WEBVTT 00:00:00.720 --> 00:00:05.259 Vaughan, come and read to us from 2 Samuel, chapter 2, verses 1 to 11. 00:00:05.980 --> 00:00:09.560 In the course of time, David inquired of the Lord, 00:00:10.080 --> 00:00:13.060 Shall I go up to one of the towns of Judah? he asked. 00:00:13.540 --> 00:00:15.140 The Lord said, Go up. 00:00:16.019 --> 00:00:18.199 David asked, Where shall I go? 00:00:19.219 --> 00:00:20.820 To Hebron, the Lord answered. 00:00:22.000 --> 00:00:25.339 So David went up there with his two wives, 00:00:25.339 --> 00:00:32.079 Ahinoam of Jezreel, and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 00:00:33.519 --> 00:00:36.299 David also took the men who were with him, 00:00:36.820 --> 00:00:41.539 each with his family, and they settled in Hebron and its towns. 00:00:43.760 --> 00:00:46.260 Then the men of Judah came to Hebron, 00:00:46.700 --> 00:00:50.280 and there they anointed David king over the tribe of Judah. 00:00:50.280 --> 00:00:58.260 When David was told that it was the men from Jabesh Gilead who had buried Saul, 00:00:58.539 --> 00:01:01.200 he sent messengers to them to say to them, 00:01:02.020 --> 00:01:07.520 The Lord bless you for showing the kindness to Saul, your master, by burying him. 00:01:08.319 --> 00:01:11.640 May the Lord now show you kindness and faithfulness, 00:01:12.219 --> 00:01:17.340 and I too will show you the same favor because you have done this. 00:01:17.340 --> 00:01:24.340 Now then, be strong and brave, for Saul, your master, is dead, 00:01:24.939 --> 00:01:28.140 and the people of Judah have anointed me king over them. 00:01:30.180 --> 00:01:35.420 Meanwhile, Abner, son of Ner, the commander of Saul's army, 00:01:35.740 --> 00:01:42.260 had taken Ish-bosheth, son of Saul, and brought him over to Manheim. 00:01:42.260 --> 00:01:51.700 He made him king over Gilead, Ashuri, and Jezreel, 00:01:52.100 --> 00:01:55.840 and also over Ephraim, Benjamin, and all Israel. 00:01:57.719 --> 00:02:04.160 Ish-bosheth, son of Saul, was 40 years old when he became king over Israel, 00:02:04.520 --> 00:02:06.680 and he reigned two years. 00:02:07.540 --> 00:02:11.300 The tribe of Judah, however, remained loyal to David. 00:02:12.259 --> 00:02:18.879 The length of time David was king in Hebron over Judah was seven years and six months. 00:02:19.840 --> 00:02:20.280 Amen. 00:02:20.280 --> 00:02:26.580 Thank you so much, Yvonne. 00:02:27.520 --> 00:02:32.240 It's very kind of people to read when they know that they're going to come across words 00:02:32.240 --> 00:02:35.300 which are tricky to pronounce, so we're very grateful to you. 00:02:35.360 --> 00:02:36.620 Thank you, Yvonne. 00:02:37.599 --> 00:02:42.120 Let me just try and take a few seconds just to set the scene before I start this morning, 00:02:42.219 --> 00:02:45.379 because I know some of you are coming cold to the book of 2 Samuel, 00:02:45.379 --> 00:02:47.699 and you might not know exactly where we are. 00:02:48.780 --> 00:02:53.019 David has been hiding in the city of Ziklag. 00:02:54.060 --> 00:02:57.180 Ziklag is down in the far south of the country, 00:02:57.180 --> 00:03:00.979 and he is hiding from Saul, who has been trying to kill him. 00:03:01.780 --> 00:03:04.379 But now in a battle with the Philistines, 00:03:04.680 --> 00:03:07.879 Saul is dead, and Jonathan, his son, is dead. 00:03:07.879 --> 00:03:11.500 And David, who had been unable to join in the battle, 00:03:11.900 --> 00:03:16.759 is back in Ziklag and is now waiting to work out what to do. 00:03:17.560 --> 00:03:23.479 An Amalekite has turned up in Ziklag with Saul's crown and his armlet from his arm. 00:03:24.439 --> 00:03:28.620 And so David here, as we find him in the book of 2 Samuel, chapter 2 and verse 1, 00:03:28.699 --> 00:03:31.960 is there waiting to work out what it is to do. 00:03:31.960 --> 00:03:35.960 Now, when we left David last week, 00:03:36.060 --> 00:03:39.960 the Amalekite had just brought to him Saul's crown and his armlet. 00:03:40.560 --> 00:03:45.360 And even before that, we already knew that David was going to become the king. 00:03:45.740 --> 00:03:47.800 Way back in 1 Samuel, chapter 16, 00:03:48.319 --> 00:03:51.920 David had been anointed as the king-in-waiting by the prophet Samuel. 00:03:52.760 --> 00:03:56.400 And so the big question for us as we come to the beginning of chapter 2, 00:03:56.400 --> 00:04:01.680 as David is now, you know, he has the crown, Saul the king is dead. 00:04:01.680 --> 00:04:04.460 The big question for you and I as we read this chapter is, 00:04:04.920 --> 00:04:06.480 what is David going to do? 00:04:07.040 --> 00:04:08.060 What is David going to do? 00:04:08.319 --> 00:04:11.420 How will David start off his rule as king? 00:04:11.740 --> 00:04:14.360 What kind of kingdom will David build? 