Participants: Pr. Stephen Bohr
Series Code: GAB
Program Code: GAB000008
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01:10 Shall we bow our heads for prayer?
01:13 Our Father, and our God, 01:14 what a joy it is to be in Your house. 01:17 What a joy it is to have Your word. 01:20 A sure compass in a world that is confused 01:24 and appears to be spinning out of control. 01:28 We ask Father that through the study of Your word 01:31 You will come and inspire us. 01:33 That You will fill our lives, 01:35 that You will help us being more like Jesus. 01:39 We thank You for hearing our prayer 01:40 for we ask it in Jesus name, amen. 01:46 I'd like to begin our study today by turning in my Bible 01:49 and inviting you to turn in yours 01:52 to the Book of Psalms, 01:54 actually Psalms 48:1, 2. 01:57 Psalms 48:1, 2. 02:02 Today we're gonna study about the story of Absalom 02:08 who was the son of David, of course. 02:11 And I would like to begin by reading this passage 02:14 which describes the scene 02:17 where this story transpires or this story takes place. 02:23 It's says there in Psalm 48:1, 2 "Great is the Lord, 02:30 and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, 02:35 in His holy mountain. 02:38 Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, 02:43 is Mount Zion on the sides of the north, 02:48 the city of the great King." 02:52 Now if you compare Matthew 5:35 you'll notice 02:56 that instead of speaking about Zion 03:00 it speaks about Jerusalem, because the city 03:03 which is been spoken of here is the city of Jerusalem. 03:07 So the story that we're gonna study today 03:09 takes place in the city of the great King. 03:12 And of course, in the Old Testament 03:14 the great king is David. 03:16 The city of the great king is Jerusalem. 03:20 And you'll notice that Jerusalem 03:22 according to this is in the sides of the north. 03:28 And the story is going to involve not only 03:31 the great king in Jerusalem, 03:33 but his very own son Absalom. 03:38 Now the name Absalom means father in peace. 03:43 And so actually it's a prophecy that we're saying that 03:47 David his father was going to have peace. 03:51 In other words his rebellion was a failure 03:55 before it even began 03:57 by looking at the name of Absalom. 04:01 Now I like to invite you to turn with me 04:02 to 2 Samuel 14:25, 2 Samuel 14:25 04:09 where we find the description, 04:11 the physical description of Absalom. 04:14 It says there and by the way most of our time today 04:17 we're going to spend in 2 Samuel Chapters 14 through 18, 04:22 so you might want to keep your finger there. 04:25 It says there "Now in all Israel there was no one 04:32 who was praised as much as Absalom for his good looks." 04:38 Actually the King James Version says 04:40 "For his beauty." 04:43 "From the sole of his foot to the crown of his head 04:49 there was no blemish in him." 04:53 So you have the son of David, beautiful, no blemish, 05:01 perfect you might say physically from head to foot. 05:07 But we're gonna find that his beauty 05:11 and his wisdom and his power 05:17 led him to rebel against his own father. 05:23 Go with me in fact to 2 Samuel 15:1-6. 05:29 And let's read about what happened with Absalom. 05:34 It says there beginning at verse 1 of chapter 15 05:39 "After this it happened that Absalom 05:42 provided himself with chariots and horses, 05:46 and fifty men to run before him." 05:49 This is normally what the king would do. 05:51 See, he is actually trying to impress people 05:54 with the idea that he is the king. 05:57 Now notice verse 2. 05:59 "Now Absalom would rise early 06:03 and stand beside the way to the gate. 06:06 So it was, whenever anyone 06:09 who had a lawsuit came to the king for a decision, 06:14 that Absalom would call to him and say, 06:18 'What city are you from?' 06:21 And he would say, 'Your servant is from such 06:23 and such a tribe of Israel.' 06:26 Then Absalom would say to him, 06:29 'Look, your case is good and right, 06:35 but there is no deputy of the king to hear you.' 06:41 Moreover Absalom would say, 06:45 'Oh, that I were made judge in the land, 06:50 and everyone who has any suit or cause would come to me, 06:55 then I would give him justice.' 07:00 And so it was, whenever anyone came 07:04 near to bow down to him, 07:08 that he would put out his hand and take him and kiss him. 07:13 In this manner Absalom acted toward all Israel 07:18 who came to the king for judgment. 07:22 So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel." 07:30 And so you have this beautiful son of David. 07:38 Now, not only beautiful but wise. 07:42 Not only wise but powerful. 07:46 Now David had faced many enemies up to this point 07:50 but the enemies that he had faced 07:51 were enemies from outside. 07:54 In other words, they were external enemies of the kingdom. 07:58 But this enemy was an enemy from inside 08:02 and it was his own son, his own image and likeness. 08:08 You see the problem with Absalom 08:09 is that he actually fell in love with his beauty, 08:14 with his wisdom, with his popularity. 08:17 He was infatuated with himself. 08:21 In fact as we read the story 08:23 we discover that he perverted his beauty. 