Sunday, May 14, 2023 AM
MOTHER’S DAY: A Model Mother
Mike Teel, Pastor
FOCAL PASSAGE:
1 In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem. 2 One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, 3 and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” 4 Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her. (Now she was purifying herself from her monthly uncleanness.) Then she went back home. 5 The woman conceived and sent word to David, saying, “I am pregnant.” —II Samuel 11:1-5
BATHSHEBA WAS
!
1 In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem. 2 One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, 3 and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” 4 Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her. (Now she was purifying herself from her monthly uncleanness.) Then she went back home. 5 The woman conceived and sent word to David, saying, “I am pregnant.” —II Samuel 11:1-5
1. BATHSHEBA’S
–How could a woman of such a reputation represent a Model Mother?
–Before you shut me out or cut me off, please listen to my explanation.
–Bathsheba, in almost every book I read, she is painted as a very tainted person.
–We do not understand the power and authority that Kings had. We have never lived under the rule of King. No one had more authority or power.
–Could she have said no to David? Perhaps Yes. But not sure in that situation what any of us would have done. We like to hope we would make a Godly appeal.
–Yes, she was flawed, she failed but aren’t we all?
2. WE ARE
FLAWED!
–Haven’t we all failed as mothers and parents?
–How many times have we failed as parents in raising our children?
–How many mistakes have we made in the administration of discipline, restrictions, things we allowed, etc.?
–Oh yes, there are a number of people who want to tell you how you should raise your children.
–Sometimes the guilt we carry as parents is so overwhelming, we just want to die!
–Our intent is never to make life difficult or unbearable for our children, but we do have purpose when we decide we want to bring kids into this world and attempt to work toward that.
–I do understand that some parents, both moms and dads do not and did not know how to parent. And some of you were the victims of extremely unfair childhoods and for that I am sorry.
–Generally speaking, most of the mistakes we made as parents were just that. Not an excuse but think about it. We were tired, or depressed, or under pressure, or emotionally drained and many times extremely disappointed (with you and ourselves)!
–Bathsheba modeled for us a mom that was flawed, just like if we are honest we too are flawed in our execution of motherhood and fatherhood!
Bathsheba was flawed …
GOD WAS
24 Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and he went to her and made love to her. She gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon. The Lord loved him; 25 and because the Lord loved him, he sent word through Nathan the prophet to name him Jedidiah.—II Samuel 12:24-25
1. GOD’S
ON DISPLAY
–By law both David and Bathsheba should have been put to death for their offenses. –Leviticus 24:17
–God exercises His grace in their lives by allowing them to not only live but to have more children.
–In this day and time children were considered an indication of God’s blessings.
–God then sends Nathan the Prophet that had the dubious assignment to confront David about his sin with Bathsheba but this time he has a message of good news
–They named the child Solomon, but Nathan said name him Jedidiah which means “loved by God.”
–Our heavenly Father wanted David and Bathsheba to understand He still loved them.
2. MANY A MOMMA HAS
A CHILD
–The most difficult thing I do as a pastor is attempt to comfort a parent who has outlived their child.
–So many times, I have been told how unfair God is to take a child before a parent.
–I know first-hand watching my mother deal with the loss of my oldest sister, it can be devastating.
–Perhaps in some instances He has just spared you because parenting is not the easiest thing in the world to do.
–Maybe God’s intention is for you to give a child you did not bear a chance to have a good life.
–Remember next week, May 21st, we will be hosting an “ADOPTION / FOSTER PARENT SEMINAR” in our church. It will take place next Sunday evening at 5:00 PM, here in the Worship Center.
–I realize this does not take away all of the pain, but it is a pathway that God provides for some parents as an expression of HIS LOVE FOR YOU AND A CHILD.
–After all, this is how we are accepted into the Family of God –
4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— —Ephesians 1:4-5
3.
GRACE FOR OURSELVES
–There is nothing more reassuring than to know that when we realize our flaws, God’s grace is sufficient enough to cover them.
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. —II Corinthians 12:9-10
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace —Ephesians 1:7
–Again, as parents it is so good to know that we serve a God of a second chance.
–As a parent, a mom, or a dad, where do you need the application of God’s grace of forgiveness?
–Perhaps the role you need to take on today is that of a child and your need to forgive your mom or your dad or your mom and dad for their inexperience as parents. Would you do that today and let them know all is forgiven?
–Maybe as a mom or a dad today we need to forgive our child.
–We don’t have to accept their behavior, but we are to love them.
God was faithful …
BATHSHEBA WAS
1. FEARLESS IN
11 Then Nathan asked Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, “Have you not heard that Adonijah, the son of Haggith, has become king, and our lord David knows nothing about it? —I Kings 1:11
–At the end of David’s life, one of his other sons, Adonijah, begins to plot to steal the throne from Solomon.
–When Bathsheba is made aware that Adonijah has declared himself King, she fearlessly seeks an audience with King David.
–If the King has not sent for you, it could be a death sentence seeking to see the King.
11 Then Nathan asked Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, “Have you not heard that Adonijah, the son of Haggith, has become king, and our lord David knows nothing about it? 12 Now then, let me advise you how you can save your own life and the life of your son Solomon. 13 Go in to King David and say to him, ‘My lord the king, did you not swear to me your servant: “Surely Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne”? Why then has Adonijah become king?’ 14 While you are still there talking to the king, I will come in and add my word to what you have said.” 15 So Bathsheba went to see the aged king in his room, where Abishag the Shunammite was attending him. 16 Bathsheba bowed down, prostrating herself before the king. “What is it you want?” the king asked. 17 She said to him, “My lord, you yourself swore to me your servant by the Lord your God: ‘Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne.’ 18 But now Adonijah has become king, and you, my lord the king, do not know about it. 19 He has sacrificed great numbers of cattle, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the king’s sons, Abiathar the priest and Joab the commander of the army, but he has not invited Solomon your servant. 20 My lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, to learn from you who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. 21 Otherwise, as soon as my lord the king is laid to rest with his ancestors, I and my son Solomon will be treated as criminals.” —I Kings 1:11-21
–She fearlessly went to David and presented her case for Solomon’s Kingship.
2. A MOTHER’S
AND SUPPORT
–How many of us today would have to say, “I am what I am because of the fortitude or the determination instilled in me by my Mother.”?
–Yes, we owe a great deal of our success in life to our mothers and fathers!
–Bathsheba was a Model Mom in the way she preserved the Kingdom and Kingship for Solomon who went on to be one of Israel’s greatest Kings.
28 Then King David said, “Call in Bathsheba.” So she came into the king’s presence and stood before him. 29 The king then took an oath: “As surely as the Lord lives, who has delivered me out of every trouble, 30 I will surely carry out this very day what I swore to you by the Lord, the God of Israel: Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place.” 31 Then Bathsheba bowed down with her face to the ground, prostrating herself before the king, and said, “May my lord King David live forever!” —I Kings 1:28-31
–Was Bathsheba a perfect Mother? No! But she accepted her flaws and worked in God’s Grace and faithfulness allowing her to be fearless in protecting and providing for her children.
A Model Mother – Bathsheba: She was flawed, God was faithful, and she was fearless!
LIVE IT OUT
–What flaws of life or parenthood is Satan able to hold over your head today?
–Would you please accept the faithful forgiveness of God and seek His plan in the midst of difficulty or heartache?
–Would you be sensitive to seeking God’s way to encourage your children today to be all God wants them to be?