Proverbs: The Fear of the Lord and Wisdom: The Doctrine of Election

Time to Forsake Our False Gods

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: Old Testament Studies

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2008-05-11

Synopsis: John Weaver preaches from 1 Chronicles 14:8-17, using the Philistines' abandonment of their idols after David's victory as an illustration of the need to forsake false gods. He argues that false gods—such as money, medicine, government, and human effort—cannot save in times of danger or judgment. The sermon calls for repentance and turning to the one true God revealed in Jesus Christ, emphasizing that God's providential judgments in America are warnings to abandon idolatry before it is too late.

[John Weaver] Let's open our Bibles to 1 Chronicles chapter 14. 1 Chronicles chapter 14. We're going to read verses 8 through 17. 1 Chronicles chapter 14 verses 8 through 17. The title of the message today is Time to forsake our false gods. Time to forsake our false gods. I'm going to make Hobie preach last because he always preaches my sermon. All right. Well, you know, the Bible says, let everything be established by two or three witnesses. So this is witness number two. First Chronicles, Chapter 14, beginning there with verse eight.

[John Weaver] And when the Philistines heard that David was anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David and David heard of it and went out against them. And the Philistines came and spread themselves in the Valley of Rethem. And David inquired of God, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines, and wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the Lord said unto him, Go up, for I will deliver them into thine hand. So they came up to Baal-perazim, and David smoked them there. Then David said, God hath broken in upon mine enemies, and mine hand like the breaking forth of waters. Therefore they call the name of that place Baal-perazim. And when they had left their gods there, David gave the commandment, and they were burned with fire. And the Philistines yet again spread themselves abroad in the valley. Therefore, David inquired again of God, and God spake unto him, Go not up after them, turn away from them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. It shall be when thou shalt hear a sound of going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt go out to battle.

[John Weaver] For God is going forth before thee to smite the host of the Philistines. David therefore did as God commanded him. And they smote the host of the Philistines, from Gibeon even to Gazer. And the fame of David went out into all the lands, and the Lord brought the fear of him upon all nations." Time to forsake our false gods. Do you realize that false gods may suffice in a time of pleasure, plenty, and prosperity, but they cannot and will not suffice in a time of danger, destruction, and damnation. False gods are always wicked, wrong, and ungodly. However, it is a fact that many hold to false gods and at the same time deny the one true living God who has revealed himself in Jesus Christ. There are many professing Christians that hold to false gods. In fact, many of them hold to some god of their imagination. Others serve the God of convenience, or the God of prosperity, or the God of lustful desires, or the God of comfort. And the sad fact is that many hold to these false gods to their own destruction.

[John Weaver] Here's the really, really sad part. Many do not have sense enough to see the vanity, the uselessness, and the worthlessness of false gods. Now, when I say they don't have sense enough, I'm just saying what Scripture says. You remember that passage in Ephesians 4, verse 18, being alienated from God through the ignorance that is in them? In other words, they just simply do not have the understanding. They do not have the sense.

[John Weaver] Now, there's an apt illustration given to us in 1 Chronicles, Chapter 14, when it's time to forsake our false gods. The Philistines, although they were idolaters and unconverted, and certainly had no respect for the one true and living God, the God of Israel, yet they at least had enough sense to know that it was time to forsake their false gods.

[John Weaver] Now, Scripture is very clear about trusting in vanity. Now, let me just tell you, whenever you see the word vanity in the Bible, It does not only refer to that which is just simply useless and worthless and vain. Vanity is often used as a word for idols and idolatry. Let me show you. Whole 1 Chronicles 14, but turn in your Bibles to 2 Kings chapter 17 and look at verse 15. 2 Kings chapter 17 and verse 15.

[John Weaver] Watch carefully, 2nd Kings 17 and verse 15. Notice what the Bible says. 2nd Kings 17 and verse 15, the Bible tells us and they rejected his statutes. Now watch and they rejected his statutes and his covenant that he made with their fathers and his testimonies, which he testified against them and followed vanity. and became vain and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the Lord had charged them that they should not do like them." Now, when the Bible said that they followed vanity, all it means is they're following false gods or false idols.

[John Weaver] Look in your Bibles, if you would please, to the book of Isaiah, chapter 41. Isaiah 41. And notice, if you would please, verse 29. Just showing you how the word vanity Oftentimes, it only refers to that which is worthless and useless, but to idolatry and even to those who make idols. In Isaiah 41, verse 29, we read this, Behold, they are all vanity. Their works are nothing.

[John Weaver] Their molten images are wind and confusion. Notice, he says, Behold, they are all vanity.

[John Weaver] Now look in Isaiah 44. And verse 9 Isaiah 44 verse 9. They that make a graven image are all of them vanity and their delectable things shall not profit and they are their own witnesses. They see not nor know that they may be ashamed. And then he goes on who had formed a god or a molten graven image that is profitable for nothing. So once again, it's not just the idols that are called vanity, but also those who make those idols. And then if you will look in Jeremiah chapter 18 and verse 15. Jeremiah 18 and verse 15. Notice if you would, what God says concerning His people in general.

[John Weaver] We could use this same scripture today. Jeremiah 18 and verse 15. God says, because My people have forgotten Me. They have burned incense to vanity, that is, to false gods, to idols, and they have caused them to stumble in their ways from the ancient past, the walking past, in a way not cast out. Now, God says, it's my people that have forgotten me. And what do you do when you forget the ones who are the living God? You turn to idols. You turn to vanity. Now, there are a multitude of professing Christians today who will tell you, well, we don't trust in false gods.

[John Weaver] What we do is we just believe that we need to work it out and listen. Everything I've got I made and I work for. What are you saying when you say that? You're saying I'm trusting in my own efforts. I'm trusting in my own money. I'm trusting in my own riches. And you don't realize that many people do not understand that their wealth and their riches can equally be an idol. In fact, let me just quote these two verses for you. The Bible says in Proverbs 11 and verse 4 that riches profit not in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivered from death. Riches profit not in the day of death.

[John Weaver] I never shall forget hearing about a very, very wealthy man who died, multimillionaire. And at his funeral, One man leaned over to another and asked, how much did he leave? To which the man responded, he left it all. Riches profit not in the day of wrath. And the Bible says in Psalm 49 and verse 7, none of them by any means can redeem his brother, nor to give God a ransom for him. Do you realize that if you possess all the wealth that has ever been in this world, You could not only not redeem yourself, you could not redeem anyone else as well.

[John Weaver] See, Scripture teaches us that it's the love of money that is the root of all evil. You know, our so-called money in this country has the motto on it, in God we trust, except for some of the newer coins. Someone has aptly suggested that we need to add one word to that motto. and put it like this in this God we trust because that's exactly what so many do. But we've got so many false gods in this country. We've got the false god of medicine.

[John Weaver] Stop and think about this. God himself is the great physician. He is the healer. I've often been asked whether or not I believe in divine healing. Well, let me just clarify that for you. All healing is divine. If God doesn't heal you, you're never ever going to be healed.

[John Weaver] Now the fact of the matter is, God may use means or God may not use means. But it doesn't matter what remedy you apply to your illness or your sickness. If God does not bless that remedy, you will never ever be healed. If God blesses the remedy, anything can work. Have you ever stopped to think, that as sick as Hezekiah was, and the Bible says he was sick unto death, he's about to die. You know what God used to heal Hezekiah? A lump of figs. I mean, you know, I don't know what disease he had, but that lump of figs took care of it with the blessing of God. Do you remember that Egyptian slave that was wandering around in the wilderness that his master left because he was sick?

[John Weaver] And when David then found him, he had fasted for three days. No food and no water. And guess what? The fasting healed him. He was well when David found him. May I remind you that it only took a dip in the Jordan River to cure Naaman of his leprosy. And may I remind you that in the New Testament, it only took some clay and some spittle to open the eyes of a man who was blind. And when our Lord went to Peter's mother, he just simply took her hand.

[John Weaver] Now, all I'm trying to show you is this. With the blessing and the power of God upon the remedy, you're going to get well. But I don't care what you take and I don't care what you do. If a blessing in the power of God is not on it, you will not get well. That's just simply it. But let me show you what I'm talking about when I'm saying that so many trust in the God of medicine. In our country, in the land of the enlightened, civilized, intellectual citizens, We believe that we can sin against God, violate his law, break his commandments, and get away with it. Why? Because we believe that if we're smitten with some sexually transmitted disease, well listen, penicillin will take care of it. Medicine will take care of it. How many depend upon medicine to cure their HIV and their AIDS? All I'm trying to show you is so many think that they can sin against God and get away with it just simply because they've made a God out of medicine.

[John Weaver] We've also made a God out of government. We do not need to work, earn our living by the sweat of our brow. We do not need to plan and save and plan ahead and be frugal. No, no, no, no. Because in this day and time, we believe the government will take care of us. We don't even believe that we need to know how to protect ourselves. Why? Because the government is going to protect us. We don't believe that we need a sound money system like silver and gold because the government assures us that paper and ink is money.

[John Weaver] I probably told you this, but I bought some gas not too long ago. Sixteen bucks. I handed the young lady a 20. She handed me back four ones and I just stood there and I looked at it. I said, something's wrong. She said, did not give you back the correct change? I said, yes, but do you realize I now have your gas and I have four times as much money as I had before paid for. I've got four pieces of paper when I only gave you one piece of paper. Oh, she said, but the one piece you gave me was a 20 and those are all ones. I said, oh, so the value then is in the numbers that are printed on the paper. Is that it?

[John Weaver] I mean, it went right over her head. If paper is valuable, I should have had more from four pieces than one piece. If ink is valuable, I should have had more because I had more ink on the paper than on the one piece of paper. All I'm trying to show you is this. We think that, look, we don't need a sound money system because the government is going to take care of us. Who needs freedom? Who needs liberty? Who needs a constitutional republic? Why?

