Why God forgave David
Category: Worship & Praise
Key Passage: 2 Samuel 12:13
Speaker: Paul Chisgar
Date: March 31, 2021
Brother Patrick, I appreciate it very much. Turn your Bibles to 2nd Samuel chapter 12, if you would, please, Second Samuel chapter 12. Brother Dumpert and Brother Josh have been here painting and working most all day long. In fact, I got here about 8:30. Brother Dumpert was already here working, and Brother Josh showed up just a little bit after. Both of them did a great job.
And what was that? He got the coffee. Amen. Amen. That’s important stuff. Second Samuel, chapter 12. I appreciate all the people that get involved around here and do work. It’s wonderful. It’s key. Every part is vital. I appreciate it very, very much.
Brother Andrew come lead us in prayer. And every part is important. I appreciate all of it, and it is a blessing. Second Samuel, chapter 12. We have been covering what is usually called David’s Great Sin for several weeks now. You remember last week we talked about Nathan, the preacher, came.
Remember he got him involved emotionally. He told him that story about the little baby lamb, the family pet, and all that. And then the rich guy that had a guest—it was custom to feed people. Instead of taking one of his many sheep, he stole that pet lamb. And boy, David got mad. “I’m going to kill that guy,” you know. And then Nathan said, “Thou art the man.”
Then he listed what all God had said about it and punishments and so on. By the way, God’s people do get chastened. God chastens every son whom he receives, Hebrews 12:6 says, everyone. And if you never get chastening, the Bible says, you might not be an illegitimate child; you’re not a child of God. God does chasten his children.
But I want us to really focus on David’s response tonight. We’re just going to kind of look at it. You’re going to sin. We’re going to sin. I’m not trying to get you to go that way.
But as long as you live and breathe down here, you’re going to sin. Now, the more you grow, the less you’ll sin. But friend, whatsoever is not of faith is sin. Every one of us does things without faith. And so you’re going to sin every day, but it’s almost as important what you do after you sin. It’s just vital.
You’re going to sin. Don’t get to the point where you don’t. You’re going to be awfully discouraged because you fall. But what do you do when you do fall, when you do sin? We want to try to just focus on responding right. And that may not be a great sin like this. I’m not saying everyone’s got a sin like David here, but we’re all going to fall. And that might mean a lot of different things, but you’re not going to get up, read your Bible, or pray, or witness like you used to. We’re all going to fall.
How you respond to sin is vital. Second Samuel, chapter 12. Y’all aren’t a little quiet tonight. How many are tired tonight? How many are tired? We got some tired. Good, good, good, good. Anybody sleepy tonight? Oh, I’ve got a couple hands already. Brother Jacob, how much sleep did you get last night? Three and a half hours, and he’s awake. Oh, you don’t have an excuse. Brother Jacob’s got us all beat.
Let’s stand if you would please. Let’s stand if you would please. Second Samuel chapter 12. And just one verse as far as the way of introduction, verse number 13. Second Samuel 12, verse number 13.
This is after Nathan just said what David was going to do about it. In verse number 13, it said, “Unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord.” Just six words. It doesn’t record David saying anything else, just six words.
So much power. Just six words: “I have sinned against the Lord.” I wonder how long the pause was after that before Nathan said anything else. I don’t know. I don’t know if David was crying when he said it. I don’t know if David was looking down, wouldn’t look up when he said it. But all scripture records is just those six words. And then Nathan says something again.
And Nathan said unto David, “The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.” Now understand, by the Old Testament law, these were crimes that David should have been executed for.
What’s the verse? “Whoso confesseth and forsaketh shall have mercy.” If you have mercy, you’re not going to be killed, David. David stays on the throne, and so on. We’ll discuss that in weeks to come. But let’s pray. Just ask the Lord to speak. A lot of us are tired; you’ve had a busy, busy day. Let’s just ask the Lord to speak to our hearts tonight. Would you do so?
