All The Counsel of God

JONATHAN – THE MAN WHO WAS CONTENT TO BE SECOND

SCRIPTURE: I Samuel 13:15 – II Samuel 1:27

INTRODUCTION: One of the most unusual men in the Bible is Jonathan. (His name means “the Lord gave.”) He was the eldest son of Saul, first king of Israel. The most unusual aspect of Jonathan’s life is his close friendship with David, who was chosen of God to succeed Saul. The normal human reaction to this turn of events would have been great jealousy and even hatred on Jonathan’s part. (After all, Saul was insanely jealous of David and tried for years to kill him!) Even though he knew he would never succeed his father as king, with true humility Jonathan could say to David, “I shall be next to thee.”

After his lamentable death, he is only mentioned as the father of Mephibosheth. Also, is it not strange that Jonathan does not appear among the heroes of Hebrews 11; especially since he personified all the Christian graces Peter wrote about (II Pet 1:5-7)? Now let us consider some of the things that made Jonathan great.

JONATHAN WAS PREPARED FOR BATTLE – I Sam 13:22

How important it is to be ready when opportunity and responsibility come! In this band of 600 men, no one had a sword or spear except Saul and Jonathan. Young people need to prepare themselves to the fullest to serve the Lord. On a day-to-day basis, every Christian should prepare for service to the Lord by 1) Bible study, 2) prayer, and 3) yielding himself to the Holy Spirit.

JONATHAN HAD GREAT FAITH – I Sam 14:1-6

For a Samson this single-handed attack on the Philistines would have been child’s play; but for a mere man like Jonathan, this was an act of great faith–an utter and total dependence on God, believing He can do anything! Compare this with the faith mentioned in Heb 11:7, 30, 33-34. Although Jonathan had never read it, he certainly believed Jer 32:27 with Jer 33:2-3 !

JONATHAN’S COURAGE MATCHED HIS FAITH – I Sam 14:7-14

There is quite a difference between believing God can do something and believing He will do it! When you are personally facing a vastly superior enemy, that difference is courage. By the way, courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the determination to move ahead in spite of fear. Jonathan believed in his cause (against the uncircumcised Philistines, the enemies of God) and he believed in Almighty God Jehovah. So he fully committed himself to the battle. There is a great need for Christians today who, like Jonathan, will say, “Here am I, Lord, send me – use me.” Too many today are quick to say, “Send somebody, Lord, but not me or mine.”

JONATHAN WAS A FRIEND TO DAVID – I Sam 18:1-4, 19:1-7

There was a rare spark of divine inspiration in the love-bond between David and Jonathan. You will notice that it began before Saul became jealous of David. Jonathan’s love for David was certainly self-sacrificing, but make no mistake about it, David had a great love for Jonathan as well. This relationship surely equaled that between Ruth and Naomi.

The friend relationship is perhaps the most underrated of all human relationships. Friendship is a high and noble relationship. Few ever know its depth. Most people never have a true friend, and certainly, most are never a friend to someone else. The weighty nature of this relationship is evident from these two verses: “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” (Pro 18:24) & “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) From this we can see that the word “friend” ought to be added to the words father, mother, son, daughter, and husband, wife.

Happy indeed is the man who has a friend. Happier still is the man who is a friend. And most blessed of all is the man who has a friend and is a friend! True friendship, as defined in the Bible, involves abiding love and endearment as typified by Jonathan and David. Our main concern should be being a friend rather than having a friend. (See Pro 18:24a) Thus, the place to start is by doing sacrificial things for others–learning to live for others. There is a great message for us in the song “Others” — first verse and chorus go like this:

“Lord, help me live from day to day In such a self-forgetful way,

That even when I kneel to pray My prayer shall be for others.

chorus: “Others, Lord, yes, others, Let this my motto be,

Help me to live for others That I might live like Thee.”

DAVID EULOGIZED HIS FRIEND UPON HIS DEATH – II Sam 1

There is nothing else in the Word of God comparable to David’s lament when he heard of the death of Saul and Jonathan in their last battle with the Philistines. Words like this come easy in describing a man who lived like Jonathan!

Of course God is not limited to means, but, humanly speaking, David owed his life to the intervention of Jonathan with Saul. In fact, on at least two occasions, Saul became so angry with Jonathan’s protection of David that he tried to kill him!!!

David never got over Jonathan’s sacrificial love for him, and after becoming king, he befriended Mephibosheth for Jonathan’s sake.

It is to be regretted that so few people ever experience such a relationship as that between Jonathan and David.

LESSONS:

o It is always right to do right, regardless of the consequences! Someone said, “It is better to be right than to be President.”

o No doubt, Jonathan will share in the rewards of David. Jonathan strengthened David’s hand and helped him escape the wrath of Saul.

o It is a great accomplishment in life to be a friend.

HANNAH, THE MOTHER OF SAMUEL

SCRIPTURE: I Samuel 1-2

INTRODUCTION: Hannah is one of the outstanding women of the Bible. She lived in a time when there was no king in Israel and the priesthood was corrupt, but God was about to raise up a man to lead His people. As always, when God prepares a leader, He starts in the home. For example, in the case of Moses, the book that records his beginnings (Exodus) starts with its focus on the home. Note also that the New Testament begins with a description of the family of Jesus! This underscores the importance of the home, and especially the vital part played by the mother.

HANNAH COULD LIVE WITH DISGRACE AND OPPOSITION – I Sam 1:2,6-7

During Old Testament times it was a very unnatural thing for a woman not to be a mother. No doubt Hannah was aware of God’s command to be fruitful and multiply, and the economic and cultural advantages of children in an agrarian society further heightened the desire for children. But her greatest source of anguish was the presence of another wife in the home who not only had children, but became Hannah’s “adversary,” provoking her continually because she was barren (see 1:5-8). [This is similar to the situation in Jacob’s household where the loved mate (Rachel) was barren, and Leah was hoping to win Jacob’s love by bearing him children.]

However, Hannah did not fold up under these trials and stop living for God. She is to be commended for her courage. It’s easy for a person to live as a Christian when everybody is on his side and there’s no opposition! But when things are going wrong and people look down upon us, ridicule us and question our faith, it takes real Christian character to stay on the right track and keep living for God. If we are going to be successful for Christ, we must learn, as Hannah did so well, to live with opposition.

