WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.900 We're going to listen to God's words and so it's good to pray that we'd have receptive hearts. 00:00:05.600 --> 00:00:11.019 So why don't we pray together before Cecilia comes up and reads today's passage. 00:00:14.000 --> 00:00:20.300 Father, thank you that you are the living speaking God, that you speak to us words of grace, words of life. 00:00:21.260 --> 00:00:25.879 Pray that each of us would listen for each of us. Would you speak to our hearts by your spirit? 00:00:25.879 --> 00:00:32.700 My words can't do anything unless you make them come alive, unless you make them your words in people's hearts. 00:00:32.780 --> 00:00:39.399 Make each of us hear what we need to hear and would we see Jesus and his glory and would we turn to him. 00:00:39.560 --> 00:00:41.119 In Jesus' name. Amen. 00:00:42.000 --> 00:00:42.879 Great. Cecilia. 00:00:55.880 --> 00:01:09.320 Our passage today is from 2 Samuel chapter 15 and 16. 00:01:09.700 --> 00:01:15.640 Absalom, David's ambitious son spent four years endearing himself to the people of Israel. 00:01:16.260 --> 00:01:25.439 Then he secretly plans a coronation ceremony with representatives from the whole country and has himself openly crowned king. 00:01:25.879 --> 00:01:29.619 We pick up the story in chapter 15, verse 13. 00:01:29.839 --> 00:01:30.439 We read, 00:01:30.439 --> 00:01:33.699 And a messenger came to David, saying, 00:01:34.199 --> 00:01:37.500 The hearts of the men of Israel have gone after Absalom. 00:01:37.920 --> 00:01:42.299 Then David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, 00:01:43.199 --> 00:01:48.620 Arise and let us flee, or else there will be no escape for us from Absalom. 00:01:48.620 --> 00:01:56.960 Go quickly, lest it overtake us quickly, and bring down ruin on us, and strike the city with the edge of sword. 00:01:58.020 --> 00:02:00.340 And the king's servants said to the king, 00:02:00.820 --> 00:02:06.180 Behold, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord king decides. 00:02:06.760 --> 00:02:10.719 So the king went out, and all his household after him. 00:02:10.719 --> 00:02:14.659 And the king left ten concubines to keep the house. 00:02:15.319 --> 00:02:18.580 And the king went out, and all the people after him. 00:02:19.259 --> 00:02:21.460 And they halted at the last house. 00:02:22.120 --> 00:02:29.960 And all his servants passed by him, and all the Carathais, and all the Palathais, and all the 600 Gittais, 00:02:30.379 --> 00:02:34.360 who had followed him from Gath, passed on before the king. 00:02:34.360 --> 00:02:37.620 Then the king said to Ittai the Gittai, 00:02:38.080 --> 00:02:40.080 Why do you also go with us? 00:02:40.620 --> 00:02:46.640 Go back and stay with the king, for you are a foreigner, and also an exile from your home. 00:02:47.220 --> 00:02:52.200 You came only yesterday, and shall I today make you wander about with us? 00:02:52.620 --> 00:02:54.860 Since I go, I know not where. 00:02:55.640 --> 00:03:01.720 Go back and take your brothers with you, and may the Lord show steadfast love and faithfulness to you. 00:03:01.719 --> 00:03:04.139 But Ittai answered the king, 00:03:04.560 --> 00:03:08.360 As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, 00:03:08.860 --> 00:03:10.780 wherever my lord the king shall be, 00:03:11.280 --> 00:03:13.479 whether for death or for life, 00:03:13.979 --> 00:03:16.099 there also will your servants be. 00:03:16.900 --> 00:03:18.419 And David said to Ittai, 00:03:18.900 --> 00:03:20.680 Go then, pass on. 00:03:21.240 --> 00:03:24.740 So Ittai the Gittai passed on with all his men, 00:03:24.919 --> 00:03:27.240 and all the little ones who were with him. 00:03:27.840 --> 00:03:30.099 And all the land wept aloud, 00:03:30.099 --> 00:03:32.219 as all the people passed by. 00:03:32.639 --> 00:03:34.759 And the king crossed the brood Kidron, 00:03:35.019 --> 00:03:37.939 and all the people passed on towards the wilderness. 00:03:40.159 --> 00:03:42.019 And Abiathar came up, 00:03:42.319 --> 00:03:42.939 and behold, 00:03:43.599 --> 00:03:46.019 Sedar came also with the Levites, 00:03:46.539 --> 00:03:48.439 bearing the art of covenant of God. 00:03:48.740 --> 00:03:50.599 And they set down the art of God, 00:03:50.740 --> 00:03:53.599 until the people had all passed out of the city. 00:03:53.599 --> 00:03:56.400 Then the king said to Sedar, 00:03:57.139 --> 00:03:59.519 Carry the art of God back into the city. 00:04:00.019 --> 00:04:02.280 If I find favor in the eyes of the Lord, 00:04:02.620 --> 00:04:03.759 he will bring me back, 00:04:04.000 --> 00:04:06.780 and let me see both it and its dwelling place. 00:04:07.340 --> 00:04:08.759 But if he said, 00:04:09.180 --> 00:04:11.219 I have no pleasure in you, 00:04:11.699 --> 00:04:13.259 behold, here I am, 00:04:13.639 --> 00:04:16.480 let him do to me what seems good to him. 00:04:16.480 --> 00:04:23.000 The king also said to Sedar, 00:04:23.120 --> 00:04:23.560 to the priest, 00:04:24.060 --> 00:04:25.520 Are you not a share? 00:04:26.000 --> 00:04:27.800 Go back to the city in peace, 00:04:28.160 --> 00:04:29.100 with your two sons, 00:04:29.500 --> 00:04:30.720 Ahimaeus, your son, 00:04:30.980 --> 00:04:31.700 and Jonathan, 00:04:32.080 --> 00:04:33.580 the sons of Abiathar. 00:04:34.460 --> 00:04:34.900 See, 00:04:35.140 --> 00:04:37.280 I will wait at the fort of the wilderness, 00:04:37.520 --> 00:04:39.180 until word comes from you, 00:04:39.439 --> 00:04:40.500 to inform me. 00:04:41.379 --> 00:04:44.360 So Sedar and Abiathar carried the art of God, 00:04:44.360 --> 00:04:45.660 back to Jerusalem, 00:04:45.980 --> 00:04:47.280 and they remained there. 00:04:48.139 --> 00:04:52.620 But David went up to the ascent of the Mount of Olives, 00:04:53.160 --> 00:04:54.319 weeping as he went, 00:04:54.860 --> 00:04:55.439 barefoot, 00:04:55.819 --> 00:04:57.160 and with his head covered. 00:04:57.879 --> 00:04:59.840 And all the people who were with him 00:04:59.840 --> 00:05:01.139 covered their heads, 00:05:01.319 --> 00:05:02.439 and they went up, 00:05:02.900 --> 00:05:04.199 weeping as they went. 00:05:05.100 --> 00:05:06.580 And it was told David, 00:05:07.480 --> 00:05:10.620 Ahibophil is among the conspirators with Absalom. 00:05:11.180 --> 00:05:12.000 And David said, 00:05:12.000 --> 00:05:13.220 Oh Lord, 00:05:13.540 --> 00:05:17.000 please turn the counsel of Ahibophil into foolishness. 00:05:20.579 --> 00:05:21.959 Chapter 16, 00:05:22.540 --> 00:05:23.319 verse 1, 00:05:23.500 --> 00:05:24.000 reread. 00:05:24.860 --> 00:05:27.860 When David has passed a little beyond the summit, 00:05:28.500 --> 00:05:28.819 Seba, 00:05:29.019 --> 00:05:31.000 the servant of Abishav, 00:05:31.819 --> 00:05:32.399 met him, 00:05:32.860 --> 00:05:34.500 with a couple of donkeys settled, 00:05:35.060 --> 00:05:37.060 bearing two hundred sloves of bread, 00:05:37.560 --> 00:05:39.259 a hundred bunches of raisins, 00:05:39.759 --> 00:05:41.480 a hundred of summer fruits, 00:05:41.480 --> 00:05:43.000 and a skein of wine. 00:05:43.640 --> 00:05:45.120 And the king said to Seba, 00:05:45.480 --> 00:05:47.400 Why have you brought these? 00:05:48.140 --> 00:05:49.000 Seba answered, 00:05:49.480 --> 00:05:52.420 The donkeys are for the king's household to ride on, 00:05:52.840 --> 00:05:56.040 the bread and the summer fruits for the young men to eat, 00:05:56.420 --> 00:05:59.600 and the wine for those who faint in the wilderness to drink. 00:06:00.280 --> 00:06:01.180 And the king said, 00:06:01.640 --> 00:06:03.580 And where is your master's son? 00:06:04.280 --> 00:06:05.540 Seba said to the king, 00:06:05.540 --> 00:06:06.660 Behold, 00:06:06.660 --> 00:06:08.400 he remains in Jerusalem, 00:06:09.000 --> 00:06:09.760 for he said, 00:06:10.280 --> 00:06:14.220 Today the house of Israel will give me back the kingdom of my father. 00:06:14.939 --> 00:06:17.040 The king said to Seba, 00:06:17.480 --> 00:06:18.260 Behold, 00:06:18.460 --> 00:06:22.040 all that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours. 00:06:22.879 --> 00:06:23.900 And Seba said, 00:06:24.140 --> 00:06:25.060 I pay homage. 00:06:25.540 --> 00:06:27.939 Let me ever find favor in your sight, 00:06:28.259 --> 00:06:29.240 my lord the king. 00:06:29.240 --> 00:06:32.720 When King David came to Behurim, 00:06:32.720 --> 00:06:39.240 There came out a man of a family of the house of Saul, 00:06:39.760 --> 00:06:41.420 whose name is Shimear, 00:06:41.740 --> 00:06:43.100 the son of Gerar. 00:06:43.480 --> 00:06:44.240 And he came, 00:06:44.360 --> 00:06:45.620 he cursed continually. 00:06:46.160 --> 00:06:48.100 And he threw stones at David, 00:06:48.440 --> 00:06:50.280 and all the servants of King David, 00:06:50.620 --> 00:06:51.660 and all the people, 00:06:52.020 --> 00:06:53.300 and all the mighty men 00:06:53.300 --> 00:06:56.980 who were on his right hand and on his left. 00:06:56.980 --> 00:06:58.840 And Shimear said, 00:06:59.319 --> 00:07:00.360 as he cursed, 00:07:00.980 --> 00:07:01.500 Get out, 00:07:01.700 --> 00:07:02.140 get out, 00:07:02.460 --> 00:07:03.379 you men of blood, 00:07:03.879 --> 00:07:04.939 you worthless men. 00:07:05.340 --> 00:07:06.920 The lord has avenged on you 00:07:06.920 --> 00:07:08.740 all the blood of the house of Saul, 00:07:09.240 --> 00:07:11.120 in whose place you have reigned. 00:07:11.600 --> 00:07:13.280 And the lord has given the king 00:07:13.280 --> 00:07:15.259 into the hand of your son Absalom. 00:07:15.900 --> 00:07:16.259 See, 00:07:16.620 --> 00:07:18.140 your evil is on you, 00:07:18.439 --> 00:07:20.100 for you are a man of blood. 