THE KING IS COMING

SERMON STARTER

          The story of David and Mephibosheth, the lame son of Jonathan and the grandson of Saul, is a story about loyalty and mercy. The Philistines had defeated Saul and Jonathan. Jonathan was killed in battle and Saul committed suicide. The Philistines rounded up the other grandsons of Saul and executed them. Only Mephibosheth remained, and he was in a barren place, Lo Debar. In Hebrew the name suggests its geography. It means, “barren pasture.” He was hiding out in the desert among the rocks.

          He hears a message that King David is looking for him. He must have been terrified. David had a reputation for being ruthless about avenging his enemies. After all, hadn’t Saul, Mephibosheth’s grandfather pursued David for over 15 years, attempting to kill him? Now could be the time when David would avenge those desperate years of running by executing Saul’s last remaining grandson.

          “The King is coming!” “I’ve heard that he’s looking for you!” That’s probably the opposite of what the palm bearers must have felt on that Sunday morning as Jesus triumphantly entered Jerusalem on a donkey. They would have been joyous and filled with anticipation of good things.

What about you? Which will you be at his NEXT coming? Will it be with dread or filled with joy? His coming could be any day now!

 

Maranatha!

Pastor Phil  <><<

 

April 5, 2009 / Palm Sunday

Pastor Phil Roland - Sheepfold Ministries

THE KING IS COMING

IS HE COMING FOR YOU?

2 Samuel 9:1-13

“One of the most powerful Old Testament narratives about loyalty, forgiveness and love is often overlooked as an interesting story following Saul’s death as David assumed Kingly Power in Jerusalem. It challenges us today.”  Pastor Phil

 

John 12:12,13

“The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: "Hosanna! 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!' The King of Israel!"

 

NARRATIVE

1. Saul’s Household is Destroyed in Battle at Mt. Gilboa by Israel’s hated enemy, the Philistines.  2 Chron. 10:6

“So Saul and his three sons died, and all his house died together.”

2. David becomes King of Israel, 2 Samuel 8:15

“So David reigned over all Israel; and David administered judgment and justice to all his people.”

3. David loved Jonathan and made a covenant with him. 1 Samuel 18:3

“Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.”

4. David seeks out Mephibosheth, the lame son of Jonathan – 2 Samuel 4:1

“Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son who was lame in his feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel; and his nurse took him up and fled. And it happened, as she made haste to flee, that he fell and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth.”

 

 

THE KING IS COMING FOR MEPHIBOSHETH

 

I.  DAVID, THE KING, IS SEEKING MEPHIBOSHETH

          A. How does Mephibosheth feel?

                 1. If you knew He was coming for you right now, how would you                              feel?

                        a. Anxious?

                        b. “Blood run cold?”

                        c. Shivers of fear up and down your spine?

                        d. Nauseous?

                 2. God’s eyes are searching the earth – 1 Peter 3:12

                     “For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are

                        open to their prayers; But the face of the LORD is against those who

                        do evil."

1. a.      Are they fixed on you?

b.  Are His ears open to your righteous prayers?

            B. On Palm Sunday Jesus was met Joyfully

                 1. If He showed up today, could you meet Him with joy?

                 2. Are you a “Hand Flinger,” or a “Hand Wringer?”

 

II. DAVID FORGIVES HIM OF HIS GRANDFATHER’S SIN

          A. Saul was an insecure, jealous, vindictive soul

                 1. Tried over and over to kill David w/o success

                 2. God’s favor for David terrified Saul

                        a. Threatened his position

                        b. Threatened his future

            B. Saul pursued David as though he was a criminal for more than a

                 Decade

            C. David had a history of revenging his enemies

            D. David shows incredible traits of character

                 a. Fiercely Loyal

                 b. Mercy to those to whom mercy is due

                 c. Showing incredible acts of forgiveness, even of enemies

                 d. Jesus called Himself, “Son of David”

III. DAVID FAVORS HIM - 2 Samuel 9:7

“So David said to him, "Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father's sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather; and you shall eat bread at my table continually."

       

     A. Have you ever LONGED for your father’s favor?

            1. Many have never heard a word of praise from their father

            2. Some have only heard derision and condemnation

      B. King David favors Mephibosheth for his father’s sake

            1. Jesus, Son of David, is with the oppressed

            2. He is with those treated unjustly

            3. He loves us, has come to us and shown us his favor – Rom. 5:7,8

               “For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good

                 man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own

                 love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

 

III. DAVID PROVIDES FOR HIM – 2 Samuel 9:13

“So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the king's table. And he was lame in both his feet.”

      A. God’s Hand of Provision – Psalm 23:5,6

            “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint

              my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall

              follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD

              Forever.”

      B. God has provided for us

            1. Our Physical Needs

            2. Our Spiritual Needs

                       a. Comfort and Peace in Life’s Storms

                        b. His Salvation at Physical Life’s End – 2 Cor. 5:8

                             “We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the

                              body and to be present with the Lord.”