08:26 He perverted his wisdom, his riches and his power 08:31 and he began to frame questions, on the way in which 08:36 his father David actually governed the kingdom. 08:43 He stated to everyone in the kingdom 08:45 but he sympathized with their plight 08:49 that his father was an unfair and rigid ruler. 08:54 That they went to his father, 08:56 they would find absolutely no justice 09:00 and that if they should place him on the throne, 09:03 the plight of everyone would greatly improve 09:08 and everyone would be freer 09:10 and their cases would be listen to 09:13 and their cases would be decided with justice. 09:18 And so Absalom did everyday 09:20 as the Israelites came to the king for justice. 09:26 Now we noticed that Absalom worked at first 09:30 in an underhanded way. 09:32 He worked underground. 09:35 In fact, if you'll notice with me in 2 Samuel 15:7 09:39 Absalom actually made a request to his father David. 09:43 He said to David, I'd like to go to Hebron 09:46 to fulfill a vow that I have made. 09:50 Let's read that verse 2 Samuel 15: 7. 09:54 It says "Now it came to pass after forty years that 09:56 Absalom said to the king, 09:58 'Please, let me go to Hebron and pay the vow 10:02 which I made to the Lord.' " 10:05 You see Absalom actually had not gone to Hebron to pay a vow, 10:10 he had actually gone there to recruit 10:13 as many subjects of the king for his cause as possible. 10:18 And soon the underhanded rebellion of Absalom 10:25 becomes open rebellion among Israel. 10:30 In fact discontent soon spreads like fire. 10:34 And many in Israel begin siding with Absalom against David. 10:41 You see the rebellion which at first had been covert 10:45 now becomes open revolt. 10:49 In fact, let's notice 2 Samuel 15:10-14 10:54 on this open revolt that ensued 10:58 as a result of Absalom's catering to the desires 11:02 and wishes of the congregation. 11:05 It says there "Then Absalom 11:08 sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, 11:13 'As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, 11:16 then you shall say, "Absalom reigns in Hebron!' 11:22 '' And with Absalom went two hundred men 11:25 invited from Jerusalem, 11:28 and they went along innocently and did not know anything. 11:33 Then Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite." 11:38 Remember that name because 11:40 we're gonna come back to it. 11:42 "David's counselor, from his city from Giloh 11:46 while he offered sacrifices. 11:50 And the conspiracy grew strong, 11:53 for the people with Absalom 11:55 continually increased in number. 11:59 Now a messenger came to David, saying, 12:02 'The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.' " 12:08 And so now the secret rebellion 12:11 has become open rebellion. 12:14 And Absalom goes among the Israelites 12:17 recruiting followers for himself against his own father, 12:21 against King David. 12:24 It's interesting to notice 12:26 the way in which David faced this rebellion. 12:30 You would think that he would stay inside the city 12:33 and he would get an army together 12:36 and he would go out to fight immediately against Absalom, 12:40 but that's not the way it happened. 12:44 In fact, we're told in the story that Absalom 12:47 when he came near Jerusalem David decided 12:51 that in order to spare the lives in the city 12:54 he would actually leave the city of Jerusalem. 12:59 And it's interesting to notice that 13:01 when David actually leaves the city of Jerusalem 13:04 the Ark of the Covenant is carried 13:07 a certain distance with him, 13:09 but then David says to the high priest, 13:12 take the Ark of the Covenant back to the city. 13:16 In other words David was now 13:18 leaving the city forsaken by the Ark of the Covenant 13:22 which was a symbol of the presence of God. 13:26 Let's read about this in 2 Samuel 15:24-27 13:33 and you're gonna notice some very interesting details 13:36 that are going to be repeated later on in human history. 13:40 It says there "There was Zadok also, 13:45 and all the Levites with him, 13:48 bearing the Ark of the covenant of God. 13:52 And they set down the ark of God, 13:55 and Abiathar went up until 13:58 all the people had finished crossing over from the city. 14:02 Then the king said to Zadok, 14:05 'Carry the ark of God back into the city.' 14:10 " And notice this. 14:12 "If I find favor in the eyes of the Lord, 14:17 He will bring me back and show me both it 14:22 and His dwelling place. 14:25 But if He says thus, 'I have no delight in you, 14:30 ' here I am, let Him do to me 14:35 as seems good to Him." 14:39 In other words, David has left the city a Jerusalem. 14:43 He is forsaken by the ark of God, 14:46 a symbol of God's presence. 14:48 And he actually says I am willing to abide 14:52 by the will of God. 14:55 If God is pleased with me 14:57 He will bring me back to the city 14:59 if not His will be done. 15:05 It's interesting to notice as David leaves Jerusalem 15:09 forsaken by the Ark of the Covenant 15:12 how he actually climbs 15:17 the ascent of the Mount of Olives. 15:21 Notice 2 Samuel 15:30, 31, 15:25 2 Samuel 15:30, 31. 15:30 It says "So David went up by the Ascent 15:34 of the Mount of Olives." 15:36 And now notice. 15:37 "And wept as he went up, 15:41 and he had his head covered and went barefoot." 15:45 It says a signal of affliction. 