00:07:21.480 --> 00:07:22.480 Then Abijah, 00:07:22.720 --> 00:07:23.939 the son of Shuriah, 00:07:24.280 --> 00:07:25.000 said to the king, 00:07:25.000 --> 00:07:28.240 Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? 00:07:28.660 --> 00:07:30.779 Let me go over and take off his head. 00:07:31.519 --> 00:07:32.360 But the king said, 00:07:32.839 --> 00:07:35.259 What have I to do with you, 00:07:35.399 --> 00:07:36.839 your son of Shuriah? 00:07:37.220 --> 00:07:40.420 If he is cursing because the lord has said to me, 00:07:41.000 --> 00:07:41.699 Curse David, 00:07:42.019 --> 00:07:43.139 who then shall say, 00:07:43.579 --> 00:07:44.819 Why have you done so? 00:07:45.480 --> 00:07:48.360 And David said to Abijah, 00:07:48.360 --> 00:07:49.939 and to all his servants, 00:07:50.459 --> 00:07:50.980 Behold, 00:07:51.199 --> 00:07:53.000 my own son seek my life. 00:07:53.000 --> 00:07:58.459 How much more now may this Benjaminite leave him alone 00:07:58.459 --> 00:07:59.579 and let him curse, 00:08:00.000 --> 00:08:01.519 for the lord has told him to. 00:08:02.180 --> 00:08:05.759 It may be that the lord will look on the wrong done to me, 00:08:06.100 --> 00:08:10.100 and that the lord will repay me the good for his cursing today. 00:08:10.779 --> 00:08:14.600 So David and his men went on the road, 00:08:14.600 --> 00:08:18.980 while Shimea went along on the hillside opposite him, 00:08:19.180 --> 00:08:20.760 and cursed as he went, 00:08:21.060 --> 00:08:22.280 and threw stone at him, 00:08:22.560 --> 00:08:23.220 and flung dust. 00:08:23.900 --> 00:08:24.580 And the king, 00:08:25.700 --> 00:08:28.020 and all the people who were with him, 00:08:28.439 --> 00:08:30.560 arrived weary at the Jordan. 00:08:31.180 --> 00:08:33.000 And there he refreshed himself. 00:08:33.500 --> 00:08:34.800 This is the word of God. 00:08:34.799 --> 00:08:39.879 Thanks so much, Cecilia. 00:08:41.099 --> 00:08:42.379 Man, that's a hard reading, right? 00:08:42.419 --> 00:08:43.539 All these Hebrew names. 00:08:43.699 --> 00:08:44.500 It's very difficult. 00:08:45.199 --> 00:08:46.279 But that's what we're doing. 00:08:46.359 --> 00:08:48.139 We're doing 2 Samuel. 00:08:48.459 --> 00:08:48.919 It's a narrative. 00:08:49.579 --> 00:08:50.319 There's characters. 00:08:50.699 --> 00:08:53.019 And so, yeah, we have all these names. 00:08:56.539 --> 00:08:57.359 And don't worry. 00:08:58.539 --> 00:08:58.939 Great. 00:08:59.720 --> 00:08:59.960 Yeah. 00:09:00.500 --> 00:09:01.760 Well, if you're visiting, 00:09:01.920 --> 00:09:02.980 we're in the middle of a story. 00:09:03.760 --> 00:09:05.600 But let me go back to... 00:09:05.600 --> 00:09:08.740 I used to help at a summer camp somewhere in Eastern Europe, 00:09:09.000 --> 00:09:11.060 a kind of Bible holiday for some churches. 00:09:11.880 --> 00:09:13.280 And that was always really nice, 00:09:13.320 --> 00:09:15.500 being out in the mountains with Bible talks, 00:09:15.640 --> 00:09:16.740 and it's a good holiday. 00:09:17.620 --> 00:09:19.780 We had a campfire regularly, 00:09:20.020 --> 00:09:21.900 and then people would share, like, testimonies 00:09:21.900 --> 00:09:24.360 about kind of, you know, what God was doing. 00:09:24.740 --> 00:09:26.280 And usually it was pretty tame. 00:09:26.440 --> 00:09:27.700 It was, you know, God is so nice. 00:09:27.700 --> 00:09:28.340 He does this. 00:09:28.420 --> 00:09:29.040 He does that. 00:09:30.280 --> 00:09:31.540 And then one time, though, 00:09:31.720 --> 00:09:32.680 a local woman, 00:09:33.200 --> 00:09:34.940 she felt God wanted her to share. 00:09:35.060 --> 00:09:36.320 And she shared... 00:09:36.320 --> 00:09:38.460 I think she shared, like, 25 minutes, 00:09:38.540 --> 00:09:39.640 and then it had to be translated, 00:09:39.759 --> 00:09:40.960 so it took, like, nearly an hour. 00:09:42.200 --> 00:09:44.360 But it was just unbelievable 00:09:44.360 --> 00:09:47.060 what she had gone through. 00:09:47.320 --> 00:09:48.440 Incredible difficulties. 00:09:48.440 --> 00:09:49.620 So she had a child 00:09:49.620 --> 00:09:51.879 with some serious medical condition, 00:09:52.120 --> 00:09:53.759 and she was constantly in hospital. 00:09:53.759 --> 00:09:57.799 Her house burned down twice, right? 00:09:57.879 --> 00:10:00.799 So can you imagine two times losing everything 00:10:00.799 --> 00:10:02.220 because your house burns down? 00:10:02.819 --> 00:10:04.620 And just what this woman had gone through 00:10:04.620 --> 00:10:05.799 was incredible. 00:10:06.980 --> 00:10:08.500 And you just wonder, 00:10:09.019 --> 00:10:10.139 we all were thinking, 00:10:10.259 --> 00:10:12.240 how would I respond in such an event, right? 00:10:12.240 --> 00:10:14.500 What would I do if I lose everything, 00:10:14.620 --> 00:10:16.240 if my life falls apart? 00:10:16.759 --> 00:10:17.259 I don't know. 00:10:17.679 --> 00:10:18.600 For some of you in the Philippines, 00:10:18.720 --> 00:10:20.120 maybe you have family losing their home 00:10:20.120 --> 00:10:21.819 in a typhoon or something, right? 00:10:21.860 --> 00:10:22.580 That is difficult. 00:10:22.779 --> 00:10:23.539 Or, you know, 00:10:23.620 --> 00:10:24.840 all your money is... 00:10:24.840 --> 00:10:26.120 All your savings and investments, 00:10:26.319 --> 00:10:28.319 and then this company is corrupt 00:10:28.319 --> 00:10:29.059 and goes bankrupt, 00:10:29.200 --> 00:10:30.120 and you lose everything 00:10:30.120 --> 00:10:31.659 that you wanted to retire with. 00:10:31.879 --> 00:10:32.860 Those kind of things, right? 00:10:33.120 --> 00:10:34.200 That can happen, right? 00:10:34.779 --> 00:10:36.139 Now, how would you respond? 00:10:36.919 --> 00:10:38.899 What do you do when that happens? 00:10:39.519 --> 00:10:40.600 I guess for many of us, 00:10:40.639 --> 00:10:41.819 I know what we're thinking, right? 00:10:41.819 --> 00:10:43.179 We just wonder why. 00:10:43.179 --> 00:10:43.219 Why? 00:10:44.319 --> 00:10:45.899 And where is God in this? 00:10:45.919 --> 00:10:46.759 Is he against me? 00:10:46.839 --> 00:10:48.099 Have I done something that, 00:10:48.519 --> 00:10:50.879 yeah, made this happen, right? 00:10:50.919 --> 00:10:51.519 If you... 00:10:51.519 --> 00:10:52.399 Maybe if you're here, 00:10:52.459 --> 00:10:52.959 you're visiting, 00:10:53.099 --> 00:10:54.839 I guess it's a very natural question, right? 00:10:54.879 --> 00:10:56.539 Is God against me? 00:10:56.699 --> 00:10:57.659 What is happening? 00:10:58.879 --> 00:11:00.559 I mean, sometimes that actually... 00:11:00.559 --> 00:11:01.919 You can imagine that's the case 00:11:01.919 --> 00:11:02.839 because for some of us, 00:11:02.879 --> 00:11:04.039 okay, life falls apart, 00:11:04.299 --> 00:11:06.459 and it's really our fault, right? 00:11:06.500 --> 00:11:07.839 Here's the guy at work, 00:11:08.339 --> 00:11:09.359 has a one-night stand. 00:11:10.299 --> 00:11:11.120 It comes out. 00:11:11.519 --> 00:11:12.379 He loses his marriage. 00:11:12.379 --> 00:11:13.360 He loses his job. 00:11:13.519 --> 00:11:14.439 Yeah, he loses everything, 00:11:14.559 --> 00:11:16.539 but that's very much his fault, right? 00:11:16.799 --> 00:11:18.059 He has done something wrong, 00:11:18.519 --> 00:11:19.980 and yeah, if he thinks, 00:11:20.080 --> 00:11:21.039 well, God is against me, 00:11:21.120 --> 00:11:22.779 that seems understandable. 00:11:24.740 --> 00:11:25.639 But even then, 00:11:25.700 --> 00:11:26.559 how would you respond 00:11:26.559 --> 00:11:27.980 if you've done that, right? 00:11:28.299 --> 00:11:29.879 We all still sin every day, 00:11:30.200 --> 00:11:31.279 sometimes seriously, 00:11:32.500 --> 00:11:33.600 and sometimes we face 00:11:33.600 --> 00:11:34.679 serious consequences, 00:11:35.519 --> 00:11:36.820 and then life can fall apart, 00:11:36.899 --> 00:11:38.240 and so how do we respond? 00:11:38.379 --> 00:11:40.639 I think that is what today is about 00:11:40.639 --> 00:11:42.100 because, yeah, 00:11:42.340 --> 00:11:43.379 what we hear, 00:11:43.519 --> 00:11:44.840 we hear of David, 00:11:45.019 --> 00:11:46.340 and his life falls apart, 00:11:46.919 --> 00:11:49.279 and how does he respond? 00:11:49.620 --> 00:11:50.299 I think that is, 00:11:50.379 --> 00:11:50.939 for some of us, 00:11:51.019 --> 00:11:52.539 maybe that may be a reality now 00:11:52.539 --> 00:11:55.500 as we go into the coming week, 00:11:55.559 --> 00:11:56.600 but for others, 00:11:56.939 --> 00:11:57.179 you know, 00:11:57.240 --> 00:12:00.559 it's something we need to store up 00:12:00.559 --> 00:12:01.059 for the future. 00:12:02.100 --> 00:12:03.819 Now, if you don't know who David is, 00:12:03.960 --> 00:12:05.419 David was God's chosen king, 00:12:05.419 --> 00:12:06.759 and, you know, 00:12:06.879 --> 00:12:07.559 under him, 00:12:07.699 --> 00:12:09.179 God built this beautiful kingdom. 00:12:09.719 --> 00:12:10.039 However, 00:12:10.379 --> 00:12:12.059 as we've gone through this series, 00:12:12.219 --> 00:12:13.199 things went wrong 00:12:13.199 --> 00:12:14.459 because a few weeks ago, 00:12:14.919 --> 00:12:16.159 David committed adultery 00:12:16.159 --> 00:12:16.860 and murder, 00:12:17.679 --> 00:12:18.939 and God warned him 00:12:18.939 --> 00:12:20.839 there would be very serious consequences. 00:12:21.599 --> 00:12:22.919 Sin needs to be dealt with, 00:12:22.939 --> 00:12:24.000 as we heard last week, 00:12:24.159 --> 00:12:25.620 and God is doing that. 00:12:25.620 --> 00:12:26.879 He is, yeah, 00:12:27.179 --> 00:12:28.839 David is facing consequences, 00:12:28.979 --> 00:12:30.500 and his whole life falls apart. 00:12:31.779 --> 00:12:32.860 And, well, 00:12:32.860 --> 00:12:34.060 what happens? 