[John Weaver] We believe that socialism and fascism will work equally as well. And we don't need to worry about a thing. Why? They will take care of us. The elite will work it out. We don't need to concern ourselves about anything. We don't need to worry. We don't need to be upset. After all, we as Americans believe that our government is looking out after our best interests and our welfare. We love to trust in the God of civil government.

[John Weaver] It gives us a kind of a warm, soft, safe, tingling feeling. Doesn't it? We know that they'll take care of us. There are so many false gods in this country, I could not even begin to listen. Suffice it to say this, if your God is not the one true and the living God who has revealed Himself in Jesus Christ, you're worshipping an idol. The only God that exists is the God of the Bible. The only God that exists is the God who has manifested Himself in Jesus Christ. Our Lord Himself said in John 14 in verse 6, I am the way, the truth, and the life. Are you listening?

[John Weaver] And no man cometh unto the Father but by me. There are not a multitude of ways to get to God. There's only one way, and that's through the Mediator, the Lord Jesus Christ. Now. I said the title of this message was time. To forsake our false gods, I want you to look back in your Bibles to First Chronicles Chapter 14. And I want to read to you verse 12. I want you to look at this.

[John Weaver] Please keep in mind that the Philistines were heathen. They were wicked. They were ungodly. They were unconverted. They had no regard for the God of Israel, but yet They did, at least, have a little common sense. In 1 Chronicles 14, verse 12, the Bible says this, and when they, that is the Philistines, had left their gods there, David gave a commandment and they were burned with fire.

[John Weaver] Now, before we look at this, I want us to consider the context of verse 12. You can ask yourself this question. Why were the Philistines so foolish to pick a fight with David? You know, I love that one scene in William Wallace, where Mel Gibson turns there as he is William Wallace, and the men ask him, where are you going? He said, I'm going to pick a fight. Yeah, I'm going to pick a fight. Why would the Philistines be so stupid as to pick a fight with David? Look in verse 8. And when the Philistines heard that David was anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David, and David heard of it and went out against them. Listen, look in your Bibles. I can quote this, but look in your Bibles, 1 Samuel chapter 2. I want you to see that the Philistines certainly were not ignorant of David and his military skills. I want you to look in 1 Samuel chapter 2, because there in verse 11, here's what the Philistines themselves say concerning David.

[John Weaver] I say 1 Samuel 2 11, I've given you the wrong passage. Well, let me just quote it. 1 Samuel Well, I said 211, but it's not 211. Here it is. And the servants of Attish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? Did they not sing one to another of him and dances saying, Saul has slain his thousands and David is tens of thousands. So they knew who David was. They knew all about David. So very obviously then, They knew about his military skills. They knew about his fighting ability. Now, turn in your Bibles, if you would please, to 1 Samuel chapter 21.

[John Weaver] Let me show you this. 1 Samuel chapter 21. And look, if you would please, at verse 10.

[John Weaver] Now, let me ask this question again. Why did they pick a fight with David? First, you have to remember that when David was fleeing from Saul, he escaped to Achish, king of Gath, who was the Philistine, and he was the lord and ruler. So in 1 Samuel chapter 21 and verse 10, the Bible says David's fleeing from Saul now, and David arose and fled that day for fear of Saul and went to Achish, the king of Gath. Ok, now turn in your Bibles to 1 Samuel chapter 27. 1 Samuel 27. David stayed with Achish for a long time. Notice this. 1 Samuel 27 beginning with verse 1. And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul.

[John Weaver] There is nothing better for me that I should escape into the land of the Philistines. and fall down to spare me to seek me more in any course of Israel socialized about his hand. So David arose and he passed over the six hundred men that were with him on the act ish the son of my off king of death and David dwelt with actually should get he is me and every man with his household even David with his two wives and you know I am the just realize that the deal with Carmelitis Naples why it was told Saul that David was fled to get any salt no more again for him and David said in the act if I have now found grace in my eyes let them give me a place in some town in the country that I

[John Weaver] may dwell there for why should I serve it will of the royal city with the then I can she gave Him Ziklag that day, wherefore Ziklag pertains unto the kings of Judah unto this day. At the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was a full year and four months. And David and his men went up and invaded the Gishrites and the Gisrites and the Amalekites.

[John Weaver] For those nations were of old the inhabitants of the land, as thou goest to Shereven in the land of Egypt. And David smoked the land, and left neither man nor woman alive, and took away the sheep, and the oxen, and the asses, and the camels, and the apparel, and returned, and came to Achish. And Achish said, Whither have you made road today? And David said, Against the south of Judah, against the south of the Jeremelites, and against the south of Kenites. And David saved neither man nor woman alive to bring tidings, saying, Lest they should tell on us, saying, So did David, and so will be his manner all the while he dwelleth in the country of the Philistines. And Achish believed David, saying, He hath made his people Israel utterly to abhor him.

[John Weaver] Therefore he shall be my servant forever." Now, what did David do for 14 months? He lived in the land of the Philistines. And yes, he fought against his enemies, but he lied to Achish, and he said, I've been fighting against the south of Judah, and Achish believed him.

[John Weaver] Now, the point I'm trying to make is this. David has been in the Philistines' land for 14 months. What does that mean? It means this. He knew their strong cities. He knew their weak cities. He knew their strong points. He knew their weak points. He knew their rulers. He knew their cities. He knew their roads. If David ever wanted to invade the Philistines, he would have the advantage. Because according to their thinking, David knows all about us.

[John Weaver] Therefore, it would be better to take him out of the picture before he gains enough power and turns around and invades us. Why did they pick a fight with David? They knew that he knew everything about them.

[John Weaver] Secondly, you have to remember that the Philistines had killed Saul and Jonathan. They not only killed them, they had mutilated their bodies and praised their false gods and hung their armor in their temple. Look in your Bibles to 1 Samuel chapter 31. 1 Samuel 31 and begin reading there with verse 8. 1 Samuel 31 verse 8. And it came to pass on the morrow when the Philistines came to strip the slain that they found Saul and his three sons fallen in Mount Gilboa. And they cut off his head that stripped off his armor and sent him to the land of the Philistines round about to publish it in the house of their idols and among their people. And they put the armor in the house of Ashtaroth and they fastened his body to the wall in Bethshem. So it wasn't enough that they had killed Saul and Jonathan and his other two sons. No, no, no, no. They had to mutilate their bodies. They had to hang their bodies on a wall. They had to put their armor in the idol's temple and praise their false gods.

[John Weaver] Now, if you look at 2 Samuel 1, beginning there, verse 17, David laments the deaths of Saul and Jonathan. Now, it is true that Saul and David, had no relationship whatsoever, because Saul kept trying to murder David. But you will remember that Saul and Jonathan had entered into a covenant, yet David lamented the loss of both of them. Look in 2 Samuel 1, verse 17. And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son.

[John Weaver] Also, he made them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow. Behold, it is written in the book of Jasher, the beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places. How are the mighty fallen? Tell it not in Gath. These are Philistine cities. Fulmish it not in the streets of Ashkelon. Lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice. Lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph. You mountains of Gilboa. That's where they were slain.

[John Weaver] Let there be no dew, neither let there be rain upon you, nor fields or offerings. For there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul as though he had not been anointed with oil. From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back. And the sword of Saul returned not empty. Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their deaths they were not divided.

[John Weaver] They were swifter than eagles. They were stronger than lions. And then of course he goes on and tells the children of Israel to lament for Saul and Jonathan. So David lamented over their deaths. Now the Philistines knew that since David was a patriot, It would not be long before his love for his country and his love for Jonathan would lead him to take away the reproach of Gilboa for Saul and Jonathan and his sons were slain.

[John Weaver] They said we'll have to stop him because he will plan an attack upon us. Thirdly, here's the third reason they attacked him. David had just assumed and ascended to the throne of the kingdom. And in all probability, here was their thinking. We need to strike him now before he has time to consolidate his power and consolidate his people. In other words, they were planning a surprise attack and they were thinking that David is now in a weakened condition, although he assumed the kingdom. He hasn't had time to consolidate everything. And therefore, they were going to attack him while he is weak.

[John Weaver] You know, the enemies of God and the enemies of faith never, ever take into account the One True and the Living God. Never. They presume, based upon their humanistic thoughts and plans, they presume, based upon their secularism, They presume, based upon their humanism, and they never count in the fact that God is the defense of His people. Yet we're going to find out that the sovereign God of the universe had a hand in all of this because now He is confusing and confounding the minds of the Philistines and bringing them together so that David may destroy them and wipe away the reproach of Gilboa. So what do the Philistines do?

[John Weaver] Look in verse 9 of 1 Chronicles chapter 14. 1 Chronicles chapter 14 verse 9, And when the Philistines came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephian. Wow. They spread themselves in the valley of Rephian.

[John Weaver] Now, interestingly, the word Refem has two meanings. First of all, it has reference to the Valley of the Giants. In fact, this word, Refem, is translated giants in our Bible 17 times. It is translated Refem 8 times. So the reference is in all probability first to an old tribe of giants. They probably dwelt in that valley. The second meaning is given to us in the Septuagint, and that means the valley of the dead. So, the Philistines spread themselves out in the valley of the dead. You know, I think I would want to spread myself out in the valley of the living. But they spread themselves out in the valley of the dead, which was pictorial of the fact that they would soon be dead.

[John Weaver] because God Himself was against them. Now, look what David does. Verse 10, And David inquired of God, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? And wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the Lord said unto him, Go up, I will deliver them into thine hand. So God now has told David, You want to know, will you go up? And if you go up, Will you deliver, will I deliver them into your hand?

