Audio Access Available Above
"What It Means To Be Called" • 10.11.15 •
Calvary Christian Fellowship, Sunday Morning Service
Intro
- The news of Saul's death has just come from
an Amalekite to David while in Ziklag. The Amalekite, a type of the flesh,
sought reward and favor for his news from Israel's next King.
- Unlike Saul, David will choose not to align
himself with the flesh and executes the Amalekite for his claim. This is a good
start for David. He is done with any reliance upon the flesh.
- His ability to plan and to put himself in a
better position has failed miserably. Now, as his path becomes clear, David
will refuse to live out God's call for his life without God's explicit
direction.
- As we travel through this period of David's
life, we'll see what occurs in David's life as typical steps in the life of
those who are following God's call. We'll get three here today.
I. Confirmation (v.1-7)
II. Opposition (v.8-17)
III. Illustration (v.18-3:1)
Text
I. Confirmation (v.1-7)
• II Samuel 2:1-3 : "It happened after this
that David inquired of the Lord, saying, 'Shall I go up to any of the cities of
Judah?' And the Lord said to him, 'Go up.'
David said, 'Where shall I go up?' And He said, 'To Hebron.' So David went up
there, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow
of Nabal the Carmelite. And David brought up the men who were with him, every
man with his household. So they dwelt in the cities of Hebron." : After Saul's demise, it was obvious that David's time in the
Philistine city of Ziklag was over.
- He began his 16 month sojourn into Philistine
territory to avoid capture and had determined to do so simply by the power of
his own reasoning.
- Even though God had protected David while in Israel,
David was unable to see a clear path toward God's call for his life, so he took
matters into his own hand.
- David's choice to live in Philistia was a
departure from God's land and an attempted departure from God's hand! David took control of his life and
nearly ruined it!
In
this section, we see the opposite set of realities before David. The road
before David is now crystal clear. His enemy has been vanquished and the
Kingdom is his for the taking.
- Instead of leaning upon the
"obvious," "natural" or "logical" conclusions,
David stopped and inquired, or fervently, directly asked God to govern his
course.
- David has learned his lesson! He is done
making life decisions apart from God's direction.
- "Inquiring of the Lord" requires
submitting to the discovery of the Lord's desire for one's life. It requires waiting
upon His clear instruction before committing ourselves to a path.
- Today, we lean upon God's completed Word, the
indwelling of God's Spirit, the practice of prayer and the wonderful assistance
of likeminded brethren that we are in fellowship with.
- David's inquiry begins with the general area
that comprised Judah's possession. This was David's tribe. He knows that this
is the right place, but is it the right time? Both items are necessary.
- Moving ahead in a call from God into the
right place, but at the wrong time, is the wrong way!
- When the Lord responded affirmatively to
David through the Urim and the Thummim, the response was positive. Instead of
charging ahead, David seeks further specific instruction.
- "What exact city shall I go up to?"
Don't content yourself with general questions, especially when God gives
specific understanding to those that ask Him! Why wouldn't you see that wisdom?
- Our passage encourages us to follow suit!
Lord, where is the exact right thing? When is the exact moment? God tells David
that he is to go up to Hebron.
- Hebron, about 20 miles from Jerusalem, means
"association" or, as some have held, "communion." David is
going to again be associated with God and his people in communion.
- By the way, notice that David cannot fulfill
his call from enemy territory! David could never be the King of Israel while
living in Philistia! The same is true for you and I!
- Additionally, God's call will take place
while we are in the closest association or fellowship with the Lord AND with
His people! These are our dual commands: Love God and Love our neighbor!
- Hebron will not be David's final destination,
but it will be a large step in the right direction.
- Armed with the peace and confidence of God's
leading, David relocated his two wives, as well as his 600 men into that region
and dwelt in Hebron's cities.
- David had came into Ziklag to protect himself
and nearly destroyed himself. He led these 1200 supporters right along with
him!
- By God's grace, God is now confirming his
call to bring everyone back into the inheritance of God, into the land of
Israel. That shouldn't encourage anyone to live foolishly.
- But if you have acted independantly from God,
know that if there is a way back, it will be by God's grace alone! David has
the Lord's assurance and is now in the right place.
