1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:04,460 We’re looking today at the return of the king. 2 00:00:04,460 –> 00:00:11,060 David has been in exile in a little-known place called Mahanim. 3 00:00:11,060 –> 00:00:16,920 He went there because the rebellion led by his son Absalom’s. 4 00:00:16,920 –> 00:00:20,160 But the rebellion failed. 5 00:00:20,160 –> 00:00:26,600 After it failed, the call went out across the country, north, south, east, and west 6 00:00:26,600 –> 00:00:28,660 to bring back the king. 7 00:00:28,840 –> 00:00:31,860 That’s the key phrase in the verses that were read to us. 8 00:00:31,860 –> 00:00:36,880 It’s alluded to in verse 10, verse 11, verse 12, and verse 14. 9 00:00:36,880 –> 00:00:41,880 Bring back the king. 10 00:00:41,880 –> 00:00:47,000 We’re going to take up the story in verse 15 where we’re told that the king, that is 11 00:00:47,000 –> 00:00:50,520 King David, came back to the Jordan. 12 00:00:50,520 –> 00:00:55,419 He’s been out east of Jordan, out in the sticks in this little town during the rebellion, 13 00:00:55,439 –> 00:00:59,500 now that the rebellion is ended, he’s coming back to the Jordan, he’s going to cross the 14 00:00:59,500 –> 00:01:06,940 Jordan and he’ll come back to Jerusalem where he will take his power and reign. 15 00:01:06,940 –> 00:01:12,940 So we come to these verses with a great sense of anticipation. 16 00:01:12,940 –> 00:01:16,559 The great rebellion is over. 17 00:01:16,559 –> 00:01:23,919 The king is coming back, at last, surely, what is wrong will be put right. 18 00:01:23,919 –> 00:01:32,500 What is lost will be restored and the King’s loyal subjects will receive their reward. 19 00:01:32,500 –> 00:01:37,680 But what we’re going to find from the story today is that when King David returned there 20 00:01:37,680 –> 00:01:49,959 was less than reconciliation, less than restoration, and less than reward. 21 00:01:49,959 –> 00:01:56,459 And we’re going to see from three stories that there was significant disappointment 22 00:01:56,459 –> 00:02:00,779 when this king returned. 23 00:02:00,779 –> 00:02:07,919 And I want you to use this as a lens through which to see the joy that will be ours when 24 00:02:07,919 –> 00:02:09,559 our king returns. 25 00:02:09,559 –> 00:02:12,059 That’s where the message is going today. 26 00:02:12,059 –> 00:02:19,080 My prayer is that there will be encouragement today, especially for every person who knows 27 00:02:19,080 –> 00:02:21,360 what it is to struggle with guilt. 28 00:02:21,360 –> 00:02:26,679 If you know that in your life, this story is for you today. 29 00:02:26,679 –> 00:02:33,199 And praying that there’ll be encouragement for every person who has experienced loss. 30 00:02:33,199 –> 00:02:37,039 That’s in this story big time today. 31 00:02:37,039 –> 00:02:45,119 And that there will be encouragement for everyone who today feels a sense of their own weakness, 32 00:02:45,139 –> 00:02:47,919 their own declining strength. 33 00:02:47,919 –> 00:02:51,100 Now I hope then you have your Bible open. 34 00:02:51,100 –> 00:02:55,960 There are three quite distinct stories revolving around three different individuals that address 35 00:02:55,960 –> 00:02:58,000 these issues that are before us. 36 00:02:58,000 –> 00:03:03,919 And we begin with this character Shimmy who experienced less than forgiveness. 37 00:03:03,919 –> 00:03:12,600 And here I want to focus particularly on the need of all of us when we struggle with guilt. 38 00:03:12,639 –> 00:03:19,940 I want us to see clearly today what a wonderful thing it is to be forgiven in and through 39 00:03:19,940 –> 00:03:21,539 our Lord Jesus Christ. 40 00:03:21,539 –> 00:03:25,619 Now here’s the story I hope you have the Bible open in front of you. 41 00:03:25,639 –> 00:03:30,759 When David arrived at the river Jordan, coming back to take his power and reign it was the 42 00:03:30,759 –> 00:03:33,139 return of the King. 43 00:03:33,139 –> 00:03:36,880 Who should be the very first person to meet him? 44 00:03:36,880 –> 00:03:40,080 But Shimmy, this wretched man. 45 00:03:40,479 –> 00:03:42,800 That’s the only way I can describe him. 46 00:03:42,820 –> 00:03:49,059 Who had been a thorn in David’s side and made his life absolutely miserable. 47 00:03:49,059 –> 00:03:54,679 You may remember the story we looked at it sometime ago when David was driven from Jerusalem, 48 00:03:54,679 –> 00:04:01,279 this man Shimmy stalked him, ridiculed him and even cursed him. 49 00:04:01,279 –> 00:04:06,479 When David was walking with his few loyal people escaping from Jerusalem he was walking 50 00:04:06,479 –> 00:04:12,300 along a valley beyond the mount of Olives, Shimmy got up on a high ridge and pelted him 51 00:04:12,300 –> 00:04:15,839 and those that followed him with stones. 