00:12:34.379 --> 00:12:34.720 I guess, 00:12:35.360 --> 00:12:35.539 yeah, 00:12:35.600 --> 00:12:36.419 it's a long passage. 00:12:36.740 --> 00:12:38.039 One can't go into everything. 00:12:38.320 --> 00:12:38.500 So, 00:12:38.840 --> 00:12:39.399 last week, 00:12:39.440 --> 00:12:40.159 we met Absalom, 00:12:40.360 --> 00:12:41.360 one of David's sons, 00:12:42.039 --> 00:12:44.180 and he and his dad were estranged. 00:12:44.399 --> 00:12:44.600 He had, 00:12:45.139 --> 00:12:46.039 he'd committed revenge 00:12:46.039 --> 00:12:47.039 on his half-brother, 00:12:47.259 --> 00:12:48.539 who was David's favorite son. 00:12:48.899 --> 00:12:49.100 So, 00:12:49.220 --> 00:12:50.720 David didn't want to speak to him 00:12:50.720 --> 00:12:51.840 for like five years. 00:12:52.980 --> 00:12:53.680 And so, 00:12:53.680 --> 00:12:55.060 they were really embittered, 00:12:55.120 --> 00:12:55.919 really estranged. 00:12:56.560 --> 00:12:57.000 And, 00:12:57.120 --> 00:12:58.620 he starts plotting a rebellion. 00:12:58.860 --> 00:12:59.779 He goes on a kind of 00:12:59.779 --> 00:13:01.180 election tour, 00:13:01.659 --> 00:13:02.779 and he waits outside 00:13:02.779 --> 00:13:03.379 the palace, 00:13:03.399 --> 00:13:04.720 and whenever someone comes, 00:13:04.819 --> 00:13:05.220 he says, 00:13:05.299 --> 00:13:05.419 yeah, 00:13:05.500 --> 00:13:05.720 sorry, 00:13:06.139 --> 00:13:07.279 David can't see you. 00:13:07.339 --> 00:13:08.319 He won't give you justice. 00:13:08.519 --> 00:13:08.699 Oh, 00:13:08.939 --> 00:13:09.759 if I were king, 00:13:09.860 --> 00:13:11.299 then I could give you justice. 00:13:11.500 --> 00:13:11.799 And so, 00:13:12.120 --> 00:13:13.600 he does that for four years. 00:13:14.120 --> 00:13:15.179 He's a really determined guy, 00:13:15.259 --> 00:13:15.399 right? 00:13:15.480 --> 00:13:16.559 Four years of plotting, 00:13:16.759 --> 00:13:18.799 four years of kind of campaigning, 00:13:19.279 --> 00:13:20.639 making himself impressive, 00:13:21.039 --> 00:13:21.120 and, 00:13:21.120 --> 00:13:21.559 yeah, 00:13:21.720 --> 00:13:23.740 turning the people to him. 00:13:24.459 --> 00:13:24.679 And then, 00:13:24.779 --> 00:13:25.199 at some point, 00:13:25.259 --> 00:13:25.379 yeah, 00:13:25.500 --> 00:13:26.639 he goes, 00:13:27.039 --> 00:13:28.720 he secretly goes to a place. 00:13:29.600 --> 00:13:30.000 Well, 00:13:30.159 --> 00:13:30.899 he goes there, 00:13:30.939 --> 00:13:31.419 he asks David, 00:13:31.539 --> 00:13:31.679 oh, 00:13:31.699 --> 00:13:32.639 can I go to Hebron? 00:13:33.120 --> 00:13:34.659 where David became king, 00:13:35.100 --> 00:13:35.319 and, 00:13:35.459 --> 00:13:35.819 you know, 00:13:35.959 --> 00:13:37.500 have some religious ceremony there, 00:13:37.720 --> 00:13:38.339 but actually, 00:13:38.519 --> 00:13:39.799 it's a sign of coronation, 00:13:39.799 --> 00:13:41.559 where he's invited a lot of people, 00:13:42.059 --> 00:13:42.839 some top guys, 00:13:42.980 --> 00:13:44.839 and gets himself crowned the new king. 00:13:46.740 --> 00:13:47.019 And, 00:13:47.179 --> 00:13:47.459 yeah, 00:13:47.620 --> 00:13:49.259 David hears of it in verse 13. 00:13:49.819 --> 00:13:51.159 He has to run away, 00:13:51.259 --> 00:13:51.439 right? 00:13:51.500 --> 00:13:52.179 Verse 13, 00:13:52.179 --> 00:13:53.759 and a messenger came to David, 00:13:53.759 --> 00:13:54.179 saying, 00:13:54.620 --> 00:13:57.339 the hearts of the men of Israel have gone after Absalom. 00:13:58.120 --> 00:14:01.259 And then David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, 00:14:01.459 --> 00:14:02.059 arise, 00:14:02.500 --> 00:14:03.319 and let us flee, 00:14:03.739 --> 00:14:06.339 or else there will be no escape for us from Absalom. 00:14:07.039 --> 00:14:07.699 Go quickly, 00:14:07.779 --> 00:14:09.239 lest they overtake us quickly, 00:14:09.579 --> 00:14:11.059 and bring down ruin on us, 00:14:11.120 --> 00:14:13.519 and strike the city with the edge of the sword. 00:14:14.159 --> 00:14:14.599 And he, 00:14:15.000 --> 00:14:15.279 yeah, 00:14:15.279 --> 00:14:16.600 he flees the city. 00:14:16.839 --> 00:14:17.100 In a way, 00:14:17.120 --> 00:14:18.059 that's a very good thing. 00:14:18.600 --> 00:14:18.740 You know, 00:14:18.759 --> 00:14:19.659 if there's a war, 00:14:19.759 --> 00:14:22.579 and a lot of people would suffer if they are fighting inside the city, 00:14:23.120 --> 00:14:24.480 and so they're going out, 00:14:24.759 --> 00:14:25.000 you know? 00:14:25.480 --> 00:14:26.379 Imagine in Ukraine, 00:14:26.459 --> 00:14:28.259 if all the fighting was just outside the cities, 00:14:28.319 --> 00:14:29.199 and the people were safe, 00:14:29.259 --> 00:14:29.919 that would be nicer. 00:14:30.860 --> 00:14:31.079 But, 00:14:31.159 --> 00:14:31.959 yeah, 00:14:32.100 --> 00:14:32.339 they, 00:14:32.620 --> 00:14:33.199 yeah, 00:14:33.259 --> 00:14:34.360 he runs away. 00:14:35.120 --> 00:14:35.399 It's, 00:14:35.519 --> 00:14:35.620 of course, 00:14:35.659 --> 00:14:36.039 so hard, 00:14:36.100 --> 00:14:36.220 right? 00:14:36.240 --> 00:14:37.279 He has to leave his palace, 00:14:37.439 --> 00:14:38.120 leave his home, 00:14:38.279 --> 00:14:38.539 leave, 00:14:38.860 --> 00:14:39.620 leave the city, 00:14:39.620 --> 00:14:41.159 with all his servants, 00:14:41.240 --> 00:14:41.899 and his family. 00:14:41.899 --> 00:14:43.059 Then, 00:14:43.319 --> 00:14:43.459 yeah, 00:14:43.480 --> 00:14:45.240 you can hear the sadness in the reading. 00:14:45.419 --> 00:14:45.639 I mean, 00:14:45.699 --> 00:14:46.419 verse 30, 00:14:47.039 --> 00:14:50.139 but David went up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, 00:14:50.799 --> 00:14:51.860 weeping as he went, 00:14:52.419 --> 00:14:53.039 barefoot, 00:14:53.179 --> 00:14:54.379 and with his head covered. 00:14:55.000 --> 00:14:57.939 And all the people who were with him covered their heads, 00:14:58.419 --> 00:14:59.360 and they went up, 00:14:59.799 --> 00:15:01.019 weeping as they went. 00:15:01.759 --> 00:15:02.899 And it was told David, 00:15:03.980 --> 00:15:04.360 right? 00:15:04.539 --> 00:15:04.860 So, 00:15:05.019 --> 00:15:05.939 all the weeping, 00:15:05.939 --> 00:15:06.799 they're mourning, 00:15:06.980 --> 00:15:08.039 they're covering their heads, 00:15:08.179 --> 00:15:08.299 they're, 00:15:08.500 --> 00:15:09.879 this is such a sad day, 00:15:09.960 --> 00:15:10.480 you hear it. 00:15:10.480 --> 00:15:12.480 And then all the betrayal, 00:15:13.420 --> 00:15:13.600 right? 00:15:13.700 --> 00:15:14.019 So, 00:15:14.259 --> 00:15:15.539 so much betrayal. 00:15:15.700 --> 00:15:15.879 First, 00:15:15.980 --> 00:15:16.320 this guy, 00:15:16.620 --> 00:15:17.240 Ahithophel, 00:15:17.620 --> 00:15:17.820 is, 00:15:18.240 --> 00:15:18.500 you know, 00:15:18.560 --> 00:15:20.340 that was one of his top advisors, 00:15:20.519 --> 00:15:21.800 one of the wisest men in the kingdom, 00:15:22.039 --> 00:15:23.420 and he's gone over to Absalom. 00:15:24.259 --> 00:15:24.519 You know, 00:15:24.639 --> 00:15:25.440 that must be, 00:15:25.539 --> 00:15:26.720 yeah, 00:15:26.759 --> 00:15:27.519 that must be terrible, 00:15:27.740 --> 00:15:28.159 but then, 00:15:28.659 --> 00:15:29.259 he hears, 00:15:29.480 --> 00:15:30.500 Jeba comes to him. 00:15:30.560 --> 00:15:31.700 We met him a few weeks ago. 00:15:32.399 --> 00:15:34.300 He was a servant of the previous king, 00:15:34.300 --> 00:15:34.740 and, 00:15:34.860 --> 00:15:35.200 uh, 00:15:35.560 --> 00:15:37.700 he was now taking care of Mephibosheth, 00:15:37.800 --> 00:15:38.259 who was, 00:15:38.920 --> 00:15:39.139 you know, 00:15:39.139 --> 00:15:41.600 the crippled grandson of the previous king, 00:15:42.100 --> 00:15:43.019 and two weeks ago, 00:15:43.179 --> 00:15:43.299 if you, 00:15:43.340 --> 00:15:44.000 three weeks ago, 00:15:44.059 --> 00:15:44.580 if you were here, 00:15:44.699 --> 00:15:46.139 David was so kind to him, 00:15:46.379 --> 00:15:46.659 right? 00:15:47.059 --> 00:15:47.299 I mean, 00:15:47.319 --> 00:15:47.740 this guy, 00:15:47.860 --> 00:15:48.460 in some way, 00:15:48.860 --> 00:15:49.159 you know, 00:15:49.240 --> 00:15:50.559 he's from the enemy's family, 00:15:51.620 --> 00:15:54.860 and yet David gave him everything from that belonged to Saul, 00:15:54.919 --> 00:15:58.639 and invited him to always come sit with me at the table, 00:15:58.699 --> 00:15:58.879 right? 00:15:58.919 --> 00:15:59.819 What we just sang, 00:15:59.980 --> 00:16:02.019 once your enemy now seated at my table. 00:16:03.159 --> 00:16:05.159 Except Jeba brings all this food, 00:16:05.340 --> 00:16:05.439 and, 00:16:05.659 --> 00:16:05.779 hey, 00:16:05.879 --> 00:16:06.159 Jeba, 00:16:06.159 --> 00:16:07.100 where's Mephibosheth? 00:16:08.259 --> 00:16:08.500 And, 00:16:08.579 --> 00:16:09.360 and he says, 00:16:09.419 --> 00:16:09.679 well, 00:16:10.120 --> 00:16:10.419 you know, 00:16:10.459 --> 00:16:11.579 he remains in Jerusalem, 00:16:11.579 --> 00:16:13.579 because he says, 00:16:14.000 --> 00:16:14.439 behold, 00:16:15.000 --> 00:16:15.399 uh, 00:16:15.480 --> 00:16:15.819 today, 00:16:15.899 --> 00:16:16.799 the house of Israel, 00:16:16.919 --> 00:16:17.719 16 verse 3, 00:16:17.799 --> 00:16:20.019 will give me back the kingdom of my father, 00:16:20.219 --> 00:16:20.980 right? 00:16:21.620 --> 00:16:22.480 Just to hear that, 00:16:22.539 --> 00:16:24.199 this guy I've been so kind to, 00:16:24.759 --> 00:16:26.240 and now he's wringing his hands, 00:16:26.259 --> 00:16:27.659 because I'm fleeing for my life. 00:16:28.199 --> 00:16:29.100 What a betrayal, 00:16:29.259 --> 00:16:29.419 right? 