Tag: Val Watkins

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:53 — 19.8MB)

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: II Samuel 21:1-14

The Life of David
David Avenges the Gibeonites
II Samuel 21:1-14

These chapters look back over the whole period of David’s reign (and earlier). The text is not arranged chronologically but thematically.

As we consider the account of David avenging the Gibeonites, it may feel as if God has a little black book called “Le Petit Maurice.”

I. The Offended Must Be Appeased
I don’t think it is a stretch to add a worldwide coronavirus pandemic to the category of “natural disaster.”

We believe that man was made in the image of God, that every person is of intrinsic worth before God, and that every individual has a right to the fullest possible opportunities for the development of life abundant and eternal.

Although God told David that the reason for the famine was Saul’s slaughter of the Gibeonites, he did not tell David what to do to correct the injustice.

We should always go to the Lord in prayer and ask him if our difficulty is because of some unconfessed sin.

II. The Guilty Must Be Punished (II Samuel 21:7-9)
The author quickly takes us back to this horrible account, as he writes in verses 8-9.

They may have protested that they were acting on their father’s and grandfather’s orders, but under Old Testament solidarity laws, God held them liable.

III. The Devoted Must Be Rewarded (II Samuel 21:10-14)
It undoubtedly did not take away her grief, but David’s action bestowed dignity upon the slain.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 24:24 — 16.8MB)

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: II Samuel 20:1-26

The Life of David
David and the Rebellion of Sheba
II Samuel 20:1-26

But, even before he arrived in Jerusalem, another rebellion arose against David, which David considered even more dangerous than Absalom’s rebellion.

But David, like all of us, fell into sin. David’s failure showed that his kingdom was not the promised, eternal kingdom of God.

I. Rebellion (II Samuel 20:1-2)
David returned to Jerusalem with just a very small part of his kingdom still intact.

II. Sadness (II Samuel 20:3)
These precious women suffered because of David’s sin.

III. Instability (II Samuel 20:4-13)
Joab was extremely strong-willed and also extremely loyal to David, even though he at times disobeyed David.

IV. Deliverance (II Samuel 20:14-22)
Joab let her know that if she gave up Sheba, he would not destroy the city.

V. Administration (II Samuel 20:23-26)
However, the kind of leadership that is essential is humble and servant-hearted, not proud and ambitious.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:57 — 17.8MB)

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: II Samuel 19:8-43

The Life of David
David Returns to Jerusalem
II Samuel 19:8-43

Today’s lesson is about David’s return to Jerusalem and the grace he extended to those along the way.

His essential message, which was supposed to represent Jesus‘ message to a world of sinners, was this: “Hey, don’t be a dirty rose.”

I. Grace Is Given to the Unable (II Samuel 19:8-15,41-43)
The indecision of the Israelites mirrors our own futility in reconciling ourselves to the throne of God.

II. Grace Is Given to the Angry (II Samuel 19:16,18-23)
Some think that Shimei’s repentance was not true repentance.

III. Grace Is Given to the Betrayer (II Samuel 19:17-18,26-27,29)
When David asked Ziba where Mephibosheth was, Ziba betrayed his master by saying that he stayed in Jerusalem in order to regain the kingdom for himself.

IV. Grace Is Given to the Disabled (II Samuel 19:24-30)
Mephibosheth affirmed that he really did not care about property and wealth; he simply wanted King David back in Jerusalem.

V. Grace Is Given to the Generous (II Samuel 19:31-40)
Barzillai had been generous to David and his followers in their time of great need.

Instead of deservedly receiving his harshness and disfavor, Jesus offers us grace.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:18 — 18.1MB)

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: II Samuel 18:1-19:8

The Life of David
David Mourns for Absalom
II Samuel 18:1-19:8

This account tells us of Absalom’s death and David’s mourning for his son, Absalom.

Historians tell us that the Black Plague or Black Death ran in various forms from 1347 to 1665 and killed at least 25 million people in Europe and from 75 million to 200 million worldwide.

It is interesting in light of our current worldwide pandemic.

I. The Death of a Son (II Samuel 18:1-18)
David’s command to “Be gentle” with Absalom was a poor command to give to his military leaders.

With Absalom dead, Joab called for his soldiers to stop pursuing Absalom’s army.

II. The Despair of a Father (II Samuel 18:19-19:8)
When David’s returning victorious army heard of David’s inordinate sorrow for Absalom, they entered Mahanaim stealthily, and the day of victory was turned into a day of mourning.

We are all like Absalom. We are faithless and rebellious. We do not want to submit to the kingship of Jesus. In our revolt against him, we want him out of our lives.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 24:49 — 17.0MB)

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: II Samuel 17:1-29

The Life of David
David Saved by Hushai
II Samuel 17:1-29

But God had wonderfully provided Hushai, another friend of David, to return to the city of Jerusalem to defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.

God’s plan to have David serve as his anointed king on earth seemed to be falling apart.

I. The Plan to Destroy God’s King (II Samuel 17:1-4)
Ahithophel’s plan would have received high marks in today’s military academies.

II. The Plan to Protect God’s King (II Samuel 17:5-14a)
Perhaps Absalom thought that since Hushai was David’s friend, he could confirm the viability of the plan that Ahithophel put forward.

Buying “David precious time to escape and regroup” seems to have been Hushai’s primary goal.

III. The Plan to Alert God’s King (II Samuel 17:15-29)
Having been alerted by Hushai’s message, David and all his loyal supporters crossed over the Jordan river.

IV. The Plan Behind the Plans (II Samuel 17:14b)
Yahweh’s sovereignty is not meant to give you philosophical problems but spiritual comfort.

