268: Brian Luke - Exhortation: Psalm 61

Automatically transcribed. Accuracy is good but not perfect, and words are sometimes wrong. Trust the audio over the text.

1. 0:13

   Welcome to Good Chris Selfie and talks. I’m Levi. And I’m Chris. And I’m Brian. Thank you for joining us this week on this podcast. We select one Talk a week to help us get the Bible in our Daily News feed. We post a new episode at the start of each week. With the short intro beforehand to kind of set the stage for the talk you’re about to listen to. And now, let’s talk more about this week’s talk. So as Levi mentioned in his introduction last week. I have been working through some old tapes that I have collected, mostly from my grandfather, some old talks and have been converting them into digital to be able to share. This talk that we’re listening to this week is an exhortation by Brother Brian Luke that was given at the Ottawa Bible School back in 1997.

2. 1:12

   Is one of those tapes what I really appreciate about this? And Brother Luke is taking an exhortation looking at Psalm 61. Psalm 61 is one of the psalms of David talking about some of the challenges that David had over the stages of his life. And I know sometimes when we do talks on the podcast, they can sometimes be tailored to one stage of life or one age group more than the other. That’s just kind of the nature of whether it’s how the speaker is presenting, what age they’re in or what phase of life they’re in, or even just the topic that they’re focusing on. What I really appreciated about Brother Brian’s talk and what he took out of this expectation and from just the 8 verses that are in Psalm 61, is he found calls to actions and lessons for every stage of life, whether you’re young, middle-aged, older and sort of a call to action to each of them. And also a reminder to those of us that are in different stages than the stage he’s talking to of what to appreciate about. Those that are in that stage.

3. 2:19

   So whether you are in the early stages of your life or you’re more in the middle age stage or you’re in the later stages of your life. To appreciate the stage that you’re in now. But also appreciate those that are in other stages and how that should all work together to make a cohesive group. And what our ecclesial life should be and where the strengths are for all of those stages and how we form together to be this unified body of Christ. I really enjoyed this exhortation. There’s a lot of fun Nuggets.

4. 2:49

   He does some really neat little Bible Nuggets, which at this point many of you may know I enjoy. Where he pulls little Nuggets of bits of stories out of the story of David and connects it to the time frame when this song was likely written. And pulls really interesting details That goes one level deeper than sort of the surface level reading that we often get, especially with a story like David’s where we’ve potentially studied it.

5. 3:16

   Hundreds of times in our lifetimes and still to be able to find some new nugget about it, I found to be really, really powerful. So I hope that you enjoy this and we have other suggestions, recommendations coming down the Pike. But this was one that I listened to and felt it was really special and wanted to share it and sort of resurface it from back in the annals of history.

6. 3:38

   Even though 1997 doesn’t feel like it was that long ago, but at this point it is so. Which makes me feel like I’m closer to the middle to end stages of my life than the early stages of my life. But there we are. So I hope that you enjoyed this exhortation by Brother Brian Luke that he gave at Iowa back in 1997.

7. 3:58

   Again, his exhortation is taken from Psalms Chapter 61. In that Psalm, or the first of the two psalms that we read this morning, Psalm 61, we have these very beautiful words. Hear my cry, O God, attend unto my prayer.

8. 4:23

   From the end of the. Earth will I cry unto thee 1 extremity or another when my heart is overwhelmed? Lead me to the Rock. That is higher than I.

9. 4:42

   It’s quite remarkable statement, isn’t it? God is visualized as a rock, a zur an elevated. Rock. That has. Nothing that can be brought. Against it, by man when he’s in faraway places. When he’s in the midst. Of overwhelming problems lead. Me to the Rock. That is higher than I. Beautiful words, but that’s not what we always do, isn’t. It.

10. 5:20

    The Apostle Paul has a little. Comment in Hebrews 12 when he talks about matters that are too high for us, too great, and he says. That in the midst. Of our trials. We are to be exercised. Thereby. It’s a realm. Is the. Key phrase of that little section in Hebrews 12. Because sometimes in life we do.

11. 5:43

    Have our. Trials that come and sometimes thick and fast one upon another. And there’s two ways to. Try and meet that. Isn’t there one way is that we? We. Fight it out. Ourselves, we say we’ve got all these problems here, these difficulties, and we’ve got only a certain amount of time and so we. We put our concentration upon that, and we bring our our powers to be upon that.

