Understanding the Prophetic - 2

Part 2 – Conditional Prophecies

· Many misinterpretations found in the Bible centered around kings.

· Side with God ALWAYS, no matter what people say or do, regardless of position- sacred or secular.

· Don’t assume all prophecies are unconditional – look for the “IF, THEN”

Don’t misinterpret God’s PEOPLE

King Saul – head and shoulders – outward appearance

1 Samuel 9:1–2 NLT

1 There was a wealthy, influential man named Kish from the tribe of Benjamin. He was the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 His son Saul was the most handsome man in Israel—head and shoulders taller than anyone else in the land.

Saul’s Prophecy = Everlasting Kingdom

King Saul was prophesied an eternal legacy

1 Samuel 10:1 NLT

1 Then Samuel took a flask of olive oil and poured it over Saul’s head. He kissed Saul and said, “I am doing this because the Lord has appointed you to be the ruler over Israel, his special possession.

1 Samuel 10:24 NLT

24 Then Samuel said to all the people, “This is the man the Lord has chosen as your king. No one in all Israel is like him!” And all the people shouted, “Long live the king!”

Saul’s Response = Disobedience

1 Samuel 13:13 NLT

13 “How foolish!” Samuel exclaimed. “You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you. Had you kept it, the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.

do not misinterpret secular and sacred roles.

· America is governed by a president, not a king.

· Our president is commander-in-chief, not pastor and chief

· There is only one savior, His name is Jesus!

· Don’t take personalities personally. Causing you to take their Criticism as a personal attack on you, feeding into the current state of bickering and arguing inside the church walls.

Saul’s Outcome = Rejected (despite prophecy)

lost the throne, replaced by someone else

1 Samuel 13:14 NLT

14 But now your kingdom must end, for the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart. The Lord has already appointed him to be the leader of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.”

Life Lessons:

Sin can nullify blessings

Human choice can cancel God’s plan

1 Samuel 15:28 NLT

28 And Samuel said to him, “The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to someone else—one who is better than you.

· If those in high positions disobey bad enough, they are replaced. God’s plan moves on, but without them.

· GRACE – God does give grace to the humble and forgiveness to the repentant.

David – Overlooked by Prophet

David’s Prophecy – replace King Saul

1 Samuel 16:1 NLT

1 Now the Lord said to Samuel, “You have mourned long enough for Saul. I have rejected him as king of Israel, so fill your flask with olive oil and go to Bethlehem. Find a man named Jesse who lives there, for I have selected one of his sons to be my king.”

Even the Prophet Samuel missed his own prophecy!

1 Samuel 16:6–10 NLT

6 When they arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, “Surely this is the Lord’s anointed!” 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 8 Then Jesse told his son Abinadab to step forward and walk in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “This is not the one the Lord has chosen.” 9 Next Jesse summoned Shimea, but Samuel said, “Neither is this the one the Lord has chosen.” 10 In the same way all seven of Jesse’s sons were presented to Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen any of these.”

Don’t Misinterpret your choice for God’s Choice

· Samuel thought (assumed) David’s oldest brother would be Saul’s replacement.

· The prophet made the mistake of

o assumption (pick the biggest and oldest)

o presumption (the next one would look like the last one

· Got inside a pattern of thinking, bad habit, religious thinking!

· Man looked on outside. - God looks inside

1 Samuel 16:12–13 NLT

12 So Jesse sent for him. He was dark and handsome, with beautiful eyes. And the Lord said, “This is the one; anoint him.” 13 So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on. Then Samuel returned to Ramah.

· Like King Saul before him, David’s dynasty was prophesied to last forever.

David’s Response = mostly obeyed

· but then disobedience(s) – adultery, conspiracy, cover up, census

1 Kings 15:5 NLT

5 For David had done what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight and had obeyed the Lord’s commands throughout his life, except in the affair concerning Uriah the Hittite.

Don’t misinterpret God’s PARABLES

Parable = natural story to describe a spiritual truth

2 Samuel 12:7 NLT

7 Then Nathan said to David, “You are that man! The Lord, the God of Israel, says: I anointed you king of Israel and saved you from the power of Saul.

· King David did not realize the prophet Samuel’s parable was against HIM

David’s Outcome = Nation Divided

2 Samuel 12:11 NLT

11 “This is what the Lord says: Because of what you have done, I will cause your own household to rebel against you. I will give your wives to another man before your very eyes, and he will go to bed with them in public view.

Keep your eyes on King Jesus!

Matthew 1:20–21 NLT

20 As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

· Jesus is from the lineage of David – He never fails!

· His kingdom will endure forever

· David ruled a nation, but Jesus will rule the universe