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The Absalom Conspiracy Part 3 of 4
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Like! Share! Subscribe! Today David flees Jerusalem, leaving it primed for Absalom's takeover... but five double agents in the palace threaten the usurper's takeover from the get-go! Also, if you would like a copy of the Discipleship Bible studies, reach out to me and we'll make it happen! The content used in this video is intended for educational and informational purposes only. All rights to the images, music, clips, and other materials used belong to their respective owners. I do not claim ownership over any third-party content used.
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Recommended
Transcript
Introduction to 1 Samuel & David vs Absalom
00:00:03
Speaker
All right everybody. So please open up 1 Samuel, chapter to Again, we'll do a little rewind and review of who the main characters are.
00:00:27
Speaker
And then we're gonna continue on with their significance in the David versus Absalom story. Samuel 20, this was taking place back when David still worked for King Saul.
00:00:56
Speaker
David was anointed king, but he had no kingdom.
00:01:02
Speaker
Saul had been anointed king, had lost the anointing, but still held on to the throne.
00:01:12
Speaker
Saul gradually came to realize that there was something very significant about David. And he feared that David might overthrow him or take the throne from him or take the throne instead of and passing to Saul, Saul, and Jonathan. He got very, very antagonistic towards David.
David and Jonathan's Friendship
00:01:37
Speaker
So David and Saul, and Jonathan continued to be best friends. And on one occasion, David said, Jonathan, your father's trying to kill me.
00:01:48
Speaker
He's literally trying to murder me every chance he gets. And Jonathan was bit like, really? I don't think so. But Jonathan did a little test and realized, oh my goodness, David's right.
00:02:00
Speaker
So 1 Samuel 20 is the bromance chapter of the Bible. Two guys are just BFFs, best friends forever, and talking to each other, sharing how much they love each other.
00:02:12
Speaker
And in verses 14 to 15, Jonathan this to David. jonathan says this
00:02:18
Speaker
davids But show me unfailing kindness like that of the Lord as long as I live, so that I may not be killed. And do not ever cut off your kindness from my family.
00:02:34
Speaker
Not even when the Lord has cut off every one of David's enemies from the face of the earth. So basically, this is Jonathan saying, David, I know I'm not going to get the crown.
00:02:47
Speaker
I know that God has chosen for it to pass to you. And Jonathan was a good guy. Jonathan would have been an a amazing king. Jonathan would possibly have been a better king than David. Just to relate there, it's possible.
00:03:00
Speaker
But the Lord chooses who he chooses and his reasons are his own. And the Lord said, okay it's going to pass to David. Jonathan knew this.
00:03:11
Speaker
And Jonathan chose to be OK with it. He chose to be okay with God favoring his brother-in-law. Jonathan chose to be okay with God favoring his best friend. And that's not always true in friendships.
00:03:29
Speaker
Sometimes you can have two guys who are, you best friends. Or two girls. And, you know, God shows special privilege to one. Special favor to one. And next thing, there's an antagonism there. A bitterness, a jealousy, an envy, a covetousness. That then.
00:03:46
Speaker
Not so with Jonathan. Jonathan was very okay with David becoming the king of the country. And... Jonathan just said, David, we're still going to best friends.
00:03:59
Speaker
Remember me and show favor and kindness to my family. So basically he had a wife and he either had a son or he knew at some point they would have a son. One the other.
00:04:14
Speaker
And David, of course, was like, yeah, totally happy days. Sure. Sure.
00:04:20
Speaker
Their friendship didn't last for much longer, and they never had a falling out. But Jonathan was killed in the same battle in which Saul was killed.
00:04:34
Speaker
And life was cut short decades before a time because Saul introduced witchcraft to the family. Jonathan did not participate in the witchcraft.
00:04:45
Speaker
But witchcraft and the occult, they do what all the traps of the enemy do. Steal, kill, destroy.
David's Kindness to Mephibosheth
00:04:51
Speaker
And Sin does not stop with a person who did it.
00:04:56
Speaker
Sin is always looking to steal as many things as possible, kill as many people as possible, to destroy as many destinies and timelines as possible.
00:05:07
Speaker
So because Saul brought witchcraft and fortune telling into the family, it spread to his family more generally. And even Jonathan was a casualty of Saul's sin.
00:05:20
Speaker
So no sin that you do stops with you. Put it that way. You might think it's secret. You might think no one knows. Demons know. Evil knows. Sin knows. And it spreads every chance it gets.
00:05:36
Speaker
And Jonathan was taken out too. So David eventually got the crown on his head and became the king. And we looked at this a few weeks ago. 2 Samuel 9 1-13 2 Samuel 9 1-13 After David established his kingdom,
00:05:53
Speaker
second samuel chapter nine verse one to thirteen
00:06:02
Speaker
after david it has established his kingdom david askeds Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan's sake?
00:06:15
Speaker
Jonathan was my best friend. If he has any remaining relatives, I would love to bless them. Are anyone still alive? Or do they all die in war?
00:06:28
Speaker
Now there was a servant of Saul's household named Ziba. Keep that in mind. We're gonna look at him a little bit later in a few minutes. They called him to appear before David.
00:06:41
Speaker
And the king asked him, are you Ziba? Which I think is very fair question when you meet someone for the first time. you're a servant Your servant, he replied, that means yes.
00:06:53
Speaker
The king asked, is there no one still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show God's kindness? and So this was a servant of Saul's household. If anyone knows any remaining relatives, it's this guy.
00:07:11
Speaker
Ziba answered the king. There is still a son of Jonathan. Now, not their son Jonathan, our son of Jonathan. So Jonathan presumably had a few kids, a few sons, but only one was still alive.
00:07:26
Speaker
There is still a son of Jonathan. He's crippled in both feet.
00:07:32
Speaker
Isn't it so human and so common to focus on someone's weakness? He doesn't say, well, there's still ah son of Jonathan.
00:07:47
Speaker
He's a mighty man of gold. Ziba does not say, there's still a son of Jonathan. He's very polite. A great chap, lovely to know.
00:07:58
Speaker
Good crack at a party. Doesn't say, well, there's still a son of Jonathan. um He loves the Lord. He's a wild one for the word of God.
00:08:09
Speaker
He's great good at playing the piano. Doesn't give any compliments. He focuses on the weakness. Like it's a disqualifier. You know, he's lame. He's crippled. He needs a wheelchair.
00:08:23
Speaker
He can't walk. And when he tries, it looks really funny.
00:08:28
Speaker
Where is he? King David asked. Ziba answered, he's at the house of Macker, son of Amiel, in Lodabar. Again, keep that name in mind. when to look at this guy.
00:08:42
Speaker
If not today, going to look at them next week.
00:08:46
Speaker
So King David had him brought from Lodabar, from the house of Macker, son of Amiel. Now Lodabar means nowhere.
00:08:58
Speaker
no pasture. no growth. It means he's in a place that's barely even a place. He's in a place that has nothing to offer.
00:09:12
Speaker
I always tell people that I live in the Nazareth of of Ireland. And kind I kind of get away when Jesus was walking on the earth and There's a time in the in the New Testament where someone asks, you know, where where is you from?
00:09:29
Speaker
You know, get Galilee, Nazareth, like nothing good comes from there. Seriously, cop yourself on. I live in Arddy, in County Loud in Ireland. Small town in the smallest county in a small country in Europe.
00:09:41
Speaker
And most people, when I tell them where I live, either say, where's that? Or, oh yeah, I've driven through there before. And when the locals are asked what they think about the town, they say the best thing about the town is leaving it.
00:09:59
Speaker
benefits That's where Mephibosheth was. That's where Jonathan's son was. In the middle of nowhere. Population 100 and decreasing, almost.
00:10:16
Speaker
Verse six, when Mephibosheth, son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, so Saul's grandson, came to David, he bowed down to him with honor, with respect.
00:10:30
Speaker
David said, Mephibosheth, oh my goodness, you're here, you're alive. oh Your servant, he replied, as in I am your servant. Don't be afraid, David said to him.
00:10:45
Speaker
For I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father, Jonathan. We were best friends. He was my brother-in-law. The Bible literally says that David loved Jonathan more than David even loved his own wives.
00:10:59
Speaker
That's how tight they were as friends.
00:11:03
Speaker
I'll restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather's soul, and you will always eat at my table. So everything that's been lost, everything that's been taken, you are getting it all back.
00:11:20
Speaker
And you'll always eat at my table whenever you happen to be around me. Whenever you want, there's a seat at my table for you.
00:11:30
Speaker
You will dine with me in the presence of the king. It's a beautiful picture the relationship the Lord has with us. Even though we might be crippled by thin,
00:11:42
Speaker
Even though you might have a stunted walk because of fear and anxiety or distrust, bad experiences, a really iffy past,
00:11:57
Speaker
and addiction, disappointment, bitterness, the Lord still invites you to sit at his table all the time.
00:12:13
Speaker
Verse 8, Mephibosheth bowed down and said, What is your servant that you should notice a dead dog like me? He had written himself off.
00:12:27
Speaker
Because almost everyone else had. When other people spoke about him, oh yeah, Mephibosheth's the cripple. Mephibosheth has lame feet. Mephibosheth's got a funny wall.
00:12:40
Speaker
Matilda Shett was dropped as a baby and it's really obvious.
00:12:46
Speaker
And he had inherited how other people had seen him. The projection that people put on him had successfully transferred and he disqualified himself.
00:13:03
Speaker
Kelly. Yep.
00:13:09
Speaker
Is that newbie? yeah that's it you need press
00:13:27
Speaker
yeah that's the five okay yeah forgot getting it's in the bio fuck
00:13:37
Speaker
Then the king summoned Ziba, Saul's servant, the one who had told him Mephibosheth was still alive, and said to him, have given your master's grandson, Mephibosheth, everything that belonged to Saul and his family.
00:13:52
Speaker
You and your son and your servants are to farm the land for him and bring in the crops such your master's grandson may be provided for. so basically, do everything Mephibosheth physically can't do.
00:14:07
Speaker
And Mephibosheth, grandson of your master, will always eat at my table. Now Ziba had 15 sons and 20 servants. Then Ziba said to the king, your servants will do whatever my lord the king commands the servants to do.
00:14:23
Speaker
So Mephibosheth ate at David's table like one of the king's sons. Mephibosheth had a young son named Micah, and all the members of Ziba's household were servants of Mephibosheth.
00:14:36
Speaker
And Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem because he always ate at the king's table and he was crippled in both feet. So these are a stories that we've already looked at before.
00:14:48
Speaker
But again, there are a lot of names about be dropped at you in the story of Absalom. Just boom, boom, boom, boom. And it's important to be able to remember who they all are.
00:15:00
Speaker
So Mephibosheth is Jonathan's son. Jonathan's dead. Mephibosheth's alive. He's living in Jerusalem. He's living in David's palace. He's almost like David's adopted son at this point.
00:15:16
Speaker
And Ziba now has to work for Mephibosheth. And again, Ziba doesn't say Mephibosheth the amazing, Mephibosheth the wonderful, Mephibosheth with a great personality, Mephibosheth, he's got a great sense of humor.
00:15:32
Speaker
He sees him as Mephibosheth the cripple. So keep that in mind for the story i about to read. you Yep, so we're gonna be on page 16.
00:15:57
Speaker
Okay.
00:16:00
Speaker
And then the story, as we left it off two weeks ago, We've got David, who's the king. Just to make it easy for you, the names in yellow are the goodies, the names in blue are the baddies.
00:16:14
Speaker
So David is the king of Israel, lives in Jerusalem. Joab and Abishai are brothers. They are David's military commanders, especially Joab. Joab is the big gun.
00:16:29
Speaker
But David's son, Absalom, has gone rogue. He did a few things to people which were not very nice. And he had developed a taste for power.
00:16:42
Speaker
So he began to stand outside the palace walls. So whenever people were coming to get a help from David, because you would go to the king, you would tell the king was happening and the king would then, you know, solve your problem or give advice or help you out.
00:16:57
Speaker
Absalom was nabbing them before they got to palace.
00:17:02
Speaker
So before they could even go to the king, Absalom was there like, oh my goodness, no one loves you, no one cares about you, but that's all right, because I'm here and I'm going to fix the problems.
