NEHCC Sermon - 6-29-08 - Be Fearful
NORTHEAST HOUSTON COMMUNITY CHURCH
Sermon – Be Fearful
Scripture – 2 Sam 18:24-32
6-29-08
2 Sam 16:15-23
15 Meanwhile Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem; and Ahithophel was with him. 16 And so it was, when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, came to Absalom, that Hushai said to Absalom, "Long live the king! Long live the king!" 17 So Absalom said to Hushai, "Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?" 18 And Hushai said to Absalom, "No, but whom the Lord and this people and all the men of Israel choose, his I will be, and with him I will remain. 19 "Furthermore, whom should I serve? Should I not serve in the presence of his son? As I have served in your father's presence, so will I be in your presence." 20 Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, "Give advice as to what we should do." 21 And Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Go in to your father's concubines, whom he has left to keep the house; and all Israel will hear that you are abhorred by your father. Then the hands of all who are with you will be strong." 22 So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the top of the house, and Absalom went in to his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel. 23 Now the advice of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if one had inquired at the oracle of God. So was all the advice of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom. NKJV
-
We have finally come to the last of the four pronounced consequences of David for his sinfulness with Bathsheba when she was the wife of Uriah.
-
V11 And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. 12 For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, before the sun.'"
-
This sequence of God’s word has been very unsettling to me for I have put myself into the shoes of David and I can imagine that many times he wished he could turn back the hands of time and make a different decision about Bathsheba then he did. None of us commits sin with the looking forward to the negative consequences of our acts. These consequences must have seemed like a bad dream to David as it would to me.
-
Last week we talked about another consequence that had come to pass.
1. 11 Thus says the Lord: 'Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house;
God said that He would raise up adversity within David’s own house. This is important to understand because in the other two cases we said that all god had to do was nothing but let the evil heart of men follow its own course. The result was the sword used among David’s children.
-
Back a few verses (v5) we get a glimpse into David’s troubled heart. As he traveled away from Jerusalem a member of Saul’s household confronts David and curses him and throws rocks at David and his men. David was still king and deserved respect, but when one of David’s men asked permission to kill this man, shemi David stayed his hand.
2 Sam 16:11-14 11 And David said to Abishai and all his servants, "See how my son who came from my own body seeks my life. How much more now may this Benjamite? Let him alone, and let him curse; for so the Lord has ordered him. 12 It may be that the Lord will look on my affliction,* and that the Lord will repay me with good for his cursing this day." 13 And as David and his men went along the road, Shimei went along the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went, threw stones at him and kicked up dust. NKJV
-
There is a point to make here.
David is still thinking about the Lord and is willing to humble himself under the mighty hand of God in hope that God will repay him with good for enduring the cursing of this man.
-
Even in our period of chastisement we must realize that God does not chastise us unjustly and sometimes we have to accept it and pray for God’s mercy and grace that may or may not come. It is better to obey than to suffer chastisement.
-
There is nothing that says that his man was ordered by God to curse David it is just that every negative thing that is happening to David He associated with God punishing him. This is not true. Bad things happen to good people. It is that when we are outside the favor of God even the small bad stuff is magnified. God told him what the consequences would be and it did not include the cursing by Shemi. It is a terrible place to be, outside the will of God.
-
Back to our focus passage.
V15 It opens with Absalom entering Jerusalem with an army of the men of Israel. Along with him is now Ahithophel one of David’s former advisors, but also the grandfather of Bathsheba.
-
Ahithophel is now in the camp of Absalom. This man had a great reputation. No doubt he was a very wise and clever man with great communication skills. Although he must have had some resentment in his heart for David, he still served David. His advice was considered as though it came from God as v 23 indicates.
-
V23 Now the advice of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if one had inquired at the oracle of God. So was all the advice of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.
When we are in favor with God He will even make our enemies serve us. When God withdraws only for a short time, we become vulnerable to the evil hearts around us. But God is still in control. We introduce a man by the name of Hushai. He is mentioned as a friend of David. He became David’s eyes and ears around Absalom.
2 Sam 15:32-34 32 Now it happened when David had come to the top of the mountain, where he worshiped God — there was Hushai the Archite coming to meet him with his robe torn and dust on his head. 33 David said to him, "If you go on with me, then you will become a burden to me. 34 But if you return to the city, and say to Absalom,'I will be your servant, O king; as I was your father's servant previously, so I will now also be your servant,' then you may defeat the counsel of Ahithophel for me. NKJV
-
God will not let man do more or less that what He has decreed. His punishment placed on David had limits and He had people in place to see that the limits were kept. He does the same in our lives. What God has for us is for us and no one can take it away. Those words are good sounding when we think about His blessings, but they are frightening when we think about His punishments. Those that do not believe in God through Jesus Christ do not believe that God will allow them to go to hell. When they learn the truth it will then be too late. Right now there is a lot of discussion about the spiritual attitude of Oprah Winfery, a very influential celebrity.
She has said that there is not only one way to God. John Haggee in his book says that Jesus did not come to earth to be the Messiah
-
What God says will happen, will happen.
V20 Absalom asks Ahithophel what he should do to keep the throne. He is told to go into and sleep with the wives of David. They pitched a tent on the roof of the house so all of Israel could see fulfilling the fourth consequence of David’s sin with the wife of Uriah.
Gal 6:7-9 7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. NKJV
-
Definition - To Mock = to ridicule
-
When we profess to love God and continue in sin, we are mocking God. When we say we love God and do not obey Him we are mocking God. Don’t mock God.
-
Let us learn fearfully from this unfortunate time in the life of David. We can learn how quickly our lives and take a turn for the worse when we disobey God.
· David sowed covetous lustful eyes toward another man’s wife.
· Amnon had covetous lustful eyes for his sister
· David with deception and authority had her come to him
· Amnon with deception and authority has her come to him
· David lay with Bathsheba, how could she resist the king?
· Amnon lay with Tamar, how could she resist his strength?
· David planned and with deception had Uriah murdered by another’s hand.
· Absalom planned and with deception had Amnon murdered by another’s hand.
· David became an adversary within his own army toward his own faithful soldier
· Absalom became and adversary within his own family toward his own brother and father.
· David secretly laid with Uriah’s wife.
· Absalom openly laid with David’s wives
-
Luke 12:2-3 For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. 3 Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops. NKJV
-
David’s act caused God to be blasphemed
2 Sam 12:14 14 However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, NKJV
-
David was blasphemed and ridiculed by Shemi and some of the people. What David did to Uriah, God allowed it to be done to David in the open.
Heb 10:31 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. NKJV
-
God will not be mocked.
End
Responsive Reading
Gal 6:1-10
1Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.
2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
3 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
4 But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
5 For each one shall bear his own load. Be Generous and Do Good
6 Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.
7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.
9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. NKJV