Three Reasons for Coming to Christ

2 Samuel 5:1-12
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Pastor Colin points out that this moment, detailed further in 1 Chronicles 12, is monumental, likening it to an Old Testament Pentecost where nearly 350,000 people come together to make David their king.

He uses this event as a lens to draw parallels to Jesus Christ, asking why one should crown Jesus as king. He provides three reasons: who Jesus is, what He did, and what He does. Jesus is depicted as the universal Saviour who took on human form, died for humanity, and continues to shepherd and protect those who follow Him.

Highlighting the joy and welcome that the tribes received upon accepting David, Pastor Colin assures that Jesus welcomes everyone who comes to Him. He emphasises the sacred covenant Jesus makes with His followers, ensuring eternal commitment and unbreakable bonds.

Pastor Colin concludes by reflecting on the need for patience, confidence in God’s timing, and the acknowledgment that ultimately, God’s grace will bring people freely to Him, much like the tribes who came to David. He prays for grace, confidence, and patience in serving Christ the King.

1 00:00:00,720 –> 00:00:08,000 Please have your Bible open at 2 Samuel 5. Today we come to a very wonderful part of this story. 2 00:00:08,560 –> 00:00:16,000 You remember that David is God’s anointed king, God has promised to him the kingdom. But at first 3 00:00:16,000 –> 00:00:23,040 there is only one tribe that receives him as king, only one tribe that lives under his rule. 4 00:00:23,120 –> 00:00:31,760 But today in 2 Samuel, in chapter 5, after a long period of time in which David was opposed, 5 00:00:31,760 –> 00:00:38,080 on the one hand by many who set themselves against him and misrepresented by many others 6 00:00:38,080 –> 00:00:44,320 who proposed to be loyal to him but actually seemed to be very distant from his spirit and 7 00:00:44,320 –> 00:00:50,799 from his work and his ministry. After all of that finally we come to the point where 8 00:00:51,279 –> 00:00:57,599 the tribes of Israel are united together as one under the leadership and the kingship of David. 9 00:00:57,599 –> 00:01:04,000 And that’s where we take up the story today at 2 Samuel and chapter 5. Notice verse 1, 10 00:01:04,720 –> 00:01:14,639 then all the tribes of Israel, at last they all came to David. Now what does that mean, 11 00:01:14,639 –> 00:01:22,879 all the tribes of Israel came to David? Well if you turn over a few pages to 1 Chronicles 12 00:01:22,879 –> 00:01:28,320 and chapter 12, where we have a parallel account that helps fill out the picture 13 00:01:28,320 –> 00:01:35,440 of what happened on this remarkable day, we’re actually given a detailed numerical breakdown 14 00:01:35,440 –> 00:01:40,800 of what this looked like. I’m looking at 1 Chronicles chapter 12 and verse 23, 15 00:01:40,800 –> 00:01:48,320 and we’re told that these are the numbers of the divisions of the armed troops who came to 16 00:01:48,320 –> 00:01:55,760 David in Hebron to turn the kingdom of Saul over to him, according to the Word of the Lord. 17 00:01:55,760 –> 00:02:01,599 So now we’re going to get an actual breakdown, a record of the numbers of people who were there 18 00:02:01,599 –> 00:02:07,040 on that day when all of the tribes came over to David. You’ll notice that the first to be 19 00:02:07,040 –> 00:02:13,199 listed in verse 24 there is the men of Judah, that, of course, was the tribe that had received 20 00:02:13,199 –> 00:02:22,639 him at the beginning, and they were 6,800 men. So close to 7,000 people were already 21 00:02:22,639 –> 00:02:27,440 loyal to David and had been loyal to David as their king for some time. 22 00:02:28,240 –> 00:02:35,440 But now look what was added in a single day to the 7,000 who owned David as their king. 23 00:02:35,440 –> 00:02:41,919 If you just cast your eye down the verses that follow from 1 Chronicles 12 and verse 24, 24 00:02:41,919 –> 00:02:50,000 you’ll see there that Simeonites came, there were 7,100 of them, Levites 4,600 of them, 25 00:02:50,000 –> 00:02:55,520 the house of Aaron, 3,700, the Benjamites, 3,000, you have the Ephraimites, 28,000, 26 00:02:56,160 –> 00:03:06,320 the half tribe of Manasseh 18,000, you then have Zebulun 50,000, you then have Naftali 37,000, 27 00:03:07,039 –> 00:03:15,679 the Danites 28,600, Asher 40,000, and the Reubenites and the Gadites no less than 120,000 28 00:03:15,679 –> 00:03:24,320 people. This is a vast crowd. You add these numbers up you’re getting close to 350,000 29 00:03:25,279 –> 00:03:31,919 people. I mean this is vast, vast crowd as far as the eye can see and they have come 30 00:03:32,720 –> 00:03:41,919 from every area in the north and they have come down these 11 tribes and they’re arrayed in their 31 00:03:42,479 –> 00:03:48,559 order in which they have been gathered together for military service. A whole army that comes now 32 00:03:48,559 –> 00:03:56,639 and devotes itself to David’s service. And they had one purpose and one single 33 00:03:56,639 –> 00:04:02,639 mind and that was that they – the 350,000 – should make David their King. 34 00:04:03,919 –> 00:04:08,800 I want you to get that picture in your mind. Because what we’re talking about here is 35 00:04:08,800 –> 00:04:15,440 really an Old Testament Pentecost. You remember on the day of Pentecost, there were 3,000 people 36 00:04:16,399 –> 00:04:21,119 who had formerly been opposed to Jesus, bitterly opposed to him, but they repented 37 00:04:21,839 –> 00:04:27,679 and they believed. And they were baptized and their sins were forgiven and they received the 38 00:04:27,679 –> 00:04:33,600 gift of the Holy Spirit and they became Christ’s people, 3,000 of them in a single day. 39 00:04:34,739 –> 00:04:41,200 Well, what we have in this story is a crowd more than 10 times the size of the crowd on 40 00:04:41,200 –> 00:04:47,760 the day of Pentecost. And in a similar kind of way, they are coming to pledge their allegiance 41 00:04:48,399 –> 00:04:54,160 to David as their king. Now here’s the question I want us to get at as we think about that 42 00:04:54,160 –> 00:04:59,600 remarkable picture. This is an extraordinary moment in the Old Testament story. All the 43 00:04:59,600 –> 00:05:06,640 tribes of Israel being brought together under the kingship of David. Why would these people 44 00:05:06,640 –> 00:05:13,600 make David their king? Why would people who have fought against David for years and for years, 45 00:05:14,880 –> 00:05:22,000 people who’ve been hard-core supporters of the house of Saul, why would they come over to David 46 00:05:22,000 –> 00:05:28,160 and anoint David as their king? And since we’re looking at this story not merely with historical 47 00:05:28,160 –> 00:05:34,880 interest, but we’re using it as a lens to point to David’s greater Son Jesus Christ, 48 00:05:34,880 –> 00:05:40,640 we’re obviously asking the question, why would a person come and crown Jesus Christ as their king, 49 00:05:40,640 –> 00:05:47,440 as their Lord, and their Master today? Well, let me give you three reasons as to why a person 50 00:05:47,440 –> 00:05:52,320 should come to Jesus Christ the King. And they’re all drawn for the reasons that these 51 00:05:52,320 –> 00:06:00,640 people came to David. Number one, you would come to Jesus Christ as King because of who this King 52 00:06:00,640 –> 00:06:07,040 is. That’s the first reason that they came to David. Verse one, all the tribes of Israel 53 00:06:07,040 –> 00:06:13,279 came to David at Hebron, and they said, behold, we are your bone and flesh. 