Teague Bible Church

The  Kindness Of  David       Teague Bible Church           9/29/13

II Samuel  15, 16 and 19    

 

  Four people receive  kindness, by the Spirit of God working in David

 Barzillai/  Mephibosheth /  Ittai / Shimei

 

A big difference between doing “what comes natural,” and being a “spiritual” man.

 

While any unbeliever can show kindness, we as believers must do so because of the moving of the Holy Spirit in us. Because then, and only then, will it be for the right reason, and therefore used by God to accomplish a much greater end than simply to have the person receiving that kindness  say, “Thank You.”

 

 Today the subject is “Kindness.”

 

( Proverbs 19:22a, 31:26, I Corinthians 13: 4, II Corinthians 6:6, II Peter 1:7, Galatians 5:22)

 

Many think they are kind, but it means nothing floating around in their heads. Our society is getting cruder. How can we shine out for Christ in crude times?

We have an opportunity to show our Lord working in us by His Spirit, and we can lead people to the Lord, through our “unnatural kindness.”

 

KIND-  “ Having the will to do good and to bring happiness

to others. Showing gentleness; or growing

out of gentleness or goodness of heart.”

 

“Fair- weather kindness” is easy to do. Kindness under stress; when you think you will not make it through a difficult situation, is Christ-like!

 

Today we will look at four people who received kindness through David

 

* Think of it like an exercise machine with 4 levels of difficulty *

 

 

  DIFFICULTY SETTING- EASY

 

        BARZILLAI –    II Samuel 19: 31-38

 

He gave first, and David retuned the favor. Yet even here, I would bet David had helped him before. We know Barzillai took a risk bringing supplies to David while David’s son Absolom was chasing his father around the countryside.

 

DIFFICULTY SETTING- MODERATE

 

         MEPHIBOSHETH-  II Samuel 9: 1-13 / 19:24-30 

 

You make an oath to someone to care for their children, yet you do not know if the children will be good or bad. Not a problem in this case, but a great risk. David kept his word regardless!

 

 DIFFICULTY SETTING- HARD

 

         ITTAI-  II Samuel 15:13-30

 

A Philistine- former enemy of Israel. An exile, a foreigner. Your reputation will tank on this one! You will be considered disloyal to your country!

 

This guy became a general over a third of the troops of David!  II Samuel 18:2

No matter what Ittai’s dedication level; David and Ittai could be held in question concerning their motives!

 

4.  DIFFICULT SETTING- EXTREMELY HARD

 

  ( Matthew 5: 38-48/ love enemies; do more than an unbeliever does)

 

 SHIMEI:  II Samuel 16: 5-14,  19: 18b-23

 

Shimei received an “unnatural” kindness, but David knew that Shimei was not entirely sincere. Shimei sorry about the consequences, but not the core of the issue; that his sin was against God. David knew that was the issue in the Bathsheba situation.

David also admitted sin and  he also was told  that he would not die, but it reached his heart.

Not so with Shimei ; who took this “unnatural kindness” lightly.

As a result, lost his life!  I Kings 2: 8-9, 36-46

 

Notes:

 

 

 

OUR APPLICATION:

 

Matthew 24:12  “ Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love  will grow cold.”

 

Example:

When your body gets cold, the body protects the core. Your

fingers and toes get cold, and hard to use, and you

have less range of motion. A self- preservation mode exist.

 

 

Final Point:

 

If the Spirit of God is not allowed to work because of our selfishness, then we think only of self-preservation, because we feel threatened. Stress sets in and we forget about kindness. It is now every man for himself! We can beat this if we surrender to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. You were not called to just “ do what’s natural!”

 

Who could blame David if he only took care of himself? But what do we see? We see a man who surrendered to God, and trusted His God to see him through his crisis and yet always showing that “unnatural kindness,” to others in the middle of that crisis! That is the work of God!

 

You can just “do what’s natural” and get what you get, or you can go “spiritual” and be in on the greatest adventure life in God can offer!  I Corinthians 2:6-16

 

Notes: