Prickly Problems

2 Samuel 21:1-14

Prickly Problems   Sun, Mar 11th 2007

God knows everything – absolutely everything

·        In theological terms – called omniscience

·        Knows everything in the world-perfectly

·        Knows the present, past & future-clearly

·        Knows you- completely  – Ps 139 - Wow…

Problem – God knows everything…but I don’t

·        Truth is: Right now – I don’t, can’t, won’t know

·        Question is…how do we handle that

Problem – in study of David’s life – come to such a section

·        For me–love David’s life, enjoying it – good study

·        Areas I knew are now greater. 

·        Areas I understood, but not why – help

·        Of all the areas of David’s life – one of sections I have least looked forward to – is where we are today

o       Why?  Because I don’t understand it

Want to share with you  keys when facing unknowns

·        As wrestled with – felt God would have me share

·        Have three of them – could add to them–you can

·        These are helpful in understanding life & Bible

I.    3 Keys When face WHY’s

1.   Wait on God…Knowing He is Right

a.    When confused – problem is not God or the Bible

i)       The problems is me – my lack of understanding

b.   If you are here as a seeker or new believer

i)       Don’t misunderstand this–not throw away brain

ii)     Knowing God is most logical – love w/ all mind

iii)   If have questions–seek answers–gain confidence

c.    But Christians – should come a place of faith in you

i)       A place– where God has proved enough – trust

ii)     When come across confusion– don’t doubt Him

iii)   Place pictured in Eph 4 – no longer tossed…

d.   Habakkuk– confused – God’s answer confused him more

i)       Told God his confusion–waited for God to correct

ii)     As if to say – know I am wrong, don’t know why

2.   Hold on to what you Know about God

a.    Don’t forsake what know about God for what don’t know

i)       Happens in life, in tragedies – weird thoughts

b.   Best to hold to what you already know about God

i)       He is good, His able, He is holy, He is wise

ii)     Even in spite of things that don’t make sense

3.   Yield to Him in humility and Worship

a.    What you don’t’ know–God does know – and it is right, humble yourself to trust Him

b.   Let your lack compel you to worship Him

i)       In sin – it can compel frustration

ii)     When right…always draws to worship

iii)   O how I hope that this morning, is the outflow

II.David Discovers a Problem

1.   There is a famine – lack of blessing for three years!

a.   After three years – asks God why…sin problem

2.   Wrong conclusion: All famines are a result of sin

a.   If made a rule – apply to people spiritually – wrong

b.   Some famines are just life – rain on just and unjust

c.   Some famines are folly – our own doing or lack

d.   Some famines are training – God building

3.   Right conclusion: Sin can hinder God’s blessings

a.    We see this truth throughout scripture

b.   Problem was – David was slow even to ask

i)       Took three years…finally asked God

ii)     Perhaps thought just life before…now wondering

iii)   We can too be a little slow to asking God….

c.    When in famine, in trials, ask God if spiritual problem

i)       O that this were true in our world today….

ii)       Much talk about global warming (may not be true)

iii)   Problem – so man focused-cause & solution

iv)    Right response is to seek God, humbly

v)      Remember 9-11 – say this in some

A.    Sadly for many, turned to pride

4.   The Sin God tells David about…a little wild

a.   A promise from 400 years earlier

b.   Principle: God is serious about us keeping our word

i)       Helps me even when read passage in judges

ii)     Our yes is to be our yes…all else is sin

c.   Saul’s sin – not recorded – seeks to kill Gibeonites

d.   Principle: Zeal can overrode righteousness-wrongly

i)       In zeal for God’s people…did wrong - happens

5.   Questions…many – Why now? Why David?

a.   400 year old promise, perhaps a 40 yr old sin

b.   Go back to principles for dealing with confusion

i)       God is right, His timing is always right

c.    Could be the end of a process

i)       Could have been dealing w/sin, now final blow

d.   Could be Saul’s relatives are continuing sin

i)       Kind a racial purging…possible (doesn’t say)

e.    Could be God is purifying something in David, Israel

i)       King of an inoculation to prevent disease

f.     Answer – I don’t know…but God is right

6.   Wrong conclusion: Need to clear past generations sins

a.   Are those who use this passage to teach today

b.   Problem – never repeated.  Never explained

c.   Honestly could go down road rest of life…poorly

7.   Right conclusion: Ask God & deal with what He shows

a.   God is right, and shows you what you need

b.   Don’t’ believe God is trying to make it hard

c.   Ask…and if He doesn’t show…don’t stress

III. David Deals with the Problem

1.   Good to see doesn’t just discover…He deals w/this

a.   James tells of those that hear, but don’t do Ja 1:22

2.   David asks how to make right

a.   They don’t want David’s money or David’s action

b.   They want seven of Saul’s relatives…

3.   David surrenders relatives…and they are hanged

a.   See who he gets - Textual issue – Merrib not Michal

b.   Host of questions…problems –why?  I don’t know

c.    Go back to principles – hold to what know about God

i)       God doesn’t punish kids for parents sin- Dt 24:16; Ez 18

ii)     Know God is right (holy)….know God knows

iii)   Some assume kids were, are involved- possible

d.   Wise man deals with the things God brings to him

i)       Even if he does not understand

ii)     Can obey without understanding

e.    These are killed…yet still rains don’t come – why?

4.   David deals honorably with the dead

a.    Example of Rizpah moves David…helps David

i)       Buries this 7 & Saul and sons w/proper burial

b.   Something in this that is necessary

i)       Is an honor needed…even in dealing with sin

ii)     True for us in dealing with sin and sinners

c.    Then rains come – don’t know how long this took

i)       Then hears prayer. Then?, were praying

ii)     Sin hinders our prayers–yes today as well Ps 66:18

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Conclusion

Point – deal with any sin that is hindering God’s blessing

·        Wonder if there is a famine you have not asked God about?

·        Wonder if God is dealing with you today

·        David prayed it well – Ps 139:23-24

·        O Christian, deal w/ anything God shows you is standing in the way of His blessing you

Point – trust God and His dealings – even when don’t understand.  Hold fast to Him & what know of Him

A. W. Tozer. wrote: “Never forget that it is a privilege to wonder, to stand in delighted silence before the Supreme Mystery and whisper, ‘O Lord God, thou knowest.’”

David lived, learned to live this way

Ps 131

Be willing to follow, to make the next step

For some – it is to be born again

·        It is the cross, sin that struggle with - obey

For others – it is sin, righteousness, etc – follow, trust in Him, hope in Him today and forevermore