52 00:04:15,839 –> 00:04:23,779 This is the man who flung dust from a hilltop down on to God’s anointed king. 53 00:04:23,779 –> 00:04:28,320 Flung dust on him so that the bible says that when David arrived at the Jordan going out 54 00:04:28,320 –> 00:04:33,040 then he was utterly exhausted. 55 00:04:33,040 –> 00:04:38,959 This man was an absolute thorn in David’s side and here when the King returns who’s 56 00:04:38,959 –> 00:04:43,920 the very first person to meet him, the one who has mocked him, ridiculed him, insulted 57 00:04:43,920 –> 00:04:47,480 him, belittled him, cursed God’s anointed king, and He said I want to be the first to 58 00:04:47,480 –> 00:04:51,320 welcome you back. 59 00:04:51,320 –> 00:04:54,359 You see what’s going on here. 60 00:04:54,359 –> 00:05:00,899 Shimmy finds to his absolute horror that the King he has cursed is coming back and that 61 00:05:00,920 –> 00:05:04,820 all authority and all power is his. 62 00:05:04,820 –> 00:05:11,940 And crowds of loyal supporters are rushing out to meet King David but Shimmy he rushes 63 00:05:11,940 –> 00:05:13,739 to the very front of the line. 64 00:05:13,739 –> 00:05:20,000 He falls down before the King and verse nineteen he says, Let not my Lord hold me guilty or 65 00:05:20,000 –> 00:05:26,380 remember how your servant did wrong on the day that my Lord the King left Jerusalem. 66 00:05:26,380 –> 00:05:30,459 Do not let the king take it to heart. 67 00:05:30,940 –> 00:05:33,140 For your servant knows that I have sinned. 68 00:05:33,160 –> 00:05:38,820 And therefore I have come this day, the first of all of the house of Joseph to come down 69 00:05:38,820 –> 00:05:42,679 and to meet my Lord, the King. 70 00:05:42,679 –> 00:05:45,820 It’s quite something isn’t it? 71 00:05:45,820 –> 00:05:51,859 I pelted you with stones, but please don’t hold that against me. 72 00:05:51,859 –> 00:05:57,440 I flung dust in your face, but please don’t take it to heart. 73 00:05:57,440 –> 00:06:00,559 I cursed you, but there was nothing personal about it. 74 00:06:00,559 –> 00:06:03,959 That’s what he’s saying. 75 00:06:03,959 –> 00:06:07,839 Simmi had been a thorn in David’s side. 76 00:06:07,839 –> 00:06:13,420 Now he shows up as the lead member of the welcoming committee posing as David’s best 77 00:06:13,420 –> 00:06:14,420 friend. 78 00:06:14,420 –> 00:06:18,040 Well, you’ll not be surprised to see what follows verse 21. 79 00:06:18,040 –> 00:06:22,899 David’s commander was in absolutely no doubt about what should be done. 80 00:06:22,899 –> 00:06:28,220 With Simmi, Abishai answered, shall not Simmi be put to death for this because he cursed 81 00:06:28,220 –> 00:06:31,739 the Lord’s anointed. 82 00:06:31,739 –> 00:06:39,059 But David says verse 22, shall anyone be put to death in Israel this day? 83 00:06:39,059 –> 00:06:42,859 The king said to Schimmi, you shall not die. 84 00:06:42,859 –> 00:06:45,100 And the king gave him his oath. 85 00:06:45,100 –> 00:06:47,140 Great kindness. 86 00:06:47,260 –> 00:06:58,059 Now, at first this looks like a marvelous outpouring of grace and forgiveness, but if 87 00:06:58,059 –> 00:07:05,299 you follow the story you will find that things were not as bright for Schimmi as might first 88 00:07:05,299 –> 00:07:07,640 appear. 89 00:07:07,640 –> 00:07:11,540 Notice that the king says, you shall not die. 90 00:07:11,540 –> 00:07:15,140 He does not say, you are forgiven. 91 00:07:15,359 –> 00:07:18,160 Big difference. 92 00:07:18,160 –> 00:07:27,420 What happens here is that David gives Schimmi a stay of execution, a reprieve. 93 00:07:27,420 –> 00:07:30,619 You shall not die. 94 00:07:30,619 –> 00:07:38,700 Time will tell if Schimmi’s professed loyalty to the king proves to be genuine or not. 95 00:07:38,700 –> 00:07:42,980 And in the meantime, Schimmi is put on probation. 96 00:07:43,940 –> 00:07:49,339 He lives under a suspended sentence. 97 00:07:49,339 –> 00:07:56,000 And the significance of that becomes very clear at the end of David’s life. 98 00:07:56,000 –> 00:08:02,140 Because very shortly before David dies, he speaks to Solomon, his son. 99 00:08:02,140 –> 00:08:07,019 And in 1 Kings 2 in verse 8 and 9 we’re told that David said right at the end of his life 100 00:08:38,020 –> 00:08:46,739 Now Solomon was a wise man and Solomon showed grace to Shimei as David also 101 00:08:46,739 –> 00:08:53,219 had done. Here’s what Solomon did. He said to Shemei, now you build a house 102 00:08:53,219 –> 00:08:57,780 in Jerusalem and you stay there. That is you stay in the city of Jerusalem. 103 00:08:57,780 –> 00:09:02,739 In other words, Solomon very wisely kept this man who had been a thorn in his 104 00:09:02,840 –> 00:09:08,760 father’s side. Kept him under surveillance and the Bible tells us, and 105 00:09:08,760 –> 00:09:11,960 you can read this in second Kings and Chapter two, that that effectively worked 106 00:09:11,960 –> 00:09:18,419 for about three years, until Shimei broke his parole and he left the city of 107 00:09:18,419 –> 00:09:23,340 Jerusalem. He’d been confined to the city where Solomon could keep an eye on him. 108 00:09:23,340 –> 00:09:29,359 He broke that parole. He went to a Philistine city by the name of Gath and 109 00:09:29,359 –> 00:09:37,840 when he came back he was called to the palace and that was the end of Shime. Now 110 00:09:37,840 –> 00:09:41,919 here’s what I want us to learn from this story today. 