Amen so we're gonna finish up second Samuel chapter 15 remember last week. We looked at
Absalom's mo just kind of how those people operate, but we're gonna look a little bit closely tonight at
Some some several other people here and the rest of this passage
But really we're gonna be dealing with tonight is the subject of loyalty, and I know this is something
I've preached on but you know it just comes up again here in this chapter
And it's you know we saw it again in second Samuel chapter 2
But you know you got to kind of preach
What's in in the text here and whenever you're dealing with people who are in leadership if you're ever dealing with people that?
Are following leadership you know this subject of loyalty is something that comes up quite often
And we see it again here in this passage because you have what you have a leader like David
And you have those around him that are following him
So we're gonna look tonight at just some different examples of of loyalty
And then and there's actually some unlikely sources here
And if you would we're gonna look first of all at those that are loyal to David
Okay, and if you look at verse 14 it says and David said and all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem
Arise let us flee for we shall not escape from
Absalom make speed to depart lest he overtake us suddenly and bring evil upon us and smite the city with the edge of the
Sword and the king's servant said unto the king behold thy servant thy servants are ready to go
What to do whatsoever though my lord the king shall appoint so the first group of people that you see that are loyal to David
Are his servants okay, and that's pretty expected. You know that's not something that would really catch you off guard
I mean, they're the ones that are you know serving the king. They're the ones that are you know helping him
They're the people that have been near him the most
But they notice they're ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint and of course
They're probably kind of wanting to save their own skin as well here a little bit
So this loyalty from the servants really isn't that surprising but there are some other sources in this chapter
where it is a little bit more surprising and would come from people that maybe you wouldn't expect and
Says in verse 16 and the king went forth and all his house sold after him and the king left ten women which were cute
concubines to keep the house and
the king went forth and all the people after him and tarried in a place that was a far-off and
all his servants passed on beside him and get this and all the
Cherithites and all the Pelethites and all the Gittites
600 men which came after him from Gath passed on before the king now who are these people who are the
Cherithites the Pelethites and the Gittites well these are Philistines
Okay, these are people that are coming after him from Gath it says okay
So this is kind of an unlikely source of loyalty that you would see to David because typically
What we see in scriptures is that the Philistines are often the oppressors of Israel
They're often the enemies of Israel. In fact, you're probably thinking of a very, you know import a very big figure
Forgive the pun a very prominent figure in Scripture, you know Goliath who was also from where Gath
He was the champion of Gath. He was a Gittite, right? So he was a Philistine
Okay
So that's that's who's following David here is not only his servants those that you would expect
To stay by him those that you would expect to be loyal to him
But also these this unlikely source of loyalty in the Philistines you say well, why is it?
Why were these people loyal to David?
You got to remember David spent a lot of time in the land of the Philistines when he was fleeing from Saul
He did exploits there
You know, he even was probably well known and respected there because of the fact that he did kill Goliath, right?
Which was their champion and you know
It just goes to show you that even these heathen nations that were around them could acknowledge and see
You know that God was working through David that he was his anointed
so this is this on you know likely source of people that are going to show their loyalty to David and
You know and again, you know, why is it that people are going to be loyal to somebody?
Is it because of their charming personality?
Is it because they just like you know them as a person is?
Because they're just so nice and kind all the time or is it because of the things that they do because of the stance
That they take you know one it would be you know a cult of personality like if we're just following somebody
We're just loyal to somebody because you know
We just like how they speak or we just like the way they are their personality
Are we really what are we really loyal to you know? We're really not loyal to any kind of a principle, okay?
We're just loyal to a person
Okay, now we should be loyal to people who stand up and take a strong stand
You know, it's that's another thing, you know to be loyal to David in this instance
What are they being loyal to they're being loyal to somebody who was anointed of the Lord?
They're being loyal to somebody who is being used of God in a great way
That's who they were being loyal to they weren't being loyal to David because of his charming personality
Okay, in fact David had some faults, you know, and a lot of people knew about it
You know, he were just coming out of his sin with Bathsheba or just a few years, you know several years removed from that
And so he's got you know some imperfections. He's got some flaws. He's got some shortcomings, but you know loyalty
can look past that loyalty can forgive people and understand that people aren't perfect and
Be loyal to not just a person but actually to a set of principles that that person
Represents okay, and you know, this is something that kind of gets lost on people today
This idea of loyalty or if you even suggest that people should be loyal to somebody, you know
It's it's they think oh, it's a cult. You're just trying to you know, just blindly follow somebody
No, I you know, I'm loyal to you know our pastor pastor Anderson because of the fact of the the righteous stand that he takes
You know when I moved out here eight years ago from Michigan
I didn't move out here just because you know, I wanted to bask in the glow of Pastor Steven Anderson
You know
I moved out here because I wanted to be in faithful word Baptist Church
Where there was some soul winning going on where there was a man of God who was preaching the whole counsel of God
That's what I wanted to be a part of
You know, I didn't move out here just so I could be part of the new IFB
Okay, and I'm not against all that I'm for it, you know, we're in it
But you know, I moved out here to go to faithful word Baptist Church
Moved out here to be under the preaching of God's Word and to learn how to go so many
I was loyal not to just a person but actually the
Principles that that person stood for the stance that that person took on the Word of God. That's what I was loyal to and
You know again you you start to talk like this to people about being loyal to somebody for the things that they do for the
Things they stand for and they just they just glaze over they just think it's just odd, you know the strange concept
You know, but we should develop loyalty in our lives not and not just in the church situation
You know, how about loyalty in a marriage, you know, that's something that's gone out the out the window these days, isn't it?
