1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:02,880 Well, good morning everyone, please have your bible open 2 00:00:02,880 –> 00:00:07,760 at 2 Samuel and chapter 23 that’s been read for us. 3 00:00:08,640 –> 00:00:12,460 We looked last week at the return of the King. 4 00:00:13,360 –> 00:00:16,600 King David returned in triumph 5 00:00:16,600 –> 00:00:17,840 and you would think 6 00:00:17,840 –> 00:00:21,639 that with Absalom’s rebellion being over 7 00:00:21,639 –> 00:00:24,000 and with God’s own anointed king 8 00:00:24,000 –> 00:00:26,420 being restored to the throne in Jerusalem, 9 00:00:26,459 –> 00:00:30,740 the last years of David would be played out 10 00:00:30,740 –> 00:00:33,360 in peace and joy. 11 00:00:34,820 –> 00:00:36,380 But we’ve seen that the life of David 12 00:00:36,380 –> 00:00:37,939 falls into three parts. 13 00:00:37,939 –> 00:00:42,080 His trials, his triumphs and then his troubles 14 00:00:42,080 –> 00:00:46,480 and troubles followed David unrelentingly 15 00:00:46,480 –> 00:00:49,119 in these later years of his life. 16 00:00:50,060 –> 00:00:52,560 This is the second to last Sunday 17 00:00:52,560 –> 00:00:55,439 that we have in our series on the life of David. 18 00:00:55,439 –> 00:00:58,180 We’ll look at his last words, God willing, 19 00:00:58,180 –> 00:00:59,000 next week. 20 00:00:59,000 –> 00:01:01,599 But we’re right at the end of his life. 21 00:01:01,599 –> 00:01:03,720 We’re in the last era. 22 00:01:03,720 –> 00:01:06,839 We’re in the last few years before he 23 00:01:06,839 –> 00:01:10,419 went home to the Lord. 24 00:01:11,400 –> 00:01:14,080 And we’re going to see today that 25 00:01:14,080 –> 00:01:17,239 God’s anointed King, even in the last years 26 00:01:17,239 –> 00:01:20,660 of his life, was both deeply hated 27 00:01:20,660 –> 00:01:23,300 and dearly loved. 28 00:01:24,080 –> 00:01:27,099 Remember that the same was true of 29 00:01:27,099 –> 00:01:29,440 our Lord Jesus Christ and is true 30 00:01:29,440 –> 00:01:30,940 of our Lord Jesus Christ today. 31 00:01:30,940 –> 00:01:34,459 Deeply hated and dearly loved. 32 00:01:34,459 –> 00:01:37,040 And the same will be true of you 33 00:01:37,040 –> 00:01:39,940 as a Christian believer in this world. 34 00:01:39,940 –> 00:01:41,959 Jesus said to his disciples, 35 00:01:41,959 –> 00:01:45,000 if the world hates you, know that 36 00:01:45,000 –> 00:01:47,379 it hated me beforehand. 37 00:01:47,379 –> 00:01:49,019 And then he explained why. 38 00:01:49,019 –> 00:01:51,599 He said if you were of the world, 39 00:01:51,599 –> 00:01:54,480 the world would love you as its own. 40 00:01:54,480 –> 00:01:56,959 But because, he says to his disciples, 41 00:01:56,959 –> 00:02:00,120 you are not of this world. 42 00:02:01,480 –> 00:02:02,320 Why? 43 00:02:02,320 –> 00:02:05,879 Because I chose you out of the world, 44 00:02:05,879 –> 00:02:10,259 therefor the world hates you. 45 00:02:12,399 –> 00:02:16,600 Now, the message this morning is very simple. 46 00:02:16,600 –> 00:02:20,199 When you are hated, when you are discouraged, 47 00:02:20,220 –> 00:02:25,220 and when you get weary of the pressures of life itself, 48 00:02:25,880 –> 00:02:29,699 remember how much you are loved. 49 00:02:29,699 –> 00:02:31,419 We’re going to look today at two stories 50 00:02:31,419 –> 00:02:33,119 that show how much David was hated, 51 00:02:33,119 –> 00:02:37,199 and then one story that shows how dearly he was loved. 52 00:02:37,199 –> 00:02:40,399 So I hope you ever have your Bible open in front of you, 53 00:02:40,399 –> 00:02:42,940 and we’re going to begin a few pages back 54 00:02:42,940 –> 00:02:46,000 at 2 Samuel and chapter 20 55 00:02:46,000 –> 00:02:49,199 where we find that right at the end of the life, his life, 56 00:02:49,199 –> 00:02:52,919 David had to endure even more rebellion 57 00:02:52,919 –> 00:02:57,279 as if Absalom’s revolt had not been enough. 58 00:02:57,279 –> 00:02:59,399 We now come in second Kings chapter 20 59 00:02:59,399 –> 00:03:01,919 to yet another rebellion. 60 00:03:01,919 –> 00:03:05,539 It happened, there happened to be there, 61 00:03:05,539 –> 00:03:07,399 chapter 20 and verse one, 62 00:03:07,399 –> 00:03:11,139 a worthless man, we would say a scoundrel 63 00:03:11,139 –> 00:03:14,600 whose name was Sheba, the son of Bikri, 64 00:03:14,600 –> 00:03:18,199 a Benjamite, and he blew the trumpet and said, 65 00:03:18,199 –> 00:03:20,880 we have no portion in David. 66 00:03:20,880 –> 00:03:23,600 We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse, 67 00:03:23,600 –> 00:03:26,559 every man to his tents, o Israel. 68 00:03:26,559 –> 00:03:27,740 So you see what’s happening here? 69 00:03:27,740 –> 00:03:30,160 As soon as Absalom’s rebellion is over 70 00:03:30,160 –> 00:03:32,199 the king returns in triumph, what happens? 71 00:03:32,199 –> 00:03:34,199 Another rebellion begins. 72 00:03:35,600 –> 00:03:37,800 You’ll notice that Sheba was a Benjamite, 73 00:03:37,800 –> 00:03:41,320 that is he belonged to the tribe of King Saul, 74 00:03:42,199 –> 00:03:45,399 but his appeal was not limited to the Benjamites 75 00:03:45,399 –> 00:03:50,240 because we’re told verse 2 that all the men of Israel 76 00:03:50,240 –> 00:03:55,240 withdrew from David and followed Sheba, the son of Bichri. 77 00:03:56,520 –> 00:03:58,720 What in the world were they thinking about? 78 00:03:59,839 –> 00:04:03,039 All the men of Israel that means that 11 out 79 00:04:03,039 –> 00:04:06,800 of the 12 tribes joined in this rebellion 80 00:04:06,800 –> 00:04:10,320 very shortly after the rebellion of Absalom had just failed. 81 00:04:10,759 –> 00:04:15,279 Now remember David was God’s anointed king 82 00:04:16,359 –> 00:04:19,339 and it was very clear from the response 83 00:04:19,339 –> 00:04:23,899 to this man Sheba the scoundrel blowing the trumpet 84 00:04:23,899 –> 00:04:26,140 and calling people away from David 85 00:04:26,140 –> 00:04:29,519 that despite all that David had done for the people of God 86 00:04:29,519 –> 00:04:33,640 there was a deep antagonism that remained widely 87 00:04:33,640 –> 00:04:36,260 even among God’s people towards him 88 00:04:36,940 –> 00:04:38,679 Isn’t it fascinating? 