1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:05,660 We are following of course the story of how David brought the 12 tribes of Israel together 2 00:00:05,660 –> 00:00:07,880 as one people. 3 00:00:07,880 –> 00:00:15,040 God had anointed David as the king over his people but at first only one tribe received 4 00:00:15,040 –> 00:00:16,040 him. 5 00:00:16,040 –> 00:00:21,020 The first thing that David did in order to bring people together was to send out messengers 6 00:00:21,020 –> 00:00:22,879 of grace. 7 00:00:22,879 –> 00:00:29,340 And he sent them to the people least likely to receive him. 8 00:00:29,559 –> 00:00:36,700 As we look at the story of how the tribes of Israel were brought under the blessing 9 00:00:36,700 –> 00:00:42,980 of David’s rule we actually have a lens through which we’re able to look at the larger story 10 00:00:42,980 –> 00:00:49,540 of the Bible which is all about how Jesus Christ brings people from every tribe and 11 00:00:49,540 –> 00:00:53,779 nation to live under the blessing of his rule. 12 00:00:53,779 –> 00:00:55,880 Jesus taught us to pray, 13 00:00:56,799 –> 00:01:01,599 And of course the question is how is that going to happen? 14 00:01:01,599 –> 00:01:06,300 How will people be brought under the blessing of the rule of Jesus Christ? 15 00:01:06,300 –> 00:01:10,680 That’s really why we’re looking at this story, it’s not simply historical interest 16 00:01:10,680 –> 00:01:17,680 with regards to many many years ago, it speaks directly to the work that Jesus Christ is 17 00:01:17,680 –> 00:01:24,459 doing in our time and therefore the calling that we have as Christian people as we are 18 00:01:24,580 –> 00:01:29,360 servants of Christ seeking to advance his great kingdom in the world. 19 00:01:29,360 –> 00:01:31,339 How does the kingdom come? 20 00:01:31,339 –> 00:01:36,500 Now the story that we’re following in these early chapters of Second Samuel really gives 21 00:01:36,500 –> 00:01:42,120 three answers to that question, two in the negative, and one in the positive, two answers 22 00:01:42,120 –> 00:01:49,120 as to how the kingdom does not come and one answer as to how it does come. 23 00:01:49,360 –> 00:01:55,879 By way of review, we really saw the first answer as to how the kingdom does not come 24 00:01:55,879 –> 00:02:01,220 last week and that was of course that Christ’s kingdom does not advance through the cunning 25 00:02:01,220 –> 00:02:03,099 of human schemes. 26 00:02:03,099 –> 00:02:06,900 You remember we looked at the story of Abner? 27 00:02:06,900 –> 00:02:13,740 Abner was all about himself and as the house of Saul became weaker and weaker, Abner came 28 00:02:13,740 –> 00:02:17,839 to the conclusion that he couldn’t get what he wanted from Ish-bosheth and so he would 29 00:02:18,139 –> 00:02:23,080 switch sides, you know whatever works, that’s the kind of person Abner was and so he decides 30 00:02:23,080 –> 00:02:25,279 that he will go over to David. 31 00:02:25,279 –> 00:02:29,820 In chapter three and verse 12, Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf saying, 32 00:02:29,820 –> 00:02:37,800 to whom does the land belong, make your covenant with me and my hand will bring to you all 33 00:02:37,800 –> 00:02:40,440 the tribes of Israel. 34 00:02:40,440 –> 00:02:46,779 As if the kingdom of David would be established by the schemes of Abner. 35 00:02:46,779 –> 00:02:48,919 I don’t think so. 36 00:02:48,919 –> 00:02:51,880 It was the Lord who had promised the kingdom to David. 37 00:02:51,880 –> 00:03:00,759 It is the Lord that will establish David’s kingdom, not Abner, and for all his self confidence, 38 00:03:00,759 –> 00:03:06,520 we noted last week, Abner was not able to deliver what he promised. 39 00:03:06,520 –> 00:03:12,639 That’s always the problem with human schemes, they cannot bring in the kingdom of God. 40 00:03:12,639 –> 00:03:16,520 Abner said to David, I am the man that can get you where you need to go, I am the man 41 00:03:16,559 –> 00:03:20,839 that you need, I’m the man that can establish your kingdom. 42 00:03:20,839 –> 00:03:25,539 But the man who said that was dead by the end of the day. 43 00:03:25,539 –> 00:03:30,600 Not a single person, let alone a single tribe came into David’s kingdom as a result of the 44 00:03:30,600 –> 00:03:33,399 schemes of Abner. 45 00:03:33,399 –> 00:03:38,639 And that of course speaks right into the ministry that we have as servants of the Lord Jesus 46 00:03:38,639 –> 00:03:39,919 Christ today. 47 00:03:40,020 –> 00:03:47,259 That is why the New Testament says, we have renounced disgraceful and underhand ways. 48 00:03:47,259 –> 00:03:51,779 We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s Word. 49 00:03:51,779 –> 00:03:56,880 Here’s how we are to exercise ministry, by an open statement of the truth. 50 00:03:56,880 –> 00:04:02,059 We commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 51 00:04:02,059 –> 00:04:07,059 So there’s a direct application from the story that we looked at last week as to this question, 52 00:04:07,059 –> 00:04:09,100 how does the kingdom come? 53 00:04:09,339 –> 00:04:17,100 And it’s the first negative answer, Christ kingdom will not come through cunning human schemes. 54 00:04:17,100 –> 00:04:21,440 So here’s the application. 55 00:04:21,459 –> 00:04:33,140 Any leader who thinks that his or her gifts or ministry or program or influence is what 56 00:04:33,540 –> 00:04:40,899 Jesus Christ needs in order to get his work done had better read the story of Abner. 57 00:04:40,899 –> 00:04:46,600 Because the man who says, I’m the one you need, is dead by the end of the day that he 58 00:04:46,600 –> 00:04:48,459 said it. 59 00:04:48,459 –> 00:04:54,100 And not a single person comes into the kingdom as a result of his scheming influence. 60 00:04:54,100 –> 00:04:56,500 Not a single one. 61 00:04:56,500 –> 00:04:59,100 So, how does the kingdom come? 62 00:04:59,100 –> 00:05:01,420 How is it that David unites all the tribes? 63 00:05:01,540 –> 00:05:03,000 Well here is how it does not happen. 64 00:05:03,000 –> 00:05:06,660 It does not happen through the cunning schemes of an Abner. 65 00:05:06,660 –> 00:05:11,779 Now we come to this story today, this unpromising story that actually is saying something that 66 00:05:11,779 –> 00:05:15,500 Christians and our world desperately need to hear. 67 00:05:15,500 –> 00:05:21,299 Christ’s kingdom does not come through acts of violence. 68 00:05:21,299 –> 00:05:25,239 That’s our theme today from 2 Samuel Chapter 4. 69 00:05:25,239 –> 00:05:28,760 Christ’s kingdom does not come through acts of violence. 70 00:05:28,760 –> 00:05:34,119 We are looking at a story of 2 men who thought they could bring in David’s kingdom by a 71 00:05:34,119 –> 00:05:38,980 brutal act of violence. 72 00:05:38,980 –> 00:05:43,299 There are 3 scenes in this ugly story that we look at today. 73 00:05:43,299 –> 00:05:49,619 First the scene of panic, second a gruesome scene of violence that we will touch only 74 00:05:49,619 –> 00:05:51,079 briefly. 75 00:05:51,119 –> 00:05:58,859 And then thirdly the scene of judgment that is all pervasive to this story. 76 00:05:58,859 –> 00:06:01,320 First then, the scene of panic, verse 1. 77 00:06:01,320 –> 00:06:02,320 1. 78 00:06:02,320 –> 00:06:08,380 When Isbosheth, Saul’s son, heard that Abner had died at Hebron, his courage failed. 79 00:06:08,380 –> 00:06:09,380 2. 80 00:06:09,380 –> 00:06:12,519 All Israel was dismayed. 81 00:06:12,519 –> 00:06:21,059 Remember, Abner was the one who had made Isbosheth, the rival king in the north, had set Isbosheth 82 00:06:21,160 –> 00:06:26,519 up and Ishbosheth knew that he could not remain in power for very long without Abner. 