Father, Lord, we come. I’m excited about Easter, Lord. I believe you’ve challenged us, and I’m looking forward to your working. Pray that you would… Would you give us 200 at least? Lord, would you go to preach? Would you bless you? Use every one of our people to minister to others on Sunday? But, Lord, tonight for this brief time, we come to the Wednesday night dining at your table. So, Lord, would you give us the nourishment, the strength, the energy we need to be the lights for you everywhere we go, encourage, and Lord help as we need it? No, thank you, Lord, for it. In Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Thank you so much for standing. You may be seated. I hope you’ll forgive me. I meant to do this earlier, but I do want to mention just those that are watching online. If you can be here Sunday, I’m so appreciative of those that have stayed in tune online, but can I say it is a poor substitute? Sometimes it’s the only substitute, but it’s a poor substitute of meeting with people. Something about fellowshipping, worshiping God like this, why you’re doing fellowship like nothing like it in all the world. I’d encourage you to be in church on Sunday, if any way possible.
But this thing here is just amazing. Let’s just for a moment, if you would, let’s just compare David in his open sin now. We can’t dictate everything or discover everything in the heart. We’re talking about open sin, if you will. David’s sin and Saul’s sin. Let’s just for a minute compare those two. All right?
Help me out. Somebody just raise your hand. What was at least one of David’s sins right here? Not all, but just right here. Somebody tell me what some of David’s sins here. Somebody just tell me. Murder. Good, good. Murder. I think that’s one of the words. Yes, Ms. Melody, committed adultery. One of his most loyal followers, he committed adultery with a guy’s wife. So we got adultery, murder, trying to hide it. And then in the end, deceit. Deceit, is that right? Then in the end, he marries the guy’s wife that he just had killed. I don’t know about you, but that’s pretty bad in my book.
By the way, you’ll hear this sometimes. You’ll hear this: “Well, in the sight of God, every one sin is the same as the other.” Friend, I beg to differ on that now. Any sin will send you to hell. Any sin will. But there are degrees of sin. And biblically, there are certain sins you can commit; you can’t be a pastor anymore, and so on and so on. So there are, in the sight of God, degrees, if you will, of sin. Right? Maybe it talks about being worse for somebody than others in hell and so on and so on.
But Saul, let’s think about Saul for just a second here. Saul is maybe not quite as known. First of all, Saul, there was a day that they were going to go to battle, and Samuel was supposed to come, and they were going to offer these sacrifices. They wanted a blessing of God when they go to battle. And Samuel had said, “Hey, within seven days, I’ll come and offer sacrifices.” And Saul was waiting. It was the seventh day. Samuel hadn’t come yet, and Saul got impatient. Saul just wouldn’t wait for that final, you know, the seven days, for the eighth day to come. You know, seven days. Saul said, “Hey, bring me the sacrifices,” and Saul stepped into the priest’s office, if you will, and he offered up sacrifices. And actually, that was the point. God said, “I’m going to find another guy.” Got a minute?
Then about two chapters later, they’re supposed to be going out to battle, and they are going out to battle. And God had said, “Now, I want you to utterly kill the Amalekites.” Okay? Brother Dumpert did a good job preaching about the Amalekites a couple months ago in our church. And he said, “Look, they’ve been after us and pasturing us and killing our weak for years. And I want you to utterly kill them all.” And Saul simply did not kill. He left King Agag alive and the best of the cattle he left alive.
And remember Samuel came and said, “Hey, you’re supposed to utterly kill them all.” And eventually Saul grabs Samuel’s coat, his mantle, and he said, “You’ve got to save me,” the type of thing, and he rent it, and Samuel returned him, said, “God rent the kingdom from you.”
And now let’s just talk about the open sin. Let’s just be… just kind of, if I seen a guy, he committed adultery with a loyal servant of his, his loyal servant, and then he killed the guy, and he married his wife. And this guy over here, he just, he just got impatient and he sacrificed when he wasn’t supposed to, and then he didn’t order to kill all the Amalekites, and he just left the king. I would think this sin over here is about 100 times worse. Are y’all with me? I know I’m a hillbilly, but just, just, I mean, common sense. That seems. We’re talking murder, adultery.
So how was it that Saul, Saul ends up—he doesn’t continue to be the king? The way God took him out of kingship, if you will, he had him killed in battle. And yet David lived his life out as king. There’s a whole lot of consequences for David’s sin, but how is it that a just God—that’s righteous, just, and right as he knew to be—he’s never wrong—and how is it that Saul seemed like got such a severe punishment, and David got punished? Oh, yes, not trying to say he didn’t, but he stayed king. He didn’t die.
