2 Samuel #18: an exposition of 2 Samuel 16:1-23. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, July 21, 2013.
Intro:
Are you ever overwhelmed by heartache? Have you ever found yourself with a “full plate” knowing you can’t take another thing and then have four more things dumped on your plate? Have you ever had one of those days? One of those, if anyone says another word to me I’m going to knock them into the middle of next week kind of days, and some jerk makes some smart comment? Life in this fallen world is not for the faint of heart! I don’t want to burst your bubble but life often stinks and being a child of God does not make you immune. You don’t get a pass. There are bad days and sometimes those bad “days” last for weeks. How are we to respond? How do we reflect the life of God when slapped in the face by one of those bad days? One son is dead. A daughter is ruined. His murdering son has now set his sights on the kingdom. David is fleeing Jerusalem – barefoot and in mourning. Can it get any worse? He crosses over the Mount of Olives and approaches the village of Bahurim and there he is pelted with rocks and dirt as a self-appointed prophet screams curses at him. Our text is found in the 16th chapter of 2 Samuel.
Text: 2 Samuel 16:1-23
David shows such strength and such peace throughout this ordeal.
After reading this I have new respect for what he wrote in Psalm 23.
“He prepares a table for me in the presence of my enemies.”
Though surrounded by enemies in this chapter David is at peace.
The heart revealed in 15:24-26 dominates chapter 16.
We live in increasingly hostile territory. Our faith, once dominant, is viewed as suspect if not outright rejected. If you hold to the orthodox faith handed down to us by our ancestors you are consider narrow-minded, bigoted and dangerous. If you hold to the moral standards of the Scripture you are considered the troublemaker. You are the oddball. You are the one to be feared. How are we to respond? We get some insight from David.
Thesis: When we find ourselves surrounded by enemies we are to first look for the hand of God and listen for His voice.
We are not promised a trouble-free existence. Far from it. Jesus said, “In this life there will be tribulation.” He said, “When you are attacked, mocked or accused don’t act as if something strange has happened – they did the same to Me.” We are not better than our Master. Further we are not to assume God has nothing to do with what is happening. He works all things together for our good and His glory.
There are three principles I want to point out from this text. Three things to be aware of when trouble comes.
- Beware, there are those who seek to use your pain to their advantage. (16:1-4)
- When attacked listen for the voice of God even in the angry rant of your enemy. (16:5-14)
- In the midst of our enemies we find rest in the knowledge of God’s providential hand in all things. (16:15-23)