00:17:14
Speaker
He was what I call a drama whore. He loved seeing people in distress. and So he could latch himself onto them like a leech and their all-in-all,
Absalom's Rebellion
00:17:28
Speaker
crutch, be their Zimmer frame or warven stick, be the one who helps them, be the one who waved the magic wand and fixed all their problems.
00:17:38
Speaker
And he did this for years. It was subtle, it was sneaky, it was calculated, it was manipulative, and he knew the outcome that he was manufacturing.
00:17:51
Speaker
And eventually word came to David that Absalom had stolen the hearts of the people away. And David was a non-entity and Absalom had become the king of their hearts.
00:18:09
Speaker
With this, a terrifying number of people sided with Absalom's coup, his usurpation, his takeover. with exceptional hate.
00:18:23
Speaker
So David had to flee. He ran away. Those loyal to him also ran away with him in the wilderness. But David was strategic.
00:18:35
Speaker
And he had five men who were loyal to him stay behind in the palace and in the temple, respectively. They were Hushai, Zadok, who's a priest,
00:18:51
Speaker
Zadok's son Ahimaaz, Abiathar, who's a priest, and Abiathar's son Jonathan, not to be confused with David's best friend. Original Jonathan's dead and gone by the stage.
00:19:04
Speaker
These guys are now spies for David. They're informants. Absalom's called himself the king. You would almost say these five like collaborators with the exiled king, they're a double agents.
00:19:19
Speaker
They're working on behalf of the true monarch, the real king, the one God has ordained, the one God has anointed, David.
00:19:31
Speaker
And then we have Ahitophel, who is the original Judas Iscariot in more ways than one. He was David's counselor. He was David's friend.
00:19:43
Speaker
He was David's confidant. One of the men David trusted more than any other. But he was very, very quick to jump on Absalom's side when he saw what Absalom was doing.
00:19:56
Speaker
he saw the popularity Absalom was generating for himself. He leeched onto Absalom as a way of saying, yeah, everyone, you know, God is totally i showing favor to this murderer.
00:20:10
Speaker
God is totally showing favor to this arsonist who just sets people's fields on fire whenever he gets the inkling. Eh, it's ridiculous, it's absurd, but it showed credibility to the ignorant.
00:20:29
Speaker
It gave superficial validation or authenticity to Absalom's takeover. So you've got David, the exile king, on the run.
00:20:43
Speaker
Joab and Abishai are running away with David. Pushai, Zadok, Ahimaz, Abedhar, and Jonathan are staying behind in Jerusalem as double agents. But you've got Absalom, and effectively his false prophet, Ahitophel, running the kingdom.
00:21:01
Speaker
And the vast majority of people are on Absalom's side. So that's the story so far. That's where he left off two weeks ago.
00:21:16
Speaker
All right, so everybody in your Bibles, please open up 2 Samuel 14. 2 Samuel 16, 1 to 14. one to fourteen that gets samuel sixteen one to fourteen
00:22:02
Speaker
it says, When David had gone a short distance beyond the summit, there was Ziba, the steward of Mephibosheth.
00:22:15
Speaker
So, Ziba is the manager Mephibosheth's estate. Ziba is the one who said, oh yeah, Jonathan still has a son left. in Mephibosheth, lives in Lodabar. He's a cripple. He can't walk. Yeah, he's a bit weird. He's a bit funny looking.
00:22:33
Speaker
That's Ziba. And David said, okay, you're going to work for Mephibosheth. He can't walk. Well, he's going sit at my table. You have two legs. It's a miracle.
00:22:44
Speaker
You're going to look after the running of all this property.
00:22:48
Speaker
So there was Ziba, the steward of Mephibosheth, waiting to meet him. He had a string of donkeys saddled and loaded with 200 loaves of bread, 100 cakes of raisins, 100 cakes of figs, and a skin of wine.
00:23:12
Speaker
I always find it difficult to bake one thing, because my home ec teacher said I had warm hands. I can't imagine making 100 of each of these. The king asked Eba, why have you brought these?
00:23:24
Speaker
And Diba answered him, the donkeys are for the king's household to ride on. So you're in exile, you're running away. This will help you.
00:23:36
Speaker
don't have to walk, you can just sit down.
00:23:40
Speaker
The bread and fruits are for the men to eat. And the wine is to refresh those who become exhausted in the wilderness. It all sounds great. It sounds very above board. He's thought of everything.
00:23:54
Speaker
The king then asked, where is your master's grandson? Where is Saul's grandson? Where is Mephibosheth?
00:24:06
Speaker
The son of David's best friend forever, BFF, Jonathan. So where is Mephibosheth?
00:24:21
Speaker
Reba said to him, Oh, he's staying in Jerusalem because he thinks today the Israelites will restore me, my grandfather's kingdom.
00:24:36
Speaker
Today, that evil David stole everything from my grandfather's soul and will all be returned to me. Today, i will be crowned king as I should have been all those years ago.
00:24:53
Speaker
Then the king said to Ziba, all that belonged to Mephibosheth, the estate you've been managing, is now yours. I humbly bow, Ziba said.
00:25:08
Speaker
May I find favour in your eyes, my lord the king.
00:25:14
Speaker
Okay. What we think about this?
00:25:29
Speaker
the king has another you have king another plan? Okay.
00:25:34
Speaker
Well, I'll give him very easily, wasn't it? Too easily, perhaps, yet yeah.
00:25:43
Speaker
Since he's just been betrayed by his own biological son, he might indeed be willing to believe that his adopted son would be just as treacherous and lecherous.
00:25:57
Speaker
But again, that's why I started off by reviewing 2 Samuel 9. When Ziba was asked for his opinion on Mephibosheth, and even if Mephibosheth really existed.
00:26:09
Speaker
Ah, yeah, he's a cripple. Ah, he's in the middle of nowhere. Bobbed him off. Like, you know, he's less than, very barely worth your notice. I think it was very, very strategic on Ziba's part.
00:26:24
Speaker
to come and maliciously defame Mephibosheth the first chance he got. Comes along with all the donkeys, all the cakes, all the bread, all the wine, this is for you, I'm gonna look after these people, these people, oh, they look tired, give them this.
00:26:40
Speaker
Meanwhile, Mephibosheth is a cripple. Like, what was he supposed to do? You know, the country gets invaded, there's a take, or there's a coup. How was he actually supposed to leave the palace and get there in the first place, right? Right.
00:26:53
Speaker
So, i yeah, to me, this just seems like Ziba knew exactly what he wanted. He wanted all Sol's property for himself and is willing to defame Mephibosheth in order to get it.
00:27:18
Speaker
All right, verse five. As King David... approached Beharim. Now Beharim in English has two meanings.
00:27:32
Speaker
Select by preference. Select by preference. And chosen.
00:27:44
Speaker
Effectively they're the same thing. Select by preference, you choose someone because you want to. And chosen. In times when you are going through horrible scenario, a horrible situation, a horrible season, like David, you have to come back to this place.
00:28:08
Speaker
In yourself, you have to come back to the reality. I was chosen by God. I was predestined by God. I have been anointed and appointed by God.
David's Reflections on Faith and Adversity
00:28:23
Speaker
God loved me long before I ever loved him. God chose me before the foundation of the earth was lame.
00:28:35
Speaker
It's like when
00:28:38
Speaker
Jesus' disciples didn't have a bull's notion of what was happening after the cross and the resurrection and everything else. Where do you find them? Back on the boats.
00:28:50
Speaker
They were boats, they fishermen when Jesus first turned up, worked a fish multiplication miracle and called them. So in the midst of their confusion and their distress and not knowing what's been on, they went back to where they had first encountered Jesus, where they were first called by him on those boats.
00:29:09
Speaker
Same with ourselves. The enemy will try to tell you, you weren't chosen. You were never really saved. You were never really God's child. God didn't choose you. God doesn't love you. There is no God, whatever it And you might think, avaar I know the truth.
00:29:28
Speaker
i think There are people that I knew have done revivals with who loved the Lord and had seen miracles and seen breakthroughs. And, you know, the enemy began whispering in their ear and i they no longer even believe in Jesus.
00:29:44
Speaker
They're like properly stonewalled the God of all reality and turn their back on him. What you do in those moments of danger, of hostility, of attack, you come back to Bahurim.
00:29:58
Speaker
I was selected by God's preference. I was chosen. You come back to that moment when you first believed. That's why I open up Sundays with testimonies.
00:30:10
Speaker
You know, what has God done in your lives? Because when you're going through a hard time, it's those testimonies in your past that will sustain you. It's knowing that God has been good to me. God has been absolutely good to me and he will be absolutely good to me again.
00:30:36
Speaker
So King David approached Bahurim. A man from the same clan as Sol's family came out from there. So all the past enemies are rearing their heads.
00:30:50
Speaker
His name was Shimi, son of Jerrah. And he cursed as he came out. Now this doesn't mean he's like just like dropping F-bombs or using the B-words or the S-words.
00:31:02
Speaker
He's literally hailing down curses, like you know hexes and vexes on David.
00:31:08
Speaker
He pelted David and all the king's officials with stones. And we're probably not talking pebbles here. We're probably talking proper ruts. Though all the troops and the special guard were on David's right and left.
00:31:23
Speaker
So it's not like David is in isolation and this guy just decides to barrage him. David is surrounded by his personal guard and security. This man has no fear and no shame.
00:31:37
Speaker
As he cursed, Shimei said, get out. Get out, you murderer. You scoundrel. Now he's not talking about you right now, okay? This guy is offended on Saul's behalf.
00:31:49
Speaker
And a lot of years have passed since then. The Lord has repaid you for all the blood you shed in the household of Saul, in whose place you have reigned.
00:32:00
Speaker
Now let's keep in mind, David that didn't kill Saul. David opportunities to kill Saul, at least two, and came close, but said he wouldn't. Said no.
00:32:12
Speaker
God anointed you at a certain time for the Tassel kingship. God can remove you himself. And Saul was ultimately killed by enemies and from other nations.
00:32:26
Speaker
So everything this guy is saying is baseless. The Lord has given the kingdom into the hands of your synapsonome. You've come to ruin because you're a murderer.
00:32:39
Speaker
Partly true, partly untrue. As a consequence of David's killing Uriah, yes, God did say the kingdom will fall at the hands of someone else in your bloodline and war will follow you.
00:32:55
Speaker
Bloodshed is going to be in your ancestry as a result. or or your descendancy as a result. But this guy is not speaking a word of prophecy. This guy is just offended and bitter on Saul's behalf.
00:33:09
Speaker
And Saul was the murderer. Saul was the murderer God's prophets and and our priests. Saul was the one who tried to murder David every chance he got.
00:33:21
Speaker
Then Abishai, son of Zeruiah, said to the king, this job is Joab's brother, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head.
00:33:35
Speaker
But the king said, What does this have to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? Now he's speaking in the plural here, okay? So Joab wants to go kill him as well. So he's speaking to Abishai and Joab.
00:33:50
Speaker
If he's cursing because the lord said to him, curse David, who can ask, why do you do this? So this is David being humble.
00:34:01
Speaker
The attack being launched against him is unfair, it's unfound, it's untrue. It's coming from place of bitterness from one of Saul's relatives. But David is humble enough to say, maybe I do deserve this.
00:34:16
Speaker
Maybe God is doing something in this. Maybe God is behind this. Maybe i did bring this on myself.
00:34:25
Speaker
David then said to Abishai and all his officials, my son, my own flesh and blood is trying to kill me.
00:34:36
Speaker
It's unimaginable. How much more then this Benjamite, the soul came for the tribe of Benjamin.
00:34:46
Speaker
Leave alone. Let him curse for the Lord has told him to.
00:34:53
Speaker
It may be that the Lord will look upon my misery and restore to me his covenant blessing instead of his curse today. So maybe, just maybe, God will show favor to me again.
00:35:10
Speaker
Maybe, just maybe, the kingdom that God promised to me will be mine again. Maybe, just maybe,
00:35:22
Speaker
God's promise that I will have a descendant who will save my nation and the world will come to pass. Maybe.
00:35:36
Speaker
So David and his men continued along the road while Shimmy was going along the hillside opposite him, cursing as he went and throwing stones at him and showering him with dirt.
00:35:53
Speaker
So this isn't that, you know, Shimmy said one bad thing and walked away. This is repeated. It's happening again and again and again. he's got the ultimate betrayal of his son.
00:36:08
Speaker
The sinister betrayal Ahitophel's counselor.