Well, I really believe the key is their response when they were corrected by the Lord and by the man that God sent their way. I want you to look at Saul’s response. We’ve already seen David’s six words: “I have sinned against the Lord.” Now look over in 1 Samuel chapter 13. We’re going to read a little bit here. Stick with me. I want you just think about this.
This is the first thing I mentioned about Saul when he was supposed to be waiting for Samuel, the priest or the prophet, to come offer sacrifices; he didn’t wait long enough. I want you to see what happens. First Samuel chapter 13, and look in verse number 8. First Samuel 13, verse number 8. Would you all just kind of keep focused as we read these verses? Let’s try to dig something out of them.
“And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal: and the people were scattered from him. And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offering. And he offered the burnt offering. And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came. And Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him.”
And Samuel said… He didn’t ever to salute him. Hey, can you just say, you know how we are? Hey, how you doing? Just like the best friend in all the world type. They went out to salute him, you know. My mom always knew when me and my older brother were guilty about something. If we were whistling, that was kind of a dead giveaway we’re guilty, you know. You ever just have that thing you used to kind of cover up something? Well, Saul, hey! Hey, how you doing, Samuel? That’s what’s going on in the story.
And verse number 11, let’s see if Samuel bought it or not. And Samuel said, “What hast thou done?” And Saul said, “Much is this.” I’ve got listed four things he does. Here’s the first one: “Because I saw that the people were scattered from me.” First thing he does, he makes an excuse. Well, the people are scattered abroad. I won’t have anybody to fight against them. I just waited around for you to come. Because I saw the people scattered.
Here’s the second thing: “And that thou camest not within the days appointed.” He starts blaming somebody. He starts blaming the preacher, by the way. Samuel, he still had time on the clock. He came within the seven days. Very common, though, very common. Start blaming. “And that thou camest not within the days appointed.”
Here’s number three: “And that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash.” They’re gathering. I couldn’t just wait. The enemies are gathering. I got to go do something. I just can’t sit here and twiddle my thumbs, Samuel. That’s what I said. “Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the Lord.”
This is just hilarious right here. This is number four I’ve got so classic in our testifying in our city. Watch what it says: “I forced myself therefore.” Well, I hated to do it, but somebody had to do something. You ever get that? You know, if somebody’s going to talk about somebody, they always say, “Well, I sure love them, but…” there’s a classic sign about to come. “I forced myself therefore.” Poor old guy had to force himself. “I forced myself therefore to offer a burnt offering.”
And Samuel said to Saul, “Thou hast done foolishly. Thou hast not kept the commandment of the Lord thy God, which he commanded thee. For now would the Lord have established thy kingdom upon Israel forever.” Wow, he missed it. Watch this, here it is: “But now thy kingdom shall not continue. The Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart, the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee.”
I appreciate the whole wisdom. I don’t believe Saul was a narcissist, as we say today. Narcissists always have excuses. They always have somebody to blame, always, always. God said, “No, I’ve taken the kingdom from you.”
Look over in chapter number 15. Chapter 15. So that’s the first time God said, “I’m taking the kingdom from you.” Saul just has so many excuses to give and just wouldn’t own up to it. Look over in chapter number 15. Chapter 15, we’ll read a little bit here. This is the time that Saul doesn’t utterly kill all the Amalekites, okay? And he saves King Agag and some sheep and some ox and whatnot. We’re in 15, verse 13. Verse 13, if you would.
And Samuel came to Saul. Remember he hadn’t utterly killed them like God had told him to. Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said unto him, “Here it is the same thing again.” It said, “Be thou blessed of the Lord. I have performed the commandment of the Lord.” Lie. I’ve got number one wrote there. When the man of God comes to him about it, he says he lies. He just says, “Oh, I’ve done it. Yes, sir. Yes, sir, I’m doing exactly what God wants.” Liar.
By the way, narcissists, the truth really holds no weight to them. Verse number 14. And Samuel said, “What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen, what you hear?” And Saul said, I’ve got number two written down by this one. Saul said, “They have brought them from the Amalekites; for the people spared of the best sheep and oxen to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God.”