54 00:06:14,959 –> 00:06:17,200 Now that reminds us of this wonderful truth 55 00:06:18,559 –> 00:06:26,480 that Jesus Christ is the saint for every person in the human race, irrespective of your background, 56 00:06:27,440 –> 00:06:31,679 culture, religion with which a person may have been brought up. 57 00:06:33,040 –> 00:06:38,880 Jesus Christ is the Savior for every person in the human race, 58 00:06:39,679 –> 00:06:45,119 and Jesus Christ therefore is the King for you. And here’s why. You see, this is what the 59 00:06:45,119 –> 00:06:55,200 Christmas story is all about. What happened? God made Himself one with humanity in Jesus Christ. 60 00:06:55,200 –> 00:07:03,359 He took our flesh and blood. He did so in order that He may become our King and in order that we 61 00:07:03,359 –> 00:07:10,640 may become His people. And this is why the book of Hebrews explaining why Christmas had to happen 62 00:07:10,640 –> 00:07:15,440 says that the children share in flesh and blood. That’s what we are. We are flesh and blood. 63 00:07:16,160 –> 00:07:22,160 And therefore He partook of the same. Why? He had to become like us 64 00:07:22,160 –> 00:07:28,720 in every respect, so that He could become our faithful and merciful High Priest. 65 00:07:29,679 –> 00:07:35,679 Now, I want you to notice how they use this truth that’s in verse one here today of 66 00:07:35,679 –> 00:07:42,799 what they have in common with David. They don’t say, you are our bone and flesh. 67 00:07:43,760 –> 00:07:50,959 They say, we are your bone and flesh. In other words, they’re presenting 68 00:07:50,959 –> 00:07:59,279 this as a kind of plea or an argument to David as to why after all these years of rebellion, 69 00:07:59,839 –> 00:08:05,920 he should receive them. Here’s what they’re saying, David, we have resented your reign 70 00:08:06,079 –> 00:08:15,119 and we have resisted your rule but we’re asking today will you please take us? Will 71 00:08:15,119 –> 00:08:23,440 you please receive us? And here’s why, after all, we are your bone and flesh. 72 00:08:25,119 –> 00:08:31,279 I think that that speaks of the great humility that these people had here. It’s a very striking 73 00:08:31,279 –> 00:08:37,679 contrast to the way that Abner came to David earlier, as we saw earlier in this series. 74 00:08:37,679 –> 00:08:43,599 Remember Abner presented himself to David as if he were the making of David, you know, 75 00:08:43,599 –> 00:08:49,200 if you have me then that’s going to be what will bring you the Kingdom. So Abner thought 76 00:08:49,200 –> 00:08:53,760 that he could be the making of David. These people come with the knowledge that David 77 00:08:53,760 –> 00:08:59,599 will be the making of them. And you see it’s not that we come to Jesus Christ with the 78 00:08:59,599 –> 00:09:06,320 arrogance that says, Jesus, wouldn’t it be wonderful for you if you had me. No, it’s 79 00:09:06,320 –> 00:09:11,640 Jesus will you please take me because the one thing that will bring good to me in my 80 00:09:11,640 –> 00:09:21,000 life and forever is if I am yours and if you are my King. Please take us. We are your flesh 81 00:09:21,000 –> 00:09:26,520 and blood, your bone and flesh. First reason that a person would come to Jesus 82 00:09:26,520 –> 00:09:34,260 Christ who he is. Second reason. What the King did, what Jesus Christ did. Look at verse 83 00:09:34,260 –> 00:09:42,119 2, in times past, so now they’re looking back, when Saul was the King over us, it was you 84 00:09:42,119 –> 00:09:49,239 they say to David who led out and brought in Israel. Now it seems that these people 85 00:09:49,239 –> 00:09:53,340 had forgotten this for some time. How they could have forgotten that it was David who 86 00:09:53,340 –> 00:09:58,260 won that great victory over Goliath, I have no idea. But evidently, that had slipped from 87 00:09:58,260 –> 00:10:03,299 their mind. But now they’ve come to a place of saying, you know what? We’ve been opposing 88 00:10:03,299 –> 00:10:08,460 David, but all this time we’ve been against him. What we’ve forgotten is that he was always 89 00:10:08,460 –> 00:10:18,479 for us. You were the one who led us out and brought in Israel. David, you were for us 90 00:10:18,619 –> 00:10:25,619 even when we were against you. And we now see that what you did in the past, it was 91 00:10:26,159 –> 00:10:33,159 all for us. Now, that shines a light, of course, on our Lord Jesus Christ. He was for us even 92 00:10:37,039 –> 00:10:44,039 when we were against him. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. He died on the 93 00:10:44,359 –> 00:10:51,359 cross. He rose from the dead. He ascended into heaven so that we could be brought into 94 00:10:54,419 –> 00:11:00,760 the blessings of life in His kingdom and under His rule. And this is what these people are 95 00:11:00,760 –> 00:11:05,960 grasping. They’re able to look back, and they’re saying somehow we lost sight of this, 96 00:11:05,960 –> 00:11:11,140 that even though we have been against you, you were always for us, and that’s the second 97 00:11:11,280 –> 00:11:18,440 reason why we’re coming to ask if you will be our King. And then third reason is what 98 00:11:18,440 –> 00:11:25,440 the King does, who he is, what he did and thirdly what he does. Verse 2. The Lord said 99 00:11:26,580 –> 00:11:33,580 to you, you shall be shepherd of my people Israel and you shall be Prince over Israel. 