2 Sam. 19:15 HOW WILL YOU MEET THE KING?

Intro: This chapter finds David returning to Jerusalem after a forced exile caused by Absalom his son. Absalom is now dead and King David is returning to retake his rightful place on the throne of Israel. David's return finds the people of Israel in various states of mind and in various states of preparedness for his return. In this chapter, and in the first verse of chapter 20, we are presented with 5 different people who met the King. Each one meets him with a different attitude and from a different point of view. Needless to say, before we are done, we will see that not everyone was happy to see the King.

This morning, I want to intertwine this story with the story of another returning King. The Bible tells us that there is a King named Jesus who left this earth one day to go back to Heaven from where He originated. Before He left, He gave His people some precious promises that stand as a glorious hope for the people of God, but that also stand as a solemn warning for those outside Jesus. Notice a couple of those glorious promises.

1. John 14:1-3, "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And 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."

2. Acts 1:9-11, "And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven."

3. Rev 22:20, "He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus."

Now the truth of the matter is this, not everyone will meet Jesus the same way when He returns. Some will be excited and happy, others will be caught off guard, still others will be found lost and undone and will find that an eternity in Hell is all they have before them. The question I have for you this morning is this, How will you meet the King?

This morning, I would like to look at the lives of five of the men who met King David when he returned from exile and I would like to show you, from the accounts of these men, how many will meet King Jesus when He returns some day. As I preach this message, please allow the Lord to speak to you heart and look inwardly, at yourself, as you consider the question that must be answered, "How Will You Meet The King?"

I. V. 16-23 WILL YOU BE WORRIED?

A. When David returned 2 of those who met him were men named Ziba and Shimei. Both of these men had reason to be worried when they saw the king coming. Notice what they had done.

1. Let's Consider Ziba - When David left Jerusalem, Ziba came to the king and brought him food and other necessities, 2 Sam. 16:1-4. In the process of giving food to the king, Ziba took the time to slander the name of Mephibosheth, and by doing so he obtained all the property that belonged to Mephibosheth under false pretenses. In short, Ziba lied to the king and attempted to deceive him. Therefore, Ziba was worried, and rightly so, when he saw the king coming.

2. Let's Consider Shimei - When David was about 4 miles outside the city of Jerusalem, on his way into exile, he passed a village named, Bahurim. As he and his men passed by, a man named Shimei came out and ran along the hillside cursing David and throwing rocks at him and his men, 2 Sam. 16:5-13. By cursing David, Shimei was guilty of blaspheme against the Lord's anointed. By doing so, he was worthy of death, yet he received mercy in that David refused Abishai permission to kill Shimei. Shimei had enjoyed freedom while David was away, but when he saw the king returning, he certainly had reason to worry.

B. By their actions, these men paint a picture of many of those who name the name of Jesus. That's right! Not everyone who says that they are saved is living for the Lord, nor will they all be ready when He comes. Sadly, many are guilty of hypocrisy like Ziba because they refuse to live like the Lord wants them to. Others are guilty of pure blaspheme in that they claim to love the Lord, but live lives that blatantly deny Him. Folks, this is not the way things were designed to be! When the Lord saves a soul, He takes possession of that life, 1 Cor. 6:19-20. The saved person loses all rights and control over his/her life. As a result, we are expected by the Lord to live for Him, 1 Pet. 1:16. However, many who say they are saved refuse to get in line with the Lord!

C. Will you be worried when Jesus comes? Yes, if you are not living a sold out life before the Lord. If you have chosen to be unfaithful to the Lord, His house and His work, then you have reason to worry, because when He comes, we will all stand before Him at the Judgment Seat of Christ, 2Cor. 5:10; Rom. 14:12. (Ill. Someone may say, "Can't I live as I please?" Yes, but know there will be a price to pay - Eccl. 11:9; Gal. 6:7.

D. The return of Jesus doesn't have to be faced with worry and fear, but know that many will be caught off guard by the return of Jesus, but it need not be so. Jesus Himself warned us to be ready, Matt. 24:44.

I. Will You Be Worried?

II. V. 19-30 WILL YOU BE WAITING

A. One of those who came out to meet David was a man named Mephibosheth. This was the man who had been misrepresented by his servant Ziba. When Mephibosheth comes out to meet the king, we see that he hasn't washed or shaved since the day David left Jerusalem. He has apparently spent his time in mourning over the king's absence and in waiting for his return. There is a very good reason for this. Mephibosheth's story is told in 2 Sam. 9:1-13. He was a descendent of Saul and as such was the enemy of David. David had every right to kill Mephibosheth, but instead, David spared this cripple and took him into his own family as one of his own sons. Mephibosheth's love was based on what the king had done for him, He longed for nothing more than to see the king.

(Ill. When David did return, he acted a little unfairly in regard to Mephibosheth, v. 29, but the love of Mephibosheth is seen in the fact that he cared not about his land or property, he only cared about being with the king.)

B. Not every Christian will be worried when Jesus comes. There are some who spend their lives waiting for Jesus to return. To their hearts there will be no sweeter sound than to hear that trumpet blast and the shout from Heaven, "Come up hither!" I want every one who is looking for the Lord Jesus to know that one day your heart's cry will be answered. Jesus will do as he said and He will return in power and glory and take His people to be with Him in Heaven, 1 Thes. 4:16-17; 1 Cor. 15:51-52. Yes, praise His wonderful Name, Jesus is coming again.

