THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION

The Books Of The Chronicles: God's Preservation Of His Davidic And Levitical Covenants

XI. David's Example Of Thanksgiving And Encouraging Hope

(1 Chronicles 17:16-27)

Introduction: (To show the need . . . )

This Thanksgiving Sunday when we think of giving thanks, we also stand in great need of encouraging hope:

(1) We need encouraging hope regarding troubles in the international realm: (a) "(V)iolent protests have engulfed Baghdad and Iraq's southern provinces . . . over an economy flush with oil money that has failed to bring jobs or improvements to . . . young people . . . At least 320 people have died, and thousands have been wounded since the unrest began on Oct 1." ("Protesters ask question: Who gets the oil money?" Rep.-Amer., Nov. 15, 2019, p. 9A)

(b) "Hong Kong" is "a Greek tragedy in the making" where "(o)nce-peaceful, massive pro-democracy demonstrations . . . have deteriorated into violence" due to "the blindness of Hong Kong's leader, Carrie Lam, and her obeisance to hard-liners in Beijing." (Trudy Rubin, "Tragic times in Hong Kong," Ibid., Nov. 19, 2019, p. 6A)

(2) We need encouraging hope regarding troubles in Western Civilizations: David Cox ("Arise ye unwoke from your slumbers," Standpoint magazine, Oct. 23, cited in the "Quotable" editorial, Rep.-Amer., Ibid., p. 12A) proclaimed, "'[Politically correct] (n)onsense shouldn't go unchallenged. The biological differences between the sexes cannot be wished away . . . Masculinity isn't always toxic. Europe cannot absorb every migrant who might want to come. Not all white people are privileged, and prejudice isn't the sole cause of disparate ethnic outcomes.'"

(3) We need encouraging hope regarding troubles in our nation: The Republican-American (Nov. 22, 2019, p. 10A ran a political cartoon with a 1620 pilgrim who holds a pitchfork and stands next to a tree stump that has an axe stuck on it, and he speaks to a 2019 young adult male who sits on a nearby rock busying himself with an iPhone. The Pilgrim cites 2 Thessalonians 3:10, saying, "For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat," and the young male replies, "O.K., Boomer," as if the idea was a generational fad. Actually, working for a living is a Bible-based American tradition dating back to our forefathers, but a departure from Scripture and the rising influence of Marxism has left the idea of working for a living seem outdated to many.

(4) Many believers locally need encouraging hope as we hear that believers face all sorts of trials in their lives.

Need: So we ask, "What does God direct on our need for His encouraging hope this Thanksgiving Sunday?!"

I. When God stated His encouraging promise of establishing an eternal Davidic dynasty in 1 Chronicles 17:1-15, David responded with a prayer of thanksgiving and hope in that promise, 1 Chron. 17:16-27:

A. David humbly submitted to God as His subject to offer his thanksgiving for God's promise, 1 Chron. 17:16a:

1. In His covenant, God had reminded David how the Lord had sovereignly raised him up from shepherding sheep to be king (1 Chron. 17:4-8a) in informing David that He would decide who would build His temple.

2. David thus responded by coming and sitting before the Lord's ark in humble submission, 1 Chron. 17:16a.

B. David also praised God for His grace that was sovereignly exhibited by the Lord, 1 Chronicles 17:16b-22:

1. He praised God for raising him up from obscurity to rule as king over Israel, 1 Chronicles 17:16b, 7-8a.

2. David praised God for His grace in promising to establish his dynasty in greatness, 1 Chronicles 17:17-19.

3. He praised God for being a Lord of grace in great contrast to oppressive pagan false gods, 1 Chron. 17:20.

4. David praised God for His work of grace in redeeming Israel from Egyptian bondage and giving her victory over the Canaanites so she could possess the Promised Land, 1 Chronicles 17:21-22.

