1 00:00:00,070 --> 00:00:02,230 Study chapter 12. 2 00:00:04,300 --> 00:00:11,820 We see God pronouncing the consequences to David 3 00:00:11,820 --> 00:00:13,840 for his sin. 4 00:00:14,780 --> 00:00:19,620 Though God forgave his sin, still there were 5 00:00:19,620 --> 00:00:24,320 consequences that David must face because of the 6 00:00:24,320 --> 00:00:24,680 sin. 7 00:00:25,840 --> 00:00:30,420 The Bible tells us that whatsoever a man 8 00:00:30,420 --> 00:00:33,920 sows, that shall he also reap. 9 00:00:35,120 --> 00:00:41,040 And beginning with chapter 13, we see now 10 00:00:41,040 --> 00:00:46,560 David beginning to reap the consequences of his 11 00:00:46,560 --> 00:00:47,000 sins. 12 00:00:47,980 --> 00:00:53,540 And it's going to follow now David the 13 00:00:53,540 --> 00:00:54,560 rest of his life. 14 00:00:55,860 --> 00:01:01,520 And in our scriptures tonight, beginning with chapter 15 00:01:01,520 --> 00:01:05,200 13, and on now through the rest of 16 00:01:05,200 --> 00:01:09,020 David's life, we're going to follow the consequences 17 00:01:09,020 --> 00:01:11,260 of his sin. 18 00:01:11,260 --> 00:01:14,660 This morning we'd like to draw your attention 19 00:01:14,660 --> 00:01:24,260 especially to chapter 15 and verses 25 20 00:01:24,260 --> 00:01:29,740 and 26 of chapter 15. 21 00:01:36,220 --> 00:01:42,920 David has been betrayed by his own son 22 00:01:42,920 --> 00:01:43,820 Absalom. 23 00:01:45,140 --> 00:01:53,860 Absalom, through clever guys, had gradually stolen the 24 00:01:53,860 --> 00:01:57,080 hearts of the people and the loyalty of 25 00:01:57,080 --> 00:02:01,040 the people from his father David to himself. 26 00:02:02,500 --> 00:02:06,920 He would stand daily in the gate of 27 00:02:06,920 --> 00:02:11,100 the city of Jerusalem where people would come 28 00:02:11,960 --> 00:02:14,520 because that is where court was held. 29 00:02:15,660 --> 00:02:18,660 And he would greet them as they would 30 00:02:18,660 --> 00:02:21,160 come into the gate from the various tribes. 31 00:02:22,200 --> 00:02:24,720 And he'd say, hi there, where are you 32 00:02:24,720 --> 00:02:25,100 from? 33 00:02:25,180 --> 00:02:25,920 What tribe? 34 00:02:26,060 --> 00:02:28,080 And what's your situation? 35 00:02:29,480 --> 00:02:32,660 And as they would explain the problems, he'd 36 00:02:32,660 --> 00:02:38,760 say, oh, you know, it's a shame that 37 00:02:38,760 --> 00:02:42,780 my father hasn't made arrangements to have people 38 00:02:42,780 --> 00:02:45,740 to listen to cases like yours. 39 00:02:46,540 --> 00:02:49,620 You really have a strong case. 40 00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:52,600 You know, it'd be wonderful if my father 41 00:02:52,600 --> 00:02:56,720 would let me judge because I can see 42 00:02:56,720 --> 00:03:02,120 where you really should receive some justice in 43 00:03:02,120 --> 00:03:02,880 this issue. 44 00:03:04,180 --> 00:03:06,560 And the people would go to bow down 45 00:03:06,560 --> 00:03:08,540 and he'd grab their hand and kiss it. 46 00:03:08,860 --> 00:03:10,480 He's a clever politician. 47 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:15,140 He might just, you know, ingratiating, winning the 48 00:03:15,140 --> 00:03:17,940 hearts of the people away from his father 49 00:03:17,940 --> 00:03:18,460 David. 50 00:03:21,140 --> 00:03:25,640 And when he felt secure that he had 51 00:03:25,640 --> 00:03:30,340 sufficient support, he said to his father David, 52 00:03:30,760 --> 00:03:32,400 grant me to go down to Hebron. 53 00:03:32,500 --> 00:03:34,080 I have some vows I want to pay 54 00:03:34,080 --> 00:03:34,620 down there. 55 00:03:35,400 --> 00:03:36,740 David said, sure, son, go. 56 00:03:37,980 --> 00:03:41,140 And when he got to Hebron, he called 57 00:03:41,140 --> 00:03:43,960 throughout the tribes of Israel for the people 58 00:03:43,960 --> 00:03:46,120 to come unto him there. 59 00:03:47,240 --> 00:03:49,920 And there he formed an army. 60 00:03:51,320 --> 00:03:55,920 And they began to march towards Jerusalem to 61 00:03:55,920 --> 00:03:58,600 drive David from the throne. 62 00:03:59,640 --> 00:04:01,120 Actually, to kill David. 63 00:04:01,660 --> 00:04:04,020 And Absalom was going to take over as 64 00:04:04,020 --> 00:04:06,000 the ruler of the nation. 65 00:04:07,580 --> 00:04:11,240 David, when he heard that Absalom had gathered 66 00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:16,240 the people and was leading a rebellion against 67 00:04:16,240 --> 00:04:20,940 him, rather than staying in the city and 68 00:04:20,940 --> 00:04:24,900 making the city of Jerusalem a place of 69 00:04:24,900 --> 00:04:30,440 great bloodshed, David decided that he would just 70 00:04:30,440 --> 00:04:35,420 leave the city unto Absalom and the army 71 00:04:35,420 --> 00:04:37,060 that was marching upon it. 72 00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:40,140 And David would flee to the wilderness. 