(POTB Study) - Pleading, Pretense, Pain and Praise

Introduction -

Last week we explored some of the earlier prayers of King David. He was promised so many wonderful things. We also saw that David prayed in humility and praise.

This week we want to look at a span of prayers that cover . Within this section, we will span a period of _____ years. We will also view a couple of different themes and topics we discover through this journey tonight.

Pleading - 2 Samuel 12

You know the story - David and Bathsheba have their affair - he tries to cover it up - but no matter how he tries to cover it up it keeps coming back to haunt him. Even to the point of Bathsheba conceiving and becoming pregnant, and bearing a child.

The child who as far as I can tell is never named - is stricken sick by God because of David’s sin. David prays, fasts, and lays on the ground all night pleading with God for the child.

God in his wisdom - said no.

I want to talk about a heresy that is prevalent today - It doesn’t matter how much you fast, pray, moan, believe as hard as we want, speak it in faith or yell - When God says, “No!” it is “No.”

Sometimes it seems that prayer is a guessing game - or at least that seems to be the philosophy David took towards prayer -

Look at what he says in when he was asked why he prayed until the child died and then got up and ate - His reply is enlightening -

“Who can tell whether God will be gracious to me, that the child may live? “

We do not know how God will respond to our prayers most of the time - but there is nothing that says we can’t pray and find his will on the issue.

But David also learned at least two things I think are worth noting tonight.

1. David finally came to realize - no matter how much he pled with God - God was going to take the child, and according to scripture it was due to the principle of “sowing and reaping.”

2. David submits to God’s answer of “No!” and resigns himself with the moving and immortal words, “He can’t come to me, but I can go to him.” ()

Pretend Prayer -

Sister Cora Burbridge used to scare me to death as she would testify to us young people and exhort us in her way, “Don’t Mess with God” she would say pointing her finger and shaking her head. “Don’t mess with God.”

She was trying to warn us and keep us from doing what Absalom does in this section.

Absalom seems to have no interest in David’s God or in really serving the Lord.

Look at his statement in he tries to bargain and negotiates with God - which I might add here doesn’t work with God. You go His way or you don’t go.

“if the Lord brings me again to Jerusalem…then I will serve the Lord. “ From his actions after this - Absalom never intended to really serve the Lord.

Help our prayers to be true, be real, authentic and serve the Lord without pretense and hypocrisy.

Prayer in Pain -

Israel is in a famine and has been for three years. I don’t know if David just had an “Aha” moment onde day and said, “Something is wrong we have been in a famine for three years now.” or what brought it on. Perhaps he is praying for deliverance.

But for some reason, David puts the famine and wrongdoing together.

God tells him it is because of a sin of Saul. Now we now that sins can be passed on to the fourth generation - this is actually an act of mercy God puts a cap on how far he will let the punishment of the sin carry on.

But I also want us to know that sometimes National Sins are punished on a national level. This is what is going on here.

King Saul committed an egregious act toward the Gibeonites - the group of people who tricked Joshua as they were going into the Promise Land Conquest and they made a league with them.

We are not given the details in the Scriptures but according to this - Saul killed some of the Gibeonites.

David makes restitution - Seven of Saul’s sons were killed and hung exposed for several months until the rains came in the fall. and the rains came. showing the atonement or avenging was adequate.

Prayer as Praise -

We aren’t necessarily given context - but I wonder if the former sins of Saul brought other memories of King Saul to David’s mind as that is what this Psalm celebrates.

I want us to notice a few ways he praises God.

God is his rock - rock speaks of stability, refuge, shelter, strength - that’s why he will trust.

God is his shield - he can hide behind him - which he did many times during his life.

Application:

As we pray tonight -

Let us seek God’s will - and submit to that - it is for our good.

let us seek God with integrity - in truth, be real.

Let us remember when we are in a famine - it may not be something we have done, it could be from a sinful act of someone else.

Let us always remember to praise God - praise HIm - He is worthy to be praised.