83 00:06:26,519 –> 00:06:31,100 And so when he heard the news that the man who was really the source of his power, on 84 00:06:31,100 –> 00:06:37,660 whom he was entirely dependent, that that man Abner was dead, his courage failed. 85 00:06:37,660 –> 00:06:43,299 And notice what happens when the courage of a leader fails. 86 00:06:43,299 –> 00:06:47,140 Verse 1, All Israel was dismayed. 87 00:06:47,140 –> 00:06:48,420 Everyone was dismayed. 88 00:06:48,420 –> 00:06:54,700 People didn’t know what to do because the courage of their leader failed. 89 00:06:54,700 –> 00:07:02,660 The first calling of any leader is to exercise faith in God. 90 00:07:02,660 –> 00:07:08,660 The first calling of any leader is to exercise faith in God. 91 00:07:08,660 –> 00:07:14,079 Times of crisis will come to your family, they will come to your friends, they may come 92 00:07:14,079 –> 00:07:18,380 to your business, they will come to your ministry. 93 00:07:18,380 –> 00:07:24,760 And when these times of crisis come, the people who look to you for a lead need to know one 94 00:07:24,760 –> 00:07:28,420 thing, are you trusting in God? 95 00:07:28,420 –> 00:07:33,600 And if they can see that you, who have leadership influence, they’re looking to you, if they 96 00:07:33,600 –> 00:07:40,019 can see that in this crisis you are looking to God, they will be lifted. 97 00:07:40,019 –> 00:07:45,420 But if they see that in this crisis your courage fails, they will all be dismayed. 98 00:07:46,140 –> 00:07:52,260 Well, even our leader can’t trust God in this so what hope is there for the rest of us? 99 00:07:52,260 –> 00:07:53,820 That’s what’s happening here. 100 00:07:53,820 –> 00:08:00,179 Ish-Bosheth’s courage failed and all, everybody, all Israel was dismayed. 101 00:08:00,179 –> 00:08:05,859 A real importance of the faith of the leader in any sphere of life. 102 00:08:05,859 –> 00:08:08,579 Now why was it that Ish-Bosheth’s courage failed? 103 00:08:08,579 –> 00:08:12,100 Well, of course, because he had put his trust in Abner. 104 00:08:12,100 –> 00:08:16,140 Ish-Bosheth’s was not a man who was exercising faith in God. 105 00:08:16,140 –> 00:08:20,359 Abner was the one who had made him king and so he relied on Abner. 106 00:08:20,359 –> 00:08:26,720 Now, that raises this very practical question by way of application. 107 00:08:26,720 –> 00:08:34,820 Is there a person in your life, of whom you might be tempted to say, without him, without 108 00:08:34,820 –> 00:08:38,659 her, I couldn’t survive. 109 00:08:38,739 –> 00:08:43,440 Is there someone in your life, of whom you would be tempted to say that? 110 00:08:43,440 –> 00:08:48,080 Well, here’s what we need to remember. 111 00:08:48,080 –> 00:08:56,739 God will give you in the course of your life, friends, loved ones, colleagues, to whom you 112 00:08:56,739 –> 00:09:03,140 look for wisdom and help and comfort and strength. 113 00:09:03,140 –> 00:09:06,299 These people are God’s gift to you. 114 00:09:06,299 –> 00:09:10,440 God’s gift to you. 115 00:09:10,440 –> 00:09:14,239 Don’t make an idol of them. 116 00:09:14,239 –> 00:09:20,760 Rejoice in God’s gifts, but don’t put your trust in the gift, put your trust in the 117 00:09:20,760 –> 00:09:23,320 giver. 118 00:09:23,320 –> 00:09:27,580 That’s of course what David did, he put his trust in the Lord. 119 00:09:27,580 –> 00:09:31,940 Ish-vosh-eth put his trust in princes and he put his trust in Abner. 120 00:09:31,979 –> 00:09:37,380 And that is why David saying in the Psalms, Shoreli Psalm 118 and verses 8 and 9, it is 121 00:09:37,380 –> 00:09:43,260 better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. 122 00:09:43,260 –> 00:09:48,380 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes. 123 00:09:48,380 –> 00:09:52,260 That’s the lesson of the comparison between David and Ish-vosh-eth. 124 00:09:52,260 –> 00:09:57,580 David is grateful for all the gifts that God gives to him in his life but ultimately he 125 00:09:57,580 –> 00:10:01,059 says I’m gonna trust the one who gives the gifts not the gifts themselves. 126 00:10:01,919 –> 00:10:05,119 It’s better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes. 127 00:10:05,239 –> 00:10:10,400 For Ish-vosh-eth, oh he didn’t have any trust in the Lord so all that was left was putting 128 00:10:10,400 –> 00:10:17,299 his trust in men and when the idol that he had set up Abner fell he was dismayed he didn’t 129 00:10:17,299 –> 00:10:18,000 know what to do. 130 00:10:19,500 –> 00:10:26,200 Now at this point of the story where panic is around everywhere, two men take center 131 00:10:26,200 –> 00:10:33,739 stage and their names are Banah and Rehkab, and these men of course are also in a panic. 132 00:10:33,739 –> 00:10:38,799 We’re told in verse two that they were captains of raiding bands. 133 00:10:38,799 –> 00:10:44,760 In other words, they were men who it appears had some prominence in Ish-vosh-eth’s army 134 00:10:44,760 –> 00:10:50,719 and with the death of Abner it may even be that they were in fact the next in line, and 135 00:10:50,880 –> 00:10:56,140 the house of Saul was becoming weaker and weaker, they came to the same conclusion 136 00:10:56,140 –> 00:11:00,080 as Abner had come to really that, hey, we’re on the wrong side. 137 00:11:00,080 –> 00:11:06,799 We’re on the side that’s going down and we’d better do something about it. 138 00:11:06,799 –> 00:11:11,679 What will happen to us, these men are asking. 139 00:11:11,700 –> 00:11:20,520 When David finally catches up with us and we have to face the King whose reign we have 140 00:11:20,520 –> 00:11:24,400 resisted and whose rule we have opposed. 141 00:11:24,400 –> 00:11:28,119 What will happen to us then? 142 00:11:28,119 –> 00:11:34,840 And so, the figure that if they’re going to have any hope, they’re going to have 143 00:11:34,840 –> 00:11:42,039 to do something really big that, they think, will endear them to this king on whom they 144 00:11:42,039 –> 00:11:47,320 are quite sure they’re on the wrong side. 145 00:11:47,320 –> 00:11:52,280 That leads to Scene 2 which is this horrible act of violence. 146 00:11:52,280 –> 00:11:53,280 Verse 5. 147 00:11:53,280 –> 00:11:54,280 And so, the sons of Rimeh. 148 00:11:54,280 –> 00:11:56,880 That is, these two men, Rechab and Banna. 149 00:11:56,880 –> 00:12:03,700 They set out, and about the heat of the day, they came to the house of Ish-bosheth, and 150 00:12:03,859 –> 00:12:08,260 was taking his noon-day rest. 151 00:12:08,260 –> 00:12:15,900 And here we have the account of yet another brutal and cold-blooded murder. 152 00:12:15,900 –> 00:12:24,400 Last weekend, by the way, the police recorded the 500th murder in our city just in these 153 00:12:24,400 –> 00:12:26,119 nine months of this year. 154 00:12:26,119 –> 00:12:31,260 I mean, the Bible just speaks directly into the world in which we live today. 155 00:12:31,320 –> 00:12:37,159 Well, Bana and Rekhab, they were trusted men. 156 00:12:37,159 –> 00:12:41,919 They were in Ish-bocheth’s army, captains, so there was nothing unusual about them walking 157 00:12:41,919 –> 00:12:47,780 in and out of the king’s residence, picking up supplies, and so they were able to have 158 00:12:47,780 –> 00:12:48,960 easy access. 159 00:12:48,960 –> 00:12:52,359 But on this occasion, they did not go into the supply store. 