100 00:11:33,640 –> 00:11:40,640 Now, we are trying to pick up some lessons about leadership here and here is a wonderful 101 00:11:41,059 –> 00:11:48,059 little snapshot of what leadership in a family, business, church, ministry, what leadership 102 00:11:49,299 –> 00:11:54,099 actually looks like. What does it mean to be a leader? Well, there are two words here. 103 00:11:54,099 –> 00:12:01,099 To be a leader is to be a shepherd and it is to be a prince. The King is a prince and 104 00:12:01,659 –> 00:12:08,659 a shepherd. In other words, the King’s role is to protect and to provide. Like a shepherd, 105 00:12:11,059 –> 00:12:18,059 the leader provides for his people in time of peace. And like a prince, the leader defends 106 00:12:21,340 –> 00:12:26,780 in time of trouble. Now, that is what David was as the King and 107 00:12:26,820 –> 00:12:33,820 of course, that wonderfully points us forward to who Jesus is and what Jesus does. Why would 108 00:12:34,099 –> 00:12:39,280 you come to Jesus Christ as your King? Well, because of what he will do for you. He is 109 00:12:39,280 –> 00:12:46,280 the shepherd and he’s the prince. Jesus is the shepherd who will lead you.Remember, 110 00:12:48,580 –> 00:12:53,580 these folks had been living under the rule of Ish-ba-Sheth who was now gone. And so really 111 00:12:53,719 –> 00:12:59,599 they were like sheep without a shepherd. And they’re coming to David and they’re saying, 112 00:12:59,599 –> 00:13:03,900 the Lord has said that you’ll be the shepherd. We need a shepherd. We need someone who will 113 00:13:03,900 –> 00:13:09,880 lead us and who will provide for us. Will you be our King? And of course, when you have 114 00:13:09,880 –> 00:13:14,280 someone speaking to David about shepherd, well David knew what that was all about. He 115 00:13:14,280 –> 00:13:20,599 was a shepherd himself and of course, he is the one who as we all know in Psalm 23 wrote 116 00:13:21,599 –> 00:13:27,239 to Jesus about what it means to be a shepherd. The Lord is my shepherd. What a marvelous 117 00:13:27,239 –> 00:13:33,700 thing. For you to be able to say the Lord is my shepherd. I mean isn’t this a wonderful 118 00:13:33,700 –> 00:13:38,659 reason for coming to Christ the King? That when Jesus Christ is your King, you really 119 00:13:38,659 –> 00:13:45,359 can say in every circumstance of life the Lord is my shepherd and if you can say that 120 00:13:45,440 –> 00:13:52,440 you will then be able to say I will not want because he will lead me, he will guide me, 121 00:13:53,239 –> 00:13:58,780 he will protect me and if I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, he’s even 122 00:13:58,979 –> 00:14:03,719 there going to be with me and coming out on the other side, I’m going to dwell in the 123 00:14:03,719 –> 00:14:08,840 house of the Lord forever and forever. Could there be anything greater in all the world 124 00:14:08,840 –> 00:14:16,880 than to have King Jesus as your Shepherd and then the joy of having King Jesus as your 125 00:14:16,880 –> 00:14:22,960 Prince, not only the Shepherd who will provide for you but the Prince who will defend you. 126 00:14:22,960 –> 00:14:29,760 Now let me pause and just explain something about the story here. We’re going to find 127 00:14:29,919 –> 00:14:36,760 out that after these nations came under the rule of David, David then led them out into 128 00:14:39,099 –> 00:14:44,619 many, many battles. And you read this in the Old Testament you think oh not more war and 129 00:14:44,619 –> 00:14:50,719 violence and so forth and it all seems so very distasteful, but I want you to understand 130 00:14:50,719 –> 00:14:57,719 the situation in which these eleven tribes were actually in. The reason that there were 131 00:14:57,719 –> 00:15:04,719 so many battles for a period after David became King over all of the tribes was that the enemies 132 00:15:07,979 –> 00:15:14,979 who oppressed God’s people had actually become embedded and had gained control in large parts 133 00:15:16,380 –> 00:15:21,900 of the promised land that God had given to them. And I was trying to think what would 134 00:15:21,900 –> 00:15:28,219 this be like, so let me use this analogy to give you the sense of what it was like for 135 00:15:28,219 –> 00:15:35,219 the tribes in those days. Imagine what it would be like if Al-Qaeda was established 136 00:15:36,719 –> 00:15:43,719 in Texas, if ISIS was in Indiana and if Boko Haram had an active base in say Nebraska and 137 00:15:44,659 –> 00:15:51,559 that all of these terrorist groups were able to act at will from these bases in which they 138 00:15:51,559 –> 00:15:58,559 were established right within our very own land. You imagine the kind of oppression, 139 00:15:59,299 –> 00:16:06,299 you imagine the kind of fear, you imagine the kind of violence that erupts and then 140 00:16:06,919 –> 00:16:13,919 changes the nature of life in a land that God always intended to be free. Well, what 141 00:16:18,400 –> 00:16:25,400 you have to understand is that that was pretty much what it was like in the Promised Land. 142 00:16:25,440 –> 00:16:32,440 At varying times from the conquest onward, there were these embedded enemies that broke 143 00:16:32,440 –> 00:16:39,320 out in violence on frequent basis. Sometimes they were pushed back. But by the time of 144 00:16:39,320 –> 00:16:46,320 the death of Saul, they held control and sway over a large part of the Promised Land. And 145 00:16:46,320 –> 00:16:53,179 no one was able to drive them out. And these 11 tribes are isolated and they are weak. 146 00:16:53,179 –> 00:17:00,179 Isposheth’s no leader at all. And it was not until David became their prince, David 147 00:17:01,179 –> 00:17:08,180 became their king, that finally the enemies were driven out and the peace was established 148 00:17:10,280 –> 00:17:15,439 and that God’s people actually lived under the freedom and blessing that came through 149 00:17:15,439 –> 00:17:22,439 the rule of God’s anointed king. So that’s the story that is taking place 150 00:17:22,760 –> 00:17:29,760 here. And the people recognized, here’s what we need. We need a shepherd who will provide 151 00:17:30,520 –> 00:17:37,520 for us and we need a prince who will defend us, and that is what God has said you should 152 00:17:38,719 –> 00:17:44,719 be, David, and so please will you take us? Will you be our king because we desperately 153 00:17:44,719 –> 00:17:51,719 need what only God’s anointed king can bring into our lives. That’s the story here. 154 00:17:53,520 –> 00:17:58,520 Now, three reasons then why they came to David, and we’re looking through that as a lens 155 00:17:58,540 –> 00:18:05,540 to say here are three reasons why a person should come to crown Jesus as Lord and King 156 00:18:06,479 –> 00:18:13,040 of their life today. Here’s a reason why you should do this today because of who King Jesus 157 00:18:13,040 –> 00:18:19,439 is, He is the saviour for every person, irrespective of your background, because of what He did. 158 00:18:19,439 –> 