00:36:12
Speaker
The vast majority of the nation have sided with Absalom. And as well as all of that, then this guy is throwing dirt on him, pelting him with stones, and that's not just, you know, he's grabbing big ones and launching them at him and cursing.
00:36:32
Speaker
It's public humiliation, ritual humiliation.
00:36:39
Speaker
Trying to stain him, trying to bury him under dirt and stone.
00:36:47
Speaker
the king and all the people with him arrived at their destination exhausted. And there he refreshed himself, which is major.
00:37:04
Speaker
He didn't arrive there and sit in his bitterness. He didn't arrive there and start berating himself. He didn't arrive there and choose to give in to depression.
00:37:20
Speaker
In that place, he chose to refresh himself.
00:37:26
Speaker
I want you all to open Psalm 23. I think it's a very, very powerful sound for a situation like this. When you're going through, it's a last minute idea that I had.
00:37:39
Speaker
So when you're going through something horrible, horrible season, and repeated, it's a season of betrayal and of letdown.
00:37:52
Speaker
Sam 23 is massive. And it's of such huge, huge significance. There's so much in it. It's far richer than most people actually give it credit for.
00:38:10
Speaker
When you're ready there, Catherine, you please read Sam 23. You're going to finish writing when you're writing.
00:38:16
Speaker
The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul.
00:38:28
Speaker
Okay, thank you. Let's stop there for a second. You cannot restore something that has not so already even been broken, lost or damaged.
00:38:39
Speaker
If it's already in perfect condition, you can't have to restore it. It's all already 100%.
00:38:46
Speaker
But the Lord is my shepherd. I mean, what you could literally break that verse down and just meditate all day long. The Lord, meditate on the Lord. is The fact that he is right now.
00:39:01
Speaker
My, that he's a personal God. You are his, he is yours. shepherd, someone who leads you, someone with a crook who fights against the wolves and your enemies and the lions who fights on your behalf.
00:39:19
Speaker
And he makes me lie down beside still waters. He makes me rest. You have to enter the divine rest. It's part of spiritual warfare.
00:39:31
Speaker
There are times when I will put a playlist together of worship songs If any of you ever need one, just tell me and I'll send them to you. Tell me how much time you have in the day and I'll tailor it to that, whether it's 45 minutes, an hour, two hours, three hours.
00:39:48
Speaker
And I'll just lie down on my bed or on a couch or on the floor. I'm easy going. I don't care about germs and dust. And I will just let the worship music play.
00:40:02
Speaker
I'll just let the words wash over me. I'm not gonna be praying. I'm not gonna be teaching. I'm not gonna hold the Bible above my forehead. Nope. I'll just lie down rest in that comfy place.
00:40:16
Speaker
And the Lord restores my soul in that place of divine rest. He puts you back together again. So often we make a walk with Jesus about doing.
00:40:32
Speaker
Your relationship Jesus needs to start with being. You do because of who you are. If you do to be, that's called religion.
00:40:45
Speaker
That's, well, if I go to Joshua Generation, At least once a week, I'll be good with God. Well, if I join discipleship, at least two out of four weeks, be grand. God will love me.
00:40:59
Speaker
If I give this much money to the poor or to charity or to this cause, that cause, I'll get a thumbs up. a lot That's religion. Relationship is you are, so you do.
00:41:13
Speaker
Religion says if you do this, that, the other, and you don't do this, that, and the other, Someday you might magically find your name in Jesus' book of life.
00:41:25
Speaker
But we've been adopted into a family. You know, parents love their child because each parent has 23 chromosomes in that child.
00:41:36
Speaker
Because the mother carried that child. Because they poured their heart and soul into that child. It starts from and being And then everything the parents do as a result is the overflow.
00:41:49
Speaker
Everything that the children do as a result is the overflow of love. But it starts from being. starts from who you are. And it's in that place of the divine rest that the Lord heals you, restores you, and puts you back together again.
00:42:09
Speaker
That can be bodily, and meant physically, can be mentally, can be emotionally. But it specifically says here, he restores my soul. That tells me a soul can be broken.
00:42:22
Speaker
You know, if someone says, oh, I was backstabbed by my friend, you know, it's literally, you get stabbed through the heart. Or someone says, i have heartbreak. It's broken heart.
00:42:35
Speaker
Or... Oh, I was in a relationship with someone or I had a a bad job with a terrible boss and it just broke me. It broke your mind. Your mind is part of your soul.
00:42:46
Speaker
The soul can fracture. The soul can break. Parts of your soul can get left behind. After the Absalom chapters, which will be today and next week, we'll do one or two weeks on the soul. And I'll teach you exactly what the soul is, and how it operates, how it gets broken, damaged, stolen, and how to put it back together again. It's really, really important.
00:43:13
Speaker
But Psalm 23, it's in that place of rest that the Lord puts her soul back together again.
00:43:21
Speaker
Alright, you carry on reading Psalm 23, please.
00:43:26
Speaker
Guides me in path of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.
00:43:37
Speaker
Your rod and your staff, to comfort me. Okay, thank you. Yeah, so it's in the valley. We looked last week at how A certain issue that we've been praying for, someone had been in the valley for a long stretch, and now there's the mountaintop season with the the joy and the celebration for God's name's sake, for Jesus' name's sake, for his glory, not ours.
00:44:05
Speaker
But it's in the valley of the shadow of death, in the darkest valley, where it looks like death, is imminent, it looks like death is sure, looks like death is certain, but you're only in its shadow.
00:44:20
Speaker
It has not overcome you. It has not overtaken you, it has not beaten you, it has not taken you out. It's... you might feel it sting, you might feel it encroaching all around you, you might feel like anywhere you look you're surrounded by evil,
00:44:39
Speaker
but it has not taken you out. You're still only in its shadow, in its silhouette, not in it's reality. hasn't turned you over to death. That's true. Exactly. Exactly. That's right.
00:44:52
Speaker
And there are more on our side than against us in terms of angels and the heavenly host. So even when it looks like we're surrounded by evil, we're actually surrounded by God and his mighty army.
00:45:06
Speaker
Okay. Yeah. Great. Anyone?
00:45:11
Speaker
You prepared a table for me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life.
00:45:23
Speaker
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Amen. All right. He makes a table for you in the presence of all your enemies.
00:45:36
Speaker
He has communion with you. in the presence of your enemies. He reveals himself personally and powerfully in the presence of your enemies. Yes, in good times, you can have a wonderful relationship with Jesus, of course you But my goodness, there is something about Jesus revealing himself when you're in the valley of the shadow of death, and it is extra sweet.
00:46:07
Speaker
and and even my cup overflows, if you go to visit a king, to be honest, if you go to anybody's house, and you're not offered a cup of tea, or a cup of coffee, or a glass of this, or a glass of water, I would kind of think, do they want me here?
00:46:29
Speaker
Am I overstepping? Have I come at a bad time? How much more so? If you were in the presence of a king and they fill your glass, you know, like, yaing they give you a few centimeters worth of juice, you'd kind of think to yourself, um okay, I don't think this king really likes my company.
00:46:52
Speaker
But in the presence of King Jesus, the Lord Jesus, my cup overflows. Top up, top up, top up, top up, spillage. That is how much he wants you to commune with him.
00:47:07
Speaker
daily, hourly, minute by minute, any stray thoughts you have, any random thoughts you have, give it over to Jesus.
00:47:19
Speaker
You might look out the window and say, gosh, it's not raining for a change. Jesus, thank you for the weather. You might go walking down the street and just see, I know, a hunchback and say, Jesus, I thank you that my back is in perfect condition. Please help this person.
00:47:38
Speaker
You might be eating ice cream and saying, Jesus, thank you that sweet food exists, whatever it is. But to make it automatic to the point where you're praying, it's just, it's your go-to response.
00:47:55
Speaker
It's just that natural. Your cup overflows. You're the presence of the king who actually wants you to commune with him. You're not a burden to Jesus. You're not getting on his last nerve.
00:48:08
Speaker
You're not ticking him off. He's not too busy to spend time with you. He actually wants to hear from you, especially in the presence of your enemies, especially when things are tough, when things are wicked, when things are strained.
00:48:22
Speaker
That's when people typically run away from the Lord and as people. But actually, that's when we're supposed to actually come to an even faster, more vigorously, more energetically, more humbly, more boldly.
00:48:38
Speaker
Alright, any thoughts, Manny, one on Sam 23? Or that all good?
00:48:45
Speaker
Yeah, I suppose I was feeling a bit like that this morning, but it was glad to hear Mandy's words there earlier. I felt maybe, you know, I think I've gone from a bit of a high age to a bit of a low.
00:48:57
Speaker
And then feeling sorry for myself, but it was also about my head. And, you know, same to myself. Do I just accept that this is the way I am now? you know, there's going to be no miracle cure, there is nothing can be done and have to accept where you're at or do you lean and pray you know for recovery. and But medically there's not lots that can be done. So, you know, I suppose I went on this bit of a, from being on a high, you know, the highs and lows, the, you know, the euphoria then
00:49:30
Speaker
you know, one of them we were laughing, one of them were crying. And just this week, we're feeling little bit low, but it's little bit, you know, thinking, yeah, put so much time and energy into that, and we've achieved that. And then it's sort of like we're on to the next battle.
00:49:45
Speaker
And just one that you feel that, well, you're responsible for yours yourself and your own health and what you took. And do i have the right to pray for restoration? You know, just sort of dabbing with that small feeling a bit, you know,
00:50:01
Speaker
Yeah, that that i thanks for sharing that, Catherine. And you know what, I believe actually that's that's exactly what David felt here. When he's like, in his case, actually, would almost be like someone saying, oh wow, you know, God, did did you make music?
00:50:15
Speaker
This thing of, oh wow, has everything gone wrong? You know, am I responsible for this? And he's not responsible in a way that Shimmy was saying. Shimmy was like, you know, you murder me.
00:50:28
Speaker
relative which is factually wrong um but the reality is david did murder uriah his friend and took his wife and so there was responsibility there there was sin there let's call spade of spade but the lord had still promised him you're gonna have son through your descendants the ultimate king, the king of kings, is to come and put everything right.
00:50:59
Speaker
God's favor was still on David, his blessing was still on David, his provision was still on David. and And this is ultimately a story of, yes, he was in the valley, things went really, really, really wrong, really, really sourd.
00:51:15
Speaker
But it's in that space of lying down beside the still water the Lord refreshes his soul. and the Lord prospers your soul and then prospers your body and then prospers everything around you. It starts with the soul first, then it works outward.
00:51:34
Speaker
And in the same way that David was dealing with the consequences of his own sin, but still would enjoy experiencing the Lord's restoration, want you to take hold of that too.
00:51:48
Speaker
and then Do the first. I love that verse. I love to pray that morning. And it just brings you into that place that you know that you lack nothing.
00:51:59
Speaker
Even though your body your mind might tell you, you do and I want and this and the other. But if you're reading what the Bible is saying and you're trusting in the Lord, he says you lack nothing.
00:52:11
Speaker
That's right. You know, and even the next verse where he makes me lie down in green pastures, I love to go to sleep and laugh. I find my place and I say, Lord, you come there with me. You comfort me. I want my hugs, you know. and yeah I do. And i get ice I think since I kind of read each verse at night, I just don't say it.
00:52:35
Speaker
I go into that place on each line and I bring myself, you know, and and i stand with you know I stand firm with my armour on.
00:52:47
Speaker
when I walk through that dark valley, nothing, you know, and I'm going, you know, like I have my warrior on and each verse, I just love, you you have to, for me, i just read one line at a time and I, it doesn't matter if I don't get many other thoughts or prayers with the Lord, but I get, you know, I do my time, but, but, you know, even if you just kind of go into each verse, i encourage everybody just one line at a time and, Find a few favourites and just say, Lord, bring me there. Bring me into Green Parish. Just, you know, powerful. Thank you for sharing this morning, Mandy. I was listening to you in the car coming up and you just hit a spot where you were saying about, you know, and you mightn't have everything, but your m you're so grateful. And seeing in that, isn't it, as you said there, the mind keeps telling you.
00:53:41
Speaker
I haven't all I want or, you know, that sort of thing. Like it's, and you know, and it'll happen in his time. Yeah. feel sometimes, yeah.
00:53:51
Speaker
This week I've been a bit, you know, all over the place. Lots of gratitude, don't get me wrong. So grateful. fun And then I feel I hit a bit of a low.