160 00:12:52,359 –> 00:12:58,780 They went straight through to the king’s bedroom where he was resting in the noon day. 161 00:12:58,900 –> 00:13:04,219 They walked right up to Ish-bocheth lying on his bed and they killed him. 162 00:13:04,219 –> 00:13:10,299 And then in this macabre act, they took the head of Ish-bocheth thinking that they would 163 00:13:10,299 –> 00:13:15,739 present it as a kind of trophy that would endear them to David. 164 00:13:15,739 –> 00:13:19,099 So, scene one is panic. 165 00:13:19,140 –> 00:13:27,979 Scene two just a brutal, ugly, obscene act of violence such as is perpetrated still in 166 00:13:27,979 –> 00:13:32,880 our desperately needy fallen world today. 167 00:13:32,880 –> 00:13:35,960 Scene three is the judgment. 168 00:13:35,960 –> 00:13:40,460 I want you to see two things here as they come into the presence of God’s anointed 169 00:13:40,460 –> 00:13:41,460 King. 170 00:13:41,460 –> 00:13:42,460 And that’s why I call it the judgment. 171 00:13:42,460 –> 00:13:50,900 Here we have men who are coming into the presence of God’s anointed King and they want to plead 172 00:13:50,900 –> 00:13:58,739 their case as to why this king should receive them, who after all have resisted his rule 173 00:13:58,739 –> 00:14:03,280 and been on the other side all of this time, why he should now receive them and welcome 174 00:14:03,280 –> 00:14:06,340 them and even honor and reward them. 175 00:14:06,340 –> 00:14:08,380 And here’s the case that they present. 176 00:14:09,280 –> 00:14:12,460 First they say to the king verse 8, 177 00:14:23,340 –> 00:14:26,140 Now you see what they’re saying? 178 00:14:26,140 –> 00:14:30,619 We’ve dealt with the man who was your enemy. 179 00:14:30,619 –> 00:14:36,539 We’ve dealt with the one who sought your life. 180 00:14:37,099 –> 00:14:40,219 We’ve done something of such a scale at such a risk 181 00:14:43,659 –> 00:14:47,739 that we should be handsomely rewarded in your kingdom. 182 00:14:47,739 –> 00:14:51,260 That’s their case. 183 00:14:51,260 –> 00:14:54,859 Now remember these are ruthless men. 184 00:14:56,780 –> 00:15:01,260 They have been convinced throughout their lives that might is right 185 00:15:01,260 –> 00:15:04,859 and that the end justifies the means. 186 00:15:05,179 –> 00:15:06,619 And we’re all inclined to do this. 187 00:15:10,539 –> 00:15:13,979 And these men assume that King David is very much like them 188 00:15:13,979 –> 00:15:17,020 and that he will rejoice in what they have done 189 00:15:17,020 –> 00:15:21,020 and care very little about how they went about it 190 00:15:21,020 –> 00:15:24,940 and that he will reward them greatly handsomely 191 00:15:24,940 –> 00:15:26,700 for what they have done. 192 00:15:28,380 –> 00:15:32,059 In other words Rechab and Banah assume 193 00:15:32,219 –> 00:15:35,820 that David only cares about one thing and that is success. 194 00:15:38,140 –> 00:15:41,500 They assume that all that he’s concerned about 195 00:15:41,500 –> 00:15:44,059 is that his kingdom will advance 196 00:15:44,059 –> 00:15:48,219 and that he has no real value that’s placed on righteousness. 197 00:15:49,979 –> 00:15:52,140 But what they discover, of course to their shock, 198 00:15:52,140 –> 00:15:54,460 what they had not understood at all 199 00:15:54,460 –> 00:15:59,580 is that God’s anointed King really cares about righteousness. 200 00:15:59,580 –> 00:16:07,000 In a world that is obsessed with what will work. 201 00:16:08,679 –> 00:16:11,239 A world that in every sphere is obsessed with 202 00:16:11,239 –> 00:16:13,640 what will bring me success. 203 00:16:15,640 –> 00:16:21,960 Jesus Christ calls us to care about what is right. 204 00:16:21,960 –> 00:16:23,239 Righteousness. 205 00:16:23,239 –> 00:16:26,159 Seek first the kingdom of God 206 00:16:26,200 –> 00:16:32,280 and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you. 207 00:16:32,280 –> 00:16:34,239 They discover to their shock and to their horror 208 00:16:34,239 –> 00:16:36,979 that this man does not just care about success. 209 00:16:37,780 –> 00:16:39,599 He cares about what’s right. 210 00:16:41,799 –> 00:16:45,619 Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote very very powerfully 211 00:16:45,619 –> 00:16:50,179 about what he calls the idolatry of success 212 00:16:50,359 –> 00:16:53,020 and significantly, of course, he was writing 213 00:16:53,020 –> 00:16:56,020 during Hitler’s third Reich. 214 00:16:57,219 –> 00:17:00,140 He described how in his time, 215 00:17:00,140 –> 00:17:03,619 and we see this repeated in many ways in our time, 216 00:17:03,619 –> 00:17:08,400 that people actually look to success as their savior. 217 00:17:09,819 –> 00:17:13,180 Instead of looking to Christ crucified as the savior, 218 00:17:13,180 –> 00:17:16,540 that success actually becomes the savior. 219 00:17:16,540 –> 00:17:19,060 In other words, instead of having justification 220 00:17:19,060 –> 00:17:21,119 by Jesus Christ, what we end up with 221 00:17:21,119 –> 00:17:24,560 is justification by success. 222 00:17:24,560 –> 00:17:27,640 If something is successful, that makes it justified. 223 00:17:29,680 –> 00:17:31,300 And he says this. 224 00:17:32,719 –> 00:17:37,520 When a successful figure becomes especially prominent 225 00:17:37,520 –> 00:17:42,219 and conspicuous, the majority give way 226 00:17:42,219 –> 00:17:45,119 to the idealization of success. 227 00:17:46,119 –> 00:17:49,339 They become blind to right and wrong. 228 00:17:50,839 –> 00:17:53,000 The moral faculty is blunted 229 00:17:53,000 –> 00:17:55,880 because it is dazzled by the brilliance 230 00:17:55,880 –> 00:17:58,180 of the successful man 231 00:17:59,280 –> 00:18:01,699 and the desire to share in that success. 232 00:18:03,819 –> 00:18:04,719 Then he says this. 233 00:18:04,719 –> 00:18:07,760 Neither the triumph of the successful 234 00:18:08,800 –> 00:18:13,199 nor the bitter hatred which the successful arouse 235 00:18:13,199 –> 00:18:15,479 in the hearts of the unsuccessful 236 00:18:15,479 –> 00:18:18,260 can ultimately overcome the world. 237 00:18:19,479 –> 00:18:21,280 That’s a very powerful quote 238 00:18:21,280 –> 00:18:23,680 speaking into our culture today. 239 00:18:24,880 –> 00:18:27,680 He says, what do you have that’s going on in our time? 240 00:18:29,300 –> 00:18:30,680 Well you have the successful 241 00:18:32,239 –> 00:18:34,160 and you have the bitterness that is aroused 242 00:18:34,160 –> 00:18:37,040 in the hearts of the unsuccessful by the successful 243 00:18:37,040 –> 00:18:39,180 and both are trying to overcome the world. 244 00:18:39,180 –> 00:18:43,800 And then Bonhoeffer says this, 245 00:18:43,800 –> 00:18:46,739 Jesus Christ confronts all thinking 246 00:18:46,739 –> 00:18:48,880 in terms of failure and success 247 00:18:48,880 –> 00:18:51,199 with the man who is under God’s sentence 248 00:18:51,199 –> 00:18:54,680 no matter whether he is successful or unsuccessful. 249 00:18:56,000 –> 00:19:00,020 In other words, what cuts through this bitter battle 250 00:19:00,020 –> 00:19:02,140 between the successful and the unsuccessful? 251 00:19:02,140 –> 00:19:04,199 Only one thing, the both the successful 252 00:19:04,199 –> 00:19:08,040 and the unsuccessful, stand under the condemnation 253 00:19:08,060 –> 00:19:10,599 of Almighty God and desperately need a savior 254 00:19:10,599 –> 00:19:11,780 who’s common to all. 255 00:19:14,119 –> 00:19:16,319 That was Bonhoeffer’s insight 256 00:19:16,319 –> 00:19:19,839 during the idealization of success in the Third Reich. 257 00:19:22,420 –> 00:19:25,280 Now, Banner and Reckab 258 00:19:27,760 –> 00:19:32,760 assume that David cares only about success. 