INTRO: Did you guys hear about the eleven kids found in cages in their home? It was a few weeks ago. Let me read to you the press release in case you’re not familiar with it.
Wakeman, Ohio – Sheriff’s deputies found 11 children locked in cages less than 3 ’/2 feet high inside a home, but a couple denied they had abused or neglected the children.
A judge on Monday put the children – who range in age from 1 to 14 and who have various disabilities, including autism – in foster homes.
The children were found in nine cages built into the walls of the house near this small city in northern Ohio, according to the Huron County Sheriff’s Office. They had no blankets or pillows, and the cages were rigged with alarms that sounded if opened, Lt. Randy Sommers said.
The children told authorities they slept in the cages – 40 inches high and 40 inches deep – at night. Doors to some of the cages were blocked with heavy furniture.
Sharen and Mike Gravelle are adoptive or foster parents for all 11 children, officials said. Prosecutors were reviewing the case, but no charges had been filed as of Monday night.
A children’s services investigator saw one of the children in a cage Friday, Sommers said. The sheriff’s office obtained a warrant and returned to the house that evening and removed the children.
Investigators believe nine of the children slept in the cages that were stacked two-high on the house’s second story. Two mattresses on a bedroom floor also showed signs of recent use, Sommers said.
One of the boys said he’s slept in the cage for three years, Sommers said.
-To top it off, these foster parents believed they did nothing wrong.
-C. Everett Koop: Life affords no greater responsibility, no greater privilege, than the raising of the next generation.
TITLE: The Tale of Two Families TEXT: 2 Samuel 6:11
I. Background. David has become king, and one of his desires was to move the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem so he could honor the Lord.
A. The Ark of the Covenant symbolized the glorious throne of God (Psalm 80:1, 99:1).
1. Remember David had a desire to build a sanctuary for the Lord. But the first step was to get the ark to Jerusalem.
2. So David involved all the key leaders in the event and issued a general invitation to the priest and Levites. As this great event was taking place
-Something went terribly wrong. It went from a great celebration to an earth-shattering experience.
B. Transporting the ark man’s way and not God’s way.
1. They were transporting the ark in a cart pulled by oxen; they were following the pattern of the pagan Philistines (1 Samuel 6).
2. God had given specific instructions through Moses how it was to be transported (Numbers 4). -That was to carry the ark on the shoulders of Levites.
Point: God’s work must be done in God’s way if it is to have God’s blessing!
3. David was afraid because the Lord struck down Uzzah for touching the ark so he decided to drop the ark off at Obed-Edom’s house.
Question: What happened? The Lord blessed him and his entire family.
C. How did the Lord bless?
-1 Chronicles 13:14b, "And the Lord blessed his household and everything he had."
1. The Lord blessed everything he had, whatever he touched prospered like the Midas touch.
-Can you imagine—whatever you do is blessed by the hand of God (workplace, all the problems that arise, in relationships, but most importantly having the blessing of God at home to touch your family).
2. Obed-Edom was made a special guardian (1 Chronicles 15:24, gatekeepers).
a. Gatekeepers were appointed to protect, to serve, to watch over. Used in a figurative sense, a gate represents power and dominion.
Example. God promised Abraham that he would possess the gate of his enemies.
-A gatekeeper is one who watches and determines what comes in and what goes out.
Thought: Just like parents who are gatekeepers in their homes guarding what comes in and what goes out.
3. Obed-Edom was a blessed man because, as you read through the Bible, you see his children were blessed. "They were very capable men," 1 Chronicles 26:8.
-Not only were his children blessed, but his relatives were because they went on to be gatekeepers (very important positions).
Summary: We have a man, who some scholars suggest was a Philistine (pagan), who was open to the ways of God, in fact he embraced them and had the presence of God in his midst. And it not only changed him and his family, but his relatives.
TS: Let’s turn to another family. II. Ahab and Jezebel.
A. Ahab was the king of Israel. Listen to what the Bible says about him. "He did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him," 1 Kings 16:30.
1. The scripture goes on to instruct us he married a pagan woman, Jezebel, and began to worship her gods, Baal and Asherah. He not only worshiped this way, but led the nation of Israel into it.
-He did more to anger the God of Israel than did all the kings of Israel before him.
2. These two plotted and schemed and killed for their own personal gain. They also killed the prophets of God.
-It was during this time that Elijah stood against the prophets of Baal and Asherah. God showed up and proved he was the God of Israel.
-Elijah has all these false prophets killed, and in turn Jezebel threatens Elijah’s life and he flees.
3. As time passes Ahab and Jezebel are continuing in their wicked ways. Judgment from God falls.
-Ahab goes out to battle—even though he disguises himself, he ends up dying (someone shoots him at random).
Thought: You cannot escape the judgment of God no matter how clever you are.
B. Jezebel, Ahab’s wife, has a violent death. She is thrown out of a window by her servants, some horses trample her under foot and then she is eaten by dogs leaving only her head, feet, and hands.
1. Well, you might ask, what happens to Ahab’s kids and relatives?
-Jehu the new king of Israel has all of his children beheaded and their heads put at the gate. (Remember the gate.)
2. Jehu not only kills his children, but he also kills all the relatives and friends. He goes through the town slaughtering anyone who was related to Ahab or even those who were his friends.
TS: When we look at these families we see ones blessed and ones cursed. III. Compare and contrast the two, Obed-Edom and Ahab.
A. Compare. I’m sure they both loved their families.
-They both were leaders of their families.
-I’m sure they both wanted the best for their children.
1. These are basic things that any parent wants for his children. Question: Who here does not want the best for his children? No one. Parents/Grandparents, we shape futures, we steer directions.
B. Contrast the two families.
1. Ahab had everything going for him—wealth, power, connections, lineage, all the advantages the world had to offer.
-But what good did it do him?
2. Obed-Edom on the other hand, as some scholars suggest, was a Philistine (pagan) who was open to the ways of God.
-If this is the case, he’s from the wrong side of the tracks (not part of the chosen people of Israel). a. But because he was obedient to God and his leaders, God blessed him and his family.
Key: God and his presence. If God is for me who can be against me, no one can stand against God.
C. Christians, I want you realize something—it’s not about you. I find human nature amazing. Human nature tells us everything revolves around it, but that’s not the truth.
1. Even when something happens that may be painful, human nature is so selfish it takes responsibility.
Example. A circumstance happens and I begin to blame myself—maybe there’s some hidden sin and I’m being punished. The attitude is, I deserve this. (That can be selfish and dangerous that can lead you down a very self-centered path.)
Truth: Sometimes things happen in your life and it’s not about you. It’s about your children or descendants, relatives, or friends.
Example. Joseph, in all he went through, the purpose was for others to save a nation, to give them a better life.
2. In Christianity, you may be the 1st generation Christian and it’s tough and you’re going through some tough times.
-You’ve prayed, you don’t sense the Spirit convicting of any sin and you just can’t figure out why.
: Maybe the Lord is positioning you to bless someone else. (And you’re stuck because you think it’s about you. It’s not about you and your comfort; it’s about him and his purpose.)
In Conclusion: In a tale of two families, we see one blessed and the other cursed.
-If someone were to ask you, How is your family—blessed or cursed, what would you say?
: If your response is it appears cursed, take heart. God is going to use you to bring the blessing of God (you’re the forerunner, the pioneer, who is breaking a new trail for your family or your friends).
: If God is blessing you, then share the blessing.