C. David then hoped in God to fulfill His encouraging Davidic Covenant, 1 Chronicles 17:23-27.

II. David's prayer examples how WE can be thankful and enjoy God's encouraging hope for US as follows:

A. Like David, we believers should submit to God as recipients of His great grace toward us.

B. Like David, we believers should praise God for His grace toward us:

1. We should praise God for His gracious help to us thus far in our personal lives, cf. 1 Timothy 1:12-17.

2. We should praise God for being a God of grace unlike the deities of false religions around us.

3. We should praise God for His gracious help to the true Church down through history, Revelation 2-3.

C. Like David, we believers should hope in God to encourage US by fulfilling His Biblical promises to US!

Lesson: When God revealed His Davidic Covenant to David, he exampled our need to submit to God, to praise and thank Him for His gracious work for us and for the Church in history, praising Him as a God of grace unlike the god(s) of false religions, and to hope in God to fulfill His promises to US.

Application: (1) May we trust in Christ for salvation, John 3:16. (2) May we heed David's example to (a) submit to God as our Sovereign, gracious Lord, (b) to praise Him for His grace toward us as individuals this far in life, (c) to praise Him for His grace toward the true Church universal in history, (d) to praise Him for being a gracious God opposite the gods of false religions and (e) to hope encouragingly in Him to fulfill His Biblical promises to US!

Conclusion: (To illustrate the message . . . )

As we heed David's example to submit to our Sovereign, gracious God and praise Him for all He is and has done for us and for His true Church all through Church History, here are a few promises God has for US to hope encouragingly in Him for OUR future as these promises apply to various issues of concern noted in our introduction:

(1) Regarding oppressive troubles at the international, Western Civilizations and national levels, as we have before noted, Christ in Revelation 3:21 with 7:17 for OUR era of Church History implied we would face a "mini-Great Tribulation" marked by oppressive leaders, intrigue and thus troublesome ideologies that would afflict many. God promised relief through Bible expositors who taught Scripture truth that would relieve troubled people. Accordingly, all believers need to heed Scripture for relief, and Bible teachers need to expound it well for blessing.

(2) Regarding personal trials believers face, (a) on livelihood issues, Hebrews 13:5-6 ESV promises: "Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for He has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' So we can confidently say, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?'"

(b) On employment issues, Psalm 62:11-12 ESV promises: "Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God, and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love. For you will render to a man according to his work." God in sovereignty over all men oversees our job performance and rewards us accordingly.

(c) On health issues, Deuteronomy 33:25b ESV in the context where Israel's far northern tribe of Asher had to secure Israel's northern border (Ryrie Study Bible, KJV, 1978, ftn. to Deut. 33:24-25), God promised, "and as your days, so shall your strength be." God thus promises to provide the strength we need to live and minister to do His will with the length of days He determines we are to live. (cf. Psalm 139:16 ESV on God's determination of our lifespan)

(d) On the need for peace, Isaiah 26:3-4 ESV promises: "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock."

(e) On anxiety issues, Philippians 4:6-9 ESV promises: "(D)o not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatsoever is honorable, whatsoever is just, whatsoever is pure, whatsoever is lovely, whatsoever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me -- practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you."

(f) On the issue of fear, Isaiah 41:10 ESV has God promising, "(F)ear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

(g) On issues rejection even by one's former friends or relatives, Psalm 27:10 NIV states: "Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me."

(h) On the issue of feeling overburdened, Jesus in Matthew 11:28-30 ESV promised: "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

(i) On the issue of personal weakness, Paul told of Jesus' promise to him in 2 Corinthians 12: 9: "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'" Paul applied this promise in his life, exampling how we are to do so, writing in 2 Corinthians 12:9b-10 ESV: "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then am I strong."

(j) On pressures to conform to ungodliness or to function in ungodly associations, Psalm 1:1-4 ESV promises: "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away."

(k) On the concern over discernment, Jesus in John 8:32 promised, "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free," and in John 16:13, "(W)hen he, the Spirit of truth, is come he will guide you into all truth . . ."

May we trust in Christ for salvation. This Thanksgiving, may we submit to God and thank and praise Him for His sovereign grace and trust His Bible promises for His encouraging hope for our future.