00:16:29.419 --> 00:16:29.719 Just to, 00:16:29.799 --> 00:16:30.959 such a stab in the back, 00:16:30.959 --> 00:16:31.779 uh, 00:16:31.779 --> 00:16:32.519 for David, 00:16:32.659 --> 00:16:33.000 and so, 00:16:33.120 --> 00:16:33.279 yeah. 00:16:33.759 --> 00:16:33.980 Okay, 00:16:34.059 --> 00:16:34.279 Zeba, 00:16:34.399 --> 00:16:35.899 why don't you take everything then? 00:16:36.600 --> 00:16:37.079 And then, 00:16:37.360 --> 00:16:37.500 yeah, 00:16:37.539 --> 00:16:38.539 he goes further on, 00:16:38.659 --> 00:16:39.360 and then there's guys, 00:16:39.519 --> 00:16:40.179 Shime is, 00:16:40.199 --> 00:16:40.480 uh, 00:16:40.839 --> 00:16:41.059 uh, 00:16:41.059 --> 00:16:41.860 cursing him. 00:16:42.000 --> 00:16:43.439 I guess they're going through a ravine, 00:16:43.500 --> 00:16:44.740 and he's standing higher up, 00:16:44.819 --> 00:16:45.980 throwing stones at him, 00:16:46.379 --> 00:16:47.019 cursing him. 00:16:47.079 --> 00:16:48.319 That doesn't mean bad language. 00:16:48.319 --> 00:16:48.860 It's really, 00:16:49.259 --> 00:16:49.519 you know, 00:16:49.600 --> 00:16:52.000 pronouncing God's judgment on him, 00:16:52.159 --> 00:16:52.819 cursing, 00:16:52.919 --> 00:16:53.179 right? 00:16:53.839 --> 00:16:54.059 Uh, 00:16:54.059 --> 00:16:54.679 you heard it, 00:16:55.019 --> 00:16:56.000 well read by, 00:16:56.000 --> 00:16:56.600 uh, 00:16:56.600 --> 00:16:57.159 Cecilia, 00:16:57.379 --> 00:16:57.579 right? 00:16:58.179 --> 00:16:58.419 Uh, 00:16:58.419 --> 00:16:59.600 Shime said as he cursed, 00:16:59.720 --> 00:17:00.139 get out, 00:17:00.240 --> 00:17:00.639 get out, 00:17:00.720 --> 00:17:01.600 you man of blood, 00:17:02.059 --> 00:17:03.120 you worthless man, 00:17:03.120 --> 00:17:08.440 the Lord has avenged on you all the blood of the house of Saul in whose place you have reigned, 00:17:08.640 --> 00:17:11.579 and the Lord has given the kingdom into the hand of your son, 00:17:11.660 --> 00:17:12.039 Absalom. 00:17:12.480 --> 00:17:12.660 See, 00:17:12.720 --> 00:17:13.799 your evil is on you, 00:17:14.079 --> 00:17:15.500 for you are a man of blood. 00:17:16.920 --> 00:17:17.099 Now, 00:17:17.140 --> 00:17:18.059 it's not really true, 00:17:18.099 --> 00:17:18.279 right? 00:17:18.319 --> 00:17:21.200 Because if you were here for one Samuel in the past, 00:17:21.539 --> 00:17:21.680 you know, 00:17:21.700 --> 00:17:23.480 David had nothing to do with Saul's death. 00:17:23.519 --> 00:17:24.160 He was innocent, 00:17:25.279 --> 00:17:26.779 but he was a man of blood, 00:17:26.900 --> 00:17:27.039 right? 00:17:27.599 --> 00:17:31.460 He had one of his most loyal soldiers killed to cover up his own sin. 00:17:32.579 --> 00:17:33.799 And now, 00:17:33.940 --> 00:17:34.099 yeah, 00:17:34.960 --> 00:17:35.319 uh, 00:17:35.319 --> 00:17:36.259 he is a man of blood, 00:17:36.399 --> 00:17:38.819 but basically everything falls apart, 00:17:38.879 --> 00:17:39.059 right? 00:17:39.359 --> 00:17:40.359 Everyone betrays. 00:17:40.420 --> 00:17:41.879 So many people betray him. 00:17:42.059 --> 00:17:44.940 He has to flee for his life and, 00:17:45.000 --> 00:17:47.000 and it's punishments for his sin, 00:17:47.039 --> 00:17:47.220 right? 00:17:47.220 --> 00:17:48.240 God had said to him, 00:17:48.359 --> 00:17:49.119 chapter 12, 00:17:49.599 --> 00:17:50.159 verse 10, 00:17:50.279 --> 00:17:52.519 now the sword will never depart from your house, 00:17:52.620 --> 00:17:52.779 right? 00:17:53.120 --> 00:17:55.960 There's going to be severe consequences because of what you've done. 00:17:56.940 --> 00:17:58.060 And that's happening. 00:17:58.980 --> 00:18:00.740 God seems very much against him. 00:18:00.840 --> 00:18:02.640 It's terrible for David. 00:18:04.340 --> 00:18:05.340 Although you may wonder, 00:18:05.700 --> 00:18:06.460 okay, 00:18:06.540 --> 00:18:06.680 yeah, 00:18:06.700 --> 00:18:07.820 David has a terrible time. 00:18:07.880 --> 00:18:07.960 Well, 00:18:07.960 --> 00:18:09.640 what relevance does that have for us? 00:18:10.980 --> 00:18:11.180 Well, 00:18:11.200 --> 00:18:14.779 what's interesting is that this is David's exile. 00:18:15.200 --> 00:18:16.640 The language is that of exile. 00:18:17.759 --> 00:18:19.180 If you know what exile is, 00:18:19.180 --> 00:18:20.539 exile of course is when you are, 00:18:20.880 --> 00:18:21.100 you know, 00:18:21.140 --> 00:18:21.980 like the Dalai Lama, 00:18:22.160 --> 00:18:22.320 right? 00:18:22.340 --> 00:18:24.080 When you're sent away and, 00:18:24.200 --> 00:18:24.519 uh, 00:18:24.519 --> 00:18:24.759 you know, 00:18:24.799 --> 00:18:26.360 you're forced to leave your home, 00:18:26.360 --> 00:18:27.060 uh, 00:18:27.060 --> 00:18:27.660 sent away. 00:18:27.880 --> 00:18:28.140 Uh, 00:18:28.560 --> 00:18:28.799 yeah. 00:18:28.920 --> 00:18:29.180 Uh, 00:18:29.180 --> 00:18:29.980 so in this case, 00:18:30.480 --> 00:18:30.720 uh, 00:18:30.720 --> 00:18:32.100 I guess most famous in the Bible, 00:18:32.200 --> 00:18:32.380 right? 00:18:32.420 --> 00:18:33.259 The people of Israel, 00:18:33.259 --> 00:18:34.560 they had to leave the country. 00:18:34.560 --> 00:18:36.160 They were taken away, 00:18:36.259 --> 00:18:37.539 away from God's presence, 00:18:37.620 --> 00:18:38.680 away from their home, 00:18:38.680 --> 00:18:39.539 uh, 00:18:39.539 --> 00:18:40.220 for their sin. 00:18:40.820 --> 00:18:42.560 But in a way that's happening with David, 00:18:42.640 --> 00:18:42.799 right? 00:18:42.840 --> 00:18:44.100 He has to leave his home. 00:18:44.620 --> 00:18:48.440 He has to leave the presence of God who is in the temple in Jerusalem. 00:18:49.180 --> 00:18:50.080 Um, 00:18:50.420 --> 00:18:51.680 when he talks to this guy, 00:18:51.779 --> 00:18:52.200 Ittai, 00:18:52.539 --> 00:18:53.720 and he says, 00:18:53.799 --> 00:18:53.900 Oh, 00:18:53.900 --> 00:18:55.100 you don't need to come with me. 00:18:55.380 --> 00:18:56.920 End of 15 verse 19. 00:18:56.920 --> 00:18:57.600 He says, 00:18:57.600 --> 00:18:57.980 uh, 00:18:58.400 --> 00:19:02.400 because you are a foreigner and also an exile from your home. 00:19:02.400 --> 00:19:05.040 So David thinks he's going into exile. 00:19:06.480 --> 00:19:07.940 And then there's all the geography, 00:19:08.200 --> 00:19:08.480 right? 00:19:08.480 --> 00:19:09.040 Because, 00:19:09.100 --> 00:19:09.380 uh, 00:19:09.640 --> 00:19:09.860 uh, 00:19:09.860 --> 00:19:10.680 verse 23, 00:19:10.680 --> 00:19:11.780 uh, 00:19:11.840 --> 00:19:16.940 and all the land wept aloud as all the people passed by and the king crossed the 00:19:16.940 --> 00:19:20.860 brook Kidron and all the people passed on towards the wilderness. 00:19:21.400 --> 00:19:21.920 Uh, 00:19:21.920 --> 00:19:24.500 he crosses a river and goes to the wilderness. 00:19:24.500 --> 00:19:28.580 And quite often it talks about the wilderness and the crossing the Jordan. 00:19:28.579 --> 00:19:29.500 Now, 00:19:29.539 --> 00:19:30.099 if you know, 00:19:30.460 --> 00:19:30.759 you know, 00:19:30.779 --> 00:19:31.919 the story of the Bible, 00:19:32.059 --> 00:19:33.460 you probably know the prince of Egypt, 00:19:33.539 --> 00:19:33.699 right? 00:19:33.740 --> 00:19:34.019 You know, 00:19:34.059 --> 00:19:34.500 the Exodus. 00:19:34.720 --> 00:19:35.439 How did they, 00:19:35.439 --> 00:19:37.119 how did they get to the promised land? 00:19:37.199 --> 00:19:37.319 Well, 00:19:37.339 --> 00:19:39.139 they went through the water and, 00:19:39.199 --> 00:19:39.460 uh, 00:19:39.460 --> 00:19:41.419 they came out of the wilderness into the land, 00:19:41.419 --> 00:19:43.919 but this is kind of going out again, 00:19:43.960 --> 00:19:44.139 right? 00:19:44.220 --> 00:19:45.059 Crossing the Jordan, 00:19:45.220 --> 00:19:47.659 crossing the rivers into the wilderness. 00:19:47.659 --> 00:19:51.639 And the wilderness is that place outside where you die for your sin. 00:19:52.640 --> 00:19:56.800 So it's very much language and imagery of exile. 00:19:57.980 --> 00:19:59.300 And that's very relevant. 00:19:59.960 --> 00:20:01.120 So for the readers, 00:20:01.300 --> 00:20:02.720 they were in exile. 00:20:03.100 --> 00:20:03.780 They were, 00:20:04.140 --> 00:20:04.720 you know, 00:20:04.800 --> 00:20:06.640 in Babylon for their sins. 00:20:07.540 --> 00:20:11.020 And now David is facing the same thing in a way that they faced. 00:20:11.520 --> 00:20:12.780 They would suddenly listen up, 00:20:12.840 --> 00:20:13.020 right? 00:20:13.180 --> 00:20:13.259 He, 00:20:13.440 --> 00:20:15.720 God's kingdom fell apart because of sin. 00:20:15.800 --> 00:20:15.900 Well, 00:20:15.940 --> 00:20:16.040 Hey, 00:20:16.080 --> 00:20:16.880 that's happened to us. 00:20:19.040 --> 00:20:20.140 And even for us, 00:20:20.160 --> 00:20:20.900 it's pretty similar. 00:20:20.900 --> 00:20:23.480 Now I guess we're not in exile in the same way, 00:20:23.560 --> 00:20:23.720 right? 00:20:23.780 --> 00:20:27.120 Because half of you are probably from Hong Kong and the other half chose to come 00:20:27.120 --> 00:20:27.580 to Hong Kong. 00:20:27.940 --> 00:20:30.019 None of you have been forced to live here. 00:20:31.420 --> 00:20:33.620 And yet the Bible says we are all exiles, 00:20:33.960 --> 00:20:34.100 right? 00:20:34.120 --> 00:20:35.259 If you've done the reading plan, 00:20:35.860 --> 00:20:36.660 all of us, 00:20:37.140 --> 00:20:37.320 well, 00:20:37.400 --> 00:20:39.040 we used to live in the garden of Eden, 00:20:39.160 --> 00:20:39.300 right? 00:20:39.500 --> 00:20:44.200 Humanity used to be in God's presence and everything was perfect except we 00:20:44.200 --> 00:20:44.920 rejected him. 00:20:45.800 --> 00:20:47.500 And Adam and Eve broke his commandments. 