89 00:04:38,679 –> 00:04:43,200 With hindsight we are able to see 90 00:04:43,200 –> 00:04:47,359 that David was the greatest of all the Old Testament kings 91 00:04:48,640 –> 00:04:50,359 but it wasn’t like that at the time 92 00:04:51,559 –> 00:04:54,320 why in the world could God’s people not see 93 00:04:54,320 –> 00:04:56,559 that they were blessed in David 94 00:04:56,559 –> 00:04:59,100 Why could they not simply rejoice in the good gift 95 00:04:59,100 –> 00:05:01,660 that they had been given from the hand of the Lord? 96 00:05:02,899 –> 00:05:05,200 But of course that’s the world in which we live 97 00:05:06,559 –> 00:05:07,380 Verse two, 98 00:05:07,380 –> 00:05:10,739 but the men of Judah followed their king 99 00:05:10,739 –> 00:05:14,380 that is David steadfastly from Jordan to Jerusalem 100 00:05:14,380 –> 00:05:16,540 so just one tribe out of all the 12 101 00:05:16,540 –> 00:05:19,739 stayed loyal to David at the end of his life year 102 00:05:22,140 –> 00:05:25,660 When Sheba rose up against God’s anointed King 103 00:05:25,660 –> 00:05:29,940 only David’s own tribe remained loyal to him 104 00:05:31,179 –> 00:05:33,179 Now do you see the significance of this? 105 00:05:33,179 –> 00:05:35,899 It means that at the end of his life 106 00:05:35,940 –> 00:05:38,779 David was right back where he started 107 00:05:39,660 –> 00:05:41,299 At the beginning of this series 108 00:05:41,299 –> 00:05:46,059 long ago when we began in 2 Samuel and chapter two 109 00:05:46,059 –> 00:05:49,820 we saw David asking the question of the Lord 110 00:05:49,820 –> 00:05:54,040 Shall I go up to any of the cities of Judah? 111 00:05:54,040 –> 00:05:57,220 In other words, is there any place on the face of the earth 112 00:05:57,220 –> 00:06:00,279 that is ready to receive God’s anointed king? 113 00:06:00,279 –> 00:06:02,239 And God said, yes, there is one place 114 00:06:02,239 –> 00:06:04,519 a little place out in the sticks called Hebron 115 00:06:04,519 –> 00:06:07,600 Go up to that city and they’re the community 116 00:06:07,600 –> 00:06:08,799 of the leaders of Judah 117 00:06:08,799 –> 00:06:12,440 and they alone, anointed David to be the king 118 00:06:13,420 –> 00:06:16,480 When David started out in 2 Samuel, chapter two 119 00:06:16,480 –> 00:06:19,320 he had one tribe for him, 11 against him 120 00:06:20,260 –> 00:06:21,959 Now we found him at the end of his life 121 00:06:21,959 –> 00:06:25,459 2 Samuel, chapter 20 he is in exactly the same position 122 00:06:27,440 –> 00:06:28,799 Back where he started 123 00:06:28,799 –> 00:06:31,820 He must’ve wondered, has any good been done? 124 00:06:31,820 –> 00:06:33,839 I’ve been at this all my life 125 00:06:35,399 –> 00:06:37,359 Has any progress been made? 126 00:06:37,359 –> 00:06:39,459 Has anything that I’ve put my life into 127 00:06:39,459 –> 00:06:40,640 counted for anything? 128 00:06:40,640 –> 00:06:42,399 Is there been any lasting achievement? 129 00:06:42,399 –> 00:06:43,959 It all seems to be undone 130 00:06:47,200 –> 00:06:48,959 Some of you know what that is like 131 00:06:51,399 –> 00:06:55,000 Moments where you really wonder if you’ve achieved anything 132 00:06:55,000 –> 00:06:57,299 of lasting significance in all of your life 133 00:06:59,619 –> 00:07:02,079 You put all this effort into building something up 134 00:07:02,079 –> 00:07:03,760 and then it gets torn down 135 00:07:05,519 –> 00:07:08,519 and you find yourself saying, Why did I bother? 136 00:07:10,339 –> 00:07:11,720 What’s the point? 137 00:07:13,799 –> 00:07:16,079 Did any lasting good come 138 00:07:16,079 –> 00:07:19,200 of all this investment of energy and time 139 00:07:19,200 –> 00:07:21,220 and all that I am and all that I have? 140 00:07:23,380 –> 00:07:24,920 That’s where David was 141 00:07:27,299 –> 00:07:28,940 Now, if you follow this story 142 00:07:28,940 –> 00:07:31,839 you will see that Sheba’s rebellion failed 143 00:07:31,839 –> 00:07:33,440 as ALL rebellion 144 00:07:33,600 –> 00:07:36,920 against God’s anointed King finally must and will, 145 00:07:38,359 –> 00:07:40,779 but even THIS was not the end. 146 00:07:41,679 –> 00:07:44,679 If you turn over just a few pages to 1 Kings, 147 00:07:44,679 –> 00:07:47,959 the next book in the Bible, 1 Kings 1, 148 00:07:47,959 –> 00:07:50,799 you will see that right before he died, 149 00:07:50,799 –> 00:07:53,000 immediately before he died, would you believe it? 150 00:07:53,000 –> 00:07:56,299 David faced yet ANOTHER rebellion! 151 00:07:56,299 –> 00:07:58,559 1 Kings 1 verse 5. 152 00:07:58,559 –> 00:08:02,359 Now Adonijah, this is another Son of David, 153 00:08:02,359 –> 00:08:06,420 the son of Haggith, that is the mother to whom he was born. 154 00:08:06,420 –> 00:08:09,220 Adonijah exalted himself, 155 00:08:10,239 –> 00:08:12,220 saying, I will be king. 156 00:08:13,279 –> 00:08:14,559 And notice what it says. 157 00:08:14,559 –> 00:08:19,559 He prepared for himself chariots and horsemen 158 00:08:19,880 –> 00:08:22,720 and 50 men to run before him. 159 00:08:22,720 –> 00:08:24,299 If you’re following this story closely, 160 00:08:24,299 –> 00:08:27,119 you’ll be saying, we’ve seen this before. 161 00:08:27,119 –> 00:08:29,500 That is EXACTLY what Absalom did. 162 00:08:29,500 –> 00:08:32,080 If you check back to chapter 15 and verse 1 163 00:08:32,099 –> 00:08:34,059 of 2 Samuel, you’ll find there, 164 00:08:34,059 –> 00:08:35,700 that he prepared for himself chariots 165 00:08:35,700 –> 00:08:38,400 and horsemen and 50 men to run before him. 166 00:08:38,400 –> 00:08:41,080 His brothers doing exactly the same thing. 167 00:08:42,700 –> 00:08:44,460 So you read these words, you think, 168 00:08:44,460 –> 00:08:45,880 oh no, not again. 169 00:08:48,219 –> 00:08:50,020 Not another rebellion. 170 00:08:51,299 –> 00:08:53,979 When will this ever end? 171 00:08:56,780 –> 00:08:58,979 And not only is there more rebellion 172 00:08:58,979 –> 00:09:01,219 that indicates the deep antagonism 173 00:09:01,359 –> 00:09:03,739 that there was towards God’s anointed king, 174 00:09:03,739 –> 00:09:07,840 there was at the end of David’s life more conflict. 175 00:09:07,840 –> 00:09:12,840 If you look at chapter 21 of 2 Samuel and verse 15, 176 00:09:12,940 –> 00:09:16,539 notice how the word again is repeated 177 00:09:16,539 –> 00:09:18,320 in the verses that follow. 178 00:09:19,580 –> 00:09:21,539 Well, let’s repeat it again and again. 179 00:09:21,539 –> 00:09:23,299 Look at verse 15. 180 00:09:23,299 –> 00:09:28,299 There was war again between the Philistines and Israel. 