HANNAH WANTED TO BE WHAT SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE – I Sam 1:8

Hannah had the God-given instincts of a woman–she wanted to be a mother. Even her husband’s love and special gifts could not satisfy her with anything less than what God had made her to be! Our culture is rapidly making an unholy mess out of gender. It’s sad that many today, and especially a great number of women, are unhappy with how God made them. It is mild insanity to insist that there are no basic differences between the sexes, and it is simply rebellion against God for anyone to want to be something different from what He made him to be.

HANNAH WENT TO THE RIGHT PERSON FOR ADVICE

When she went to Shiloh she went to the tabernacle and there made known to Eli, the man of God, her agony of soul. Regardless of age we all have the need for going to spiritual people for advice in making decisions. Young people need especially to counsel with their S.S. teachers, the Pastor, and spiritual leaders. And all of us need to be reminded never to accept advice from ungodly people – Psalms 1:1-3.)

ADVERSITY BROUGHT HANNAH CLOSER TO THE LORD – I Sam 1:10

How good it was that all the opposition, personal turmoil, and bitterness of soul brought Hannah to fervent prayer. Adversity happens for many reasons, but when we respond to it as God would have us to, it will bring us closer to Him.

HANNAH KNEW HOW TO PRAY

Little children should be able to hear their parents praying for them. Hannah. prayed until the answer came. She did not just go through a little routine, but she prayed until she knew that God would give her  request. See I John 5: 14,15.

SHE PROMISED TO USE THE GIFT FOR THE LORD – I Sam. 1:11

She promised God that when He gave her the son she wanted so badly, she would give him back to the Lord. We dare not use any special gift from God in a way that would fail to bring honor to the One Who bestowed it!

HANNAH REMEMBERED HER VOWS – I Sam 1:24-28

When the time came that Samuel was old enough to be out from under his mother’s care, Hannah fulfilled her promise to God and brought her young son to the house of the Lord.

HANNAH GAVE GOD CREDIT FOR THE VICTORY – I Sam 2:1-10

This is one of the greatest victory songs of the Old Testament. (Compare Hannah’s song with that of Mary in Luke 1:46-55.) What a wonderful thing for children to be able to remember Mother as one who sang the praises of God and knew victory in her daily life!

SHE GAVE HER BEST TO THE LORD

When Samuel was born, he was Hannah’s greatest and most precious possession, yet she still gave him to God! How we need to learn the joy of giving our best, and then teach this principle to our families.

GOD REWARDED HANNAH’S SACRIFICE – I Sam 2:20-21

What a “return on the investment” Hannah experienced! She gave her firstborn to God, and He gave her five more children– three sons and two daughters. Here is another illustration of the fact that you cannot out-give God. Consider the promises of Luke 6:38 and Malachi 3: 10-11. The promise of Phil 4: 19 is often claimed out of context, for it is actually given to those Philippians who had sacrificially supported Paul in his missionary labors.

LESSONS FROM HANNAH’S LIFE:

“Fair weather” Christians are a dime a dozen. How we perform in the face of adversity and opposition will reveal the “stuff” of which we are made. Knute Rockne said, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” Paul put it this way: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

In this day of gender confusion and dissatisfaction, we ought to be thankful for how God made us. We need to remember that each of the 5.5-plus billion people in the world is unique, and that God made each of us for a specific purpose. Consider the joy of Mary expressed in the Magnificat – Luke 1 :46ff. Compare that with the feminists today who are angry over their God-given role.

Suffering will either make us bitter or better. Thank God for those Christians who have the wisdom to let their suffering bring them closer to God. It would help us all in this connection to remember that I Thess 5: 18 is a command, and, therefore, the only correct response to an apparently tragic event is to thank God for it and to allow Him to accomplish His purpose in our life.

Everything we have is on loan from God–even our family! Thus, everything ought to be dedicated to God, nothing held back from Him.

GIDEON OVERCOMES GREAT OBSTACLES TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS

SCRIPTURE: Judges 6, 7, 8

INTRODUCTION: Today, we study a man who becomes a man of might and valor, but only after rising from obscurity and overcoming severe handicaps. Gideon means “a cutting down,” which reminds us of his actions in destroying his father’s grove dedicated to the worship of Baal. No wonder they also called him Jerubbaal, meaning “Discomfiter of Baal.”

GIDEON’S HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

• His Family – Judges 6:25

This indicates that Gideon came from an ungodly family – one of the many thousands in Israel who worshiped Baal. The widespread practice of idolatry was the cause of God’s allowing Midian to oppress Israel. (Judges 6: 1 shows the direct correlation between Israel’s evil and God’s judgment.)

• His Finances – Judges 6: 15

Like virtually everyone else in the land, Gideon was in poverty (because of the oppression of the Midianites.)

• His Failure – Judges 6: 11

Gideon was just a poor farm worker, threshing wheat secretly, hoping the Midianites would not find it and take it away from him. At this point, Gideon was just a “nobody” – no prestigious family tree, and certainly no impressive past accomplishments.

• His Friends – Judges 7:3-6

We find here that when “the chips were down,” Gideon was surrounded by fearful and faithless people. There was no one else to inspire and motivate Gideon to be strong for God. This opens the subject of one of the most important human relationships–that of FRIEND! Think about the benefits of having a true friend and the great privilege of being a friend! The classic friend relationship in the Bible is that of David and Jonathan. You may wish to review this and consider what a blessing and help Jonathan’s friendship was to David. No doubt, about this time Gideon would have greatly valued a friend with the character of Jonathan!

• His Fear- Judges 6:11, 23, 27, 36-40

These verses indicate that Gideon was a fearful man. This makes the word of the angel of the Lord (v 12) all the more significant. Gideon, in his natural state, was anything but a mighty man of valor! (But God saw Gideon’s potential. Thank God, He can see what we cannot, even in our own selves!) Now–looking at these five facts about Gideon, his background, and the circumstances he faced, it would seem that he would never be a success at anything. BUT, when God comes on the scene with His power and enabling grace, the situation is drastically altered! Let us consider – – –

GIDEON”S EXPLOITS – Compare 6:1-7 with 7:24, 25

Notice first the pathetic condition of the Israelites – 6:7. They were in bondage to their Gentile oppressors. Vast hordes of the Midianites would come into the land, especially at harvest time, and spoil and destroy the increase of the land and leave nothing for Israel. The Israelites were helpless to defend themselves, hiding in caves, strongholds and mountain dens …. BUT THEN God called a man to lead in battle against a vastly superior host of the Midianites. The great victory God wrought through Gideon is recorded in Judges 7: 15-25. Gideon, then, became a man who freed a nation!

