As the Lord Lives- 2 Sam 4
- Ishbosheth loses heart because he knows his end is near even Israel is worried. 2 captains are now going to try and step up as next in command. His own guys end up turning on him. Hearing about Mephibosheth, and will hear of him again. These guys go into Ish house and kill him. Bring the head to David hoping to receive a place in the admin. Surprise. David executes those guys and publicly humiliates them and then buries Ish with Abner
- Again- politically expedient for David to do this, but there’s a deeper meaning here- David refuses to go against God. Refuses to go against the house of Saul. Shows love and forgiveness in the face of a murderous plot.
- This was an honor-shame society. Honor was everything, and as a soon to be King, David wasn’t going to trouble his chances of honor. To get honor you have to give honor.
- We see the actions of David and we must ask- What makes a guy do that? Most would be excited to have their enemies head on platter. Most would rejoice at the calamity of their adversary. But not David, he honors God, honors his enemy, and executes Judgment on the lawless.
- Here’s the nugget. Here’s the secret- he says “ “As the Lord lives, who has redeemed my life from all adversity,” That’s what gives you insight into his heart- That’s what drives him.
- David never forgot who is was and where he came from. He knew the Lord had redeemed him- saved him- separated him and it CHANGED him- It affected him. He lived differently
- Was he perfect? Of course not. But his heart was good. He’s a Christ figure in many stories, but simultaneously he shows us our propensity for sin, and the ability to Repent
- What did David remember to declare “who has redeemed my life from all adversity”
- 1.as the Lord lives- David never forgot It was God who saved him (Saul had tried to kill him)
- In this story, we see these two guys that come and try to make it seem as though they are doing David a favor by killing ish, but once again, self seeking behavior (They were next in line)
- Had they not heard about David? Did they not know his level of character?
- 1 Sam 23:26-29 One of many times that God rescued David from Saul
- Saul repeatedly tried to kill david and was never successful. God saved him from Saul
- He also saved him from his Army. He protected him. Plus the lions, bears and Goliath
- David had seen God’s saving power, and it CHANGED HIS ACTIONS because he couldn’t pretend that it wasn’t God that had saved him and made him King
- Psalm 107:2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy,
- David’s heart was to always remember the redemptive power of God. He wrote most of the psalms. Worship in and of itself is a heart that remembers what God has done. All of his psalms are songs.
- Psalm 111:9 He has sent redemption to His people; He has commanded His covenant forever: Holy and awesome is His name.
- David knew that God had saved him- so what did he do? He refused to support the sins of the brothers- Rechab and Baanah. Given the choice- he continues to put God first
- 10 when someone told me, saying, ‘Look, Saul is dead,’ thinking to have brought good news, I arrested him and had him executed in Ziklag—the one who thought I would give him a reward for his news.
- That’s the measure of his resolve- he acts this way because he KNOWS who redeemed him.
- Because David knew it was God who sustained him and saved him- it changed how he lived.
- THESE guys were wrong. They deserved punishment- but David still wanted to honor Saul
- What does it mean to you?
- Do you forget that Jesus saved you? Do you forget what he has delivered you from?
- For the life of me, I’ll never understand how we go from “glad to be saved” to “list of demands”
- IF we remember “as sure as the Lord lives he has redeemed me” it should change how we live!
- Ephesians 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace
- Through the grace of Jesus we have redemption in his blood. FROM SIN
- But we forget this- we start to get mad at God because he doesn’t give us more or do more
- Forgetting- Isaiah 44:22 I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, And like a cloud, your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.”
- Lack of remembrance will make you into a self righteous demanding person
- My marriage- I was so excited to just have Crystal as my wife. What else do I need? (First tv)
- Go from tube, to projection to flat screen in the same marriage- but that’s not what matters!
- David may have acted in haste, or made some bad decision, but he always remembered that it was God who saved him- the psalms declare it and his actions prove it.
