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this is the voice of wilbraham in august 1961 in august 1961 the eastern christian delton bible the eastern christian delton bible school school welcomed brother harry tennant of dundee welcomed brother harry tennant of dundee scotland scotland as guest teacher as guest teacher brother harry scarcely requires an brother harry scarcely requires an introduction introduction as he left us in 1958 with a lasting as he left us in 1958 with a lasting memory memory do you remember in the steps of the do you remember in the steps of the master master in 1961 our brother has chosen for his in 1961 our brother has chosen for his subject subject one which has proven equally as one which has proven equally as interesting interesting as that of 1958 as that of 1958 it is entitled it is entitled david the shepherd king david the shepherd king we take pleasure now in presenting we take pleasure now in presenting brother harry tennant in the first of brother harry tennant in the first of seven class sessions well brother and sisters we begin begin by going first of all by going first of all southeast from jerusalem southeast from jerusalem down into the jordan valley down into the jordan valley over the river over the river and across the other side and across the other side to the hill country of the land of moab to the hill country of the land of moab moab moab where we first find where we first find the scene the scene to begin our life to begin our life of david of david for there in that land there are three for there in that land there are three people people an elderly woman an elderly woman marked with sorrow marked with sorrow she has suffered the death of three she has suffered the death of three people in her family her husband and her two sons and news has come to her for she is from the land of israel that she could return the land of israel that she could return the famine has passed the famine has passed and in her sorrow she returns to the and in her sorrow she returns to the land which gave her birth land which gave her birth and she bids farewell to and she bids farewell to her two daughters-in-law her two daughters-in-law one is quite willing to return one is quite willing to return leaving her and to go back to her own leaving her and to go back to her own family family but the other but the other clings tighter and closer clings tighter and closer anyone anyone of her own land would normally do to of her own land would normally do to someone from the land of israel someone from the land of israel and her name is ruth and he says entreat me not to leave thee not to leave thee or to return from following after thee or to return from following after thee for with a thou goest for with a thou goest i will go i will go where thou lodgest where thou lodgest i will lodge i will lodge thy people shall be my people thy people shall be my people and thy god and thy god my god my god where thou diest where thou diest i will die i will die and there will i be buried and there will i be buried and so ruth gives her a declaration of and so ruth gives her a declaration of faith faith in the way of life that naomi had led in the way of life that naomi had led and desires herself to embrace it and desires herself to embrace it and here the hand of god is moving in and here the hand of god is moving in the land of moab the land of moab a land now shadowing with the wings a land now shadowing with the wings of the spirit of god of the spirit of god brooding over that land that he might brooding over that land that he might in his goodness bring forth ruth from in his goodness bring forth ruth from her loneliness to be both a comfort unto her loneliness to be both a comfort unto naomi and also to be the naomi and also to be the beginnings of great things beginnings of great things for that little book of ruth tucked away for that little book of ruth tucked away there between judges and samuel is one there between judges and samuel is one of the delightful of the delightful touches of inspiration touches of inspiration in our scriptures in our scriptures for it was ruth that was to bring forth for it was ruth that was to bring forth by boaz the beginnings of the line by boaz the beginnings of the line of david the shepherd king of david the shepherd king and ruth who could have died and ruth who could have died unknown in the land of moab unknown in the land of moab dies probably in bethlehem the city of dies probably in bethlehem the city of david and the city of the great king david and the city of the great king for those last few verses for those last few verses of the book of ruth of the book of ruth although their list of names are a although their list of names are a certain sign certain sign that the hand of god was at work that the hand of god was at work now these are the generations of faires now these are the generations of faires fairies beget hezron and hezron beget fairies beget hezron and hezron beget ram and ram begatta minidab and aminadab ram and ram begatta minidab and aminadab begat nashon and nashon begat selmon and begat nashon and nashon begat selmon and selmond to get boaz selmond to get boaz and burrs beget obed and burrs beget obed and obed beget jesse and obed beget jesse and jesse begat david and jesse begat david how how wonderfully brethren sisters wonderfully brethren sisters this woman by her act of faith is woven into the great pattern of is woven into the great pattern of scripture scripture and stands herself as one of those women and stands herself as one of those women to whom god has looked and has recorded to whom god has looked and has recorded her name in both old and new testament her name in both old and new testament and through whom and through whom we have the beginnings of this great we have the beginnings of this great character character this man whose love this man whose love and whose tenderness and whose tenderness whose courage and whose faith whose courage and whose faith whose wisdom both in statesmanship whose wisdom both in statesmanship and also in spiritual matters is and also in spiritual matters is something to imitate and yet who is so something to imitate and yet who is so like us like us in that he falls from great heights in that he falls from great heights into deep caverns of sin into deep caverns of sin and requires that god and requires that god should lead him should lead him out out and that's true of us and that's true of us and if we follow in his life this week and if we follow in his life this week we shall find ourselves too caught up by we shall find ourselves too caught up by his faith and desiring to be in that his faith and desiring to be in that great company of people who with david great company of people who with david will stand before will stand before his greater son and lord and give praise his greater son and lord and give praise to our heavenly father he too is mourning not the loss not the loss of his immediate family of his immediate family but the loss of a king saul the king has proved disobedient to the word of has proved disobedient to the word of god god he hadn't understood the great calling he hadn't understood the great calling or the immense possibilities of his or the immense possibilities of his leadership over the children of israel leadership over the children of israel and though he was head and shoulders and though he was head and shoulders above the people above the people he was not so spiritually he was not so spiritually and the lord rejected him and the lord rejected him rejected him with words which samuel rejected him with words which samuel himself had pronounced himself had pronounced words which went right deep down into words which went right deep down into the heart of saul the heart of saul both of as words of condemnation both of as words of condemnation and as words of prophecy the 15th and as words of prophecy the 15th chapter of the first book of samuel sees chapter of the first book of samuel sees the rejection of saul the rejection of saul you remember the occasion it's the you remember the occasion it's the destruction of the amalekites destruction of the amalekites and saul and his people have done a and saul and his people have done a great work but they've not completed great work but they've not completed that which they should have done that which they should have done there was to be complete destruction there was to be complete destruction complete annihilation of this people who complete annihilation of this people who had been the enemies of god and now had been the enemies of god and now they'd failed they'd kept the best of they'd failed they'd kept the best of the cattle the cattle saying that they were for sacrifice to saying that they were for sacrifice to god god and they kept the king alive and so as samuel draws near to saul these are the words going down this 15th chapter and at verse and at verse 20 20 and saul said unto samuel yea i have and saul said unto samuel yea i have obeyed the voice of the lord and have obeyed the voice of the lord and have gone the way which the lord sent me and gone the way which the lord sent me and have brought a gag the king of amalek have brought a gag the king of amalek and have utterly destroyed the and have utterly destroyed the amalekites amalekites but the people took of the spoil sheep but the people took of the spoil sheep and oxen the chief of the things which and oxen the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed unto should have been utterly destroyed unto the lord the lord to sacrifice unto the lord thy god in to sacrifice unto the lord thy god in gilgal gilgal and samuel said and samuel said hath the lord as great delight in burnt hath the lord as great delight in burnt offerings offerings and sacrifices and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the lord as in obeying the voice of the lord behold to obey is better than sacrifice behold to obey is better than sacrifice and to hearken than the fat of rams and to hearken than the fat of rams for rebellio rebellion is as the sin of for rebellio rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft and stubbornness is as witchcraft and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry because i hath iniquity and idolatry because i hath rejected the word of the lord he also rejected the word of the lord he also hath rejected thee from being king hath rejected thee from being king there is in those words brethren sisters there is in those words brethren sisters a deep understanding of the sacrifices a deep understanding of the sacrifices of the law of the law and of the whole of our old testament and of the whole of our old testament that the whole of the work of god in that the whole of the work of god in presenting to us the law presenting to us the law whether it be an old testament or new whether it be an old testament or new testament is to bring us to an testament is to bring us to an understanding understanding to obedience to him that the ritual of to obedience to him that the ritual of things that we do is of no avail if it things that we do is of no avail if it be not carried out to serve him in a be not carried out to serve him in a true spirit of obedience true spirit of obedience and there was something awful in those and there was something awful in those words in the 23rd verse words in the 23rd verse saul hadn't seen it saul hadn't seen it not yet not yet for rebellion for rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft he wouldn't have thought that but he will later on when his rebellion but he will later on when his rebellion is is complete and he's in that dark room complete and he's in that dark room with the witch of endor with the witch of endor but there is two brethren and sisters in but there is two brethren and sisters in these words an exhortation for you and these words an exhortation for you and for me for me for saul is typical of all who go away for saul is typical of all who go away from god from god you and i included you and i included we have been called to be king is it possible then that in that day when the king of kings and lord of lords when the king of kings and lord of lords returns that to some of us returns that to some of us these words will be addressed these words will be addressed and we should be turned away from him and we should be turned away from him because we have preferred to do those because we have preferred to do those things which are things which are not in accordance with his will because not in accordance with his will because thou hast rejected thou hast rejected the word of the lord the lord hath also rejected thee from being king and so saul stands the permanent warning to each of us to each of us and samuel who had anointed him and samuel who had anointed him from that vial of oil from that vial of oil and had seen his growth and his downfall and had seen his growth and his downfall had loved him and had lost him had loved him and had lost him now begins to mourn now begins to mourn samuel is still judge and continues so samuel is still judge and continues so right until the day of his death even right until the day of his death even through the reign through the reign of david himself or at least uh through of david himself or at least uh through that time of wandering of david himself that time of wandering of david himself samuel continues as judge samuel continues as judge and now he feels that the children of and now he feels that the children of israel once again as it were without a israel once again as it were without a shepherd shepherd they have learned from the their sin and they have learned from the their sin and have lost a king that they had chosen have lost a king that they had chosen and were likely now to find themselves and were likely now to find themselves bereft of leadership bereft of leadership and he sits down and mourns and he sits down and mourns but god upgrades samuel as he has done but god upgrades samuel as he has done to his prophets from time to time as he to his prophets from time to time as he did to elijah did to elijah urged him on to greater work and told urged him on to greater work and told him that he had already sought out for him that he had already sought out for himself a king a man after his own heart himself a king a man after his own heart that's in the 13th chapter it's already that's in the 13th chapter it's already done the lord has found him sought him done the lord has found him sought him out found him upon the mountains of out found him upon the mountains of israel among the sheep israel among the sheep and so he sends samuel down and so he sends samuel down to the house of jesse to the house of jesse of bethlehem of bethlehem now samuel must have been a remarkable now samuel must have been a remarkable figure figure you remember in this 15th chapter you remember in this 15th chapter how after that how after that again the king of the amalekites had again the king of the amalekites had been spared by saul been spared by saul and samuel sent for him and samuel sent for him as he came along he said surely the as he came along he said surely the bitterness of death is passed bitterness of death is passed as he came to this old man as he came to this old man properly white-haired and with a white properly white-haired and with a white beard beard wearing his mantle wearing his mantle but the old man was not so quiet but the old man was not so quiet and so me because he looked and so me because he looked for he took forth his sword and he hewed for he took forth his sword and he hewed egg to pieces before the lord egg to pieces before the lord to complete the destruction that god to complete the destruction that god had asked saul to do had asked saul to do the short samuel the short samuel by the great saul by the great saul that samuel was head and shoulders above that samuel was head and shoulders above saul saul in spiritual matters in spiritual matters and yet he was afraid of saul and yet he was afraid of saul he tells the lord he's afraid if i go he tells the lord he's afraid if i go down to bethlehem to anoint someone whom down to bethlehem to anoint someone whom that has chosen surely saul will seek my that has chosen surely saul will seek my life life and so he sets out as it were to offer and so he sets out as it were to offer sacrifices in bethlehem and to meet the sacrifices in bethlehem and to meet the family this offering of sacrifices in family this offering of sacrifices in various places in the land of israel is various places in the land of israel is something perhaps we can't understand something perhaps we can't understand but the worship is so confused at this but the worship is so confused at this time there is no center time there is no center of worship even when david himself of worship even when david himself brings the ark unto jerusalem we shall brings the ark unto jerusalem we shall find that the tabernacle is elsewhere find that the tabernacle is elsewhere the two things are separated and so it the two things are separated and so it is that there are various places of is that there are various places of offering acceptable to god and so samuel offering acceptable to god and so samuel goes down to bethlehem and seeks out goes down to bethlehem and seeks out jesse and calls for jesus sons to have a jesse and calls for jesus sons to have a look at them look at them and as jesse and as jesse comes down with the elders of bethlehem comes down with the elders of bethlehem to meet samuel to meet samuel what an odd question to ask come is thou what an odd question to ask come is thou peaceably peaceably well i suppose if we knew what samuel well i suppose if we knew what samuel was like was like we too would have asked that question we too would have asked that question he was a man stern in judgment he was a man stern in judgment he was a man who went round his circuit he was a man who went round his circuit to three cities to three cities every year he drowned in rama in gilead every year he drowned in rama in gilead sorry rama in giber sorry rama in giber and he went to three places right from and he went to three places right from bethel bethel and to gilgal and to gilgal in his circuits in his circuits each year each year and when he judged and when he judged he judged without fear he judged without fear and so it was that i'm sure that before and so it was that i'm sure that before jesse jesse and the elders of bethlehem as they came and the elders of bethlehem as they came out they must have been in their hearts out they must have been in their hearts just that question what he found wrong just that question what he found wrong with bethlehem with bethlehem i wonder brother and sisters if he came i wonder brother and sisters if he came to wilbraham what questions we would ask him could he come peaceably could he come peaceably or would he find something or would he find something on which he would have to put the finger on which he would have to put the finger of god of god or to your home or to your home or to my home or to my home could samuel come peaceably could samuel come peaceably suggested he said peaceably am i come suggested he said peaceably am i come and so the sons come before him and the and so the sons come before him and the first one is striking in his appearance first one is striking in his appearance and he said surely the lord's anointed and he said surely the lord's anointed is before him is before him and the lord waved samuel on leave him and the lord waved samuel on leave him alone alone he's not the one that i have chosen for he's not the one that i have chosen for the lord look it's not on the outward the lord look it's not on the outward appearance but the lord looketh on the appearance but the lord looketh on the heart and so the second comes before him heart and so the second comes before him and again the lord shakes samuel's head and again the lord shakes samuel's head until finally all seven sons of jesse until finally all seven sons of jesse have passed before him and there has have passed before him and there has been no choice made is all your family here jesse well he said we've got one other lad but he's out with the sheep bring him in he's out with the sheep bring him in and so they send for david and so they send for david fair haired fair haired alban haired probably alban haired probably it's it's an interesting description that's given an interesting description that's given of him and he comes in from the field of him and he comes in from the field where he'd been watching the sheep where he'd been watching the sheep and the spirit of god burns into sudden and the spirit of god burns into sudden life in samuel this is he life in samuel this is he and he takes him to anoint him and he takes him to anoint him and so this young son of jesse is and so this young son of jesse is anointed as the future king of israel anointed as the future king of israel but he's got a long way to go but he's got a long way to go he's anointed in the midst of his he's anointed in the midst of his brethren but he has a long way to go brethren but he has a long way to go even as it were the lord jesus christ as even as it were the lord jesus christ as he comes forth from the waters of he comes forth from the waters of baptism baptism this is he this is my beloved son in this is he this is my beloved son in whom i am well pleased and he too is whom i am well pleased and he too is anointed in the midst of his brethren as anointed in the midst of his brethren as the spirit of god comes upon him the spirit of god comes upon him but he has a long way to go but he has a long way to go before finally he will be enthroned before finally he will be enthroned over all the nation over all the nation and before everyone will bow down and before everyone will bow down to him as king of kings and lord of to him as king of kings and lord of lords lords but the lord had chosen a man after but the lord had chosen a man after his own heart he says i have found david his own heart he says i have found david what a lovely expression as though the what a lovely expression as though the lord had been seeking throughout the lord had been seeking throughout the land looking for the man upon whom his land looking for the man upon whom his hand could rest i have found david they hand could rest i have found david they had chosen saul had chosen saul well it says the lord chose him but they well it says the lord chose him but they had chosen sword he was exactly the man had chosen sword he was exactly the man they wanted they wanted he stood magnificently above them he stood magnificently above them a man to appeal to the eye a man to appeal to the eye but his heart was bent but his heart was bent and crooked it could have been humble and crooked it could have been humble there were great possibilities in the there were great possibilities in the man until darkness took hold of him and as the spirit of the lord comes to rest upon david rest upon david so suddenly it leaves saul so suddenly it leaves saul and it says an evil spirit from the lord and it says an evil spirit from the lord comes and plagues saul comes and plagues saul now i don't suppose it's possible for us now i don't suppose it's possible for us to say precisely what this is to say precisely what this is but it's certain in our new testament but it's certain in our new testament that from time to time the spirit of god that from time to time the spirit of god did bring did bring upon people who were disobedient both upon people who were disobedient both plague and trouble plague and trouble for example upon ananias and sapphira for example upon ananias and sapphira or the work of the apostle when he or the work of the apostle when he struck a man blind struck a man blind or those words of the apostle when he or those words of the apostle when he says he delivers certain people to satan says he delivers certain people to satan that they might be purged from the that they might be purged from the effects of the flesh effects of the flesh it seems to be that the spirit of god in it seems to be that the spirit of god in the new testament certainly brought the new testament certainly brought disease as it did in the old and it's disease as it did in the old and it's quite possible that as far as saul was quite possible that as far as saul was concerned concerned although one can't be absolutely sure although one can't be absolutely sure that this evil spirit from the lord was that this evil spirit from the lord was a visitation of a kind of melancholia a visitation of a kind of melancholia that came upon saul some kind of that came upon saul some kind of distress of mind some foreboding of distress of mind some foreboding of things to come things to come and so the great figure was bent and so the great figure was bent huddled up in his dark room huddled up in his dark room as he could see his kingdom collapsing as he could see his kingdom collapsing and the words of this little man samuel and the words of this little man samuel coming into fulfillment coming into fulfillment and he wants to be comforted and someone one of his servants and this is interesting because one and this is interesting because one feels that the lord moves feels that the lord moves in israel in this way just touches a in israel in this way just touches a servant here or touches somebody there servant here or touches somebody there and they've got to do the bidding of the and they've got to do the bidding of the lord lord why not send for someone who can play why not send for someone who can play music and saul is moved to do so i've heard of somebody who can play music down in somebody who can play music down in bethlehem bethlehem and so they send the message down to and so they send the message down to bethlehem bethlehem and david who'd prayed to his sheep and david who'd prayed to his sheep who had played to the lord who had played to the lord with his sheep and had sung the psalms with his sheep and had sung the psalms on the hills on the hills and by the spirit of the lord now was and by the spirit of the lord now was able to compose psalms that were of able to compose psalms that were of great wonder and some to be preserved great wonder and some to be preserved even unto our own day even unto our own day it was to come it was to come and pray and pray and to saul the king and to saul the king have a look at the eighth psalm a psalm of delightful beauty of delightful beauty and yet like all the psalms of david and yet like all the psalms of david it's greater than david it's greater than david he didn't know what he was writing he didn't know what he was writing oh he applied it to his own day to his oh he applied it to his own day to his own sheep to the things he saw around own sheep to the things he saw around him to the movies of the spirit within him to the movies of the spirit within him him to his work in the past to his life at to his work in the past to his life at the present to his hopes for the future the present to his hopes for the future but there was beyond david in all these but there was beyond david in all these psalms the spirit of god moving psalms the spirit of god moving to point to the messiah to point to the messiah to the one greater than david who would to the one greater than david who would stand head and shoulders above david stand head and shoulders above david yeah above all his brethren and would yeah above all his brethren and would finally be finally be david's lord and master david's lord and master now look at this eighth sound now look at this eighth sound it's not very long is it we couldn't sing the tune that david sang sang and we can't hear his fingers upon the and we can't hear his fingers upon the strings strings but the lord has preserved both the but the lord has preserved both the music music and the rhythm and the rhythm throughout this psalm for us throughout this psalm for us and i want us to read it together as an and i want us to read it together as an act of devotion act of devotion the eighth psalm the eighth psalm verses one to nine right verse one oh lord our lord oh lord our lord how excellent is thy name in all the how excellent is thy name in all the earth earth who has set thy glory above the heavens who has set thy glory above the heavens out of the mouth of babes and sucklings out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies because of thine enemies that thou mightiest still the enemy and that thou mightiest still the enemy and the avenger the avenger when i consider thy heavens when i consider thy heavens the work of thy fingers the work of thy fingers the moon and the stars which thou hast the moon and the stars which thou hast ordained ordained what is man that thou art mindful of him what is man that thou art mindful of him and the son of man that thou visitest and the son of man that thou visitest him him for thou hast made him a little lower for thou hast made him a little lower than the angels than the angels and has crowned him with glory and honor and has crowned him with glory and honor thou madest him to have dominion over thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands the works of thy hands thou hast put all things under his feet thou hast put all things under his feet all sheep and oxen all sheep and oxen yea and the beasts of the field yea and the beasts of the field the fowl of the air and the fish of the the fowl of the air and the fish of the sea sea and whatsoever passeth through the paths and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas of the seas oh lord our lord oh lord our lord how excellent is thy name in all the how excellent is thy name in all the earth earth and the beauty of that kind of psalm and the beauty of that kind of psalm moved david one can see him at night moved david one can see him at night with his sheep looking upwards and with his sheep looking upwards and seeing the spangled heavens and counting seeing the spangled heavens and counting them them and counting his sheep and counting his sheep as god in his promises and said that his as god in his promises and said that his sheep sheep should be as numerous as the stars of should be as numerous as the stars of heaven heaven and isaiah says he counters them and and isaiah says he counters them and knoweth them everyone knoweth them everyone just as david could hear the sound of just as david could hear the sound of his sheep and know them by night know his sheep and know them by night know each one by name and find it out if it each one by name and find it out if it were in any kind of distress or of were in any kind of distress or of trouble trouble that he might anoint it or care for it that he might anoint it or care for it or carry it or bring it near to him or or carry it or bring it near to him or deliver it from any kind of evil that deliver it from any kind of evil that would would reset it at night so the lord was to do reset it at night so the lord was to do with david with david and david leaves beth to him and david leaves beth to him with his heart with his heart and the spirit of god and the spirit of god and he comes up to saul and he comes up to saul what a meeting what a meeting he met him in the dark no doubt saw he met him in the dark no doubt saw greatly distressed of mine greatly distressed of mine and david coming in and david coming in the king the king rejected rejected the king the king elected elected and so he comes in and so he comes in and he sits down before saul it's doubt and he sits down before saul it's doubt for whether saul really saw him in his for whether saul really saw him in his distress of mind distress of mind and then david takes his heart and then david takes his heart and he plays and he plays and sings to him the songs of the lord and sings to him the songs of the lord and the dark and the dark brooding spirit brooding spirit that had come upon saul that had come upon saul is quietened is quietened and removed and removed and he's at rest but brethren and sisters this isn't just for saul for saul do you think do you think doesn't this spirit come upon us from doesn't this spirit come upon us from time to time time to time aren't there even perhaps some who came aren't there even perhaps some who came to wilbraham with just this darkness to wilbraham with just this darkness upon their souls upon their souls wondering whether they could ever remove wondering whether they could ever remove from themselves their troubles or their from themselves their troubles or their sins sins and then they hear and then they hear the word of god the word of god and the psalms are opened and the psalms are opened echoing in their minds of the strings echoing in their minds of the strings of the harp of david of the harp of david and they find that there is lifted from and they find that there is lifted from them them as though by hidden hands as though by hidden hands that great weight that great weight just in the presence of david because the spirit of the lord was upon me me and his word was in my tongue he says and his word was in my tongue he says and that's for and that's for you and it's for me you and it's for me and i'm sure that any kind of distress and i'm sure that any kind of distress of mind that we have there is somewhere of mind that we have there is somewhere in these psalms from david a deliverance in these psalms from david a deliverance for all of us for all of us we can be either saul or david according we can be either saul or david according as we choose as we choose saul had chosen his path of life the saul had chosen his path of life the lord had elected him to be king and he lord had elected him to be king and he could have been so he could have been an could have been so he could have been an acceptable servant to god and he did not acceptable servant to god and he did not finally fulfill his word finally fulfill his word he decided that it was a little better he decided that it was a little better that he should do it this way that he should do it this way as though the cattle were pleasing to as though the cattle were pleasing to god god as if the law could have been pleased as if the law could have been pleased with all the cattle that saul could have with all the cattle that saul could have brought from the amalekites brought from the amalekites or could not the lord snap his fingers or could not the lord snap his fingers before saul and say the cattle upon a before saul and say the cattle upon a thousand hills are mine thousand hills are mine obedience is better than sacrifice obedience is better than sacrifice and here he comes and here he comes david david the obedient the obedient but he seems to sink into obscurity for but he seems to sink into obscurity for a little time he doesn't stay with saul a little time he doesn't stay with saul and