73 00:04:40,980 --> 00:04:45,460 And so as David was fleeing from the 74 00:04:45,460 --> 00:04:48,340 city, and those that were loyal to David 75 00:04:48,340 --> 00:04:53,740 were coming with him, he saw Zadok the 76 00:04:53,740 --> 00:04:57,400 priest with his sons, and they were carrying 77 00:04:57,400 --> 00:04:59,040 the Ark of the Covenant. 78 00:05:00,180 --> 00:05:04,340 And it was here where David speaks in 79 00:05:04,340 --> 00:05:08,500 verse 25, and the king said unto Zadok, 80 00:05:09,200 --> 00:05:12,060 carry back the Ark of God into the 81 00:05:12,060 --> 00:05:12,420 city. 82 00:05:13,320 --> 00:05:16,100 And if I shall find favor in the 83 00:05:16,100 --> 00:05:19,000 eyes of the Lord, he will bring me 84 00:05:19,000 --> 00:05:22,540 again and show me both it and his 85 00:05:22,540 --> 00:05:23,300 habitation. 86 00:05:24,300 --> 00:05:27,240 But if he thus say, I have no 87 00:05:27,240 --> 00:05:31,280 delight in David, behold, here I am. 88 00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:35,800 Let him do to me as seemeth good 89 00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:37,040 unto him. 90 00:05:38,320 --> 00:05:42,320 David at this point had come to a 91 00:05:42,320 --> 00:05:47,400 complete commitment of himself to the will and 92 00:05:47,400 --> 00:05:50,340 to the purposes of the Lord. 93 00:05:51,760 --> 00:05:56,120 If God desires, he can bring me back, 94 00:05:56,240 --> 00:05:57,580 and I'll see the Ark of the Covenant 95 00:05:57,580 --> 00:06:00,440 again and the tabernacle of God there in 96 00:06:00,440 --> 00:06:00,840 Jerusalem. 97 00:06:02,120 --> 00:06:05,060 But if God has no delight in me, 98 00:06:05,860 --> 00:06:08,760 then let him do whatever he wants. 99 00:06:08,920 --> 00:06:09,500 Here I am. 100 00:06:10,620 --> 00:06:12,160 Let God do what he pleases. 101 00:06:13,520 --> 00:06:18,960 The person who has real peace and contentment 102 00:06:18,960 --> 00:06:23,960 is the person who has totally committed the 103 00:06:23,960 --> 00:06:26,900 issues of his life to the will of 104 00:06:26,900 --> 00:06:27,320 God. 105 00:06:28,120 --> 00:06:31,280 As long as I am struggling and striving 106 00:06:31,280 --> 00:06:35,240 with my circumstances, as long as I am 107 00:06:35,240 --> 00:06:40,600 insisting that God follow after my dictates and 108 00:06:40,600 --> 00:06:45,500 directions, I will be subject to strife, to 109 00:06:45,500 --> 00:06:49,940 worry, to fear, to discontentment. 110 00:06:50,900 --> 00:06:55,360 There are those false teachers who tell you 111 00:06:55,360 --> 00:06:58,600 that you can write your own ticket with 112 00:06:58,600 --> 00:07:02,090 God, that you can have whatever you say 113 00:07:02,430 --> 00:07:04,970 if you just say it in faith. 114 00:07:05,410 --> 00:07:07,930 You can create your own reality. 115 00:07:08,970 --> 00:07:11,770 And they talk about positive confessions. 116 00:07:12,490 --> 00:07:16,750 Just say what you want, and God is 117 00:07:16,750 --> 00:07:20,990 forced then to give to you whatever you 118 00:07:20,990 --> 00:07:23,390 claim that you desire. 119 00:07:24,750 --> 00:07:27,350 They would put you on the throne. 120 00:07:28,110 --> 00:07:30,790 They would make God your servant. 121 00:07:31,410 --> 00:07:34,530 Sort of a private genie who is subject 122 00:07:34,530 --> 00:07:35,770 to your wishes. 123 00:07:36,650 --> 00:07:38,810 But you know, this does create a lot 124 00:07:38,810 --> 00:07:39,630 of problems. 125 00:07:40,790 --> 00:07:43,750 For God is not subservient to us. 126 00:07:44,930 --> 00:07:47,810 God does not have to obey my commands 127 00:07:47,810 --> 00:07:48,870 or my wishes. 128 00:07:50,010 --> 00:07:51,190 He is Lord. 129 00:07:51,350 --> 00:07:52,190 He is sovereign. 130 00:07:52,790 --> 00:07:54,730 And he can do as he pleases. 131 00:07:57,450 --> 00:08:00,210 Have you ever thought of how foolish it 132 00:08:00,210 --> 00:08:04,610 is for me to try to instruct God 133 00:08:04,610 --> 00:08:06,670 how to run his world? 134 00:08:09,740 --> 00:08:12,560 The Bible says, who has been his counselor 135 00:08:12,560 --> 00:08:13,600 at any time? 136 00:08:13,720 --> 00:08:14,680 Well, I have. 137 00:08:15,920 --> 00:08:18,860 I've counseled God on so many issues. 138 00:08:21,320 --> 00:08:25,340 But in reality, think of how foolish that 139 00:08:25,340 --> 00:08:29,540 is for me to tell God what's best 140 00:08:29,540 --> 00:08:33,240 for me, how best to run my life. 141 00:08:34,440 --> 00:08:36,600 That really doesn't make sense. 142 00:08:37,520 --> 00:08:41,580 How much better to take the attitude of 143 00:08:41,580 --> 00:08:42,000 David. 144 00:08:43,560 --> 00:08:45,740 The Lord can bring me back to this 145 00:08:45,740 --> 00:08:46,220 place. 146 00:08:47,600 --> 00:08:50,320 And if he isn't pleased, then here I 147 00:08:50,320 --> 00:08:50,520 am. 148 00:08:50,600 --> 00:08:53,180 God can do with me whatever he wants. 