WEBVTT

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 So we are back in 2 Samuel tonight.

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 So let's pick up where we left off last week.

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 We're going to pick up with chapter 3 tonight.

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 That's page 256 in the Pew Bible.

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 It's a long passage that we're looking at tonight, so we won't put it on the screens.

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 But let me encourage you to turn there in a Bible so you can follow along in the text.

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 Page 256, 2 Samuel chapter 3.

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 We're going to cover the whole of the third chapter tonight.

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 And as you turn there, here's the proposition that I want us to consider tonight from 2 Samuel chapter 3.

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 And it is this.

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 Human corruption cannot confound God's kingdom.

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 Human corruption cannot confound God's kingdom.

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 In this chapter that we're going to look at tonight, we've got basically three main characters.

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 And each of those three characters is pretty much a study in human selfishness and corruption.

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 So we are going to look briefly at each one of those characters.

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 And next we're going to consider God's kingdom in all of that.

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 And then we'll end by making some applications.

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 So let's dive right in.

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 Starting at verse 1.

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 Look at verse 1 with me.

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 There was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David.

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 And David grew stronger and stronger while the house of Saul became weaker and weaker.

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 You'll remember from last week, at this point in Israel's history, there are two rival kings vying for the throne of all Israel.

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 The second half, actually, of chapter 2, which we didn't get a chance to go over in detail last week,

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 tells the story of how these rival kings ended up sort of erupting into a civil war in Israel.

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 On one side was Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, carrying on the house of Saul along with his general Abner.

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 And on the other side was, of course, David, along with his general Joab.

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 Two sides, civil war.

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 And as we know, as we've been following the story of Samuel, that the Lord is with David.

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 So over time, as verse 1 puts it,

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 David grows stronger and stronger and the house of Saul grows weaker and weaker.

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 There's the context.

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 Jump down to verse 6.

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 Here's the first character in our story.

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 Abner.

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 While there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David,

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 Abner was making himself strong in the house of Saul.

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 Now, that should come as no surprise.

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 After all, as we saw last week, Abner was really the one who made Ish-bosheth king after Saul's death.

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 Abner took him, made him king, and set it all up.

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 He was the one who was really in control.

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 He was the neck that was turning the head, right?

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 And it was Abner who marched out in battle at the second half of chapter 2

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 who provoked the civil war in the first place.

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 Now, you have to admit, Abner was, of course,

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 he must have been a highly talented man.

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 He must have been skillful in war.

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 He must have been wise in diplomacy.

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 He must have been a natural leader.

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 People must have naturally wanted to follow him.

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 But as verse 6, this verse we just read, shows us,

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 Abner's heart is driven by what?

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 Driven by power.

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 A desire to make himself strong.

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 Let's pick up his story in verse 7.

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 Now, Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizba, the daughter of Aiah.

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 And Ish-bosheth said to Abner,

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 Why have you gone into my father's concubine?

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 Then Abner was very angry over the words of Ish-bosheth and said,

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 Am I a dog's head of Judah?

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 To this day, I keep showing steadfast love to the house of Saul, your father,

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 to his brothers, and to his friends,

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 and have not given you into the hand of David?

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 And yet you charge me today with a fault concerning a woman.

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 God do so to Abner and more also,

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 if I do not accomplish for David what the Lord has sworn to him,

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 to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul

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 and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah,

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 from Dan to Beersheba.

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 And Ish-bosheth could not answer Abner another word

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 because he feared him.

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 So here is Abner, this man driven by power,

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 and now he is crossed, his will is crossed by Ish-bosheth.

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 And in the ancient world,

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 the action of sleeping with another king's concubine

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 was basically a symbolic way of claiming authority

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 over everything else that that king owned.

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 So it was a pretty brazen act.

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 And we don't know actually whether or not the accusation was true,

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 whether Abner actually did this or whether he didn't do this.

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 But either way, in frustration, taking great offense,

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 Abner says, forget you Ish-bosheth, and he defects.

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 He abandons this puppet king that he set up,

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 and he goes over to David.

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 Abner couldn't stand to have his will crossed.

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 But you know, his defection here

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 probably wasn't just a brash decision in the heat of anger.

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 Because as we've seen, Abner was no fool, right?

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 He knew probably at this point that David's side was winning.

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 And now, here was Abner's chance

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 to keep seeking power for himself.

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 He'd give the kingdom to David.

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 And we imagine in doing so,

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 Abner would probably secure a place of power for himself

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 in David's kingdom.

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 So chapter 3 continues.

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 In verse 12, Abner reaches out to David

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 and offers to make a covenant with him.

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 David accepts.

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 And in verse 17, Abner upholds his end of the bargain.

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 He brings the elders of Israel,

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 that is all the northern tribes

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 who are against David at this point.

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 He brings all the elders of Israel over to David's side.

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 And in verses 20 and 21,

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 if you scan down there,

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 Abner and David seal their agreement with a meal,

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 with a feast,

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 which was a common way of ratifying covenants

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 of treaties in the ancient world.

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 Now, for just a moment,

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 consider Abner here and his thirst for power.

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 He props up Ish-bosheth

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 and then hangs him out to dry.

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 He makes this utterly bombastic claim in verse 12.

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 Look at verse 12.

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 He asks this rhetorical question,

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 to whom does the land belong?

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 In other words, Abner's saying,

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 the land really belongs to me.

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 I'm the one who's going to give it to you.

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 But then we see in verse 17

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 that going over to David,

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 look down at verse 17,

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 that's exactly what all the elders of the northern tribes,

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 they wanted at this point.

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 So Abner here saw a moment of opportunity

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 when all the chips were in the right place

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 and he played them for his own power

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 and his own benefit.

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 So here then is the first portrait of human corruption,

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 Abner, the man driven by power

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 to make himself strong.

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 But in verse 22,

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 another character enters the picture.

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 Joab.

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 Joab shows up right after this feast

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 between David and Abner

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 and when he finds out what David has just done,

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 Joab says to David in verse 24,

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 look at verse 24,

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 what have you done?

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 Behold, Abner came to you.

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 Why is it that you have sent him away

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 so that he is gone?

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 You know that Abner, the son of Ner,

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 came to deceive you

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 and to know you're going out

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 and you're coming in

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 and to know all that you're doing.

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 Basically, Joab is saying,

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 David, you cannot trust this guy.

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 He's just here to spy on us

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 so he can know our movements,

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 know our weaknesses,

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 and eventually defeat us.

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 You've been taken, David.

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 What is going on?

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 And on one hand,

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 you can't blame Joab here, right?

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 I mean, they're in the middle of a civil war

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 and suddenly the opposing general

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 just happens to change his mind

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 and offer the kingdom to David

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 on a silver platter,

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 no strings attached.

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 A warrior like Joab knows

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 that that's probably too good to be true.

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 But you know,

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 there's a deeper thing going on here

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 with Joab.

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 Joab isn't merely concerned

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 for David's safety

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 and for David's kingdom.

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 Because you see,

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 back in chapter two,

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 when the civil war broke out

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 between Abner's army

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 and Joab's army,

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 in all of that mess,

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 Abner ended up killing Joab's brother.

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 Turn back to chapter two in your Bible.

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 Turn back a page

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 to chapter two, verse 18.

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 Let's read this account.

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 Chapter two is the first military encounter

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 of the civil war,

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 the sort of battle of Gibeon,

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 and Abner's army is being beaten back

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 at this point in the story.

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 Verse 18.

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 And the three sons of Zeruiah were there,

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 Joab, Abishai, and Azahel.

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 Now Azahel was as swift of foot

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 as a wild gazelle,

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 and Azahel pursued Abner.

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 And as he went,

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 he turned neither to the right hand

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 nor to the left

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 from following Abner.

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 Then Abner looked behind him and said,

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 is it you, Azahel?

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 And he answered,

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 it is I.

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 Abner said to him,

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 turn aside to your right hand

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 or to your left

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 and seize one of the young men

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 and take his spoil.

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 But Azahel would not turn aside

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 from following him.

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 And Abner said again to Azahel,

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 turn aside from following me.

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 Why should I strike you to the ground?

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 How then could I lift up my face

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 to your brother Joab?

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 But he refused to turn aside.

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 Therefore Abner struck him in the stomach

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 with the butt of his spear

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 so that the spear came out at his back.

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 And he fell there

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 and died where he was.

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 And all who came to the place

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 where Azahel had fallen

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 and died stood still.

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 Here's the background

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 between Abner and Joab.

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 And take note here

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 that Abner killed Azahel

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 in the middle of battle,

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 in the middle of war.

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 Azahel wasn't an innocent victim.