181 00:09:29,119 –> 00:09:34,119 Verse 18, after this there was again war 182 00:09:34,320 –> 00:09:36,840 with the Philistines at Gob. 183 00:09:36,840 –> 00:09:41,580 Verse 19, there was again war with the Philistines, 184 00:09:41,580 –> 00:09:44,219 again at this same place, Gob. 185 00:09:44,219 –> 00:09:49,219 And verse 20, there was again war this time at Gath. 186 00:09:49,840 –> 00:09:52,719 Now look at verse 15 and you won’t be surprised 187 00:09:52,719 –> 00:09:53,559 at what you read there. 188 00:09:53,580 –> 00:09:57,780 No wonder it says, and David grew weary. 189 00:10:02,320 –> 00:10:05,140 How long do I have to go on fighting these Philistines? 190 00:10:06,400 –> 00:10:08,280 I’ve been doing it all my life. 191 00:10:11,419 –> 00:10:13,739 He’s tired of the battle. 192 00:10:15,859 –> 00:10:17,539 Will this never end? 193 00:10:17,539 –> 00:10:19,460 One rebellion after another, 194 00:10:19,460 –> 00:10:21,780 one wave of Philistines after another. 195 00:10:24,559 –> 00:10:29,559 Of course the best known story from the entire life of David 196 00:10:31,719 –> 00:10:36,380 is when David’s slew the giant Goliath. 197 00:10:37,840 –> 00:10:40,200 David killed that giant of a man 198 00:10:40,200 –> 00:10:43,719 with a pebble from his sling early in his life 199 00:10:43,719 –> 00:10:45,760 while Saul was still the King. 200 00:10:45,760 –> 00:10:47,820 That was right back at the beginning. 201 00:10:49,000 –> 00:10:50,940 But I want you to notice in this chapter 202 00:10:51,280 –> 00:10:55,700 that in the last years of David’s life, 203 00:10:55,700 –> 00:10:57,799 we find him right back where he started. 204 00:10:59,080 –> 00:11:01,219 Facing not one giant but four. 205 00:11:02,299 –> 00:11:04,460 Look at verse 16. 206 00:11:04,460 –> 00:11:06,520 Ishbi-Benob. 207 00:11:06,520 –> 00:11:10,320 There’s a name, Ishbi-Benob. 208 00:11:10,320 –> 00:11:13,900 One of the descendants of the giants 209 00:11:13,900 –> 00:11:16,179 thought to kill David. 210 00:11:17,080 –> 00:11:19,960 Here’s another of the line of Goliath 211 00:11:19,960 –> 00:11:22,919 and he’s coming back to get revenge. 212 00:11:24,340 –> 00:11:25,820 And he wasn’t the only one 213 00:11:25,820 –> 00:11:28,020 because in the course of these again and again 214 00:11:28,020 –> 00:11:29,280 wars with the Philistine, 215 00:11:29,280 –> 00:11:32,679 there are no less than four Goliaths so to speak, 216 00:11:32,679 –> 00:11:35,619 so four of these giants who appear on the scene. 217 00:11:35,619 –> 00:11:38,539 In verse 16, you’ve got Ishbi-Benob. 218 00:11:38,539 –> 00:11:42,780 In verse 18, you’ve got this giant by the name of Saf. 219 00:11:42,919 –> 00:11:46,760 In verse 19, you have another by the name of Goliath, 220 00:11:46,760 –> 00:11:50,500 literally a second Goliath, another by the same name. 221 00:11:50,500 –> 00:11:53,760 And in verse 20, you have an unnamed giant 222 00:11:53,760 –> 00:11:57,919 who is distinguished by having six fingers and six toes. 223 00:11:59,500 –> 00:12:00,859 Now, what do they all have in common? 224 00:12:00,859 –> 00:12:02,440 They all hate David 225 00:12:04,280 –> 00:12:07,179 and they all want to destroy him. 226 00:12:07,179 –> 00:12:09,059 And you see the pattern of the story. 227 00:12:09,059 –> 00:12:11,900 Will there ever be an end to this? 228 00:12:12,880 –> 00:12:13,719 No. 229 00:12:15,679 –> 00:12:18,099 Now remember, we’ve said throughout this series 230 00:12:18,099 –> 00:12:21,760 that the great achievements of David’s life 231 00:12:23,320 –> 00:12:25,500 were to unite the people of God 232 00:12:25,500 –> 00:12:27,320 as they had never been united before 233 00:12:27,320 –> 00:12:30,500 and to subdue their enemies. 234 00:12:30,500 –> 00:12:33,280 By God’s grace, these things had been wonderfully 235 00:12:33,280 –> 00:12:34,280 accomplished. 236 00:12:34,280 –> 00:12:36,400 David’s trials were followed by his triumphs. 237 00:12:36,400 –> 00:12:40,580 He united the people of God and he subdued their enemies. 238 00:12:41,340 –> 00:12:44,260 But now we’re finding that right at the end of his life, 239 00:12:44,260 –> 00:12:46,099 everything he accomplished seems to be undone 240 00:12:46,099 –> 00:12:48,739 and it needs to be done all over again. 241 00:12:48,739 –> 00:12:52,039 God’s people are divided, 11 tribes on the one side 242 00:12:52,039 –> 00:12:53,799 and one on the other. 243 00:12:55,219 –> 00:12:57,880 Their enemies are absolutely rampant 244 00:12:57,880 –> 00:12:59,780 and David is exhausted, 245 00:13:02,580 –> 00:13:04,239 tired of the battle. 246 00:13:05,219 –> 00:13:07,960 Well we all know what it is to face times 247 00:13:09,840 –> 00:13:12,200 of discouragement when you just get weary. 248 00:13:13,659 –> 00:13:15,799 You say, I’ve been facing this for a long time, 249 00:13:15,799 –> 00:13:18,000 I seem to be no further forward. 250 00:13:19,820 –> 00:13:21,880 I don’t know if I really achieved anything 251 00:13:21,880 –> 00:13:23,700 or made any progress. 252 00:13:25,880 –> 00:13:27,840 You’re exactly where David was, 253 00:13:27,840 –> 00:13:30,280 you’re tired of the battle 254 00:13:32,000 –> 00:13:32,960 and you’re just weary. 255 00:13:34,239 –> 00:13:39,039 And you say how long do I have to put up with this? 256 00:13:41,960 –> 00:13:46,039 Let me draw three observations from David’s weariness 257 00:13:46,039 –> 00:13:49,679 when he was confronted by this ongoing battle. 258 00:13:49,679 –> 00:13:52,739 The first is this, never be surprised 259 00:13:52,739 –> 00:13:57,099 by the persistence of sin and conflict in this world. 260 00:13:58,299 –> 00:14:00,679 Never be surprised by the persistence 261 00:14:00,679 –> 00:14:03,479 of sin and conflict in this world. 262 00:14:03,520 –> 00:14:06,440 That is surely one of the points of the story. 263 00:14:06,440 –> 00:14:09,440 Our world is a world in rebellion 264 00:14:09,440 –> 00:14:11,559 against God’s anointed king. 265 00:14:13,200 –> 00:14:15,099 And we see this in our world, dont we. 266 00:14:16,320 –> 00:14:20,940 Everything God has put in place, man wants to overturn. 267 00:14:24,239 –> 00:14:28,320 And human rebellion is expressed in a constant search 268 00:14:28,320 –> 00:14:30,380 to find new ways of sinning. 269 00:14:31,059 –> 00:14:34,500 50 years from now people will be sinning 270 00:14:34,500 –> 00:14:36,840 in ways that we haven’t even thought of. 271 00:14:37,859 –> 00:14:39,020 Never imagined. 