the queen of sheba  2 Chronicles 9: 1-12; Matthew 12:42

She had heard so much about Solomon that she had to see him for herself. The incident of Solomon's contact with this interesting woman reveals a great deal about earnest inquiry.

I. Her inquiring Spirit

   A. There were many reasons why she should not come.

           1. She was royalty in her own right

            2. Her own court was already stored with wisdom

             3. She had a great distance to come

            4.She was a stranger and foreigner to Solomon

            5. She surely already had a religion

B. But she did come

           1. Doubtlessly at great personal expense

            2. Even without receiving an invitation

3.She sought an object far inferior to what men need to seek today

II. Her Thoughtful Inquiry

 A. She inquired personally (could have sent someone else)

 B. She went directly to the primary source of what she wanted to know.

 C. She told him exactly what it was she wanted to know and why (" She told him all that was in her heart")

 D. She didn't heaitate to ask him difficult questions

 E. She listened carecully to what he told her.

 F. She observed everything in connection with Solomon

1. The house that he had built

      2.The meat on his table

      3. The seating of hi servants

     4. The quality of his ministers

     5. The way he related to the house of the Lord

III. Her Inquiry Satisfied

 A. She made a "confession of faith" (" it was a true report that I heard in mine own land")

 B. She made a confession of unbelief (" I believed not until I cae and mine eyes had seen it")

 C. She declared that her expectations had been exceeded ("the one half   was not told me...")

 D. She "envied" his servants (" happy are these thy servants")

 E. She blessed Solomon's God (" Blessed be the Lord thy God")

 F. She gave to Solomon her treasures

 G. SHe received of Solomon from his royal bounty

 H. She went home satisfied

Conclusion

This ancient queen provides us with a fitting analogy of inquiry after Christ.  The inquirer who comes as she did, inquiring as she did, will receiver what she did.

                                                                         -Adapted from C.H. Spurgeon

HAGAR: VICTUM OF HORRIBLE CIRCUMSTANCE GENESIS 16:1-16

Hagar is the kind of a sad chapter that sometimes occurs in the life of a great man.  Abraham had yielded to the unbelief of Sarah; in the process,, he had created all kinds of present and future problems. Hagar was trapped in the midst of all the confusiion.

I. The setting

A. God had promised Abraham that he would be head of a great nation.

B. At age 75 Abraham began to put God's program into practice, and he was reassured of God''s great promise of pssterity.

C. Abrah and Sarah had no children.

     1. The years continued to pass.

      2. Sarah became nervous about God's promise.

D. Sarah convinced Abraham to take God's will into his own hands.

II. The Story

A. Hagar : The innocent bystander.

      1. She was an egyptian.

       2. She lived comfortably in Abraham's home.

       3. She was one of Sarah's favorites (much younger than her mistress).

B. Hagar: The misused.

         1. Practice of giving maid to husband was allowed at the time.

          2. She was a "concubine" or second wife

           3. She would be to this arrangment a legal heir.

 C. Hagar: The victum of circumstances 

           1.  Trouble results from wrong arrangement.

           2. Hagar and Sarah turn against each other. 

           3. Abraham again abidicates responsibility.

            4. Hagar flees from a bad situation.

III. The Supply

A. Hagar heads toward Egypt.

          1. The place she came from.

           2. Troubles sometimes cause us to turn back to our past.

B. God saw her in the desert.

           1. God spoke to her as " Sarah's maid"

            2. God saw har as that - He saw her with no relationship to Abraham

             3. God sends Hagar back to her mistress, she humbles herseldf and God  Blesses Hagar and multiplies her descendants exceedingly.

C. God questions her decision and direction.

             1. She was coming from duty and heading toward danger.

              2.  God tells her to return and submit.

D. As a result of her obedience, she is given promises.

              1. She recognized who God was.

               2. She knew something of the character of God (' thou God seest me").

E. Ishmael is born.

               1. To Abraham

                 2. Hagar has joy.

Conclusion:

We are sometimes caught in circumstances not of our making. When we are, it is necessary to remember that God knows where we are.   God is watching over us, and God will bring things out right in the end.  Hagar revels to us so many truths about how to handle a bad situation.

NEXT MONTH (Dec.) We will take a look at Sarah

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SARAH: COMPROMISE AND CIRCUMCISION GENESIS 16-17

Introduction

When tracing the life of Abraham, one encounters certain prominent issues: faith,God's covenant, etc.  God's covenant looms large and forms the background of this story.