12. 6:10

    And we work our way through all those problems. And there’s no question that. There needs to be some resilience of our own mind and spirit and the things that we’re doing. But the Apostle Paul says that in the midst of our difficulties we are to be exercised. Thereby what does that mean? Exercise thereby.

13. 6:36

    He says there is something in the midst of our. Difficulties that we. Need to be thinking upon we’re going to come out of this with benefit.

14. 6:46

    They can be a value. They can be a tremendous value if we are exercised in the midst of. Them. Some people don’t do that. A lot of. Us don’t do that. In time of difficulty. We might rely upon our. Purse we might rely upon our mind, we might. Rely upon our memory, we might. Rely upon.

15. 7:06

    Our natural charisma with people, or whatever it might be to work our way. A perception of circumstances. Weave through when he speaks. About being exercised by. The chastening of the Lord. He’s talking about people who truly take it to God. They take it to God and the. The prayer of their bedroom or the prayer of their study on their finding God in a place like this high up on the mountain, finding quiet little spots to.

16. 7:46

    Overcome the. Difficulties that all of us bring to our Sunday morning. When I was younger, I wasn’t so sure that that was the case. I don’t think probably a lot of our young men and women this morning would sort of be touched by the concept of of afflictions and trials. But as life moves on, you began to realize how true that is.

17. 8:12

    There are many people every Sunday morning, aren’t there, who bring their different concerns to the table of remembrance, something problems of weariness. Constantly tired, constantly weary, others of of sickness, others of pain. There’ll be some people in this audience this morning. That are never. Free from pain. Whilst the most of us, if we’ve got the slightest. Touch of pain.

18. 8:39

    We run to get the Aspro, don’t we? Give us a coating. Give us a Aspro whatever, because we don’t like putting up with pain, but some of us will have pain all day, tops. Makes us stop and think, doesn’t it? Some of us come. With our problems, because we are concerned about of our family, we can see the marks. That the world is putting upon our children and grieves, doesn’t it?

19. 9:08

    There’s not that lovely rapport that there should be, so we grieve. About that we wonder if. If this child is going. To come to the truth or not, are they for God, or are they going to be swept? Away in the world, some have made decisions. To grieve our hearts, They’re not here this morning.

20. 9:29

    I’d love them to be here. There’s somewhere else out playing golf, baseball and forgotten what their Sunday school taught. Others. Being problems of their own relationship to each other, but many of us this morning. That would know people that are in those circumstances. Perhaps they’re not here this morning but to this Sunday morning meeting in different parts of the earth and here this morning.

21. 9:50

    There are all kinds of. Things that come, aren’t they? You’re a real issue. Something that they. Are no longer loved in their ecclesial environment. Some are concerned because their job is. Hanging by a slender. Thread. What would they do then? So may be in ruin of business concerns occupying your minds from the end of the earth will I cry unto thee when my heart is overwhelmed.

22. 10:22

    And you can’t fight it any longer. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. Beautiful words, aren’t they? What do you think? David sketched these words because it is David’s Psalm. Psalm 61. It says that in the superscription, doesn’t it? Well, let’s just. Piece out the little evidences. Of the circumstances of David when he wrote it, obviously verses one and two mean that he was in a time of desperation. You know, most of the Psalms are written at that time. They’re not written when somebody was in armchair. Comfort.

23. 11:04

    With the air. Conditioner going carpet on the. Floor and everything pretty right. None of the psalms are written like that. If we don’t therefore have some circumstances that. Really put. The pressure on us? We may never know. What the Psalms are about, eh?

24. 11:19

    It’s really only in desperation that almost all of the Psalms are written. You take 63 Oh God, Thou art my God, early will I seek thee. My soul festeth for thee. That’s not armchair comfort, is it? That’s a person under pressure. Truly my soul waiteth upon God. From him cometh my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation my defence. I shall not be greatly moved.

25. 11:46

    It’s not a man out on a golf course, isn’t it? It’s a person whose relationship with God is real. And tangible. That’s his life. He wants to find God in the midst of the circumstances in which he’s learned. These are tremendous. Inspirations. These Psalms, aren’t they? How many times in David’s life did he have circumstances that evoke thoughts like that? How many times in our lives, my dear friends? Have we had circumstances like that? Yeah, then perhaps.