111 00:09:41,919 –> 00:09:49,960 Forgiveness is more than probation. Forgiveness is more than probation. 112 00:09:49,960 –> 00:09:54,799 David gave Shimei a stay of execution and that was an expression of grace in 113 00:09:55,599 –> 00:10:02,599 he said, You shall not die. But his guilt remained. He was placed on probation and 114 00:10:02,599 –> 00:10:06,799 it was one of these situations of one violation of your parole and you’re 115 00:10:06,799 –> 00:10:16,080 out of here. Now suppose the Lord Jesus treated you like that? Suppose when you 116 00:10:16,080 –> 00:10:23,359 came to Jesus in repentance he said to you, You will not die, at least not today. 117 00:10:23,380 –> 00:10:31,380 You’ll have a stay of execution, but your guilt remains and in the meantime you 118 00:10:31,380 –> 00:10:39,159 are on probation and time will tell if your repentance is genuine. You would 119 00:10:39,159 –> 00:10:44,239 then spend the rest of your life trying to prove yourself to him, knowing that if 120 00:10:44,239 –> 00:10:51,679 you failed God had it in for you and that would be an impossible burden. And 121 00:10:52,039 –> 00:10:56,039 here’s where I want to speak specifically to every person who 122 00:10:56,039 –> 00:11:02,359 struggles with guilt. I want you to grasp from this story today that Jesus Christ 123 00:11:02,359 –> 00:11:09,219 has something better for you than placing you on probation. When you come 124 00:11:09,219 –> 00:11:21,000 to him in repentance, he pronounces you not guilty. He forgives. He reconciles you 125 00:11:21,679 –> 00:11:28,919 Himself. And forgiveness is much more than being placed on probation. Forgiveness 126 00:11:28,919 –> 00:11:36,039 is not God giving you a second opportunity to prove yourself. God says 127 00:11:36,039 –> 00:11:40,960 to you in Jesus Christ, your sins and your iniquities I will remember no more. 128 00:11:40,960 –> 00:11:49,919 That’s wholly different from what David said to Shimei. No probation. No suspended 129 00:11:49,919 –> 00:11:56,140 sentence. No remaining guilt. No proving yourself in order to enter into the good 130 00:11:56,140 –> 00:12:08,960 that might conditionally be yours. I am He says the Lord who blots out your 131 00:12:08,960 –> 00:12:15,219 transgression and remembers your sin no more. You see how different that is from 132 00:12:15,299 –> 00:12:20,679 being placed on probation. As far as the East is from the West, 133 00:12:20,679 –> 00:12:30,859 so far have I removed your transgression from you it’s gone. It is no 134 00:12:30,859 –> 00:12:39,599 longer on the record of God against you. Or to use another analogy because the 135 00:12:39,599 –> 00:12:43,960 scripture God is always in the scripture trying to get this into our minds, what 136 00:12:44,059 –> 00:12:49,719 it really means to be forgiven. In Micah chapter 7 then verse 19. You will 137 00:12:49,719 –> 00:12:54,000 cast all our sins into the depth of the sea. 138 00:12:54,000 –> 00:13:00,080 Isn’t that beautiful? What will God do for your sins in Jesus Christ? All of 139 00:13:00,080 –> 00:13:03,700 them. Even the one that comes to your mind and plagues you with guilt. 140 00:13:03,700 –> 00:13:07,919 He says here’s what I’ll do. I’ll take it from you and I will cast it into the depth of 141 00:13:08,559 –> 00:13:18,559 never find it there. Never to be seen again. In Jesus Christ, you do not live 142 00:13:18,559 –> 00:13:22,640 under a suspended sentence in which you are condemned to a life of probation in 143 00:13:22,640 –> 00:13:29,679 which you are constantly trying to prove yourself to God. You cannot live under a 144 00:13:29,679 –> 00:13:33,599 suspended sentence in Jesus Christ because in Jesus Christ the sentence has 145 00:13:33,599 –> 00:13:37,820 already been served because it was passed on him. 146 00:13:37,919 –> 00:13:43,559 And that is why there is no condemnation, no condemnation for those 147 00:13:43,559 –> 00:13:50,340 who are in Christ Jesus. Because forgiveness is God dropping all charges 148 00:13:50,340 –> 00:13:56,859 against you forever, wiping the slate clean and embracing you with his mercy 149 00:13:56,859 –> 00:14:05,580 and with his love. Isn’t that so much more than probation? Forgiveness in and 150 00:14:05,580 –> 00:14:14,280 through the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. There may come a time in your 151 00:14:14,280 –> 00:14:25,219 life when you have to choose between being like David and being like Jesus. 