2 Samuel Chapter 2:1-9

Were not told the lapse of time here, but if you've ever inquired of the Lord is not always a speedy answer the God what you want me to your not talking about is you do what I want to do. You have to learn to wait on the Lord to develop that attitude that that discipline of you will await the Lord. A lot of times we say will Lord what you want me know about this and he doesn't answer right away really awesome thing is, during that time. Our faith is being built.

Welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee Senior Pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina.

As David McGee teaches through second Samuel to today find some interesting insights into here to share with you some of that is he's assisting pastors great to be here with all of our listeners excited about getting into what Pastor Davis could be sharing today, something that's very hard when we ask the Lord we keep asking, then having to wait on that answers the being still waiting on the mind waiting as long as it carries up that's right. We live in a society that is instantaneous, but the Lord says the way because they talk about that today. Let's listen listen to teaches verse by verse through second Samuel chapter. So were looking at.

The second book of Samuel. Now what's happening is Saul now as God was killed in battle. After a long, long time, but just not listening to the Lord disregarding the Lord billing against the Lord and and against Samuel, who was the spiritual leader of Israel and also trying to kill David when David was probably the best friend the Sauber had had a heart to serve Saul and so last chapter.

David was lamenting the death of Saul which you know we looked at the fact that one statement of David's character that he would mourn the death of his enemy says a lot about David so that brings us into chapter 2 verse one it says it happen after this. David inquired of the Lord, saying, shall I go out to any of the cities of Judah and the Lord said to him, go up and David said, where shall I go up and he said that he brought this is an interesting verse and cannot bring it back around to this verse. I think at the end of the study because it is just kind of a key verse in this chapter, but we see David doing something that he knows a lot he inquires of the Lord what what is that mean inquires of the Lord.

What does it mean that you know that he took some tea leaves to figure out what God wanted him to do doesn't mean that he called the one 900 psychic line to figure out what God wanted him to do. They can accurately predict that you have less money in the bank next month. But other than that I don't think your very accurate. David inquired of the Lord and an amazing what I mean when you look at this whole earth.

God created everything he's keeping the earth revolving yet he cares about what's happening in your life to the most intimate details of your life. You can go to God is a God what you want me to do about this friend. Don't ever think that you're bothering God because it honors God. When you go to God you go God.

What should I do with this.

What should I do about moving what should I do about my job that honors God that honors the Lord, we see that David lived a life of inquiry on the Lord. He wonders what he should do and notice it doesn't talk about. He went around everybody in the canceled old audio language and it will take about a ghost God is God. What should I do were not told the lapse of time here, but if you've ever inquired of the Lord is not always a speedy answer the God what you want me to your not talking honors go do what I wanted to have to learn to wait on the Lord to develop that attitude that that discipline of you will await the Lord first. Life lesson when you ask the Lord wait only answer when you ask the Lord wait only answer. A lot of times we say will Lord what you want me know about this and he doesn't answer right away really awesome thing is, during that time. Our faith is. Me and Bill we have a Scripture in Isaiah chapter 40 verse what he wants as they heat up on the Lord will renew their strength. So you way, here's the other thing that you need understand when you inquire of the Lord. When you ask the Lord something you probably already have the answer that you prefer right. You've already got your answer planned and really you're just want God to counteract a file that answer got a masking what you want me to do but here's what you ought to do, thing. But if you ask God understand that the answer that you get may not be the answer you want now to be the best answer. It'll be the answer.

That's best for you. But if you're going inquire of the Lord know this, that he might tell you something different than what your preferences and the thing it your heart has to say. George Lord and what ever the answer is you want to hear that you be willing to hear that need to be ready to receive what Hammer answer the Lord gives Howdy inquire upon the Lord is pray pray God when he only knew about this and don't feel like you you know you have to holler you have to cry very have to asking the same question for 30 minutes in a row sometimes are Mondays I don't have 30 minutes to follow my face before Lord what you want me to do about the sometimes the answers right away, sometimes 10 minutes later somebody comes up to make it. We thought about doing this like me. Thank you Lord your answer in your lesson now. When do you inquire of the Lord, you know where we were prone to inquire of the Lord when things go poorly when think when your car is broken down on the side of the road, then Lord what he omitted to lawyers like us, generally on your heart stop that last gas station is No don't wait to you get in trouble, to inquire of the Lord is sometimes rented so much stuff is Artie have a lovely Corrie 10 boom, Corrie 10 boom asked is prayer your steering wheel earlier spare tire as per your steering wheel earlier spare time I love that quote. The reason is are using prayer to direct your life when something goes wrong in your life and also in you gotta fix it.

