2 Samuel Overview Part 4 - Sanctification: Disrupting Smooth-sailing Life to Remove Debts Of Sin

 

The purpose of this meeting is for the training of disciples so that blessed meetings will fall upon them.

 

There is none who is perfect, not even pastors or ministry workers. God wants to emphasize on His completeness instead. Blessed people will meet with God, converse with God, and through this process, they will get fruits. Yes, this takes place, however, through this process, there will be times when blessed people will sin and fall away. We cannot say that there is no plan of God in all these. God never regrets, for how could He regret? How can the work of man interrupt and destroy the work of God? Why was David so blessed? Some people say that they have nothing against God and are upright to God. However, no matter who people are, they will never fall away or sin sometimes. The strongest trait is that one can rise up in the midst of problems! Some people have a lot of hurts and regret. They question why they go through problems in their career, family, etc, and even because of their own weaknesses. Therefore, they store up a lot of hurts and grievances against all. God is love and righteous. He wants to reveal even more love and righteousness than before we fall. What is important is the present time! Whatever God has convicted us of, use that conviction to follow God. If we have such a life, we will not fear when we do wrong! Man is not God. Man is created not to be God, but to follow God. Today, however close God has enabled us to follow Him, we just do so. If we run ahead even though we have not received the convictions, we will find ourselves weary and all people would not have understood us. We must know His perfect will.

 

David knew the sacrifice of the shedding of blood. Therefore, God continued to instruct David His purpose and perfect will without holding back.

 

From Adam, sin fell into the world. From then, men are to find the blood of Jesus Christ and use it to fight a battle. Knowing God’s will and fighting everyday to follow the will is God’s perfect will.

 

1) David’s blessedness => Gospel

 

The whole universe revolves around David and the gospel he knows. Through the gospel, we are born again, sanctified and have fruits. We have Jesus Christ’s DNA. (I = Jesus Christ.) God does not call us to have no problems. But through problems, we are to be sanctified and bear fruits.

 

2) David’s transgression

 

Sinned -> Discipline -> Credited as Righteousness -> More Blessed

 

David solved sin through the method of the gospel. Through his confession, God immediately forgave him. Through the prophet Nathan, David was told he would not die. However, there would be discipline. If we confess, we will definitely accept discipline. If we say we will not do so again, will we really not do again? Through discipline after sinning, David was sanctified. Sometimes, our weakness is not serious, but sometimes, we do something that most people will not sin. When we do such, will we be able to solve it? Shall we be able to solve frustration and the empty heart? Therefore, those with problems are blessed, but if you discover that problem causes you to realize that you cannot but need God! David’s sin was the most touching. For me, I shed tears many times through receiving and understanding this application to myself. I have never shed tears when I accepted Christ. However, one day, when I was within the congregation and I heard how much I have sinned against God, and know His love that forgives, I cried. One day, I know how to solve any sin that comes to me. If someone has slandered you, or there are family problems, use the gospel first! Do not think about anything else as defense or letting go. What is it if we just lose a bit of money or pride in front of our peers?

 

3) Sanctification <21-24>

 

David was sanctified and thus gave testimonies <21:1-24:25>

 

2Sa. 21:1 During the reign of David, there was a famine for three successive years; so David sought the face of the LORD. The LORD said, “It is on account of Saul and his blood-stained house; it is because he put the Gibeonites to death.”

 

This was most blessed, when people sought the face of the Lord.

 

2Sa. 21:2 The king summoned the Gibeonites and spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonites were not a part of Israel but were survivors of the Amorites; the Israelites had sworn to spare them, but Saul in his zeal for Israel and Judah had tried to annihilate them.)

 

This dated back to the era of Joshua, when Gibeonites came to Israel because of the fear of the Lord. They disguised themselves as pitiful people in the hope that Israelites accepted them and would not destroy them. It was very occasional that Israel said, “In the name of the Lord, we shall not kill you”. Therefore, this is an important covenant between Israel and the Gibeonites, which effects as treating Gibeonites as God’s people.