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 In fact, Abner gave him,

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 I mean, we just read it,

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 gave him more than enough time

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 to pick a different fight.

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 But Azahel refused

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 and Abner drove him through

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 with his spear.

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 The picture there is

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 Abner is basically just stopping,

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 holding out his spear

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 and Azahel running straight into it.

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 It's pretty graphic, actually.

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 But this is something

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 that Joab didn't forget.

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 And in the months and years

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 since his brother died,

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 Joab was waiting

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 for his opportunity

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 to get revenge.

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 Underneath Joab's outrage

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 in chapter 3

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 that David would make

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 a covenant with Abner

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 is his thirst

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 for getting even.

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 To make Abner pay

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 for the blood of his brother.

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 And that's exactly what he does.

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 Back in chapter 3,

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 verse 26,

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 Joab sends a message

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 to Abner

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 without David knowing.

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 And Abner returns

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 to meet with Joab

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 thinking that they're going to

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 seal maybe a sort of pact.

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 Well, who's going to run the army

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 now that we're sort of

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 working on the same side?

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 And Joab takes him aside privately

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 and sticks a knife

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 into his ribs

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 and murders him

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 in cold blood.

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 And the narrator's very clear

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 that all of this

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 was motivated

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 by pure revenge.

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 Look at verse 30.

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 So Joab and Abishai,

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 his brother,

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 killed Abner

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 because he had put

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 their brother Asahel

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 to death

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 in the battle of Gibeon.

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 Portrait number 2.

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 Joab,

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 the man driven by revenge.

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 But lastly,

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 there's David.

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 In verse 31,

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 David responds rightly

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 to Abner's death

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 by lamenting

00:12:00.740 --> 00:12:02.279
 and by honoring him.

00:12:03.299 --> 00:12:04.980
 And he also publicly blames

00:12:04.980 --> 00:12:05.759
 Joab

00:12:05.759 --> 00:12:06.879
 for killing Abner.

00:12:06.939 --> 00:12:07.779
 Look at verse 38.

00:12:07.779 --> 00:12:09.019
 And the king,

00:12:09.120 --> 00:12:09.579
 that is David,

00:12:09.679 --> 00:12:10.379
 said to his servants,

00:12:10.839 --> 00:12:11.419
 Do you not know

00:12:11.419 --> 00:12:12.579
 that a prince and a great man

00:12:12.579 --> 00:12:13.799
 has fallen this day in Israel?

00:12:13.879 --> 00:12:14.519
 Speaking of Abner.

00:12:14.519 --> 00:12:16.679
 And I was gentle today,

00:12:16.899 --> 00:12:17.779
 though anointed king.

00:12:18.220 --> 00:12:19.179
 And these men,

00:12:19.620 --> 00:12:20.860
 the sons of Zeruiah,

00:12:20.960 --> 00:12:22.319
 that is Joab and Abishai,

00:12:22.779 --> 00:12:23.960
 are more severe than I.

00:12:24.960 --> 00:12:26.679
 The Lord repay the evildoer

00:12:26.679 --> 00:12:28.220
 according to his wickedness.

00:12:30.960 --> 00:12:31.779
 But you know,

00:12:31.819 --> 00:12:33.240
 even though David responds rightly

00:12:33.240 --> 00:12:34.379
 to Abner's death,

00:12:35.340 --> 00:12:36.220
 the narrator here

00:12:36.220 --> 00:12:37.399
 wants us to see

00:12:37.399 --> 00:12:39.980
 that not even David

00:12:39.980 --> 00:12:41.500
 is innocent

00:12:41.500 --> 00:12:42.960
 in these verses.

00:12:42.960 --> 00:12:45.800
 Of course,

00:12:45.840 --> 00:12:46.440
 there's the question

00:12:46.440 --> 00:12:47.200
 of why David

00:12:47.200 --> 00:12:48.240
 doesn't remove

00:12:48.240 --> 00:12:49.620
 Joab from his position.

00:12:50.900 --> 00:12:51.700
 Think about it.

00:12:51.900 --> 00:12:52.700
 What Joab did

00:12:52.700 --> 00:12:53.720
 could have cost

00:12:53.720 --> 00:12:54.759
 David the kingdom.

00:12:55.280 --> 00:12:56.440
 His personal vendetta

00:12:56.440 --> 00:12:57.320
 could have exploded

00:12:57.320 --> 00:12:58.180
 in David's face,

00:12:58.460 --> 00:12:59.400
 brought more years

00:12:59.400 --> 00:13:00.120
 of civil war,

00:13:00.420 --> 00:13:01.080
 turned the people

00:13:01.080 --> 00:13:01.780
 against David.

00:13:02.879 --> 00:13:03.680
 But rather than

00:13:03.680 --> 00:13:04.700
 removing Joab,

00:13:05.000 --> 00:13:05.620
 David gives him

00:13:05.620 --> 00:13:06.259
 what sort of feels

00:13:06.259 --> 00:13:07.440
 like a slap on the wrist

00:13:07.440 --> 00:13:08.540
 and moves on.

00:13:10.639 --> 00:13:11.540
 But there are more

00:13:11.540 --> 00:13:12.600
 troubling things

00:13:12.600 --> 00:13:13.200
 that the narrator

00:13:13.200 --> 00:13:14.220
 wants us to see.

00:13:15.420 --> 00:13:16.519
 Go back to the beginning

00:13:16.519 --> 00:13:17.139
 of the chapter.

00:13:19.259 --> 00:13:20.519
 You notice that we skipped

00:13:20.519 --> 00:13:21.800
 verses 2 through 5.

00:13:22.879 --> 00:13:23.860
 But look at them now.

00:13:25.200 --> 00:13:26.019
 Here the narrator

00:13:26.019 --> 00:13:26.899
 starts telling us

00:13:26.899 --> 00:13:27.879
 about David's sons.

00:13:29.220 --> 00:13:30.060
 And we find here

00:13:30.060 --> 00:13:31.120
 that David's sons,

00:13:31.500 --> 00:13:32.300
 many in number,

00:13:32.940 --> 00:13:34.259
 were not born to one wife.

00:13:35.519 --> 00:13:36.000
 David's sons

00:13:36.000 --> 00:13:37.340
 were not born to two wives.

00:13:38.480 --> 00:13:39.000
 David's sons

00:13:39.000 --> 00:13:40.399
 were not born to three wives,

00:13:40.399 --> 00:13:43.139
 but six wives

00:13:43.139 --> 00:13:44.340
 at this point

00:13:44.340 --> 00:13:45.500
 in David's career.

00:13:47.059 --> 00:13:47.879
 And when David

00:13:47.879 --> 00:13:48.759
 cuts a deal

00:13:48.759 --> 00:13:49.679
 with Abner

00:13:49.679 --> 00:13:50.919
 in verse 13,

00:13:51.799 --> 00:13:52.980
 his end of the bargain

00:13:52.980 --> 00:13:54.199
 is that Abner

00:13:54.199 --> 00:13:55.100
 bring him back

00:13:55.100 --> 00:13:56.139
 his first wife,

00:13:56.519 --> 00:13:57.059
 Michal.

00:13:58.220 --> 00:13:59.639
 That would be number 7

00:13:59.639 --> 00:14:00.639
 for David.

00:14:01.779 --> 00:14:02.459
 And Michal,

00:14:02.519 --> 00:14:03.000
 at this point,

00:14:03.000 --> 00:14:03.740
 has already been

00:14:03.740 --> 00:14:04.779
 remarried for years.

00:14:04.879 --> 00:14:05.720
 Look at verse 15.

00:14:05.720 --> 00:14:07.440
 And Nishbosheth

00:14:07.440 --> 00:14:07.940
 sent for her,

00:14:08.000 --> 00:14:08.560
 that is Michal,

00:14:08.820 --> 00:14:09.540
 from her husband,

00:14:09.899 --> 00:14:10.379
 Paltiel,

00:14:10.500 --> 00:14:11.399
 the son of Leish.

00:14:12.300 --> 00:14:13.360
 But her husband

00:14:13.360 --> 00:14:14.000
 went with her,

00:14:14.200 --> 00:14:15.779
 weeping after her

00:14:15.779 --> 00:14:16.779
 all the way

00:14:16.779 --> 00:14:17.660
 to Baharim.

00:14:18.519 --> 00:14:19.540
 Then Abner said to him,

00:14:20.000 --> 00:14:20.940
 Go, return.

00:14:21.580 --> 00:14:22.560
 And he returned.

00:14:24.440 --> 00:14:25.860
 What a sad scene.