149 00:08:55,910 --> 00:08:59,350 In my prayers, I've learned to just express 150 00:08:59,350 --> 00:09:01,470 my desires to the Lord. 151 00:09:02,990 --> 00:09:08,230 But then just realize that he is free 152 00:09:08,230 --> 00:09:10,310 to do as he pleases. 153 00:09:11,830 --> 00:09:14,090 Think about David for a moment. 154 00:09:15,570 --> 00:09:18,130 This surely was one of the darkest hours 155 00:09:18,130 --> 00:09:19,150 of his life. 156 00:09:20,410 --> 00:09:22,210 He was an older man now. 157 00:09:23,590 --> 00:09:25,870 He had grandchildren by now. 158 00:09:27,330 --> 00:09:31,830 And not the warrior that he once was. 159 00:09:32,870 --> 00:09:35,310 At the time of life where he should 160 00:09:35,310 --> 00:09:37,610 have been able now to just sit back 161 00:09:37,610 --> 00:09:42,170 and enjoy the children, the grandchildren, and all 162 00:09:42,170 --> 00:09:44,970 of the blessings that he had attained and 163 00:09:44,970 --> 00:09:46,490 achieved as the king. 164 00:09:48,110 --> 00:09:50,290 He's fleeing from the city. 165 00:09:51,170 --> 00:09:55,130 He's barefoot as he goes down through the 166 00:09:55,130 --> 00:09:57,670 Brook Kidron and up the Mount of Olives 167 00:09:57,670 --> 00:10:01,130 and off to the Judean wilderness to escape 168 00:10:01,130 --> 00:10:05,310 from his son Absalom, who is in total 169 00:10:05,310 --> 00:10:05,970 rebellion. 170 00:10:07,250 --> 00:10:11,050 At this point, David's future is very uncertain. 171 00:10:12,410 --> 00:10:14,350 People have turned against him. 172 00:10:15,210 --> 00:10:18,910 In fact, some of his closest friends and 173 00:10:18,910 --> 00:10:22,090 advisors have turned on him. 174 00:10:22,850 --> 00:10:24,990 He wrote about them in Psalm 55. 175 00:10:25,890 --> 00:10:27,850 He said, For it was not an enemy 176 00:10:27,850 --> 00:10:29,170 that reproached me. 177 00:10:29,850 --> 00:10:31,290 I could have taken that. 178 00:10:32,210 --> 00:10:35,310 Neither was it one that hated me, that 179 00:10:35,310 --> 00:10:37,070 magnified himself against me. 180 00:10:37,170 --> 00:10:38,770 I would have hid myself from him. 181 00:10:39,510 --> 00:10:43,090 But it was you, a man my equal. 182 00:10:43,970 --> 00:10:45,310 You were my guide. 183 00:10:45,650 --> 00:10:46,850 We were good friends. 184 00:10:47,510 --> 00:10:51,290 We had wonderful conversations together as we would 185 00:10:51,290 --> 00:10:53,790 walk together to the house of God. 186 00:10:54,870 --> 00:10:59,790 David was heartbroken to realize that those that 187 00:10:59,790 --> 00:11:02,770 he thought were his closest friends and associates 188 00:11:03,360 --> 00:11:07,990 had joined with his son Absalom in rebelling 189 00:11:07,990 --> 00:11:09,850 against him. 190 00:11:12,000 --> 00:11:18,140 Not only is David losing his throne, but 191 00:11:18,140 --> 00:11:21,100 his own life is in danger at this 192 00:11:21,100 --> 00:11:21,620 point. 193 00:11:22,880 --> 00:11:25,880 But we do not see David challenging God. 194 00:11:26,900 --> 00:11:30,020 We do not hear him saying, Why did 195 00:11:30,020 --> 00:11:32,000 God allow this to happen to me? 196 00:11:33,220 --> 00:11:37,360 We do not hear him demanding that God 197 00:11:37,360 --> 00:11:39,840 deliver him from the hand of Absalom. 198 00:11:40,780 --> 00:11:43,540 We don't see him wringing his hands and 199 00:11:43,540 --> 00:11:45,380 saying, Alas, poor me. 200 00:11:46,740 --> 00:11:49,460 He doesn't even seem to be alarmed or 201 00:11:49,460 --> 00:11:49,900 fearful. 202 00:11:51,220 --> 00:11:55,120 How can he possibly have such peace in 203 00:11:55,120 --> 00:11:58,500 these conditions, in the midst of this great 204 00:11:58,500 --> 00:11:59,320 calamity? 205 00:12:00,160 --> 00:12:06,280 The secret is his full commitment of himself 206 00:12:06,280 --> 00:12:09,440 and of his situation to the will of 207 00:12:09,440 --> 00:12:09,820 God. 208 00:12:10,480 --> 00:12:13,060 If I find favor in the sight of 209 00:12:13,060 --> 00:12:15,340 the Lord, he'll bring me back. 210 00:12:15,940 --> 00:12:16,880 I'll be okay. 211 00:12:17,840 --> 00:12:22,840 And if he isn't pleased with me, then 212 00:12:22,840 --> 00:12:23,540 here I am. 213 00:12:24,520 --> 00:12:27,740 Let him do whatever he wants. 214 00:12:28,600 --> 00:12:31,760 It was a total commitment to God. 215 00:12:32,340 --> 00:12:34,280 If I come back, wonderful. 216 00:12:35,080 --> 00:12:37,700 If God has something else, fine. 217 00:12:39,990 --> 00:12:44,690 He turned it over fully and completely to 218 00:12:44,690 --> 00:12:45,150 God. 219 00:12:46,530 --> 00:12:47,910 He could do that. 220 00:12:48,670 --> 00:12:50,230 Because he knew God. 221 00:12:50,950 --> 00:12:53,270 He knew that God was merciful. 222 00:12:53,510 --> 00:12:55,550 He knew that God was gracious. 