152 00:14:26,200 –> 00:14:31,940 Suppose your trust has been broken. 153 00:14:32,659 –> 00:14:38,039 Suppose you have been sinned against, you have been wronged, and the person who 154 00:14:38,039 –> 00:14:46,760 wronged you comes to you in evident repentance – genuine repentance. Obvious 155 00:14:46,760 –> 00:14:53,900 repentance. Will you choose to put that person on probation or will you 156 00:14:54,140 –> 00:15:04,559 to forgive them? You could say, you see, well, I’m glad you’re sorry but it’s up 157 00:15:04,559 –> 00:15:13,460 to you to prove yourself, and if you mess up again you better watch out. And I am 158 00:15:13,460 –> 00:15:18,760 going to be watching you like a hawk, 159 00:15:19,380 –> 00:15:26,979 that’s what Solomon did to Shimeh. He placed him under surveillance. If you 160 00:15:26,979 –> 00:15:30,140 were to say that, it would be very understandable, and it would be very like 161 00:15:30,140 –> 00:15:40,419 David. But to forgive is very like Jesus. And to forgive means to reconcile, it 162 00:15:40,700 –> 00:15:49,239 means to embrace, it means to love, and it means to be at peace. Forgiveness is so 163 00:15:49,239 –> 00:15:59,020 much more than probation. Thank God for that gift in Jesus Christ. Second, there’s 164 00:15:59,020 –> 00:16:04,340 the story of this man Mephibosheth. And this is a story about getting less than 165 00:16:04,340 –> 00:16:09,799 restoration. Jemi got less than forgiveness. Mephibosheth 166 00:16:09,799 –> 00:16:16,059 got less than restoration. And here I want to speak especially in regards to 167 00:16:16,059 –> 00:16:22,599 all in the congregation today who really have experienced a genuine loss in life, 168 00:16:22,599 –> 00:16:28,479 a loss that has not been made up to you. 169 00:16:28,479 –> 00:16:34,960 Now notice that in verse 24 Mephibosheth described as the son of Saul. And Saul of 170 00:16:34,960 –> 00:16:39,520 course was the previous king who had hunted David trying to destroy him and 171 00:16:39,520 –> 00:16:44,460 made his life and absolute misery for years but when David went became king he 172 00:16:44,460 –> 00:16:50,799 actually went out of his way to show kindness to the family of Saul. All of 173 00:16:50,799 –> 00:16:55,900 Saul’s immediate sons had been killed in battle. And David said the second 174 00:16:55,940 –> 00:17:02,099 Samuel chapter 9 and verse 1. David said is there anyone left in the house of 175 00:17:02,099 –> 00:17:08,640 Saul that I may show kindness for Jonathan’s sake. I think any other king 176 00:17:08,640 –> 00:17:11,500 at the time would have said is that anyone else left in the house of Saul 177 00:17:11,500 –> 00:17:15,380 that I may eliminate him? David says is there anyone else left in the house of 178 00:17:15,380 –> 00:17:19,339 Saul that I may show kindness to him? And in answer to that question they brought 179 00:17:19,339 –> 00:17:25,380 in a man by the name of Ziba. Now Ziba was a very high-ranking servant. We might 180 00:17:25,380 –> 00:17:29,520 call him the Chief of Staff because he had many who served under him. And he was 181 00:17:29,520 –> 00:17:35,119 the highest ranking servant of the house of Saul. So when Saul was gone he was 182 00:17:35,119 –> 00:17:41,119 with this grandson of Saul. This man by the name of Mephibosheth and when Ziba 183 00:17:41,119 –> 00:17:45,560 was called in he said yes there is actually a survivor of the house of Saul. 184 00:17:45,560 –> 00:17:53,760 It’s his grandson. It’s the son of Jonathan. He is a crippled man and unable 185 00:17:53,819 –> 00:18:03,000 to walk and his name is Mephibosheth. So David sent for this man Mephibosheth 186 00:18:03,000 –> 00:18:06,760 brought him to the castle and said three things to him. The first is don’t be 187 00:18:06,760 –> 00:18:12,479 afraid. Which must have been wonderful for Mephibosheth to hear. Don’t be afraid 188 00:18:12,479 –> 00:18:19,400 I will show kindness to you. Then the second thing he said was this I will 189 00:18:19,400 –> 00:18:26,660 restore to you he said all the lands of Saul your father. I’ll restore to you 190 00:18:26,660 –> 00:18:30,540 your father’s land. So I’m going to give you the inheritance that otherwise would 191 00:18:30,540 –> 00:18:35,979 have been lost. And then he said and this is I think perhaps the most 192 00:18:35,979 –> 00:18:44,640 beautiful thing of all he said and you will eat at the king’s table always. So 193 00:18:44,640 –> 00:18:51,599 he’s brought into the palace he’s brought this grandson of Saul man who’s 194 00:18:51,599 –> 00:18:57,339 crippled and he’s brought in to live a royal life because of the kindness of 195 00:18:57,339 –> 00:19:05,880 David towards him is a beautiful beautiful story. Well when David had to 196 00:19:05,880 –> 00:19:11,079 leave Jerusalem during Absalom’s rebellion this man Ziba the chief of 197 00:19:11,280 –> 00:19:17,180 