Wednesday, October 30, 2024

2 Samuel 5 - David Made King Over the Nation

Previously in 2 Samuel, we saw the deaths of both Abner and Ishbosheth. In both instances, David whole-heartedly disapproved, and in the case of Ishbosheth, David had the men who killed him put to death. This was going against the cultural norms, and it demonstrated to the people that David was a just ruler. David behaved wisely in each instance, and after this the nation would come to make him king over them.

So, all the tribes came to Hebron to make David king, and the elders anointed him there. This was actually quite the gathering with the elders of Israel and over 340 thousand soldiers present. They were there three days eating and drinking, and the people were bringing in food on donkeys in abundance. It states there was joy in Israel. There is a time to be joyful and celebrate, especially when the Spirit of God is moving and doing a new thing in our midst. Oh, that we would have such a move today in which thousands would be united around the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the teaching of the word of God. In the early Church, they were continuing in the apostles’ teaching, hanging out together, eating, and spending time in prayer.

The elders came to David and said, “Indeed we are your bone and your flesh. Also, in time past, when Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them in; and the Lord said to you, ‘You shall shepherd My people Israel, and be ruler over Israel.’” In leading God’s people, a few things should be present: First is the person should belong to God’s people (they are a believer). Second, there should be an evident call from God. David had been directly called by God to be king through Samuel, and possibly through other prophets. Third, a godly leader needs to demonstrate the ability to lead. David had been in preparation a long time, but now, some 20 years or so after being called, he was ready. God will use great preparation when the task is great. As one commentator put it, “In God’s plan there is almost always a hidden price of greatness. Often those who become great among God’s people experience much pain and difficulty in God’s training process.” Paul told Timothy that if a man desires the office of a bishop, he desires a good thing, and he then goes on to list the qualifications for that position (1 Tim 3:1-7). Lastly, although less important than the other criteria, it is important that other godly individuals see this calling and ability. Rarely does the Lord call and equip someone without others seeing it. If you or I feel called by the Lord to something, and other godly individuals are not seeing it, it may not be the Lord. Israel saw God’s calling on David’s life, they saw his capability to lead, and they were now on board with God’s plan. David reigned 7 and a half years in Hebron, and he would reign for another 33- and one-half years in Jerusalem, for a total of 40 years.

Now if we recall, David had his eyes on Jerusalem, probably as far back as when he killed Goliath. Why Jerusalem we might ask? First, the Lord told them it was to be an Israelite city, and that they were to cut off all its inhabitants (Exo 23:23-24, Deut 7 :1-2, and 20:17). Second, it was strategically located in the Promised Land, and had not been claimed by any of the tribes of Israel. Third, it sits on a ridge, and is surrounded on three sides by valleys, making it easily defendable. But perhaps the greatest reason is that God put it into David’s heart, since Jerusalem is near and dear to God’s heart. It is mentioned over 800 times in the Bible: it is where Melchizedek reigned (a foreshadow of Jesus Christ, if not actually Him pre-incarnate), it is where David and Solomon prepared and built the temple, it is where Jesus was crucified and raised to life again, and it is where Jesus will rule and reign from just to name a few.

At the time of David, the city of Jerusalem was inhabited by the Jebusites, and they were so confident that it could not be taken that they told David that even the lame and the blind could repel him. David was not detoured by this, but took the stronghold of Zion, naming it the City of David. David told his men that whoever climbed up the water shaft would be his general. Joab was the man who went up the water shaft and conquered Jerusalem. If this was what is known today as Warren’s Shaft, he would have climbed over 50 feet to the top, and then opened the city gate to let in the Israelite soldiers. Joab would be David’s general until his death.

David began building up Jerusalem, and it states he became great, the Lord being with him. He was so well known and respected that the king of Tyre sent supplies and workers to build him a house. It was then that David knew that the Lord had established him king over Israel, and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel. Notice how David didn’t take the credit by presuming God did all this for him, but it was for Israel. David simply realized that God was blessing Israel, and he just got to be a part of it. In this way David was a servant to the people, a trait of any godly leader, whereas Saul was in it for himself. He was reigning with humility. He also took more wives and concubines, showing his imperfection and human traits. He was used by God powerfully, but he was a sinful person just like you and me.

When the Philistines found out they had made David king, they went up to look for him. Whenever the Lord is moving, you can count on opposition. The devil does not like to see the kingdom of God advancing, so he will often launch an attack of some sorts to derail or hinder God’s people. When David heard they were coming, he went down to the stronghold, and the Philistines deployed themselves in the valley of Rephaim. David asked God if he should go up against the Philistines, and the Lord told him to go up, for He would certainly deliver them into his hand. So, David went to Rephaim and fought against the Philistines, and defeated them. He named the place Baal Perazim (master of breakthroughs), because he said that the Lord had broken through his enemies like a breakthrough of water. The Lord is the master of breakthroughs for believers today as well if they will seek Him, trust Him for the answer, and obey what He says. The Philistines left their idols there, and David and his men carried them away and burned them. Rather than allowing them to be a temptation or snare for the people, they destroyed them. This was another wise move for a leader, not only for the sake of others, but for his as well. It’s never a good idea to play with or go easy on temptation.

