Scripture: 1 Samuel 25.

Pastor's teaching is on "Anger" today and a particular incident in David's life before he became king. David and his men were in a desert area and nearby a man named Nabal from Maon is at his property in Carmel for shearing his 3,000 sheep and 1,000 goats.

David, having at one time protected Nabal's shepherds and flocks, sends 10 of his men to Nabal to greet Nabal speaking good health to him, his household and to all that was Nabal's. They recounted when David and his men protected Nabal's shepherds and flocks and then ask for Nabal's favor in sharing with them whatever Nabal thought was fair or appropriate.

David's words were gracious, but Nabal a surly, mean man responds saying, "Who's this David? Why should I take my bread and water and meat and give any to his men who come from who knows where?"

David's men report this rejection back to David who responds in anger with, "Strap on your swords." He and 400 of his men head back Nabal.

David has revenge in mind but then Abigail, Nabal's wife, hears how Nabal responded to David and she comes up with a plan to stop David's intended revenge. Abigail's chooses to act and her response is not only dramatic it is instructional.

Abigail's Response
⁃ Clear thinking
⁃ Decisive action
⁃ Calculated risk

Abigail packs bread, wine, meat, grain, raisin cakes, figs and loads it on donkeys and goes where David and his men were without telling her husband Nabal.

She comes to an angry David and his men on their way to find Nabal. Abigail falls at David's feet. David has 400 men with him, his temper is on edge, and now this lady comes to him. Abigail asks David not to pay any attention to what Nabal had said. And she says, "let this gift your servant has brought to my Lord, be given to the men who follow you." Then she asks for forgiveness and goes on to talk about all the Lord must have in store for David, that he is a man who has not sought revenge, but rather did things God's way. She proceeds with a curse for all who pursue David and a blessing of security in the Living Lord God for David. She ends with a request for David to remember her when the Lord fulfills His promises to him. She says he would not want to have on his conscience the staggering burden of needless bloodshed and then she closes with a request for him to remember her.

Abigail's response was issued with grace and spirit-guided wisdom with an emphasis on the things of God and it changes David's heart in an instant. He responds, "Praise be to God who has sent you to meet me. May you be blessed for keeping me from bloodshed and from avenging myself." David is convicted.

David is a man who has God's heart, and even when he has gone astray, he is willing to take correction.

Dealing with Anger
⁃ Recognize the danger
⁃ Practice self-control
⁃ Deal with the cause
⁃ Respond graciously

Only the Lord God can give us the strength and resources to truly control our anger.

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This series looks for answers to some of the most common, pressing and most difficult questions that are heard today.

The question for this video: "Is Jesus the only way to God?" This question comes from supporters of Jesus, from seekers looking for truth, and from skeptics.

Pastor will approach this question with the desire to be:
⁃ Biblically Accurate: tell what the Bible actually says
⁃ Rationally Defensible: and why what the Bible says makes sense

Many times our question, "Is Jesus the only way to God? Starts with this question, "Didn't Christians invent the claim that Jesus is the only way to God?"

So let's address this first. No, we didn't invent this - Jesus did, He's the one that made the claim.

John 14:6 we read: "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one come to the Father except through me.'"

Luke 19:10 - He came to save the lost
Matthew 20 - He came to give His life for us
Mark 10 - He is the ransom payment

Biblical Narrative
- Creation - The story of creation - God made all things by His Word and God gave man 1 choice….
- The Fall into sin - man broke the relationship with God, others, nature and self.
- Promise of a deliverer, the Messiah, Jesus.
- Provision through God's Grace - We are saved by the mercy of God not by our actions. God provided His Son as the Sacrifice for the sin, the shedding of blood and death on the cross
- Fulfillment was found in the coming of Jesus into the world, who lived the perfect life, willingly went to the cross for the sins of all. For my sins and your sins, it's personal. See John 3:16.

Our sin has separated us from God and what we need is a sacrificial victim who lays down his life for all and Jesus, the Son of God, gives His life for all. He pays the price for our sin.