I. Abraham s promise from God

A.  We see covenant involved many times.

B. All conditional on heir.

C. Promise had been focused.(15:1-5)

1. Not to be someone from his household.

2. To be someone out of his own loins.

II. Abrahams problem

A. Promise had been postponed-prolonged (natural problems)

B. Break down of faith

1. What transpired could not have happened had faith not broken down.

2. Human fraility shows up- impatience and self-actio.

III. Sarah's proposal

A. Her plan

1. Customarily the maid's personal property bound to will of owner.

2. Would appear to fulfill condition of promise (15:4)

B. Motive probably good but sin was involved

1. Double sin.

a. Clashed with monogamy - God's will.

b. Human devices to bolster divine  purposes

2. Stgeps of sin's outworking.

a. Sarah's judgment inpaired by bitter feelings (16:2)

b. Sarah blames Abraham for her own suggestion (v.5)

c. Calls upon God to judge her self -created mess (v.5)

d. Acts with meanness toward Hagar.

3. Sarah gave up so much in the process.

a. Polgamy - mother of envy, jealousy,and strife

b. Causes Hagar to despise Sarah.

c. Sin shows everyone in a bad light.

(1) Abraham washes his hands of whole thing.

(2) Sarah treats Hagar poorly.

(3) Hagar puffs up with improper pride.

IV. Hagar's flight

A. Flees from Sarah's harsh treatment.

1. Do not know how sevete. 

2. Remember Hagar's Haughtiness. 

B. Is given an interview with the angel of Lord.

1. Reminds her that she is "out of place" (vs.8)

2. Tells het to correct existing wrong of self- will 

3. Gives her three-fold message.

a. Son

b. Name: Ishmael- " God hears" ( reminder of this event).

c. Descrittion of son's character ( v. 12) - still true today.

C. Responds to interview. 1. " the God who sees me."

2. Ber-lahai-roi -"Place of the God who sees and hears."

3. Returns to her original place as command.

V.  God's provision   ( v. 17)

A. Covenant confirmend

1. Revelation of God - EL Shadai- the all sufficient - able to overcome and subdue nature- the message he needed.

2. Commandment of God (v.1)

a. A God -conscious life ( "Walk before me")

b. Careful attention to details ( Be thou perfect")

B Circumcision instituted.

1. A sign of covenant

2. Purification right at source of life.

C. Promise of Isaac.

D. Promise of Ishmael.

CONCLUSION

Do the will of God. Be patient for God. Keep faith in God and His promises 

Remember the compassion of God.

LOTS WIFE: His "worse half."

Introducti:on: She was unable to tear herself away from the world, and in time of trouble, revealed her true character. She shows us that the love of the world is death. Remember Lot's wife.

I. Remember that she was Lots wife

 A. For all his faults, he was a righteous man

1. She had   Shared his  journeys, adventures and trial

2.She had shared in her husband's privileges.

3.She had sharedin and might have learned from her husband's errors.

4.She had likely contributed heavily to her husband's downfall. 

B. Thus she wa a woman who was not without spiritual background.

II.Remember That she hadgone some distance toward salvation

A. She believed the message that had come about the doom of the city.

B. She had actually left the city. C. She is typical of many who go a long way toward Christ and still perish.

III. remember that she did actually perish through sin 

A. She lingered behind.

B. She disbelieved what she had been told.

C. She dared to look and act of deliberate rebellion.

D. She showed the power of the pull of the world.

IV.Remember that her doom was terrible

A. Her doom befell her at the very gates of the city.

B. Her doom came upon her very suddenly.

C. Her doom came upon her when she was in the very act of sin.

D. Her doom was somewhat the result of her husband.

1. When one walks with God and imitates God, one becomes a person of great character (Abraham.)

2. When one walks with a great man and imitates him, one will always have a weakness of character (Lot)

3. When one walks with a man of weak character and imitates him, one will be a failure (Lot's wife)

Conclusion

Lot's wife becomes a tragic example of the pull of the world and the danger of yielding to that pull.  She had a horrible fate because she was drawn two ways.    

- Adapted from C.H. Spurgeon

rebekah " The Anatomy of deceit"  Genesis 24-27

Isaac was the divinely provided son of a special man, making him "extra special"  God had also specially chosen his wife, and all was well until conflict developed over their sons. Then deceit reared it ugly head.

I. The Beginning of Deceit

     A. Isaac evidently was not a strong leader in his own home. 

                        1. Rebehah played to his weakness rather than his strength.

                          2. Obvious that minior deceptions were commonplace.

      B. Rebekah assisted Jacob in theft of birthright

      C. Rebekah interfiered in Isaac's plan of blessing 

                            1. Hers was a voice of desperation. 

                             2. Mindful of God's promise, she was not willing to trust God.

                                    a. Should have reminded him of God's promises.

                                     b. Should have shown him that Easu had actually forfeited the blessing by the lifestyle he maintaines.

                              3. She took advantage of Isaac's infirmity.

                               4. Her deceit not rebuked even yet.

      D. The second deception 

                           1. Everyone should have learned by now.

                           2. Shows how one sin often leads to another.

II.     The Fruit of Deceit

                          1. Jacob plagued throughout life by lying.

                          2. Shows how quickly sinful habits are learned.

B. She caused hatred between others.

C. She caused  mayn wrongs.

                          1. With her help, Jacob learned to cheat by cheating his brother.

                           2.Shows how quickly sinful habits are learned.

B. She caused hatred between others.

C. She caused many wrongs.

                    1. With her help, Jacob learned to cheat by cheating his brother.

                     2.With her help, Jacob ,defrauded his father.

                     3. With her help, Jacob was robbed of any sense of satisfaction with his blessing.

III. The Avoidance of Deceit

A. Since it starts in the heart, heart must be searched.

                  1. "The heart is deceitful above all things ...(Jer. 17:9)

                   2. Jesus said that all such things come from the heart

B. There must be a recognition that God will punish it. (Ps. 55:23)

C. There must be a realization of the influence it has on others.

D. The heart must be kept in warm fellowship with God.

E. All relationships, etc. must be handled in a biblical way.

CONCLUSION:

REBEHAH GOT HER WAY, BUT THE RESULTS WERE HARDLY WHAT SHE HAD ENVISIONED.  THE SAME EFFECTS COULD HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED BY DOING THINGS GOD'S WAY. DECEIT IS ALWAYS A POOR MEANS OF GETTING WHAT ONE WANTS. 

LEAH " A TOUGH LIFE"   gENesis 29-35

Introduction:

Leah had a very tough and difficult life, but she basically handled her adversity very well. Had she learned one basic principle, she might have left and even better record for us to examine.

I. Leah Had Serious Problems

A. She was the "ugly ducklyng" sister 

      1. She likely was cross-eyed (sloe eyed")

        2. Sister was not average, but actually a beauty.

B. She was misused by her father (Gen 29:20-26)

        1. She was married without being given andy choice.

          2. She was "pushed off" on a husband who wanted her sister.

C. She was part of an unfortunate marriage (Gen 29:30;33:2)

           1. There was no love involved in the marriage.

           2. She did not have her husband to herself for even one week.

D. She faced lifelong humiliation.

             1. She was always second choice.

              2. She was always "excess baggage"

E. She had to use her children to gain her husband's acceptance.

F. She was the object of her sister's animosity.

                1. Throughout life.

                2. Especially at times that should have been spedcial to Leah.

G. She had a very abnormal family situation

            1. Child bearing became competitive.

            2. Had to bargain for husband's affection.

             3. Had to raise her children in abnormal, competitive situatiion.

              4. Was made to understand that he rchild-bearing ability was her only worth.

H. She made her situation worse by succumbing to jealousy.

 I.   She had to wait most of her lifetime for an retribution.

            1. She outlived her sister.

             2. Her son, Judah, was in the line of Christ (Matt. 1:2).

II. Leah was a Woman Who Learned Some Lessons

A. She tried to be content with what she had. 

B. She saw her childten as her greatest blessing.

C. She obviously developed stronger character than her sister.

       1. No record of deceit or stealing.

        2. She "hung-in" in the face of an intolerable situation.

III. Leah Was a Woman With a Hurtful Failure

A. There is no evidecne that she called on the God who loved her.

       1. No sign she sought His help. 

        2. No sign she sought His salvation.

B. Either she didn't know Him or didn't know how to call upon Him.

C. God would have been to her all that she lacked in life.

IV. Leah was a Fairly Typical Woman by Today's Standards'A. Had and unfortunate family background.

B. Had a less than happy marriage.

C. Lived in the midst of complicated and difficult relationships.

D. Did without things that seemed essential.

CONCLUSION:

LEAH SHOWS THE WAY TO MAKE THE BEST OUT OF A BAD SITUATION. hER LIFE CAN TEACH TWO IMPORTANT PRINCIPLES:

                          # I will do what I can to make my situation beneficial.

                           # I will not waste time blaming others for my situation.

MIRIAM: "SWEETNESS TURNED SOUR"  Exodus 2:1-10,15:20,2

Introduction

The Israelites had been in captivity for 400 years.  Moses was chosen of God to be their deliverer.  Miriam, his sister, was part of his household.  Her life is very revealing for us.