00:18:25,420 He was for you even when you were against Him, because of what He does, He’s the shepherd 159 00:18:25,579 –> 00:18:32,520 and He’s the prince, He’s the king and when you see who He is, then we sheep without a 160 00:18:32,520 –> 00:18:39,099 shepherd, those who find ourselves oppressed by many, many dark powers, and need a prince 161 00:18:39,099 –> 00:18:44,939 who can drive them out, well we have every reason in the world to come to King Jesus 162 00:18:44,939 –> 00:18:51,939 and say as these people said to David, Will you please take us. Will you be our King? 163 00:18:52,859 –> 00:18:53,619 And I’m 164 00:18:53,640 –> 00:19:01,479 hoping and praying that today, in a very, very real way there will be that moment for 165 00:19:01,479 –> 00:19:10,959 some of us to come and to crown Jesus Christ, Lord of our lives, Lord of your life because 166 00:19:10,959 –> 00:19:15,699 of who He is and what he did and what he does. 167 00:19:16,140 –> 00:19:24,079 Now, I want you to see, secondly, what will happen if you come to crown Jesus in this 168 00:19:24,079 –> 00:19:25,439 way? 169 00:19:25,439 –> 00:19:28,800 If you come, what happened when these people came to David? 170 00:19:28,800 –> 00:19:32,180 Well, let me give you this encouragement. 171 00:19:32,180 –> 00:19:37,000 For any person who crowns Jesus Christ as king, here’s what happens. 172 00:19:37,000 –> 00:19:42,540 Three discoveries that you will make in crowning Jesus Christ your King, the first is, that 173 00:19:42,560 –> 00:19:45,660 When you come to this King, this King will welcome you. 174 00:19:45,660 –> 00:19:50,780 I’m looking again at 1 Chronicles, the parallel passage, chapter 12 and verse 39, where we 175 00:19:50,780 –> 00:19:58,040 read this, and they, that is the 350,000 that have just been numbered, they were there with 176 00:19:58,040 –> 00:20:05,459 David for three days, eating and drinking. 177 00:20:05,459 –> 00:20:10,020 For their brothers had made preparation for them. 178 00:20:10,219 –> 00:20:17,160 Now, just try and imagine this, the word goes out among the people of Judah in the South, 179 00:20:17,160 –> 00:20:21,780 we got 350,000 guests coming, and we’re going to have to provide for them, and they’re going 180 00:20:21,780 –> 00:20:23,420 to be staying for three days. 181 00:20:23,420 –> 00:20:26,300 We’re going to lay on a feast for 350,000. 182 00:20:26,300 –> 00:20:27,959 What an occasion this must have been. 183 00:20:27,959 –> 00:20:31,819 Actually it does tell us, a little later in the chapter, that there were others who came 184 00:20:31,819 –> 00:20:37,660 along with these 350,000 fighting men, and they brought pack mules, and all the rest 185 00:20:37,660 –> 00:20:39,780 of it with many, many supplies. 186 00:20:39,780 –> 00:20:46,319 But this is a feast, this is a three-day celebration. 187 00:20:46,319 –> 00:20:53,900 Last word in 1 Chronicles and chapter 12, is that all of Israel was full of joy. 188 00:20:53,900 –> 00:20:56,020 Let me give this encouragement to you. 189 00:20:56,020 –> 00:21:02,380 When you come to Jesus Christ, you will be welcomed. 190 00:21:02,380 –> 00:21:08,040 These people found no sense of strangeness when they came to David the King. 191 00:21:08,040 –> 00:21:13,619 There was no being put on probation, none of the King’s saying to them, 192 00:21:13,619 –> 00:21:16,420 Well, why did it take you so long to come? 193 00:21:16,420 –> 00:21:19,079 Or anything like that. 194 00:21:19,079 –> 00:21:23,079 They come and when they come, they’re received with joy. 195 00:21:23,079 –> 00:21:27,520 When they come, they find immediately that they are completely at ease. 196 00:21:27,520 –> 00:21:30,739 They’re at home among their own brothers and sisters. 197 00:21:30,739 –> 00:21:36,520 They have this profound sense, now at last, we are where we belong. 198 00:21:36,520 –> 00:21:42,219 This is where I was meant to be after all of my wanderings, 199 00:21:42,219 –> 00:21:48,219 and all of my resistance to this King, now finally I am at home. 200 00:21:48,219 –> 00:21:53,040 And the joy of it, the welcome of it is just a marvelous, marvelous scene. 201 00:21:53,040 –> 00:21:55,479 And of course that points us forward to what it’s like 202 00:21:55,479 –> 00:21:58,239 when you come to Jesus Christ. 203 00:21:58,239 –> 00:22:00,959 And he gives this wonderful promise. 204 00:22:00,959 –> 00:22:06,339 He says, All that the Father gives me will come to me 205 00:22:06,420 –> 00:22:11,099 and whoever comes to me I will never drive out. 206 00:22:12,020 –> 00:22:15,119 There will not be a single person here or anywhere else 207 00:22:15,119 –> 00:22:19,060 who comes to Jesus and finds that Jesus says, I don’t want you. 208 00:22:20,260 –> 00:22:25,160 Whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 209 00:22:25,160 –> 00:22:28,380 And as you come to Jesus Christ today, 210 00:22:28,380 –> 00:22:33,099 as you say, I see my need that you should be truly the Lord of my life, 211 00:22:33,920 –> 00:22:37,380 I want you to know that there is for you the greatest welcome. 212 00:22:37,380 –> 00:22:39,380 There is the greatest joy. 213 00:22:39,380 –> 00:22:42,839 There is the most profound sense of becoming home 214 00:22:42,839 –> 00:22:47,979 and of you being able to say this is where I was meant to be. 215 00:22:47,979 –> 00:22:51,300 This is how I was meant to live. 216 00:22:51,300 –> 00:22:53,300 God made you for this, 217 00:22:53,300 –> 00:22:57,880 and you will find great peace when you come and embrace Christ 218 00:22:57,880 –> 00:23:00,239 as your King and as your Lord. 219 00:23:00,359 –> 00:23:04,000 Second, when you come here’s what you will find. 220 00:23:04,000 –> 00:23:05,939 The King will make a covenant with you. 221 00:23:05,939 –> 00:23:07,859 Notice verse three. 222 00:23:07,859 –> 00:23:12,780 So all the elders of Israel came to the King at Hebron 223 00:23:12,780 –> 00:23:16,119 and King David made a covenant with them 224 00:23:17,160 –> 00:23:21,560 at Hebron before the Lord and the anointed David 225 00:23:21,560 –> 00:23:23,560 as the King over Israel. 226 00:23:26,479 –> 00:23:28,060 So notice what we’re being told. 227 00:23:28,140 –> 00:23:29,900 When these people come, 228 00:23:30,939 –> 00:23:35,260 David makes a solemn commitment to them. 229 00:23:36,199 –> 00:23:38,300 And when you come to Jesus Christ, 230 00:23:38,300 –> 00:23:39,420 what we are being taught 231 00:23:39,420 –> 00:23:42,020 by analogy here is that Jesus Christ 232 00:23:42,020 –> 00:23:47,020 will make a solemn commitment to you. 233 00:23:47,060 –> 00:23:50,380 Here are people who’ve been His enemies for years, 234 00:23:51,380 –> 00:23:54,260 but they come to David and now they’re His friends. 