Personal guilt becomes someone else’s fault

Rachel is unable to have children and blames Jacob who in turn fights back with Rachel.

Unresolved guilt becomes a bad spirit.

This is the family that God will represent himself with to the nations

This family will be used by God to be a blessing to all nations. Whether they are obedient or disobedient, it won’t make any difference and will not change how God is going to use them.

This is critical to understand. Just because God will use the physical descendents of Jacob who is Israel, doesn’t mean the physical descendants of Jacob are saved or right with God.

Romans 9:1-5

Natural order versus God’s blessing

Jacob now has twelve children.

Eight children are born in this chapter. In addition to the four born in the previous chapter that makes 12 children for Jacob: 11 sons and a daughter. How many times does it say that God intervened to give them children?

Personal guilt becomes someone else’s fault

Rachel is unable to have children and blames Jacob who in turn fights back with Rachel.

Unresolved guilt becomes a bad spirit.

This is the family that God will represent himself with to the nations

This family will be used by God to be a blessing to all nations. Whether they are obedient or disobedient, it won’t make any difference and will not change how God is going to use them.

This is critical to understand. Just because God will use the physical descendents of Jacob who is Israel, doesn’t mean the physical descendants of Jacob are saved or right with God.

Romans 9:1-5

Natural order versus God’s blessing

Jacob now has twelve children.

Eight children are born in this chapter. In addition to the four born in the previous chapter that makes 12 children for Jacob: 11 sons and a daughter. How many times does it say that God intervened to give them children?

We’re introduced to Elijah for the first time here.

State of the nation of Israel is in complete opposition to God

Fed by unclean birds (Deuteronomy 14:11-14)

Fed by a heathen widow

The LORD had already communicated with her about this appointment.

Then sent Elijah to meet her b/c the LORD trusted this widow to obey.

Luke 4:25-26

Matthew 25:31-41, particularly verse 35. She fed Elijah when he was hungry and thirsty.

Mom guilt

Elijah is a man of prayer

Resurrection of the child

Who among the nation of Israel got to see this resurrection power of God?

Assurance because of the resurrection (Acts 17:30-31)

His words

Job 6:10 Then should I yet have comfort; yea, I would harden myself in sorrow: let him not spare; for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.

From the earliest writing, the oldest real book in the world, Job, there is understanding of someone who is the Holy One who speaks. And his sheep hear his voice.

Isaiah 5:19, 24 That say, Let him make speed, and hasten his work, that we may see it: and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it! … 24 Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.

Isaiah 30:11-12, 15 Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us. 12 Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon: … 15 For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.

His resurrection

Psalms 16:10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

Acts 2:27, 29-32

Acts 13:35

He’s worthy of praise

Psalms 71:22 I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel.

Isaiah 29:19, 23 The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. … 23 But when he seeth his children, the work of mine hands, in the midst of him, they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel.

Isaiah 40:25 To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.

His aggravation

Psalms 78:41 Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.

Isaiah 1:4 Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.

Isaiah 31:1 Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!

He’s King

Psalms 89:18 For the LORD is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king.

Isaiah 12:6 Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.

Isaiah 43:3, 14-15 For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. … 14 Thus saith the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships. 15 I am the LORD, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King.

They blaspheme him

2 Kings 19:22 Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? even against the Holy One of Israel.

Isaiah 37:23 Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? even against the Holy One of Israel.

Jeremiah 50:29 Call together the archers against Babylon: all ye that bend the bow, camp against it round about; let none thereof escape: recompense her according to her work; according to all that she hath done, do unto her: for she hath been proud against the LORD,

Solomon is talking here. He said his father, David, said this to him. So these words are David’s words. Wise behavior characterized David’s life. Yes, we know about the sin. But that was not the main thing about his life.

Hearing requires you to at least be around the voice of wisdom. If you’re never exposed to wisdom’s voice then obviously there is no way to do this. Communication is successful when what is in the heart of one person comes out the mouth, is received in the ears of the intended recipient, and is placed in the hearer’s heart. Someone who’s lived some life and experienced things has some things in their heart that needs to be passed on. David is one of those men.

From living day to day life to promotion into glory (vss 6-9)

But this phrase shows up four times as the theme of this chapter: David behaved himself wisely (vss 5, 14, 15, and 30). Now, if God says something one time, we ought to pay attention and heed His word, but if He emphasizes something again and again, we really ought to pay attention to what He has said.