I. The Experience of Miriam

A. Faithful and responsible 

         1. She was probably between ages 7 and 11.

          2. Showed very good judgment.

          3. Even then, She was serving her brother.

B. A leader of women 

             1. First mentioned "prophetess" - a woman inspired of God and directed by Him to know and teach His will.

              2. She led the women in praising God.

C. Defeated by bitterness and strife (Num 12)

              1. Was Moses's wife the real problem?

                     a. Miriam may have resented the fact that he had married.

                     b. She was likely spilling out bottled - up bitterness here.

               2. She was called to assist Mosed, ot to be his ewual or to add to his burden (which she certainly did here.)

               3.She attacked Moses in one of the sore points of his life,

                4. God did not take her criticism ligltly.

                        a. His assistants were to recognixe his authority.

                         b. Certainly his own family shoould have performed better.

               5. She bore the brunt of the punishment because she was the instigator of the criticism, Now her inner illness was visible for all to see.

              6. Moses prayed for her healing, and it was granted.

II. The Lessons From thee of Miriam

A.God sometimes uses children to accomplish great purposes.

B. Jealousy is a deadly vice.

                1." Hostility toward a rival or someone believed to enjoy and advantage".

                2.Jealousy always ultimately shows itself in action.

C. A bitter spirit alwayshas its effects on othersd effect on others.

              1. Moses was responsible fo leading the people to the land.

              2. Miriam was responsible for holding them up for a week.

D. Jealousy must be dealt with, and there are ways to do so.

          1. Recognize it for the sin that it is.

           2. Confess it to God.

           3. Do good to the person toward whom you are jealous.

          4. Try to put yourself in the others person' s hsoes.

          5. compare yourself to those belor youm not to those avbove

          6. Cultivate the habit of perpetual thankfulness.

         7.Try to picture yourself through the eyes of another.

CONCLUSION: MIRIAM WAS ASSIGNED BY GOD WITH THE TASK OF AAISTING THE MINISTRY OF HER BROTHER MOSES.  BY ALLOWING BITTERNESS TO CREEP INTO HER LIFE, SHE ENDED UP ACTUALLY HINDERING HIS MINISTRY.  SHE SHOWS US THAT JEALLUST IS BOTH DEADLY AND SOMETHING THAT MUST VE DEALT WITH.

THE WITCH AT ENDOR: A SOUL SOLD TO SATAN 1 SAMUEL 25

INTRODUCTION: Saul has been out of the picture for several chapters, but he now re-enters the scene dramatically .  This is one of the more interesting, controversial stories in all the Scripture. 

I. The Story

  A. The approch (vv. 4-8a)

    1. Philistines encamped against Israel-great numbers.

    2. Saul seeks information from God but can not get through available means.

    3. Disguises himself and goes another route.

   B. The appeal (8-11)

    1. He asks her help.

    2.She refuses -fearing a trap?

    3. He promises her safety (note mention of Lord).

    4. He makes specific rewuest.

       a. What he can not get from the Lord.

       b. Has no real need for the information.

  C. The apparition (vv. 12-14)

    1. Only the woman sees anything.

    2. She appears surprised - not used to seeing?

    3. Saul is rerevealed - he repeats his promise (finally keeps one)

D. The announcement (vv. 15-19)

    1. Saul's sad state revealed.

    2. Samuel revies how he got into the mess.

     3.  Samuel  gives desired information (which is not then desired).

E. The aftermath (vv. 20-25)

    1. Saul overwhelmed by information. 

    2. the woman and Aaul's servants minister to him.

    3. Saul goes his way and keeps his promise.

II. The Problem: What actually happened here ?

A. Witch faked the whole thing.

     2. Knew Saul was coming or who he was

     3. Knew God's sentence - got even for what He had done to other witches.

    4. Really doesn't fi detail of passage.

B. The witch actually brought Samuel up.

     1. Clearly language of passage - leaves fewest unanswred questions.

      2.Raises questions: Can the dead come back?  Can a witch bring back the dead? Where was Samuel? would God use something prohibited.       (Deut. 18:12)

C. Demon represented himself as Samuel.

    1. Satan has power- Demons take on personality.

    2. Satan would know what God has said about Saul.

    3. Woman thus just working with own crowd.

    4. Not what passage appears to say.

D. With the question, don't miss main thrust of passage: to show how far a man can fall when he turns his back on God and decides to do things his own way.