00:04:14.659 --> 00:04:16.519 What kind of ruler will he be? 00:04:17.340 --> 00:04:20.379 You know, will he be like Saul who basically bumbled his way along, 00:04:20.819 --> 00:04:23.620 playing rather light regard for God's law and his promises? 00:04:24.160 --> 00:04:25.879 Or will David be different to that? 00:04:25.980 --> 00:04:29.800 Will David obey God and his law and his commands and his promises? 00:04:29.800 --> 00:04:33.800 And you look down at verse 1 and like we saw a moment ago with the children, 00:04:33.900 --> 00:04:37.540 you'll notice that the very first thing that David does is he inquires of the Lord. 00:04:38.420 --> 00:04:39.780 Lord, give me wisdom. 00:04:40.220 --> 00:04:42.460 Give me direction, asks David. 00:04:43.100 --> 00:04:45.500 And you and I as we read that, we should really, 00:04:45.620 --> 00:04:47.580 if we're invested in the story, which we should be, 00:04:47.860 --> 00:04:49.699 we should breathe a sigh of relief. 00:04:50.500 --> 00:04:51.439 Thank goodness. 00:04:52.699 --> 00:04:55.360 Here is a king who is going to listen to God. 00:04:56.400 --> 00:04:57.280 So you think about it like this. 00:04:57.279 --> 00:05:03.339 Imagine for a moment that you have been designing a house to build for yourself to live in. 00:05:04.019 --> 00:05:06.079 I know some of us dream of those kind of things, don't we? 00:05:06.539 --> 00:05:08.299 But imagine that you have, you know, 00:05:08.339 --> 00:05:11.739 you've drawn up these plans of this house that you want to live in. 00:05:12.139 --> 00:05:13.919 You know exactly where the walls are going to be. 00:05:14.319 --> 00:05:16.059 You know where the bathroom is going to be. 00:05:16.159 --> 00:05:17.579 You know where the kitchen is going to be. 00:05:18.039 --> 00:05:19.879 You know where your, you know, your cinema room, 00:05:19.959 --> 00:05:20.819 maybe you can have one of those. 00:05:21.000 --> 00:05:21.899 You know, you can dream, can't you? 00:05:22.259 --> 00:05:23.919 You know, that's where that's going to be. 00:05:23.920 --> 00:05:26.819 And today is day one of the builder turning up. 00:05:27.759 --> 00:05:32.780 What do you want the builder to do as he turns up onto your building site to build the house that you planned? 00:05:33.080 --> 00:05:34.620 Well, let me tell you what you don't want him to do. 00:05:35.080 --> 00:05:37.980 You don't want him to leave the plan in his van 00:05:37.980 --> 00:05:40.860 and just come starting digging holes wherever he wants to 00:05:40.860 --> 00:05:42.680 and putting up walls wherever he wants to 00:05:42.680 --> 00:05:45.720 and setting out bathrooms wherever he feels like he'd like to. 00:05:45.840 --> 00:05:47.180 You don't want him to do that, do you? 00:05:47.180 --> 00:05:52.800 No, because if the builder is going to build your house, he must follow your plan. 00:05:53.100 --> 00:05:55.560 Otherwise, it's not your house he's building. 00:05:55.699 --> 00:05:57.860 It's his house he's building, right? 00:05:58.160 --> 00:06:00.000 And that's exactly what's going on here. 00:06:00.220 --> 00:06:01.240 God isn't building a house. 00:06:01.319 --> 00:06:04.160 He's building a kingdom, a kingdom that he has designed 00:06:04.160 --> 00:06:08.639 and he has been the architect of from before the foundation of the world, 00:06:08.699 --> 00:06:11.660 a place where he's going to be loved and worshipped, 00:06:11.660 --> 00:06:14.820 a place where people will know him and know what he's like, 00:06:14.860 --> 00:06:18.439 a place of peace and justice where right is right, is wrong, is wrong 00:06:18.439 --> 00:06:20.900 and people trust him and worship him. 00:06:22.560 --> 00:06:26.200 And so, if God is going to build a kingdom like that, 00:06:26.320 --> 00:06:30.200 well, just like a builder needs to follow your plan in order to build your house, 00:06:30.200 --> 00:06:33.160 so the king of God's people, God's king, 00:06:33.560 --> 00:06:37.440 must build God's kingdom by following God's plan. 00:06:37.860 --> 00:06:40.500 And the great news in our story here as we start out 00:06:40.500 --> 00:06:42.240 is that's exactly what you find David doing. 00:06:43.540 --> 00:06:46.019 He starts off not by just digging a hole wherever he wants it 00:06:46.019 --> 00:06:47.660 and putting up a wall wherever he fancies. 00:06:48.240 --> 00:06:50.160 Instead, he inquires of the Lord. 00:06:51.139 --> 00:06:53.959 And to make this point super clear that God's king must build God's kingdom 00:06:53.959 --> 00:06:57.620 by following God's plan, the story that we're told in 2 Samuel 2 00:06:57.620 --> 00:07:01.259 contrasts David with a guy called Abner. 