Epistle for September 2, 2016
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E-pistle
FreeWay Foundation September 2, 2016
"Hidden agendas"
(II Samuel 3:1-39)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on the contents of this chapter
1. In the long civil war, David grew stronger and Saul's house grew weaker;
David's six sons by six different wives are listed, vv. 1-5.
2. Abner took one of the concubines of dead King Saul; Ishbosheth confronted
Abner about this act of treason, and Abner switched allegiance to David;
as part of their agreement, Abner took Saul's daughter, Michal, away from
her husband and brought her to David . . . as originally had been arranged
I Samuel 18), vv. 6-21.
3. Joab returned from a raid and rebuked David for making an alliance with
Abner; Joab assassinated Abner to avenge the death of his brother, Asahel,
vv. 22-30.
4. David ordered Joab and all the people to mourn for Abner; David's public
fasting demonstrated his innocence of Abner's murder, vv. 31-39.
II. Meditation: on the "hidden agendas" seen in this chapter
1. Since concubines were passed down from a king to his successor as part
of the inherited property, Abner here was staking his claim to Saul's throne
as the king of Israel.
2. The return of Michal to David not only corrected an injustice done to him by
Saul, David also was making a political statement that the houses of Saul
and David now were united, so the civil war should cease.
3. Joab's assassination of Abner was not the execution of a spy, as he asserted
(v. 25); it was an act of personal revenge.
4. David's public mourning over Abner's death was not primarily an expression
of his sorrow for the loss of a friend or a national hero; his fasting was good
"public relations" to help him gain the trust and support of the northern tribes.
III. Revelation: on Scriptural references related to the examples of this chapter
1. "Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."
I Samuel 16:7.
2. "The Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intents of the thoughts."
I Chronicles 28:9.
3. "The Lord knows the thoughts of man." Psalm 94:11; "Jesus, knowing their
thoughts, said, 'Why do you think evil in your hearts?"' Matthew 9:4.
4. "The word of God . . . is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart,"
Hebrews 4:12.
IV. Application: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Avoid "hidden agendas" . . . serving the Lord with absolute integrity, and
motivated purely by God's "agape" love as seen in I Corinthians 13:1-13.
"Come before winter"
(II Timothy 4:1-22)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on verse 21
"Do your utmost to come before winter."
II. Meditation: on "fulfilling your ministry" (v. 5)
1. By what you speak:
(1) Preach the word, v. 2
(2) Convince, rebuke, exhort, with long-suffering and teaching, v. 2
(3) Do the work of an evangelist, v. 5.
2. By how you live;
(1) Be ready in season and out of season; always prepared, v. 2
(2) Be watchful (alert; perceptive) in all things, v. 5
(3) Endure afflictions, v. 5.
III. Revelation: on the reasons Paul requested Timothy to "come before winter"
1. I am close to the end of my life on earth . . . "poured out" . . . "the
time of my departure is at hand," but I have "fought a good fight,
finished the race, and kept the faith," vv. 6-7.
2. I am grieving because a trusted co-worker (Demus) has deserted me,
"having loved this present world," v. 10.
3. I am short-handed . . . come and bring Mark, v. 11.
4. I am suffering physically and emotionally . . . bring cloak, books,
and writing materials, v. 13.
5. I am under attack from a rebellious, former friend (Alexander),
vv. 14-15.
6. I am lonely . . . no one stood by me, except the Lord; and, of course,
Luke, my personal physical, is with me, vv. 11, 16-18.
7. I am concerned about all the churches I've started and delegated to
others; Thessalonica, Galatia, Dalmatia, Ephesus, Troas, Corinth, and
Miletus, vv. 10-13, 20.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. "Pour out as a drink offering" . . . give my life in sacrificial service to God.
2. Fight a good fight (I Corinthians 9:26; I Timothy 6:12).
3. Run with endurance the entire race . . . life isn't a 100 yard dash or a sprint;
it's a MARATHON!
4. Keep the faith . . . maintaining the truth and integrity of "the faith," by remaining
faithful to God and His calling to my life, with integrity, passing along "the faith"
to my successor.
"There is no substitute for hard work!"
--Thomas Edison
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