235 00:23:54,260 –> 00:23:55,819 There’s no more hostility. 236 00:23:55,819 –> 00:23:57,180 They’re at peace with David 237 00:23:57,219 –> 00:23:59,939 and there’s a covenant of peace. 238 00:23:59,939 –> 00:24:03,739 There’s a covenant in which David is their king. 239 00:24:03,739 –> 00:24:05,859 He takes responsibility for them. 240 00:24:05,859 –> 00:24:08,060 They become His people. 241 00:24:09,459 –> 00:24:10,500 And notice that it says, 242 00:24:10,500 –> 00:24:15,300 “‘David made a covenant with them before the Lord.’” 243 00:24:16,280 –> 00:24:20,199 In other words, this was not some breakable treaty. 244 00:24:21,280 –> 00:24:24,459 This was a solemn commitment. 245 00:24:25,380 –> 00:24:30,180 Jesus Christ will commit to you for time and for eternity. 246 00:24:30,180 –> 00:24:32,760 And the commitment of Jesus Christ to you 247 00:24:32,760 –> 00:24:34,859 as you come to crown Him as your King 248 00:24:34,859 –> 00:24:38,459 is unbreakable and it is unending. 249 00:24:39,859 –> 00:24:42,459 David makes a commitment before the Lord, 250 00:24:42,459 –> 00:24:44,859 a sacred covenant. 251 00:24:44,859 –> 00:24:49,319 He will never abandon these 11 tribes. 252 00:24:50,400 –> 00:24:53,599 He will never renounce them. 253 00:24:54,699 –> 00:24:58,739 He will always as their King act for their good 254 00:24:58,739 –> 00:25:01,500 in every circumstance of life 255 00:25:01,500 –> 00:25:05,640 and He will do what it takes to be their Shepherd 256 00:25:05,640 –> 00:25:09,699 even if that means the laying down of His own life 257 00:25:11,119 –> 00:25:14,560 which, of course, points us forward to the sacred covenant 258 00:25:14,560 –> 00:25:19,540 that Jesus Christ seals with His people through His blood. 259 00:25:19,760 –> 00:25:24,520 And You come to embrace Jesus Christ as Your King. 260 00:25:24,520 –> 00:25:26,020 He will never renounce You. 261 00:25:27,180 –> 00:25:28,819 He will never send You away. 262 00:25:28,819 –> 00:25:30,260 He will never abandon You. 263 00:25:31,160 –> 00:25:34,780 He will work in every circumstance for Your good 264 00:25:36,500 –> 00:25:39,479 because He’s Your Shepherd, He’s Your Prince, 265 00:25:39,479 –> 00:25:43,260 He’s Your King, He’s Yours. 266 00:25:44,219 –> 00:25:45,500 And You’re His 267 00:25:46,339 –> 00:25:50,760 in a sacred bond and covenant 268 00:25:50,760 –> 00:25:54,459 that was sealed by the blood of Jesus. 269 00:25:55,459 –> 00:25:56,300 It’s beautiful. 270 00:25:58,459 –> 00:26:00,099 And then notice what the people do. 271 00:26:00,099 –> 00:26:02,780 The king makes the sacred covenant. 272 00:26:03,719 –> 00:26:05,060 And then what do the people do? 273 00:26:05,060 –> 00:26:09,380 They anoint David, King over Israel. 274 00:26:10,920 –> 00:26:14,319 And God has already anointed David. 275 00:26:14,319 –> 00:26:15,420 The people of Judah 276 00:26:16,260 –> 00:26:17,339 have already anointed David 277 00:26:17,339 –> 00:26:20,739 but what the 11 tribes are now saying 278 00:26:20,739 –> 00:26:22,560 is he’s our king too. 279 00:26:22,560 –> 00:26:23,640 He’s our king too. 280 00:26:24,839 –> 00:26:25,959 And I want you to notice 281 00:26:25,959 –> 00:26:30,699 that there is this specific public act 282 00:26:30,699 –> 00:26:33,000 in which they committed themselves 283 00:26:33,000 –> 00:26:34,780 under loyalty to the king 284 00:26:34,780 –> 00:26:37,760 who had already pledged himself to them. 285 00:26:39,359 –> 00:26:41,239 Now here is something really important. 286 00:26:41,239 –> 00:26:43,439 What does it mean to become a Christian? 287 00:26:44,280 –> 00:26:47,380 It is to live under the rule of a new king. 288 00:26:49,020 –> 00:26:51,560 It is to bow the knee to Jesus Christ 289 00:26:51,560 –> 00:26:55,199 and to surrender the life to Jesus Christ. 290 00:26:56,219 –> 00:26:58,800 These people knew, they’d known for a long time 291 00:26:58,800 –> 00:27:01,040 that God had anointed David as the king 292 00:27:01,040 –> 00:27:04,280 but knowing that David was God’s anointed king 293 00:27:04,280 –> 00:27:06,780 didn’t bring them into the kingdom. 294 00:27:06,780 –> 00:27:08,920 What brought them into the kingdom 295 00:27:08,920 –> 00:27:13,119 was when they anointed David as their king. 296 00:27:14,359 –> 00:27:17,160 Now you see the significance of this. 297 00:27:17,160 –> 00:27:20,140 I have to ask you the question today, 298 00:27:20,140 –> 00:27:25,000 have you crowned Jesus Christ as Lord of your life? 299 00:27:27,880 –> 00:27:30,079 You say, well I believe that Jesus died and rose. 300 00:27:30,079 –> 00:27:32,239 Yes, that’s good, I’m not asking that question. 301 00:27:32,239 –> 00:27:33,800 I’m not asking right now do you believe 302 00:27:33,800 –> 00:27:34,800 that Jesus died and rose, 303 00:27:34,800 –> 00:27:36,800 I’m asking what have you done about it? 304 00:27:38,319 –> 00:27:41,739 I’m asking have you crowned Jesus Christ 305 00:27:41,739 –> 00:27:44,060 as the Lord and King of your life? 306 00:27:44,060 –> 00:27:45,939 Have you done something that is analogous 307 00:27:45,939 –> 00:27:49,339 to what the 11 tribes did here when they anointed David 308 00:27:49,339 –> 00:27:50,760 and said you’re our king? 309 00:27:52,599 –> 00:27:56,660 You’re the sovereign ruler over me. 310 00:27:59,339 –> 00:28:02,459 Nothing could be more absurd 311 00:28:03,339 –> 00:28:05,180 than for someone here today to say 312 00:28:05,180 –> 00:28:07,140 I believe that Jesus rose from the dead 313 00:28:07,140 –> 00:28:10,380 but I’m living my life at a distance from him 314 00:28:11,380 –> 00:28:14,300 and I continue to be in command of my own life. 315 00:28:15,880 –> 00:28:17,339 Nothing could be more absurd. 316 00:28:19,719 –> 00:28:24,359 What will happen when you come to Jesus Christ 317 00:28:24,359 –> 00:28:27,560 because of who he is, what he did, and what he does? 318 00:28:28,680 –> 00:28:30,739 Well, he will wonderfully welcome you. 319 00:28:32,099 –> 00:28:34,280 He seals his covenant with you 320 00:28:35,180 –> 00:28:37,420 as you anoint him as your king. 321 00:28:38,619 –> 00:28:39,579 And then the third thing 322 00:28:39,640 –> 00:28:41,160 that just follows from this, 323 00:28:41,160 –> 00:28:43,979 this king will bless you, he will bless you. 324 00:28:45,660 –> 00:28:47,599 Look at verse 12. 325 00:28:47,599 –> 00:28:52,219 David knew that the Lord had established him 326 00:28:52,219 –> 00:28:54,060 as king over Israel 327 00:28:54,060 –> 00:28:57,660 and that he had exalted his that’s David’s kingdom 328 00:28:57,660 –> 00:29:02,040 for the sake of his people Israel. 