 

Saul killed those whom shall not be killed, and not kill those who should be killed.

2Sa. 21:3 David asked the Gibeonites, “What shall I do for you? How shall I make amends so that you will bless the LORD’s inheritance?”

2Sa. 21:4 The Gibeonites answered him, “We have no right to demand silver or gold from Saul or his family, nor do we have the right to put anyone in Israel to death.” “What do you want me to do for you?” David asked.

 

There was a groan in the Gibeonites that was not solved. They wanted to bless the Israelites, but were not able to do so. That was like repeating curses. But these were done uprightly. Therefore, how could God stop the famine? Therefore, we must solve any hatred between others and ourselves. How can we allow such feelings of ill-will to continue on? God is a righteous God. However, there are different circumstances. Sometimes, it is because of persecutions from evangelism, and sometimes, we do right but yet we are slandered. So how do we do so if we cannot immediately solve the problem right then with people? For such a case, if only our hearts are blessed out of compassion for them , and pour out in prayers, then that is solved. The total forgiveness for people that comes through prayer will come to us. One day, when you hear news of them and the problems that arise with their situations, we just have mercy, intercede for them, and quickly go and bless them. In this, we will have solved every curse.

 

David was really blessed. He heard the word of God, and submitted immediately.

 

2Sa. 21:5 They answered the king, “As for the man who destroyed us and plotted against us so that we have been decimated and have no place anywhere in Israel,

2Sa. 21:6 let seven of his male descendants be given to us to be killed and exposed before the LORD at Gibeah of Saul — the LORD’s chosen one.” So the king said, “I will give them to you.”

 

Why must it be Gibeah, the hometown of Saul, and the complete number of 7 male descendants be set? This is talking about touching the root problem. God forgives sinners, but God must solve that sin of sinners. So how do we solve? This is similar to the case that Jesus Christ must be “killed and exposed before the Lord”!

 

2Sa. 21:7 The king spared Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the oath before the LORD between David and Jonathan son of Saul.

2Sa. 21:8 But the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons of Aiah’s daughter Rizpah, whom she had borne to Saul, together with the five sons of Saul’s daughter Merab,

2Sa. 21:9 He handed them over to the Gibeonites, who killed and exposed them on a hill before the LORD. All seven of them fell together; they were put to death during the first days of harvest, just as the barley harvest was beginning.

 

This date is the date of Passover!

2Sa. 21:10 Rizpah daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it out for herself on a rock. From the beginning of the harvest till the rain poured down from the heavens on the bodies, she did not let the birds of the air touch them by day or the wild animals by night.

2Sa. 21:11 When David was told what Aiah’s daughter Rizpah, Saul’s concubine, had done,

2Sa. 21:12 he went and took the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from the citizens of Jabesh Gilead. (They had taken them secretly from the public square at Beth Shan, where the Philistines had hung them after they struck Saul down on Gilboa.)

2Sa. 21:13 David brought the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from there, and the bones of those who had been killed and exposed were gathered up.

 

David had compassion on them, but he had no choice to do such a thing. He helped gather the bones and was so upright. Therefore all people liked David!

2Sa. 21:14 They buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in the tomb of Saul’s father Kish, at Zela in Benjamin, and did everything the king commanded. After that, God answered prayer on behalf of the land.

 

The following is the most important mystery of the gospel in the following manner.

 

1) Must remove root of curse (secret/mystery)

 

Reason for 3 years of famine and solution (uphold the cause of Gibeonites) <21:1-14> -> Secret of sanctification (remove the root of curse)

 

* Groan for injustice -> accusations <Rev 12:11>

 

We must solve any hatred totally. Why must we remove the root of curse? This is because there is one who continues to groan for injustice done 24 hours (Satan). And this groaning becomes accusations. There is one group who is created to destroy and another that is created to glorify God. There is no need to argue on this as God has fixed this. With this, the people of God will eternally look down from heaven and see God’s complete love and complete righteousness, and therefore give thanks and praise God.