[John Weaver] And the answer is yes. I will allow you to go up and yes, I will deliver them into your hand.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to hold 1 Chronicles chapter 14, but I want you to turn back to 2 Samuel chapter 5. Because you have the same identical story in 2 Samuel chapter 5. But I want to show you an additional word. Look in 2 Samuel chapter 5 at verse 19. Same story. 2 Samuel chapter 5 verse 19. And David inquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines?

[John Weaver] Wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the Lord said unto David, Go up, for I will doubtless Deliver the Philistines into my hand. Now, wait a minute. Now, when you and I read that, we understand that when God says, I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into your hands, it means without a doubt, it means absolutely certain they shall be delivered. But let me tell you something that you cannot discern in the English. In the Hebrew, The word doubtless and the word deliver are one of the same words. Literally what God says to David, I will deliver, deliver the Philistines into your hands.

[John Weaver] How much more assurance could you give? God says, David, you go up, whether you translated doubtless or double deliver. He says, you make sure that you understand. I will put them in your hand.

[John Weaver] Now go back to First Chronicles chapter 14. Look, if you would please, at verse 11. So they came up to Baal-perazim and David smoked them there. Then David said, God had broken in upon my enemies by my hand. like the breaking forth of waters. Therefore, they call the name of that place Bel-Perezim. Now, look, if you would, at the word smoke. The Bible said, then David smoked them there. Let me tell you what the word smoke means. It literally means to slay, to slaughter, to kill, to be fatally smitten. You and I could put it like this. David virtually slaughtered them. It was like shooting ducks in a pool where the ducks can't get out. David literally wiped them out. Now, here's the question. How could David accomplish such a victory? Look what David says in verse 11. So they came up to Baalperazim, and David smoked them there. Then David said, God hath broken in upon mine enemies by mine hand like the breaking forth of waters. Now, David said, I did the fighting.

[John Weaver] But it was God who gave the victory. And he says, God has broken forth upon mine enemies, then he says, like the breaking forth of waters.

[John Weaver] Now, let me ask you. Have you ever seen an earthen pitcher that's full of water? And that earthen pitcher break. What happens? The water just gushes out everywhere. Those of us who've lived on farms have seen dams break. And guess what happens to all that water that's backed up in that punch? It just rushes right out. It goes everywhere. David said God have broken forth upon my enemies, as water breaks forth. Water rushes out rapidly. God broke in on those Philistines in righteous anger and righteous fury by the hand of David. David called the place of his victory Baal-perazim. Now, Baal-perazim is also known as Mount-perazim. Watch this. Whole verse, Chronicles 14. But look in your Bibles to Isaiah 28 and verse 21. Isaiah 28, verse 21. Isaiah 28, verse 21. Baal-perazim. OK. Here it is. Isaiah 28, verse 21. Baal-perazim is Mount Perazim. For the Lord shall rise up as in Mount Perazim, He shall be wroth, as in the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work, and bring to pass his act, his strange act."

[John Weaver] Now isn't that interesting? Here God is going to rise up and God is going to break forth again just like He did in Mount Perizim under the hand of David. And now it's called His strange work. or his strange act. Why? Well, I'll tell you in just a little while. Let's ask and answer this question. What was the result of God breaking forth upon the Philistines through David's hand?

[John Weaver] It meant simply that they were slaughtered, that they were defeated. And they were so devastated. Go back to First Chronicles chapter 14 in verse 12. Watch what happens. When God broke forth upon them, they were so defeated, so devastated. They left their gods there. And David commanded and they were burned with fire. They left their gods there. Let me ask you a question. What good is a God who cannot deliver? What good is a God who cannot save?

[John Weaver] You know what these Philistines found out? You know what they discovered? They found out their gods were no gods. They found out their gods were impotent. They were worthless. They were vain. They were useless. They were no good. They were no account. Guess what they did? They left them on the battlefield. David also recognized their worthlessness. Therefore, David had them burned. Now watch this. In this instance, as wicked, as vile, and as heathenistic as the Philistines were, at least they had enough sense to realize their gods were useless. Oh, that America had that much sense. that we could recognize the impotence and the worthlessness of our false gods. Our sin in America is this, folks, we love our false gods. We love our conveniences. We love our comfort. We love our money. We love our socialism. We love our welfarism. We love our humanism. We love our materialism. We love our secularism. What in the world would it take to get us to the point, like these Philistines, that we're willing to forsake our false gods?

[John Weaver] What will it take? Well, let me try to answer that question by showing you several things in this passage. I'm going to show you what it took to bring the Philistines to the point that they were willing to leave their false gods. First, there was the overthrow of their plans and schemes. What did they plan? They planned to come up, attack David, whip him, take the cities. and go home. All their plans, all their schemes failed. You know something?

[John Weaver] It should make us stop and think. As a nation, as a family, as a church, as individuals, it should make us stop and think. When all of our plans and all of our schemes go awry. When nothing works. You know what that shows us? It teaches us that man is not in control. Man may plan and scheme, but he cannot work it out. We like to think that, look, we can plan this thing out. We can think this thing through. We can prepare.

[John Weaver] And with all of our carefulness, we will succeed. We will work it out. You know what Scripture says? Proverbs 16 verse 9. Listen to this. A man's heart divides it his way, but the Lord directed his steps. You can scheme and plan and prepare all you want to, but the Lord is in control. Neither the multitude nor the magnitude of our devices will accomplish our end. The Bible says in Proverbs 19 in verse 21, there are many devices in a man's heart. Nevertheless, the counsel of the Lord that shall stand. Did you hear that? There are many devices in a man's heart. There are many plans and schemes. Nevertheless, the counsel of the Lord that shall stand.

[John Weaver] You look at how our nation, you look at how our politicians, you look at how our leaders have planned and schemed against God, against his word, against his people. And yet, everything goes awry. It just simply does no good to fight against God. When you fight against God, you are fighting a losing battle. You will lose every time. So when things begin to go wrong, when we fail over and over, it's time to examine ourselves. It's time to examine and ask, are we fighting against the Lord?

[John Weaver] Now listen, Proverbs 21 verse 30 says it like this. There is no wisdom nor understanding or counsel against our God. There is no wisdom or understanding or counsel against the Lord. So that means this all of the plans and all the schemes fail if God does not work it out. Do you remember Gamaliel? gave some good advice in Acts chapter 5 to the Jews. They were going to persecute the disciples, you remember? The apostles. And here's what Gamaliel said to them. Listen carefully. Acts 5 verses 38 and 39.

[John Weaver] He said, And now I say unto you, refrain from these men, and let them alone. For if this counsel, this work, be of men, it will come to naught. But if it be of God, you cannot overthrow it. lest haply you be found even to fight against God.

[John Weaver] Now listen to what he said. If this thing is of men, it'll fizzle out all by itself. And he's talking about Christianity. By the way, that ought to show you that Christianity is indeed the true faith because it has not fizzled out and it's not going to fizzle out. He said if this thing be of men, it'll come to naught. But if it's of God, you can't stop it. Why? Because God is in control, not man. That means this, folks.

[John Weaver] We need to keep our eyes upon God's providential dealings. I want you to look in your Bibles to Matthew 21. I could quote this, but I do want you to see this. Look in Matthew 21. And verse 32. I want to show you that you and I are responsible to learn from God's providential dealings, not only in our lives, but in the lives of other people as well. Notice, if you would, Matthew chapter 21, and look, if you would please, at verse 32. Look what the Bible says.

[John Weaver] For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, that is, John the Baptist, And you believed him not. Now our Lord's talking to the Pharisees here. He says you believed him not. But the publicans and the harlots believed him. And you, when you had seen it, repented not afterwards that you might believe him.

[John Weaver] Now what did our Lord just get through saying? He's telling these self-righteous religious Pharisees, look, John came to you in the way of righteousness. You didn't believe him. But the publicans and the harlots believed him. You saw the work of God in their lives. You saw what the power of the gospel did in their lives. And you, when you had seen it, believed not and repented not that you might believe. What is he saying? He's saying you better watch the providence of God and you're responsible to profit from the providential acts of God in your life and in the lives of other people as well.

[John Weaver] The first clue, the first clue that Scripture gives us as to when it's time to forsake our false gods is when nothing is working out for us. The first clue as to when it's time to forsake our false god is when we realize nothing is working out for us. We are not in control and neither are our false gods. We are unable to accomplish those plans and schemes that we prepare. When's it time to forsake our false gods? When nothing is working out. Nothing worked out for these Philistines. Secondly, If you want to know when to forsake your false gods.

[John Weaver] The second point is when there is a realization of danger, defeat, death and destruction. David said God broke out upon those Philistines by his hand, and I told you the word smoke there literally means slaughtered. Let me ask you a question. How long do you think it took those Philistines to realize that they were in danger? They were in a desperate state. How long do you think it took them to realize, if we stay here, we're going to die.

[John Weaver] We better get out while we can get out. How long do you think it took them to analyze in their mind, boy, everybody's being slaughtered. Red flags should have been up everywhere. All of them should be filled with fear and trepidation. Let me tell you something, folks, fear is not necessarily a bad thing all of the time. I realize that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but when you and I are afraid, it's a siren going off in our brain saying, danger is all around us.

[John Weaver] You know what the Bible says in Hebrews 11, verse 7, talking about Noah? And by faith, Noah, being warned of God in a dream, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house. In that instance, fear is good. He feared God. Then he realized that what was going on around him, he needed to get out of there. He needed to believe God and do that which was right. These Philistines, some of them had enough sense to say to themselves, well, if we stay here in this valley, we're going to die. David's going to kill us all. We're leaving. And we're leaving these worthless gods on the battlefield. You know what the Bible says in Proverbs 16 and verse 6? I love this verse. The Bible says, by mercy and truth, iniquity is purged. Are you listening? And by the fear of the Lord, men depart from evil. You will never depart from evil until you fear the Lord. You know why there is so much evil in this world? The Apostle Paul tells us, because there is no fear of God before their eyes.