HE EXPLANATION OF GIDEON’S SUCCESS

How could such a miracle come about as we find accomplished through Gideon? There are at least three reasons:

• He Was Willing to Trust the Lord

The only logical explanation for Gideon’s success in the face of all the drawbacks and obstacles is that he had faith in God. (See Heb 11 :32 where we find Gideon listed among the heroes of the faith.) Please note that it is the object of our faith (God) rather than the amount of faith that is most important! Quite simply, Gideon succeeded because he was willing to do exactly what God told him to do. He was willing to put his fear in the background, forget about the failures of the past and the odds against him, and just follow God!

• He Was Willing to Go Against Conventional Wisdom

To say the least, Gideon’s approach was different! Who would have thought that surrounding the enemy with a mere 300 men, armed only with pitchers, lamps and trumpets, then breaking the pitchers and blowing the trumpets could defeat the mighty army of the Midianites!?! But this was the plan God gave Gideon, and he used it.

• He Was Willing to Stand Alone

We find in Judges 7:2-8 that many of the soldiers of Israel left Gideon! When God’s “down-sizing” program was completed, only 300 men were left to face the Midianite hordes, and Gideon was virtually alone.

In this day of apostasy and compromise, how we need men and women, and even young people, who will stand alone–stand for God and do what is right regardless of what the crowd is doing! The words of the Lord given through Moses in Ex 23:2 still need to be heeded today: “Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil….“

In summary, Gideon had the indispensable requirement for being a successful Christian worker: he was willing to trust the Lord instead of trusting his own judgment.

ESTHER – THE SELF-SACRIFICING WOMAN

SCRIPTURE: Esther 1-10

INTRODUCTION: Esther was the Persian name of this lady of the tribe of Benjamin, and is from “aster” meaning “a star.” (Hadassah, signifying “myrtle” was Esther’s original name.) Esther’s people were carried into captivity with Jeremiah about 60 years earlier. Esther was brought up at Shushan, the Persian royal city. When her parents died she became the adopted daughter of Mordecai, her uncle, who was a palace official. No one seemed further away, by birth and circumstances, from being a queen than Esther was. (Quite similar to Joseph’s likelihood of becoming king of Egypt when he was a slave in Potiphar’s house.) But in the marvelous providence of God the most unlikely things do happen! Some of the notes in the song of Mary might well have been sung by Esther: “He hath regarded the low estate of His handmaiden … He that is mighty hath done to me great things” (Luke 1:48-49). How thrilling to know that neither poverty, nor ignorance, nor guilt are barriers to the infinite grace of God.

1. HER CALL – v 8 Esther knew that she had been called as a candidate for the crown. Not very many had this opportunity, and only one of that number would actually receive the prize. How wonderfully different it is today in the call of the Gospel. Although many are called but few chosen, it is still true that “whosoever will may come.” Praise God, Jesus said, “In My Father’s house are many mansions … ” Those who respond to the call to salvation will receive something far greater than the crown of an earthly kingdom — they will receive eternal life and all that goes with being in the presence of the KING of Kings forever!

2. HER CHARACTER – In 2:9 we learn that Esther highly pleased the keeper of the women, and thus she was clearly a very gracious lady. She was also trustworthy in that she obeyed Mordecai’s instructions not to reveal her nationality – see v 20. In this she displays an humble and submissive spirit. The character that had been instilled by Mordecai’s loving instruction and discipline now begins to show itself in the time of testing. PRINCIPLE: Crisis never changes a person’s character – it only reveals what is already there! The lesson for parents is obvious: “As the twig is bent, so grows the tree.” And most of the work must be done before the child is ten!

3. HER CHOICE – 2:15 We note here that Esther was satisfied with thpse things appointed by the king for her preparation. She left herself entirely in the hands of Hegai, the keeper of the women, whose task it was to prepare the women to be presented to the king. There is a spiritual lesson for us here: we need to submit ourselves to the Holy Spirit, whose office work in the life of the Believer is to sanctify and prepare us for the presence of the King and for His service. Two verses are instructive in this connection:

o Rom 8:29 – which tells us that we are predestinated by God to be conformed to the image of His Son;

o and 2 Cor 3:18 – which reveals the process by which this is accomplished. The “glass” in which we behold the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ is the Word of God! Thus, if we are to become like Jesus, we must spend much time in the Word and allow it to transform us by making it a part of our lives. We will fare well if we, like Esther, require nothing but what He has appointed for us.

4. HER CROWN – 2: 17 A crown is a symbol of honor and power, so we see Esther’s humility and faith rewarded by this public manifestation of the king’s favor. His love of Esther opened the way to the throne for her. Even so the love of God opens for us the way into God’s heart and home! What a far greater privilege to be loved by the King of Heaven, than the king of a mere earthly kingdom!

(Another Lesson: although God’s hand was working behind the scene, there is a true sense in which the king’s love of Esther was merited, e.g., because of her beauty, character, and submissiveness. However, God’s wonderful love for us is totally unmerited!)

5. HER COURAGE – 4: 16 A terrible testing time is now at hand, and all of Esther’s power and influence will be needed to save her people. Haman had succeeded in getting the sentence of death passed upon all the Jews because of his hatred for Mordecai. Mordecai pleads with Esther and makes it plain that she is the only person in a position to do anything to help. (Note the wisdom and faith of Mordecai evidenced in his message to Esther in 4:13-14.) So, in spite of the risk of death, Esther sets out to help her people. Her commitment to this mission is expressed in her classic statement: ” … so will I go in unto the king, … and if l perish, I perish.” (Compare to Dan 3:16-18) It was a bold step, but notice that she put her trust in the Lord, calling her uncle and her maidens to fasting and prayer in her behalf.

6. HER CONQUEST – The story now moves with breathtaking excitement to deliverance and victory for the people of God. The king receives Esther; she eventually reveals her racial roots and pleads for herself and her people. The king perceived the wickedness of Haman and his scheme and abundantly answered her request. The enemy was overcome, and Esther’s people were delivered! The devil was foiled again in his scheme to cut off the seed, after the flesh, of the Messiah!