 

New heavens and earth

 

In this new heavens and earth, there is no more non-submission. There will be eternally no tears. We must receive this. However, we must live today to receive this. How can man store up things against one another, or things undone or things to be taken care of? When new heavens and earth comes, all these will disappear, and only those where you see God will remain.

 

* <Job 1>

 

We must read the above chapter. There is one who goes to and fro in the heavens. This is Satan. God told Satan about Job, but Satan initiated to accuse people. He told God that it was because God had protected and blessed Job that Job was so faithful. Therefore, immediately, all his 10 sons died and all his properties were taken away. How was Job sanctified? He said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.” How will Job be able to say this before sanctification? This is God’s perfect will. Only when we lose our belongings, even our family, etc, will we then experience Him! Again, God went to Job, but Satan again tested by saying that Job will curse God because of his flesh. God allowed, however, He restricted Satan to do so provided that Job will not die. <1Co 10:13> He will surely provide a way out for us! If you have accepted that God permitted so that you must go through the problems, you must discover how He restricts problems to come on you. Job experienced the greatest problem. His wife did not die because God permitted her to be used by Satan to tempt Job, “curse God and die!” How was Job sanctified again? “Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”, replied Job. However God permitted his disease to remain because His perfect will was not accomplished yet (Job did not understand fully about God yet). His 3 friends were used to torture him again. Then Job replied, “I am righteous!” This was the moment that it was revealed that Job was self-righteous! God then asked him a hundred questions, “Will there be no purpose and plan in whatever I do? There is nothing that is righteous unless there is the shedding of blood, the death and resurrection!” In the end, God gave the role of the priest to Job to pray and evangelize to his friends. This was God’s perfect will! If we have not received comfort when receiving this word, we must realize that we have not despised ourselves, but have despised God’s word.

 

Do you really want to be like some people of the world, who have no problems in their lives, having everything in the world, or having a wonderful love life like Romeo and Juliet? It is exposed that they have no confirmation in their every step. But are we willing to be like those Christians of the early church, who were martyred but have God vouch for them in their every steps? Shall we continue to receive accusations when Satan attacks us, “God never understands you... never gives you... never answers you...” and thus be discouraged? If we have not receive His power, we will definitely lose to Satan, whom some people says, has the IQ of 666.

 

“Lord, let me go home.” But God says, “There are still 270 people on board. Save them.” No, brothers, do not be discouraged in the midst of your imperfections. You definitely can overcome women, fame and money. This corresponds to mean, “To die is Christ, and to live is gain.” Shall pastors continue to dwell on gaining numbers or be succumbed to be tempted by beautiful sisters? If we have not received the sanctification from God, will we be able to win over all these?

 

The absolute answer in our physical bodies is not about having a perfect body. No matter how short or lacking any part of our body is, it can glorify God. Shall we want perfection in health and appearance ? Some sisters use their beautiful bodies to cause people to sin. For living, the absolute answer is to have a blessed schedule. For interpersonal relationships, all people that you meet are to bless you. It is when I understand this, all slanders and enemies become my blessings. This is the absolute answer. For those who are married, use the current present likeness and conditions you have to glorify God. For what you have now in finance, if you have much, use it for God’s kingdom. If you are poor, just be like Jesus Christ, who has everything in the world as His garden. If God tells me to be poor and simple, I just use simplicity to glorify God. If God tells me to be wealthy, I just use that position to glorify God.

 

<Eph 6:10> Brothers, this is the end times. Therefore, wear up the armour of God. Wear the helmet of salvation because without this, you will not have assurance and be shaken always. Without the breastplate of righteousness, we will be continually accused. Wear the shield of faith so that we will not be silly in living our Christian life. Wear the gospel shoes so that we will walk the ways of God and not walk the ways of the world. If you say, “Lord, I do not need the complete absolute answer, but just need peace.” Sorry, you cannot have this. If you do not have absoluteness, you will go your own way so that you will surely be accused. How can one not have sin and be holy always? This is not unless he has the absolute answer so that he can win over every single thing.