it seems unlikely that saul really and it seems unlikely that saul really gets to know him although it says that gets to know him although it says that he became his armor-bearer it's likely i he became his armor-bearer it's likely i think either that he became his think either that he became his armor-bearer later on armor-bearer later on or that he became one of several people or that he became one of several people appointed to saul's house of armor appointed to saul's house of armor i don't think he at this time becomes a i don't think he at this time becomes a personal servant of saul in whom saul personal servant of saul in whom saul really confides really confides i think as a young man he comes in plays i think as a young man he comes in plays his music sues the heart of saul has a his music sues the heart of saul has a few words with the king but finally few words with the king but finally leaves his presence at least we find him leaves his presence at least we find him now in bethlehem after all these events now in bethlehem after all these events until finally the philistines the until finally the philistines the ancient enemies of the children of ancient enemies of the children of israel are on the move again israel are on the move again now if you think of the land of now if you think of the land of palestine we're not now going out toward palestine we're not now going out toward the south east to moab we're going out the south east to moab we're going out toward the south west that strip toward the south west that strip philistia that great strip of land philistia that great strip of land now there's something interesting here now there's something interesting here as we take up this record as the army of as we take up this record as the army of the philistines comes into the land of the philistines comes into the land of israel and moves up toward jerusalem if we're in jerusalem and look out the philistines are down toward the south philistines are down toward the south west west and they come to a great valley and they come to a great valley an interesting valley an interesting valley a valley quite wide a valley quite wide and the philistines and the philistines pitch on the one side and the children pitch on the one side and the children of israel on the other of israel on the other and yet between them there's a great and yet between them there's a great fissure in the rock straight down in fissure in the rock straight down in little brook running down below little brook running down below now probably dried up at this time of now probably dried up at this time of the year and the philistines have got a man [Music] [Music] he's taller even than saul he's taller even than saul and that's saying something and that's saying something he's nine feet tall at least he's nine feet tall at least and perhaps taller now if we go to the book of joshua we'll see why we'll see why we expect to find him we expect to find him goliath of gas this reference from one or two others um um i've taken from a book called blunts i've taken from a book called blunts undesigned scriptural coincidences undesigned scriptural coincidences it's not now in print it's not now in print but if you can get hold of it do so but if you can get hold of it do so it's worth reading i'll give you the it's worth reading i'll give you the title privately afterwards should you title privately afterwards should you desire it desire it but here's the point but here's the point joshua chapter joshua chapter 11 this is the seven years war when they were trying to establish themselves in were trying to establish themselves in the land but they didn't manage it at least not completely this is what we read in verse 21 [Music] [Music] and at that time came joshua and at that time came joshua and cut off the anakims and cut off the anakims from the mountains i just stopped from the mountains i just stopped remember the children of anak were the remember the children of anak were the ones of whom the spies originally were ones of whom the spies originally were afraid afraid they were tall men there seemed to be a they were tall men there seemed to be a race of them almost race of them almost and i suppose when they saw them in and i suppose when they saw them in their height their height and their breads and their breads they were afraid in their hearts they were afraid in their hearts well here comes joshua to cut them off well here comes joshua to cut them off and he cuts them off from hebron one of the places i think to which the spies went spies went from debia from debia from anab from anab and from all the mountains of judah and from all the mountains of judah and from all the mountains of israel and from all the mountains of israel joshua destroyed them utterly with their joshua destroyed them utterly with their cities there was none of the anakims cities there was none of the anakims left in the land of the children of left in the land of the children of israel israel only in only in gaza gaza in gath in gath and in ashdod and in ashdod they remained they remained and so here are the seeds of future and so here are the seeds of future trouble trouble i think actually the lord i think actually the lord if joshua and if joshua and the soldiers of israel had been mighty the soldiers of israel had been mighty would have exterminated even these from would have exterminated even these from these places because they were they were these places because they were they were thorns in the side of israel from this thorns in the side of israel from this time onwards for a long time time onwards for a long time and so the giants were still breeding in and so the giants were still breeding in gath and goliath is one of them gath and goliath is one of them what a touch of inspiration brother and what a touch of inspiration brother and sisters sisters isn't it isn't it we go through these lists of names from we go through these lists of names from time to time or do we perhaps we don't always but hidden away quite unexpectedly is this touch of quite unexpectedly is this touch of truth truth none of us need to be afraid none of us need to be afraid of standing by our bible of standing by our bible in whatever age it might be in whatever age it might be the lord has so woven into his the lord has so woven into his scriptures scriptures these threads of gold these threads of gold some yet to be discovered by us some some yet to be discovered by us some already seen some discovered by others already seen some discovered by others that those who see them that those who see them find that their eyes missed with tears find that their eyes missed with tears as they read as they read you wouldn't think you wouldn't think you'd have tears as you read you'd have tears as you read gaza gaza and gath and gath and ashdod and ashdod but until we find that there comes but until we find that there comes goliath striding out of that very city goliath striding out of that very city and establishing the word of the book of and establishing the word of the book of joshua joshua how wonderful how wonderful well there it is and goliath comes up well there it is and goliath comes up and he parades himself a champion the and he parades himself a champion the man between the two hosts man between the two hosts and defies the armies of israel and defies the armies of israel looks upon them looks upon them from his nine feet from his nine feet of height of height looks at the whole of the army and looks at the whole of the army and defies them an uncircumcised philistine defies them an uncircumcised philistine but who would dare to stand against him but who would dare to stand against him in that array of armor with that sword in that array of armor with that sword and with a voice like that and with a voice like that and with all the philistines behind him and with all the philistines behind him and with their history too and with their history too and it is that god moves jesse to send up david to feed his brethren to feed his brethren or his brethren have been conscripted or or his brethren have been conscripted or have volunteered to the army of saul have volunteered to the army of saul samuel had said you remember earlier in samuel had said you remember earlier in the book of samuel he had said that saul the book of samuel he had said that saul would have conscripts in his army he would have conscripts in his army he would take of your sons and make them to would take of your sons and make them to be his soldiers and his cooks and be his soldiers and his cooks and whatever he desired and so they were and whatever he desired and so they were and there were these men now whom god had there were these men now whom god had not chosen to be king not chosen to be king in the army in the army shivering in their sandals shivering in their sandals as they looked out as they looked out and heard the voice of goliath as he and heard the voice of goliath as he came out twice a day came out twice a day and it says finally he came out for 40 and it says finally he came out for 40 days and how they must have been afraid days and how they must have been afraid of that echoing word of that echoing word and none of them and none of them was willing to get up was willing to get up and even to answer him back and even to answer him back until david comes until david comes with a little food in his hands with a little food in his hands to feed his brethren and as soon as his to feed his brethren and as soon as his brethren see him it's just as though it brethren see him it's just as though it was joseph and his brethren was joseph and his brethren they despised him and one wonders why they despised him and one wonders why i think they despised him because he was i think they despised him because he was good good despisers of those that are good despisers of those that are good but let us keep our eyes on david's but let us keep our eyes on david's brethren brethren there's something like the brethren of there's something like the brethren of the lord jesus christ they're not lost the lord jesus christ they're not lost but they haven't been won yet but they haven't been won yet but they will but they will at the appointed time at the appointed time these men these men as did the brethren of joseph as did the brethren of joseph will fall down before him will fall down before him just as the sun and the moon and the just as the sun and the moon and the stars were to fall down as it said stars were to fall down as it said before joseph but now they mock him aha before joseph but now they mock him aha you've come to see the battle have you you've come to see the battle have you get home and look after those few sheep get home and look after those few sheep that's your job that's your job david didn't answer david didn't answer except to say there isn't a cause for except to say there isn't a cause for this this but he come to look after but he come to look after the sheep of israel the sheep of israel that haven't got a shepherd that haven't got a shepherd who was looking after those few sheep who was looking after those few sheep that little huddled flock on the that little huddled flock on the mountainside when the wolf of goliath mountainside when the wolf of goliath was coming down the other and roaring as was coming down the other and roaring as it came it came who's this said david oh it's who's this said david oh it's it's goliath afghan it's goliath afghan what defying the what defying the the armies of the living god what a the armies of the living god what a wonderful expression taken up in our new wonderful expression taken up in our new testament taken up by peter testament taken up by peter the living god that's the god we serve the living god that's the god we serve he was a dead god so far as israel was he was a dead god so far as israel was concerned at that moment he might not concerned at that moment he might not have lived have lived their god was not greater than goliath their god was not greater than goliath of gas of gas but david's was and he begins to speak but david's was and he begins to speak with such faith and courage that his his with such faith and courage that his his voice finally echoes even in the tent of voice finally echoes even in the tent of saul and souls has sent for him and he says i'm willing to fight goliath of gas of gas well i suppose saul was startled to see well i suppose saul was startled to see anybody who was willing to fight goliath anybody who was willing to fight goliath nobody else is willing to do it nobody else is willing to do it but saul was willing to lend him his but saul was willing to lend him his armor it fitted saul better than it fitted david david as david found when he got it on and sat as david found when he got it on and sat at his very knees he said i can't take this i haven't proved it i haven't proved it but there was saul who was head and but there was saul who was head and shoulders above israel and getting on shoulders above israel and getting on for goliath's eyes for goliath's eyes the nearest to him among the israelites the nearest to him among the israelites trying to keep his height down trying to keep his height down lest he should be picked out lest he should be picked out as the one to go and fight goliath of as the one to go and fight goliath of god god but finally david goes or with the but finally david goes or with the blessing of saul no doubt blessing of saul no doubt well done my lad well done my lad as he sets out as he sets out but he doesn't need the blessing of saul but he doesn't need the blessing of saul he's greater than saul he doesn't take he's greater than saul he doesn't take his heart with him his heart with him but he takes his psalms in his heart but he takes his psalms in his heart as he sets out and goliath comes down as he sets out and goliath comes down the other side the other side i'd like to think about that great gulf i'd like to think about that great gulf that's fixed between that's fixed between because that's why they were able to be because that's why they were able to be so near and yet so far apart so near and yet so far apart as goliath sees him as goliath sees him he looks at him for a moment and say he looks at him for a moment and say wonders whether he's looking for a lost wonders whether he's looking for a lost dog no weapons weapons just a shepherd's purse just a shepherd's purse and his sling and his sling but of course the israelites were very but of course the israelites were very wonderful with their slings wonderful with their slings the finisteins had made them wonderful the finisteins had made them wonderful you see the finished eyes didn't allow you see the finished eyes didn't allow them to keep them to keep proper weapons proper weapons for a time for a time and so it was that they had to learn how and so it was that they had to learn how to use other things and it was interesting to notice that it was saul's tribe that finally were the was saul's tribe that finally were the masters with the sling there were 600 of masters with the sling there were 600 of them in the tribe of benjamin that could them in the tribe of benjamin that could go with the sling with the left or with go with the sling with the left or with the right hand the right hand and not miss at a hair's breadth they and not miss at a hair's breadth they could go could go but but david had been with his sheep no doubt david had been with his sheep no doubt as the birds came down to feed upon the as the birds came down to feed upon the little lambs at times when they were little lambs at times when they were weak or about to die weak or about to die while other beasts had come down upon while other beasts had come down upon them and with his sling them and with his sling so he'd been able so he'd been able by a wonderful aim to lay them low by a wonderful aim to lay them low he goes down and he chooses in this he goes down and he chooses in this dried brook of the stream his five dried brook of the stream his five stones stones there have been all sorts of suggestions there have been all sorts of suggestions as to why there were five as to why there were five goliath had at least one brother goliath had at least one brother we know that we know that and there were other giants and there were other giants in the land of the philistines in the land of the philistines but perhaps it wasn't that reason but perhaps it wasn't that reason perhaps he just took perhaps he just took what he considered was sufficient what he considered was sufficient ammunition he wasn't presumptuous to think that he would do it the first time would do it the first time and i think perhaps it's better to think and i think perhaps it's better to think of it in that light of it in that light he took what was sufficient he knew that he took what was sufficient he knew that by the time he'd used five of these by the time he'd used five of these things things the battle will be joined and if with the battle will be joined and if with five five the man was not laid low then he'd have the man was not laid low then he'd have to depend entirely upon god to depend entirely upon god but as goliath draws near with his armor but as goliath draws near with his armor bearer before him and a great target of bearer before him and a great target of brass between his shoulders which is brass between his shoulders which is either a long spear either a long spear or something to protect his back we're or something to protect his back we're not quite sure not quite sure bawling at david bawling at david and telling him that he'll tear him up and telling him that he'll tear him up and give his body to the birds and give his body to the birds the typical kind of braggart the typical kind of braggart david said you're coming down to me with david said you're coming down to me with all your armor all your armor and i'm coming to you and i'm coming to you with my armor with my armor i'm coming in the name i'm coming in the name of the god of israel of the god of israel and with one and with one great swing of the slain he took his great swing of the slain he took his stone and let fly stone and let fly and there was just one spot and there was just one spot in goliath in goliath he was like so many braggarts he was like so many braggarts he's like our whole world he's like our whole world he was weak in the head and our lord by direct aim through david's hand laid by direct aim through david's hand laid low goliath just that one spot it's not low goliath just that one spot it's not for nothing that in our new testament in for nothing that in our new testament in the last book the last book the intellect the intellect is marked out the place of the mark is marked out the place of the mark of those who belong to god of those who belong to god is marked out is marked out they're made strong in heart and in mind they're made strong in heart and in mind before god before god and so goliath is laid low and like a and so goliath is laid low and like a flash david is down over the stream up flash david is down over the stream up the other side draws goliath sword cuts the other side draws goliath sword cuts off his head and brings it back coming off his head and brings it back coming up the other side by this time the whole up the other side by this time the whole the armies of israel have been released the armies of israel have been released all their pent up emotions all their pent up emotions one can hear them cheering and shouting one can hear them cheering and shouting as they come down the side against the as they come down the side against the philistines who are retiring in philistines who are retiring in confusion confusion their leader dead their leader dead headless headless and israel pursues them right down to and israel pursues them right down to the gates of gath the gates of gath and david comes up the hill and saul and david comes up the hill and saul finds him to give him a little pat on finds him to give him a little pat on the back and to encourage him the back and to encourage him but saul's uncle is there and he's but saul's uncle is there and he's rather more interested he's abner rather more interested he's abner the captain of the host the captain of the host one can see him as he puts his arm one can see him as he puts his arm around his shoulders and said around his shoulders and said young man young man whose son art now and that's the question for all young men men that's the question that's the question god willing this morning were to ask the god willing this morning were to ask the teenagers teenagers young man young man who's son art now who's son art now it's a question for all of us too isn't it's a question for all of us too isn't it it a question to be asked every day a question to be asked every day and he was the son of and he was the son of of bethlehem named jesse oh yes it was of bethlehem named jesse oh yes it was greater than that greater than that he was also a son of god he was also a son of god what is man for the son of man that thou visited him he visited david he visited david he who set the stars he who set the stars with unerring precision with unerring precision had also directed the stone had also directed the stone the stone the stone and the shepherd of israel and the shepherd of israel surely there's something there surely there's something there coming right down from the book of coming right down from the book of genesis isn't there genesis isn't there from thence is the stone the shepherd of from thence is the stone the shepherd of israel isn't goliath of gath a great israel isn't goliath of gath a great picture of the work of god picture of the work of god some have even seen in him in his some have even seen in him in his measurements the 666 but that doesn't measurements the 666 but that doesn't matter matter he surely is the great defiant sin of he surely is the great defiant sin of all the world to be laid low by all the world to be laid low by the one stone just that small stone the one stone just that small stone directed by god that would finally grow directed by god that would finally grow and fill the whole earth and itself and fill the whole earth and itself become the shepherd of israel become the shepherd of israel well we must leave goliath of gath with well we must leave goliath of gath with all his thoughts all his thoughts and all the encouragement that he would and all the encouragement that he would give us give us in his death in his death and if you look at that head or don't look at it according as a circumstance might be according as a circumstance might be how many goliaths in your life how many goliaths in your life how many in mind how many in mind great men that stand in our way not just great men that stand in our way not just men but our thoughts and our inner sins men but our thoughts and our inner sins things that defy us every day as it were things that defy us every day as it were for 40 days on end and come out twice a for 40 days on end and come out twice a day and we feel we could never cast them day and we feel we could never cast them down down [Music] [Music] until we see this little figure moving until we see this little figure moving and hear the voice of god in him and hear the voice of god in him let's lay goliath lo shall we let's lay goliath lo shall we in our daily living in our daily living try to remember the shepherd and the try to remember the shepherd and the word of god but finally we might see word of god but finally we might see this headless giant and see him for what this headless giant and see him for what he is he is something himself to be cast to the something himself to be cast to the birds of the air and the beasts of the birds of the air and the beasts of the field and let's hang up his armor in the field and let's hang up his armor in the house of god as did david in some tent house of god as did david in some tent some place which was at that time the some place which was at that time the repository repository of things belonging unto god of things belonging unto god but he kept his sword for a little time but he kept his sword for a little time for his armor and put his in his own for his armor and put his in his own tent tent and so david is lifted up from bethlehem and so david is lifted up from bethlehem and put right with saul and put right with saul and now begins that time of his life and now begins that time of his life which we shall have to follow ourselves which we shall have to follow ourselves together for a little while in which together for a little while in which david david will both suffer will both suffer and become victorious

Transcript

this is the voice of wilbraham in august 1961 in august 1961 brother harry tennant of dundee scotland brother harry tennant of dundee scotland chose as his subject chose as his subject david david the shepherd king the shepherd king we take pleasure now in presenting we take pleasure now in presenting brother tennant brother tennant in the second of seven class sessions my dear brother and sisters we saw that god had found a king we saw that david had found works to add to his great faith found works to add to his great faith that the law the lord who had delivered that the law the lord who had delivered him out of the mouth of the lion him out of the mouth of the lion and from the poor of the bear and from the poor of the bear was able also to deliver him from that was able also to deliver him from that uncircumcised philistine uncircumcised philistine now we begin today with something now we begin today with something quite different quite different i have found a friend for david when he came into the home and company company of saul and his servants of saul and his servants was sought out not only by abner the was sought out not only by abner the captain of saul's host captain of saul's host but also by the king's son by jonathan but also by the king's son by jonathan it seems likely that jonathan was quite it seems likely that jonathan was quite a number of years older than david a number of years older than david in fact some would say that he was 20 in fact some would say that he was 20 years older years older but that isn't of any great significance but that isn't of any great significance the wonder is the character of jonathan sometimes when bright lights shine in company with other bright lights they in company with other bright lights they are out shone are out shone like john the baptist in the company of like john the baptist in the company of jesus jesus but the greatness of john should never but the greatness of john should never be underestimated be underestimated nor that of jonathan nor that of jonathan david sean brightly david sean brightly but jonathan but jonathan was a star of wondrous beauty was a star of wondrous beauty he had no envy he had no envy no selfish thought no selfish thought no kind of greed no kind of greed or of pride or of pride no jealousy no jealousy but a desire that the will of the lord but a desire that the will of the lord should be worked out in david should be worked out in david and in him and in him and so jonathan finds david and so jonathan finds david and becomes so wrapped and becomes so wrapped in david and david in him that their in david and david in him that their souls fulfill that command that thou souls fulfill that command that thou shalt love thy neighbor shalt love thy neighbor as thyself as thyself even to the extent of david even to the extent of david receiving from jonathan the gift receiving from jonathan the gift of david's own outer garments of david's own outer garments and the weapons that he carried and the weapons that he carried his apparel his sword his girdle his apparel his sword his girdle he set upon david he set upon david the king's son the king's son [Music] [Music] setting it upon david setting it upon david the one who should be king the one who should be king and as he did it he did it not and as he did it he did it not reluctantly reluctantly but he did it with delight but he did it with delight and these characteristics i think are and these characteristics i think are the most difficult of all to develop the most difficult of all to develop competing spirits competing spirits find themselves sometimes find themselves sometimes with envy with envy or jealousy or jealousy until they kneel as does jonathan until they kneel as does jonathan before god before god in in humility humility and in self-effacement and in self-effacement that he might that he might quietly become jonathan quietly become jonathan a brighter star a brighter star and david as he walks with jonathan and david as he walks with jonathan jonathan's friendship before saul and jonathan's friendship before saul and before all the courtiers in the palace before all the courtiers in the palace it says he behaved himself wisely it says he behaved himself wisely withers whoever he went withers whoever he went the spirit of the lord upon david was the spirit of the lord upon david was such that with jonathan's friendship such that with jonathan's friendship and with his own experience behind him and with his own experience behind him and goliath dead and goliath dead he was able to he was able to behave himself wisely as he walked about behave himself wisely as he walked about the palace the palace or the place where saul abode or the place where saul abode he didn't seek high things he didn't seek high things but kept his mind upon the lower things but kept his mind upon the lower things i think jonathan had taught david a i think jonathan had taught david a lesson lesson because of course jonathan himself was a because of course jonathan himself was a pattern of the lord jesus christ pattern of the lord jesus christ whose apparel are we wearing brethren whose apparel are we wearing brethren and sisters and sisters and whose sword do we carry and whose sword do we carry and who was gertes about with and who was gertes about with righteousness righteousness who was the king's son who was the king's son to whom we have become knit to whom we have become knit as to a brother as to a brother and to a master and to a master is it not jonathan who loved us is it not jonathan who loved us as he loved his own soul as he loved his own soul yea jesus yea jesus the greater jonathan who loved us the greater jonathan who loved us as he loved his own soul shall we not as he loved his own soul shall we not then like david as we walk in other then like david as we walk in other men's presences men's presences walk as before the king himself and walk as before the king himself and behave ourselves wisely behave ourselves wisely david was appointed to be a captain over david was appointed to be a captain over the soldiers of part of saul's army and the soldiers of part of saul's army and went in and out against the philistines went in and out against the philistines and came back with saul at the head of and came back with saul at the head of his marching forces until they hear the his marching forces until they hear the songs of the dancing maidens ahead of songs of the dancing maidens ahead of the army joining them day by day the army joining them day by day rejoicing as the army comes back from rejoicing as the army comes back from its slaughter for the philistines now its slaughter for the philistines now are being routed are being routed and so they sing their songs and souls and so they sing their songs and souls ears ears pick up the delightful music pick up the delightful music saul hath slain his thousands saul hath slain his thousands and so he has he stretches his head and and so he has he stretches his head and shoulders above the host and marches shoulders above the host and marches before the people and they look upon him before the people and they look upon him saul hath slain his thousands saul hath slain his thousands until he hears until he hears the second line of for him he doesn't the second line of for him he doesn't want to hear want to hear but david but david his tens of thousands his tens of thousands and a dark shadow flits quickly across and a dark shadow flits quickly across his heart his heart and his eyes go sideways to david and his eyes go sideways to david and he envis david and he envis david in his heart indeed he says to himself in his heart indeed he says to himself already having most peculiar forebodings already having most peculiar forebodings about things to come about things to come he says concerning him and what can he he says concerning him and what can he have now but the kingdom have now but the kingdom we cannot wonder then that the we cannot wonder then that the occasion should come when saul should occasion should come when saul should once again be brooding in his darkness once again be brooding in his darkness and with his javelin in his hand and with his javelin in his hand and the javelin it would seem was a mark and the javelin it would seem was a mark of office of office it's interesting as we go through this it's interesting as we go through this life of david and of saul together now life of david and of saul together now in parallel we shall often see samuel in parallel we shall often see samuel saul with his javelin in his hand saul with his javelin in his hand see him sitting under a tree wondering see him sitting under a tree wondering with his javelin in his hand but on this with his javelin in his hand but on this occasion in his darkness as david is occasion in his darkness as david is near to him and david has once again near to him and david has once again been playing and trying to attune been playing and trying to attune the mind of the king to the mind of the the mind of the king to the mind of the king of kings suddenly the javelin flies king of kings suddenly the javelin flies through the air and slights the wall and through the air and slights the wall and david escapes david escapes and knows now that for certain and knows now that for certain saul saul is in pursuit of his life is in pursuit of his life but yet saul but yet saul seems peculiarly attracted to david seems peculiarly attracted to david quite often one finds that evil men are quite often one finds that evil men are attracted by the good although they hate attracted by the good although they hate them and don't really wish to follow them and don't really wish to follow their paths their paths they find that there is a certain they find that there is a certain attraction in their righteousness attraction in their righteousness and despite all that they can do they and despite all that they can do they cannot undo the character of such men as cannot undo the character of such men as david david he offers to him he offers to him his eldest daughter marab and david never receives her david never receives her she's given to somebody else for some she's given to somebody else for some reason