- 2 sam 14:1-24 Joab can see the king is distraught bc of Absalom. A wise woman from Tekoa Goes to King David to pretend that she is mourning. Joab tells her what to say and she does. I’m a widow, I had 2 sons who fought and killed one another. She tells him that the people wanted (demanded) Justice- They want the remaining son to be killed. Obviously upset, she says this is her one and only son the heir to his dead father. David tells her to go back to her house and he’ll send orders on what will happen. She says she’ll live under the guilt of not keeping david alive, but her son. David promises that she and her only son will be safe. She asks to privately speak with david. The woman from Tekoa is honest and says that she is honestly asking why david wont forgive Absalom and let him return to his home. She preaches to David and says, look, we’re all going to die, but God doesn’t want people to die, makes it possible for them to live. He loves and accepts the outcasts. David wants to know if Joab was involved- and she says yes. He tells Joab to bring back Absalom, but not into his presence. Joab thanks him and goes for abaslom.
- This is a great story- Joab and the woman from Tekoa work together to bring reconciliation between David and Absalom.
- There’s one verse that sits in the middle of this story of reconciliation that shows so much about God
- Some say it’s the most Gospel centric scripture in the whole Old testament.
- It shows the reality of our spiritual and physical death, but how God wants to give life and is will to do whatever it takes so people would come to him
- 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
- That’s the heart of this verse- and the heart of this message- God wants all to come to him in Faith
- 14:14 For we will surely die and become like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. Yet God does not take away a life; but He devises means, so that His banished ones are not expelled from Him.
- I don’t want to take this farther than it needs to go- but the woman from Tekoa along with Joab are the mediators of this reconciliation between David the father and Absalom the son. Much like Jesus was the mediator of the new covenant between Us (Absalom who had committed sin) and God (The king who we have done wrong)
- Hebrews 9:15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
- Physical death and spiritual death are real
- Its going to happen to all of us
- For we will surely die and become like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again.
- The woman from Tekoa uses a word picture of death to bring to King David’s mind that his heart to not forgive Absalom and allow him to come home is so limiting- We all die- You should think of that
- 13 So the woman said: “Why then have you schemed such a thing against the people of God? For the king speaks this thing as one who is guilty, in that the king does not bring his banished one home again.
- You should bring your son home David, life is short. We all die- You’ve already lost 2 sons, the son of Bathsheba and your son Amnon- isn’t that enough? Isn’t that enough death for one guy? We all die.
- Genesis 3:19 In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return.”
- We all came from the dust of Adam, and unless raptured, we will all die a natural death one day.
- Death is real- We all die- I think its one of the reasons this virus thing is so daunting for many- We avoid thinking about death as much as possible and the thought of it for many people is far too much to handle- This COVID is staring death and loss of control to many people in the face.
- David said- Psalm 39:13 Remove Your gaze from me, that I may regain strength, Before I go away and am no more.”
- Bible declares is- Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,
- Water only has usefulness when it is in a vessel- once it is spilled- its lost its value- unless it is poured out to make something grow- The water metaphor is a life metaphor- you only get one so use it well
- Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—
- The actions of Adam spread physical and spiritual death to all people. David has to know this.
- Its not just a physical death, but a spiritual death- we’re all born into sin because of Adam
- The woman of Tekoa is using whatever means necessary to get David to think about mortality which will hopefully in turn get him to change the way that he is living his life- offer forgiveness to the unworthy
- What does it mean to you
- Many of you watching today are Christian people who have faced your own death and aren’t worried
- But to those of you who may have been scrolling by, or happened on the channel THIS IS FOR YOU
- Have you faced the reality of your own death? Are you afraid of death and dying? Do you have no hope?
- If you had Jesus you could declare-1 cor 15:55“O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” Romans 14:8 For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.
- Later in this message you will see that God is trying to reconcile himself to you right now-but right now you can embrace the reality of death. Its quite freeing- To just know that you’re going to die one day
- Many of you know this- but I hate to fly- I hate international travel- Ever since deployed- The only way I get through it is that I embrace death. Its irrational, but its my coping mechanism- it’s the only way to get on the plane- I have to accept that I may die. Every time I get on a plane.
- So what do we do?