You go God. What I do now.

Lord wants to provide direction in your life. He certainly gave David direction in his life and in this chapter I noticed this is greatly eases David's is shall I go up to the cities of Judah and got to know up and say where God waited till David asked that is it. Where shall I go and he said that he brought Anderson God wants to be involved in the details of our lives, but he wants us to ask about the things God where you will regret want to go over there when you will me to go and he'll give you the timetable asking Hotel Havelock is just not you know not to just verse two. So David went up there and his two wives also in the know on the Jezreel -itis and Abigail the widow of the ball. The Carmelite so David has. He has few wives at this point at least three is that mean it's okay doesn't mean it's okay means that's what David is doing and in need have some problem with you know I mean it to land mono before the moving right along. Workers verse three and David brought up the men who were with them every man with his household, so they dwelt in the cities he brought so, notice what happened. David said check in the cities of Judah, got to go. They were showing up. That's in the wrong. Then David went to Jerusalem know Dave didn't go to David went that he brought just like God told him to do again when when you inquire of the Lord have an open heart and an open mind to hear what God is going to speak to about where and when and again don't feel like you're bothering God. It's it's an honor when you say God, what, how do you want me to do this what you want me to do when you want me to do these things. It honors God in your life and I know that and you know in my life. I sometimes I ask God and God gave an answer and I didn't like the answer can be realtors prayer and I didn't like the answer, so I was really slow to do what got investment in the member want to measure this before but is just such a classic God stored I was planning Christian rock band is also going out.

This is a guitar in teaching and and I was really really blessing the times that I was going out with acoustic guitar and in less and less will the rock band Sosa got 2020 omitted in always been in bands and got some lunch with Amanda okay got what you want me to do. Got to put the band that okay God what he omitted to and then I went up to Boones spiritual retreat went up there and got the paper got a pencil lawyer asking of the Lord carnival or lower what he omitted. The classic comic God said I'm not into anything else do you do the last thing I told you today, but the bandanna's okay for so quickly and with abandon and also in God just blasted open doors for the ministry late on a start playing with Amanda again stuff but God want to make sure that that wasn't something holding me back in the ministry.

So is willing to do even though maybe it was uncomfortable maybe was a little different as well and do what God had told me to do now there is a couple years back and I had to be on site and read the whole book name of the book was interesting God chasers and I found the title more interesting than anything else, because it carries with it the connotation that were chasing after God's got interesting to me. Got kids and the resist movie hook is always a Disney movie. There was one line and there was very interesting lady turns to the man and she says do not realize it for a few our children are chasing after us and will spend the rest of our lives chasing after them in the Miata. Some category in that phase where I'm chasing after the kids and you know when and it's an interesting thing is they grow up, and also not trying to spend time trying to get through on the Sprint God's chasing us far more than were chasing him and we tend to think is we we tend to think that God is so busy that he doesn't have time to spend most of you know the opposite is true.

How bizarre that is were so busy we don't spend time with God.

I used to run around in the end, so I spend more time with you, but I'm just so busy and then when one day I said that and I started thinking. Talking to you talking to God.

What's God doing right now juggling planets, keeping stars aligned directing all of humanity, and I'm looking up and hamming you with everything you know you got a got changed and what that must've sounded like the gods here, your boy to hate to be you got such a load on you.

So I quit using loan for too often were too busy forgot the next lifeless near God is never too busy to be included in our lives we get too busy to include God in our life. God is never too busy to be included in our lives we get too busy to include God in our life and how sad else true that is. And yet at this moment in this place.

David takes the time to inquire of the Lord listen to the Lord and do what the Lord says God blesses that you're listening to Pastor David McGee on cross the bridge will be back with more than just a moment but first, if you haven't been to our website@crossthebridge.com yet what are you waiting for go to cross the bridge.com to learn more about how listeners like you are helping get the life-changing truth of God's word to more people to the radio, Internet and mobile technologies across the bridge.com you can also check out our broadcast schedule. Listen to more teaching from Pastor David@up for Pastor David's free daily devotional and there's more thereto, so visit cross the bridge.com today.