00:07:01.959 --> 00:07:03.500 Abner in verses 8 to 11. 00:07:04.180 --> 00:07:07.740 And the bit in between verses 1 to 4 and then 8 to 11 00:07:07.740 --> 00:07:10.300 shows us just why this is so important. 00:07:10.500 --> 00:07:13.199 So let's start with this contrast between David and Abner. 00:07:14.100 --> 00:07:19.000 In verse 1, David asks God whether he should go up to one of the cities of Judah. 00:07:19.699 --> 00:07:21.720 So David is down south in Ziklag, 00:07:21.879 --> 00:07:25.600 but he knows that he can't rule from a Philistine city. 00:07:26.060 --> 00:07:27.899 And because he's from the tribe of Judah, 00:07:28.100 --> 00:07:31.639 he asks whether he should go back to his tribal homelands to rule from there. 00:07:31.699 --> 00:07:34.339 And God tells him to go up, 00:07:35.079 --> 00:07:37.000 specifically to go up to Hebron. 00:07:37.000 --> 00:07:37.839 And look at verse 1. 00:07:38.379 --> 00:07:40.139 In the course of time, David inquired of the Lord, 00:07:40.240 --> 00:07:42.240 shall I go up to one of the towns of Judah? 00:07:42.279 --> 00:07:42.600 He asked. 00:07:42.660 --> 00:07:44.139 The Lord said, go up. 00:07:44.259 --> 00:07:45.180 Where shall I go? 00:07:45.500 --> 00:07:46.759 David asked to Hebron. 00:07:46.819 --> 00:07:47.560 The Lord answered. 00:07:48.220 --> 00:07:50.040 And so that's exactly what David does. 00:07:50.779 --> 00:07:54.540 And just to make sure that you understand that David is obeying properly, 00:07:55.019 --> 00:07:57.939 you're told that he takes everything he has from Ziklag. 00:07:57.939 --> 00:08:00.860 Verse 2, David went up there with his two wives, 00:08:01.100 --> 00:08:03.860 Anahim of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 00:08:04.259 --> 00:08:07.000 And he also took the men who were with him, 00:08:07.120 --> 00:08:09.819 each with his family, and they settled in Hebron and its towns. 00:08:10.500 --> 00:08:12.220 In other words, David, if you like, 00:08:12.259 --> 00:08:14.819 is drawing a line under the Ziklag days. 00:08:15.060 --> 00:08:16.199 Those days are gone. 00:08:16.779 --> 00:08:19.040 I am moving away from there, he says. 00:08:19.720 --> 00:08:21.500 And there in Hebron they make him king. 00:08:21.600 --> 00:08:24.319 Verse 4, then the men of Judah came to Hebron, 00:08:24.319 --> 00:08:27.279 and there they anointed David king over the tribe of Judah. 00:08:28.839 --> 00:08:31.819 Now while that's all going on in Ziklag and then in Hebron, 00:08:31.980 --> 00:08:34.740 if you look down at verse 8, you'll find Abner. 00:08:35.360 --> 00:08:37.500 Now Abner, who you may not have heard of before, 00:08:37.580 --> 00:08:40.299 is the commander of Saul's army. 00:08:40.980 --> 00:08:43.740 And he takes Ish-bosheth, Saul's remaining son, 00:08:43.799 --> 00:08:47.819 and makes him king, king over the remaining tribes. 00:08:48.299 --> 00:08:49.360 But here's the thing to notice. 00:08:49.460 --> 00:08:52.939 Instead of making him king in Saul's hometown of Gibeah, 00:08:52.940 --> 00:08:57.220 he takes him all the way up to Mahanahim to make him king there. 00:08:58.320 --> 00:09:02.480 It's almost as if he's running away to a safe place before he makes him king. 00:09:03.520 --> 00:09:07.920 Now the contrast between David and Abner becomes really clear in the words that are used here. 00:09:08.020 --> 00:09:10.580 So David inquires of God with words like, 00:09:11.080 --> 00:09:13.020 shall I, which he repeats twice. 00:09:13.280 --> 00:09:16.940 While in verse 8, we're told that Abner takes Ish-bosheth, 00:09:17.640 --> 00:09:20.280 and verse 9, makes him king. 00:09:20.279 --> 00:09:24.000 And while David, we're told, goes up, up, up, 00:09:24.120 --> 00:09:27.799 it's a word actually in the Hebrew which is repeated, I think, five times in verses 1 to 3. 00:09:27.899 --> 00:09:31.299 The NIV doesn't translate all of them because it just sounds messy in the English. 00:09:31.759 --> 00:09:33.919 While David goes up, up, up, up, up, 00:09:34.240 --> 00:09:37.500 Abner instead goes over to Mahanahim in verse 8. 00:09:38.299 --> 00:09:42.480 In other words, David here is moving up to Hebron in obedience to God, 00:09:42.480 --> 00:09:47.420 while Abner is kind of moving over, out the way, off to the side, 00:09:47.580 --> 00:09:50.639 to try and accomplish his own plan and make his own king. 00:09:52.039 --> 00:09:52.920 And why is it? 00:09:53.200 --> 00:09:56.700 Well, it's because God's king must build God's kingdom by following God's plan, 00:09:56.860 --> 00:09:58.279 and David is God's king, 00:09:58.440 --> 00:10:04.720 and Abner and Ish-bosheth is not. 00:10:05.440 --> 00:10:06.340 That's quite a tongue twister. 