[John Weaver] If you feared God, you wouldn't do those things. I can assure you that the one thing that we need in this nation desperately is a good case of the fear of God. You know, I've used this illustration so many times. I don't know how many couples and individuals I've counseled in 43 years of preaching But every now and then you get someone, it seems like, just never hears anything. It's like water off a duck's back.

[John Weaver] There have been times I have really, in the flesh, wanted to reach out, catch that man by the shirt, hold him up against the wall, slap his face four or five times and say, what in the world is wrong with you? Wake up! I got news for you folks. I believe that's basically what needs to be done to this country. You know what our Lord said in Luke 12 and verse 5, listen to this.

[John Weaver] He says, but I will forewarn you whom you shall fear. Fear him, which after he is killed hath power to cast into hell. Yea, I say unto you, fear him. Do you realize you will never flee to Christ until you realize the danger that you're in? You will never repent of your sins until you realize the devastation of your sins. You will never seek forgiveness until you realize that unless you are forgiven, you will die. What we need is a good dose and a good case of a fear of God.

[John Weaver] What was the first clue? Nothing was working out for them. What was the second clue? They were in danger and defeat and death. What was the third clue? There was indeed a military defeat. It was not just an individual defeat. It was not just that a few Philistines died. It was not just a few regiments got killed. No, no, no, no. David defeated the entire Philistine army.

[John Weaver] Now, it would behoove us to take note of the fact that Israel was a relatively young kingdom. David was only the second king. The Philistines had occupied their land for years and had king after king after king. Saul, the first king, only reigned 40 years, and David had just taken over the kingdom. You might say that the kingdom of Israel was an upstart. It was a young kingdom.

[John Weaver] And let me show you something. Look in your Bibles, the first Samuel, chapter 13. This is amazing. Remember now, David had just taken over 1 Samuel chapter 13. And let me show you how the Philistines had absolute control over the people of Israel. Did you know that the Philistines had an arms registration and control program? I think some of The people of this land today probably descended from these folks. Look, if you would, in First Samuel, Chapter 13, beginning there, verse 19, First Samuel 13, verse 19. Watch. Now, there was no Smith found throughout all the land of Israel for the Philistines said, lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears. But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines to sharpen every man his share, his colter and his axe and his mattock.

[John Weaver] Yet they had a file for their mattocks and for the colters and for the forks and for the axes to sharpen the goads. So it came to pass, look now, in the day of battle, and this is when Saul and Jonathan are there fighting. So it came to pass in the day of battle that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan, but with Saul and with his son Jonathan, there was found. Notice if you would, Saul and Jonathan were the only two that had swords or spears. Why? Philistines had taken away every means of making weapons and sharpening weapons and said, look, you can't have those things.

[John Weaver] Now, let me ask you a question. Would it be considered and construed as a warning and a thing of wonder when a young, upstart kingdom, basically untrained and unarmed kingdom like Israel, could defeat a powerful empire like the Philistines? It would be akin to Cuba invading and conquering America. You know that such a thing has happened in time past. If you would look in your Bibles to 2 Chronicles 24 and verse 24, watch this. 2 Chronicles 24 and verse 24 just to show you that the mighty do not always win. 2 Chronicles 24 verse 24. Look what the Bible says. For the army of the Syrians came with a small company of men, and the Lord delivered a very great host into their hand, because they, that is Israel, had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers.

[John Weaver] So they executed judgment against Joash." So Judah and Jerusalem were defeated by a small group of Syrians. Why? Because they had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers. You see, folks, it doesn't take many to whip you if God is against you. And here this young upstart kingdom, Israel, under David, whipped the socks off of the Philistine Empire. You know, Solomon stated in Ecclesiastes 9 and verse 11 that the battle is not to the strong. And I've got news for you, folks. If God is not for us, it does not matter how many weapons we have or how many military men that we have or what we have. If God is against us, we shall lose and we shall fail.

[John Weaver] Now, before I go further, let's put these three things together. When is it time to forsake our false gods? The first clue is when our plans and our schemes go awry. The second clue is when we're in danger, when we're facing death and destruction. The third clue is when there are military defeats. Now, let's put this together with the fourth one. When it's very obvious, there is the judgment of God. What did David say? David said, God hath broken forth upon the Philistines through my hands. It was not David's mighty powerful hand. It was God's mighty, powerful hand.

[John Weaver] And Mayim 1 in verse 6 of Scripture asks, Who can stand before His indignation? Who can abide the fierceness of His anger? His fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by Him. No one can abide the anger and the fury of God. there is indeed a time to forsake our false gods. But I want to point out, there is also a time when it's too late to forsake your false gods. Yes, some of these Philistines in 1 Chronicles chapter 14, they got to leave their false gods on the battlefield.

[John Weaver] They realized, man, they're useless, they're worthless. But let me ask you, what about all of those men who died with their false gods? It's too late for them. Too late for them. You know, over and over, just read the book of Judges. Israel sinned against God, deserted Him and turned to their false gods. God always sent judgment. And in that judgment, they began to whine and complain and bellyache and say, oh, it's our fault, God, we've sinned against you. And they had turned from their false gods and God would deliver them. But what about those? who died holding on to their false gods. It is true that God is gracious and God is merciful. But it's equally true that God is also just. And God is holy. You know, the amazing thing is this.

[John Weaver] For those who have eyes to see and ears to hear. The judgment of God is just like that little trickle. That begins to come through the dam. Those who have eyes, see and ears to hear. Says, you know. This dam is not safe. That's just a little trickle now. But the more it trickles, the bigger that crack is going to get. And one day, this dam is going to blow out and all those waters are going to come down. And so, you know, the wise thing for me to do is to prepare and just get out of the way of this flood. Those who have eyes to see and ears to hear, and pick up on the clues and say I better be doing some repenting now. Look in your Bibles. Old First Chronicles, but look in your Bibles to Amos chapter 4. Amos chapter 4. Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos. Notice if you would. Amos chapter 4. Let me just show you what I'm talking about. when I refer to the trickle and finally the dam bursting.

[John Weaver] Look in Amos chapter four, verse six. Look what God says. And I've also given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities and one of bread in all your places, yet you have not returned unto me, saith the Lord. Here is that little trickle of famine. God said it didn't get your attention. Now, the trickle gets a little bigger in verse 7. And I also have withholding the rain from you when there were yet three months to the harvest. Now cause it to rain upon one city and cause it not to rain upon another city. One piece was rained upon and the piece whereupon it rained not withered. So two or three cities wandered into one city to drink water, but they were not satisfied. Yes, you've not returned to me, saith the Lord. Now the trickle gets a little larger.

[John Weaver] I've smitten you with blasting and mildew when your gardens and your vineyards and your fig trees and your olive trees increased. The Palmer worm devoured them. Yes, you've got returning me, said the Lord. Oh, now it starts to run and portal more fiercely. Verse 10, I have sent among you the pestilence after the manner of Egypt, and your young men have I slain with a sword, and have taken away your horses, and I have made the stink of your camps to come up unto your nostrils. Yet you have not returned unto me, saith the Lord. Watch this.

[John Weaver] Now it begins to really flood. I have overthrown some of you as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and you were as a fire blaze plucked out of the burning. Yet you have not returned unto me, saith the Lord. Now the dam burst. Therefore, saith Therefore, thus will I do unto thee, O Israel, and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel." I'll wipe you out.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to apply what I have just taught you from the Scripture to America. I want you to listen. I hope that you have noticed and clued in on the fact that all of our national plans and schemes have failed. Social Security is a misnomer. FHA is in trouble. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are worthless. HUD is a failure. Every foreign policy that we have Pursuit has proved to be fruitless.

[John Weaver] The United Nations, an agency to stop war, has created more wars than you can count. Try to name one policy, one plan, one scheme that the federal government has made that has been successful. The only one that I could ever think of is that our politicians have successfully destroyed our sovereignty our freedom and our liberty. We've been made homeless and we've been made paupers in our own land. We have gone down the hill and we've gone down quickly. Ask yourself this question. Are Americans safe? The answer is no. We're not safe abroad and we're not safe at home. There is more crime in this country than ever before.

[John Weaver] Are we fearful, apprehensive, frightened? The answer is yes. Where is the confidence in our police departments? Where's the confidence in our sheriffs? Most law enforcement officers are simply that. Law enforcement, that is, equals revenue enhancement agents. Where's the confidence in our economy? Where's the confidence in our executive branch? Where's the confidence in our judicial branch? Where's the confidence in our executive branch? Let me tell you folks, Congress is nothing but a gaffe in this land today. Who has any respect for the judicial system?

[John Weaver] When justice can be bought by the highest bidder. When innocent people are thrown in prison and those who commit rape and murder and pillage and armed robbery are let go in just a few short months. Who in the world trusts a politician? Who trusts Washington? And our state capitals are no better. I don't want to be in Atlanta. If I could drive around Atlanta, I would drive around it. I don't even want to go through it.

[John Weaver] Corruption and fraud and immorality abound in every sphere of government and on every hand. Let's go a little further. Not just if our plans and schemes fail, but if we've been defeated. Let's see. We lost Korea. We lost Vietnam. We're hopelessly locked up in no-win situations all over the world. Not just in Iraq, but now they're planning to invade Iran as well. Let me tell you something, folks. There's no way in the world we can win in Iraq or Iran unless We just bomb everybody and destroy everybody and everything. Are you listening?

