Royal Outcast / 10. Royal Outcast Wk1: Loyalty
10. Royal Outcast Wk1: Loyalty
Originally recorded on Sunday 8th April 2018.
Speaker: Joel Virgo.
Key scripture 2 Samuel 15: 13 - 29
This book is about David who goes through stages of betrayal from his son Absalom and turns against him and usurps his position as King in Jerusalem. It’s a painful story at this stage, with shining moments of loyalty he experiences.
All of the Bible is about Jesus. Whilst he isn’t present physically in the Old Testament, he is there through predications made about him, songs that about more than just the immediate meaning and through the lives of others who stories get told, such as David, Moses, Esther etc. Features of their life draw attention to the one who is coming later on in the story- Jesus himself.
David in this story is going through a time of challenge having been through safety now he is becoming a refugee, hunted for his life by even his own offspring. When he says to Ittait ‘he doesn’t know where he is going (vs 20), it foreshadows a very important feature of Jesus’ life. Jesus said to his disciples "Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." (Luke 9:58). The disciples had to get used to the fact there was little stability whilst following Jesus because he had a lifestyle of movement, but also he was somewhat an outcast in the society he lived in. They understood that they wouldn’t be accepted either because they follow someone who is content to be out of step with the world. This mirrors to Christians today as well in that the way western society is going, its becoming less comfortable to follow Jesus. It won’t be the obvious convenient option. However, the emotional resources for getting through this exile are found in the Royal Outcast- Jesus himself.
David’s Kindness- David’s strength in exile is shown through his amazing selflessness. He lost not just his position, but also family. In that situation you would long for a friend and band of brothers, which he seems to have in Ittai. David feels for Ittai in the way that he is also a foreigner and says that he should go back to the city. His thoughts were with Ittai even in the moment he himself was experiencing extraordinary suffering. David was modelling this by reflecting the one who modelled it perfectly throughout his whole life- Jesus. In John 18 -8 Jesus implored the accusers to let his disciples go and take him alone. He didn’t indulge in self-pity, but saw in the light of his beloved disciples. David was showing strands of this kindness.
Ittai’s Loyalty- In 2 Samuel 15:21 says ‘Whether for death or for life, there also will your servant be.’ This is a powerful declaration of loyalty from Ittai to David. The loyalty on display here is very rich. Now if you follow Jesus, you’re going to stand out. How do you find the strength to journey with others in exile? What does it look like to follow Jesus when it’s not cool? Loyalty is sticking with it even in those times.
How to find strength in exile:
1. David’s Confidence in God’s Justice – (2 Samuel 15: 25 -26). The ark of the covenant was the most sacred object on earth. The people of Israel however, only a generation before this story, took the spiritual importance and used it as a lucky charm, even though their hearts were far away from God and they didn’t trust or respect Him. However, David understood that he is not God and it would exhaust him to try to be. He simply trusted God and allowed Him to decide the outcome even not knowing what that wuld mean. We will get to points in our lives where we will have to decide whether to trust God or manipulate the outcome for your own way. If you live in the way of the latter, you will live your life under the bizarre idea that you have the right to know the outcome of everything. That’s exhausting, just trust God. Do the right thing and let God decide, knowing in your heart that God is just.
2. Ittai’s Confidence in God’s Servant- Ittai saw the city and the people was in David’s heart. David chose to be a refugee for the sake of the city and people. This is similar to Jesus going to the cross for the sake of his people. Ittai saw that kind of selflessness in David and perhaps he saw Jesus through this perhaps in ways he didn’t understand but it was enough to transform his perspective and trust to follow David.
We find strength in God. Samuel Rutherford quote ‘‘O my Lord Jesus Christ, if I could be in heaven without Thee, it would be hell; and if I could be in hell, and have Thee still, it would be heaven to me, for Thou are all the heaven I want.’’
Speaker: Joel Virgo.
Key scripture 2 Samuel 15: 13 - 29
This book is about David who goes through stages of betrayal from his son Absalom and turns against him and usurps his position as King in Jerusalem. It’s a painful story at this stage, with shining moments of loyalty he experiences.
All of the Bible is about Jesus. Whilst he isn’t present physically in the Old Testament, he is there through predications made about him, songs that about more than just the immediate meaning and through the lives of others who stories get told, such as David, Moses, Esther etc. Features of their life draw attention to the one who is coming later on in the story- Jesus himself.
David in this story is going through a time of challenge having been through safety now he is becoming a refugee, hunted for his life by even his own offspring. When he says to Ittait ‘he doesn’t know where he is going (vs 20), it foreshadows a very important feature of Jesus’ life. Jesus said to his disciples "Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." (Luke 9:58). The disciples had to get used to the fact there was little stability whilst following Jesus because he had a lifestyle of movement, but also he was somewhat an outcast in the society he lived in. They understood that they wouldn’t be accepted either because they follow someone who is content to be out of step with the world. This mirrors to Christians today as well in that the way western society is going, its becoming less comfortable to follow Jesus. It won’t be the obvious convenient option. However, the emotional resources for getting through this exile are found in the Royal Outcast- Jesus himself.
David’s Kindness- David’s strength in exile is shown through his amazing selflessness. He lost not just his position, but also family. In that situation you would long for a friend and band of brothers, which he seems to have in Ittai. David feels for Ittai in the way that he is also a foreigner and says that he should go back to the city. His thoughts were with Ittai even in the moment he himself was experiencing extraordinary suffering. David was modelling this by reflecting the one who modelled it perfectly throughout his whole life- Jesus. In John 18 -8 Jesus implored the accusers to let his disciples go and take him alone. He didn’t indulge in self-pity, but saw in the light of his beloved disciples. David was showing strands of this kindness.
Ittai’s Loyalty- In 2 Samuel 15:21 says ‘Whether for death or for life, there also will your servant be.’ This is a powerful declaration of loyalty from Ittai to David. The loyalty on display here is very rich. Now if you follow Jesus, you’re going to stand out. How do you find the strength to journey with others in exile? What does it look like to follow Jesus when it’s not cool? Loyalty is sticking with it even in those times.
How to find strength in exile:
1. David’s Confidence in God’s Justice – (2 Samuel 15: 25 -26). The ark of the covenant was the most sacred object on earth. The people of Israel however, only a generation before this story, took the spiritual importance and used it as a lucky charm, even though their hearts were far away from God and they didn’t trust or respect Him. However, David understood that he is not God and it would exhaust him to try to be. He simply trusted God and allowed Him to decide the outcome even not knowing what that wuld mean. We will get to points in our lives where we will have to decide whether to trust God or manipulate the outcome for your own way. If you live in the way of the latter, you will live your life under the bizarre idea that you have the right to know the outcome of everything. That’s exhausting, just trust God. Do the right thing and let God decide, knowing in your heart that God is just.
2. Ittai’s Confidence in God’s Servant- Ittai saw the city and the people was in David’s heart. David chose to be a refugee for the sake of the city and people. This is similar to Jesus going to the cross for the sake of his people. Ittai saw that kind of selflessness in David and perhaps he saw Jesus through this perhaps in ways he didn’t understand but it was enough to transform his perspective and trust to follow David.
We find strength in God. Samuel Rutherford quote ‘‘O my Lord Jesus Christ, if I could be in heaven without Thee, it would be hell; and if I could be in hell, and have Thee still, it would be heaven to me, for Thou are all the heaven I want.’’
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Originally recorded on Sunday 8th April 2018.
Speaker: Joel Virgo.
Key scripture 2 Samuel 15: 13 - 29
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