Acts 4:12 "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved."

1 Timothy 2:5-6 "For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people."

1 John 5:13 "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may now that you have eternal life."

Eternal life is a gift offered through the shed blood, suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus. That is the clear teaching of the Bible. It is biblical accurate and rationally defensible.

The final question:
"Whom will YOU believe?"

When one looks at other religions outside Christianity, our to other leaders that people follow, they were and are mortal. There is only one who is immortal. Only one has conquered death through His resurrection. There's only one who is alive. And that is Jesus.

This is the fork in the road…
Who will you listen to. The dead ones or The Living One?

Jesus is alive forever more and He will return. Without Him there is no hope. With Him we have everlasting life and that is the Gospel truth!

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Scripture: 1 Kings 1-11, 1 Chronicles 28-29, 2 Chronicles 1-9, 2 Samuel12:24-25, 1 kings 1, 1 Kings 2:2-3, 1 Kings 2:13ff.

This study will take us on an adventure through a period of approximately 400 years, a highly significant time when God was moving in a mighty way among His people, Israel. It will cover from around 970 BC when Solomon took the throne until 586 BC when Solomon's Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians. It is a time filled with incredible stories, amazing truths, especially applicable truths and lessons for us in our lives today. There is an amazing cast of characters, people like you and me, sinners, all, but individuals whom God used in a wide variety of ways. And it all ultimately points to the Hope of the world, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Messiah, and King of Kings.

Background:
Moses & Exodus - ca. 1446 BC
Joshua's Conquest - ca. 1406 BC
Judges rule - ca. 1390-1050 BC
King Saul - ca. 1050-1010 BC
King David - ca. 1010-970 BC

We begin our study with Pastor encouraging us to read about the reign of Solomon from around 970 - 931 BC in the following books of the Bible:
1 Kings 1-11
1 Chronicles 28-29
2 Chronicles 1-9

Solomon is believed to be the author of:
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Songs

David and Solomon each reigned for 40 years and their combined 80 year reign ushered in Israel's Golden Age.

David known for being a warrior, a worshiper of God, musician and writer, he was also devout - while not perfect, he did follow the Lord. A man who followed God's heart.

Solomon was known as a man of peace, a man wisdom - authoring hundreds of proverbs, a man with literary gifts, but Solomon was divided - starting well but not finishing well.

Solomon: Early Years
⁃ Birth - 2 Samuel 12:24-25 - the son of David and Bathsheba.
⁃ Adonijah's Conspiracy - 1 Kings 1 - Adonijah's the oldest living son of David and attempts to take the throne so that Solomon could not.
⁃ Solomon's Coronation - 1 Kings 1 - Solomon is anointed while Adonijah's party is going on. Solomon was crowned king while David is still alive.
⁃ David's Words - 1 Kings 2:2-3 - David encourages his son, Solomon, to be strong, observe the commands and decrees of the Lord, and the laws and regulations as written in the Law of Moses.
⁃ Adonijah's Appeal - 1 Kings 2:13ff - works to undermine Solomon's throne.but Solomon ordered Adonijah's execution thereby preserving his throne and reign.

Israel grew in size under David so Solomon receives a very powerful, large kingdom.

Next week we will take a look Solomon as a Wise Leader.

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Scripture: 1 Samuel 24, Matthew 7:20, Numbers 15:37-39, Romans 12:19, Deuteronomy 32:35, Leviticus 19:18, Mark 11:25, Luke 6:28, Romans 12:20, Proverbs 25:21-22, Romans 12:21.

Today's class is entitled, "Revenge" and Pastor will compare worldly wisdom with biblical wisdom on the topic of revenge.

As we read chapter 24 of 1 Samuel, we read that David is now in en Gedi and Saul has found out and is headed along with 3000 men to en Gedi to find David. En Gedi is a wilderness area but it has several springs and many caves for hiding. As the story continues, Saul went into one of these caves to relieve himself. Unbeknownst to Saul, David and his men were further back into the cave hiding.