God sovereignly answered David’s prayer, just as he hears the prayers of all who call on him in the name of Jesus Christ.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:19 — 18.1MB)

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: II Samuel 16:1-23

The Life of David
David Flees From Jerusalem
II Samuel 16:1-23

God had forgiven King David for his sins of adultery and murder. But the consequences of those sins dogged David, primarily through the evil that arose from within his own household.

David heard about this and made a hasty retreat out of Jerusalem with a number of people who were still loyal to him.

I. The King’s Enemy Is Deceptive (II Samuel 16:1-4)
In their haste to flee Jerusalem, David and his supporters almost certainly did not pack food for the journey.

The lesson for us is that there are always two sides to a story.

II. The King’s Enemy Is Derisive (II Samuel 16:5-14)
They believe that the problems we are experiencing must be due to God’s punishment for our sin.

III. The King’s Enemy Is Destructive (II Samuel 16:15-23)
David believed that Hushai was God’s answer to his prayer to turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.

But, when Ahithophel turned away from David, his counsel was that of a betrayer and his words were intended to destroy David.

God shows that he uses even an enemy to fulfill his ultimate purposes.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:38 — 18.3MB)

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: II Samuel 15:1-37

The Life of David
David Flees From Absalom
II Samuel 15:1-37

As we follow the life of David, we see him trusting the Lord in a new way in the midst of trouble that came his way.

Now that Absalom was in Jerusalem, he conspired to overthrow his father as king over all Israel.

I. Faith Is Challenged by the Enemies of God (II Samuel 15:1-12)
He sent messengers throughout all Israel telling those sympathetic to his cause that when they heard the sound of the trumpet, they would know that he was now king.

David’s faith was about to be challenged by the enemies of God.

II. Faith Is Supported by the Gifts of God (II Samuel 15:13-23)
At a time when David’s own son, all the men of Israel, and even his close advisor had turned against him, he must have felt wonderfully supported by this gift of God.

III. Faith Is Activated by the Will of God (II Samuel 15:24-29)
True faith is always an active faith. It is a working faith. It is not inactive. Faith is activated by the will of God.

IV. Faith Is Encouraged by the Providence of God (II Samuel 15:30-37)
David prayed. A short while later David bumped into a friend.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 24:48 — 17.0MB)

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: II Samuel 14:1-33

The Life of David
David Restores Absalom
II Samuel 14:1-33

King David had certainly experienced reconciliation with God. He was not able, however, to achieve a true reconciliation with his son Absalom.

David demonstrated dramatically by his sins of adultery and murder that he also needed God’s forgiveness.

I. The Request (II Samuel 14:1-20)
Whatever the reason, Joab sent to Tekoa, about ten miles south of Jerusalem, for a wise woman.

At this point, David suspected that Joab was behind the woman’s story.

II. The Return (II Samuel 14:21-27)
Unwittingly, David put Absalom in contact with people who admired and adored him, and who would eventually side with Absalom in a rebellion against David.

III. The Reconciliation (II Samuel 14:28-33)
There was no heart in it. And there was certainly no true reconciliation between David and Absalom, as subsequent events will show.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:08 — 19.3MB)

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: II Samuel 13:23-39

The Life of David
Absalom Murders Amnon
II Samuel 13:23-39

Hatred, revenge, and vengeance are incredibly destructive attitudes.

Vengeance is defined as “punishment inflicted or retribution exacted for an injury or wrong.”

I. The Activity in the Vengeance (II Samuel 13:23-29)
Upon a first reading, one may get the impression that Absalom was putting the event of two years earlier behind him, and that he wanted the family to all get along.

Of course, Absalom was not concerned about the other princes. His only concern was to get at Amnon.

If we were first-time readers of this narrative, we might ask ourselves, what is happening to the future of the house of David?

II. The Passivity following the Vengeance (II Samuel 13:30-39)
How did Jonadab know what had really happened? Clearly, he was fully aware of Absalom’s plan.

David’s firstborn son was dead, at the hand of his third son. David’s house had become a house deeply and bitterly divided against itself.

Richard Phillips notes three points about the biblical doctrine of vengeance, which is summed up by Paul, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord”.

1st, God takes vengeance on sins that have been committed.
2nd, since God takes vengeance on all sin, individuals are not allowed to take justice into their own hands.
3rd, since God takes vengeance on all sin, and individuals are not allowed to take justice into their own hands, the proper Christian response to sin is to do good.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:59 — 22.0MB)

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: II Samuel 13:1-22

The Life of David
Amnon and Tamar
II Samuel 13:1-22

In our series on “The Life of David,” we have seen David’s meteoric rise from being a shepherd to serving as God’s king on earth.

When we read the Bible, we need to ask how any chapter fits into the over-arching storyline of the Bible.

I. Unbridled Lust (II Samuel 13:1-2,14-17)
Although the scripture says that Amnon loved Tamar, the fact is that his passion was pure unbridled lust.

And all lust is a kind of rape, whether of mind or body or both, for such pseudo-love can only consume the objects of its grasping attentions.

II. Unprincipled Counsel (II Samuel 13:3-5)
A true friend would have realized what was going on, or, at least, asked more questions to get to the bottom of the matter.

III. Unprotected Obedience (II Samuel 13:6-13,18-19)
In this terrible story, Tamar obediently followed her father’s instruction.

IV. Unrestrained Hatred (II Samuel 13:20,22)
Eventually, thankfully, through the intervention of his son, Rick realized that his hatred was hurting his own family.

V. Unmoved Anger (II Samuel 13:21)
David’s unmoved anger was an additional sin on top of his previous sin.