The Heart of Jesus
Notes
Transcript
Introduction:
Open to 2 Samuel 1
We are back at it with our current series of going through Samuel and Kings
The last time we preached on Samuel we finished up the first book of Samuel and read of Saul and Jonathan’s death...
An event that ended 1 Samuel, which in its 31 chapters showed us that God is ultimately King, whether people accept Him as such or not...
Now, today, we continue on with 2 Samuel and looking at the response of David upon hearing the news of the death of the Lord’s Anointed and his beloved friend Jonathan.
We’ll see in David the actions of a man who chases after the heart of God… in doing so, David will seek the righteousness, the justice of God, followed by David’s lament exposing his heart… a heart like that of Christ.
Let’s start with 2 Samuel 1:1-16
After the death of Saul, when David had returned from striking down the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag. And on the third day, behold, a man came from Saul’s camp, with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. And when he came to David, he fell to the ground and paid homage. David said to him, “Where do you come from?” And he said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.” And David said to him, “How did it go? Tell me.” And he answered, “The people fled from the battle, and also many of the people have fallen and are dead, and Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.” Then David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?” And the young man who told him said, “By chance I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and there was Saul leaning on his spear, and behold, the chariots and the horsemen were close upon him. And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. And I answered, ‘Here I am.’ And he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’ And he said to me, ‘Stand beside me and kill me, for anguish has seized me, and yet my life still lingers.’ So I stood beside him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown that was on his head and the armlet that was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord.”
Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him. And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son and for the people of the Lord and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword. And David said to the young man who told him, “Where do you come from?” And he answered, “I am the son of a sojourner, an Amalekite.” David said to him, “How is it you were not afraid to put out your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?” Then David called one of the young men and said, “Go, execute him.” And he struck him down so that he died. And David said to him, “Your blood be on your head, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have killed the Lord’s anointed.’ ”
The Righteousness of God
The Righteousness of God
The News
Back 1 Samuel 30, David defeated the Amalekites in a slaughter as he sought to rescue his family and the families of his men… this happened after David and his men attempted to go into battle with the Philistines against the Israelites
Now, David has made it back back to Ziklag, and Saul by this time is dead. More than likely Saul and Jonathan’s deaths along with the defeat of Israel happened the very day that David was being blessed with victory over the Amalekites...
So, while David was slaughtering Amalekites, Saul was slain by an Amalekite.
When the Amalekite tells David of the news of the death of Saul and his beloved friend Jonathan, David seeks proof, credibility...
The young man gives him his account of being a witness of the fighting on Mt. Gilboa…
Now, his account is a little different than what we have elsewhere… primarily in that in the other accounts of Saul’s death, this young Amalekite is never mentioned… so what’s going on here?
The man could be lying thinking there might be a reward for killing Saul, either because that gives David the throne or simply for a merciful act towards a suffering man of a fatal wound.
Or the account that we read in 1 Samuel 31 might just not be a full telling of the event…
Or perhaps the man simply came across the corpse of Saul, took the amulet and crown, and hoping for a reward made up the story… we can’t be sure, but David took his words as truth...
David and his men upon hearing the news tore their clothes, wept, and fasted… not only for Saul and Jonathan, but for all of Israel…
The moment that allows David to officially step into his role as king is one of tragedy… one of mourning...
After processing the news, or perhaps in the midst in their weeping and fasting, David asks the man where he comes from...
The man mentions he is an Amalekite, which at first thought we might think he’s in trouble. After all David just slaughtered a bunch of Amalekites and God’s command to wipe them out is still standing....
The fact this man is an Amalekite adds irony to the account of Saul’s death. The people whom he refused to slaughter in obedience to Yahweh back in 1 Samuel 15 causing Saul to lose his kingdom, are the very people that strike Saul with the final blow.
But this man isn’t just an Amalekite, he’s a son of sojourner, or a “resident foreigner” which is a higher status than say a “foreigner”… he and his family have apparently dwelt long enough in the land to claim this status… they are considered to be part of the nation and most likely have partaken in many of the Israelite customs and requirements to do so.
It is on this basis, these grounds, that is the fact the man is a “resident foreigner” that David asks him… “How were you not afraid to strike down the Lord’s anointed?”
The man should have known better...
So, there lies the trouble for the man… by his own words, his story, his confession, he has brought guilt upon himself…
So, David has the young man executed.
David’s quick and decisive action does two things...