00:14:26.920 --> 00:14:27.700
 This guy's wife

00:14:27.700 --> 00:14:28.480
 being ripped away

00:14:28.480 --> 00:14:28.940
 from him

00:14:28.940 --> 00:14:31.259
 to add another

00:14:31.259 --> 00:14:32.120
 to David's

00:14:32.120 --> 00:14:33.700
 collection of wives.

00:14:33.700 --> 00:14:36.860
 What are we

00:14:36.860 --> 00:14:37.740
 to make of all this?

00:14:38.700 --> 00:14:39.160
 Well, I think

00:14:39.160 --> 00:14:39.900
 there's a right way

00:14:39.900 --> 00:14:40.740
 and there's a wrong way

00:14:40.740 --> 00:14:41.540
 to understand

00:14:41.540 --> 00:14:43.540
 David's multiple wives.

00:14:44.780 --> 00:14:45.400
 Some would look

00:14:45.400 --> 00:14:46.680
 at a passage like this

00:14:46.680 --> 00:14:47.780
 and say,

00:14:48.860 --> 00:14:49.320
 Look,

00:14:50.040 --> 00:14:51.680
 these sorts of passages

00:14:51.680 --> 00:14:53.400
 are proof

00:14:53.400 --> 00:14:54.720
 that the Bible

00:14:54.720 --> 00:14:56.280
 doesn't really have

00:14:56.280 --> 00:14:57.840
 a consistent ethic

00:14:57.840 --> 00:14:58.940
 when it comes

00:14:58.940 --> 00:14:59.720
 to marriage.

00:15:00.740 --> 00:15:02.160
 They would point out

00:15:02.160 --> 00:15:03.600
 that the patriarchs,

00:15:03.600 --> 00:15:04.600
 like Abraham

00:15:04.600 --> 00:15:05.600
 and Jacob

00:15:06.120 --> 00:15:07.560
 had multiple wives

00:15:07.560 --> 00:15:08.560
 and here David

00:15:08.560 --> 00:15:09.820
 has multiple wives.

00:15:10.060 --> 00:15:10.960
 So they'd say

00:15:10.960 --> 00:15:11.540
 the Bible

00:15:11.540 --> 00:15:12.879
 doesn't really teach

00:15:12.879 --> 00:15:14.100
 just one thing

00:15:14.100 --> 00:15:14.980
 about marriage.

00:15:15.980 --> 00:15:17.659
 And because of that,

00:15:18.379 --> 00:15:18.659
 well,

00:15:18.740 --> 00:15:19.320
 we're free

00:15:19.320 --> 00:15:20.159
 to change

00:15:20.159 --> 00:15:20.879
 and to evolve

00:15:20.879 --> 00:15:21.759
 as we see fit.

00:15:21.840 --> 00:15:22.060
 You see,

00:15:22.120 --> 00:15:23.580
 you can't really trust

00:15:23.580 --> 00:15:25.320
 the Bible morally.

00:15:26.139 --> 00:15:27.700
 So this reading goes.

00:15:27.700 --> 00:15:30.000
 But you know,

00:15:30.060 --> 00:15:30.600
 that reading

00:15:30.600 --> 00:15:31.560
 of this passage

00:15:31.560 --> 00:15:32.860
 can't be right.

00:15:33.860 --> 00:15:35.020
 And here's why.

00:15:36.060 --> 00:15:37.020
 First off,

00:15:38.100 --> 00:15:39.300
 just because something

00:15:39.300 --> 00:15:40.460
 is described

00:15:40.460 --> 00:15:41.700
 in the Bible

00:15:41.700 --> 00:15:42.900
 doesn't mean

00:15:42.900 --> 00:15:44.060
 it's prescribed.

00:15:45.560 --> 00:15:45.940
 Do you see

00:15:45.940 --> 00:15:46.420
 what I'm saying?

00:15:47.920 --> 00:15:48.780
 In other words,

00:15:48.840 --> 00:15:49.860
 the Bible's recounting

00:15:49.860 --> 00:15:50.680
 history here.

00:15:50.960 --> 00:15:51.820
 It's telling us

00:15:51.820 --> 00:15:52.720
 what really happened

00:15:52.720 --> 00:15:53.519
 and it's being

00:15:53.519 --> 00:15:54.740
 brutally honest.

00:15:56.560 --> 00:15:57.940
 But it's not saying,

00:15:58.360 --> 00:15:58.440
 well,

00:15:58.480 --> 00:15:58.660
 look,

00:15:58.740 --> 00:15:59.420
 David did this,

00:15:59.600 --> 00:16:00.879
 so you can do that too.

00:16:02.100 --> 00:16:03.139
 Are there any indications

00:16:03.139 --> 00:16:03.840
 in this text

00:16:03.840 --> 00:16:04.300
 that that's what

00:16:04.300 --> 00:16:04.720
 the narrator

00:16:04.720 --> 00:16:05.500
 wants us to get?

00:16:07.680 --> 00:16:08.120
 But you know,

00:16:08.139 --> 00:16:08.920
 there's another reason

00:16:08.920 --> 00:16:10.200
 why the sort of

00:16:10.200 --> 00:16:11.220
 revisionist reading

00:16:11.220 --> 00:16:12.500
 can't be right.

00:16:13.700 --> 00:16:13.960
 I mean,

00:16:13.980 --> 00:16:14.139
 friends,

00:16:14.180 --> 00:16:15.460
 you simply have to look,

00:16:15.720 --> 00:16:17.580
 look at the outcome

00:16:17.580 --> 00:16:18.840
 of what happens

00:16:18.840 --> 00:16:19.960
 on account of David

00:16:19.960 --> 00:16:21.340
 taking all these wives.

00:16:22.780 --> 00:16:23.139
 Yes,

00:16:23.160 --> 00:16:24.100
 he had a lot of sons.

00:16:25.300 --> 00:16:25.600
 Yes,

00:16:25.620 --> 00:16:26.100
 on the surface,

00:16:26.200 --> 00:16:26.980
 it seems that he was

00:16:26.980 --> 00:16:28.200
 establishing his rule.

00:16:29.980 --> 00:16:30.920
 But his lust

00:16:30.920 --> 00:16:32.100
 for multiple wives

00:16:32.100 --> 00:16:33.780
 would bring nothing

00:16:33.780 --> 00:16:35.180
 but heartache

00:16:35.180 --> 00:16:36.680
 and dissolution

00:16:36.680 --> 00:16:37.420
 to his kingdom.

00:16:41.019 --> 00:16:41.639
 In fact,

00:16:41.700 --> 00:16:42.940
 in nearly every place

00:16:42.940 --> 00:16:44.139
 where a man

00:16:44.139 --> 00:16:45.320
 takes more than one wife

00:16:45.320 --> 00:16:45.980
 in the Bible,

00:16:46.360 --> 00:16:47.680
 nothing but trouble

00:16:47.680 --> 00:16:48.720
 and problems

00:16:48.720 --> 00:16:49.560
 follow in the wake.

00:16:49.960 --> 00:16:51.139
 Just think of the story

00:16:51.139 --> 00:16:51.700
 of Abraham,

00:16:52.440 --> 00:16:52.759
 Sarah,

00:16:53.320 --> 00:16:53.900
 and Hagar.

00:16:54.700 --> 00:16:55.320
 Remember how that one

00:16:55.320 --> 00:16:55.780
 turned out?

00:16:57.139 --> 00:16:57.660
 Bitterness,

00:16:58.080 --> 00:16:58.420
 hatred,

00:16:58.740 --> 00:16:59.300
 one of them getting

00:16:59.300 --> 00:16:59.980
 sent away,

00:17:01.060 --> 00:17:01.980
 sons that ended up

00:17:01.980 --> 00:17:02.759
 hating each other.

00:17:04.360 --> 00:17:05.240
 Or think back

00:17:05.240 --> 00:17:06.400
 to 1 Samuel chapter 1.

00:17:07.200 --> 00:17:08.360
 Elkanah has two wives,

00:17:08.720 --> 00:17:10.279
 Hannah and Penina.

00:17:10.759 --> 00:17:11.799
 And what's the result?

00:17:13.079 --> 00:17:13.600
 Bitterness,

00:17:14.100 --> 00:17:14.539
 jealousy,

00:17:15.180 --> 00:17:15.640
 heartache.

00:17:17.380 --> 00:17:18.180
 So friends,

00:17:18.279 --> 00:17:18.860
 I ask you,

00:17:18.859 --> 00:17:19.740
 is the Old Testament

00:17:19.740 --> 00:17:20.319
 saying,

00:17:20.479 --> 00:17:21.679
 this is just fine.

00:17:23.479 --> 00:17:24.240
 Is the Bible

00:17:24.240 --> 00:17:25.639
 being morally inconsistent

00:17:25.639 --> 00:17:26.359
 and trustworthy?

