2022-07-31: The Life of David — David Returns to Jerusalem

Sermon Audio: David Returns to Jerusalem
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: II Samuel 19:8-43
Duration: 25:56
Size: 17.8 MB

The Life of David
David Returns to Jerusalem
II Samuel 19:8-43

Today’s lesson is about David’s return to Jerusalem and the grace he extended to those along the way.

His essential message, which was supposed to represent Jesus‘ message to a world of sinners, was this: “Hey, don’t be a dirty rose.”

I. Grace Is Given to the Unable (II Samuel 19:8-15,41-43)
The indecision of the Israelites mirrors our own futility in reconciling ourselves to the throne of God.

II. Grace Is Given to the Angry (II Samuel 19:16,18-23)
Some think that Shimei’s repentance was not true repentance.

III. Grace Is Given to the Betrayer (II Samuel 19:17-18,26-27,29)
When David asked Ziba where Mephibosheth was, Ziba betrayed his master by saying that he stayed in Jerusalem in order to regain the kingdom for himself.

IV. Grace Is Given to the Disabled (II Samuel 19:24-30)
Mephibosheth affirmed that he really did not care about property and wealth; he simply wanted King David back in Jerusalem.

V. Grace Is Given to the Generous (II Samuel 19:31-40)
Barzillai had been generous to David and his followers in their time of great need.

Instead of deservedly receiving his harshness and disfavor, Jesus offers us grace.

2022-07-24: The Life of David — David Mourns for Absalom

Sermon Audio: David Mourns for Absalom
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: II Samuel 18:1-19:8
Duration: 26:17
Size: 18.0 MB

The Life of David
David Mourns for Absalom
II Samuel 18:1-19:8

This account tells us of Absalom’s death and David’s mourning for his son, Absalom.

Historians tell us that the Black Plague or Black Death ran in various forms from 1347 to 1665 and killed at least 25 million people in Europe and from 75 million to 200 million worldwide.

It is interesting in light of our current worldwide pandemic.

I. The Death of a Son (II Samuel 18:1-18)
David’s command to “Be gentle” with Absalom was a poor command to give to his military leaders.

With Absalom dead, Joab called for his soldiers to stop pursuing Absalom’s army.

II. The Despair of a Father (II Samuel 18:19-19:8)
When David’s returning victorious army heard of David’s inordinate sorrow for Absalom, they entered Mahanaim stealthily, and the day of victory was turned into a day of mourning.

We are all like Absalom. We are faithless and rebellious. We do not want to submit to the kingship of Jesus. In our revolt against him, we want him out of our lives.

2022-07-17: The Life of David — David Saved by Hushai

Sermon Audio: David Saved by Hushai
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: II Samuel 17:1-29
Duration: 24:49
Size: 17.0 MB

The Life of David
David Saved by Hushai
II Samuel 17:1-29

But God had wonderfully provided Hushai, another friend of David, to return to the city of Jerusalem to defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.

God’s plan to have David serve as his anointed king on earth seemed to be falling apart.

I. The Plan to Destroy God’s King (II Samuel 17:1-4)
Ahithophel’s plan would have received high marks in today’s military academies.

II. The Plan to Protect God’s King (II Samuel 17:5-14a)
Perhaps Absalom thought that since Hushai was David’s friend, he could confirm the viability of the plan that Ahithophel put forward.

Buying “David precious time to escape and regroup” seems to have been Hushai’s primary goal.

III. The Plan to Alert God’s King (II Samuel 17:15-29)
Having been alerted by Hushai’s message, David and all his loyal supporters crossed over the Jordan river.

IV. The Plan Behind the Plans (II Samuel 17:14b)
Yahweh’s sovereignty is not meant to give you philosophical problems but spiritual comfort.

God sovereignly answered David’s prayer, just as he hears the prayers of all who call on him in the name of Jesus Christ.

2022-07-10: The Life of David — David Flees From Jerusalem

Sermon Audio: David Flees From Jerusalem
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: II Samuel 16:1-23
Duration: 26:18
Size: 18.0 MB

The Life of David
David Flees From Jerusalem
II Samuel 16:1-23

God had forgiven King David for his sins of adultery and murder. But the consequences of those sins dogged David, primarily through the evil that arose from within his own household.

David heard about this and made a hasty retreat out of Jerusalem with a number of people who were still loyal to him.

I. The King’s Enemy Is Deceptive (II Samuel 16:1-4)
In their haste to flee Jerusalem, David and his supporters almost certainly did not pack food for the journey.

The lesson for us is that there are always two sides to a story.

II. The King’s Enemy Is Derisive (II Samuel 16:5-14)
They believe that the problems we are experiencing must be due to God’s punishment for our sin.

III. The King’s Enemy Is Destructive (II Samuel 16:15-23)
David believed that Hushai was God’s answer to his prayer to turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.

But, when Ahithophel turned away from David, his counsel was that of a betrayer and his words were intended to destroy David.

God shows that he uses even an enemy to fulfill his ultimate purposes.

2022-07-03: The Life of David — David Flees From Absalom

Sermon Audio: David Flees From Absalom
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: II Samuel 15:1-37
Duration: 26:38
Size: 18.2 MB

The Life of David
David Flees From Absalom
II Samuel 15:1-37

As we follow the life of David, we see him trusting the Lord in a new way in the midst of trouble that came his way.

Now that Absalom was in Jerusalem, he conspired to overthrow his father as king over all Israel.

I. Faith Is Challenged by the Enemies of God (II Samuel 15:1-12)
He sent messengers throughout all Israel telling those sympathetic to his cause that when they heard the sound of the trumpet, they would know that he was now king.

David’s faith was about to be challenged by the enemies of God.

II. Faith Is Supported by the Gifts of God (II Samuel 15:13-23)
At a time when David’s own son, all the men of Israel, and even his close advisor had turned against him, he must have felt wonderfully supported by this gift of God.

III. Faith Is Activated by the Will of God (II Samuel 15:24-29)
True faith is always an active faith. It is a working faith. It is not inactive. Faith is activated by the will of God.

IV. Faith Is Encouraged by the Providence of God (II Samuel 15:30-37)
David prayed. A short while later David bumped into a friend.