as it was so common among the other cultures that it just naturally happened
And as a result, the kings of Israel, including his son Solomon, saw a great amount of trouble come them as a direct result of this
One of the most effective ways this happened is in a story we see in 2 Samuel 13
I am not going to read it for sake of time
But one of David’s sons Amnon, became very fond of one of Davids other sons, sister who’s name was Tamar
So this is a step sister, that Amnon is desiring to have for himself, and she is the sister of Absalom, one of Davids other sons
This is all important for what we will get to later
Amnon devises this plan to get her alone, he advances on her, she does not reciprocate, and he ends up raping her, then he angrily throws out and now hates her
So David finds out about this, and he is angry, but he doesn’t really do anything about it
So Absalom, the brother of Tamar takes things into his own hands.
Many years later Absalom devises this plan to get Amnon alone at a party, wait until he is drunk, and then have his servants kill him
And they do so, and Absalom and his servants flee, and they stay away in another land for three years
And during this time David desires to see him again, but he won’t bring him home because of his crimes
So through a series of events in 2 Samuel 14, David ends up deciding to bring Absalom home but he does not allow him to come see him
24 And the king said, “Let him return to his own house, but do not let him see my face.” So Absalom returned to his own house, but did not see the king’s face.
And Absalom isn’t hated in Jerusalem, he actually starts to gain quite a following
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.
So Absalom is very good looking, he is charming, he is known for his long hair, and the people like him, but he still can’t see David
28 And Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, but did not see the king’s face.
Absalom starts to harass Joab, David’s commander, to try and let him see his father.
Finally David allows him to meet with him
33 So Joab went to the king and told him. And when he had called for Absalom, he came to the king and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king. Then the king kissed Absalom.
Now you would expect Absalom to be happy and content now, that he has made up with his father, but that doesn’t happen.
Remember Absalom had to witness what happened with his sister, and then saw his father do nothing about it for years
Once he takes matters into his own hand, he has to leave his home for years
Then David allows him home without really any punishment, further enforcing that Absalom could do whatever he wanted
And when he returns, he is living in the same city as his father, for years without being allowed to see him
There are years and years of time Absalom spent in bitterness against David
And that bitterness starts to turn to action
1 After this it happened that Absalom provided himself with chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him. 2 Now Absalom would rise early and stand beside the way to the gate. So it was, whenever anyone who had a lawsuit came to the king for a decision, that Absalom would call to him and say, “What city are you from?” And he would say, “Your servant is from such and such a tribe of Israel.” 3 Then Absalom would say to him, “Look, your case is good and right; but there is no deputy of the king to hear you.” 4 Moreover Absalom would say, “Oh, that I were made judge in the land, and everyone who has any suit or cause would come to me; then I would give him justice.” 5 And so it was, whenever anyone came near to bow down to him, that he would put out his hand and take him and kiss him. 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.
So Absalom starts to build an army, and he is waiting at the city gate, basically recruiting followers, and bashing David at the same time
And he is charming with people, so they listen and they follow him
Now this is where we finally start to get into the main connection with the story of Jesus
Absalom leaves the city with 200 men and he goes to Hebron
But I want you to notice who else he brings with him
11 And with Absalom went two hundred men invited from Jerusalem, and they went along innocently and did not know anything. 12 Then Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city—from Giloh—while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy grew strong, for the people with Absalom continually increased in number.
So Absalom has now built this full scale conspiracy against his father, he has recruited one of his closest advisors Ahithophel, and he is building an army
David is now in full betrayal, but he doesn’t know the full scope yet
In verse 13 David is told that the people are following Absalom, and David decides to flee for the sake of the people
14 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.”
15 And the king’s servants said to the king, “We are your servants, ready to do whatever my lord the king commands.”
So lets start connecting some pieces here
You have David who has just been betrayed by a son, one whom he loved, and his servants are devoting their allegiance to them
And as he is leaving the city certain group of men, gentiles who had just come to the city, start following him out, totalling 600 men
And David ask one of them why they are going with him
19 Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why are you also going with us? Return and remain with the king. For you are a foreigner and also an exile from your own place. 20 In fact, you came only yesterday. Should I make you wander up and down with us today, since I go I know not where? Return, and take your brethren back. Mercy and truth be with you.”