Now here's Pastor David as he continues showing verse by verse. Let's look at verse four. Then the men of Judah came in there they anointed David king over the house of Judah, and they told David saying the men of Jabez Killian were the ones who buried Saul as they anointed David king over the house of Judah. This the first time they would've been anointed, no sexually leave it's third time in who was the first person to anoint David. We could say Samuel and I guess that's true. But who really anointed David was God.

God anointed David Samuel simply said okay. David is the one that you've chosen.

So God I agree with you, and I'm going to anoint David because you've already anointed David C. When we pray for sunlight when we anoint somebody either for leadership or because they're sick, or pray, inform that anointing is simply asking God to anoint them or recognizing the got is already anointed, probably everybody in this room has sat under a teacher who was officially by man ordained, but you sat under teaching your wife.

I don't get it. I don't not learn anything. What I don't even understand what you're saying no magical is was that man ordained by God or was he ordained by man is ordained by man as if he was ordained by God. God ordains and gives gifts.

That's what we the deacons the elders and and we've ordained pastors here.

We recognize what God is already doing in their heart and their lives and say more with God. God is already doing this were just recognizing what God has already done verse five. So David sent messengers to the men of Jabez Killian and said to them, you are blessed of the Lord, for you've shown this kindness to your Lord to Saul and of buried and now may the Lord show kindness and truth to you also will repay this kindness because you have done this thing now therefore let your hands be strengthened and be value for your master Saul is dead and also the house of Judah has anointed me king over them the men of Jabez Killian. We looked at this in chapter 31 of first Samuel when they took Saul and they beheaded him and and they were desecrating his body may hung up in a place called Betsy and what you still there to this day revisited on our trip to Israel this fall, then these men of Jabez Killian. They went and got Saul's remains and they buried him the reason they did. This is one of the first things that Saul did as a leader was held. The men of Jabez Killian and a battle and because David had never saw the fight Saul or speak against Saul. There was no real division between David and his men Jabez Killian and again Damon shows his wisdom, his humility and reaching out to these guys and samhain. What would there's nothing against Helmer never going to see that David is a very not only anointed leader but also very, very wise leader of verse eight, but the son of nerve, commander of Saul's army took issue. Moshe, the son of Saul and brought them over to men maddening and he made him king over Gilead over the Asher rights over Jezreel over Ephraim over Benjamin, and over all Israel to see the distinction between these two travelers to tribes of Judah and then the other 10 tribes listed as Israel and sadly this is going to be seen division that will see later under the rain after the reign of Solomon.

But this guy Abner West must figure out who Abner is, because he's going to play a pretty major park here in the next couple chapters 1st Samuel chapter 14 verse 50 says the name of Saul's wife was at a no on the daughter of him in the name of the commander of his army was Abner, the son of nurse Saul's uncle so Abner was Saul's cousin who was the commander of Saul's army as County interesting when you think about this because there's a couple things that I'm thinking Abner should of been involved in an Abner should've done that we didn't see him involved with and we didn't see them doing one is in verse 17 verse 55 is is what Saul, Saul, David, going against the Philistine. He said there the commander of the Army son is issues and Abner said as you're so little soaking. I do not know. So the king said, inquire, whose son this young man is going to point out something may not be obvious but okay so Abner and Saul are having this will chitchat. While Goliath comes out and challenges not only armies of miserable challenges. There God and so Abner and Saul are cut or hang out chatting and David. This use comes up decision is going down.

I'm taking them out. We asked the question why wasn't Saul going out to fight Goliath, but here we see the same point with a different character, why wasn't Abner, the commander of the Army going out the FICA line. I don't know seems to indicate perhaps that there was character flaw was say well maybe was a coward. I don't know you know I you would like to think the commander of the Kings army would say that I don't care how big he is God's on our side. I'm going to take now securely work so you see your he didn't didn't make they let David a young boy, go out and do this on the why Abner didn't think it points to something not just one time but will see it over and over again. First Samuel chapter 26 verse 14 through 16 and this is one of those times that that David had the opportunity to kill Saul and didn't Abner was the commander of the Army and David had the opportunity to kill Saul not once but twice was Abner doing will will David got it points us out in this passage and David called out to the people and to Abner the son of nurse and do you not answer Abner. Then Abner answered and said who are you calling out to the king. So David said that there are you not a man and who is like you and Israel. Why then have you not guarded your Lord the King for one of the people came in the destroyer Lord the King in this thing that you have done is not good as the Lord lives. You deserved to die because you have not guarded your master the Lord's anointed and now see were the king spirit is the jug of water that was buys it. David had those things.

