Ain't Too Proud To Beg

Introduction

Illustration: "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" is a 1966 song and hit single by The Temptations for Motown Records' Gordy label,[2] produced by Norman Whitfield and written by Whitfield and Edward Holland Jr.

The song's lyrics feature its narrator pleading for a second chance with his departing lover, opening with the determined statement :

I know you wanna leave me

But I refuse to let you go

If I have to beg and plead for your sympathy

I don't mind, 'cause you mean that much to me

Ain't too proud to beg and you know it (sweet darlin')

Please don't leave me girl (don't you go)

Ain't too proud to plead, baby, baby

Please don't leave me, girl (don't you go)

Now I heard a cryin' man

Is half a man, with no sense of pride

But if I have to cry to keep you

I don't mind weepin' if it'll keep you by my side

Ain't too proud to beg, sweet darlin'

Please don't leave me girl (don't you go)

Ain't too proud to plead, baby, baby

Please don't leave me girl (don't you go)

If I have to sleep on your doorstep

All night and day

Just to keep you from walkin' away

Let your friends laugh, even this I can stand

'Cause I wanna keep you, any way I can

Ain't too proud to beg (sweet darlin')

Please don't leave me girl (don't you go)

Ain't too proud to plead, baby, baby

Please don't leave me girl (don't you go)

Now I've gotta love so deep, in the pit of my heart

And each day it grows more and more

I'm not ashamed to come, and plead to you baby

If pleadin' keeps you from, walkin' out that door

Ain't too proud to beg and you know it (sweet darlin')

Please don't leave me girl (don't you go)

Ain't too proud to plead, baby, baby

Please don't leave me girl (don't you go)

Baby, baby, baby, baby, baby (sweet darling')

Illustration: Growing up when I was a child and got in trouble and pleading for mercy after I was about to get the spanking...

Beg= to ask earnestly for : ENTREAT

Transition To Body- The LORD God’s open arms invitation to come back

Chapter 54- The LORD’s Eternal Covenant of Peace

Isaiah 54:7 ESV

7 For a brief moment I deserted you, but with great compassion I will gather you.

Body

Graciousness Of God’s Provision

Isaiah 55:1–5 ESV

1 “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. 3 Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David. 4 Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples. 5 Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know, and a nation that did not know you shall run to you, because of the Lord your God, and of the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you.

God’s People In Need Of Grace & Mercy

Isaiah 32:6 ESV

6 For the fool speaks folly, and his heart is busy with iniquity, to practice ungodliness, to utter error concerning the Lord, to leave the craving of the hungry unsatisfied, and to deprive the thirsty of drink.

Illustration: It’s Easy to Be Called “Thirsty” on Social Media. What About on Capital Hill? By Carina Chocano, April 4, 2017, New York Times Magazine

“Hunger is associated with desire, whereas thirst is associated with need. But I also tend to think that it’s because “thirst” gets at an epistemological problem: a crisis of being, or how to be, in a world as it is now. It puts you into an unsettling double bind. It reframes a basic, lower-order need as a moral, social, aesthetic and personal failure. Our strange attachment to the word is hinted at by the fact that a global water crisis is in full flower, the world is increasingly parched, World Water Day was commemorated just last month- and yet the word “thirsty” is doused in judgement. Is it because “thirst” will kill you first..But after decades of enshrining power, greed, lust, and other ego-driven desires as the driving forces of American life, our contempt for thirst seems to hint at our thirst for change.”

God, Father, Son, & Holy Spirit as Provider

Matthew 5:6 ESV

6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Faith as a Thirst Quencher

John 7:37–39 ESV

37 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ” 39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Holy Spirit as Thirst Quencher

Isaiah 44:1–4 ESV

1 “But now hear, O Jacob my servant, Israel whom I have chosen! 2 Thus says the Lord who made you, who formed you from the womb and will help you: Fear not, O Jacob my servant, Jeshurun whom I have chosen. 3 For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. 4 They shall spring up among the grass like willows by flowing streams.

John 4:13–14 ESV

13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

John 4:23–24 ESV

23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Steadfast Love to Satisfying longing Soul

Psalm 107:7–9 ESV

7 He led them by a straight way till they reached a city to dwell in. 8 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! 9 For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.

Good News As a Thirst Quencher

Proverbs 25:25–26 ESV

25 Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country. 26 Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.

Testimony of David- Free of Charge

Revelation 22:16–17 ESV

16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” 17 The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.

