Category: 2022 Sermons

Sermon Audio: David’s War With the Philistines
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: II Samuel 21:15-22
Duration: 22:41
Size: 15.5 MB

The Life of David
David’s War With the Philistines
II Samuel 21:15-22

It involves battles with four different giants.
Scholars debate whether this narrative is from early in David’s life or later in his life.

But enemies constantly threatened David and his kingdom. By opposing David, these enemies were also opposing God.

I. God Destroys Enemies by Preserving His Anointed (II Samuel 21:15-17)
It is more likely that he was much older now and prone to weariness.

God always has a way of preserving his anointed.
Think of Noah.

II. God Destroys Enemies by Honoring His Servants (II Samuel 21:17,18,19,21,22)
David is given the credit for these victories because he was God’s anointed king on earth.

It is right to honor God’s servants for faithful service.

III. God Destroys Enemies by Fulfilling His Promise (II Samuel 21:16,18,20,22)
The point of author in telling us about the demise of these four giants is that God is always faithful in fulfilling his promise.

If you have put your trust in Jesus Christ, God will bring you safely to your promised eternal home.

IV. God Destroys Enemies by Silencing His Enemies (II Samuel 21:20-22)
So, God destroys enemies by preserving his anointed, by honoring his servants, by fulfilling his promise, and by silencing his enemies.

Sermon Audio: David Avenges the Gibeonites
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: II Samuel 21:1-14
Duration: 28:53
Size: 19.8 MB

The Life of David
David Avenges the Gibeonites
II Samuel 21:1-14

These chapters look back over the whole period of David’s reign (and earlier). The text is not arranged chronologically but thematically.

As we consider the account of David avenging the Gibeonites, it may feel as if God has a little black book called “Le Petit Maurice.”

I. The Offended Must Be Appeased
I don’t think it is a stretch to add a worldwide coronavirus pandemic to the category of “natural disaster.”

We believe that man was made in the image of God, that every person is of intrinsic worth before God, and that every individual has a right to the fullest possible opportunities for the development of life abundant and eternal.

Although God told David that the reason for the famine was Saul’s slaughter of the Gibeonites, he did not tell David what to do to correct the injustice.

We should always go to the Lord in prayer and ask him if our difficulty is because of some unconfessed sin.

II. The Guilty Must Be Punished (II Samuel 21:7-9)
The author quickly takes us back to this horrible account, as he writes in verses 8-9.

They may have protested that they were acting on their father’s and grandfather’s orders, but under Old Testament solidarity laws, God held them liable.

III. The Devoted Must Be Rewarded (II Samuel 21:10-14)
It undoubtedly did not take away her grief, but David’s action bestowed dignity upon the slain.

Sermon Audio: David and the Rebellion of Sheba
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: II Samuel 20:1-26
Duration: 24:24
Size: 16.7 MB

The Life of David
David and the Rebellion of Sheba
II Samuel 20:1-26

But, even before he arrived in Jerusalem, another rebellion arose against David, which David considered even more dangerous than Absalom’s rebellion.

But David, like all of us, fell into sin. David’s failure showed that his kingdom was not the promised, eternal kingdom of God.

I. Rebellion (II Samuel 20:1-2)
David returned to Jerusalem with just a very small part of his kingdom still intact.

II. Sadness (II Samuel 20:3)
These precious women suffered because of David’s sin.

III. Instability (II Samuel 20:4-13)
Joab was extremely strong-willed and also extremely loyal to David, even though he at times disobeyed David.

IV. Deliverance (II Samuel 20:14-22)
Joab let her know that if she gave up Sheba, he would not destroy the city.

V. Administration (II Samuel 20:23-26)
However, the kind of leadership that is essential is humble and servant-hearted, not proud and ambitious.