C. Will you be waiting when He returns? When the truth of what the Lord has done for you dawns in your soul, you will be possessed by a love for Him that cannot be explained. When you consider that He has forgiven every sin, removed the penalty and power of sin. When you remember that He loves you and keeps you and blesses you with more than is ever deserved, it will touch your heart and will cause you to long for His return. My friends, please do not let the return of Jesus catch you looking at the world and all its treasures. Instead, let's all strive to found looking for Jesus when He returns. Are you looking for Jesus Christ this morning? If so, then rejoice, for He might return today. The King is coming, keep watching and keep waiting for He will return, Heb. 9:28.

I. Will You Be Worried?

II. Will You Be Waiting?

III. V. 31-40 WILL YOU BE WORKING?

A. Barzillai was another of those who came to meet David when he returned to Jerusalem. Barzillai meets the return of the king with great joy and happiness. He is glad that the king has returned and even though he is 80 years old, he still comes down to welcome the king home. Not much is known about this man the Bible calls "great", 2 Sam. 19:32. However, the Bible does give us one glimpse into his life. It seems that when David was away in exile that Barzillai was faithful in his service to the king and was instrumental in seeing that the king's needs were met, 2 Sam. 17:27-29. When the king returns, we find that same spirit active in the life of this faithful man. He is still serving the king when he returns. Yes, Barzillai was old, yet he kept working for the king.

B. Will you be found working when our King returns? In truth this morning, there are a lot of Christians who are AWOL. They have been saved but they refuse to serve the Lord will faithfulness. They are afflicted with what the Bible terms "divers diseases", Matt. 4:24. Note what some of them are.

1. Sundayitis - (Also known as "Morbus Sabbaticus") - This baffling condition produces symptoms that are only seen on Sunday. It produces acute laziness in the person afflicted. It causes them to sleep in, or it can make them spend the day in the mountains or at the lake. This strange disease never seems to affect singings or eating meetings, but only those services where the Word of God is featured. Symptoms are usually worse from 9 AM to 12 PM. During the afternoon, the sufferer feels better until 5 or 6 PM when the symptoms return. The patient is almost always better by Monday morning allowing him to return to work, but sadly he usually suffers a relapse on Wednesday that keeps him away from prayer meeting.

2. Spiritual Paralysis - This sad condition doesn't affect any other area of life except the Lord's work. People can hunt, fish, go on vacation, etc. They usually look well and can attend church will little problems. The only symptom is inactivity. This disease usually causes the afflicted to refuse all jobs in the church. The most common phrase heard from those afflicted is, "Get someone else."

3. Cirrhosis Of The Giver - This all too common affliction produces severe tenderness in the area immediately around the wallet and the checkbook. It causes the sufferer to feel compelled to give as little as possible to the Lord and His Kingdom's work.

4. There are several other afflictions such as Sore Eyes, Black Tongue, Spiritual Bruises, Spiritual Malnutrition, etc.

(Ill. There are some of you that are afflicted with some of these things. My question for you is this, will you be found working when Jesus returns? Barzillai, was faithful to David and he kept living, giving and working until the king returned. Can the same be said of your life? It should be said about every child of God - 1 Cor. 4:2.)

C. Thank God, there are some who are still working! They love the Lord and are still in the vineyard laboring for the Master, May I remind those of you who have decided to remain faithful to the Lord that He will bless your faithfulness to Him. The day will come when He will receive you into His blessed presence and say, "His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.", Matt. 25:23. Do not give up the fight. Stand your ground for Jesus and if everyone falls around you or if everyone deserts the battlefield, you keep fighting for the glory of the Lord. Those who stand will receive the victory, 2 Sam. 23:11-12. Will you be found working when the King comes? (Ill. Luke 12:40-48.)

I. Will You Be Worried?

II. Will You Be Waiting?

III. Will You Be Working?

IV. 20:1 WILL YOU BE WITHOUT?

A. There was one other fellow who met David when he came back. His name was Sheba. He is described in verse 1 and a "son of Belial." This phrase refers to a person who is a rebel or a wicked man. This man Sheba had one thing on his mind and that was overthrowing the king. He wanted to see David ousted from the throne. He hated David and tried to cause Israel to follow him in rebelling against King David. In response, David's generals went after Sheba and he was finally killed, 2 Sam. 20:22.

B. This man Sheba represents all of those who are the enemies of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, many may feel that they are not His enemies, but the truth of the matter is that every person who is not in a personal relationship with Jesus is the enemy of God, Rom. 8:7. And, when King Jesus returns, these people will find themselves in the same position as Sheba, They will find themselves shut out of the Kingdom and shut out of an eternity in Heaven. Will you be without when Jesus comes? If you are not saved, you will find yourself on the outside of salvation, on the outside of Heaven, on the outside of hope and on the outside of the mercy and grace of God. (Ill. The parable of the 10 Virgins - Matt. 25:1-13.) If the Lord comes and finds you lost in sin, then there is no place for you but Hell - 2 Thes. 1:8-9.

C. The good news this morning is that the return of Jesus doesn't have to catch you off guard. You can be ready and you can be saved this morning. You see, 2,000 years ago a man named Jesus went to a cross and gave His life in  place of your's. If you will receive Him as the sacrifice for your sins, then God will save you soul and take you to Heaven when you leave this world, Acts 16:31; John 3:16; Rev. 22:17. Then, when Jesus does come, you will be ready. Do not be like Sheba and find yourself lost forever. Be saved and have a blessed eternity.

Conc: How will you meet the King? If Jesus came today, and He could, would you be worried? Would you be found waiting? Would you be found working? Or, would you be found without? Like it or not, Jesus is coming again and when He does, He will find you in one of these 4 situations of life. Which will it be for you? Right now is the moment of decision. Right now is the time for coming to the Lord and making things right with God. Will you do that which you nee to do today so that when Jesus comes you will ne able to met the King in the right manner?

Sermon By Alan Carr