So number one, I got here: he lied. Now he’s blaming over there. He is blaming the preacher, “Well, you didn’t come when we were supposed to come,” which wasn’t true. Always exaggerating the facts, stretching the fact. Now we’re saying, “Well, the people, they saved King Agag,” and the people’s fault. He’s blaming. Notice what’s going on here: when he’s confronted, corrected with the sin, he’s blaming somebody else.
Now that bottom of verse number 15, I got number three written about this: “To sacrifice unto the Lord thy God: and the rest have we utterly destroyed.” I got written down that he was trying to justify sin. “Well, we did it so he can do something good for God.” The end doesn’t justify the means, not in the sight of God. “Well, we did this just so we can have more to put in the offering plate.” I’m trying to justify what they’re doing, so we have more to sacrifice to you. You know, you just obey God. That’s what God wants. God takes care of the sacrifices offered.
Verse number 16. Then Samuel said unto Saul, “Stay, and I will tell thee what the Lord hath said to me this night.” And he said unto him, “Say on.” And Samuel said, “When thou wast little in thine own sight”—that’s very important—was thou not made head of the tribes of Israel? And the Lord anointed thee king over Israel? And the Lord sent thee on a journey and said, ‘Go and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.’ Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the Lord? But didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the Lord?"
And Saul said unto Samuel, “Yea!” He’s going back to the same techniques, same tactics as always. “Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and I’ve gone the way…” Liar! “I’ve gone the way which the Lord sent me and hath brought Agag king of Amalek and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.” He’s twisting what God said. No, God said utterly kill them all, even the king. Same tactic. Here it is: blame the people. “But the people took of the spoil, sheep and ox, and the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in Gilgal.”
And Samuel said… These are some statements he’s about to say. And Samuel said, “Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? God wants obedience. Just obey. Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion,” that’s interesting, “for rebellion,” he just kept rebelling. He just wouldn’t own up to it. “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.” Some people are just so stubborn, they wouldn’t listen if somebody had a shotgun put to their head. God says, “Hey, that’s iniquity, that’s idolatry.” Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king."
Saul said unto Samuel, “Well, I have sinned.” Oh, now it’s coming. “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and thy words.” Because, here it is, he’s still got “because.” He still has “because.” He’s still good. Even though he’s admitted it, now he’s going back to his old techniques, “because I feared the people.” Now wait a second, fellow, you’re the king. You’re telling me you did that because you feared the people? Wait, wait. Who’s in control here? “Because I feared the people,” blaming, “and obeyed their voice. Therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the Lord.”
And Samuel said unto Saul, “I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.” As Samuel turned about to go away, he pulled upon the skirt of his mantle, and it rent. And Samuel said to him, “The Lord hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbor of thine that is better than thou. And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent. Prayer is not a man that he should repent.”
Then he said, “I have sinned.” Watch this: “Yet honor me now.” It’s still all about Saul after it’s all said and done. “Honor me now.” It’s about how he looks to the people. Let’s keep reading. “I pray thee before the elders of my people, before Israel, turn again with me, that I may worship the Lord thy God.” A lot of people do a lot of sins in the name of worshiping God. A whole lot. God desires those that worship him in spirit. He seeks for that kind of worshipers in the spirit and truth. But a whole lot goes on under the name of worshiping God that’s not right. And Samuel did honor him. It’s still all about Saul and how he looks to the people.
Now, friend, the reason why David, he was allowed to stay king, he wasn’t killed—he just gave six words. Saul just kept trying every angle; he just kept trying to justify and blame and make excuses. And even after he finally admitted he sinned, Saul said, “Honor me and worship with me before the elders so they can see me and the prophet worshiping together.”
Let’s just mention a couple things about David’s confession. Somehow David confessed, and of course we believe that’s when he wrote, God moved him to pen Psalm 51. What a great, great song.
But just a couple things about David’s six words. When God pointed, “Hey, thou art the man,” six words: “I have sinned against the Lord.” Two things I want you to notice. Number one, his initial response. Saul’s initial response, we read it. Oh, my goodness.