15:48 You see, he feels forsaken of God, 15:51 ascended the Mount of Olives. 15:53 And it says "And all the people who were with him 15:56 covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went up." 16:02 So David leaves the city of Jerusalem 16:06 humbled and ascends the Mount of Olives 16:10 weeping with bared head. 16:13 With head covered and bare feet. 16:17 Patriarchs and Prophets, page 731 16:19 we find this remark 16:21 about this aspect of the life of David. 16:26 It says "In humility and sorrow 16:28 David past out of the gate of Jerusalem." 16:32 Driven from his throne, from his palace, 16:37 from the ark of God by the insurrection 16:41 of his cherished son. 16:44 "The people followed in long, sad procession 16:48 like a funeral train." 16:51 Very, very interesting way of describing 16:55 the experience of David as he has left the city of Jerusalem 16:58 and ascends the Mouth of Olives afflicted and fearing 17:04 that he has been forsaken by the presence of God. 17:09 Now you remember the individual 17:10 that I've mentioned a few moments ago Ahithophel, 17:15 he was actually a counselor of David, 17:19 but he turned against David 17:22 and he actually sided with Absalom. 17:26 Notice what we find in Psalm 41:7-9 on this experience. 17:30 You know, scholars believe that Psalm 41:7-9 is describing 17:37 this betrayal by Ahithophel against David 17:42 when he sided with Absalom. 17:44 Here David is speaking and he says 17:47 "All who hate me 17:49 whisper together against me against me, 17:53 against me they devise my hurt. 17:57 'An evil disease,' they say, 'clings to him.' 18:01 " Notice that an evil disease clings to him. 18:05 "And now that he lies down, he will rise up no more." 18:09 And then noticed these words. 18:11 "Even my all familiar friend in whom I trusted" 18:17 that's Ahithophel by the way. 18:20 "Who ate my bread, 18:23 has lifted up his heel against me." 18:29 Now little bit later on you're going to discover that 18:33 Ahithophel gives counsel to Absalom 18:37 on how to overthrow and overcome David. 18:41 But the counsel that the Ahithophel 18:43 gives to Absalom actually backfires. 18:46 And I want you to notice what Ahithophel does 18:50 according to 2 Samuel 17:23. 18:55 It says "Now when Ahithophel saw 19:00 that his advice was not followed, 19:03 he saddled a donkey, 19:06 and arose and went home to his house, in his city. 19:11 Then he put his household in order." 19:14 And notice this. 19:16 "And hanged himself, and died, 19:20 and he was buried in his father's tomb." 19:25 Are you starting to catch an interesting picture 19:27 in this story of Absalom 19:30 which is gonna be repeated on a far larger scale 19:34 later on in history. 19:37 Notice the remark in Patriarchs and Prophets, page 743. 19:43 It says here speaking about 19:45 the final battle which is gonna take place. 19:49 It says "From the walls of the city" 19:52 this is not the city of Jerusalem, 19:53 it's another city where David has taken refuge. 19:57 "The long lines of the rebel army were in full view. 20:02 The usurper was accompanied by a vast host, 20:07 in comparison with which David's force seemed but a handful." 20:12 In other words those outside are actually 20:16 far greater in number then the few David 20:20 and his followers that are inside. 20:22 "But as the king looked upon the opposing forces, 20:26 the thought uppermost in his mind was not of the crown 20:31 and the kingdom, nor of his own life, 20:35 that depended upon the wage a battle. 20:38 The father's heart was filled with love and pity 20:41 for his rebellious son. 20:43 As the army filed out from the city gates 20:47 David encouraged his faithful soldiers, 20:49 bidding them go forth trusting that the God of Israel 20:52 would give them the victory. 20:54 But even here he could not repress 20:57 his love for Absalom." 21:01 And so the battle takes place. 21:04 And in the course of the battle 21:07 Absalom actually is left hanging between heaven and earth 21:14 by his hair in a tree. 21:16 Let's read about it, 2 Samuel 18:9. 21:22 It says "Then Absalom met the servants have David. 21:26 Absalom rode on a mule. 21:29 The mule went under the thick boughs 21:31 of a great terebinth tree, 21:34 and his head caught in the terebinth, 21:39 so he was left hanging between heaven and earth. 21:44 And the mule which was under him went on." 21:49 But the story doesn't end there, 21:50 he wasn't there, he was hanging by his long hair, 21:53 but he was still alive. 21:55 And so we're told in verse 14 and 15 of chapter 18. 22:00 "Then Joab said, 'I cannot linger with you.' 22:04 And it took three spears in his hand 22:06 and thrust them through Absalom's heart, 22:09 while he was still alive 22:11 in the midst of the terebinth tree. 22:13 And ten young men who bore Joab's armor surrounded Absalom, 22:18 and struck him and killed him." 22:22 He who had aspired to occupy the heights of the throne 22:27 in the city of Jerusalem 22:29 his very father's throne in the sides for the north 22:34 now it's slain. 22:38 And I want you to notice what happened with his body. 22:43 We're told in 2 Samuel 18:17, 18 this. 22:50 "And they took Absalom and cast him 22:54 into a large pit in the woods." 22:58 I want you to remember that word pit. 23:00 They cast him into a large pit in the woods. 