21 But Ittai answered the king and said, “As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in whatever place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also your servant will be.”
22 So David said to Ittai, “Go, and cross over.” Then Ittai the Gittite and all his men and all the little ones who were with him crossed over.
So what do we have now a group of men in David’s time of betrayal, some now who he had only known for a short time, are pledging their lives to David
Maybe you are getting some of the connections in the pictures we looked at Sunday
The disciples were pledging their lives as well to Jesus in his moment of betrayal
Now this is where things get really interesting
23 And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people crossed over. The king himself also crossed over the Brook Kidron, and all the people crossed over toward the way of the wilderness.
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.
We haven’t go to this yet in the story of Jesus, we will look at this in a few weeks.
But Jesus is in Jerusalem, the same city where this happened with David, and notice where he walks after he finds out he has been betrayed
1 When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered.
David and Jesus, followed the exact same walking path after they had been betrayed
Both have a group of followers who have claimed their lives to them
And both end up weeping in the exact same place on the mount of olives
I think there is a good amount of evidence that David is in the same place of the future garden of gethsemane and both are standing in that same place, weeping, following their betrayal
You say Zach that is interesting, but how does that tie into what Jesus said, this all could have just been coincidence.
Maybe, but the next verse certainly indicates against that
31 Then someone told David, saying, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “O Lord, I pray, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!”
Remember from earlier, Ahithophel was one of David’s closest advisors, and Absalom had convinced him to turn against David
And now in the same place where Judas would approach Jesus and kiss him, identifying who he was and betraying him, is where David finds out that his closest advisor has betrayed him
Some time later, Absalom and Ahithophel come to Jerusalem in sort of this chaotic takeover
Ahithophel instructs Absalom to do some very sinful things
And eventually Ahithophel asks Absolom to take 12,000 men and to go after David and to kill him at night when he is unprepared
But God has other plans
God allows another man to come and give Absalom the advice that they should wait, build up a large army, and attack David and all his man in a show of strength
Absalom likes this idea better and in this time David is able to escape
At this point Ahithophel knows that this rebellion will not work, and David would return one day and conquer the city.
And I tend to believe scripture indicates a sense of regret from Ahithophel here rather than fear
But notice what David’s betrayer does in response to learning his betrayal was not going to end up the way he thought
23 Now when Ahithophel saw that his advice was not followed, he saddled a donkey, and arose and went home to his house, to his city. Then he put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died; and he was buried in his father’s tomb.
Ahithophel, David’s betrayer, after betraying him and gaining some clarity in the end result, goes out and hangs himself, just as Judas did after betraying Jesus.
It is believed that during this time David would sit down and write out the 41st Psalm.
And in Psalm 41:9 he would write the words
9 Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted,
Who ate my bread,
Has lifted up his heel against me.
The same words Jesus referenced sitting at the Last Supper table
18 “I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.’
This tells us with a fair amount of certainty that Jesus is referencing back to this event with David and Ahithophel, and the betrayal he faced in such similar ways.
David would come back after a short amount of time with an army, and 10s of thousands of people die as a result, but David is victorious.
And in the process Absalom is riding through the battle, and his hair gets caught in a tree, and he is left hanging their.
Davids commander Joab finds him there and kills him, while he is hanging there on the tree
Again ending in David’s betrayer, dead hanging from a tree
It is so incredible to see how God connects stories in such minor details over the span of thousands of years
All for the purpose of exalting Christ
David didn’t even know it but the route he walked, the way his betrayers died, the allegiance of his servants, all of these things are occuring for a purpose, so that many years later Jesus could look at an event as important as that and says - OH YEAH, THAT WAS ALL ABOUT ME TOO