00:54:02
Speaker
And I'm never, not praying the way I was praying with such, you know, the way when you're, you pray and you feel your prayers in your heart and your soul. Yeah. And I've been a bit like, and don't know. it might sound strange to feel of a bit down, but I was the feeling of a bit down.
00:54:21
Speaker
Petra, you've gone through lots in the past four years plus, you know, and I think it's all hit you like a bomb and you have to process and, yeah you know, you've stood strong in in your prayer with the Lord. And I think,
00:54:35
Speaker
the enemy is just thrown this negative and that negative. And it's okay to feel low because you bring that to the Lord. You have a good cry and you ask him to fill you with joy. Do you know what i mean, Catherine? It's all right to feel low.
00:54:46
Speaker
I know when I feel i have my my sad days, like like I said to Brendan earlier on, what a joyful day this week. But there still is that peace.
00:54:57
Speaker
I wish David was in that. You know? And yeah, a mummy always has that that broken heart to that. But At the same time, the enemy was trying to, he always tries to get to our heads, even on our sleeves, and we have to go, uh-uh, no, no, you have to take, you know, he refreshes my soul. You know, you have to power over And it's okay to be sad, and it's okay to cry, because the Lord will turn that round for joy, and he's not forsaking you. you know so I know that in my heart. You're you're getting comfort hugs from me, and Brendan, and everyone. We love you. And, how we
00:55:35
Speaker
And you for the first time this week, Ramsey was away on a long drive. Now, that's when he used to get talk to God. That's when he had his time with God, with no interruptions. Obviously, when he drives, it's his time. He drives for God, you know.
00:55:50
Speaker
And this is the first week in four years and three months that he was able to drive to Belfast. Thanks and praise. Wow.
00:56:00
Speaker
But this, you know, any other time that's when he really would talk into God about this and asking God to give him the word and what he would say whenever he got the chance to defend himself, you know, and he normally where he'd be saying, oh, I don't know, because of his health problems, be going, I don't know about going and I think I'm going to be anxious and I might bring you and all that.
00:56:25
Speaker
There was none of that. Yeah, he was, he had the health, and there's no point in saying that he didn't get more accurate or anything. But you could just see where he had that confidence in himself to say, right, I know I've had health issues, but God's with me.
00:56:39
Speaker
And he just, i think, feels so secure in himself now that it's just, it's amazing to see. It's wonderful to see. It's good, yeah. that You know, lift in him.
00:56:51
Speaker
Everybody at work and his co-workers, some of them are so, so so supportive. It's just incredible, you know. And um I'm delighted with all that. Don't get me wrong. But then it's like I say...
00:57:03
Speaker
i think i diverted all my attention on to him because i'm very much like that somebody needs something i lean into them but in that it takes away from your own self and your own worries and concerns and then it was like that distraction is gone now god and i have to go back to looking at me yeah but i think dont but There are times when I see someone latch on to someone else's problem as distraction just because they don't want to take personal responsibility for decisions.
00:57:36
Speaker
That's not what you were doing though, what you back advice with you, With you saying, okay, there's someone else in need, kind more pressing need. yeah So I'm going to rise to your occasion.
00:57:48
Speaker
And don't dismiss the quality of your you demonstrated there thank you because there are people let's say that week who were sending me messages and different things they're going through and i'm just kind reading message thinking what do you think that's a problem yeah oh if you gave me i was a bit in a crap in the car people imaginary issues haven't responded to them even even two weeks two a half weeks on i just lost
00:58:26
Speaker
I can't talk about saying people's friendly because I don't know who he's talking about. But when people start all about stuff, I might go, I go to myself, oh my God, if that's your biggest worry, I'm such a blessed. My God.
00:58:45
Speaker
and like Like my brother, you know, when this was all going on in court, and we're out after having a horrific day, I get this message. Are you in Newham see at home or are you in Dublin?
00:58:57
Speaker
And I said, we're in Dublin. Well, I need a new phone.
00:59:03
Speaker
I just couldn't get over it. And one of most horrendous days we've got. So I just felt the need to call to him on Sunday and I just said to him, I just had to be really diplomatic, but I just said to him, you really need to be a bit more sensitive to other people and what's going on on the life. And it's not that he didn't know.
00:59:21
Speaker
because Ramsey spoke to me about it. But I just think people are just so... I don't know. at the but Maybe they're blessed. Maybe I should say this. Maybe that they're blessed. That's all the other thing they're like. Yeah. And I bless the art. Yeah. And they have absolutely no idea of what it is to be facing and really, worried really traumatic things. So maybe they're blessed and maybe I should step back and say aren't they blessed?
00:59:50
Speaker
But I just felt like wool in the head of him. I, am ah you know, I just felt so angry. I really felt very resentful. I said, you know what he's going through.
01:00:01
Speaker
and Well, I just wanted to let you know I needed a new phone. And I said, and what you want me to do about it? So what could I have helped with getting you a phone? I said, that's your own business. But, you know, just live in a wee small world.
01:00:14
Speaker
And as I said, it could be the World of War Three. The other fellow could be in jail and all of that. But I need a new phone. And everybody had to know he there and then he knew the new phone.
01:00:27
Speaker
Oh, my God. I had to. I just had to step back. and ray or Yeah. You know, but yeah because what I would have said wouldn't have been very nice, Mandy.
01:00:39
Speaker
I was a bit. I was more diplomatic. But anyway, yeah. But anyway, thank you. You're worth making you stronger, Catherine, you know. Yeah. fighting the tongue but you know like I said you're going through your feelings and a lot we all have even other issues and you know I'm going through a glorious season at the moment which is great and it's not that long ago with Katie and a wedding that I didn't want to do and you know and I'm still praying for changes there mind you at the table yesterday Keith was more conversations there coming out of me and I didn't even cop onto it till David said to me last night.
01:01:24
Speaker
Didn't keep make, a you know, every day, you what I'm saying? Because it was the least on my mind, you know what I mean? And I mean, God forgive you know what I mean? I really like it. If it wasn't sitting at the table, I wouldn't have missed him, let's put that way, you know I mean? And that's, my heart is still heartened at the moment, you know.
01:01:47
Speaker
But, you know, I believe as well that the Lord will tell me when it's, when it's true or whether it's fake. Do you know what i mean? At the moment, I don't know whether it is good effort. As I said to David but last night, I know that's not very Christian of me to say, but ah I believe the Lord will put in my heart, my soul. I know whether it's putting on a front and front or whatever, but I don't feel that at the moment. So like I say,
01:02:20
Speaker
You know, the Lord will reveal that to me. I believe he will. You know that. Because I am so gullible and really detest that about myself because keep bringing everybody's welcome. You mentioned cup or a glass water. This house is always open to any time.
01:02:38
Speaker
I'm stuck here. I can't quit. You're all welcome. And the kettle's always on the barrel. Juice there, whatever. Always welcome. Send me your air cold, Mandy. Yeah, absolutely. No problem at all.
01:02:51
Speaker
Very welcome, Catherine. Very welcome. Door resolve is always opened. really enjoy your open and your honesty. You're a warrior woman. You really are. You're fantastic.
01:03:03
Speaker
I praise God. But at the same time, I have my negatives a laugh a lot. There's a lot to do in me. You know, a change in me. ah i could still have that hardened heart to keep.
01:03:15
Speaker
You know? And... um it's a lot better than it was couple of months ago. A couple of months ago, I would have strangled him. it's It's the grace of God that he's alive. Let's put it that way. He certainly wouldn't be shown the godly side then, you know, but I do believe it was writer's anger has been, you know, it's easing. But I mean, yeah, it's hard when you, when you have a heart that you feel you welcome everybody. And I've,
01:03:45
Speaker
you know, you've had good Christians in your life for years and then all of a sudden, wham, bam, they're not there anymore. You know, they throw things at you, little picky things and bring back six months or a year. And, you know, David says, I, you know, pick up a stranger. He gives out to me, you know, because I just go, I can't leave them on the side of the road, you know what I mean?
01:04:10
Speaker
I just have, but then I tend to be filled by family and I'm always, Gullible, silly, stupid. I know I shouldn't be putting them words over me. have to stop that.
01:04:23
Speaker
But it's heartbreaking. Yeah, course it is. You know, and sort so the Lord has a lot to do with me, you know, and I don't know, sharing in each other's testimonies build us up and bring us stronger, doesn't it?
01:04:35
Speaker
Builds us stronger. Yeah, we're going to keep note of them, Andy, because we're going to do a compilation book of them. Oh. Keep a note of...
01:04:46
Speaker
Yeah, Priya had a super idea last week. and Yeah, I heard her say, yeah. that is So for people to send their testimonies on to me, you know, by email or by text message, whichever, and I'll compile them all. And at the end of the year, we'll have our very own Joshua Generation Book of God's Goodness.
01:05:07
Speaker
and keep You may notes for me, Brendan, because I can write things down, but I'm not. I'm not a text or an email or I can't do any. I'm no good with technology. That's all right. Don't about it. Yeah, I can take care of that.
01:05:24
Speaker
I'll tell you all. Yeah, by all means, voice notes, if ever, a and I'll compile them all. And it is in. those dark moments, those hard seasons when actually you just need them to read it what God has all their deeds done and say the God who did it then will, not mice, not me, will do it again.
01:05:50
Speaker
Amen to that, yes. Yeah, maybe rather than reading lord reading it slowly, quiet and absorbing the words. That's it. That's it, yeah. That's what I feel, even if I don't get through all that want to say.
01:06:04
Speaker
You know, and I do concentrate on those that need their prayers. I do concentrate on the people that call on me. I may not be able to get to this house and go in the car and do the things, but I've found for the last many years, especially since the stroke and different things and different treatments have gone through, you can always pray with somebody.
01:06:25
Speaker
The phone, the phone is a lifesaver for me. You know, it's... Yeah, massively. And like you say, you need a phone. of Gosh, I had to drop my phone today before going to place with Katie. I survived, praise God. And I was able to listen to you on a Sunday out there as well, which was great.
01:06:46
Speaker
Yeah. For the grace of God, I mean, you couldn't see anything on the phone, but I had connection. Get your phone. You deserve a phone, Catherine, and you are a warrior lady. So push it in there and, you know, He's got his rod and his staff and he he hasn't left you behind the Lord. You know you are his precious daughter. And we're all there with you in the prayers and you will come through in the mighty name of Jesus. You will. I appreciate that.
01:07:17
Speaker
You know. Amen. As we say, Pastor Brendan is showing his warrior every Sunday and weekly and you know, lifting us all up. And we I pray over you that the Lord does always, you know, brings you to that place and gives you what we're going to speak on or whether it goes into a little bit of this and the other. remember there a couple of weeks ago, you were doing a bit of everything. I was like, can't remember all these names and all of this.
01:07:48
Speaker
No, but you know what? i have Something God told me at the start of the Josh generation was, no, not today, like when I first began. was to meet the needs of the day and not to fall into the trap.
01:08:03
Speaker
And it's not necessarily a dirty word. I know whenever I say it's negative, but religion, where in so many church congregations, even those meeting around the island and the world's people,
01:08:19
Speaker
I'm glad I'm fine with this thank you. All around the nation today. They know how many worship songs they're go to sing and they will not deviate from it. They know how many minutes it's going to last and it is what it is.
01:08:33
Speaker
um They know how long the teaching is going to be and how many Bible verses they're willing to go into or at least mention. They know, let's say, at what time the tithes and offerings and collars and this and this and this and it's very manufactured it's very tailored it's very artificial and it might feel like you're getting through a lot it might feel very hated it might feel like oh we're touching this only thing but actually it's It's dead.
01:09:03
Speaker
It's manufactured. And by manufactured, I mean it's man if manufactured, not Holy Spirit led. And happens so, so easily. It happens the best of intention.
01:09:15
Speaker
But I made a decision. I said, Lord, it's going to look on a given Sunday like you want it to look like. And if that means we do one Bible chapter, fair enough.
01:09:28
Speaker
If that means like last week, We just share testimonies. That's okay. There are times when Holy Spirit told me just recently spend today on Absalom versus David, next week in Absalom versus David, and then to look at the soul.
01:09:51
Speaker
I don't know if that'll be a one-off. It'll be two weeks or three weeks. I think it'll be three, but we'll see if it goes. um Do i particularly know why we're doing 2 Samuel and the soul in 2 Samuel again? No, but God does.
