The Realm of Royalty(versus the world of weenies)

King David1 Samuel 30f

‘Ye Are Gods!’

• God takes His stand in His own congregation; He judges in the midst of the rulers… “I said, ‘You are gods, And all of you are sons of the Most High. Nevertheless you will die like men…’”

So Says God Almighty

Psalms 82:1,6

We are Kings

• In the animal kingdom, the rule is, eat or be eaten; in the human kingdom, define or be defined.

We know it…

Thomas Szasz, The Second Sin, “Language”

We are Kings

• Youth! There is nothing like youth. The middle-aged are mortgaged to Life....But youth is the Lord of Life. Youth has a kingdom waiting for it. Every one is born a king, and most people die in exile.

A Great Frustration...

Oscar Wilde, Lord Illingworth, in A Woman of No Importance

We are Kings

• The youth gets together his materials to build a bridge to the moon, or, perchance, a palace or temple on the earth, and, at length, the middle-aged man concludes to build a woodshed…

A Great Frustration...

We are KingsThe youth gets together his materials to build a bridge to the moon, or a palace or temple on the earth,

and, at length, the middle-aged man concludes to build a woodshed…

Yout

hM

iddle-Age

Henry David Thoreau Journal (1906), entry for 14 July 1852.

We are Kings

• The doctrine of the Kingdom of Heaven, which was the main teaching of Jesus, is certainly one of the most revolutionary doctrines that ever stirred and changed human thought.

The Greatest Kingdom

H. G. Wells. Outline of History, vol. 1, ch. 28, sct. 2 (1920).

We are Kings

• What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him? Yet you made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor. You gave them charge of everything you made, putting all things under their authority—

Kings in God’s Kingdom

Psalms 8:4-6

We are Kings

Luke 17:20-21

• Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or, 'There it is!' For behold, the kingdom of God is *in your midst."

God Builds a Real Kingdom

* or, “Within you”

Ways to Build a KingdomMy conquest, my territory, my palaces…

A King raised by a King

“…the kingdom of God is within you.”

David’s Fortress of Fear David-the-Weenie

David said to himself, “Now I will perish one day by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than to escape into the land of the Philistines…” 1 Samuel 27:1 (NASB)

David’s Fortress of Fear David-the-WeenieTurns to the

Kosmos“There is nothing better for me than to escape into the land of the Philistines…” 1 Samuel 27:1 (NASB)

The PhilistinesWere his enemies!

Never accepted him!

But they did use him!

David’s Fortress of Fear David-the-Weenie Turns to the

KosmosLost whatever

‘power’ remained

No Protection

Corrupted David & his men

Lost his family & household

No help from Philistines

the Amalekites made a raid…and overthrew Ziklag and burned it, and took captive the women and all who were in it… 1 Sam. 30:1-2

David’s Fortress of Fear David-the-Weenie Turns to the

Kosmos Lost whatever

‘power’ remainedA descent to

defeat & faithlessness

Weak• Good

reasons for fear

Powerless

• Retreat without end

• Without family or household

• Despised by his ‘protectors’

• Hated by his own people

The ashes of a

compromised life

David was now in great danger because all his men were very bitter about losing their sons and daughters, and they began to talk of stoning him… 1 Samuel 30:6

King Saul’s Fortress of Fear “My conquest, my territory, my

palaces…”• “And now I realize that you are surely going to be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will flourish under your rule.” 1 Sam. 24:20

Knew David was to become king

• Saul then said to his advisers, “Find a woman who is a medium, so I can go and ask her what to do.” 1 Sam. 28:7

Refused to live under God’s

authority

• “…tomorrow you and your sons will be here with me.” 1 Sam. 28:19

So he lived under Satan’s authority

Satan’s Fortress of Fear The god of this

world Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. 2 Corinthians 4:4

Satan’s Fortress of Fear The god of this

world Power by deceit

Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. 2 Corinthians 4:4 “…there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks

a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44

Satan’s Fortress of Fear The god of this

world Power by deceit Humans are cattle

“…He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him…” John 8:44

Satan’s Fortress of Fear The god of this

world Power by deceit Humans are cattle Do not worship

him!