259 00:19:33,219 –> 00:19:34,619 What they find to their horror 260 00:19:34,619 –> 00:19:35,900 is that God’s Anointed King 261 00:19:35,900 –> 00:19:38,000 actually cares about righteousness. 262 00:19:39,020 –> 00:19:41,839 One writer says very, very helpfully, 263 00:19:41,839 –> 00:19:45,020 be sure that you care more about righteousness 264 00:19:45,020 –> 00:19:47,239 than you care about success. 265 00:19:48,699 –> 00:19:51,800 Be sure that you care more about righteousness 266 00:19:51,800 –> 00:19:55,099 than you do about success. 267 00:19:56,359 –> 00:19:59,319 Now, the second part of the case that they present is this. 268 00:19:59,319 –> 00:20:01,119 Not only were they wrong about David 269 00:20:01,119 –> 00:20:03,160 in that assumption, 270 00:20:03,160 –> 00:20:07,040 they were actually terribly wrong about God Himself. 271 00:20:07,040 –> 00:20:08,839 Notice what they say about God. 272 00:20:08,839 –> 00:20:12,619 The Lord, verse eight, has avenged my lord, the king, 273 00:20:12,619 –> 00:20:15,979 this day on Saul and on his offspring. 274 00:20:15,979 –> 00:20:17,439 You see what they’re saying? 275 00:20:17,439 –> 00:20:20,459 As they present this grisly trophy to David, 276 00:20:20,459 –> 00:20:23,599 they say they claim the name of God for what they’ve done. 277 00:20:23,599 –> 00:20:25,160 They’ve done it in the name of God. 278 00:20:25,160 –> 00:20:26,839 It’s the Lord who’s done this, you know. 279 00:20:26,839 –> 00:20:30,199 Our action, it’s been done in the name of God. 280 00:20:32,219 –> 00:20:35,839 They associate God with the crime that they have committed 281 00:20:35,900 –> 00:20:39,239 of murdering this brutal man and even taking his head. 282 00:20:41,540 –> 00:20:43,619 They claim God’s endorsement. 283 00:20:44,540 –> 00:20:46,439 The Lord has avenged. 284 00:20:47,420 –> 00:20:50,020 We’re the agents of God, that’s what they’re saying. 285 00:20:52,079 –> 00:20:53,040 Now what is that? 286 00:20:53,040 –> 00:20:58,040 That is called taking God’s name in vain. 287 00:20:58,719 –> 00:21:01,839 That’s what the third commandment is about, isn’t it? 288 00:21:01,839 –> 00:21:05,579 You shall not take the name of the Lord your God 289 00:21:05,579 –> 00:21:08,140 in vain, but God will not hold guiltless 290 00:21:08,140 –> 00:21:11,739 the one who misuses his name, that is exactly 291 00:21:11,739 –> 00:21:15,619 what Banner and Rekins are doing here in verse eight. 292 00:21:17,719 –> 00:21:19,819 Now, obviously, as you look at this story, 293 00:21:19,819 –> 00:21:22,739 it speaks very, very powerfully indeed 294 00:21:22,739 –> 00:21:24,859 to our time today when 295 00:21:24,859 –> 00:21:26,800 what are we seeing around the world? 296 00:21:28,459 –> 00:21:33,219 We are seeing men who perpetrate acts of violence 297 00:21:33,219 –> 00:21:35,380 in the name of God. 298 00:21:36,560 –> 00:21:39,900 Fully believing that God will be pleased 299 00:21:39,900 –> 00:21:42,859 with what they do, with the most grisly acts. 300 00:21:44,079 –> 00:21:46,579 And that he will, on the last day in the judgment, 301 00:21:46,579 –> 00:21:48,260 reward them handsomely. 302 00:21:50,160 –> 00:21:53,280 The god of banner, the god of recap, 303 00:21:55,599 –> 00:21:57,900 is a god of their own imagination. 304 00:21:59,280 –> 00:22:01,859 A god who approves what they do. 305 00:22:03,739 –> 00:22:05,180 You see, when you look at this 306 00:22:05,780 –> 00:22:08,619 and when you then apply it to the intractable problems 307 00:22:08,619 –> 00:22:11,699 of our world today, the real question that’s at stake here 308 00:22:11,699 –> 00:22:15,520 is how do we know what God approves? 309 00:22:17,060 –> 00:22:21,420 And especially that question resonates in our culture today 310 00:22:21,420 –> 00:22:24,380 because is it not the case that what we find 311 00:22:24,380 –> 00:22:26,780 is that everyone wants to claim the support of God 312 00:22:26,780 –> 00:22:28,180 for their particular agenda. 313 00:22:28,180 –> 00:22:31,619 So how do we actually know what God approves 314 00:22:31,619 –> 00:22:33,300 in a world where everyone seems to claim 315 00:22:33,300 –> 00:22:34,780 that God’s on their side? 316 00:22:35,979 –> 00:22:40,979 Obviously when Banner and Reckab claim what they did 317 00:22:41,640 –> 00:22:45,260 that this was an act of God, that they had perpetrated, 318 00:22:45,260 –> 00:22:47,699 that they had done it in His name, 319 00:22:47,699 –> 00:22:50,739 clearly we can see that what they are doing 320 00:22:50,739 –> 00:22:54,719 is that they are putting themselves in the place of God. 321 00:22:55,640 –> 00:22:59,040 That the God, small G, that they’re talking about here 322 00:22:59,040 –> 00:23:02,819 is nothing more than a projection of their own imagination, 323 00:23:02,819 –> 00:23:04,859 a reflection of their own prejudices 324 00:23:04,939 –> 00:23:07,599 that He’s kind of crafted in their own image 325 00:23:07,599 –> 00:23:09,719 and He’s an echo of their own voice. 326 00:23:09,719 –> 00:23:11,859 He is certainly not, therefore, 327 00:23:11,859 –> 00:23:13,859 the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob 328 00:23:13,859 –> 00:23:15,780 and certainly not the God and Father 329 00:23:15,780 –> 00:23:18,000 of our Lord Jesus Christ. 330 00:23:19,880 –> 00:23:22,060 You see, the question’s a very clear one, isn’t it? 331 00:23:22,060 –> 00:23:26,319 How would you know if God wants something different 332 00:23:26,319 –> 00:23:27,699 from what you want? 333 00:23:30,180 –> 00:23:32,020 Now, there’s only one answer to that question. 334 00:23:32,020 –> 00:23:34,219 The only way that any of us 335 00:23:34,520 –> 00:23:35,500 could ever know 336 00:23:37,699 –> 00:23:40,000 when God wants something that is different 337 00:23:40,000 –> 00:23:42,479 from what we want, 338 00:23:42,479 –> 00:23:43,619 the only way we could ever know 339 00:23:43,619 –> 00:23:46,119 is if God Himself has spoken. 340 00:23:48,339 –> 00:23:51,880 And that is precisely what is at the very center 341 00:23:51,880 –> 00:23:53,859 of the claim of the Bible 342 00:23:53,859 –> 00:23:55,099 and of the Christian faith, 343 00:23:55,099 –> 00:23:56,540 that God has spoken 344 00:23:56,540 –> 00:23:59,459 and these men knew that God had spoken. 345 00:24:00,739 –> 00:24:03,239 Banna and Rechab knew the 10 commandments. 346 00:24:03,300 –> 00:24:04,619 They knew the sixth commandment, 347 00:24:04,619 –> 00:24:05,660 you shall not murder, 348 00:24:05,660 –> 00:24:07,219 and they knew the third commandment, 349 00:24:07,219 –> 00:24:10,180 you shall not take the name of your God in vain. 350 00:24:12,079 –> 00:24:13,660 But what had they done? 351 00:24:14,599 –> 00:24:16,800 They had moved from a faith 352 00:24:16,800 –> 00:24:21,800 that was based on God’s spoken word revealed 353 00:24:22,479 –> 00:24:24,219 and they had substituted it 354 00:24:24,219 –> 00:24:26,579 with a faith of their own creation 355 00:24:26,579 –> 00:24:28,619 in which God was merely a reflection 356 00:24:28,619 –> 00:24:31,020 of their own prejudices and preferences. 357 00:24:31,979 –> 00:24:33,140 And friends, can you not see 358 00:24:33,140 –> 00:24:35,699 that that is happening all around our world today? 359 00:24:37,760 –> 00:24:39,380 What a shock it will be, 360 00:24:39,380 –> 00:24:41,099 what a shock it will be 361 00:24:43,180 –> 00:24:44,800 on the day of judgment 362 00:24:46,780 –> 00:24:48,859 for men of violence 363 00:24:50,219 –> 00:24:52,099 who have convinced themselves 364 00:24:52,099 –> 00:24:54,359 that there’s a God in heaven 365 00:24:55,219 –> 00:24:56,979 who will reward them greatly 366 00:24:56,979 –> 00:24:58,339 for what they have done. 367 00:25:01,540 –> 00:25:03,420 To find on the last day 368 00:25:03,420 –> 00:25:05,140 that the living God 369 00:25:05,140 –> 00:25:07,199 has nothing but contempt 370 00:25:07,199 –> 00:25:09,300 for violence and for brutality. 