[John Weaver] You cannot change a culture with bombs. You can devastate, but you cannot change a culture. You cannot win a people with death. We've lost the war on poverty. We've lost the war on drugs. We've lost the war on terrorism. We've lost the war to secure our borders. We've lost the war on common sense. We have gone absolutely stark raving mad in this country. We have been defeated. God is judging us.

[John Weaver] And according to Scripture, It's going to get a lot worse. It's time to forsake our false gods. It's time we wised up to the clues, not only from Scripture, but from the hand of God in Providence in our country. It's time to repent and turn to God the Father who has revealed Himself in Jesus Christ. I hate to say this, but those wicked, rebellious, God-hating, God-denying Philistines in 1 Chronicles 14 had more sense than a lot of Americans today. At least they knew it's time to leave these worthless gods alone.

[John Weaver] Let me make just two applications. The first one is this. We need to learn from the heathen in this instance. You know, our Lord said. The children of men are oftentimes more wiser than the children of light in some things they are. In this instance, the Philistines were. It's time that you and I forsake everything that's unbiblical, unscriptural, ungodly. We need to forsake our materialism, our secularism, our humanism and all of our other isms and turn to the word of God. Our God has promised, in Isaiah 55, verses 6 and 7, He said this, Seek ye the Lord while he may be found.

[John Weaver] Call ye upon him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous manage thoughts. Let him return to the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. You know, a good illustration of what I've preached today is found in 1 Thessalonians chapter 1, verses 9 and 10. Let me just quote there. This is what the Apostle Paul said to those Thessalonians.

[John Weaver] He said for this, For they themselves show of us what manner of entering we have in you, and how you turn to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, who delivers from the wrath of God. Come. What did they do? They turned to God from idols. We need to turn to God from idols. We need to drop all of these false gods and come back to the one true, the living God.

[John Weaver] Now, what did God tell David the second time? God told David, now, David, don't do a frontal attack this time. You go around behind him. And when you hear the moving. And the tops of the mulberry trees. That's when you strike. Because I've gone out. Folks, I want to tell you something. I do believe with all of my heart, we're hearing the divine men in the tops of the mulberry trees.

[John Weaver] And as John the Baptist preached, flee from the wrath to come. What did God say in Isaiah 28 and verse 21? He would do His strange work. His strange act. And that strange work and that strange act is judgment. We need to wise up and say. We're going to turn from any and everything that is unbiblical, unscriptural and ungodly. We need to serve one God, and that is the God who revealed himself in Jesus Christ. because Jesus Christ is King of Kings and Lord of Lords and God of Gods. Let's serve Him. Let's pray. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we ask for Your blessing, for Your grace, for Your help. And, O God, open our eyes, open our ears, give us eyes to see and ears to hear. And may we turn, Lord, from our false gods and serve the one true and living God, and Jesus Christ our Lord, in whose name we pray, Amen. Amen.

[John Weaver] This program was produced by Dominion Ministry. For more information about Pastor Weaver's sermons, You may contact Dominion Ministry by mail at 7400 Abercorn, that's A-B-E-R-C-O-R-N, Street, Suite 705, PMD 175, Savannah, Georgia, 31406. Or give us a call at 912-925-7000.

[John Weaver] You can also visit our website at www.dominionministry.com

Time to Forsake Our False Gods

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	62308172159
Subject	Old Testament Studies
Course	Proverbs: The Fear of the Lord and Wisdom: The Doctrine of Election
Genre	Sermon
Date	2008-05-11
Dictation Name
Book	Book 081: Proverbs: The Fear of the Lord and Wisdom - Volume 1 — Chapter 5
Source Timed Segments	99

Formatted Transcript

Opening

Let's open our Bibles to 1 Chronicles chapter 14. 1 Chronicles chapter 14. We're going to read verses 8 through 17. 1 Chronicles chapter 14 verses 8 through 17. The title of the message today is "Time to Forsake Our False Gods." Time to forsake our false gods. I'm going to make Hobie preach last because he always preaches my sermon. All right. Well, you know, the Bible says, let everything be established by two or three witnesses. So this is witness number two. First Chronicles, chapter 14, beginning there with verse eight.

And when the Philistines heard that David was anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David and David heard of it and went out against them. And the Philistines came and spread themselves in the Valley of Rephaim. And David inquired of God, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines, and wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the Lord said unto him, Go up, for I will deliver them into thine hand. So they came up to Baal-perazim, and David smote them there. Then David said, God hath broken in upon mine enemies by mine hand like the breaking forth of waters. Therefore they call the name of that place Baal-perazim. And when they had left their gods there, David gave the commandment, and they were burned with fire. And the Philistines yet again spread themselves abroad in the valley. Therefore, David inquired again of God, and God spake unto him, Go not up after them, turn away from them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. It shall be when thou shalt hear a sound of going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt go out to battle.

Introduction: The Foolishness of Trusting False Gods

False gods may seem sufficient in prosperity but fail in danger and destruction. Many professing Christians hold to gods of their imagination, convenience, or comfort, lacking sense to see their vanity.

For God is going forth before thee to smite the host of the Philistines. David therefore did as God commanded him. And they smote the host of the Philistines, from Gibeon even to Gezer. And the fame of David went out into all the lands, and the Lord brought the fear of him upon all nations." Time to forsake our false gods. Do you realize that false gods may suffice in a time of pleasure, plenty, and prosperity, but they cannot and will not suffice in a time of danger, destruction, and damnation. False gods are always wicked, wrong, and ungodly. However, it is a fact that many hold to false gods and at the same time deny the one true living God who has revealed himself in Jesus Christ. There are many professing Christians that hold to false gods. In fact, many of them hold to some god of their imagination. Others serve the God of convenience, or the God of prosperity, or the God of lustful desires, or the God of comfort. And the sad fact is that many hold to these false gods to their own destruction.

Here's the really, really sad part. Many do not have sense enough to see the vanity, the uselessness, and the worthlessness of false gods. Now, when I say they don't have sense enough, I'm just saying what Scripture says. You remember that passage in Ephesians 4, verse 18, being alienated from God through the ignorance that is in them? In other words, they just simply do not have the understanding. They do not have the sense.

Now, there's an apt illustration given to us in 1 Chronicles, chapter 14, when it's time to forsake our false gods. The Philistines, although they were idolaters and unconverted, and certainly had no respect for the one true and living God, the God of Israel, yet they at least had enough sense to know that it was time to forsake their false gods.

Biblical Definition of Vanity as Idolatry

The word 'vanity' in Scripture often refers to idols and idolatry, as shown in 2 Kings 17:15, Isaiah 41:29, Isaiah 44:9, and Jeremiah 18:15. Trusting in wealth, effort, or anything other than God is idolatry.

Now, Scripture is very clear about trusting in vanity. Now, let me just tell you, whenever you see the word vanity in the Bible, it does not only refer to that which is just simply useless and worthless and vain. Vanity is often used as a word for idols and idolatry. Let me show you. Hold 1 Chronicles 14, but turn in your Bibles to 2 Kings chapter 17 and look at verse 15. 2 Kings chapter 17 and verse 15.

Watch carefully, 2 Kings 17 and verse 15. Notice what the Bible says. 2 Kings 17 and verse 15, the Bible tells us,

Scripture Reading — 2 Kings 17:15

"And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the Lord had charged them that they should not do like them."

Now, when the Bible said that they followed vanity, all it means is they're following false gods or false idols. Look in your Bibles, if you would please, to the book of Isaiah, chapter 41. Isaiah 41. And notice, if you would please, verse 29. Just showing you how the word vanity oftentimes, it not only refers to that which is worthless and useless, but to idolatry and even to those who make idols. In Isaiah 41, verse 29, we read this, "Behold, they are all vanity; their works are nothing."

"Their molten images are wind and confusion." Notice, he says, "Behold, they are all vanity." Now look in Isaiah 44, and verse 9. Isaiah 44 verse 9.

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 44:9

"They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed."

And then he goes on, "Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing?" So once again, it's not just the idols that are called vanity, but also those who make those idols. And then if you will look in Jeremiah chapter 18 and verse 15. Jeremiah 18 and verse 15. Notice if you would, what God says concerning His people in general.

We could use this same scripture today. Jeremiah 18 and verse 15. God says,

Scripture Reading — Jeremiah 18:15

"Because my people have forgotten me, they have burned incense to vanity,"

that is, to false gods, to idols,

Scripture Reading — Jeremiah 18:15

"and they have caused them to stumble in their ways from the ancient paths, to walk in paths, in a way not cast up."

Now, God says, it's my people that have forgotten me. And what do you do when you forget the one true and living God? You turn to idols. You turn to vanity. Now, there are a multitude of professing Christians today who will tell you, well, we don't trust in false gods.

What we do is we just believe that we need to work it out and listen. Everything I've got I made and I work for. What are you saying when you say that? You're saying I'm trusting in my own efforts. I'm trusting in my own money. I'm trusting in my own riches. And you don't realize that many people do not understand that their wealth and their riches can equally be an idol. In fact, let me just quote these two verses for you. The Bible says in Proverbs 11 and verse 4 that riches profit not in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivereth from death. Riches profit not in the day of death.

I never shall forget hearing about a very, very wealthy man who died, multimillionaire. And at his funeral, one man leaned over to another and asked, "How much did he leave?" To which the man responded, "He left it all." Riches profit not in the day of wrath. And the Bible says in Psalm 49 and verse 7, "None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him." Do you realize that if you possess all the wealth that has ever been in this world, you could not only not redeem yourself, you could not redeem anyone else as well.

Modern False Gods: Medicine, Government, and Money

Americans trust in medicine to cure consequences of sin, in government for provision and protection, and in fiat currency as if it has inherent value. These are false gods that cannot save.