which is not very easy to find in reason which is not very easy to find in our reading of the records our reading of the records but it's then suggested that perhaps but it's then suggested that perhaps david david should have michael should have michael that second daughter that second daughter somewhat attractive perhaps and somewhat attractive perhaps and vivacious vivacious indeed it says that she loved david indeed it says that she loved david and i think david loved her and the dowry that he had to pay was only a hundred philistines and paid the diary but he said interesting words i'd like you to listen interesting words i'd like you to listen to them to them he said seem it it he said seem it it to you to be a light thing to you to be a light thing to be a king's son-in-law to be a king's son-in-law seeing that i am a poor man seeing that i am a poor man and lightly esteemed and lightly esteemed you see the you see the servants of saul were trying to lead servants of saul were trying to lead david into a trap if only he would seem david into a trap if only he would seem to be enticed by michael if only he to be enticed by michael if only he would aspire to greater things if only would aspire to greater things if only his pride would take hold of him and he his pride would take hold of him and he would seek to be would seek to be the king's son-in-law then it could be the king's son-in-law then it could be seen that saul in a moment could smite seen that saul in a moment could smite him down as someone who was trying to him down as someone who was trying to rise up from being a poor man that he rise up from being a poor man that he might take from saul that which belonged might take from saul that which belonged to him to him but david is quite but david is quite humble and reluctant in his approach humble and reluctant in his approach but brethren sisters those words have but brethren sisters those words have something for us have they not seemeth it to you [Music] [Music] to be a light thing to be a light thing [Music] [Music] to be the king's son or is that that our calling and yet are we not poor men and yet are we not poor men and lightly esteemed and lightly esteemed shall we then not take to ourselves this shall we then not take to ourselves this bearing of david and see constantly in bearing of david and see constantly in him the humility that was to be him the humility that was to be perfected in the lord jesus christ he perfected in the lord jesus christ he who was the king's son who was the king's son and yet was a poor man and yet was a poor man though he was rich yet became he poor though he was rich yet became he poor for our sakes for our sakes and though he had all grace and the and though he had all grace and the beauty of god his father was upon him beauty of god his father was upon him yet was he lightly esteemed we esteemed yet was he lightly esteemed we esteemed him stricken smitten afflicted of god him stricken smitten afflicted of god but he was the king's son but he was the king's son and so and so our self-esteem our self-esteem should diminish should diminish and our worship of god and our worship of god and also our honor to his son should and also our honor to his son should daily increase daily increase as did that of david before his god both as did that of david before his god both in heart and mind and in his psalms in heart and mind and in his psalms it says that saul had become continually it says that saul had become continually david's enemy david's enemy notice not david had become saul's enemy notice not david had become saul's enemy saul had become continually david's saul had become continually david's enemy the enmity was in the heart of enemy the enmity was in the heart of saul he was seeking him out if only he saul he was seeking him out if only he could find some little fault by which could find some little fault by which david david could be brought low could be brought low just as they looked for christ as he just as they looked for christ as he walked about that's what they were doing walked about that's what they were doing for david to try to find some little way for david to try to find some little way jonathan walks in the field with saul jonathan walks in the field with saul his father for for his father has said his father for for his father has said that he will slay david that he will slay david and jonathan mediates for him and jonathan mediates for him i don't think brother and sisters we can i don't think brother and sisters we can overestimate the love of this character overestimate the love of this character jonathan why should jonathan want david jonathan why should jonathan want david to be delivered to be delivered david was going to take the crown from david was going to take the crown from jonathan's hand and to wear it jonathan's hand and to wear it no he wasn't going to take it no he wasn't going to take it jonathan was going to place it on jonathan was going to place it on david's head david's head and there is the beauty of his character and there is the beauty of his character he mediates for david he mediates for david until his father says he shall not die as the lord liveth he says he shall not be slain he shall not be slain but david goes out to battle again and but david goes out to battle again and comes back victorious and saul's heart comes back victorious and saul's heart is torn again by his envy and his is torn again by his envy and his jealousy of this man he is madly envious jealousy of this man he is madly envious against david against david and attempts further to put him to death and attempts further to put him to death with that javelin his mark of kingship with that javelin his mark of kingship which should have been to feed as it which should have been to feed as it were the flock of god and to keep them were the flock of god and to keep them instead of which instead of which he would try to drive david out and to he would try to drive david out and to hunt him hunt him to seek out his hearts and his very life to seek out his hearts and his very life until finally david now married to until finally david now married to michael is in that home where they are michael is in that home where they are together and the servants of saul are together and the servants of saul are walking about at night outside walking about at night outside just have a look at psalm 59 just have a look at psalm 59 i'm sorry that we really have an i'm sorry that we really have an opportunity to go into all the psalms opportunity to go into all the psalms that we should that we should there are many written about this time there are many written about this time by david we read the introduction to the heading and then the introduction to the heading and then when saul sent and they watched the when saul sent and they watched the house to kill him house to kill him let's not forget the fear that must have let's not forget the fear that must have been in david's heart despite his faith been in david's heart despite his faith when his house was surrounded by the when his house was surrounded by the king's men and they were there at night king's men and they were there at night parading around and michael in her love parading around and michael in her love within was trying to shield her husband within was trying to shield her husband from her father's rock from her father's rock this is david's prayer from within this is david's prayer from within deliver me from mine enemies deliver me from mine enemies oh my god oh my god defend me from them that rise up against defend me from them that rise up against me me deliver me from the workers of iniquity deliver me from the workers of iniquity and save me from bloody men and save me from bloody men for lo they lie in wait for my soul for lo they lie in wait for my soul the mighty are gathered against me the mighty are gathered against me not for my transgression not for my transgression nor for my sin no lord they run and nor for my sin no lord they run and prepare themselves without my fault prepare themselves without my fault awake to help me awake to help me and behold and behold verse 14 and at evening let them return verse 14 and at evening let them return and let them make a noise like a dog and and let them make a noise like a dog and go round about the city go round about the city and this was a description of what they and this was a description of what they did and of what david hoped for them we did and of what david hoped for them we find that he commits all judgment to god find that he commits all judgment to god there is in these psalms running through there is in these psalms running through them a certain desire for david to see them a certain desire for david to see his enemies eradicated his enemies eradicated and such will be god's will but he takes and such will be god's will but he takes no step to do it he commits the whole of no step to do it he commits the whole of this matter to god this matter to god never do we find him rising up against never do we find him rising up against any that would put him to death any that would put him to death and now the men knock at the door and now the men knock at the door and michael looks out in distress and michael looks out in distress they've come for david this time to take they've come for david this time to take him by the command of the king and he him by the command of the king and he can't escape can't escape maybe it's night maybe it's night but at least she tries to ward off that but at least she tries to ward off that which they would do which they would do she takes what seems strange in this she takes what seems strange in this house though it may have belonged to her house though it may have belonged to her rather than to david what would appear rather than to david what would appear to be an idol some household god that to be an idol some household god that she had and she wrapped it in the bed she had and she wrapped it in the bed and so disguised it as though it were a and so disguised it as though it were a man man until finally when the men coming she until finally when the men coming she said concerning david said concerning david he's sick he's sick and she allows him to look into the room and she allows him to look into the room they see what appears to be a figure in they see what appears to be a figure in bed but david is away he's followed a bed but david is away he's followed a route that two other men had followed no route that two other men had followed no three three altogether had followed and were to altogether had followed and were to follow the two spies who have been let follow the two spies who have been let down by the window by rahab on that down by the window by rahab on that scarlet cord so david now has slipped scarlet cord so david now has slipped down through the window and slipped down through the window and slipped through the net that was cast about the through the net that was cast about the house and he's gone out house and he's gone out to spend a life away from home to spend a life away from home and so was and so was saul of tarsus to begin his life when saul of tarsus to begin his life when they hunted for him they hunted for him he'd escaped and he bids michael he'd escaped and he bids michael farewell farewell we shall see her again on occasion we shall see her again on occasion she's given to someone else in the she's given to someone else in the meantime but we shall see her again meantime but we shall see her again coming along a way of weeping coming along a way of weeping and we shall see her finally and we shall see her finally rejected rejected because she has failed because she has failed in her appreciation of david and where in her appreciation of david and where do you think david would go when he left do you think david would go when he left that house where would you have gone that house where would you have gone into some cave of hiding right away no into some cave of hiding right away no not david not david he goes to one place he goes to one place he goes to rama of gilead he goes to rama of gilead just to find out to seek out one man just to find out to seek out one man the old man the old man who had anointed him and he goes who had anointed him and he goes to find samuel and samuel takes him to to find samuel and samuel takes him to the school of the prophets it would the school of the prophets it would appear that samuel had established a appear that samuel had established a company of young men company of young men which he was instructing in the way of which he was instructing in the way of the lord who no doubt communally the lord who no doubt communally considered the word of god and also were considered the word of god and also were able to exhort others from time to time able to exhort others from time to time and upon whom it would seem and upon whom it would seem god god on occasion sent down his holy spirit so on occasion sent down his holy spirit so that they gave inspired messages not that they gave inspired messages not always this school of the prophets seems always this school of the prophets seems to have been a school where they were to have been a school where they were taught but occasionally from them there taught but occasionally from them there was chosen a prophet elijah for example was chosen a prophet elijah for example came from such a place came from such a place and so it is that samuel now takes david and so it is that samuel now takes david down to the school of the prophets down to the school of the prophets until suddenly to this very school of until suddenly to this very school of the prophets there come three the prophets there come three companies of saul's men not together but companies of saul's men not together but separately they come down to take david separately they come down to take david and as they approach the school of the and as they approach the school of the prophets so the spirit of the lord falls prophets so the spirit of the lord falls upon them upon them and they are seized as it were by a and they are seized as it were by a paroxysm from heaven whereby they've got paroxysm from heaven whereby they've got to express themselves in some way to to express themselves in some way to give glory to god and are unable to take give glory to god and are unable to take his anointed and on three occasions it his anointed and on three occasions it happens until saul himself comes down happens until saul himself comes down and he lies down before the lord having and he lies down before the lord having cast off his outer garment cast off his outer garment until they ran through israel a certain until they ran through israel a certain expression expression is all also is all also among the prophets as though a man should say is the wolf also is the wolf also lying down with the lamb lying down with the lamb that's the expression that's the expression and so saul finds himself seized by a and so saul finds himself seized by a power from outside and knows for certain power from outside and knows for certain that god is working against him because that god is working against him because he is working against god on every he is working against god on every occasion saul has opportunity if he occasion saul has opportunity if he desires to go back desires to go back and he doesn't desire it and so it is that david and jonathan must bid farewell must bid farewell jonathan explains to david no doubt with jonathan explains to david no doubt with tears in his eyes tears in his eyes despite all his mediations on his behalf despite all his mediations on his behalf saul saul wants to kill him wants to kill him and so as they walk in the field they and so as they walk in the field they arrange a final meeting arrange a final meeting he says now tomorrow there will be a he says now tomorrow there will be a feast feast and i will put it to my father and see and i will put it to my father and see how it is that he reacts to you how it is that he reacts to you now meet me now meet me in this field in this field and so it was that although there was to and so it was that although there was to be a feast there was to be an empty be a feast there was to be an empty place place it's rather interesting to notice this it's rather interesting to notice this feast and to think that feast and to think that there was a place prepared for david at there was a place prepared for david at the king's table the king's table and there was a place for abner the and there was a place for abner the captain of the host captain of the host and a place for jonathan and a place for jonathan and and in reading the record it just looks as in reading the record it just looks as though for a moment jonathan has to give though for a moment jonathan has to give place to abner at this feast place to abner at this feast and abner takes his seat and abner takes his seat and there's an empty seat and saul looks at it for a moment and says to himself well he must be and says to himself well he must be unclean unclean in some way he must be defiled then in some way he must be defiled then he'll be here tomorrow he'll be here tomorrow but on the morrow but on the morrow the seat is empty again the seat is empty again and he looks at the seat and he realizes now that the absence of david from this feast is not just an david from this feast is not just an absence of uncleanness absence of uncleanness whereas david he says oh he asked me whereas david he says oh he asked me that he might go to bethlehem to a that he might go to bethlehem to a family sacrifice there and immediately family sacrifice there and immediately saul comes out with an outburst of roth saul comes out with an outburst of roth thou son of a perverse and rebellious thou son of a perverse and rebellious woman wasn't woman that he should have used was it was it he didn't think of the fatherhood he he didn't think of the fatherhood he thought only of the motherhood thought only of the motherhood but who was the perverse and the but who was the perverse and the rebellious in that household rebellious in that household and so it says that jonathan rose up and so it says that jonathan rose up from that feast in righteous anger from that feast in righteous anger and went out and went out defending the righteousness of david defending the righteousness of david against the wrath of his father against the wrath of his father and there jonathan would be and there jonathan would be in tale of his own life in tale of his own life by this king by this king knowest thou not that this son of jesse knowest thou not that this son of jesse is risen to thine own hurt is risen to thine own hurt oh saul knew that the throne was oh saul knew that the throne was slipping from his head and it was not to slipping from his head and it was not to fall upon jonathan fall upon jonathan but upon david but upon david and so on the third morning and so on the third morning jonathan goes out into the field with jonathan goes out into the field with his bow his bow and with his arrows now he told david and with his arrows now he told david that if on this day i come to you and that if on this day i come to you and the arrow goes beyond you then know for the arrow goes beyond you then know for certain that you must flee for your life certain that you must flee for your life and so jonathan walks out into the and so jonathan walks out into the morning air such as we have enjoyed this morning air such as we have enjoyed this day with day with a lad at his side and he takes his a lad at his side and he takes his arrows and he fires them and david listens to its flight and hears it sing over his head hears it sing over his head and fall beyond him and fall beyond him and he sends the lad to fetch back the and he sends the lad to fetch back the arrows as he sends them across arrows as he sends them across is not the arrow beyond thee till the lad finds them and brings them back again to jonathan and jonathan back again to jonathan and jonathan sends him back sends him back home home and then david comes from behind the and then david comes from behind the rock rock i know what weeping as they part i know what weeping as they part jonathan jonathan how he could have delighted to see that how he could have delighted to see that david was now to be an outlaw rejected david was now to be an outlaw rejected by men by men but no he wraps himself in his love but no he wraps himself in his love around david and they strike a covenant around david and they strike a covenant before god before god a covenant of exceeding beauty a covenant of exceeding beauty they strike a covenant whereby david they strike a covenant whereby david says that he will says that he will as god lives as god lives he will show kindness both to jonathan he will show kindness both to jonathan and to his seed and to his seed these are the words these are the words the lord be between me and thee the lord be between me and thee between my seed and thy seed between my seed and thy seed forever forever oh what a delightful covenant they were oh what a delightful covenant they were able to make but brethren sisters is now able to make but brethren sisters is now that the covenant that god has made with that the covenant that god has made with us us and are not we bound similarly and are not we bound similarly and was it not too though and was it not too though this figure i don't think is really here this figure i don't think is really here in samuel was it not two in samuel was it not two by two awful nights by two awful nights of an empty place of an empty place and a third and a third morning morning by which we were brought to god by which we were brought to god was it not was it not and has not he who rose from the dead and has not he who rose from the dead made with us an everlasting covenant made with us an everlasting covenant sealed and sure in all things even the sealed and sure in all things even the sure mercies of david sure mercies of david has he not made those with us has he not made those with us but david is off he's scampering away but david is off he's scampering away now now alone well almost alone but there seemed alone well almost alone but there seemed to be one or two young men with him one to be one or two young men with him one or two who are attracted by that or two who are attracted by that magnetic quality of david his quality of magnetic quality of david his quality of leadership he's an inspiration to all leadership he's an inspiration to all who see him who see him and so he frees to knob a city a little and so he frees to knob a city a little north of amathoth which is a little north of amathoth which is a little north of jerusalem north of jerusalem and there he finds the priest and there he finds the priest nahimalik nahimalik the priest is afraid as soon as he sees the priest is afraid as soon as he sees david he knows something of the rumors david he knows something of the rumors that are going through israel that are going through israel and he's afraid that now that david has and he's afraid that now that david has come that perhaps the time has come come that perhaps the time has come either for david's death or for there to either for david's death or for there to be some be some terrible stirring in israel terrible stirring in israel the baby comes in and asks the baby comes in and asks for bread for bread five loaves are given five loaves are given to him to him loaves of bread oh but he doesn't get loaves of bread oh but he doesn't get them right away them right away him alexis i haven't got any bread here him alexis i haven't got any bread here except the showbread if the men who are with him have kept themselves clean and if david himself is themselves clean and if david himself is clean then clean then he is willing that the showbread should he is willing that the showbread should be given to them be given to them and both the priest and david show an and both the priest and david show an understanding which jesus himself was to understanding which jesus himself was to take up later on take up later on an understanding that that showbread an understanding that that showbread although it was reserved to be kept in although it was reserved to be kept in the holy place and to be eaten only by the holy place and to be eaten only by the priests when it was taken and the the priests when it was taken and the new bread was put in its place on that new bread was put in its place on that table every first table every first every first day of each new week that every first day of each new week that that bread should be eaten only by the that bread should be eaten only by the priests but in a manner of speaking priests but in a manner of speaking both the priest and david knew both the priest and david knew that they were priests before god that they were priests before god and that law was given and that law was given not that it should be kept to men's not that it should be kept to men's death death but it could but it could be kept in spirit even to life and so as be kept in spirit even to life and so as david said we're clean we've had no david said we're clean we've had no association of any kind that could association of any kind that could defile us in this last few days defile us in this last few days david had been hiding for three days and david had been hiding for three days and perhaps the young men hiding with him perhaps the young men hiding with him they were a comfort to him they were a comfort to him the lord had provided friends hidden the lord had provided friends hidden friends for david as we shall see friends for david as we shall see unexpected friends the lord had provided unexpected friends the lord had provided the lord wasn't behind pushing david on the lord wasn't behind pushing david on the law was in front seeking out a way the law was in front seeking out a way god had reached knob god had reached knob long before david reached it long before david reached it but it is so that as david now says and but it is so that as david now says and is there a weapon here for me is there a weapon here for me that the hi the priest says yes there's that the hi the priest says yes there's a weapon there's the weapon of goliath a weapon there's the weapon of goliath the giant wrapped up in a cloth the giant wrapped up in a cloth and david said give me that and david said give me that for there's none like that for there's none like that and he took it and with his young men and he took it and with his young men and his food he departs and his food he departs but just but just for a for a moment another man has seen a dark-eyed moment another man has seen a dark-eyed dark-hearted man dark-hearted man doeed the edomite who for some reason is doeed the edomite who for some reason is detained before the lord either because detained before the lord either because he has a message or because he himself he has a message or because he himself having embraced the faith of israel has having embraced the faith of israel has become unclean or has a vow to pray and become unclean or has a vow to pray and wishes in some way to receive the wishes in some way to receive the assistance of a priest assistance of a priest and he sees david and he hears the words and he sees david and he hears the words david doesn't say david doesn't say that he's freeing from saul he says he's that he's freeing from saul he says he's about the king's business about the king's business there are one or two things that david there are one or two things that david says during this time that have a says during this time that have a certain dubaity about them certain dubaity about them they they're a little doubtful and they they're a little doubtful and perhaps one has to take them in the perhaps one has to take them in the circumstances in which are said circumstances in which are said they're not always with absolute they're not always with absolute clear honesty clear honesty and perhaps in fear there's this tinge and perhaps in fear there's this tinge of double meaning of double meaning whereby david was able to be delivered whereby david was able to be delivered but be that as it may what would you but be that as it may what would you have done have done i don't think we'd have kept the purity i don't think we'd have kept the purity of character that david kept of character that david kept all been purged as david was purged by all been purged as david was purged by his constant confession and his love of his constant confession and his love of god god oh this was the man doing the edomite oh this was the man doing the edomite whose tongue whose tongue he writes in one of his psalms psalm 52 he writes in one of his psalms psalm 52 thy tongue divideth mischiefs like a thy tongue divideth mischiefs like a sharp razor sharp razor working deceitfully oh what a man working deceitfully oh what a man that's his reference one has to go in that's his reference one has to go in the psalms to see the inner thoughts of the psalms to see the inner thoughts of david concerning this matter he flees david concerning this matter he flees from nob north of jerusalem skirts from nob north of jerusalem skirts jerusalem itself which has not yet jerusalem itself which has not yet become the capital city but in which become the capital city but in which there seemed to be some residents there seemed to be some residents of the kingdom of israel skirts it and of the kingdom of israel skirts it and goes round down towards the south on a goes round down towards the south on a way down to the south west way down to the south west until finally he comes into the land of until finally he comes into the land of the philistines and there he meets the philistines and there he meets abimelech abimelech a name like pharaoh that is as we read a name like pharaoh that is as we read from that 34th psalm the king from that 34th psalm the king hatish king of gath hatish king of gath but the philistines don't receive him but the philistines don't receive him very kindly very kindly it wasn't to be expected that they would it wasn't to be expected that they would in a way in a way i suppose their memories were not too i suppose their memories were not too short short and david had a certain renown and he and david had a certain renown and he comes now comes now with goliath sword with goliath sword and his young men and his young men i suppose he stirred up a few memories i suppose he stirred up a few memories akish for some reason was willing akish for some reason was willing or might have been willing to receive or might have been willing to receive him him but david sees that the circumstances but david sees that the circumstances are not in his favor and he feigns are not in his favor and he feigns madness before the king madness before the king he scrabbles upon the gate and allows he scrabbles upon the gate and allows his spittle to fall down his beard his spittle to fall down his beard and akish asks a question i suppose and akish asks a question i suppose which has been asked by many people from which has been asked by many people from that time forward have i need of mad men it's rather a reflection on the number he rather a reflection on the number he already had perhaps his expression in that form is is just a his expression in that form is is just a little little peculiar i think and and little little peculiar i think and and somewhat amusing i generate david pine somewhat amusing i generate david pine and he can't take refuge there with the and he can't take refuge there with the philistines but this poor man cried and philistines but this poor man cried and the lord heard him and delivered him out the lord heard him and delivered him out of all his troubles it's at this time or of all his troubles it's at this time or through these circumstances that david through these circumstances that david wrote that 34th psalm and had the wrote that 34th psalm and had the comfort of those words that the angel of comfort of those words that the angel of the lord encampeth round about those the lord encampeth round about those that fear him and delivereth them for that fear him and delivereth them for though there was a dark-eyed though there was a dark-eyed dark-hearted man dark-hearted man in knob in knob there was also a bright eyed there was also a bright eyed immortal creature immortal creature the angel of the lord the angel of the lord encamping round about david to deliver encamping round about david to deliver him and now david goes to the cave of him and now david goes to the cave of adalam now this is southwest of adalam now this is southwest of jerusalem an area that is riddled with jerusalem an area that is riddled with caves caves these caves come right back from the these caves come right back from the time of the book of judges it's just an time of the book of judges it's just an interesting point if one goes into the interesting point if one goes into the book of judges to find that these caves book of judges to find that these caves were constructed were constructed hewn out at that time for men to live in hewn out at that time for men to live in when they were oppressed by their when they were oppressed by their various oppressors and this cave of various oppressors and this cave of adalam was a cave of considerable size adalam was a cave of considerable size and david and his few men take refuge and david and his few men take refuge there and now they begin to flock to him there and now they begin to flock to him from all parts of the land for the word from all parts of the land for the word has gone like a beat of a drum through has gone like a beat of a drum through the land as to where david is although the land as to where david is although saul hasn't found it yet saul hasn't found it yet and so they come to him and so they come to him men from here and men from there not men from here and men from there not rich men rich men but it says the dissidents of all kinds but it says the dissidents of all kinds came to him those who were in debt and came to him those who were in debt and in any kind of trouble the malcontents in any kind of trouble the malcontents of the land of israel until he finally of the land of israel until he finally has 400 such men with him has 400 such men with him in a cave in a cave think about it brother and sister just think about it brother and sister just for a moment what would you do with 400 for a moment what would you do with 400 men like that oh perhaps they got into men like that oh perhaps they got into debt because they had been oppressed but debt because they had been oppressed but perhaps not perhaps not perhaps they could say perhaps they could say concerning david as a man later was to concerning david as a man later was to say concerning himself say concerning himself and his newfound friend and master what would he say oh we