Then the Philistines came up again to battle at Rephaim, and David asked the Lord again what he should do. It may be easy in a situation like this to assume that since we had such great success the first time, we should employ the same tactics this time, but that is not what the Lord told him to do. He told him to circle around behind the Philistines, and when he heard the sound of marching in the Mulberry trees, to advance quickly, for the Lord would go out before them to strike the Philistines. The sound of marching is an interesting phrase, and if the rabbis are correct, it was the sound of angels walking through the treetops, going forth with the Lord to fight for Israel. David did as the Lord told him, and he drove the Philistines back as far as Gezer, a city on the border of Ephraim.

So, David had been told by the Lord he would be king over Israel, and now, some 20 years later, it had finally come to pass. It was not all easy sailing for David after this: he was not running from Saul or fighting with Abner, but the Philistines came looking for him once they found out he was king. It is the same in our Christian walk: the battles may change over time, but they never go away. They never go away because the devil goes about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Our answer is sticking close to the Lord through prayer and the word of God, and then trusting and obeying what He says. In the next chapter we will see David bring the ark to Jerusalem.

 

Wednesday, October 23, 2024

Galatians 6 - Bearing One Another's Burdens

In my last post, I wrote about the role that works play in the Christian life.  It’s not that works do not matter, for they are an important part in our walk with the Lord.  Paul wrote to the Ephesians,  “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10) We do good works from a stand-point of already being saved, and our primary motivator is love and gratitude. Those who have truly received the grace of God begin to think and act differently.  It is nothing we can do on our own, but it is a work of the Holy Spirit in our lives that produces good fruit.  It comes as a result of abiding in Jesus Christ through faith.

Next, Paul instructs them how they are to treat those who have been overtaken in a fault.  The word overtaken here means to be caught by surprise, as an animal being cornered by a predator.  The idea is that a person has been caught up in a particular sin as a result of being deceived or tripped up by the devil.  He is no less guilty, but our response is different from someone who has willingly jumped into sin and is not repentant.  For those who have been caught up in sin, we are to restore them with a spirit of humility, remembering that we ourselves are subject to like temptations.  I think the temptation often is to be harsh or overly critical of others’ faults, but we tend to go easier on our own.  This is revealing of our own pride and self-righteousness.  The word restore is a medical term meaning to mend or set a broken bone.  Our goal should be to see that person made better, not rub in their face how wrong they were.  If we have been a Christian long enough, we will have made plenty of mistakes, and maybe some really big ones.  Just like you and I, that person needs the grace of God in order to get back on track.  There may be some discipling and instruction from the Word of God that is necessary, but it is for their good and to ensure genuine repentance takes place.  Again, it should be done in humility, remembering where the Lord has brought us from and what we are still capable of apart from the grace of God.  This may not always be an easy task, but we are to bear one another’s burdens.  We should not think that we are above this, for we are all human and have times of need (including needing to be restored).  At the same time we are to bear our own burdens (V 5).  We are not to be needy or spiritually lazy.  There are believers out there who are always depending on others, and have not made up their minds to grow up and mature in the Lord.  Paul wrote to Timothy, “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.  No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” (2 Timothy 2:3-4) We are in a battle, and if we want to mature in the Lord we need to lay aside the sins and any other thing that would distract us from fully serving Him.  We need to discipline ourselves to seek and to serve the Lord whole-heartedly.

Next Paul brings up the principle of sowing and reaping.  Those that are taught the Word of God are to distribute to those who are doing the teaching.  In other words, we are to provide materially to our pastors and elders who are tending the flock and teaching us the Word of God.  This is most commonly done through our tithes and offerings, but in addition it can be through meeting other needs such as maybe fixing their car or working on their roof.  He writes, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (v 7) It would seem that Paul is referring to two different things here: First is the principle of giving.  The only area in Scripture we are told to test the Lord is in the area of giving.  He states in Malachi that when we give to Him (tithe to our local Church)He will open up the windows of Heaven and pour out a blessing in which there will not be enough room to receive it (Malachi 3:10).  I know there are a lot of preachers who abuse this (in particular those on television), but the truth is it is still a Biblical principle.  The Lord does promise to bless us when we give, and when we do not we are subject to the devourer.  The second principle I believe Paul is referring to is whether we are sowing to our flesh (sin nature) or to the Spirit.  If we sow to our flesh we will reap corruption or ruin.  This can be a gradual process in which we allow a little sin into our lives that grows over time, and eventually it can rule or dominate our lives.  It’s kind of like those goat heads that appear in your yard: By the time you notice them they have taken over a corner in your yard.  They grow along with the grass, and are a pain to get rid of.  Sin is the same way: Once we allow it into our lives long enough, it can be hard to get rid of it.  We also have the natural consequences that inevitably come with sin.  Solomon wrote in Proverbs that the way of transgressors is hard (Proverbs 13:15).  It might be enjoyable initially, but it will always bring unnecessary pain and heartache into our lives.  If we choose to sow to the Spirit however, we will reap everlasting life.  We should not be weary in doing what is right, for we will reap a good harvest in due season.  I wonder how much we miss out on blessings because we give up just before the Lord is ready to reward us.  We should do good to everyone, especially to our fellow Christians.

