Sermon Tone Analysis

*Enniscorthy Christian Fellowship – 28th October 2007*

*Facing the Giant of Bitterness 2 Samuel 9*

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*The Causes & Effects of Bitterness*

2 monks were walking through the countryside when they came to the edge of a river.

An old woman sitting there, upset because there was no bridge.

The first monk offered to carry her across.

The two monks lifted her between them and carried her across the river.

When they got to the other side, they set her down, and she went on her way.

After they’d walked another mile or so, the second monk began to complain.

“Look at my clothes,” he said.

“They’re filthy from carrying that woman across the river.

And my back still hurts from lifting her.”

The first monk just smiled and nodded his head.

A few minutes later, the second monk griped again, “My back is hurting me so badly, and it is all because we carried that silly woman across the river!

I cannot go any farther.

But why is it you’re not complaining about it, too?

Doesn’t your back hurt?”

 

“Of course not,” the first monk replied.

“You’re still carrying the woman, but I set her down five miles ago.”

We’re often like that second monk.

We don’t let go of the pain of the past.

As a result we still carry the burdens of things done years ago.

As someone has said: “No matter how long you nurse a grudge, it won’t get better.”

And that bitterness damages our lives.

Promise Keepers is an organization that aims to ignite and unite men to be passionate followers of Jesus Christ.

In its early days, the demands of this ministry put tremendous strain on the marriage of its leader, Bill McCartney.

In her book, his wife, Lyndi,  describes how she struggled with bitterness as a result.

“I never enjoyed sharing my husband.

I always felt cheated.

So many times Christians would send me cards or flowers, writing lovely letters saying how much they appreciated me sharing my husband with them.

Sometimes I'd want to tell them to "quit borrowing my husband."

I really did not like sharing him so much, and I began to resent it.

I spent about a year in isolation…  I didn't answer the telephone, and I shut the door on all outsiders.

I even shut out friends who loved me...  I had to confront my own bitterness.

I was hopelessly caught, eyebrow deep, in pain, and I was blind to all the good.

I was a wounded, ugly woman.”

This couple worked on reordering their priorities and God restored their marriage.

But bitterness can so easily invade any of our lives.

Someone has written this: “In counseling Christians, we frequently see bitterness associated with jealousy.

The examples include successful attorneys who envy the abilities of their colleagues, Bible college and seminary students consumed with jealousy toward fellow students … pastors or missionaries envious of others who have seen more outward evidences of success.”

We’ve all had experiences that could cause us to be bitter.

We’ve had disappointments, hurts, offences, things said or not said, things done to us or not done for us.

In fact recent research from the Barna Group reveals that 16-29 year olds are perceiving Christians not as representatives of Christ but as “hypocritical,” “insensitive,” “judgemental” and … unChristian.

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*Overcoming Bitterness with Grace*

This is now what we should be like.

Paul writes in Ephesians 4:31: “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.”

How can we do that?

How can we live in this world and experience all the ups and downs of life and yet overcome the giant of bitterness, and represent Christ to this world?

The answer is to be people of Grace.

David had experienced his fair share of disappointments and hurts.

And yet David was not a bitter man.

He was a man after God’s heart (Acts 13:22).

A heart of grace: Read 2 Samuel 9:1-5

 

!! *A.    **David’s Grace to Mephibosheth*

v1 “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul?”

A normal question.

The first order of business in a new regime was usually to search out and eliminate any remaining members of the former royal house.

It was seen as necessary for security and stability in the country.

And David had lived as a fugitive from Saul for years.

He, and his family, had lived in fear of their lives.

He was unjustly accused; hated for no reason.

We would excuse David had he felt bitter against any member of Saul’s family.

But David’s search was not motivated by bitterness, but kindness.

“..to whom I can show kindness.”

v1.

It was motivated by love, not hatred, grace not resentment.

!!! *1)                  **The Wages of Sin*

And this search revealed a son of Jonathan.

This man had lived such a sad life.

Full of possibilities not realized.

He had been born into a very privileged situation.

The son of a prince, grandson of a king.

Position and prosperity and opportunity should have been his.

But one day it all fell apart.

We need to jump back to 2 Samuel 4:4 to see the details of this on the day that King Saul and Jonathan were killed in battle:  2 Samuel 4:4:  “Jonathan son of Saul had a son who was lame in both feet.

He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel.

His nurse picked him up and fled, but as she hurried to leave, he fell and became crippled.

His name was Mephibosheth.”

!!!! a)                  Loss of  Love

Mephibosheth had an amazing dad.

A wonderful example of what it meant to be a man of God.

Jonathan was a man of humility, integrity, loyalty, of compassion and love.

I’m sure he was a great father.

But that day, Mephibosheth lost all of this.

He grew up without his dad’s example, wisdom, support, and love.

!!!! b)                  Loss of Status

He also had lost his status.

He was no longer a child of the king.

No longer did he have that privilege and honour.

Mephibosheth knew this.

Look how he comes before David in v6: “When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honour.

David said, “Mephibosheth!”

“Your servant,” he replied.”

He’s no longer a son of a king.

He is only a servant.

!!!! c)                  Loss of Peace

And look at the first thing David says to Mephibosheth in v7 “Don’t be afraid.”

Mephibosheth probably had always been afraid.

He’d grown up in fear of the day the king’s soldiers would knock at the door.

All his life, he had lived under this threat.