HOPE AND HEALING
Pastor Josh Weisbrod – May 10, 2020
KEY IDEA: We are all called to reflect the love of Christ and to contend, or fight, for others in love.
KEY PASSAGE: 2 Samuel 21:1-14
SUMMARY: Motherly love is a reflection of the love of Jesus Christ.
The Story of Rizpah – 2 Samuel 21
Rizpah was a concubine of King Saul. When Saul dies, David is the promised king coming to power. As a concubine of a former king, Rizpah was in a unique position because she has sons from the former king.
A massive famine hits the land for 3 years and there was no food because King Saul had violated an agreement with the Amorites, which was to not kill them. Now, in order to stop the famine, King David asks the Gibeonites (remnants from the Amorites) what he can do to act with justice. They ask for 7 men to be killed and exposed in shame in exchange for the injustice their people experienced. Two of the seven that were selected were Rizpah’s two sons. This story, although tragic, is a beautiful picture of a mother’s love.
Love is Selfless
• The Story of Rizpah
• Rizpah was used to palace life, but when her two sons were chosen to be killed, she left the palace and went to be with her own children who were killed.
• Moms are selfless. They give up their bodies, schedules, sleep, dreams and goals, alone time, physical health, own safety, sanity, and bathroom time—everything for the sake of their kids.
• Philippians 2:3-7 – Jesus stepped down into the brutality and brokenness of the world because of His love for us. Christ has a love that contends for his children. His love is selfless.
Love is Enduring
• From the beginning of harvest until the rain fell (March/April to October), Rizpah lay on sackcloth on a rock and she watched over her children’s dead bodies.
• The bodies were left exposed which brought shame on her sons and herself. She stayed with the bodies for months, enduring the natural elements and harsh conditions.
• Hebrews 12:1-2 – Jesus endured the cross because He loved you. It was not forced or coerced. He bore our sin and shame—every brutal piece—because He so deeply loves us. Love is enduring.
Love is Fierce
• Love is not fluffy, it is fierce.
• Rizpah is not only enduring the elements but she is battling what would come to tear apart her children and shame them.
• There are things in this world that try to come against our children, to tear apart their body, to bring shame upon them. Mother’s contend against those things and for their future.
Love is Victorious
• David is moved by Rizpah’s actions. David takes her sons bones and gathers them with the bones of King Saul and Jonathan and gives them an honorable burial.
• Because of her selfless, enduring, and fierce love, Rizpah is victorious. Her son’s bones were buried in honor.
• Rizpah’s motherly love reflects the heart of Christ.
• 1 Corinthians 15:56-57
• Through Jesus’ sacrificial love we receive victory and honor, not by our strength, but because of His great love for us.
This powerful love of Jesus isn’t just for Rizpah to reflect, or for mothers to reflect.
We are all called to reflect the love of Christ and contend for others in love.
Call to be Selfless
• Reflect a love that is selfless
• Step out of our comfort zone and suffer with others.
• Passion means to suffer. Compassion means to suffer for and includes some kind of action.
• We have received His love, and we are called to reflect His love. John 15:12-13
Call to Endure
• Don’t give up contending for people around you.
• People are messy and dirty. We have to get in the mess with them.
• If we want the victory in love, we have to endure in love. Galatians 6:9
• Endure in love for the people around you.
Call to be Fierce
• We need to fight the good fight.
• Ephesians 6:12
• God is looking for people who will contend for the next generation. I’m fighting the things that will come against this generation. We will fight for them.
• Intercede in prayer. Stand in the gap for the next generation. Intercede for families in our city.
Call to Victory
• When people experience the love of Christ everything changes.
• The love of Jesus changes everything. We will walk in victory through Him.
• Romans 8:37-39
Make a commitment to contend in love for others.
REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Use these reflection questions as a way to deepen your relationship with God. Allow the Holy Spirit to shine a light into your heart.
1) Describe a moment when you have experienced selfless love from another person, or describe a moment when you were selfless in your love for another person.
2) Which part of Jesus’ call to reflect His Love—the call to be selfless, the call to endure, the call to be fierce, or the call to victory--is the easiest for you and/or which is the most difficult?
3) As Christians, we stand in the gap and contend for the next generation because we want to make sure that someone is praying even if we are the only one. How might understanding this concept help us to think differently about the importance of contending for this generation and the next generation?
4) We are called to reflect the love of Christ and contend for others in love. How is contending (fighting) for others in a crisis moment different from contending for others as a lifestyle? What kind of difference could it make to contend (fight) for others in love as a lifestyle?
5) Pastor Josh said, “When people experience the love of Christ, everything changes.” How has the love of Christ changed you?
6) When you consider what God has done specifically for you, you’ll find that there is a unique message of God’s love that each of us has to offer to others. What unique message of God’s love has He given you to share with others? For example, when someone is set from an addiction, often that person shares the message of God’s love through their message of freedom from addiction.
Full Podcast Episode: https://banner.church/podcast/2020/5/25/hope-amp-healing-mothers-day-51020