26. 12:16

    But this man had much of it in his life. But because of that, we had this rich. Treasure of the. Psalms to help us to find our God. So it’s a time of desperation. Verse 6 indicates that it was a. Time in his reign. It was not in his earlier days when, in a desperation, for example, he fled from Seoul. It’s in the.

27. 12:40

    Time of his. Reign or prolong the King’s life. It seems verse 5 to be after the conquest of the land. Thou hast given me the. Heritage. Of those that fear thy name, David’s in great occupation. Verse 6 implies that his his years are getting on. They’ll prolong the King’s life that his years as many generations.

28. 13:16

    Verse 2 implies that in fact he is far off from where he normally might be. He’s not in Jerusalem from the end of the earth. Will I cry unto thee.

29. 13:28

    We put those little bits and pieces together. It falls out to Absalom’s period, time of desperation outside of Jerusalem, the time of his reign enemies against him. In his older years, after he’s been in occupation. Of the Kingdom.

30. 13:54

    Now let’s look at the Psalm 6262 verse two. He only is my rock and my salvation. He is my. Defense I shall not be. Greatly moved. That’s the same as verse 7 of 62. In God. Is my salvation and my glory the rock of my strength and my refuge. Is in God or verse?

31. 14:17

    Six. He only is my rock’s very. Words and my. Salvation. He is my defense. I shall not be moved. But look again at verses 6 and seven. And are they not in fact fashioned upon verse two and three of 61? It’s the same theme, the same words in the Hebrew. They’re being used over and over again. And so we can see.

32. 14:41

    That why these? Two psalms have been put. Together, because they are intimately. Related, it’s the same. Period of David’s life is the logical conclusion from that, and as we saw in 63 in the superscription, that was a Psalm. When he was in the. Wilderness of Judah. And so we can see what the psalmist has done.

33. 14:59

    Or what the psalter has done. He has put these together because they belong together. And as we build up that little picture together, we are therefore able to walk into David’s life and the circumstances of that rebellion of Absalom. And we can see that is where David is in his mind. Verse 3 of 62 was another key point. How long will you imagine mischief against a man? He shall be slain all of you, or as the RSV says, remember the changed translation critical.

34. 15:38

    Change it says. Instead of ye shall be. Slain all of you, it says How? Long will you imagine mischief against a man to shatter him, all of you. To shatter him. As a bowing wall shall he be, and as a tottering fence, they’re going to push over the old fence. That was termed you’d used of David when he was in the midst of his of his alacrity.

35. 16:06

    And skill and and quickness of mind and body is it? This is an old man. You feel as though you could just push him over. Verse four, they only consult to cast him down from His Eminence as the. Revised Standard Version puts him not His Excellency. But his eminence he’s in. He’s in a high state of.

36. 16:27

    Of his. His. Reign and of his Kingdom. These men are consulting to cast him down from that. So the time period of David’s life is clear when you put those factors all. Together, it comes out to the time that we’ve been able to look at today. There in the record. Of second Samuel is the the outward story, and in these Psalms we have the heart of the man.

37. 16:53

    Isn’t that a treasure? What a wonderful thing the Bible is that it tells us the mind and heart. What an amazing thing, this. Morning that we are here rejoicing in that Americans and Australians and others that have come from. Sophisticated countries in the late 1990s, with all the things that we’ve got too many, too many altogether, but we can come and look right.

38. 17:24

    In and. And enthuse and wonder. At the mind of one of one of the servants of God so many years, 3000 years ago. God has just opened it up for us all it needs, all it’s waiting for us. Is to sit still and come and think about to enter into that marvelous security from the end. Of the earth.

39. 17:50

    Will I cry unto thee when my heart is overwhelmed? Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, for thou has been a shelter for me and a strong tower. From the enemy, look at the collection of terms that are involved there. I will. Abide in thy Tabernacle. Forever I will trust in the covet of thy wings. Is he crossing Jordan when those thoughts came to him? Is he asleep in the Bush before he crossed Jordan? Is somebody?

40. 18:22

    Helping him into the boat to go over. Is he? Coming up on the other side when my heart is overwhelmed, is he? Is he passing by the grave of Uriah? In Raba and that. Bringing back to him all the past and why these things have come upon him? Is that what he says in Psalm 4041, as he goes Psalm 40? As he goes past that place, perhaps my sins. Are overcoming me, are swelling over me. They are numerable.