23:04 "And laid a very large heap of stones over him. 23:09 Then all Israel fled, everyone to his tent. 23:14 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken 23:18 and set up a pillar for himself 23:22 which is in the King's Valley. 23:24 For he said, 'I have no son 23:28 to keep my name in remembrance.'" 23:32 In other words Absalom's posterity was wiped out 23:38 and they were not remembered. 23:40 And Absalom of course was buried in a pit 23:44 according to the testimony of Scripture. 23:47 Now you might think that David 23:49 when this happened actually said, 23:51 oh, you know, he got just what he deserved. 23:57 He tried to take my throne, how does he think he raise? 24:02 And yet we find that David did not delight 24:05 in the destruction of his son Absalom. 24:09 In fact we're told in 2 Samuel 18:32, 33. 24:15 There's a Cushite messenger that comes to give the news 24:18 about the death of Absalom. 24:19 It says "And the king said to the Cushite, 24:22 'Is the young man Absalom safe?' 24:26 So the Cushite answered, 24:28 'May the enemies of my lord the king, 24:30 and all who rise against you to do harm, 24:34 be like that young man!' 24:36 Then the king was deeply moved, 24:39 and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept. 24:42 And as he went, he said thus, 24:45 'O my Son Absalom-- my son, my son Absalom-- 24:52 if only I had died in your place!'" 24:58 Very prophetic words incidentally. 25:01 O Absalom-- my son, my son 25:05 O that I had died in your place. 25:11 And then the story continues by saying 25:13 that David returns triumphantly to the city of Jerusalem 25:17 and in the midst of the jubilation, 25:20 of the congregation and the multitude 25:22 he has reinstate once again on his throne 25:26 from which he had been exiled 25:28 by the rebellion of his very own son. 25:34 Now the question is why did God give us the story? 25:38 Is this simply a story of events that took place 25:42 in the Old Testament during the period of the Hebrew kings 25:45 specifically during the reign of King David 25:49 or is there perhaps a greater dimension to this story? 25:53 Actually, folks, all the stories of the Old Testament 25:56 are prophecies of future events. 25:59 They are historical events, 26:01 but the historical events foreshadow 26:04 greater worldwide events in the future. 26:09 You see, we're going to discover in the next few minutes 26:13 that Absalom actually represents another rebellion 26:19 which took place in heaven. 26:22 In fact, go with me to the Book of Ezekiel 26:26 Chapter 28, Ezekiel Chapter 28 26:30 and I want to read verses 11 and also verse 17. 26:36 Here it's speaking about a being 26:38 who we know as Lucifer. 26:42 And I want you to notice 26:43 the physical description of this being. 26:47 It says here 26:50 "You were the seal of perfection, 26:55 full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. 27:02 Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty, 27:06 you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor." 27:12 And so we find another being perfect, 27:16 beautiful, full of wisdom, 27:20 who actually was the creation of Jesus Christ. 27:25 He was the son of Jesus by creation. 27:29 Not only was he beautiful and wise, 27:33 but he also had great riches 27:37 like Absalom had the riches of his father. 27:40 Notice what we're told in the Book of Ezekiel 28:4, 5 27:46 on this being. 27:47 It says "With your wisdom and your understanding 27:52 you have gained riches." 27:54 Now notice. 27:55 "For yourself, and gathered gold 27:59 and silver into your treasuries, 28:02 by your great wisdom in trade you have increased your riches, 28:06 and your heart is lifted up because of your riches." 28:12 Actually there were several reasons 28:13 that led to the downfall of Absalom 28:16 which led to the downfall also of this being 28:19 which we know as Lucifer. 28:21 First was beauty, 28:25 secondly was wisdom, corrupted that is 28:30 and the third place it was riches 28:32 and in the fourth place 28:34 it was a hunger and thirst for power. 28:38 In fact notice what we're told in Isaiah 14:12-14, 28:44 Isaiah 14:12-14. 28:49 You're gonna find several interesting 28:51 details in this passage 28:52 which are parallel to the text 28:54 that we began our study with today. 28:56 Isaiah Chapter 14 and beginning with verse 12. 29:02 "How you are fallen from heaven, 29:04 O Lucifer, son of the morning! 29:07 How you are cut down to the ground, 29:10 you who weakened the nations! 29:13 For you have said in your heart, 29:16 'I will ascend into heaven, 29:20 I will exalt my throne 29:22 or my throne above the stars of God, 29:25 I also will sit on the mount of the congregation 29:30 on the farthest sides" of where? 29:33 "Of the north." 29:35 What was in the north? 29:37 The city of what? 29:38 The city of the Great King. 29:40 He says "I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, 29:45 I will be like the Most High." 29:48 In other words, I will no longer be creature 29:50 I want to occupy the throne of my Creator, 29:54 the throne of my father. 29:57 And so we're told in Scripture that this being Lucifer 30:01 began an attack against his Creator Jesus, 30:07 but he did not do it openly at first 30:09 he did it by subterfuge. 