Stop and think about this. God himself is the great physician. He is the healer. I've often been asked whether or not I believe in divine healing. Well, let me just clarify that for you. All healing is divine. If God doesn't heal you, you're never ever going to be healed.

Now the fact of the matter is, God may use means or God may not use means. But it doesn't matter what remedy you apply to your illness or your sickness. If God does not bless that remedy, you will never ever be healed. If God blesses the remedy, anything can work. Have you ever stopped to think, that as sick as Hezekiah was, and the Bible says he was sick unto death, he's about to die. You know what God used to heal Hezekiah? A lump of figs. I mean, you know, I don't know what disease he had, but that lump of figs took care of it with the blessing of God. Do you remember that Egyptian slave that was wandering around in the wilderness that his master left because he was sick?

And when David then found him, he had fasted for three days. No food and no water. And guess what? The fasting healed him. He was well when David found him. May I remind you that it only took a dip in the Jordan River to cure Naaman of his leprosy. And may I remind you that in the New Testament, it only took some clay and some spittle to open the eyes of a man who was blind. And when our Lord went to Peter's mother, he just simply took her hand.

Now, all I'm trying to show you is this. With the blessing and the power of God upon the remedy, you're going to get well. But I don't care what you take and I don't care what you do. If a blessing in the power of God is not on it, you will not get well. That's just simply it. But let me show you what I'm talking about when I'm saying that so many trust in the God of medicine. In our country, in the land of the enlightened, civilized, intellectual citizens, we believe that we can sin against God, violate his law, break his commandments, and get away with it. Why? Because we believe that if we're smitten with some sexually transmitted disease, well listen, penicillin will take care of it. Medicine will take care of it. How many depend upon medicine to cure their HIV and their AIDS? All I'm trying to show you is so many think that they can sin against God and get away with it just simply because they've made a God out of medicine.

We've also made a God out of government. We do not need to work, earn our living by the sweat of our brow. We do not need to plan and save and plan ahead and be frugal. No, no, no, no. Because in this day and time, we believe the government will take care of us. We don't even believe that we need to know how to protect ourselves. Why? Because the government is going to protect us. We don't believe that we need a sound money system like silver and gold because the government assures us that paper and ink is money.

I probably told you this, but I bought some gas not too long ago. Sixteen bucks. I handed the young lady a 20. She handed me back four ones and I just stood there and I looked at it. I said, "Something's wrong." She said, "Did I not give you back the correct change?" I said, "Yes, but do you realize I now have your gas and I have four times as much money as I had before I paid for it? I've got four pieces of paper when I only gave you one piece of paper." Oh, she said, "But the one piece you gave me was a 20 and those are all ones." I said, "Oh, so the value then is in the numbers that are printed on the paper. Is that it?"

I mean, it went right over her head. If paper is valuable, I should have had more from four pieces than one piece. If ink is valuable, I should have had more because I had more ink on the paper than on the one piece of paper. All I'm trying to show you is this. We think that, look, we don't need a sound money system because the government is going to take care of us. Who needs freedom? Who needs liberty? Who needs a constitutional republic? Why?

We believe that socialism and fascism will work equally as well. And we don't need to worry about a thing. Why? They will take care of us. The elite will work it out. We don't need to concern ourselves about anything. We don't need to worry. We don't need to be upset. After all, we as Americans believe that our government is looking out after our best interests and our welfare. We love to trust in the God of civil government.

It gives us a kind of a warm, soft, safe, tingling feeling. Doesn't it? We know that they'll take care of us. There are so many false gods in this country, I could not even begin to list them. Suffice it to say this, if your God is not the one true and the living God who has revealed Himself in Jesus Christ, you're worshipping an idol. The only God that exists is the God of the Bible. The only God that exists is the God who has manifested Himself in Jesus Christ. Our Lord Himself said in John 14 in verse 6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." Are you listening?

The Philistines' Foolish Attack on David

The Philistines attacked David despite knowing his military prowess, because he knew their land from his time with Achish, they feared revenge for Saul and Jonathan, and they wanted to strike before David consolidated power.

Now, before we look at this, I want us to consider the context of verse 12. You can ask yourself this question. Why were the Philistines so foolish to pick a fight with David? You know, I love that one scene in William Wallace, where Mel Gibson turns there as he is William Wallace, and the men ask him, "Where are you going?" He said, "I'm going to pick a fight." Yeah, I'm going to pick a fight. Why would the Philistines be so stupid as to pick a fight with David? Look in verse 8. "And when the Philistines heard that David was anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David, and David heard of it and went out against them." Listen, look in your Bibles. I can quote this, but look in your Bibles, 1 Samuel chapter 2. I want you to see that the Philistines certainly were not ignorant of David and his military skills. I want you to look in 1 Samuel chapter 2, because there in verse 11, here's what the Philistines themselves say concerning David.

I say 1 Samuel 2:11, I've given you the wrong passage. Well, let me just quote it. 1 Samuel—well, I said 2:11, but it's not 2:11. Here it is. "And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? Did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?" So they knew who David was. They knew all about David. So very obviously then, they knew about his military skills. They knew about his fighting ability. Now, turn in your Bibles, if you would please, to 1 Samuel chapter 21.

Let me show you this. 1 Samuel chapter 21. And look, if you would please, at verse 10. Now, let me ask this question again. Why did they pick a fight with David? First, you have to remember that when David was fleeing from Saul, he escaped to Achish, king of Gath, who was the Philistine, and he was the lord and ruler. So in 1 Samuel chapter 21 and verse 10, the Bible says David's fleeing from Saul now,

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 21:10

"And David arose and fled that day for fear of Saul and went to Achish, the king of Gath."

Ok, now turn in your Bibles to 1 Samuel chapter 27. 1 Samuel 27. David stayed with Achish for a long time. Notice this. 1 Samuel 27 beginning with verse 1. "And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul."

"There is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand. And David arose, and he passed over with the six hundred men that were with him unto Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath. And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, even David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal's wife. And it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath: and he sought no more again for him. And David said unto Achish, If I have now found grace in thine eyes, let them give me a place in some town in the country, that I may dwell there: for why should thy servant dwell in the royal city with thee?"

"Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day: wherefore Ziklag pertaineth unto the kings of Judah unto this day. And the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was a full year and four months. And David and his men went up, and invaded the Geshurites, and the Girzites, and the Amalekites." "For those nations were of old the inhabitants of the land, as thou goest to Shur, even unto the land of Egypt. And David smote the land, and left neither man nor woman alive, and took away the sheep, and the oxen, and the asses, and the camels, and the apparel, and returned, and came to Achish. And Achish said, Whither have ye made a road today? And David said, Against the south of Judah, and against the south of the Jerahmeelites, and against the south of the Kenites. And David saved neither man nor woman alive, to bring tidings to Gath, saying, Lest they should tell on us, saying, So did David, and so will be his manner all the while he dwelleth in the country of the Philistines. And Achish believed David, saying, He hath made his people Israel utterly to abhor him."

"Therefore he shall be my servant forever." Now, what did David do for 14 months? He lived in the land of the Philistines. And yes, he fought against his enemies, but he lied to Achish, and he said, "I've been fighting against the south of Judah," and Achish believed him. Now, the point I'm trying to make is this. David has been in the Philistines' land for 14 months. What does that mean? It means this. He knew their strong cities. He knew their weak cities. He knew their strong points. He knew their weak points. He knew their rulers. He knew their cities. He knew their roads. If David ever wanted to invade the Philistines, he would have the advantage. Because according to their thinking, David knows all about us.

Therefore, it would be better to take him out of the picture before he gains enough power and turns around and invades us. Why did they pick a fight with David? They knew that he knew everything about them. Secondly, you have to remember that the Philistines had killed Saul and Jonathan. They not only killed them, they had mutilated their bodies and praised their false gods and hung their armor in their temple. Look in your Bibles to 1 Samuel chapter 31. 1 Samuel 31 and begin reading there with verse 8. 1 Samuel 31 verse 8.

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 31:8-10

"And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen in mount Gilboa. And they cut off his head, and stripped off his armor, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to publish it in the house of their idols, and among the people. And they put his armor in the house of Ashtaroth: and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan."

So it wasn't enough that they had killed Saul and Jonathan and his other two sons. No, no, no, no. They had to mutilate their bodies. They had to hang their bodies on a wall. They had to put their armor in the idol's temple and praise their false gods.

Now, if you look at 2 Samuel 1, beginning there, verse 17, David laments the deaths of Saul and Jonathan. Now, it is true that Saul and David had no relationship whatsoever, because Saul kept trying to murder David. But you will remember that Saul and Jonathan had entered into a covenant, yet David lamented the loss of both of them. Look in 2 Samuel 1, verse 17.

Scripture Reading — 2 Samuel 1:17-27

"And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son." "Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jashar. The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen! Tell it not in Gath."

These are Philistine cities.

Scripture Reading — 2 Samuel 1:17-27

"Publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph. Ye mountains of Gilboa."

That's where they were slain.

"Let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil. From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty. Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided." "They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions." And then of course he goes on and tells the children of Israel to lament for Saul and Jonathan. So David lamented over their deaths. Now the Philistines knew that since David was a patriot, it would not be long before his love for his country and his love for Jonathan would lead him to take away the reproach of Gilboa for Saul and Jonathan and his sons were slain.

They said we'll have to stop him because he will plan an attack upon us. Thirdly, here's the third reason they attacked him. David had just assumed and ascended to the throne of the kingdom. And in all probability, here was their thinking. We need to strike him now before he has time to consolidate his power and consolidate his people. In other words, they were planning a surprise attack and they were thinking that David is now in a weakened condition, although he assumed the kingdom. He hasn't had time to consolidate everything. And therefore, they were going to attack him while he is weak.