David's men prompted David that this was his chance, his opportunity to put an end to the hiding by killing Saul. But instead David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul's robe. This is action is prophetic. The Hebrew word that is used for "corner" is kanaf. It refers the corners of a Hebrew robe or prayer shawl. The scriptures were particular about what was to be on the corners of those robes. Numbers 15:37-39 "…make tassels on the corners of your garments….you will have these tassels to look at… to remember all the commands of the Lord that you may obey them …" And David cuts off a corner tassel.

The tassel, was to remind Saul to walk in God's path rather than his own path, to walk in God's will and not his own will. The tassel was to say pursue peace, be honorable, be faithful, walk by faith. Saul had abandoned those things and when David cut it off it was a prophetic act showing Saul's wandering from God's will.

Next we read that David's conscience convicted him for cutting off the corner of Saul's robe. He tells his men that he shouldn't have done that to the Lord's anointed king, Saul. David's men encourage revenge but David stands strong saying that it would be contrary to God's plan and will. David rebukes the men and doesn't allow them to attack Saul. Instead David exits the cave calling to Saul and bowing down he says, "Why do you listen when they say David is bent on harming you. This day you have seen with your own eyes how the Lord delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you. I will not lay my hand on my Lord because you are the Lord's anointed. See this tassel of your robe in my hand, yet I did not kill you, but you hunt me down to take my life."

David holds Saul accountable even as he shows the heart and grace of God to Saul. We see that the activities of a person are a window into his heart and if we seek revenge we are going contrary to the heart of God. We can deal with unjust treatment and still refuse revenge while still holding the individual accountable.

Saul wept at David's words saying, "You are more righteous than I. You have treated me well but I have treated you badly."

What does God say about revenge?
- Romans 12:19 - revenge is the Lord's - God is the righteous judge and he will judge in the end

Resisting Revenge
- Love your enemy Leviticus 19:18
- Forgive your enemy Mark 11:25 (this doesn't mean we approve of what they have done, it does mean we let go of the bitterness, anger and desire for revenge.)
- Pray for your enemy Luke 6:28
- Feed your enemy Romans 12:20 as this can draw them into repentance before God.

Pastor ends with Romans 12:21: "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." This is how we are called to act. That's what we see in David and that is what we see in the heart of God.

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Scripture: 1 Samuel 21-22 and Psalm 34.

Today's class is entitled ,"Crippling Fear." Crippling Fear describes the kind of fear that can easily cripple us. But Crippling Fear also describes how God can cripple our fear.
1. Fear can easily cripple us
2. God can cripple our fear

As our story opens we see Saul trying in every way possible to get rid of David, to kill him through any method he can find. Then Saul shares with Jonathan (his son and David's best friend) that he is determined to kill David and that he won't relent. And so David has to flee from Saul and he heads to Gath - Philistine territory. David left behind his position as one of the leaders of the Israelite army, his wife, his best friend, his home, his friends, and more.

David gets to Gath and is recognized. He had thought he could live there in anonymity, but being recognized, he became fearful. Not just a little fearful but a lot fearful and so he decides to pretend to be insane in order to protect himself. This man who had been so courageous, is now paralyzed by overwhelming fear.

So then David leaves Gath and goes back into Israelite territory to the caves of Abdullah. David's father's family and his brorhers' families and others come to the cave with David. It's at this time that David writes Psalm 34.

There are four timeless truths in Psalm 34 that tell us how God can conquer our fear, something David knew but needed to be reminded of. And like David, that God conquers our fears is something we need to be reminded of too.