00:20:48.259 --> 00:20:49.100 They were sent out. 00:20:49.099 --> 00:20:51.399 And since then we live in a broken world. 00:20:51.500 --> 00:20:52.959 We are away from God's presence. 00:20:53.119 --> 00:20:58.859 We're in this world of suffering and pain and frustration and brokenness. 00:21:00.059 --> 00:21:01.539 And the Bible says we are in exile. 00:21:01.740 --> 00:21:02.500 So this, 00:21:02.599 --> 00:21:02.919 this is, 00:21:03.019 --> 00:21:03.519 and it's, 00:21:03.599 --> 00:21:04.439 it's for our sin, 00:21:04.539 --> 00:21:04.679 right? 00:21:04.740 --> 00:21:05.240 So in a way, 00:21:05.299 --> 00:21:05.719 this is, 00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:07.000 this is for us. 00:21:08.039 --> 00:21:08.199 Yeah. 00:21:08.659 --> 00:21:09.039 Whatever, 00:21:09.219 --> 00:21:09.379 you know, 00:21:09.419 --> 00:21:10.179 broken marriage, 00:21:10.319 --> 00:21:11.119 losing your job, 00:21:11.219 --> 00:21:11.980 losing your money. 00:21:12.779 --> 00:21:14.379 All of that is just a broken world, 00:21:14.559 --> 00:21:15.839 right? 00:21:15.839 --> 00:21:16.279 We, 00:21:16.359 --> 00:21:16.759 that's, 00:21:16.879 --> 00:21:18.159 we're facing exile. 00:21:20.039 --> 00:21:22.139 Don't know if you think like that of your life. 00:21:23.179 --> 00:21:23.980 Maybe some of us, 00:21:24.079 --> 00:21:24.179 we, 00:21:24.539 --> 00:21:24.819 you know, 00:21:24.839 --> 00:21:25.579 when life isn't good, 00:21:25.639 --> 00:21:25.939 we think, 00:21:26.039 --> 00:21:26.199 okay, 00:21:26.299 --> 00:21:26.539 God, 00:21:26.639 --> 00:21:26.759 hey, 00:21:26.839 --> 00:21:27.899 why are you doing this? 00:21:27.980 --> 00:21:28.139 Well, 00:21:29.679 --> 00:21:30.559 we are sinners, 00:21:30.679 --> 00:21:30.819 right? 00:21:31.480 --> 00:21:32.199 If you think, 00:21:32.279 --> 00:21:33.439 why is God doing this to me? 00:21:33.480 --> 00:21:33.579 Well, 00:21:33.579 --> 00:21:34.740 how's your relationship with God? 00:21:34.819 --> 00:21:35.939 What would you expect from God? 00:21:36.959 --> 00:21:37.179 No, 00:21:37.279 --> 00:21:37.480 he, 00:21:37.579 --> 00:21:38.619 he, 00:21:38.619 --> 00:21:39.919 he doesn't owe you anything, 00:21:39.980 --> 00:21:40.159 right? 00:21:40.160 --> 00:21:42.080 Some of us are very aware of that. 00:21:43.240 --> 00:21:44.240 But the question is, 00:21:44.279 --> 00:21:45.279 how would you respond? 00:21:46.340 --> 00:21:47.220 How would you respond? 00:21:47.300 --> 00:21:47.400 Well, 00:21:47.400 --> 00:21:48.380 would you give up hope? 00:21:49.340 --> 00:21:50.460 Would you grow bitter? 00:21:52.440 --> 00:21:55.200 Or would you urgently try to save yourself, 00:21:55.279 --> 00:21:55.480 right? 00:21:55.500 --> 00:21:56.259 If things go wrong? 00:21:57.100 --> 00:21:57.279 Well, 00:21:57.300 --> 00:21:58.720 let's look at how David responds. 00:21:58.840 --> 00:22:00.560 Because what we see, 00:22:00.720 --> 00:22:01.140 David, 00:22:01.540 --> 00:22:02.920 David hopes in God. 00:22:03.800 --> 00:22:05.040 If you read this chapter, 00:22:05.259 --> 00:22:06.140 you see David, 00:22:06.400 --> 00:22:08.759 he really turns to God and hopes in him, 00:22:08.820 --> 00:22:09.800 which is such a change, 00:22:09.860 --> 00:22:10.019 right? 00:22:10.160 --> 00:22:11.300 The past two weeks, 00:22:11.660 --> 00:22:12.340 what did we see? 00:22:12.420 --> 00:22:12.519 Well, 00:22:12.540 --> 00:22:14.040 we see adultery and murder. 00:22:14.160 --> 00:22:15.640 And last week he was so passive. 00:22:16.680 --> 00:22:17.440 But now, 00:22:17.800 --> 00:22:19.019 look at David. 00:22:19.040 --> 00:22:19.960 It's like a new David. 00:22:20.100 --> 00:22:20.480 Or actually, 00:22:20.600 --> 00:22:22.060 it's like the old David coming back. 00:22:23.300 --> 00:22:23.680 So, 00:22:23.759 --> 00:22:24.960 you can see his trust, 00:22:25.060 --> 00:22:25.220 right? 00:22:25.340 --> 00:22:25.540 So, 00:22:25.940 --> 00:22:26.640 Ittai, 00:22:26.740 --> 00:22:28.259 one of his army commanders, 00:22:28.759 --> 00:22:30.400 comes with 600 soldiers. 00:22:31.540 --> 00:22:31.740 Now, 00:22:31.800 --> 00:22:32.000 I know, 00:22:32.100 --> 00:22:33.820 if I'm a king facing a rebellion, 00:22:34.360 --> 00:22:34.640 and, 00:22:34.700 --> 00:22:34.900 you know, 00:22:34.960 --> 00:22:36.460 600 soldiers come to me, 00:22:36.779 --> 00:22:37.300 I'd say, 00:22:37.640 --> 00:22:37.880 great, 00:22:38.220 --> 00:22:38.420 right? 00:22:38.420 --> 00:22:38.960 I need that. 00:22:38.960 --> 00:22:40.480 Except, 00:22:41.039 --> 00:22:41.900 what does David, 00:22:42.140 --> 00:22:43.660 David sends them away, 00:22:43.779 --> 00:22:44.039 in a way. 00:22:44.120 --> 00:22:44.460 He says, 00:22:44.559 --> 00:22:44.700 hey, 00:22:44.819 --> 00:22:45.660 you know, 00:22:46.180 --> 00:22:47.600 I can't make you do that. 00:22:47.720 --> 00:22:47.920 He does, 00:22:48.019 --> 00:22:48.799 you know, 00:22:49.140 --> 00:22:49.319 hey, 00:22:49.779 --> 00:22:53.279 it's not right to take advantage of you, 00:22:53.340 --> 00:22:53.539 right? 00:22:53.700 --> 00:22:54.600 Why don't you stay? 00:22:54.700 --> 00:22:56.259 You have no loyalty to me. 00:22:56.640 --> 00:22:57.680 You can stay here. 00:22:58.019 --> 00:22:59.039 He doesn't take advantage. 00:22:59.039 --> 00:23:00.539 He trusts God, 00:23:00.619 --> 00:23:00.980 in a way, 00:23:01.139 --> 00:23:02.659 and wishes them God's kindness, 00:23:02.779 --> 00:23:03.000 right? 00:23:03.639 --> 00:23:04.299 Verse 20, 00:23:04.379 --> 00:23:07.000 May the Lord show you steadfast love and faithfulness. 00:23:08.639 --> 00:23:09.579 His humility, 00:23:09.899 --> 00:23:10.059 right? 00:23:10.099 --> 00:23:11.359 Because they bring the ark, 00:23:11.480 --> 00:23:12.639 they bring God's presence. 00:23:13.200 --> 00:23:13.500 And again, 00:23:13.559 --> 00:23:14.159 David says, 00:23:14.240 --> 00:23:14.420 hey, 00:23:14.519 --> 00:23:15.859 I don't deserve that, 00:23:15.920 --> 00:23:16.079 right? 00:23:16.920 --> 00:23:17.279 You know, 00:23:17.379 --> 00:23:18.799 verse 25, 00:23:19.279 --> 00:23:20.099 chapter 15, 00:23:20.099 --> 00:23:23.639 carry the ark of God back to the city. 00:23:24.299 --> 00:23:26.419 If I find favor in the eyes of the Lord, 00:23:26.500 --> 00:23:27.399 he will bring me back. 00:23:27.919 --> 00:23:30.039 And let me see both it and his dwelling place. 00:23:30.839 --> 00:23:31.459 But if he says, 00:23:31.539 --> 00:23:32.619 I have no pleasure in you, 00:23:32.719 --> 00:23:33.119 behold, 00:23:33.519 --> 00:23:34.219 here I am. 00:23:34.319 --> 00:23:36.179 Let him do to me what seems good to him. 00:23:37.240 --> 00:23:37.379 Yeah, 00:23:37.439 --> 00:23:37.719 so, 00:23:37.879 --> 00:23:38.719 so humble. 00:23:39.919 --> 00:23:40.319 Prayerful. 00:23:41.339 --> 00:23:41.599 You know, 00:23:41.659 --> 00:23:43.879 this is 11 years since last week, 00:23:44.319 --> 00:23:44.559 right? 00:23:45.000 --> 00:23:45.319 Since, 00:23:46.079 --> 00:23:47.439 for 11 years, 00:23:47.440 --> 00:23:49.620 we haven't had a single prayer. 00:23:49.799 --> 00:23:51.880 We haven't heard him talk about God at any point. 00:23:52.799 --> 00:23:53.039 And yeah, 00:23:53.080 --> 00:23:53.440 now, 00:23:53.779 --> 00:23:54.660 he prays. 00:23:54.700 --> 00:23:55.840 He hears about Ahithophel. 00:23:56.120 --> 00:23:57.200 And the first thing he does, 00:23:57.299 --> 00:23:57.920 verse 31, 00:23:58.460 --> 00:23:59.279 oh Lord, 00:23:59.539 --> 00:24:02.240 please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness. 00:24:02.960 --> 00:24:03.140 And, 00:24:03.400 --> 00:24:03.779 of course, 00:24:03.820 --> 00:24:04.680 he plots as well, 00:24:04.779 --> 00:24:06.500 but the first thing he does is pray. 00:24:07.539 --> 00:24:08.779 He immediately prays. 00:24:09.720 --> 00:24:11.340 And he's really spiritually alive. 00:24:12.160 --> 00:24:13.080 Real dependence. 00:24:14.140 --> 00:24:15.559 He's even repentant. 00:24:15.559 --> 00:24:16.799 In a way, 00:24:16.819 --> 00:24:17.919 he knows he's done wrong. 00:24:18.200 --> 00:24:19.639 We see that in chapter 16, 00:24:19.740 --> 00:24:19.940 right? 00:24:20.359 --> 00:24:22.099 When Shimei curses him, 00:24:22.599 --> 00:24:23.759 and he kind of says, 00:24:23.859 --> 00:24:24.579 I deserve it. 00:24:25.460 --> 00:24:26.259 Verse 11, 00:24:26.940 --> 00:24:27.960 leave him alone. 00:24:28.740 --> 00:24:29.579 Let him curse, 00:24:29.659 --> 00:24:30.859 for the Lord has told him to, 00:24:30.940 --> 00:24:31.079 right? 00:24:31.460 --> 00:24:31.899 He kind of, 00:24:31.940 --> 00:24:33.919 he admits he deserves to be cursed. 00:24:34.500 --> 00:24:35.740 He deserves God's judgment. 00:24:37.700 --> 00:24:39.759 I think verse 12 belongs to that as well. 00:24:39.859 --> 00:24:41.119 Verse 12 is a little bit weird. 00:24:41.839 --> 00:24:42.240 It's a, 00:24:42.399 --> 00:24:43.599 it's not an easy verse. 00:24:43.599 --> 00:24:44.659 It's a bit confusing. 00:24:45.559 --> 00:24:46.039 Uh, 00:24:46.079 --> 00:24:52.500 it may be that the Lord will look on the wrong done to me and that the Lord will repay me with good for his cursing today. 00:24:52.879 --> 00:24:55.679 It feels a bit like it doesn't match the previous verse, 00:24:55.720 --> 00:24:55.839 right? 00:24:55.879 --> 00:24:57.119 Because on the one end he says, 00:24:57.200 --> 00:24:57.419 well, 00:24:57.799 --> 00:24:58.179 you know, 00:24:58.220 --> 00:24:59.200 I deserve to be cursed. 