God's Sovereign Victory and the Philistines' Abandonment of Idols

David inquired of God, received assurance of victory, and slaughtered the Philistines. In their defeat, the Philistines left their gods on the battlefield, and David burned them, recognizing their worthlessness.

Now, interestingly, the word Rephaim has two meanings. First of all, it has reference to the Valley of the Giants. In fact, this word, Rephaim, is translated giants in our Bible 17 times. It is translated Rephaim 8 times. So the reference is in all probability first to an old tribe of giants. They probably dwelt in that valley. The second meaning is given to us in the Septuagint, and that means the valley of the dead. So, the Philistines spread themselves out in the valley of the dead. You know, I think I would want to spread myself out in the valley of the living. But they spread themselves out in the valley of the dead, which was pictorial of the fact that they would soon be dead.

because God Himself was against them. Now, look what David does. Verse 10, "And David inquired of God, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? And wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the Lord said unto him, Go up, I will deliver them into thine hand." So God now has told David, You want to know, will you go up? And if you go up, will you deliver, will I deliver them into your hand? And the answer is yes. I will allow you to go up and yes, I will deliver them into your hand.

Now, I want you to hold 1 Chronicles chapter 14, but I want you to turn back to 2 Samuel chapter 5. Because you have the same identical story in 2 Samuel chapter 5. But I want to show you an additional word. Look in 2 Samuel chapter 5 at verse 19. Same story. 2 Samuel chapter 5 verse 19. "And David inquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines?"

"Wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the Lord said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand." Now, wait a minute. Now, when you and I read that, we understand that when God says, "I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into your hands," it means without a doubt, it means absolutely certain they shall be delivered. But let me tell you something that you cannot discern in the English. In the Hebrew, the word doubtless and the word deliver are one and the same word. Literally what God says to David, "I will deliver, deliver the Philistines into your hands." How much more assurance could you give? God says, David, you go up, whether you translate it doubtless or double deliver. He says, you make sure that you understand. I will put them in your hand.

Now go back to 1 Chronicles chapter 14. Look, if you would please, at verse 11. "So they came up to Baal-perazim and David smote them there. Then David said, God hath broken in upon mine enemies by mine hand like the breaking forth of waters. Therefore they call the name of that place Baal-perazim." Now, look, if you would, at the word smote. The Bible said, then David smote them there. Let me tell you what the word smote means. It literally means to slay, to slaughter, to kill, to be fatally smitten. You and I could put it like this. David virtually slaughtered them. It was like shooting ducks in a pool where the ducks can't get out. David literally wiped them out. Now, here's the question. How could David accomplish such a victory? Look what David says in verse 11. "So they came up to Baal-perazim, and David smote them there. Then David said, God hath broken in upon mine enemies by mine hand like the breaking forth of waters." Now, David said, I did the fighting.

But it was God who gave the victory. And he says, "God has broken forth upon mine enemies," then he says, "like the breaking forth of waters." Now, let me ask you. Have you ever seen an earthen pitcher that's full of water? And that earthen pitcher break. What happens? The water just gushes out everywhere. Those of us who've lived on farms have seen dams break. And guess what happens to all that water that's backed up in that pond? It just rushes right out. It goes everywhere. David said God hath broken forth upon my enemies, as water breaks forth. Water rushes out rapidly. God broke in on those Philistines in righteous anger and righteous fury by the hand of David. David called the place of his victory Baal-perazim. Now, Baal-perazim is also known as Mount Perazim. Watch this. Hold 1 Chronicles 14. But look in your Bibles to Isaiah 28 and verse 21. Isaiah 28, verse 21. Isaiah 28, verse 21. Baal-perazim is Mount Perazim. "For the Lord shall rise up as in mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act."

Now isn't that interesting? Here God is going to rise up and God is going to break forth again just like He did in Mount Perazim under the hand of David. And now it's called His strange work or His strange act. Why? Well, I'll tell you in just a little while. Let's ask and answer this question. What was the result of God breaking forth upon the Philistines through David's hand?

It meant simply that they were slaughtered, that they were defeated. And they were so devastated. Go back to 1 Chronicles chapter 14 in verse 12. Watch what happens. When God broke forth upon them, they were so defeated, so devastated. They left their gods there. And David commanded and they were burned with fire. They left their gods there. Let me ask you a question. What good is a God who cannot deliver? What good is a God who cannot save?

Clues That It Is Time to Forsake False Gods

Three clues from the Philistines' experience: (1) plans and schemes fail, (2) realization of danger and death, (3) military defeat. These point to God's judgment and the need to repent.

What will it take? Well, let me try to answer that question by showing you several things in this passage. I'm going to show you what it took to bring the Philistines to the point that they were willing to leave their false gods. First, there was the overthrow of their plans and schemes. What did they plan? They planned to come up, attack David, whip him, take the cities, and go home. All their plans, all their schemes failed. You know something?

It should make us stop and think. As a nation, as a family, as a church, as individuals, it should make us stop and think. When all of our plans and all of our schemes go awry. When nothing works. You know what that shows us? It teaches us that man is not in control. Man may plan and scheme, but he cannot work it out. We like to think that, look, we can plan this thing out. We can think this thing through. We can prepare.

And with all of our carefulness, we will succeed. We will work it out. You know what Scripture says? Proverbs 16 verse 9. Listen to this.

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 16:9

"A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps."

You can scheme and plan and prepare all you want to, but the Lord is in control. Neither the multitude nor the magnitude of our devices will accomplish our end. The Bible says in Proverbs 19 in verse 21, "There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand." Did you hear that? There are many devices in a man's heart. There are many plans and schemes. Nevertheless, the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.

You look at how our nation, you look at how our politicians, you look at how our leaders have planned and schemed against God, against his word, against his people. And yet, everything goes awry. It just simply does no good to fight against God. When you fight against God, you are fighting a losing battle. You will lose every time. So when things begin to go wrong, when we fail over and over, it's time to examine ourselves. It's time to examine and ask, are we fighting against the Lord?

Now listen, Proverbs 21 verse 30 says it like this.

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 21:30

"There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord."

There is no wisdom or understanding or counsel against the Lord. So that means this: all of the plans and all the schemes fail if God does not work it out. Do you remember Gamaliel? He gave some good advice in Acts chapter 5 to the Jews. They were going to persecute the disciples, you remember? The apostles. And here's what Gamaliel said to them. Listen carefully. Acts 5 verses 38 and 39.

He said, "And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God." Now listen to what he said. If this thing is of men, it'll fizzle out all by itself. And he's talking about Christianity. By the way, that ought to show you that Christianity is indeed the true faith because it has not fizzled out and it's not going to fizzle out. He said if this thing be of men, it'll come to nought. But if it's of God, you can't stop it. Why? Because God is in control, not man. That means this, folks.

We need to keep our eyes upon God's providential dealings. I want you to look in your Bibles to Matthew 21. I could quote this, but I do want you to see this. Look in Matthew 21, and verse 32. I want to show you that you and I are responsible to learn from God's providential dealings, not only in our lives, but in the lives of other people as well. Notice, if you would, Matthew chapter 21, and look, if you would please, at verse 32. Look what the Bible says.

"For John came unto you in the way of righteousness," that is, John the Baptist, "and ye believed him not." Now our Lord's talking to the Pharisees here. He says you believed him not. "But the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him." Now what did our Lord just get through saying? He's telling these self-righteous religious Pharisees, look, John came to you in the way of righteousness. You didn't believe him. But the publicans and the harlots believed him. You saw the work of God in their lives. You saw what the power of the gospel did in their lives. And you, when you had seen it, believed not and repented not that you might believe. What is he saying? He's saying you better watch the providence of God and you're responsible to profit from the providential acts of God in your life and in the lives of other people as well.

The first clue, the first clue that Scripture gives us as to when it's time to forsake our false gods is when nothing is working out for us. The first clue as to when it's time to forsake our false god is when we realize nothing is working out for us. We are not in control and neither are our false gods. We are unable to accomplish those plans and schemes that we prepare. When's it time to forsake our false gods? When nothing is working out. Nothing worked out for these Philistines. Secondly, if you want to know when to forsake your false gods.

The second point is when there is a realization of danger, defeat, death and destruction. David said God broke out upon those Philistines by his hand, and I told you the word smote there literally means slaughtered. Let me ask you a question. How long do you think it took those Philistines to realize that they were in danger? They were in a desperate state. How long do you think it took them to realize, if we stay here, we're going to die. We better get out while we can get out. How long do you think it took them to analyze in their mind, boy, everybody's being slaughtered. Red flags should have been up everywhere. All of them should be filled with fear and trepidation. Let me tell you something, folks, fear is not necessarily a bad thing all of the time. I realize that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but when you and I are afraid, it's a siren going off in our brain saying, danger is all around us.

You know what the Bible says in Hebrews 11, verse 7, talking about Noah? "By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house." In that instance, fear is good. He feared God. Then he realized that what was going on around him, he needed to get out of there. He needed to believe God and do that which was right. These Philistines, some of them had enough sense to say to themselves, well, if we stay here in this valley, we're going to die. David's going to kill us all. We're leaving. And we're leaving these worthless gods on the battlefield. You know what the Bible says in Proverbs 16 and verse 6? I love this verse. The Bible says, "By mercy and truth iniquity is purged." Are you listening? "And by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil." You will never depart from evil until you fear the Lord. You know why there is so much evil in this world? The Apostle Paul tells us, because there is no fear of God before their eyes.

If you feared God, you wouldn't do those things. I can assure you that the one thing that we need in this nation desperately is a good case of the fear of God. You know, I've used this illustration so many times. I don't know how many couples and individuals I've counseled in 43 years of preaching. But every now and then you get someone, it seems like, just never hears anything. It's like water off a duck's back.