371 00:25:11,099 –> 00:25:12,359 But you see, that’s the shock 372 00:25:12,359 –> 00:25:14,000 for Banna and for Rechab. 373 00:25:15,020 –> 00:25:17,219 They completely misjudged 374 00:25:17,219 –> 00:25:18,420 God’s anointed King. 375 00:25:18,420 –> 00:25:20,459 They thought he only cared about success 376 00:25:20,459 –> 00:25:22,219 when actually he was utterly committed 377 00:25:22,219 –> 00:25:23,540 to righteousness. 378 00:25:24,819 –> 00:25:27,060 And they had completely got it wrong 379 00:25:27,060 –> 00:25:28,239 about God 380 00:25:28,560 –> 00:25:30,880 without claiming his name 381 00:25:32,000 –> 00:25:34,640 for the most brutal act of violence 382 00:25:34,640 –> 00:25:36,760 where as God stands over him 383 00:25:36,760 –> 00:25:40,119 against in his commandments 384 00:25:40,119 –> 00:25:41,800 and in his judgments 385 00:25:41,800 –> 00:25:45,260 all such acts of brutality 386 00:25:45,260 –> 00:25:46,099 and violence. 387 00:25:46,099 –> 00:25:47,640 This speaks right 388 00:25:47,640 –> 00:25:48,800 into our world 389 00:25:48,800 –> 00:25:50,160 at multiple levels 390 00:25:50,160 –> 00:25:52,359 and into our culture today. 391 00:25:54,500 –> 00:25:56,199 So the case that they present 392 00:25:56,199 –> 00:25:57,260 thinking that they’re going to be 393 00:25:57,260 –> 00:25:58,739 handsomely rewarded 394 00:25:58,739 –> 00:26:00,459 in this great kingdom of David 395 00:26:00,459 –> 00:26:01,819 falls completely flat 396 00:26:01,819 –> 00:26:03,260 and what are they left with? 397 00:26:04,579 –> 00:26:06,660 They’re left confronted with the king 398 00:26:08,219 –> 00:26:09,660 who they must face. 399 00:26:09,660 –> 00:26:11,599 And let me just make these observations 400 00:26:11,599 –> 00:26:12,660 about David here 401 00:26:12,660 –> 00:26:14,160 because it’s, 402 00:26:14,160 –> 00:26:15,819 the lens focuses in 403 00:26:15,819 –> 00:26:19,780 on the glory of the king himself. 404 00:26:19,780 –> 00:26:21,900 Verse nine 405 00:26:22,660 –> 00:26:24,719 David answered, 406 00:26:24,719 –> 00:26:26,500 as the Lord lives, 407 00:26:26,500 –> 00:26:29,099 who has redeemed my life 408 00:26:29,099 –> 00:26:31,540 out of every adversity. 409 00:26:32,540 –> 00:26:35,060 You’re claiming the name of God 410 00:26:35,060 –> 00:26:38,319 for your grisly act of murder? 411 00:26:38,319 –> 00:26:39,319 I want to 412 00:26:39,319 –> 00:26:41,500 tell you about the Living God. 413 00:26:42,420 –> 00:26:44,020 And the living God is the God 414 00:26:44,020 –> 00:26:46,660 who has redeemed my life 415 00:26:46,660 –> 00:26:48,380 out of every adversity. 416 00:26:48,380 –> 00:26:49,540 That’s what God’s 417 00:26:49,660 –> 00:26:51,739 anointed King says. 418 00:26:52,619 –> 00:26:53,979 It’s almost as if these words, 419 00:26:53,979 –> 00:26:55,660 by the way, were a kind of motto 420 00:26:55,660 –> 00:26:56,579 of David’s life. 421 00:26:56,579 –> 00:26:58,319 He says them here right at the beginning 422 00:26:58,319 –> 00:26:59,160 of his reign, 423 00:26:59,160 –> 00:27:01,380 and he repeats exactly the same words 424 00:27:01,380 –> 00:27:03,619 in first Kings chapter one in verse 29 425 00:27:03,619 –> 00:27:05,199 at the end of his reign. 426 00:27:05,199 –> 00:27:06,359 Those are the kind of bookends. 427 00:27:06,359 –> 00:27:07,699 The Lord has redeemed 428 00:27:07,699 –> 00:27:09,619 me out of every adversity. 429 00:27:09,619 –> 00:27:12,140 The Lord lives. 430 00:27:12,140 –> 00:27:14,619 What a marvelous thing as a Christian 431 00:27:14,619 –> 00:27:15,579 to be able to share 432 00:27:15,579 –> 00:27:17,800 this testimony of David. 433 00:27:17,800 –> 00:27:19,520 You look back over your life, 434 00:27:19,520 –> 00:27:20,760 and you can see you have faced 435 00:27:20,760 –> 00:27:22,359 one crisis and then another 436 00:27:22,359 –> 00:27:24,800 one difficulty that you’ve had to overcome 437 00:27:24,800 –> 00:27:26,180 and then another challenge, 438 00:27:26,180 –> 00:27:27,319 and here’s what you can say. 439 00:27:27,319 –> 00:27:29,640 The Lord lives, 440 00:27:29,640 –> 00:27:30,900 and this living God 441 00:27:30,900 –> 00:27:32,160 is the God who helps me, 442 00:27:32,160 –> 00:27:33,280 redeems me, 443 00:27:33,280 –> 00:27:34,479 brings me out of, 444 00:27:34,479 –> 00:27:36,560 delivers me out of every trouble. 445 00:27:36,560 –> 00:27:38,140 He’s never failed me yet, 446 00:27:38,140 –> 00:27:40,319 and he never will fail me. 447 00:27:40,319 –> 00:27:41,619 You see what David is saying? 448 00:27:41,619 –> 00:27:43,959 You think I need your grisly acts 449 00:27:43,959 –> 00:27:45,560 to establish my kingdom, 450 00:27:45,599 –> 00:27:48,000 you do not know my God, 451 00:27:48,000 –> 00:27:49,239 that’s what he’s saying, 452 00:27:50,479 –> 00:27:51,640 if God be for us, 453 00:27:51,640 –> 00:27:54,099 who can be against us? 454 00:27:55,880 –> 00:27:57,359 Since this God has said 455 00:27:57,359 –> 00:27:59,040 that he has exalted Jesus 456 00:27:59,040 –> 00:27:59,959 to the highest place, 457 00:27:59,959 –> 00:28:01,239 that at the name of Jesus, 458 00:28:01,239 –> 00:28:02,119 every knee will bow, 459 00:28:02,119 –> 00:28:03,319 we can be very sure 460 00:28:03,319 –> 00:28:04,839 because this God lives 461 00:28:04,839 –> 00:28:06,680 that at the name of Jesus 462 00:28:06,680 –> 00:28:08,979 one day every knee will bow. 463 00:28:11,040 –> 00:28:12,319 Then they discover 464 00:28:13,380 –> 00:28:15,359 to their amazement 465 00:28:15,400 –> 00:28:17,300 that this king 466 00:28:17,300 –> 00:28:18,920 who they really did not know 467 00:28:20,439 –> 00:28:22,839 is a king of grace, 468 00:28:22,839 –> 00:28:25,160 that’s in verse 10 469 00:28:25,160 –> 00:28:26,839 where David describes 470 00:28:26,839 –> 00:28:28,319 and at the earlier events 471 00:28:28,319 –> 00:28:29,939 that’s recorded in Second Samuel 472 00:28:29,939 –> 00:28:30,859 in chapter one 473 00:28:30,859 –> 00:28:33,500 when an enemy had come to David 474 00:28:33,500 –> 00:28:35,319 and falsely claimed 475 00:28:35,319 –> 00:28:36,880 that he had been the one 476 00:28:36,880 –> 00:28:38,500 who had killed 477 00:28:38,500 –> 00:28:40,939 the old King Saul 478 00:28:42,000 –> 00:28:44,780 and again like Banna and Rechab 479 00:28:44,819 –> 00:28:46,819 that person, he was an Amalekite, 480 00:28:46,819 –> 00:28:48,020 he thought that he would 481 00:28:48,020 –> 00:28:49,900 carry the favor of David 482 00:28:49,900 –> 00:28:50,959 because he thought 483 00:28:50,959 –> 00:28:53,060 that David would rejoice 484 00:28:53,060 –> 00:28:54,500 in the death of the man 485 00:28:54,500 –> 00:28:55,699 who had opposed him 486 00:28:55,699 –> 00:28:56,500 for so long 487 00:28:56,500 –> 00:28:57,520 and so bitterly 488 00:28:57,520 –> 00:28:59,520 and what he completely 489 00:28:59,520 –> 00:29:01,079 failed to reckon on 490 00:29:01,079 –> 00:29:02,939 was David’s grace 491 00:29:02,939 –> 00:29:04,780 and David did not rejoice 492 00:29:04,780 –> 00:29:05,819 in the fall of his enemy, 493 00:29:05,819 –> 00:29:09,180 David grieved over the death of Saul 494 00:29:11,219 –> 00:29:12,540 and so the point 495 00:29:12,540 –> 00:29:13,699 that he is making here 496 00:29:13,699 –> 00:29:14,819 is that they didn’t 