- Living as a Christian isn’t easy. Faced with moral dilemmas- remind yourself. Let it keep you.
- 2. As the Lord lives- David was man after God’s heart ( he was a lowly shepherd boy)
- He had absolute faith in God (1 sam 17) “the Lord will deliver me” from Goliath
- And in this instance- executing these executors was a righteous act. They deserved it.
- READ V 11-12
- These brothers were unrighteous. They had to be held accountable
- Its interesting- David never tried to kill Saul, but had no problem executing the wicked
- Don’t mistake his grace for weakness. His resolve was either Saul, Ishbosheth or anyone else, God would take care of him.
- Psa 34:17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears,And delivers them out of all their troubles.
- David’s life was full of troubles- and God delivered him from all of them.
- Had he not had a heart that had absolute faith in God, chances are he would have folded
- Psalm 34:4 I sought the Lord, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears.
- He was human! I don’t think he acted in joy to do this, but it needed to be done-
- He knew that this bloody act would be the means by which the N and S kingdom would unite
- And it was! (Side note- the blood of Jesus united us in his kingdom, but Jesus was sinless)
- He absolutely loved God’s law- he wrote psalms, and many times talked about how much he loved his word Psalm 119:97 Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.
- Joshua 1:8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you[a] shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
- HE was thankful PSa 26:26-27 read the psalms and see how thankful he was-
- He was repentant Psa 51:1-2
- Psalm 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties;
- What does it mean to you?
- How do you think people would describe you? What are your character traits?
- In Jr High- at the Mall with my brother. Left the mall because of Terry Smith- never met him- never saw him, but his character preceded him- His reputation spoke for him.
- Are you a person with a heart after the things of God? Is He your desire like David?
- Absolute Faith in God that he will see you through? Do you fold in adversity?
- A love of his word like David? Do you meditate on it and let it change you?
- Thankful for what you have? Repentant?
3.As the Lord lives It was God David wanted to honor (He always honored Saul to Honor God)
- David refused to kill Ishbosheth because he was Sauls son, and he knew that the line of Saul was precious in God’s sight. He didn’t do it for the sake of Saul, he did it for the sake of God
- Often times people misinterpret meekness for weakness. Honor was Davids code
- (to Eil) 1 Samuel 2:30 READ- “I will honor those who honor me”
- David’s heart of honor of God led to his elevation to King of Israel. He wasn’t a schemer
- God has always honored honor. One of the 10 He demands we honor our parents and HIM
- We learn to Honor God by honoring our parents, you teach kids honor by demanding it.
- There will be people in your life that you will honor because God tells you to do so unto him.
- And in this instance- the justice he gives out on these guys is in direct connection to David’s desire to honor God and the house of Saul (Later we’ll see it again with Jonathan)
- Remember- 1 Samuel 26:10-11 11 The Lord forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the Lord’s anointed.
- David had killed in war, but refused to kill Saul because he wanted to HONOR God
- The problem wasn’t David’s ability to kill- he was clearly able to do that in this instance
- 1 Samuel 26: 23-24 For the sake of HONOR of GOD
- What does it mean to you?
- What happened to honor culture in America? Just basic human decency. Its out there- but its rare. Here we have a guy who refused to kill his enemy because of his love of God
- We can’t even get Christians stop gossiping or to serve one another
- God demands that we show honor. Its not a culture of the world, but it’s a culture of the Bible.
- Romans 12:10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;’
- What God had done in and through David changed his demeanor and caused him to HONOR
- That’s Bible. That’s what we are supposed to do.
- But we don’t. We put ourselves first at the expense of others and figure God doesn’t care
- God DOES care. He is an honorable God- We should be honorable in ALL Things!
- Hebrews 13:18 Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honorably.
- Military was a culture of Honor- more hand salutes than I can remember-
- Even more so the things of God and our fellow Christians. For HIM and because of HIM
- Choose to be an honorable person. Choose to live a life of Honor.
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