00:17:26.599 --> 00:17:27.479
 Of course not.

00:17:28.879 --> 00:17:30.119
 Anyone who can read

00:17:30.119 --> 00:17:31.199
 2 Samuel

00:17:31.199 --> 00:17:32.219
 and not realize

00:17:32.219 --> 00:17:33.099
 that David's lust

00:17:33.099 --> 00:17:34.359
 after multiple wives

00:17:34.359 --> 00:17:35.559
 is nothing less

00:17:35.559 --> 00:17:37.119
 than a ticking time bomb

00:17:37.119 --> 00:17:38.639
 waiting to explode

00:17:38.639 --> 00:17:39.539
 in turmoil

00:17:39.539 --> 00:17:40.419
 and strife

00:17:40.419 --> 00:17:41.299
 just doesn't know

00:17:41.299 --> 00:17:42.539
 how to read a text.

00:17:42.539 --> 00:17:46.779
 What the narrator

00:17:46.779 --> 00:17:47.779
 wants us to see

00:17:47.779 --> 00:17:50.539
 is that David too

00:17:50.539 --> 00:17:51.899
 for all of his virtues

00:17:51.899 --> 00:17:54.799
 is also

00:17:54.799 --> 00:17:56.279
 a picture

00:17:56.279 --> 00:17:58.059
 of our common

00:17:58.059 --> 00:17:59.279
 weakness

00:17:59.279 --> 00:18:00.039
 and corruption.

00:18:01.379 --> 00:18:02.099
 He too

00:18:02.099 --> 00:18:03.839
 is part of the problem.

00:18:05.519 --> 00:18:06.460
 He's a man

00:18:06.460 --> 00:18:07.399
 driven by lust.

00:18:07.400 --> 00:18:11.300
 Okay.

00:18:12.120 --> 00:18:12.740
 Now what are we

00:18:12.740 --> 00:18:13.640
 to make of all this?

00:18:14.600 --> 00:18:15.400
 Why in the world

00:18:15.400 --> 00:18:16.340
 is this chapter

00:18:16.340 --> 00:18:17.080
 in the Bible

00:18:17.080 --> 00:18:17.700
 other than to be

00:18:17.700 --> 00:18:18.400
 a bit depressing?

00:18:20.220 --> 00:18:21.040
 What do we gain

00:18:21.040 --> 00:18:22.019
 from these three portraits

00:18:22.019 --> 00:18:22.700
 of our own

00:18:22.700 --> 00:18:23.800
 corruption in a sense?

00:18:23.860 --> 00:18:24.400
 It's like we're looking

00:18:24.400 --> 00:18:24.880
 in a mirror,

00:18:25.280 --> 00:18:25.860
 our enslavement

00:18:25.860 --> 00:18:26.420
 to power

00:18:26.420 --> 00:18:27.480
 and to revenge

00:18:27.480 --> 00:18:28.380
 and to lust.

00:18:30.240 --> 00:18:30.759
 Well friends,

00:18:30.820 --> 00:18:31.740
 I hope we can appreciate

00:18:31.740 --> 00:18:32.540
 looking at a chapter

00:18:32.540 --> 00:18:33.160
 like this

00:18:33.160 --> 00:18:34.680
 that at least

00:18:34.680 --> 00:18:35.280
 the Bible

00:18:35.279 --> 00:18:36.099
 is a brutally

00:18:36.099 --> 00:18:37.319
 honest book.

00:18:39.660 --> 00:18:40.339
 The Bible

00:18:40.339 --> 00:18:40.899
 is not willing

00:18:40.899 --> 00:18:41.899
 for one second

00:18:41.899 --> 00:18:42.839
 to turn away

00:18:42.839 --> 00:18:44.319
 from the harsh reality

00:18:44.319 --> 00:18:45.559
 of the fallen world

00:18:45.559 --> 00:18:46.259
 that we live in

00:18:46.259 --> 00:18:47.279
 or the harsh realities

00:18:47.279 --> 00:18:48.519
 living within our own hearts.

00:18:50.240 --> 00:18:51.079
 The Bible

00:18:51.079 --> 00:18:52.700
 is about sinners.

00:18:55.319 --> 00:18:55.799
 Fallen,

00:18:55.960 --> 00:18:56.279
 corrupt,

00:18:56.460 --> 00:18:57.500
 selfish human beings.

00:18:58.019 --> 00:18:58.940
 Humans just like

00:18:58.940 --> 00:18:59.480
 you and me.

00:19:02.099 --> 00:19:02.899
 But the Bible

00:19:02.899 --> 00:19:03.279
 you see

00:19:03.279 --> 00:19:04.039
 isn't just

00:19:04.039 --> 00:19:05.420
 about sinners.

00:19:06.180 --> 00:19:07.519
 It's for sinners.

00:19:08.960 --> 00:19:09.680
 The Bible

00:19:09.680 --> 00:19:09.960
 is written

00:19:09.960 --> 00:19:10.539
 for

00:19:10.539 --> 00:19:11.879
 messed up people

00:19:11.879 --> 00:19:12.960
 like Abner

00:19:12.960 --> 00:19:14.200
 and Joab

00:19:14.200 --> 00:19:15.159
 and David

00:19:15.159 --> 00:19:16.359
 and like

00:19:16.359 --> 00:19:17.019
 Nick

00:19:17.019 --> 00:19:18.039
 and Greg

00:19:18.039 --> 00:19:19.000
 and Matt

00:19:19.000 --> 00:19:20.460
 and all of us.

00:19:22.119 --> 00:19:23.619
 People who hoard power,

00:19:24.720 --> 00:19:25.839
 people who hold grudges,

00:19:26.859 --> 00:19:27.440
 people who lust

00:19:27.440 --> 00:19:27.980
 after people

00:19:27.980 --> 00:19:29.039
 who aren't their spouses.

00:19:31.720 --> 00:19:32.759
 These are the kind

00:19:32.759 --> 00:19:33.440
 of people that God

00:19:33.440 --> 00:19:33.940
 has come

00:19:33.940 --> 00:19:35.700
 to rescue.

00:19:38.160 --> 00:19:38.900
 And the God

00:19:38.900 --> 00:19:40.180
 who inspired

00:19:40.180 --> 00:19:40.700
 the pages

00:19:40.700 --> 00:19:41.519
 of this story,

00:19:41.680 --> 00:19:41.879
 friends,

00:19:41.980 --> 00:19:42.319
 trust me,

00:19:42.339 --> 00:19:43.420
 he is not ignorant

00:19:43.420 --> 00:19:45.420
 and he is not surprised

00:19:45.420 --> 00:19:46.480
 at anything

00:19:46.480 --> 00:19:47.220
 that you've done.

00:19:50.460 --> 00:19:51.379
 And this brings us

00:19:51.379 --> 00:19:52.099
 back to what I said

00:19:52.099 --> 00:19:52.480
 was I think

00:19:52.480 --> 00:19:53.319
 the main idea

00:19:53.319 --> 00:19:54.160
 that this text

00:19:54.160 --> 00:19:54.879
 is showing us.

00:19:55.319 --> 00:19:56.299
 That human corruption

00:19:56.299 --> 00:19:57.299
 cannot thwart

00:19:57.299 --> 00:19:58.240
 the kingdom of God.

00:19:59.460 --> 00:20:00.119
 Where do we see that

00:20:00.119 --> 00:20:00.680
 in our text?

00:20:00.680 --> 00:20:01.299
 Well,

00:20:01.539 --> 00:20:02.360
 take a step back

00:20:02.360 --> 00:20:03.880
 and take the whole chapter in.

00:20:04.279 --> 00:20:05.340
 Try to view this chapter

00:20:05.340 --> 00:20:06.259
 as a whole.

00:20:06.640 --> 00:20:07.180
 What happens

00:20:07.180 --> 00:20:07.900
 when we take this

00:20:07.900 --> 00:20:09.620
 30,000 foot level

00:20:09.620 --> 00:20:10.880
 and view?

00:20:11.720 --> 00:20:12.019
 Well,

00:20:12.160 --> 00:20:12.900
 what happens?

00:20:13.400 --> 00:20:14.400
 Abner is removed,

00:20:15.060 --> 00:20:16.080
 David is vindicated

00:20:16.080 --> 00:20:16.700
 at the end,

00:20:17.180 --> 00:20:17.940
 and God's kingdom

00:20:17.940 --> 00:20:19.259
 takes another step forward.

00:20:21.259 --> 00:20:22.220
 Look at verse 36.