LESSONS:

1. For kids to turn out right (with character as adults) you have to put the right things in them when they are young.

2. Crisis events do not make character, they simply reveal what is already there.

3. Courage is born of commitment — it is the willingness to do what needs to be done regardless of the personal sacrifice involved.

4. We are reminded again in the life of Esther that “God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; … ” (See 1 Cor 1 :26-29) God delights in taking the insignificant and obscure and  accomplishing great things for which He gets the glory!

5. Although God’s name is not found in the book of Esther, His handprints are all over it. Even in the time of their dispersion as punishment for a long history of idolatry and disobedience to God, the Jews are still under His watchful eye and loving protection! How comforting to know that God has promised Believers today that He will “never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

ENOCH – FIRST MAN WHO DIDN’T DIE

Scriptures: Gen 5:18-23; Luke 3:37; Heb 11 :5; Jude 14

INTRODUCTION: There are two Enochs in the Bible. The first is the eldest son of Cain. The subject of today’s lesson, however, is the son of JARED (a descendant of Seth) and the father of Methuselah. In some six verses, the Bible sets forth the brief biography of this Old Testament saint–but what a biography about a most unusual man! Few even come close to this mysterious man. We know nothing of Enoch’s rank or profession, but two outstanding things about him are his holy life on earth and his amazing, supernatural exit from earth.

1. ENOCH WALKED WITH GOD. Twice in our Genesis passage this important truth is stated (Gen 5:22 & 24). The wicked are “without God,” and, therefore, the first prerequisite for a walk with God is to know Him as Savior. (“Can two walk together except they agree?” Amos 3:3) Although born a child of wrath as are all the sons of Adam, Enoch became a child of grace and was brought into personal fellowship with God. Therefore, Enoch was at peace with God in those terrible, turbulent days before the flood!

2. ENOCH ENJOYED CLOSE COMMUNION WITH GOD. The repeated phrase, “walked with God,” implies a real union of Enoch’s heart with the great heart of God! What sweet hours of holy and happy contact God and Enoch must have had as they communed with each other. Enoch’s fellowship with God must have been the nearest possible thing to that of Adam and Eve before the fall! (Teacher, you might want to share words from one or more of these songs with your class: “Just a Closer Walk,” “In the Garden,” “Nothing Between.”) There was never a cloud on their fellowship, but always “Son-shine.” God was a pleasure to Enoch, and Enoch pleased God in all that he did (Heb 11 :5). This is the relationship God desires to have with every believer. What is your present relationship with God like? Do you have close communion with Him?

3. ENOCH WAS SEPARATED FROM THE WORLD. This seventh man from Adam did not walk in the way of the sinners of his corrupt age. Both his char-acter and his conduct were a distinct rebuke to the godless worldlings around him. (See Eph 5:11) Jude tells us that Enoch functioned as a prophet, declaring God’s just judgment upon the wickedness of his time. Such separation from the world is both a prerequisite and a continuing condition to the sweet, intimate, unbroken fellowship Enoch enjoyed with his God. (Briefly discuss with the class some of the practical aspects of separation in today’s evil world.)

4. ENOCH’S LIFE WAS ONE OF PROGRESS. Walking with God implies a steady progress in Enoch’s course (his “race” if you will– see Heb 12:1; 2 Tim 4:7). Enoch did not walk for a while and then stand still. Each day found him nearer the divine goal. In unbroken companionship with his Friend, Enoch found himself progressively more weaned from the world and more ripe for Heaven! He did not attempt to walk alone to Heaven; rather, he walked with God, keeping his eyes firmly fixed on his heavenly Companion. (Consider Peter’s walk on the water. What mistake did he make that Enoch avoided?) Is your life one of progress in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ? Are you steadily becoming more like the Master? Or is your life’s spiritual progress more like a roller coaster?

5. ENOCH HAD A SUPERNATURAL AND GLORIOUS EXIT FROM THIS EARTH. He is the only one of Adam’s line of whom it is not said that “he died.” Rather, “he was not, for God took him.” “He was not” suggests that his friends and perhaps his family sought for him, but he was a missing person they could not trace. “God took him” means that he was translated and, therefore, did not taste death. Among the billions of men who have lived, only two never died! Someone has suggested that God and Enoch were in the habit of taking a long walk together every day. One day when they had walked quite a ways farther than usual, God said to Enoch, “Why not come on home with Me? It’s closer to My House than it is back to yours.” Isn’t that sweet?! So, at 365 years of age (one year for every day of the year) God took His servant directly to Heaven.

LESSONS From ENOCH’S LIFE:

1. God wants to have close communion and fellowship with His children.

2. Separation from the world is a must for walking with God.

3. Our Christian walk ought to be continuous and progressive.

ELISHA – MAN WHO RECEIVED “A DOUBLE PORTION”

SCRIPTURE: 1 Kings 19:19-21; 2 Kings chaps 2-13

INTRODUCTION: In today’s vernacular, we would say that Elijah’s was a tough act to follow. In other words, after all the miracles performed by Elijah, what do you do for an encore?!? But as we shall see, Elisha’s faith had become so strong as he watched God work through his master Elijah, that he believed God could do even more. His faith was well founded, for God said to Jeremiah, “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?” [Jeremiah already knew the answer to that question — see Jeremiah 32: 17. There is nothing too hard for God!!]

One day D. L. Moody heard a preacher say, “It is yet to be seen what God can do through one totally yielded person.” Mr. Moody left that meeting determined to become that person! No doubt this same spirit prevailed in the breast of Elisha. May the dear Holy Spirit kindle a desire in our hearts today to experience more of the power of God in our lives, as did Elisha–the man who received a double portion of the spirit of Elijah!!

1 .ELISHA WAS HUMBLE IN HIS BEGINNINGS He Was Busy at Home – 1 Kings 19:19 In response to God’s command ( 19: 16) Elijah comes to Abel-meholah to anoint Elisha as his successor and finds him laboring in the field on his father’s farm. Elisha was a faithful

He Was Busy at Home – 1 Kings 19:19 In response to God’s command ( 19: 16) Elijah comes to Abel-meholah to anoint Elisha as his successor and finds him laboring in the field on his father’s farm. Elisha was a faithful worker, doing his best in the work at hand. Elisha had character, and this is much more important to God than talent! Be faithful to perform the task at hand to the best of your ability if you would desire God to call you to greater things.