00:10:06.340 --> 00:10:12.300 Now, the significance of all this is there in those verses right in the middle. 00:10:12.920 --> 00:10:14.580 So between verse 4 and verse 8, 00:10:14.639 --> 00:10:19.139 you have this account of David going to the people of Jabesh-gilead. 00:10:20.440 --> 00:10:22.840 Now, David, who is a wise king, God's king, 00:10:22.960 --> 00:10:24.680 speaks to the people of Jabesh-gilead. 00:10:25.060 --> 00:10:26.379 It's right up in the north, 00:10:26.519 --> 00:10:29.720 right next to where Abner has made Ish-bosheth king. 00:10:30.060 --> 00:10:32.580 It's the purple arrow on our map. 00:10:32.580 --> 00:10:36.100 Meaning this is now well outside of David's territory. 00:10:36.480 --> 00:10:37.920 Okay, this is really close to Abner. 00:10:38.320 --> 00:10:40.759 But still David sends messengers to them 00:10:40.759 --> 00:10:42.920 because the people of Jabesh-gilead 00:10:42.920 --> 00:10:45.379 are the people who rescued Saul's body 00:10:45.379 --> 00:10:48.960 after it had been taken from Mount Gilboa by the Philistines. 00:10:49.740 --> 00:10:53.320 So Saul, you remember, was killed by the Philistine army. 00:10:54.100 --> 00:10:56.440 And so they took his body and put it on display. 00:10:56.940 --> 00:11:01.259 And the people of Jabesh-gilead went and rescued Saul's body and buried it. 00:11:01.259 --> 00:11:03.519 And David wants to thank them for their dedication. 00:11:03.679 --> 00:11:04.399 So listen to what he says. 00:11:04.460 --> 00:11:05.519 Look down at verse 5. 00:11:06.080 --> 00:11:07.439 He sent messengers to them to say, 00:11:07.939 --> 00:11:12.860 The Lord bless you for showing this kindness to Saul, your master, by burying him. 00:11:13.720 --> 00:11:16.539 May the Lord now show you kindness and faithfulness. 00:11:16.860 --> 00:11:20.399 And I too will show you the same favour because you have done this. 00:11:20.659 --> 00:11:24.000 Now then, be strong and brave, for Saul, your master, is dead. 00:11:24.379 --> 00:11:28.240 And the people of Judah have anointed me king over them. 00:11:28.899 --> 00:11:31.039 Now just think really carefully about what's happening here. 00:11:31.779 --> 00:11:36.620 Even though Jabesh-gilead is right next to where Abner has made Ish-bosheth king, 00:11:37.059 --> 00:11:38.159 making a king of his own, 00:11:38.480 --> 00:11:42.039 still David is reaching out there and thanking them 00:11:42.039 --> 00:11:46.200 and asking that the Lord might show them kindness and faithfulness. 00:11:47.240 --> 00:11:48.840 Now at first reading you might just think, 00:11:49.159 --> 00:11:50.659 that doesn't sound like very much. 00:11:51.179 --> 00:11:53.879 That just sounds like David is writing some kind of thank you letter 00:11:53.879 --> 00:11:54.899 or something like that. 00:11:54.899 --> 00:12:00.419 But actually what's going on here is the words kindness and faithfulness 00:12:00.419 --> 00:12:04.679 are important Bible words for covenant keeping. 00:12:04.679 --> 00:12:10.479 Sounds like someone else's, 00:12:10.479 --> 00:12:15.219 someone's Bible is reading itself. 00:12:16.279 --> 00:12:18.039 Does anyone know whose Bible that is? 00:12:19.779 --> 00:12:20.259 Jeff! 00:12:20.779 --> 00:12:21.259 Sorry. 00:12:22.359 --> 00:12:25.859 I was like, wow, I can hear God's word coming from somewhere in the ether. 00:12:25.860 --> 00:12:30.379 But it's just, it's just Jeff's phone. 00:12:30.379 --> 00:12:39.620 Okay, come back to the passage kindness and faithfulness. 00:12:40.100 --> 00:12:41.980 Kindness is the Hebrew word heset. 00:12:42.820 --> 00:12:45.419 Faithfulness is combined with it. 00:12:45.419 --> 00:12:48.339 It means covenant keeping, promise keeping. 00:12:49.039 --> 00:12:52.559 The loyal and loving actions of someone who has made a commitment to someone else. 00:12:53.039 --> 00:12:55.639 And David's point to the people of Jabesh Gilead is, 00:12:56.079 --> 00:13:01.019 is God is a promise making, promise keeping God. 00:13:01.579 --> 00:13:06.039 A God who is full of hesed, kindness and faithfulness to his people. 00:13:06.779 --> 00:13:08.219 And all the way through the Old Testament, 00:13:08.379 --> 00:13:10.839 God has revealed himself to be this kind of God. 00:13:11.139 --> 00:13:14.500 A God who makes promises and keeps them in kindness 00:13:14.500 --> 00:13:16.139 and faithfulness. 00:13:17.139 --> 00:13:21.360 God said to Moses that he was abounding in kindness and faithfulness. 00:13:21.480 --> 00:13:24.159 A keeper of kindness and faithfulness. 00:13:24.860 --> 00:13:27.620 In other words, God's promises in the scripture work out 00:13:27.620 --> 00:13:32.440 in lots and lots and lots of kindness and faithfulness. 