suffer for our deeds but this man hath done nothing to miss hath done nothing to miss and so they came to him in the cave and so they came to him in the cave but david's wonderful leadership he but david's wonderful leadership he takes hold of these 400 men takes hold of these 400 men and by his love and by his love and his faith and his strength of and his faith and his strength of character character he welds them into a body of people of he welds them into a body of people of perfect friendship and allegiance to perfect friendship and allegiance to david and to the lord david and to the lord david was to receive another comfort david was to receive another comfort no doubt this cave no doubt this cave in the hill had its lookout men in the hill had its lookout men david was too wise a soldier too wary a david was too wise a soldier too wary a man to be unprotected and one can man to be unprotected and one can imagine the day when imagine the day when as the lookout was at the door of the as the lookout was at the door of the cave so the message came into the cave cave so the message came into the cave where david and his men were there are where david and his men were there are men coming men coming and so it echoes right along the cave a and so it echoes right along the cave a long cave long cave it could take 400 men inside it could take 400 men inside so every man stood by with his sword in so every man stood by with his sword in his hand his hand until finally until finally it's an old man it's an old man and a woman and a woman and several young men until david himself comes to the door of the cave and recognizes the cave and recognizes his family neither did his brethren believe on him not to begin with not to begin with but now that he's an outlaw and perhaps but now that he's an outlaw and perhaps their own life too their own life too is in great danger is in great danger they come to david they come to david into the cave into the cave oh what an embrace there must have been oh what an embrace there must have been as david takes his father as david takes his father mother and his brethren into this cave mother and his brethren into this cave and they meet his friends and they meet his friends the 400 the 400 debtors and the malcontents debtors and the malcontents and men who perhaps had been evil doers and men who perhaps had been evil doers before before but davey can't stay in this cave for but davey can't stay in this cave for very long very long it's a place that it's a place that is too dangerous for him to stay in and is too dangerous for him to stay in and certainly too dangerous a place for him certainly too dangerous a place for him in which to keep in which to keep his father and his mother and so he his father and his mother and so he sends his parents down right across the sends his parents down right across the river jordan straight over into the land river jordan straight over into the land of moab right down to the southeast the of moab right down to the southeast the land in which we began our studies land in which we began our studies yesterday and why should he send his yesterday and why should he send his parents there parents there because of course he had associations because of course he had associations there there yes right back to the days of ruth the moabitess and so he puts his father there and so he puts his father there into that place into that place and his mother and his mother there are all sorts of strange rumors as there are all sorts of strange rumors as to what happened to them there to what happened to them there the scripture says nothing but there are the scripture says nothing but there are sorts of rumors that exist outside the sorts of rumors that exist outside the scripture even that his parents were put scripture even that his parents were put to death there to death there but i don't think that need concern us but i don't think that need concern us at the moment david was doing his best at the moment david was doing his best for his parents and the scripture has for his parents and the scripture has seen fit to be silent upon what happened seen fit to be silent upon what happened to them to them one other person comes to david and that one other person comes to david and that is a man called gad the seer is a man called gad the seer now i'd like to think about him because now i'd like to think about him because he seems to be specially sent to david he seems to be specially sent to david as a man through whom the word of the as a man through whom the word of the lord was going to be revealed lord was going to be revealed there is an order of revelation given in there is an order of revelation given in the book of deuteronomy the book of deuteronomy the revelation is through the prophet and the priest is to keep the word and to pass it on to the king and the and to pass it on to the king and the king is to write it out for himself and king is to write it out for himself and so to observe it the priest was not the so to observe it the priest was not the origin of the word of god it was the origin of the word of god it was the prophet prophet the priest's lips should keep knowledge the priest's lips should keep knowledge that which they receive and the king that which they receive and the king should write it out should write it out and so observe it and so observe it and that three-fold chord should have and that three-fold chord should have existed in the kingdom of israel it existed in the kingdom of israel it would certainly exist with david would certainly exist with david he was a prophet himself of course and he was a prophet himself of course and received direct messages but many of his received direct messages but many of his directions now come from gad the seer directions now come from gad the seer and it would seem also that gad the seer and it would seem also that gad the seer was a scribe writing down the events of was a scribe writing down the events of the life of david as did nathan the the life of david as did nathan the prophet these things were not to pass prophet these things were not to pass day by day without some kind of record day by day without some kind of record being kept a record of samuel and of being kept a record of samuel and of kings and of chronicles has sprung out kings and of chronicles has sprung out of the records written by these men many of the records written by these men many of them written no doubt on the spot of them written no doubt on the spot many of them direct recollections of the many of them direct recollections of the people who took part either in battle or people who took part either in battle or in meeting or in private thought the in meeting or in private thought the descriptions of the hillsides and of the descriptions of the hillsides and of the country the places country the places where david and his men were hidden were where david and his men were hidden were all kept in the minds of people like the all kept in the minds of people like the priests priests gad the seer and of david himself and so gad the seer and of david himself and so we have such a record upon which we can we have such a record upon which we can place uh implicit trust knowing that it place uh implicit trust knowing that it has has a touch throughout of reliability and of a touch throughout of reliability and of inspiration by god inspiration by god and so it is that god through god sends and so it is that god through god sends david away from the cape of adalam and david away from the cape of adalam and sent him down into judah into the forest sent him down into judah into the forest of hereth which is about 10 miles of hereth which is about 10 miles northwest of hebron and just to place northwest of hebron and just to place that for you it's quite easy we're in that for you it's quite easy we're in jerusalem now we're looking south right jerusalem now we're looking south right south south on this side is the mediterranean and on on this side is the mediterranean and on the eastern runs jordan we're looking the eastern runs jordan we're looking south south over bethlehem and beyond that till we over bethlehem and beyond that till we see hebron see hebron indeed it is indeed it is to hebron to hebron that the priests used to look when they that the priests used to look when they stood in the temple of solomon stood in the temple of solomon when they stood or herod in later times when they stood or herod in later times and they wanted to know whether it was and they wanted to know whether it was daylight and as the first light came daylight and as the first light came over the hill so they looked right down over the hill so they looked right down to hebron to hebron and they'd say that it was beginning to and they'd say that it was beginning to be the light of a new day be the light of a new day and the question will go is it light as and the question will go is it light as far as hebron far as hebron could the city be seen could the city be seen and as soon as that was said and as soon as that was said so they say they regarded it as being so they say they regarded it as being the new day but beyond that was a forest the new day but beyond that was a forest into which david was now to take his into which david was now to take his refuge we find saul with his javelin in refuge we find saul with his javelin in his hand under a tree in rama his hand under a tree in rama notice it seems to be his symbol of notice it seems to be his symbol of office this javelin office this javelin and he carries it with him and messages and he carries it with him and messages come to him come to him as he laments the loss of his followers as he laments the loss of his followers and of jonathan his son messages come to and of jonathan his son messages come to him concerning david's welfare the him concerning david's welfare the growing band of people who are placing growing band of people who are placing their confidence in david their confidence in david and so it is and so it is that jonathan for though he is a great that jonathan for though he is a great man he's but a little baby man he's but a little baby haven't i any friends he says haven't i any friends he says isn't there anyone to tell me what david isn't there anyone to tell me what david is doing and their steps forward a man is doing and their steps forward a man with his dark eyes with his dark eyes and his dark heart and his dark heart i've seen him he says i've seen him he says doug the edomite the man from the other doug the edomite the man from the other side side descendant of esau i've seen him he said descendant of esau i've seen him he said i saw him in nob i saw him speak to the i saw him in nob i saw him speak to the priest priest oh are the priests also against me oh are the priests also against me send for himalay bring him here and the send for himalay bring him here and the other priests other priests and so they bring some of the priests and so they bring some of the priests and the himalay from norm and the himalay from norm himalaya says i don't know anything himalaya says i don't know anything about this matter about this matter i wasn't aware of the fullness of this i wasn't aware of the fullness of this situation i did just situation i did just what i did out of the righteousness of what i did out of the righteousness of my heart before god and before david he my heart before god and before david he said he was on the king's business said he was on the king's business but doug is there the king's side urging but doug is there the king's side urging him on him on and saul then does a dreadful thing and saul then does a dreadful thing he turns to his soldiers and he says he turns to his soldiers and he says slay the priest to the lord not a man raises his sword oh to be a oh to be a king we shall see how david's men king we shall see how david's men respond to him respond to him but not souls they won't slay the priest but not souls they won't slay the priest of the lord but notice what saul has of the lord but notice what saul has done done he's defied the prophet he's defied the prophet he's defying the priesthood he's defying the priesthood and he's defying the king a threefold defiance of god but dog says i'll do it but dog says i'll do it and he goes through the priests of the and he goes through the priests of the lord and slays them in the presence lord and slays them in the presence of saul some of them and then he goes of saul some of them and then he goes down to knob the city and slays there down to knob the city and slays there all the inhabitants of that city that all the inhabitants of that city that belong to the priesthood except one man belong to the priesthood except one man a buyer who flees a buyer who flees and where does he go and where does he go he comes to david he comes to david and davis is a wonderful thing to him and davis is a wonderful thing to him he says abide thou with me he says abide thou with me fear not fear not for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life life but with me but with me thou shalt be in safeguard thou shalt be in safeguard what a wonderful confidence what a wonderful confidence can't you hear the poetry of david i'm can't you hear the poetry of david i'm almost inspired saying almost inspired saying but can't we hear one greater than david but can't we hear one greater than david speaking to us speaking to us abide with me thou shalt be safe with me that's the invitation that's the invitation the dog had completed his work no not the dog had completed his work no not completed it completed it and that's the wonder you see and that's the wonder you see god wouldn't let him complete his work god wouldn't let him complete his work oh yes he would wreak havoc upon this oh yes he would wreak havoc upon this city except for the one man who would city except for the one man who would escape with the effort under his arm the escape with the effort under his arm the very thing by which they consulted god very thing by which they consulted god and take it not to saul and take it not to saul but to david but to david and so doing the edomite and so doing the edomite only spurs on the great work of david only spurs on the great work of david and saul can never be satisfied would and saul can never be satisfied would you be satisfied with the blood of you be satisfied with the blood of priests priests upon the sword of your servants would upon the sword of your servants would you the blood of the priests was to be upon saul's head saul's head as was also the blood of david that he as was also the blood of david that he would like to take would like to take well we find about this time the city of well we find about this time the city of kela kela south of jerusalem is besieged by the south of jerusalem is besieged by the philistines now it was saul's duty to philistines now it was saul's duty to relieve his people he should do that relieve his people he should do that that's what the king's business is that's what the king's business is now saul was no coward let us remember now saul was no coward let us remember oh no he'd at the beginning of his reign oh no he'd at the beginning of his reign when he had been anointed he was when he had been anointed he was established by an act of bravery right established by an act of bravery right on the other side of the river jordan on the other side of the river jordan in gilead was a city called jabush in gilead was a city called jabush gilead that was besieged by the gilead that was besieged by the ammonites you remember who said that ammonites you remember who said that they would put out the eyes of the they would put out the eyes of the inhabitants of that city the right eyes inhabitants of that city the right eyes of all the men of all the men unless they could find someone to unless they could find someone to deliver them deliver them and they sent a message back into the and they sent a message back into the land and it came to saul and it was soul land and it came to saul and it was soul that went to j bush gilead that went to j bush gilead and delivered it by his bravery and his and delivered it by his bravery and his courage he was no coward this man courage he was no coward this man he was a man who if only he had taken he was a man who if only he had taken the right path the right path could have been acceptable to god could have been acceptable to god but he didn't and i think in that lies a but he didn't and i think in that lies a warning for us brother and sisters if we commit ourselves to god then he will commit himself to us and deliver us will commit himself to us and deliver us and even though we might have to at and even though we might have to at times yield things to god times yield things to god we shall not yield eternal life but keep we shall not yield eternal life but keep it it even though the lord wished to take the even though the lord wished to take the throne even from saul that he was throne even from saul that he was righteous and give it to david there righteous and give it to david there would have been no unrighteousness with would have been no unrighteousness with god and so need not have lost his faith god and so need not have lost his faith i think that the crown would have stayed i think that the crown would have stayed for a time at least with saul's family for a time at least with saul's family if saul had been righteous if saul had been righteous but he was not but he was not and so this city of kiela is delivered and so this city of kiela is delivered not by not by saul but by david david goes down with saul but by david david goes down with his 400 men who have now become 600 his 400 men who have now become 600 so fast that his army multiplied so fast that his army multiplied and with david at their head in constant and with david at their head in constant leadership leadership with astounding courage he delivers the with astounding courage he delivers the city from the philistines and goes in city from the philistines and goes in and he's in the walls of keilar and news and he's in the walls of keilar and news comes to saul that there he is and comes to saul that there he is and salted his mind salted his mind once he's inside a city with walls and once he's inside a city with walls and with gates he's mine with gates he's mine and then and then david consults a buyer david consults a buyer he can touch the lord actually he can touch the lord actually now there are all kinds of ideas as to now there are all kinds of ideas as to how he consults the lord and i haven't how he consults the lord and i haven't found a solution but at least one or two found a solution but at least one or two suggestions can be made it is said that suggestions can be made it is said that in the ephod there's a little pocket in in the ephod there's a little pocket in which two stones the urim and thumbing which two stones the urim and thumbing were to be kept were to be kept of different colors that if a man of different colors that if a man consulted the lord saying shall i go consulted the lord saying shall i go put his hand in and took out put his hand in and took out and looked at it and according to the and looked at it and according to the color color so he either went or did not that was so he either went or did not that was the answer from the lord now i don't the answer from the lord now i don't think that's the answer to the problem think that's the answer to the problem by any means because the kind of thing by any means because the kind of thing that god gives to david through the e4 that god gives to david through the e4 and through the priest is a more clear and through the priest is a more clear direct message that could never be direct message that could never be answered by stones answered by stones shall i go shall i go should i stay in kilo or should i stay in kilo or or not he's told he shouldn't stay in or not he's told he shouldn't stay in kilah kilah will the men of this city deliver me will the men of this city deliver me into the hands into the hands of saul should he come and he says yes of saul should he come and he says yes so they will now these initial questions so they will now these initial questions i think and one or two others that we i think and one or two others that we have later on could have been answered have later on could have been answered by the yes and no stones we shall find by the yes and no stones we shall find as we go on some of the things that god as we go on some of the things that god gives are pieces of information gives are pieces of information concerning saul and concerning david concerning saul and concerning david that could not have been found just by that could not have been found just by little stones plucked out of the pocket little stones plucked out of the pocket for yes and no and so it is that he for yes and no and so it is that he leaves these selfish unthankful men of leaves these selfish unthankful men of killer and forsakes the city and himself killer and forsakes the city and himself is delivered from the hand of saul he is delivered from the hand of saul he goes down into the wilderness of zif goes down into the wilderness of zif further south into a land where no doubt further south into a land where no doubt there was less provision for him and for there was less provision for him and for his men i'd like you to think of him now his men i'd like you to think of him now as complete outlaw cut off from his his as complete outlaw cut off from his his associations in bethlehem cut off from associations in bethlehem cut off from his normal worship cut off from his his normal worship cut off from his normal friends normal friends away from jonathan away from jonathan away from jonathan away from jonathan oh no not away from jonathan oh no not away from jonathan he'd never be away from jonathan he'd never be away from jonathan jonathan is praying for david jonathan is praying for david and though david is right south of and though david is right south of jerusalem beyond hebron beyond the jerusalem beyond hebron beyond the forest of hakilah right down into the forest of hakilah right down into the wilderness of zif they hear a message there's a man coming it's jonathan the king's son the king's son and it says jonathan sought out david and it says jonathan sought out david and he strengthened his hand in god and he strengthened his hand in god brethren and sisters is not that one of brethren and sisters is not that one of the wonderful things we enjoy here the wonderful things we enjoy here strengthening the hand in god strengthening the hand in god and that's what jonathan did for david and that's what jonathan did for david fear not for the hand of saul my father fear not for the hand of saul my father shall not find thee shall not find thee and thou shout the king over israel in and thou shout the king over israel in the wilderness of zif jonathan the wilderness of zif jonathan have you got faith to say that have you got faith to say that concerning me concerning me yes and he adds a little phrase yes and he adds a little phrase and i shall be next unto thee he was willing to be below david next to him something that god would not see him something that god would not see fulfilled fulfilled in god's own wisdom in god's own wisdom and understanding and understanding but there was a willingness in jonathan but there was a willingness in jonathan to see david exalted to see david exalted that every man esteem his brother better that every man esteem his brother better than himself to be than himself to be and he was quite willing no not just and he was quite willing no not just willing thou shalt be king i'll lift you willing thou shalt be king i'll lift you up david even though you be in the up david even though you be in the wilderness of zeus oh such courage from wilderness of zeus oh such courage from the king's son but there are many sneak northwards through the forest up through hebron bethlehem until they come through hebron bethlehem until they come north of jerusalem finding saul under north of jerusalem finding saul under the tree with his javelin and say we the tree with his javelin and say we know where david is know where david is come down and find him come and take him come down and find him come and take him he's in the hill of hakilah so it is that this time david is still writing his psalms praying unto god for writing his psalms praying unto god for strangers are written up against me and strangers are written up against me and violent men have sought after my soul he violent men have sought after my soul he moves further south and he comes to a moves further south and he comes to a little hill called mayon little hill called mayon and there it is that saul comes down and there it is that saul comes down seeking david with his thousands of men seeking david with his thousands of men looking round the hill to try to find looking round the hill to try to find this this anointed of god anointed of god and it just seems that for a moment and it just seems that for a moment david is caught david is caught he's in the hill perhaps hiding in a he's in the hill perhaps hiding in a mountain in there in caves with his 600 mountain in there in caves with his 600 men and saul comes around one side of men and saul comes around one side of the mountain and david is going around the mountain and david is going around the other until it seems as though saul the other until it seems as though saul has completely surrounded this place has completely surrounded this place and david must certainly fall into the and david must certainly fall into the grasping hand of saul the king grasping hand of saul the king until there comes a messenger to the until there comes a messenger to the kings as kings as the philistines have invaded the land and so it was that god sent the philistines to deliver david philistines to deliver david and saul has to and saul has to release release his grip of the city his grip of the city and david breathes again and david breathes again he doesn't stay in that hill he doesn't stay in that hill oh he's got wisdom he's off now down to oh he's got wisdom he's off now down to all the dead sea steeply going down to all the dead sea steeply going down to that place that's 1200 feet below sea that place that's 1200 feet below sea level until he finds a cave here in gedi level until he finds a cave here in gedi the place where men fish the place where men fish there there's a brook that comes into there there's a brook that comes into the dead sea the dead sea a kind of well and there are still caves a kind of well and there are still caves in that area in that area of the dead sea of the dead sea indeed of course occasionally indeed of course occasionally scrolls are found scrolls are found in caves in caves by the dead sea but there was a greater by the dead sea but there was a greater scroll at this time scroll at this time thy law have i written in my heart thy law have i written in my heart and not on tables of stone or of skin and not on tables of stone or of skin but upon david himself but upon david himself a scroll by the dead sea a scroll by the dead sea in a cave in a cave protected by the lord saul comes down again with his three thousand men seeks david thousand men seeks david and david's inside the cave with his six and david's inside the cave with his six hundred men hundred men and oh what a stroke of providence and oh what a stroke of providence saul takes a nap saul takes a nap at the mouth of the cave at the mouth of the cave and david's got three men with him oh and david's got three men with him oh what men they are what men they are the sons of zeruaya the sons of zeruaya and they said to david at least one of and they said to david at least one of them said he's here and the lord has them said he's here and the lord has delivered him into your hand this is the delivered him into your hand this is the very moment for which you wait waited very moment for which you wait waited the dead sea in a dead soul all in a the dead sea in a dead soul all in a moment it could have been moment it could have been the king could have gone the king could have gone and and david david withholds his sword withholds his sword i'd like you to think about it i'd like you to think about it behold thine enemy behold thine enemy delivered into thine hand his men is six delivered into thine hand his men is six hundred this is the moment you've waited hundred this is the moment you've waited for for won't take long let me do it won't take long let me do it and he be dead and he be dead and he goes up and he goes up and he takes off the fringe and he takes off the fringe from the garment of saul from the garment of saul and the saul and his men leave the cave and the saul and his men leave the cave and go down and go down and away and away so david so david comes to the mouth of the cave comes to the mouth of the cave and he calls you can see saul's eyes as he turns and sees where he's been and sees where he's been and where david was and where david was and david calls to him across the and david calls to him across the distance and abomus has been standing by distance and abomus has been standing by and the three thousand men listening and and the three thousand men listening and david 600 david 600 the lord judged between me and thee the lord judged between me and thee and the lord avenged me of thee and the lord avenged me of thee but mine hand shall not be upon thee or is it thou my my son david how how strangely the thoughts of strangely the thoughts of saul mingle with righteousness and saul mingle with righteousness and unrighteousness quite unwillingly he now unrighteousness quite unwillingly he now says thou art more righteous than i and the lord will reward thee for the good good which there has done to me this day which there has done to me this day and so it is that saul goes northward and so it is that saul goes northward and david still stays where he is and david still stays where he is and we think about david in his and we think about david in his righteousness there was righteousness by righteousness there was righteousness by his withholding his acts his withholding his acts and sorrow with what darkness and and sorrow with what darkness and despair he must have gone north and now despair he must have gone north and now his three thousand souls must have his three thousand souls must have walked with weary feet they'd come to walked with weary feet they'd come to accomplish a purpose and it could not be accomplish a purpose and it could not be done done and saul had lost the fringe of his and saul had lost the fringe of his garment garment and david and david had a new fringe to his had a new fringe to his a fringe of righteousness and the a fringe of righteousness and the remembrance of the lord remembrance of the lord and that was acceptable to god

Transcript