I never forget—now, I’ve got to get to this other thing, but I’ve never forget. I was just a teenager, I believe, worked for Mr. Sampson at the metal machine shop. And I cannot remember—I think maybe a man had worked for him a little bit and then quit and left and stole some tools, whatnot. Some reason Mr. Sampson, he liked him, and I appreciate him; he’s meant a lot to me to this day. He had come back and talked to me sometimes at the back of the factory, a machine shop, a metal shop in the back. He came back and he talked to him, and he was a little mad about it. I remember him ranting about this man that had stole some of his tools and whatnot, and he said, “You know a snake? He said, ‘It’s hard to step on a snake. They’re just slippery everywhere. It’s kind of like trying to pick up a bar of soap. Can’t get a hold of it.’” I still remember that. That’s what Saul was like.
But David, God got a hold of him. David just… it had been a while when God sent Nathan, the preacher. He just, his initial response when confronted by God’s man, I should say—“I have sinned”—his initial response wasn’t to lie. His initial response wasn’t to blame. His initial response when Nathan, the preacher, confronted him, it wasn’t to make excuses. He just admitted it. I don’t believe David would have stayed on the throne if his response when confronted by God’s man would just be, “Hey, I have sinned.”
Let me ask you. Be honest with yourself. I’m not trying to condemn anybody who all have issues with this; all of us do. But if I were to ask your spouse when you’re corrected in the right way by the right person that God has anointed—if your spouse says, “You know, I need to talk to you about something. I hate to do it, but for our marriage’s sake and for whatever sake, I need to talk”—does your spouse say, “Oh, my goodness, this is going to…” If I bring up anything, it’s going to be a knockdown, drag-out? What would your spouse say? What’s your initial response?
Young people? You said, “Man, there’s not enough young people.” I can get them to look at everybody else; they’re just a handful. What about when your mom or dad or those over you correct you? What’s your initial response? That is such a key thing.
If the boss has to come to you and correct you and talk to you about something, what’s your… Do you just bristle at it? Justify? Make excuses? Lie? Blame? What’s our initial… our initial response? How easily can you… How easily can he? God uses people often. He’s using Samuel and then Nathan here. God often uses preaching. So preaching should have somebody in it. Preach your word, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering. I… you know, and I’m not saying I’d come to the altar every time, I’m not trying to say that, but you know, every once in a while it’d ring my bell.
I remember someone talking about John Rice and saying there was a conference they were at, and he was the last preacher, I believe. And, you know, he was kind of the older man there. And somebody had preached before—I don’t know who it was—but they said they’ve seen John Rice come down to the altar a little before he was going to preach, shedding tears at the altar. I thought, “Man, that’s great. He hadn’t lost his tenderness.”
And how easy is it for the Holy Spirit? Can you just lose a little bit of the presence of the Spirit of God? I’ve lost you somewhere along the line. I’ve quenched you, and I’m missing you, and something’s not right. Or does it take days and weeks and months? Does he have to hit you over the head? Does he have to hit me sometimes, unfortunately? And how easily can I say this? Wrong response to correction reveals pride.
Did you notice over there what Samuel said to Saul? When Saul kept trying to justify it and blame and give excuses, he said, “Hey, when thou wast little in thine own sight”—that’s very important—“was thou not made king, Saul?” It means he wasn’t like that anymore. Maybe that’s why it says, “Only by pride comes contention, but with the well-advised is wisdom.” I think that well-advised, we all got problems. A little wisdom there.
So number one, just his initial response: What’s my initial response to correction? I’m talking about me too. Far from where I’ll be in these things. Then I want you to notice this. This I think is so key. Once you notice, first of all, David’s initial response was just, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Then I want you to notice, look back over there, if you will, in 2nd Samuel 12. Look in verse number 13. 2nd Samuel 12, verse number 13.
“And David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the Lord.’” There’s a period there. David doesn’t say anything else. They say, “Well, no, no.” There’s something significant about that. You know, they say the most prejudiced thing about the news—I think there’s a lot of truth in this right here—the most prejudiced thing about the news is not what they report, but what they don’t report. I think there’s a lot of truth to that. The problem of that is what they don’t report, you don’t know. So you don’t know how much you’re not reporting. They report what they want to. It’s not as true. But here, let’s go back. Got to get your mind back here from the news to this, all right?
