What We Long For – Faithfulness

Proverbs 17:17 (The Message), “Friends love through all kinds of weather, and families stick together in all kinds of trouble.” That’s gratifying and encouraging when it happens and painful when it doesn’t. The next scripture from 2 Samuel 15:17-23 is about a time when a family didn’t stick together in all kinds of trouble. It’s a complicated story. The relationship between David and his son Absalom had been strained for five years, going back to a terrible incident involving one of David’s other sons Amnon committing a violent act against Absalom’s sister, Tamar. When David failed to punish Amnon, Absalom had him killed and the strong bond that should have existed for life between father and son was frayed to the breaking point.

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June 7, 2015
Proverbs 17.17, 2 Samuel 15.17–23, What We Long For – Faithfulness
Pastor Doug Scalise, Brewster Baptist Church

Absalom was heir to the throne – he was young, handsome, and enormously ambitious but he didn’t want to have to wait to rule; perhaps because of anger over his father’s treatment, his desire for power, or perhaps the fear that his father might choose someone else. Absalom developed an entourage of chariots, horses and runners to call attention to himself. He undermined his father’s authority by standing at the gate of Jerusalem and listening to everyone who came with a complaint and telling them, “Your claims are good and right, it’s too bad I’m not the judge of the land because I would give you justice.” Of course, he said this without even investigating to see if their claims were valid. David was a better military leader than he was a peace-time ruler. He was responsible for seeing that justice was administered and he seems to have failed his judicial responsibility. Meanwhile, for four years Absalom worked to build support by telling people what they wanted to hear and by doing so he stole the hearts of the people from his father (v. 6).

After four years he lied to his dad and said he needed to go to the city of Hebron to worship and fulfill a vow he’d made. David trusts his son and tells him to go ahead. What Absalom really was doing was going to stage a coup and to be declared king. Hebron, which was 20 miles south of Jerusalem, had been the capital before David moved it to Jerusalem so Absalom was likely to find some people there who resented the loss of influence and prestige as well. The conspiracy grew strong and Absalom’s followers kept increasing. A messenger came to David and told him what was happening (v. 13). While the hearts of the Israelites were with Absalom, David was left with the paid help, the bureaucracy of Jerusalem. The people were with Absalom, David had servants and mercenaries. It didn’t look good for David, but his keen military instincts kicked in. He knew he had to flee for his life and was better suited to be in the open where he had freedom of movement. He knew that only those who were faithful and loyal to him would take the risk of joining him in leaving Jerusalem and exposing themselves to danger. That brings us to today’s scripture from 2 Samuel 15:17-23,

“17 The king left, followed by all the people; and they stopped at the last house. 18 All his officials passed by him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the six hundred Gittites who had followed him from Gath, passed on before the king. 19 Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why are you also coming with us? Go back, and stay with the king; for you are a foreigner, and also an exile from your home.20 You came only yesterday, and shall I today make you wander about with us, while I go wherever I can? Go back, and take your kinsfolk with you; and may the LORD show steadfast love and faithfulness to you.” 21 But Ittai answered the king, “As the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether for death or for life, there also your servant will be.” 22 David said to Ittai, “Go then, march on.” So Ittai the Gittite marched on, with all his men and all the little ones who were with him. 23 The whole country wept aloud as all the people passed by; the king crossed the Wadi Kidron, and all the people moved on toward the wilderness.”

A little background: the Cherethites, and the Pelethites who were leaving with David were foreign mercenaries or paid guards, likely they were Cretans and Philistines. As a young man David defeated Goliath, the champion of the Philistines so it’s kind of surprising to find so many Philistines in David’s army. It may be that David won the loyalty of these men when he served as a commander under the king of Gath (1 Samuel 23:13, 27:2, 30:9) when David was trying to escape from his own father-in-law King Saul who wanted him dead. Goliath was from Gath (1 Samuel 17:4-10), and the Gittites who were with David were also from Gath, (they weren’t called (Gathites).

