Lesson 25-2 Samuel 1-4 March 22, 2012

 DAVID: LOYALTY AND HUMILITY

Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome.
Booker T. Washington

Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value.
Albert Einstein

Success seems to be largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go. William Feather

A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him. David Brinkley

As we look at the success of famous actors or sports figures like Michael Jordan, we often fail to see the cost of that success. "I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."

If you're trying to achieve, there will be roadblocks. I've had them; everybody has had them. But obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.

SLIDE 4 Arnold H. Glasow:  Success is simple. Do what's right, the right way, at the right time.

SLIDE 5 KNOW THE HIGH COST OF SUCCESS

1.   Seek God’s Will (2 Samuel 1:1-2:7)

2.   Wait for God’s Timing (2Samuel 2:8-3:39)

3.   Keep Your Promises(2 Samuel 41-12)

SEEK GODS WILL (2 Samuel 1:1-2:7)

When the messenger falls at his feet delivering the news that Saul and his sons had been killed in battle, David is immediately overcome with grief.

SLIDE 6 ¹¹ Then David and all the men with him took hold of their clothes and tore them. ¹² They mourned and wept and fasted till evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the army of the LORD and for the nation of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.

Whether the account of the young warrior offering the crown and arm band of Saul, was a fabrication to gain favor with David or not, he was still an Amalekite.(God had told Saul to slay all of the Amalekites.) David had one of his men to kill the messenger.

SLIDE 7 ¹⁶ For David had said to (the Amalekite) “Your blood be on your own head. Your own mouth testified against you when you said, ‘I killed the LORD’s anointed.’”

Twice David had an opportunity to take the life King Saul. But as long as Saul was the LORD’S anointed David would cause him harm. God put the crown on his head and God should be the one to remove Saul when the time came.

David honored Saul and Jonathon with a heartfelt lamentation. This Song of the Bow was to be taught to the men of Judah and is recorded in the book of Jashar. Twice David says “How the mighty have fallen.” He lays no blame on Saul, but celebrates their skill and bravery and willingness to give their lives for their country.

SLIDE 8 ²³ Saul and Jonathan—in life they were loved and admired, and in death they were not parted.  They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.

Could we ladies be so genuinely grief-stricken over the death of someone who tried to destroy us or tried to harm us physically? It takes a strong forgiving person to do God’s will in circumstances like these. Could we return good for evil?

David obeyed the will of the Father.

 In this second chapter of 2 Samuel David has greatly matured and feels compelled to call upon the LORD for direction. Too many mistakes in the past were made as David relied on his own understanding. Several times, David inquires of the LORD, “Where shall I go?”( He is still in Ziglag, Philistine country.) The LORD sends him to Hebron and v. 4 Then the men of Judah came to Hebron, and there they anointed David king over the tribe of Judah.

SLIDE 9 His first official duty is to send messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead in appreciation of the courageous endeavor. 5“The LORD bless you for showing this kindness to Saul your master by burying him. ⁶ May the LORD now show you kindness and faithfulness, and I too will show you the same favor because you have done this.

Success sometimes comes at a high cost. For the first time in 10 years, David band of men are not longer fugitives. David is 30 years old when the elders of Judah made him King. He reigned in Hebron 7 1/2 years. God is forming David into the King he wants him to be.

SLIDE 10 Do we seek God’s will in all our decisions? Do we pray thy will be done? How can we know God’s Will, the best example is Jesus Christ. During his 33 years on earth, he never failed to do His Father’s will. He completed every assignment he was given. Though Jesus was a man and was tempted as we are. Jesus never sinned.

Micah 6:8 (NIV1984)
⁸ He has showed you, O man, what is good.
 And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

The cost of success is often high. Are we willing to pay the price to be a success in God’s eyes, regardless of what the world says?

SLIDE11 WAIT FOR GOD’S TIMING (2:8-3:39)  

David gave the brave men of Jabesh Gilead a chance to join his side, but he did not push. He is moving in a diplomatic and commendable manner. During his time in Ziglag, David was joined by volunteers from the tribes of Benjamin, Gad, and Manasseh. (1 Chronicles 12) He had a large experienced army with representatives from other tribes.

Upon hearing the news that Saul had been killed, David could have rejoiced and felt it was finally his time to reign. Surely now was the time for him to claim the throne for which he had been anointed. But David waited on the LORD.

Meanwhile back at the homestead, Abner son of Ner is stirring up a rebellion. He takes Ish-bosheth, Saul’s 40 year old son to a city of refuge Mahanaim and made him King of Gilead. Ish-bosheth has never been a warrior and will only be a puppet king for the ambitious Abner.

v.14 During a hand to hand contest: 12 of  Abner men and 12 of Joab men.

v 16 each man….thrust his dagger into his opponent’s side, and they fell down together. So that place in Gibeon was called Field of Daggers

 ¹⁷ The battle that day was very fierce, and Abner and the Israelites were defeated by David’s men.

SLIDE 12 18Sons of Zeruiah, David’s older sister Joab, Abishai, Asahel.

Asahel who was as fast as a gazelle took off after Abner and would not turn back even as Abner warned him to “Stop chasing me.”

²³ But Asahel refused to give up the pursuit; so Abner thrust the butt of his spear into Asahel’s stomach, and the spear came out through his back. He fell there and died on the spot. And every man stopped when he came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died.