Now, you know, it’s very significant what is not in David’s confession. It’s not in there. In David’s confessing, you don’t find a “because.” You don’t find that. He’s not lying and changing things and exaggerating. “Well, I did…” You don’t find that. You know what’s amazing when we’re confronted with our sins, our issues, how quickly a lie comes out without you even thinking. Say, how do you know that? Been there myself. Before you even know, you’re like, “Man, where’d that come from?” You don’t find that in David.
What is not in the confession, to me, is maybe the most important thing. You just find six words. You don’t find David making excuses. Curtis Husser used to say the best excuse is the one not used. David doesn’t make excuses. I don’t know. He could have said, “Well, Uriah didn’t…” She’d be very good anyway. I don’t know. I guarantee if he was good at justifying sin, they could come up with a whole lot of things. You don’t find any excuse. You don’t find… You don’t find David trying to justify his sin: “Well, you don’t know what it’s like to be the king, the pressure that’s on you.” Don’t find David doing that. You know, we can’t—we’re good in our own mind, our own heart, justifying our sin. But the only way we’re justified from sin is by the blood of Jesus. We’re so good at it. You don’t find David justifying.
David doesn’t blame. “Well, it’s Bathsheba’s fault.” That’s what Adam did. What Saul did, blaming the people. David didn’t come at Nathan, “Well, who do you think you are coming in here in my court, pointing your finger at me?” You don’t find David doing that. It doesn’t blame. It doesn’t make excuses. It doesn’t lie. It doesn’t justify. You don’t even find David asking for a lesser punishment.
The big thing, and I think we’ll get to some of it, the big thing, if you read Psalm 51 in other places, he wants fellowship restored to the Lord. That’s a big thing. Even later on when Absalom comes and rebels and takes some of King David’s concubines, whatnot, on the palace top, of all these things, you know, you really never… Remember when David had to run by them and hide out? You never really find David complaining. You don’t find David saying, “Oh, woe is me.” Now, I cried about Absalom, I think, because Absalom wasn’t saved, and David was heartbroken because he thinks David—Absalom’s going to hell, and he probably did. But I’m saying you don’t find all that. David just confesses, “Oh, Lord, please go do this,” and worship with me before the elders. You don’t find all that. David just says, “It’s me, Lord. I have sinned against the Lord.” Just six words.
God forbid, when God comes to me and tries to correct me, I don’t try to blame and make excuses. Oh, Lord, it’s what David did. And yet David remained on the throne. David, by the law of punishment, was to be killed. This initial response is so important. And I want you to know what is not in the confession.
Now, one last thought. Look over Matthew chapter 9, if we will please. One more will be done. One last thought. Matthew 9. Matthew chapter 9. And really the title of this one I just put: Jesus helps those that admit their sins. He helps those that omit their sins. Those that want to go around and act like they have no sin, Jesus… He really, if you will, he doesn’t have time for them. Look over Matthew 9. Matthew 9, look at verse number 10. Matthew 9, chapter number 9, verse number 10. Matthew 9, verse number 10.
“And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.” Publicans were known as sinful people. Excuse this term, but low-lives, if you will. They’re just… boy, that’s that fellow, they’re messed up. That’s the type of people. Behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. I like it; Jesus was there. He was meeting with them. Now, by the way, he wasn’t meeting with them just because he felt like it; he’s trying to change their lives.
“And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, ‘Why eateth your master with publicans and sinners?’ But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, ‘They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.’” As long as I… well, I justify and make excuse for every one of my sins, Jesus says, “You alone need me. In your opinion, you’re whole. I didn’t come to the whole people; I came to those that need a doctor.” Verse number 13.
“But go ye and learn what that meaneth: I will have mercy, and not sacrifice.” Well, I’ve got a lot to offer the Lord. God said, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” For I’m not come to call the righteous, but sinners, in your opinion. Friend, if I’ve got it all together, got some… all right, you’re good thing going on your own. But we’re falling flat on our face. When I just said, “Hey, I might have sinned against you before,” Jesus said, “Well, you’re the one I came for. You’re the person I want to hang around. I’ve got some mercy for you, got some love, got some grace, got some help. Got some shed blood on the cross of Calvary. Got some miracles, got some answers to prayer, got some victories. I give it to you. I’ve got it all. Christ is all we need. He’s got it all.”