Psalm 34 Truths
1. PRAISE GOD (even in the darkest of times) David didn't start out this poem with, "Woe, is me." He started out with, "I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together." Praising God is to be our natural response of faith and transforms us from within because when we praise God we are looking to him not to our condition. It's looking heavenward versus looking inward.
2. GOD DELIVERS - strength is found in God's inner presence and not in our own strength. It is God alone who delivers us. As David turns to God in praise he finds God ministering to his very soul, delivering him from fear. David is no longer crippled by fear but sees that God cripples fear! As we praise God and He delivers us, the Lord Jesus encamps around us. Hi is the One who says, "I'll never leave you, don't be afraid, I am with you."
3. FEAR GOD - not in the sense of being afraid of Him - but in holy awe through repentance and in faith and in obedience. Fear God alone and no one else.
4. GOD SAVES - "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18 David reminds us that the Lord is close to us. He saves and restores us. He rescues us.

How de we deal with the fear that cripples? The answer is we turn to God who cripples fear.

We turn to God, praising Him even in the fearful, hard, difficult, dark times. We praise Him because we know He is where we find deliverance from our fear. He conquers our fear. We come to Him in holy awe, in faith, in repentance and in obedience because we know He saves us. He rescues us IT'S ALL ABOUT GOD!

What will it be in our lives? Are we going to allow fear to cripple us or will we turn to the One who cripples fear for us? It's a simple but profound and important choice.

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Scripture: 1 Samuel 18.

Today we look at the cost of fame, the discouragement of injustice, and we will see what we can learn from David on how to navigate through them.

In our text we read of David's progression of fame. He was a natural leader, a brilliant tactician, and widely acclaimed for his accomplishments. While David increased in popularity, Saul became very angry and he began to keep his eyes on David. Saul saw David as a threat to his throne and begins to want David killed, even throwing his own spear at him several times - but David escapes.

David is an honorable man and refuses to retaliate by attacking Saul because he knows that Saul is the currently anointed King. (David has been anointed to be the next king, but he knows God is in charge of that timing so honors God's current choice of king by not retaliating against him.)

Saul sends David away on warrior campaigns hoping David might be killed, yet David continues to be successful. With David's continued success in leading the Israelites so skillfully in battle and his acclaim continuing to grow, Saul becomes afraid of David.

What we see is David's fame increases as he navigates the perils of fame. How did God enable David to cope, thrive and survive the fame with people and the injustice from Saul?

A look at David's Character:
⁃ David trusted in the Lord above all else. He trusted in the Lord and not in himself, not in his own abilities or his own insights. David did what Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."

⁃ David was courageous because his courage came from God. David knew what the scriptures say, "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

⁃ David was patient and did not act rashly or try to take matters into his own hands. He knew he was the Lord's newly anointed king but he did not usurp that authority. Rather he remained patient in waiting for God's timing. Psalm 27:14 "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."

⁃ HOWEVER! David WAS a sinner like all of us. Jesus is our Savior. We are not saved because of anything we've done, but rather we are saved because of everything that Jesus has done!! Philippians 5:8 tells us that Jesus, "being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!" David is a great hero, but Jesus is our Savior!!

We not only have forgiveness and eternal life through Jesus, but we have the strength to live our lives each day with purpose and with profound impact by relying on Him alone!

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Dig Deeper Preview: Why does Jesus have two family trees shared in the Bible?

Today's class is a special preview of the upcoming Tuesday Bible Class series: Dig Deeper.

Why does Jesus have 2 family trees?
1. One in Matthew 1:1-16
2. One in Luke 3:23-38
And they are different. So let's look a little deeper.

The major accepted answer has been that one tells the genealogy of Jesus' mother, the Virgin Mary, and the other the genealogy of His step father, Joseph. There is evidence to support and suggest that that is the case.

1. Matthew 1:1-16 The Legal Genealogy - Jesus is legally accepted as Joseph's adopted son and Joseph is a descendant of king David.
2. Luke 3:23-38 The Physical Genealogy - born of the Virgin Mary.

But as we did deeper what do we see?

There are differences. They are different.

Matthew
Abraham
David
Solomon
Jehoiachin
Jacob
Joseph
Jesus

Luke
Adam
Abraham
David
Nathan
Heli
Mary
Jesus

Is there significance that the lineage changes following David? Yes, dramatic significance:
1. Matthew traces Jesus' legal genealogy from David to his son Solomon. Matthew is telling us that Jesus as the legally adoptive son of Joseph, is a descendant of David and all of the kings of Judah who followed.
2. Luke traces Jesus' physical genealogy from David to his son Nathan. Luke is telling us that Jesus is a descendant of David in the flesh but not through Solomon but through Solomon's brother Nathan.