this is the voice of wilbraham in august 1961 in august 1961 brother harry talent of dundee scotland brother harry talent of dundee scotland chose as his subject chose as his subject david david the shepherd the shepherd king king we take pleasure now in presenting we take pleasure now in presenting brother tennant brother tennant in the third of seven class sessions in the third of seven class sessions yesterday yesterday we left we left david david sweltering in the heat sweltering in the heat by the dead sea in the caves of en gedi by the dead sea in the caves of en gedi now the system of communication in those now the system of communication in those days was such days was such that it's quite certain that david knew that it's quite certain that david knew what was happening in the kingdom and what was happening in the kingdom and that his friends dispersed here and that his friends dispersed here and there throughout saul's kingdom also there throughout saul's kingdom also knew where david was knew where david was now news at this time comes through that now news at this time comes through that samuel has died samuel has died and it appears although it's not and it appears although it's not absolutely certain from the record it absolutely certain from the record it appears that david appears that david attended the funeral attended the funeral it's possible that he did so it would be a meeting of a strange kind with a strange kind with a great prophet dead a great prophet dead with the rejected king with the rejected king wondering about his words wondering about his words and seeing perhaps david and seeing perhaps david and his company of men it's just a thought and it's something about which we can't and it's something about which we can't in any way in any way pronounce pronounce i generate immediately after this david i generate immediately after this david goes further south still almost as goes further south still almost as though he's in complete fear now because though he's in complete fear now because he goes right down south of the dead sea he goes right down south of the dead sea right into the hottest part of the right into the hottest part of the wilderness and there he is wilderness and there he is with his company which appears to remain with his company which appears to remain about this time at 600 men no doubt he about this time at 600 men no doubt he trained them no doubt he taught them to trained them no doubt he taught them to worship i'm sure that they were men not worship i'm sure that they were men not only who fought for him but men who only who fought for him but men who learned from him no doubt he also sang learned from him no doubt he also sang to them his psalms and perhaps they to them his psalms and perhaps they echoed the kind of sentiment that we echoed the kind of sentiment that we ourselves have sung this morning ourselves have sung this morning what time i am afraid what time i am afraid i will trust in god i will trust in god and that's a word of education brethren and that's a word of education brethren and sisters and sisters for for in all our vice attitudes of life in all our vice attitudes of life i don't suppose we shall ever find that i don't suppose we shall ever find that our circumstances are any worse than our circumstances are any worse than david's david's and yet in all his fears he was able to and yet in all his fears he was able to lean upon his god lean upon his god notice the kind of temptation to which notice the kind of temptation to which he's put as we go through his life the he's put as we go through his life the temptations of those without and the temptations of those without and the temptation of that which lies within the temptation of that which lies within the breaking up of his family breaking up of his family it's absolutely shattered by the time it's absolutely shattered by the time david dies david dies but his faith remains but his faith remains constant right into the end constant right into the end and his eyes though dim with age look and his eyes though dim with age look forward with brightness to the time forward with brightness to the time when the kingdom would be established when the kingdom would be established and the sun would be enthroned and the sun would be enthroned david's men come north from the david's men come north from the wilderness now into that place south of wilderness now into that place south of hebron hebron where it is possible to keep and to look where it is possible to keep and to look after sheep and to do so prosperously after sheep and to do so prosperously and it appears that they acted as a kind and it appears that they acted as a kind of wall of wall you see the amalekites were on the south you see the amalekites were on the south of the land of palestine of the land of palestine on that part that runs from the dead sea on that part that runs from the dead sea right out onto the mediterranean sea the right out onto the mediterranean sea the amalekites were there and they made amalekites were there and they made numerous excursions into the land of numerous excursions into the land of israel israel to attack the villages to take supplies to attack the villages to take supplies to come down at harvest time to come down at harvest time and to satisfy themselves with loot and and to satisfy themselves with loot and booty of different kinds booty of different kinds and so it appears that for a time david and so it appears that for a time david and his 600 men were in the wilderness and his 600 men were in the wilderness as a kind of wall of protection against as a kind of wall of protection against certain of these southern villages certain of these southern villages indeed he wins their allegiance later on indeed he wins their allegiance later on because of what he has done for them because of what he has done for them and in this area we find there is a man and in this area we find there is a man extremely prosperous extremely prosperous in a place called carmel not the carmo in a place called carmel not the carmo right away in the north on the coast right away in the north on the coast another carmel altogether near to that another carmel altogether near to that place called mayon the mountain that was place called mayon the mountain that was surrounded by saul surrounded by saul and there there lives a man and there there lives a man called nathan called nathan nabal nabal whose wife is abigail whose wife is abigail now we remember the circumstances it's now we remember the circumstances it's the time of sheep shearing and of great the time of sheep shearing and of great rejoicing the man now has gone through rejoicing the man now has gone through his year he's reached the time when he's his year he's reached the time when he's reaping all his labors for the year a reaping all his labors for the year a time when all his servants gather time when all his servants gather together in rejoicing the time of sheep together in rejoicing the time of sheep shearing shearing and it is then that david sends by his and it is then that david sends by his servants just a request to enable that servants just a request to enable that perhaps he will share his prosperity perhaps he will share his prosperity with those who have been a wall to him with those who have been a wall to him by day and by night and who in no way by day and by night and who in no way have done any injury to his servants nor have done any injury to his servants nor taken any of his goods now i'm sure he's heard of him there are many servants he says that break away many servants he says that break away from their masters in these days from their masters in these days and so he despises the anointing of god and so he despises the anointing of god and the servants of david return to him and the servants of david return to him with this message with this message and david becomes furious and he is and david becomes furious and he is desires of taking revenge indeed he desires of taking revenge indeed he girds his sword upon him and takes at girds his sword upon him and takes at least 200 of his 600 men and sets out to least 200 of his 600 men and sets out to take revenge of nabal and his household take revenge of nabal and his household but one of the servants of naval a man but one of the servants of naval a man of wisdom and of wisdom and understanding speaks unto his mistress understanding speaks unto his mistress and tells her what had happened between and tells her what had happened between the servants of david and between nabel and abigail herself understands he says i mastered a brutish i mastered a brutish he understood his master although he he understood his master although he worked for him worked for him and abigail was well aware of this and and abigail was well aware of this and she calls together a company she calls together a company brings supplies brings supplies and sets out and goes south as david is and sets out and goes south as david is coming coming north and in her wondrous way and she's north and in her wondrous way and she's a character a character standing out just like a jewel standing out just like a jewel in the darkness here for david in the darkness here for david has taken the wrong path has taken the wrong path he should never have taken his sword he should never have taken his sword upon his side to avenge himself and have upon his side to avenge himself and have you noticed how sometimes we do you noticed how sometimes we do precisely this precisely this having taken a great stand in a matter having taken a great stand in a matter of importance of importance we allow at times less lesser matters we allow at times less lesser matters to take it into sin to take it into sin david wouldn't raise his hand for a david wouldn't raise his hand for a moment against saul he saw the principle moment against saul he saw the principle absolutely clearly but here in this absolutely clearly but here in this smaller matter when it really didn't smaller matter when it really didn't matter whether he received supplies from matter whether he received supplies from label or not he could have had them from label or not he could have had them from elsewhere he desires to take a revenge elsewhere he desires to take a revenge as he comes northward with his men so as he comes northward with his men so abigail comes southward with her abigail comes southward with her servants and her maidens and with servants and her maidens and with supplies supplies but i'd like you to look at her words but i'd like you to look at her words first samuel 25. she is a pattern of mary the mother of jesus she is one of those characters of the old testament who uses concerning old testament who uses concerning herself despite her status remember herself despite her status remember she's higher than david in standing at she's higher than david in standing at the moment at least so far as the land the moment at least so far as the land is concerned she's the wife of a rich is concerned she's the wife of a rich man she has no need to have anything to man she has no need to have anything to do with an outlaw do with an outlaw or his band of stragglers or his band of stragglers just 600 when the whole of saul's just 600 when the whole of saul's kingdom is behind her kingdom is behind her but her eyes have seen something that but her eyes have seen something that neighbor would never see neighbor would never see nabel the nabel the fool and as she comes on this is what fool and as she comes on this is what she says verse 23 23 and when abigail saw david and when abigail saw david she hasted she hasted and lighted off the ass and lighted off the ass and fell before david on her face and fell before david on her face and bowed herself to the ground and fell and bowed herself to the ground and fell at his feet and said upon me my lord at his feet and said upon me my lord upon me let this iniquity be upon me let this iniquity be and let thine handmaid i pray thee speak and let thine handmaid i pray thee speak in an audience in an audience and hear the words of thine handmaid and hear the words of thine handmaid let not my lord i pray that he regard let not my lord i pray that he regard this man of belial even nabal this man of belial even nabal for at his name is so is he nabel is his for at his name is so is he nabel is his name and folly is with him name and folly is with him but i thine handmade saw not the young but i thine handmade saw not the young men men of my lord whom thou did sin of my lord whom thou did sin now therefore my lord as the lord liveth now therefore my lord as the lord liveth and as thy soul liveth seeing the lord and as thy soul liveth seeing the lord hath withholding thee from coming to hath withholding thee from coming to shed blood shed blood and from avenging thyself with thine own and from avenging thyself with thine own hand hand now let the enemies thine enemies and now let the enemies thine enemies and they that seek evil to my lord be as they that seek evil to my lord be as naval naval do you notice her understanding she do you notice her understanding she doesn't regard her coming now as being doesn't regard her coming now as being something of her own will at all she something of her own will at all she regards herself as being moved by the regards herself as being moved by the spirit of god to come down and to spirit of god to come down and to deliver david from blood guiltiness deliver david from blood guiltiness she's a delightful contrast she's a delightful contrast with bathsheba with bathsheba who brings blood guiltiness to david she who brings blood guiltiness to david she in her wisdom delivered him from it in her wisdom delivered him from it this was her will this was her will the lord's will and she comes down in the lord's will and she comes down in such humility and understanding both of such humility and understanding both of god and of david himself and of david's god and of david himself and of david's life and of his future and of the whole life and of his future and of the whole purpose of god that we delight to see purpose of god that we delight to see her in her humility upon her face before her in her humility upon her face before david david i wonder what the 200 men did with their i wonder what the 200 men did with their swords swords when abigail stood before them when abigail stood before them i wonder how a shame david felt with his i wonder how a shame david felt with his sword by his side sword by his side was it still goliath sword was it still goliath sword if it was then she was to remind him if it was then she was to remind him about goliath about goliath or what does she say or what does she say concerning his enemies and concerning concerning his enemies and concerning the work of the lord verse 26 i pray thee forgive the trespass of thine handmaid forgive the trespass of thine handmaid for the lord will certainly make my lord for the lord will certainly make my lord a sure house a sure house notice this god hasn't said this yet notice this god hasn't said this yet this hasn't been said by the word of god this hasn't been said by the word of god as such as such this was to come later this this this was to come later this this swelling of the purpose of god into a swelling of the purpose of god into a sure house sure house but abigail seems to be able to but abigail seems to be able to anticipate in the selection of david the anticipate in the selection of david the development of the whole purpose of god development of the whole purpose of god because my lord fighteth the battles of because my lord fighteth the battles of the lord and evil hath not been found in the lord and evil hath not been found in thee all thy days thee all thy days yet a man is risen to pursue thee and yet a man is risen to pursue thee and deceit thy soul but the soul of my lord deceit thy soul but the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life shall be bound in the bundle of life with the lord thy god and the soul to with the lord thy god and the soul to thy enemies then shall he sling out thy enemies then shall he sling out and she brings back his mind and she brings back his mind to goliath to goliath the binding of david with god himself the binding of david with god himself and the slinging out of the enemies of and the slinging out of the enemies of the lord and so it is that her the lord and so it is that her perception perception of what is righteous in god's sight is of what is righteous in god's sight is considerable isn't it considerable isn't it and to our sisters we commend this woman and to our sisters we commend this woman have you noticed her strength have you noticed her strength in her humility in her humility she does obeisance before david she does obeisance before david but she stands above him in his but she stands above him in his character at this time character at this time david knows as he goes away with those david knows as he goes away with those gifts that he's received from her gifts that he's received from her that in abigail he has found someone not that in abigail he has found someone not only faithful in israel only faithful in israel but someone who's pointed right beyond but someone who's pointed right beyond his present sufferings to the time of his present sufferings to the time of the sure house the sure house and brethren sisters all of us and brethren sisters all of us are abigail this is how we meet the lord jesus christ christ not in his blood guiltiness of course not in his blood guiltiness of course but in our faith but in our faith though he is in the wilderness though he is in the wilderness and at the present time not crown king and at the present time not crown king of kings yet the lord will establish for of kings yet the lord will establish for him a sure house and we confess our him a sure house and we confess our faith and do our obeisance before him we faith and do our obeisance before him we are the handmaid of the lord are the handmaid of the lord and he will bless us and sling out all and he will bless us and sling out all the enemies of the lord and bind us into the enemies of the lord and bind us into the bundle of life the bundle of life and that's our hope and that's why we and that's our hope and that's why we come here may it be brother and sisters come here may it be brother and sisters that none of us will be slung out that none of us will be slung out but all of us but all of us find the tight band of the lord about us find the tight band of the lord about us when his day comes when his day comes and so abigail returns and one can see and so abigail returns and one can see david standing as she goes away thinking david standing as she goes away thinking and talking to his men and talking to his men perhaps to joab to abhishei and to asa perhaps to joab to abhishei and to asa hell his three faithful warriors who hell his three faithful warriors who walk with him his sister's sons walk with him his sister's sons men who stood by him in all his trials men who stood by him in all his trials and i wonder what psalms he sang as he and i wonder what psalms he sang as he went back and what thoughts he had went back and what thoughts he had as she had reminded him that in god as she had reminded him that in god do we trust do we trust and we shouldn't take vengeance of any and we shouldn't take vengeance of any kind ourselves it so happens that as soon as nabel himself himself has finished his sheep cheering and has finished his sheep cheering and continued his great rejoicing he goes continued his great rejoicing he goes into a carousel and in his foolishness he's smitten by god god and he dies and he dies i think it is from this i think it is from this 25th chapter of first samuel 25th chapter of first samuel that the man who would pull down his that the man who would pull down his barns and build greater barns and build greater finds some of his origin finds some of his origin thou fool thou fool this night this night thy soul shall be required of thee then thy soul shall be required of thee then who shall those things be and they who shall those things be and they became david's no doubt because as soon as nabel is dead david sends messengers not with swords david sends messengers not with swords but with love northwards to fetch but with love northwards to fetch abigail and she comes with five maidens abigail and she comes with five maidens and one can see them as she comes south and one can see them as she comes south and he comes north and she comes upon and he comes north and she comes upon him him perhaps perhaps in the hollow of a hill so they meet she in the hollow of a hill so they meet she comes over and he comes over the other comes over and he comes over the other side side and in her humility she still falls and in her humility she still falls before him before him and he takes her unto himself and he takes her unto himself as his wife as his wife well now after this well now after this she becomes she becomes a queen in the wilderness a queen in the wilderness not yet a queen but a queen to be she's not yet a queen but a queen to be she's with david in all his trials and all his with david in all his trials and all his sufferings and they're going to be sufferings and they're going to be considerable she's now exposed herself considerable she's now exposed herself to something to which she's not at all to something to which she's not at all accustomed she lived in luxury in her accustomed she lived in luxury in her own house with servants about her she's own house with servants about her she's brought her servants with her but from brought her servants with her but from now on they must learn to march now on they must learn to march to ride to ride to fast to fast to be afraid of battle to hide in caves to be afraid of battle to hide in caves at night at night and to depend upon the lord for and to depend upon the lord for protection and so her own character too protection and so her own character too is to be developed in this time of is to be developed in this time of wandering and that's our status isn't it wandering and that's our status isn't it we too are in the wilderness we too are in the wilderness a queen to be yet we have to walk with a queen to be yet we have to walk with our lord with us with us whoever he our lord with us with us whoever he leads us during this time leads us during this time and he leads her into the wilderness of and he leads her into the wilderness of zif zif the wilderness again well south of the wilderness again well south of jerusalem yet north of the dead sea and jerusalem yet north of the dead sea and the ziphites there again betray david the ziphites there again betray david and send a message up to and send a message up to saul and he comes down once more with saul and he comes down once more with his three thousand men his three thousand men on the hunt for david and i suppose as on the hunt for david and i suppose as david's company increases and there are david's company increases and there are women in the company or he takes also to women in the company or he takes also to himself another wife at this time as himself another wife at this time as there are women in the company so it there are women in the company so it must have been increasingly difficult must have been increasingly difficult for them to move without being seen for them to move without being seen indeed i imagine that with that company indeed i imagine that with that company of men it was now almost impossible to of men it was now almost impossible to move without being seen and so the move without being seen and so the message goes north and saul comes south message goes north and saul comes south and he pictures again near the hill of and he pictures again near the hill of hakilah you remember the hill that we hakilah you remember the hill that we mentioned yesterday mentioned yesterday he pitches there and goes to sleep at he pitches there and goes to sleep at night so he sets around his camps all night so he sets around his camps all all the baggage that they brought with all the baggage that they brought with them as an outer wall of defense and the them as an outer wall of defense and the king's pillow is marked by his javelin king's pillow is marked by his javelin at his side that's the mark where the at his side that's the mark where the king is that's his mark of authority as king is that's his mark of authority as well as a weapon that he might use well as a weapon that he might use and david and his men have discovered and david and his men have discovered them them david says who will go with me david says who will go with me into the camp of saul into the camp of saul and he speaks to joab and to obishi and he speaks to joab and to obishi the guy said i'll come the guy said i'll come until they steal through the night until they steal through the night through the baggage into the company through the baggage into the company right up the javelin navishai says behold the lord has to deliver thine behold the lord has to deliver thine enemy into thine hand let me smite him enemy into thine hand let me smite him i won't have to smite him a second time i won't have to smite him a second time and so it is that david has got to say and so it is that david has got to say to this man as he's got to say to job to this man as he's got to say to job and to others that these sons of zeroway and to others that these sons of zeroway are too hard for him they don't are too hard for him they don't understand the purpose of god and he understand the purpose of god and he will not in any way afflict saul but he will not in any way afflict saul but he takes takes away the crews of water away the crews of water from the from the side of saul as he sleeps side of saul as he sleeps a sleep that's from the lord a sleep that's from the lord so they needn't so they needn't come down so quietly and the javelin and come down so quietly and the javelin and disappear until they're on the hillside disappear until they're on the hillside opposite opposite and again as dawn breaks so david calls and again as dawn breaks so david calls is it thou abner is it thou abner an abner was a man of considerable an abner was a man of considerable bravery and also a man with considerable bravery and also a man with considerable allegiance to saul he's a tribe of allegiance to saul he's a tribe of benjamin his soul's uncle and he stands benjamin his soul's uncle and he stands faithful even in his distresses faithful even in his distresses he's a man with character have you taken care of your master says david david one of these things that i have one of these things that i have and holds them out and holds them out oh but saul is moved again beyond oh but saul is moved again beyond himself visit thou my son david himself visit thou my son david he calls across the gap between them he calls across the gap between them and david stands purely looking at the and david stands purely looking at the man man upon whom are already the marks of death upon whom are already the marks of death the hand of god is upon him the hand of god is upon him i have sinned i have sinned i will do thee no more harm i will do thee no more harm says all says all the lord shall render to every man the lord shall render to every man according to his righteousness and his according to his righteousness and his faithfulness faithfulness says david the lord in all his says david the lord in all his principles has learned to trust in god principles has learned to trust in god and listen to these words now of saul and listen to these words now of saul his second prophecy his first one was at his second prophecy his first one was at the time the time when david similarly delivered him and when david similarly delivered him and this is his second one blessed be thou this is his second one blessed be thou my son david my son david thou should do great things and thou thou should do great things and thou shalt prevail shalt prevail this inner awareness of saul this inner awareness of saul is strange isn't it and have you noticed is strange isn't it and have you noticed how some of the qualities of saul lie in how some of the qualities of saul lie in all of us all of us how sometimes in our own strivings how sometimes in our own strivings sometimes in our weakness in sin sometimes in our weakness in sin although we know what the purpose of god although we know what the purpose of god is and what we should do yet we is and what we should do yet we sometimes strive against it knowing how sometimes strive against it knowing how vain it is and how useless to pursue the vain it is and how useless to pursue the path that was chosen and yet we do it path that was chosen and yet we do it how in our daily living outside our how in our daily living outside our equation and out of association with equation and out of association with brethren and sisters we sometimes live brethren and sisters we sometimes live in the land of darkness and in the land in the land of darkness and in the land of the shadow of death and walking it of the shadow of death and walking it willingly willingly and yet in our hearts we know concerning and yet in our hearts we know concerning not david not david but somebody else but somebody else blessed be thou blessed be thou o my lord jesus christ o my lord jesus christ thou shalt do great things thou shalt do great things and thou shalt prevail and thou shalt prevail and he will over all of us in this room and he will over all of us in this room whether we are faithful or unfaithful whether we are faithful or unfaithful the lord jesus will prevail in that day the lord jesus will prevail in that day will he not will he not he could bind us in his bundle he could bind us in his bundle or he can sling us out or he can sling us out and the choice is ours and the choice is ours as it was withdrawal as it was withdrawal so it is with us today so it is with us today david still in fear of saul despite what david still in fear of saul despite what saul has said goes further south and saul has said goes further south and this time he turns over toward the south this time he turns over toward the south west and goes down into the land of the west and goes down into the land of the philistines and on this occasion the philistines and on this occasion the king achish there in ghat gives him a king achish there in ghat gives him a city city and he gives him zig lag which is on the and he gives him zig lag which is on the outer coast i think ziglag originally outer coast i think ziglag originally belonged to judah belonged to judah or benjamin it certainly belonged to the or benjamin it certainly belonged to the children of israel and this city is children of israel and this city is given to david and to his 600 men and to given to david and to his 600 men and to their wives and children and they dwell their wives and children and they dwell there and from that place they go out there and from that place they go out and make excursions of battle and make excursions of battle against the people of the south country against the people of the south country against the amalekites and those tribes against the amalekites and those tribes that wandered in the wilderness and used that wandered in the wilderness and used to come up against the south of israel to come up against the south of israel and they went out and when they went out and they went out and when they went out they brought back no captives they brought back no captives only the spoil not a whisper of what only the spoil not a whisper of what they were doing was to come into achish they were doing was to come into achish king of gas king of gas akash would appear seem to think that akash would appear seem to think that david was in constant conflict with the david was in constant conflict with the children of israel children of israel but he was going up into the south of but he was going up into the south of judah and they judah and they imagined the palestinians imagined in imagined the palestinians imagined in their hearts that david was making their hearts that david was making himself continually the enemy of the himself continually the enemy of the people people but but it so happens that at this time it so happens that at this time the finistines decide to join battle the finistines decide to join battle with the children of israel now i'd like with the children of israel now i'd like you to picture this scene because it's you to picture this scene because it's one of considerable importance one of considerable importance the land of palestine the land of palestine mediterranean sea going up northwards mediterranean sea going up northwards now right northwards to carmel now right northwards to carmel and then coming in the direction and then coming in the direction southeast runs the great valley of southeast runs the great valley of megiddo megiddo great plain of armageddon great plain of armageddon this is the place where mount tabor this is the place where mount tabor stands the place in which we can find stands the place in which we can find jezreel the place where mount gilboa is jezreel the place where mount gilboa is to be found and shunam to be found and shunam and so there begins to march northwards and so there begins to march northwards the army of the philistines not through the army of the philistines not through the land of judah the land of judah in inside the land but at that strip of in inside the land but at that strip of land that green strip of land by the land that green strip of land by the coast coast and the philistines march and the philistines march and david and his 600 behind them and david and his 600 behind them to do battle to the children of israel to do battle to the children of israel with the children of israel i wonder with the children of israel i wonder what david thought as he went north what david thought as he went north had he made a mistake in committing had he made a mistake in committing himself to the philistines well that's himself to the philistines well that's for you to decide for you to decide it's something on which there is no it's something on which there is no comment in scripture comment in scripture the lord does bless david even the lord does bless david even throughout all these circumstances but throughout all these circumstances but now he was in the predicament i'm sure now he was in the predicament i'm sure which exercised his conscience which exercised his conscience tremendously is he going to fight tremendously is he going to fight against the children of israel or is he against the children of israel or is he not going to fight not going to fight he's been faithful to gath he's been faithful to gath to akish king of gas decree says i found to akish king of gas decree says i found no fault in him at all while he's been no fault in him at all while he's been with me david had seen to it that he didn't but he certainly hadn't found any faults but he certainly hadn't found any faults and they marched north and saul and his and they marched north and saul and his armies marched northwards until they are armies marched northwards until they are pitched on the southern side of the pitched on the southern side of the plain of megiddo and the philistines are plain of megiddo and the philistines are pitched on the northern side they've pitched on the northern side they've come up come up north and come down onto this place and north and come down onto this place and so they are now opposite one another in so they are now opposite one another in their encampments their encampments and the battle is about to be joined and the battle is about to be joined the saul the saul is distraught is distraught he has no message from god of any kind he has no message from god of any kind neither by dream nor by any kind of neither by dream nor by any kind of vision yorim and thummim have forsaken vision yorim and thummim have forsaken him he still has his own priest his own him he still has his own priest his own high priest there are two at this time a high priest there are two at this time a priest with david and a priest with saul priest with david and a priest with saul but he gets no answer from god at all but he gets no answer from god at all and he's never seen samuels since the and he's never seen samuels since the day that samuel rejected him it says day that samuel rejected him it says quite clearly in that chapter 15th quite clearly in that chapter 15th chapter of first samuel that saul chapter of first samuel that saul never saw samuel again until the day of never saw samuel again until the day of his death his death from that day of rejection from that day of rejection with whom then is he to consult with whom then is he to consult is there anybody that he can approach is there anybody that he can approach and so out of the darkness of his mind and so out of the darkness of his mind swimming up from the bottom right from swimming up from the bottom right from that 15th chapter that 15th chapter first samuel rebellion is as the sin of first samuel rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft witchcraft is there a witch is there a witch is there some is there some medium here medium here and his servants of course knew that and his servants of course knew that saul had in the beginning of his reign saul had in the beginning of his reign put down all witches and all those who put down all witches and all those who were against god in that way were against god in that way his enthusiasm was great at the his enthusiasm was great at the beginning beginning he put his hand to the plow but he'd he put his hand to the plow but he'd look back look back and he would never enter into the and he would never enter into the kingdom of god kingdom of god he had great possibilities he had great possibilities even as though even as though he had been one of us baptized he had been one of us baptized and set on the way to the kingdom and set on the way to the kingdom then he turned the plow and gone another then he turned the plow and gone another way way his pharaoh was never straight his pharaoh was never straight he never bring forth fruit unto he never bring forth fruit unto righteousness righteousness but thorns and thistles but thorns and thistles that which was displeasing to god he that which was displeasing to god he said yes we found a medium we found said yes we found a medium we found somebody and so by night saul and some somebody and so by night saul and some of his men of his men leave where they are on the south leave where they are on the south of this great valley and they go behind of this great valley and they go behind the army of the philistines until they the army of the philistines until they come to the place of endor where the come to the place of endor where the