He Was Obedient to His Call – 19:20-21 Elisha responded at once to the call of God given through Elijah. This spirit of surrender without reservation to the will of God reminds us of Samuel and also of Isaiah. Samuel was very young and did not yet know the Lord. But when Eli explained that it was the Lord calling, Samuel responded submissively saying, “Speak; for thy servant heareth.” And in the midst of Isaiah’s awesome encounter with God, he heard the voice of the Lord asking – “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” His answer is a classic expression of total surrender: “Here am I; send me.” Have you been obedient to the call(s) of God in your life? Four important calls are: salvation, separation, soul winning and service.

He Was Content to be Servant to the Man of God – 19:21 b Notice the words “ministered unto him.” In 2 Kings 3: 11 we gain a little more insight into this as we learn that Elisha “poured water on the hands of Elijah.” In other words, he was the personal servant, valet, and errand-boy for Elijah. This illustrates the truth Jesus taught His disciples in Matt 23: 10-12, namely, the greatest thing we can do is serve! Jesus said that the servant is greatest of all. No wonder Elisha achieved such greatness, for he delighted in serving–he was a man of true humility!

2. ELISHA WAS BOLD IN HIS DESIRES – 2 Kings 2: 1-9 The persistence of Elisha is simply amazing and seems so out of character for one who had been so much in the background–just the body servant of the great man of God! Would we not say he was audacious, even presumptuous? Oh, but God delights in such behavior when it is a direct expression of faith in Him! God is looking for men who will stand in the gap before Him and make up the hedge. (For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. 2 Chr 16:9) God delights to show Himself strong through thirsty, yielded men and women. Remember, “where there is no vision, the people perish.” Elisha saw the need of his people–he knew that even though Elijah had had a great ministry, there was still much wickedness and idolatry in Israel, and they needed a man who would not only display the power of God, but would also rebuke their sin.

3. ELISHA WAS SUCCESSFUL IN HIS CLAIM

He Was Persistent – 2 Kings 2: 1-6 Elisha would not be turned aside from his goal–he would not go back from following Elijah, because he wanted a special blessing! We must realize that Elijah was not trying to hold back the blessing–rather, he was simply testing Elisha’s will and determination in the matter. Consider Luke 11:9-13; Isa 44:3. Here is a principle that operates in the whole sphere of prayer, not just in the matter of obtaining power. (See also Luke 18: 1-8) Far too many Believers today are either not sincere in their desire for power, or else they give up too soon. We must learn to ASK, SEEK, and KNOCK!!

His Faith Became Sight – 2 Kings 2: l 0-12 This reminds us again that believing is seeing and not the other way around. See John l l:23-26, 40. How many wonderful things we would see if only we would believe!

He Received the Power He Sought – 2 Kings 2: 13-13:2 With 16 miracles, compared to 8 recorded for Elijah, it is clear that God honored Elisha’s request for a double portion of the spirit and power which rested upon Elijah!!!

LESSONS:

1. One we have noted before in this series: Do not seek for position or promotion– rather, do the task at hand, regardless of how menial and obscure it may be, and God will exalt you in due time. (James 4:6, 10)

2. Our power will be proportionate to our hunger for it “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”

3. Faith honors God — much faith honors God greatly!

ELIJAH – MAN OF REVIVAL POWER!

SCRIPTURE: 1 Kings 17-22; 2 Kings 1, 2

INTRODUCTION: Elijah is one of the most amazing and exciting men in all the Word of God! There is also an element of mystery about him, for he appears on the scene in Israel so suddenly with no explanation of his background or where he came from. (Sort of like the Lone Ranger, he appears out of nowhere and just in the nick of time!) Elijah was motivated by his love for God and his burden for sin-sick Israel, especially the idolatrous Northern Kingdom, led by wicked King Ahab. In today’s lesson we will see that God used this mighty man of faith and prayer to bring about, almost single-handedly, a Great Revival.

1. ELIJAH WAS A MAN OF POWER! – 1 Kings 17: 1 Wicked King Ahab is on the throne of Israel (the Northern Kingdom) following the wicked rule of Omri, his father, and of Zimri and Baasha before him. Israel is in a very bad state spiritually: Baal has been made the god of the people, and 1 Kgs 16:33 says,” … Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him.” Will the people be destroyed? Is there no one to care, to tum the people back to God?? ….. And, then, Elijah comes out of nowhere in power! ! God is obviously speaking through His man–notice that Elijah had been standing before the Lord. No wonder he could make the announcement that he has been appointed Chief Meteorologist of Israel and that “It won’t rain until I say so!”

2. ELIJAH WAS A MAN OF PRAYER- James 5: 16-18 We thrill at the boldness and power of Elijah as he “beards the lion” and tells wicked Ahab “No more rain!” But when we tum to the book of James, we learn the “secret” source of Elijah’s power. 1 Kings 17: 1 tells us that Elijah had been standing before the Lord, but the cited verses in James reveal what he had been doing. It was his fervent praying that moved God to shut up the heavens! Elijah was so burdened because of his people’s sin, and he was so desperate that he asked God to get the attention of the whole nation by bringing a drought on the land. Wonder what great things we could see take place today if we became as burdened as Elijah was and prayed as fervently as he did?!?

3. ELIJAH WAS OBEDIENT– l Kings 17:2-18:2 Notice especially verses 17:5, 10 & 18:2.

Each time God told Elijah to do something, he obeyed at once and did exactly what God said to do. Obedience is the key to spirituality, and it is vital that we place our lives fully under the authority of the Word of God! If you want a clear understanding of the importance of our obedience to God, study Samuel’s words to Saul (1 Sam 15:22-23) in which he states that obedience is better than sacrifice! Elijah’s instant obedience not only proved his trust in God, but showed his sincere love for God. Jesus said, “He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me … ” (Jn 14:21a — see also 14: 15) John said, “And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.” (1 Jn 3:22) We cannot expect God to hear and answer us unless we are careful to listen to Him and obey gladly His commands. Certainly, for the Christian, His commands are not grievous!