00:20:22.720 --> 00:20:23.860
 David mourns Abner

00:20:23.860 --> 00:20:25.100
 and the narrator says,

00:20:25.200 --> 00:20:25.960
 and all the people

00:20:25.960 --> 00:20:26.779
 took notice of it

00:20:26.779 --> 00:20:28.000
 and it pleased them

00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:29.240
 as everything

00:20:29.240 --> 00:20:30.299
 that the king did

00:20:30.299 --> 00:20:31.660
 pleased all the people.

00:20:32.220 --> 00:20:33.200
 So all the people

00:20:33.200 --> 00:20:34.359
 and all Israel

00:20:34.359 --> 00:20:35.400
 understood that day

00:20:35.400 --> 00:20:36.339
 that it had not been

00:20:36.339 --> 00:20:36.900
 the king's will

00:20:36.900 --> 00:20:37.519
 to put to death

00:20:37.519 --> 00:20:38.460
 Abner the son of Ner.

00:20:39.440 --> 00:20:40.200
 Do you see what's happened?

00:20:40.460 --> 00:20:41.700
 The biggest obstacle

00:20:41.700 --> 00:20:42.559
 standing in the way

00:20:42.559 --> 00:20:43.640
 of David's uncontested

00:20:43.640 --> 00:20:44.380
 reign in Israel,

00:20:44.519 --> 00:20:45.680
 that is the person

00:20:45.680 --> 00:20:46.299
 of Abner,

00:20:46.539 --> 00:20:47.660
 has been taken away

00:20:47.660 --> 00:20:50.440
 and in such a way

00:20:50.440 --> 00:20:51.619
 that David is totally

00:20:51.619 --> 00:20:53.299
 innocent of his blood.

00:20:53.299 --> 00:20:55.639
 And the way in which

00:20:55.639 --> 00:20:56.799
 this has fallen out

00:20:56.799 --> 00:20:57.960
 ends up to mean

00:20:57.960 --> 00:20:58.659
 that the people

00:20:58.659 --> 00:21:00.599
 love David all the more.

00:21:00.779 --> 00:21:01.440
 All the people,

00:21:01.539 --> 00:21:02.279
 the narrator says,

00:21:02.720 --> 00:21:03.779
 not just Judah,

00:21:04.619 --> 00:21:05.460
 David's home tribe,

00:21:05.799 --> 00:21:07.500
 but all the people.

00:21:08.599 --> 00:21:09.819
 God has just united

00:21:09.819 --> 00:21:11.419
 the kingdom around David.

00:21:12.220 --> 00:21:13.399
 So out of the mess

00:21:13.399 --> 00:21:14.319
 of this chapter,

00:21:14.799 --> 00:21:16.139
 the power-hungry betrayals,

00:21:16.240 --> 00:21:17.579
 the revenge-fueled killings,

00:21:17.659 --> 00:21:18.799
 the patriarchal exploitation

00:21:18.799 --> 00:21:19.279
 of women,

00:21:19.500 --> 00:21:20.519
 out of the cesspool

00:21:20.519 --> 00:21:21.559
 of human corruption,

00:21:21.559 --> 00:21:23.399
 God is still able

00:21:23.399 --> 00:21:25.779
 to move his redemptive kingdom

00:21:25.779 --> 00:21:27.039
 one step closer

00:21:27.039 --> 00:21:27.940
 to its goal.

00:21:29.099 --> 00:21:30.500
 Human corruption,

00:21:30.679 --> 00:21:30.940
 friends,

00:21:31.079 --> 00:21:33.259
 cannot stop God's kingdom.

00:21:36.700 --> 00:21:37.359
 But you know,

00:21:37.399 --> 00:21:38.059
 there's an even greater

00:21:38.059 --> 00:21:38.819
 example of this

00:21:38.819 --> 00:21:39.259
 in the Bible,

00:21:39.399 --> 00:21:39.740
 isn't there?

00:21:40.639 --> 00:21:41.819
 And it's at the center

00:21:41.819 --> 00:21:43.079
 of the gospel itself.

00:21:44.639 --> 00:21:45.679
 In Acts chapter 2,

00:21:46.399 --> 00:21:47.079
 the apostle Peter

00:21:47.079 --> 00:21:48.119
 stands up in Jerusalem

00:21:48.119 --> 00:21:48.740
 and gives his

00:21:48.740 --> 00:21:49.519
 Pentecost sermon.

00:21:49.519 --> 00:21:51.720
 And in verse 23,

00:21:51.839 --> 00:21:52.519
 he says to the crowd,

00:21:52.639 --> 00:21:54.720
 this Jesus delivered up

00:21:54.720 --> 00:21:56.079
 according to the definite plan

00:21:56.079 --> 00:21:57.099
 and foreknowledge of God,

00:21:57.180 --> 00:21:59.460
 you crucified and killed

00:21:59.460 --> 00:22:01.440
 by the hands of lawless men.

00:22:02.460 --> 00:22:03.220
 Do you see what Peter's

00:22:03.220 --> 00:22:03.680
 saying there?

00:22:04.660 --> 00:22:05.779
 At the cross,

00:22:05.879 --> 00:22:07.200
 God was able to take

00:22:07.200 --> 00:22:09.339
 the most horrible sin

00:22:09.339 --> 00:22:10.240
 of humankind,

00:22:10.720 --> 00:22:11.819
 the crucifixion

00:22:11.819 --> 00:22:13.139
 of his own son,

00:22:14.139 --> 00:22:15.619
 and use it

00:22:15.619 --> 00:22:17.439
 for the greatest

00:22:17.439 --> 00:22:19.479
 triumph of his kingdom.

00:22:20.039 --> 00:22:21.559
 The once for all

00:22:21.559 --> 00:22:22.759
 defeat of sin

00:22:22.759 --> 00:22:23.619
 and death

00:22:23.619 --> 00:22:24.599
 and darkness.

00:22:27.239 --> 00:22:28.339
 At the cross,

00:22:28.500 --> 00:22:29.259
 human corruption

00:22:29.259 --> 00:22:30.319
 could not thwart

00:22:30.319 --> 00:22:31.000
 God's kingdom.

00:22:31.139 --> 00:22:31.500
 In fact,

00:22:31.539 --> 00:22:32.199
 in the mystery

00:22:32.199 --> 00:22:33.519
 of God's wisdom,

00:22:34.179 --> 00:22:34.919
 in the mystery

00:22:34.919 --> 00:22:35.979
 of God's sovereignty

00:22:35.979 --> 00:22:37.299
 and human responsibility,

00:22:38.099 --> 00:22:38.799
 the cross,

00:22:38.879 --> 00:22:39.919
 in a way that boggles

00:22:39.919 --> 00:22:40.819
 our mind,

00:22:41.199 --> 00:22:42.439
 was at the same time

00:22:42.439 --> 00:22:43.259
 both the result

00:22:43.259 --> 00:22:44.180
 of God's plan

00:22:44.180 --> 00:22:45.119
 and the result

00:22:45.119 --> 00:22:46.140
 of lawless men.

00:22:48.680 --> 00:22:49.559
 God was able

00:22:49.559 --> 00:22:50.379
 to accomplish

00:22:50.379 --> 00:22:51.220
 his purposes

00:22:51.220 --> 00:22:52.720
 even through

00:22:52.720 --> 00:22:54.599
 the sinful acts

00:22:54.599 --> 00:22:55.579
 of human beings.

00:22:58.940 --> 00:22:59.759
 Let me end

00:22:59.759 --> 00:23:00.740
 with three applications.

00:23:02.259 --> 00:23:02.779
 First,

00:23:04.500 --> 00:23:06.279
 I think this text

00:23:06.279 --> 00:23:07.299
 ought to cause us

00:23:07.299 --> 00:23:08.700
 to worship God.

00:23:10.920 --> 00:23:11.720
 Only God

00:23:11.720 --> 00:23:12.700
 is loving enough

00:23:12.700 --> 00:23:14.460
 and powerful enough

00:23:14.460 --> 00:23:15.559
 to advance

00:23:15.559 --> 00:23:16.279
 his purpose

00:23:16.279 --> 00:23:17.000
 and his kingdom

00:23:17.000 --> 00:23:17.900
 even in the face

00:23:17.900 --> 00:23:18.720
 of the most fierce

00:23:18.720 --> 00:23:19.680
 human corruption.

00:23:21.220 --> 00:23:21.980
 You and I

00:23:21.980 --> 00:23:22.660
 are thwarted

00:23:22.660 --> 00:23:23.440
 all the time,

00:23:23.680 --> 00:23:24.120
 aren't we?

00:23:25.759 --> 00:23:26.840
 My plans

00:23:26.840 --> 00:23:27.840
 rarely seem

00:23:27.840 --> 00:23:28.420
 to work out

00:23:28.420 --> 00:23:29.100
 as planned

00:23:29.100 --> 00:23:29.920
 even when

00:23:29.920 --> 00:23:30.559
 everything's going

00:23:30.559 --> 00:23:31.039
 right.