00:24:59.240 --> 00:25:00.059 And then he says, 00:25:00.220 --> 00:25:00.579 well, 00:25:00.619 --> 00:25:03.579 this is unjust and God should repay me. 00:25:04.519 --> 00:25:04.919 Actually, 00:25:04.920 --> 00:25:06.640 probably, 00:25:06.640 --> 00:25:08.460 probably he doesn't say the wrong done to me. 00:25:09.140 --> 00:25:11.220 He says the wrong done by me. 00:25:11.860 --> 00:25:12.259 Literally, 00:25:12.360 --> 00:25:12.820 it says, 00:25:12.880 --> 00:25:13.100 uh, 00:25:13.100 --> 00:25:13.860 my wrongdoing. 00:25:14.820 --> 00:25:16.120 I don't do this every week, 00:25:16.200 --> 00:25:18.200 but literally it just says my wrongdoing. 00:25:18.279 --> 00:25:19.720 And that can mean two different things, 00:25:19.759 --> 00:25:19.940 right? 00:25:20.700 --> 00:25:23.539 If someone says my surgery went well today. 00:25:24.720 --> 00:25:25.120 Well, 00:25:25.120 --> 00:25:25.800 who is saying that? 00:25:26.200 --> 00:25:29.119 It's the surgeon or it's the patient and it means something else, 00:25:29.159 --> 00:25:29.339 right? 00:25:30.039 --> 00:25:30.440 Uh, 00:25:30.639 --> 00:25:32.480 are you the one doing it or receiving it? 00:25:33.019 --> 00:25:38.619 But it's more far more likely grammatically and the rest of the Bible usage that it's, 00:25:38.619 --> 00:25:38.899 uh, 00:25:38.899 --> 00:25:40.279 the wrong done by me. 00:25:40.279 --> 00:25:42.240 Then my wrongdoing that I've done. 00:25:43.119 --> 00:25:43.740 And so in a way, 00:25:43.839 --> 00:25:45.480 he's admitting his sin. 00:25:46.299 --> 00:25:47.160 He's saying, 00:25:47.440 --> 00:25:48.099 yeah, 00:25:49.319 --> 00:25:50.259 my wrongdoing. 00:25:50.399 --> 00:25:50.500 He, 00:25:50.539 --> 00:25:51.680 he knows he's guilty. 00:25:52.200 --> 00:25:52.339 He, 00:25:52.500 --> 00:25:52.879 yeah, 00:25:52.960 --> 00:25:55.160 he is so aware of his sin. 00:25:56.059 --> 00:25:56.920 Although the weird, 00:25:56.920 --> 00:25:58.259 the weird thing is then that he says, 00:25:58.339 --> 00:25:58.500 well, 00:25:58.779 --> 00:26:00.399 that maybe God will see my, 00:26:00.460 --> 00:26:00.920 my sin, 00:26:01.000 --> 00:26:03.599 my wrongdoing and will repay me with good. 00:26:03.720 --> 00:26:04.200 That's why, 00:26:04.319 --> 00:26:05.079 you know, 00:26:05.079 --> 00:26:06.139 that's why the ESV thought not. 00:26:06.240 --> 00:26:06.839 It can't be right. 00:26:06.920 --> 00:26:07.740 But you know, 00:26:07.759 --> 00:26:08.339 if you're a sinner, 00:26:08.420 --> 00:26:10.119 why would you ask God for mercy? 00:26:10.559 --> 00:26:12.000 But actually he knows God. 00:26:12.059 --> 00:26:13.039 That's what God is like. 00:26:13.539 --> 00:26:13.700 Yeah. 00:26:13.700 --> 00:26:14.579 I know I'm a sinner, 00:26:14.700 --> 00:26:16.920 but maybe God will repay me with good. 00:26:18.200 --> 00:26:18.379 Yeah. 00:26:18.460 --> 00:26:21.639 And so we can see David's change of heart. 00:26:22.160 --> 00:26:24.160 No more dullness and sin. 00:26:24.579 --> 00:26:26.539 The discipline turns him to God. 00:26:27.480 --> 00:26:27.720 Right? 00:26:27.779 --> 00:26:29.599 You think if life falls apart, 00:26:29.639 --> 00:26:30.899 it will turn you away from God. 00:26:30.980 --> 00:26:31.200 No, 00:26:31.559 --> 00:26:33.119 it turns David to God. 00:26:34.920 --> 00:26:38.480 And I think that is supposed to be a model for us. 00:26:39.420 --> 00:26:42.539 Now it's supposed to be a model for how we should respond. 00:26:45.039 --> 00:26:46.720 I think if you know me, 00:26:46.779 --> 00:26:47.160 then probably, 00:26:47.339 --> 00:26:47.480 Hey, 00:26:47.599 --> 00:26:48.240 you know, 00:26:48.339 --> 00:26:49.779 I'm always saying, 00:26:49.880 --> 00:26:49.960 well, 00:26:50.000 --> 00:26:50.779 we're not David. 00:26:51.000 --> 00:26:52.480 David is the King and you're not. 00:26:52.579 --> 00:26:52.720 What? 00:26:53.019 --> 00:26:54.140 Like David and Goliath. 00:26:54.519 --> 00:26:55.839 Why am I saying that now? 00:26:58.019 --> 00:26:58.980 I think that's, 00:26:59.019 --> 00:27:00.120 I think that's the idea here. 00:27:00.440 --> 00:27:01.019 I mean, 00:27:01.059 --> 00:27:02.460 David is here a sinner. 00:27:03.100 --> 00:27:05.480 He's a good sinner because he's repentant, 00:27:05.539 --> 00:27:06.299 but he's still a sinner. 00:27:06.440 --> 00:27:06.799 In that sense, 00:27:06.819 --> 00:27:07.980 he's not a picture of Jesus. 00:27:08.460 --> 00:27:08.840 Normally, 00:27:08.940 --> 00:27:10.160 David is a picture of Jesus, 00:27:10.279 --> 00:27:14.480 but here he is just a sinner under judgment and an example. 00:27:14.640 --> 00:27:14.860 In a way, 00:27:14.880 --> 00:27:15.819 the King is an example, 00:27:15.940 --> 00:27:16.140 right? 00:27:17.000 --> 00:27:17.400 Jesus. 00:27:17.579 --> 00:27:17.799 Okay. 00:27:17.819 --> 00:27:19.500 He calms storms and we can't do that. 00:27:19.579 --> 00:27:21.279 He raises the dead and we can't do that. 00:27:22.240 --> 00:27:24.100 But when he loves people, 00:27:24.220 --> 00:27:24.720 he says, 00:27:24.799 --> 00:27:26.100 love one another as I have loved you. 00:27:27.140 --> 00:27:27.400 Yeah. 00:27:27.400 --> 00:27:28.380 He says, 00:27:28.500 --> 00:27:28.980 follow me. 00:27:29.880 --> 00:27:30.320 Well, 00:27:31.100 --> 00:27:31.420 David, 00:27:31.600 --> 00:27:33.860 this is here so we would follow David. 00:27:34.280 --> 00:27:35.720 His heart is a good model. 00:27:37.120 --> 00:27:39.300 And so David hopes in God. 00:27:39.380 --> 00:27:40.480 And so can we. 00:27:41.360 --> 00:27:42.400 If you're in exile, 00:27:42.540 --> 00:27:46.019 if your life falls apart and God seems against you, 00:27:46.560 --> 00:27:47.960 it's easy to give up hope, 00:27:48.240 --> 00:27:49.740 easy to think you can do nothing. 00:27:50.759 --> 00:27:52.480 And yet this passage says, 00:27:52.540 --> 00:27:52.759 no, 00:27:52.920 --> 00:27:53.940 you can turn to God. 00:27:53.940 --> 00:27:54.300 David, 00:27:54.420 --> 00:27:55.360 everything fell apart, 00:27:55.440 --> 00:27:56.560 yet he turned to God. 00:27:56.559 --> 00:27:58.039 And so can we. 00:27:59.259 --> 00:28:00.659 What would that look like? 00:28:01.279 --> 00:28:01.619 I mean, 00:28:01.720 --> 00:28:02.720 one obvious one, 00:28:03.399 --> 00:28:03.859 repentance, 00:28:04.039 --> 00:28:04.240 right? 00:28:05.079 --> 00:28:07.039 If you've done wrong and everything is, 00:28:07.240 --> 00:28:08.240 it's all your fault, 00:28:08.919 --> 00:28:09.200 you know, 00:28:09.279 --> 00:28:09.899 admit it, 00:28:10.279 --> 00:28:10.539 repent, 00:28:10.759 --> 00:28:12.000 don't try to cover it up. 00:28:12.359 --> 00:28:13.299 And so that's what we always do, 00:28:13.339 --> 00:28:13.440 right? 00:28:13.460 --> 00:28:15.819 We try to cover up our sin or minimize it, 00:28:16.059 --> 00:28:17.859 try to defend it ourselves, 00:28:18.000 --> 00:28:19.119 try to explain it away. 00:28:19.980 --> 00:28:20.819 Not just repent. 00:28:21.500 --> 00:28:21.859 Just, 00:28:22.339 --> 00:28:22.500 yeah, 00:28:22.500 --> 00:28:23.480 this is my fault. 00:28:23.480 --> 00:28:24.259 I've done, 00:28:24.339 --> 00:28:24.980 I've done wrong. 00:28:25.379 --> 00:28:25.960 That is in a way. 00:28:25.960 --> 00:28:26.700 So freeing, 00:28:26.759 --> 00:28:26.900 right? 00:28:26.960 --> 00:28:27.600 But that is, 00:28:27.920 --> 00:28:29.079 that's the right thing to do. 00:28:29.440 --> 00:28:29.840 Repentance. 00:28:33.240 --> 00:28:33.640 Yeah. 00:28:34.079 --> 00:28:34.920 And even when it's, 00:28:34.920 --> 00:28:35.860 when it's other suffering, 00:28:36.000 --> 00:28:36.960 because of course, 00:28:37.019 --> 00:28:39.059 not everything we face is due to our sin, 00:28:39.180 --> 00:28:39.380 right? 00:28:40.759 --> 00:28:42.360 So many things happen to us, 00:28:42.779 --> 00:28:44.900 sicknesses that are just because we're in a fallen world. 00:28:45.799 --> 00:28:46.120 And we, 00:28:46.240 --> 00:28:46.340 we, 00:28:46.460 --> 00:28:47.480 it's very important. 00:28:47.600 --> 00:28:48.299 We don't think, 00:28:48.380 --> 00:28:48.539 you know, 00:28:48.539 --> 00:28:50.900 what happens to me is because of my sin. 00:28:51.000 --> 00:28:51.160 That's, 00:28:51.220 --> 00:28:51.299 you know, 00:28:51.360 --> 00:28:52.180 three weeks ago, 00:28:52.180 --> 00:28:53.539 I committed this sin. 00:28:53.660 --> 00:28:57.019 And therefore now my washing machine breaks down or something like that. 00:28:57.060 --> 00:28:58.060 It doesn't work like that. 00:28:59.060 --> 00:28:59.460 That's, 00:28:59.580 --> 00:29:00.340 you know, 00:29:00.340 --> 00:29:01.480 that's Job's friends. 00:29:01.539 --> 00:29:02.620 If you know the book of Job, 00:29:02.680 --> 00:29:03.019 they say, 00:29:03.100 --> 00:29:03.240 well, 00:29:03.320 --> 00:29:03.460 you, 00:29:03.519 --> 00:29:04.000 you've suffered. 00:29:04.140 --> 00:29:04.320 Therefore, 00:29:04.380 --> 00:29:05.180 you must have sinned. 00:29:06.180 --> 00:29:06.500 No, 00:29:06.580 --> 00:29:07.960 that doesn't work like that. 00:29:08.200 --> 00:29:08.700 And so, 00:29:08.880 --> 00:29:10.320 because then you would feel pretty guilty. 00:29:11.680 --> 00:29:13.600 But the general thing is true though, 00:29:13.620 --> 00:29:13.820 right? 00:29:14.440 --> 00:29:16.259 Why do we live in a broken world? 00:29:17.400 --> 00:29:18.400 Why do we suffer? 00:29:18.600 --> 00:29:18.740 Well, 00:29:18.779 --> 00:29:20.019 because we are sinners. 00:29:20.840 --> 00:29:24.340 We generally suffer because we are generally sinners, 00:29:25.100 --> 00:29:25.320 right? 00:29:25.539 --> 00:29:26.980 Not a one-to-one relationship, 00:29:27.279 --> 00:29:28.980 but generally this is true, 00:29:30.240 --> 00:29:30.460 right? 00:29:30.460 --> 00:29:32.880 And so I think generally it's good to have a, 00:29:33.960 --> 00:29:34.740 you know, 00:29:34.740 --> 00:29:36.740 just like David is humble and repentant. 