Where people are no longer faithful people are no longer loyal to those that they've taken their vows to
You know so you can apply this to a lot of different areas in your life
But again, these Philistines you would think that they would this they would seize upon their opportunity
Oh, they got David on the run, you know, you think maybe they're just you know
brooding for years after everything he's done to them and all the
The battles that he's won against them and killing their you know, their champion and Goliath
But what you find out is that they actually are very loyal to David
Instead of pouncing on him and trying to just you know, stab him in the back
They remain loyal and when David has to flee when David has a time of trouble
They're there with him because they know what kind of man he is. Okay, so this is one unsourced
This is one source of unlikely
Loyalty the other one I want to look at a little more closely here is this newcomer and I tie it
Okay, I the get tight, excuse me
It says in verse 19 then said the king to a tie the get tight wherefore goest thou also with us
Return to thy place and abide with the king for thou art a stranger and also an exile
Whereas thou camest but yesterday should I die this day make thee go up and down with us?
So he says to him that he came to him but yesterday now
I don't believe that he's actually saying look you literally showed up yesterday
But what he's saying is look you're new here, you know, you can't it's like you just showed up
You know, you just came and you're and you're just trying to follow me. You're somebody that's that's just recently found out about me
he's a newcomer right and
He's saying look you don't need to come with me. I understand, you know, if you want to go back
This is maybe a little over your head. You know, this is maybe not what you thought you were signing up for
It's understandable. I don't expect you to be loyal to me. You hardly know me
Okay, and he says they're seeing I go whether I may return thou and take back thy brethren
Mercy and truth be with thee. I love my tea eyes
Tais answer here because you know he get he's given an out, you know and think about what's going on in the story
He's about to go with David
They're not really sure exactly how things are gonna turn out and it could be that if you know
Maybe things have gone the other way at a I you know might have gone down with them
So he's kind of sticking his neck out here on David's part saying, you know what? No, I'm gonna go with you
I know I'm new here. I know I just got here. But you know what? I'm gonna be loyal to you David
And again, this is an unlikely source of loyalty and he says in verse 21 and I tell you I answered the king and said as
The Lord liveth and as my lord the king liveth surely in what place my lord the king shall be
Whether in death or life even there also will thy servant be he's saying look. I don't care if it cost me my life
I'm willing to be where you are go over to Luke chapter 8 keep something there. Go to Luke chapter number 8
This is I love it a eyes answer he's saying look whether it's in death or whether it's life
It doesn't matter why because I'm loyal to the king. I'm loyal to David
I'm not just going to take this, you know, even though David is saying hey look
I don't understand if you need to leave, you know, you're a newcomer. I know you just got here
I'll understand if you know, you're not comfortable with going on and you need to go back
He says you know what? No, I'm loyal and look this is somebody that's new that just instantly has this
This is somebody that's coming and just already has that loyalty just built into them, you know
And would to God more people had that especially people who should know better people who have been long around long enough
People who should have more discernment on the importance of being loyal and aren't and sometimes it's the it's the it's the new guy
It's sometimes it's the the young person. Sometimes it's a someone who you know, who's new to church who's most loyal
You know
Maybe that's to the fact that they haven't been around long enough to start getting mad at the preacher and start
you know getting a lot of anger and resentment and bitterness in their heart to where they when they see their first opportunity to
Get out or stab the pass from the back. They're just on it
Maybe that's why it a I is so zealous here
Or maybe it's just that he has that in his character that he's just a loyal person understands the importance of being loyal to people
Especially being loyal to people who stand for righteousness and truth and the Word of God
You
Know what I love about a tea eyes that he's not testing the waters here is he?
He didn't just show up and kind of say well, let me see about you know, this whole church thing
Let me see what this Christian life's about. Let me just kind of dip my toe in it and see if I like it
Let me see if things are gonna go my way, you know a tea eyes like look I'm here
I'm going all the way in life death. It doesn't matter. I'm gonna be loyal
He goes all the way in and that's we need to learn about, you know real loyalty. It sticks through the hard times
You know, it's easy to be loyal when everything's going easy when everything's going well when everything is working out great. It's real easy
Oh, I'm loyal, you know when they're when there is no persecution when they you know
The sodomites aren't protesting outside the door when you know, the the preacher isn't on the nightly news
You know when my family isn't a you know getting after me about that church or whatever
It's easy to be loyal then but real loyalty isn't you know, isn't really proven until what it's tested
Okay, and that's what you see and I tell you I and again
It's not this guy who's been around a long time
This newcomer shows up and has more loyalty than even some of David's, you know own
Counselors as we'll see here in a minute. You're there in Luke chapter 8 look at verse 13. It's a familiar passage
I know but it says in verse 13
They on the rock are they which when they hear receive the word with joy and these have no root
Which for a while believe in the time of temptation fall away?