272 00:14:40,380 –> 00:14:44,260 But the impulse is that deep, 273 00:14:45,659 –> 00:14:49,359 the impulse of rebellion against Almighty God. 274 00:14:50,619 –> 00:14:53,960 Our world has always hated God’s anointed king, 275 00:14:53,960 –> 00:14:54,820 Jesus Christ. 276 00:14:54,820 –> 00:14:56,359 And it always will. 277 00:14:56,359 –> 00:15:00,239 And as long as there are people who will exalt themselves 278 00:15:00,239 –> 00:15:03,380 that’s what Adonijah did in his rebellion, 279 00:15:03,380 –> 00:15:06,020 rather than submit to God’s anointed King, 280 00:15:06,020 –> 00:15:07,640 there will be, the Bible says, 281 00:15:07,640 –> 00:15:12,640 wars and rumors of wars and our world will continue 282 00:15:14,080 –> 00:15:16,659 not only to be in rebellion, but because of its rebellion, 283 00:15:16,659 –> 00:15:18,479 it will continue to be in conflict. 284 00:15:18,479 –> 00:15:22,239 A rebellion is vertical, the conflict is horizontal. 285 00:15:24,599 –> 00:15:25,700 The world, in other words, 286 00:15:25,700 –> 00:15:27,580 according to a biblical worldview, 287 00:15:27,619 –> 00:15:30,260 will not and cannot ever evolve 288 00:15:30,260 –> 00:15:35,260 into a panacea of peace and love and joy. 289 00:15:37,559 –> 00:15:40,140 Of course, that dream arises in the hearts 290 00:15:40,140 –> 00:15:43,159 of every generation, every new generation says, 291 00:15:43,159 –> 00:15:45,000 we’re gonna make this world a panacea 292 00:15:46,000 –> 00:15:48,080 of peace and love and joy, imagine. 293 00:15:52,299 –> 00:15:55,280 But we live in a world that is in rebellion against God, 294 00:15:55,479 –> 00:15:57,640 and as long as it’s in rebellion against God, 295 00:15:57,640 –> 00:16:00,840 lives with the conflict that results from that, 296 00:16:00,840 –> 00:16:02,520 David can’t stop it. 297 00:16:04,200 –> 00:16:05,900 We can’t stop it. 298 00:16:07,840 –> 00:16:10,820 And only Jesus Christ, God’s Anointed King himself 299 00:16:10,820 –> 00:16:12,960 can bring it to an end and one day he will. 300 00:16:15,159 –> 00:16:18,520 So, don’t ever be surprised by the persistence 301 00:16:18,520 –> 00:16:20,440 of sin and of conflict in this world. 302 00:16:20,440 –> 00:16:23,039 It’s the nature of the world in which we live, 303 00:16:23,099 –> 00:16:26,440 and you need to grasp that as a Bible-believing Christian. 304 00:16:28,320 –> 00:16:30,280 Otherwise, you’ll set the wrong goal 305 00:16:31,400 –> 00:16:33,440 and you’ll live in constant frustration 306 00:16:33,440 –> 00:16:35,900 rather than in confidence in a sovereign God 307 00:16:35,900 –> 00:16:38,320 who one day will bring his Anointed King 308 00:16:39,200 –> 00:16:42,619 and end the rebellion and so end the conflict. 309 00:16:44,099 –> 00:16:47,919 Second, and this is very striking to me in this story, 310 00:16:49,000 –> 00:16:51,320 when you’re weary, when you’re really discouraged, 311 00:16:51,320 –> 00:16:52,479 when it gets to you, 312 00:16:52,479 –> 00:16:54,820 how long do I have to go on facing this? 313 00:16:54,820 –> 00:16:59,179 Learn to accept help from others. 314 00:16:59,179 –> 00:17:01,140 Something very practical here. 315 00:17:01,140 –> 00:17:04,599 Learn to accept help from others. 316 00:17:04,599 –> 00:17:08,839 Look at verse 17 of Chapter 21 here. 317 00:17:08,839 –> 00:17:12,160 But Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, 318 00:17:12,160 –> 00:17:16,339 came to David’s aid 319 00:17:16,339 –> 00:17:17,939 and attacked the Philistine, 320 00:17:18,000 –> 00:17:20,359 that’s this Ishbi-Ben-Ob, 321 00:17:20,359 –> 00:17:21,339 and killed him. 322 00:17:22,459 –> 00:17:24,479 That’s Abishai who did that. 323 00:17:24,479 –> 00:17:27,479 And then David’s men swore to him, 324 00:17:27,479 –> 00:17:31,280 “‘You shall no longer go out with us to battle, 325 00:17:31,280 –> 00:17:36,000 “‘lest you quench the lamp of Israel.’” 326 00:17:37,420 –> 00:17:39,339 Now, I don’t suppose for one minute 327 00:17:39,339 –> 00:17:42,500 that David particularly liked this. 328 00:17:42,500 –> 00:17:45,699 I mean, isn’t he the guy that beats the giants. 329 00:17:45,699 –> 00:17:47,699 Isn’t that what he did when he was young? 330 00:17:49,140 –> 00:17:51,719 But thank God for this man, Abishai, 331 00:17:51,719 –> 00:17:55,180 who comes alongside David in his later years, 332 00:17:55,180 –> 00:17:58,300 and says, David, you don’t have to be the one 333 00:17:58,300 –> 00:18:00,900 who kills all the giants. 334 00:18:00,900 –> 00:18:04,660 Let me help you, let me help you. 335 00:18:04,660 –> 00:18:06,459 Let me take this one for you. 336 00:18:07,380 –> 00:18:12,380 God put other people around David to help him. 337 00:18:12,900 –> 00:18:15,839 And when you are weary, when you are discouraged, 338 00:18:15,839 –> 00:18:17,859 when you are feeling that you just don’t have 339 00:18:17,859 –> 00:18:19,920 the strength to continue, remember this, 340 00:18:19,920 –> 00:18:22,020 that one of the provisions that God makes 341 00:18:22,020 –> 00:18:24,479 is that he does put around you people who love you. 342 00:18:24,479 –> 00:18:26,900 That’s the point of this contrast today. 343 00:18:26,900 –> 00:18:28,780 When you are deeply hated, 344 00:18:28,780 –> 00:18:30,839 then remember how deeply you are loved. 345 00:18:32,819 –> 00:18:37,560 Third, always remember when you’re weary in the battle 346 00:18:37,560 –> 00:18:42,560 that victory may actually be a lot closer than you think. 347 00:18:44,680 –> 00:18:47,719 Now this was very striking to me as I pondered it 348 00:18:47,719 –> 00:18:49,380 because I began asking the questions. 349 00:18:49,380 –> 00:18:50,560 Four giants. 350 00:18:50,560 –> 00:18:55,280 Well, how long is this going to continue? 351 00:18:57,119 –> 00:18:59,239 David must have been thinking when Ishbi, 352 00:18:59,239 –> 00:19:00,800 Ben-Obi and the rest of them, 353 00:19:00,800 –> 00:19:03,060 including the unnamed one with the six fingers 354 00:19:03,060 –> 00:19:05,400 and the six toes, come along, 355 00:19:05,400 –> 00:19:08,079 when will this ever end? 356 00:19:08,079 –> 00:19:10,560 What David could not have known is that right here 357 00:19:10,560 –> 00:19:13,680 is actually the end of the giants. 358 00:19:13,680 –> 00:19:14,900 They never appear again. 359 00:19:16,839 –> 00:19:20,579 We never read of Solomon facing any giants. 