497 00:29:14,819 –> 00:29:16,619 understand my grace 498 00:29:18,760 –> 00:29:20,420 you don’t understand it either 499 00:29:22,359 –> 00:29:23,560 you have no notion 500 00:29:23,560 –> 00:29:24,780 of what grace is 501 00:29:28,599 –> 00:29:31,140 the story of Banna and Rekhab 502 00:29:31,140 –> 00:29:32,339 is in the Bible 503 00:29:34,040 –> 00:29:36,160 to tell us the kind of horrors 504 00:29:36,160 –> 00:29:37,839 that may be perpetrated 505 00:29:37,839 –> 00:29:39,339 by some men 506 00:29:39,339 –> 00:29:43,060 who do not understand grace 507 00:29:44,660 –> 00:29:47,119 if Banna and Rekhab 508 00:29:47,119 –> 00:29:48,619 had understood grace 509 00:29:48,619 –> 00:29:49,579 they would never have done 510 00:29:49,579 –> 00:29:50,680 what they did 511 00:29:52,599 –> 00:29:53,780 why did they do what they did? 512 00:29:54,819 –> 00:29:55,540 because they wanted to 513 00:29:55,540 –> 00:29:58,140 carry favour with David 514 00:29:59,219 –> 00:30:01,020 we’re on the wrong side 515 00:30:02,300 –> 00:30:03,400 we’d better do something 51 00:30:03,400 –> 00:30:04,579 really big 517 00:30:04,579 –> 00:30:05,920 that will carry 518 00:30:05,920 –> 00:30:07,339 favour and bring reward 519 00:30:07,339 –> 00:30:08,979 for us for the rest 520 00:30:08,979 –> 00:30:10,079 of our lives 521 00:30:11,920 –> 00:30:13,540 they would never have done that 522 00:30:13,660 –> 00:30:14,819 if they had understood grace 523 00:30:14,819 –> 00:30:16,640 what would they have done? 524 00:30:16,640 –> 00:30:18,400 they simply would have 525 00:30:18,400 –> 00:30:18,859 done what the 526 00:30:18,859 –> 00:30:20,020 people of Jabesh Gilead did 527 00:30:20,020 –> 00:30:20,780 what was there at 528 00:30:20,780 –> 00:30:21,739 the beginning of the story? 529 00:30:21,739 –> 00:30:22,479 David sends out 530 00:30:22,479 –> 00:30:24,040 messengers of grace 531 00:30:24,040 –> 00:30:24,319 and says 532 00:30:24,319 –> 00:30:25,819 you’ve been on the wrong side 533 00:30:25,819 –> 00:30:26,500 forever 534 00:30:26,500 –> 00:30:27,619 I just invite you 535 00:30:27,619 –> 00:30:28,839 to come into the 536 00:30:28,839 –> 00:30:30,219 blessing of this kingdom now 537 00:30:30,219 –> 00:30:32,660 I invite you freely to come 538 00:30:35,260 –> 00:30:36,439 Abbana and Rekhab 539 00:30:36,439 –> 00:30:37,160 they could have walked 540 00:30:37,160 –> 00:30:39,300 into the court of David 541 00:30:39,300 –> 00:30:39,839 and said 542 00:30:39,839 –> 00:30:40,739 David we want 543 00:30:40,739 –> 00:30:41,619 to lay down our swords 544 00:30:41,619 –> 00:30:42,699 and to be your servants 545 00:30:42,699 –> 00:30:43,400 and we want to 546 00:30:43,400 –> 00:30:44,119 have trust ourselves 547 00:30:44,119 –> 00:30:44,920 upon your mercy 548 00:30:44,920 –> 00:30:45,579 and upon your grace 549 00:30:45,579 –> 00:30:45,920 David would have 550 00:30:45,920 –> 00:30:47,359 embraced them 551 00:30:49,560 –> 00:30:52,060 What we have here 552 00:30:52,060 –> 00:30:53,599 is the tragic story 553 00:30:53,599 –> 00:30:54,439 of the brutality 554 00:30:54,439 –> 00:30:55,880 that comes into a world 555 00:30:55,880 –> 00:30:58,239 where grace is not known 556 00:30:59,760 –> 00:31:02,000 where people have the feeling 557 00:31:02,000 –> 00:31:02,599 that they have 558 00:31:02,599 –> 00:31:03,880 to do something 559 00:31:03,880 –> 00:31:04,800 to overcome 560 00:31:04,800 –> 00:31:07,040 their own sense of shame 561 00:31:07,040 –> 00:31:08,540 Something so big 562 00:31:08,540 –> 00:31:09,479 that it will 563 00:31:09,479 –> 00:31:10,359 earn me favor 564 00:31:10,359 –> 00:31:11,619 with Almighty God 565 00:31:11,619 –> 00:31:13,359 for ever and for ever 566 00:31:13,719 –> 00:31:16,800 Don’t you just feel right now 567 00:31:16,800 –> 00:31:18,040 that the greatest mission 568 00:31:18,040 –> 00:31:18,680 of the church 569 00:31:18,680 –> 00:31:19,880 is to bring the message 570 00:31:19,880 –> 00:31:21,719 of grace to the world? 571 00:31:22,640 –> 00:31:26,060 This is what the world needs 572 00:31:26,640 –> 00:31:28,300 and this violence 573 00:31:28,300 –> 00:31:29,579 and this brutality 574 00:31:29,579 –> 00:31:31,959 arises out of a vacuum 575 00:31:31,959 –> 00:31:32,380 in which grace 576 00:31:32,380 –> 00:31:34,040 is not known 577 00:31:35,439 –> 00:31:38,040 and then they discover 578 00:31:38,040 –> 00:31:40,800 that David is the king 579 00:31:40,800 –> 00:31:43,239 of righteousness 580 00:31:43,319 –> 00:31:44,079 Verse 11, 581 00:31:45,079 –> 00:31:46,400 how much more then 582 00:31:46,400 –> 00:31:48,400 when wicked men 583 00:31:48,400 –> 00:31:50,479 have killed a righteous man 584 00:31:50,479 –> 00:31:52,579 in his own house on his bed. 585 00:31:52,579 –> 00:31:54,520 That’s what they’d done. 586 00:31:55,099 –> 00:31:55,680 How much more, 587 00:31:55,680 –> 00:31:57,359 then shall I not now require 588 00:31:57,359 –> 00:31:58,920 his blood at your hand 589 00:31:58,920 –> 00:32:00,280 and destroy you 590 00:32:00,280 –> 00:32:02,239 from the face of the earth? 591 00:32:04,800 –> 00:32:05,959 I remember last time 592 00:32:05,959 –> 00:32:07,859 we noted that David failed 593 00:32:07,859 –> 00:32:09,479 to exercise judgment 594 00:32:09,479 –> 00:32:11,760 in regards to a brutal murder 595 00:32:11,760 –> 00:32:14,119 that was committed by Joab. 596 00:32:14,719 –> 00:32:17,199 Here we see his commitment 597 00:32:17,199 –> 00:32:19,959 to establish a kingdom 598 00:32:20,439 –> 00:32:22,479 in which righteousness reigns. 599 00:32:23,619 –> 00:32:24,520 Do remember here 600 00:32:24,520 –> 00:32:25,540 David is speaking 601 00:32:25,540 –> 00:32:28,459 and acting as the king. 602 00:32:28,459 –> 00:32:30,400 And the scripture makes it very clear 603 00:32:30,400 –> 00:32:31,500 that the sword, 604 00:32:31,500 –> 00:32:32,979 that is the administration 605 00:32:32,979 –> 00:32:34,959 of justice is committed 606 00:32:34,959 –> 00:32:37,359 by God to governing authorities 607 00:32:37,359 –> 00:32:38,500 for the establishing 608 00:32:38,500 –> 00:32:39,300 of righteousness 609 00:32:39,300 –> 00:32:41,339 and for the protection 610 00:32:41,359 –> 00:32:41,920 of people. 611 00:32:41,920 –> 00:32:43,199 You’ll see that in Romans 612 00:32:43,199 –> 00:32:44,040 chapter 13 613 00:32:44,040 –> 00:32:46,000 and verses one through four. 614 00:32:47,459 –> 00:32:48,839 So David speaks here 615 00:32:48,839 –> 00:32:50,640 quite clearly as the one 616 00:32:50,640 –> 00:32:52,439 to whom God has entrusted 617 00:32:52,439 –> 00:32:54,479 the administering of justice. 618 00:32:55,640 –> 00:32:57,439 And thank God that in this case 619 00:32:57,439 –> 00:32:58,739 he’s prepared to do it. 620 00:32:59,739 –> 00:33:02,959 And he deals with Banna and Rechab 621 00:33:02,959 –> 00:33:05,260 in a way that shows publicly 622 00:33:05,540 –> 00:33:07,520 the absolute contempt 623 00:33:07,520 –> 00:33:08,979 that this king has 624 00:33:09,979 –> 00:33:12,079 for the brutality of violence 625 00:33:12,099 –> 00:33:13,020 in his kingdom. 626 00:33:13,060 –> 00:33:15,140 This will be a kingdom 627 00:33:15,479 –> 00:33:17,540 in which such acts of violence 628 00:33:17,540 –> 00:33:18,900 have no place. 629 00:33:20,719 –> 00:33:22,060 It is to be a kingdom 630 00:33:22,099 –> 00:33:22,819 that is different 631 00:33:22,819 –> 00:33:23,920 from any other kingdom. 632 00:33:23,939 –> 00:33:25,000 It’s to be a kingdom 633 00:33:25,000 –> 00:33:26,660 that is marked by righteousness. 634 00:33:26,979 –> 00:33:28,920 This will not be a kingdom 635 00:33:28,920 –> 00:33:30,420 where might is right. 