What I want to focus on is the brief vignette of David’s meeting with the man named Ittai. Ittai is a foreigner. We might expect David to mistrust a newly arrived foreigner with a coup taking place, but there’s no hint of suspicion. David is gracious and generous aware that Ittai has only now found a place to live. While David flees for his life because of his son’s lack of love and unfaithfulness, he wishes for this foreigner “steadfast love and faithfulness” (v. 20). He’s basically saying, “This isn’t your fight, you don’t owe me anything,” and he seeks to relieve him and his men of any obligation. Ittai’s response is equally gracious and generous; he vows passionate loyalty to and solidarity with David, promising to stay with him in every circumstance (v. 21). Ittai’s promise of faithfulness is similar to the one Ruth, David’s great grandmother who we spoke about last month, made to her mother-in-law Naomi (Ruth 1:16-17). David is so moved by this expression of faithfulness that he agrees that Ittai may go with him. Eventually, in 2 Samuel 18:2,5 before the climactic battle, David made Ittai one of his top three commanders because he so valued his faithfulness. Faithfulness is something we all long for in our relationships.

To be faithful is “having or showing true and constant support or loyalty; deserving trust: keeping your promises or doing what you are supposed to do.” “Old Faithful” is a famous geyser in Wyoming’s Yellowstone National Park. It was so named in 1870 because it reliably erupts at somewhat consistent and predictable intervals. It does what it’s supposed to do – so people know when to expect the geyser to erupt. A famous Latin motto, adopted by the United States Marine Corps, Semper Fidelis, means, “Always faithful.” “Semper Fi” is often how Marines will greet each other and the mutual commitment to always be faithful to one’s comrades and country, to show true and constant support and loyalty, is a big part of a US Marine’s identity. When I officiate at a wedding later today, the bride and groom will vow to be faithful to one another as long as they both shall live. Keeping our promises, being faithful to our vows and principles whether we’re with our spouse or whether we’re apart is a key ingredient in a happy and secure marriage and indeed in any relationship.

In talking about faithfulness we begin with the idea that God is always faithful as we heard many times in Psalm 89 which was the Call to Worship. God has and shows “true and constant support or loyalty;” God is “deserving of trust.” We are motivated to be faithful and able to be faithful because God is faithful. God shows us what faithfulness is like, Jesus says God (Matthew 5:45), “makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.” Paul says in Romans 1:20, “Ever since the creation of the world his eternal power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have been understood and seen through the things he has made.” God has been faithful to us in giving us life and sustaining us each day.

What about us? As we consider The Elements of Healthy Relationships – faithfulness made the list for several reasons. Let’s start with the negative: Few things in life are as heartbreaking as unfaithfulness in a relationship. When someone is unfaithful in a marriage, in a family, in a friendship, as an employer or employee, as a citizen of a country, it’s very painful and the damage can be wide spread. It’s devastating for any relationship when a person fails to honor his or her commitments. It takes repentance, hard work, a determination to change, forgiveness, and grace to overcome unfaithfulness in a relationship, but it can be done.

More positively, few things give us a greater sense of security in relationships and in life than faithfulness. Whether it’s a parent and child, like David and Absalom, a spouse, a friend, faithfulness gives us a sense of security and comfort in the midst of life’s challenges and uncertainties. Faithfulness is like an anchor that helps us hold fast and not be shipwrecked in the storms of life. We all long for faithfulness in relationships. Faithfulness gives us a sense of trust, certainty, confidence, assuredness, and permanence. In one of the early sermons in this series I said trust is the glue of relationships. If trust is the glue, faithfulness is the frame that gives us a sense of sturdiness that this relationship is built to last. Faithfulness gives a relationship the belief that we can count on a person to be true and to always be there for us and that others can count on us to be true, faithful, and there for them.

There are some things we all can do to ensure our faithfulness to another person and to strengthen our sense of loyalty and commitment. All of us can keep these things in mind in all our relationships.

• Speak highly of others – they’ll feel respected and loved. If you’re married, make decisions together, as a team, especially ones concerning finances and children so each person feels considered, valued, and work together toward your family goals, values and dreams.
• Resolve issues privately, and try to do so with as much love and respect as possible.
• Don’t say anything that will tarnish the other person’s reputation. Speak positively of each other.
• Defend each other. •Keep your commitments.
• Work through your own issues of fear that affect your commitment and faithfulness.
• Strive to be more faithful, loyal and committed.