360 00:19:21,920 –> 00:19:25,699 Instead, here’s 1 Kings, chapter four in verse 21, 361 00:19:25,699 –> 00:19:28,359 here’s what Solomon experienced, David’s son. 362 00:19:28,359 –> 00:19:31,900 Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates 363 00:19:31,979 –> 00:19:36,979 to the land of the Philistines and to the border of Egypt, 364 00:19:37,660 –> 00:19:40,900 and they, that is the Philistines, brought tribute 365 00:19:40,900 –> 00:19:43,699 and served Solomon all the days of his life, 366 00:19:43,699 –> 00:19:45,079 all the days of his life. 367 00:19:48,640 –> 00:19:51,540 So the enemies that David had fought for so long 368 00:19:51,540 –> 00:19:54,979 were finally subdued, and right here in chapter 21 369 00:19:54,979 –> 00:19:56,300 seems to be the end of it. 370 00:19:56,900 –> 00:20:02,079 And the people of God in the time of Solomon 371 00:20:02,079 –> 00:20:06,140 were wonderfully united throughout his entire reign. 372 00:20:07,500 –> 00:20:09,359 That is why in the time of Solomon 373 00:20:09,359 –> 00:20:11,699 the things that David longed to accomplish 374 00:20:11,699 –> 00:20:13,760 were actually achieved. 375 00:20:14,739 –> 00:20:18,219 The temple was built, the nation prospered 376 00:20:18,219 –> 00:20:20,439 as never before. 377 00:20:20,439 –> 00:20:25,160 The cloud of God’s presence came down among his people. 378 00:20:27,180 –> 00:20:31,939 Remember this, God will only allow you to see 379 00:20:31,939 –> 00:20:35,599 a very small part of the fruit of your ministry 380 00:20:35,599 –> 00:20:36,599 in this life. 381 00:20:38,760 –> 00:20:41,020 David fought endless battles 382 00:20:41,020 –> 00:20:43,939 and in his later years he was tired. 383 00:20:45,920 –> 00:20:48,180 And when he was tired he had accomplished 384 00:20:48,180 –> 00:20:50,339 much more than he thought. 385 00:20:51,760 –> 00:20:53,719 When he was most weary, 386 00:20:53,719 –> 00:20:55,959 when he must have been in the position 387 00:20:56,000 –> 00:20:58,260 of saying not another giant, 388 00:20:59,180 –> 00:21:03,020 he was actually closer to victory and to breakthrough 389 00:21:03,020 –> 00:21:06,339 than he would ever have dared to dream. 390 00:21:09,800 –> 00:21:11,180 So two stories about the king 391 00:21:11,180 –> 00:21:13,979 who was hated, the constant rebellion 392 00:21:13,979 –> 00:21:15,979 and as a result of the rebellion, 393 00:21:15,979 –> 00:21:18,500 the conflict that ensued. 394 00:21:19,619 –> 00:21:21,859 Now one story about how much the king was loved 395 00:21:21,859 –> 00:21:24,260 and this is the story that we read this morning 396 00:21:24,319 –> 00:21:27,959 and I love this story, I hope that you will too. 397 00:21:27,959 –> 00:21:30,400 Because in the middle of all this darkness, 398 00:21:30,400 –> 00:21:33,479 all of this pressure, all of this weariness, 399 00:21:33,479 –> 00:21:37,219 we have a story about the king being wonderfully refreshed. 400 00:21:37,219 –> 00:21:39,260 It’s a story that’s a beacon of hope 401 00:21:39,260 –> 00:21:41,339 in the middle of all this darkness. 402 00:21:42,260 –> 00:21:47,260 Almost certainly, this story comes from an earlier time 403 00:21:47,339 –> 00:21:49,420 in David’s life. 404 00:21:49,420 –> 00:21:51,859 Notice in verse 13 of chapter 23 405 00:21:51,920 –> 00:21:56,219 that David was at the cave of Adullam. 406 00:21:56,219 –> 00:21:57,739 Well, the cave of Adullam, of course, 407 00:21:57,739 –> 00:22:00,180 was where David hid in the early years 408 00:22:00,180 –> 00:22:02,599 when he was on the run from Saul. 409 00:22:02,599 –> 00:22:06,640 You have that in 1 Samuel and chapter 22. 410 00:22:06,640 –> 00:22:08,699 So the question is, if indeed this story 411 00:22:08,699 –> 00:22:11,579 is from much earlier in David’s life, 412 00:22:11,579 –> 00:22:15,900 why in the providence of God is it inserted right here? 413 00:22:17,439 –> 00:22:19,540 And I think that the answer to that question 414 00:22:19,540 –> 00:22:24,540 may be that God put it here because David needed it here, 415 00:22:25,280 –> 00:22:27,079 and so do we. 416 00:22:27,079 –> 00:22:30,800 Perhaps it was that when David was most weary, 417 00:22:30,800 –> 00:22:34,739 when he was most discouraged, that someone came along, 418 00:22:34,739 –> 00:22:37,959 when he was feeling the hatred of many towards him, 419 00:22:37,959 –> 00:22:39,800 someone came alongside him and said, 420 00:22:39,800 –> 00:22:43,339 David, remember the story that is 421 00:22:43,339 –> 00:22:45,979 an indication of just how much you are loved? 422 00:22:46,920 –> 00:22:49,959 There’s a principle here, I think, 423 00:22:49,959 –> 00:22:53,420 when you are weary of the battle, 424 00:22:53,420 –> 00:22:57,319 remember how much you are loved. 425 00:22:57,319 –> 00:22:59,660 That’s the shape of the story. 426 00:22:59,660 –> 00:23:03,339 Weary of the battle and now reminded 427 00:23:03,339 –> 00:23:05,780 of how much he is loved. 428 00:23:05,780 –> 00:23:08,300 When you are weary of the battle, 429 00:23:08,300 –> 00:23:12,780 remember how much you are loved. 430 00:23:13,699 –> 00:23:15,640 Now here’s the story. 431 00:23:15,640 –> 00:23:18,459 David is in this cave of Adullam. 432 00:23:19,560 –> 00:23:21,619 It’s harvest time verse 13, 433 00:23:21,619 –> 00:23:23,920 and then of course, in that part of the world 434 00:23:23,920 –> 00:23:26,760 meant that it was especially hot. 435 00:23:26,760 –> 00:23:31,780 Good water is scarce, and of course David is thirsty. 436 00:23:32,680 –> 00:23:37,420 His mind goes back to the town where he grew up. 437 00:23:38,719 –> 00:23:39,560 Bethlehem. 438 00:23:40,079 –> 00:23:44,680 He’d always had a special affection for that place. 439 00:23:45,959 –> 00:23:50,560 He remembers going to the well at the gate of Bethlehem 440 00:23:50,560 –> 00:23:51,839 when he was a little boy, 441 00:23:51,839 –> 00:23:55,160 and how often he was refreshed on a hot day 442 00:23:55,160 –> 00:23:57,300 by that spring of water, 443 00:23:58,760 –> 00:24:02,319 but Bethlehem at this time had fallen into the hands 444 00:24:02,319 –> 00:24:04,560 of guess who, the Philistines. 445 00:24:04,560 –> 00:24:06,780 It was occupied territory, 446 00:24:07,660 –> 00:24:09,920 and what was even worse 447 00:24:09,920 –> 00:24:14,140 was that the Philistines had not only occupied Bethlehem, 448 00:24:14,140 –> 00:24:17,859 they had actually turned it into a military base 449 00:24:17,859 –> 00:24:20,780 from which they could launch further incursions 450 00:24:20,780 –> 00:24:23,260 into the land that God had given to his people. 