329 00:29:03,439 –> 00:29:05,099 Now notice two things in this verse. 330 00:29:05,099 –> 00:29:06,979 The first is it was the Lord 331 00:29:06,979 –> 00:29:09,300 who established David’s kingdom. 332 00:29:10,280 –> 00:29:11,180 It wasn’t Joab. 333 00:29:12,339 –> 00:29:13,719 It certainly wasn’t Abner. 334 00:29:15,160 –> 00:29:17,900 And it wasn’t even the 350,000 335 00:29:17,900 –> 00:29:19,520 who came and anointed David. 336 00:29:19,520 –> 00:29:24,260 No, David’s kingdom was established by the Lord himself. 337 00:29:24,260 –> 00:29:28,900 It was the working of God that established this kingdom. 338 00:29:28,900 –> 00:29:31,099 But notice in this very important verse 339 00:29:31,099 –> 00:29:35,219 why the Lord established David as king. 340 00:29:35,260 –> 00:29:40,260 He did it, verse 12, for the sake of his people Israel. 341 00:29:42,319 –> 00:29:45,520 And this first says David knew this. 342 00:29:45,520 –> 00:29:49,699 David knew that the reason that God had lifted him up 343 00:29:49,699 –> 00:29:51,900 put him in this position of leadership, 344 00:29:51,900 –> 00:29:54,819 made him king and brought these people together 345 00:29:54,819 –> 00:29:56,219 under his leadership, 346 00:29:56,219 –> 00:29:58,540 that the reason for this was not for David. 347 00:29:58,540 –> 00:30:02,819 The reason for this was for the sake of his people Israel. 348 00:30:05,660 –> 00:30:08,760 Why does God put people in positions of leadership? 349 00:30:10,939 –> 00:30:13,459 For the sake of his people, 350 00:30:13,459 –> 00:30:14,859 very important principle. 351 00:30:17,300 –> 00:30:20,099 In a world that so easily sees that leadership 352 00:30:20,099 –> 00:30:21,900 is either an end in itself 353 00:30:23,079 –> 00:30:25,020 or that the great function of leadership 354 00:30:25,020 –> 00:30:26,619 is the exaltation of the leader. 355 00:30:26,619 –> 00:30:29,839 What we’re being told here is that God gave leadership 356 00:30:29,839 –> 00:30:34,359 to David for the sake of his people. 357 00:30:34,359 –> 00:30:36,640 That applies to leadership at every level 358 00:30:36,640 –> 00:30:38,520 and David knew this. 359 00:30:39,579 –> 00:30:40,420 Why am I the king? 360 00:30:40,420 –> 00:30:42,439 Why do I have this responsibility? 361 00:30:42,439 –> 00:30:45,680 Why have I been given the sacred trust for the sake, 362 00:30:45,680 –> 00:30:50,239 for the good of God’s people? 363 00:30:52,119 –> 00:30:57,119 Now, Christ, the king, comes into the world 364 00:30:58,920 –> 00:31:01,040 and he establishes a kingdom 365 00:31:01,040 –> 00:31:03,140 that is unlike any other kingdom, 366 00:31:03,520 –> 00:31:05,199 so the kingdom of David, in some ways, 367 00:31:05,199 –> 00:31:07,800 just points us forward to it here. 368 00:31:08,680 –> 00:31:11,099 And remember when this king, Jesus, 369 00:31:11,099 –> 00:31:13,880 comes into the world, what does he say? 370 00:31:13,880 –> 00:31:18,880 He says, I am among you, as one who serves. 371 00:31:21,359 –> 00:31:23,560 He’s the king of kings 372 00:31:23,560 –> 00:31:28,560 and he says, I’ve come among you, as one who serves. 373 00:31:29,319 –> 00:31:30,660 He said to his disciples, 374 00:31:30,660 –> 00:31:33,199 now those who rule over the Gentiles, 375 00:31:33,199 –> 00:31:35,319 I mean, they just love to push their weight about, 376 00:31:35,319 –> 00:31:37,459 they love to lord it over them, 377 00:31:37,459 –> 00:31:40,239 but it shall not be so among you. 378 00:31:41,760 –> 00:31:44,619 No, whoever would be great among you 379 00:31:44,619 –> 00:31:46,619 must be your servant. 380 00:31:47,800 –> 00:31:50,239 And then he says this, even the son of man, 381 00:31:50,239 –> 00:31:52,260 that’s Jesus referring to himself, 382 00:31:52,260 –> 00:31:54,660 even the son of man came into the world 383 00:31:54,660 –> 00:31:56,260 not to be served, 384 00:31:57,319 –> 00:31:58,540 but to serve 385 00:31:59,280 –> 00:32:02,780 and to give his life as a ransom for many, 386 00:32:04,819 –> 00:32:07,900 and he is the shepherd who came into the world 387 00:32:07,900 –> 00:32:10,979 and laid down his life for the sheep. 388 00:32:13,859 –> 00:32:14,680 Why? 389 00:32:14,680 –> 00:32:18,859 Because the king is given for the sake of the people. 390 00:32:21,140 –> 00:32:24,959 Now, you cannot give to Jesus Christ 391 00:32:24,959 –> 00:32:27,719 more than he gives to you. 392 00:32:27,719 –> 00:32:28,819 You never can. 393 00:32:30,359 –> 00:32:33,920 If it costs you your life to be a follower of Jesus Christ, 394 00:32:33,920 –> 00:32:37,280 you cannot give more to Jesus Christ 395 00:32:37,280 –> 00:32:40,400 than Jesus Christ gives to you. 396 00:32:40,400 –> 00:32:45,400 Everything Jesus did was for the sake of his people. 397 00:32:46,020 –> 00:32:46,859 Think about it. 398 00:32:46,859 –> 00:32:49,780 His birth, why was he born into the world? 399 00:32:49,780 –> 00:32:50,839 For our sake. 400 00:32:52,040 –> 00:32:53,680 Why was he tempted? 401 00:32:53,680 –> 00:32:55,319 Why did he live that perfect life? 402 00:32:55,319 –> 00:32:57,319 Go to the cross, rise from the dead, 403 00:32:57,319 –> 00:32:59,280 ascent to the right hand of the father. 404 00:32:59,280 –> 00:33:01,800 It’s all for the sake of his people. 405 00:33:01,800 –> 00:33:03,719 And when he comes again in power and glory, 406 00:33:03,719 –> 00:33:05,560 why will he come again in power and glory? 407 00:33:05,560 –> 00:33:07,359 For the sake of his people. 408 00:33:08,459 –> 00:33:10,660 The Lord Jesus Christ, the King. 409 00:33:13,040 –> 00:33:16,640 And he is the King who blesses you. 410 00:33:16,640 –> 00:33:18,739 As I’ve been reflecting on this scripture, 411 00:33:18,739 –> 00:33:20,219 it seems cumulative to me, 412 00:33:20,219 –> 00:33:22,920 there is every reason in the world 413 00:33:22,920 –> 00:33:25,500 to crown Jesus Christ as your King 414 00:33:25,500 –> 00:33:28,619 and no reason to hold back from putting your life 415 00:33:28,619 –> 00:33:32,079 in completely into his hands. 416 00:33:34,219 –> 00:33:37,680 Last thing, we’ve looked at 417 00:33:37,680 –> 00:33:41,119 three reasons to come to Christ. 418 00:33:41,119 –> 00:33:43,319 We’ve looked at three discoveries 419 00:33:43,319 –> 00:33:44,839 that you make when you do come 420 00:33:44,839 –> 00:33:46,839 and they’re very, very wonderful. 421 00:33:48,400 –> 00:33:52,400 Lastly, three priorities that we need to remember 422 00:33:52,400 –> 00:33:54,420 in serving Christ that all come 423 00:33:54,420 –> 00:33:56,979 from this part of the story that we’re looking at. 424 00:33:56,979 –> 00:34:01,040 The first is very simply that we need great patience. 425 00:34:01,040 –> 00:34:05,239 Notice verse five, at Hebron, David reigned over Judah. 