Of course is the parable of the sower he's talking about look there's some people they're gonna receive that seed they're gonna get saved
They're gonna they're gonna rejoice
But you know what when the temptation comes when the trial comes when the persecution comes they're not gonna remain loyal
They're gonna fade away. They're gonna they're gonna be the opposite of a tie
They're gonna say you know what? I was testing out that whole Christianity thing and it turns out it's not really for me
You know, I was trying out that whole going to church thing and it's not really my bag
You know, I'm gonna go I'm gonna go back to what I was doing before and they'll say, you know
I didn't really expect all the persecution. I didn't that's not what I signed up for. Well, you're no Attai then
You know, there's a Philistine back then that had more loyalty than even some of David's own, you know brethren his own kinsmen
He says in verse 14 and that which fell among thorns are they which when they have heard go forth and are choked with the cares
And riches and pleasures of this life and bring no fruit to perfection
But verse 15
but that on the good ground are they which in an honest and good heart having heard the word and keep it and bring forth fruit
With patience why patience because the tribulation will come because the testing will come because the persecution will come
Yeah, all they that live God in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution the Bible says
And that first group there they fall away when that temptation comes why because there's no loyalty there
The second group sticks around because you know, they're they're loyal they want to have that fruit
They want to bring it forth with patience. They have what an honest and good heart. They're the Attai eyes of this world
You know, they're tempted just the same as everybody else
Except they stick by the stuff
They remain loyal
You know, these are unexpected sources of loyalty, you know, there's these heathens from this heathen nation
That's typically an adversary of Israel are showing more loyalty to him than David's own son, you know
He's the one Absalom is the one creating insurrection. It's an unlikely source
Men like Attai who are just new to it you'd say well surely and we understand David's servants were there
You'd think there'd be some other people in the story that would have gone with David and they didn't
Those you would expect to be loyal or not
You know that's sometimes when that's when you find out who your friends really are when loyalty is put to the test and
People you would think oh surely this person's gonna stand by me
You know surely this person at the very least isn't gonna attack me
surely at this at the very least this person, you know, if they are gonna be able to just let things go and
Not harbor resentment against me
But a lot of times the people that you would think would be loyal to you turn out to be the ones that are the most
Unloyal you see example of that in the scripture
It says in verse 12 and Absalom sent for a hit the fell the Gilead night David's counselor
Okay, David's counselor, you know, this wasn't just anybody
And in the Bible is telling us about this guy for a very particular reason
This is David's counselor from this city
Even from guy low while he offered sacrifices and the conspiracy was strong for the people increased continually with Absalom
So when Absalom, you know breaks out in this rebellion he says, all right, let's go get a hit the fell because he's gonna join me
He'd already been conspiring with him
He's getting David's, you know counselor somebody you would expect that would have been loyal to David isn't he stabs in the back
I mean think about what he's saying though. You see he's David's counselor
He's saying you know, he's his peer right? He's he's a confidant to David
He's somebody that he should have been able to go to counsel for and and and and and got advice from
You know and it's it's unfortunate when you see leaders being disloyal to other leaders
It's unfortunate when you see pastors being disloyal to other pastors
I mean look it's one thing to not like a pastor to not like a
Movement to not like a set of churches and just say you know what? I don't want to be their friends
I don't want anything to do with them and just kind of do your own thing
It's another thing to get up and malign a whole group of people and get up and just you know
Talk trash on a whole group of people and just lump everybody together and just call them some of the worst things you can call
And you and you see that you see pastors do this and it's like of all the people that should have known about
Loyalty and what it means to be loyal
To have at least enough decency to to not do what they what they do it and attacking
You would think it would be them of all the people you would think it would be a pastor
It wouldn't go so far as to malign another pastor
But it happens all the time. I mean we see it. It's like a cycle nowadays. You know. It's just one pastor after another
It's just done with the new I've been and we can't stand these people and they're this and they're that
And look I know we're not gonna be everybody's cup of tea
You know and I'm sure we have some people that are a little rough
You know, we might have some at a eyes that are a little bit new to the game
You know, maybe they didn't come from a church background. Maybe they're not as polished as you know, the old IFB
Maybe they're a little rough around the edges
Maybe they don't you know have all their ducks in a row and are just gonna be the perfect little church members
You know, but at least they're standing up for something at least they're you know, loving the Word of God
At least they're loyal at least they love soul-winning
You know, but unfortunately what we see today are these a hit the fell types
Who just when things aren't going their way when they're thinking of it get advantage in some other way just disloyal
to somebody that they should have remained loyal to
Pastors turning on other pastors. How about how about this? You know, the fifth of felt was not only was his counselor
That hit the fell was from the same tribe as David and you'd see that if you go you can read it on your own
Joshua 15 if you like long lists of names that are hard to pronounce you go to Joshua 15 read it should be reading anyway
At least at least when you do your Bible reading, right?
That's where they're dividing up the land and when it goes gets to Judah
That's when you know this town guy low is mentioned, right? So guy low is in Judah
Meaning that they're from the same tribe meaning that this is his kinsmen
You know, it's it's bad enough that we see, you know pastors turning on pastors people who should know to be loyal not being loyal
But you know you even see that with Christians
You know just brothers and sisters in Christ, you know, so often they'll just turn on each other and it's not right
You have a fifth of felt not only was his counselor, but he was also, you know, his own kinsmen
He was from the same tribe. They probably knew the same people might have grown up together had memories
You know what disloyal people are only looking out for themselves. They'll won't put themselves out for somebody else
I mean, that's what it means to be loyal
If I'm gonna be loyal to somebody, you know, and if that loyalty is gonna cost me something, you know, that's real loyalty
Where I actually might have to make a sacrifice where I might be in convenience where I might be put out where I might be made
Uncomfortable, you know, that's that's what a loyal person does they go ahead and go through with that
Disloyal people can say oh, I'm loyal. I'm loyal. I'm loyal
I'm a loyal person
But as soon as things get a little uncomfortable as things things get tough as soon as it's gonna cost them something
As soon as it makes them a little a disadvantage there and say well never mind
I'm just gonna go run with Absalom now
I'm just gonna get with Absalom and hang out with him because you know
He's probably gonna take over and I'll just be loyal to him
they're just loyal to that what whoever they think can do something for them and
Once they've used somebody up
They're just on to the next guy and let me just be loyal to him until I use him up and then I'll be on
To the next guy
That's what this a hit the fellas like he's David's counselor
I bet he was real came across as real loyal that whole time that everything was going great for David
But as soon as things got a little rough, it's like well, I'm gonna be loyal to Absalom now
Then you want you were never really loyal were you?