And this is fascinating because the prophet Jeremiah was given this word: - A word about David's decendants ending with Jehoiachin the last of the kings of Judah to survive. Jeremiah 22:30 "This is what the Lord says:'Record this man [Jehoiachin] as if childless, a man who will not prosper in his lifetime, for none of his offspring will prosper, none will sit on the throne of David or rule anymore in Judah.'"
The curse came upon the line of David after the time of Solomon until the time of Jehoikin and then God says no descendant of the kingly line of Jehoichin will ever sit on the throne.

Jesus inherits the kingship that could never have been given to any descendant of Jehoiachin. He receives that through legal means by his adopted father. But he is the descendant of David in the uncursed line who will reign for ever.

This is just what the angel told Mary - the angel Gabriel announced Mary that she would give birth to a son. Luke 1:32-33 " He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob's descendants forever; his kingdom will never end."

Legally Jesus was part of the royal line.
In the flesh Jesus descended and born of the Virgin Mary - He is the One on whom there is no curse. He is the only one who can reign on David's throne and He will reign forever!

That's who Jesus is - the Living God come to earth for us - who fulfills every detail the Hebrew Scriptures.

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Scripture: 1 Samuel 17-51, Ephesians 6:10, 2 Corinthians 10:4, 1 Corinthians 15:57.

Today's story is the most familiar, famous and well-known battle in the Old Testament - David and Goliath - but is there still something we can learn from a story we know so well?

This is a battle between Goliath and the Philistines and the Israelite army. Goliath challenges them every day for 40 days: "send a man to battle me, if I kill him you become our slaves and if your man kills me we will become your slaves."

40 days are significant in the Bible - it is a time of preparation and renewal that at its end brings forth mighty things from God.

On the 41st day of the challenge - David arrives with food for his brothers and others in the army and he learns of Goliath's challenge. David is in his teens - younger than age 20 and he arrives at a critical moment. He is concerned for God's honor. Seeing this challenge as a spiritual battle, he speaks bravely. His brothers ridicule him - yet he says he will take Goliath on.

To King Saul, David shares stories of past bravery and says the Lord will rescue him from the hand of Goliath. David is Spirit-filled, knows his strength is in God alone, is confident and bold and recognized it is God who saves. David trusts the Lord who delivered him in the past to deliver him again.

So Saul tells David to fight Goliath and he outfits David in his armor but David takes it all off as he's never worn anything like that before.

Comparisons:
⁃ David a young teen and untrained in battle vs Goliath a well trained warrior
⁃ David is of small stature vs Goliath who stood at 9 feet 9 inches tall
⁃ David is dressed in a shepherd's simple clothing vs Goliath with a bronze helmet wearing 125 pounds of body armor
⁃ David's weapons were his shepherd's staff, a slingshot and 5 smooth stones vs Goliath carrying a 15 pound spear plus a javelin.

And David goes out to meet Goliath and says, 'you come against us with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the Name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the Armies of Israel and this day the Lord will deliver you into my hands - I will strike you down and cut off your head for the battle is the Lord's and He will give all of you into our hands."

David runs toward Goliath and slings a stone hitting Goliath in the head and Goliath falls down dead.

This is not simply an historic battle record - it is clear insight into what the New Testament describes as spiritual realities.

Spiritual Realities
⁃ Spiritual warfare - life is a battle but we know God wins.
⁃ Spiritual weapons - we put on the armor of God: prayer, the Name of Jesus, God's word, daily filling of the Holy Spirit
⁃ Spiritual victory - is in Christ Jesus.

From this familiar story we are to learn we are to be familiar with the lessons that
⁃ We are in the midst of a battle
⁃ The Lord provides strength to triumph through faith in Jesus Christ.

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