That First Look

 David and Bath-Sheba

Book of 2 Samuel Chapter 11

So far in our lessons we have seen the strengths of King David and we start thinking of him as a man who was above sin, but what we find is that he was actually a human being who also had a sin nature just as we all do and lust may have been his greatest temptation.

God had said that David was a man after God's own heart and he still was.

Jehovah had these words for King Saul.

1Sa 13:14  But now thy kingdom shall not continue: "the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart", and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee. 

We know that King Saul never one time sought the knowledge of the Lord when he took his nation to war and he never tried to get the Ark of God back into its home in the Holy of Holies.

David had lived a righteous life, but suddenly without warning, David was confronted with a temptation that he was too weak to overcome.

We know that David had probably faced such temptation many times because he had many wives. Some were because of politics, but most of them were David's own desires. 

This time we find that there were several differences that the Lord has made known to us.

The Lord never tries to hide the sin of those He has chosen for special work.

It is these things that brought the nation of Israel into a divided nation and a weakened nation could not defend itself from the wickedness of this world that is centered upon conflict and is still centered on conflict.

A little bit of power can change many who were once just part of society.

We should understand that God does not mention a curse just to be saying the words!

God still means what He has said because He says what He means in all curses and in all sin but also in His blessings.

It was David's sin that almost destroyed his entire family and it was David's sin that set Israel on a course of destruction which they are still trying to recover from.

When we turn our backs on God, we are simply headed for trouble in our lives and our children’s lives that could go on for generations!

Deu 28:15  But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee: 

Deu 28:16  Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field. 

Deu 28:17  Cursed shall be thy basket and thy store. 

Deu 28:18  Cursed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy land, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. 

Deu 28:19  Cursed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and cursed shalt thou be when thou goest out. 

Deu 28:20  The LORD shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke, in all that thou settest thine hand unto for to do, until thou be destroyed, and until thou perish quickly; because of the wickedness of thy doings, whereby thou hast forsaken me. 

It was David's sin that was the main cause of the nation of Israel and to scatter them all over the earth until May 14,1948 when again Israel became a nation upon the some of the same land that God has given to them.

Deu 28:63  And it shall come to pass, that as the LORD rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you; so the LORD will rejoice over you to destroy you, and to bring you to nought; and ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest to possess it. 

Deu 28:64  And the LORD shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, even wood and stone. 

Deu 28:65  And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest: but the LORD shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind: 

Deu 28:66  And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life: 

Deu 28:67  In the morning thou shalt say, Would God it were even! and at even thou shalt say, Would God it were morning! for the fear of thine heart wherewith thou shalt fear, and for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see.

We serve a loving merciful God but He expects obedience from us all!

Some would try to convince you that the curse of God does not exists today but the same curse to Adam and Eve is the same curse we are under today and will not be over until the Lord Jesus Christ says that it is over.

Rev 21:5  And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 

Rev 21:6  And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 

Rev 21:7  He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 

Rev 21:8  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

In the time of King David, the king would go out with his troops in the time of war. David had already reached the age where he was unable to do hand-to-hand combat with the enemy but he at least should have gone out with his troops to direct the battle.

We already know that David was a great military strategist.

It was one of those times and David did not go with his troops and the Bible does not say why he did not go with them.

The Bible just confirms that King David would have been far better off to have gone into battle with his army.

*****2Sa 11:1  And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem. 

Taking this passage word for word it appears that it was after Winter but in the Spring that most of these wars of Israel began.

Because of walled cities an army would lay siege to that city and as those crops began to come in they would have food provided by that city and that would also deprive that city of the harvest and cause them to run out of food.

Why David did not go out with his armies, the Scriptures do not say.

Joab had already wasted the land of Ammon and had now laid siege to Rabbah, the capitol city of Ammon.

Joab had brought many of the treasures to Jerusalem including the crown of the king which was made of pure gold.

1Ch 20:2  And David took the crown of their king from off his head, and found it to weigh a talent of gold, and there were precious stones in it; and it was set upon David's head: and he brought also exceeding much spoil out of the city. 

We do see where David did make a trip to Rabbah just before the battle ended and at the end, these people of Rabbah were put to work as servants to Israel.

1Ch 20:3  And he brought out the people that were in it, and cut them with saws, and with harrows of iron, and with axes. Even so dealt David with all the cities of the children of Ammon. And David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.

This verse may sound terrible but it reads the people were given saws and harrows and axes and they were made servants of Israel instead the terrorists that they were.

What had the Lord said? 

Eze 25:6  For thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast clapped thine hands, and stamped with the feet, and rejoiced in heart with all thy despite against the land of Israel; 

Eze 25:7  Behold, therefore I will stretch out mine hand upon thee, and will deliver thee for a spoil to the heathen; and I will cut thee off from the people, and I will cause thee to perish out of the countries: I will destroy thee; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD. 

Before King David went to Rabbah he did something that would multiply into unspeakable sin by the ruler of Israel, David, who it was said had a heart that belonged to Jehovah.

It proves that any of us are capable of falling back into sin and it seems we are most susceptible after we have been on the mountain for an extended amount of time.

The valley is a terrible place for most of us but we will spend a good amount of time in the valley because of this world of sin that we live in.

*****2Sa 11:2  And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. 

All the houses of the Jews had flat roofs that you could walk upon and they were places of storage, and places to observe the stars and to relax as it seems King David was trying to do on this day.

This is when the devil will take advantage of our situation and cause as much havoc as he can in our lives.

King David had a house worthy of a king so it was higher that all other houses around him.

All the Jewish homes had yards that had fences that were higher than the head. We would say privacy fences.

Bathsheba was breaking no law.

A tub was put into the back yard so the sun could warm the water during the day and just at nighttime when the water was the warmest, the owner could bath or in Bathsheba's case it was a ritual bath.

The outward purification with water, symbolizing man's need of inward purity before admission into God's presence.

It was King David who was sinful.

David should have read the Book of Job.

Job 31:1  I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid? 

Job 31:2  For what portion of God is there from above? and what inheritance of the Almighty from on high? 

Job 31:3  Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity? 

Job 31:4  Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps? 

Job 31:5  If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit; 

Job 31:6  Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity. 

We all need to stay close to the Word of God to obey what the Lord has said!

1Co_10:12  Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

He looked.

He lusted.

He failed the Lord.

We must understand that Satan has been on the job for more six thousand years and we are numbered by our own years.

In our daily walk, we can be called innocent of the first look upon sin but that second look is the one that causes our sin.

King David could not have known this beautiful lady was taking a bath which was actually a purification bath by the laws of Moses.

David became guilty when he took that second look and then lingered to stare at this young lady.

Then he did much more than this!

*****2Sa 11:3  And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? 

First King David enquired to whom she belonged to.

We should remember by this time God had brought David's troubles to an end and King David was the most powerful monarch in that quarter of the known world.

He had reached higher than he ever could have imagined.

No nation had the will to come against Israel in the days of King David that is, up until the time of this period when David allowed sin to come back into his life.

It was bad enough that this young lady was innocent while King David watched her bath, but then when David knew that she was the wife of one of his best soldiers you would think that it would all stop at that point, but David's lust had already taken over him and he did not care who she belonged to, after all he was a great king. who could challenge him.

So David took the next step.

*****2Sa 11:4  And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house. 

David had neglected his duty to be with his army which would have been a much better place than where he found himself right now.

We still have to say that Bathsheba was still innocent after all, David was King of all Israel, how could she defy him.

All we can say is the David's lust blinded him to the clear laws of God's Holy Word against committing adultery.

Exo 20:14  Thou shalt not commit adultery. 

Lev 18:20  Moreover thou shalt not lie carnally with thy neighbour's wife, to defile thyself with her. 

Lev 20:10  And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death. 

David disregarded the Word of God.

David disregarded the wreckage he could cause in his own family.

David disregarded the wreckage he could cause in someone else's  family.

David disregarded what could happen in his nation that had just joined together by the Word of God which David had rejected.

In many ways we can relate these things to our own nation that became strong and self-sustaining until the Lord Jesus Christ has been rejected and are now appearing weak to those nations who have feared us for many years.

I do not think we should try to drag Bathsheba through the mud for what happened, as many books and many commentaries try to do.

I believe had she rejected the king things would be much worse for her and her husband!

Rulers have great control over those who defy them even today.

Then she conceived.

*****2Sa 11:5  And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child. 

David's moment of satisfaction now was having an unexpected consequence.

It is these types of things that keep the abortion industry busy.

People who believe they have to the freedom to be promiscuous and then the freedom to kill an innocent child after such behavior are no more than murderers and fornicators!

Had such a thing been done in the time of David I'm sure it could have been used here, but the laws of God protected that newborn life and this was a child as soon as conception took place.

God says every child is a blessing!

Pro_20:7  The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.

At any time David could have departed from the evil that was surrounding him, but the hole of evil does not stop until it has been filled.

The Bible says:

Psa 37:27  Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.

King David just dug his hole deeper.

*****2Sa 11:6  And David sent to Joab, saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David. 

2Sa 11:7  And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded of him how Joab did, and how the people did, and how the war prospered. 

2Sa 11:8  And David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king's house, and there followed him a mess of meat from the king. 

2Sa 11:9  But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house. 

When we have sinned against our Savior there is only one thing to do, and that is to ask for forgiveness and then repent.

David devised a plan in an attempt to escape his guilt, but no such plan can fool God!

David sent for Uriah saying he wanted an update report of the progress of the war, when he really wanted Uriah to spend some time with his wife.

Uriah was not just your average soldier! Uriah was one of the band of David's mighty men.

1Ch 11:26  Also the valiant men of the armies were, Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,

And:

1Ch 11:41  Uriah the Hittite,

What we find is, that Uriah was a much better man than King David at this time.

David tried with all he knew to get Uriah to go home to be with his wife, in hope that when this child was born it would known as Uriah's child and David's problem would be over as surely Bathsheba would not have told Uriah what happened.

Evidently many people had known that Bathsheba had gone to the house of King David.

Uriah was a dedicated soldier who wanted to get back to the battlefield, because his fellow soldiers were there.

No one seems to understand how close fellow soldiers become when they spend time upon the battlefield.

It is an extremely close relationship, as close or closer than brothers.

Now I do not claim to be anything special but when I was in Vietnam I came down with strep throat and reached a high fever until I was almost delirious and my medic called for a medivac. I was at 104 degrees and it was 105 degrees temperature yet I was freezing to death and could not get warm. When I reached the battlefield hospital, I received two shots of penicillin in both hips and two bottles of penicillin and went straight back to my platoon because I did want to be separated from them just in case they got into a firefight. I wanted to be with them because we were brothers!

Uriah was not about to go home to be with his wife when his brothers were in harm’s way!

David's deceptive plan failed!

David's first sin was the fact temptation had taken control of him at the sight of Bathsheba undressed.

The first look at Bathsheba was an accident and it was not sinful.

That second look was sin and this is when lust became sin, a sin of the heart even if David went no further.

Mat_5:27  Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

Mat_5:28  But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Had David gone no further he would have still to confess that sin before God, but David went ever further.

It was a murder of character and in fact called for capital punishment for which both parties were to be sentenced to death. 

David did not stop at this point but continued to pile on one sin after another!

In desperation, David made a second attempt to deceive Uriah.

*****2Sa 11:12  And David said to Uriah, Tarry here to day also, and to morrow I will let thee depart. So Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day, and the morrow. 

2Sa 11:13  And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he made him drunk: and at even he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but went not down to his house. 

David ordered Uriah to stay in Jerusalem one more day and to eat with the King.

It was David trying a feeble attempt to get Uriah drunk enough that he might go home to his wife.

Again, Uriah refused to go home to his wife while his brothers in the army of God was at war.

We know that deception is the opposite of truthfulness!

When we scheme to deceive another person, we are not walking in the truth, no matter if we think we are, we are walking in sin.

Deceiving is lying and David was living a lie.

What does the Lord Jesus say?

Rev 21:8  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. 

God adds to this:

Psa 101:7  He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight. 

We can see that the Lord is serious about these things!

Book of Proverbs:

Pro 19:5  A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape. 

King David went deeper into sin rather than confess his guilt and repent, and these things would affect his life and the lives of his family and the whole nation of Israel from that day forward.

*****2Sa 11:14  And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah. 

2Sa 11:15  And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die. 

Uriah would take his own death decree to Joab the next day.

David wrote a letter to Joab ordering him to place Uriah at the front of the battle and then withdraw from him and Uriah would be killed.

Joab can also be found guilty because he did this thing, which was enough guilt in the eyes of God, but Joab had other reasons.

We can be sure that more soldiers than Uriah were killed that day!

When the lives of our militaries mean nothing to our politicians and presidents we are almost finished as a nation and will like Putin who has murdered over 300,000 of his own people in the Ukraine without remorse.

Joab and King David both knew that the death of Uriah, who was more noble and more gallant than they both, did not come by chance but was intentional murder.

What we know for sure is, that King David should have been with his army. The Devil will always find work for idle hands to do!

It should be obvious that a first sin will lead to more sin if there is an attempt to hide it.

We cannot hide any sin from the Lord.

He knows that sin because it was one of the sins, He died for on the cross of Mount Calvary.

All sin needs to be confessed so it can be forgiven and we can move on with our lives, not causing further damage to those we love!

Amen

God's Grace

 Book of 2 Samuel Chapter 9

David's Compassion

What is compassion? 

A suffering with another; painful sympathy; a sensation of sorrow excited by the distress or misfortunes of another; pity; commiseration.

One of the great pictures of compassion in the New Testament is the work of the Lord Jesus with the wild man of Gadara.

Mar 5:19  Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. 

Why did Jesus die for us all?

Mat 9:36  But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. 

Mat 9:37  Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 

Mat 9:38  Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. 

Compassion is the key to being a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Compassion and kindness must be the traits of all God's people!

What is one of the two greatest commandments from our Lord and Savior?

Joh_13:34  A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

Joh_13:35  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Joh_15:12  This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

Joh_15:17  These things I command you, that ye love one another.

The world we live in today has left out love and swapped it for hatred, especially in America!

The Lord provides our needs as He sees them and if we are to be like the Lord Jesus Christ, then we need to show compassion to those that we see who have a need, especially when we have no need of items that could help them.

One of the greatest lessons on compassion in the Old Testament can be seen in our lesson today.

*****2Sa 9:1  And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan's sake? 

We should understand that King David did not know that there were children of Jonathan that remained. He therefore thought he could show his kindness to the next of his kindred.

We should understand that any kindred of King Saul would probably be hidden for fear that David would search them out to kill them. 

This is what a new king would do in most cases during the Age of kings, but David was a man after God's own heart and he would not have done this, especially for the promise he had made to Jonathan.

David was doing his best to fulfill the promise he had made to Jonathan.

1Sa 20:14  And thou shalt not only while yet I live shew me the kindness of the LORD, that I die not: 

1Sa 20:15  But also thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house for ever: no, not when the LORD hath cut off the enemies of David every one from the face of the earth. 

1Sa 20:16  So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, Let the LORD even require it at the hand of David's enemies. 

Jonathan knew in his heart that David would be the next true king of Israel.

It was the custom of that day for the new king to murder all his predecessor's family and Jonathan wanted David to promise that he would not do this.

This was done to stop any claim the throne by the family of the previous ruler.

We would think that things like this no longer happen in our modern world, but we need only look at what is happening to Donald Trump to know that these things still happen today!

The Democratic party has gone after all the family of Donald Trump in order to keep him from becoming president and are trying to ruin the reputation of Donald and all his family to keep them out of politics in the future.

This cannot be denied!

We can see that not much has changed in politics and world leaders throughout the Ages.

Ecc 1:9  The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. 

Ecc 1:10  Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.

We see just about every day the results of new leaders disposing of the old leader in many cruel ways including assassination and use of prison and other ways.

King David did not do these things after becoming King of Israel.

David found one man Ziba who had been one of Saul's servants.

*****2Sa 9:2  And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba. And when they had called him unto David, the king said unto him, Art thou Ziba? And he said, Thy servant is he. 

2Sa 9:3  And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet. 

2Sa 9:4  And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lodebar. 

2Sa 9:5  Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar. 

I am not going to try to describe this event as Preacher Sam does.

The story of Mephibosheth and King David is a splendid example of the Grace of God.

David treated Mephibosheth and his son Micha with the greatest kindness, which was Grace.

He remained in Jerusalem and ate at the King's table.

Every child of God will one day go home and eat at the table of the Lord Jesus Christ because of Grace.

We know GRACE as "God's Riches At Christ's Expense".

Ziba had taken over the lands of Saul and was considered to be a rich man himself at this time.

There will be different versions of stories between Mephibosheth and Ziba as time passes.

Mephibosheth was five years old when the Philistines came to the home of King Saul to kill any remaining in the family of Saul, when one of the servants escaped with him and he fell, hitting his head, and that fall caused him to lose the control of his feet making him a cripple for life.

2Sa 4:4  And Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son that was lame of his feet. He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame and his name was Mephibosheth.

Ziba had been a servant in the house of Saul, but was now a free man and he was determined to remain a free man.

King David did not allow this to happen.

Later, what David asked him to do was to become a servant to Mephibosheth.

2Sa 16:1  And when David was a little past the top of the hill, behold, Ziba "the servant of Mephibosheth" met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and an hundred bunches of raisins, and an hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine. 

It was this same Ziba who brought nourishment to King David as he left Jerusalem to keep from killing Absolom.

During this time that David left his home because of Absolom, Mephibosheth backslide into his old

ways and remained at the house of David.

Mephibosheth is also called Merib-Baal and he had a son.

1Ch 8:34  And the son of Jonathan was Meribbaal; and Meribbaal begat Micah.

These things came a little latter when turmoil entered into David's life because of his sin with Bathsheba and Uriah.

So, King David sent for Mephibosheth.

*****2Sa 9:6  Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant! 

2Sa 9:7  And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually. 

This is a picture of the Grace that will be shown to every believer by our Heavenly Father for His Son Jesus's sake.

When Mephibosheth came into the royal court he fell upon his face before King David thinking he was about to lose his life.

David gave Mephibosheth assurance that he had no evil intentions toward him, because David wanted to show him kindness for Jonathan's sake.

This is exactly what Jehovah our Heavenly Father wants to do for us as He gives us assurance that He will show us a great kindness for Jesus’s sake.

David then issued a royal decree in the name of Mephibosheth.

David gave him back all of his father's lands, the same land that Ziba had cared for and improved on all those years since the death of Saul.

David could have easily claimed all the possessions of King Saul for himself but he had not.

Saul's private estate did pass into David's possession when David came to the throne but David had ignored that piece of land.

This is the Lord speaking to David.

2Sa 12:8  And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things. 

David had always shown respect for King Saul and all his family.

It was a great privilege to eat at the table of the king and Mephibosheth had this promise all his remaining days.

So, Mephibosheth bowed before King David.

*****2Sa 9:8  And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am? 

In the Israel of that day, a dead dog was considered to be the vilest and most contemptable object possible.

2Sa 3:8  Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, Am I a dog's head, which against Judah do shew kindness this day unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou chargest me to day with a fault concerning this woman? 

2Sa 16:9  Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head.

1Sa 24:14  After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea. 

We need to watch what we call people, as it could have a different meaning to them, than our intent.

When Mephibosheth said these things to express great gratitude saying that by rank King David was exalted much more than he was.

King David knew what Mephibosheth was saying.

We need to do the same without calling names, recognizing that the Lord Jesus Christ is exalted much above us at all times.

*****2Sa 9:9  Then the king called to Ziba, Saul's servant, and said unto him, I have given unto thy master's son all that pertained to Saul and to all his house. 

Mephibosheth was actually Saul's grandson, but words of relationships are used in a very different way in the Hebrew.

Ziba was already managing the lands of King Saul, but more for his own rather that for Mephibosheth.

The King now ordered him to manage those same things that belonged to Saul for Mephibosheth and though he was obedient in these things it did not sit well with him.

Ziba had been a slave in the house of King Saul, so he was still better off, but he certainly did not want to become a slave to Mephibosheth.

Under Jewish Law, Ziba was now a fee man and later King David made these things right.

Ziba was also ordered by King David to bring all his own family to serve as slaves and to till the land for Mephibosheth.

*****2Sa 9:10  Thou therefore, and thy sons, and thy servants, shall till the land for him, and thou shalt bring in the fruits, that thy master's son may have food to eat: but Mephibosheth thy master's son shall eat bread alway at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. 

2Sa 9:11  Then said Ziba unto the king, According to all that my lord the king hath commanded his servant, so shall thy servant do. As for Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall eat at my table, as one of the king's sons. 

Ziba knew there was not much he could do about what was happening to him and his family.

It was a great honor that David was showing to Mephibosheth and a great picture of Grace for him, but not much honor given to the slave who had been freed at the death of King Saul and his family.

God included this story in the Bible also for us to study.

We might also note that Ziba had employed ten slaves himself.

Many of the slaves of that day were actually fellow Hebrews who had met with hard times and had to indenture themselves in order to pay off some debt but Jehovah had specific laws concerning these things.

There is much more to these stories we will see later.

At least Mephibosheth would not be around much because he was the guest of the King, but he had a son name Micha in one place and Micah in another place. They are one and the same person.

And this son had sons.

*****2Sa 9:12  And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Micha. And all that dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants unto Mephibosheth.

2Sa 9:13  So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the king's table; and was lame on both his feet.  

King David showed the "Grace" of God to Mephibosheth all the days of his life, but does appear that Mephibosheth did turn on King David at the time of Absolom's rebellion.

We will substitute the name Micah for Micha in other places.

1Ch 8:34  And the son of Jonathan was Meribbaal; and Meribbaal begat Micah. 

1Ch 8:35  And the sons of Micah were, Pithon, and Melech, and Tarea, and Ahaz. 

We should be able to see that Ziba who had been a free man after the day of Saul’s death, had no real responsibility to be a slave to Mephibosheth nor his family.

The Scriptures have not told us whether Ziba was a Jew but it does appear that he was a true Israelite.

Lev 25:44  Both thy bondmen, and thy bondmaids, which thou shalt have, shall be of the heathen that are round about you; of them shall ye buy bondmen and bondmaids. 

Lev 25:45  Moreover of the children of the strangers that do sojourn among you, of them shall ye buy, and of their families that are with you, which they begat in your land: and they shall be your possession. 

Lev 25:46  And ye shall take them as an inheritance for your children after you, to inherit them for a possession; they shall be your bondmen for ever: but over your brethren the children of Israel, ye shall not rule one over another with rigour. 

So far all I have able to search says Ziba was an Israelite and subject to the Laws of Moses.

Exo 21:2  If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing.

It appears that the true reading of the Scriptures that Ziba became a free man and any other slaves of King Saul.

It also appears that Ziba had stayed on to take care of Saul's possessions after his death which in fact he felt obligated to do until the new king, David decided what he was going to do with that property.

To the above modes of of a slave to obtain liberty, the rabbinical priesthood added, as a fourth, the death of the master without leaving a son, there being no power of claiming the slave, on the part of any heir except a son, that slave would be free.

All the sons of King Saul were dead.

When a slave was set free the Master had an obligation to that slave.

Deu 15:13  And when thou sendest him out free from thee, thou shalt not let him go away empty: 

Deu 15:14  Thou shalt furnish him liberally out of thy flock, and out of thy floor, and out of thy winepress: of that wherewith the LORD thy God hath blessed thee thou shalt give unto him. 

We should understand that Zida would have nothing if he just ran off so, he stayed to protect these things.

We could call this God's Grace toward Ziba.

Later, we will see King David separate half the lands of King Saul to Ziba, we can believe that David had become more familiar with the Laws of Moses and made this thing right with Ziba.

2Sa 19:29  And the king said unto him, Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I have said, Thou and Ziba divide the land. 

2Sa 19:30  And Mephibosheth said unto the king, Yea, let him take all, forasmuch as my lord the king is come again in peace unto his own house. 

All these details will come out because of the coup that Absolom, King David's own son and some rebellious elders, and politicians, and even some in religion had caused.

King David had only left Jerusalem because he did not want to war with his son Absolom and because he knew he was being chastised of God for his own sins, but God did not want him to leave Jerusalem.

God was not through with David at this time and God would not allow Absolom to become king.

We also see that God does not allow His Grace to go unrewarded to all parties.

God is still no respecter of persons!

These things show us that we can really get down after we recognize that we have sinned against God even when he has forgiven us!

Amen

All Prophecy is Fulfilled in Jesus Christ

 David's Promise from the Lord

Book of 2 Samuel Chapter 7

There should be no doubt that Chapter Seven in the Book of 2 Samuel is a great chapter and one of the greatest chapters in all the Bible!

Some of God's greatest promises can be read in this chapter and much of it has already been found to be true by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

One man wrote, The New Testament opens with "The Book of the Generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David".

This is important because of the promises God made to David are to be fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ!

The Lord Jesus Christ is the answer to all prophecy!

Luk 1:30  And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 

Luk 1:31  And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 

Luk 1:32  He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 

Luk 1:33  And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 

Luke could write these things because they were revealed in 2 Samuel Chapter Seven and verified by the Holy Spirit.

This was God fulfilling His promise to David!

Peter' sermon revealed: 

Act 2:29  Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. 

Act 2:30  Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; 

Act 2:31  He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. 

Act 2:32  This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.

Act 2:34  For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, 

Act 2:35  Until I make thy foes thy footstool. 

Act 2:36  Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. 

The Apostle Paul:

Rom 1:1  Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 

Rom 1:2  (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) (Chapter 7, 2 Samuel)

Rom 1:3  Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 

Rom 1:4  And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: 

Rom 1:5  By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: 

Rom 1:6  Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: 

Jeremiah wrote:

Jer 23:5  Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. 

Jer 23:6  In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. 

We call these things today the Davidic Covenant and this Chapter as a picture of Grace.

God's greatest promise of "Hope", the Coming of the Son of David, Christ Jesus Himself.

All our hope is in JESUS!

*****2Sa 7:1  And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the LORD had given him rest round about from all his enemies; 

2Sa 7:2  That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains. 

2Sa 7:3  And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the LORD is with thee. 

2Sa 7:4  And it came to pass that night, that the word of the LORD came unto Nathan, saying, 

2Sa 7:5  Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in?

King David had a burning desire to build a Temple worthy enough for God to dwell as He had in the Tabernacle.

His heart was in the right place.

David had a heart set upon honoring God. 

We all should have such a heart!

The pure fact is, that we cannot confine our Lord and Savior, our God, to any one place of worship!

Jehovah just cannot be confined period!

There is no place in this universe where the Lord cannot be found!

No doubt King David had been greatly blessed because Jehovah had given him victory over all the enemies of Israel and Jehovah had established Jerusalem as the capitol city of all of Israel and by giving David great wealth.

David's name was spoken of all over the world when great names were mentioned.

David wanted to show his gratitude to Jehovah by building a House of God, a great Temple in honor of Him.

The Ark of the Covenant was the symbol of God's presence and the Ark was abiding in nothing but a tent.

Remember last week's lesson told us of the Tabernacle of David where the Ark had been placed while the rebuilt Tabernacle was located in Gibeon.

When Nathan became aware of David's desire, he first told David since God was with him, then surely it would be the right thing to do, to build a Temple for Jehovah.

We must understand that all of Israel considered that Jehovah was only God to Israel and not to any other peoples or any other nation.

Nathan being a prophet of God had encouraged David as a personal adviser would do, but God had other plans and He let them be known to Nathan who took God's message to King David.

Nathan's task was to give spiritual and religious advice to the King.

God had not yet spoken to Nathan about this issue, but that night He did, and Nathan had given King David some bad advice which he would have to correct.

As David can be our example in many things but not all things, we can still learn from him.

1) It is only the Lord who can save us from sin, death, and Hell!

2) It is only the Lord who gives us the strength to overcome our trials and temptations in this life.

3) It is only the Lord who enables us to face hardships and misfortune such as disease or a disabling accident.

4) It is only the Lord who loves us even when we are unlovable and who forgives us when we confess our sins to Him, this is called Grace.

5) It is only the Lord who will stand with us in moments of loneliness and when we are facing death.

We can see that we certainly owe the Lord our honor and our praise.

The message God gave to Nathan was one of the most important messages given to any of the prophets!

There is so much of the Old Testament that we could also write in red letters and this message to Nathan was one of the longest times that God speaks in the Old Testament.

1) There were blessings and promises of God to David that would happen in his lifetime.

2) There God's blessings and promises that were to be fulfilled after David was dead and buried for many years.

Let us revue God's instructions to David.

1) David would not be the one to build a Temple to God.

In fact it is only the Lord Jesus Christ who can build a true Temple of God!

David was a warrior king and much blood had been shed by his hands and this is not the message a House of God should have.

It is only the blood of Jesus that has cleansing power!

David like Joshua had been the hand of destruction to many people under God's commands.

1Ch 22:8  But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars: thou shalt not build an house unto my name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight. 

1Ch 28:6  And he said unto me, Solomon thy son, he shall build my house and my courts: for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father. 

1Ch 28:7  Moreover I will establish his kingdom for ever, if he be constant to do my commandments and my judgments, as at this day.

A house of God is a House of Prayer and we should never pray for war! 

We must pray for peace and salvation for those who would cause war!

This is why we should pray for the salvation of our President because he certainly does not know God and it appears he could lead us into war.

All the actions of this president show that he has no knowledge of the Word of God and that he has no faith in the Lord Jesus Christ!

Jas 2:17  Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 

Jas 2:18  Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 

Jas 2:19  Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 

Jas 2:20  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 

Jas_2:24  Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

We cannot leave these things out of the Bible and say we are godly people, especially if our works prove to be against the Word of God!

We are not to judge, but the works of our government speak for themselves!

The Word of God is to be obeyed!

Disobedience to the Word of God especially the words of the Lord Jesus are sin.

We must remember all the Word of God is inspired by God Himself.

2Ti 3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 

2Ti 3:17  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. 

We cannot dictate to others how they should live their lives but we must have laws written that line up with the Word of God!

2) God had never had a house built for His presence; His dwelling place had always been a tent as Israel believed following the Laws of Moses.

It was a place where God showed that it was by the blood that sin could be forgiven but He also said the blood of animals could not erase sin.

We should understand that it is not our Savior who needs us, it is we who have a great need to be in the care of our Savior!

God had never said He wanted or needed such a Temple!

1Ch 17:5  For I have not dwelt in an house since the day that I brought up Israel unto this day; but have gone from tent to tent, and from one tabernacle to another. 

1Ch 17:6  Wheresoever I have walked with all Israel, spake I a word to any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people, saying, Why have ye not built me an house of cedars? 

We can also see that it is at times of peace that every government should work on the welfare of its people and not be planning for another war!

As we read to understand what the Lord is saying here, we will see that the Lord was speaking more about the Church rather than the Temple.

The Lord was speaking more about the Lord Jesus Christ than He was Solomon!

*****2Sa 7:6  Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle. 

2Sa 7:7  In all the places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build ye not me an house of cedar?

What God was saying to David was "are you the one who has been chosen to build a temple for Me to live in"?

Since we now know many of the results of this covenant with David, we also know that the answer is no.

It is the Lord Jesus Christ who builds the temples for God to dwell in sometimes known as the Son of David in the Scriptures.

1Co_3:16  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

1Co_6:19  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

Up until the time of Jesus Christ, Jehovah had never had a house built for His presence!

We know that David did not have it in his power to build such a house and neither did Solomon or any other King of Israel or any other ruler upon this earth!

It is true that the Lord had said he would meet the High Priests of Israel in the Holy of Holies dwelling between the cherubim on the top of the Ark of the Covenant.

God had never complained or even asked that any such temple to be built for Him because it is impossible for mankind to build such a place for God to dwell!

This now being understood by King David, Jehovah now covered the blessings He would bestow upon David.

*****2Sa 7:8  Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel:

2Sa 7:9  And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth. 

David the young shepherd boy who killed Goliath was given a place of royalty and power through Israel by Jehovah Himself.

Psa 78:70  He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds: 

Psa 78:71  From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance. 

Psa 78:72  So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands. 

The Lord took David from the life of a lowly shepherd to the life of a king.

Notice our Savior will at first be the opposite.

Jesus left a life of royalty behind, to become a shepherd of lost human sheep in order to die for our sin.

Php 2:5  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 

Php 2:6  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 

Php 2:7  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 

Php 2:8  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 

You see, we cannot make this passage be about Solomon, it is about our Savior the Mesiah, who is the Supreme Shepherd.

If the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ was to be David's Son by bloodline, then it was necessary that King David should hold a special place in the hearts of all Israelites and history has proven this to be true.

Israel still flies the flag of David and not the flag of Solomon!

It is because of fables and the many tales by the Arabs, that Solomon is most respected because of his riches and his wisdom. 

We should be able to see how Jehovah feels about these things.

After all it was Jehovah who gave wisdom to Solomon and gave him his riches, which for the most part came from his father David.

Solomon was born a rich man and he then used that influence to gain more riches until he was the richest and the wisest of all men, then and now, with these things allowed by Jehovah!

In the Old Testament no king is "Jehovah’s servant" but David; no king is ever connected with Messiah but David.

How did David understand these things?

Psa 23:1  A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 

Psa 23:2  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 

Psa 23:3  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 

Psa 23:4  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 

Psa 23:5  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 

Psa 23:6  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. 

It seems that David clearly understood what God was saying.

The Lord had blessed David and the Lord had been with David wherever he went.

Through the dark places as well as the clear and easy places!

The Lord had given David the power to conquer all his enemies and Israel was now at peace, a thing that they had not felt since the time of Moses.

David became famous throughout the known world!

*****2Sa 7:10  Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime, 

2Sa 7:11  And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an house.

God had described to Abraham a place where his descendants would live and it was called the Promised Land.

Throughout the Bible, up until this time of King David, Jehovah had promised a land to be given to Israel, His people.

The time had come that Israel would be no longer pilgrims wandering from place to place, always living as foreigners in a strange land.

This promise is to the Church.

All believers become the children of God by being "born again" then adopted into the family of God.

So as believers, we are pilgrims and strangers in this place called earth because Heaven is our home.

Could this promised land be that permanent home where they could live in peace and no longer be threatened by their enemies?

Could this be the place where wicked people and wicked nations would no longer oppress them as they had always done?

What does the Book written to these Hebrews say?

Heb 11:8  By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 

Heb 11:9  By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 

Heb 11:10  For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Abraham was looking for a much better place than any place on this earth.

Heb 11:13  These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 

Heb 11:14  For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 

Heb 11:15  And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 

Heb 11:16  But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. 

The Lord God Jehovah did give the land called Israel to these who traveled according to the promises of Jehovah. All the Land that Abraham walked upon and all the land conquered by King David.

There has never been a place called Palestine and there have never been any true Palestinians.

There were never many drifters who lived on this desert land and each one of them were paid for the land they said they owned.

Most of the world knows this but the lies of the Muslim continue to thrive by foolish people who would rather do away with history.

Again we can see that the Land given to the tiny nation of Israel as still a temporary thing.

All the truths come only by the Lord Jesus Christ who was rejected by the Jews because even these Jews had refused to look at the truth of the Scriptures!

The Lord God Jehovah promised King David a future rest from all his enemies, meaning both a military rest and a Spiritual rest.

We must know that there is a day coming when David and all God's people will be given permanent peace from all enemies.

What does a rest from God really mean?

That God's people will live victorious lives over all the enemies that try to defeat and destroy us day by day.

One day we will live within God's victorious power over all the enemies of this life.

Mat 11:28  Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 

Mat 11:29  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 

Mat 11:30  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Heb_4:3  For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

Heb_4:11  Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

Though David may not have understood all these things, he probably understood more that we give him credit for!

David wrote many of the Psalms and this is the reason we can find peace as we read them.

We also know that Solomon and the future kings up until the time of Jesus the Son of Joseph who was in the line of David were included in this prophecy given to King David.

Of all the promises ever made by the Lord, these are some of the most important.

*****2Sa 7:12  And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. 

2Sa 7:13  He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.

These promises in this chapter pointed not only to Solomon the son of David but also to the Lord Jesus Christ in the bloodline of King David.

1) A dynasty for David.

2) An offspring of David raised up by Jehovah Himself.

To Abram:

Gen 15:3  And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir. 

Gen 15:4  And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir. 

Gen 15:5  And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. 

Gen 15:6  And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness. 

Mat 1:1  The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. 

Act 2:29  Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. 

Act 2:30  Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; 

Act 2:31  He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. 

Act 2:32  This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. 

Act 13:21  And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years. 

Act 13:22  And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will. 

Act 13:23  Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus: 

3) A kingdom established by God Himself:

Luk 1:31  And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 

Luk 1:32  He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 

Luk 1:33  And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 

4) A Spiritual house of worship:

Zec 6:12  And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD: 

Zec 6:13  Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. 

Joh 2:19  Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. 

Joh 2:20  Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? 

Joh 2:21  But he spake of the temple of his body. 

Joh 2:22  When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.

5) An eternal throne or kingdom:

1Ch 22:6  Then he called for Solomon his son, and charged him to build an house for the LORD God of Israel. 

1Ch 22:7  And David said to Solomon, My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God: 

1Ch 22:8  But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars: thou shalt not build an house unto my name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight. 

1Ch 22:9  Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about: for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days. 

1Ch 22:10  He shall build an house for my name; and he shall be my son, and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever. 

1Ch 22:11  Now, my son, the LORD be with thee; and prosper thou, and build the house of the LORD thy God, as he hath said of thee.

Mat 19:28  And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 

Mat 19:29  And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. 

Luk 22:29  And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; 

Luk 22:30  That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Joh 18:36  Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. 

A descendant who would be the Son of God.

*****2Sa 7:14  I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: 

2Sa 7:15  But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. 

2Sa 7:16  And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.

The Scriptures say:

Isa 9:6  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 

Mar 1:1  The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; 

Luk 1:31  And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 

Luk 1:32  He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 

Luk 1:33  And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 

Joh 20:31  But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. 

God's Son who would be punished for sin:

Rom 5:8  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 

Heb 5:8  Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 

Heb 5:9  And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; 

Heb 5:10  Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec. 

1Pe 2:24  Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 

a) Men would inflict God’s Son:

Act 2:22  Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: 

Act 2:23  Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: 

Act 2:24  Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. 

b) God's mercy and love for His Son cannot fail:

Mat 12:18  Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles. 

Mat 17:5  While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. 

Eph 1:5  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 

Eph 1:6  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 

Eph 1:7  In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 

Eph 1:8  Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 

Eph 1:9  Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

Heb 5:5  So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee. 

c) God repeats this promise to Isaiah who told all the world:

Isa 11:1  And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: 

Isa 11:2  And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; 

Isa 11:3  And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: 

Isa 11:4  But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

Isa 11:10  And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious. 

Jer 23:5  Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. 

Zec 3:8  Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH. 

We should understand that all these things were told to King David word by word!

Amen

Seeking the Presence of God

 Book of 1 Chronicles Chapters 13-16

David's Unwise Choice

We should understand that we as Christians are still human and we are going to make mistakes and they will be sinful mistakes.

God gives us His Word to guide us in this life and to help keep our mistakes to a minimum.

God also gives us the means of forgiveness but chastisement for our mistakes is also just as sure.

David, as the King of Israel, was to rule according to the Word of God!

Just like every other ruler in this world!

We will never make the right decisions in life without seeking the presence of God!

This is the greatest necessity we have in order to have a happy and joyous and a safe life.

Without God's presence we will never grow spiritually, without seeking the presence of God through prayer and obedience!

In order for Israel to be a strong nation, they needed to move the Ark of God to a place specifically made under Jehovah's specifications.

David had already built a place named the Tabernacle of David to house the Ark when it would be

returned.

What were David's plans?

*****1Ch 13:1  And David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader. 

1Ch 13:2  And David said unto all the congregation of Israel, If it seem good unto you, and that it be of the LORD our God, let us send abroad unto our brethren every where, that are left in all the land of Israel, and with them also to the priests and Levites which are in their cities and suburbs, that they may gather themselves unto us: 

1Ch 13:3  And let us bring again the ark of our God to us: "for we enquired not at it in the days of Saul". 

1Ch 13:4  And all the congregation said that they would do so: for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people. 

We can immediately see why King Saul failed and Israel failed under his government!

Saul never prayed to Jehovah concerning his leadership of Israel!

Now we will also see some mistakes King David will make, after making a commitment to the Lord.

1) David made the decision to move the Ark to Jerusalem so he and the people could seek the presence of God.

2) David built his palace in Jerusalem to centralize the government of Israel in the same place where all of Israel could seek the presence of God and His guidance.

3) David made a commitment to seek God in prayer before taking Israel into any war.

You see, as a nation we must strive for economic security.

We must also strive for national security against any foreign military and terrorists who would attack us.

We must also strive for the personal security of our homes against any of those who would cause us harm, including our own government.

Our nation should be seeking the economic wealth of all its people along with these other things!

Not some socialist agenda!

Not some communist agenda!

These are things that are written in our own constitution and much of it is being ignored today!

We should consult God in every decision we make that concerns any of these things, and add to this, we must pray to God to maintain our relationship with Him.,

1Th_5:17  Pray without ceasing.

Just as soon as David was made King of all of Israel, he began to address these matters.

We need a new government today that will stand firm on the constitution.

The best government would first stand firm on the Word of God.

No one in Washington can call anyone a liar especially Donald Trump, because no one in Washington is concerned for the Constitution of the United States of America which they all took an oath to defend.

They should remove all who will not do this!

They are all liars!

Especially those who make up a certain political party and all those who call themselves progressive!

I said it once and I will say it again, there is no such person as a progressive Christian!

And today we can see that there is no such person as a Christian who follows the Democrat Agenda.

For Israel to have the Ark of God and the place of God in the same place as the government in Jerusalem, would be a natural thing.

Our own government seeks to be as far away from God as they possibly can! 

Such foolish people but they recognize the gods of this world and seek to pacify them!

Only through Jesus Christ can we seek the presence of God!

King David had brought all the elders of Israel and the Priests of God to Jerusalem to discuss these things and these things were decided.

It had been sixty years since the Ark of God was last in His place.

David knew that God had selected Jerusalem to be the place of His presence and all the people agreed!

*****1Ch 13:5  So David gathered all Israel together, from Shihor of Egypt even unto the entering of Hemath, to bring the ark of God from Kirjathjearim. 

1Ch 13:6  And David went up, and all Israel, to Baalah, that is, to Kirjathjearim, which belonged to Judah, to bring up thence the ark of God the LORD, that dwelleth between the cherubims, whose name is called on it. 

In all the days of Saul, he had never tried to return the Ark of God.

David sent out a summons to all of Israel to join with him as he transported the Ark of God to Jerusalem.

This Baalah to Kirjathjearrim which is Judah, and much of that land that is in dispute today is claimed by the Palestinians which has never been true.

Remember, it is Judah which is Judea that Rome renamed to Palestinia just to get back at the Jews because of hatred.

Rome hated the Jews and Rome in the Bible shows the same hatred we see in the world today.

It was a good thing that David was seeking, but David did not consult with the Bible nor with the Priest nor the Levites on how to move the Ark of God.

He decided to move the Ark just as the Philistines had moved it.

Once all of Israel was united and David was anointed King of all of Israel, it seemed to David that it in the interest of all of Israel that the Ark of God be restored to a house of worship.

As we go over these Scriptures, we can see that the Ark of God can also be seen as a type of Jesus Christ.

Before the Ark came to the home of Obed-Edom, the Ark was located at the home of Abinadab that was in Gibeah.

Let us look at both of these things today.

We must clearly understand that there is a right way and a wrong way to seek to be in the presence of God!

Since I prayed for the Lord Jesus to come into my heart and save me, I also understand how important it is for me to be in the presence of God.

I need to feel Him and to know that He is listening to me, though I can do this at home or any other place, there is no greater feeling than being in the company of the many others who feel the same way at my church, my place of worship.

You see upon the Ark is the "Mercy Seat".

The Ark was the place where Israel was to meet with the Lord God of Israel!

By the way He is also the Lord God of all creation, all the things we see and all the things we do not see!

There was no other furniture, lamps, altar, or anything else including the priesthood that meant more than the Ark which was the place Israel was to meet with God.

It is the "Mercy Seat" where we can meet with God today!

The "Mercy Seat" at the Church is the altar where I can reach out to my Savior!

This why it is so important to be in the house of God at the appointed times of worship!

When the Ark was taken because of the sins of Eli and his two sons, that punishment included the Ark of God being taken by the Philistines and the destruction of the Tabernacle located at Shiloh.

It seems at this time another Tabernacle had been built at Gibeah but was without the Holy of Holies.

This was an important event because it was at the Mercy Seat where God met with the High Priest of Israel to remove the sin of Israel.

As far as Israel was concerned, when the Ark was not in their possession, then God was not with Israel and they carried there sin year to year.

They could offer up their sacrifices at Gibeah but the High priest could not take the blood of that sacrifice and sprinkle upon the Mercy Seat because it was not there.

One of the first things David wanted to accomplish as King of Israel, was to bring the Ark back to Israel so all of Israel could meet with God.

We should remember that David was one of the few Jews that it is said he had the power of the Holy Spirit with him at all times.

1Sa_16:13  Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

“The Spirit of the Lord came mightily on David from that day forward.”

David could still meet with the Lord but the people had no place to do so.

We should understand that it was not going to take thirty thousand people to bring the Ark back to His place, but David assembled this large group to give honor to the Lord.

David did not do anything that might cause friction with the unified Israel so, David consulted with the leaders of Israel before he set out to bring the Ark back home.

But David did make a terrible mistake.

*****1Ch 13:7  And they carried the ark of God in a new cart out of the house of Abinadab: and Uzza and Ahio drave the cart. 

All the things of God must be important to all the Church, but God has an order that must be followed!

We must understand that God has certain ways for us do spiritual things, and they must be done according to His Word.

How was the Ark to be moved from place to place?

Num 3:29  The families of the sons of Kohath shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle southward. 

Num 3:30  And the chief of the house of the father of the families of the Kohathites shall be Elizaphan the son of Uzziel. 

Num 3:31  And their charge shall be the ark, and the table, and the candlestick, and the altars, and the vessels of the sanctuary wherewith they minister, and the hanging, and all the service thereof. 

Num 7:9  But unto the sons of Kohath he gave none: because the service of the sanctuary belonging unto them was that they should bear upon their shoulders. 

Num 4:15  And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation. 

It was a good thing that David wanted to the Ark back into the hands of the people but God insists we do all things according to His Word.

The Ark was a sign of the covenant God had made with His people.

The Ark was the place of the "Mercy Seat" where their sins could be forgiven.

The Ark was to be carried upon the shoulders of the sons of Kohath, the priests assigned to all the furniture of the Tabernacle.

It was not to be carried in any wagon that it would appear as some unholy cargo.

It was good that David used a new cart that was not desecrated by common uses, but it  was still against Levitical law.

This is the same way that the Philistines had tried to move the Ark and it had cost them dearly, with many deaths and much destruction in their cities and especially in their places of worship.

The Bible is our means of knowing what God expects of us!

Today we have the completed Bible and it is to be our guide in all things of this life.

Israel had the Laws of Moses and it was enough to give them directions in their lives and in their government of Israel and all things in their worship of Jehovah.

It is the same for our Bible today!

*****1Ch 13:8  And David and all Israel played before God with all their might, and with singing, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets. 

This possession was guided by the two sons of Abinadab Uzzah and Ahio with Ahioh walking in the front and Uzzah walking on the side near the rear of the cart and they began to travel to Jerusalem.

It was a joyous occasion for all of Israel but especially for King David.

There was the singing of songs.

There was the playing of many musical instruments.

God says to make a joyful noise before the Lord!

All these things seemed to be such wonderful things but David was disobeying by failing to transport the Ark as commanded by the Lord.

Obedience is the key to our relationship with the Lord!

*****1Ch 13:9  And when they came unto the threshingfloor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled. 

1Ch 13:10  And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzza, and he smote him, because he put his hand to the ark: and there he died before God. 

We know that David was transporting the Ark but not according to the Levitical laws.

We do not really know why David chose to move the Ark the same way the Philistines chose, but it seems that it was the plan of David.

It could have been done to please the people but it was still against the Word of God.

It seemed to be so small a matter, but it was a grave error on the part of King David and it turned into a serious offence.

Many thought, "why would God do such a thing"?

We must clearly understand we cannot worship the Lord according to the way we think, but we must worship the Lord according to His clear instructions in the Word He has given to us.

God gives clear instructions about how to worship Him and it must be done in spirit and truth!

We can never just throw the Word of God away and come together to worship according to our own ways, yet this is exactly what is going on in what is called the progressive movement we see today.

Most threshing floors were a place with a rock floor so the harvest could be gathered and it is very possible that the oxen hooves did slip and cause a jolt to the cart.

The Ark was never to be touched by the hands there were rings and poles to be used to carry the Ark.

Exo 25:13  And thou shalt make staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold. 

Exo_25:14  And thou shalt put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, that the ark may be borne with them.

Exo_25:15  The staves shall be in the rings of the ark: they shall not be taken from it.

Exo_37:5  And he put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, to bear the ark.

Any way of bearing the Ark other than this manner was rejecting the Word of God and we must remember the Ark was in typology a type of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The holiness of God must be respected!

Num 4:15  And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation. 

The anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah and God killed him immediately.

Any act of irreverence towards the Ark was punished by death.

What would the world think if God did this today for irreverence?

We should remember and David and Uzzah should have remembered what happened at Beth-shemesh.

1Sa 6:19  And he smote the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD, even he smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men: and the people lamented, because the LORD had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter. 

1Sa 6:20  And the men of Bethshemesh said, Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God? and to whom shall he go up from us?

Things that are serious to God will bring a terrible anger and a severe punishment.

The two things most important to God today are Israel and the Church!

God was disappointed in David and David was disappointed in God.

Have you ever tried with all you might to do something good for God and then find out that He was not pleased at all with you.

This is the way King David felt.

We must remember we have to do all these things in accordance with the Word of God!

David had to find out just what was the right way to retrieve the Ark of God without any more tragedies because of disobedience!

*****1Ch 15:11  And David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah, and Joel, Shemaiah, and Eliel, and Amminadab, 

1Ch 15:12  And said unto them, Ye are the chief of the fathers of the Levites: sanctify yourselves, both ye and your brethren, that ye may bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel unto the place that I have prepared for it. 

1Ch 15:13  For because ye did it not at the first, the LORD our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order.

God has a due order by which we must abide!

It seems that David is laying part of the blame for the tragedy of Uzzah upon these two who are sharing the High Priesthood and we know that they disagree with many things concerning David.

