310 Where He Worshipped God 311 While The Child Was Yet Alive.pptx

Sermon adapted from, Discovering Christ Day by Day, David Fortner

1. “Where He Worshipped God” Sermon adapted from, Discovering Christ Day by Day, David Fortner April 7 Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 15-17

2. 2 Samuel 15:30 NIV But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went; his head was covered and he was barefoot. All the people with him covered their heads too and were weeping as they went up. 31 Now David had been told, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David prayed, “LORD, turn Ahithophel's counsel into foolishness.” 32 When David arrived at the summit, where people used to worship God, Hushai the Arkite was there to meet him, his robe torn and dust on his head.

3. In the midst of his great trial, a great trial brought upon him by his own sin, David worshipped God. How very gracious the Lord is in condescending to correct His people, in order to bring His fallen children home to Himself. Without those loving, fatherly corrections, we would wander from Him forever.

4. Did you catch where David went to pray & worship God? David continued up the Mount of Olives. Generations later David’s descendant, Jesus, the greatly awaited Messiah, spent much time on many occasions with his disciples & often praying alone on the Mount of Olives . David typified Jesus.

5. David, having been informed of a betrayer, prayed as he ascended the Mount of Olives. 31 Now David had been told, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David prayed, “LORD, turn Ahithophel's counsel into foolishness.” In the midst of great distress knowing the terrible price He would pay for our sin, Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives where He was also betrayed.

6. Precious Savior, what great lovingkindness is displayed in our recoveries from our falls by Your mercy! How very sweet and blessed are Your countless deliverances! Our Lord Jesus redeemed us to God by His precious blood; and there is in His blood an everlasting efficacy, which again and again effectually pleads for us in heaven. Our Deliverer

7. Though He brings us down by affliction, He will not cast us off. Though we are chastened, we are not destroyed. Though in us there is nothing but weakness and sin, in our Savior is omnipotent strength and perpetual merit. He ever lives to make intercession for us; and His blood perpetually cleanses us from all sin. Our Deliverer is our Advocate with our Father; and He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:2 NIV

8. As we see David fleeing from Absalom, the son he cherished, and shamefully and publicly cursed by Shemei , may God the Holy Spirit remind us again; And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 NIV Our Afflictions Our Gain

9. David’s frame of mind under very heavy and painful afflictions displays great grace in his heart, planted there by God the Holy Spirit in the gift and operation of faith. He said concerning Shemei’s vile cursing,

10. But the king said, "What does this have to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah ? If he is cursing because the LORD said to him, 'Curse David,' who can ask, 'Why do you do this?'" David then said to Abishai and all his officials, "My son, my own flesh and blood, is trying to kill me. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone; let him curse, for the LORD has told him to. It may be that the LORD will look upon my misery and restore to me his covenant blessing instead of his curse today.” 2 Samuel 16:10-12 NIV

11. Spirit of God, give me grace to live upon the perfections, promises, and covenant engagements of my covenant keeping God, when it appears that His mercy is clean gone forever!

12. Habakkuk 3:17 NIV Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, 18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. 19 The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights. For the director of music. On my stringed instruments.

13. As God turned Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness for the destruction of Absalom and David’s enemies led by his rebel son, so it is that by His special providence, our enemies are prevented from destroying us or even harming us. It is the bridle of divine providence which our God puts into their jaws that He overrules the designs of hell and wicked men against His chosen. Ahithophel’s Counsel

14. Christ our Redeemer holds the reins of the universe in His hands, controlling all things, even all evil, and says to the proud waves that would swallow up our souls, when I said, 'This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt’? Job 38:11 NIV

15. It is our mighty Sovereign who causes the world that hates us to help us, even as it tries to destroy us. Revelation 12:16 NIV But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed out of his mouth.

16. Blessed Lord Jesus, how we thank You for Your absolute rule of all things for our souls’ everlasting good! Give us grace to honor You by faith, trusting You, even in the midst of our most painful sorrows.

17. “While The Child Was Yet Alive” Sermon adapted from, Discovering Christ Day by Day, David Fortner April 8 Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 18-19

18. He answered, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, 'Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let the child live.’ 2 Samuel 12:22 NIV

19. Today we have read of David’s great sorrow and grief because of Absalom’s death under the judgment of God. What mother or father, knowing the grace of God, living in union with Christ by the grace of God, cannot enter into David’s great pain? What unknown, inexpressible agony must have crushed his heart!

20. I cannot imagine what it would be like to live to see a rebel child perish under the wrath of God, knowing that as I lower the dead body of one so dear to my heart into the earth their soul justly suffers the unquenchable fire of God’s wrath in hell. To you, who have or shall endure such pain, I can only say, flee away to Christ your Savior and cast your soul on Him, finding the solace you need in your God’s wisdom, goodness, grace, and covenant faithfulness.