223 00:12:56,550 --> 00:12:59,410 God had forgiven his horrible sin. 224 00:13:00,770 --> 00:13:03,250 And now he is willing to just commit 225 00:13:03,250 --> 00:13:06,150 himself unto the Lord. 226 00:13:06,390 --> 00:13:10,130 Nothing can happen but what God has allowed 227 00:13:10,130 --> 00:13:11,050 it to happen. 228 00:13:11,630 --> 00:13:14,190 And if God has allowed it to happen, 229 00:13:14,350 --> 00:13:16,750 then he has a good purpose for it 230 00:13:16,750 --> 00:13:17,190 happening. 231 00:13:18,390 --> 00:13:22,210 So, he'll just commit his ways to the 232 00:13:22,210 --> 00:13:27,750 Lord and let God do what he seems 233 00:13:27,750 --> 00:13:30,310 best or deems best. 234 00:13:31,410 --> 00:13:36,030 Often in life, like David, we find ourselves 235 00:13:36,030 --> 00:13:39,510 in distressing situations. 236 00:13:40,870 --> 00:13:44,070 Anxious moments in which we often are filled 237 00:13:44,070 --> 00:13:46,790 with fear, anxiety. 238 00:13:49,530 --> 00:13:53,130 Kay and I had a frivolous lawsuit filed 239 00:13:53,130 --> 00:13:54,910 against us a few years ago. 240 00:13:56,030 --> 00:13:59,290 There were no just grounds for the suit. 241 00:14:00,270 --> 00:14:02,370 We were just named with a lot of 242 00:14:02,370 --> 00:14:06,790 other John Doe's and the person was just 243 00:14:06,790 --> 00:14:10,190 seeking to harass us by putting our name 244 00:14:10,190 --> 00:14:11,050 on the suit. 245 00:14:11,770 --> 00:14:13,050 They were successful. 246 00:14:13,230 --> 00:14:14,390 We were harassed. 247 00:14:16,050 --> 00:14:18,130 And I would wake up at night and 248 00:14:18,130 --> 00:14:20,810 I would think about the injustice of this 249 00:14:20,810 --> 00:14:21,190 suit. 250 00:14:22,130 --> 00:14:25,150 I would think of all of the arguments 251 00:14:25,150 --> 00:14:28,510 that I could show and the proofs that 252 00:14:28,510 --> 00:14:31,630 I could give, showing that we were totally 253 00:14:31,630 --> 00:14:34,970 innocent of the things that were being alleged 254 00:14:34,970 --> 00:14:36,090 in the suit. 255 00:14:37,370 --> 00:14:39,550 Of course, we had to get an attorney 256 00:14:39,550 --> 00:14:45,010 and we had to answer the interrogations. 257 00:14:46,010 --> 00:14:49,370 But knowing the fickleness of the court systems, 258 00:14:50,270 --> 00:14:53,070 we knew that you can never be certain 259 00:14:53,070 --> 00:14:54,410 of the outcome. 260 00:14:55,590 --> 00:14:58,330 Justice is not always served. 261 00:14:59,310 --> 00:15:03,010 And after about five months of fretting over 262 00:15:03,010 --> 00:15:06,970 this suit, one day I just got tired 263 00:15:06,970 --> 00:15:08,110 of fretting over it. 264 00:15:08,790 --> 00:15:10,790 And I just turned it over to the 265 00:15:10,790 --> 00:15:11,050 Lord. 266 00:15:11,190 --> 00:15:14,250 I said, Lord, you know, I'm yours. 267 00:15:14,970 --> 00:15:16,330 My life belongs to you. 268 00:15:16,470 --> 00:15:19,390 Everything I have, Lord, is yours. 269 00:15:20,390 --> 00:15:23,130 And so, Lord, I'm not going to worry 270 00:15:23,130 --> 00:15:24,090 about this anymore. 271 00:15:24,230 --> 00:15:26,650 I'm just going to let you take care 272 00:15:26,650 --> 00:15:26,990 of it. 273 00:15:27,430 --> 00:15:29,670 You do the worrying for me. 274 00:15:30,790 --> 00:15:34,550 Just sort of like David, if the Lord 275 00:15:34,550 --> 00:15:39,130 pleases, you know, I'll win the case. 276 00:15:39,930 --> 00:15:42,590 If the Lord isn't pleased, then, you know, 277 00:15:42,670 --> 00:15:46,030 whatever the court determines, that'll be it. 278 00:15:46,070 --> 00:15:48,270 And it's all in God's hands. 279 00:15:48,390 --> 00:15:50,710 And when I turned it over to the 280 00:15:50,710 --> 00:15:54,650 Lord, I was able to sleep through the 281 00:15:54,650 --> 00:15:54,970 nights. 282 00:15:55,070 --> 00:15:56,350 Didn't worry about it again. 283 00:15:56,490 --> 00:15:58,970 Didn't wake up, you know, thinking about the 284 00:15:58,970 --> 00:15:59,150 thing. 285 00:15:59,210 --> 00:16:00,310 It just passed. 286 00:16:00,390 --> 00:16:01,450 I just let it pass. 287 00:16:01,510 --> 00:16:03,010 No more worrying about it. 288 00:16:04,130 --> 00:16:08,850 The suit was ultimately dropped and it was 289 00:16:08,850 --> 00:16:09,110 over. 290 00:16:09,190 --> 00:16:10,730 But it was over for me before. 291 00:16:10,870 --> 00:16:12,770 I had already won the case. 292 00:16:13,590 --> 00:16:16,210 Because I had committed it fully to the 293 00:16:16,210 --> 00:16:20,530 Lord and was ready to accept whatever the 294 00:16:20,530 --> 00:16:24,090 Lord saw fit in and through it. 295 00:16:24,170 --> 00:16:28,130 Realizing my life is in His hands. 296 00:16:31,520 --> 00:16:34,240 In Psalm 37 that we read this morning, 297 00:16:34,360 --> 00:16:38,760 it said, fret not thyself because of evildoers. 298 00:16:38,940 --> 00:16:41,780 But oh, so often we are prone to 299 00:16:41,780 --> 00:16:45,780 indeed fret over the evildoers. 