41. 18:58

    Is there that cogitation in his mind as he brings together all the circumstances of his life? Has he come to May? Her name sees the fortress of the city, and can see and feel far higher than that. The host of heaven. May her name 2 hosts cemented, May her name. He had a host. Absalom had a host that was.

42. 19:28

    May her name in Division wasn’t it, But there was. Another may her name. That came from the original. Sense of the word. Where the angels of God met Jacob, there was Jacob’s host. On the ground there was God’s host. Above May her name. That’s the May her name that he had to concentrate upon, isn’t it? And my heart is overwhelmed.

43. 19:54

    Lead me to the rock that is higher than I required. An act of faith, though. Didn’t the angels went shining out in the sky that night. He had to see it, just like you and I did. In the midst of our. Life in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Adelaide, wherever. Cars going past and picturized roads and people with all kinds of gadgets. And in that kind of life, my dear and sisters, the angels are still working.

44. 20:19

    They don’t stop because men have put up big things, big buildings and evidences of their greatness. Angels are not persuaded by those things. They’re still operative, still with us, in the same way. But as David had to see that out there, trudging along barefoot head, covered the gashes of the shimmy eyes, stone still in his face. In those circumstances, he had to see the living God and feel his presence when everything was against him, it might seem. There’s his mind.

45. 20:52

    Wonderful, isn’t it? Absolutely wonderful, you. Measure our own tribulations against that. Begin to think my word, We should be thankful, whatever our circumstances, how we ought to think about our garden, and take him with us for all the blessings that he daily loads upon us. Imagine David sending up the harsh slopes of Gilead. He’s crossed Jordan and he’s coming up. You know, that’s tough country.

46. 21:20

    It’s tall country. It’s rough country. It’s tough. And it was a reverse where Jacob. Came he crossed the river Jabak. As he went after Rabak, he would have crossed Jabak. He would have thought to himself. That’s where Mahanein got its name, wasn’t it?

47. 21:41

    He would have thought, I’m going the opposite direction of Jacob. Jacob came into the land, and I’m going up out of the land. Thou hast given me the heritage. Those above me, and he was leaving it, but this is what he was saying inwardly when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. We practice this.

48. 22:13

    Different stages of our life. And it becomes easier, my dear and sisters, if there is history to fall back upon. David had history to fall back upon. Look at his thoughts in Psalm 27.

49. 22:28

    This wasn’t his first. Time in the wilderness, remember, he all would have been coming. Back to him. The Lord is the is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid? That’s not armchair comfort, is it? That’s a man who really knows his God and loves. His God and God is to him a a ready presence, a reality in his life.

50. 23:01

    He’s not always talking with people. He’s not always about things. He’s not always seeing the things that are in the roads and seeing the things in the cities and all the activities of men. He’s seeing his God as though he could touch him and feel him. The Lord is my light and my salvation, the strength of my life.

51. 23:24

    But isn’t it doing even the readings, is it? He’s left the readings and and the God is in in that is with him. He’s taken the readings with him. He’s in his heart and in his mind. He’s shrubbing with his delighting God. What a challenge to us, my dear friend and sisters, on the last. Morning of our Bible school.

52. 23:41

    Look at all the blessings we’ve had. Do we take that with us? Is that spirit with us? Pack our, pack our goods, put our children’s things in, pack up all the blankets and so on. And it can be all be a matter of fact. And some of us can live like that. We’re always happy if there’s something to do, to do, to do. But there’s something much greater than that isn’t. It That’s Bible school’s all about, it’s to be living with God.

53. 24:08

    Things. Things. So what? What God wants is our heart. With him, that we could say with David Yahweh is the strength of my life. There’s a motivated man. He’s going to go back into Brighton and he’s going to go back. Into Los Angeles, wheresoever driven, because he’s come to love his God and he’ll make some sacrifices. He and she little notes have been made in the mind. Now I’ve got to give away this.

54. 24:40

    Got to cancel that, got to throw that out of my home. I’ve got to put away those magazines that are No. Good. I’ve got to put some of those hobbies and other things I’m interested in that are not helping me in the way of life. I’ve got to draw near to my child. That’s what I’ve got to do.

