2SAM.19:15 "HOW WILL YOU MEET THE KING?"
* This chapter finds David returning to Jerusalem after a forced exile caused by Absolom his son.
* Absolom is now dead & King David is returning to retake his rightful place on the throne-Israel.
* David’s return finds the people of Israel in various states of mind and in various states of
preparedness for his return. * In this chapter, and in the first verse of chapter 20,
* We are presented with five different people who met the king.
A) Each one meets him with a different attitude & from a different point of view.
* Needless to say, before we are done, we will see that not everyone was happy to see the king!
B) This morning, I want to intertwine this story with the story of another returning King!
* The Bible tells us that there is a King named Jesus who left this earth one day to go back to
heaven from where He originated! * Before He left, He gave His people some promises,
* that stand as a glorious hope for the people of God, but that also stand as a solemn warning
for those outside Jesus! * Notice a couple of those glorious promises:
C) John 14:1-3 "Let not ..." * Acts 1:9-11 "And when he had spoken these things ..."
* Rev.22:20 "He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so ..."
D) Now the truth of the matter is, not everyone will meet Jesus the same way when He returns!
* Some will be excited and happy, others will be caught off guard, still others will be found lost,
* and undone and will find that an eternity in hell is all they have before them!
* The question I have for you this morning is this; How will you meet the King?
E) This morning I would like to look at the lives of five of the men who met King David,
* when he returned from exile & I would like to show you, from the accounts of these men,
* how many will meet King Jesus when He returns some day!
F) As I preach this message, please allow the Lord to speak to your heart & look inwardly,
* at yourself, as you consider the question that must be answered, "How will you meet the King?"
(1) V.16-23 WILL YOU BE WORRIED? * When David returned, two of those who met him,
* were named Ziba and Shimei. * Both of these men had reason to be worried when they saw the
king coming! * Notice what they had done:
A) Let’s Consider Ziba. * When David left Jerusalem, Ziba came to the king & brought him food
and other necessities (2Sam.16:1-4). * In the process of giving food to the king,
* Ziba took the time to slander the name of Mephibosheth, and by doing so, he obtained all the
property that belonged to Mephibosheth under false pretenses.
* In short, Ziba lied to the king & attempted to deceive him. * Therefore, Ziba was worried,
* and rightly so, when he saw the king coming!
B) Let’s Consider Shimei. * When David was about four miles outside the city of Jerusalem,
* on his way into exile, he passed a village named Bahurim.
* As he & his men passed by, a man named Shimei came out & ran along the hillside cursing
David and throwing rocks at him and his men. (2Sam.16:5-13)
C) By cursing David, Shimei was guilty of blaspheme against the Lord’s anointed.
* By doing so, he was worthy of death, yet he received mercy in that David refused Abishai
permission to kill Shimei. * Shimei had enjoyed freedom while David was away,
* but when he saw the king returning, he certainly had reason to worry.
D) By their actions, these men paint a picture of many of those who name the name of Jesus.
* That’s right! * Not everyone who says that they are saved is living for the Lord, nor will they
be ready when He comes! * Sadly, many are guilty of hypocrisy like Ziba,
* Because they refuse to live like the Lord wants them to.
E) Others are guilty of pure blaspheme in that they claim to love the Lord,
* but live lives that deny Him! * When the Lord saves a soul, He takes possession of that life!
* 1Cor.6:19-20 "What! Know ye not that your body is the ... which is in you, which ye ......."
F) The saved person loses all rights and control over his/her life! * As a result,
* We are expected by the Lord to live for Him! 1Pt.1:16 "Because it is written, Be ye holy ..."
* However, many who say they are saved refuse to get in line with the Lord!
G) Will you be worried when Jesus comes? * Yes, if you are not living a sold out life before Him!
* If you have chosen to be unfaithful to the Lord, His house, His work, then you have reason to
worry, because when He comes, we will all stand before Him at the Judgment Seat of Christ!
* "Well Preacher, I can live as I please!" * Yes! but know there will be a price to pay!
* Ecc.11:9 "Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy
youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, ..."
H) The return of Jesus doesn’t have to be faced with worry and fear, but many will be caught
off guard by the return of Jesus, but it need not be so! Jesus Himself said in Matt.24:44,
* "Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh."
(2) V.24-30 WILL YOU BE WAITING? * One of those men who came out to meet David,
* was a man named Mephibosheth. * This was the man who had been misrepresented by his
servant Ziba. * When Mephibosheth comes out to meet the king,
* we see that he hasn’t washed or shaved since the day David left Jerusalem.
A) He had apparently spent his time in mourning over the king’s absence & in waiting for his
return! * There is a very good reason for this! * Mephibosheth’s story is told in 2Sam.9:1-13.
B) He was a descendent of Saul and Saul was the enemy of David.
* David had every right to kill Mephibosheth, but instead, David spared this cripple,
* and took him into his own family as one of his own sons.
C) Mephibosheth’s love was based on what the king had done for him!
* He longed for nothing more than to see the king!
D) When David did return, he acted a little unfairly in regard to Mephibosheth, (v.29)
* But the love of Mephibosheth is seen in the fact that he cared not about his land or property,
* He only cared about being with the king!
E) Not every Christian will be worried when Jesus comes. * There are some who spend their
lives waiting for Jesus to return! * To their hearts there will be no sweeter sound,
* than to hear that trumpet blast and the shout from heaven, "Come up hither!"
* I want every one who is looking for the Lord Jesus to know that one day your heart’s cry
will be answered! * Jesus will do as He said & will return in power & glory to take us home!
F) Will you be waiting when He returns? * Don’t let His coming catch you looking at the world,
or it’s treasures! * Instead, let’s all strive to be found looking for Jesus when He returns!
* Are you looking for Jesus to return this morning? * If so, then rejoice, for He may return today!
* The King is coming! * Keep watching & waiting, for He will return! Heb. 9:28 "...unto them ..."
(3) V.31-40 WILL YOU BE WORKING? * Barzillai was another who came to meet David when
he returned to Jerusalem. * Barzillai meets the return of the king with great joy & happiness!
* He is glad that the king has returned & even though he is 80 years old,
* he still comes down to welcome the king home!
A) Not much is known about this man the Bible calls "very great" (2Sam.19:32).
* However, the Bible does give us one glimpse into his life! * It seems that when David was away
in exile that Barzillai was faithful in his service to the king & was instrumental in seeing,
* that the king’s needs were met (2Sam. 17:27-29).
B) When the king returns, we find that same spirit active in the life of this faithful man!
* Yes, Barzillai was old, yet he kept on working for the king!
C) Will you be found working when the King returns? * In truth this morning,
* There are a lot of Christians who are AWOL! * They refuse to serve the Lord with faithfulness!
* They are afflicted with what the Bible terms "divers diseases." (Matt.4:24) Note some:
D) Sundayitis - this condition produces symptoms that are only seen on Sunday!
* It produces acute laziness in the person afflicted! * It causes them to sleep in,
* Or it can make them spend the day in the mountains or at the lake!
* This strange disease never seems to affect singings or eating meetings,
* But only those services where the Word of God is featured!
E) Symptoms are usually worse from 9 AM to 12 PM. * During the afternoon,
* The sufferer feels better until 5 or 6 PM when the symptoms return.
* The patient is almost always better by Mon. morning allowing him to return to work,
* But sadly he usually suffers a relapse on Wed. that keeps him from prayer meeting.
F) Spiritual Paralysis - This condition doesn’t affect any other area of life, but-Lord’s work!
* People can hunt, fish, go on vacation, etc. * They usually look well and can attend church
with little problems. * The only symptom is inactivity!
* This disease usually causes the afflicted to refuse all jobs in the church. (Nursery)
* The most common phrase heard from those afflicted is, "Get someone else."
G) Cirrhosis Of The Giver - This all too common affliction produces severe tenderness in the
area immediately around the wallet or checkbook! * It causes the sufferer to,
* feel compelled to give as little as possible to the Lord and His Kingdom’s work.
H) There are several other afflictions such as Sore Eyes, Black Tongue, Spiritual Bruises,
* Spiritual Malnutrition, etc. * There are some of you that are afflicted with some of these...
* My question for you is this: "Will you be found working when Jesus returns?"
* Barzillai was faithful to David & he kept living, giving, & working until the king returned!
* Can the same be said of your life? * It should be said of every child of God!
* 1 Cor. 4:2 "Moreover it is required ..." * Required - to demand, order, command,
I) Thank God there are some who are still working! * They love the Lord,
* And are still in the vineyard laboring for the Master! * May I remind those of you who have
decided to remain faithful to the Lord that He will bless your faithfulness to Him!
* Stand your ground for Jesus & if everyone falls around you,
* or if everyone deserts the battlefield,
* You keep fighting for the glory of the Lord! * Those who stand will receive the victory!
* 2 Sam.23:11-12 * Will you be found working when the King comes? * Luke 12:40-48
* Will you be worried? * Will you be waiting? * Will you be working?
(4) 20:1 WILL YOU BE WITHOUT? * There was one other fellow who met David when he
came back. * His name was Sheba. * He is described in v.1 as the "son of Belial."
* This phrase refers to a person who is a rebel or wicked man!
A) This man Sheba had one thing on his mind & that was overthrowing the king!
* He wanted to see David ousted from the throne! * He hated David and tried to cause Israel to
follow him in rebelling against King David!
* In response, David’s generals went after Sheba & he was finally killed! 2 Sam.20:22
B) This man Sheba represents all of those who are the enemies of the Lord Jesus Christ!
* Now many may feel that they are not the enemies of Christ, but the truth of the matter is,
* That every person who is not in a personal relationship with Christ is the enemy of God!
C) And when King Jesus returns, these people will find themselves shut out of the kingdom,
* And shut out of an eternity in Heaven! * Will you be without when Jesus returns?
* If you are not saved, you will find yourself on the outside of salvation, on the outside of heaven,
* On the outside of hope, & on the outside of the mercy and the grace of God!
D) The good news is that the return of Jesus Christ doesn’t have to catch you off guard!
* You can be ready for His coming! * He loves you, He died for you, & He wants you!
* Don’t be like Sheba & find yourself lost forever! * Be saved & have a blessed eternity!
CLOSE
A) How will you meet the King? * If Jesus came today, and He could, would you be worried?
* Would you be found waiting? * Would you be found working?
* Or would you be found without? * Like it or not, Jesus is coming again!
B) And when He does, He will find you in one of these 4 situations of life!
* Which will it be for you? * Right now is the time for coming to the Lord & making things right!
* Will you do that which you need to do today, so that when Jesus does come, you will be
able to meet the King right?
