Tag: Val Watkins

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.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 21:53 — 15.0MB)

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: II Samuel 12:15-31

The Life of David
David’s Child Dies
II Samuel 12:15-31

Even believers want to know how to come back after egregious sin.

Believers have to endure the consequences for sin even though we have been forgiven.

I. Seek God in Prayer (II Samuel 12:15-16)
But David did not assume that God’s declaration that the child would die was so settled that he just sat back and waited for the inevitable to happen.

II. Acknowledge Your Sin (II Samuel 12:17)
Don’t hide it or refuse to face those who are in a position to help and who want to help.

III. Submit to God’s Will (II Samuel 12:18-23)
David’s acceptance of the child’s death shows his submission to God’s will.

IV. Receive God’s Blessing (II Samuel 12:24-25)
Forgiveness cancels past sin, promises future blessing, and opens the gate of heaven.

V. Return to Duty (II Samuel 12:26-31)
God wants you to serve him with the gifts that he has given you.

And because of that truth, let me urge you to seek God in prayer, acknowledge your sin, submit to God’s will, receive God’s blessing, and then return to duty.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 24:28 — 16.8MB)

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: II Samuel 12:1-15

The Life of David
David Rebuked by Nathan
II Samuel 12:1-15

Many months passed by after King David’s sin against Bathsheba and Uriah. Bathsheba became pregnant and David was confronted by Nathan after the birth of that child.

The narrative of David being rebuked by Nathan is really a story of God’s grace reaching out to an adopted son who has grievously sinned in order to restore him to fellowship with himself.

I. The First Step Is Conviction (II Samuel 12:1-12)
Nathan used an indirect approach with David. If he had started by saying that David had sinned, David might have been defensive or dismissive.

Nathan did not wait for David to respond. He went on to pronounce the findings of the Lord who was David’s judge.

So, the first step God uses to restore sinners back into fellowship with himself is conviction of sin.

II. The Second Step Is Repentance (II Samuel 12:13a)
David understood the magnitude of his sin and he repented of his sin.

III. The Third Step Is Forgiveness (II Samuel 12:13b-15)
However, I do want to remind us that God is just in all his ways and he never does anything wrong.

Whatever our sin, let us be convicted of our sin, truly repent of our sin, and then receive God’s forgiveness for our sin.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:04 — 17.9MB)

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: II Samuel 11:1-27

The Life of David
David and Bathsheba
II Samuel 11:1-27

Sandwiched in the middle of these chapters is the shocking account of David’s dreadful sin with Bathsheba.

“Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you’re willing to pay.”

I. The Causes of Sin (II Samuel 11:1-4)
We are not told that David was busy with the affairs of the kingdom or that he was busy taking care of the problems of his people. Instead, he was on his couch.

As soon as David heard that she was married, he should have stopped pursuing her.

Sin does not just come upon us. It is not foisted upon us so that there is nothing we can do about it.

II. The Consequences of Sin (II Samuel 11:5)
But a consequence of sin is that more often than we like other people know about it.

III. The Cover-up of Sin (II Samuel 11:6-27a)
Sometimes our desire to cover up our sin by some kind of deception does not work.

IV. The Condemnation of Sin (II Samuel 11:27b)
What David had done was evil in his eyes. David had violated the law of God. David deserved to die. David’s sin condemned him to death.

Psalm 51:1-2 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:43 — 18.3MB)

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: II Samuel 10:1-19

The Life of David
David Defeats Ammon and Syria
II Samuel 10:1-19

In II Samuel 10, David once again extended kindness, that is, hesed or steadfast love, to the son of a friendly neighboring king, who had died.

Like Onada, many people are fighting a lonely battle against the God who is offering reconciliation and peace.

I. Kindness Is Offered (II Samuel 10:1-2)
However, now that Nahash had died, David wanted to extend hesed to Hanun, Nahash’s son, for the hesed that had previously been extended to David by Nahash.

Well, Jesus’ offer of kindness is by far the best offer ever extended to anyone.

II. Kindness Is Rejected (II Samuel 10:3-5)
The rejection of David’s kindness points us again to the rejection of Jesus’ kindness. Jesus came to seek and to save the lost.

III. Kindness Is Redressed (II Samuel 10:6-19)
David offered kindness. And that offer of kindness was rejected by Hanun. So, David set out to take action.

Joab recognized and affirmed that God was in sovereign control of the outcome.

David’s redressing of his kindness that was rejected teaches us that Jesus will redress any rejection of the kindness that he offers.

Those who have rejected Jesus will know in that moment that all their greatest treasures were nothing compared with him, and they will bitterly regret that decision.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 20:49 — 14.3MB)

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: II Samuel 9:1-13

The Life of David
David’s Kindness to Mephibosheth
II Samuel 9:1-13

Our scripture today about Mephibosheth, and particularly about David’s kindness to him.

I. Kindness Is Initiated (II Samuel 9:1-4)
So, David wanted to fulfill his covenant promise to Jonathan.

That is why he wanted to make sure that he was keeping his covenant promise to Jonathan when he asked, “Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”

But the good news of the gospel teaches us that David’s Greater Son, Jesus, takes the initiative to bring kindness–God’s steadfast love–to us.

II. Kindness Is Provided (II Samuel 9:5-8)
The lesson for us is that Christians are the recipients of God’s unmerited and gracious kindness.

III. Kindness Is Experienced (II Samuel 9:9-13)
But David initiated kindness toward Mephibosheth, he provided kindness for Mephibosheth, and then Mephibosheth experienced the kindness of David.

You don’t pay love back; you pay it forward.