Lesson 242 - Junior
Memory Verse
"Unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation" (Hebrews 9:28).
Notes
Absalom's Rebellion
Absalom had won the hearts of many people in Israel unto himself and he had led a serious rebellion against his own father, Israel's greatest king. David had fled from Jerusalem, and was hiding far out in the wilderness while his son tried to rule the Israelites. Those who had turned against David thought that all would be well now that the handsome Absalom was in power, for he had promised to take good care of them and see that they were judged as they desired.
But Absalom's boast was empty. He had promised many things, which he could not fulfil. Very soon he was killed in battle, and the Israelites were left without a king. They were as sheep without a shepherd. With no one to keep order and to direct activities, the affairs of the country soon were very much upset.
In their distress, the Israelites began to think about David again. Where was he? Could he not help them out? They remembered that he had served them long and with love, and had delivered them from the hand of the Philistines many times. Why not bring David back to Jerusalem to be their ruler?
David's Grief
David had not rushed back to Jerusalem as soon as he had heard of his son's death. He wanted to know first if he was wanted. He had loved his people greatly, and it had almost broken his heart when they revolted. On that tragic day when he learned that Absalom had been proclaimed king. he went, barefooted and with head bowed, up the hill away from the city.
Judah Questioned
Time passed, and David longed to go back and help his people. He had forgiven their rebellion, and was willing to forget their ungratefulness to him. Finally word came that there was talk among the tribes of Israel calling him back to the throne; but from his own tribe, the tribe of Judah, there was not a word.
One day David asked the priests (who had stood by him) to go to the elders in Israel and question them: "Why are ye the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, even to his house. Ye are my brethren, ye are my bones and my flesh: wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king?"
David was not only willing to forgive the rebellious Israelites, but he promised some of them high positions in his court if they would but call him back. The men of Judah began to realise their need for David, and they sent a formal invitations "Return thou, and all thy servants." Their hearts were once more with their beloved king, David.
The Return
There was great rejoicing in David's camp when the invitation arrived. Immediately David and all the people with him began their journey back to the Jordan river and the capital city. The men of Judah had come to meet them with a royal welcome, and in ceremony they conducted the king's party across the Jordan river. They acknowledged David as their king, and again pledged allegiance to him.
Christ's Longing for His People
David's longing to be once more with his own people, may be compared with Christ's longing for His true Church -- the Bride of Christ. He is now in that "far country" about which He spoke in a parable [MAT:21:33-41]); and He is waiting for His people to prepare to be with Him in His Home above.
Jesus wants to come to take His people to be with Him, to behold Him in His glory, and to rule and reign with Him. Do we want Him to come?
Are we doing anything that invites Jesus back? He will not come until the Bride is ready to meet Him. The angel told John on the Isle of Patmos that the announcement of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb would be: "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready" [REV:19:7]).
The true Church is the Bride of Christ. Our business here, as Christians, is to prepare ourselves as a bride for her husband. Jesus is the Bridegroom of our heart.
Preparation
In our preparation we put on spiritual adornment. It is spoken of by different names. The find linen is the righteousness of the saints. "And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints" [REV:19:8]).
"She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework" [PS:45:14]). The Christian graces make up this fine needlework, which beautifies the Bride. She is living according to the teachings of the Bible and is beautiful in the sight of the Lord. Her ornament is a "meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price" [1PE:3:4]).
Longing for Our Lord
When we have put on all this adornment there is a deep longing in our heart to see the Bridegroom, the Son of God. David felt that desire when he prayed: "Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee" [PS:73:25]).
After we are baptized with the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of God abides in us, and He speaks to us about Jesus; and as we listen to His whisperings of Jesus' love for us, our longing to see Jesus increases.
The Spirit explains to us the Scripture that tells us about the beautiful Home Jesus has gone to prepare for His Bride. He tells us of the privilege we will have when we are with Him: "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne" [REV:3:21]). He explains what our work will be when we go to be with our Lord: "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years" [REV:20:6]). That will be the righteous reign on this earth during the Millennium.
Are you longing for the coming of Jesus? or are you too busy with your own affairs to have time to think about it? Who is the first person you think about when you waken in the morning? Is your hope, "Jesus may come today"? Who is the most important person in your life? Do you consider it more important to please Jesus, the Bridegroom of your soul, than to please your friends and companions?
His by Redemption
Jesus has bought us with His own precious Blood. We belong to Him, and are precious in His sight. He loved us enough to die for us, and we are saved through His Blood. "As the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee" [ISA:62:5]). How does our love for Him compare with His love for us? Are we giving our lives for Him in service? Would we be willing to die for Him if it were necessary?
When we ask ourselves such questions, we soon learn whether or not we really long for our King's return. Many sinners today feel that Jesus is coming soon. What about His own people? Are they asking the King to come back, and expecting to see Him soon? Many who say they belong to Jesus are not busy preparing themselves to meet Him. They show by the way they live that they are in no hurry to see Him. How grieved He must be to note their indifference!
The Gospel Call
One of the duties of the Bride of Christ is to plead with sinners to be saved before it is forever too late. Let us ask ourselves, "Do we have a passion for souls?" Are we longing to see the Gospel spread into all the world, so that millions who have never even heard of Jesus may yet be saved?
The angel told John on the Isle of Patmos, "The Spirit and the bride say, Come" [REV:22:17]). So if we are the Bride of Christ, we are saying' "Come." By a life lived for Jesus, through earnest prayer through our testimony, we are pleading with the unsaved person to give his heart to Jesus so that he too may be of the Bride of Christ.
If we are doing all we can for Jesus, we can say with the Apostle John: "Even so, come, Lord Jesus" [REV:22:20]).
Questions
1. Why was David in exile?
2. What were conditions in Israel after Absalom was killed,
3. Why did David wait before returning to Jerusalem?
4. Who gave David the invitation he wanted?
5. Who is our King?
6. Why does the Christian want Him to return?
7. How can we prepare ourselves to meet our King?
8. What are some of the duties of the Bride of Christ?
9. Who tells us soul-stirring things about Jesus?