Paul then concludes by coming back to the topic of legalism.  He states the real reason the judaizers want them to be circumcised is to avoid the persecution for the cross of Christ.  They do not keep the very Law they try to impose on others; they only want to feel good about themselves for making others follow their rules.  But rather than glory in getting others to follow rules, we should glory in the cross of Jesus Christ.  For it was on the cross that the Lord redeemed us from the curse of the Law, and has truly set us free.  It is not about keeping or not keeping rules, but being made a new creation in Christ.  True peace and the mercy of God are on those who have believed on Jesus Christ.

In closing, I hope these several posts on the book of Galatians have been refreshing to you as they have been to me.  Everything we have from the Lord is based on a relationship with Jesus Christ by faith, and not by keeping rules and regulations made up by man.  When Jesus was asked by the people what they must do to work the works of God, He answered that they should believe on Him whom God had sent.  In this He was obviously speaking of Himself.  That’s it, guys!  We just have to believe on Jesus, and He does the rest.  He produces good works in us and gives us the power to walk in victory over sin.  The world has been crucified unto us, and we unto the world.  As Paul prayed, to those who name the name of Jesus Christ, I pray the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your Spirit.  Amen.

 

Wednesday, October 16, 2024

Galatians 5 - Walking in the Spirit

Previously in Galatians, we looked at how we as believers have been adopted as children into the Kingdom of God. We are His children, and as a result are heirs of all God has to offer us. Because of this, we should not want to again place ourselves back under the Law where we were in bondage to rules and regulations. The answer to legalism is to cast it out.

Paul continues on into the next chapter in talking about legalism. He told them to stand fast in the liberty by which Jesus Christ had made them free. This means believers are to make up their minds to stand firmly on the grace of God through faith regardless of the opposition, rather than being entangled again into the bondage of legalism. If believers go back to works for their justification, Jesus is no longer of value to them. If we seek to be justified by keeping the Law in one area, then we must keep it in every area, and if we seek to be justified by the Law, then Paul states we are fallen from grace. This brings up an important point: The Scriptures do not teach that a person can lose their salvation by some sort of sin they have committed; in this we are eternally secure. However, it would appear from studying Galatians thus far that believers can fall from grace by deliberately setting it aside or disregarding it in an attempt to be justified on their own merits. The author of Hebrews seems to have been writing to a similar audience who wanted to return to the Old Testament, forsaking a new and better covenant for an old one that never could truly take care of their sin. This does not seem to be a casual struggle with doubts, but, again, a deliberate choice to forsake Jesus Christ and His righteousness for their own, which is really no righteousness at all. We can only bring to Him our filthy rags that will leave us in debt to God and subject to His wrath on judgment day. Others reject Christ because they just want to live in sin. When you see big names in the Christian community  renounce their faith in Jesus Christ, and then at the same time or shortly thereafter, openly promote sin, you know this just didn’t happen overnight. There are many professing believers today who are “deconstructing” their faith and leaving the Church, and at the heart of all it is they just don’t want to submit to the teachings found in the word of God.

This brings up another valid question, how do I know if I’ve crossed this line? I believe the answer is that if you still have a desire to serve Jesus and obey His teachings, this is the evidence you are born again, for the Spirit of God is working in you. We cannot come to Him unless we are drawn (John 6:44). People who have truly renounced their faith have no desire to have faith in the right Jesus, nor do they want to obey Him. Again, they have deliberately chosen not to do so. They have lost the desire to do so, and I believe the author of Hebrews explains this for us in Hebrews 6. It is the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. Christians have struggles with sin, and sometimes these struggles are very real and intense. However, a person with the Holy Spirit living inside of them will not be comfortable staying this way.

