338 Had Understanding of the Times-339 We Inquire of Him

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

1. Had Understanding of the Times Sermon adapted from, Discovering Christ Day by Day, David Fortner May 5 Today’s Reading: 1 Chronicles 11-13

2. Israel was passing through some troublesome, unsettling times. Critical issues had to be faced and dealt with. The Lord had now established David as king over His people. But Saul had just died.

3. Some of the tribes of Israel did not know what to do. The question of the day in Palestine was, “Who should be king?” Many in Israel did not know whether or not to accept David as their king. Some were inclined to seek a king from Saul’s family and would not commit themselves to David. Others boldly came forward and proclaimed David as their rightful king.

4. Prior to this, only one of the tribes of Israel recognized David as king. The other tribes recognized the pretend king Ishbosheth , a son of Saul. Ishbosheth was murdered ( 2 Samuel 4 ) so now the tribes turned to David. (ISBE) “It is significant that the chronicler makes no reference to the seven years in which David reigned over Judah. He begins with the crowning at Hebron, when all Israel acknowledged his kingship.” (Morgan)

5. 1 Chronicles 12:1 NIV These were the men who came to David at Ziklag , while he was banished from the presence of Saul son of Kish (they were among the warriors who helped him in battle; 2 they were armed with bows and were able to shoot arrows or to sling stones right-handed or left-handed; they were relatives of Saul from the tribe of Benjamin): David’s Men

6. From among the Gadites were men of might, men of war. Those mighty men who came to David in Ziklag were utterly devoted to the king. 1 Chronicles 12:8 NIV  Some Gadites defected to David at his stronghold in the wilderness. They were brave warriors, ready for battle and able to handle the shield and spear. Their faces were the faces of lions, and they were as swift as gazelles in the mountains.

7. 1 Chronicles 12:16 NIV Other Benjamites and some men from Judah also came to David in his stronghold. 17 David went out to meet them and said to them, "If you have come to me in peace to help me, I am ready for you to join me. But if you have come to betray me to my enemies when my hands are free from violence, may the God of our ancestors see it and judge you."

8. 1 Chronicles 12:18 NIV Then the Spirit came on Amasai , chief of the Thirty, and he said: "We are yours, David! We are with you, son of Jesse! Success, success to you, and success to those who help you, for your God will help you." So David received them and made them leaders of his raiding bands.

9. From among Zebulon, there came to David men expert in war who could keep rank. 1 Chronicles 12:33 NIV from Zebulun, experienced soldiers prepared for battle with every type of weapon, to help David with undivided loyalty—50,000;

10. Among these bold and valiant men were the children of Issachar. In our text the Holy Spirit singles out these men for one particular and very significant characteristic. He says of the children of Issachar; 1 Chronicles 12:32 NIV from Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do—200 chiefs, with all their relatives under their command;

11. This was the peculiar honor of the sons of Issachar, “ men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do .” I do not doubt this sentence, like every sentence of Holy Scripture, was written for our learning. These men of Issachar are set before us as a pattern to be imitated and an example to be followed. If we would be useful to our generation, nothing is more important than this.

12. We must understand the times we’re living in and know what is required of us. We must seek the grace and wisdom of God to understand the times and to know what Christ’s body, His Church, ought to be doing.

13. Living today demands courage, boldness, and extremity for the cause of Christ in this world. The world has never known such perilous times as these. Folks today are perishing in a church pew, going to hell with a prayer on their lips, a song in their hearts, and a Bible in their hands. The Demands of the Day

14. Surely this day demands something from us. It demands courageous hearts, bold spirits, and extreme dedication to the Gospel of Christ. Our souls and the glory of Christ compel us to be of purpose and determination.

15. What does our day require of us? What must we do in this day? What do the times in which we live demand of the people of God? This is a day that demands a bold, uncompromising, unflinching adherence to the authority of Holy Scripture. Let all know, by unflinching testimony from your lips, the Holy Bible is the Word, the only written revelation of the only true and living God.

16. These days of darkness demand of us distinct and decided testimony to gospel doctrine. Let no one be ashamed to testify to all, in public and in private, the utter depravity of the human race, God’s unconditional electing love, Christ’s particular and effectual atonement, the irresistible grace and power of God the Holy Spirit, and the sure purpose of every sinner saved by the grace of God.

17. These dark days of self-serving false prophets, hired for a dime and a smile, demand faithfulness, dedication, and sacrifice in preaching the gospel of Christ. Let us pray daily for God to raise up Elijahs and John the Baptists in our midst who will boldly proclaim the gospel, with fire from heaven burning in their bellies.

18. These days of great need demand from every believing sinner, saved by the grace of God, a clear recognition of our most important priorities and our most heavy responsibilities. Child of God, consecrate your life to Christ. In the totality of your being worship and serve Him who loved you and gave Himself for you.

19. Once more, this dark, dark day of religious wickedness demands each of us exercise a diligent watchfulness over our own souls. Blessed Holy Spirit, be my Teacher and Comforter every day and every hour, constantly convincing me of my sin, of Christ’s finished and perfect righteousness as the Lord my Righteousness, and of judgment finished by my Redeemer’s one sacrifice for sin!

20. “We inquire of Him about how to do it in the prescribed way.” Sermon adapted from, Discovering Christ Day by Day, David Fortner May 6 Today’s Reading: 1 Chronicles 14-17

21. 1 Chronicles 13:5 NIV So David assembled all Israel, from the Shihor River in Egypt to Lebo Hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath Jearim . 6 David and all Israel went to Baalah of Judah ( Kiriath Jearim ) to bring up from there the ark of God the LORD, who is enthroned between the cherubim—the ark that is called by the Name. 7 They moved the ark of God from Abinadab's house on a new cart, with Uzzah and Ahio guiding it. Uzza Killed

22. 8 David and all the Israelites were celebrating with all their might before God, with songs and with harps, lyres, timbrels, cymbals and trumpets. 9 When they came to the threshing floor of Kidon , Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the ark, because the oxen stumbled. 10 The LORD's anger burned against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he had put his hand on the ark.