staff, he was a very crafty man he caught up with David just after he’d gone up 198 00:19:17,180 –> 00:19:20,680 the Mount of Olives and just over the brow of the hill on the other side he 199 00:19:20,680 –> 00:19:25,380 caught up with him and brought two donkeys along with 200 loaves of bread 200 00:19:25,380 –> 00:19:28,859 along with raisins and summer fruit and wine and all the rest of it and said 201 00:19:28,859 –> 00:19:34,760 these are for you a lavish gift from Ziba to David as he is retreating from 202 00:19:34,760 –> 00:19:39,900 Jerusalem. David immediately asked the obvious question of Ziba, he said where’s 203 00:19:39,939 –> 00:19:46,439 Mephibosheth? You know what? Why is he not on one of the donkeys? Why is he not 204 00:19:46,439 –> 00:19:52,680 coming with me? I’ve made him part of my own family circle. Having shown such 205 00:19:52,680 –> 00:19:57,739 kindness to this man, it was entirely reasonable that David would anticipate 206 00:19:57,739 –> 00:20:01,819 that of the few loyal people who stuck with him, Mephibosheth would be among 207 00:20:01,880 –> 00:20:07,760 them. In chapter 16 and verse three, Ziba then said this, 208 00:20:07,760 –> 00:20:16,300 behold, Mephibosheth remains in Jerusalem because he says today the 209 00:20:16,300 –> 00:20:22,719 house of Israel will give me back the kingdom of my father. In other words, 210 00:20:22,719 –> 00:20:27,239 Ziba says to David, you know what Mephibosheth reckons that with all 211 00:20:27,239 –> 00:20:31,359 this rebellion of Absalom the line of David’s gonna come to an end the people 212 00:20:31,479 –> 00:20:33,760 are gonna call for the line of Saul to be restored 213 00:20:33,760 –> 00:20:37,459 Mephibosheth thinks that if he sticks in Jerusalem he’ll end up becoming the 214 00:20:37,459 –> 00:20:48,640 king himself. Now that was a downright lie. Nothing could have been further from 215 00:20:48,640 –> 00:20:59,140 the truth but David believed the lie and he made a snapped decision and he said 216 00:20:59,959 –> 00:21:07,140 Behold all that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours. All the land I’m 217 00:21:07,140 –> 00:21:14,060 going to give it to you. He’s got nothing you’ve got everything. Snapped decision 218 00:21:14,060 –> 00:21:24,479 So Mephibosheth lost everything because of a lie and he was in absolutely no 219 00:21:25,479 –> 00:21:31,560 to defend himself. Now roll the story forward to where we are now in chapter 220 00:21:31,560 –> 00:21:37,880 nineteen. When the king returns, the lie is exposed. Verse twenty-four. 221 00:21:37,880 –> 00:21:45,199 Mephibosheth came down to meet the king and when he arrives at the Jordan, to 222 00:21:45,199 –> 00:21:49,839 meet the returning king, it’s clear that he’s in a dreadful state. That was 223 00:21:49,880 –> 00:21:55,359 immediately obvious. Verse twenty-four. He had neither taken care of his feet nor 224 00:21:55,359 –> 00:22:02,020 trimmed his beard nor washed his clothes from the day that the King had departed 225 00:22:02,020 –> 00:22:09,359 until the day that he came back in safety. Far from wanting to become the 226 00:22:09,359 –> 00:22:15,719 king himself, Mephibosheth had been in mourning from the day the king had left 227 00:22:16,219 –> 00:22:21,719 until the day he saw the king at the River Jordan again. 228 00:22:21,719 –> 00:22:26,939 So, David asked the obvious question, verse twenty-five, why did you not go 229 00:22:26,939 –> 00:22:32,180 with me Mephibosheth? And the answer’s in verse twenty-six. Here’s the truth of 230 00:22:32,180 –> 00:22:39,859 what happened. My servant, that is Ziba, deceived me. Mephibosheth answered. Here’s 231 00:22:39,859 –> 00:22:46,319 what happened. Mephibosheth told Ziba saddle up the donkey so that I can go 232 00:22:46,319 –> 00:22:51,959 with David. What Ziba did was, he took the donkey, gave it to David, and left 233 00:22:51,959 –> 00:23:00,060 crippled Mephibosheth stranded. Nothing he could do. 234 00:23:00,979 –> 00:23:09,219 All this time, David had thought that Mephibosheth was a traitor, but this man 235 00:23:09,380 –> 00:23:15,160 had only ever been the Kings loyal servant and had grieved for him since 236 00:23:15,160 –> 00:23:22,939 the day he went until the day he came back. Now that raises the obvious 237 00:23:22,939 –> 00:23:29,380 question. Now that the truth is known, what will be done about Mephibosheth’s 238 00:23:29,380 –> 00:23:35,239 land, that in a snap decision the King took away from him and gave in its 239 00:23:35,660 –> 00:23:42,800 entirety to Ziba. Ziba is now exposed as a cheat and as a liar. What then will 240 00:23:42,800 –> 00:23:49,520 happen to him? Look at verse 29 where David makes what I 241 00:23:49,520 –> 00:23:56,260 think is a very very strange pronouncement indeed, David says to 242 00:23:56,260 –> 00:24:04,079 Mephibosheth, you and Ziba shall divide the land. 243 00:24:04,380 –> 00:24:10,859 How many people think that seems right? I don’t think any of us. 244 00:24:11,719 –> 00:24:21,640 Mephibosheth, you’ve been cheated out of your inheritance by a liar, but don’t 245 00:24:21,640 –> 00:24:30,040 worry when the king comes back you’ll at least get half of it back. Really? 