00:29:37.400 --> 00:29:37.500 We, 00:29:37.539 --> 00:29:41.240 we should have a kind of general feeling of humility and repentance, 00:29:41.359 --> 00:29:41.519 right? 00:29:42.559 --> 00:29:42.819 You know, 00:29:42.839 --> 00:29:44.079 if something bad happens to us, 00:29:44.120 --> 00:29:44.620 we can't say, 00:29:44.720 --> 00:29:45.039 Hey God, 00:29:45.079 --> 00:29:45.980 I don't deserve this. 00:29:47.160 --> 00:29:47.620 I mean, 00:29:47.640 --> 00:29:49.680 the only thing that I deserve from God is going to hell. 00:29:49.940 --> 00:29:50.440 Nothing else. 00:29:51.299 --> 00:29:51.700 Actually, 00:29:52.240 --> 00:29:54.160 we can be humble and just generally, 00:29:54.700 --> 00:29:55.079 you know, 00:29:55.680 --> 00:29:56.180 feel, 00:29:56.339 --> 00:29:56.500 man, 00:29:56.559 --> 00:29:57.380 I need mercy. 00:29:57.759 --> 00:29:58.759 I need forgiveness, 00:29:59.000 --> 00:29:59.200 right? 00:29:59.880 --> 00:30:01.400 Not for a specific sin, 00:30:01.440 --> 00:30:02.240 but just in general, 00:30:02.400 --> 00:30:03.079 humility. 00:30:03.079 --> 00:30:04.980 It's really weird, 00:30:05.039 --> 00:30:05.159 right? 00:30:05.199 --> 00:30:06.220 Because normally when, 00:30:06.679 --> 00:30:06.819 you know, 00:30:06.859 --> 00:30:08.000 we want things to change, 00:30:08.079 --> 00:30:08.199 we, 00:30:08.579 --> 00:30:09.679 it's very tempting to think, 00:30:09.759 --> 00:30:09.819 no, 00:30:09.859 --> 00:30:11.799 I'm a good person and look how good I am. 00:30:12.460 --> 00:30:13.159 Bible says, 00:30:13.220 --> 00:30:13.319 no, 00:30:13.359 --> 00:30:13.480 no, 00:30:13.480 --> 00:30:16.240 you need to admit that you've done wrong. 00:30:16.399 --> 00:30:18.919 It's the opposite because we can't be good enough, 00:30:18.960 --> 00:30:19.119 right? 00:30:19.119 --> 00:30:19.740 So if you're here, 00:30:19.819 --> 00:30:23.059 you think the Bible is about being good and trying to be good enough. 00:30:23.059 --> 00:30:23.359 No, 00:30:23.500 --> 00:30:23.839 it's, 00:30:23.839 --> 00:30:25.200 it's about humility. 00:30:25.779 --> 00:30:27.859 Actually seeing that we can't save ourselves. 00:30:27.960 --> 00:30:28.960 We can't be good enough, 00:30:28.960 --> 00:30:32.220 but not in a hopeless way, 00:30:32.319 --> 00:30:32.799 not just, 00:30:33.419 --> 00:30:33.599 you know, 00:30:33.639 --> 00:30:33.839 I'm, 00:30:33.839 --> 00:30:34.319 I'm nothing. 00:30:34.419 --> 00:30:35.240 I deserve nothing. 00:30:35.379 --> 00:30:35.519 No, 00:30:35.899 --> 00:30:37.399 we can still hope in God. 00:30:37.480 --> 00:30:38.379 That's what David does. 00:30:38.460 --> 00:30:38.599 He, 00:30:38.740 --> 00:30:39.399 he says, 00:30:39.480 --> 00:30:39.579 yeah, 00:30:39.579 --> 00:30:40.759 even though I've done wrong, 00:30:41.619 --> 00:30:42.099 I hope, 00:30:42.440 --> 00:30:43.859 I pray to God for mercy. 00:30:43.980 --> 00:30:44.859 He hopes in God. 00:30:44.940 --> 00:30:45.059 He, 00:30:45.179 --> 00:30:46.000 he prays. 00:30:46.059 --> 00:30:46.179 He, 00:30:46.519 --> 00:30:48.000 he still turns to God. 00:30:48.000 --> 00:30:52.200 So a hopeful humility and yet remain humble. 00:30:53.079 --> 00:30:53.880 And he, 00:30:53.960 --> 00:30:55.880 he does that even though things are against him, 00:30:55.900 --> 00:30:56.019 right? 00:30:56.039 --> 00:30:58.140 Even your circumstances may say, 00:30:58.180 --> 00:30:59.339 God isn't with you. 00:30:59.400 --> 00:31:00.319 God seems against you. 00:31:00.380 --> 00:31:00.539 No, 00:31:00.980 --> 00:31:03.400 you can always turn and don't, 00:31:03.460 --> 00:31:04.940 don't rely on your circumstances. 00:31:05.740 --> 00:31:06.019 Yeah. 00:31:06.240 --> 00:31:07.579 And you don't know what will happen. 00:31:07.839 --> 00:31:08.099 You know, 00:31:08.160 --> 00:31:09.380 God may restore your marriage. 00:31:09.440 --> 00:31:09.859 He may not. 00:31:09.920 --> 00:31:10.880 He may give you another job. 00:31:10.940 --> 00:31:11.400 He may not. 00:31:12.039 --> 00:31:12.299 We, 00:31:12.299 --> 00:31:12.700 we don't know. 00:31:12.759 --> 00:31:14.900 We need to trust his wisdom with humility, 00:31:14.900 --> 00:31:16.259 but in general, 00:31:16.259 --> 00:31:17.200 we can hope in him. 00:31:18.440 --> 00:31:19.119 And then, 00:31:19.420 --> 00:31:19.579 well, 00:31:19.640 --> 00:31:20.680 how do we act first? 00:31:21.019 --> 00:31:21.460 I guess, 00:31:21.559 --> 00:31:22.319 do what is right. 00:31:23.519 --> 00:31:23.660 Right? 00:31:24.420 --> 00:31:25.559 David does what is right. 00:31:25.619 --> 00:31:27.039 He doesn't take advantage of people. 00:31:28.339 --> 00:31:31.420 I guess it's so easy when things go wrong to then think it's okay to sin, 00:31:31.539 --> 00:31:31.700 right? 00:31:32.420 --> 00:31:32.660 You know, 00:31:32.680 --> 00:31:33.480 you've lost your job. 00:31:33.579 --> 00:31:33.759 Okay. 00:31:33.859 --> 00:31:35.940 I'm now allowed to cheat on my taxes because, 00:31:36.400 --> 00:31:36.799 you know, 00:31:36.920 --> 00:31:37.839 no, 00:31:37.920 --> 00:31:38.519 of course not. 00:31:38.920 --> 00:31:39.839 Keep doing what's right. 00:31:39.980 --> 00:31:40.079 Oh, 00:31:40.079 --> 00:31:41.259 my relationship is broken. 00:31:41.619 --> 00:31:42.799 It's okay to watch porn. 00:31:43.079 --> 00:31:43.259 No, 00:31:43.299 --> 00:31:43.680 it's not. 00:31:44.079 --> 00:31:44.279 Right? 00:31:44.400 --> 00:31:45.259 Do what is right. 00:31:45.259 --> 00:31:47.240 Keep doing the right thing. 00:31:49.000 --> 00:31:49.799 And of course, 00:31:50.119 --> 00:31:50.460 pray, 00:31:50.720 --> 00:31:50.900 right? 00:31:50.960 --> 00:31:51.920 Never give up praying. 00:31:52.920 --> 00:31:54.380 Looks like God is against you. 00:31:54.460 --> 00:31:56.000 You may think what's the point of praying. 00:31:57.299 --> 00:31:57.660 Now, 00:31:57.740 --> 00:31:58.480 David prays. 00:31:58.640 --> 00:31:59.200 You can pray. 00:31:59.359 --> 00:31:59.519 Oh, 00:31:59.559 --> 00:32:00.660 you can always come to God. 00:32:01.259 --> 00:32:02.740 Don't forget what he's like. 00:32:03.480 --> 00:32:05.900 He is a God of steadfast love and faithfulness. 00:32:05.960 --> 00:32:08.420 You can come to him and you can pray for forgiveness, 00:32:08.640 --> 00:32:09.380 pray for mercy, 00:32:09.539 --> 00:32:10.240 pray for help, 00:32:10.700 --> 00:32:11.859 pray for the right attitude, 00:32:12.440 --> 00:32:12.579 pray. 00:32:12.579 --> 00:32:13.939 You might learn the right lesson. 00:32:14.839 --> 00:32:15.639 Always pray. 00:32:16.899 --> 00:32:18.240 And that's what he is doing. 00:32:18.699 --> 00:32:20.859 And sometimes that really works. 00:32:20.980 --> 00:32:21.179 I mean, 00:32:21.579 --> 00:32:22.960 going back to that campfire, 00:32:23.480 --> 00:32:23.659 you know, 00:32:23.679 --> 00:32:25.759 that whole week we were so impressed with this woman. 00:32:26.159 --> 00:32:27.339 She is so prayerful. 00:32:28.139 --> 00:32:30.480 She has such a deep relationship with God. 00:32:30.619 --> 00:32:31.220 And that, 00:32:31.259 --> 00:32:37.279 that came through all the things she went through because it had just made her turn to God for everything. 00:32:37.279 --> 00:32:37.799 Because she, 00:32:37.899 --> 00:32:38.539 she had nothing. 00:32:38.660 --> 00:32:40.500 She couldn't do anything except pray. 00:32:40.899 --> 00:32:41.039 No, 00:32:41.440 --> 00:32:41.819 pray. 00:32:43.039 --> 00:32:45.119 There's always hope because you're praying to God, 00:32:45.619 --> 00:32:47.139 the God who is unchanging. 00:32:48.119 --> 00:32:49.480 And that is for the readers. 00:32:49.660 --> 00:32:50.200 It's for us. 00:32:52.259 --> 00:32:53.399 Although you do wonder, 00:32:53.859 --> 00:32:54.799 was David right? 00:32:55.960 --> 00:32:56.200 You know, 00:32:56.259 --> 00:32:57.099 David did that, 00:32:57.180 --> 00:32:58.460 but was he right? 00:32:58.519 --> 00:32:59.680 Wasn't this blind faith? 00:33:00.379 --> 00:33:02.139 Why would I come to God? 00:33:02.200 --> 00:33:03.879 And he doesn't hear anything. 00:33:04.779 --> 00:33:04.980 I mean, 00:33:05.019 --> 00:33:06.460 think about it from David's perspective. 00:33:06.460 --> 00:33:08.680 What encouragement does he have? 00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:09.680 Isn't he a bit naive? 00:33:11.160 --> 00:33:11.740 The thing is, 00:33:11.799 --> 00:33:13.640 God himself is never mentioned in this, 00:33:13.700 --> 00:33:13.840 right? 00:33:14.420 --> 00:33:16.559 It never says that the narrator says, 00:33:17.019 --> 00:33:19.299 and God listened to David's prayer or something like that. 00:33:20.019 --> 00:33:22.279 God never sends a message to him or anything. 00:33:23.059 --> 00:33:25.600 The last thing David heard was judgment. 00:33:25.819 --> 00:33:26.519 Chapter 12, 00:33:27.000 --> 00:33:27.920 that he heard from God. 00:33:27.980 --> 00:33:29.559 He hasn't heard anything from God, 00:33:30.160 --> 00:33:30.340 right? 00:33:30.360 --> 00:33:31.420 He's just purely, 00:33:31.759 --> 00:33:32.579 in a way, 00:33:32.660 --> 00:33:33.740 blindly trusting. 00:33:33.740 --> 00:33:36.299 Except, 00:33:36.460 --> 00:33:36.640 of course, 00:33:36.700 --> 00:33:37.700 it's not fully blind, 00:33:37.779 --> 00:33:37.980 right? 00:33:39.000 --> 00:33:39.400 Because, 00:33:39.660 --> 00:33:40.940 why can he do that? 00:33:40.980 --> 00:33:41.059 Well, 00:33:41.099 --> 00:33:42.039 David knows God. 00:33:42.740 --> 00:33:45.839 Because he's walked with God in the past for decades. 00:33:47.900 --> 00:33:48.680 And partly, 00:33:48.859 --> 00:33:49.960 he knows his Bible, 00:33:50.120 --> 00:33:50.319 right? 00:33:51.000 --> 00:33:51.740 When he says, 00:33:51.819 --> 00:33:51.900 hey, 00:33:51.920 --> 00:33:54.940 the Lord gives you steadfast love and faithfulness. 