451 00:24:23,260 –> 00:24:24,920 That’s why it says in verse 14, 452 00:24:24,920 –> 00:24:29,920 there was a garrison of the Philistines then at Bethlehem, 453 00:24:30,500 –> 00:24:31,699 a whole garrison, 454 00:24:31,699 –> 00:24:36,660 so no hope of David ever getting back to Bethlehem 455 00:24:36,660 –> 00:24:37,880 anytime soon. 456 00:24:39,020 –> 00:24:43,079 So here’s David in the cave about 15 miles from Bethlehem 457 00:24:43,079 –> 00:24:47,060 and as the temperature rises on this hot day 458 00:24:47,060 –> 00:24:50,060 his mind wanders and he thinks about the well 459 00:24:50,060 –> 00:24:53,819 beside the gate at Bethlehem in verse 15, 460 00:24:53,819 –> 00:24:55,699 and David said longingly, 461 00:24:55,699 –> 00:25:00,560 oh, oh, that someone would give me water to drink 462 00:25:00,560 –> 00:25:03,900 from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate. 463 00:25:04,500 –> 00:25:08,560 It’s a sort of outpouring of nostalgia, really. 464 00:25:09,619 –> 00:25:12,500 What would I not give for a drink 465 00:25:12,500 –> 00:25:14,839 from the water of Bethlehem? 466 00:25:14,839 –> 00:25:18,300 That water that I used to enjoy when I was a lad. 467 00:25:21,060 –> 00:25:23,199 But Bethlehem of course is 15 miles away 468 00:25:23,199 –> 00:25:26,260 and there’s an entire garrison of Philistine soldiers there. 469 00:25:26,979 –> 00:25:31,979 But three of David’s mighty men, 470 00:25:36,800 –> 00:25:41,359 those God had placed around him who loved him 471 00:25:42,420 –> 00:25:44,939 and were loyal to him through thick and thin, 472 00:25:46,260 –> 00:25:48,819 three of them heard him say this 473 00:25:48,819 –> 00:25:53,599 in perhaps even an absent minded kind of a moment. 474 00:25:53,819 –> 00:25:57,060 And these guys say, 475 00:25:58,939 –> 00:26:01,060 our King wants a drink of water from Bethlehem, 476 00:26:01,060 –> 00:26:01,959 let’s go get it. 477 00:26:02,900 –> 00:26:04,099 You’ve gotta love this. 478 00:26:06,540 –> 00:26:11,540 So they went on what I think I can only describe 479 00:26:11,800 –> 00:26:15,239 as a Navy SEAL type of mission. 480 00:26:15,239 –> 00:26:16,060 Isn’t it? 481 00:26:17,579 –> 00:26:19,560 How else would you describe this? 482 00:26:19,560 –> 00:26:23,260 It clearly was at risk of their own lives 483 00:26:23,859 –> 00:26:27,359 in order to get the King they loved a drink of water. 484 00:26:28,479 –> 00:26:31,140 Notice verse 16 says, 485 00:26:31,140 –> 00:26:33,859 the three mighty men broke 486 00:26:33,859 –> 00:26:37,300 through the camp of the Philistines. 487 00:26:37,300 –> 00:26:40,260 They broke through the camp of the Philistines. 488 00:26:40,260 –> 00:26:41,900 What that means then is 489 00:26:41,900 –> 00:26:44,859 that this was not a stealth operation. 490 00:26:46,380 –> 00:26:49,599 It was not that they went in overnight, undetected, 491 00:26:49,599 –> 00:26:50,939 got some water, 492 00:26:50,939 –> 00:26:52,739 went in and came out again. 493 00:26:52,839 –> 00:26:54,319 They fought their way in 494 00:26:54,319 –> 00:26:56,300 and they fought their way back out again. 495 00:26:56,300 –> 00:26:59,619 It was an act of extraordinary daring and courage. 496 00:27:02,339 –> 00:27:06,000 These men would do anything for David. 497 00:27:08,900 –> 00:27:10,180 And what they did was 498 00:27:10,180 –> 00:27:13,979 an expression of the extent of their love. 499 00:27:17,500 –> 00:27:20,459 Now can you imagine David’s surprise, 500 00:27:20,479 –> 00:27:25,099 his absolute astonishment when these three men returned 501 00:27:25,099 –> 00:27:26,880 with a skin of water 502 00:27:26,880 –> 00:27:29,300 taken from the well of Bethlehem. 503 00:27:29,300 –> 00:27:32,479 David had never asked these men to do this. 504 00:27:32,479 –> 00:27:35,660 He didn’t even know that they were gone. 505 00:27:35,660 –> 00:27:37,579 They had simply taken the initiative 506 00:27:37,579 –> 00:27:40,319 as an expression of love for their king. 507 00:27:40,319 –> 00:27:43,619 And these men surprised the king 508 00:27:43,619 –> 00:27:46,500 with this gift that shows their love. 509 00:27:46,500 –> 00:27:47,939 Can you imagine this moment? 510 00:27:48,800 –> 00:27:53,800 You asked, sir, for a drink of water from Bethlehem. 511 00:27:54,780 –> 00:27:56,359 Here it is. 512 00:27:57,459 –> 00:28:01,199 Can you imagine David’s astonishment and his surprise? 513 00:28:01,199 –> 00:28:02,500 Oh, by the way, 514 00:28:03,780 –> 00:28:05,839 when was the last time you did something 515 00:28:05,839 –> 00:28:08,439 to surprise someone you love? 516 00:28:10,640 –> 00:28:12,680 Love brings surprises, doesn’t it? 517 00:28:14,400 –> 00:28:15,780 Not something you were asked to do, 518 00:28:15,780 –> 00:28:17,699 not something you simply have to do, 519 00:28:17,699 –> 00:28:19,880 something you did simply because you wanted 520 00:28:19,880 –> 00:28:22,819 to bless someone you love. 521 00:28:22,819 –> 00:28:23,979 That’s what love does. 522 00:28:25,560 –> 00:28:28,339 But here love springs a surprise 523 00:28:28,339 –> 00:28:31,020 in a quite extraordinary way. 524 00:28:33,660 –> 00:28:37,540 Well, these three mighty men bring the water to David. 525 00:28:37,540 –> 00:28:39,959 David, of course, is taken completely 526 00:28:39,959 –> 00:28:41,900 and utterly by surprise. 527 00:28:41,900 –> 00:28:43,420 And then we come to the most 528 00:28:43,420 –> 00:28:46,520 astonishing statement in the story. 529 00:28:46,520 –> 00:28:47,500 Try and picture this. 530 00:28:47,500 –> 00:28:48,819 Verse 16. 531 00:28:49,699 –> 00:28:51,040 They give the water to David, 532 00:28:51,040 –> 00:28:54,900 but he would not drink of it. 533 00:28:56,660 –> 00:29:01,260 He poured it out to the Lord. 534 00:29:02,719 –> 00:29:05,140 Now put this together and just try and take it in. 535 00:29:06,239 –> 00:29:09,079 David says, perhaps in an absent-minded, 536 00:29:09,079 –> 00:29:10,680 nostalgic kind of moment, 537 00:29:11,800 –> 00:29:15,160 oh that someone would bring me a drink of water 538 00:29:15,219 –> 00:29:17,560 from the well at Bethlehem. 