23. So he died there before God. 11 Then David was angry because the LORD's wrath had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah. 12 David was afraid of God that day and asked, "How can I ever bring the ark of God to me?"

24. 13 He did not take the ark to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. 14 The ark of God remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house for three months, and the LORD blessed his household and everything he had. Then, after three months of thoughtful consideration, David realized the cause of God’s judgment.

25. 1 Chronicles 15:1 NIV After David had constructed buildings for himself in the City of David, he prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it. 2 Then David said, "No one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, because the LORD chose them to carry the ark of the LORD and to minister before him forever." 3 David assembled all Israel in Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the LORD to the place he had prepared for it.

26. 1 Chronicles 15:13 NIV It was because you, the Levites, did not bring it up the first time that the LORD our God broke out in anger against us. We did not inquire of him about how to do it in the prescribed way.” We should not fail to observe David’s modesty and humility. He included himself in this neglect. He said, “ We did not inquire of him .”

27. It is a blessed mark of grace in believers when we take shame to ourselves, rather than put it upon others. Accepting the punishment of our iniquity is made a testimony by the Lord God himself of our being in the covenant.

28. Leviticus 26:40 NIV "'But if they will confess their sins and the sins of their ancestors—their unfaithfulness and their hostility toward me, 41 which made me hostile toward them so that I sent them into the land of their enemies—then when their uncircumcised hearts are humbled and they pay for their sin, 42 I will remember my covenant with Jacob and my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land.

29. David loved God intensely. During Saul’s reign, the worship of God and the ordinances of His house were almost totally forgotten and neglected. When David was made King in Israel, the first order of business was to reestablish the form of worship which God had ordained. Motivated by Love

30. He set about to do what he could to revive the true worship of the true God. In pure love and reverence for God, David called all the people together and consulted with them about bringing the ark of the Lord up to Mount Zion.

31. It would be set in a conspicuous place, near the palace of the king. It would become the center of worship for the entire nation. It was to be placed near that sacred spot where Abraham of old had offered up his son, Isaac.

32. David’s intentions were excellent. No fault can be found with His motives or His desires. However, he forgot the law of God! It is an evil day for the people of God when they do things according to their own whims and notions and fail to yield implicit obedience to the Word of God. God’s Word Neglected

33. We serve a jealous God. Though He graciously pardons our sins and overlooks our faults, the Lord God will have His Word reverenced and His commands obeyed.

34. 1 Chronicles 15:13 NIV It was because you, the Levites, did not bring it up the first time that the LORD our God broke out in anger against us. We did not inquire of him about how to do it in the prescribed way.“ If we would worship God, we must worship Him in the way He has prescribed, or He will not accept our worship.

35. That ark represented the Lord Jesus Christ and redemption and salvation through His blood. When Uzza put his hand to it, he was declaring, “Redemption, grace, and salvation must be in some way dependent upon the works of men.” That is what it meant to put your hand to the ark. It meant God’s work ultimately depends upon the will, work, and efforts of men!

36. These people brought will worship to God, instead of the worship which He had ordained. They paid no attention to that which God had spoken. They had no regard for the rules of worship He had laid down.

37. What do I mean by will worship? I mean any kind of worship which is not prescribed in the Word of God. The first commandment may be broken, not only by worshipping a false god, but also by worshipping the true God in any way other than that which He has ordained.

38. Exodus 20:3 NIV "You shall have no other gods before me. 4 "You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,

39. Exodus 20:24 NIV "'Make an altar of earth for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, your sheep and goats and your cattle. Wherever I cause my name to be honored, I will come to you and bless you. 25 If you make an altar of stones for me, do not build it with dressed stones, for you will defile it if you use a tool on it. 26 And do not go up to my altar on steps, or your private parts may be exposed.'

40. Isaiah 66:1 NIV This is what the LORD says: "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be? 2 Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?" declares the LORD. "These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.

41. 3 But whoever sacrifices a bull is like one who kills a person, and whoever offers a lamb is like one who breaks a dog's neck; whoever makes a grain offering is like one who presents pig's blood, and whoever burns memorial incense is like one who worships an idol. They have chosen their own ways, and they delight in their abominations; 4 so I also will choose harsh treatment for them and will bring on them what they dread. For when I called, no one answered, when I spoke, no one listened. They did evil in my sight and chose what displeases me."

42. If we would worship God, we must worship Him in the way He has prescribed in His Word. We must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth, by His Spirit and according to revealed Truth, ascribing all salvation to God’s free and sovereign grace in Christ, our almighty, powerful Savior, having no confidence in the flesh. For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— Philippians 3:3 NIV True Worship

43. We must worship Him from our hearts, by faith in Christ, holding forth the Word of the Truth of the Gospel. If our doctrine and ordinances of worship are not precisely as ordered by God in His Word, we only pretend to worship God, but really worship ourselves, putting our hands on God’s Ark, mixing our works with His grace. For that high crime of treasonous unbelief and will-worship, God still slays proud sinners and sends them to hell.

44. John 4:23 NIV Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.“

45. HAVE YOU HEARD THE GOOD NEWS?

46. Jesus died on the cross for our sins.

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

48. 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.

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

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

51. 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.“’