 

This is what I am equipping you with always. Therefore, I have an absolute answer that can win over everything.

 

<Eph 4:7-8>

Brothers, I say again, give thanks in all things, because this is God’s perfect will for you in Jesus Christ.

 

I really bless you all, that you become the government of gospel. Even if you have a low position in the world, or earn less than others, I bless you that you can receive the best answers and joy. God will give the age to those who can overcome their own self, which is their own fear and worries, by the gospel. Man wins only when he can overcome his self. Will we want to be like Alexandra or Napolean, who won the world, but could not win their own heart such that they went into mental problems? Is God finding people whom thousands will follow? I am not criticizing them, but for people who use showmanship to attract thousands, yet cannot overcome their own self, they are in great sufferings. If we ever wear a mask, how can we win the world? Sometimes, I need to rebuke, but there are times I cannot do it so I must encourage. But really, this is the truth. God controls your every movement. The root must be solved so that everything will be solved.

 

2) Power, Victory

 

Killed Philistine giant warriors <21:15-22> -> power of sanctification (victory, remove the central force of enemies)

 

True sanctification does not come from man or words. It comes from a natural hatred for sin against God.

 

Goliath was so strong. But since David had become king, perhaps the brother of Goliath was also as tall, yet such giant warriors were “chicken-feed” now. David’s warriors had now won over them. This was because the root problem had been solved.

 

<Mt 12:28-29> First, bind up the strong man that is causing quarrels in your family or career. If you have relied on the kingdom of heaven to win over the strong man, the kingdom of heaven has arrived on your family and career. <Mt 12:43-45> If you do not do it this way by restoring morning prayers in the most holy place, should you receive the whole world, the whole world will bind you up. This is what is meant by “7 spirits more evil will bind you”. We must maintain this very heart, that God’s hand is above all things of man. David is really a unique person. Even when he was announced king over Israel, he felt nothing. But when the ark of covenant was brought into the house of God, he was so joyful so that his pants dropped! He was joyful when he was intimate with God.

 

3) Testimony (of Death and Resurrection)

 

David made hymns of praise <22:1-51> -> testimony of sanctification (salvation, sanctification, victory, inheritance)

 

If our testimonies are not because of death and resurrection, then these are not testimonies. For example, if we had received problems even though we did nothing wrong in work, this is not a testimony yet. But if we see the things we have practically done for God and something happened to us, this will indeed gather up praises from God to us.

 

<22:1-5> David’s praise is all of the content of Psalm.

80% of Psalm is David’s. Psalm continues to tell us of David’s salvation, sanctification (“Lord, stop the mouths of my enemies,” David knew that it was the Lord who worked.), victory (receive inheritance).

 

4) Fruits (Effect) (Warriors: important people, disciples)

 

David’s warriors 37 people <23:1-39> -> fruit of sanctification (acquire people, acquire disciples, regional/world gospelization)

 

In the end, David acquired the most important people. Do not see incorrectly. God leads the whole history to acquire disciples. All the events in the world revolve around such people. <Isaiah 60> Disciples are arisen and shone, and the world is created for them. Money does not revolve around people with tactics, but around disciples. Be less in worries otherwise our disciples cannot grow. No person will follow a person will a small vessel. George Bush will not find a taxi driver for advice, but he finds Billy Graham because God is greater than him. David’s warriors followed him because David was greater than them.

 

5) Depth

 

Took census of the people and was disciplined <24:1-17> -> depth of sanctification (hidden disbelief, pride, transgressions in the spirit)

 

God wants to solve every little sin in those people whom He really wants to use. Therefore David again went through discipline. If other kings did a census, God wouldn’t care much! For those whom God wants to use, He loves them so much and wants to bless them so much! Really have joy to want to accept this! If you discover this, have great joy because of your problems!

 

2Sa. 24:1 Again the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, “Go and take a census of Israel and Judah.”