If faithfulness is to be part of our character we need to learn to be faithful in all things, big and small. Jesus says in Luke 16:10 about how we handle money, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much” (Luke 16:10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
American King James Version×). We’re to prove our trustworthiness in even the smallest duties. Last week, like every week, revealed the truth that powerful and famous people often prove to be unfaithful in key areas of their character and responsibility. Jesus goes on to say (Luke 16:11), “So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?” God judges our character by how faithfully we manage everything in life.

Faithfulness includes Perseverance. Perseverance is a key to success in everything including being faithful in our relationships. Remember from 1 Corinthians 13 that love always protects, always hopes and always perseveres. When Paul wrote his second letter to Timothy, he was in prison awaiting almost certain execution. But he was at peace because he knew of his faithfulness to God. Paul wrote, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
American King James Version×). May we have this same confidence at the end of our race.

The ultimate reward for faithfulness and perseverance is eternal life! In Matthew 24, Christ was giving His disciples prophecies of the “end of the age” (verse 3). In verses 9 through 12, He speaks of tribulation and persecution. Then in verse 13 He says, “But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” In Revelation 2:!0, the Risen Christ says, “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”

In 2 Samuel, we see the contrast between an unfaithful son and a foreigner whose faithfulness is greater than a son. Ittai is the one who receives the approval and affirmation of his Master and Lord, King David. In Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus told the parable of the talents (a “talent” was a measure of money). The main point of the parable is how it portrays Christ someday rewarding His faithful followers—those who love and serve God and live accordingly. To each of the profitable servants, the master said, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord” (Matthew 25:21 His lord said to him, Well done, you good and faithful servant: you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: enter you into the joy of your lord.
American King James Version×, 23).

Faithfulness is the key that opens the door to the joy of the Lord.

 

Blessing: Hebrews 12:1-3, Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart. Amen

 

 

Questions for Discussion or Reflection

How would you define faithfulness? Faithfulness is ________________________.

Why do you think people long for faithfulness in relationships? What does faithfulness do for us? What does it provide?

Why is unfaithfulness so devastating and harmful to relationships?

How we respond to unfaithfulness may depend on the nature of the relationship (if it is our spouse or family member or if it is a more casual acquaintance or co-worker). What steps would you suggest to someone who was struggling with a relationship that had been harmed by an act of unfaithfulness?

What can we learn from the story of David, Absalom, and Ittai about the importance of faithfulness in our relationships?

What steps would you recommend to someone who wished to be even more committed to be faithful to the important relationships in her or his life? How can we safeguard our relationships by being faithful to others?

 

6.7.15 Introduction to the Lord’s Supper

Leonardo Da Vinci suggested the concept of a parachute about the year 1495. The first practical one wasn’t invented until the 1780’s. When nylon was introduced in 1937, its benefits as parachute material became quickly apparent. On this day, June 7, 1942 Miss Adeline Gray made the first parachute jump in the United States, using a nylon parachute. Miss Gray jumped from a plane flying out of Brainard Field in Hartford, Connecticut. A parachute is a good illustration of faith. The employees at the Pioneer Parachute Company most likely believed that the nylon parachutes worked, but Adeline Gray demonstrated true faith in jumping out of an aircraft with one on her back and her life depending on it.

Just two years later, on June 6, 1944, young American paratroopers who had left the safety and comfort of their homes in the United States put their lives on the line and jumped in the darkness into France as part of the D Day invasion using nylon parachutes, placing their faith in the parachutes on their backs to carry them safely to the ground many of them didn’t even make it that far before they died.

I tell you that because Jesus left the safety and comfort of his heavenly home and in a sense he took a leap of faith and came to earth in the hope that he would be able to save and transform many lives. He put his life on the line and died on the cross in the hopes of saving us. The bread and cup we share today is a reminder of his faithfulness, courage, and sacrifice, much as we remember those same qualities which were demonstrated by the young men who risked everything going into France 71 years ago yesterday. This is what 1 John says about the faithfulness of Jesus and our need for him in our lives: 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Jesus is faithful and just and he calls us to be the same. Having faith in Christ means we have taken a leap of faith place our confidence in him to save us and we have surrendered our life to serving him with faithfulness in all our relationships and every aspect of our lives.