We see this Christians turning on Christians, you know Christians who can't let things go
You know part of loyalty is just like I said over overseeing the overlooking things
You know, somebody has a fault somebody does something you don't like
You know just Christian love just Christian at it out of just for the sake of unity
People need to just learn to let things go and not dwell on fester on little stupid things that in the long run don't really matter
You know, it's an opportunity to show love
Go over to Proverbs chapter
Proverbs chapter 19 Proverbs chapter 19. We're gonna look at a few passages and problems just a few
You know part of loyalty is learning to let things go
You know if I'm loyal to you, I'm not gonna sit here and pick you apart
I'm not gonna sit here and try to find everything that's wrong with you
And when you do do something wrong when news flash
In a group of people you're gonna you know, you're gonna do or say something that's gonna upset somebody
You're gonna get this many people together this many times in a week for you know, you're we're gonna be coming here for years on end
There's I guarantee you at some point somebody's gonna just step right on your toe
And say something rude say something you don't like
And you know what love and loyalty just says, you know what?
I I'm gonna forgive them even if they don't ask for it. I can look past that
Because you know, this is a brother. This is a sister in Christ
This is somebody that I should be loyalty loyal to because I'm gonna tell you right now
There's not a lot of us in this world. I don't know if you've noticed that
There's not all I mean there's there's Christians right there's the umbrella of Christianity and then you start to narrow that down to
Baptists right which could mean anything these days then you get down to you know, independent fundamental Baptist
That's the even smaller group then you get down to the new IFB
You know, that's an even smaller group about like ten to ten churches or whatever it is right now
It's a very small group. There's not a lot of like-minded people like us
So we should be careful to do is not start tearing each other down and picking each other apart
What you'd actually try to do is practice a little loyalty to one another and be grateful that we have people who see things
That the way we do I
Mean a lot of people who just start out in the new IFB
They don't I don't think they understand what it's like to be in the old IFB
I mean being in the new IFB is great because of the fact that you know
You don't have to put up with a lot of the things you got to put up with the old IFB and look
No, well that B has plenty of great things about it
Okay, you can go to an old IFB Church and you can go in there and you can thrive and you could serve a Lord
I know it because I've done it
okay, and you know
I know plenty of other men of God and other good Christians who have just who've gone in for years and
Served an old IFB Church and have grown and love and love the Lord there and worship God there and have done great things for
God
Do you know you get that here too in a new IFB Church like this one?
But you know also you with some of the things you don't have to put up with
You don't have to put up with you know, the the six week long series on the pre-trib rapture
You know while listen to a preacher get up and try to explain that nonsense
You know, I went to an old IFB Church for like 11 years. I heard that one
Series on that and in 11 years, it was just a few months of trying to make sense of that
Imagine trying to you think sitting through my sermons is hard
Imagine a guy who's just confused about what the Bible says trying to teach it to you. It's it's it's it's tough to sit through
You don't have to put up with you know, the the hey, you know, we got a nursery, you know
We got a nursery, you know, you know if you're gonna be if you're gonna be you know feeding your child
You need to make sure you go in the back and sit in the stall somewhere
You know, we're just turn your kids over to whoever
Look, there's a lot and I'm not gonna go on and on about it, you know
But I'm just saying this is that if you're if you're in a church like this
You should be grateful for that and you should show some loyalty to it
And you should show some loyalty to those that have provided that to you, you know pastors like pastor Anderson
Who's done a lot for you know, this movement who's done a lot for this church, you know
We should it should expect, you know, I don't think it's a it's a it's a you know
A crazy thing to ask that, you know, we show loyalty to somebody like that and I'm not saying blind loyalty
Look, I'm if some if some pastor somewhere gets into some outlandish chin or there's something it's honestly needs to be addressed
so be it
but what happens is people just start to nitpick each other and
You wonder where it's really coming from when people start to just pull each other apart like that
Is it really because that you know, they have an issue with you know
How mean-spirited that person is or is it they've just been harboring some kind of resentment for years over something else
And now it's just they're projecting that on them
The Christians turn against Christians. It shouldn't be that way
Loyalty demands that we overlook
Transgressions Bible says I have you go to Proverbs 19 look at verse 11
It says the discretion of a man defer his anger and it is his glory to pass over a transgression
Bible says it's a glory for a man to say, you know what you've offended me. You did something wrong
You you know, you've upset me, but I'm just gonna pass over that transgression
I'm gonna forgive you as Christ has forgiven me
It's an opportunity for you to be Christlike to be like the Lord
So I want to be like Jesus. You know what be a forgiving person. I want to be like Jesus be a loyal person
Be a friend
Go over to Proverbs chapter 15 one more Proverbs chapter 15
Bible says he that covereth a transgression seeketh love
Seeketh love look and when people just get so upset over some little transgression. There's no love there
There's no loyalty there
Bible says that he that cover at the transgression seeketh love, but he that repeateth a matter separate it very friends
And look you can put up with you can overlook a lot of transgressions
You can look up with a lot of just put up with a lot of disloyalty and look over it
But it gets to a point where it's just one subtle jab after another when it's just one
You know just shot across the bow after another when people are just
subtly taking jabs at your pastor when people are just
You know picking apart people it gets to a point where if you're this type of person, you know
And you're dealing with somebody who is seeking love and will look over transgression, you know, there is a limit to that
It's you know at some point they are gonna get upset at some point. They are gonna lash out
The Bible says if you're there in Proverbs 15 verse 1 a soft answer turneth away wrath a
Soft answer turning with the way rat that you know, we love that first part. Don't we? I mean, we probably even know that one
We might even quote that to ourselves, you know when we get upset, you know when somebody makes us mad
I say, you know what a soft answer turneth away wrath and isn't that so true?