David’s work

David handled his duties with diligence (1 Samuel 18:5)

His readiness – David went out whithersoever Saul sent him. David was a young man who had already enjoyed much success in the Lord. At this stage in his life he had been anointed king by the prophet Samuel. He had already stood before the giant Goliath and emerged victorious. It would have been easy to have grown complacent and arrogant after such success. Many would have reached the point where they felt certain tasks were beneath them.  David developed an attitude of readiness. He was prepared and willing to do whatever was expected of him.

His responsibilities – Saul set him over the men of war. David’s faith is translated into his work ethic. David gets things done. Truly, Christians ought to be the best employees there are.

His reputation – he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul’s servants. As David behaved himself wisely he earned the respect of the people of Israel and even the servants of Saul. Let no man despise thy youth is what Paul said to Timothy. Give people a reason to respect you, not a reason to criticize you. Give people a reason to praise God instead of criticize the God you say you’re saved by.

David’s promotion (1 Samuel 18:14-15)

In verse 14 the LORD’s testimony of David is that he was wise in all his ways.

David handled fame with meekness (vss 12-16)

His coming and going from the palace to the people was humble and lowly (vss 12-16).

David embodied the meek in spirit, the poor in spirit.

David handled deceit with charity (vss 17-21)

Saul cheats David in marriage. Saul lies about who David will be married to.

But David doesn’t flinch. He finds a reason to be grateful. And it’s not something he just does so he’s not miserable. He is genuinely thankful to God.

David handled entrapment by going the extra mile (vss 22-27)

Saul tries to get David killed by suggesting that he kill 100 Philistines within a certain time frame in place of a dowry.

David does twice as much for king Saul. 

David’s reputation (1 Samuel 18:30)

The real ingredients in wisdom, particularly the behavior of wisdom, is courage and humility. The Bible says David BEHAVED himself wisely. That means he DID things other people didn’t do. But not because they didn’t know to do them. When all of Israel was lined up to fight the Philistines and Goliath showed up every one of the Israelites knew what to do. But what prevented them from doing it, from BEHAVING wisely? Fear. The problem wasn’t that the next steps were unclear, it was that the next steps were scary. Faith in the LORD that breeds courage was needed.

Wisdom is also an aptitude,

As the LORD promotes David in the nation of Israel after Saul’s death, not everyone agrees with God’s will. David must contend with trouble in the deep state. The old guard of the previous administration under Saul has deep roots. Abner was Saul’s cousin and also his right hand man, chief of staff, head of all military operations, and primary counselor. The only thing Abner seems to care about is power.

David is promoted by the tribe of Judah (vss 1-4)

David’s kindness to Saul’s family (vss 5-7)

Abner’s opposition (vss 8-11)

Bloodthirsty Joab (vss 12-17)

Zeruiah is David’s sister. Her sons are David’s nephews.

Joab is David’s nephew and a very skilled military leader.

He is not a diplomat; he is a shark that smells blood continually.

Young zealot Asahel (vss 18-24)

Asahel is also David’s nephew.

Zeal without knowledge.

David’s forces are far superior to Abner’s army (vss 25-32)

Lessons

Just because things are the way they are doesn’t mean they are the way God wants them to be.

That shouldn’t have to be said, but it does.

Though God regretted putting a throne in Israel at that time, David was his choice. But David was not the choice of the nation.

Not everyone is happy with God’s blessing.

Why? Sometimes God’s blessing means your demotion. Certainly when it comes to eternal life and righteousness that’s true.

Abner is not happy about God’s blessing on David’s life.

What fuels opposition to God is largely unseen

Abner is the power behind the rival king he sets up. So the face of the kingdom is not the power of the kingdom.

This is a principle whether for evil or good that what you see is not the moving force.

You may meet people who have bad health, poor physical condition, poor mental condition, but are a great blessing.

Outer man perish, inner man strengthened day by day. The driving principles in my life don’t come from what you can see.

They shall narrowly look upon thee and say, is this the man that did shake the nations?

Beauty is vain

Fundamental change has a way of revealing what’s in the heart

God’s promise to David is being purified through the whole mess.

