2 SAMUEL 12

DEALING WITH THE WILL OF GOD

 

When the preacher’s car broke down on a country road, he walked to a nearby roadhouse to use the phone. After calling for a tow truck, he spotted his old friend, Frank, drunk and shabbily dressed at the bar. “What happened to you, Frank?” asked the good reverend. “You used to be rich.”

 

Frank told a sad tale of bad investments that had led to his downfall. “Go home,” the preacher said. Open your Bible at random, stick your finger on the page and there will be God’s answer.”

 

Some time later, the preacher bumped into Frank, who was wearing a Gucci suit, sporting a Rolex watch and had just stepped our of a Mercedes. “Frank.” said the preacher, “I am glad to see things really turned around for you.”

 

“Yes, preacher, and I owe it all to you,” said Frank. “I opened my Bible, put my finger down on the page and there was the answer—Chapter 11.”

Reader’s Digest, March, 1993, p. 71. http://www.bible.org/illus/g/g-56.htm#TopOfPage

 

Martha Bolton, When the Going Gets Tough, The Tough Start Laughing, said, "It's good to have dreams, goals, to know where we're headed. But if we don't win that Nobel Prize or become president of the United States we shouldn't feel as though we've failed. Maybe our success will come in a different area. Maybe God has other plans for our lives. ...

 

"Even though I had taken lessons, even though my heart was in the right place, even though I longed to sing like Whitney Houston but sounded more like Sam Houston, God had a different plan for me. Those who have heard me sing say that leading me into writing instead of a gospel singing career is

proof positive that God does love and protect his church.

 

So if God hasn't opened the door you want him to

open, and you're finding yourself trying to squeeze through a doggie door or crawl through the air-conditioning vent, perhaps you ought to stop and ask yourself -- are you really doing what God wants you to do, or are you trying to force your

own will onto your life?

 

The life God wants for us may be different from our dreams, but we can rest assured that it'll always be custom-made.

Source: Martha Bolton, When the Going Gets Tough, The Tough Start Laughing (Chicago: Moody Press,

1996), 88. Illustration Exchange

 

Most of Christians know that the will of God is "good, acceptable, and perfect" according to Romans 12:2.

But are there ever times when Christians do not like the will of God?  Can you give me an example of a time you didn't like the will of God?

 

One of the times that we don't like the will of God is when we are being disciplined.  Scripture does tell us that there will be times of correction in our lives, and that we are not to despise them.

 

Proverbs 3:11-12 - My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction: [12] For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

 

Hebrews 12:11 - Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

 

When we are being disciplined it is for our good.

When we realize that the eventual result of discipline is our good, we should simply learn the lesson that God wants to teach us and move on.   

   

Our friend David was in the position of needing to deal with God's will while He was under discipline.  We'll deal with that eventually, but first, we need to give lots of background.

 

Review the story of David and Bathsheba.

 

2 Samuel 11:26-27 - God was displeased with David's sin.

 

James 4:4 - Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

 

Psalm 66:18 - If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

 

God hates sin.  He is not pleased when we sin.

 

Proverbs 6:16-19 - These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: [17] A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, [18] An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, [19] A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

 

Vs. 1 - God sent Nathan to David.

Nathan was a prophet and a Godly man.

Be thankful when God sends someone godly to you, when you need reproof.   

 

Proverbs 9:8 - Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.

 

Are you a wise man when you need to corrected?

Do you listen to counsel of Godly men and women?

 

Another question - Are you willing to be the one who reproves, like Nathan, when God calls on you to do so?

 

Galatians 6:1 - Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

 

Vss. 1-4 - Retell Nathan's story  

 

Vss. 5-6 - David was ready to kill the rich man guilty of the alleged crime.

The rich would repay.

The rich man had done a terrible thing.

The rich man had no pity.

 

Vs. 7 - "THOU ART THE MAN!"

David was the guilty man.

He had no pity on Uriah taking his wife and life.   

  

God, through Nathan, itemizes some of the blessings that God had given David.

 

David had been anointed King of Israel in place of Saul

God had delivered David out of Saul's hand, protecting him.

 

Vs. 8 - He was given Saul's property and Saul's wives, and the rule over Israel and Judah.  And God would have given more if it wasn't enough.