300 00:16:46,160 --> 00:16:50,060 David surely could have fretted over what Absalom 301 00:16:50,060 --> 00:16:51,760 had done. 302 00:16:53,080 --> 00:16:57,420 Several years ago, our youngest child, our younger 303 00:16:57,420 --> 00:17:02,760 daughter, who was one of those late comers. 304 00:17:03,760 --> 00:17:06,819 Her older brother was seven years older than 305 00:17:06,819 --> 00:17:09,180 she and the others were older than them, 306 00:17:09,280 --> 00:17:09,980 than him. 307 00:17:10,380 --> 00:17:13,740 So, she was one of those, you know, 308 00:17:13,960 --> 00:17:16,819 that come along late, where you have so 309 00:17:16,819 --> 00:17:20,500 much experience now, that you can really enjoy 310 00:17:20,500 --> 00:17:20,800 them. 311 00:17:22,099 --> 00:17:25,599 Every parent owes their first child an apology. 312 00:17:30,390 --> 00:17:34,690 We knew so little about raising kids. 313 00:17:35,270 --> 00:17:39,430 And we had such high expectations and demands 314 00:17:39,430 --> 00:17:40,210 upon them. 315 00:17:41,570 --> 00:17:46,290 But, you know, you get more casual and 316 00:17:46,290 --> 00:17:47,870 you're not so worried. 317 00:17:48,090 --> 00:17:52,550 And you just can enjoy, as you get 318 00:17:52,550 --> 00:17:55,090 older, those little ones that come along. 319 00:17:55,190 --> 00:17:57,650 And this one was a total blessing to 320 00:17:57,650 --> 00:17:57,970 us. 321 00:17:59,110 --> 00:18:00,690 She was sparkly. 322 00:18:00,850 --> 00:18:01,770 She was alive. 323 00:18:03,150 --> 00:18:08,190 She just brought constant joy into the home. 324 00:18:10,730 --> 00:18:12,170 But she took very ill. 325 00:18:14,030 --> 00:18:16,530 And those bright little eyes became dull. 326 00:18:17,950 --> 00:18:23,190 And that active little person became just sort 327 00:18:23,190 --> 00:18:24,810 of listless. 328 00:18:26,550 --> 00:18:28,910 She was running a very high fever. 329 00:18:30,710 --> 00:18:33,030 And I sat up all night with her, 330 00:18:33,230 --> 00:18:35,690 rocking her in a chair all night long, 331 00:18:35,810 --> 00:18:40,450 holding her, sort of wrestling with the Lord, 332 00:18:40,950 --> 00:18:43,950 as I was praying that God would touch 333 00:18:43,950 --> 00:18:45,190 her and heal her. 334 00:18:46,390 --> 00:18:52,470 And towards morning, as I was holding her, 335 00:18:54,230 --> 00:18:59,530 I said, Lord, I thank you for this 336 00:18:59,530 --> 00:19:04,750 gift, for all of the joy and blessing 337 00:19:04,750 --> 00:19:06,610 that she has been to us. 338 00:19:09,330 --> 00:19:13,490 One of the greatest blessings, Lord, of life. 339 00:19:16,390 --> 00:19:22,610 But if you want her, and if you 340 00:19:22,610 --> 00:19:27,450 take her, then Lord, I will still love 341 00:19:27,450 --> 00:19:28,610 you and serve you. 342 00:19:30,190 --> 00:19:31,110 She is yours. 343 00:19:32,470 --> 00:19:35,710 She's yours to do as you please, Lord, 344 00:19:35,790 --> 00:19:38,150 as you see and know best. 345 00:19:38,950 --> 00:19:41,270 I commit her, Lord, fully to you. 346 00:19:43,570 --> 00:19:46,450 And my mind no longer was in turmoil. 347 00:19:46,730 --> 00:19:48,570 I was now at rest. 348 00:19:48,650 --> 00:19:53,650 I could accept whatever the Lord deemed at 349 00:19:53,650 --> 00:19:54,330 that point. 350 00:19:56,550 --> 00:19:58,350 She went into a convulsion. 351 00:19:59,530 --> 00:20:01,190 I thought I was losing her. 352 00:20:03,820 --> 00:20:04,860 We called the doctor. 353 00:20:05,660 --> 00:20:08,320 He told us to meet him at his 354 00:20:08,320 --> 00:20:08,720 office. 355 00:20:10,180 --> 00:20:13,720 So Kay and I got in the car 356 00:20:13,720 --> 00:20:16,280 and we began to drive over to the 357 00:20:16,280 --> 00:20:17,140 doctor's office. 358 00:20:19,400 --> 00:20:24,100 And suddenly, our little daughter just sat up, 359 00:20:24,720 --> 00:20:25,400 bright eyes. 360 00:20:26,580 --> 00:20:27,340 Where are we going? 361 00:20:30,500 --> 00:20:33,220 And just fever gone. 362 00:20:33,540 --> 00:20:38,480 And this beautiful little active girl that we 363 00:20:38,480 --> 00:20:39,700 had enjoyed so much. 364 00:20:41,100 --> 00:20:43,680 When we got to the doctor's office, she 365 00:20:43,680 --> 00:20:45,820 was just perky and back to her normal 366 00:20:45,820 --> 00:20:46,320 self. 367 00:20:46,500 --> 00:20:48,600 And the doctor examined her and said, there's 368 00:20:48,600 --> 00:20:49,520 nothing wrong with her. 369 00:20:49,600 --> 00:20:50,340 She's fine. 370 00:20:50,840 --> 00:20:52,860 How long, Kay, since you've had a tetanus 371 00:20:52,860 --> 00:20:53,220 shot? 372 00:20:53,980 --> 00:20:55,240 As long as you're here, you might as 373 00:20:55,240 --> 00:20:56,660 well get a tetanus shot, you know. 374 00:20:57,320 --> 00:20:59,060 So Kay got the treatment. 375 00:21:03,500 --> 00:21:10,200 But again, the peace came in the commitment. 376 00:21:11,500 --> 00:21:13,400 The turmoil left. 377 00:21:14,080 --> 00:21:16,340 The restlessness left. 378 00:21:17,380 --> 00:21:20,100 When I came to that place of complete 379 00:21:20,100 --> 00:21:20,960 commitment. 