We need Jesus’ righteousness, guys! It’s are only hope. As my pastor likes to say, Christianity is not what you do, but what you believe.” More importantly, it is who you believe on. The Scriptures say that the Lord will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5); it is we who can choose to leave Him. As I have stated before, our walk with the Lord is a continual process of trusting in the grace of God through faith in His Son Jesus Christ. It is not through doing or not doing something, but faith which works by love. Again, we are not to entertain anything to the contrary, for it is like leaven in a lump of dough. A little leaven will eventually leaven the whole lump. It will spread like a disease or cancer throughout our lives and the lives of others.

Paul stated that whoever tries to persuade us from the grace of God will bear their own judgment. So frustrated was Paul with the Judaizers that he stated under the inspiration of the Spirit that if they were so bent on teaching the requirement of circumcision for salvation, he wished they were cut off. In the King James Version we miss the real meaning of what Paul is saying here. In the original language this means to mutilate or to cut off, so Paul is using a play on words. Just as they were so focused on cutting away the flesh, Paul is saying they should just emasculate themselves as an indicator they are not really part of the body of Christ. This sounds pretty rough, but it gives us an idea of how the Lord views those who have given themselves over to believing and promoting false teaching. They have already made up their minds, and they will only serve to pull others away from or keep them from a real relationship with the Lord. Remember, in the big picture this is eternity at stake, and if it were not, I don’t believe Paul would have had such a sense of urgency in his letter to the Galatians.

Paul then transitions into the role that works play in the Christian life. He states that they have been called unto liberty, but that they should not use this liberty as an excuse to walk after the flesh (walk in sin). You see it’s not that sin no longer exists or that there are things the Lord does or does not want us to do, but our reason and motivation are entirely different. We do not do good works to earn a right standing with the Lord, but because we already have been made righteous through the blood of Christ. Our primary motivator for doing so is love. The Lord loved us when we didn’t deserve it, and He has given us the ability to love Him and to love others. If we truly love one another, we will not walk in the flesh. Sin hurts you, and it hurts me. Love is not just a feeling we get from time to time, but a choice to do what is right for our own good and the good of others. The whole Law is summed up in loving God and loving our neighbor as ourselves. Paul wrote to the Romans “Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” (Romans 13:10)

So this then brings up another important question, how do we not walk in the flesh? Paul’s answer to this is to walk in the Spirit. I used to think this was some super spiritual or mystical thing, but it simply means that we choose to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit which we received through faith in Jesus Christ. The battle has already been won on the cross; all we need to do is believe on Jesus to receive this power. If we are lead by the Spirit, we are not under the Law. He then lists the works of the flesh, which are adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and so on, and states that those that do these things will not inherit the Kingdom of God. The idea here is not an occasional lapse into or struggle with sin, but a practicing of sin with no repentance or signs of remorse. The Scriptures state that people who continually practice sin will not inherit eternal life. The most straight-forward interpretation of this passage is that it says what it means. Paul repeats a similar warning in both 1 Corinthians 6 and Ephesians 5, and in the Ephesians passage he tells them not to  be deceived, for the wrath of God is coming on these individuals. This is not a warning to believers of losing their salvation, but that it is a cause and effect relationship. The practicing of sin is the evidence the persons are not born again. They were either never saved in the first place (probably the most likely scenario), or they have renounced Christ to walk after the world. This is where I have to part company with the eternal security folks: you cannot confidently tell me someone is going to Heaven who is blatantly living and promoting sin with no signs of remorse just because they said the sinner’s prayer when they were 10. While it is true the Lord is the only one who truly knows the heart, at a certain point we have to question what is in their hearts based off the fruit that is being born. Even Saul, who was a train wreck of a king, still had moments of remorse and repentance when confronted by David over his sin.

However, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. There is no law against these things, for they are right and true, and they cannot be spoken against. These are not things we can produce in our own strength, but it is the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. If you have ever tried to produce these on your own, you will quickly find out how impossible of a task it is. This happens as we abide in Jesus through faith. Jesus said, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” (John 15:5) The branch does not have to work and strive to produce fruit; it does so because it is connected to the tree. The old man with his sinful tendencies has been crucified with Christ. If we are born again through the Spirit, then we should walk accordingly.

Reader, are you walking in the flesh today? Know that if you continue this way you will not inherit eternal life. If you have never trusted in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, do so today. Believe on Him and repent from your sins. If you have already believed on Christ and are walking in sin, the Lord has a different way for you to live. Submit yourself completely to Him, and purpose in your heart to walk in obedience to His Word. If you believe on Jesus and desire to repent, that is the Spirit of God drawing you back to Himself (John 6:44). Abide in Jesus, and allow Him to produce the fruit of the Spirit in your life. In the last chapter Paul will further his discussion on works, and will discuss how the body of Christ is to treat those who have fallen into sin.

2 Samuel 6 - The Ark Comes to Jerusalem

In the previous chapter of 2 Samuel , we saw all Israel come to Hebron to make David king. David took the stronghold of Zion, and made Jer...