01:10:06
Speaker
And it's about meeting the needs of the day and whatever Holy Spirit's leading, however he's leading, and whatever he's impressing, touching and all those things. And it's okay if it looks different.
01:10:17
Speaker
And it's okay it looks unconventional. And it's okay if from Sundays it just looks mad. And if it just works at things. Because...
01:10:29
Speaker
Even like this, giving Translator for testimonies, start the teaching testimonies again. it builds people up because it meets them where they are. And it keeps it authentic, keeps it real.
01:10:43
Speaker
and And it's not like you're speaking to a private of, you know, 2000 nameless, faceless people and you're trying to come up with something generic that will, you know, tickle the fancies of all the people whose tithes and offerings you want.
01:11:02
Speaker
But actually, keep it real, keep authentic, where we all know each other's names, we're all people, we're all going through real stuff. And just to make it whatever Holy Spirit needs it to be on a given day.
01:11:16
Speaker
It's so, so important. I agree 100% yeah this is what living in the Lord us all being the body of Christ we're all coming together meeting each other's needs it's not all about going to a worship and just what that pastor says it's it's us of a body together and I love it and I appreciate it I'm sure I speak for us all we're all grateful no matter what we go through this is it's just a wonderful
01:11:49
Speaker
sharing and anything you don't understand you break it down especially I need that broken down you know like as far as that I'm like oh but don't ask me to remember names like i have difficulty in remembering who's who you know yeah that's all totally fine I'm not worried about that like I used to be and then remember pastor Peter Kuku you know where I first went into Nigeria and church, still in touch with them, bless them, they still keep me on their Sundays and everyday stuff, you know, so nice um I'm well blessed there and I just feel, he always said to me, if you were supposed to be a pastor, you'd be a pastor, you'd evangelise, you'd do teaching out there, you're sharing, that's what God has, if you were to know the Bible, you'd know it, you know, because used to going, I'm out studying and studying and can only you remember so many, you know,
01:12:45
Speaker
whatever first is that I do remember and and I try to add more in and he's going if you're supposed to know he will teach you you know just follow what the heart and the soul tells you you know walk in the Holy Spirit and let him lead you absolutely the thing is he will bring to mind what you need to know when you're going through it but I remember once last I said it was a Tuesday evening was reading the Bible and um
01:13:16
Speaker
I found myself in the book of Job all boos, not a particularly happy one until the very end. And I'll get it up here. A bit of a tangent, but that's okay.
01:13:29
Speaker
And then it was the toward the end of the story where Jesus that appears to Job and in a big typhoon. And Job has just been going in a rampant how miserable wife is.
01:13:44
Speaker
And the Lord starts to say, well, listen, you think you're so amazed, you think you're mighty, you think you know everything you went about everything, but actually let me start revealing to you some mystery.
01:13:56
Speaker
And Jesus starts speaking like outer space and constellations. And he starts speaking about a creature, the behemoth, which sounds like a dinosaur, and begins to speak about the Leviathan.
01:14:10
Speaker
So I'll just share a bit about this. and Job 41. Can you pull in Leviathan with a fashook? Or tie down its tongue with a rope?
01:14:22
Speaker
Can you put a cord through its nose or pierce its jaw with a hook? Will it keep begging you for mercy? Will it speak to you with gentle words? Will it make an agreement with you for you to take it as your slave for life?
01:14:38
Speaker
Can you make a pet of it like a bird? The answer to all these is no, by the way. Or put a leash on it for the young women in your house. Will traders barter for it? Will they divide it up among the merchants?
01:14:51
Speaker
Can you fill its hide with harpoons? Or its head with fishing spears? Again, the answer is no. If you lay a hand on it, you will remember the struggle and never do it again.
01:15:05
Speaker
Any hope hopes of subduing it as faults? The mere sight of it is overpowering. No one is fierce enough to rouse it. Who then is able to stand against me?
01:15:16
Speaker
Who has a claim against me that I must pay? so this is a water creature that God made, and he's saying, if you can't even do this to the natural realm, who are you to tell me to do my job?
01:15:27
Speaker
Everything under heaven belongs to me. i will not fail to speak of a lion's limb. its strength in its graceful form. multiple Who can strip off its outer coat? Who can penetrate its double coat of armor? That's how thick its scales are.
01:15:43
Speaker
Who dares open the doors of its mouth, ring with fearsome teeth? Its back has rows of shields, tightly sealed together. Each is so close to the next that no air can pass between. How did it survive with no air? i don't know.
01:16:00
Speaker
They are joined fast to one another. They cling together and cannot be parted. Its snorting throws out flashes of light. This is a sea creature that can literally shoot fire from its mouth.
01:16:13
Speaker
Its eyes are like the rays of dawn. Flames stream from its mouth. Sparks of fire shoot out. Smoke pours its nostrils. Yadda yadda yadda. It just goes on and on and on.
01:16:24
Speaker
It almost sounds mythological. And yet this is a creature that the Lord made. It was in the sea. Presumably everyone in Job's time knew that this existed.
01:16:35
Speaker
And God is saying, if you can't even tame the natural realm, you ain't going to tame a supernatural God. Well, i read that chapter in full that day. and I just said, well, God,
01:16:49
Speaker
it's done nothing for me. But I went to the next day. but i went to work next day And some of my colleagues were having a conversation about sea creatures or whatever.
01:17:00
Speaker
And one of them mentioned the Leviathan. Didn't have a bold notion of what it was about. I wasn't even part of the conversation. It was the opposite end of the table. And suddenly my ears reddened, you know, like... And I was like, let me see what it is.
01:17:17
Speaker
Because I'd literally read night before. So yeah, there are times when you're not going to remember everything or you'll read the Bible and it won't resonate with you there and then. But once you have the word inside of you, you are equipped for God to put someone in your path and then at just the right time, but light bulb moment, always separate its mind and you're able to share it in power and authority.
01:17:44
Speaker
and So even... So what did you say about that? Oh, I went into the full detail. Because he thought it was like i find a fantasy creature. And I was like, well, actually, no, it's it's meant to be viable. Because Job took place soon after the Great Flood.
01:18:01
Speaker
Maybe a couple of generations after Noah. Because he describes the world still like you know snowy mountains and regions covered in snow. so it kind of feels like when say ice age, you think it's something millions of years the ice age as in just you know a very short span of years was still kind of underway um so i just said well you know it's the creature that god made and it's the largest sea creature it's the most powerful creature god ever made some people would say it's loch ness monster if you think such a thing exists every
01:18:36
Speaker
nations seems to have some comprehension that there's a creature bigger than big, that it could shoot fire from its mouths, that no one was able to raid it in, one was able to destroy it, that it was so powerful that it could breathe fire and the water would go blah blah blah blah.
01:18:56
Speaker
And I just went into the whole description it really. And he was like, wait, that's the bible. oh But maybe one of the more trivial examples, but just that I read it one night didn't mean anything to me.
01:19:13
Speaker
But the very next day, other people in an unrelated conversation brought up. move That's it. That's it. Yeah. Yeah.
01:19:25
Speaker
All right, so let's let's go back into David's story and see how there's a matter. Don't know when I told you that like to do my posters and whatever up on the wall. I just always a party thing, make up few balloons, make me own banners, whatever.
01:19:39
Speaker
And I spent the past week in the Bible looking for marriage verses, you know, we just to stick on my little things around, you know, on the wall. Yes. As I do to... um like my own play school teacher with the family and all. And anyway, one thing I did get confused on, I was reading that. Yes, I knew some of the verses, but do you know what hit me yesterday? Just to go to Song of Songs. I knew you were going to say that I see his dead marriage verse. I know where this is going.
01:20:15
Speaker
but but but but but I don't know. i don't really understand why i felt myself go in And then I started reading. as Some of the lines, yeah. Some of the lines, no, like for friend. And I'm totally kind of like, I'm still, just like you said, confused. I'm like, why did the Lord put me in to read the whole lot of that song? Yeah, yeah, yeah. You know, some of the lines hit me and they thought, yeah, that could be for marriage. That's not. And I just don't understand why. i And I don't know, is that a song?
01:20:45
Speaker
of like I tried to sing a couple of lines but obviously I don't know the tune so that was a bit hilarious to think I had a good laugh. He's locking down saying you're not. Where we talk I pick out things for David. So maybe if you have a chance during the explain something to me on the Song of Songs why I tried to read through the whole lot of that and see if I could get an answer or why You know, I mean, I've done plenty of perfect verses and Matthew and different ones throughout, and Genesis and the whole lot.
01:21:18
Speaker
Right, it's true. Writing out my scriptures for me and David, you know. Yeah. But Song of Songs has totally confused me. I've never done that one before. i'm Sure. Why? Yeah. I leave the witchy, Brendan.
01:21:31
Speaker
I leave the witchy. Yeah, so a Song of Songs, it's...
01:21:37
Speaker
It's all Holy Spirit-led, but it's written almost as a conversation from three perspectives. Where you have the lover, the masculine persona.
01:21:50
Speaker
You've got the beloved, the female lyric persona. And then have friends who are kind of watching this marriage taking, or this love affair taking place the marriage and everything else. yeah So...
01:22:05
Speaker
You can read it say as, okay, a guy yeah and girl up fall in love and yada, yada, yada. She describes herself as having, you know, been working under the summer sun and it's and and and it's damaged her skin.
01:22:18
Speaker
And she's like a rose of Sharon, which is basically... It sounds like a compliment. It's kind of not. It just means, like, you know, you've got all these flowers together. And they kind of all like look identical.
01:22:30
Speaker
So she's not really that special. She's a plain Jane. name But this guy looks at her, falls in love with her. And there are times you when they're instant intimately close.
01:22:43
Speaker
And Asanga's... one If you read it and you think, oh, that might mean, that that it don't. Let's put that. Whatever your mind goes, you're right. In the natural sense.
01:23:00
Speaker
Because it' god is' a it's a marriage. It's God saying, oh, this is... Married, it should be healthy, it should be good, it should be vibrant, it should be tactile. Let's keep it PG. pres ni one and And there are parts of it actually which are very like what Adam and Eve's marriage was probably like.
01:23:19
Speaker
There are parts of it like they're doing it outside like anyone in the garden or something like the garden of Eve. Yeah, shocked and confused. I don't think I ever spent as much time my life on Song of Songs, Confused. I'll throw that out, Brendan. I haven't got a clue. I've obviously, you know, when me and David, we used to, I do so much of the Bible. He did the next reading of the Bible when we sat there together. But I think he just read through it and that was the end of it. Do you know what I mean? Yeah, thank you. Much deliberation.
01:23:51
Speaker
Sorry for throwing you off your corsets, man, but that's totally like his... grip You rang a bell me and you when you talked about the end of the table and coming up and you you you know you you read something and then you talked to Mo because you it didn't hit you and then it the next day it did. yeah So yeah that's what maybe is some of songs up now for me, for you, because but I felt like I spent too much time trying to figure it out. Okay, they are I get you. On Friday, yeah i was confused.
01:24:23
Speaker
yeah But I do know, like you know some some lines will hit you and say, yeah, that's us, and then not. But I was confused. Yeah, no, absolutely. yeah So it's basically looking at a very healthy marriage, but there are times of upset, like in chapter three, for instance, there's a time when the the beloved, the woman, is walking around the city, and actually those who are supposed to guard the city gates...
01:24:50
Speaker
come down and they beat the living crap out of her. The ones who are supposed to look after her, who are supposed to guard heart, who are supposed to take care of her person, do her significant damage.
01:25:05
Speaker
She crawls back to wherever she is and then the lover comes back and she feels restored again. So it's kind of a a lovely love story, but you can also read it as...
01:25:17
Speaker
Jesus, you know, God, looking at his bride, the bride of Christ is the nation of Israel, because the Old Testament and mostly the same of people are are the Israelites.
01:25:28
Speaker
Yeah. Of Jesus looking at Israel and trying to lure Israel to himself through miracles, through wonders, the Exodus story from Egypt, and by showing them love and compassion, giving them his law, that, and other.
01:25:46
Speaker
But yet there are times of separation, there are times of division, but just how much sweeter it all is when they come back together again. You can look at it as Jesus' love for the church, his body, the body of Christ.
