Lesson 242 - Senior
Memory Verse
"So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many: and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation" (Hebrews 9:28).
Cross References
I A Kings Question
1. Israel was troubled because no effort was being made to return their king from exile, [2SM:19:9-10]; [JUG:18:9].
2. The elders of Judah were questioned regarding their indifference to David's return, [2SM:19:11]; [2TS:3:8-9].
3. King David reminded his brethren that they were of his flesh and bone, [2SM:19:12];[2SM:5:1]; [JUG:9:2].
4. The professing church, by their very profession of Christ, their absent King, admit a duty and allegiance to Him, [2SM:19:12]; [EPH:5:30].
5. The Israelites were David's brethren by tribal relations only, but the Christian is of blood-kin to his King, [2SM:19:13]; [JHN:1:12], [ROM:8:16-17]; [GAL:4:7]; [EPH:2:19].
6. The elders of Judah bestirred themselves, and David was brought back to his throne, [2SM:19:13-15].
7. Christians have a duty, to fight in the battle against wrong that their King may soon return to His throne, [NUM:32:6]; [JUG:5:23], [JER:48:10].
8. The kinsmen of Christ are to be anticipating and desiring their King's return, [ACT:1:11]; [MAT:25:6]; [LUK:13:24-25].
Notes
Timely Reprimand
The text of our lesson concerns the incident of David's return to the throne he had been forced to abdicate because of Absalom's rebellion. Right had triumphed, by the grace of God, and David's enemies were again defeated; but the people did nothing toward reinstating their king to his rightful position. David was at last forced to inquire of the elders of Israel why they were doing nothing to restore their king.
The elders of the tribe should have been the first to begin the procedure to re-seat David on his throne. Their tribal pride and affection for David should have made them want to see him ruling Israel. However, the facts of the case proved that they were doing nothing that was expected of them.
David asked them a question regarding their indifference to his position. It was very pertinent and personal to each one of them. "Ye are my brethren, ye are my bones and my flesh: wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king?"
Indifference and Neglect
What makes the incidents of our text so interesting to us of this modern day is the close parallel that lies between the indifference of David's brethren to reinstate him as king, and the like indifference of the professing church today to welcome their Lord and King, Jesus Christ.
Wicked men who have long defied His rule have temporarily prevented our great King from assuming His rightful reign. He went to be with His Father in Heaven, and nearly two thousand years have come and gone without His return. The question is both timely and pertinent to those of this present generation who name the name of Christ, "Wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king?" These, then, who should be the most zealous and eager for the soon return of their King have proved themselves to be the most dilatory about the matter.
It is not unusual that unbelievers, infidels, and the ignorant do nothing concerning the return of the Lord to His rightful reign. It is the callous indifference of those people who profess to be followers of the King that is surprising. Their little regard for the state of His Kingdom on this earth is appalling. The Bible explains the reason for their unconcern, and tells what will happen to those professors of religion who do nothing toward bringing back the King to His throne.
Vain Religion
Of all the peoples of the earth, many think that the Jews, God's chosen people, are the most zealous and devout toward God and the matter of their coming King. The present-day Jewish religion makes much ado in anticipation of the momentary return of their King. The rites of the Passover feast itself, to say nothing of the empty seat that is left in the home of every devout Jew at that time in the hope that the expected One will come there to assume His rightful place, is as much a part of the present-day orthodox Jews' ritualistic observances as is their very heartbeat. Yet their religion, when examined by the Word of God, proves to be superficial and false. It is without merit in the eyes of God.
Instead of welcoming their King when He came, they persecuted Him unmercifully, crucified Him in their rebellion, and defied God with their statement, "We will not have this man to reign over us" (Luke 19.14). Such judgment as has fallen upon the Jews ever since is without precedent. Until this very day the Jews have mourned their terrible tribulations and have increased their cries unto God to send the Messiah. Despite their many tribulations, they, as a nation, still persist in their refusal to accept Christ as their true Messiah and King.
The "wailing wall" to which the Palestine Jews resort to cry aloud their complaints to God is widely known and commented upon. This wall was once a part of Solomon's Temple and is all they retain of their former glories; and it is here that they weep and lament for the return of their King who has already come and gone. Needless to say, this group of people will never prevail to restore their King so long as they persist in their present unbelief and rebellion.