When you run, you know some you might be out in your business, you know throughout the day
Someone's having it. Some people are just having a bad day folks, you know, and it probably even some of us from time to time
You know, you didn't get that cup of coffee on the way out or you know
You had some argument on the way out or the kids didn't who knows what you know?
You got some bad news. Who knows you could just be having a bad day. We all have them
Sometimes we run into people and you know what they're upset. They're angry. They're wrathful
They're looking to just take it out on somebody and then you just say that give them that soft answer and it turns it away
And it says oh, you know what? I'm sorry. I'm having a bad day. But look when when people
Get pushed to a point, you know, there's the second half of this verse that comes into play
It says but grievous words stir up anger
Grievous words stir up anger
You know when people start just calling other people names
When people just start bashing someone's church or bashing someone's pastor repeatedly
Don't be surprised if some people get upset by it and decide to actually call it out for what it is
So, you know we should be loyal and Christians should be loyal to Christians and we should overlook a transgression and we should seek
love
You know, but we should also make understand that there is a limit to that with people, you know
if we're just continually going to be a disloyal person, it's gonna come back on our head and
That's what we see happening here at the hip of L
You know somebody you would have expected to be loyal who was nothing but
Eventually, I mean we'll get into it later, you know, he comes on it comes back on him
So we see some loyal people here in the get-tites and the in the and we see some
Loyal people here in men like a tai some disloyal people, but we see this split take place. Don't we?
Where are these people are siding with?
Absalom and other people are siding with David now. I want you to notice who gets what kind of people
Okay, and and David actually draws what the spiritual crowd they actually are the ones that are this is the spiritual crowd
That's following David that's sticking with him verse 23 and all the country whipped
It says with a loud voice now the people passed over the king also himself
passed over the Brook hydrant and the people passed over toward the way of the wilderness and
Lo Zadok and all the Levites were with him bearing the ark of the covenant of God and they set down the ark of God
And that Abiathar went up until all the people had done passing out of the city
So notice who it is that's following David. It's the priests. It's the Levites. In fact, they're even bringing the ark
Which is a pretty bold move because remember the ark isn't just something you move around on a whim
You don't just slap it on a cart, you know and just on a new cart, you know, remember Uzzah, right?
He got killed for that. There's a lot that goes into that and the spiritual crowd here saying, you know what?
We're gonna follow David. We're gonna stick with him. That's who he draws, you know, the other guy, you know Absalom
Yeah, there were some people that were loyal to him. But who was it a hit the fell?
You know what? You can have a hit the fell go ahead and keep your hit the fells
These people that will turn on you in a dime
They'll be loyal to you for years and then just one thing you say one thing you do you don't like and they'll turn on
You and side with your sworn enemy
You know, go ahead and have all the hit the fells, you know, I'd rather be with the spiritual crowd
I'd rather have you know, the spiritual people following
And that's what David had he had the priests and I love what David says when he sees this, you know
He doesn't say well, of course, you know, of course, they're gonna follow me, right?
He says in verse 25 and the king said unto Zadok carry back the ark of God in the city
If if I shall find favor in the eyes of the Lord
He will bring me again and he and show me both it and his habitation
And what's going on here with David as David is trusting in the Lord in the story
David is still a man of faith because you gotta remember this isn't the first, you know, this isn't David's first rodeo
You know being on the being on the run from somebody remember that whole book called first Samuel
where he's running from Saul and
and so he's used to this and you know, he's learned from experience that hey if I'm right if I'm doing right if God's with
Me, you know, he will bring me back
and
You know, that's how it always turns out in these situations. Is that you know, the Lord preserves those that are
True and faithful and he keeps them. Okay
He says he will bring me back again and show me both it and his habitation
But if you say thus I have no delight in thee behold here am I let him do to me as seemeth good unto him
And the king said also into Zadok the priest are thou not a seer return into the city and peace and your two sons with you
Ahima, ahima
As thy son and Jonathan the son of a be the son of a be a be a thar
See I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness until there come word from you to certify me
Zadok therefore and a be a thar carry the ark of again to Jerusalem and they tarried there
And what this shows me is that you know, David had some real spirituality
Yeah, he didn't just you know, have an air of spirituality or put himself out there as a spiritual person
You know, he actually had a real spirituality because again like loyalty true spirituality isn't proven until tested
You know, we say oh, I'm spiritual. I love the Lord
Yeah, but what about when you're you know set up when you got across the Brook Cai Dran
You know and your enemy is gonna be hot on your trail
You actually have to go through some persecution that's when your spirituality is really proven
you know when you actually have to have your own personal walk with God and
Look, this is this is a good message for you know, the young people, you know young people in this room
Need to actually develop their own spirituality
It needs to be real for you
You know
You can't just ride on mom and dad's
Coattails spiritually for the rest of your life because eventually you're gonna become adults and you're not to make your own serious spiritual decisions
You're gonna have to decide am I gonna follow Christ? Am I gonna live for the Lord?
You know mom and dad aren't gonna be there your whole life breathing down your neck. Did you read your Bible?
Did you say your prayers you can go ready to go to church?