539 00:29:19,599 –> 00:29:21,400 The mighty men say, let’s do it, 540 00:29:21,400 –> 00:29:24,359 they break through to Bethlehem at risk of their own lives, 541 00:29:24,359 –> 00:29:26,560 they bring back the water, they give it to the king, 542 00:29:26,560 –> 00:29:28,560 and the king pours it out on the ground. 543 00:29:33,979 –> 00:29:36,339 I expect you struggle to get your mind around this, 544 00:29:36,339 –> 00:29:37,180 as I do. 545 00:29:38,719 –> 00:29:39,560 Really? 546 00:29:40,319 –> 00:29:44,439 The key words here, of course, are to the Lord. 547 00:29:44,439 –> 00:29:47,800 He poured it out to the Lord. 548 00:9:50,640 –> 00:29:53,040 In other words, this was an act of worship. 549 00:29:55,560 –> 00:29:58,839 Other kings, of course, would have drunk the water. 550 00:29:58,839 –> 00:30:00,280 David wouldn’t even touch it. 551 00:30:03,959 –> 00:30:05,800 To drink the water, of course, 552 00:30:05,800 –> 00:30:08,880 would be to say, my comfort matters more to you than he does. 553 00:30:09,579 –> 00:30:10,900 than your lives. 554 00:30:13,859 –> 00:30:16,199 To drink the water would be to say, 555 00:30:16,199 –> 00:30:19,699 you exist to satisfy my thirsts 556 00:30:22,640 –> 00:30:24,479 and David was not that kind of king. 557 00:30:27,359 –> 00:30:30,439 He knew that the love and the loyalty 558 00:30:30,439 –> 00:30:34,420 of those who stood with him was not a right, 559 00:30:34,420 –> 00:30:37,760 that they were not there simply to meet his needs 560 00:30:37,760 –> 00:30:39,939 or to quench his thirsts, 561 00:30:41,859 –> 00:30:43,800 that they were actually a gift 562 00:30:43,800 –> 00:30:46,660 from the hand of God in his life 563 00:30:48,380 –> 00:30:50,500 and when their love for him was shown 564 00:30:50,500 –> 00:30:53,719 in such a lavish way, he says in effect, 565 00:30:53,719 –> 00:30:55,319 I can’t take this for myself. 566 00:30:55,319 –> 00:30:59,099 I have to pour it out as an offering of thanksgiving 567 00:30:59,099 –> 00:31:02,459 and worship before the Lord. 568 00:31:03,140 –> 00:31:06,680 By the way, I think that there is 569 00:31:06,680 –> 00:31:10,420 an anticipation here of the day. 570 00:31:10,420 –> 00:31:13,300 Do you remember this in the New Testament 571 00:31:13,300 –> 00:31:18,300 when Mary at Bethany brought out a jar of perfume 572 00:31:18,520 –> 00:31:21,739 that was of great value, 573 00:31:21,739 –> 00:31:26,300 great value, and what did she do with it? 574 00:31:26,300 –> 00:31:30,359 She poured the whole lot over the head of Jesus 575 00:31:30,400 –> 00:31:33,420 until it ran down his robes and then off his feet? 576 00:31:34,959 –> 00:31:35,900 And Judas said, 577 00:31:35,900 –> 00:31:39,339 that is a waste, pouring it out like that. 578 00:31:39,339 –> 00:31:41,400 Do you think how valuable that is? 579 00:31:43,959 –> 00:31:45,859 But to Mary it was not a waste, 580 00:31:45,859 –> 00:31:49,400 to Mary it was an act of worship. 581 00:31:50,599 –> 00:31:54,160 What better thing could be done with the most costly gift 582 00:31:54,160 –> 00:31:58,959 than to pour it out over the Lord Jesus? 583 00:32:01,219 –> 00:32:06,219 By the way if you see people who love you 584 00:32:07,479 –> 00:32:11,479 as being there to satisfy your needs, 585 00:32:13,359 –> 00:32:15,119 if you see people who love you 586 00:32:15,119 –> 00:32:19,180 as being there to meet your thirsts, 587 00:32:22,000 –> 00:32:23,900 you will become demanding, 588 00:32:25,640 –> 00:32:27,900 you will become dependent, 589 00:32:30,900 –> 00:32:32,020 and you will live in the fear 590 00:32:32,020 –> 00:32:33,020 of what in the world you’d do 591 00:32:33,020 –> 00:32:35,119 if one day they’re no longer there. 592 00:32:37,739 –> 00:32:39,339 David’s not like that, 593 00:32:39,339 –> 00:32:41,380 and we should learn from his example. 594 00:32:42,619 –> 00:32:45,900 Because if you see the people who love you 595 00:32:47,099 –> 00:32:49,459 as a gift of God in your life. 596 00:32:49,459 –> 00:32:51,780 A gift of God in your life. 597 00:32:52,979 –> 00:32:55,760 Then you will have gratitude towards the Lord. 598 00:32:55,760 –> 00:32:58,520 You will have thanksgiving towards the Lord 599 00:32:58,540 –> 00:33:00,520 for them and for their love, 600 00:33:00,520 –> 00:33:02,219 and you will be confident 601 00:33:02,219 –> 00:33:07,219 in the Lord who gave the gift of their love to you. 602 00:33:07,500 –> 00:33:09,280 All the difference in the world. 603 00:33:13,020 –> 00:33:15,979 Now, how does this story apply to us? 604 00:33:17,459 –> 00:33:21,300 It would be very natural for us to say, 605 00:33:21,300 –> 00:33:24,920 these mighty men showed their love for their king, 606 00:33:24,920 –> 00:33:28,680 and so we must be like the mighty men, 607 00:33:28,680 –> 00:33:31,739 and we must show our love for our king, Jesus Christ, 608 00:33:31,739 –> 00:33:33,839 however costly that may be. 609 00:33:35,800 –> 00:33:38,859 And that would be a good application, but not the best. 610 00:33:40,739 –> 00:33:42,239 The point of this story here 611 00:33:42,239 –> 00:33:46,180 surely is to show how much David was loved. 612 00:33:48,119 –> 00:33:52,780 And I think that what the mighty men did for David 613 00:33:52,780 –> 00:33:56,880 points not so much to what we must now do for Jesus, 614 00:33:56,880 –> 00:34:01,619 but to what Jesus our king has done for us. 615 00:34:01,619 –> 00:34:03,160 See, think about this, 616 00:34:03,160 –> 00:34:06,819 Jesus broke through at Bethlehem. 617 00:34:09,159 –> 00:34:11,159 He went there not from a cave, 618 00:34:11,159 –> 00:34:14,320 but he went there from glory itself. 619 00:34:14,320 –> 00:34:17,139 God became man in Jesus Christ, 620 00:34:17,139 –> 00:34:19,959 and he was born in Bethlehem. 621 00:34:19,959 –> 00:34:21,040 Why did he come? 622 00:34:21,120 –> 00:34:25,419 He came because Jesus is the living water. 623 00:34:26,780 –> 00:34:29,219 The gospel tells us about a day 624 00:34:29,219 –> 00:34:32,179 when Jesus met a Samaritan woman 625 00:34:32,179 –> 00:34:36,020 who had come to draw water from a well. 626 00:34:36,020 –> 00:34:38,760 And this woman had lived a hard and a sinful life, 627 00:34:38,760 –> 00:34:40,300 she could talk plenty about worship, 628 00:34:40,300 –> 00:34:41,860 but she was far away from God. 629 00:34:41,860 –> 00:34:43,500 Maybe there’s someone here like that today. 