²⁶ Abner called out to Joab, “Must the sword devour forever? Don’t you realize that this will end in bitterness? How long before you order your men to stop pursuing their fellow Israelites?”  Joab blew the trumpet for all fighting to stop. They took Ahahel and buried him in his father tomb at Bethlehem. But Joab will remember the death of his brother at Abner’s hand.

SLIDE13 Ch.3 ¹ The war between the house of Saul and the house of David lasted a long time.  Probably 2 years of scattered conflicts but not a continuous war. David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.

Abner and Ishbosheth have angry words over a woman.

⁹ May God deal with Abner, be it ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the LORD promised him on oath ¹⁰ and transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and establish David’s throne over Israel and Judah from Dan to Beersheba.” ¹¹ Ish-Bosheth did not dare to say another word to Abner, because he was afraid of him.

In his book Be Restored Warren Wiersbe says Verses 12-21 “is a good example of “shuttle diplomacy” Abner sends messengers to David offering to bring all Israel under his rule. David accepts the offer if Michal, his first wife is sent back to him. Vv. 15-16 Twenty representatives from the tribes Israel and Benjamin bring Michal with them to Hebron. V.21 Abner and David agree on how to transfer the kingdom that share a feast and made a covenant.

David is a man of peace. He has shown respect to Abner and Ish-Boseth. He wishes his wife Michal returned to unites the tribes. He has waited over seven years and now it is time to act. David has waited on God’s timing.

Joab angered that Abner was within David’s grasp and was allowed to leave peacefully. Took matter into his own hands. Since Hebron also was a City of Refuge, v.27 Joab took Abner aside the gateway and avenged the blood of his brother, Asahel.

David denies and knowledge of the actions of Joab, his cousin. He curses Joab and his family.

SLIDE 14 David said to Joab and all the people, “Tear your clothes and put on sackcloth and walk in mourning in front of Abner. David walked behind the bier. The King wept aloud at Abner’s tomb. The King sang a lament for Abner and fasted until sunset.

³⁶ All the people took note and were pleased; indeed, everything the king did pleased them. ³⁷ So on that day all the people there and all Israel knew that the king had no part in the murder of Abner son of Ner.

³⁸ Then the king said to his men, “Do you not realize that a commander and a great man has fallen in Israel this day? ³⁹ And today, though I am the anointed king, I am weak, and these sons of Zeruiah are too strong for me. May the LORD repay the evildoer according to his evil deeds!”

If you really want to be successful, you will learn the cost is high. One cost is learning to wait on God’s timing.

SLIDE15KEEP YOU PROMISES 2 Samuel 4:1-12

In chapter 3, we saw the honor and regard David has give to Abner, son of Ner, Saul’s cousin.

David made and oath with Jonathan-

1 Samuel 20¹⁴ But show me unfailing kindness like that of the LORD as long as I live, so that I may not be killed, ¹⁵ and do not ever cut off your kindness from my family—….¹⁷ And Jonathan had David reaffirm his oath out of love for him,

1 Samuel 24: ²⁰ I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands. ²¹ Now swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s family.”  ²² So David gave his oath to Saul.

Ch. 4 ¹ When Ish-Bosheth son of Saul heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he lost courage, and all Israel became alarmed.  Two of his own men Recab and his brother Baanah, the sons of Rimmon killed Ish-bosheth in his bed, cut off his head and brought it to David in Hebron

2Samuel 4⁹ David answered “As surely as the LORD lives, who has delivered me out of all trouble, ¹⁰ when a man told me, ‘Saul is dead,’ and thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and put him to death in Ziklag. That was the reward I gave him for his news! ¹¹ How much more—when wicked men have killed an innocent man in his own house and on his own bed—should I not now demand his blood from your hand and rid the earth of you!”
 ¹² So David gave an order to his men, and they killed them. They cut off their hands and feet and hung the bodies by the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-Bosheth and buried it in Abner’s tomb at Hebron.

 ⁴ (Jonathan son of Saul had a son who was lame in both feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up and fled, but as she hurried to leave, he fell and became crippled. His name was Mephibosheth.)

We will read of David kindness to Mephibosheth in chapter 9.
If you’re really want to be successful, know the cost of success. It includes keeping your promise.
Are you a promise keeper? Can your friends and family depend on you to follow through on your promises?
 “Jesus Christ is King and He deserves our submission, loyalty and obedience. To put human leaders ahead of God’s anointed King is to create division and weakness in the ranks of the LORD’S followers and to invite multiplied problems for the LORD’S people. As Augustine of Hippo said, “Jesus Christ will be Lord of all or He will not be Lord at all.” WW p. 26 Be Restored

SLIDE16 Matthew 6:33(KJV)

 ³³But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
If you really want to be successful, you know the cost. It includes keeping your promise.
SLIDE17Will you choose to pay the high cost of True Success?

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED?

Many years ago a man read his obitutary in the morning newspaper. To his shock the column read, "Dynamite King Dies." and "He was the merchant of death." This man was the inventor of dynamite and when he read the words "merchant of death," he asked himself a question, "Is this how I am going to be remembered?" From that day on, he started working toward peace. His name was Alfred Nobel and he is remembered today by the great Nobel Prize.

Just as Alfred Nobel got in touch with his feelings and redefined his values, we should step back and do the same.

What is your legacy?

How would you like to be remembered?

Will you be remembered with love and respect?

Will you be missed?

PRAYER