Eventually, you have to get a point and say you know what? I'm gonna read my Bible. I'm gonna pray I'm gonna go to church
I'm gonna serve the Lord because I want it because I want to have a spirituality. That's real
That's what David had he's somebody that's why people are loyal to David it's because he actually had a real genuine
Spirituality and he didn't have to go around telling everybody about it. He actually was just that way
And we see that here with him being a having a genuine spirituality
Where as on the other hand a hit the fell has this completely fake spirituality if you notice there in verse 12
It says an Absalom sent for a hit the fell the Gilead night
David's counselor from his CD city even from guy low while he offered sacrifices
So, you know hit the fells they're offering sacrifices
But you know what as soon as Absalom this betrayer this Judas comes along and says hey, it's time
He just drops what he's doing and says, alright, let's go commit. So, you know, let's commit insurrection. Let's start a civil war
Let's turn on the man of God that's not a real spirituality. That's a fake spirituality in it
And you know, he's sitting there making his sacrifices, but you know what?
What was really in his heart came out didn't it? And how did he show that through his actions?
And it hit the fell ends up turning on his own, you know
His own a man from his own tribe not just as King not just as leader
Not just someone who's been a blessing to him, but actually somebody that is of his own kin
You know the Bible warns against us, you know
We should be loyal to fellow Christians and be very long-suffering and not have such a short fuse with one another
The Bible says and I'll read to you from 1st John 4 20
It says if a man say I love God and hate if his brother he is a liar
So I'm spiritual, you know, I love the Lord, but I hate my brother. You know what then you're a liar. You don't love God
For he that loveth is not his brother whom he hath seen how can he love whom he hath God whom he hath not seen
Saying look if you can't love your brother who is right there in front of you
Where your actions are gonna have an impact on them. Your words are gonna have an effect on them
How can you sit there and say you love God whom you have not seen?
It's a fake spirituality and fake spirituality will fail when it's tested
And when it does come time to prove your loyalty to prove your love for one another to prove these things they're going to fail
Now I want to point out here that
That these these the spiritual crowd that followed David, you know, it wasn't following David that made them spiritual and say well
I'm on David's side. So obviously, you know what they followed David because they were spiritual
They could see what was going on
They had some discernment and they could say this guy's right and this guy's wrong
This guy's gonna hit the fell this guy's King David
I'm gonna follow David because despite his faults despite that maybe he's not perfect in every way. He loves the Lord
He has a real spirituality and he's leader. I'm gonna be loyal to him
And we should done any say well, why do you want it?
You know, I know I've preached a few sermons on loyalty
But it just seems like a topic that needs to be preached on more and more these days
You know and it's important for us to get this down because I'm telling you right now God
values loyalty
God puts up an emphasis on it. God puts a premium on being
Loyal to who? Well, we talked about it earlier to fellow Christians go over to Psalms 101 Psalms 101
You say why should I be loyal to my fellow church member?
Why should I be loyal to a brother and sister in Christ because God wants you to be?
Because God puts a premium on being loyal to your own
Look at Psalms 101 verse 4. It says a forward heart shall depart from me
I will not know a wicked person who so privately slander at his neighbor him
Will I cut off him that hath an high look and a proud heart?
Will I not suffer mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land that they may dwell with me?
He that walketh in a perfect way. He shall serve me
He that work at the seat shall not dwell within mine house
He that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight
What is he saying? Look I'm gonna be faithful to what the faithful of the land
That's where my loyalty is going to be to those that are the faithful of the land
I'm not gonna put up with people who tell lies. They're not gonna tarry in my sight
People that are gonna slander their neighbor. I'm gonna cut them off
Why because I'm trying to be faithful to those that are faithful be faithful to those
Of the land that they may dwell with me he that worketh in a with the walketh in a perfect heart
He shall serve me. You know, we should be felt we should be faithful to our fellow Christians
People that are the faithful of the land and you know what that doesn't mean you get to just say well, I'm faithful
But I'm also gonna tolerate these other people who are slandering and lying
You know and those people need he says look if you're gonna be loyal to the faithful and those people need to be cut off
Those people need to be put away
Those are people you have to separate from
You can't say look you can't wear it's like if you want to use the analogy of the Civil War
You know if I wore the blue pants and the gray coat, I'm gonna get shoot at for shot at from both sides
You can't you can't be on both sides. You have to pick one. That's what loyalty is
Meaning loyal to your fellow Christians loyal to leadership go over to 1st Thessalonians chapter 5 1st Thessalonians chapter 5
You say well, of course you preach about being loyal to leadership you're in leadership
well, how about I'm just preaching because that's what the Bible teaches and
There's value to it and God puts an emphasis on it
The Bible says in 1st Timothy 5 verse 17 let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor
Especially they who labor in the word and doctrine saying let them be counted worthy of double honor
You know if they're laboring in the word, they're laboring in doctrine if they're getting up and teaching the Word of God
If they're studying and reading, you know, they're worthy of honor
Look at 1st Thessalonians chapter 5 verse 12
And we beseech you brother in verse 12 to know them which labor among you who are over you in the Lord and admonish you
You know, there are people in the Christian life that are over you in the Lord
You know whether it's you know in the church leadership or it might even just be a brother and sister of Christ
That's just been at it longer than you have
you know, you should know them and
And
Those that are over you in the Lord and admonish you and look why does God put people over us?
Why does their authority structure so that they can just hold us under their thumb?
And try to beat us down and make us do what they want. No, it's so that they can admonish you
And that's what leadership does
Lee, you know leadership gets up and is you know, that's why it's called a pastor, right?