00:13:33.259 --> 00:13:35.299 And how are the people of Jabesh Gilead 00:13:35.299 --> 00:13:38.879 going to now experience the kindness and faithfulness of God? 00:13:39.139 --> 00:13:40.360 Well, look at verse six. 00:13:40.620 --> 00:13:41.519 And David says, 00:13:41.519 --> 00:13:47.120 And I too will show you the same favor because you have done this. 00:13:47.840 --> 00:13:49.899 In a very practical sense here, 00:13:50.199 --> 00:13:54.720 the people of Jabesh Gilead are being invited to experience God's hesed, 00:13:54.799 --> 00:13:58.579 his kindness and faithfulness through David. 00:13:59.340 --> 00:14:01.899 David is going to be the conduit, if you like, 00:14:02.000 --> 00:14:07.759 the way that hesed, kindness and faithfulness come to the people of Jabesh Gilead. 00:14:07.759 --> 00:14:11.700 If you want to be a part of what God is doing, he says, 00:14:12.039 --> 00:14:13.120 come to me. 00:14:13.419 --> 00:14:16.879 I am the new king, the one that's been installed in Judah. 00:14:17.159 --> 00:14:20.759 And I will be the one who will show you kindness and faithfulness. 00:14:21.460 --> 00:14:23.340 It will come through me. 00:14:23.840 --> 00:14:27.379 God's love will come to you through me, says David. 00:14:28.500 --> 00:14:31.720 Because of that, the people of Jabesh Gilead should be strong and valiant 00:14:31.720 --> 00:14:35.340 and know that God will keep his promise through David the king. 00:14:35.340 --> 00:14:39.720 Now, we're going to find out in weeks to come how more that works out. 00:14:39.780 --> 00:14:41.820 But for now, let me just draw our attention, I think, 00:14:41.879 --> 00:14:44.379 to two big lessons from today's story. 00:14:44.500 --> 00:14:45.399 Two big lessons. 00:14:46.259 --> 00:14:47.440 The first one is this. 00:14:47.720 --> 00:14:50.759 Sin does not give up easily. 00:14:52.019 --> 00:14:53.720 I think as you read the story, 00:14:53.840 --> 00:14:56.360 the thing that you're supposed to notice is this massive surprise 00:14:56.360 --> 00:14:59.139 is that Abner does not surrender, right? 00:15:00.280 --> 00:15:01.320 Think about it. 00:15:01.600 --> 00:15:03.300 Things are pretty bad for Abner. 00:15:03.299 --> 00:15:06.740 He has been the commander of Saul's army, 00:15:07.279 --> 00:15:08.500 but his king is dead. 00:15:09.379 --> 00:15:11.519 Loads of his army are also dead. 00:15:11.979 --> 00:15:14.199 He's on the run from the seat of power. 00:15:14.719 --> 00:15:19.479 He doesn't even own the crown anymore or the armlet of King Saul. 00:15:19.779 --> 00:15:23.379 He didn't have opportunity to rescue those from the dying king. 00:15:24.099 --> 00:15:27.459 Yet still, despite all of that circumstances, 00:15:27.759 --> 00:15:30.559 still Abner makes Ish-bosheth king. 00:15:30.559 --> 00:15:33.779 It's even worse than that, I think, when you think about it, 00:15:33.799 --> 00:15:37.619 because Abner also knew that David had been promised the kingdom. 00:15:38.299 --> 00:15:39.319 Everybody knew it. 00:15:40.279 --> 00:15:44.139 He was almost certainly there, Abner, in 1 Samuel 24, verse 20, 00:15:44.219 --> 00:15:47.939 when Saul himself said that David is going to be king after him. 00:15:48.799 --> 00:15:52.039 In other words, it's totally obvious, even by this point of the story, 00:15:52.099 --> 00:15:53.299 which way this is going. 00:15:53.379 --> 00:15:54.979 The kingdom is going to David. 00:15:54.980 --> 00:15:58.740 Yet still, Abner installs Ish-bosheth as king. 00:15:59.120 --> 00:16:02.000 And you and I are to think, why is he not giving up? 00:16:02.519 --> 00:16:03.600 Why is he not giving up? 00:16:03.720 --> 00:16:06.680 Where is his illogical, crazy, sneaky commitment 00:16:06.680 --> 00:16:08.820 to establish an alternative kingdom coming from? 00:16:09.180 --> 00:16:10.539 Why don't you just give up already? 00:16:11.659 --> 00:16:14.580 And I think in the story, we're to understand that Abner, 00:16:14.779 --> 00:16:19.080 in some senses, symbolizes to us unrighteousness, 00:16:20.019 --> 00:16:22.340 opposition to God's true king. 00:16:22.340 --> 00:16:26.940 God's kindness and faithfulness is found in David, not in Abner. 00:16:27.940 --> 00:16:30.340 Abner is the opposite of David, 00:16:31.040 --> 00:16:33.360 which means that the lesson for us is something like this, 00:16:33.379 --> 00:16:37.180 that you and I should not be surprised in this world or in our lives 00:16:37.180 --> 00:16:43.019 that unrighteousness, wickedness, sin, does not give up easily, 00:16:43.280 --> 00:16:46.600 even when, as Christians, it's obvious that it's lost. 00:16:47.800 --> 00:16:49.980 The devil is wounded mortally. 00:16:49.980 --> 00:16:58.019 Sin has been defeated by Christ, yet still, it does not give up easily. 