4. ELIJAH WAS A MAN OF FIRE- 1 Kings 18:21-39; 2 Kings 1:8-15; 2:1-11

o God Answers With Fire – l Kgs 18:21-39 What an exciting manifestation of God’s power! This has all the dramatic elements of an Old West shoot-out! All we are told of God’s directions is given in 18:1–God told Elijah to show himself to Ahab and then promised to send rain. But no doubt God was leading him in all the details of this show-down with Baal. Whether intentionally or not, Elijah “set up” the enemy–without revealing his intentions, he simply tells Ahab to call all Israel, including the prophets of Baal and of the groves, to Mt. Carmel. When they are assembled, he presents the challenge – 18:21-24! Under the circumstances, the false prophets could hardly decline to participate. Elijah had some fun at their expense, which served to emphasize the truth that their god was a dead god – ” … there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.” Then, at the time of the evening sacrifice, Elijah calls all the people near, repairs the altar of the Lord, puts the wood and the bullock on the altar, and has twelve barrels of water poured on it! (Think about where the water came from and the effort required to get it to the top of the mountain!) And then Elijah prays a simple prayer asking that God make Himself known as the God in Israel and that he has done all this at the Word of the Lord. And Poooof! ! Notice the response of the people in v 39!

o Elijah Calls Down Fire on His Enemies – 2 Kgs. 1:8-15 This incident has been often misunderstood, and some have even been so foolish and so bold as to slander God about this! “Well, what about these 102 innocent men–why would God kill them?” Just as God destroyed the native Canaanites and gave their land to Israel because of their idolatry and perverted lifestyle, so these men upon whom Elijah called fire were Baal worshipers and servants of wicked King Ahaziah and deserved what they got! This is an example of what is known in hermeneutics as “The Illustrative Principle.” Simply stated, this is the action whereby God judges various sins in such a way as to make them illustrations or warnings of His judgment. Usually, He speaks in this fashion only once, and after that He forebears and keeps silent until the day of reckoning. And for good reason–if He visited every sin with immediate judgment, He would very soon depopulate the earth!! (A familiar N.T. example of the Illustration Principal Is God’s dealing with Ananias and Sapphira for lying to the Holy Ghost.)

o Elijah is Taken to Heaven in a Chariot of Fire – 2 Kgs 2: l-11 What an appropriate mode of departure for such a man of fire!! Fire is associated with judgment, and thus the message from Elijah’s life to Israel is clear: “Judgment is coming!” Unfortunately, Israel continued her downward slide away from God (in spite of Elijah’s supernatural ministry in her midst) and 160 years later, she was carried away captive into Assyria. We would do well to remember the words of Peter informing us that this present earth is “reserved unto fire against the day of judgment!” And surely, that day cannot be far away.

5. ELIJAH WAS A MAN OF FAITH – 1 Kings 18:41-46 Hardly any part of Elijah’s life could be examined without seeing the evidence of faith, but this episode is one of the more dramatic ones. At this point it has been 3 1/2 years since any rain has fallen on Israel. Jehovah has shown His power as the true God in the contest with Baal by sending fire from Heaven, and the people confessed that “He is the God!” So now, Elijah is ready to ask God for rain. He prayed six times, and six times his servant looked out to the west over the Mediterranean and saw nothing but blue sky. But that didn’t phase this mighty man of prayer, and the 7th time he prayed his servant came back and reported a cloud, just a little one, shaped like a man’s hand. And Elijah, God’s Weatherman, gave the word to Ahab to get down off the mountain because of the great rain coming! [Do you know what prompted Elijah’s strong faith in this matter of praying for rain? See 18: 1 !] Oh, that we would claim the promises of God as Elijah did–then we could see God work in our lives and in our nation! (See Matt 17:14-20.)

6. ELIJAH WAS A MAN OF FEAR – l Kings 19: l-4 This is an amazing turn of events for a fire-breathing, false-prophet-killing man of God, wouldn’t you agree?! After praying down fire from heaven and killing 450 prophets of Baal, you wouldn’t think Elijah would give a second thought to Jezebel’s threat to kill him. But he did, and I believe the primary reason God recorded this in His Word is to prove what James said in 5:17. He was human just as we are, and, like Peter, he took his eyes off the Lord for a short space and got them on the circumstances. The results will always be embarrassing for the child of God whenever he lets this happen, so let this be a warning to us!

LESSONS:

1. One person can make a difference! Although there were 7,000 in Israel at this time who had not bowed the knee to Baal, Elijah prayed and worked single-handedly to bring Revival in Israel.

2. Perhaps the greatest lesson from Elijah’s life is the power available through prayer!

3. Obedience is the measure of true spirituality as well as a prerequisite to answered prayer.

4. Elijah’s faith was anchored in the promises of God!

5. It is almost certain that we will “mess up” when we take our eyes off the Lord.

DAVID – THE MAN AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART

SCRIPTURE: I Sam 16-11 Sam 24

INTRODUCTION: David means “beloved.” He was the youngest of the eight sons of Jesse, and the second and greatest of Israel’s kings. He was an eloquent poet and one of the greatest figures in the history of the world. He was also used by the Holy Spirit to pen a number of the Psalms. Volumes have been written about this mountain peak among Bible characters. David’s father was a simple man who lived in the obscure little town of Bethlehem and trained young David to tend his sheep. (The statement in I Sam 17:12 ” … and the man [Jesse] went among men for an old man in the days of Saul.” is quite significant. It is indicative both of his prowess and his character–he was respected and even admired by other men–and gives us a hint as to the source of some of David’s character development.) It pleased God to take David from such humble beginnings and set him upon the throne of Israel. There are so many aspects of David’s life that merit careful study; but due to limited time, our major focus will be on the things he learned which prepared him for stellar success as Israel’s king! The key Principle of Leadership in David’s life is LEARNING TO RULE. He learned in

Stage ONE – as a Son how to

1. get along with difficult people (his brothers)

2. endure criticism (from the family)

3. respond to authority (he was obedient, dependable)

Stage TWO – as a Shepherd (while still a son) to

1. spend time alone wisely (honing his skills with the harp and with the sling)

2. walk with God (he meditated on God’s Word and wrote some of the Psalms at this time)

3. be faithful to duty (fought off a lion, fought off a bear protecting the sheep)

4. perform humble tasks

Stage THREE – as a Servant (while still a shepherd) to

1. look after the needs of others (he ministered to Saul while still handling responsibilities at home)

2. handle several responsibilities simultaneously

3. delegate authority – 17:20

4. not neglect his responsibilities – 17:22

Stage FOUR – as a Soldier (while still a servant) to

1. fight God’s enemies, not God’s people! (David refused to fight Saul.)

2. trust God’s power and not his own strength and ability – 17:37, 45-47

3. give God the glory!

4. to obey orders and carry out his duties in a wise manner – 18:5, 14

We may also view David from some other perspectives. Here are some brief thoughts on David’s life as

1. A WARRIOR- 1 Sam 17:40; II Sam 5:7 David was courageous as a young champion

and a great soldier. His fight with Goliath is unsurpassed in the annals of history.

2. A MUSICIAN – Because he was a skillful player on the harp, David was called to play

in the presence of wretched King Saul. Only David’s music could soothe the king, from whom the Spirit of God had departed.

3. A SINNER – David’s yielding to gross sin in a period of ease (II Sam 11) should give ample warning to every Christian that the flesh can never be trusted, no matter how spiritual one is or how high he rises!

4. A SAINT – In spite of David’s brief fling with sin, he was nevertheless a child of God, and the trend of his life was spiritual (I Sam 13:14; I Kings 15:5!) The Bible stresses the fact that David followed hard after God, and his Psalms are living proof of the God-ward bent of his life. [In fact, as you study Israel’s subsequent history, you will find that David’s life was the standard by which the later kings were judged.] However, I believe the chief reason he was called the man after GOD’s own heart is found in his response to King Saul’s hatred. After all Saul did to him, not a court in the land would have condemned him for killing Saul–it would have been a matter of self defense. But David forgave and would not take revenge in his own hands.

5. A PROPHET – David was one of those “holy men of old” moved by the Holy Spirit to set forth many glorious details about the coming, the suffering, and the coming again as King of the Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior and the Messiah!

LESSONS From David’s Life:

1. The key to advancement (promotion to greater responsibilities) is the faithful performance of the task(s) at hand, no matter how menial or insignificant.

2. The enemy is “out there.” How it behooves God’s people today to learn the lesson of David’s response to Saul’s persecution!

3. It only takes one “boo-boo” to mess up a great record and get a blotch on one’s name. It is also significant that such an incident always brings reproach against God.

4. When the “laws of the harvest” kick in, there is a heavy price tag on sin!

AHAB – A LIFETIME OF SIN

Scripture: 1 Kings 16:25 thru chap 22

INTRODUCTION: Two men are prominent in this passage of Scripture–Elijah and Ahab. Today we will study the sordid life of Ahab, a man in every way the opposite of Elijah. Ahab is a pathetic picture of what sin will do to any person when it is allowed full sway in one’s life. As we learn some lessons from Ahab’s lifetime of sin, let us not only take warning, but let us offer thanks to God for how He has kept us from some of these tragic effects of sin by the work of His grace in our lives!

WICKED PARENTS If ever a Bible character illustrated the truth of Ex 20:5, it is Ahab. God said He would visit “the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me.” This doesn’t mean that God punishes the children or grandchildren directly for their parents’ sins; rather, it is a matter of cause and effect. Paul’s statement to the Galatians gives us insight as to how this works, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” (See Gal 6:7-8) Ahab really had two strikes against him because of the wickedness of his parents (1 Kgs 16:25- 26). Omri is specifically mentioned here, but his mother must have been evil as well, else she could have balanced out some of Omri’s evil influence on Ahab. As would be expected, the curse of wickedness mentioned in Ex 20:5 continued in Ahab’s son, Ahaziah (1 Kgs 22:51-53.) Notice in v 52 the words “in the way of his mother,” indicating a greater than usual influence of the mother.

WICKED PARTNER Having been brought up by wicked parents, it is no surprise that Ahab chose a wicked woman as his wife. And it seems that Jezebel worked just like a catalyst in a chemical reaction to bring out the worst in Ahab (see 1 Kgs 21 :25-26.) (Teacher, here is an opportunity to stress to older teenagers the extreme importance of finding the will of God in this second most important decision of one’s life — choosing a wife or husband. One must first be fully yielded to God’s will in the matter. Then care must be taken in dating so that those who do not share the same philosophy of life and spiritual goals are quickly screened out. Of course, a Christian should never date an unsaved person. In Ahab’s case as a Jew, we would note that he violated the law of God by taking a heathen–a non-Jew–as his wife and queen of the kingdom.)

WICKED PRACTICES Without question Ahab sold out to the devil, giving himself over to work wickedness and to follow idols, with much the same fervor and commitment with which a J. Hudson Taylor or a David Livingstone went off to the mission field! Ahab was not just for evil, but, under the wicked influence of Jezebel, he was against good. We learn in 1 Kgs 18:3-4 that Ahab permitted Jezebel to kill the prophets of the Lord. By the way, here is an interesting principle: When evil is in the minority, it hollers for tolerance and equal rights–but, when evil is in power it denies any liberty or tolerance for good! (Example: teaching of evolution/creationism in public schools–60 years ago, when America was still basically Christian, the evolutionists were pleading for the right to teach both views. Now that the ungodly are in control, they deny the right of the creationist view to be presented!)

WICKED PERCEPTION

o Ahab accused the man of God of causing Israel’s trouble – 1 Kgs 18: 17-18. Isn’t this incredible?!,.-it makes as much sense as a man with cancer accusing the doctor  who diagnosed it of causing the disease! The simple truth is, Ahab was the cause and Elijah had the cure! But, believe it or not, unsaved men are still just as blind today–they have no perception of reality or of spiritual things.

o The Carmel experience was totally lost on Ahab – it changed him not one whit! (And this was one of the greatest miracles in Israel’s history!) Many people say, “Oh, if l could just see a miracle, I would believe.” Here is plain proof that that isn’t true. Believing is seeing, not the other way around. (See Luke 16:27-31)

• Concerning the campaign against Syria, Ahab believed the lying prophets instead of Micaiah, even after demanding that he tell him the truth. Overall, there is some humor in this incident, but in the final analysis it reveals the insanity of sin! Watch this:

1. Jehoshaphat, good King of Judah (who shouldn’t have been there in the first place!) asks if there is a prophet of the Lord they could inquire of.

2. Ahab replies in the affirmative, but admits that he hates Micaiah because he always prophesies evil against him (translation: “tells the truth about Ahab’s affairs!”)

3. At Jehoshaphat’s insistence, Ahab has Micaiah brought to them. At first he has a little fun at Ahab’s expense and tells him the same thing the lying prophets had said.

4. Ahab is indignant and demands that Micaiah tell him “nothing but that which is true in the name of the Lord.”

5. Micaiah proceeds to do just that–the armies of Israel will be defeated and Ahab will be slain–and he even explains how the Lord had put a lying spirit in the mouth of Ahab’s prophets to deceive him.