01:26:01
Speaker
where he is the lover, he's the initiator. He loved us before we loved him. He died the cross while we were still sinners. And we're the ones coming into relation with him.
01:26:13
Speaker
But again, like chapter three, when the watchmen beat her up, the people who are supposed to look after you, the people who prepare for you, that could be your parents.
01:26:28
Speaker
That could be your siblings. That could be church leaders. Hello. That could be Christians more generally. Best people in the world until they turn nasty. um That could be neighbors.
01:26:41
Speaker
The people who are the watchmen, supposed to be vigilant, supposed to be on guard to protect you, betray you, vilify you, become your enemies. and But Jesus is still the faithful one. He's still the faithful lover.
01:26:56
Speaker
He's still the one who's what still... That's what struck me. You know, you said that. I said that. Right? hurt life Sure. Absolutely. um But he's still faithful, even when his people are unfaithful.
01:27:09
Speaker
He's still faithful, even when the leaders he's put in place are faithless. And so it's it's got multiple layers. put it that way. You're gonna read it in the natural. It's fine.
01:27:22
Speaker
You can read it as Jesus loved for the nation of Israel. and A very Old Testament and end times Eve reading. And you can read it for us as Jesus loved for the church.
01:27:34
Speaker
But there are points in it. of tension there are points of separation because we you can love Jesus through your heart and soul but you will go through seasons when you just feel less close to him we will go through times when it's not as lovey dovey because life gets in the way or we get distracted or we're in a season of waiting because he wants to stretch us and say okay I've already told you what to do
01:28:06
Speaker
Will you do it? And while he's waiting for us to do the last thing he told us to do, we might not do it. So time gets elongated, time gets stretched. and But he's still there waiting for us. And then when he comes, when we feel that union again, we feel that connection again. It's even sweeter than it was before.
01:28:27
Speaker
So yeah, there are different ways we can read it. But it is one actually that... Maybe, let's see, we're almost finished May. Maybe in July, we'll be looking at it on one of the discipleship weddings days. Looking it through the lens of Jesus' love for his people. So it is one that, ah yeah, we're not going shy away from. We're not going look it in detail.
01:28:54
Speaker
Yeah. Thanks, Brandon. i I just don't know why I hit that one. Of all the years you Looking at the Bible, I'm writing out familiar a things to David but on anniversaries or birthdays or whatever. Do you know what mean? I'm writing out my little in colour pens and dress in the walls. Do you know, like this? I do do it. Nice, yeah. Oh, are you there? Because I'm holding the phone in my hand. No, we can't you. Don't worry. Holding the phone in my hand.
01:29:27
Speaker
Yeah. Are you still there? Yeah, we can still hear you, yeah? All right. And because the phone went down to 5%. Yeah, no, I don't know. i I appreciate that now. And I'm sorry for throwing it off. was just bedazzled. I grabbed the line. I thought, yeah, that's nice. But then the second line could be doesn't hit together. It really confusing. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
01:29:51
Speaker
Thank
Wisdom from Song of Songs & Covenantal Love
01:29:52
Speaker
you. It's got some really wonderful lines like, you know, and Don't awaken love before it's time, which is really great advice. Basically, you know, don't be frivolous with your heart.
01:30:04
Speaker
It's got even the description when the woman describes herself as her skin having been damaged, you know, by the sun and, you know, perhaps being Not treated all that well within her own family.
01:30:19
Speaker
and But yet still, this lover sets eyes on her and she's like the best in the world, most beautiful thing he's ever seen. It's bit like Mephibosheth.
01:30:32
Speaker
To everyone else, he's the cripple. Wonky legs, 20 feet, got dropped as a baby, and he can tell. But to he was a son.
01:30:43
Speaker
ah Dave is like, you're at my table, you're one of my kids now. and i told Jonathan that I would always love him and his family while Jonathan might be dead, but I'm still going to honour my word to him and look after his kids by extension. It's the same kind covenantal love where even with your imperfection, even with your crippled walk, even with the sunburned skin, even with the blotches and the scars...
01:31:12
Speaker
you are still everything to Jesus. Lovely. Thank you. Amen. Amen. Amen.
01:31:23
Speaker
Yeah, but i a few Wednesdays from now, we are going to look at it in lots of detail if we have it. Yeah. yeah Appreciate that, because like i was going, why did I open that? was I drawn to i that? is that in there? I should have stayed where I was with enough scriptures. i It was like, well, anyway, there was a reason and that's the answer now I've gotten. So I appreciate Thank you. Yeah, you're very welcome. You're welcome.
01:31:54
Speaker
Because sometimes I think, I don't know about you, Brendan, maybe you study better than me, yeah but sometimes I'm reading through parts of the Bible and i haven't got ah notions. Like I give up on numbers. I remember Pastor Peter turning around saying to me when I could, the time that my head was a mess and I couldn't sleep and he's going to me. Stochastically, but didn't know it till afterwards. He said, read numbers. And when I went into all these different numbers and families i and I went, you're having a laugh. Wait till I get my hands on you.
01:32:29
Speaker
Yeah, because the numbers, it's
01:32:34
Speaker
It's
Genealogies, Battles, and Spiritual Warfare
01:32:35
Speaker
important, I say, for the genealogies that are these people, they conquered this of the land and set up this kind of territory, being this part the territory.
01:32:46
Speaker
i And different, because it's they're days of war and it's conquest, the order in which, let's say, they went into battle, sometimes they went down in a cross shape.
01:32:57
Speaker
Where you picture the crosses there. Or there are times, say, when maybe they had a great victory or times they really fell into a sin, which is actually very common for all of us. But, yeah, it's important to say in terms of, like, the nation building.
01:33:11
Speaker
But to us as 21st century people who live, well, not in the Middle East, it that way. Yeah. Yeah. and there There's a... It's probably less important for us on a practical level.
01:33:25
Speaker
But I have to leave for me too. That you can glean for like, you know, day-to-day living and spiritual warfare. Yeah, it's a tough one. Yeah. Too tough for me. But that's okay, because like I said, God brings to mind what you need to know at a given time for the people in your world and for your... Yeah.
01:33:48
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah, and that looks different front of us. I'm just going to set the phone somewhere because I'm having my wrist and my hand. I'm trying to stretch my back. and So I'm going lay a flat because yeah I'm on a very short lead and it's driving me mad. I'll try and sit you on the table.
01:34:06
Speaker
Yeah, you're fine. You're totally fine. I'm going to get a drink and some bread ready. Go for it. Go for it. Okay, see you in a moment. Yep. Okay guys, since we already have the Book of Psalms open. a Crack open Psalm chapter four as well.
01:34:22
Speaker
Psalm chapter four as well.
01:34:32
Speaker
All right, this says for the director of music, with strange instrument, the Psalm of David. Answer me when I call to you, my righteous God.
01:34:44
Speaker
Give me relief from my distress.
01:34:50
Speaker
Have mercy on me and hear my prayer.
01:34:56
Speaker
How long will you people turn my glory into shame? How long will you love delusions and seek false gods?
01:35:09
Speaker
What are false gods? Demons. So basically David's saying that Absalom and he's hopeful in those connected to them are serving demons and loving them, seeking them, chasing them out.
01:35:25
Speaker
And you find that politics all the time. The people who purportedly want to have the most atheistic lifestyle or want people to be more atheistic or say, there's no such thing as God, blah, blah, blah.
David's Faith Journey and Psalm 4
01:35:41
Speaker
They tend to be the biggest demon worshippers of them all. Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant for himself. The Lord hears when I call to him.
01:35:55
Speaker
What a transformation. This is the David who went from maybe God is cursing me. Let Shimi curse me and throw stones on me and throw dirt on me.
01:36:06
Speaker
yeah i do does This is God's will. But he got to the destination, he refreshed himself, and in the refreshing, he has come back to Beharim.
01:36:17
Speaker
Back to chosen. Back to being God's selected preference. Back to, on a second, God told me he chose me.
01:36:27
Speaker
I know he did. He said it through Samuel, a very accurate prophet, that one of his words fell to the ground. I know what God's will is.
01:36:37
Speaker
Tremble. and do not sin. He's holding his enemies now. I don't know where near, but, you know, he's still releasing the words out of his mouth. Tremble and do not sin.
01:36:50
Speaker
When you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. So stop telling people how you're going destroy me and check your heart, check yourself.
01:37:03
Speaker
Offer the sacrifices of the righteous and trust in the Lord. So not sacrifice to demons or to your own ego. Get right with God and fast.
01:37:16
Speaker
Many, Lord, are asking, who will bring us prosperity?
01:37:25
Speaker
Let the light of your faith shine on us. Fill my heart with joy. when their grain and new wine abound.
01:37:38
Speaker
If you want to pray prosperity and blessing over yourself, aren't they just like a phenomenal three lines? Let the light of your face shine on me, fill my heart with joy, when their grain and new wine abound.
01:37:53
Speaker
In peace, I will lie down and sleep, declare that over yourselves. For you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.
01:38:10
Speaker
So he goes from accepting someone's curses over him, thinking maybe the curses they're putting on him are legit and found and godly, to saying no.
01:38:26
Speaker
No, I know the word God has spoken over me. that word will come to pass. My enemies had better be afraid because God is willing to to fullness.
01:38:44
Speaker
Yeah, it's an amazing blessing.
01:38:50
Speaker
All right, guys, turn i back now to 2 Samuel 16. We're gonna pick up where we left off. with verses 15 to 23. 2nd Samuel 16, 15 to 23.
Absalom's Takeover and Ahitophel's Strategy
01:39:19
Speaker
like in samuel sixteen fifteen the twenty three
01:39:25
Speaker
Alright, so David and his men have vacated Jerusalem. They've run away from the palace. a David left his concubines. is there were They were wives without the legal status of a wife, if that remotely makes sense, and to manage the palace in his absence.
01:39:44
Speaker
But if you leave your zone, the enemy will take over your zone. So let's see what Absalom has been getting up to.
01:39:56
Speaker
Meanwhile, Absalom and all the men of Israel came to Jerusalem, and Ahitophel was with them. Now this Ahitophel, David's confidant, David's counselor, David's dear friend who has betrayed him to join Absalom.
01:40:18
Speaker
Then Hushai the Archite, David's confidant, okay, so this is one of David's five moles. This is one of David's five informants.
01:40:32
Speaker
Then Hushai the archite, David's confidant, went to Absalom and said to him, long live the king, long live the king. And he's saying this to Absalom about Absalom.
01:40:46
Speaker
Absalom said to Hushai, so this is the love you show your friend. You loved my father so much and you're betraying him at the turn of dime?
01:40:59
Speaker
Really? That quickly? Your loyalty is that cheap?
01:41:05
Speaker
If David's your friend, if my dad's your friend, why didn't you go with him?
01:41:12
Speaker
Hushai said to Absalom, No. The one chosen by the Lord, by these people, and by all the men of Israel,
01:41:25
Speaker
His i will be, and I will remain with him. Basically, people love you. That means God loves you. You're popular.
01:41:36
Speaker
That means you're God's preference. And going to be with you.
01:41:43
Speaker
Furthermore, whom shall I serve? Should I not serve the Son? Just as I served your Father, so I will serve you.
01:41:55
Speaker
So again, this is all just double talk, double speak. Hushai is officially Team David, but he has to worm his way into Absalom's inner circle, get again his trust.
01:42:11
Speaker
Absalom said to Ahitophel, give us your advice. What should we do? Ahitophel answered, sleep with your father's concubines.
01:42:25
Speaker
So basically it'd be like sleeping with your stepmother. Plural. Sleep with your father's concubines whom he left to take care of the palace. Then all Israel will hear what you have sorry, that you have made yourself obnoxious to your father because nothing really turns a father's son against one another than one sleeping with the other's wife.
01:42:50
Speaker
And the hands of everyone with you will be more resolute. So basically, if you do this, people will know that this is a proper takeover, that you are 100% against your father, and apparently that's going to convince people that Absalom should be followed. That's how wicked and easily malleable and twisted people's hearts are.
01:43:16
Speaker
And the hands of everyone with you will be more resolute. The more evil you do, the more committed your followers will be. Isn't that a reflection on the political spectrum that we see in the world today?
01:43:34
Speaker
People can do the most wicked, evil, heinous things. And their follower, their supporters, their voters will just flock to them, will excuse it.
01:43:46
Speaker
They could burn their own country to the ground. um And people just don't bat an eyelid.