Procrastination
There is another group who, instead of desiring their King's return delay it in their heart so that they may indulge in sinful desires. These know the will of God and the penalty for disobedience, yet persist in hindering and delaying their King's return. (Read [ROM:1:32].) Of these the Lord said, "But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to smite his fellow-servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of and shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth" [MAT:24:48-51])
This, then, is the fate of those who know to do good and who do it not. To them it has become sin. The reason, then, that they do nothing to bring the King back is that they do not want to see Him.
In like category are those, in Christ's parable, who were bidden to the great feast and with one accord began to make excuses. While they did not openly refuse to do their Lord's bidding, their excuses were equivalent to absolute rejection. This group is indifferent to the Lord's Kingdom. They have no desire to be a part of it, even though they have been invited. The Great King desires that every seat at His table be occupied, and for that reason He seems to have delayed the Marriage Supper many years until His table is fully seated.
Promise of His Coming
Finally there are those who cynically ask: "Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation" [2PE:3:4]). This group not only does nothing to hasten their Lord's return, but they extremely oppose it. They deny that such an event will ever take place, and they scoff at those Christians who are busy at the King's business. They ridicule the efforts of the Christians to preach the Gospel throughout the world.
The preaching of the Gospel will probably do more than any other thing to bring Jesus back to this earth. God is waiting for the last one to be saved who will be saved. James advised his brethren to be faithful in this matter, and patiently carry on the work of their King. "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain" [JAM:5:7]).
Called and Chosen
Despite the indifference, the covetousness, the selfishness, and the unbelief of many so-called followers of Christ, there is a group that is faithful and true to their King, and who will be responsible in a great measure for the King's return. They are the faithful group who are called In Scripture the "elect" [1PE:1:2]), the "church of the firstborn" [HEB:12:23]), and the "sons of God" (I [JHN:3:1]). These all, having their sins washed away by the precious Blood of Jesus Christ, are bone of His bone, and flesh of His flesh. (See [EPH:5:30].) They are those who have had the true religious experience of being born again, born into the family of God. They have become the true children of God, and Jesus is not ashamed to can them brethren. (Read [HEB:2:11].)
This body of believers makes up the true Church of Christ. The Scripture calls this body the "church." It was of this body that Stephen spoke when he reminded the Jews of Moses' reference to Christ: "This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us" [ACT:7:38]). The word church is read in the Greek, ecclesia, which means called out or congregation. God has a church within a church, His called out ones. In the midst of the professing church on the earth there are those who are truly His -- and they are the ones who will bring back the King!
This truth is reiterated in the parable of the tares and the wheat. Tares, which represent the false professors of the true religion, grow in the midst of the wheat, the type of the true children of God. All grow together, and the casual observer does not distinguish one from the other. But the parable taught that in the harvest time they will be separated, the tares destroyed while the wheat is garnered into the barns. That is proof again that there is an elect, chosen group among the vast and varied religions of today. (Read [MAT:13:24-30].)
This elect group, the true Church of Christ, is working day and night to spread the Gospel, proclaiming its truth around the world; and they are busy while time lasts to hasten the return of their King. Their efforts may seem small and insignificant, but much is being accomplished. Their efforts are like leaven, which, when placed in the dough in preparation for baking, gives off its chemical reaction throughout the baking process until the whole is leavened. (Read [MAT:13:33].) When the leavening influence of the Gospel has been felt sufficiently throughout the world, then shall the King be able to return. (Read [MAT:24:14].)
"Unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation" [HEB:9:28]). From this we learn that only those who look for Him shall see Him; undoubtedly because they do look for and desire His return, He shall come. Jesus told His disciples: "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also" [JHN:14:3]). He will come again in answer to the yearning hearts of those who are pleading in the spirit for the Bridegroom of their soul. The love and devotion Of the Christian for his Lord, will bring the King back.
Questions
1. Why did David inquire of his brethren the reason that nothing was done to reinstate him as their king?
2. In what way is the situation today comparable to that time?
3. Who are some of the people who should be helping to bring the king back, but who are doing nothing about it?
4. Who is the true Church?
5. How can Christians help to bring back the King?
6. When will the Lord return?
7. Do the Jews want Jesus to return?
8. Do the Jews acknowledge Christ as the Messiah?