There is a story of a… out in the village, and it’s from a Chinese missionary, but… so I think it’s in China, I don’t know. But at the village, they would go out to the riverside, and they had washed their clothes. And one lady came, and she had her clothes in a bundle, but they were really dirty. And she came, and there were more people at the river washing than she thought. And she didn’t want to open the bundle up because she didn’t want everybody to see how dirty her clothes were. So they say that she just took the bundle and dropped it down into the water and tried to, you know, move it around and shake it and turn it, but she wouldn’t open it up because she didn’t want everybody to see how her laundry was. And she just kept that bundle together, moving it all around in there, and she put it on her shoulder, walked home. Never got her clothes clean. We’re often like that, time and time again.
Praise the Lord, old David, he just opened it up. Would you bow your heads and close your eyes, please? Heads bowed, eyes closed. So important how David responded.
Preacher, I want to grow at responding right the first time. I want to respond better, my initial response. I’m here with you on this, but I want to respond right the first time to correction. God spoke to my heart about that. That’s you tonight. You slip your head at the preacher. I want to respond better the first time. I want to respond to God’s correction the first time. Me too. Me too. So important. Me too. God bless you. God bless you. That’s vital. Oh, you can grow. God can use something like that. That’s wonderful.
Thank you so very much. You hear you say, “I want to grow at what is not in my confession: no blaming, no excuses, no lying, no justifying.” I just want to admit it and confess it. God spoke to my heart. I’d like to be more like David, just six words. I just like to own them to. And God spoke to my heart about that. What’s not in my confession? I preach. God spoke to my heart about that right there. If that’s you, nod at the preacher. That’s me. I want to work with that. God bless you. Me too. Me too. We’re so good at justifying, trying to… God bless you.
Would you please stand? Would you please stand? We’re going to take some time. I’m not saying you’re getting some major sin right tonight, and maybe you just want to come draw nigh unto God. Say, “Lord, I want you to be able to speak to me. I want to feel your touch. I want to keep that tenderness with you when you’re working in my heart and life.” Would you let him know that? Would you come? Maybe you want to pray for Easter. God, would you pull your hand? A blessing. We want to see you move and work in a great way on Easter. Would you come? We won’t be long. We’ll pray. Would you come?
Lord, thank you. It is so revealing, Lord, to see how you handle Saul and how you handle David and how you told us how they responded. Help us to respond more like David when we sin. Bless your people during the invitation. Lord, bless us on Easter. Well, thank you for what you do, Lord. In Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Would you come? Just spend some time in the Lord as our invitation, please. That verse: “He that being often reproved, hardeneth his neck shall suddenly be destroyed and that without remedy.” What if David would just stiffen his neck, make excuses, lie, and blame? I don’t know if there’d be a star of David. I don’t know if Jesus would be sitting on the throne of David like it’s going to be now. Six words, just six words. How powerful those six words were: “I have sinned against the Lord.” Power there.
Amen. So glad you’re here tonight. And I’m excited about Sunday. Won’t you… Boy, let’s just pray, God. God, we need the Lord to show up. He can do what no preacher can do, anybody else. God, when God’s working, that’s what we want right there. Would you be praying about Easter? And let’s do our best. Let’s invite. Let’s do our part. Let’s work. Wouldn’t it be exciting if we had to… It’s been years since we had to bring chairs out. I mean, I think there’s 224 chairs, I remember right here. That’d be a lot. But we serve the Lord out of God. And let’s just keep praying and working. And let’s invite, invite, invite, invite, invite. Get you some Easter tracks on the back table if you need them. And looking forward to a good set, good day. As far as I know, the rain is done for a little bit. Amen. And… Brother Frank’s excited about him. He won’t get that lawnmower going again. Amen. And praise the Lord for it. Brother Frank, would you dismiss us? Would you pray for 200, please, or at least?
Original File: ＂Why God forgave David＂ Pastor Paul Chisgar Wednesday 3⧸31⧸21 [noLbdOKTxjs]