636 00:33:30,459 –> 00:33:32,099 This will not be a kingdom 637 00:33:32,339 –> 00:33:33,839 where the end justifies 638 00:33:33,839 –> 00:33:34,339 the means. 639 00:33:34,520 –> 00:33:36,060 This is not a kingdom 640 00:33:36,099 –> 00:33:37,900 in which anything goes. 641 00:33:38,199 –> 00:33:39,699 This is a kingdom 642 00:33:39,739 –> 00:33:41,239 which will be the home 643 00:33:41,300 –> 00:33:42,739 of righteousness. 644 00:33:45,939 –> 00:33:46,939 Now… 645 00:33:47,660 –> 00:33:48,719 You have to thank God 646 00:33:48,719 –> 00:33:50,239 that David was 647 00:33:51,420 –> 00:33:53,260 prepared to do the hard 648 00:33:53,260 –> 00:33:55,199 thing of exercising 649 00:33:55,219 –> 00:33:55,939 justice here. 650 00:33:55,939 –> 00:33:57,900 Because if he had not done it 651 00:33:59,660 –> 00:34:00,780 his kingdom would have become 652 00:34:00,780 –> 00:34:01,739 like every other kingdom 653 00:34:01,739 –> 00:34:02,239 in the world 654 00:34:02,239 –> 00:34:03,459 overrun by the Bannas 655 00:34:03,459 –> 00:34:04,199 and the Recabs 656 00:34:04,219 –> 00:34:05,540 and their violence of will 657 00:34:05,540 –> 00:34:07,380 and all the rest of it. 658 00:34:08,800 –> 00:34:10,340 He did this 659 00:34:10,340 –> 00:34:11,600 of course very imperfectly 660 00:34:11,600 –> 00:34:12,540 and we’ll see in the story 661 00:34:12,580 –> 00:34:13,939 that there were inconsistencies 662 00:34:13,939 –> 00:34:14,820 as in every kingdom 663 00:34:14,820 –> 00:34:15,379 in this world 664 00:34:15,379 –> 00:34:17,040 there are horrible inconsistencies 665 00:34:17,040 –> 00:34:18,340 between justice one place 666 00:34:18,340 –> 00:34:20,479 and injustice another. 667 00:34:21,060 –> 00:34:22,620 But nonetheless 668 00:34:22,659 –> 00:34:24,379 imperfectly as he does it 669 00:34:25,340 –> 00:34:26,979 there is a little light here 670 00:34:26,979 –> 00:34:28,139 that is pointing us 671 00:34:28,139 –> 00:34:29,780 towards the great Kingdom 672 00:34:29,820 –> 00:34:30,899 the Kingdom of our Lord 673 00:34:30,899 –> 00:34:31,860 Jesus Christ 674 00:34:31,860 –> 00:34:33,540 in which perfect righteousness 675 00:34:33,560 –> 00:34:34,000 will reign 676 00:34:34,219 –> 00:34:35,939 and it will be the home 677 00:34:35,979 –> 00:34:37,340 of righteousness. 678 00:34:38,719 –> 00:34:40,219 And God has said 679 00:34:40,260 –> 00:34:41,820 about Christ’s kingdom 680 00:34:41,879 –> 00:34:43,580 you have this in Revelation 21 681 00:34:43,580 –> 00:34:44,540 Verse 27 682 00:34:46,060 –> 00:34:47,979 nothing unclean 683 00:34:48,379 –> 00:34:50,939 will ever enter here 684 00:34:53,100 –> 00:34:54,479 nothing unclean 685 00:34:54,479 –> 00:34:56,860 will ever enter here 686 00:34:58,699 –> 00:34:59,939 Now thank God for that 687 00:34:59,939 –> 00:35:01,500 thank God that he is 688 00:35:01,500 –> 00:35:03,300 the Lord of righteousness 689 00:35:03,300 –> 00:35:05,659 because if anything unclean 690 00:35:05,939 –> 00:35:07,860 entered into the Kingdom 691 00:35:07,919 –> 00:35:09,959 of the Lord Jesus Christ 692 00:35:11,260 –> 00:35:12,780 Then that kingdom would become 693 00:35:12,780 –> 00:35:13,939 like all the other kingdoms 694 00:35:13,939 –> 00:35:14,739 of the world throughout 695 00:35:14,739 –> 00:35:15,780 history have ever been 696 00:35:18,699 –> 00:35:19,780 And the kingdom of Christ 697 00:35:19,780 –> 00:35:20,379 would be marked 698 00:35:20,379 –> 00:35:21,300 by the brutalities 699 00:35:21,300 –> 00:35:22,540 and the murders of the Banners 700 00:35:22,540 –> 00:35:23,979 and the Recabs and the rest 701 00:35:26,219 –> 00:35:28,120 So soberly 702 00:35:29,300 –> 00:35:30,419 thank God 703 00:35:31,580 –> 00:35:32,699 for his justice 704 00:35:32,699 –> 00:35:34,780 and for his righteousness 705 00:35:36,199 –> 00:35:36,699 people say 706 00:35:36,739 –> 00:35:38,459 Why does there have to be a hell 707 00:35:38,820 –> 00:35:40,379 because nothing unclean 708 00:35:40,379 –> 00:35:41,780 can ever enter into heaven 709 00:35:45,459 –> 00:35:46,500 Heaven would become hell 710 00:35:46,500 –> 00:35:47,340 If that happened 711 00:35:49,379 –> 00:35:50,459 Thank God that God 712 00:35:50,459 –> 00:35:51,520 is a God of justice 713 00:35:51,520 –> 00:35:52,939 But don’t you feel right now 714 00:35:52,939 –> 00:35:54,540 that the moment you lay hold 715 00:35:54,540 –> 00:35:57,100 of the necessity of God’s justice 716 00:35:57,139 –> 00:35:58,500 you feel more 717 00:35:58,500 –> 00:36:00,360 than you ever did before 718 00:36:00,360 –> 00:36:01,939 your own need of Grace 719 00:36:03,459 –> 00:36:05,020 Well, if He’s the God of justice 720 00:36:05,020 –> 00:36:05,739 thank God 721 00:36:05,780 –> 00:36:06,979 He’s also the God of grace 722 00:36:06,979 –> 00:36:08,459 and that I can cast myself 723 00:36:08,459 –> 00:36:09,939 upon His mercy 724 00:36:12,300 –> 00:36:12,620 that I need 725 00:36:12,620 –> 00:36:13,419 to especially because 726 00:36:13,419 –> 00:36:14,620 the New Testament says 727 00:36:14,659 –> 00:36:17,120 Anyone who hates his brother 728 00:36:17,260 –> 00:36:18,860 is already a murderer 729 00:36:21,419 –> 00:36:22,540 so we cast ourselves 730 00:36:22,540 –> 00:36:24,060 upon the grace and the mercy 731 00:36:24,060 –> 00:36:24,679 of God 732 00:36:24,679 –> 00:36:26,139 in whom the justice 733 00:36:26,580 –> 00:36:29,000 has already been carried out 734 00:36:30,979 –> 00:36:32,179 so that grace and mercy 735 00:36:32,179 –> 00:36:33,379 may come to sinners 736 00:36:33,379 –> 00:36:34,620 who are then cleansed 737 00:36:34,699 –> 00:36:35,479 and renewed 738 00:36:35,580 –> 00:36:36,679 from the inside 739 00:36:36,679 –> 00:36:37,840 and become those 740 00:36:37,840 –> 00:36:38,560 who have a hunger 741 00:36:38,560 –> 00:36:39,959 and thirst for righteousness 742 00:36:40,100 –> 00:36:41,639 that one day will be fulfilled 743 00:36:41,639 –> 00:36:43,760 and satisfied in that kingdom 744 00:36:43,760 –> 00:36:45,500 into which nothing unclean 745 00:36:45,639 –> 00:36:46,360 shall enter 746 00:36:46,360 –> 00:36:47,199 but only that 747 00:36:47,199 –> 00:36:49,340 which is in Jesus Christ 748 00:36:51,760 –> 00:36:52,800 so just to pan out 749 00:36:52,800 –> 00:36:54,179 in these last moments 750 00:36:54,399 –> 00:36:55,560 what have we been learning. 751 00:36:55,679 –> 00:36:57,719 How does Christ’s kingdom come? 752 00:36:57,719 –> 00:36:59,979 How will people 753 00:36:59,979 –> 00:37:01,840 from every tribe and nation 754 00:37:01,840 –> 00:37:03,520 be brought under the blessing 755 00:37:03,560 –> 00:37:04,639 of the role of 756 00:37:04,840 –> 00:37:06,100 God’s anointed king 757 00:37:06,100 –> 00:37:07,100 Jesus Christ 758 00:37:07,100 –> 00:37:07,760 and we’ve seen 759 00:37:07,760 –> 00:37:08,860 Christ’s Kingdom 760 00:37:08,860 –> 00:37:09,939 will not come through 761 00:37:09,939 –> 00:37:11,739 the cunning of human schemes 762 00:37:13,000 –> 00:37:13,760 Christ’s Kingdom 763 00:37:13,760 –> 00:37:15,439 will not advance 764 00:37:15,439 –> 00:37:17,679 through acts of violence 765 00:37:17,679 –> 00:37:19,199 a hugely important 766 00:37:19,199 –> 00:37:20,620 message for us to grasp 767 00:37:20,620 –> 00:37:21,620 and understand 768 00:37:21,620 –> 00:37:22,639 and communicate 769 00:37:22,639 –> 00:37:23,520 in our own circles 770 00:37:23,520 –> 00:37:24,320 of influence 771 00:37:24,479 –> 00:37:26,239 in our world today 772 00:37:26,479 –> 00:37:27,479 but what will happen 773 00:37:27,479 –> 00:37:29,199 is that Jesus Christ himself 774 00:37:29,199 –> 