- Don’t give yourself over to too much sorrow. 2 Samuel 12:23 But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.”
- Quit with envy, jealousy and resentment– Whoever it is they are going to die like you
- Treat others with kindness– you don’t know what tomorrow holds life is too short to hold a grudge
- Redeem the time Colossians 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.
- Philippians 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
- Here’s the great news- God gives means for reconciliation
- The woman of tekoa says – v 14 Yet God does not take away a life; but He devises means
- From the beginning of time God has been establishing means and ways by which we could be saved
- Genesis 3:15 is the first mention of a savior for mankind immediately after our rebellion
- 3:15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed;
- He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”
- In theological terms, this is called the proto-evangelium (the first Gospel). God promised that through the Seed (i.e., descendant) of a woman (Eve) would come one who would crush the head of Satan.
- This is the first promise of a Savior and the first great act of God’s grace after our tragic act of rebellion.
- Through Abraham, Issac, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, and all the kings there is a promise of an eternal redeemer- one to SAVE God’s people from their Sins- To establish a forever relationship with US.
- 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.”
- God is Holy- we are not- he wanted relationship but we ruined it. So he did what he could to restore it
- That’s the message of the woman of Tekoa here- “God does not take a life, but HE DEVISES MEANS”
- God will do WHATEVER IT TAKES to bring reconciliation- Whats your problem David? God saved YOU
- What does it mean to you
- This bible is a whole story about a holy God reconciling sinful man to himself. The repeated failures of man and the repeated faithfulness of God- Time and time again we fail and he never gives up.
- 2 Corinthians 5:19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
- For US, JESUS was the means devised by God to bring us TO HIM- Have you responded to it? If you have, how has it changed you?
- 2 cor 5: 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses
- This is the GOOD NEWS- The SINS we performed against God are not held against us.
- Romans 5:10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
- YOU WERE GOD’S ENEMY- I WAS GOD’S ENEMY- Just like David- it should change the way we live
- This is a story of the GOSPEL God reconciling himself to US but ALSO- how can we hold anything against anyone?
- How could David hold his son accountable for Murder when he himself was a murderer?
- Its quite the double standard isn’t it? Hypocritical and mean. God forgave us- we forgive others.
- 1 John 4:10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
- Romans 4:6-8 READ compared to Psalm 32:1-2 DAVID WAS FORGIVEN by God- WE should FORGIVE
- This is a powerful Gospel verse- God forgave David- David should forgive Absalom. God forgave us, we should forgive others.
- Mat 6:15But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
- I don’t care what it is and what happened- we are suppose to forgive because we have been forgiven
- 2 Corinthians 5:18-21,1 John 2:1-2 Romans 3:24-26
- Jesus gives spiritual life and everlasting life
V 14 so that His banished ones are not expelled from Him. THIS IS HIS HEART
- God doesn’t desire for anyone to perish- NONE 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
- This is why I don’t believe that God predestines some to heaven and some to Hell. Not buying it
- David should have been destroyed many times over- but God continually showed him mercy- and here he is doing it again through the woman from Tekoa (Women in ministry- used by God to king- hmmm)
- Why? He wants his people to live for eternity with him- he LOVES to show mercy- and to give LIFE
- Daniel 12:2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt.
- What does it mean to you
- Realize death is inevitable, spiritual death is fixed by Jesus reconciliation and then be Excited that you have a relationship with God RIGHT NOW and that you Get to spend ETERNITY with him!
- Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- This life we have is a GIFT- I LOVE being alive- I love breathing and living for Jesus on THIS SIDE of heaven
- But if this isn’t heaven, I am really excited to see what eternal life is like- forever with Jesus.
- Jn17:3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
- Are you living in such a way that you actually believe that you are going to inherit everlasting life?
- Have you put all your eggs into the worlds basket believing that this is the only life you get?
- Its not my friend- This time is a warm up for eternal life- the everlasting life in Jesus-
- Hopefully this time has shown you the futility of the material things of this world- the afterworld is everything
- 1 John 2:25 And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life.
- God wants relationship with you NOW he doesn’t banish you so you can live FOREVER with HIM
John 5:24 John 11:25 John 6:27 John 4:14 Matthew 25:46 John 3:36 John 5:29 Galatians 6:7-8 Rev21:4
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