Because he's overseeing a flock and a good pastor doesn't just let flock the you know, his sheep go astray
He goes and says you need to come back, you know, oh he's headed straight for a cliff
You know, but I don't want to I don't want a medal. I don't want to get in his business
That's not admonishing. That's a poor pastor a
Good pastor a good preacher a good leader would say hey look out for that cliff. You're about to go off
You know, he's not gonna sit back and just watch a wolf come in and devour the flock
He's gonna do something about that wolf
And you know what? We owe those people in return some loyalty
We owe them, you know a little respect
It says there in verse 13 and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake
Not because of how who they are and because of how charming they are or anything like that because of their nice personality
No because of the work that they do
Because of the fact that they run the wolf off because the fact that they're watching for your souls
That's why these people deserve a little bit of respect and a little bit of loyalty
That's what it says in Hebrews. I won't have you turn there
Verse 13 or chapter 13 verse 17 obey them that have the rule over you and submit yourselves. Why?
So that they can feel powerful
No, why because they watch for your souls. It's not an ego thing
It's it's because they're there to watch for your souls as they that must give an account
That they may do it with joy and not with grief for that is unprofitable for you
You know if you buck at church leadership and you say that preacher he's you know, he's off. He's off his rails
Whatever. I don't listen to listen that guy. You know what? It's it's it's not gonna be unprofitable to me. I'm gonna be fine. I
Mean, I'm not gonna be able to give an account for Joe with joy
Let's say yeah so-and-so, you know, I try to warn them but that's what happened and it's gonna be a sorrow
To me, but you know what who it's good who it's gonna be unprofitable for is you
You're the one that's gonna say I don't need anybody to watch for my soul
I don't need anybody to admonish me and you're gonna end up in sin
Because look is the world gonna come to you and say, you know, you shouldn't do that
Is the world gonna come to you and you're living in you know?
Being a drunk living in fornication and committing adultery or whatever sin you get into is the world gonna come to you and say hey
You should probably cut that out. It's not gonna turn out well for you. You're gonna make God mad doing that
No, of course not. They're gonna say hey you want some more you want to do that some more. Hey, keep at it
Hey good for you
They're gonna encourage that kind of behavior
There's very few people in your life that will come to you and say hey you need to knock that off
You need to get that right you need to straighten that out
You know and you can apply this all the way down to you know, the parent-child relationship
You know parents or children should appreciate the fact that they have a set of parents with rules
Oh, I don't like their rules, you know, the rules are in place to keep you from making a wreck out of your life
That's what they're there for
Not just so, you know, you know, it'd be a lot easier to just not have rules
It'd be a lot a lot easier. Just let people do whatever they want
It'd be a lot less grief to have to you know, it's not easy to go to somebody and say hey
You're doing something wrong. You need to knock that off. It's not fun
You know, it's not fun for parents to have to constantly discipline and correct their children
It'd be a lot easier in the short term to just let the kids do whatever they want
We see it all over the place you go out in public
You see these kids that are just left to themselves to do whatever they want. Why because their parents are lazy
Because it's easy. Just let the kid throw the fit. Oh, can I give you this? Oh, what do you want? Oh, please stop
It's it's harder to draw a line and deal with your children and get them in line, isn't it?
We should be thankful that there's people in our lives that will admonish us and encourage us and watch for our you know
As the Bible says for our souls
So we should be loyal to these people to our fellow Christians to leadership
But most of all obviously and if you get this one, right everything else will just fall right in line to the Lord
You be loyal to God
The
Bible says in Matthew, I'll read to you
It says in verse 37 he that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me and he that loveth son or
Daughter of more than me is not worthy of me, you know, our utmost loyalty be should be to God
before all else
And it should be a loyalty that's willing to go like a tie the get-tight unto death
He said whether by life or whether by death
Where you are David that's where I'm gonna be if it means it's gonna cost me my life
That's how far real loyalty will go
And that's what Jesus told the church in Smyrna in Revelation chapter 2 fear none of those things which thou shall suffer
Behold the devil shall cast on you in prison that you may be tried and you shall have tribulation ten days
And I'll understand, you know if you need to go fight the government
I'll understand
You know if you need to go and and take up some other banner and some other cause other my own and and for
Sake the church and quit living for me and and just go fight for your silver liberties or get involved in politics
Or whatever. I'll understand. I know the tribulation is gonna come. I know you're gonna suffer things
I know the world's gonna get worse and if you want to just go fight some vain empty
You know battle and just constant uphill battle all understand. Is that what Jesus told them?
Look, I'll understand if you need to you know
Go on a crusade against the Jews and defend yourselves
No, he said be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life
He's saying look you need to be faithful to me all the way even it costs your very life
and
People today are just forsaking church forsaking men of God
Forsaking their fellow Christians to go fight some vain empty uphill battle that they can't even win
And it makes me question sometimes their motivations
But you know if some people are just so genuinely upset about some of the things that are taking place in our world
You know, it just makes me wonder what are you gonna do when things get really bad?
So like I got to quit this church and forsake all these people and quit serving God so I can go fight, you know COVID
You know, I'm not you know, I'm gonna put down the banner of the cross. I'm gonna put down the God's Word
I'm gonna stop standing for that and just go wave the flag of no masks
And look, I'm not a fan. I ain't even either and I wish it would all go away
What do you think's the more important battle to fight?