00:23:32.559 --> 00:23:33.980
 I have two toddlers.

00:23:35.039 --> 00:23:35.580
 Our plans

00:23:35.580 --> 00:23:36.460
 are never

00:23:36.460 --> 00:23:37.960
 carried out

00:23:37.960 --> 00:23:38.480
 the way we want

00:23:38.480 --> 00:23:39.140
 them to carry out

00:23:39.140 --> 00:23:40.120
 because someone's

00:23:40.120 --> 00:23:40.980
 dropping something

00:23:40.980 --> 00:23:41.620
 or someone's

00:23:41.620 --> 00:23:42.500
 forgetting something

00:23:42.500 --> 00:23:44.200
 or one of them's

00:23:44.200 --> 00:23:45.119
 having a breakdown.

00:23:49.079 --> 00:23:49.859
 When everything

00:23:49.859 --> 00:23:50.539
 goes right,

00:23:50.880 --> 00:23:52.000
 even our plans

00:23:52.000 --> 00:23:53.579
 are often thwarted.

00:23:54.380 --> 00:23:55.119
 But friends,

00:23:55.200 --> 00:23:55.839
 for God,

00:23:56.839 --> 00:23:59.519
 even when everything

00:23:59.519 --> 00:24:00.559
 seems to be going

00:24:00.559 --> 00:24:01.259
 wrong,

00:24:02.259 --> 00:24:02.980
 his kingdom

00:24:02.980 --> 00:24:03.799
 cannot fail.

00:24:03.799 --> 00:24:09.440
 God's

00:24:09.440 --> 00:24:09.799
 God

00:24:09.799 --> 00:24:10.539
 is

00:24:10.539 --> 00:24:10.859
 God.

00:24:10.859 --> 00:24:10.879
 He is

00:24:10.879 --> 00:24:14.960
 second,

00:24:15.220 --> 00:24:17.220
 this text

00:24:17.220 --> 00:24:17.879
 does not

00:24:17.879 --> 00:24:18.480
 give us

00:24:18.480 --> 00:24:19.539
 an excuse

00:24:19.539 --> 00:24:20.579
 to disobey

00:24:20.579 --> 00:24:20.980
 God.

00:24:22.099 --> 00:24:22.680
 Abner,

00:24:22.919 --> 00:24:23.339
 Joab,

00:24:23.680 --> 00:24:23.980
 David,

00:24:24.180 --> 00:24:25.359
 they were wrong

00:24:25.359 --> 00:24:26.200
 to do what they did.

00:24:26.619 --> 00:24:27.460
 They clearly

00:24:27.460 --> 00:24:28.579
 disobeyed God's

00:24:28.579 --> 00:24:29.319
 revealed will

00:24:29.319 --> 00:24:30.000
 in scripture,

00:24:30.139 --> 00:24:30.339
 right?

00:24:30.339 --> 00:24:31.039
 So we must

00:24:31.039 --> 00:24:31.779
 not think

00:24:31.779 --> 00:24:32.359
 that just

00:24:32.359 --> 00:24:32.779
 because,

00:24:32.899 --> 00:24:33.059
 well,

00:24:33.139 --> 00:24:33.500
 God's in

00:24:33.500 --> 00:24:33.919
 control,

00:24:34.099 --> 00:24:34.480
 that we

00:24:34.480 --> 00:24:34.839
 can just

00:24:34.839 --> 00:24:35.659
 do whatever

00:24:35.659 --> 00:24:37.000
 and disregard

00:24:37.000 --> 00:24:37.740
 God's commands.

00:24:37.859 --> 00:24:38.079
 No,

00:24:38.139 --> 00:24:39.019
 just the opposite.

00:24:39.379 --> 00:24:39.919
 We should

00:24:39.919 --> 00:24:40.679
 obey God.

00:24:40.759 --> 00:24:41.039
 We should

00:24:41.039 --> 00:24:41.939
 follow his

00:24:41.939 --> 00:24:42.279
 word in

00:24:42.279 --> 00:24:42.699
 scripture with

00:24:42.699 --> 00:24:43.179
 all the

00:24:43.179 --> 00:24:43.740
 strength that

00:24:43.740 --> 00:24:44.299
 he gives.

00:24:46.299 --> 00:24:46.939
 But,

00:24:47.480 --> 00:24:49.139
 this text

00:24:49.139 --> 00:24:50.000
 does mean

00:24:50.000 --> 00:24:52.180
 that we

00:24:52.180 --> 00:24:52.720
 should not

00:24:52.720 --> 00:24:53.440
 despair

00:24:53.440 --> 00:24:55.200
 over our

00:24:55.200 --> 00:24:56.039
 past mistakes

00:24:56.039 --> 00:24:56.359
 and our

00:24:56.359 --> 00:24:57.259
 past sins.

00:24:59.079 --> 00:24:59.720
 Friends,

00:24:59.839 --> 00:25:00.539
 Jesus died

00:25:00.539 --> 00:25:01.339
 on the cross

00:25:01.339 --> 00:25:02.299
 to forgive

00:25:02.299 --> 00:25:03.039
 the sins

00:25:03.039 --> 00:25:04.259
 of all

00:25:04.259 --> 00:25:05.140
 who repent

00:25:05.140 --> 00:25:05.759
 and believe.

00:25:07.259 --> 00:25:07.900
 The apostle

00:25:07.900 --> 00:25:08.740
 John will say,

00:25:08.920 --> 00:25:09.640
 if we confess

00:25:09.640 --> 00:25:10.599
 our sins,

00:25:11.019 --> 00:25:12.119
 he is faithful

00:25:12.119 --> 00:25:12.920
 and just

00:25:12.920 --> 00:25:14.180
 to forgive us

00:25:14.180 --> 00:25:14.779
 our sins

00:25:14.779 --> 00:25:15.960
 and to cleanse

00:25:15.960 --> 00:25:16.380
 us from

00:25:16.380 --> 00:25:17.180
 all

00:25:17.180 --> 00:25:18.259
 unrighteousness.

00:25:18.259 --> 00:25:21.000
 though you

00:25:21.000 --> 00:25:22.039
 may have

00:25:22.039 --> 00:25:22.400
 been as

00:25:22.400 --> 00:25:23.400
 power hungry

00:25:23.400 --> 00:25:24.720
 as Abner,

00:25:25.559 --> 00:25:26.279
 betraying

00:25:26.279 --> 00:25:27.039
 your friends

00:25:27.039 --> 00:25:27.440
 and just

00:25:27.440 --> 00:25:28.000
 looking out

00:25:28.000 --> 00:25:28.420
 for number

00:25:28.420 --> 00:25:28.799
 one,

00:25:30.019 --> 00:25:30.759
 though you

00:25:30.759 --> 00:25:31.099
 may have

00:25:31.099 --> 00:25:31.480
 been as

00:25:31.480 --> 00:25:31.879
 bitter

00:25:31.879 --> 00:25:33.039
 and angry

00:25:33.039 --> 00:25:34.279
 and murderous

00:25:34.279 --> 00:25:35.359
 as Joab,

00:25:36.740 --> 00:25:37.379
 though you

00:25:37.379 --> 00:25:37.980
 may have

00:25:37.980 --> 00:25:38.259
 been as

00:25:38.259 --> 00:25:39.539
 lust driven

00:25:39.539 --> 00:25:40.839
 as David,

00:25:41.879 --> 00:25:42.099
 friend,

00:25:42.160 --> 00:25:42.960
 there is no

00:25:42.960 --> 00:25:43.819
 sin in

00:25:43.819 --> 00:25:44.680
 your life

00:25:44.680 --> 00:25:46.019
 so great

00:25:46.019 --> 00:25:47.440
 that God

00:25:47.440 --> 00:25:47.900
 cannot

00:25:47.900 --> 00:25:48.480
 and does

00:25:48.480 --> 00:25:48.700
 not

00:25:48.700 --> 00:25:49.120
 forgive

00:25:49.120 --> 00:25:49.300
 it

00:25:49.300 --> 00:25:49.460
 through

00:25:49.460 --> 00:25:49.600
 the

00:25:49.600 --> 00:25:49.880
 cross

00:25:49.880 --> 00:25:50.060
 of

00:25:50.060 --> 00:25:50.500
 Christ.