380 00:21:21,940 --> 00:21:25,480 And you will find that these things that 381 00:21:25,480 --> 00:21:26,520 are troubling you. 382 00:21:26,680 --> 00:21:28,840 These vexing situations. 383 00:21:29,980 --> 00:21:32,220 These things that you're fretting over. 384 00:21:33,480 --> 00:21:36,040 Like David, you need to come to that 385 00:21:36,040 --> 00:21:40,900 place of just saying, Lord, I put it 386 00:21:40,900 --> 00:21:42,000 in your hands. 387 00:21:43,860 --> 00:21:47,640 You do what you deem best. 388 00:21:49,560 --> 00:21:52,180 As David said, if the Lord pleases, He 389 00:21:52,180 --> 00:21:53,360 can bring me back. 390 00:21:55,570 --> 00:22:00,150 If He is not desiring to do that 391 00:22:00,150 --> 00:22:01,610 for me, then here I am in the 392 00:22:01,610 --> 00:22:02,310 Lord's hands. 393 00:22:02,430 --> 00:22:04,450 He can do with me whatever He wishes. 394 00:22:06,070 --> 00:22:08,290 And you know, I think that it takes 395 00:22:08,290 --> 00:22:13,770 much greater faith to just commit the situation 396 00:22:13,770 --> 00:22:17,650 totally to the Lord than it does to 397 00:22:17,650 --> 00:22:21,610 demand that God heal or that God work 398 00:22:21,610 --> 00:22:24,730 in these things according to our will. 399 00:22:25,730 --> 00:22:28,710 Because that can leave you in a continued 400 00:22:28,710 --> 00:22:31,970 state of anxiety. 401 00:22:33,890 --> 00:22:37,970 As we're wrestling with the Lord over the 402 00:22:37,970 --> 00:22:38,590 issues. 403 00:22:39,130 --> 00:22:42,490 In that total commitment, there's contentment. 404 00:22:43,350 --> 00:22:44,610 There is peace. 405 00:22:45,230 --> 00:22:46,650 There is rest. 406 00:22:47,910 --> 00:22:49,470 But how do you come to that place 407 00:22:49,470 --> 00:22:50,070 of commitment? 408 00:22:51,410 --> 00:22:54,090 First of all, you need to recognize that 409 00:22:54,090 --> 00:22:59,450 there's really nothing that you can do anyhow. 410 00:23:01,770 --> 00:23:04,930 Except the Lord watch the city, the watchman 411 00:23:04,930 --> 00:23:05,810 wakes in vain. 412 00:23:06,770 --> 00:23:10,830 Unless the Lord builds the house, they who 413 00:23:10,830 --> 00:23:13,770 build it labor in vain. 414 00:23:14,830 --> 00:23:17,430 The least beneficial thing you can do is 415 00:23:17,430 --> 00:23:17,830 worry. 416 00:23:20,230 --> 00:23:23,150 Which of you, Jesus said, through worrying can 417 00:23:23,150 --> 00:23:25,950 add 18 inches to his height? 418 00:23:27,550 --> 00:23:28,990 Say you're a little shorty. 419 00:23:29,610 --> 00:23:33,430 You want to play basketball, but those big 420 00:23:33,430 --> 00:23:34,930 guys tower over you. 421 00:23:34,930 --> 00:23:37,530 And so you sit there and worry about 422 00:23:37,530 --> 00:23:38,810 being so short. 423 00:23:38,930 --> 00:23:41,570 Oh, I hate being so short, you know. 424 00:23:41,870 --> 00:23:43,750 Well, Jesus said, which of you by worrying 425 00:23:43,750 --> 00:23:45,890 about it can add 18 inches to your 426 00:23:45,890 --> 00:23:46,190 height? 427 00:23:47,250 --> 00:23:48,550 Not going to do it. 428 00:23:50,210 --> 00:23:51,590 Learn to accept. 429 00:23:52,750 --> 00:23:53,970 Learn to commit it. 430 00:23:56,290 --> 00:23:59,950 Just turn the issue over to the Lord. 431 00:24:01,230 --> 00:24:04,050 The Bible tells us that all things are 432 00:24:04,050 --> 00:24:07,650 working together for good to those who love 433 00:24:07,650 --> 00:24:10,510 God and are called according to His purpose. 434 00:24:11,130 --> 00:24:13,270 As we read in the Psalm this morning, 435 00:24:13,450 --> 00:24:16,730 commit your way unto the Lord and just 436 00:24:16,730 --> 00:24:17,850 trust in Him. 437 00:24:18,970 --> 00:24:20,750 And He will bring it to pass. 438 00:24:20,990 --> 00:24:22,170 Bring what to pass? 439 00:24:22,550 --> 00:24:24,750 His perfect will. 440 00:24:25,710 --> 00:24:29,790 But it's important that you know that His 441 00:24:29,790 --> 00:24:33,290 perfect will for your life is so much 442 00:24:33,290 --> 00:24:36,910 better than anything you could ever dream or 443 00:24:36,910 --> 00:24:38,490 devise for yourself. 444 00:24:40,730 --> 00:24:45,650 You can't get any better than God's perfect 445 00:24:45,650 --> 00:24:46,090 will. 446 00:24:46,090 --> 00:24:52,570 Well, I need to realize that God loves 447 00:24:52,570 --> 00:24:52,870 me. 448 00:24:53,910 --> 00:24:57,490 That God loves me supremely. 449 00:24:59,330 --> 00:25:02,910 That God so loves me that He gave 450 00:25:02,910 --> 00:25:08,490 His only begotten Son to take my sin, 451 00:25:09,170 --> 00:25:13,870 to die in my place, so that I 452 00:25:13,870 --> 00:25:19,310 could experience that love, so that I could 453 00:25:19,310 --> 00:25:22,890 come into fellowship with God, so we could 454 00:25:22,890 --> 00:25:26,650 have this beautiful relationship with each other. 