witch is witch is he comes to her this great man and asks whether he might consult but she says you know that saul has put but she says you know that saul has put to death all the witches and all people to death all the witches and all people of that kind i i i don't enter into this of that kind i i i don't enter into this but he presses upon her and his servants but he presses upon her and his servants with him with him and she asks him and she asks him whom shall i bring up whom shall i bring up he said samuel he said samuel she said right away thou saw she said right away thou saw until he's got to quiet and her until he's got to quiet and her feelings of fear that he might on the feelings of fear that he might on the spot put her to death spot put her to death he's too weak a man now to put her to he's too weak a man now to put her to death death she is the stronger oh but there's a she is the stronger oh but there's a stronger than both of them there stronger than both of them there for out of this circumstance it appears for out of this circumstance it appears that god himself works that god himself works but this was not just between the witch but this was not just between the witch and between saul and between saul for the lord here is now going to for the lord here is now going to deliver a message and whether samuel deliver a message and whether samuel himself appears personally is a matter himself appears personally is a matter of course of some controversy but of course of some controversy but certainly the words that this woman is certainly the words that this woman is caused to speak an act which saul caused to speak an act which saul himself is caused to hear himself is caused to hear and is caught afresh upon his mind is a and is caught afresh upon his mind is a message direct from god and perhaps in message direct from god and perhaps in those words in the first samuel 15 that those words in the first samuel 15 that saul never saw samuel until the day of saul never saw samuel until the day of his death his death now receives a fulfillment now receives a fulfillment because as their springs to the mind of because as their springs to the mind of this this woman what's all once woman what's all once there also springs to her something there also springs to her something beyond her own control beyond her own control but she herself is afraid but she herself is afraid when she sees the old man with the when she sees the old man with the mantle why hast thou disquieted me to bring me up to bring me up and saw now in all his poverty and saw now in all his poverty says that he's bereft of every vision of says that he's bereft of every vision of god and where there is no vision the god and where there is no vision the people perish people perish and that's precisely the message that and that's precisely the message that samuel was now to deliver unto saul he samuel was now to deliver unto saul he had no message of comfort no word to had no message of comfort no word to give to him and saul hears the words that by this time tomorrow both thou and thy sons time tomorrow both thou and thy sons shall be with me just an interesting side comment there they were all going to be comment there they were all going to be the righteous and the unrighteous in the the righteous and the unrighteous in the same place tomorrow saul with samuel same place tomorrow saul with samuel samuel with jonathan and the rest samuel with jonathan and the rest of his sons of his sons all their tomorrow and so saul is about all their tomorrow and so saul is about to set back through the night but no the to set back through the night but no the woman prevails upon him to take a meal woman prevails upon him to take a meal all his strength is gone and he's cast all his strength is gone and he's cast down upon the ground but his servants down upon the ground but his servants and she herself and she herself prevail upon him and he takes a little prevail upon him and he takes a little sustenance sustenance meanwhile in the camp of the philistines meanwhile in the camp of the philistines there's some disturbance there's some disturbance for there the lords of the philistines for there the lords of the philistines who've marched on before and akish who've marched on before and akish coming on behind have come into this coming on behind have come into this great array moved up their army to the great array moved up their army to the place ethic where where battles had place ethic where where battles had taken place before this is the place taken place before this is the place where balak and deborah had entered into where balak and deborah had entered into conflict with cicero you remember in conflict with cicero you remember in this battle also later on josiah was to this battle also later on josiah was to meet with pharaoh nico and his in this meet with pharaoh nico and his in this very place very place according to scripture there will be a according to scripture there will be a great and final conflict and here it is great and final conflict and here it is that saul's army is pitched on mount that saul's army is pitched on mount gilboa and david is coming into a ray on gilboa and david is coming into a ray on the other side and the philistines say the other side and the philistines say who's this who's this and aiki says this is and aiki says this is david but isn't it this the servant of david but isn't it this the servant of saul they said saul they said haven't we got a traitor in our midst haven't we got a traitor in our midst send him back and so it isn't the lords send him back and so it isn't the lords of the philistines the five lords of the of the philistines the five lords of the philistines prevail upon akish philistines prevail upon akish a name like pharaoh achish of gay and so a name like pharaoh achish of gay and so it is that david is to be sent back and it is that david is to be sent back and yet david seems to be hesitant i don't yet david seems to be hesitant i don't think he really was i think this was a think he really was i think this was a great relief to him he seems to be great relief to him he seems to be hesitant for the moment and says what hesitant for the moment and says what evil have i done and achy says nothing evil have i done and achy says nothing at all but returns him southward and so at all but returns him southward and so it is at the hundred mile march begins it is at the hundred mile march begins again southward which it looks as though again southward which it looks as though david and his men perform in three days david and his men perform in three days from the place where they're pitched from the place where they're pitched right down to ziglag and as his men right down to ziglag and as his men march southward and come to ziglag march southward and come to ziglag it isn't there just smoldering ruins left no people no people no possessions no possessions and for once and for once this seems to be the only time this seems to be the only time until later after david jones sinned until later after david jones sinned the 600 men turn against him and there the 600 men turn against him and there are murmurs in the camp about stoning are murmurs in the camp about stoning him him but he takes consultation with god and but he takes consultation with god and asks whether he should pursue the force asks whether he should pursue the force that has overtaken ziggler his home that has overtaken ziggler his home abigail is gone abigail is gone a he know him the jesuits the wives of a he know him the jesuits the wives of the 600 men have gone nothing has left the 600 men have gone nothing has left all their children and all their all their children and all their possessions and just a smoking smoking possessions and just a smoking smoking ruin is left there behind ruin is left there behind but god says pursue but god says pursue and they pursue and go on and on and they pursue and go on and on but there's still no sight of those but there's still no sight of those who raided their home and burned it to who raided their home and burned it to the ground the ground until they come across until they come across a man lying on the ground a man lying on the ground an egyptian an egyptian a servant a servant who is sick who is sick and you know and you know that was the undoing of the amalekites that was the undoing of the amalekites a man had ill-treated his servant a man had ill-treated his servant and they lost a battle it was only an egyptian you can get servants any day anywhere you can get servants any day anywhere you can buy them for money and we've you can buy them for money and we've taken plenty of money from zig lag taken plenty of money from zig lag the servant can't march he's sick leave the servant can't march he's sick leave him behind and so the whole of the him behind and so the whole of the amalekites and their company go amalekites and their company go southward and leave one man a sick southward and leave one man a sick egyptian behind egyptian behind but that's all that the lord requires but that's all that the lord requires and the egyptian communicates to david and the egyptian communicates to david and to his company who it is and where and to his company who it is and where they are and where they might be found they are and where they might be found at this time and so out of sickness at this time and so out of sickness out of weakness out of weakness the lord brings forth strength the lord brings forth strength and so david and his men march they've and so david and his men march they've done 100 miles in three days and they're done 100 miles in three days and they're still marching southwards still marching southwards and they can't keep pace and they can't keep pace they've got to split up into two they've got to split up into two companies some men are too sick too companies some men are too sick too tired too wayne too faint and weary to tired too wayne too faint and weary to march further and david leaves them march further and david leaves them behind with the stuff david is still behind with the stuff david is still marching marching until they come that night upon the until they come that night upon the great company of the amalekites and see great company of the amalekites and see all their encampment and their dancing all their encampment and their dancing and rioting at night and rioting at night and david and his men and david and his men finally enter into the encampment finally enter into the encampment and there's a great slaughter that seems and there's a great slaughter that seems to last a whole day either from the to last a whole day either from the evening to the following morning evening to the following morning or from the morning the following or from the morning the following morning until the following evening it's morning until the following evening it's not absolutely certain because of this not absolutely certain because of this matter of evenings being spoken of in matter of evenings being spoken of in jewish-wise as either the beginning or jewish-wise as either the beginning or the end of the day it matters not there the end of the day it matters not there was a conflict for the whole of the day was a conflict for the whole of the day and the only people that escaped the and the only people that escaped the amalekites were some young men who rode amalekites were some young men who rode away on camels away on camels but david recovered his family but david recovered his family he recovers everything he recovers everything lady takes spoil of the america lady takes spoil of the america themselves and comes northward with all themselves and comes northward with all his stuff his stuff and they come after marching for a and they come after marching for a little time upon the company that had little time upon the company that had been left behind sitting down weary and been left behind sitting down weary and those who fought the battle said those who fought the battle said too bad too bad you can't share the spoil with us you can't share the spoil with us but david was aware of the law shall we but david was aware of the law shall we have a look at it it's in numbers have a look at it it's in numbers chapter 31 the conscience of david and the way he imposes his will imposes his will the will of god upon his people is the will of god upon his people is remarkable even though he's no he's not remarkable even though he's no he's not king and has no true authority king and has no true authority yet he constantly brings to bear the yet he constantly brings to bear the principles of the righteousness of god principles of the righteousness of god he exercises them in himself and he he exercises them in himself and he expects his servant so to do in numbers expects his servant so to do in numbers 31 i think at verse 25 and the lord spake unto moses saying and the lord spake unto moses saying take the sum of the prey that was taken take the sum of the prey that was taken both of man and of beast both of man and of beast thou and elias are the priests and the thou and elias are the priests and the chief fathers of the congregation and chief fathers of the congregation and divide the prey into two parts divide the prey into two parts between them that took the war upon them between them that took the war upon them who went out to battle and between all who went out to battle and between all the congregation there was a principle the congregation there was a principle laid down by the lord laid down by the lord the men of battle were not to be the men of battle were not to be separate from the people of the separate from the people of the congregation nor the people of the congregation nor the people of the congregation from the men of battle they congregation from the men of battle they were one in the sight of god and so it were one in the sight of god and so it was to be with david if he'd allowed was to be with david if he'd allowed this this division to appear between his men he division to appear between his men he would never have held them together would never have held them together there would have been envian strife there would have been envian strife between them but by bringing to bear the between them but by bringing to bear the principles that god had laid down so principles that god had laid down so they divide the spoil and in their they divide the spoil and in their triumph they return together and to triumph they return together and to ziglag ziglag we go now northwards to the battle we go now northwards to the battle that's about to be joined i wonder how that's about to be joined i wonder how saul entered into that battle how would saul entered into that battle how would you have entered if you knew that that you have entered if you knew that that day was to be your day of death day was to be your day of death the enemy comes heavily upon saul the enemy comes heavily upon saul jonathan is fighting there as bravely as jonathan is fighting there as bravely as he can he can with the remainder of saul's family the with the remainder of saul's family the philistines press upon them in this philistines press upon them in this great valley until they've got the great valley until they've got the whole the children of israel upon mount whole the children of israel upon mount gilboa and they're firing at them with gilboa and they're firing at them with their arrows their arrows for david there'd been an arrow of for david there'd been an arrow of deliverance deliverance but the saw an arrow of death but the saw an arrow of death it entered into him and he's wounded by it entered into him and he's wounded by the archers the archers i think he's still fighting very hard i think he's still fighting very hard until finally the philistines are about until finally the philistines are about to come upon him and he asks his armor to come upon him and he asks his armor bearer to put him to death bearer to put him to death that he call not into the hand of these that he call not into the hand of these uncircumcised philistines uncircumcised philistines but this man won't perform the work of but this man won't perform the work of his master these men who wouldn't slay his master these men who wouldn't slay the priests of the lord neither will the priests of the lord neither will they touch the lord's anointed and so it they touch the lord's anointed and so it says that saul falls upon his sword and says that saul falls upon his sword and falls unto the ground falls unto the ground and saul is dead and saul is dead and jonathan is dead and jonathan is dead and all the glory of israel is laid low and all the glory of israel is laid low when in the morning the philistines come when in the morning the philistines come and look through the hosts for the spoil and look through the hosts for the spoil for the bracelets for the bracelets that which is about their ankles for the that which is about their ankles for the garments that are worth taking and for garments that are worth taking and for the weapons that are worthwhile for the the weapons that are worthwhile for the jewels that men carried any possessions jewels that men carried any possessions that they had they come there upon the that they had they come there upon the king king slaying upon the hill they see his crown slaying upon the hill they see his crown and things that belong unto him and things that belong unto him and they take him and they take him and they cut off his head and they cut off his head saul saul like the lion like the lion slain this time by the philistines slain this time by the philistines they've taken their revenge they've taken their revenge and he became no better than goliath in and he became no better than goliath in his death his death although he's one of the chosen of although he's one of the chosen of israel israel and they take him and put his head in and they take him and put his head in the house of dagon and they take his the house of dagon and they take his body and they hang it from the wall of body and they hang it from the wall of bethshan a city north of the plain of bethshan a city north of the plain of megiddo which seems already to have been megiddo which seems already to have been either in allegiance with or in either in allegiance with or in possession of the philistines and so the possession of the philistines and so the bodies also have saul's sons bodies also have saul's sons and do despite unto them and hang them and do despite unto them and hang them in the sun in the sun and there comes a message right over the and there comes a message right over the river river straight over jordan straight over jordan right onto the other side to the long right onto the other side to the long long memories of the men of jabesh long memories of the men of jabesh gilead gilead you remember you remember saul had delivered them saul had delivered them when the ammonites wished to put out when the ammonites wished to put out their right eyes their right eyes and now right at the end of his and now right at the end of his reign when he is dead and can no longer reign when he is dead and can no longer receive their thankfulness they send out receive their thankfulness they send out brave men from jabish gilead and they go brave men from jabish gilead and they go up to the walls of bethshan and take up to the walls of bethshan and take down the bodies of saul and of his sons down the bodies of saul and of his sons and carry them through the night down and carry them through the night down across the river jordan and bring them across the river jordan and bring them to jabez gilead to jabez gilead where they burned them where they burned them and bury their bones and bury their bones and david was mightily touched and david was mightily touched by that active affection and of by that active affection and of allegiance allegiance to a dead man to a dead man the message now comes right south to the message now comes right south to david david what would you have said what would you have said if your enemy was dead if your enemy was dead second samuel second samuel chapter one and david verse 17 lamented with this lamentation over saul lamented with this lamentation over saul and over jonathan his son and over jonathan his son also he bad them teach also he bad them teach the children of judah the use or the the children of judah the use or the song of the bow song of the bow behold it is written in the book of behold it is written in the book of the upright that's the meaning of the the upright that's the meaning of the word word now i'd like us to look now i'd like us to look at verses 19 to 27 at verses 19 to 27 and to enter into the feelings of david and to enter into the feelings of david when he thinks both of saul in all that when he thinks both of saul in all that he might have been and all he was at one he might have been and all he was at one time in his beauty of character time in his beauty of character and of jonathan his love and of jonathan his love and notice how and notice how david david blots out the iniquity of saul blots out the iniquity of saul and holds nothing against him the and holds nothing against him the judgment was not to be his judgment was not to be his but to be that of god but to be that of god shall we read this together shall we read this together and enter into the feelings of this and enter into the feelings of this lamentation lamentation inspired by god no doubt inspired by god no doubt as david as david writes down with poetry writes down with poetry his inner sorrows his inner sorrows verse 19 the beauty of israel is slain upon thy high places high places how are the mighty how are the mighty fallen tell it not in gath fallen tell it not in gath publish it not in the streets of ascalon publish it not in the streets of ascalon lest the daughters of the philistines lest the daughters of the philistines rejoice rejoice lest the daughters of the uncircumcised lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph triumph ye mountains of gilbert ye mountains of gilbert let there be no dew let there be no dew neither let there be rain upon you neither let there be rain upon you nor fields of offerings nor fields of offerings for there the shield of the mighty is for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away vilely cast away the shield of saul the shield of saul as though he had not been anointed with as though he had not been anointed with oil oil from the blood of the slain from the blood of the slain from the fat of the mighty from the fat of the mighty the bow of jonathan turned not back the bow of jonathan turned not back and the sword of saul returned not empty and the sword of saul returned not empty saul and jonathan were lovely and saul and jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives pleasant in their lives and in their death they were not divided and in their death they were not divided they were swifter than eagles they were swifter than eagles they were stronger than lions they were stronger than lions ye daughters of israel weep over saul ye daughters of israel weep over saul who clothed you in scarlets with other who clothed you in scarlets with other delights delights who put on ornaments of gold upon your who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel apparel how are the mighty fallen in the midst how are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle of the battle oh jonathan oh jonathan thou were slain in thine high places thou were slain in thine high places i am distressed for thee my brother i am distressed for thee my brother jonathan jonathan very pleasant hast thou been unto me very pleasant hast thou been unto me thy love to me was wonderful thy love to me was wonderful passing the love of women passing the love of women how are the mighty fallen how are the mighty fallen and the weapons of war perished and the weapons of war perished and those brethren and sisters who and those brethren and sisters who from time to time have in their studies from time to time have in their studies to study the classics of rome or of greece or of greece or the books of or the books of britain to enter into the poetry of britain to enter into the poetry of great men great men [Music] [Music] will never find anything to excel the will never find anything to excel the beauty beauty of this kind of expression that is here of this kind of expression that is here read it time and time again and notice read it time and time again and notice the feelings in the heart of david i'm sure he was distressed he was distressed before jonathan died he was distressed before jonathan died when he stood on the northern side of when he stood on the northern side of the valley the valley and jonathan was on the south and jonathan was on the south notice the allegiance of jonathan notice the allegiance of jonathan sticks to his father right after the day sticks to his father right after the day of death of death fought fought with the lords anointed with the lords anointed you see neither david nor jonathan you see neither david nor jonathan would betray the lord's anointed would betray the lord's anointed and it cost jonathan his life and one and it cost jonathan his life and one wonders sometimes but why was it that wonders sometimes but why was it that god allowed jonathan to die god allowed jonathan to die but isn't that the question that we but isn't that the question that we asked time and time again about the asked time and time again about the death of the righteous it was right that he should die it was the right time it was the right time and jonathan was ready for death and jonathan was ready for death he required nothing else neither a seat he required nothing else neither a seat at the side of david at the side of david for any kind of honor from david for any kind of honor from david to make him righteous or lovely to make him righteous or lovely yes truly david and jonathan yes truly david and jonathan were separated were separated at the day of jonathan's death at the day of jonathan's death but they will be united but they will be united in the day of the resurrection in the day of the resurrection when one who has loved them with a love when one who has loved them with a love surpassing the love of women surpassing the love of women who himself was greatly distressed on who himself was greatly distressed on our behalf our behalf and delivered us from the streets of the and delivered us from the streets of the uncircumcised uncircumcised and brought us unto himself and brought us unto himself and has taught us and has taught us the song of the bow and has written our the song of the bow and has written our names in the book of the upright names in the book of the upright even the lord jesus christ himself shall even the lord jesus christ himself shall bless us and jonathan bless us and jonathan will greet john the baptist will greet john the baptist two lesser lights two lesser lights made to shine brightly in the firmament made to shine brightly in the firmament of god's heaven it's now brother and sisters with saul dead that one would think that dead that one would think that immediately the kingdom would fall right immediately the kingdom would fall right into the hands of david but he's down in into the hands of david but he's down in the south in ziglag right on the borders the south in ziglag right on the borders of the land of the philistines and of the land of the philistines and remember that saul is of the tribe of remember that saul is of the tribe of benjamin benjamin and the benjamites are going to be and the benjamites are going to be faithful to him faithful to him they stick to him they stick to him as does abner and the soldiers the host as does abner and the soldiers the host they remain faithful unto saul for some they remain faithful unto saul for some considerable time considerable time now david moves northwards and comes now david moves northwards and comes into hebron into hebron now hebron is a city of refuge now hebron is a city of refuge i'd like you to notice that it's a city i'd like you to notice that it's a city of refuge of refuge and it's in hebron and it's in hebron that david becomes first of all that david becomes first of all enthroned enthroned he sent all his presence he sent all his presence to the men of the south of judah sent to the men of the south of judah sent presently taken from zig lag sent spoil presently taken from zig lag sent spoil that he'd taken to many of the places to that he'd taken to many of the places to which david and his men had paid visits which david and his men had paid visits during the days when david was outlawed during the days when david was outlawed lots of those southern villages were lots of those southern villages were faithful to david no doubt they gave him faithful to david no doubt they gave him provisions water words of encouragement provisions water words of encouragement perhaps an opportunity of communal perhaps an opportunity of communal worship from time to time and it's to worship from time to time and it's to them that david sent his messages of them that david sent his messages of love and a thanks and he comes up he's love and a thanks and he comes up he's anointed king over judah in hebron and anointed king over judah in hebron and it's in this place that he reigns for it's in this place that he reigns for seven and a half years seven and a half years he becomes king there in hebron for he becomes king there in hebron for seven and a half years seven and a half years he sends a message right northwards he sends a message right northwards across the river jordan to the men of across the river jordan to the men of jabesh gilead jabesh gilead send his greetings to them and his send his greetings to them and his thanks for that which they had done to thanks for that which they had done to saul and to jonathan saul and to jonathan and tries it possible and tries it possible to secure their allegiance he doesn't to secure their allegiance he doesn't for the time being the men of jaibus for the time being the men of jaibus gilead are going to be faithful to saul gilead are going to be faithful to saul they wouldn't have fetched his body they wouldn't have fetched his body otherwise otherwise and in the north right there on the and in the north right there on the other side of the river jordan in a city other side of the river jordan in a city called mayhem where jacob met called mayhem where jacob met the angel of the lord in that city the angel of the lord in that city saul's son saul's son is crowned king of the ten is crowned king of the ten northern tribes it's interesting there's northern tribes it's interesting there's a kind of division at this time perhaps a kind of division at this time perhaps 11 tribes in effect 11 tribes in effect are included in this and he's crowned are included in this and he's crowned king and he reigns there for two years a king and he reigns there for two years a mayhem on the other side jordan and mayhem on the other side jordan and abner the captain of the host is the one abner the captain of the host is the one who crowned him king and who stands who crowned him king and who stands faithful to him faithful to him abner faithful to saul this delights abner faithful to saul this delights david he's a man that delights in david he's a man that delights in allegiance in faithfulness of spirit and allegiance in faithfulness of spirit and that's precisely what abner is willing that's precisely what abner is willing to show to his dead master and now to to show to his dead master and now to his master son his master son but after two years there comes about a but after two years there comes about a meeting meeting a meeting between abner and joab a meeting between abner and joab they come down to a place where they they come down to a place where they meet meet and they bring their men with them it's and they bring their men with them it's rather a peculiar meeting and one tries rather a peculiar meeting and one tries to bring out of the record to bring out of the record what one can what one can they meet at a pool in gibeon they meet at a pool in gibeon and there's an account there's a kind of and there's an account there's a kind of athletic match there athletic match there i don't quite understand this this i don't quite understand this this encounter but it looks as though 12 men encounter but it looks as though 12 men from one side and 12 from the other from one side and 12 from the other enter into a kind of battle enter into a kind of battle before all the people almost as though before all the people almost as though they were themselves to decide who was they were themselves to decide who was to be victorious between the two to be victorious between the two opposing armies although so far there opposing armies although so far there has been no mention of battle has been no mention of battle but in their strange encounter it says but in their strange encounter it says that each man took hold of his opponent that each man took hold of his opponent and ran him through with his sword and ran him through with his sword and all men fall down to the ground and all men fall down to the ground in a great bloody heap in a great bloody heap and as soon as that's over so it is that and as soon as that's over so it is that the men of the south under joab the men of the south under joab go northwards in pursuit of abner and go northwards in pursuit of abner and his host his host and abner escapes but joab abhishai and abner escapes but joab abhishai and asa hell pursue and ace of hell is and asa hell pursue and ace of hell is light a foot he's like a row on his feet light a foot he's like a row on his feet it says and he's in pursuit of abner an it says and he's in pursuit of abner an abner as he abner as he goes in flight from the battle keeps goes in flight from the battle keeps looking over his shoulder and ace the looking over his shoulder and ace the hell is coming on behind hell is coming on behind and he recognizes ace the hell and he recognizes ace the hell he knows who he is he knows who he is an ace of hell is a young man an ace of hell is a young man who seems hot who seems hot in pursuit of abner as though he's in pursuit of abner as though he's determined to do a duty for david and to determined to do a duty for david and to put abner to death put abner to death an abner is most reluctant in any way to an abner is most reluctant in any way to do death unto a sahel he tells him to do death unto a sahel he tells him to turn her aside to the right or to the turn her aside to the right or to the left but asahel keeps on coming coming left but asahel keeps on coming coming coming until abner sees that it's a coming until abner sees that it's a matter either of his own life or that of matter either of his own life or that of acer hell acer hell and no young soldier can fight against and no young soldier can fight against an experienced hand like abner an experienced hand like abner just with a deft movement of his spear just with a deft movement of his spear and abner is fallen from behind and abner is fallen from behind and falls to the ground and falls to the ground and jab and dabbish i find him and jab and dabbish i find him the job never forgot the death of his the job never forgot the death of his brother brother he saw his blood he saw his blood the young man left in the way the young man left in the way until it is they pursue northwards until it is they pursue northwards northwards northwards in great slaughter northwards northwards in great slaughter until finally abner says until finally abner says unless this stops there'll be nothing unless this stops there'll be nothing left of our people and so they return each to his own place and abner remains still faithful and abner remains still faithful throughout this time throughout this time and to saul and to saul so when the years have been finally so when the years have been finally accomplished accomplished so it is that saul so it is that saul and his kingdom saul's kingdom is and his kingdom saul's kingdom is finally turned unto david