The one the fighting for the Lord are going to fight that battle because I are you know
I preached about a few weeks ago. That's a losing battle
Evil men and seduce your cell wax worse and worse, you know, unless everybody, you know, just makes it
They're a vendetta to wake up the sheeple
That's that's not what's gonna happen. It's that's a losing battle
And it's just amazing you watch Christians just lose their minds over COVID
It reminds me in Jeremiah said in verse 12 chapter 12 verse 5 if thou hast run with the footman and they have wearied thee
Then how can thou contend with horses if in the land of peace where in thou trustest they wearied thee then how will it do?
Without do in the swelling of Jordan
Look, I understand it's difficult. I understand times are hard, you know, and people are having to make decisions about you know, these these
You know getting the jab or whatever, you know or lose their job
I understand there's real tough decisions and it's not easy, but I'm just here to tell you, you know compared to what's coming down
The pike that's nothing
That's the footmen
You know, that's that's us in the land of peace
You know where the masks are optional where jobs where you don't have to take that are still available
But people are losing their minds over this and I just wonder what are you gonna do when the actual mark of the beast comes?
What are you gonna do when the Anak ice actually does come to power if you can't handle this?
If this gets you out of church and gets you off track for serving God and gets you chasing your tail
What are you gonna do when the actual thing comes when the real persecution comes these people aren't gonna last
You know, that's why we need to remain loyal to the Lord most of all if we remain loyal to the Lord
You know, then you know what come what may?
Come death. I've got a crown of life
Come take my life
Come come persecute me
Because I know that ultimately all things are going to work together for good to them that love God to them
That are called according to his purposes
You know, I know when I get to heaven if I gave my life for Christ or I suffered persecution down here
I'm gonna be rewarded
So I'm just gonna stay loyal to him and keep serving him and just let come what may
But you know a lot of people out there they don't get that and they become very unloyal
and they become very vocal about how unloyal they are and
You know, that's why I say and we see this in this chapter here. Is that unloyal people, you know deserve to be exposed
Unloyal people deserve to get called out
Unloyal people deserve to be marked as what unloyal people
Backstabbers
people who will turn on you look at verse 30 and David went up by the ascent of mount all of it and
Wept as he went up and he had his head covered
he went barefoot and all the people that was with him covered every man his head and they went up weeping as they went up and
One told David saying it hit the fell is among the conspirators of Absalom
So he finds out that his own counselor his own kinsman is with and sided with Absalom
And he said well
You know, I'm sure he's just confused. I'm sure he's just you know, he'll come around eventually
You know, I'm sure he could still do good things over there, you know serve in
Absalom
You know, I'm not gonna say anything about it because I wouldn't want to upset anybody that likes a hit the fell
He said no and David said Oh Lord
I pray thee turn the council of a hit the fell into foolishness and then he goes and not only that
He plots against him look at verse 32 and it came to pass that when David came to the top of the mount
Where he worshiped God behold who shy the arkite came to meet him with his coat rent and earth upon his head
Unto whom David said if thou passest on with me, then thou shalt be a burden unto me
He's saying look I don't want to worry about you, okay
But if thou return to the city and say unto Absalom
I will be thy servant Oh King as I have been my father's servant hither to
So will I know also be thy servant then mayest thou defeat for me the council of a hit the fell
David just they come to bring in this news about a hit the fell he says, you know what?
he just prays his prayer and says God turn his turn his council into foolishness and
Then he actually sends a guy back
to counteract
His his his counsel
You know, he sends back who shy the hit tight, I mean David is exposing this guy and he's plotting against him
He says verse 35 hast thou not here with these Zadok and Abiath are the priests
Therefore it shall be that that thing whatsoever
so ever thou shalt here out of the king's house thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiath are the priests and
Behold they have there with them their two sons a high my as Zadok son and Jonathan Abiath our son and by them
He shall send unto me everything that you can hear
so who shy David's friend came into the city and Absalom came into Jerusalem and
You know, we're gonna get in next week and if you've read the story, you know
what happens is that a hit the fells council is defeated and he ends up taking his own life and
What we see is that unloyal people deserve what they have coming
They deserve what they have any judgment that comes in our life for their being disloyal to who?
To the man of God to their fellow Christians to their own
you know, they deserve what they got coming and
You know on unloyal Christians, they deserve harsh criticism
in my opinion
Look people that will turn on
Other soul winning churches people that will turn and malign whole groups of people that are trying to do something for God
They deserve every bit of harsh criticism that they have to coming to him because they've asked for it
And you say well, I don't know that's not very Christlike well, what did what did Jesus say let's just end on this thought Luke 9
Whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words of him shall the Son of Man be ashamed
When he shall come in his own glory and his father's and in his father's and of the holy angels
I mean, he's gonna be ashamed of some people there's gonna be some harsh criticism
You say all right, let's try the works and yours comes up all ashes
There's no well done thou good and faithful servant
It's an it's an eternity of I could have done more. I failed as a Christian. That's one long harsh criticism folks. I
Mean Christ, you know, he's gonna have some things to say everyone's like I can't wait for Jesus to come back. Are you sure?
That could be a scarier thought than you think
Especially if you're not right with God, especially if your life has counted for nothing for Christ. You've been out spinning your wheels
Over some vain thing and that's gonna all come to not it's not gonna count for anything
There might be some harsh words that are spoken when Christ comes back. In fact, there will be
you know in the meantime people that want to want to
Separate chief friends that people want to drive wedges between people and falsely accused people. They deserve harsh criticism
Why because they're unloyal people and let that never be said about us. Let us be people that are loyal
You know be loyal to the leadership that you have
Because they're not they're there for your sake to admonish you to watch for your soul
You know be loyal most of all to God
You know all those other things will fall in place. Let's go and pray