55. 25:00

    I see the marks of the world upon him. I’ve got to get in there and draw near to him. I’ve got to open my heart. My Sunday school class where I’ve got some children that need extra care. I’ve got to have to think about that draw near to them. There’s older people in the meeting that I haven’t spoken to for a month. I’ve.

56. 25:16

    Got yet to know them all kinds of resolutions that. Can make our our ecclesia sparkle with the fact that we know God. Lives though a host of us three should encamp against me. My heart shall not fear, though war should rise up against me. In this will I be confident. The man that strides up the hills of Gilboa is just the same man, isn’t he? He’s been through it all before.

57. 25:44

    There was a time when he was he was at rest here with his little camp of 600 men, and on the other side of the crag of the mountain there was saw with his 3000 men, and he lived like that for years, just a niche away from death. He had learnt to depend upon God and he was again a long way away from Jerusalem. He was in exile from the land that is far away called unto his God.

58. 26:12

    One thing have I desired of the Lord this. For isn’t this our David, our David in Mayhenae, now David in in Gilead? One thing have I desired of the Lord that will I seek after that I may dwell in the House of the Lord all the days of my life to behold. The beauty of Yahweh and to inquire in his temple.

59. 26:37

    There’s a man of God, my dear Princess. There are any more beautiful words in the Bible than that. They’re David’s words. They’re our David, David after sin. After that sheep, that’s exactly how he still. Thinks though? Isn’t he trained in youth? Cycles of life came around and it’s picking it all up again. It’s as though he’s gone back there, but because he’s left tracks, mental tracks, he’s able to go back to those mental tracks and pick them up again and go along the same path. The virtue of teaching our children, my dear friends, is to serve with us this.

60. 27:14

    There’s a lot of things that have been done for this Bible school and it’s been lovely. To see lost occasions, your children. Hurrying around, doing things. It’s a lovely thing. Highly convenient. We have those children coming to our tables, happy to serve with that. All of them lovely. Children, any little 1, salt, pepper, whatever, run to back and get it somewhat. That’s excellent.

61. 27:37

    Keep it up. Incorporate them in the work, in the service, in your ecclesias. Do that chairs to be shifted. Come on children, let’s get on with this. Teach them to serve. Teaching them to have their bedrooms clean and tidy, because it’s in all these little services and greater things that they come to, to make their tracks. Service is so critical to it cleats your life. That’s what it’s.

62. 28:00

    About isn’t it he that will come out after me? Says Jesus, let him take up his crosshair. Children who’ve got to feel that in early life, they don’t get later on in life and think that everything’s for them. They’re going to have this, that and the other laid on because we’ve made them to get up early and to do what they need to do to help us. David had been like that.

63. 28:19

    Where did God take him in his early years into exile and have to hunt through the the? Wilderness of Judah, while an unworthy king sought him from day-to-day. Why did he do that? Surely deserved more than that. This was a faithful man right from the start, almost. God called him separately with Samuel and the Lamb, but he came separately, as though Rob was saying.

64. 28:42

    I have found him as a special. Person and he was. But why did God then take him through all those? Circumstances because he will take him from the sheep coat, from following the sheep great with young and caring for all their weaknesses and vicissitudes. You take him from there to be king over my people Israel, to sit upon the throne. That’s exactly what we are doing with our children. Don’t take service from the My dear brothers look at this service here that he learned here drew him to his God. Don’t be happy that your children. Or mine are in their room by themselves. Living their own little life with their own TV set or something.

65. 29:27

    What a disaster, unrelated to the interests of the family. It happens. I know it happens in a in these days, because that’s what everybody thinks ought to have got their own plugs in their ear, listening to their music as though it’s some different life to to the life of of yours and of the truth. The living God got to assess these things, don’t we? Carefully together, as we’re going away from Bible school, so that our children might learn in early life a track of faith. One thing have I desire, that will I seek after that I may dwell in the House of the Lord, or the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple, Is that any different from?

66. 30:16

    There has been a shorter for me and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy Tabernacle forever, said a man in exile. I will trust in the covet of thy wings. It’s exactly the same thing, isn’t it? He’s away from the Tabernacle, but he can see that God is with him out there.