21. 2 Samuel 23:5 NIV "If my house were not right with God, surely he would not have made with me an everlasting covenant, arranged and secured in every part; surely he would not bring to fruition my salvation and grant me my every desire.

22. But David had another son who died, not as a grown rebel, but as an infant. What a great mercy it was for him to bury that infant son, killed by God because of his father’s sin. I can well imagine David thinking, would God you had died from the womb! as he cried. 2 Samuel 19:4 NIV The king covered his face and cried aloud, "O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!" Another Dead Son

23. Let us think today of that better day in David’s life, when God took his infant son in death. When David’s son died, he arose, washed, and anointed himself, put on his dress clothes, went to the house of God, and worshipped. When he came home, he asked his servants to prepare food for him.

24. The servants who had watched him weep, mourn, and pray for his dying son were astonished. They could not understand David’s change of behavior. While his son was alive, but dying, David was full of sorrow. We have no way of knowing everything that was going through his mind. But this much we do know:

25. Though David’s heart was broken over his sin, he was assured of his own forgiveness and acceptance with God. 2 Samuel 12:13 NIV Then David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." Nathan replied, "The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die.

26. David knew that his child’s sickness unto death was by the hand and will of the God he worshipped, loved, and served. 2 Samuel 12:14 NIV But because by doing this you have shown utter contempt for the LORD, the son born to you will die." 15 After Nathan had gone home, the LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife had borne to David, and he became ill.

27. David was prepared to and did submit to the will of God, even when it meant the death of his son. 2 Samuel 12:22 NIV He answered, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, 'Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let the child live.' 23 But now that he is dead, why should I go on fasting? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me."

28. Psalms 51:4 NIV Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge. Though David was fully convinced that upon his son’s death he would depart and be with the Lord, he did not want his son to die. 2 Samuel 12:16 David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and spent the nights lying in sackcloth on the ground.

29. 2 Samuel 12:22 NIV He answered, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, 'Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let the child live.’ 23 But now that he is dead, why should I go on fasting? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me."

30. Was David bitter: Probably. Was he downcast? Of course. Was he in great pain? Yes. His heart was crushed. He withdrew from all others, refused the ordinary joys and necessities of life, and “ pleaded with God for the child .” Though it was evident that the child was to die, both by its appearance and by the fact that God had told him it must, David still hoped that God might be gracious to him and heal his son.

31. Any who saw him during this time (any who did not know David, or had never experienced what David was experiencing) might have thought David had lost his faith. Nothing could have been further from the truth. Though his behavior changed radically during those days of horrible, indescribable sorrow, David believed God and he poured out his soul to Him, when he could express his feelings to no one else. Comfort Refused

32. When his closest friends tried, in their helplessness, to help him, David refused to be comforted, or even to eat bread with them. The elders of his household stood beside him to get him up from the ground, but he refused, and he would not eat any food with them. 2 Samuel 12:17 NIV

33. What faith this man exemplified when others may have thought he had none! And when the Lord took his son, God’s servant David both bowed to the will of God and found comfort in it. He lived in hope of a day when he would be reunited with his son in a world where there is no more sickness, no more pain, no more sorrow, and no more death, because there shall be no more sin. Blessed Prospect

34. 2 Samuel 12:23 NIV But now that he is dead, why should I go on fasting? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me." He lived in hope of God’s fulfillment of His covenant.

35. 2 Samuel 23:5 NIV "If my house were not right with God, surely he would not have made with me an everlasting covenant, arranged and secured in every part; surely he would not bring to fruition my salvation and grant me my every desire.

36. Now, David, Bathsheba, and their son, united around the throne of God, understand the necessity for all that sorrow; and they thank God for it. Thus it shall be for every grieving, sorrowing believer in the world to come. We will soon understand the necessity for every sorrow experienced here and give thanks to God our Savior, who through great sorrow, brings His chosen to everlasting joy with Him!

37. HAVE YOU HEARD THE GOOD NEWS?

38. Jesus died on the cross for our sins.

39. He was buried and rose on the third day.

40. When He did this He solved 2 problems we all have. He solved our sin problem because He nailed our sins to the cross; & He solved our grave problem when He rose from the dead because it proved we could also rise from the dead.

41. Jesus said, if we want to get in on of all this we must . . . BE BORN AGAIN. FOLLOW HIM; &

42. ISN’T THAT GREAT NEWS? WHO ARE YOU GOING TO SHARE THE GOOD NEWS WITH TODAY?

43. Mark 16:15 NIV  He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. Numbers 6:24 NIV '"The LORD bless you and keep you; 25 the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.“’