- The encouragement continues as he receives
his tribe's endorsement. Look at verse 4.
•
II Samuel 2:4-7 : "Then the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king
over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, 'The men of Jabesh Gilead
were the ones who buried Saul.' So David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh
Gilead, and said to them, 'You are blessed of the Lord, for you have shown this
kindness to your lord, to Saul, and have buried him. And now may the Lord show
kindness and truth to you. I also will repay you this kindness, because you
have done this thing. Now therefore, let your hands be strengthened, and be
valiant; for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah has anointed
me king over them.'" : Upon his return into their
area, the men of Judah immediately recognized David as King.
-
Samuel had already anointed David before the Lord in a private ceremony. This
was a public declaration, a recognition of what God had already ordained for
David's life.
-
If a person is called by God, that call will be confirmed by the Lord privately
and by His people publically! These go hand in hand.
-
The leaders of Judah are merely agreeing with God's choice in seeking to
install David as the King. As the King, David's first order of business will be
to deal with the actions of Jabesh Gilead.
-
Out of an allegiance to Saul, they had risked their lives, carrying out a
clandestine mission to retrieve Saul's desecrated body from the wall of Beth
Shan. (I Samuel 31:11-13)
-
They had done this without any thought of reward, but now that David is the
King, it's possible that they may have wondered if there would be retribution!
-
David doesn't rebuke them. He commends them! "May God show you His
goodness. May He strengthen you with His truth!" He even promises to
reward them now that he is the King.
-
He can only hope for their same loyalty, which he asks for. "May your
hands be strengthened" is an invitation for them to extend their loyal
support to him. David will not rule by fear.
-
The largest of Israel's tribes had endorsed David, but even when a call is
confirmed and encouraged, strong opposition remains. Look at verse 8.
II. Opposition (v.8-17)
•
II Samuel 2:8,9 : "But Abner the son of Ner, commander
of Saul’s army, took Ishbosheth the son of Saul and brought him over
to Mahanaim; and
he made him king over Gilead, over the Ashurites, over Jezreel, over Ephraim,
over Benjamin, and over all Israel." : Abner,
Saul's cousin and commander was not willing to give up the power that Saul's
Kingdom afforded him without a fight.
-
Abner had been Saul's cousin and bodyguard. He was used to being near the top
and he had spent the better part of a decade hunting for David.
-
He was invested and was now potentially fueled by having been personally
offended due to the events of I Samuel
26.
-
David had stealthily breached Saul's camp and stole away with his canteen and
spear. Not content to leave well enough alone, David woke the camp up and
called Abner out publically.
•
I Samuel 26:15,16a : "So David
said to Abner, 'Are you not a man? And who is like you in Israel? Why then have
you not guarded your lord the king? For one of the people came in to destroy
your lord the king. This thing that you have done is not good. As the Lord lives, you deserve to die, because
you have not guarded your master, the Lord’s anointed." : You
don't talk to a man like Abner like that!
-
In order to continue his fight against David, Abner re-assembles Saul's power
structure choosing a base of operation for Ishbosheth on the other side of the
Jordan river, in Gilead.
-
From that vantage point, Abner will maintain control of 11 of the 12 tribes, in
what amounts to a final stand against God's choice of David to rule Israel.
-
Abner supposes his strength of numbers will prevail against God's plan, but his
figurehead leaves much to be desired. Verse 10.
•
II Samuel 2:10,11 : "Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, was forty
years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. Only
the house of Judah followed David. And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of
Judah was seven years and six months." Ishbosheth's
name means "man of shame" which some have deduced speaks to a bashful
character.
-
The fact that he survived while his other brothers did not is intriquing.
-
Either he lacked any military involvement due to his "shameful"
constitution, or he was an illegitimate son of Saul's. He had been of age, so
the question certainly lingers.
-
Ishbosheth's reign will last for two years, while David's lasted seven from
Hebron. The chronology indicates that Abner had groomed Ishbosheth for some
time before installing him.
-
With Abner's appointed King in the North and God's annointed King in the South,
it was not going to be long before the two "powers" came into
collision. Take a look at verse 12.