67. 30:36

    The Tabernacle is, as it were, still still move on. Always is. Voila. It’s in California. It’s it’s here at Idlewa, the covered of God’s. Wings is a pulse. He’s protecting and interested. The concern for his people is wherever his people. Are it’s the same man that was once in exile? That is there again an unchanged being? What about the middle years?

68. 31:07

    What about Bathsheba, Uriah and so on? How did that ever happen? It was in his middle years, wasn’t it? An old brother once probably never said a word on the platform, had morning tea with us once at our place of work, my my brother and I. And he was a wise old person as he was just enjoying our time together. He said, you know Jim and Brian, he said God has been very good to you, He said You’re now in your middle years and you’ve got family.

69. 31:45

    So on and so on, he said. A lot of people, when they get to their middle years, ruin their lives. He said be careful that God has blessed you. Be careful not to ruin your middle years. He’s never ever said anything about that before. He was just an old sagacious brother who perceived things, and wisely. Had a word to say.

70. 32:13

    Not a lovely thing. Treasure those words, because we do get over the. Over the hill, don’t we? I see you out there working with the little children. I remember it all. It’s different to be at Bible school with little children than to be just a couple here isn’t much more difficult, much more different.

71. 32:33

    But you’ve paid off the loan. The house is yours. You can choose What Car you might like to have. Job security has been there for many years, and it doesn’t mean, does it, that that necessarily draws us back to God. It could mean that therefore we want something else. And else and else and else. And there’s more frontiers to to conquer. And in that temptation to rise.

72. 32:57

    That’s undoubtedly what happened to David, isn’t it? In the middle years, brethren. Of our middle ears. That’s when a court David, when he had achieved so much and life was not quite so much uphill, but was now. Coming to the plateau, as it were for the prime years of life. But this Psalm that we have shows that even after the. Consequences of tragedy.

73. 33:27

    God is able to be found. In this Psalm, David has come up out of that, and he’s still exactly the same mind mentally as he was when he was in exile as a younger man in earlier years. Yahweh prepares verse 7, mercy and truth, which may preserve him.

74. 33:52

    And there was a particularly touching matter, Wasn’t there just at the end of that story, back in our story that we’ve had this week? He prepares mercy and truth if that was said just before this event and how? Wonderfully, David would have seen a fulfillment. Of those words in this event, Second Samuel. 17 Second Samuel 17. It came to pass as 26, so Israel and Absalom pitched in the land of Gilead.

75. 34:38

    What a terrible thing. Father and son out of Israel together two different armies. So Israel and Absalom. David didn’t even have his nation. His treacherous and wicked son had that. So Israel and Absalom pitched in the land of Gilead, a harsh land. It came to pass.

76. 35:07

    Could there be a greater note of tragedy than verse 26? It’s like a summary of the tragedy and the next verse, the next verse. It came to pass when David was come to my name, when he was overcome, when the consequences of all that he had done were at their height. That came to pass when David was come to May.

77. 35:35

    Her name that Shobi the son of Naheshab Rabar, the place of his shame, and Maker the son of Emil of Lodibar, and Bazilaya the Gileadite of. Rogalin. They brought everything they could possibly think of. They brought beds and the record just goes on to talk about it. Two whole vessels are used to describe the multitude of stuff that came. They brought beds and never had them before. I slept under the Bush, basins and urban vessels, wheat, parley, flour, parched, corn, beans and lentils, and parched. Pulse, Mercy and truth I hast prepared for me honey, butter, sheep, cheese of kind.

78. 36:31

    Like you’d have on a King’s table a David and for the people that were with him to eat all they said in their sympathy and their love. The people is hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness. Bring tear to your eye, my dear and sisters. Beautiful thing, isn’t it? The greatest tragedy? Verse 26 Mercy and Truth met him in verse 2729. Do you know who those?

79. 37:01

    Three men were Shobi, it says. The son of Nahash of Rabar Shobi was a Prince of the Ammonites. Can you imagine anything more unlikely than that? Do you remember that? David sent a messenger to to to Nahan. Who was Shobi’s brother? The other Prince, and now king, he sent a messenger messengers to them.

80. 37:28

    To show kindness, he said. Because of Hanan. Because of Nahesh, their fathers say. And you remember how Nahin? Railed against David’s messengers, and he sent them back with half their beard. Cut this. Shobi is that King’s brother. He’s the second most important. Person, perhaps among the children of Ammon. The children of Ammon, would you have thought that? Anything could come out of Ammon that could be favorable to David at this?