426 00:34:05,239 –> 00:34:08,020 That is just the one tribe, for how long? 427 00:34:09,659 –> 00:34:13,500 Seven years and six months. 428 00:34:15,439 –> 00:34:9,159 Seven years and six months, David’s the King, 429 00:34:19,159 –> 00:34:20,459 God’s anointed King. 430 00:34:21,419 –> 00:34:23,280 And how many tribes recognize him? 431 00:34:23,280 –> 00:34:27,179 One, and after one year, how many, 432 00:34:27,179 –> 00:34:29,239 you know what’s the growth been? 433 00:34:29,239 –> 00:34:32,020 One tribe, after two years, you know, 434 00:34:32,020 –> 00:34:33,179 where’s the graph? 435 00:34:33,179 –> 00:34:37,360 One tribe, seven and a half years. 436 00:34:38,260 –> 00:34:40,939 And not a single person added to the kingdom, 437 00:34:42,260 –> 00:34:45,560 just the ongoing trouble of relentless opposition 438 00:34:45,560 –> 00:34:48,840 from the likes of Abner and misrepresentation 439 00:34:48,840 –> 00:34:51,280 from the likes of Joab and David 440 00:34:51,280 –> 00:34:54,439 just staying faithful with patience. 441 00:34:56,959 –> 00:34:58,159 We’ve been asking the question 442 00:34:58,159 –> 00:34:59,399 how does the kingdom come? 443 00:34:59,399 –> 00:35:01,179 We’re trying to learn what it means 444 00:35:01,179 –> 00:35:03,320 to be servants of the Lord Jesus Christ 445 00:35:03,320 –> 00:35:05,399 and His great kingdom, surely from looking 446 00:35:05,399 –> 00:35:08,659 at these seven and a half years, 447 00:35:08,659 –> 00:35:10,659 we have to learn this, that in serving 448 00:35:10,659 –> 00:35:14,080 our lord Jesus Christ, we need great patience. 449 00:35:14,080 –> 00:35:15,679 Is there someone that you’ve been praying for 450 00:35:15,719 –> 00:35:18,659 for seven and a half years, and they’ve not come yet, 451 00:35:21,080 –> 00:35:23,199 and the wait and the burden of that 452 00:35:23,199 –> 00:35:26,280 and ministry in which you’re trying to reach 453 00:35:26,280 –> 00:35:28,020 and you haven’t yet seen the progress 454 00:35:28,020 –> 00:35:33,020 that you would wish, great patience, great patience 455 00:35:35,439 –> 00:35:37,780 and you know, this seven and a half year 456 00:35:37,780 –> 00:35:40,639 period where David is on the throne 457 00:35:40,639 –> 00:35:43,360 in Hebron, and yet all that is surrounding him 458 00:35:43,500 –> 00:35:46,219 is this awful opposition and violence 459 00:35:46,219 –> 00:35:48,340 that we’ve been looking at over these last weeks 460 00:35:48,340 –> 00:35:53,000 and how obscene it all is, that actually gives us 461 00:35:53,000 –> 00:35:56,679 a picture of the world in which we live today, 462 00:35:56,679 –> 00:35:58,360 does it not? 463 00:35:58,360 –> 00:36:01,679 I mean here’s David and he’s on the throne 464 00:36:01,679 –> 00:36:04,560 in Hebron and the story we’ve followed 465 00:36:04,560 –> 00:36:06,719 has just been one miserable outbreak of violence 466 00:36:06,719 –> 00:36:07,959 after another, hasn’t it? 467 00:36:09,320 –> 00:36:12,560 Abner, Joab, Banner, Review, whatever next, 468 00:36:12,600 –> 00:36:15,199 how can all this be happening if God’s anointed king 469 00:36:15,199 –> 00:36:16,580 is on the throne in Hebron? 470 00:36:19,100 –> 00:36:21,340 And of course that is exactly the question we face 471 00:36:21,340 –> 00:36:23,840 today as we see one outbreak of violence 472 00:36:23,840 –> 00:36:27,000 after another and we say, how can it possibly 473 00:36:27,000 –> 00:36:29,100 be that all this is happening in our world 474 00:36:29,100 –> 00:36:31,219 if King Jesus is on the throne in heaven? 475 00:36:32,639 –> 00:36:34,000 And I want you to remember the story 476 00:36:34,000 –> 00:36:35,659 of the seven and a half years, 477 00:36:36,879 –> 00:36:38,760 David is on the throne but his enemies 478 00:36:38,760 –> 00:36:40,439 have not yet been put under his feet, 479 00:36:40,439 –> 00:36:42,080 they’ve not yet come to the place 480 00:36:42,719 –> 00:36:43,780 where they have acknowledged him. 481 00:36:44,860 –> 00:36:47,000 David actually gives us I think a fascinating 482 00:36:47,000 –> 00:36:49,800 reflection on this in Psalm 110 483 00:36:49,800 –> 00:36:51,320 that as I thought about it more and more 484 00:36:51,320 –> 00:36:53,760 seems very much to me to be a reflection 485 00:36:53,760 –> 00:36:56,300 of this extraordinary day when finally 486 00:36:56,300 –> 00:36:58,439 all the people came to him after 487 00:36:58,439 –> 00:37:01,000 this long, long delay and he makes very clear 488 00:37:01,000 –> 00:37:04,040 that in the same way as there was a long delay 489 00:37:04,040 –> 00:37:06,320 between him being anointed as king 490 00:37:06,320 –> 00:37:08,120 and the great day when all the tribes 491 00:37:08,120 –> 00:37:09,919 were brought together, so there will be 492 00:37:09,919 –> 00:37:12,040 a long delay between Christ being 493 00:37:12,060 –> 00:37:14,000 anointed as the king and the day 494 00:37:14,000 –> 00:37:16,100 when all the people from every tribe 495 00:37:16,100 –> 00:37:18,360 and nation will be brought in a great company 496 00:37:18,360 –> 00:37:19,719 to worship before him. 497 00:37:19,719 –> 00:37:22,159 And so he says in Psalm 110, 498 00:37:22,159 –> 00:37:24,939 the Lord says to my lord, 499 00:37:24,939 –> 00:37:26,360 that’s a reference to the Messiah 500 00:37:26,360 –> 00:37:27,739 who was still to come. 501 00:37:28,679 –> 00:37:30,659 God says to the coming Messiah, 502 00:37:30,659 –> 00:37:34,439 sit at my right hand until 503 00:37:35,939 –> 00:37:40,159 I make your enemies your footstool. 504 00:37:40,699 –> 00:37:45,520 And then he says rule in the midst of your enemies. 505 00:37:47,719 –> 00:37:49,860 In other words, rule on the throne 506 00:37:49,860 –> 00:37:54,679 with all the chaos and violence and carnage around you. 507 00:37:55,879 –> 00:37:58,600 That’s what David did with great patience 508 00:37:58,600 –> 00:38:00,060 for 7 1⁄2 years. 509 00:38:01,340 –> 00:38:05,540 And that gives us a little shaft of light 510 00:38:05,540 –> 00:38:09,600 on the nature of the world in which we live at this time 511 00:38:09,639 –> 00:38:10,879 between the Ascension 512 00:38:10,879 –> 00:38:13,320 and the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 513 00:38:13,320 –> 00:38:14,399 He’s on the throne, 514 00:38:14,399 –> 00:38:18,520 but his enemies are not yet placed under his feet. 515 00:38:18,520 –> 00:38:20,739 He’s crowned with glory and honor 516 00:38:21,600 –> 00:38:26,360 though we do not yet see everything made subject to him. 517 00:38:26,360 –> 00:38:28,479 So we need great patience. 