30:12 In others words, he started working 30:14 in an underhanded secret way. 30:19 He spread rebellion secretly among the loyal angels of Jesus. 30:25 He spread the spirit of discontent 30:27 and he actually began saying, you know, the God is a dictator, 30:32 God enforces the laws in a rigid manner, 30:36 He takes away your freedom, 30:37 but if you would place me upon the throne 30:40 the plight of everyone would improve 30:43 and I would certainly do you justice. 30:48 And so Lucifer began to steal 30:51 the hearts of the angels in heaven. 30:55 He aspired to overthrow his very own father by creation. 31:01 Notice how this is described in Revelation Chapter 12, 31:05 Revelation 12:4. 31:08 And there is a particular word that I want us to notice here. 31:13 speaking about this great red dragon 31:15 who is identified as the devil and Satan. 31:17 It says 31:19 "His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven 31:26 and threw them to the earth." 31:30 What was it that swept the third of the stars from heaven? 31:33 The what? His tail. 31:37 Now that's a strange expression 31:39 the tail of the great dragon actually 31:43 scooped up a third of the Angels and threw them to the earth. 31:46 What can that possibly mean his tail? 31:50 Well, we don't have to guess. 31:53 Notice what we're told in the Book of Isaiah 9:15, 31:58 Isaiah 9:15. 32:00 What does the tail represent? 32:02 The tail is the symbol 32:03 just like the heads of the dragon are symbols. 32:06 The horns are symbols. 32:08 We're dealing with symbols here, 32:09 so the tail must represent something. 32:12 It says there in the Book of Isaiah. 32:16 "The elder and honorable, he is the head, 32:23 the prophet who teaches lies, 32:27 " he is what? "He is the tail." 32:31 So what does it mean that of-- that his tail swept away 32:36 a third of the stars or a third of the angels? 32:39 It means that he swept them away by his what? 32:43 By his lies. 32:45 Lies about whom? 32:47 Lies about his Creator, lies about Jesus. 32:52 In fact, I want to read you a statement that 32:53 we find in Patriarchs and Prophets, page 37. 32:58 Notice how Lucifer worked in heaven. 33:01 It says "Leaving his place 33:04 in the immediate presence of the Father." 33:06 Just like Absalom left the presence of David 33:09 and went to Hebron to spread his rebellion. 33:13 "Lucifer went forth to diffuse 33:17 the spirit of discontent among the angels. 33:21 He worked with mysterious secrecy, 33:26 and for a time concealed his real purpose 33:30 under an appearance of reference for God. 33:34 He began to insinuate doubts concerning the laws 33:39 that governed heavenly beings, 33:42 intimating that though laws might be necessary 33:45 for the inhabitants of the worlds, 33:48 angels, being more exalted, needed no such restraint, 33:53 for their own wisdom was a sufficient guide. 33:57 They were not beings that could bring dishonor to God, 34:01 all their thoughts were holy, 34:03 it was no more possible for them then for God Himself to err. 34:08 The exultation of the Son of God as equal with the Father 34:11 was represented as an injustice to Lucifer, who, it was claimed, 34:16 was also entitled to reverence and honor. 34:20 If this prince of angels could but attain 34:23 to his true, exalted position great good 34:26 would accrue to the entire host of heaven, 34:29 for was his object to secure freedom for all. 34:33 But now even the liberty which they had hitherto enjoyed 34:37 was at an end, 34:39 for an absolute Ruler had been appointed them, 34:42 and to his authority all must pay homage. 34:45 Such was the subtle deceptions 34:48 that through the wiles of Lucifer 34:50 were fast obtaining in the heavenly courts." 34:56 So Lucifer basically worked in the same way 34:59 in which Absalom did by subterfuge, by secrecy, 35:05 by gaining allies on his side through lying about God, 35:09 making God look like a being who wanted to execute justice, 35:16 who had no interest in His creatures. 35:19 And so we're told that the secret rebellion 35:22 now broke into open war. 35:26 Revelation 12:7, 8 35:30 describes this open rupture, this open revolt. 35:34 We're told their in versus 7 and 8 35:37 "And war broke out in heaven, 35:40 Michael and his angels fought with the dragon, 35:43 and the dragon and his angels fought." 35:48 Interestingly enough Jesus Christ 35:52 because of the rebellion of Lucifer in heaven 35:55 as well as planting sin on planet earth 36:00 had to leave the New Jerusalem in heaven 36:05 and had to come to this earth to fight and defeat 36:10 the rebellion of his own son. 36:14 Just as David had left the earthly Jerusalem 36:18 and felt forsaken by his father 36:21 and agonize as he ascended the Mount of Olives. 36:27 And as David had said, 36:29 his will be done if he's pleased in me. 36:32 I know I will see this place again 36:35 and as David had felt forsaken by the ark of God 36:39 the same experience came to Jesus. 36:46 Because Jesus left not only the heavenly Jerusalem 36:49 he also left the earthly Jerusalem for the last time. 36:53 Notice Matthew 26:30 36:58 speaking about what transpired after the Last Supper it says 37:01 "And when they had sung a hymn, 37:03 they went out to the Mount of Olives." 