00:16:58.519 --> 00:17:00.740 It will go to great lengths to get what it wants. 00:17:01.820 --> 00:17:06.599 If you're a Christian, our sinful nature does not see that we have turned to Christ 00:17:06.599 --> 00:17:09.700 and go, oh well, I'll probably quit then. 00:17:10.099 --> 00:17:11.120 It doesn't do that. 00:17:11.119 --> 00:17:15.179 It carries on and the battle goes right to the end. 00:17:16.000 --> 00:17:17.939 You and I know, don't we, if we're Christians this morning, 00:17:18.000 --> 00:17:20.019 we know there's no future in getting angry. 00:17:20.779 --> 00:17:22.339 You know, don't you, if you're a Christian this morning, 00:17:22.479 --> 00:17:25.539 when you meet the Lord and you are with him, 00:17:25.699 --> 00:17:27.219 you will no longer be angry. 00:17:27.659 --> 00:17:29.879 There has no future for your anger. 00:17:30.039 --> 00:17:31.419 It achieves nothing now. 00:17:31.659 --> 00:17:32.879 It has no eternal future. 00:17:32.880 --> 00:17:35.580 But still we get angry, don't we? 00:17:36.960 --> 00:17:41.220 It's the same for unfaithfulness or lovelessness or disobedience or coveting. 00:17:41.460 --> 00:17:44.120 All those things are destined for the pit of hell. 00:17:44.860 --> 00:17:46.940 And yet still they don't give up today. 00:17:46.940 --> 00:17:51.100 The great help here though, I think, 00:17:51.200 --> 00:17:53.480 is that it shows us that our ongoing battle with sin, 00:17:53.640 --> 00:17:55.680 really at its heart, is a battle with pride. 00:17:55.840 --> 00:17:58.779 Why is it that Abner does not stand down? 00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:02.980 I think it is because to do that would have been to admit 00:18:02.980 --> 00:18:05.680 that he had been fighting for the wrong side all along. 00:18:07.620 --> 00:18:09.400 But he's still got some of the tribes. 00:18:10.059 --> 00:18:11.900 I don't have to admit that just yet, do I? 00:18:12.160 --> 00:18:15.059 I've still got all the other tribes other than Judah 00:18:15.059 --> 00:18:18.480 and possibly the Levites who were distributed amongst Judah 00:18:18.480 --> 00:18:19.619 and the rest of the tribes. 00:18:20.940 --> 00:18:22.179 I don't have to admit I'm right. 00:18:22.220 --> 00:18:23.759 I'm going to cling on for a little bit. 00:18:24.079 --> 00:18:24.960 I'm not going to give up. 00:18:26.839 --> 00:18:29.039 Let me ask you this morning whether you've understood this before, 00:18:29.099 --> 00:18:30.079 that to become a Christian 00:18:30.079 --> 00:18:33.079 or even to make progress in your Christian life, 00:18:33.159 --> 00:18:34.879 to break a habit of sin, 00:18:35.259 --> 00:18:37.899 to recommit yourself to the life and ministry of a local church, 00:18:37.980 --> 00:18:38.440 do you know what? 00:18:38.500 --> 00:18:42.139 That requires that you admit in part or in the whole 00:18:42.139 --> 00:18:44.960 that you have been fighting for the wrong team 00:18:44.960 --> 00:18:45.720 all along. 00:18:46.700 --> 00:18:49.039 The biggest barrier to Christian growth 00:18:49.039 --> 00:18:50.600 or even to becoming a Christian 00:18:50.600 --> 00:18:51.840 if you're not one this morning, 00:18:52.259 --> 00:18:53.980 is pride. 00:18:55.240 --> 00:18:57.700 Being a Christian is not an invitation to try harder, 00:18:57.840 --> 00:18:59.620 to think smarter, to be better. 00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:01.380 No, the invitation to become a Christian 00:19:01.380 --> 00:19:05.100 is an invitation to surrender to Jesus. 00:19:06.720 --> 00:19:09.100 Sin doesn't want you just to do wrong stuff. 00:19:09.279 --> 00:19:11.299 Sin wants to rule you 00:19:11.299 --> 00:19:13.500 and reign in your life. 00:19:14.839 --> 00:19:15.639 And let me tell you 00:19:15.639 --> 00:19:18.419 that this fight with your sinful nature won't go away. 00:19:18.539 --> 00:19:19.899 It won't give up easy. 00:19:20.639 --> 00:19:21.819 You know, you won't become a Christian 00:19:21.819 --> 00:19:24.059 and find that you are never tempted again, 00:19:24.700 --> 00:19:26.200 that you never end up saying something 00:19:26.200 --> 00:19:27.039 that you know you shouldn't 00:19:27.039 --> 00:19:28.720 or doing something you know you shouldn't 00:19:28.720 --> 00:19:30.539 because sin does not surrender 00:19:30.539 --> 00:19:32.139 even when it knows it's beat. 00:19:33.240 --> 00:19:35.919 And 2 Samuel wants us not to be surprised by that. 00:19:35.920 --> 00:19:38.759 So we hear the story of Abner carrying on fighting. 00:19:40.120 --> 00:19:40.980 Secondly though, 00:19:41.060 --> 00:19:42.840 and I think perhaps most significantly, 00:19:43.140 --> 00:19:45.000 is King Jesus comes down 00:19:45.000 --> 00:19:46.500 to bring God's blessing. 