Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Imagine a situation where your physical condition was the cause for discrimination:

Skin color

Disability

Lack of ability

This type of discrimination is particularly devastating, and difficult to understand, because we do not have much control over certain aspects of our physical condition (e.g., height, disability, physical features).

We live in a society where many have fought to prevent discrimination, especially in the workplace, due to physical disabilities.

We live in a very different time and owe much to people that stood up to this type of discrimination.

In the case of King David, our Scripture reading, tells us the origin of not allowing people that were “blind and lame” into the kingly palace.

God has something to say to us today through the study of his holy word.

Today we will consider:

The problem

The origin

The day everything changed

The problem

El problema

David has been anointed king over Israel.

He had succeeded king Saul.

David was God’s chosen king after God had abandoned Saul because of his sin.

David has started to reign over the people of God and now he was going to start conquering the land that was still occupied by the enemy.

David’s next plan for attack was Jerusalem.

In those days, Jerusalem was inhabited by the Jebusites.

They were canaanites who God had commanded the Israelites to run out of the land.

The Bible tells us about David’s decision and the resistance David faced:

2 sam 4

The Jebusites were not so worried about David coming to conquer their heavily fortified city.

Jerusalem is set atop a hill and was surrounded by a protective wall.

The Jebusites felt secure inside their mighty city fortress.

Any person that tried to come up and conquer the city would face defeat as the city dwellers would go up to the city wall and through heavy stones.

These types of cities were essentially impenetrable.

The Jebusites had the benefit of being on top of a hill and protected by their city walls where they could easily fight against their enemy.

Nevertheless, king David, as God’s chosen king, was to do God’s will and conquer the city of Jerusalem.

The Jebusite king did not feat David and his men.

In fact, he ridiculed David and his man saying that he would use the blind and lame to defend the city - in other words - defending the city would be a piece of cake.

He was ridiculing David’s ability to get by the blind and lame defenders of the city.

It is not clear whether the Jebusite king did in fact use the blind and lame of the city as his primary defense or whether he simply said it as a way to make fun of king David and his men.

David’s reaction in verse 8 leads me to believe that it is possible that near the city walls, the Jebusite king, had indeed placed at least some blind and lame men to defend the city as a way to further mock king David and his men.

David defeats the Jebusites in verse 7 and captures the city of Jerusalem and names it the “City of David”.

Even today, it is known as the City of David in commemoration of David’s brave and successful attempt to capture the city.

David had proved the Jebusite king wrong - God had given the city into David’s hands.

Notice how the writer of 2 Samuel describes how the Lord continued to bless and strengthen David’s kingdom:

2 sam 5.

The origin

El origen

David triumphed.

With the Lord’s help and guidance, David took possession of Jerusalem.

However, neither David or the Lord’s people could forget how the king of the Jebusites has ridiculed them.

Remember how the king of the Jebusites made fun of David and his men?

He told them that all he needed to defeat David and his men were the lame and the blind.

This public mockery cemented itself deep in their minds and hearts.

For this reason, there was a saying that became very well-known amongst the people

The ‘blind and lame’ will not enter the palace.”

De ahí viene el dicho: «Los ciegos y los cojos no entrarán en el palacio.»

This saying was not necessarily because David and his men saw something inherently evil or bad in the lame and the blind.

In fact, I do not thing it was right for David and the people to have acted in this way!

David and his men had, without adequate reason, prohibited these unfortunate people from coming before the king’s presence.

It could very well have been that David’s pride was deeply hurt, and every time he saw a lame or blind person we would essentially relive that moment of public mockery.

Many people would come before the king’s presence: foreigners, men, women, rich, poor, old and young - however, you never saw a lame or blind person allowed to enter the palace.

The day everything changed

El día que todo cambió

One day as David was thinking about Jonathan - his best friend, king Saul’s son - he was thinking about a promise he made to him.

Jonathan was killed in battle along with his father and brothers.

However, when Jonathan was still living, David and Jonathan pledged to each other loyalty.

They had a very strong friendship!

Jonathan knew that God had rejected his father as king over the people of Israel.

Jonathan knew that David was the rightful king in Israel.

He asks David to make him a promise:

1 Sam 20.14

Jonathan asked David to be king to his family.

Jonathan asked David to protect his family in the event of his death.

Jonathan was not looking after himself but rather he was looking after the protection of his family.

Several years have passed after Jonathan’s death and David remembered the promise he had made to Jonathan:

Is there anyone left of the household of Saul?

King Saul was dead.

All his sons (the princes) were also dead; but did any grandsons/or great grandsons survive?

There is someone left!

Someone knows that the Siba is alive.

He worked in the king’s palace!

Siba is summoned to come before the king.

2 sam 9.

Notice how Ziba responds - “There is still a son of Jonathan”.

David’s heart must have jumped for joy knowing that the son of his long lost friend was still living.

David would finally be able to fulfill his promise of protecting his beloved friend’s family.

David would be able to put in action the promise he had made many years ago.

But notice the unfortunate circumstance in this young man found himself “he is lame in both feet”.

Who did David hate amongst the inhabitants of the earth?

How was David mocked when he was about to capture the city of Jerusalem?

Who were the poor an unfortunate people, that because of David’s pride, were absolutely prohibited from entering the king’s palace?

What kind of people had David not seen for many years entering his palace?

All the people of God, including Ziba, must have knows the prohibition “the lame and blind were not to enter the king’s palace”.

David is now confronted with having to make a decision.

He must decide what he will do?

Why is this such a critical moment for this young man’s life?

Later on (v 5) we learn his name was Mephibosheth.

He was lame - which basically was a death sentence.

He could not work.

He could not make a living.

He was sentenced to a life of poverty and begging.

He lived off the people’s scraps.

David is about to act.