Transcript

this is the voice of wilbraham in august 1961 in august 1961 brother harry tennant of dundee scotland brother harry tennant of dundee scotland chose as his subject chose as his subject david david the shepherd the shepherd king we take pleasure now in presenting king we take pleasure now in presenting brother tennant brother tennant in the fourth of seven class sessions uh just for those who wanted psalms by the way some people said could they have the way some people said could they have psalm numbers here they are psalm numbers here they are you know psalm numbers referring to the you know psalm numbers referring to the life of david these are possibilities 101 and 24 to do with the bringing up of the ark number 30 the dedication of david's own house number 20 and 21 and 21 going out to battle and returning psalms 32 and 51 in connection with sin numbers 3 4 4 63 63 in connection with absalom in connection with absalom and his rebellion 36 51 51 62 62 109 and psalms 27 27 and 28 and 28 david's exile from jerusalem david's exile from jerusalem now if anyone wants them again now if anyone wants them again afterwards i'll be glad to be of help we have reached the position now where david has been position now where david has been enthroned in hebron he was 30 years old enthroned in hebron he was 30 years old when he was made king and he reigns in when he was made king and he reigns in hebron for seven and a half years hebron for seven and a half years where where on the other side of jordan we can still on the other side of jordan we can still see abner with ish bosheth as king over see abner with ish bosheth as king over israel and so those two opposing forces israel and so those two opposing forces have been at war for two years we saw have been at war for two years we saw the great battle yesterday which was the great battle yesterday which was resolved by the southern forces being resolved by the southern forces being victorious victorious hell joab's brother was slain in battle hell joab's brother was slain in battle and now after a little time abner the and now after a little time abner the captain of the host of the northern captain of the host of the northern forces is accused of misconduct with forces is accused of misconduct with saul's concubine saul's concubine and we'll have perhaps a little more to and we'll have perhaps a little more to say about the nature of that kind of say about the nature of that kind of offense later on offense later on and it is that as soon as he is accused and it is that as soon as he is accused he resents it strongly one can't say he resents it strongly one can't say whether he's guilty though possibly he whether he's guilty though possibly he is so is so and he immediately switches his and he immediately switches his affection from ishbosheth saul's son affection from ishbosheth saul's son although he's a benjamite to david in although he's a benjamite to david in the south the south and he sends down messengers to david and he sends down messengers to david saying that he knows that david has been saying that he knows that david has been appointed king by god appointed king by god over the whole of israel and now he over the whole of israel and now he would like to come down and make a would like to come down and make a league with david and so he comes down league with david and so he comes down and meets david in hebron and he brings and meets david in hebron and he brings with him 20 servants and they sit with with him 20 servants and they sit with david at table and have meal david at table and have meal and during that time joab and abishai and during that time joab and abishai his brother and the forces of david are his brother and the forces of david are out fighting out fighting and an agreement is reached between and an agreement is reached between david and abner david and abner as to the unity of the kingdom as to the unity of the kingdom conditions are laid down conditions are laid down one of which is that michael saul's one of which is that michael saul's daughter should be returned to david daughter should be returned to david and abner bids farewell and leaves the and abner bids farewell and leaves the city of refuge hebron and sets out city of refuge hebron and sets out northward northward he's hardly left the place before joab he's hardly left the place before joab is back with the forces and word comes is back with the forces and word comes to joab that abner has been in the camp to joab that abner has been in the camp and job is rough with the king and says and job is rough with the king and says you allowed the murderer of my brother you allowed the murderer of my brother to come down and to talk with him to come down and to talk with him and to let him go free and to let him go free he says nothing further he says nothing further but he sends out a secret message to but he sends out a secret message to abner and to his twenty men who've now abner and to his twenty men who've now reached a little well a distance away reached a little well a distance away from hebron from hebron and the way the message comes to the and the way the message comes to the well that david well that david would like to have further conference would like to have further conference with amna with amna an abba returns with his men and he an abba returns with his men and he comes down and approaches the city of comes down and approaches the city of hebron and comes between the two walls hebron and comes between the two walls of the city of the city two the two walls that ring the city two the two walls that ring the city he's just between the two when job steps he's just between the two when job steps out from between them with abhishe eye out from between them with abhishe eye behind him behind him speaks as it were for a moment to joab speaks as it were for a moment to joab and runs him straight through and runs him straight through and kills him on the spot and kills him on the spot there could have been nothing more there could have been nothing more calculatedly cold i think calculatedly cold i think than jobs action and if you and if one than jobs action and if you and if one is to think about it is to think about it as to his behavior particularly as we as to his behavior particularly as we see it there in the city of refuge the see it there in the city of refuge the very place to which a man who was a very place to which a man who was a murderer murderer could come and seek trial if even if he could come and seek trial if even if he were guilty were guilty and that joab should in complete and that joab should in complete disrespect and disregard of god's law disrespect and disregard of god's law murder abner murder abner puts a mark upon his character joab is a puts a mark upon his character joab is a complex enigmatic character complex enigmatic character he has a wonderful allegiance to david he has a wonderful allegiance to david and i think to himself and i think to himself he's patriotic in the extreme he's patriotic in the extreme yet i think he's desiring the whole time yet i think he's desiring the whole time to retain his rank as captain over the to retain his rank as captain over the forces forces he's a servant of god after he's been a he's a servant of god after he's been a servant servant of himself of himself of the kingdom as a patriot of the kingdom as a patriot then he begins to observe the word of then he begins to observe the word of god he speaks of god god he speaks of god and yet i think that as we can see here and yet i think that as we can see here he would disregard god's law and that he would disregard god's law and that with impunity with impunity now now as soon as abner was dead a situation as soon as abner was dead a situation was created that could have immediately was created that could have immediately exploded and prevented the unity of the exploded and prevented the unity of the kingdom and it's here that david's kingdom and it's here that david's statesmanship statesmanship as well as his wonderful conscience as well as his wonderful conscience shine through shine through we find here that as soon as this we find here that as soon as this happens he completely dissociates happens he completely dissociates himself from the murder himself from the murder he sends message right throughout the he sends message right throughout the whole of israel whole of israel that there will be for abner that there will be for abner a state funeral and the benjamites who very well could have turned against david have turned against david are moved by david's own action are moved by david's own action he pronounces a curse upon joab a curse he pronounces a curse upon joab a curse i think which isn't worked out until the i think which isn't worked out until the time that solomon comes to the throne time that solomon comes to the throne but the difference between but the difference between asa hell's death by abner you remember asa hell's death by abner you remember in was in battle and it says so in the in was in battle and it says so in the word distinctly word distinctly and that of abner is that abner abner and that of abner is that abner abner was a calculated murder was a calculated murder and there was and there was in the eyes of god and in our own eyes in the eyes of god and in our own eyes of course of course a difference a difference in those two deaths and a curse is in those two deaths and a curse is pronounced upon joab well the funeral pronounced upon joab well the funeral takes place and again it's strange how takes place and again it's strange how in circumstances like this david is able in circumstances like this david is able as it were to well up in both poetry as it were to well up in both poetry and in mourning at the same time and in mourning at the same time should abner die as a fool diet should abner die as a fool diet thy hands were not bound thy hands were not bound nor thy feet put in fetters nor thy feet put in fetters as a man fall it before wicked men as a man fall it before wicked men so fellaist thou and david and joab and joab come behind as the body goes on to its come behind as the body goes on to its burial burial and all israel is moved by the wonder of and all israel is moved by the wonder of david's love for abner and his respect david's love for abner and his respect for him as a man for him as a man and joab and joab strangely it seems is strangely it seems is compelled by the king's command to take compelled by the king's command to take his place his place behind the man behind the man whom he has murdered how strange a whom he has murdered how strange a procession procession one would think that job should have one would think that job should have been taken right away and tried been taken right away and tried and perhaps in some way he should but and perhaps in some way he should but his death will come at the appointed his death will come at the appointed time time and it will be because of this act of and it will be because of this act of murder and of that murder and of that other act which he will perform later on other act which he will perform later on the job is marked out now as a man who the job is marked out now as a man who when he wishes will move by himself when he wishes will move by himself among men with no respect for god and among men with no respect for god and not even respect for his king but not even respect for his king but respect for himself respect for himself if abner had been accepted by david who if abner had been accepted by david who would have been captain of the host would have been captain of the host abner abner with probably more men under him with probably more men under him than joab or joab than joab or joab and joab resolves that and joab resolves that without troubling to receive the word of without troubling to receive the word of the king the king and so it is that as soon as this and so it is that as soon as this message reaches the north ish bersheth message reaches the north ish bersheth saul's son is murdered by two men who saul's son is murdered by two men who bring down his head to david as witness bring down his head to david as witness that they are servants of david and the that they are servants of david and the kingdom has been delivered to him and kingdom has been delivered to him and david stands aghast when he sees it david stands aghast when he sees it he said that he was sorry enough when he said that he was sorry enough when he'd learned of the death of abner and he'd learned of the death of abner and would he have wished for the death of would he have wished for the death of saul's son saul's son and he has the men who do this foul deed and he has the men who do this foul deed executed executed immediately immediately in his presence in his presence now one master stroke is performed by now one master stroke is performed by david at this time it's interesting to david at this time it's interesting to see how even though he's a man of god see how even though he's a man of god he's also a man of wonderful common he's also a man of wonderful common sense and wisdom sense and wisdom remember right back in the deuteron in remember right back in the deuteron in deuteronomy god had said that in the deuteronomy god had said that in the name in in the place in which he would name in in the place in which he would put his name there would israel worship put his name there would israel worship and although jerusalem up to this time and although jerusalem up to this time had been partially in the hands of the had been partially in the hands of the children of israel it had never been children of israel it had never been fully in their hands and there was as it fully in their hands and there was as it were the fortress the hill were the fortress the hill the walled part the walled part of what would become jerusalem quite of what would become jerusalem quite isolated from the rest of jerusalem isolated from the rest of jerusalem and there were in this city the and there were in this city the jebusites jebusites and they were so confident that it was and they were so confident that it was impossible for a man ever to take impossible for a man ever to take their city their city and their citadel that they were able to and their citadel that they were able to say over the walls to those who came to say over the walls to those who came to attack them attack them unless you come and take out of this unless you come and take out of this city the blind men and the lame you'll city the blind men and the lame you'll never take it never take it and that became a saying amongst the and that became a saying amongst the people people but david said but david said whoever it is whoever it is that takes this city that takes this city he will become captain he will become captain established as captain established as captain over my host over my host and of course and of course joab is no coward joab is no coward although he can engineer that he might although he can engineer that he might be captain he can also do it in a be captain he can also do it in a valiant spirit and he seeks out a way in valiant spirit and he seeks out a way in which he can work through and find which he can work through and find access to the city of the jebusites access to the city of the jebusites they have to bring water into the city they have to bring water into the city and he discovers and this place has been and he discovers and this place has been discovered since the very spot has been discovered since the very spot has been discovered by which joe had entered into discovered by which joe had entered into the city the city he had to go 50 feet westward under the he had to go 50 feet westward under the city following a watercourse city following a watercourse no doubt he'd have to crawl on hands and no doubt he'd have to crawl on hands and knees knees or bent as he walked through and then or bent as he walked through and then when he'd walk through the 50 feet there when he'd walk through the 50 feet there was a shaft 100 feet high down which was a shaft 100 feet high down which they drop their buckets to take up the they drop their buckets to take up the water from below water from below and joab works his way up 100 feet and joab works his way up 100 feet until he's into the city and by having until he's into the city and by having gained excess so he can bring with him gained excess so he can bring with him those who will finally take the city of those who will finally take the city of the jebusites and it becomes the the jebusites and it becomes the stronghold of zion the city is taken and stronghold of zion the city is taken and jerusalem is now established jerusalem is now established by david under the guidance of god by david under the guidance of god according to deuteronomy as the place according to deuteronomy as the place that god has marked out the king is that god has marked out the king is there the city is established but we there the city is established but we have yet to see the ark of the lord have yet to see the ark of the lord brought into that city and so it is that brought into that city and so it is that these thoughts must have been in the these thoughts must have been in the mind of david as soon as he is mind of david as soon as he is established king nor established king nor messages come from the north from hiram messages come from the north from hiram king of tyre to greet him an age-old king of tyre to greet him an age-old friend it seems in some way of israel friend it seems in some way of israel tyre and sidon for a long time were not tyre and sidon for a long time were not enemies of israel enemies of israel and they send greetings to david as and they send greetings to david as later on greetings would come down to later on greetings would come down to solomon the philistines attack and david solomon the philistines attack and david repels the repulses this force that repels the repulses this force that comes against his kingdom comes against his kingdom and they and they they sink back into their own kingdom of they sink back into their own kingdom of philistia they're not destroyed they philistia they're not destroyed they have yet to come up again and david will have yet to come up again and david will have to work out his plan whereby they have to work out his plan whereby they will be completely subdued will be completely subdued but where is the ark of the lord but where is the ark of the lord we've seen already that there has been a we've seen already that there has been a very strange way in which worship has very strange way in which worship has been taking place in israel in fact so been taking place in israel in fact so many things are strange about this time many things are strange about this time the violence of men the violence of men the multiplicity of wives the multiplicity of wives the apparent lack of the execution of the apparent lack of the execution of the word of god at the very moment when the word of god at the very moment when it should be carried out the separation it should be carried out the separation of the ark from the tabernacle how could of the ark from the tabernacle how could the tabernacle exist without the ark and the tabernacle exist without the ark and how could the ark exist without the how could the ark exist without the tabernacle but they did tabernacle but they did and even during the lifetime of david and even during the lifetime of david there was no never complete unity there was no never complete unity between these two between these two and so it seems that in some way either and so it seems that in some way either because of the weakness of the flesh of because of the weakness of the flesh of men men and i think that probably is the real and i think that probably is the real reason reason and not because the revelation and not because the revelation is progressive and not yet complete i is progressive and not yet complete i think it's the weakness of men the word think it's the weakness of men the word was there as to what they should have was there as to what they should have done but the men were not able to done but the men were not able to accomplish it not even david i think we accomplish it not even david i think we ought perhaps to try to understand ought perhaps to try to understand something of what david was doing in something of what david was doing in welding together a kingdom welding together a kingdom this had never been done before as david this had never been done before as david was to do it and we shall see that as was to do it and we shall see that as the center of david's life is god so the the center of david's life is god so the center of his kingdom becomes god center of his kingdom becomes god that could never have been said of saul that could never have been said of saul his javelin his javelin was his center and mark of office but was his center and mark of office but david considers himself to be anointed david considers himself to be anointed of god and we know that he is and the of god and we know that he is and the oil of anointing oil of anointing the spirit of god is the center of the spirit of god is the center of david's kingdom and so they go to bring david's kingdom and so they go to bring up the ark from kerjath jiren this is up the ark from kerjath jiren this is right down right down away to the away to the west from jerusalem between west from jerusalem between the land of the philistines and the land of the philistines and jerusalem itself you remember that after jerusalem itself you remember that after the ark had been captured the ark had been captured by the philistines it was returned by the philistines it was returned came into the field at beth shemesh and came into the field at beth shemesh and the men of that city saw the ark and it the men of that city saw the ark and it was finally put into a house in kirjath was finally put into a house in kirjath jiren there are two names for that city jiren there are two names for that city in the records but the name we'll use in the records but the name we'll use for this purpose is kerjaf jiren it's for this purpose is kerjaf jiren it's been there for 20 years been there for 20 years and now david decides to bring it up and now david decides to bring it up with shouting and with 30 000 men what a gathering of people he can gather his men to battle he can gather his men to battle he can gather his men to worship he can gather his men to worship this is the power this spirit of david this is the power this spirit of david and so as they gather and bring up the and so as they gather and bring up the ark ark out of the house out of the house so it is so it is that they march forward with the ark that they march forward with the ark upon a new cart upon a new cart and as they're going up toward jerusalem and as they're going up toward jerusalem david happy-hearted david happy-hearted and all the people rejoicing that once and all the people rejoicing that once again again this center of their worship is to this center of their worship is to become the center of their lives and not become the center of their lives and not on its outer fringe on its outer fringe so they come to the place of a threshing so they come to the place of a threshing floor and the option that a drawing this floor and the option that a drawing this cart stumble cart stumble whether of the will of god whether of the will of god or whether some accidental stumbling is or whether some accidental stumbling is a question which each of us can answer a question which each of us can answer for himself but i'm quite certain in my for himself but i'm quite certain in my own mind own mind the lord had so designed the lord had so designed that the oxen should stumble that the oxen should stumble and that david and all the people should and that david and all the people should learn their lesson if the ark is to be learn their lesson if the ark is to be the center of the worship of god and if the center of the worship of god and if david and his people are to respect the david and his people are to respect the word of god there must be respect from word of god there must be respect from the beginning the beginning otherwise this word of god otherwise this word of god will be ignored in greater things later will be ignored in greater things later on and so the oxen stumble on the ark on and so the oxen stumble on the ark it's two feet ten by one foot nine by it's two feet ten by one foot nine by one foot nine lurches over and azer one foot nine lurches over and azer stretches forth his hand stretches forth his hand to prevent it falling to the ground and to prevent it falling to the ground and no doubt he does no doubt he does but other is consumed of the lord but other is consumed of the lord a dead man and david doesn't know what to do he's stricken by fear he's stricken by fear he's stricken by a kind of anger against he's stricken by a kind of anger against god god a displeasure surges within him a displeasure surges within him he determined to worship god and god had he determined to worship god and god had turned him back how easy to bring the turned him back how easy to bring the ark unto jerusalem and so the thirty thousand who came down hoping to go back with the ark hoping to go back with the ark are sent away in sadness it will not be are sent away in sadness it will not be the only time that we shall see david the only time that we shall see david and his people sad together and his people sad together but the ark is turned aside but the ark is turned aside into the house of obed edom into the house of obed edom the gitit the gitit now there are those who have thought now there are those who have thought about this story about this story here in the old testament here in the old testament that in its harshness harshness that in its harshness harshness it could never show forth the love of it could never show forth the love of god but the god who performed this act god but the god who performed this act is not the god of our new testament is not the god of our new testament but their lie around this very simple but their lie around this very simple record again brought together in that record again brought together in that book i mentioned blunts book i mentioned blunts undesigned scriptural coincidences undesigned scriptural coincidences a number a number of very interesting of very interesting features that established at the record features that established at the record is quite true is quite true now i'll try to summarize them and um now i'll try to summarize them and um perhaps we can have a look at one or two perhaps we can have a look at one or two of these things of these things um um numbers chapter numbers chapter 4 and verse 15. it's quite clear here in this chapter who it is who should carry and deal with who it is who should carry and deal with the ark the ark as i had no place unless he belonged to as i had no place unless he belonged to these people verse 15 and when aaron and his sons have made an and when aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary and all end of covering the sanctuary and all the vessels of the sanctuary as the camp the vessels of the sanctuary as the camp is to set forward is to set forward after that after that the sons of cohab shall come to bear it the sons of cohab shall come to bear it but they shall not touch any holy thing but they shall not touch any holy thing unless they die unless they die these things are the burden of the sons these things are the burden of the sons of kohaf of kohaf in the tabernacle of the congregation in the tabernacle of the congregation it's quite clear isn't it that the it's quite clear isn't it that the keratites are the ones who should bear keratites are the ones who should bear the ark it is to be carried not upon a the ark it is to be carried not upon a cart but upon the shoulders of men cart but upon the shoulders of men no worship of god is to be born by men no worship of god is to be born by men not upon a cart but even these karthites not upon a cart but even these karthites were not to see the ark themselves it were not to see the ark themselves it was to be covered by aaron and his sons was to be covered by aaron and his sons the very center the high priest the very center the high priest and his sons were to go in and they were and his sons were to go in and they were to cover the ark and they would do it in to cover the ark and they would do it in a specific way for the eyes of one man a specific way for the eyes of one man only looked upon that ark and that upon only looked upon that ark and that upon the day of atonement once in the year the day of atonement once in the year and so the idea that and so the idea that it should have been carried upon a cart it should have been carried upon a cart was against the will of god was against the will of god go a little further now and have a look go a little further now and have a look at chapter 16. now korra the son of isha the son of isha the son of kohath the son of levi and the son of kohath the son of levi and dathan and obairam the sons of eliab and dathan and obairam the sons of eliab and on the son of pilath sons of reuben took on the son of pilath sons of reuben took men now this is the chapter of the men now this is the chapter of the murmuring and of the rebellion and we murmuring and of the rebellion and we might think once again that these lists might think once again that these lists of names that we have found sometimes to of names that we have found sometimes to be useful and sometimes a burden these be useful and sometimes a burden these lists of names are an embarrassment but lists of names are an embarrassment but no there's a mark here no there's a mark here korra korra is the son of cohath is the son of cohath and it's the keratites who should bear and it's the keratites who should bear the ark of the lord the ark of the lord now if we go to joshua chapter 21 we now come to the division of the land division of the land by its cities by its cities joshua chapter 21 and the allocation joshua chapter 21 and the allocation of the cities of the cities to the tribes to the tribes and and to the levites here we read in verse 24 in verse 24 verse 20 verse 20 and the families of the children of and the families of the children of kohath kohath the levites the levites which remained of the children of kohaf which remained of the children of kohaf what did they what did they have have had certain cities we go through them had certain cities we go through them there there right down to verse 24 agilon with her suburbs gath gath women with her suburbs women with her suburbs four four cities cities now gath now gath is the origin of gitaites is the origin of gitaites and the ark was turned aside into the and the ark was turned aside into the house of house of obedient obedient the guitar the guitar and so it is that there now is a link and so it is that there now is a link between the very man to whom they commit between the very man to whom they commit the ark the ark and the very word of god and the very word of god and when we read the record of and when we read the record of chronicles it's quite clear that both chronicles it's quite clear that both david and all the people came to realize david and all the people came to realize that god smote other because they had that god smote other because they had not sought god after the dew order it not sought god after the dew order it says that's the reason says that's the reason and so it is that from this time and and so it is that from this time and there are other verses which one can use there are other verses which one can use in support of this matter without in support of this matter without laboring the point so it is that obed laboring the point so it is that obed edom is a man appointed edom is a man appointed a man who should in the first place a man who should in the first place have brought up the ark so david has have brought up the ark so david has learned his lesson learned his lesson and they do bring up the ark and they do bring up the ark from the house of obedient from the house of obedient having learned of god having learned of god but in the same way that god can smite but in the same way that god can smite so he can bless as soon as art went into so he can bless as soon as art went into the house of obama the git the lord the house of obama the git the lord began to bless his household and the began to bless his household and the word came to david that the house of word came to david that the house of obedient has been blessed since the ark obedient has been blessed since the ark came to rest with him came to rest with him so when it's with the wrong man so when it's with the wrong man the lord punishes when it's with the the lord punishes when it's with the right man the lord blesses not because right man the lord blesses not because it is an ark of wood it is an ark of wood covered with gold and because the covered with gold and because the cherubim are upon it but because this cherubim are upon it but because this represents the living god and his mercy represents the living god and his mercy and the mercy of god can only be and the mercy of god can only be received after the due order received after the due order men can't dictate to god the principles men can't dictate to god the principles upon which he will receive them upon which he will receive them whether they will be baptized or not whether they will be baptized or not baptized whether they will break bread baptized whether they will break bread or not break bread whether anybody