00:37:30,919 will establish His own kingdom 775 00:37:30,919 –> 00:37:32,320 and this will happen 776 00:37:32,760 –> 00:37:33,760 This is what the story 777 00:37:33,760 –> 00:37:34,760 points us to 778 00:37:36,659 –> 00:37:39,199 as we 779 00:37:39,840 –> 00:37:40,840 reach out 780 00:37:40,840 –> 00:37:42,060 we His people 781 00:37:42,060 –> 00:37:43,300 reach out 782 00:37:44,239 –> 00:37:45,159 with grace 783 00:37:45,159 –> 00:37:45,639 I mean, that’s 784 00:37:45,639 –> 00:37:46,860 the point of the story 785 00:37:46,860 –> 00:37:47,479 you see 786 00:37:49,239 –> 00:37:50,120 Christ’s Kingdom 787 00:37:50,120 –> 00:37:51,040 will not come 788 00:37:51,040 –> 00:37:52,040 through human schemes 789 00:37:52,040 –> 00:37:52,840 it will not come 790 00:37:52,840 –> 00:37:54,000 through human force 791 00:37:54,000 –> 00:37:55,260 it is not by might 792 00:37:55,260 –> 00:37:56,260 nor by power 793 00:37:56,260 –> 00:37:57,739 but by My Spirit 794 00:37:57,739 –> 00:37:59,060 says the Lord 795 00:38:01,060 –> 00:38:01,739 And after all that 796 00:38:01,919 –> 00:38:02,520 has happened 797 00:38:02,520 –> 00:38:03,179 in the story 798 00:38:03,179 –> 00:38:03,840 that we’ve covered 799 00:38:03,840 –> 00:38:04,959 over these last weeks 800 00:38:04,959 –> 00:38:06,719 you know, the hot-headed-ness 801 00:38:06,719 –> 00:38:07,959 of Joe Abb 802 00:38:07,959 –> 00:38:09,639 the political maneuvering 803 00:38:09,639 –> 00:38:10,320 of Abner 804 00:38:10,320 –> 00:38:11,199 and now this 805 00:38:11,199 –> 00:38:12,320 brutal violence 806 00:38:12,320 –> 00:38:13,800 of banner and Wreck-Abb 807 00:38:13,800 –> 00:38:14,800 what we come back 808 00:38:14,800 –> 00:38:15,679 to is this 809 00:38:15,679 –> 00:38:16,639 none of that 810 00:38:16,639 –> 00:38:17,879 moved the Kingdom forward 811 00:38:17,879 –> 00:38:18,959 none of it 812 00:38:20,639 –> 00:38:21,120 what did 813 00:38:21,120 –> 00:38:21,679 and we’ll come back 814 00:38:21,679 –> 00:38:22,159 to this 815 00:38:22,159 –> 00:38:22,600 God-willing 816 00:38:22,600 –> 00:38:23,600 next week 817 00:38:24,719 –> 00:38:25,739 what moved it forward 818 00:38:25,739 –> 00:38:26,560 was what David 819 00:38:26,560 –> 00:38:27,040 was doing 820 00:38:27,040 –> 00:38:27,899 from the beginning 821 00:38:27,899 –> 00:38:28,120 and that 822 00:38:28,120 –> 00:38:28,560 was 823 00:38:28,560 –> 00:38:29,159 sending out 824 00:38:29,159 –> 00:38:30,800 messengers of grace 825 00:38:30,800 –> 00:38:31,120 to those 826 00:38:31,120 –> 00:38:31,639 who had 827 00:38:31,639 –> 00:38:32,719 so bitterly opposed 828 00:38:32,719 –> 00:38:33,000 him 829 00:38:34,719 –> 00:38:35,239 so that 830 00:38:35,239 –> 00:38:35,860 they were 831 00:38:35,860 –> 00:38:36,439 turned 832 00:38:36,439 –> 00:38:37,479 from the heart 833 00:38:37,479 –> 00:38:38,120 to come 834 00:38:38,120 –> 00:38:38,860 freely 835 00:38:38,860 –> 00:38:39,840 to embrace 836 00:38:39,840 –> 00:38:40,239 the one 837 00:38:40,239 –> 00:38:40,919 who offered 838 00:38:40,919 –> 00:38:41,199 them 839 00:38:41,199 –> 00:38:42,320 such grace 840 00:38:42,320 –> 00:38:43,199 and united 841 00:38:43,199 –> 00:38:44,080 them together 842 00:38:44,080 –> 00:38:44,919 in one 843 00:38:44,919 –> 00:38:45,639 kingdom 844 00:38:45,639 –> 00:38:46,280 under 845 00:38:46,280 –> 00:38:47,040 His 846 00:38:47,040 –> 00:38:48,080 blessed 847 00:38:48,080 –> 00:38:50,679 rule 848 00:38:50,679 –> 00:38:52,439 and in this world 849 00:38:52,439 –> 00:38:53,760 in which 850 00:38:53,760 –> 00:38:55,000 the word of grace 851 00:38:55,000 –> 00:38:56,159 is so 852 00:38:56,159 –> 00:38:57,040 desperately 853 00:38:57,040 –> 00:38:58,439 needed 854 00:38:58,439 –> 00:38:59,840 and millions 855 00:38:59,840 –> 00:39:00,199 here 856 00:39:00,199 –> 00:39:00,679 and around 857 00:39:00,679 –> 00:39:01,120 the world 858 00:39:01,120 –> 00:39:01,959 still do 859 00:39:01,959 –> 00:39:02,320 not 860 00:39:02,320 –> 00:39:02,780 know 861 00:39:02,780 –> 00:39:02,959 it 862 00:39:02,959 –> 00:39:03,719 or grasp 863 00:39:03,719 –> 00:39:05,639 it 864 00:39:05,639 –> 00:39:06,239 the message 865 00:39:06,239 –> 00:39:07,080 of grace 866 00:39:07,080 –> 00:39:07,560 has 867 00:39:07,560 –> 00:39:08,040 been 868 00:39:08,040 –> 00:39:09,199 entrusted 869 00:39:09,199 –> 00:39:09,639 to 870 00:39:09,639 –> 00:39:10,439 people 871 00:39:10,439 –> 00:39:11,159 like 872 00:39:12,080 –> 00:39:12,679 us 873 00:39:15,760 –> 00:39:20,239 Father 874 00:39:20,239 –> 00:39:20,840 we are so 875 00:39:20,840 –> 00:39:21,399 grateful 876 00:39:21,399 –> 00:39:21,840 for your 877 00:39:21,840 –> 00:39:22,439 justice 878 00:39:22,439 –> 00:39:22,840 and we are 879 00:39:22,840 –> 00:39:23,560 so grateful 880 00:39:23,560 –> 00:39:24,000 for your 881 00:39:24,000 –> 00:39:24,679 grace 882 00:39:26,800 –> 00:39:27,679 and we pray 883 00:39:27,679 –> 00:39:27,959 that in 884 00:39:27,959 –> 00:39:28,159 your 885 00:39:28,159 –> 00:39:28,439 great 886 00:39:28,439 –> 00:39:30,760 mercy 887 00:39:30,760 –> 00:39:31,120 you will 888 00:39:31,120 –> 00:39:31,679 move us 889 00:39:31,679 –> 00:39:31,959 to be 890 00:39:31,959 –> 00:39:32,439 those 891 00:39:32,439 –> 00:39:33,199 who pursue 892 00:39:33,199 –> 00:39:34,159 righteousness 893 00:39:34,159 –> 00:39:34,320 in a 894 00:39:34,320 –> 00:39:34,679 world 895 00:39:34,679 –> 00:39:34,959 that is 896 00:39:34,959 –> 00:39:35,800 obsessed 897 00:39:35,800 –> 00:39:35,899 with 898 00:39:35,899 –> 00:39:36,879 success 899 00:39:38,840 –> 00:39:39,199 and that 900 00:39:39,199 –> 00:39:39,479 you will 901 00:39:39,479 –> 00:39:40,080 cause us 902 00:39:40,080 –> 00:39:40,399 to be 903 00:39:40,399 –> 00:39:41,780 those 904 00:39:41,780 –> 00:39:41,959 who 905 00:39:41,959 –> 00:39:42,860 communicate 906 00:39:43,399 –> 00:39:43,659 in 907 00:39:43,659 –> 00:39:44,060 every 908 00:39:44,060 –> 00:39:44,320 way 909 00:39:44,320 –> 00:39:44,479 that 910 00:39:44,479 –> 00:39:44,580 we 911 00:39:44,580 –> 00:39:45,040 can 912 00:39:45,040 –> 00:39:45,360 and in 913 00:39:45,360 –> 00:39:45,659 every 914 00:39:45,659 –> 00:39:46,179 sphere 915 00:39:46,179 –> 00:39:46,320 that 916 00:39:46,320 –> 00:39:46,459 we 917 00:39:46,459 –> 00:39:46,840 can 918 00:39:48,000 –> 00:39:48,100 the 919 00:39:48,100 –> 00:39:48,600 grace 920 00:39:48,600 –> 00:39:48,679 of 921 00:39:48,679 –> 00:39:48,820 the 922 00:39:48,820 –> 00:39:49,120 Lord 923 00:39:49,120 –> 00:39:49,600 Jesus 924 00:39:49,600 –> 00:39:50,080 Christ 925 00:39:50,080 –> 00:39:50,239 who 926 00:39:50,239 –> 00:39:50,760 invites 927 00:39:50,760 –> 00:39:51,239 people 928 00:39:51,879 –> 00:39:52,399 however 929 00:39:52,399 –> 00:39:53,139 distant 930 00:39:53,159 –> 00:39:53,520 from 931 00:39:53,520 –> 00:39:53,780 him 932 00:39:54,959 –> 00:39:55,360 into 933 00:39:55,360 –> 00:39:55,500 the 934 00:39:55,500 –> 00:39:56,040 wonderful 935 00:39:56,080 –> 00:39:57,000 blessings 936 00:39:57,800 –> 00:39:57,959 of 937 00:39:57,959 –> 00:39:58,120 his 938 00:39:58,120 –> 00:39:58,560 great 939 00:39:58,560 –> 00:39:58,679 and 940 00:39:58,679 –> 00:39:58,840 of 941 00:39:58,840 –> 00:39:58,959 his 942 00:39:58,959 –> 00:39:59,479 eterna 943 00:39:59,479 –> 00:39:59,520 la 944 00:39:59,520 –> 00:39:59,760 ro 945 00:40:00,840 –> 00:40:01,040 We 946 00:40:01,040 –> 00:40:01,239 pray 947 00:40:01,239 –> 00:40:01,479 these 948 00:40:01,479 –> 00:40:01,800 things 949 00:40:01,800 –> 00:40:01,919 in 950 00:40:01,919 –> 00:40:02,360 Jesus 951 00:40:02,360 –> 00:40:02,679 name 952 00:40:03,379 –> 00:40:03,959 Amen