Abner was doing his job was to protect and Saul David had the opportunity kill Saul in any brings out the fact that Abner wasn't doing his job. I'm sure this endeared him very much to Abner the way he this theme in front of everybody. Let me ask another question. Saul and his three sons died on the battlefield.

Where was Abner and why is Abner still alive, the commander of the Army you would think would be by the side of the king of the king was going down, and his sons are going down.

He would stand with them. He would stand with the king, no matter the odds. They didn't do it and do it as a story and I love this story. Robert the Bruce. He was in the Braveheart movie, but he was a real life Scottish character and he ended up fighting against England to see Scotland be made free and on his deathbed he had several men that served him on his deathbed he asked that one of these men would take his heart and put it in a leather satchel when they went in the battle that they would carry his heart into this into the back one amends that all do that for you my king I will do that. The man won many battles in one day when he was with about 100 men. They came up the fight against 1200 men. They fought valiantly in the fall. Bravery bravely, but the got surrounded these men look to their leader.

At that point the leader took the leather pouch off of his neck and he threw it over the head of the enemies and he turned to his men.

He said now fight for the heart of your king. I love that. Why because we should be fighting for the heart of our king, King Jesus, not just a king. The king, king of kings and the be courageous, even when the hydrocarbyl I've been in those situations doesn't matter what the odds look like their human one person and God is a majority, you're never outnumbered with God at Abner obviously didn't get that we look at disease okay will Abner I guess I do some twisted loyalty, perhaps for Saul wanted to see you nurse Saul's fourth son, his remaining son be made king, that's not it at all really see this this chapter and the next chapter wasn't some twisted sense of loyalty Abner what it was a PowerPoint was a PowerPoint and Abner instead of swallowing his because David had corrected in St. well you know what this is the will of God out. David, I'm with you, he became contentious and divisive against God's anointed king David to because it was plain that this was not the will of God that Saul's son be made king first Samuel chapter 13 verse 13, Samuel, Saul, Saul, and Samuel said to Saul you have done foolishly. You can The command of the Lord your God, which he commanded you. For now, the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever, but now your kingdom shall not continue the Lord a song for himself, a man after his own heart. The Lord has commanded him to be a commander over his people because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you. God said this is it, Saul. Your family, your sons after you are not going to write. That was the word of the Lord. But there is one here that Abner wanted to do his own thing and practical personal application fairly obvious and it friend you know for sure that your sins have been forgiven. You can know right now own Legion. A short simple prayer simply telling God you're sorry and asking him to help you to live for him. Please pray this prayer with me out well right now. Dear Jesus, I believe you died for me that I could be forgiven and I believe you were raised from the dead that I could have a new life not done wrong things I have sent and I'm sorry. Please forgive me of all those things. Please give me the power to live for you.

All of my days in Jesus name, amen it friend if you prayed that prayer according to the Bible. You've been forgiven you've been born again, so congratulations for you just made the greatest decision that you will ever make.

God bless you, if you prayed that prayer with David for the first time we'd love to hear from you. You can visit crossed the bridge.com to receive our first steps package with helpful resources to help you begin your walk with Christ. You can also write to cross the bridge at PO Box 12, 515 Winston-Salem, NC 27117 and share how God is working in your life. Now before we go in the world it seems chaotic at every turn. Jesus wants you to experience peace this year want you to experience his shalom, which is wholeness, joy and hope. No matter what the circumstances are that you face every day meal. Do we have a resource that can help our listings with this yet about Pastor David wrote a simple book that can show you how to experience this shalom that you were just talking about it's easy to read and full of great analogies to share powerful biblical truths across the bridge to life. Discover your venture will be a blessing to any of our listeners, Bob, and that's a great gift to think any of our listeners that financially support us to help more people cross the bridge from death to life. Go to cross the bridge.com to request your copy today also. Each day you can wake up with encouragement from Pastor David through the word of God with his email devotional life lessons that consider daily reading plan and even biblical faults to meditate on throughout your day. From the art of Pastor Dave yes Neil and it's free and easy to sign up today across the bridge.com. Thanks again for listing folks and we hope you join us next time is studying first by first second set