00:19:47.519 --> 00:19:48.840 I think the main thing here 00:19:48.840 --> 00:19:51.259 is in this contrast between David and Jesus. 00:19:52.779 --> 00:19:55.640 Jesus is King David's greater son. 00:19:56.740 --> 00:19:59.680 The king not of Judah or even just of Israel, 00:20:00.039 --> 00:20:03.160 but the king of God's heavenly eternal kingdom. 00:20:03.160 --> 00:20:05.400 And in our story, 00:20:05.640 --> 00:20:10.540 we see David going up, up, up, up, up, don't we? 00:20:10.900 --> 00:20:13.120 To become God's king in Hebron. 00:20:13.759 --> 00:20:15.100 And by contrast, 00:20:15.220 --> 00:20:17.019 we see Jesus in the New Testament, 00:20:17.560 --> 00:20:21.180 God's king of heaven coming down, 00:20:21.720 --> 00:20:24.960 down, down, down, down, down. 00:20:25.920 --> 00:20:28.740 The eternal divine son of divine essence 00:20:28.740 --> 00:20:29.880 with the father and the spirit 00:20:29.880 --> 00:20:32.320 dwelling in the glories of heaven for all eternity 00:20:32.319 --> 00:20:35.579 comes down to be king. 00:20:36.099 --> 00:20:37.559 Leaving the glories of heaven 00:20:37.559 --> 00:20:40.079 to come down and live on this earth. 00:20:40.259 --> 00:20:42.619 Born as a humble baby in a manger in Bethlehem, 00:20:42.700 --> 00:20:43.819 a big come down, 00:20:43.919 --> 00:20:45.919 but he still comes down further 00:20:45.919 --> 00:20:47.399 until the final humiliation 00:20:47.399 --> 00:20:51.159 when his enthronement is not on a great seat in Jerusalem, 00:20:51.159 --> 00:20:53.399 but on a cross outside the city. 00:20:53.899 --> 00:20:55.259 Down at the very bottom, 00:20:55.480 --> 00:20:57.339 naked, hanging on a cross and dying, 00:20:57.339 --> 00:21:01.019 bearing the sin and judgment that we deserve for our sin. 00:21:01.519 --> 00:21:04.179 Down, down, down comes King Jesus. 00:21:05.740 --> 00:21:07.179 But there's more to this, I think, 00:21:07.240 --> 00:21:10.379 because David goes up, up, up to Hebron 00:21:10.379 --> 00:21:13.259 and then becomes the conduit of God's blessing, 00:21:13.359 --> 00:21:14.779 doesn't he, to Jabesh Gilead. 00:21:14.779 --> 00:21:18.279 And King Jesus comes down, down, down 00:21:18.279 --> 00:21:20.819 to the throne of the cross 00:21:20.819 --> 00:21:24.019 and then says that He is the conduit 00:21:24.019 --> 00:21:26.119 of God's blessing to us. 00:21:26.920 --> 00:21:29.700 Through Him flow God's steadfast love, 00:21:29.779 --> 00:21:32.500 His kindness and His faithfulness. 00:21:33.160 --> 00:21:36.059 As He perfectly obeys His Father's plan, 00:21:36.740 --> 00:21:38.700 even to people in rebel territory, 00:21:38.879 --> 00:21:40.240 people like us, 00:21:40.240 --> 00:21:45.279 through Jesus comes God's kindness and faithfulness. 00:21:46.420 --> 00:21:47.839 Think about the passage like this, 00:21:47.900 --> 00:21:49.579 just with me for a moment as we finish. 00:21:50.480 --> 00:21:53.039 Here, if you like, is the new message to the people, 00:21:53.160 --> 00:21:54.559 not of Jabesh Gilead, 00:21:54.980 --> 00:21:57.460 but of West Kilburn Baptist Church. 00:21:58.480 --> 00:22:00.680 News that kindness and faithfulness 00:22:00.680 --> 00:22:03.519 of the promise-keeping God is still here. 00:22:03.620 --> 00:22:05.819 The Lord of Lords, the maker of heaven and earth, 00:22:05.920 --> 00:22:07.620 the triune God of Father, Son and Spirit 00:22:07.619 --> 00:22:09.779 has a promise for us. 00:22:10.259 --> 00:22:12.299 A promise to rescue not just a nation, 00:22:12.959 --> 00:22:15.799 but a group of people from all nations, 00:22:15.979 --> 00:22:17.319 languages, tribes and peoples. 00:22:17.739 --> 00:22:19.119 Not to live in Israel, 00:22:19.299 --> 00:22:21.359 but to live in the eternal glories 00:22:21.359 --> 00:22:24.279 of a world remade by His power, 00:22:25.119 --> 00:22:26.919 basking forever in His kindness 00:22:26.919 --> 00:22:27.779 and His faithfulness. 00:22:28.199 --> 00:22:29.119 And you and I, 00:22:29.319 --> 00:22:31.219 like the residents of Jabesh Gilead, 00:22:31.319 --> 00:22:32.859 are invited by the King 00:22:32.859 --> 00:22:35.519 to come and join in with the blessing. 00:22:35.519 --> 00:22:38.759 And where will you find that love? 00:22:39.259 --> 00:22:42.160 Through whom is that God keeping His promise? 00:22:42.619 --> 00:22:44.000 Well, through King Jesus, 00:22:44.859 --> 00:22:46.200 through His perfect obedience 00:22:46.200 --> 00:22:48.259 in going down, down, down, 00:22:48.319 --> 00:22:49.440 all the way to the cross, 00:22:50.000 --> 00:22:52.660 as God's King builds God's kingdom in God's way. 00:22:54.500 --> 00:22:57.660 So great story to read yourself into like that. 00:22:59.220 --> 00:23:00.500 Now, if you imagine that you're there 00:23:00.500 --> 00:23:01.279 in Jabesh Gilead 00:23:01.279 --> 00:23:04.680 and you hear these messages from David arrive, 00:23:05.660 --> 00:23:08.759 they tell you that there's this great covenant blessing of God 00:23:08.759 --> 00:23:10.379 and it's coming to you from King David, 00:23:10.420 --> 00:23:11.519 what do you do when you hear that? 00:23:11.960 --> 00:23:13.000 If you're in Jabesh Gilead. 