01:43:55
Speaker
So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof. And he slept with his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.
01:44:06
Speaker
Pitched a tent, put a bed on it. Maybe more than one bed because there were lots of concubines. And he just did the do right there out in the open for the whole country to see.
01:44:21
Speaker
Now, in those days, the advice of Ahitophel gave was like that of one who inquires of God. That's not saying it was good advice. it's He was trusted.
01:44:33
Speaker
That was how both David and Absalom regarded all Ahitophel's advice. If he said it, you did it. And you didn't ask questions. You assumed he knew what he was talking about.
01:44:46
Speaker
So, i yeah. Absalom. Did all that, Absalom did his father's concubines, his stepmothers, almost.
01:45:01
Speaker
I think if I try to elaborate that more, I'm just going to blush, so we'll just move on to 2 Samuel 17.
01:45:09
Speaker
Ahitophel said to Absalom,
01:45:13
Speaker
I would choose 12,000 and set out tonight in pursuit of David. I would attack him while he's weary and weak.
01:45:27
Speaker
I would strike him with terror, and then all the people with him will flee. I would strike down only the king and bring all the people back to you.
01:45:42
Speaker
The death of the man you seek will mean the return of all, and the people will go unharmed. This plan seemed good Absalom and all the elders of Israel.
01:45:54
Speaker
So basically get a team of 12,000 together. Hunt the king. Well, the exiled king, the ex-king, whatever the ones to call him. He was still the anointed king of God.
01:46:06
Speaker
Take him back here as a corpse. But bring everyone else back because you don't really want to kill people who could serve you.
01:46:19
Speaker
If you start killing citizens, um well, then you might turn your followers against you. Like, oh my goodness, those people are not, what are you doing? So strategically, just kill your dad. That's how you do it with advice.
01:46:36
Speaker
But Absalom said, hmm, yeah, okay. But someone also Hushai the Archite, so we can hear what he has to say as well.
01:46:48
Speaker
When Hushai came to him, Absalom said, TOEFL, has given this advice. Should we do what he says? If not, give us your opinion.
01:47:01
Speaker
Pushai replied to Absalom, ah The advice I, TOEFL, has given is not good this time. So he's usually on the ball. He's usually amazing. But on this one occasion, don't think I'd do that, to be honest.
01:47:19
Speaker
You know your father and his men. They are fighters. And as fierce as a wild bear robbed of her cubs. Besides, your father is an experienced fighter.
01:47:35
Speaker
He will not spend the night the troops. So basically, he's already out, you know, up up to no good. You're not going to find him as easy as you think. Even now, he is hidden in a cave or some other place.
01:47:50
Speaker
If he should attack your troops first, because he's in waiting, he's not hiding because he's a scary cat, he's a bear. He's prowling around just waiting to kill someone who's team Absalom.
01:48:06
Speaker
If he should attack your troops first, whoever hears about it will say, hu there has been a slaughter among the troops who follow Absalom. Then even the bravest soldier, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, so really, you know, tickling his pride, will melt with fear.
01:48:26
Speaker
For all Israel knows, Drafal's a fighter, so he's really hammering this home. keeps bringing the same points back again. And that those with him are brave.
01:48:38
Speaker
So Wahitofel is saying, strike while the iron is hot, kill your father and bring those men back to serve you.
01:48:48
Speaker
Hushai is saying, if you hunt David, there's no, David's not sad, David's not depressed, David's not afraid. David is already prepared to start slicing and dicing your men.
01:49:04
Speaker
And his men are happily going to tear your men limb from limb. And if they're prowling in the in the in the forest or the wilderness and they've set traps,
01:49:17
Speaker
your men are going to get discouraged. Your men are going to say, oh my goodness, fucking Absalom was a mistake. And you don't want that Absalom. You want to attack once and you want to succeed.
01:49:29
Speaker
You don't want to suffer for any and losses the first time you encounter. her That's Hushai's advice. What is he doing? He's trying to give David time to escape. That's what he's actually doing.
01:49:39
Speaker
But he's framing it like he's Team Absalom.
01:49:51
Speaker
So I advise you, let all Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, as numerous as the sand on the seashore.
01:50:02
Speaker
You know, your army is just so vast. Oh my goodness, you have the biggest army in the world. You're amazing. Be gathered to you, with you yourself leading them into battle. So again, take time to get them all to together in one place.
01:50:17
Speaker
What does that do? It gives David time to escape.
01:50:22
Speaker
Then we will attack him wherever he may be found. So we, okay, not you, we I'm in this with you. We're in this together, bro. And we will fall on him as Jew settled on the ground.
01:50:35
Speaker
Neither he nor his men will be left to alive. We're going to kill every single one of them. If he withdraws into a city, then all Israel will bring ropes to the city and will drag it down to the valley until not so much as if Ebal is left.
01:50:51
Speaker
So he's actually speaking more vindictively than Ahitophel. More vengefully, more bloodily, it's more gory. What's he doing? He's just giving David time to withdraw.
01:51:04
Speaker
it's It's a delay tactic.
01:51:10
Speaker
Ahitophel and all the men of Israel said, yeah, yeah, yeah. The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than that of Ahitophel. What did, who should i do? he's trying to turn the enemy against each other.
01:51:25
Speaker
He's trying to discredit Ahitophel's advice.
01:51:30
Speaker
For the Lord had determined to frustrate the good advice of Ahitophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom. And that's what we were praying for about the court case a couple of weeks ago, and that the Lord would frustrate the plans of the enemy.
01:51:49
Speaker
All the plan that legal counsel had, that barristers had, that liars pretend they victims had. A holy frustration of those plans.
01:52:10
Speaker
Absalom basically said, yep, you know what? I much prefer Pushay's advice on this matter. It's so much better. Let's follow him.
01:52:19
Speaker
So Hushai told Zadok and Abiathar the priests. So again, these are informants, okay? So Hushai is team David. Zadok and Abiathar are team David, but they're pretending to work for Absalom.
01:52:33
Speaker
So the three informants are meeting together. Aditofel has advised Absalom and the elders to such and such, but I've advised them to do so and so.
01:52:45
Speaker
Now send the message at once and tell David... Do not spend the night at the fords in the wilderness. Cross over without fail, or the king and all the people with him will be swallowed up.
01:53:00
Speaker
So Hushai is saying, wherever you are, you're too close. Withdraw. Get further back. Hide.
01:53:11
Speaker
Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at Enrogel. So Jonathan and Ahimaaz... are the sons of Zadok and Abiathar. Okay, so five informants in total.
01:53:23
Speaker
Hushai, two priests, and the priests each had a son. So you got five informants. So Jonathan and Nahimas are fast runners. Their job is to relay whatever the three older men say and bring it to David.
01:53:39
Speaker
Back and forth.
01:53:46
Speaker
So they are in the evil camp, but they're actually goodies.
01:53:53
Speaker
A female servant was to go to them and inform them. And they were to go and tell King David, for they could not risk being seen entering the city.
01:54:05
Speaker
That was the plan. So now you have a sixth player, a sixth informant, a woman, we don't know who she is. So she, Hushai spoke to the priests.
01:54:18
Speaker
The priests would speak to the woman. The woman would speak to the two young men and they would go and tell David. That was the plan. It didn't happen.
01:54:30
Speaker
Verse 18, but a young man saw them ah then du and told Absalom. So the young man, we don't know who he is.
01:54:41
Speaker
okay He told Absalom, Absalom, we have traitors in our midst. Jonathan and Dahemez cannot be trusted. They're spies.
01:54:55
Speaker
They're informants. They're collaborators with your father, ex-king, the exiled king.
01:55:03
Speaker
So what would Absalom's response be? To kill them.
01:55:10
Speaker
So the two of them, Jonathan Nahimaz, left at once and went to the house of a man in Bahurum, the place we looked at a moment ago. That means chosen, selected preference.
01:55:24
Speaker
He had a well in his courtyard and they climbed down into it. So they got there, saw his well with his permission and they hid his well.
01:55:40
Speaker
His wife took a covering and spread it out over the opening of the well and scattered grain over it. No one knew anything about it. So the wife is now hiding these two informants in the well.
01:55:53
Speaker
For something to get summed up in two sentences, this is an incredibly dramatic storytelling.
01:56:00
Speaker
When Absalom's men came to the woman at the house, and again, we don't know who is either. It's okay if you know it's just the man or the woman, because God knows who you are. Sometimes you might feel like you're this nameless, faceless person just being buffeted around reality and obscurity.
01:56:18
Speaker
But God knows who you are. When Absalom's men came to the woman at the house, they asked, where are Ahimaaz and Jonat? So the fact that they pinpointed the house where the men had gone shows you just how many people were on Team Absalom all around the nation.
01:56:36
Speaker
I mean, they may have had neighbors who were like, you know, peeking through the curtains. hu What's happening over there? Absalom, go to that house, go to that house.
01:56:46
Speaker
The woman answered them. Shadok, they cross over the brook. What is she doing? She's lying. But she's saving their lives, so it's okay.
01:56:57
Speaker
The men searched, but found no one, because she covered up the either the entrance to the well or the entire well. So they returned to Jerusalem. So she hid them.
01:57:10
Speaker
She lied to the king's men, well, the counterfeit king's men, and protected their lives.
01:57:19
Speaker
After the evil men had gone, after Absalom's followers had gone, The two men, Ahimaz and Jonathan, climbed out of the well and went to inform David.
01:57:31
Speaker
They said to him, set out and cross the river once. Ahitophel has advised such and such against you. So Ahitophel's plan is to murder you and take your men back to follow Absalom.
01:57:48
Speaker
So David and all the people with him set out and cross the Jordan. By daybreak, no one was left who had not crossed the Jordan. So his entire team had crossed this river.
01:58:06
Speaker
When Ahitophel saw that his advice had not been followed. Now Ahitophel's advice was actually good advice. His plan was, listen, David is the enemy. David's the with the anointing, so you kill him, you lock him off.
01:58:25
Speaker
and you bring all the people back as your servants. That way you're not seen as vindictive to your own people, to your own countrymen. That way you have people who can serve you, who actually know how to run an army in order to run a kingdom, yada, yada, yada.
01:58:40
Speaker
Ahitophel's advice was actually better. So when Ahitophel saw that Absalom had rejected his advice, Ahitophel knew straight away, right, crap.
01:58:54
Speaker
Absalom's kingdom is not going to last. Ahitophel's kingdom is going to end very, very soon and very suddenly.
01:59:06
Speaker
This guy was is popular, he's young, he's good looking, and he's an idiot. He does not know good advice when he hears it. His team has been infiltrated, and he's listening to people try to tear him down,
01:59:22
Speaker
So Ahitophel knows following Absalom was a mistake. Absalom's kingdom is terminal.
01:59:33
Speaker
When Ahitophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his house in order and then he hanged himself.
01:59:49
Speaker
So he died and was buried in his father's tomb. He had bet on the wrong horse.
02:00:02
Speaker
And he knew it. He knew that if Absalom did not follow his advice, his kingdom would not last.
02:00:15
Speaker
Now. Ahitophel had been a good friend of David's, but had betrayed him. His story ends in disgrace with him swinging from a tree.
02:00:31
Speaker
Who, in the New Testament, is very similar to Ahitophel.
02:00:40
Speaker
A friend who betrays someone else and ends up swinging from a tree.
02:00:49
Speaker
Judas. Judas Iscariot, exactly. Lisa, that's it. The most infamous friend in the Bible.
02:01:04
Speaker
All right. Here are a couple of accounts of Judas's death. In Matthew, chapter 27, verses 5 to 8. verses five to eight So Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.
02:01:19
Speaker
Jesus, then he actually led the soldiers to Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane and said, the one I kiss, arrest him. Went up, gave Jesus the kiss of death. Jesus got arrested.
02:01:32
Speaker
And Judas was like, oh no, what have I done? o So Judas went into the temple hoping to, I don't know, buy forgiveness from somebody.
02:01:45
Speaker
So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. And then he went to win, hanged himself. The chief priests picked up the coins and said, it is against the law to put this into the treasury since it's blood money.
02:02:03
Speaker
I mean, these are like the chief priests, the people who are supposed to know good from wrong. Even they knew what they'd done was murder. So they decided to use the money to buy the potter's field as a burial place for foreigners.