David told them that they sanctify themselves in a recommitment to the Lord.

We must be committed to the Lord to have a personal relationship with Him!

They were to set themselves apart for Jehovah by living holy and pure lives.

Much of the Church has forgotten about sanctification.

Sanctification was essential in approaching the Ark because the Ark is the symbol of God's Holy Presence.

This is why the Ark is a type of Christ.

We must be sanctified if we are to have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ!

2Th 2:13  But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 

 1Pe 1:2  Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. 

The sanctification of these two Priests included a ritual washing with water. 

This was a ceremonial cleansing declaring that they had been cleansed from sin.

In the Church we know that we can only be forgiven when we are washed in the blood of Jesus and washed by the Word of God!

1Jn_1:7  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Heb_10:19  Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,

We cannot approach God until we have been Born Again!

We cannot approach God until we too have made our own Spiritual preparations!

*****1Ch 15:14  So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel. 

1Ch 15:15  And the children of the Levites bare the ark of God upon their shoulders with the staves thereon, as Moses commanded according to the word of the LORD. 

We will never have a good relationship with the Lord, until we have dedicated our lives to Him.

We must walk away from our old lives and walk in the newness of life through the Lord Jesus Christ!

We can only do this when are obedient to all the Word of God.

We cannot pick and choose the parts we will obey and the parts we will not obey as is what is going on in many churches today.

We know that poles had to be inserted into the rings of the Ark and the Priest bear the Ark upon their shoulders.

We must clearly understand that violating the Holiness of God will lead to eternal death.

Safety has never been in the Ark of the Lord!

Safety comes from the Lord of the Ark!

Our own safety does not come from the Church!

Our safety comes from the Lord of the Church, the Head of the Body of Christ!

We should remember the Lord Jesus said His burden is light.

Jer 7:3  Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place. 

Jer 7:4  Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, are these. 

In the New Testament we find these words.

Mat 3:9  And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. 

Mat 3:10  And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 

Israel was mistaken when Eli allowed his two wicked sons to take the Ark into battle.

Seven months later when the Philistines returned the Ark to Israel and the men of Bethshemesh looked into the Ark over Fifty thousand men lost their lives.

When the "Mercy Seat" is removed from the Ark, only death by the broken Law remains.

Then we see the useless death of Uzzah because the order of God was not followed.

We must see that the Holiness of God must be observed and this is not happening today in many places of worship.

*****1Ch 15:26  And it came to pass, when God helped the Levites that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, that they offered seven bullocks and seven rams. 

We see that God wanted the Ark to be back with the Israelites and in His place in the Holy of Holies so He helped these Levites.

We do need the help of Heaven in our worship services. 

In fact if the Holy Spirit does not show up there will not be a true worship service.

If our Preachers do not preach the message that God gives them, we will never understand how to live day by day in this wicked world.

Act_9:31  Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

Notice the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Spirit both are necessary in our worship services for the Church to be edified!

When do things right, then there will also be joy when the Lord joins with us in the House of God, and souls will be saved!

*****1Ch 15:27  And David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, and all the Levites that bare the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah the master of the song with the singers: David also had upon him an ephod of linen. 

1Ch 15:28  Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, and with sound of the cornet, and with trumpets, and with cymbals, making a noise with psalteries and harps. 

When we are in the presence of God, we must worship Him. This is what we live for.

The Lord is to be worshipped in Spirit and in Truth!

Joh 4:24  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. 

So many have forgotten these things today!

We must come to the Lord in Spirit: focusing our hearts and our minds upon Him giving Him our full attention, praising Him, and thanking Him for all that He is and all that He has already done for us and the things He has promised to do for us as we grow in Christ and wait for His return.

We must also worship Him in truth!

This is to worship Him exactly like He says to worship Him!

We can only approach God through and by the Lord Jesus Christ.

In this we must be sincere, God will not be mocked!

1Ch 16:29  Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. 

1Ch 16:30  Fear before him, all the earth: the world also shall be stable, that it be not moved. 

1Ch 16:31  Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let men say among the nations, The LORD reigneth. 

1Ch 16:32  Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof: let the fields rejoice, and all that is therein. 

1Ch 16:33  Then shall the trees of the wood sing out at the presence of the LORD, because he cometh to judge the earth. 

It is a fact that this lost world will not like our rejoicing over the truth of God!

*****1Ch 15:29  And it came to pass, as the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looking out at a window saw king David dancing and playing: and she despised him in her heart.

One of David's wives, actually his first wife who was King Saul's daughter reacted against David because of the way he worshipped the Lord.

She was an unbeliever and also an idolater and while she watched these things from a window, she had seen David full of the Spirit of God and just having himself a time and she did not think a King should be doing such things.

We can see Michal as a type of the many who despise devotion to the Almighty God.

Michal saw Jehovah only as one of the gods among many gods.

David showed enthusiasm in His worship and which is something that is lacking in many a Church today.

2Sa 6:20  Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself! 

2Sa 6:21  And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD. 

2Sa 6:22  And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour. 

2Sa 6:23  Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death. 

David lost any affection he might have had for Michal that day.

We know that in the family, if a wife or husband is saved and the other is still lost it can cause friction in the home.

How does God see these things?

1Co 7:13  And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. 

1Co 7:14  For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. 

1Co 7:15  But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace. 

Though David had many wives Michal remained under his support but there was no further relationship with the king in all of her days.

God expects us to do the best we can in our relationships with each other, but it may not ever lead to salvation for the unbelieving spouse.

*****1Ch 16:37  So he left there before the ark of the covenant of the LORD Asaph and his brethren, to minister before the ark continually, as every day's work required: 

1Ch 16:38  And Obededom with their brethren, threescore and eight; Obededom also the son of Jeduthun and Hosah to be porters: 

1Ch 16:39  And Zadok the priest, and his brethren the priests, before the tabernacle of the LORD in the high place that was at Gibeon, 

1Ch 16:40  To offer burnt offerings unto the LORD upon the altar of the burnt offering continually morning and evening, and to do according to all that is written in the law of the LORD, which he commanded Israel; 

Though many may disagree, this is where we see spiritual worship begin to take the place of ceremonial worship.

We are to worship God in Spirit and in Truth because this is the way God likes it.

Joh_4:23  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

Joh_4:24  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Nothing is gained from ceremonial worship, which is ritual worship!

It appears that David had only built the Holy place and the Holy of Holies and had not built the Tabernacle that was still located in Gibeah.

David appointed Asaph and his brethren to minister before the Lord at all times somewhat like what takes place in Heaven continuously.

Rev_4:8  And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

It was Asaph and the singers with musical instruments who were to do this in Jerusalem.

It was Zadok the High Priest who was chosen to lead the worship in Gibeon and who had remained faithful to David and we know that all the house of Eli were pronouced unworthy of which Abiathar was of that family.

Abiathar did remain as High Priest until King Solomon removed him.

It would be Zadok who would lead the worship at Gibeon, the place where the Tabernacle had been reestablished.

Not too far in the future did Abiathar choose David's son Absalom over David.

What does the Lord say?

Act_15:16  After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:

Act 15:17  That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. 

What these things mean is, that when the Lord Jesus returns to set set up His Millennial Kingdom to rule for one thousand years, then at this time all the remaining Israelites will worship the Lord in Spirit and Truth and not in some ceremonial fashion as was done at that Old Tabernacle.

It will be a new day for all of Israel.

There will be no ceremonial or ritual worship during those one thousand years!

Amen