37:07 And you know what happened to Jesus there 37:10 in the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives. 37:12 Jesus felt forsaken by His Father. 37:15 He begged His Father to take the cup from Him 37:18 if it were possible. 37:19 And as Jesus is hanging on the cross 37:21 He says Father, into your hands I commend my Spirit, 37:24 if I pleased you allow Me once again to see Your face, 37:28 allow Me once again to be in Your presence, 37:31 allow Me to be in Jerusalem again. 37:36 Now it's interesting to notice 37:37 that a very close adviser of Jesus 37:42 had a very similar experience to Ahithophel. 37:47 In fact if you go with me to John 13:18 37:52 you're gonna notice that Psalm 41 is actually quoted. 37:57 The Psalm which refers to the betrayal of David 38:00 by Ahithophel is actually quoted by Jesus 38:04 and He's applying it to whom? 38:07 He's applying it to Judas Iscariot. 38:11 We're told their in John 13:18, 38:15 here Jesus is speaking. 38:17 "I do not speak concerning all of you. 38:20 I know whom I have chosen, 38:23 but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, 38:26 'He who eats bread with Me 38:29 has lifted up his heel against me.' " 38:37 Where does that quotation come from? 38:40 It comes from Psalm 41. 38:43 But what happened with the council 38:45 that Judas actually gave to the religious leaders. 38:51 It what? It backfired. 38:55 The council that he gave 38:56 to have Jesus delivered actually backfired, 39:01 because he didn't expect the Jesus to deliver Himself. 39:06 And so what did Judas actually do? 39:09 Judas went out and just like the Ahithophel 39:14 he hung himself. 39:17 Are we dealing with coincidences here? 39:20 This is actually a repetition of history 39:23 on a much broader scale. 39:26 And then of course at the cross Satan was defeated 39:32 and Jesus ascended to heaven. 39:33 You can read it in the last three pages of Desire of Ages 39:36 also Revelation Chapter 4 and 5. 39:39 And in midst of the jubilation of the heavenly hosts 39:44 Jesus is given his crown once again 39:48 and he's given his royal role 39:50 and He sits with His Father on His throne, 39:55 because He has defeated the enemy. 40:00 Now let me ask you, 40:02 what eventually is going to happen with this enemy 40:05 because Jesus won the victory on the cross, 40:07 but the final battle is gonna take place 40:09 when the wicked led by Satan surround the New Jerusalem 40:14 and those who are outside the holy city 40:16 are far more in number than those who are inside. 40:20 In fact we're told that their number is 40:22 as the sand of the sea. 40:26 Are the armies outside the holy city 40:28 going to be destroyed? Yes they are. 40:31 And what's gonna happened to the leader? 40:35 The leader is also going to be destroyed. 40:37 And I want you to notice what's gonna happen with him 40:39 Isaiah 14:15, Isaiah 14:15. 40:45 Speaking about this being Lucifer. 40:50 "Yet you Shelby brought down to Sheol." 40:58 That's the grave the tomb. 41:00 To the lowest depths of the what? 41:04 "To the lowest depths of the Pit." 41:10 What happened with Absalom? 41:12 He was thrown in a pit 41:15 and a pile of stones were thrown over him. 41:18 What's gonna happen with this Lucifer 41:20 who became proud of his beauty and proud of his riches 41:23 and proud of his wisdom and proud of his power? 41:27 We're told that he will be defeated 41:29 along with all of his armies. 41:34 And he will be brought down to the lowest parts on the pit. 41:39 And how many of his posterity 41:42 will exist after he is destroyed? None. 41:47 Notice Malachi 4:1, we all know this verse. 41:51 Malachi 4:1. 41:53 It says "'For behold, the day is coming, 41:56 burning like an oven, and all the proud, yes, 42:02 all who do wickedly will be stubble. 42:05 And the day which is coming shall burn them up, 42:07 ' Says the Lord of hosts, 42:08 'That will leave them'" neither what? 42:11 "Neither root nor branch." Who is the root? 42:15 Satan. 42:17 Who are the branches? 42:20 His followers. 42:22 The seed of the wicked will not be named. 42:26 Their names will be blotted out according to the Scripture 42:30 from the Book of Life. 42:34 So we have these two stories, 42:37 story of Absalom and the story of Lucifer. 42:43 One story illustrates the other story. 42:49 But what does this have to say to us? 42:53 You know, there's a very important principle 42:55 involved in this story or in these stories. 43:00 And Jesus expressed the core and central lesson 43:03 that He wanted to us to learn from these stories 43:10 as He was speaking to the Scribes and the Pharisees 43:15 He expressed in a very succinct short way these words. 43:21 "And whoever exalts himself 43:28 will be humbled, 43:31 and he who humbles himself will be exalted." 43:39 Do you see this in the story of Absalom? 43:43 Very clearly. 43:45 See, Absalom was down here what did he want to do? 43:49 He wanted to take the place of David. 43:52 So what he did was exalt himself. 43:56 But what happened to Absalom as a result? 44:00 He was humbled. 44:04 What a contrast between Absalom and David. 44:11 David actually humbled himself by going up the Mount of Olives 44:17 weeping with head covered, 44:21 feet without any shoes, crying out. 44:28 He humbled himself and as a result 44:32 he once again came to Jerusalem and he was exalted 44:36 among the jubilation of the Israelites. 