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.