246 00:24:30,520 –> 00:24:42,400 Why, why in the world would David not have given the land in its entirety back 247 00:24:42,400 –> 00:24:51,500 to Mephibosheth to whom by his own decree it belonged? People speculate it 248 00:24:51,500 –> 00:24:57,219 may be that Ziba who surely was a force to be reckoned with and conniving in so 249 00:24:57,219 –> 00:25:00,920 many ways maybe it was that David was looking for a way to keep him on board 250 00:25:00,920 –> 00:25:05,680 as the New Kingdom was being established I don’t know whatever the explanation 251 00:25:05,680 –> 00:25:11,420 what’s very clear is that Mephibosheth compensation he did not get 252 00:25:11,420 –> 00:25:19,260 restoration. Now to his great credit in verse 30 Mephibosheth says ay let him 253 00:25:19,260 –> 00:25:25,339 take all of the land that’s not the big deal to me says Mephibosheth since my 254 00:25:25,339 –> 00:25:29,079 Lord the King has come safely home. All that matters to me says Mephibosheth is 255 00:25:29,079 –> 00:25:34,199 that the King is safe and that my King who loves me and who I love is here and 256 00:25:34,199 –> 00:25:38,140 that I will be with him that’s all that matters to me he says but there is 257 00:25:38,140 –> 00:25:46,180 something profoundly unsatisfactory about this ending. Zibbah’s lie is 258 00:25:46,180 –> 00:25:51,859 exposed but he is never brought to justice and he walks away with half of 259 00:25:51,900 –> 00:26:00,660 the land. A great evil is rewarded and what Mephibosheth lost is not restored 260 00:26:00,660 –> 00:26:08,920 and you know isn’t that exactly how it is so often in this world? There are 261 00:26:08,920 –> 00:26:14,599 losses in this life and many of us have stories in this regard losses in this 262 00:26:14,599 –> 00:26:25,739 life that cannot be restored. A loss of health changes everything. A loss of 263 00:26:25,739 –> 00:26:33,780 money. Loss of a unique opportunity that never quite was matched and never came 264 00:26:33,780 –> 00:26:45,099 again. Loss of a loved one. Perhaps you have suffered a loss that has changed 265 00:26:45,099 –> 00:26:52,699 your life and now your life can never be what it would have been. Of course there 266 00:26:52,699 –> 00:26:55,619 are many compensations and many good things that have come but it’s not what 267 00:26:55,619 –> 00:27:05,079 it would have been. There’s compensation, there’s one not restoration. 268 00:27:05,079 –> 00:27:13,560 When our King Jesus returns all that has been lost through the entrance of sin into 269 00:27:13,560 –> 00:27:20,619 the world will be fully restored. Lies will be exposed, truth will be known and 270 00:27:20,939 –> 00:27:27,000 those who have been slandered will be vindicated and restoration is way more 271 00:27:27,000 –> 00:27:33,500 than compensation. We live in a world don’t we of compensation that’s what the 272 00:27:33,500 –> 00:27:38,140 courts are all about. Every day people coming in and out of the courts looking 273 00:27:38,140 –> 00:27:42,520 to find some money to make up for what was lost, compensation. Jesus Christ 274 00:27:42,780 –> 00:27:51,540 offers you more than compensation. He promises a restoration. He says there’s 275 00:27:51,540 –> 00:27:55,140 going to be a new heaven and there’s going to be a new earth and every 276 00:27:55,140 –> 00:28:02,239 injustice will be dealt with fully and finally and completely and more will be 277 00:28:02,239 –> 00:28:07,959 given to you in heaven than you have ever lost on earth. 278 00:28:08,959 –> 00:28:13,839 what lies ahead of you brother sister who feels the sense of what you have 279 00:28:13,839 –> 00:28:17,900 lost in life what lies ahead of you is not compensation what lies ahead of you 280 00:28:17,900 –> 00:28:25,119 is restoration more than all the joy that can be known in this world as one 281 00:28:25,119 –> 00:28:31,800 hymn writer put it lovely line that captures this in Christ the tribes of 282 00:28:31,800 –> 00:28:40,439 Adam boasts more blessings than our father lost there’s gonna be more than 283 00:28:40,439 –> 00:28:45,060 all of the greatest joy that could be known in a human life put together not 284 00:28:45,060 –> 00:28:56,880 compensation and that leads to the third story here the story of this man 285 00:28:56,880 –> 00:29:02,800 Barzilai Shemi got less than forgiveness put on 286 00:29:02,800 –> 00:29:10,219 probation the famous Seth got less than restoration just a compensation he got 287 00:29:10,219 –> 00:29:19,239 half back Barzilai here’s a story in which a good man gets less than reward 288 00:29:19,239 –> 00:29:24,800 and here I want to speak especially to those who feel their own weakness in one 289 00:29:24,800 –> 00:29:32,060 way or another you are very aware of declining strength now Barzilai was a 290 00:29:32,060 –> 00:29:39,199 loyal and generous servant of the king verse 31 Barzilai went on with the king 291 00:29:39,199 –> 00:29:43,119 to the Jordan so this is another of the characters who are there at this great 292 00:29:43,119 –> 00:29:45,920 scene where the king is about to cross the Jordan 293 00:29:45,920 –> 00:29:51,880 Barzilai went on with the king to the Jordan to escort him over the river now 294 00:29:52,060 –> 00:30:02,560 what we’re told about this man Barzillai verse 32 Barzillai was a very aged man 295 00:30:02,560 –> 00:30:10,140 80 years old. Now I want to be sensitive 296 00:30:10,140 –> 00:30:17,979 to all of you who are in your 80s or beyond but I got to say this is what the 297 00:30:18,079 –> 00:30:29,040 Bible says I I guess that there are young 80s and there are old 80s this 298 00:30:29,040 –> 00:30:37,079 you feel him wriggling here can’t you yeah this man was an old man at 80 and 299 00:30:37,079 –> 00:30:44,680 he’s really feeling his declining strength. Now what a marvelous person he 300 00:30:45,160 –> 00:30:55,300 was. Verse 32. He provided the king with food while he played at for he 301 00:30:55,300 –> 00:31:01,760 was a very wealthy man. So, God had blessed Barzilai with considerable 302 00:31:01,760 –> 00:31:07,479 wealth, a very wealthy man. And what did he do with his wealth? Well, 303 00:31:07,479 –> 00:31:13,839 Barzilya used this wealth that God had given him in the service of the king. 304 00:31:14,719 –> 00:31:21,579 So now when the king returns, he wants to reward Barzilai. Remember, 305 00:31:21,579 –> 00:31:25,839 Jesus said, you give him a cup of cold water in my name, it will not go 306 00:31:25,839 –> 00:31:31,000 without its reward. Give of yourself in the service of your king. There 307 00:31:31,000 –> 00:31:36,260 will be a great reward. And David is grasping on to that principle here 308 00:31:36,260 –> 00:31:40,719 and wants to practice it. He is this man of great means who has been 309 00:31:40,719 –> 00:31:44,920 a lifesaver for David, provided food for him and for this little band, 310 00:31:44,920 –> 00:31:50,079 which became a growing band of people at Mahanim, and this generous and 311 00:31:50,079 –> 00:31:58,319 elderly man has been such a blessing to the king. So when the king returns, 312 00:31:58,319 –> 00:32:04,719 he says to Barzilai, come over with me. That is, come over the Jordan with me, 313 00:32:04,719 –> 00:32:11,900 and I will provide for you with me in Jerusalem. Isn’t that a marvelous 314 00:32:11,900 –> 00:32:20,660 offer? The king says, you stood with me when I was despised and I was 315 00:32:20,660 –> 00:32:29,300 rejected. You gave generously out of your wealth in my service. 316 00:32:29,300 –> 00:32:35,420 Barzilai, now I am coming into my kingdom, and I want you to be with me. 317 00:32:35,420 –> 00:32:43,099 Echoes of the words of Jesus, I want them to be with me, and I will provide for 318 00:32:43,099 –> 00:32:48,160 you. David wants to do more for Barzillai than 319 00:32:48,160 –> 00:32:55,359 thank him. The king has a new home for Barzillai, a new life in the royal city 320 00:32:55,699 –> 00:33:02,140 Jerusalem itself. This loyal and generous man is going to share the life of a king. 321 00:33:02,140 –> 00:33:12,699 It’s a great moment. Reward is more than appreciation. And David wants to reward 322 00:33:12,699 –> 00:33:22,140 this wonderful elderly, loyal servant. But I want you to notice what Barzillai 323 00:33:22,719 –> 00:33:31,819 says. Verse thirty-four. Barzillai saids to the king, How many years have I still 324 00:33:31,819 –> 00:33:37,780 to live? That I should go up with the king to Jerusalem? You see what he’s 325 00:33:37,780 –> 00:33:45,540 saying. David it’s too late for me. I’m 80 years old. 326 00:33:45,920 –> 00:33:52,640 There was a time when I would have relished the life of a palace, with all 327 00:33:52,640 –> 00:33:56,660 of its music and all of its dancing and all of its festivities and all of its 328 00:33:56,660 –> 00:34:06,920 joy and all of its feasting. I’m 80 years old! That’s beyond me now. And you go 329 00:34:06,920 –> 00:34:11,060 through what he says here. You see how the years have taken their toll on this 330 00:34:11,280 –> 00:34:17,260 man. He doesn’t have the energy to enjoy the endless round of palace festivities. 