44:39 Notice 1 Timothy 3:16 speaking about Jesus, 44:45 the Bible speaks about two mysteries by the way, 44:47 the mystery of godliness and the mystery of iniquity. 44:50 We're dealing with those two mysteries in our study today. 44:53 1 Timothy 3:16. 44:54 I want you to notice the movement in this verse. 44:58 It says "And without controversy 45:00 great is the mystery godliness." 45:05 Now what is the mystery of godliness? 45:07 God was up here was what? 45:15 Manifested in flesh. 45:17 In other words the God who was up here what did He do? 45:20 He came down, He humbled Himself. 45:26 But now notice, because he humbled Himself 45:28 I want you to notice what happens. 45:31 "God was manifested in the flesh." 45:33 Now the movement is gonna start upwards. 45:36 "Justified in the spirit." 45:37 That means that He resurrected "seen by angels" 45:42 as He's ascending "preached among the Gentiles, 45:47 believed on in the world, and received in glory." 45:51 When it says received up in glory 45:53 it's not talking about His ascension, 45:55 because the preaching of the gospel to the Gentiles 45:57 has not taken place yet. 45:59 It's talking about the final receiving of Jesus in glory 46:02 when He returns to heaven with His people. 46:05 In other words He who was up here 46:07 came down and took flesh 46:10 and therefore from down here you have the movement upward 46:15 until finally He sits upon the throne again. 46:19 But there's another mystery mentioned in the Bible. 46:21 It's known as the mystery of iniquity. 46:23 There's two mysteries in the Bible. 46:25 And I want you to notice the mystery of iniquity 46:27 in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4. 46:31 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4. 46:36 This is speaking about the final antichrist. 46:40 "Let no one deceive you by any means, 46:44 for that Day will not come unless 46:45 the falling away comes first, 46:47 and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 46:51 who opposes and exalts" notice "and exalts himself 46:55 above all that is called God or that is worshipped, 46:58 so that he's sits as God in the temple of God, 47:02 showing himself that he is God." 47:07 In other words, with the antichrist 47:11 you have the opposite as with Christ. 47:14 With Christ the word who is God is made flesh. 47:19 And then when He humbles Himself he is exalted 47:24 even to the point of God's throne again and in fact, 47:29 He will be crowned at the end of thousand years. 47:33 He will be placed on His own thrown, His throne of glory. 47:37 Amidst the jubilation of all of the beings of the universe 47:41 but the mystery of iniquity functions differently. 47:45 The mystery of iniquity is when a mere man 47:49 is not satisfied with his position. 47:52 He wants to sit in the temple of God 47:56 showing himself that he is what? 47:59 That he is God. 48:00 Now what's gonna happen to this antichrist 48:03 who seeks to take the positions or the place of Christ. 48:07 Actually we're told a little later on 48:09 in 2 Thessalonians Chapter 2 48:11 that this power is going to be destroyed 48:16 by the brightness of the coming of Jesus. 48:20 And so he who exalted himself will be humbled and destroyed. 48:25 He who humbled himself will be what? 48:29 Will be exalted. 48:31 This is the essence of the teachings of Jesus. 48:35 We can talk a lot of-- about a lot of things concerning Jesus 48:38 and He talk a lot of very important theological points, 48:42 but the center or core 48:44 of the teachings of Jesus is this. 48:46 He who exalts himself will be humbled 48:49 and he who humbles himself will be exalted. 48:53 Let me ask you, what do we do about beauty? 49:01 Are we filled with ourselves, because of our beauty? 49:06 What do we do with our wisdom and our intelligence 49:10 and the understanding that God has given us? 49:12 Most of the world has corrupted their wisdom 49:15 to bring glory to themselves. 49:18 What do we do with our riches? 49:20 Do we use them to glorify ourselves? 49:24 The world is filled with the thirst of power. 49:28 What do we do with the powers that God has given us? 49:31 Are they for the honoring glory of God 49:33 or are they for our own honor and glory? 49:38 You know, this makes me thinks of the story of Nebuchadnezzar. 49:41 Perfect illustration once again of the same issue 49:43 he who exalts himself will be humbled 49:45 and he who humbles himself will be exalted. 49:49 You know, Nebuchadnezzar one day goes out 49:51 to the balcony of his palace. 49:54 You find this in Daniel 4:30. 49:57 And he says these words. 50:01 "Is not this great Babylon," 50:06 that I have built, 50:09 "that I have built for a royal dwelling 50:13 by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?" 50:20 Can you hear the conceit in those words? 50:23 Say Nebuchadnezzar lived for self. 50:25 All of his riches were for people to look at him, 50:27 all of his wisdom was to make his kingdom great. 50:31 All of his power was to subject all of the nations to himself. 50:38 And so God hears those words. 50:42 And so God says is that so. 50:46 Well, I'll tell you what, I'm gonna remove 50:48 the pearl of reason from you 50:54 and from a human being you're gonna become like an animal. 