630 00:34:43,500 –> 00:34:46,199 You can talk about worship, but you’re far from God. 631 00:34:48,560 –> 00:34:50,139 And Jesus said this to her. 632 00:34:51,600 –> 00:34:53,639 Everyone who drinks this water, 633 00:34:53,639 –> 00:34:55,340 that’s the water out of the well, 634 00:34:56,899 –> 00:34:59,000 the kind of water that these mighty men 635 00:34:59,000 –> 00:35:00,540 would have put in a skin for David, 636 00:35:00,540 –> 00:35:05,239 everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 637 00:35:06,719 –> 00:35:10,020 but whoever drinks the water I will give him 638 00:35:10,020 –> 00:35:12,719 will never be thirsty again. 639 00:35:14,360 –> 00:35:16,219 And then a little later in public, 640 00:35:16,219 –> 00:35:18,159 Jesus in Jerusalem stood up, 641 00:35:18,159 –> 00:35:20,340 John chapter seven, and he said this. 642 00:35:20,340 –> 00:35:25,340 If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 643 00:35:28,800 –> 00:35:31,320 Whoever believes in me as the scripture has said, 644 00:35:31,320 –> 00:35:36,320 out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. 645 00:35:38,679 –> 00:35:42,659 Our King Jesus broke through for us at Bethlehem, 646 00:35:43,919 –> 00:35:48,560 and he came not to bring water, he is the living water, 647 00:35:49,320 –> 00:35:54,080 and how does this living water become ours? 648 00:35:54,080 –> 00:35:55,679 Think about this. 649 00:35:55,679 –> 00:36:00,679 David poured out the water from Bethlehem before the Lord. 650 00:36:06,820 –> 00:36:11,820 And Christ could say, in the words of Psalm 22, 651 00:36:12,239 –> 00:36:15,320 the whole of that psalm is really a vivid prophecy 652 00:36:15,320 –> 00:36:17,600 of what happened on the cross, 653 00:36:17,600 –> 00:36:22,600 and Jesus Christ could say, I am poured out like water, 654 00:36:23,719 –> 00:36:27,620 and all my bones are out of joint. 655 00:36:30,360 –> 00:36:33,159 You see the prophecy of the crucifixion there, don’t you? 656 00:36:34,040 –> 00:36:35,919 You ever had one bone out of joint? 657 00:36:37,620 –> 00:36:39,679 Jesus on the cross stretched out. 658 00:36:39,679 –> 00:36:43,080 All my bones are out of joint. 659 00:36:44,080 –> 00:36:46,919 Why? 660 00:36:46,919 –> 00:36:51,919 Because I am poured out like water, 661 00:36:56,239 –> 00:37:00,840 the living water, this life of infinite value 662 00:37:00,840 –> 00:37:05,320 poured out as a sacrifice before the Lord on our behalf. 663 00:37:05,840 –> 00:37:06,679 Hmm? 664 00:37:12,520 –> 00:37:16,080 David’s men risked their lives 665 00:37:16,080 –> 00:37:18,360 to bring David a drink of water. 666 00:37:18,360 –> 00:37:21,840 Jesus did more than risk his life for you, 667 00:37:21,840 –> 00:37:24,760 he gave his life for you 668 00:37:24,760 –> 00:37:27,120 so that this living water could be yours. 669 00:37:27,120 –> 00:37:29,979 He gives the living water at the price 670 00:37:29,979 –> 00:37:32,800 of his own shed blood 671 00:37:36,320 –> 00:37:42,479 Now, David’s breath must had been taken away 672 00:37:42,479 –> 00:37:46,320 by the love of these mighty men 673 00:37:46,320 –> 00:37:47,719 who would risk their lives 674 00:37:47,719 –> 00:37:50,040 to bring him a drink of water, 675 00:37:52,120 –> 00:37:54,520 but what are we to say 676 00:37:55,080 –> 00:38:00,280 about the amazing love of our Jesus, our King 677 00:38:01,280 –> 00:38:05,320 who gives his life, pours his own life out. 678 00:38:05,320 –> 00:38:10,260 That life, infinitely precious poured out for us 679 00:38:10,260 –> 00:38:14,919 that we may have the life that comes from him alone. 680 00:38:17,219 –> 00:38:19,639 We struggle to get our minds 681 00:38:19,639 –> 00:38:22,000 around David pouring the water out on the ground. 682 00:38:22,000 –> 00:38:24,360 I hope you struggle to get your mind 683 00:38:24,360 –> 00:38:26,399 around the infinitely precious life 684 00:38:26,399 –> 00:38:29,120 of the Son of God being poured out for you. 685 00:38:31,219 –> 00:38:35,300 That will stagger us to all eternity. 686 00:38:38,360 –> 00:38:43,360 That’s amazing love, amazing love. 687 00:38:43,919 –> 00:38:48,919 How can it be that thou, my God, shouldst die for me? 688 00:38:48,959 –> 00:38:51,080 Die for me! 689 00:38:56,340 –> 00:39:01,100 When you’re hated, when you’re weary, 690 00:39:02,879 –> 00:39:04,899 when you are discouraged, 691 00:39:06,979 –> 00:39:08,560 when you are tempted to think 692 00:39:08,560 –> 00:39:11,860 that your life does not count for anything much, 693 00:39:13,280 –> 00:39:15,340 when you wonder if you have accomplished 694 00:39:15,399 –> 00:39:17,919 anything of lasting value, 695 00:39:19,639 –> 00:39:24,639 remember how much you are loved. 696 00:39:28,020 –> 00:39:32,560 The son of God loved you 697 00:39:35,199 –> 00:39:39,560 and gave himself poured out for you. 698 00:39:40,560 –> 00:39:41,879 For you. 699 00:39:44,040 –> 00:39:46,520 And the Lord who loves you is worthy 700 00:39:46,520 –> 00:39:51,280 of the deepest love and loyalty of your life, 701 00:39:52,659 –> 00:39:57,320 irrespective of what it costs. 702 00:39:57,320 –> 00:39:58,340 Let’s pray together. 703 00:40:04,719 –> 00:40:07,040 Our father, we all know what it is like, David, 704 00:40:07,040 –> 00:40:08,120 to be weary. 705 00:40:15,219 –> 00:40:17,219 We pray that in your mercy today 706 00:40:17,219 –> 00:40:19,879 you will seal into our hearts 707 00:40:21,620 –> 00:40:26,280 a fresh sense of the love of Christ. 708 00:40:28,439 –> 00:40:31,139 How much I am loved 709 00:40:31,139 –> 00:40:34,959 that the Son of God would pour out his life 710 00:40:34,959 –> 00:40:39,500 as a sacrifice for me. 711 00:40:41,199 –> 00:40:44,340 And so, dear Lord, 712 00:40:44,340 –> 00:40:47,739 let it be that we will never hesitate 713 00:40:47,739 –> 00:40:50,239 to pour out our lives 714 00:40:50,239 –> 00:40:55,639 as a loving sacrifice for you. 715 00:40:55,639 –> 00:40:59,139 And irrespective of the cost, 716 00:40:59,340 –> 00:41:02,840 and irrespective of the cost, 717 00:41:02,840 –> 00:41:05,639 to live freely and gladly 718 00:41:05,639 –> 00:41:09,139 and with great perseverance 719 00:41:09,139 –> 00:41:12,239 for your glory, until faith is turned to sight 720 00:41:12,239 –> 00:41:14,239 and then we see face-to-face 721 00:41:14,239 –> 00:41:17,340 the One we have loved and served 722 00:41:17,340 –> 00:41:19,340 all of our days. 723 00:41:19,340 –> 00:41:21,040 Hear our prayers 724 00:41:21,040 –> 00:41:24,040 for these things we ask in Jesus’ name, 725 00:41:24,040 –> 00:41:25,040 Amen.