 

Actually, it says here that God wants to use David to discipline Israel. Interpreting this correctly, it means that God totally did not touch the scene where Satan incited David to commit the sin. Israelites wanted to kill all who did not “’follow David,’ which means follow God”, but David says, “No! Do not kill them”. But God never forgot such wickedness and had to discipline Israel.

 

2Sa. 24:2 So the king said to Joab and the army commanders with him, “Go throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and enrol the fighting men, so that I may know how many there are.”

2Sa. 24:3 But Joab replied to the king, “May the LORD your God multiply the troops a hundred times over, and may the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king want to do such a thing?”

2Sa. 24:4 The king’s word, however, overruled Joab and the army commanders; so they left the presence of the king to enrol the fighting men of Israel.

 

Why did David want to take a census? Firstly, David wanted to have a number to be assured of victory against enemies. This was disbelief! Secondly, in his years of leading his kingdom, he wanted to see his pride. God wanted to remove this pride for He wanted to use David greatly.

 

2Sa. 24:10 David was conscience-stricken after he had counted the fighting men, and he said to the LORD, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, O LORD, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing.”

2Sa. 24:11 Before David got up the next morning, the word of the LORD had come to Gad the prophet, David’s seer:

2Sa. 24:12 “Go and tell David, `This is what the LORD says: I am giving you three options. Choose one of them for me to carry out against you.’“

2Sa. 24:13 So Gad went to David and said to him, “Shall there come upon you three years of famine in your land? Or three months of fleeing from your enemies while they pursue you? Or three days of plague in your land? Now then, think it over and decide how I should answer the one who sent me.”

2Sa. 24:14 David said to Gad, “I am in deep distress. Let us fall into the hands of the LORD, for his mercy is great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men.”

2Sa. 24:15 So the LORD sent a plague on Israel from that morning until the end of the time designated, and seventy thousand of the people from Dan to Beersheba died.

2Sa. 24:16 When the angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem, the LORD was grieved because of the calamity and said to the angel who was afflicting the people, “Enough! Withdraw your hand.” The angel of the LORD was then at the threshing-floor of Araunah the Jebusite.

 

God never regrets. It is like when a parent disciplines his child, at the next cane, he stops because it is enough.

 

6) Foundation

 

Built an altar for sacrifice <24:18-25> -> foundation of sanctification (offer sacrifice, converse with God, walked with God)

                  = Mount Moriah (the place Abraham offered Isaac), the place where Solomon would build the temple in the future

                  = David’s lifetime hope, all of his life

 

If there is no prayer, there are no coworkers for life.

 

2Sa. 24:17 When David saw the angel who was striking down the people, he said to the LORD, “I am the one who has sinned and done wrong. These are but sheep. What have they done? Let your hand fall upon me and my family.”

2Sa. 24:18 On that day Gad went to David and said to him, “Go up and build an altar to the LORD on the threshing-floor of Araunah the Jebusite.”

2Sa. 24:19 So David went up, as the LORD had commanded through Gad.

2Sa. 24:20 When Araunah looked and saw the king and his men coming towards him, he went out and bowed down before the king with his face to the ground.

2Sa. 24:21 Araunah said, “Why has my lord the king come to his servant?” “To buy your threshing-floor,” David answered, “so that I can build an altar to the LORD, that the plague on the people may be stopped.”

2Sa. 24:22 Araunah said to David, “Let my lord the king take whatever pleases him and offer it up. Here are oxen for the burnt offering, and here are threshing-sledges and ox yokes for the wood.

2Sa. 24:23 king, Araunah gives all this to the king.” Araunah also said to him, “May the LORD your God accept you.”

2Sa. 24:24 But the king replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing-floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them.

2Sa. 24:25 David built an altar to the LORD there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then the LORD answered prayer on behalf of the

land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.

 

Receiving this is our whole-life joy: prayer.

 

Transcript of Discipleship Training on 30/03/07, 2 Samuel Part 4