 

We have just finished Thanksgiving.

God has blessed each of us with so many blessings.

God has been so good to us.

 

Ephesians 1:3-6 - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: [4] According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: [5] Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, [6] To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

 

God has been so good to us. And do you know what God's goodness should do for us? It should lead us to repentance.

Romans 2:4 - Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

 

Because God has been so good to us, we should repent of any known sin.   

 

Vs. 9 - God, through Nathan, publicly exposed David's sin.   

           God knows everything!

 

Proverbs 5:21 - For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all his goings.

 

I have heard it said, "Secret sin on earth is open scandal in Heaven."   

 

Luke 12:1-2 - …Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. [2] For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.

 

Vs. 10 - God made a pronouncement of judgment.

There would be violence in his house.

 

His own son killed another son.  And then that same son, Absaloam, rebelled against his own father.

 

Vss. 11-12 - God predicted that what David had done secretly to Uriah, Absaloam would do publicly to David.

 

2 Samuel 16:22 - So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.

 

 Vs. 13 - Let's give credit to David.

Although we have but a brief account in this verse, David's repentance was real and sincere.  

To see how complete His repentance is, turn please to Psalm 51.

Read some of the verses and comment.

 

God announced that David was forgiven.  However, being forgiven, did not excuse David from paying the consequences for his sin.

 

David Berkowitz was the "Son of Sam" killer.  He appears to be a sincere Christian.  However, he himself admits that he does not deserve to free from jail. Even though he is forgiven, he is paying the price for his sin.

 

Now we see David dealing with the will of God.

 

GOD'S WILL ANNOUNCED - Vs. 14

 

Vs. 14 - Does it ever appear to you that God is more severe punishing His own than he is with the unsaved?

It is true because he corrects the ones he loves.

But David gave opportunity for God's enemies to blaspheme.

His actions opened up the door to all sorts of ridicule against David and his God. David was told that the child would die.

 

I think of some of the better know tele-evangelists, who have been guilty of great sin.  The unsaved media has had a field day mocking them and God.

 

There will be times when the will of God is for us to be disciplined for our sins and to live with the consequences.

It will be obvious that God is disciplining you for something that you had done wrong.

Tell story of Dottie and work. 

I am forgiven but living with the consequences.

 

Now please bear in mind that not all of the bad things that happen to you are God's discipline.

There are also trials that will come our way.

 

James 1:2-4 - My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; [3] Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. [4] But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

 

I believe that if we are truly honest and transparent before God, He will show us what are trials that work patience and what are corrections from His hand of discipline.   

 

GOD'S WILL APPEALED - Vss. 15-17

 

Vs. 15 - The child born to Bathsheba was struck with sickness.

 

Vs. 16-17 - David appealed for the life of the child with fasting and continual prayer. He would not be moved.

 

It was not wrong for David to intercede for the child or to desire that God would change His mind.

It is not wrong for us to pray and ask God for a positive answer to our concerns.

God is a gracious God who hears and answers prayer.

 

Philippians 4:6-7 - Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. [7] And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

 

As we pray, God promises us peace.

It doesn't mean we always get what we ask for, if we are not asking according to the will of God.   

Bear in mind that God will carry out His will.

 

GOD'S WILL ACCEPTED - Vss. 18-23

 

Vs. 18 - Understandably, David's advisors were hesitant to tell him about the death of the child, for fear that his grief would be worse.

 

Vs. 19 - David figured out that the child was dead.

 

Vs. 20 - There was nothing more that David could accomplish by continuing to mourn.

 

He took care of personal hygiene and put away the clothes for mourning.

He worshipped God - an important thing to continue to do when we don't get our way. All too often people get angry with God, instead of worshipping him.

 

David also called for food and ate.

 

Vss. 21-23 - David's behavior seemed backwards to his servants.  However David explained.

 

How accepting of God's will are you?

Have you been disciplined and fought the outcome?

Have you been tested with trials and gotten angry with God?

 

The best thing to do is to accept God's will.

Psalm 115:3 - But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.

 

And there is a happy ending to this story.

 

Read verses 24-25   

 

GOD'S WILL APPEALED

GOD'S WILL ANNOUNCED

GOD'S WILL ACCEPTED