First and simply, it further removes David from any complicity one might think he had in the death of Saul...
Second, and more significantly, it shows the righteousness, the justice of David’s character and how he intends to rule Israel.
Later in 2 Samuel 8:15, the author highlights this characteristic of David
So David reigned over all Israel. And David administered justice and equity to all his people.
Throughout the book of Kings we see the other kings being compared to David in regard to how righteous or unrighteous they were...
Psalm 101 perhaps does the best job of capturing David’s zeal for reigning righteously...
A Psalm of David. 1 I will sing of steadfast love and justice; to you, O Lord, I will make music. 2 I will ponder the way that is blameless. Oh when will you come to me? I will walk with integrity of heart within my house; 3 I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me. 4 A perverse heart shall be far from me; I will know nothing of evil. 5 Whoever slanders his neighbor secretly I will destroy. Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart I will not endure. 6 I will look with favor on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; he who walks in the way that is blameless shall minister to me. 7 No one who practices deceit shall dwell in my house; no one who utters lies shall continue before my eyes. 8 Morning by morning I will destroy all the wicked in the land, cutting off all the evildoers from the city of the Lord.
Question for us is this… David, being a man after God’s heart, being a man who is an example for us, and yet also points us to the coming Messiah… we who are on the other side of the coming of the Messiah, having been created anew… given new hearts… with the Spirit dwelling within us… do we act righteously in this way?
Do we exhibit the same kind of zeal for God’s decrees and holiness?
We can expect unbelievers to act in ways that are irreverent and offensive… just like David could expect a foreigner to act in certain ways… not a resident foreigner.... but a foreigner, who is unfamiliar with the ways of Israel… a person who does not know better… the young man did, or at least should have known… ignorance is never an excuse approved by God.
But what about those within our churches? Those who claim to know Christ? Who claim to follow Him? What behavior do we tolerate?
Both in our own lives, with our own sins… and in the lives of our brothers and sisters in Christ?
This is not a call, to cut down your fellow brother or sister in Christ who is in sin… it’s a call to have the gall to do what is right… to reprove them… to rebuke… to do so in a loving way… yet not hesitating to do what is necessary to lead them to correction… we must be willing as Paul says in 1 Cor 5:5…
5 you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.
The person who is chasing after the will of God, will have the desire to correct and rebuke what is contrary to the will of God among God’s people...
Recognizing that until Christ returns… we will always have imperfect, fallible people among us, who need mercy as much as they need discipline.
Let’s move on now to the second half of the chapter and read the lament David composed in response to this news...
17 And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and Jonathan his son, 18 and he said it should be taught to the people of Judah; behold, it is written in the Book of Jashar. He said: 19 “Your glory, O Israel, is slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen! 20 Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised exult. 21 “You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain upon you, nor fields of offerings! For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul, not anointed with oil. 22 “From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty. 23 “Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely! In life and in death they were not divided; they were swifter than eagles; they were stronger than lions. 24 “You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet, who put ornaments of gold on your apparel. 25 “How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! “Jonathan lies slain on your high places. 26 I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; very pleasant have you been to me; your love to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women. 27 “How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war perished!”
The Heart of Christ
The Heart of Christ
What a beautiful lament!
The words expressed here are not surprising when David speaks of Jonathan… but of Saul?
Clearly David recognizes the national disgrace this event is to Israel… hence the command to be quiet about it with the Philistines...
Anytime the king dies, it’s a sad day for the nation, regardless how you felt about him...
But words about Saul such as “beloved and lovely”.... or “daughters of Israel, weep over Saul”
How can David honestly say such things of Saul?
A man who lost his anointing, his kingship for his disobedience in failing to slaughter the Amalekites and kill their king in 1 Sam 15?
A man who was willing to slaughter the priests of God at Nob… in 1 Sam 22… killing 85 of them… plus all the women and children of the village… this includes, Ahimelech, the father of Abiathar, David’s priest...
A man who, though he was spared by David on multiple occasions and was chastised by the prophet and judge Samuel refused to repent...
A man who threw his spear at David on multiple occasions and overtly and actively sought his life and in the process even accused his own son of treason...
Why would David say such things? I understand Jonathan… Jonathan was a good man
Jonathan and David were like-minded fellows… who pursued the heart of God together… both were mighty warriors and both brought glory to Israel in their actions because of their faith in Yawheh…
Saul was despicable… selfish… more interested in building monuments to himself than walking in obedience to the one King, Yahweh, who gave him the crown he wore on his head.