The ashes of a compromised life

• Without family or household• Despised by his ‘protectors’• Hated by his own people

The Rise of David’s Kingdom Out of the ashes… Lost

Vision• Forgot God’s

promises

Lost Passion

• Dumped convictions

Inaction

"I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul."

He forgot about prayer!

Is the church program so indispensable, our traditions so unbreakable, the comforts of life so dear, success in business so important, that it must be purchased at the price of spiritual barrenness? Alan Redpath

The Rise of David’s Kingdom Out of the ashes… Lost

Vision• Forgot God’s

promises

Lost Passion

• Dumped convictions

Inaction

David said in his heart, “…I will finally be safe.” 1 Samuel 27:1

Godly Passion

The inward hunger and compassion of soul.

Israel needed spiritual leadership!

Today: compassion for prisoners, blind,

starving…

Matthew 9:13 (NLT) Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

Luke 4:18-19 (NLT) “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.”

The Rise of David’s Kingdom Out of the ashes… Lost

Vision• Forgot God’s

promises

Lost Passio

n• Dumped

convictions

Foolish

action

The Philistines mustered their armies for another war with Israel. King Achish told David, “You and your men will be expected to join me in battle.” “Very well!” David agreed. “Now you will see for yourself what we can do.” 1 Samuel 28:1-2

The Rise of David’s Kingdom Out of the ashes… Turns to the

Lord1. For Strength2. For Direction

But David found strength in the Lord his God. 1 Samuel 30:6

v.8 Then David asked the Lord…

The Rise of David’s Kingdom Out of the ashes… Turns to the

Lord

God’s Reaction?“I can’t trust

you”“Probation

first…”“Start over…”

The Rise of David’s Kingdom Out of the ashes… Turns to the Lord

God never, never, never, never, never, never, never, never punishes.

God’s Reaction?“I can’t trust

you”“Probation

first…”“Start over…”

1 John 4:18 (NASB) There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.

The Rise of David’s Kingdom Out of the ashes… Turns to the Lord God says,

“PURSUE!”1 Samuel 30:8 And the Lord told him, “Yes, go after them. You will surely recover everything that was taken from you!”

God's answers always mean POWER and VICTORY.• But thanks be to God,

who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.2 Cor. 2:14

The Rise of David’s Kingdom Out of the ashes… Turns to the Lord God says,

“PURSUE!” David waits on

God

After this, David asked the Lord, “Should I move back to one of the towns of Judah?” 2 Sam. 2:1

The Rise of David’s Kingdom Out of the ashes… Turns to the Lord God says, “PURSUE!” David waits on God He gradually takes

his rightful place as king

Then the men of Judah came to David and crowned him king over the people of Judah. 2 Samuel 2:4

The Rise of David’s Kingdom Out of the ashes… Turns to the Lord God says, “PURSUE!” David waits on God He gradually takes his

rightful place as king Endures UNFAIR

TREATMENT

2 Samuel 3:1 (NLT) That was the beginning of a long war between those who were loyal to Saul and those loyal to David. As time passed David became stronger and stronger, while Saul’s dynasty became weaker and weaker.

The Rise of David’s Kingdom Out of the ashes… Turns to the Lord God says, “PURSUE!” David waits on God He gradually takes his

rightful place as king Endures UNFAIR

TREATMENT Wins his enemies!

(they devour each other)

2 Samuel 3:12 (NLT) Then Abner sent messengers to David, saying, “Doesn’t the entire land belong to you? Make a solemn pact with me, and I will help turn over all of Israel to you.”

Meanwhile, Abner had consulted with the elders of Israel. “For some time now,” he told them, “you have wanted to make David your king. Now is the time!” 2 Sam. 3:17-18

The Rise of David’s Kingdom Out of the ashes… Turns to the Lord God says, “PURSUE!” David waits on God He gradually takes his

rightful place as king Steps into a long,

stable, powerful reign.

2 Samuel 5:3-5 (NLT) So there at Hebron, King David made a covenant before the Lord with all the elders of Israel. And they anointed him king of Israel.

David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in all. He had reigned over Judah from Hebron for seven years and six months, and from Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah for thirty-three years.

Ways to Build a KingdomA King raised by a King

My conquest, my territory, my palaces …

King

Dav

id:

Saul-the-Weenie

Godly Vision

Godly Passion

Godly Action

Seeking the Lord For

Strength

Direction

Raised by a Queen