00:25:53.040 --> 00:25:53.680
 And there

00:25:53.680 --> 00:25:54.019
 is no

00:25:54.019 --> 00:25:54.460
 sin so

00:25:54.460 --> 00:25:54.680
 great

00:25:54.680 --> 00:25:54.900
 in your

00:25:54.900 --> 00:25:55.180
 life

00:25:55.180 --> 00:25:55.519
 that God

00:25:55.519 --> 00:25:55.759
 cannot

00:25:55.759 --> 00:25:56.040
 bring

00:25:56.040 --> 00:25:56.240
 his

00:25:56.240 --> 00:25:56.640
 redemption

00:25:56.640 --> 00:25:57.040
 through

00:25:57.040 --> 00:25:57.340
 it

00:25:57.340 --> 00:25:58.360
 or in

00:25:58.360 --> 00:25:58.620
 spite

00:25:58.620 --> 00:25:59.019
 of it.

00:26:00.620 --> 00:26:01.580
 So do

00:26:01.580 --> 00:26:02.800
 follow

00:26:02.800 --> 00:26:03.240
 God's

00:26:03.240 --> 00:26:03.700
 commands.

00:26:04.000 --> 00:26:04.100
 They're

00:26:04.100 --> 00:26:04.340
 for your

00:26:04.340 --> 00:26:04.620
 good.

00:26:06.380 --> 00:26:07.180
 But don't

00:26:07.180 --> 00:26:07.700
 despair

00:26:07.700 --> 00:26:08.380
 over your

00:26:08.380 --> 00:26:08.660
 sin.

00:26:09.300 --> 00:26:09.600
 God's

00:26:09.600 --> 00:26:09.780
 kingdom

00:26:09.780 --> 00:26:10.360
 is bigger

00:26:10.360 --> 00:26:11.200
 and more

00:26:11.200 --> 00:26:11.700
 powerful

00:26:11.700 --> 00:26:12.560
 than your

00:26:12.560 --> 00:26:12.920
 sin

00:26:12.920 --> 00:26:13.280
 and your

00:26:13.280 --> 00:26:13.759
 failures.

00:26:15.640 --> 00:26:16.160
 Third

00:26:16.160 --> 00:26:16.740
 and last,

00:26:16.740 --> 00:26:18.400
 as we

00:26:18.400 --> 00:26:19.059
 see human

00:26:19.059 --> 00:26:19.599
 corruption,

00:26:19.779 --> 00:26:20.099
 not just

00:26:20.099 --> 00:26:20.319
 in our

00:26:20.319 --> 00:26:20.500
 own

00:26:20.500 --> 00:26:20.839
 hearts,

00:26:21.019 --> 00:26:21.460
 but also

00:26:21.460 --> 00:26:21.700
 in the

00:26:21.700 --> 00:26:21.880
 world

00:26:21.880 --> 00:26:22.279
 around

00:26:22.279 --> 00:26:22.720
 us.

00:26:23.819 --> 00:26:24.299
 We ought

00:26:24.299 --> 00:26:24.900
 to apply

00:26:24.900 --> 00:26:25.779
 this text

00:26:25.779 --> 00:26:27.140
 by trusting

00:26:27.140 --> 00:26:28.240
 that God's

00:26:28.240 --> 00:26:28.920
 power and

00:26:28.920 --> 00:26:29.220
 God's

00:26:29.220 --> 00:26:29.680
 righteousness

00:26:29.680 --> 00:26:30.359
 will

00:26:30.359 --> 00:26:30.980
 ultimately

00:26:30.980 --> 00:26:31.599
 prevail

00:26:31.599 --> 00:26:32.079
 in our

00:26:32.079 --> 00:26:32.400
 fallen

00:26:32.400 --> 00:26:32.880
 world.

00:26:34.240 --> 00:26:34.660
 Each day

00:26:34.660 --> 00:26:35.099
 the newspapers

00:26:35.099 --> 00:26:35.640
 carry more

00:26:35.640 --> 00:26:35.859
 and more

00:26:35.859 --> 00:26:36.440
 stories about

00:26:36.440 --> 00:26:37.240
 refugees fleeing

00:26:37.240 --> 00:26:37.579
 for their

00:26:37.579 --> 00:26:38.059
 lives,

00:26:38.579 --> 00:26:39.000
 murders and

00:26:39.000 --> 00:26:39.559
 wars breaking

00:26:39.559 --> 00:26:39.880
 out,

00:26:40.019 --> 00:26:40.380
 hunger and

00:26:40.380 --> 00:26:40.700
 oppression

00:26:40.700 --> 00:26:41.519
 persisting,

00:26:41.960 --> 00:26:42.660
 race relations

00:26:42.660 --> 00:26:43.579
 deteriorating,

00:26:43.579 --> 00:26:43.859
 but in

00:26:43.859 --> 00:26:44.500
 the face

00:26:44.500 --> 00:26:45.299
 of all

00:26:45.299 --> 00:26:45.599
 this

00:26:45.599 --> 00:26:46.199
 brokenness,

00:26:46.359 --> 00:26:46.699
 friends,

00:26:47.019 --> 00:26:47.559
 let us

00:26:47.559 --> 00:26:47.980
 who know

00:26:47.980 --> 00:26:48.399
 the risen

00:26:48.399 --> 00:26:49.480
 Christ not

00:26:49.480 --> 00:26:50.240
 lose heart.

00:26:50.919 --> 00:26:51.399
 God's

00:26:51.399 --> 00:26:52.259
 kingdom will

00:26:52.259 --> 00:26:52.799
 ultimately

00:26:52.799 --> 00:26:54.339
 overcome all

00:26:54.339 --> 00:26:55.159
 human corruption.

00:26:57.240 --> 00:26:57.939
 And that

00:26:57.939 --> 00:26:58.500
 truth doesn't

00:26:58.500 --> 00:26:58.879
 make us

00:26:58.879 --> 00:26:59.759
 passive.

00:27:00.439 --> 00:27:00.740
 No,

00:27:00.819 --> 00:27:01.179
 just the

00:27:01.179 --> 00:27:01.579
 opposite.

00:27:01.740 --> 00:27:02.079
 It gives

00:27:02.079 --> 00:27:03.000
 us encouragement,

00:27:03.419 --> 00:27:03.740
 it gives

00:27:03.740 --> 00:27:04.519
 us courage,

00:27:04.720 --> 00:27:05.199
 and it gives

00:27:05.199 --> 00:27:05.879
 us hope

00:27:05.879 --> 00:27:07.019
 to pray

00:27:07.019 --> 00:27:08.119
 for God's

00:27:08.119 --> 00:27:08.579
 kingdom to

00:27:08.579 --> 00:27:08.980
 come and

00:27:08.980 --> 00:27:09.399
 God's will

00:27:09.399 --> 00:27:09.839
 to be done

00:27:09.839 --> 00:27:10.159
 on earth

00:27:10.159 --> 00:27:10.480
 as it is

00:27:10.480 --> 00:27:10.799
 in heaven.

00:27:10.799 --> 00:27:11.299
 And it

00:27:11.299 --> 00:27:11.619
 gives us

00:27:11.619 --> 00:27:12.000
 the courage

00:27:12.000 --> 00:27:12.720
 to speak

00:27:12.720 --> 00:27:13.319
 and to

00:27:13.319 --> 00:27:14.139
 act as

00:27:14.139 --> 00:27:14.480
 God's

00:27:14.480 --> 00:27:15.379
 agents of

00:27:15.379 --> 00:27:15.899
 justice and

00:27:15.899 --> 00:27:16.399
 healing right

00:27:16.399 --> 00:27:16.799
 now.

00:27:18.319 --> 00:27:19.039
 Knowing that

00:27:19.039 --> 00:27:19.720
 human corruption

00:27:19.720 --> 00:27:20.399
 cannot thwart

00:27:20.399 --> 00:27:20.980
 God's kingdom

00:27:20.980 --> 00:27:21.980
 gives us the

00:27:21.980 --> 00:27:22.419
 deep courage

00:27:22.419 --> 00:27:23.339
 that we need

00:27:23.339 --> 00:27:24.419
 to act.

00:27:26.759 --> 00:27:27.379
 And of

00:27:27.379 --> 00:27:27.680
 course in

00:27:27.680 --> 00:27:28.240
 doing so we

00:27:28.240 --> 00:27:28.819
 act humbly,

00:27:28.940 --> 00:27:29.259
 don't we?

00:27:30.399 --> 00:27:31.039
 Because we

00:27:31.039 --> 00:27:31.680
 know that we

00:27:31.680 --> 00:27:32.220
 too are in

00:27:32.220 --> 00:27:32.480
 need of

00:27:32.480 --> 00:27:32.819
 grace.

00:27:34.379 --> 00:27:35.059
 We too

00:27:35.059 --> 00:27:35.639
 need God's

00:27:35.639 --> 00:27:36.039
 kingdom to

00:27:36.039 --> 00:27:36.720
 overcome our

00:27:36.720 --> 00:27:37.720
 weakness and

00:27:37.720 --> 00:27:38.419
 our failure.