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Uniqueness Of God’s Compassion & Thinking/Ways

Isaiah 55:6–9 ESV

6 “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; 7 let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Seek the LORD

Call upon the LORD

Turn to the LORD

Proverbs 3:5–6 ESV

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

John 3:3 ESV

3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

John 3:5 ESV

5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

Romans 12:1–2 ESV

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

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Assuredness (Power) Of God’s Word

Isaiah 55:10–11 ESV

10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

Imperishable & Working Word

Matthew 5:17–18 ESV

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.

Matthew 24:35 ESV

35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

Noble Listeners Of The Word

Acts 17:11 ESV

11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

Living & Active Word of God

Hebrews 4:12 ESV

12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

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Uniqueness Of God’s Compassion

Assuredness (Power) Of God’s Word

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Witnesses Of God’s Fame

Isaiah 55:12–13 ESV

12 “For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. 13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall make a name for the Lord, an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”

Pointing to the suffering servant in Isaiah 53 & Jesus’ fame

Myrtle- very fragrant

Cypress- strong and durable wood

In ancient times the Jews planted cypress trees above their graves; hence, cypress signifies Christ’s humanity in His death, the crucified Jesus—1 Cor. 2:2.

1 Corinthians 2:2 ESV

2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

B. The doors of the temple were made of cypress wood and were carved with cherubim and palm trees—1 Kings 6:34-35; cf. Ezek. 41:18-20:

Ezekiel 41:18–20 ESV

18 It was carved of cherubim and palm trees, a palm tree between cherub and cherub. Every cherub had two faces: 19 a human face toward the palm tree on the one side, and the face of a young lion toward the palm tree on the other side. They were carved on the whole temple all around. 20 From the floor to above the door, cherubim and palm trees were carved; similarly the wall of the nave.

Name

šēm incorporates those elements that are associated with the particular person or Yahweh. Thus šēm comes to have semantic overtones of fame, honor, influence, power, etc. Furthermore, šēm functions as a substitute for the person in question (cf. the use of haššēm in Judaism as a substitute for the name “Yahweh”); this usage takes on particular importance in the theological domain.

Thus šēm constitutes a reality that guarantees the bearer an existence, however hard to define, that endures beyond death.

Acts 3:5–8 ESV

5 And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” 7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. 8 And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.

Transition To Close- How do we witness God’s fame, glory, honor, majesty?

A MAN one day was on his way to catch a train. He had to get to work because he had an important meeting. He had to catch the 8:05 train. Now, it had rained the night before and the man was rushing out the door. As he opened the back door, there was his little son playing in the mud. He was busy rubbing mud on his face, mud on his arms, and just having a good old time playing in the mud. The father, intent on catching the 8:05, jumped over his son, said good-bye, and rushed out of the house to catch the 8:05, but he slipped and fell in the mud next to his son. So now the father is in the mud and the son is in the mud. But, the father had to catch the 8:05. He had a place to go. Because of where he needed to go, he did not stay in the mud and play with his son. His son was enjoying playing in the mud and wasn’t trying to go anywhere. But the father had a train to catch. He jumped up out of the mud. Best as he could, he cleaned himself off and took off running because he had a train to catch. He had to catch the 8:05 and he knew that on the 8:05 there was going to be a restroom where he could clean up the dirt that he had accumulated during the time he was in the mud. There are two kinds of people today. There are some who are playing in the mud and are not trying to go anywhere. There are other people who are in the mud but don’t want to be. Maybe you’ve slipped in the mud or maybe you’ve walked right into the mud, but now it has dawned on you that you’ve got a train to catch—a place to go. You’ve got a God to know, a life to live, experiences to have, and you want all that God has for you. Maybe you’ve decided to leave the mud, to repent, to turn, and to catch the train because on this train, God has got a restroom that will clean you up. He’s got the blood of Jesus Christ that will transform you and take you to the destination of God’s purpose for your life. Sin always has consequences. But the good news is that grace is greater than sin.

Isaiah 56:1 ESV

1 Thus says the Lord: “Keep justice, and do righteousness, for soon my salvation will come, and my righteousness be revealed.

1 Corinthians 1:26–31 ESV

26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Ephesians 2:4–10 ESV

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Close- God the Father’s invitation through God Jesus Christ

Matthew 6:25–27 ESV

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?

Seek the Kingdom of God

Matthew 6:32–33 ESV

32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

You Are Blessed to Be a Blessing!

Luke 14:13–14 ESV

13 But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

Invite Others To The Feast

Luke 14:23–24 ESV

23 And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.’ ”

Jesus Is The Word

John 1:1–3 ESV

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Jesus Thirsts

John 19:28–30 ESV

28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” 29 A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

He Was Wounded!!!

Isaiah 53:4–6 KJV 1900

4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, And carried our sorrows: Yet we did esteem him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: The chastisement of our peace was upon him; And with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned every one to his own way; And the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.