Mid Toil and Tribulation... Warriors of Holy Love

A New City of God

(1 Chronicles 11:4-9, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, October 15, 2017)

[4] And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, that is, Jebus, where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land. [5] The inhabitants of Jebus said to David, “You will not come in here.” Nevertheless, David took the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David. [6] David said, “Whoever strikes the Jebusites first shall be chief and commander.” And Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, so he became chief. [7] And David lived in the stronghold; therefore it was called the city of David. [8] And he built the city all around from the Millo in complete circuit, and Joab repaired the rest of the city. [9] And David became greater and greater, for the LORD of hosts was with him.

Longing for Jerusalem During the Exile and Beyond

The Chronicler and those who were truly with him in their hearts during the time of the exile and beyond longed for Jerusalem. It is not that hard to figure that out. When we look at the songs that were composed during that period we can see their passion. Looking particularly at Psalm 137:

[1] By the waters of Babylon,

there we sat down and wept,

when we remembered Zion.

[2] On the willows there

we hung up our lyres.

[3] For there our captors

required of us songs,

and our tormentors, mirth, saying,

“Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”

[4] How shall we sing the LORD's song

in a foreign land?

[5] If I forget you, O Jerusalem,

let my right hand forget its skill!

[6] Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth,

if I do not remember you,

if I do not set Jerusalem

above my highest joy!

[7] Remember, O LORD, against the Edomites

the day of Jerusalem,

how they said, “Lay it bare, lay it bare,

down to its foundations!”

[8] O daughter of Babylon, doomed to be destroyed,

blessed shall he be who repays you

with what you have done to us!

[9] Blessed shall he be who takes your little ones

and dashes them against the rock!

We can see the passion, and if we are honest, we are perhaps repulsed by the violence of the song, but there was a manly energy in their desire for the city.

Looking Back

The story of the city is briefly told in this passage by looking back at what was once an unfinished conquest. The city of Jebus, the stronghold of a people group called the Jebusites, was a part of the unfinished business of the Lord's commanded conquest of the land of Canaan. According to Joshua 15:63 “The Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the people of Judah could not drive out, so the Jebusites dwell with the people of Judah at Jerusalem to this day.” Though God Himself would give the Land to His people, He inspired a leader, David, and a warrior, Joab, together with other fighting men to do the job, and to call others to holy action. The Chronicler helped men of his day to be holy warriors of life by looking back at a king and a mighty man who not only took the city, but who then built it up to be what it should be in its day. That took sacrifice, which demands heart, but sleepy hearts can be provoked by a challenge.

The Jebusites offer their own challenge. “You will not come in here.” The heart of God and his people respond with the word “nevertheless,” and a true leader offers a better call. “Whoever strikes the Jebusites first will be chief and commander.” Men of God who claim to have ambition for the kingdom and who want to lead others in the Lord's battles will prove their hearts by their willingness to go first in sacrifice and then by following any initial victory with the pain that is necessary to finish what they have begun.

The glory of the city was displayed in the king and his God. The right king presents the city to the Almighty, which is the Lord's destiny for man from the creation of Adam. The man of the sixth day was always meant to sing to the God of the seventh day. The “sweet psalmist of Israel” (2 Samuel 23:1), David, “became greater and greater, for the Lord of hosts was with him.”

Looking Forward

Like the Chronicler, we can be inspired to present action not only by looking back, but we are also in a great position to look forward. We look to the future and to the progress of the kingdom of God here in our own Northern New England. We see the beautiful city coming down out of heaven from God as a bride adorned for her husband (Revelation 21:2) and we hear the call of God in Colossians 3:1-4 “[1] If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. [2] Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. [3] For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. [4] When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”

But how do we do this? First, give all the glory to the divine King and to the Triune God. David, Joab, and the rest were able to take possession of Jerusalem. Only Jesus could win the battle for the resurrection world. Through His successful defeat of entrenched evil and death, we now have a place in a perfect world where our King lives and reigns forever.

Second, our King has also called us into battle. We battle not to scold or kill but to bring healing and life. We win by singing (The Church's One Foundation), by giving (where your treasure is...), and by serving together with a city of people, friends who share a holy violence of divine love (Matthew 11:11-15, Luke 16:16, Luke 13:22-30). Together we have courage because God is at work within us both to will and to do according to His good pleasure (Philippians 2:12-18).

Old Testament Reading—Psalm 31 – Into Your Hands I Commit My Spirit

Gospel Reading—Matthew 9:35-38

[35] And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. [36] When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. [37] Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; [38] therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”