00:27:39.259 --> 00:27:40.059
 We too

00:27:40.059 --> 00:27:40.720
 need the

00:27:40.720 --> 00:27:41.259
 Lord Jesus

00:27:41.259 --> 00:27:41.759
 and his

00:27:41.759 --> 00:27:42.660
 spirit to

00:27:42.660 --> 00:27:43.240
 cover our

00:27:43.240 --> 00:27:44.380
 sins and

00:27:44.380 --> 00:27:44.779
 to remake

00:27:44.779 --> 00:27:45.620
 us in

00:27:45.620 --> 00:27:46.420
 his image.

00:27:48.539 --> 00:27:48.980
 Friends,

00:27:49.000 --> 00:27:49.360
 these are the

00:27:49.360 --> 00:27:49.860
 things that we

00:27:49.860 --> 00:27:50.160
 need.

00:27:50.279 --> 00:27:51.620
 We need to

00:27:51.620 --> 00:27:52.200
 know this.

00:27:53.420 --> 00:27:53.900
 And so we

00:27:53.900 --> 00:27:54.319
 can go out

00:27:54.319 --> 00:27:54.539
 into the

00:27:54.539 --> 00:27:55.240
 world humbly

00:27:55.240 --> 00:27:56.240
 and boldly

00:27:56.240 --> 00:27:58.360
 to be bearers

00:27:58.360 --> 00:27:58.980
 of peace and

00:27:58.980 --> 00:27:59.460
 bearers of

00:27:59.460 --> 00:27:59.940
 grace and

00:27:59.940 --> 00:28:00.420
 bearers of

00:28:00.420 --> 00:28:00.880
 justice.

00:28:02.700 --> 00:28:03.140
 Confident

00:28:03.140 --> 00:28:04.759
 that our

00:28:04.759 --> 00:28:05.720
 human corruption

00:28:05.720 --> 00:28:07.460
 cannot thwart

00:28:07.460 --> 00:28:08.039
 the kingdom of

00:28:08.039 --> 00:28:08.319
 God.

00:28:08.319 --> 00:28:08.859
 God,

00:28:08.859 --> 00:28:11.079
 let's

00:28:11.079 --> 00:28:11.319
 pray.

00:28:16.319 --> 00:28:17.139
 Lord Jesus,

00:28:17.339 --> 00:28:18.319
 thank you that

00:28:18.319 --> 00:28:18.759
 through your

00:28:18.759 --> 00:28:19.480
 cross and

00:28:19.480 --> 00:28:19.879
 through your

00:28:19.879 --> 00:28:20.399
 resurrection,

00:28:20.899 --> 00:28:22.000
 you have

00:28:22.000 --> 00:28:22.899
 forgiven sins

00:28:22.899 --> 00:28:23.700
 and you have

00:28:23.700 --> 00:28:24.460
 granted new

00:28:24.460 --> 00:28:25.919
 life to all

00:28:25.919 --> 00:28:26.639
 who come in

00:28:26.639 --> 00:28:27.460
 humble faith to

00:28:27.460 --> 00:28:27.720
 you.

00:28:28.639 --> 00:28:28.960
 Lord,

00:28:29.059 --> 00:28:29.559
 thank you that

00:28:29.559 --> 00:28:30.119
 none of the

00:28:30.119 --> 00:28:30.599
 sins of our

00:28:30.599 --> 00:28:31.939
 past can

00:28:31.939 --> 00:28:32.779
 destroy your

00:28:32.779 --> 00:28:33.559
 saving purposes.

00:28:34.500 --> 00:28:34.779
 God,

00:28:34.819 --> 00:28:35.279
 and that you

00:28:35.279 --> 00:28:35.940
 will work

00:28:35.940 --> 00:28:37.139
 all things

00:28:37.139 --> 00:28:39.559
 out according

00:28:39.559 --> 00:28:39.879
 to your

00:28:39.879 --> 00:28:40.639
 redemptive plan

00:28:40.639 --> 00:28:41.200
 in the end.

00:28:41.920 --> 00:28:42.119
 Lord,

00:28:42.160 --> 00:28:42.879
 we confess that

00:28:42.879 --> 00:28:43.440
 in the middle

00:28:43.440 --> 00:28:44.480
 of the story

00:28:44.480 --> 00:28:45.299
 of your

00:28:45.299 --> 00:28:46.359
 redemptive work,

00:28:46.420 --> 00:28:47.139
 we don't often

00:28:47.139 --> 00:28:47.920
 see how the

00:28:47.920 --> 00:28:49.059
 pieces connect.

00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:50.619
 God,

00:28:50.660 --> 00:28:51.019
 as we see

00:28:51.019 --> 00:28:51.879
 heartbreak and

00:28:51.879 --> 00:28:52.440
 as we see

00:28:52.440 --> 00:28:52.859
 pain,

00:28:53.259 --> 00:28:54.079
 we confess

00:28:54.079 --> 00:28:55.980
 that we doubt

00:28:55.980 --> 00:28:56.460
 and we wonder

00:28:56.460 --> 00:28:57.680
 sometimes what's

00:28:57.680 --> 00:28:58.279
 going on in the

00:28:58.279 --> 00:28:58.619
 world.

00:28:59.660 --> 00:29:00.000
 And Lord,

00:29:00.039 --> 00:29:00.579
 we cry out,

00:29:00.759 --> 00:29:01.180
 how long?

00:29:02.920 --> 00:29:03.460
 But oh Lord,

00:29:03.460 --> 00:29:04.100
 help us to

00:29:04.100 --> 00:29:07.059
 see that just

00:29:07.059 --> 00:29:07.440
 as you took

00:29:07.440 --> 00:29:08.279
 the mess of

00:29:08.279 --> 00:29:09.160
 this passage

00:29:09.160 --> 00:29:10.660
 and were able

00:29:10.660 --> 00:29:11.319
 to bring through

00:29:11.319 --> 00:29:12.480
 it just a spark

00:29:12.480 --> 00:29:13.380
 of your good,

00:29:15.420 --> 00:29:15.819
 God,

00:29:15.880 --> 00:29:16.319
 one day you

00:29:16.319 --> 00:29:16.819
 will take the

00:29:16.819 --> 00:29:17.420
 mess of the

00:29:17.420 --> 00:29:18.860
 world and you

00:29:18.860 --> 00:29:19.620
 will flood it

00:29:19.620 --> 00:29:20.360
 with your glory

00:29:20.360 --> 00:29:23.559
 and you will

00:29:23.559 --> 00:29:24.180
 bring healing

00:29:24.180 --> 00:29:25.579
 and restoration

00:29:25.579 --> 00:29:26.420
 and peace.

00:29:27.840 --> 00:29:28.259
 God,

00:29:28.319 --> 00:29:28.740
 we long for

00:29:28.740 --> 00:29:29.160
 that day.

00:29:29.519 --> 00:29:30.019
 We look forward

00:29:30.019 --> 00:29:30.460
 to it.

00:29:31.579 --> 00:29:32.120
 In Jesus'

00:29:32.340 --> 00:29:32.500
 name,

00:29:32.779 --> 00:29:32.980
 amen.

00:29:33.460 --> 00:29:35.039
 I want to

00:29:35.039 --> 00:29:35.740
 mine.

00:29:36.079 --> 00:29:37.279
 I want to

00:29:37.279 --> 00:29:37.460
 see you

00:29:37.460 --> 00:29:50.279
 in Jesus'

00:29:50.279 --> 00:29:50.319
 name,

00:29:50.579 --> 00:29:51.440
 amen.

00:29:51.620 --> 00:29:52.200
 Now,

00:29:52.220 --> 00:29:53.039
 I want to

00:29:53.039 --> 00:29:53.960
 let you

00:29:53.960 --> 00:29:54.559
 call me

00:29:54.559 --> 00:29:54.620
 an

00:29:54.720 --> 00:29:55.640
 name,

00:29:55.640 --> 00:29:56.559
 Moojna,

00:29:56.680 --> 00:29:57.059
 Wayne.

00:29:57.120 --> 00:29:57.559
 I lover today

00:29:57.559 --> 00:29:58.480
 he wanted

00:29:58.480 --> 00:29:59.700
 to come

00:29:59.700 --> 00:30:00.360
 to leave

00:30:00.360 --> 00:30:00.640
 the

00:30:00.640 --> 00:30:01.120
 tiger

00:30:01.120 --> 00:30:01.400
 born

00:30:01.400 --> 00:30:02.079
 to keep

00:30:02.079 --> 00:30:02.460
 there