331 00:34:17,260 –> 00:34:21,860 So verse 35 he says, can I discern what is pleasant and what is not? Have the 332 00:34:21,860 –> 00:34:27,800 capacity to enjoy this. Not only that, the rich food of the palace will be too much 333 00:34:27,800 –> 00:34:32,179 for this old man’s stomach and beside his taste buds are dying. And he says, can 334 00:34:32,179 –> 00:34:37,879 your servant taste what he eats or what he drinks? Just for good measure it’s 335 00:34:37,879 –> 00:34:43,959 quite clear that his hearing isn’t so good either. He says, verse 35, can I 336 00:34:43,959 –> 00:34:49,419 still listen to the voice of singing men and women? Now what’s the point of me 337 00:34:49,419 –> 00:34:53,560 being in the palace? I cant… all these great concerts, I can’t even hear very 338 00:34:53,560 –> 00:35:02,360 well now. And as his strength diminishes he does not want to be a burden to other 339 00:35:02,600 –> 00:35:11,959 people. Why should, verse 37, your servant be an added burden to my lord the King? 340 00:35:11,959 –> 00:35:15,899 How many folks in later years of life have that right up front and center? I 341 00:35:15,899 –> 00:35:24,320 don’t want to be a burden! That’s exactly what he says. And besides all of that, 342 00:35:24,320 –> 00:35:28,239 traveling is no longer easy for him. I mean, we’re talking here about going from 343 00:35:28,260 –> 00:35:33,300 the Jordan to Jerusalem. That’s a considerable journey to be made, and for 344 00:35:33,300 –> 00:35:37,600 this man, he feels it’s beyond him. Traveling days are done. It’s too much 345 00:35:37,600 –> 00:35:41,439 for me. He feels they can’t do it. So he says, verse 37, 346 00:35:41,439 –> 00:35:49,239 let your servant return that I may die in my own city near the grave of my 347 00:35:49,239 –> 00:35:53,840 father and my mother. Isn’t this a sad 348 00:35:53,840 –> 00:36:04,239 scene? I mean, here’s this wealthy man, but age brings its toll to all of us, 349 00:36:04,239 –> 00:36:11,719 whatever our finances. He’s been a devoted servant of the king, and the king 350 00:36:11,719 –> 00:36:19,639 wants to reward him, but it’s too late. The bell curve of life is coming down 351 00:36:20,159 –> 00:36:26,899 for Barzilai and he knows it. Life in the palace may be full of feasting and 352 00:36:26,899 –> 00:36:35,840 music, but Barzilai simply doesn’t have the strength to enjoy it. And David could 353 00:36:36,439 –> 00:36:51,020 extend Barzilai’s years but guess what? Our King Jesus can. Our King Jesus can! 354 00:36:51,020 –> 00:36:57,239 Christ has not only prepared a place for us to enjoy He will give us the 355 00:36:57,280 –> 00:37:11,560 strength to enjoy it! A resurrection body and an everlasting life we await says 356 00:37:11,560 –> 00:37:17,820 the Apostle in Philippians chapter 3, we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ who 357 00:37:17,820 –> 00:37:23,439 will transform our lowly body, the body that aches, the body where hearing isn’t 358 00:37:24,159 –> 00:37:30,879 he’ll transform that body to be like his glorious body and he’ll do it by the 359 00:37:30,879 –> 00:37:38,100 power by which he subjects all things to himself. Think about this contrast this 360 00:37:38,100 –> 00:37:42,919 has grabbed my mind and my heart the more I’ve thought about it. When Barzillai 361 00:37:42,919 –> 00:37:49,260 got to the Jordan of course is often used as an image of death itself, when 362 00:37:49,699 –> 00:37:56,159 got to the Jordan King David bid him goodbye and Barzillai went off on his 363 00:37:56,159 –> 00:38:04,280 own to die. But when you get to the Jordan your King Jesus will bid you 364 00:38:04,280 –> 00:38:11,919 welcome and you will go back with him to live and to live an everlasting life 365 00:38:12,379 –> 00:38:22,520 and to have the capacity to enjoy it in a resurrection body in Christ you have 366 00:38:22,520 –> 00:38:26,520 more than probation there is forgiveness there is 367 00:38:26,520 –> 00:38:30,679 reconcilation there is peace with God there is no condemnation now for those 368 00:38:30,679 –> 00:38:36,679 who are in Christ Jesus in Christ Jesus you have more than compensation you have 369 00:38:36,679 –> 00:38:41,439 the promise of restoration and you have a new earth the home of righteousness 370 00:38:41,560 –> 00:38:46,919 where sin will be no more and more joy will be yours than all the joy you could 371 00:38:46,919 –> 00:38:53,739 ever have known in any life on this earth and in this world and then Christ 372 00:38:53,739 –> 00:38:58,800 you will have more than appreciation you will enter into your award you will see 373 00:38:58,800 –> 00:39:08,860 the King in his beauty you will be with Him you will share his life his home and 374 00:39:09,159 –> 00:39:22,840 his joy and he will give you the capacity to enjoy it forever father for 375 00:39:22,840 –> 00:39:30,060 the blessings that are ours in Christ we lift our hearts in worship and praise 376 00:39:30,060 –> 00:39:36,899 and ask that in your mercy until the day when these gifts are ours we may serve 377 00:39:36,899 –> 00:39:44,179 you well and that we may live for your glory through Jesus Christ our Lord and 378 00:39:44,179 –> 00:39:48,780 our King in his name we pray and everyone said