81. 38:01

    Circumstance. That was the place of his sin. It was the place where Uriah was buried. It was the place where he’d showed, it seems exceptional. Cruelty. And at this time, when you might have thought those people would join with Absalom, with a relish, the Prince of the Ammonites comes out, the brother to the king, and he comes with all these things, joining in with these other men. How do they think of it?

82. 38:32

    How do they get it together so quickly? There was response in his heart. You know, it says when David sent those messengers that his mind was to the God’s. Nahum, it was to show him kindness, and that word is? Kiss head, Prepare mercy care said and. Truth, says the Psalm God will prepare mercy and truth.

83. 38:55

    David had thought to get send mercy to the king of Ammon, to to make a decent arrangement with him because of the kindness of his father. In time cast it was a loving gesture, an extended generous gesture. This show becomes at David’s greatest extremity, and with great danger, no doubt to himself, and the disparagement of his of his of his partisans. But he comes despite all of that, in his own reputation, and he loads David with all that the Kingdom of Ammon could load. What an incredible thing, my dear brethren. Sisters, do you think God was in that? The God of Israel, despite Uriah, despite David’s sin? Why?

84. 39:40

    Because David was a man of Kesed and with the merciful. God will show himself merciful. As a man meets, so will it be measured to him again. Don’t forget mercy, my dear and sisters. In our ecclesial judgments. There may be a time our hand is out for mercy, and it will come to us according as we’ve given it to us.

85. 40:11

    Stand by the principles, indeed, but don’t forget mercy. Maker. He’s there. Who’s this Maker? The son of Amiel of Lodibar. Come back to Chapter 9. He’s actually mentioned before in the record The second of Samuel 9, when David was inquiring. Is there any left of the House of Saul? That I might show him Kesed.

86. 40:43

    Oh, it’s the word of David’s life. 9 verse one. Is there yet any that is left of the House of Saul? That I may show him him kindness, Kesed. The loving kindness. The steadfast love. That’s the that’s. The whole meaning of the word unchanging love that I may show him. Kesed for Jonathan’s sake. He loved Jonathan’s name.

87. 41:10

    Now is it the peak of his of his power? Is absolute power going to corrupt? Absolutely. In the peak of his power on either. Side of this chapter are all of his war achievements. In the peak of that circumstance, he thinks of the covenant he made with his beloved friend. That’s been so long decaying in the grave that I may show him, kiss it.

88. 41:38

    And it was told him, wasn’t it by Zeba, that there was a one called Mephibosheth and he he was alive the. King said unto him, Where is he? Verse 4, Ziva said unto the king. Well, he’s way off in exile. Behold. He’s in the House of Maker, the son of Amil in Logovar. That’s the man.

89. 42:01

    It’s the same man. Chapter 17. This man must have been on the side of Saul. He must have been. Because he was prepared to build it into his house, this remnant of the previous dynasty. Pretty useless sort of man. In terms of what he could do around the house, but he he took compassion upon him and brought him into the house and the messengers of sort of David came at verse five. Then King David sent and fetched him out of the House of Maker, the son of Amy or from Lodibar.

90. 42:30

    And you can imagine that when Maker saw him going out the front gate and going down the road, he would have thought that’s the last I’ll ever see him a fibbish in. David is making sure there is no Remnant that could ever rise up against him from the previous dynasty. But he was so wrong, wasn’t he? Yeah, My what?

91. 42:45

    The messenger said. Maker must have thought that’s what would happen. In fact, David took him and he put him among his sons at his table. David’s sons. Jonathan’s sons. My sons right in the middle of them. And eventually that story would have come back, wouldn’t coming back over Jordan. Did you hear what happened to Mephibosheth Maker? No, I just suppose that he’s dead now. No, he isn’t.

92. 43:10

    I visited Jerusalem to the Tabernacle and. Mephibosheth is sitting at the King’s table. What would David want to have Maken? To have Mephibosheth? That he’s stable for he was a lame man. How does he fit in with all the celebration of the of the Royal house? David’s got him there, among his sons.

93. 43:31

    A maker would have gone back to his house. He would have. Surely seen in that. But there was a man of God. He knew The story about Jonathan Mephibosheth no doubt knew that told him he got back somehow. If it were a wonderful man, a man of steadfast love, and now when the wheel of fortune was turned and maker, he is that.