02:02:17
Speaker
That is why it's been called the field of blood to this day. And the story's a little more gruesome when you're in Acts chapter 1, 18 to 19.
02:02:31
Speaker
With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field. There he fell headlong So he's swinging from the tree.
02:02:43
Speaker
And the next thing, his body drops. Whatever happens, body falls the ground.
02:02:48
Speaker
His body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this. So they call that field in their language, Akaldama.
02:03:02
Speaker
That is, field of blood. So he's swinging. The rope came undone, he fell and went splat.
02:03:21
Speaker
All right, this day next week, we're gonna look at part four of the Absalom Conspiracy, where one kingdom comes tumbling down.
02:03:36
Speaker
And you wanna who survives? and who doesn't. Are there any questions, thoughts, comments or concerns on anything that we've read or discussed today before we have a time of communion?
02:03:52
Speaker
are that all good?
02:03:58
Speaker
I think it's so relevant. i mean I don't know why I always thought that time you know we have matured and changed so much over the years. But all of us are the same stuff repeated.
02:04:10
Speaker
It doesn't matter what area you're in. It's about people, the shiniest thing of everything is going to be the most successful. You follow these leaders regardless of how ruthless they are. And in fact, the more ruthless they are, they seem to get a big following.
02:04:27
Speaker
Sure. i mean Yeah, it's it's true. mean, even just yesterday, had someone who were talking about how the salvation ah the Irish nation is Sinn Féin. Oh my God, I haven't had explain.
02:04:48
Speaker
And a it was like, oh you know what, they're there for the people and they do this and and they promise this and yada yada. And I just had to say, okay, but let's look at their Bo-Shang track record.
02:05:01
Speaker
I said, whenever it's something evil that actually, you know, destroys the country, they are a part of the establishment. I know that they sit on the opposition bench. I know when you listen to the mainstream media, they're the leader of the opposition. I would not be trusting them. Not a vote. Now we shouldn't have a chance. But I said, whenever, if I'm voting, they're always on the side of the establishment. So I said that it's fake opposition. and
02:05:32
Speaker
And when I said that, the people talking to were like, it makes sense. Yeah, yeah, yeah. a But actually, even today, because i used to say that too, you'd read like, title in the Bible, like, gosh, these leaders were evil, or these people were idiots, sometimes two at once, or these people were doing, you know, this, that, and the And I suppose i was under the illusion that because, basically at school, we were told, you know, a democracy was the best kind of political system there was.
02:06:06
Speaker
And when I heard, well, you know, oh, Ireland's a democracy. Oh, that means, you know, that we're were it were the goodies. But actually, when you actually start to look at political leaders and how they connive, how they chase people out, how they shut these doors, how they stand or how they destroy, you're like, yeah, OK, we actually haven't learned anything ever.
02:06:29
Speaker
Very, very disappointing. Oh, massively so, massively. um And, yeah, just how you know you can have people who do really evil, sinister, nefarious works, sometimes nakedly and out in the open, you know, pretty much to the degree of having sex, you know, with their father's concubines on a rooftop for a hundred to see.
02:06:53
Speaker
Naked, out in the open, unhidden, unashamed,
02:07:01
Speaker
in front of let's say you know all all all all all these cameras and just don't give a toss and their false prophets, the mainstream media, will lie, tell you don't believe your eyes, don't believe your ears, don't believe what you see.
02:07:18
Speaker
and will edit history, will edit what you're able to see, put this spin on this, this twist on this, and how the masses fall into line and agree with the party line.
Political Tactics and Divine Love
02:07:31
Speaker
It's terrifying.
02:07:33
Speaker
But it shows you that nothing has actually changed. There's nothing new under the sun. I know this is political, but how did Jerry Hutch's votes be transferred to Sinn Féin?
02:07:46
Speaker
Sure. What's the call about it? Good question. Genuinely. Very much. Because the world change. Yeah. that's done It shows you the the state of the nation. yeah It shows the state of the nation. Yeah. yeah Absolutely. Corruption.
02:08:05
Speaker
That's it. That's it. yeah Yeah. Yeah. Thank you, cheers. But the good news is There is a king that we serve who is the king of heaven.
02:08:24
Speaker
Amen. Hallelujah. He is the Lord. he is the master. And we we're bondservants. And he is absolutely good.
02:08:36
Speaker
He is the one who saved us when we were in need of saving.
02:08:43
Speaker
The one who loved us and called us beloved. when we were at our most unlovable.
02:08:51
Speaker
The one who calls us Bahurim, his selective preference, his chosen, who chose us before the foundation of the earth was lain. The one who, I knew this word very intentionally, crossed over from death to life.
02:09:16
Speaker
while we were dead in our trespasses to bring us to life.
02:09:24
Speaker
We are his body and he is our head.
02:09:30
Speaker
He's the boss, he's the one who sees what's to come. He's the one who can smell all the rats that are coming our way. And he's the one who gives us instructions, who gives us commands that we are to follow.
02:09:45
Speaker
so that our soul prospers, that our physical health prospers, that everything in our life prospers, that we lie down in those green pastures to find refreshment for our soul, that even when are in the darkest valley, in the valley of the shadow of death, death does not overtake us, does not overcome us,
02:10:14
Speaker
and Instead, we commune with him we learn even more about him, we get strengthened, and we do not live in that valley, we make our way to the other side in victory and testify his goodness.
02:10:28
Speaker
And the best example of his goodness was while we were still sinners, he died for us and rose again. so as we have this time of communion with the bread, it is a picture The bread's not magic, it's an egg ass and bread.
02:10:43
Speaker
Best bread in Ireland, just bread. But it's a picture of his body broken for us. To put every part of our life back together again.
02:10:55
Speaker
To bring our dead spirit to life, which he has done. To repair and restore our fractured, broken souls, which he does more and more and more as we go on this journey.
02:11:09
Speaker
even to put our broken bodies back together on the earth, and totally, fully, forevermore, day of rapture, which we'll look at in the future, and the cup to be a picture of his blood.
02:11:26
Speaker
It's not magic, it's just from legal, but a picture of his blood that has washed us clean. That not if, but when,
02:11:39
Speaker
shimmy, shimmies into our life with curses, whether F-bombs or, you know immature death. Go kill yourself. Devil's gonna get ya.
02:11:52
Speaker
Pelting you with stones from his lips.
02:11:59
Speaker
Burying you in dirt. Telling you that you are dirt.
02:12:04
Speaker
And you'd be better off if Thor would be better off than Egypt.
02:12:10
Speaker
But when a Z-Bat comes along and maliciously defames you and your character and your intentions, and when asked to describe you, oh yeah, cripple, handicap, funny walk, goes left and right, bent, messed up, good for nothing, the blood of Jesus speaks a better word.
02:12:39
Speaker
you when Ziba says, ah, sure, she's in Lodabar, he's nowhere, no pasture, no growth, good for nothing, came from nowhere, arrived nowhere, i'm going nowhere, without purpose, without destiny, the blood of Jesus says you are clean, you are his, you are restored, you are his beloved, you are adopted into his family.
02:13:05
Speaker
In Jesus' name. Amen.
02:15:13
Speaker
for these moments we've had in the last few hours.
02:15:18
Speaker
I'll be having the praise and the worship that you alone are due.
02:15:24
Speaker
For exploring your words together in lower words.
02:15:30
Speaker
For seeing God that, well, David was being attacked by family, by politics,
02:15:41
Speaker
by the people that he had led into prosperity, God,
02:15:51
Speaker
by strangers, by people with a hackneyed understanding of the past, you were still faithful in upholding him and walking him through it.
02:16:12
Speaker
And in restoring his soul, Lord. Lord, even at this point in the story, when the battle hasn't even happened yet, when there's no decisive winner or a loser at this point in the story, still you restored his soul in the valley.
02:16:32
Speaker
You restored his soul. You communed with him in the presence of his enemy.
02:16:39
Speaker
In dark as shadow,
02:16:43
Speaker
where the sting of death seemed so close.
02:16:48
Speaker
And Lord, we know that you will do the same for us, because we've already seen you do it time and time again.
02:16:57
Speaker
And you haven't given up on us. You are the same yesterday, today, and forever.
02:17:04
Speaker
So Lord, refresh us, restore us, put us back together again,
02:17:11
Speaker
And may we go into this coming week with vigor, with strength, in faith, in authority.
Prayers and Light-hearted Conversations
02:17:27
Speaker
Not fighting for victory, but fighting from victory. Fighting from the victory of already achieved, for the manifestation in the earth of the victory that you have decreed.
02:17:45
Speaker
In Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. Amen. a Well, guys, thank you all for joining today. Thank you, Brendan. Wednesday, because it will be June by then.
02:18:05
Speaker
Discipleship will show be're back on, and we'll be looking at early chapters of David's life. So ones that we looked at several months ago, with this stage, on Sundays, and looking at pictures of Jesus in David's life. I'm going to spend a few weeks on David, because we're still watching it. He's probably the biggest person in the Bible, apart from Jesus.
02:18:29
Speaker
um And on Sunday... and Next week, then we're going to finish off the Absalom story, and then we'll start a mini-series on soul.
02:18:41
Speaker
mind, the heart, and the emotions. What the soul is. How the enemy tries to destroy the soul. a What it means for a soul to be broken.
02:18:53
Speaker
and If parts of your soul can be lost. If there are people walking around with multiple people's souls inside of them. And the reason I'm saying that is because the answer is yes.
02:19:05
Speaker
If the enemy can steal bits and pieces of your soul. If your soul is always within you. Or if can be in multiple places at once. And look at spiritual warfare. Maybe you've had dreams of warring against demons or enemies in dreams before. What that means. What's actually happening there.
02:19:25
Speaker
And strong love. um what it actually is. lot of people throw the word around and don't actually know well what it is. So we're not done with 2 Samuel, we will come back to it, but I just feel the Holy Spirit really prompting an exploration of the soul.
02:19:44
Speaker
we'll do that for long he says, then we'll come back to 2 Samuel again. um And I will be, think it's in July, I'll get the date it soon.
02:19:59
Speaker
I'll be running the sound system for a praise and worship morning in Belfast. So I think it's about maybe 10am to 12pm or thereabouts.
02:20:11
Speaker
um I'm going to give the details for those two in the weeks to come. It's to free event. Different way to to spend a Sunday morning. a But... a to justify the drive up, I'll maybe do something like Giant's Caldwell afterwards or something, but I'll have concrete details for everyone very soon.
02:20:31
Speaker
All right. so So have a beautiful rest. Where did the kayaking wendy so you right here coming with my doorbell You went to the kayaking the other day? ah How was it? Steve and I went. Great fun.
02:20:47
Speaker
Great fun. It's just the most leisurely way to spend an afternoon. We went down and the guy who roamed it was like, You're paying for 90 minutes, lads, but stay as long as you like. And we made good use of our time and it's generosity.
02:21:00
Speaker
Good one. Absolutely. And where was that? Derrymore Springs Water Park in County Westmead. County Westmead, okay. yeah Yeah, so it's about an hour, 15 minute drive from R.D., so not too bad.
02:21:18
Speaker
It must be good. It's a great scenic drive. Do you fall out of the kayak? No. Not even, actually. aim It's if one of those, I mean, if you were to do nothing, though the lake wall would just move you along anyway. anyway But obviously, if you know how fast you want to go or there's a particular place you want to be, it's just a matter of navigating the paddle.
02:21:43
Speaker
But, no, if they give you, like, a life jacket just in case. But, thankfully, so far, haven't had any ball-ins. Brilliant.
02:21:54
Speaker
Yeah, yeah, but no, it's always brilliant. There's a place, think it's called Flinns. water park or something in or around county dublin like near the airport and where there's a big lake with like big inflatable obstacle school course that's the next place on my list it must be good i i've never done a to be honest honest with you i just love having adventures i just like doing something different yeah him and a if you fall in you know geez will scoop me out like he did with peter it's fine
02:22:30
Speaker
Brilliant. Love it. Yeah. i mean so No matter what happens, I know God will get me out of it anyway. Amen. Yes, he will. Amen. All right, guys. Listen, go forward and enjoy your week. And always remember, G-I-A-G.
02:22:48
Speaker
God is absolutely good. Amen. Well, have a lovely day, Patron. I'll be thinking of you. And you too. God bless. Have a good weekend. Bye-bye, everyone. Bye.
02:23:05
Speaker
ae