00:23:13.139 --> 00:23:14.119 Oh, that's interesting. 00:23:15.160 --> 00:23:15.519 Fascinating. 00:23:16.000 --> 00:23:16.980 Now, what's on TV? 00:23:17.720 --> 00:23:18.160 Is that what you say? 00:23:19.019 --> 00:23:21.019 Well, that's all very interesting about that guy, David. 00:23:21.059 --> 00:23:22.139 I kind of like that guy, David. 00:23:22.339 --> 00:23:23.379 I've heard stuff about him. 00:23:23.460 --> 00:23:23.980 Like he was a, 00:23:23.980 --> 00:23:25.460 he was a kind of impressive guy, right? 00:23:25.579 --> 00:23:26.940 Didn't he beat that Goliath character? 00:23:27.099 --> 00:23:27.940 Yeah, I've heard of him. 00:23:28.420 --> 00:23:29.580 Yeah, that's very fascinating. 00:23:29.700 --> 00:23:30.220 I like him. 00:23:30.340 --> 00:23:32.620 Now, let me get on with my own plan for my life. 00:23:33.000 --> 00:23:33.620 Is that what you're going to do? 00:23:35.400 --> 00:23:37.019 Oh yeah, that's all very well and good, 00:23:37.100 --> 00:23:37.799 that David thing. 00:23:37.880 --> 00:23:39.440 But he's all the way down there south. 00:23:39.559 --> 00:23:41.299 You know, Abner's right here next to me. 00:23:41.320 --> 00:23:42.279 I think I'm going to follow Abner. 00:23:43.279 --> 00:23:44.420 Well, if you were in Jabesh Gilead, 00:23:44.440 --> 00:23:46.059 you'd be a fool to do those things, wouldn't you? 00:23:47.680 --> 00:23:48.680 So it is with Jesus. 00:23:48.680 --> 00:23:51.640 Here is the news that God's blessing, 00:23:52.340 --> 00:23:54.299 a place in glory for all eternity, 00:23:55.059 --> 00:23:56.200 forgiveness of your sin, 00:23:56.200 --> 00:23:58.039 strength for today, 00:23:58.539 --> 00:23:59.519 hope for tomorrow, 00:24:00.000 --> 00:24:01.080 life beyond the grave. 00:24:01.220 --> 00:24:03.319 All of those things can come to you, 00:24:03.519 --> 00:24:04.680 not through your own efforts, 00:24:04.799 --> 00:24:06.080 but through King Jesus. 00:24:07.200 --> 00:24:08.080 So what are you going to do? 00:24:08.680 --> 00:24:10.220 Oh yeah, I've heard of that Jesus guy. 00:24:10.299 --> 00:24:11.779 He's quite an impressive person, isn't he? 00:24:12.019 --> 00:24:13.400 Now on with my own life. 00:24:14.360 --> 00:24:16.140 You'd be a fool to live like that, wouldn't you? 00:24:16.840 --> 00:24:17.940 Instead, what you do is 00:24:17.940 --> 00:24:19.720 you do what the people of Jabesh Gilead did. 00:24:20.360 --> 00:24:22.580 You return that message with faith and trust. 00:24:22.680 --> 00:24:24.480 Thank you, Jesus, that you rule and reign. 00:24:24.480 --> 00:24:25.960 I trust in you. 00:24:26.039 --> 00:24:27.799 You have my loyalty and my allegiance. 00:24:28.579 --> 00:24:30.500 You are my king. 00:24:31.120 --> 00:24:32.240 I will live for you. 00:24:32.700 --> 00:24:33.579 I will love you. 00:24:33.660 --> 00:24:34.380 You have my life. 00:24:34.440 --> 00:24:35.880 I'm not going anywhere else for blessings. 00:24:36.059 --> 00:24:36.860 I'm fully here. 00:24:37.480 --> 00:24:38.740 I surrender to you, 00:24:39.279 --> 00:24:41.700 King of kings and Lord of lords. 00:24:42.420 --> 00:24:43.960 Let me pray and then we'll sing together. 00:24:44.120 --> 00:24:44.480 Let's pray. 00:24:44.480 --> 00:24:53.579 Heavenly Father, how we thank you 00:24:53.579 --> 00:24:57.680 that your kindness and faithfulness 00:24:57.680 --> 00:25:00.140 come to us not through our own obedience, 00:25:01.140 --> 00:25:04.079 not even through attendance at church, 00:25:05.079 --> 00:25:07.819 but come to us through King Jesus, 00:25:07.819 --> 00:25:11.159 whose throne is a cross 00:25:11.159 --> 00:25:13.740 as he pays the price for our sin. 00:25:14.700 --> 00:25:16.939 Oh, please help us, we pray, 00:25:17.039 --> 00:25:18.319 to surrender to him. 00:25:19.179 --> 00:25:19.859 We say, 00:25:20.700 --> 00:25:23.359 Lord, you rule and reign in our lives. 00:25:23.539 --> 00:25:24.119 We're sorry 00:25:24.119 --> 00:25:27.099 for the ways that we have tried to rule ourselves 00:25:27.099 --> 00:25:29.299 and accomplish our own plans 00:25:29.299 --> 00:25:31.599 and pay very little attention to you and yours. 00:25:31.599 --> 00:25:33.559 Please forgive us 00:25:33.559 --> 00:25:35.740 and rule in us, we pray. 00:25:36.500 --> 00:25:37.539 In Jesus' name. 00:25:38.339 --> 00:25:38.740 Amen.