David is the only one with clean hands in this chapter.

Abner is not clean. Joab is not clean.

People fighting each other and there are no good guys. It is the description of the world.

But what is distilling to the surface is the word of God.

Jeremiah is preaching the destruction of Jerusalem at the hand of Nebuchadnezzar. For this, the patriotic state worshiping Israelites hate him. Patriotism is alright so long as you don’t mistake patriotism for godliness. But these Israelite patriots knew they were one nation under God and for Jeremiah to talk about God destroying their capital city and the region of Judah was out of line. So they cast Jeremiah into the dungeon to die.

Certain heathen are attracted to the light

The reality that some heathen Gentiles come to the light is true throughout old and new testaments.

Ebedmelech has heard Jeremiah’s preaching for a while now. By this time, Jeremiah has been preaching for forty years. Ebedmelech may not have been there for all forty, but he’s certainly heard enough to know what he needs to know about the God of Israel and his preacher, Jeremiah.

By faith Ebedmelech visits Jeremiah in prison

This heathen Gentile feels a certain camaraderie and responsibility for Jeremiah because he believes the words of Jeremiah’s God and loves God’s prophet.

It’s a risky and bold move to aid a man who is condemned as a traitor to his nation. If you’re a statist, then it’s about politics. If you’re a lover of the God of Israel this is about God’s words and God’s preacher.

Righteousness by faith delivers from death

As we move to Jeremiah 39 we see much of the book coming to fruition. King Zedekiah is judged for not believing the words of God. The city of Jerusalem and the land that belonged to the tribe of Judah is utterly destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar.

But Jeremiah, who has been faithful to the words of God, is treated kindly by the Babylonians. And Ebedmelech, a heathen brother joined in the fellowship by faith, is delivered from death.

Proverbs 10:2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death.

Proverbs 11:4 Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.

How was this righteousness imputed to Ebedmelech? Is it because he maintained Israel’s law? Is it because he was sinless? Here’s why God’s grace was dispensed to him. Look at 39:18.

What did Ebedmelech’s faith look like? It looked like his love for Jeremiah because of the spirit in Jeremiah.

John 15:17-19

1 Thessalonians 4:9

Judgment of Jesus Christ

Matthew 25:31-41

Proverbs teaches by comparisons. In these verses you have God’s curse versus his blessing; his grace versus his scorn; and glory versus shame. There are also opposing types of people the wicked versus the just; the scorners versus the lowly; and the fools versus the wise.

Curses versus blessings

Place of rest, the home

Curse to the wicked

Blessings to the just

The Just One is Jesus Christ (Acts 7:52, 22:14)

The just is equitable, lawful, and right. He applies morality w/o prejudice or respect of persons.

The just shall live by faith (Habakkuk 2:4, Romans 1:17, Hebrews 10:38)

Noah, Joseph, Cornelius, and even Lot according to Peter.

Scorning versus grace

God’s mirrored attitude

Scorns the scorners

This truth that God gives grace to the lowly runs before, during, and after Israel’s law. Israel is chronologically within the framework of the law here in Proverbs, yet we have God’s grace appearing to the faithful, to the humble, yet again.

Jesus Christ is lowly (Zechariah 9:9, Matthew 11:29)

Psalms 138:6 Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.

Shame versus glory

Shame the promotion of fools means a fool graduates to shame. That’s what he’s working towards. But a wise man is working towards a glorious inheritance.

The world has a certain glory. It is temporary. It is filled with fighting and discontent. It is mingled with pain and fear. Ecclesiastes is a great account of the world’s glory.

Romans 8:18-21 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

Isaiah 11

Isaiah 65:17—no regrets

New Jerusalem – Revelation 21:11-27

Many Mansions—John 14:2-3

BUT, the greatest news of all is in Revelation 21:4-5—no tears, sin, death…

Jacob finds family in the field (1-8)

Haran is located in the southern region of Turkey, just above the northern border of Syria. It is the place where Abraham’s father, Terah, took his family when they left Ur of the Chaldees.  Evidently, the city was named for Abraham’s brother, Haran, Lot’s father, who died before they left Ur (Gen. 11:27-32). It is where Nahor’s family eventually resided.