•
II Samuel 2:12-17 : "Now Abner the son of Ner, and the
servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and
the servants of David, went out and met them by the pool of Gibeon. So they sat
down, one on one side of the pool and the other on the other side of the pool. Then Abner said to Joab, 'Let the
young men now arise and compete before us.' And Joab said, 'Let them arise.' So they arose and went over by
number, twelve from Benjamin, followers of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve
from the servants of David. And each one grasped his opponent by the head and thrust his
sword in his opponent’s side; so they fell down together. Therefore that place
was called the Field of Sharp Swords, which is in Gibeon. So there was a very fierce battle
that day, and Abner and the men of Israel were beaten before the servants of
David." : Today, the pool of Gibeon is a 35
foot deep cylindrical hole in the ground. It once served as a giant water
reserve in the arid southern portion of Judah.
-
Abner and his men are well into Judah's territory. His confidence is easily
seen when he suggests this live battle exercise between his and Joab's men.
Joab readily agrees.
-
Notice: David is not pursuing Abner. Abner has come to David. The man who is
called by God is not looking for a fight. The fight though, will eventually
come to him!
-
Twelve men per side suggests that this was a representative competition similar
to what was agreed upon in the David and Goliath story. The implication is that
the winner takes all of Israel.
-
The text indicates that this struggle ended in a grisly way as the 24 men
killed each other, forcing a draw and inciting a battle which involved the
totality of both forces.
-
The author summarizes the day by signifying that Abner's men were beaten by
David's. God was giving victory to David's side. Then, the author zooms in on one
important, illustrative story.
III. Illustration (v.18-3:1)
•
II Samuel 2:18-23 : "Now the three sons of Zeruiah were
there: Joab and Abishai and Asahel. And Asahel was as fleet of foot as a wild
gazelle. So Asahel pursued Abner, and in going he did not turn to the right
hand or to the left from following Abner. Then Abner looked behind him and
said, 'Are you Asahel?' He answered, 'I am.' And Abner said to him, 'Turn aside to your right hand or to your left, and lay hold on one
of the young men and take his armor for yourself.' But Asahel would not turn aside
from following him. So Abner said again to Asahel, 'Turn aside from following
me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How then could I face your brother
Joab?' However, he refused to turn aside. Therefore Abner struck him in the
stomach with the blunt end of the spear, so that the spear came out of his
back; and he fell down there and died on the spot. So it was that as many as
came to the place where Asahel fell down and died, stood still." : The sons of Zeruiah are David's cousins. We've been introduced
to Joab, David's right hand man and the commander of his militia, and his
brother, Abishai, a gifted spearmen.
-
It was Abishai who volunteered to personally spear Saul to the ground! (I Samuel 26:8)
-
All three of these men are devoted to David and all of them are impetuous and
bloodthirsty.
-
Asahel, likely the youngest, means "God made." His specialty was
distance running and was more than likely a simple messenger for David's
militia.
-
When he caught Abner in his sights, he acted like his brothers, employing his
strength for the sake of the battle. Abner noted that he was determined to
catch him and issues a warning.
-
Asahel's lack of preparation for the moment left him unarmed and Abner warned
him to procure something from another combatant. Asahel kept his course.
-
Abner turned and warned Asahel again, letting him know that he was the one that
was actually in danger of losing his life. Undeterred, Asahel charged ahead.
-
When Asahel came close enough, Abner sidestepped him and used the blunt end of
his sword to stop him.
-
Asahel was running so fast, his own momentum gave Abner's blow a lethality that
he did not likely intend. Those who came by and saw Asahel dead, stopped their
own pursuit and gazed in awe.
-
Let us do the same. Here is a gifted man. Here is a devoted man. Here is a man
who ran with all his might, whose lack of defense left him dead on the field of
battle.
-
What a picture to see! Eagerness, excitement, passion, vision and determination
are never enough to immunize you from the death blows that await you when you
are ill equipped!
