Sermon Tone Analysis

NORTHEAST HOUSTON COMMUNITY CHURCH

*Sermon – God Is Just*

*Scripture –     *2 Sam 12:15-25

*6-01**-08*

   

2 Sam 12:15-25

*And the Lord struck the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and it became ill.

*

Notice at an easily overlooked statement.

The child is referred to as the child that “Uriah’s wife” bore to David.

David and Bathsheba were claiming the child as theirs but God still acknowledged Bathsheba as the wife of Uriah.

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It seems that this child was ill from birth or very soon after it.

It was customary that a male child was circumcised on the eight day and given his name.

There is no recorded name given to this child.

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*16** David therefore pleaded with God for the child, and David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground.

*

The last consequence of David’s action became the first to be applied.

David pleaded with God and fasted for the child.

I don’t doubt that he did so as sincerely as he could.

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Fasting, praying (pleading) or even inconveniencing ourselves to seek God’s blessing or favor is better done before we sin than after.

How often do we get serious with God after His chastening hand falls upon us?

It is better to fast and pray to be kept from sins deserving such chastisement.

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*17** So the elders of his house arose /and went /to him, to raise him up from the ground.

But he would not, nor did he eat food with them*.

David was in a deep state of withdrawal.

Grief can cause us to do that.

This was another very dark period in David’s life and David did as he has done before.

He went to the Lord.

/1 Sam 30:6      *6 *Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters.

But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.

NKJV/

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There no question that David had erred.

We all have erred in different degrees.

Whatever degree we have sinned it is all sin to God and God hates sin.

It is import for parents to bring up our children in fear of the Lord.

If the child was train or brought up in the Lord, even when he~/she goes off the right path they will know how to get back on the right road.

/Prov 22:6        *6 *Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.

NKJV/

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It was David’s practice not to run from God or blame God when things got bad.

He got his strength from God.

He ran to God. 

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*18** Then on the seventh day it came to pass that the child died.

And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead.

*

God could have healed the child.

But never forget that God is a just God.

Sin must be paid for.

I believe that God really loved David, a man after his own heart.

It is because God loved David that He chastised David.

Heb 12:5-6      "/My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; /*6 */For whom the Lord loves He chastens, /NKJV

/ /

/do not despise the chastening.

Learn to obey and avoid it./

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Most parents that spank or punish their children do not want to do it.

It is an act of love when you do so.

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*V18b For they said, "Indeed, while the child was alive, we spoke to him, and he would not heed our voice.

How can we tell him that the child is dead?

He may do some harm!" 19 When David saw that his servants were whispering, David perceived that the child was dead.

Therefore David said to his servants, "Is the child dead?"

And they said, "He is dead."

*

When David saw the servants whispering he perceived that the child was dead.

He asked and was told that he was.

The period was 7 days that the child was ill.

I don’t know if this is true but perhaps the seven days was a sign that the chastening pertaining to the son was full and complete.

(I’ll try to tell you why later)

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*V20** So David arose from the ground, washed and anointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped.

Then he went to his own house; and when he requested, they set food before him, and he ate.

*

What David did after the child’s death is worthy for us to take note.

He got up and washed and anointed (cologne, oil) himself, changed clothes and went to the house of the Lord and worshipped.

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I could go on and on about all the things that David did not do but I don’t want you to leave in knowing all the things not to do but what TO do.

David worshipped the Lord.

He worshipped the one that allowed the death of His son; He worshipped the one that could have healed his son.

This reminds me of Job. 

*-*

Often it is in the time of difficulty that what we really think about God and Christ is exhibited.

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What David did was that He placed God in the highest priority over his son and his grief.

David knew he had sinned against God.

He did everything right to ask god for mercy but in the end He humbled himself under the mighty hand of God.

I believe David felt in his heart that God was just.

Then he ate and entered back into a normal life.

When we experience such deep grief.

Remember David and what He did when Ziklag was raided?

(1Sam 30)    

/1 Sam 30:6      /*/6/**/ /*/And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: *but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God*./KJV

Take courage in the Lord God

* *

*V21** Then his servants said to him, "What /is /this that you have done?

You fasted and wept for the child /while he was /alive, but when the child died, you arose and ate food."

22 And he said, "While the child was alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, 'Who can tell /whether /the Lord~* will be gracious to me, that the child may live?' 23 But now he is dead; why should I fast?

Can I bring him back again?

I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me." *

 If God is the center of your life and Jesus is the Lord of your life, people around you will be puzzled at the way you handle life’s difficulty.

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David learned that and Paul has been teaching that to us.

/Phil 4:6-7   *6 *Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; *7 *and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

NKJV/

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*V23          Fasting for the child has no value for the child is dead.

*

There are some faiths that teach that you can be baptized for a dead relative or some teach that you can do something here on earth that will get a loved one into to heaven.

That is not the case.

There chance to get to heaven or eternal life was while they were here on earth.

If you love them encourage them to do so while they have a chance.

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*23** ….

Can I bring him back again?

I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me." *

David asks a very important question.

No he cannot bring him back again.

When we a loved one goes on to glory let them go.

Rejoice in knowing that they are with the Lord.

*/Quote:  "When you know where someone is, you haven't lost them."

Vance Havner/*