94. 43:56

    David has come to his exile country, as it were. Overjoyed, he gathers up all the things of his considerable home. He rushes to the scene to show him the cassette of the Lord Mercy and Truth Men. And of course there was Barzilayer beginning after Problem 3, Great Men. So God remembers my dear and sisters, doesn’t he?

95. 44:22

    The cycles of life. Can turn cast thy bread upon the waters. After many days it shall return unto thee. It’s coming back to our son.

96. 44:36

    You know, David had the best years ahead of him. Are we older? In years? We’ve spoken of the young. We’ve spoken of the middle age. Are we older in years? It’s the final thought. We’re really a family together, aren’t we? He says in verse 6. Thou wilt prolong the King’s life in his years as many generations.

97. 45:05

    Well, you know, he did prolong David’s life. He looked as sick as though he was He was about to go. Later in the time of Idona just reign, he looked like he was so. Cold that his metabolism had slowed down. They couldn’t keep him warm. There’s nothing a good thing. To do, to keep the old king warm.

98. 45:22

    And yet after that, he had the. Greatest years of his life are the legs. A little frail. Dear brother, dear sister, is the mind. Not as strong, perhaps. Remember David in his older years, when he cried unto God and said, Now that I’m old and Gray headed, forsake me not, and he wasn’t forsaken.

99. 45:43

    Old age in the truth is not to let the rains go. We need you. We need your consistency. We need your inspiration. You know, the old sisters or brothers that come to the the Bible class despite rain or shine, despite weariness or pain. And sit along the row are an inspiration to us, aren’t they?

100. 46:02

     All of us feel that way. To have our our older ones here climbing up the mountain to be. With us to celebrate in the things of God together. What an inspiration that is. We’ve felt it this week many times. All of us have felt that as we go into older years, don’t look for easing off some little spot down, you know on the coast that’s far away from reality. We need you.

101. 46:26

     We need you. An hour clears your life. We’d love to have him David’s best years. He said. In his later years, I set my affection for the House of my God just as true for us today. Think to build older breathers and sisters. We need your steadfast example. We need the. Constancy of your mind, your prolonged example among us.

102. 46:48

     But there’s more here, isn’t it? This is more than just an extension of present life, His years as many generations. This for I will. Abide in thy Tabernacle forever he shall abide verse seven before God, forever before God. Verse 8 So will I sing praise unto thy name forever, but I might daily perform my vows. This is a man who daily in the in the small unit of of life. Presently he’s daily performing his vows. But that life is going to go on forever. It’s in the little things, brilliant in the basics. That take us on to eternal life.

103. 47:27

     This Psalm is not limited spirit of God that that moved David to say this is. Projecting the scene for all of us coming right through to our times. Motivating every day of our lives to daily perform our lives not just on Sunday morning, but but every day of our life. Filling it with the things of God that we might go on unto the eternal life that is to come. Why is that so?

104. 47:51

     Because as we read this morning, the keepers did quake. The keepers, the keepers of the grave, tried to lock the Lord Jesus Christ into death. They shook because the Angel of life, he came and he unblocked that stone. He pushed it back. He brought forth our Lord Jesus Christ, and he gave him life forevermore.

105. 48:21

     So we push on with our daily bowels, my dear brother, sisters, and love of each other, and love of the truth and love of our God that we too. Whatever. Stage of life we might be may be able to share with him that eternal life for which we long. Thank you for listening to the good Christadelphian Talks Podcast.

106. 48:54

     We hope this talk helped you in your walk and brightened your day. If you would like to hear more, please subscribe for new episodes. We are on all major podcast platforms and also on YouTube. If you enjoyed this particular talk, please share it with someone else who you think might enjoy it too.

107. 49:10

     For show notes on the talk you just listened to, visit [email protected] or check out the Show Notes section of your podcast player. Please share your thoughts on the talk from this week on our Facebook or Instagram pages where we are at good Christadelphian talks, or leave a comment on our YouTube channel where these talks are posted as well. If you enjoy listening to the talks that we post and here one that you think we should share, please tell us about it. You can send a suggestion using the Contact Us tab on our website or message us on any of our social media accounts. Thank you for listening.

108. 49:43

     God bless and talk to you next week.