455 00:25:29,200 --> 00:25:30,860 And God loved me so much. 456 00:25:31,000 --> 00:25:33,580 He wanted to make possible that kind of 457 00:25:33,580 --> 00:25:35,420 intimate relationship with Him. 458 00:25:35,740 --> 00:25:38,700 And so to do that, He sent His 459 00:25:38,700 --> 00:25:40,380 only begotten Son. 460 00:25:41,800 --> 00:25:44,940 And Jesus said, greater love has no man 461 00:25:44,940 --> 00:25:47,040 than this, than a man will lay down 462 00:25:47,040 --> 00:25:49,340 his life for his friends and He laid 463 00:25:49,340 --> 00:25:50,880 down His life for me. 464 00:25:51,080 --> 00:25:53,940 I need to know how much God loves 465 00:25:53,940 --> 00:25:54,280 me. 466 00:25:55,440 --> 00:26:00,240 And because God loves me so supremely, His 467 00:26:00,240 --> 00:26:05,960 desires and His will for me is the 468 00:26:05,960 --> 00:26:07,140 very best. 469 00:26:07,140 --> 00:26:12,440 God wants the very best for me, because 470 00:26:12,440 --> 00:26:13,220 He loves me. 471 00:26:14,000 --> 00:26:18,000 He wants to do the best for me. 472 00:26:20,630 --> 00:26:25,730 And so whatever God does, whatever God allows, 473 00:26:27,030 --> 00:26:30,730 He does it and allows it because of 474 00:26:30,730 --> 00:26:32,370 His love for me. 475 00:26:34,930 --> 00:26:39,270 Now, there are times as God in His 476 00:26:39,270 --> 00:26:43,770 love is working in my life, He allows 477 00:26:43,770 --> 00:26:52,790 hardships, He allows difficult situations, painful situations to 478 00:26:52,790 --> 00:26:53,310 arise. 479 00:26:55,050 --> 00:26:58,790 In these, He is seeking to just draw 480 00:26:58,790 --> 00:27:02,130 me closer to Himself, so that I can 481 00:27:02,130 --> 00:27:05,850 experience more of His love and His grace 482 00:27:05,850 --> 00:27:12,150 towards me, to cause me to appreciate Him 483 00:27:12,150 --> 00:27:14,230 that much more. 484 00:27:15,210 --> 00:27:17,110 And I have discovered that 485 00:27:17,110 --> 00:27:27,050 the goodness of 486 00:27:27,050 --> 00:27:30,050 God in the things that He has allowed 487 00:27:30,050 --> 00:27:34,190 in my life, though maybe I didn't understand 488 00:27:34,190 --> 00:27:36,650 them at the beginning, but as I see 489 00:27:36,650 --> 00:27:39,090 God work and I see God's grace at 490 00:27:39,090 --> 00:27:42,230 work in my life, my heart just sings 491 00:27:42,230 --> 00:27:47,070 for joy unto the Lord, for His goodness, 492 00:27:47,610 --> 00:27:50,790 for His mercy, for His grace. 493 00:27:54,350 --> 00:27:57,830 Paul tells us, if God spared not His 494 00:27:57,830 --> 00:28:01,310 own Son, but delivered Him up for us 495 00:28:01,310 --> 00:28:03,990 all, how much more then shall He not 496 00:28:03,990 --> 00:28:06,550 freely give us all things. 497 00:28:08,210 --> 00:28:14,690 And so we learn in the dark night, 498 00:28:16,410 --> 00:28:20,330 when we can't see our way out, to 499 00:28:20,330 --> 00:28:22,190 just commit our way to the Lord. 500 00:28:23,410 --> 00:28:26,990 It was a dark night for David, driven 501 00:28:26,990 --> 00:28:30,790 from his palace, from his throne, by his 502 00:28:30,790 --> 00:28:35,670 son, deserted by his friends. 503 00:28:40,970 --> 00:28:43,350 Zadok the priest coming with the Ark of 504 00:28:43,350 --> 00:28:43,830 the Covenant. 505 00:28:44,930 --> 00:28:49,830 David said, take it back, carry it back. 506 00:28:51,290 --> 00:28:52,950 If I will find favor in the eyes 507 00:28:52,950 --> 00:28:54,490 of the Lord, He'll bring me back. 508 00:28:57,250 --> 00:28:59,510 But if God says I don't have any 509 00:28:59,510 --> 00:29:02,330 delight in Him, well here I am. 510 00:29:03,330 --> 00:29:06,090 Let God do with me what He desires. 511 00:29:06,990 --> 00:29:11,170 David knew God, and thus he could commit 512 00:29:11,170 --> 00:29:12,970 the situation to God. 513 00:29:14,030 --> 00:29:17,250 He had experienced God's grace and God's love, 514 00:29:18,030 --> 00:29:20,830 and he was willing now to just commit 515 00:29:20,830 --> 00:29:23,550 himself to that love. 516 00:29:25,550 --> 00:29:27,770 God did bring David back. 517 00:29:28,470 --> 00:29:31,150 The rebellion was put down. 518 00:29:32,030 --> 00:29:34,150 David returned to the throne. 519 00:29:36,750 --> 00:29:41,350 But David won the victory long before Absalom 520 00:29:41,350 --> 00:29:42,810 was defeated in war. 521 00:29:43,590 --> 00:29:47,670 He won the victory when he committed the 522 00:29:47,670 --> 00:29:50,350 whole situation to the Lord. 523 00:29:51,670 --> 00:29:54,010 And that's where you can win the victory 524 00:29:54,010 --> 00:29:54,510 today. 525 00:29:55,310 --> 00:29:57,290 It may take a while to work out 526 00:29:57,290 --> 00:30:00,990 the details, but when you come to the 527 00:30:00,990 --> 00:30:03,610 place where you just place it in God's 528 00:30:03,610 --> 00:30:06,890 hands, there is where you have the victory. 