III. The warnings

A. The grave danger of occultism.

    1. Beware of Satan's power.

    2. Recognize  Satan's power to conterfit.

    3.Occultism undeer condemnation of God and child of God has no business with it.

    4. Christian has no need of occult.  We know what we need to know from the Word.  Should trust God for the rest.

B. The evil end of rebellion.

    1. There is no sign of repentance in Saul.

    2. He develops perverse curiosity about future.

    3. He begins to unravel mentallyl

    4. He can get no answer from God.

    5. Rebellion and witch are connected here as stated i 1 Samuel 15:23

    6. Not all rebellion ends this way, but most of it heads this way.

C. The danger of being set aside by God.

    1. Saul once good and blessed.

    2. Ends up rejected by God.

    3. New Testament teaching in 1 Corinthians 9:27

CONCLUSION:

STAY AWAY FROM THE OCCULT!  BEWARE OF YOUR REBELLION! TURNING AGAINST THE AUTHORITY GOD HAS PLACED IN YOUR LIFE IS CLEARLY TURNING AGAINST GOD.  BEWARE OF BEING SET ASIDE BY GOD BECAUSE OF DISOBEDIENCE.

jezabel : the power of influence 1 kings 16-21

INTRODUCTION:

Most women in Scripture are admirable.  Jezebel is on enormous exception to this general rule.  She come through as cold,scheming, ruthless, wicked and every other possible negative.  Her sad life teaches som practical truths. 

I. The sad story of Jezebel

A. The wife of a wicked king (i Kings 16:28-33)

    1. Already the daughter of a heathen king.

    2. Ahab's marriage to her topped all his other sins.

    3. Her unfortunate influence on Ahab began at once (vv. 31,32)

B. The enemy of the servants of the Lord (1 Kings 18: 3,4,18)

    1. As a none-Jew she should have adopted her husband's religion.

     2. Instead of that, she sustained the prophets of Baal.

            a. In place of the Jewish priests.

            b. At the cost of Jewish tazpayers.

    3. She persecuted the prophets of God at every opportunity.

C. The usurper of the power of her husband ( 1 Kings 19:1,2)

    1. Left alone, a weak Ahab might have listened to Elijah and turned to God.

    2. Her fearsome influence on Elijah shows her enormous power.

D. A pshchologist of evil influence (1 Kings 21 :1-7,15,16)

    1. She knew how to control Ahab by playing on his desires.

    2. She made Ahab responsible for a great atrocity.

E. Guilty of other violations of God's law.

    1. Continually stirred her husband to evil (w Kings 21:25)

     2. Stood accused of whoredoms and witchcraft (2 Kings 9:220

     3. She was the ultimate picture of evil and of insult to God.

F. Known of God for her evi.

     1, Many predictions made against her (1 Kings 21:23;2 Kings 9:7,10)

      Her death is a story of God's retribuitive judgment.

II. The Negative Factors of Jezebel

A. She was a continual influence for evil.

    1. She caused Ahab to be more evil than he otherwise might have been.

    2. She supported and encouraged him in his wrong desires.

    3. She encouaged him to defy God.

    4. She had goals that were formed without fear of God.

B. She often  usurped husbamd's place.

1, She dealt harshly with God's prophets.  

2. She threatened Elijah.

3. She had Naboth killed on her own.

C. She had no regard for the Lords anointed.

D. She was devoid of most womanly characteristics (compassion, concrn, feminity, etc.)

E. She lived a life of rebellion that grew worse and worse.

III. The Influence of Jezebel

A. Over her husband.

      1. She influence by words, wishes,  desires, goals.

    2. She influenced openly and covertly.

3. SHe influecnced away from God.

4. She got what she asked for but not what she wanted.

B. Over her children.

    1. Her nfluence did not end with her husband.

     2. Her influence also extended to her children (her daughter married the king of Judah and negatively influenced him.)

CONCLUSION:  Jezebel is not a fit role model fro anyone, but she does provide a clear example of the things women should avoid in life.  Each woman should ezamine her heart to see if any of the negatives of Jezebel might be present in her.

THE QUEEN OF SHEBA 2 CHRONICLES 9:1-12, MATTHEW 12:42

More to come