2 Sam 16-17- Handling a Crises

2 Samuel 16-17

Handling a Crises  Sun, Feb 11th 2007

How do you…are you…will you handle a Crises?

Crises? Web. - A situation or period in which things are very uncertain, difficult, or painful, especially when action must be taken to avoid complete disaster or breakdown.  A critical moment when something important happens or is decided

·        Every life faces times of crises–Question is how?

·        Handling those crises times–often determines life

Today – continue study of David’s life – in time of Crises

·        25-30 years into David’s reign–is a coup to overthrow

·        Leading the coup – his son and good friend

Want to seek to learn how he handled this crises

·        Won’t say covers every needed factor in a crises or even all that the Bible says about such times

·        Instead – just watching one handle…learn from

·        But see 7 Tips on how David handled crises

Going to cover a lot of ground today – over 2 chapters

·        As prayed, that is how God guided me this week

·        Going to read all of those verses – not apology, God’s Word is most important – let know

I.     Submit to God’s Will 15:24-26

1.   Covered this in previous weeks – refer to again

2.   Wonderful submission here – Your will be done

3.   Key in life…in one sense leads to all that follows

4.   Key in a crises – accept it, whatever God has

a.   This isn’t whining, fits, pity part or more

b.   This isn’t anger, lashing out

c.   This all by itself–will give you amazing peace

II.  Pray through the Crises 15:31

1.   Real submission leads us here – to pray

a.   Submission isn’t “karma” – just accepting life – it is desiring, seeking and praying for God’s will

2.   Notice David responds in prayer – immediately

a.   Hears of Ahithophel

b.   Just responds and immediately prays – awesome!

3.   Don’t want this to sound too “expected” – but is true

a.   If we would pray–how many things helped, avoided

b.   Think of Joshua and people of Gideon Jos 9:14

c.   Think of David and the Ark

d.   Pro 3:5-6 – key of acknowledging Him- asking, submitting

4.   Pray often, continually – through

a.   See in Psalms David writes–is what did, encourages

III.   Make Practical Steps 15:27-29, 32-37

1.   David submitted to God–but doesn’t mean didn’t act

a.   Real submission, prayer–don’t keep us from action

b.   Action without prayer is arrogance. But prayer without action is laziness

c.   Many who say surrendered – but really gave up

2.   In first section – set up communication–get information

a.   Not a lack of faith or wrong.  

b.   Good to know what is going on…information

3.   In Second section – makes practical provision

a.   Heard of Ahithophel – seeks to counter

b.   Hushai showing up then – is the answer to prayer

4.   Seek it work out 16:15-17:23

a.    Technical note – Absalom becomes 10 times worse

i)       10 times the adulterer David was

ii)     10 times the rapist that Amnon was

b.   Ahithophel’s good advice

c.    Hushai’s advice

i)       God used Hushai to defeat Ahithophel’s advice

d.   See the communication system David set

e.    Ahithophel sees where going – commits suicide

i)       Much like Judas with Jesus

5.   Point – it is good, right to make practical steps

a.   Surrender and prayer don’t take place of works

i)       Guy without food…get a job

b.   Trust in God and keep your powder dry

c.   Confess before you – difficult to decide, but do need to see God works often practically

IV.   Don’t make Rash Decisions 16:1-4

1.   Thought called to action…are actions to avoid

2.   Weird scene – but understand it as David - thought true

a.   Problem – information is incorrect, twisted

b.   Truth is Mephibosheth home mourning, prayer

c.   How Ziba thought would work out…don’t know

d.   Sadly people of take advantage of those in crises

3.   Don’t make uniformed decisions

a.   Don’t decide after hearing only one side of issue

b.   Pro 18:13,17 – need to hear whole, both sides

c.   True in friendships, marriage – avoid quick judgment

4.   Avoid decisions in times of Crises

a.   Great piece of advice…if you will tuck it away

b.   In crises, trial, discouragement–avoid decisions

c.   Often wrong…can’t see clearly

d.   Many have quit jobs and more in such times

e.   Just note to self – not a good time for decision

V. Don’t defend yourself 16:5-14

1.   A second action to avoid – defending your self

2.   Heartbreaking scene quite honestly- imagine

3.   Abishai – friend, loyal to David –wants to defend

a.   Easy to do when you love someone, want to

b.   Think of disciples with Jesus – sons of thunder

c.   Think of Peter in the garden

4.   David shows him that he still doesn’t get his ways

a.   These had similar talk 30 years before w/Saul

5.   It is to such we are called – Rom 12:14-19; 1 Pet 2:20-24

VI.   Learn from, in the Crises 16:10-12

1.   In midst of crises, in midst of cursing – interesting

a.   David is open, seeking to have God speak

2.   My mind flips to advice from CH Spurgeon to pastors

a.   Seek to glean for good in all comments

b.   When complimented – say in heart – don’t know me – but Lord You do – make me worthy of such

c.   When insulted – say in heart, Lord is unfair treatment, but probably some truth – Lord purge

d.   Good advice for all of us

VII.      Receive, Note Kindness  17:27-29

1.   In the midst of crises – trouble – easy to whine

a.   Easy to focus on all bad, unfair, not right

2.   But notice, in midst of crises – amazing kindness

a.   Easy to ignore, not receive…not notice

3.   Three men come out of woodwork to support

a.   Shobi son of Nahash!  Hanun’s brother?  Wow.  David sought to show kindness, but war.  Here this man sees it…extends kindness – wow

b.   Machir – took care of Mephibosheth in Lo Debar, saw David’s kindness…repaying

c.   Barzillai – first appearance in Bible – old man

i)       Yet compassion for David (David will repay)

4.   So easy to see the bad…and miss the good

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Conclusion

Crises are not easy….but they can be handled

·        This book tells us how

·        Not just in principle, but example – it can be done

In one sense – all said flows from Submission

But the opposite things can…often are done

·        Instead of submission – self will

·        Instead of prayer – trusting in self

·        Instead of wise action – giving up, trying harder

·        Instead of waiting – tons of rash decisions

·        Instead of letting God defend – defend self

·        Instead of learning – missing whole point

·        Instead of accepting kindness – missing

Christian – I call you to these things – real submission

Non- Christian – in truth – none of these are yours

·        How do you handle crises? Trust in?

·        Could it be – part of purpose is to draw you to see your need of God

·        Problem – sin has separated you – no access

·        Jesus came, died, to bring you to Him