518 00:38:29,760 –> 00:38:32,159 And at the same time, we need great confidence 519 00:38:33,560 –> 00:38:37,840 because having ruled for 7 ½ years 520 00:38:37,840 –> 00:38:40,780 with forces of only 7,000 people, 521 00:38:40,780 –> 00:38:41,979 Hebron, Judah. 522 00:38:43,280 –> 00:38:46,320 In a single day, everything changed. 523 00:38:46,320 –> 00:38:48,719 I mean, can you imagine this day? 524 00:38:48,719 –> 00:38:51,399 350,000 from every tribe. 525 00:38:51,399 –> 00:38:52,840 And they arrive in a single day 526 00:38:52,840 –> 00:38:54,719 and the whole kingdom’s transformed. 527 00:38:56,439 –> 00:38:59,699 Never underestimate what God can do in a day. 528 00:39:00,800 –> 00:39:03,520 And you’re praying for someone who’s been long coming. 529 00:39:03,560 –> 00:39:08,459 Never underestimate what God can do in a single day. 530 00:39:08,459 –> 00:39:11,100 In Second Samuel Chapter Five, 531 00:39:11,100 –> 00:39:13,840 to use a phrase from the Bible later on, 532 00:39:13,840 –> 00:39:17,620 a nation was born in a day. 533 00:39:18,780 –> 00:39:20,219 It was. 534 00:39:20,219 –> 00:39:21,820 A nation was born in a day. 535 00:39:22,939 –> 00:39:25,260 And I am actually looking for the day 536 00:39:25,260 –> 00:39:27,620 when yet the 12 tribes of Israel 537 00:39:27,620 –> 00:39:30,340 will come to bow before the Lord Jesus Christ. 538 00:39:30,340 –> 00:39:34,459 I think that’s spoken of in Romans 11 in Verse 26. 539 00:39:34,459 –> 00:39:36,239 All Israel shall be saved. 540 00:39:36,239 –> 00:39:38,300 And beyond that, looking to the day, 541 00:39:38,300 –> 00:39:40,780 when a crowd that no one can number 542 00:39:42,000 –> 00:39:44,360 from every tribe and every nation 543 00:39:44,360 –> 00:39:48,840 will be gathered proclaiming Jesus Christ the King. 544 00:39:48,840 –> 00:39:50,379 So we need great patience. 545 00:39:50,379 –> 00:39:52,540 We need great confidence. 546 00:39:52,540 –> 00:39:56,379 And finally we need great grace. 547 00:39:56,379 –> 00:39:59,379 And in Psalm 110 that I think really does reflect 548 00:39:59,379 –> 00:40:02,060 on this amazing day, David says this. 549 00:40:02,060 –> 00:40:04,520 “‘Your people,” that is God’s people, 550 00:40:04,520 –> 00:40:09,520 “‘will offer themselves freely in the day of your power.’” 551 00:40:09,699 –> 00:40:11,340 That’s the most beautiful description 552 00:40:11,340 –> 00:40:13,120 of 2 Samuel Chapter Five. 553 00:40:14,060 –> 00:40:17,639 After all the attempts of Joab at coercion. 554 00:40:18,780 –> 00:40:20,780 How are we gonna get these 11 tribes 555 00:40:20,780 –> 00:40:22,060 under the rule of David? 556 00:40:22,060 –> 00:40:23,239 How can we force it? 557 00:40:23,239 –> 00:40:24,459 You can’t force it. 558 00:40:24,540 –> 00:40:25,580 They came freely. 559 00:40:26,860 –> 00:40:28,080 They came freely. 560 00:40:29,820 –> 00:40:34,260 And they came freely from all over the tribes, 561 00:40:34,260 –> 00:40:36,500 they came freely, they came gladly, 562 00:40:36,500 –> 00:40:39,419 they came with great joy to David 563 00:40:39,419 –> 00:40:41,060 in the day of God’s power. 564 00:40:41,060 –> 00:40:41,879 What does that mean? 565 00:40:41,879 –> 00:40:44,439 It means that God’s Spirit worked to change 566 00:40:44,439 –> 00:40:47,120 within their hearts, and they came freely and gladly. 567 00:40:47,120 –> 00:40:50,439 People who had been fighting David, resisting David, 568 00:40:50,439 –> 00:40:53,500 but God’s Spirit changed them from the inside out, 569 00:40:53,540 –> 00:40:55,620 and they came freely and gladly. 570 00:40:55,620 –> 00:40:57,600 And how did that happen? 571 00:40:59,459 –> 00:41:02,080 Well, we’ve been following David right through this period. 572 00:41:02,080 –> 00:41:03,760 What was he focused on throughout 573 00:41:03,760 –> 00:41:04,919 these seven and a half years? 574 00:41:04,919 –> 00:41:09,639 One thing, grace, grace. 575 00:41:09,639 –> 00:41:11,080 When they thought he would rejoice 576 00:41:11,080 –> 00:41:13,060 over the death of Saul, he wept. 577 00:41:13,879 –> 00:41:16,719 When they thought he would be pumping his fists 578 00:41:16,719 –> 00:41:19,760 in triumph over the death of Abner, 579 00:41:19,760 –> 00:41:23,280 he led the funeral procession. 580 00:41:23,280 –> 00:41:27,000 It was the same when he dealt with the death of Ish-bosheth 581 00:41:27,000 –> 00:41:30,159 instead of rejoicing in the downfall of his enemy. 582 00:41:30,159 –> 00:41:33,219 He wept and he dealt with 583 00:41:33,219 –> 00:41:36,719 those who had perpetrated that awful violence, 584 00:41:36,719 –> 00:41:38,840 and what had he been doing from the beginning? 585 00:41:38,840 –> 00:41:42,479 Sending out messengers of grace. 586 00:41:43,860 –> 00:41:47,280 And the result was after seven and a half years, 587 00:41:47,280 –> 00:41:50,000 people from the 11 tribes, they came. 588 00:41:50,000 –> 00:41:51,659 They came in a day. 589 00:41:51,659 –> 00:41:53,320 They came freely. 590 00:41:53,320 –> 00:41:56,340 They came because God’s spirit had been working within them 591 00:41:56,340 –> 00:42:01,340 and they came because they were won by grace. 592 00:42:03,479 –> 00:42:07,219 Father, please teach us the patience that we need 593 00:42:07,219 –> 00:42:10,600 to serve Christ, the King in this troubled world. 594 00:42:11,479 –> 00:42:13,719 And give us the confidence we need 595 00:42:13,719 –> 00:42:16,379 that the day will surely come when 596 00:42:17,379 –> 00:42:19,540 the kingdoms of this world will become 597 00:42:19,560 –> 00:42:22,959 the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ 598 00:42:22,959 –> 00:42:26,159 and he shall reign forever and forever. 599 00:42:27,600 –> 00:42:31,139 And help us in a world where one group after another 600 00:42:31,139 –> 00:42:33,439 practices a form of coercion 601 00:42:34,659 –> 00:42:37,340 to be ministers of grace, 602 00:42:37,340 –> 00:42:39,699 that many who have resisted you for years 603 00:42:39,699 –> 00:42:43,040 may come freely in the day of your power 604 00:42:43,040 –> 00:42:47,399 and that there may be great rejoicing in heaven and on earth 605 00:42:47,459 –> 00:42:49,560 for the sake of Christ in whose name we pray 606 00:42:49,560 –> 00:42:51,919 and everyone together said amen.

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Colin Smith

Trustee / Founder and Teaching Pastor

Colin Smith is the Senior Pastor of The Orchard Evangelical Free Church in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. He has authored a number of books, including Heaven, How I Got Here and Heaven, So Near – So Far. Colin is the Founder and Teaching Pastor for Open the Bible. Follow him on X formerly Twitter.

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