Jacob demonstrated his knowledge of “cattle” by telling the shepherds that they ought to be feeding their sheep instead of watering them in the middle of the day. Jacob was obviously a much better shepherd than his cousins (Gen. 30:27-30, 43).

Jacob meets Rachel (9-14)

Jacob met Rachel when she came to the well with Laban’s sheep. It seems odd that Rachel would be watching his sheep since he had sons who could do this. Laban’s sons neglected their father’s flock and Jacob ended up with the best of them.

Laban must see opportunity in Jacob.

Jacob’s negotiation (15-20)

Jacob offered to work for Laban for 7 years in order to marry his daughter, Rachel. 

Laban tricks Jacob

Jacob’s marriages (21-30)

Leah – On his wedding night, Jacob is deceived.

Rachel – Laban gave Rachel to Jacob in exchange for another 7 years of service. This set up a rivalry between Leah and Rachel, since Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah. Each of the wives brought a handmaid to the marriage.

Here is a definition of weeks for future reference in the Bible. Daniel will follow this definition.

Jacob’s souls (31-35)

The Lord had pity on Leah, since she was hated, and gave her four children without giving Rachel one. 

Her first four children were:

Reuben – God has seen my affliction because the Lord had looked upon her affliction.

Simeon – God has heard me because the Lord had heard that she was hated.

Levi – Husband joined me because now her husband would be joined to her.

Judah – Praise the Lord because now she would praise the Lord.

Dan – God has judged

Naphtali – wrestled and prevailed

Gad – a troop cometh

Asher – Happy am I

Isachaar – given my hire

Zebulun – God given me a good dowry

Joseph – taken away my reproach

Benjamin – son of my right hand

This chapter has a lot going on. And I’ve wrestled with how to preach it for a while now. There is a partial transition of power from Saul to David. David will only be over Judah while Saul’s son Ishbosheth will take the rest of Israel for a brief time. There are several people who complicate God’s will. Namely Abner and Joab. There is a competition that turns deadly because of the hostility between the house of David and the house of Saul. And if you’re a person who easily feels out of control you’ll get frustrated with David who doesn’t address everything going on. You’d probably think David is acting carelessly.

In fact, if some of you were around David at this time, you would disagree vehemently with how he handles his business. You would want to see more aggression and more assertiveness. You’d be frustrated with what he allows to go on. Because upon Saul’s death, Abner, Saul’s cousin and chief of the Israeli army, immediately installs the last of Saul’s sons on Israel’s throne as a rival to David.

David’s kind response

David continues to be kind to people who oppose him. As he was with Saul, so he’ll be with Saul’s family and Saul loyalists.

You might say this is a political move by David.

If you mean political as a bad word and that David is only doing this for optics? Or David is showing kindness because he wants something like the Proverb says, The desire of a man is his kindness. Or David is only doing this to appear charitable to Saul’s house that will prove to be false. 

If you mean political in the sense that it is going to be policy of the new administration you’d be right.

One thing David has little to no concern for is what men think about him.

But why is David kind to people who hate him? Why is David kind to people who are opposed to the will of God? Why is David kind to people who are willing to hinder the will of God? Perhaps the question is what allows David to be kind?

Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. David is practicing this a thousand years before Paul, who said this, was born.

Confidence comes from God’s clearly revealed will

David has known he is supposed to be the king of Israel for over 12 years. He has patiently waited for God to remove Saul, but David has refused to remove Saul himself. In fact, David has been good to Saul and David will be good to Saul’s family even after David gets on the throne.

David’s attitude is the right attitude and spirit every child of God should have. He is confidently kind.

At this point, David is only king over Judah because the rest of Israel is not on board with David being their king. The royal family is Saul’s family as far as Israel is concerned. Abner has wasted no time in replacing Saul with Saul’s last son Ishbosheth

God’s words on the matter are David’s advantage.

Objections to kindness

People will make it difficult to do good by instigating contention.

Friends will make it difficult to do good when their feelings are hurt and they think you should respond a certain way.

People will say you must show strength otherwise you’ll be taken advantage of.

In leadership, David is pressured to squash any sign of rebellion. How long do I let this go on and allow the nation to live outside of God’s will?

Application

You won’t be kind because you’re afraid someone won’t get what they deserve. Luke 6:32-35 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. 33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. 34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35 But love ye your enemies,