•
II Samuel 2:24-29 : "Joab and Abishai also pursued Abner. And the sun was going down
when they came to the hill of Ammah, which is before Giah by the road to the
Wilderness of Gibeon. Now the children of Benjamin gathered together behind
Abner and became a unit, and took their stand on top of a hill. Then Abner
called to Joab and said, 'Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that
it will be bitter in the latter end? How long will it be then until you tell
the people to return from pursuing their brethren?' And Joab said, 'As God
lives, unless you had spoken, surely then by morning all the people would have
given up pursuing their brethren.' So Joab blew a trumpet; and all the people
stood still and did not pursue Israel anymore, nor did they fight anymore. Then
Abner and his men went on all that night through the plain, crossed over the
Jordan, and went through all Bithron; and they came to Mahanaim." : Toward the end of the day, Abner's men regrouped and made their
stand on the high ground. From that position of strength, Abner called for a
cease fire.
-
His words are noble and do betray a bit of regret for the way things had gone
that day. It's also probable that he was betting on the brothers being unaware
of Asahel's death.
-
When he calls for this cease fire, Joab knew that they would have to wait for
another day to put Abner and Ishbosheth's forces down. With that Abner escaped
back toward Saul's fortress.
•
II Samuel 2:30-32 : "So Joab returned from pursuing
Abner. And when he had gathered all the people together, there were missing of
David’s servants nineteen men and Asahel. But the servants of David had
struck down, of Benjamin and Abner’s men, three hundred and sixty men who died.
Then they
took up Asahel and buried him in his father’s tomb, which was in Bethlehem. And
Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at daybreak." : The numbers tell the tale. David's force had lost 20 men, but
Abner's force had lost 360 men.
-
Without trying and without even knowing, God's choice and approval of David's
reign began to show. Asahel was buried properly and Joab made his way back
toward David's headquarters.
-
He has practical proof that God has been working for him, but notice one last
important note.
•
II Samuel 3:1 : "Now, there was a long war between the house of Saul and the
house of David. But David grew stronger and stronger and the house of Saul grew
weaker and weaker." : David's call, which had been
confirmed by God, endorsed by Judah and opposed by Abner, would inevitably
prevail! There was a long war.
-
That is something that you and I need to count on. Spiritual war is inevitable,
necessary and fitting for the life of a Christian soldier! The enemy will never
relent!
-
But when a person is called by God and committed to His ways, there will be
increasing victory! David's house grew progressively stronger by the day!
-
With every passing day, David's forces became more and more expert in their
battle saavy. For the person who is called, the exercise of battle only
strengthens us.
-
We at our best when we are tested and tried. As we submit ourselves to the Lord,
there is increasing strength to be found.
-
We soon discover that our formerly fearsome enemy has become a much less
imposing foe!
-
The house of Saul, which opposed God's appointed man, digressively became
weaker, as the same battles which strengthened David, crippled them!
-
The writing is on the wall when God's man or woman embraces their call! It's
faith to faith and strength to strength for the believer.
Conclusion
- Certainly, on the historical plane, you can see
David's trajectory clearly. He has been called to be the King, it has been
confirmed by God and His people and has been opposed by the enemy.
- David's forces are continually being
strengthened and Abner's force is being depleted.
- On the spiritual plane, you and I must seek
first God's Kingdom and the call that He has placed upon our lives. Are we wise
enough to confirm that call with God and with His people?
- Are we wise enough to expect conflict and
opposition from the enemy? Are we prepared to do battle and delight in little victories
rather than sweeping and final defeats?
- Unfortunately, there are too many like
Asahel, who run forward in all their gifting and with all their excitement,
whose momentum brings them to an untimely demise! What a warning!
- Of course, we must see the redemptive plane.
David typifies our King, who was confirmed by men to be innocent of all charges
worthy of death. They made up charges and killed Jesus anyway!
- He died in our place, for our sins, absorbing
the totality of God's righteous wrath in His body!
- When Jesus Christ rose from the dead, God
confirmed that this Jesus was and is the Messiah, who is appointed and approved
by heaven, worthy of all human trust.
- Although the war was won and the victory was
complete, the enemy continues his assault upon the Lord's saints and His
Kingdom!
- Because Jesus lives forever, the truth will
be that God's saints and His Kingdom will progressively and powerfully eclipse
the power of Satan. Long live the King!
No comments:
Post a Comment