can or not break bread whether anybody can break bread or only those who belong to break bread or only those who belong to the lord jesus christ the lord jesus christ and so it was here that the lord laid and so it was here that the lord laid down his principles right at the down his principles right at the beginning that david in his mightiness beginning that david in his mightiness might know might know that there is a mightier than thou that there is a mightier than thou that there is a god in heaven that there is a god in heaven and before him and before him we are all as the dust of the earth and we are all as the dust of the earth and that should he withdraw his breath and that should he withdraw his breath and his spirit all flesh would perish his spirit all flesh would perish together now come to psalm 24. as being the psalm of the ark coming up to jerusalem and of david in his rejoicing bringing it up he comes up with wearing a linen it up he comes up with wearing a linen ephod ephod not because he was a priest but because not because he was a priest but because he was like a priest he was like a priest we're like the priest who should be we're like the priest who should be in righteousness in righteousness now i wanted to read this psalm together now i wanted to read this psalm together until we get some change in the volume until we get some change in the volume of our voices of our voices versus one and two strong versus one and two strong tones in those verses the power of god tones in those verses the power of god verses three and four the question verses three and four the question holding back the volume of our words holding back the volume of our words verse five we can begin to swell forth verse five we can begin to swell forth and in verse six and in verse six and now we've come to the very gates of and now we've come to the very gates of jerusalem itself jerusalem itself and we stand outside to say lift up your and we stand outside to say lift up your heads or ye gates and be lift up the heads or ye gates and be lift up the everlasting doors and the king of glory everlasting doors and the king of glory shall come in shall come in and i'd like just the sisters in verse 8 and i'd like just the sisters in verse 8 to ask the question who is the king of to ask the question who is the king of glory glory and also in verse 10 and all of us to and also in verse 10 and all of us to swell forth with the answer just the swell forth with the answer just the sisters with the one question in verse 8 sisters with the one question in verse 8 who is the king of glory and in verse who is the king of glory and in verse 10. right psalm 24 24 the earth is the lord's and the fullness the earth is the lord's and the fullness thereof thereof the world and they that dwell therein the world and they that dwell therein for he hath founded it upon the seas for he hath founded it upon the seas and established it upon the floods and established it upon the floods who shall ascend into the hill of the who shall ascend into the hill of the lord lord and who shall stand in his holy place and who shall stand in his holy place he that hath clean hands and a pure he that hath clean hands and a pure heart heart who hath not lifted up his soul unto who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity vanity nor sworn deceitfully nor sworn deceitfully he shall receive the blessing from the he shall receive the blessing from the lord and righteousness from the god of lord and righteousness from the god of his salvation his salvation this is the generation of them that seek this is the generation of them that seek him him that seek thy face o jacob lift up your heads o ye gates and ye lift up ye everlasting doors and ye lift up ye everlasting doors and the king of glory shall come in the lord strong and mighty the lord mighty in battle the lord mighty in battle lift up your heads o ye gates lift up your heads o ye gates even lift them up ye everlasting doors even lift them up ye everlasting doors and the king of glory shall come in the lord of hosts here's the king of glory just a little comment on the word sila i know it's a custom generally to read i know it's a custom generally to read it it it seems to be a mark rather not to be it seems to be a mark rather not to be read but an instruction read but an instruction whether one reads it is another matter whether one reads it is another matter but it seems to be an instruction of but it seems to be an instruction of either to the musicians to withhold either to the musicians to withhold their music their music while the congregations think while the congregations think or vote for there to be some music or vote for there to be some music while the congregations think but the while the congregations think but the idea is meditate upon that david comes into jerusalem dancing before the ark of god before the ark of god when he comes to the ark he looks when he comes to the ark he looks through a window or rather his wife is through a window or rather his wife is looking through a window looking through a window but david dancing in the presence of the but david dancing in the presence of the ark ark michael michael saul's daughter saul's daughter and he sees the king without his royal and he sees the king without his royal robe robe without any special mark that he is the without any special mark that he is the king king how could david wear a royal robe when how could david wear a royal robe when he's asking the question who is the king he's asking the question who is the king of glory of glory is it i no the lord of hosts he is the is it i no the lord of hosts he is the king of glory and so he takes off that king of glory and so he takes off that royal robe and dances before god in royal robe and dances before god in delight wearing only a garment of linen delight wearing only a garment of linen to mark the righteousness he that hath to mark the righteousness he that hath clean hands clean hands other's hand or david's hands and michael looks through the window and michael looks through the window [Music] in her heart oh she'd love david oh she'd love david i think she'd loved him as a man i think she'd loved him as a man for there is no doubt that he was for there is no doubt that he was handsome to look at handsome to look at a man of war a man of war a man to be acclaimed of the people a man to be acclaimed of the people but she hadn't seen david's heart but she hadn't seen david's heart she'd been taken from him she's now been she'd been taken from him she's now been restored to him brought to david by restored to him brought to david by abner with her husband weeping abner with her husband weeping as she came away as she came away weeping as she came from the town of weeping as she came from the town of bahurim and she comes and was restored bahurim and she comes and was restored to david and would have been to favor to david and would have been to favor and she could have been established in and she could have been established in the house of david as a worshiper of god the house of david as a worshiper of god but she was her father's daughter not just by flesh but she despised david but she despised david because she didn't understand the because she didn't understand the spiritual things spiritual things and so david instructs her and so david instructs her haven't you understood haven't you understood michael michael what this is all about haven't you seen what this is all about haven't you seen why god chose me before your father what why god chose me before your father what the reason was the reason was and michael of course will never grasp and michael of course will never grasp the spiritual things now the spiritual things now and david has no further association and david has no further association with her and uh there is perhaps a little comment there there about the relationship between david and about the relationship between david and his wives his wives we perhaps we perhaps as we go along shall see a little as we go along shall see a little something of this matter for us i think something of this matter for us i think it's difficult to understand the it's difficult to understand the multiplicity of wives multiplicity of wives or of concubines handmaidens or of concubines handmaidens seems to have existed for at least a seems to have existed for at least a thousand years no longer than that thousand years no longer than that almost from immediately after the flood almost from immediately after the flood it's not according to the basic will of it's not according to the basic will of god that they should be in any household god that they should be in any household that kind of arrangement that kind of arrangement one man one man one wife to represent the unity between one wife to represent the unity between god and his earth between christ and his god and his earth between christ and his church and anything other than that church and anything other than that destroys both the figure destroys both the figure and the nature of the man with his wife and the nature of the man with his wife but but as this system grew up it seems that it as this system grew up it seems that it was in part sanctified by the nature of was in part sanctified by the nature of the men who took part in it the men who took part in it even so even so much that the 12 tribes spring out not much that the 12 tribes spring out not out of one woman out of one woman but out of four but out of four and uh and uh so it is with god that he so it is with god that he he granted a blessing even though he he granted a blessing even though he didn't approve basically of that which didn't approve basically of that which was taking place and he finally designs was taking place and he finally designs to eradicate it and so it seems that to eradicate it and so it seems that after the exile in babylon this has gone after the exile in babylon this has gone we find that the lord jesus christ as we find that the lord jesus christ as not to discuss that subject when he not to discuss that subject when he talks with his people in his day talks with his people in his day the perfect pattern one man and one wife the perfect pattern one man and one wife and in this period and in this period the wrath of god the wrath of god is not manifest toward those who are not is not manifest toward those who are not able or do not keep this command i think able or do not keep this command i think if a man enters into this kind of if a man enters into this kind of arrangement arrangement with the basic lust and greed with the basic lust and greed of a man whose passions of a man whose passions are not in accordance with god are not in accordance with god then surely that would have been then surely that would have been displeasing to him i don't think david displeasing to him i don't think david entered into that kind of arrangement entered into that kind of arrangement with his wives with his wives except for a moment except for a moment and god dealt with that right away he has children by different by different wives and with different results wives and with different results he marries somebody right up from the he marries somebody right up from the north near syria north near syria the daughter the daughter of a king there of a king there and by her and by her absalom is born absalom is born and we shall see later on the results of and we shall see later on the results of that unity that unity it now so happens that when david has it now so happens that when david has reached jerusalem with the ark and his reached jerusalem with the ark and his own house is built there that he own house is built there that he suddenly feels that there's something suddenly feels that there's something incongruous incongruous about his own living about his own living and the living of god and the living of god he dwells in a house that's established he dwells in a house that's established a house of cedar a house of cedar hiram king of tyre has been his servant hiram king of tyre has been his servant and all the wealth of david's kingdom and all the wealth of david's kingdom begins to flow in because the lord begins to flow in because the lord establishes him establishes him and he feels and he feels that the lord ought to have a more that the lord ought to have a more appropriate dwelling appropriate dwelling than the one he has got than the one he has got now shall we go to second samuel chapter now shall we go to second samuel chapter seven seven where he expresses this and where nathan where he expresses this and where nathan the prophet the prophet listens to what david has to say listens to what david has to say ii samuel chapter seven i think basically david's feelings were right right in the sense that he knew that there in the sense that he knew that there must be finally some permanence for the must be finally some permanence for the home of god home of god verse one and it came to pass when the verse one and it came to pass when the king sat in his house you see that's king sat in his house you see that's what what brought forth the thought brought forth the thought and i think brother and sisters here in and i think brother and sisters here in the united states at home the united states at home in britain when we sit in our own houses in britain when we sit in our own houses we ought to think of the place in which we ought to think of the place in which we worship we worship do we give it the attention do we give it the attention that we give to our own homes that we give to our own homes do we do we which comes first the house of god or which comes first the house of god or our own house our own house maybe the house of our own house comes maybe the house of our own house comes first in point of building or first in point of building or establishing as it did with david but establishing as it did with david but first in our hearts first in our hearts we shall see that david was willing to we shall see that david was willing to devote devote all his wealth to the house of god and i all his wealth to the house of god and i think we should think we should similarly be willing to make proper similarly be willing to make proper devotion of our substance devotion of our substance to the place to the place in which our worship is conducted in which our worship is conducted and the king had given him rest the lord and the king had given him rest the lord had given him rest round about from all had given him rest round about from all his enemies his enemies to the king said unto nathan the prophet just a thumbnail sketch of nathan he's a prophet he is a rebuker he is he is an instructor of solomon an instructor of solomon and he is a divine and he is a divine historian historian so just think of him in those terms so just think of him in those terms but he's not quite sure of himself here but he's not quite sure of himself here at least at least god shows him that nathan too requires god shows him that nathan too requires instruction instruction see now i dwell in a house of cedar but see now i dwell in a house of cedar but the ark of the lord dwelleth in curtains the ark of the lord dwelleth in curtains and nathan said to the king go and nathan said to the king go do all that is in thine heart for the do all that is in thine heart for the lord is with thee lord is with thee and he came to pass that night the word and he came to pass that night the word of the lord came unto nathan saying go of the lord came unto nathan saying go and tell my servant david thus says the and tell my servant david thus says the lord shalt thou build me and house lord shalt thou build me and house for me to dwell in for me to dwell in whereas i have not dwelt in any house whereas i have not dwelt in any house since the day since the day that i brought up the children of israel that i brought up the children of israel out of egypt even unto this day but have out of egypt even unto this day but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle walked in a tent and in a tabernacle just one word brothers and sisters that just one word brothers and sisters that i never noticed in that verse before i never noticed in that verse before the lord walked even though the ark was at rest as it were in the tabernacle the lord had were in the tabernacle the lord had something in his mind beyond that something in his mind beyond that he wasn't at rest he wasn't at rest he was walking he was walking he wouldn't be at rest he wouldn't be at rest until the day when he will make the until the day when he will make the place of the souls of his feet place of the souls of his feet glorious that's the day when finally there will be complete rest meanwhile as we see be complete rest meanwhile as we see here the lord walks the tabernacle is here the lord walks the tabernacle is only a temporary place the lord wonders only a temporary place the lord wonders with israel with israel and so he now speaks to david and and and so he now speaks to david and and tells him that he will build him a house tells him that he will build him a house and establish it firmly and establish it firmly and that forever and that in the and that forever and that in the presence of david himself presence of david himself there are here intertwined two promises there are here intertwined two promises a promise that concerns solomon a promise that concerns solomon certainly but a promise that reaches out certainly but a promise that reaches out right beyond that time for as david says right beyond that time for as david says is this the manner of man oh lord is this the manner of man oh lord is this law is this arrangement that is this law is this arrangement that which can concerns just man's which can concerns just man's arrangement arrangement and his very question is the answer and his very question is the answer for david knows that this is right for david knows that this is right beyond him and he uses one word beyond him and he uses one word in this chapter and similarly elsewhere in this chapter and similarly elsewhere to describe his state of mind to describe his state of mind he calls himself he calls himself thy servant twelve times it occurs thy servant twelve times it occurs thy servant thy servant and not only that and not only that but god both in that fifth verse but god both in that fifth verse and later on uses the word concerning and later on uses the word concerning david himself he says go david himself he says go and tell my servant david and tell my servant david brethren sisters that's all it requires brethren sisters that's all it requires this is required isn't it this is required isn't it just that word that's all that god just that word that's all that god requires of us requires of us my servant my servant what did he say about moses what did he say about moses to joshua to joshua moses moses my servant my servant is dead is dead that's how he regarded him that's how he regarded him not the mediator appointed by me not the not the mediator appointed by me not the leader of my people leader of my people not the king over israel here but not the king over israel here but my servant and what does paul say and ourselves and ourselves your servants your servants for jesus sake for jesus sake and the lord jesus christ and the lord jesus christ he himself thy holy child jesus in the he himself thy holy child jesus in the acts of the apostles the revised version acts of the apostles the revised version thy holy servant thy holy servant behold my servant behold my servant see him rise exalted in my might him see him rise exalted in my might him have i chosen and in him have i chosen and in him i have supreme delight i have supreme delight my servant my servant shall we remember that brother and shall we remember that brother and sisters and try to practice it sisters and try to practice it in our daily living david humility here who am i and what is my house oh lord let thy and what is my house oh lord let thy name be magnified and let the house of name be magnified and let the house of david thy servant be established david thy servant be established and so the matter of the ark was taken and so the matter of the ark was taken out out of the hands of david there was to be no of the hands of david there was to be no permanent place for the ark which david permanent place for the ark which david could build could build but the lord himself had seen beyond but the lord himself had seen beyond this time that there was to be a man this time that there was to be a man who could build a house in which david could dwell david could dwell and not god in a house and not god in a house that david had built that david had built and now david establishes around himself and now david establishes around himself his kingdom he's ringed around with his kingdom he's ringed around with enemies even as the land of palestine is enemies even as the land of palestine is today today we find that the philistines come up we find that the philistines come up twice twice and the lord and the lord grants a blessing to david grants a blessing to david and in the second battle the lord and in the second battle the lord himself himself produces an ambush by which the produces an ambush by which the philistines are routed and then david philistines are routed and then david goes across the river and fights the goes across the river and fights the murabites he goes north to the syrians murabites he goes north to the syrians and subdues them and even establishes and subdues them and even establishes troops right northwards in damascus troops right northwards in damascus he smites amalek and edom right down in he smites amalek and edom right down in the south and coming up around the the south and coming up around the southeast southeast and finally he's going to close in and and finally he's going to close in and attack the ammonites and so right round attack the ammonites and so right round david has subdued the whole kingdom david has subdued the whole kingdom and begins to flow into him into him a and begins to flow into him into him a great wealth from these kingdoms great wealth from these kingdoms his rulers are there in the cities his rulers are there in the cities and they begin to pay tribute to david and they begin to pay tribute to david and david looks around and david looks around establishes his kingdom establishes his kingdom joabo with the host joabo with the host a high hood the recorder zadok under him a high hood the recorder zadok under him elect the priests zadok have been high elect the priests zadok have been high priest for saul ahimalek had been high priest for saul ahimalek had been high priest for david and the two were priest for david and the two were brought together just for some time brought together just for some time benaya is over the personal bodyguard of benaya is over the personal bodyguard of david the lifeguards i think we might david the lifeguards i think we might call them call them those soldiers that stand around david those soldiers that stand around david his own personal servants and banaya is his own personal servants and banaya is over those and he's going to prove a over those and he's going to prove a very reliable man very reliable man and sariah is the scribe the the and sariah is the scribe the the recorder for the kingdom the one who recorder for the kingdom the one who sets down the things that are done sets down the things that are done and then david looks round and then david looks round and there comes to his mind and there comes to his mind a field and a man with tears bidding him goodbye bidding him goodbye the lord be between me and thee the lord be between me and thee and between my seed and thy seed forever and between my seed and thy seed forever jonathan is there yet any of the house of jonathan jonathan to whom i might show kindness to whom i might show kindness he says he says how that must have moved the benjamites how that must have moved the benjamites who could have been his enemies who could have been his enemies continually continually and it so was and it so was that in the north there was a child the that in the north there was a child the son of jonathan son of jonathan that was now lame on its feet that was now lame on its feet there's just a little little sketch there's just a little little sketch given that in the time of the slaughter given that in the time of the slaughter that took place in the north when that took place in the north when ishboshet himself was taken that the ishboshet himself was taken that the nurse picked up jonathan and ran with nurse picked up jonathan and ran with him him jonathan's son and jonathan's son and dropped him dropped him and he became lame on his feet and he became lame on his feet and so he's restored and so he's restored to favor to favor but this time not by the vendomites but but this time not by the vendomites but by david himself by david himself and he's given lands and he's given and he's given lands and he's given zebra to be his servant to manage his zebra to be his servant to manage his estate because he himself was unable to estate because he himself was unable to do it on account of his lameness do it on account of his lameness and now the syrians come down from the and now the syrians come down from the north they've been defeated once but north they've been defeated once but they've come down now as hired they've come down now as hired mercenaries of the ammonites on the mercenaries of the ammonites on the other side of the river other side of the river amman amman you remember the present capital you remember the present capital on the other side of the river on the other side of the river is the place is the place which was finally besieged by david which was finally besieged by david now this siege is interesting now this siege is interesting it shows forth the character of david it shows forth the character of david the character of joab and all the the character of joab and all the intricacies of the human mind intricacies of the human mind when it indulges in sin when it indulges in sin as we read outside our scriptures oh as we read outside our scriptures oh what a tangled web we weave what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive that's one of our lesser poets lesser poets shakespeare i think well now just one little point i'd like to bring just one little point i'd like to bring out about joab before we see him here out about joab before we see him here outside outside amman the capital amman the capital rubber as we know it in our scriptures rubber as we know it in our scriptures he's a man of tremendous courage i don't he's a man of tremendous courage i don't think i'd like to have been in this think i'd like to have been in this battle i haven't got the courage that battle i haven't got the courage that jab had but when he came and saw the jab had but when he came and saw the syrians and the ammonites gathered syrians and the ammonites gathered together and realized that there were together and realized that there were two sets of forces here two sets of forces here he said to abishai you take that side he said to abishai you take that side and i'll take this side and i'll take this side and these are his words and these are his words joab said be of good courage joab said be of good courage let us play the men for our people let us play the men for our people and for the cities of our god and the and for the cities of our god and the law do that which seemeth good law do that which seemeth good now i think that was job's character it now i think that was job's character it got streaks in it got streaks in it uh of unworthiness even from human uh of unworthiness even from human standards but i think that was job's standards but i think that was job's character i think he was a man of character i think he was a man of courage courage and so each of them faces and so each of them faces an army an army and this is the part that partly amuses and this is the part that partly amuses me and yet shows his shows the me and yet shows his shows the faith of joab he says to abhishe now if faith of joab he says to abhishe now if they prove too strong for you i'll come they prove too strong for you i'll come and help you and help you if they prove too strong for me if they prove too strong for me you come and help me but he never said you come and help me but he never said what would happen if what would happen if both sides prove too strong both sides prove too strong [Music] it's just one of those blind spots i suppose that would never happen because suppose that would never happen because they were going to be of good courage they were going to be of good courage and they were to play the men well they and they were to play the men well they defeated these people but they didn't defeated these people but they didn't take the city of rabbah take the city of rabbah and the siege is laid to this city and the siege is laid to this city finally and it continues for a long time finally and it continues for a long time and when the spring time comes the time and when the spring time comes the time when men go out to battle jab and his when men go out to battle jab and his forces are out over the river jordan forces are out over the river jordan besieging this city besieging this city and david is at home and his face changes as we look at him his face changes as we look at him i wonder what he was thinking i wonder what he was thinking when he walked when he walked upon the roof upon the roof of his home that hiram had built of his home that hiram had built what was he thinking what was he thinking we only know one other man who walked we only know one other man who walked upon his roof is not this great babylon that i have great babylon that i have built i wonder whether for a moment he built i wonder whether for a moment he dropped his defenses because if we drop our defenses in one direction direction we've got to be very careful unless we we've got to be very careful unless we drop them in other directions also drop them in other directions also a man who thinks that weakness in one a man who thinks that weakness in one part of his character can be tolerated part of his character can be tolerated and that it will have no effect upon and that it will have no effect upon another part of his character is sorely another part of his character is sorely mistaken as we all know mistaken as we all know for it seems that david for it seems that david had dropped his other defenses also had dropped his other defenses also as he looked out across as he looked out across and saw bathsheba and asked who she was and brought her to him and brought her to him and committed the act which in the sight of god caused great displeasure caused great displeasure what's not everything david's what's not everything david's and why should he touch that which and why should he touch that which belongs to another man belongs to another man and i think perhaps he would have and i think perhaps he would have forgotten the act if bathsheba forgotten the act if bathsheba had not come along to say that there had not come along to say that there were consequences of that act there are consequences to all sins whether visible whether visible or invisible or invisible and so he sends for uriah the hittite and so he sends for uriah the hittite oh david what have you done oh david what have you done you've won the allegiance of a hittite you've won the allegiance of a hittite didn't belong to the children of israel didn't belong to the children of israel and he'd won his allegiance fighting for and he'd won his allegiance fighting for him at the very front him at the very front a man who is named among the thirties 33 a man who is named among the thirties 33 brave men that belong to david and he has betrayed him at the front at the front send him back home send him back home he feeds him well urges upon him that he he feeds him well urges upon him that he should return to his own house but you should return to his own house but you rise a man of greater spirit than that rise a man of greater spirit than that can i he said can i he said and there seems here to be almost a and there seems here to be almost a connection connection between the ark between the ark resting in its curtains and the words of resting in its curtains and the words of you rather hitter can i he says go home you rather hitter can i he says go home while all the rest of the troops are while all the rest of the troops are sleeping out in the field and in the sleeping out in the field and in the tents tents i sleep outside this door i sleep outside this door and so for two nights he does and so for two nights he does and the king can't secure his will and the king can't secure his will then he's sent back then he's sent back with a letter for joab with a letter for joab he takes with him he takes with him from jerusalem from jerusalem on that great descent of four thousand on that great descent of four thousand feet feet down to the river jordan down to the river jordan up over the other side to present to up over the other side to present to joab joab his own death warrant he kept it he was a man of integrity he was a man of integrity and he delivers it to joab and he delivers it to joab i know how joab relishes the situation i know how joab relishes the situation david david in joab's hand in joab's hand from now on jai will hold just that one from now on jai will hold just that one thing blackmail thing blackmail over david over david and so uri the hittite is set into the and so uri the hittite is set into the forefront of the forefront of the battle job assigns him a place where he battle job assigns him a place where he knows that the better will be the knows that the better will be the hardest and uriah the hittite without hardest and uriah the hittite without fear go straight into the battle fear go straight into the battle and he falls and he falls and so it is that message comes to david and so it is that message comes to david about the about the course of the course of the battle david inquires about it battle david inquires about it and they say and they say were the many slain he said yes there were the many slain he said yes there were men slain well why did you get so were men slain well why did you get so near to the wall said david near to the wall said david and your eye the hittite is dead also ah and your eye the hittite is dead also ah well he said well he said the battle takes one as well as it takes the battle takes one as well as it takes another another and all the deceit of david's heart and all the deceit of david's heart which is just like yours isn't it and which is just like yours isn't it and just like mine just like mine comes forward and we see him as a man comes forward and we see him as a man a man requiring one thing a man requiring one thing and that is forgiveness