50:59 And so the great king 51:02 who boasted about his greatness was humbled. 51:09 In fact he was humbled so much 51:12 that we're told that he had to live like the beasts. 51:15 You know, grew great big nails. 51:19 And, you know, his hair grew long 51:21 like the feathers of an eagle we're told. 51:24 You can imagine like a mad man, 51:27 because he thought that he was great because of himself. 51:31 After seven years a vegetarianism, 51:38 actually veganism 51:42 we find Nebuchadnezzar receiving from God 51:45 once again the pearl of reason. 51:48 See if God gives us reason we have, 51:50 if God doesn't give us reason we have not. 51:54 So let's not think we're so great. 51:57 Let's not be proud of our beauty, and our intelligence, 52:00 and our wisdom, and our power, and our greatness, 52:04 and our things that we have. 52:06 Let's not bring glory to ourselves 52:09 through all of these things. 52:11 Finally when he snaps out of it 52:12 we find in Daniel 4:37 these words. 52:16 Listen to the change in attitude. 52:18 "Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol 52:24 and honor the King of heaven, 52:28 all of whose works are truth, and his ways justice. 52:32 And those who walk in pride 52:35 He is able to put down." 52:40 Did you catch that? 52:42 All walk in pride, He's able to put down. 52:44 And by the way, I'll just mention this verse in Job 41:34 52:50 where it speaks about Leviathan. 52:52 You know who Leviathan, is right? 52:55 Leviathan in Isaiah 27:1 is spoken of 52:58 as the coiled serpent and the dragon. 53:01 In others words Leviathan is the symbol of Satan. 53:04 And the last verse in chapter 41 of the Book of Job says 53:09 that "Leviathan or Satan is king 53:13 over all of the children of pride." 53:19 So people who are proud are whose children? 53:23 Leviathan's children. 53:27 You all know that statement in Proverbs 16:18 53:30 where it says "Pride goes before destruction, 53:35 and a haughty spirit before a fall." 53:42 The greatest grace that the church needs 53:44 these days is the grace of humility. 53:47 To realize that anything that we are 53:49 everything that we have is not ours. 53:52 The honor and the glory belongs to God. 53:57 You know, if I can speak just a moment 53:58 about my own personal experience. 54:01 I go please places and people say, 54:02 wow that was just awesome sermon. 54:05 I've never heard that before. 54:08 Where do you get these things? 54:10 You know, and there's always a temptation saying, 54:13 well, yeah, you know, 54:17 I'm pretty great nobody's seen this before. 54:23 But I've learned in the course the years that 54:26 that anything that I have 54:27 and I have to remind myself every day 54:30 that everything that I have is due to God. 54:35 I mean first of all He's the one who gave me the breath of life. 54:41 Secondly He gave me something to preach. 54:44 I didn't have this God's word 54:46 I wouldn't have anything to talk about. 54:49 And third He gave me a mouth, He gave me a tongue, 54:57 He gave me lungs and He gave me vocal cords. 55:00 So where is the reason for glory? 55:03 The book is His, the equipment is His and the life is His. 55:11 So we can't boast about anything. 55:13 That's what led to the destruction of Absalom 55:17 and it will eventually lead to the destruction of Lucifer. 55:23 I'd like to end by reading Philippians 2:5-11 55:26 or you see this movement. 55:29 Do you notice with Lucifer it says 55:31 I will ascend to the highest and I will be like the most high? 55:33 God says I'm gonna throw you down to the pit. 55:36 He who exalts himself will be what? 55:38 Will be humbled. 55:39 But notice the contrast with Jesus. 55:42 "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 55:47 who, being in the form of God, 55:51 did not consider it robbery to be equal with God." 55:54 Actually He did not consider equality with God 55:56 or something to be hung on to, something to be grasped. 55:59 He was equal with God, he was caught. 56:03 "But made Himself of no reputation." 56:06 God didn't force Him. He made Himself, He chosen. 56:08 "He made Himself of no reputation, 56:10 taking the form of a bondservant, 56:14 and coming in the likeness of men. 56:17 And being found in the appearance as a man, 56:20 He humbled Himself 56:22 and became obedient to the point of death, 56:24 even the death of the cross." 56:26 That's the humbling part. Now notice the result. 56:28 It says "Therefore God also has highly exalted Him 56:35 and given Him the name which is above every name, 56:38 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, 56:41 of those in heaven, and of those on earth, 56:43 and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should 56:46 confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, 56:49 to the glory of God the Father." 56:52 He humbled Himself, therefore He was exalted. 56:58 How about us? 57:02 You know, we can either humble ourselves 57:04 or we will be humbled 57:09 because the humbling is our work. 57:11 He who humbles himself will be exalted. 57:13 And he who exalts himself will be what? 57:16 Will be humbled. 57:18 It's my prayer 57:20 that our experience would be one of humbling, 57:23 so that we might be exalted with Jesus very, very soon. |
Revised 2014-12-17