6. And what does Ahab do? Just what he had intended to do all along– go into battle against Syria! This cost Ahab his life; reminding us that lost men will continue to die and go to hell unless they allow the Word of God to light up their darkened souls.

WICKED PASSIONS

■ Ahab’s Pride – 20:30-34 Instead of being eager to destroy the wicked enemy of God, Benhadad, Ahab was more concerned about having his name on some street markers in Damascus. Pride always leads to wrong actions which, in tum, bring the judgment of God.

■ Ahab’s Covetousness – 1 Kings 21 This is one of the saddest stories in all of the Word of God, and certainly one of the most dastardly and infamous deeds ever perpetrated. (Note the parallel with Stephen in Acts 6: 11-13.) Naboth was a godly man who believed, as God had commanded, that the land was to stay in the family perpetually from generation to generation. After Jezebel had Naboth murdered and Ahab had taken possession of his vineyard, it looked as though evil had won out. But not so–the dogs drank Ahab’s blood and ate Jezebel’s body before it was all over. The wheels of God’s judgment may tum slowly, but they grind exceedingly fine!

LESSONS:

1. For parents, the lesson is obvious: see Pro 22:6 and Eph 6:1-4. The main goal of parents should be to raise up a godly heritage of children and grandchildren. Children that are brought up for God actually become weapons against Satan. (See Psa 127:3-5)

2. It is vitally important that we obey the injunction to separation given to Believers in 2Cor 6:14- 7: 1. Although Ahab was already wicked himself, he was goaded to greater depths of wickedness by heathen Jezebel, his queen whom he took from among the Baal- worshiping Zidonians, in disobedience to God’s command to the Jews.

3. We must guard our heart diligently, “for out of it are the issues oflife.” Ahab did not do this, and, thus, his wicked life reflected his wicked heart. As Jesus plainly stated, all these sinful practices come from the heart – Mark 7:21-23.

4. “Be sure your sins will find you out!” The sins of Ahab and Jezebel not only brought physical destruction, but they will yet have to stand before God at the Great White Throne judgment.

ABSALOM – ANOTHER TRAGIC VICTIM OF SIN

SCRIPTURE: 2 Sam 13-2 Sam 19:8

INTRODUCTION: The name Absalom means “father of peace.” If David gave his son this name, it turned out to be wishful thinking! He was the third son of David by his wife Maacah, daughter of the king of Geshur, thus born of a polygamous marriage. Absalom’s story is most fascinating, and we are spellbound as the main events of his adult life unfold. [It reads somewhat like a western novel, but it doesn’t tum out well at all for the main character!] Absalom’s weak character and unusual beauty pull him along in the wrong direction until Satan sets a trap for him from which there seemed to be no escape. The final result was his destruction. Let us consider some factors that shaped his life and destiny.

1. HE WAS OF ROYAL DESCENT Both parents were royalty. His mother, Maacah, was the daughter of the king of Geshur, and thus, a gentile. Although David’s third son (2 Sam 3:2-3) Absalom was the idol of his father and seems to have been heir to the throne.

2. HE POSSESSED REMARKABLE PHYSICAL BEAUTY – 2 Sam 14:25 Absalom was a striking person with poise, natural dignity, and a commanding presence, as well as sheer good looks.

3. HE WAS CHARMING AND PERSUASIVE Absalom was not only good looking, he was “Mr. Personality.” [He was probably the outstanding member of Toastmasters of Jerusalem and had completed Dale Carnegie’s “How to Win Friends and Influence People” with honors!] When he “turned on the charm,” (2 Sam 15: 1-6) he literally stole the hearts of the men of Israel away from their great and godly warrior-king!

4. BUT – HEW AS TRAITOROUS Absalom had his own brother murdered (2 Sam 13:29) and conspired to take the kingdom from his father by force. Had he been successful, it would have resulted in his father’s death, and it appears that he felt no qualms about this possibility! Absalom seems to be the kind of self-centered person who would step on, or destroy if necessary, anyone who stood between him and the things he wanted.

5. HE CAME TO AN UNTIMELY END – 2 Sam 18:9-15 Absalom had everything in his favor, yet his life ended in a tragic way. In spite of all his beauty and natural gifts, plus being in line for the throne of Israel, he nevertheless wound up being buried like an animal in a pit in a deserted wood (18: 17). What a strong warning this sad story presents to parents, especially dads. Much of the blame for

Absalom’s tragic demise originated with David:

o He obviously doted on this handsome son as he was growing up, and, therefore, failed to restrain him as he should have.

o David failed to develop character in Absalom. Character is instilled by the process of training commanded in Pro 22:6. When the child has been thoroughly and consistently trained, character manifests itself in the automatic doing of right!

o David set a poor example for Absalom (and all of his children) in the matter of Bathsheba and Uriah. The tragic consequences of David’s sin in the lives of his children should be ample warning to Christian parents about their need to live clean, godly lives at all times. The worst feature in the “boomerang” of sin is its repercussions in the lives of our children! (For example – Lot and Elimelech)

6. ABSALOM’S FATAL WEAKNESSES

o His egotism – Absalom was totally taken up with self. He had no thought, no feeling, no pity for anyone but himself. He only used those around him to obtain his own selfish goals. But in trying to use his life for himself, he lost it! (See Mark 8:34-37.)

o His godlessness – This poor, self-centered creature seems to have had no God- consciousness or reverence for God, and thus no religious faith. Consequently, he had no principles or personal restraint in his relationships with others. He was his own master, and his own will was his only law.

CONCLUSION: We may properly blame David for his obvious failures with some of his sons, and David will certainly have to give account to God for those failures. However, as far as Absalom is concerned, he has no excuse for his lack of character. The Bible says very clearly, “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” (Rom 14:12) Unfortunately, we have a society that is afflicted with this “victim” mentality–that is, whatever happens or whatever a person does, it’s someone else’s fault. For example, “I started robbing people because my daddy didn’t take me to ballgames when I was a kid.” Or, “I became a prostitute because my mother ran off with another man when I was a baby.” This is wicked nonsense! David will answer to God for why he was not a better person, but Absalom will answer to God for why he didn’t get some character!

LESSONS:

1. Character is much to be preferred over talent, brains, beauty, or any combination thereof!

2. One’s chief glory and cherished gift can become his downfall. Whatever gifts we may possess need to be guarded and sanctified every day by prayer.