529 00:30:07,450 --> 00:30:12,230 There is where you now experience peace, contentment, 530 00:30:12,270 --> 00:30:13,250 and rest. 531 00:30:13,990 --> 00:30:16,150 Because it's in God's hands. 532 00:30:17,050 --> 00:30:20,710 It can be in no better place than 533 00:30:20,710 --> 00:30:21,610 God's hands. 534 00:30:22,210 --> 00:30:22,970 Let's pray. 535 00:30:23,090 --> 00:30:26,590 Father, we do thank You for Your love, 536 00:30:26,730 --> 00:30:29,430 and for the loving purposes that You are 537 00:30:29,430 --> 00:30:31,170 working out in our lives. 538 00:30:31,350 --> 00:30:34,790 And Lord, there are those things that are 539 00:30:34,790 --> 00:30:36,950 necessary to develop our character. 540 00:30:37,830 --> 00:30:40,710 Those things that are necessary to teach us 541 00:30:40,710 --> 00:30:43,810 of Your constant care and concern. 542 00:30:44,530 --> 00:30:47,890 Those things that are necessary that draw us 543 00:30:47,890 --> 00:30:49,110 closer to You. 544 00:30:50,110 --> 00:30:53,690 That sort of force us, Lord, to rely 545 00:30:53,690 --> 00:30:54,490 upon You. 546 00:30:55,930 --> 00:31:00,470 And so, Lord, rather than fretting, rather than 547 00:31:00,470 --> 00:31:06,570 worrying, rather than being filled with anxieties, help 548 00:31:06,570 --> 00:31:11,510 us, Lord, to just commit our ways unto 549 00:31:11,510 --> 00:31:11,910 You. 550 00:31:13,450 --> 00:31:18,070 Lord, if we find favor in Your sight, 551 00:31:19,810 --> 00:31:22,050 You can bring us back again. 552 00:31:25,230 --> 00:31:25,630 Whatever. 553 00:31:27,190 --> 00:31:28,150 Here we are. 554 00:31:29,250 --> 00:31:32,390 You do, Lord, what seems good to You. 555 00:31:33,370 --> 00:31:35,590 In Jesus' name we pray. 556 00:31:36,650 --> 00:31:37,330 Amen. 557 00:31:38,070 --> 00:31:38,970 Shall we stand? 558 00:31:44,780 --> 00:31:47,180 The pastors are down here at the front 559 00:31:47,180 --> 00:31:50,740 today, and it could be that, like David, 560 00:31:50,860 --> 00:31:54,020 you're going through one of those hard experiences 561 00:31:54,020 --> 00:31:54,680 in life. 562 00:31:55,220 --> 00:31:57,500 One of those dark nights. 563 00:31:58,900 --> 00:32:01,060 Things are not going well. 564 00:32:03,000 --> 00:32:05,920 The future is sort of clouded and uncertain. 565 00:32:07,000 --> 00:32:08,360 You are fearful. 566 00:32:09,600 --> 00:32:11,700 You don't know what the outcome is going 567 00:32:11,700 --> 00:32:12,120 to be. 568 00:32:13,540 --> 00:32:15,500 But you can have peace today. 569 00:32:16,600 --> 00:32:18,220 You can have assurance. 570 00:32:19,320 --> 00:32:23,220 You can rest if you'll just commit it 571 00:32:23,220 --> 00:32:24,280 to the Lord. 572 00:32:25,340 --> 00:32:27,340 And these pastors are down here at the 573 00:32:27,340 --> 00:32:28,960 front today to pray with you and to 574 00:32:28,960 --> 00:32:29,640 pray for you. 575 00:32:30,140 --> 00:32:32,320 To pray for that situation. 576 00:32:33,200 --> 00:32:37,700 But more to just pray that you today 577 00:32:37,700 --> 00:32:42,400 can find the victory of commitment. 578 00:32:43,440 --> 00:32:45,660 And that you will go forth from this 579 00:32:45,660 --> 00:32:55,200 place today comforted, happy, content, peaceful, resting 580 00:32:55,200 --> 00:32:57,640 in the fact that you've placed it in 581 00:32:57,640 --> 00:32:58,600 God's hands. 582 00:32:58,920 --> 00:33:00,720 The God who loves you. 583 00:33:00,880 --> 00:33:03,000 The God who is able to do exceeding 584 00:33:03,000 --> 00:33:06,560 abundantly above all that we ask or think. 585 00:33:07,640 --> 00:33:10,920 The God who has promised to take care. 586 00:33:12,220 --> 00:33:14,900 And as you commit your ways to Him, 587 00:33:15,920 --> 00:33:19,680 He will bring to pass His perfect plan 588 00:33:19,680 --> 00:33:21,080 and will in your life. 589 00:33:22,080 --> 00:33:26,500 And maybe He's allowed these things just to 590 00:33:26,500 --> 00:33:30,440 bring you to that place of commitment today. 591 00:33:31,380 --> 00:33:33,480 So I would encourage you as soon as 592 00:33:33,480 --> 00:33:35,220 we're dismissed, make your way forward. 593 00:33:36,280 --> 00:33:38,340 And these men will be happy to pray 594 00:33:38,340 --> 00:33:38,920 with you. 595 00:33:39,800 --> 00:33:43,720 And the peace of Christ which passes human 596 00:33:43,720 --> 00:33:48,480 understanding will fill your heart, your mind. 597 00:33:49,660 --> 00:33:53,740 As you've placed it in God's hands and 598 00:33:53,740 --> 00:33:57,180 now are trusting in Him to bring to 599 00:33:57,180 --> 00:33:59,440 pass His perfect plan. 600 00:34:00,720 --> 00:34:06,920 The Lord bless thee and keep thee. 601 00:34:07,400 --> 00:34:13,739 The Lord make His face to shine upon 602 00:34:13,739 --> 00:34:20,120 thee and be gracious unto thee and be 603 00:34:20,120 --> 00:34:22,940 gracious unto thee. 604 00:34:23,340 --> 00:34:32,679 The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee 605 00:34:32,679 --> 00:34:36,260 and give thee peace.