00:33:55.120 --> 00:33:56.039 That's from Exodus, 00:33:56.220 --> 00:33:56.380 right? 00:33:56.400 --> 00:33:58.180 He knows the God of the Bible. 00:33:58.180 --> 00:34:00.080 And that's what, 00:34:00.400 --> 00:34:01.960 even though he can't see anything, 00:34:02.620 --> 00:34:04.820 if he doesn't hear anything right now, 00:34:05.840 --> 00:34:07.279 that's what he trusts. 00:34:07.500 --> 00:34:09.099 He trusts in the God he knows, 00:34:09.639 --> 00:34:10.880 kind of from before all this. 00:34:11.039 --> 00:34:13.500 Even though he's never faced anything like this before, 00:34:13.579 --> 00:34:16.280 he's never faced such consequences for his sin. 00:34:17.200 --> 00:34:18.220 Same for the readers, 00:34:18.340 --> 00:34:18.500 right? 00:34:18.760 --> 00:34:20.500 They'd never faced exile before. 00:34:21.159 --> 00:34:21.579 They'd never, 00:34:21.900 --> 00:34:23.059 this has never happened to them. 00:34:24.139 --> 00:34:24.420 But, 00:34:24.420 --> 00:34:26.380 look back at the past. 00:34:26.820 --> 00:34:27.460 For us, 00:34:28.099 --> 00:34:28.280 yeah, 00:34:28.539 --> 00:34:28.940 the same. 00:34:30.400 --> 00:34:30.700 I mean, 00:34:30.760 --> 00:34:31.000 David, 00:34:31.059 --> 00:34:31.900 David was right. 00:34:32.500 --> 00:34:32.659 We, 00:34:32.659 --> 00:34:32.920 we will, 00:34:33.059 --> 00:34:34.860 we won't preach on the next passage, 00:34:35.000 --> 00:34:36.079 but there we'll see actually, 00:34:36.280 --> 00:34:36.440 yeah, 00:34:36.880 --> 00:34:38.240 God is on David's side. 00:34:38.340 --> 00:34:39.280 He is against Absalom. 00:34:39.480 --> 00:34:40.400 He will sort it out. 00:34:42.920 --> 00:34:43.740 But ultimately, 00:34:44.079 --> 00:34:44.240 well, 00:34:44.260 --> 00:34:45.200 what do we look back to? 00:34:46.380 --> 00:34:46.780 Well, 00:34:46.800 --> 00:34:47.300 as Christians, 00:34:47.480 --> 00:34:47.740 yeah, 00:34:47.820 --> 00:34:48.740 we look back to, 00:34:49.099 --> 00:34:49.720 of course, 00:34:49.800 --> 00:34:49.920 to, 00:34:49.960 --> 00:34:51.960 to Jesus going into exile. 00:34:52.460 --> 00:34:53.420 How can we, 00:34:53.420 --> 00:34:54.800 trusting God? 00:34:54.860 --> 00:34:56.579 How can we come to God for mercy? 00:34:57.480 --> 00:34:57.619 Well, 00:34:57.639 --> 00:34:59.000 because Jesus went into exile. 00:34:59.099 --> 00:35:00.180 Because as you read this, 00:35:00.559 --> 00:35:01.460 I don't know if you, 00:35:01.740 --> 00:35:02.860 if it seems very familiar, 00:35:02.980 --> 00:35:03.139 right? 00:35:03.579 --> 00:35:05.240 It seems very familiar because David, 00:35:05.480 --> 00:35:06.840 he went out of Jerusalem. 00:35:07.920 --> 00:35:09.039 He crossed the book, 00:35:09.280 --> 00:35:09.860 Bruchidron, 00:35:10.099 --> 00:35:11.480 went up the Mount of Olives, 00:35:11.800 --> 00:35:13.400 was betrayed by his friends, 00:35:13.700 --> 00:35:14.519 all that stuff. 00:35:15.659 --> 00:35:15.960 Well, 00:35:16.260 --> 00:35:17.340 a thousand years later, 00:35:17.440 --> 00:35:18.280 the son of David, 00:35:19.320 --> 00:35:20.180 God's chosen king, 00:35:20.180 --> 00:35:21.599 did exactly the same thing, 00:35:21.659 --> 00:35:21.740 right? 00:35:21.739 --> 00:35:21.859 Yeah. 00:35:22.839 --> 00:35:23.679 That's funny details. 00:35:23.899 --> 00:35:24.679 John 18, 00:35:24.759 --> 00:35:25.299 verse one. 00:35:26.219 --> 00:35:27.979 When Jesus had spoken these words, 00:35:28.259 --> 00:35:30.859 he went out with his disciples across the Bruchidron. 00:35:31.500 --> 00:35:32.279 You may wonder, 00:35:32.359 --> 00:35:33.079 why that detail? 00:35:33.139 --> 00:35:34.019 Why mention a Bruchidron? 00:35:35.279 --> 00:35:35.699 Well, 00:35:36.579 --> 00:35:37.399 that's what David faced. 00:35:37.500 --> 00:35:39.299 And then Jesus went up the Mount of Olives, 00:35:40.339 --> 00:35:41.859 and was betrayed by his friends. 00:35:43.119 --> 00:35:45.359 People with swords came to him and said, 00:35:45.399 --> 00:35:45.500 hey, 00:35:45.500 --> 00:35:46.159 we'll defend you. 00:35:46.179 --> 00:35:46.619 And he said, 00:35:47.119 --> 00:35:48.179 I don't need this. 00:35:48.179 --> 00:35:51.039 And he fully entrusted himself to God, 00:35:51.940 --> 00:35:52.159 right? 00:35:52.679 --> 00:35:54.699 Jesus is going exactly through this. 00:35:55.759 --> 00:35:57.879 And why is he exactly following this? 00:35:58.000 --> 00:35:58.139 Well, 00:35:58.739 --> 00:36:00.000 David did this because, 00:36:00.699 --> 00:36:00.919 well, 00:36:00.940 --> 00:36:02.239 he was being punished for his sin. 00:36:03.059 --> 00:36:04.059 He went into exile. 00:36:04.159 --> 00:36:05.099 And in a way that shows, 00:36:05.339 --> 00:36:06.460 what was Jesus doing? 00:36:07.719 --> 00:36:09.099 He was facing exile. 00:36:09.219 --> 00:36:10.940 He was facing punishment for sin. 00:36:11.859 --> 00:36:12.419 Except not, 00:36:12.579 --> 00:36:13.519 not his sin, 00:36:13.519 --> 00:36:14.199 but our sin. 00:36:14.900 --> 00:36:16.619 That's what he was doing. 00:36:17.360 --> 00:36:19.780 Doesn't mean David is here a picture of Jesus. 00:36:20.820 --> 00:36:20.940 Now, 00:36:21.000 --> 00:36:22.039 of course, 00:36:22.099 --> 00:36:22.960 David was forced. 00:36:23.699 --> 00:36:24.619 Jesus did it voluntary. 00:36:26.519 --> 00:36:26.659 Now, 00:36:26.719 --> 00:36:27.000 David, 00:36:27.259 --> 00:36:29.099 Jesus is making himself like David. 00:36:29.599 --> 00:36:32.440 He is copying him so that we can understand. 00:36:33.219 --> 00:36:33.699 He is, 00:36:34.659 --> 00:36:34.860 yeah, 00:36:34.900 --> 00:36:36.900 he's going into exile for us. 00:36:37.519 --> 00:36:38.699 And that is the secret. 00:36:38.699 --> 00:36:39.000 I mean, 00:36:39.059 --> 00:36:39.960 how can we, 00:36:40.980 --> 00:36:41.619 we're sinners. 00:36:41.739 --> 00:36:43.280 How can we expect mercy from God? 00:36:44.219 --> 00:36:45.900 When we know we deserve mercy. 00:36:46.559 --> 00:36:47.000 Well, 00:36:47.039 --> 00:36:48.179 because Jesus took it, 00:36:48.259 --> 00:36:48.420 right? 00:36:49.039 --> 00:36:49.519 And when, 00:36:49.840 --> 00:36:51.380 that's why David's in a way, 00:36:52.119 --> 00:36:53.900 he doesn't know yet about the cross. 00:36:54.340 --> 00:36:55.719 He knows God's mercy. 00:36:55.860 --> 00:36:57.980 We can see the secret that we can have mercy. 00:36:58.239 --> 00:36:59.820 We can be repaid for good, 00:36:59.980 --> 00:37:01.539 even though we've done wrong. 00:37:02.239 --> 00:37:02.719 And, 00:37:02.759 --> 00:37:03.599 and that is our hope, 00:37:03.619 --> 00:37:03.780 right? 00:37:03.780 --> 00:37:04.880 When everything goes wrong, 00:37:05.039 --> 00:37:07.599 how do we know we can trust God? 00:37:07.599 --> 00:37:08.719 How can we hope in him? 00:37:09.179 --> 00:37:09.320 Well, 00:37:09.360 --> 00:37:10.360 because we see the cross. 00:37:10.559 --> 00:37:13.300 We see how Jesus went into exile for us, 00:37:13.300 --> 00:37:14.340 how he paid for us. 00:37:15.140 --> 00:37:15.220 And, 00:37:15.240 --> 00:37:15.740 and that is, 00:37:16.160 --> 00:37:16.300 yeah, 00:37:16.400 --> 00:37:17.420 that we can have mercy. 00:37:18.140 --> 00:37:18.600 So, 00:37:18.680 --> 00:37:18.760 yeah, 00:37:18.760 --> 00:37:20.940 next time life falls apart, 00:37:21.840 --> 00:37:22.800 and remember this, 00:37:23.300 --> 00:37:23.920 and in turn, 00:37:24.320 --> 00:37:24.539 and, 00:37:25.260 --> 00:37:25.519 yeah, 00:37:25.660 --> 00:37:28.100 and find mercy and hope in God. 00:37:29.539 --> 00:37:32.580 Why don't we take a moment, 00:37:32.700 --> 00:37:33.440 and I'll pray, 00:37:34.120 --> 00:37:35.900 and then we're going to respond in song. 00:37:35.900 --> 00:37:36.619 both. 00:37:36.619 --> 00:37:38.059 If you're looking forward to it, 00:37:38.059 --> 00:37:38.920 and everything goes fine. 00:37:38.920 --> 00:37:39.380 grieving. 00:37:39.380 --> 00:38:02.079 I'm 00:38:02.079 --> 00:38:15.179 Let's pray. 00:38:16.259 --> 00:38:20.779 Our Father, as many of us here, we're facing different things, 00:38:20.880 --> 00:38:22.719 and many of us wonder where you are. 00:38:23.920 --> 00:38:26.779 Thank you that on the cross we see your mercy. 00:38:27.779 --> 00:38:29.340 We see that our sin is faithful. 00:38:29.340 --> 00:38:32.440 Therefore, we see how Jesus went into exile for us. 00:38:34.180 --> 00:38:36.140 And that can make us come to you. 00:38:36.680 --> 00:38:38.260 Lord, we pray that we would hope in him, 00:38:38.820 --> 00:38:40.640 not because of anything we have done, 00:38:40.720 --> 00:38:44.019 because we know we're not anywhere near the people we should be. 00:38:44.760 --> 00:38:46.460 But we can come to you with our sin. 00:38:46.559 --> 00:38:47.940 We can come to you with everything. 00:38:48.900 --> 00:38:51.240 And knowing your mercy, knowing your grace from the cross. 00:38:51.620 --> 00:38:52.340 Help us do that. 00:38:52.880 --> 00:38:54.559 Whatever we may face this week, 00:38:55.420 --> 00:38:56.640 whatever we may face this year, 00:38:56.639 --> 00:38:59.659 Lord, nothing is beyond you. 00:39:00.679 --> 00:39:03.440 Nothing shows that you're against us. 00:39:03.559 --> 00:39:04.460 We know you're for us, 00:39:04.559 --> 00:39:07.639 because he who did not spare his own son, 00:39:08.299 --> 00:39:09.400 but gave him up for us all, 00:39:09.500 --> 00:39:12.039 how we also along with him gave us all things. 00:39:13.199 --> 00:39:14.259 Lord, help us trust you. 00:39:14.400 --> 00:39:15.279 In Jesus' name. 00:39:15.599 --> 00:39:15.920 Amen. 00:39:15.920 --> 00:39:16.039 Amen. 00:39:16.039 --> 00:39:16.079 Amen. 00:39:16.079 --> 00:39:16.099 Amen.