This is why…
Because a person who is after God’s heart… is a person who has the heart of Christ...
Consider this...
How can God, after all He has done for man… still send His Son to die on the cross for the world?
A world that rejected His authority...
A world that despises all things holy and continually seeks after the affections of its own heart and not the affections of God...
A world that constantly profanes His character?
So, is it such a big deal that David does this for a fellow man? If God, does it for small insignificant finite beings?
I want us to look at four passages in the New Testament to help expound this point further.... three come from the mouth of Jesus… one from Paul.
Let’s start with Matthew 5:44...
44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
This describes David’s lament to a tee I think...
David clearly loved Saul though Saul was his enemy… and Saul chased him and persecuted him...
Let’s go now to Luke 6:27-36 to expound on Matthew 5:44....
27 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. 32 “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
Some of us really need to ponder these words and be mindful how we respond to those with different political views than us...
We are not called to live in echo chambers… you cannot love those who hate you by cutting yourself off from them.
Now, there is wisdom at times to no longer associate with others...
If they are a threat to you, if they cause temptations to sin, or if you made good honest attempts to love them and share the gospel with them and they continue to waste your time or berate you… then move on.
But we don’t seek to reject a whole group of people or treat people with a broad brush… we don’t assume that all Biden supporters are evil and unworthy or love...
Nor do we think that those who voted for Trump are automatically racist and deserving of being blacklisted… how are you blessing the opposition?
How are you loving them?
Be mindful of what you spread on social media and in person about others… be sure it is not gossip and be sure it is not hateful...
Remember, Jesus didn’t come to condemn the world, but to save it… that’s your work too now… seek to save rather than condemn...
Let’s go on and look at Luke 23:34…
34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.
Now, what’s the context of this verse?
Jesus is hanging on the cross at this point… after being flogged and having His flesh scourged for our sins… for the sins of those inflicting Him harm...
He continues to love those who are crucifying Him… He asks the Father to forgive them...
If we are to have the heart of Christ… we must love those who insult us...
Who resist us and the Word of God… who refuse His teaching… His way...
We have to love those who exploit us… take advantage us...
Those who act in such a way they take our jobs from us, get us fired…
In the midst of painful/hurtful actions against us… we must love them… as Christ loved those who were explicitly involved in His crucifixion.
If the Son of God, the Son of David, a man of no sin… completely undeserving of any death or suffering… loves in this manner… how much more so should we who are selfish, arrogant, and depraved, love those who hate us?
If you’re still doubtful, let’s go to the words of the Apostle Paul in Romans 5:8
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Christ didn’t die for us after we achieved some level of morality… or friendship or peace with God…
No, while we were still sinners… still enemies… still hostile in mind towards the most Holy God… fully deserving of eternal damnation… no reason for us to be redeemed or saved…
Christ died… the Son of God… suffered the full wrath of His Father reserved for us… why?
B/c God is good
This is who He is… He is a gracious God… the heart of God is one worth chasing… He is perfectly merciful, while remaining perfectly just...
And we see this of David, though imperfectly....
A man who desires the righteousness of God to be practiced in his kingdom… while at the same time exhibiting mercy, love, and compassion for his enemies...
This is the great paradox of Scripture...
Time after time God speaks of how He hates the evil-doer… how the one who does what is unrighteous He casts off and does away with forever and ever…
Yet, at the same time, God speaks of how He loves those who wander off and how He desires that they would turn to Him, reject their ways, and walk in His way, in the Light, in the Truth… and be with Him forever…
The very people He rejects, the very people He hates… He extends His love, His mercy, His grace towards… Romans 2:4
4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
But yet… we must not take this for granted… 2 Peter 3:9
9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
That is God’s desire… but we must understand that perfect love involves perfect justice… justice unpaid is not perfect justice… we who love perfectly will desire that justice is delivered perfectly...
Therefore, let us live and act righteously, and in doing so love and bless our enemies...
Let us, Seek justice, find mercy, and walk in obedience to God…
Something that David models for us, though not always perfectly...
But His Son does… and it is in Christ… and only in Christ that we can live this way...
This is a truth that we are reminded of as we partake of communion… a reminder of who we are before God… a reminder of who we are in Christ… and what awaits us and in light of that truth… motivates us to live holy lives...