There have been times I have really, in the flesh, wanted to reach out, catch that man by the shirt, hold him up against the wall, slap his face four or five times and say, "What in the world is wrong with you? Wake up!" I got news for you folks. I believe that's basically what needs to be done to this country. You know what our Lord said in Luke 12 and verse 5, listen to this. He says, "But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him." Do you realize you will never flee to Christ until you realize the danger that you're in? You will never repent of your sins until you realize the devastation of your sins. You will never seek forgiveness until you realize that unless you are forgiven, you will die. What we need is a good dose and a good case of a fear of God.

What was the first clue? Nothing was working out for them. What was the second clue? They were in danger and defeat and death. What was the third clue? There was indeed a military defeat. It was not just an individual defeat. It was not just that a few Philistines died. It was not just a few regiments got killed. No, no, no, no. David defeated the entire Philistine army.

Now, it would behoove us to take note of the fact that Israel was a relatively young kingdom. David was only the second king. The Philistines had occupied their land for years and had king after king after king. Saul, the first king, only reigned 40 years, and David had just taken over the kingdom. You might say that the kingdom of Israel was an upstart. It was a young kingdom. And let me show you something. Look in your Bibles, 1 Samuel, chapter 13. This is amazing. Remember now, David had just taken over. 1 Samuel chapter 13. And let me show you how the Philistines had absolute control over the people of Israel. Did you know that the Philistines had an arms registration and control program? I think some of the people of this land today probably descended from these folks. Look, if you would, in 1 Samuel, chapter 13, beginning there, verse 19. 1 Samuel 13, verse 19. Watch. "Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears: But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock."

The Judgment of God and the Danger of Delay

God's judgment is evident when plans fail, danger looms, and defeats occur. Amos 4 shows God's escalating judgments meant to lead to repentance. Some Philistines escaped, but many died with their idols—it can be too late.

Now, before I go further, let's put these three things together. When is it time to forsake our false gods? The first clue is when our plans and our schemes go awry. The second clue is when we're in danger, when we're facing death and destruction. The third clue is when there are military defeats. Now, let's put this together with the fourth one. When it's very obvious, there is the judgment of God. What did David say? David said, God hath broken forth upon the Philistines through my hands. It was not David's mighty powerful hand. It was God's mighty, powerful hand.

And Nahum 1 in verse 6 of Scripture asks, "Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him." No one can abide the anger and the fury of God. There is indeed a time to forsake our false gods. But I want to point out, there is also a time when it's too late to forsake your false gods. Yes, some of these Philistines in 1 Chronicles chapter 14, they got to leave their false gods on the battlefield. They realized, man, they're useless, they're worthless. But let me ask you, what about all of those men who died with their false gods? It's too late for them. Too late for them. You know, over and over, just read the book of Judges. Israel sinned against God, deserted Him and turned to their false gods. God always sent judgment. And in that judgment, they began to whine and complain and bellyache and say, oh, it's our fault, God, we've sinned against you. And they had turned from their false gods and God would deliver them. But what about those who died holding on to their false gods? It is true that God is gracious and God is merciful. But it's equally true that God is also just. And God is holy. You know, the amazing thing is this.

For those who have eyes to see and ears to hear, the judgment of God is just like that little trickle that begins to come through the dam. Those who have eyes to see and ears to hear say, you know, this dam is not safe. That's just a little trickle now. But the more it trickles, the bigger that crack is going to get. And one day, this dam is going to blow out and all those waters are going to come down. And so, you know, the wise thing for me to do is to prepare and just get out of the way of this flood. Those who have eyes to see and ears to hear, and pick up on the clues and say I better be doing some repenting now. Look in your Bibles. Hold 1 Chronicles, but look in your Bibles to Amos chapter 4. Amos chapter 4. Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos. Notice if you would. Amos chapter 4. Let me just show you what I'm talking about when I refer to the trickle and finally the dam bursting.

Look in Amos chapter four, verse six. Look what God says. "And I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord." Here is that little trickle of famine. God said it didn't get your attention. Now, the trickle gets a little bigger in verse 7. "And also I have withholden the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest: and I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered. So two or three cities wandered unto one city, to drink water; but they were not satisfied: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord." Now the trickle gets a little larger.

"I have smitten you with blasting and mildew: when your gardens and your vineyards and your fig trees and your olive trees increased, the palmerworm devoured them: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord." Oh, now it starts to run and pour more fiercely. Verse 10, "I have sent among you the pestilence after the manner of Egypt: your young men have I slain with the sword, and have taken away your horses; and I have made the stink of your camps to come up unto your nostrils: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord." Watch this. Now it begins to really flood. "I have overthrown some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord." Now the dam burst. "Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel." I'll wipe you out.

Application to America: National Failures as Divine Warnings

America's failed policies, lost wars, crime, and corruption are signs of God's judgment. Like the Philistines, Americans must forsake false gods of materialism, humanism, and secularism and turn to God through Christ.

Now, I want you to apply what I have just taught you from the Scripture to America. I want you to listen. I hope that you have noticed and clued in on the fact that all of our national plans and schemes have failed. Social Security is a misnomer. FHA is in trouble. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are worthless. HUD is a failure. Every foreign policy that we have pursued has proved to be fruitless.

The United Nations, an agency to stop war, has created more wars than you can count. Try to name one policy, one plan, one scheme that the federal government has made that has been successful. The only one that I could ever think of is that our politicians have successfully destroyed our sovereignty, our freedom and our liberty. We've been made homeless and we've been made paupers in our own land. We have gone down the hill and we've gone down quickly. Ask yourself this question. Are Americans safe? The answer is no. We're not safe abroad and we're not safe at home. There is more crime in this country than ever before.

Are we fearful, apprehensive, frightened? The answer is yes. Where is the confidence in our police departments? Where's the confidence in our sheriffs? Most law enforcement officers are simply that. Law enforcement, that is, equals revenue enhancement agents. Where's the confidence in our economy? Where's the confidence in our executive branch? Where's the confidence in our judicial branch? Where's the confidence in our executive branch? Let me tell you folks, Congress is nothing but a gaffe in this land today. Who has any respect for the judicial system?

When justice can be bought by the highest bidder. When innocent people are thrown in prison and those who commit rape and murder and pillage and armed robbery are let go in just a few short months. Who in the world trusts a politician? Who trusts Washington? And our state capitals are no better. I don't want to be in Atlanta. If I could drive around Atlanta, I would drive around it. I don't even want to go through it.

Corruption and fraud and immorality abound in every sphere of government and on every hand. Let's go a little further. Not just if our plans and schemes fail, but if we've been defeated. Let's see. We lost Korea. We lost Vietnam. We're hopelessly locked up in no-win situations all over the world. Not just in Iraq, but now they're planning to invade Iran as well. Let me tell you something, folks. There's no way in the world we can win in Iraq or Iran unless we just bomb everybody and destroy everybody and everything. Are you listening?

You cannot change a culture with bombs. You can devastate, but you cannot change a culture. You cannot win a people with death. We've lost the war on poverty. We've lost the war on drugs. We've lost the war on terrorism. We've lost the war to secure our borders. We've lost the war on common sense. We have gone absolutely stark raving mad in this country. We have been defeated. God is judging us.

And according to Scripture, it's going to get a lot worse. It's time to forsake our false gods. It's time we wised up to the clues, not only from Scripture, but from the hand of God in Providence in our country. It's time to repent and turn to God the Father who has revealed Himself in Jesus Christ. I hate to say this, but those wicked, rebellious, God-hating, God-denying Philistines in 1 Chronicles 14 had more sense than a lot of Americans today. At least they knew it's time to leave these worthless gods alone.

Call to Repentance and Faith in Christ

We must learn from the heathen Philistines and turn from idols to serve the living God, as the Thessalonians did. God promises mercy and pardon to those who seek Him. The 'sound in the mulberry trees' signals God's moving in judgment.

Let me make just two applications. The first one is this. We need to learn from the heathen in this instance. You know, our Lord said the children of men are oftentimes more wiser than the children of light in some things they are. In this instance, the Philistines were. It's time that you and I forsake everything that's unbiblical, unscriptural, ungodly. We need to forsake our materialism, our secularism, our humanism and all of our other isms and turn to the word of God. Our God has promised, in Isaiah 55, verses 6 and 7, He said this, "Seek ye the Lord while he may be found."

"Call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." You know, a good illustration of what I've preached today is found in 1 Thessalonians chapter 1, verses 9 and 10. Let me just quote there. This is what the Apostle Paul said to those Thessalonians. He said, "For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come." What did they do? They turned to God from idols. We need to turn to God from idols. We need to drop all of these false gods and come back to the one true, the living God.

Now, what did God tell David the second time? God told David, now, David, don't do a frontal attack this time. You go around behind him. And when you hear the moving in the tops of the mulberry trees, that's when you strike. Because I've gone out. Folks, I want to tell you something. I do believe with all of my heart, we're hearing the divine moving in the tops of the mulberry trees.

Study Guide

Major Themes

The Vanity of False Gods

Summary: False gods—whether idols, wealth, medicine, or government—are worthless and cannot save in times of danger or judgment. Scripture equates vanity with idolatry.

Evidence: The Philistines left their gods on the battlefield because they were impotent. Verses like 2 Kings 17:15 and Isaiah 41:29 show that vanity refers to idols.

God's Sovereignty in Victory and Judgment

Summary: God alone gives victory and executes judgment. David's triumph was God breaking forth upon the Philistines. No human plan can succeed against God's will.

Evidence: David said, 'God hath broken in upon mine enemies by mine hand like the breaking forth of waters.' Proverbs 21:30 states there is no counsel against the Lord.

The Necessity of Repentance Before It Is Too Late

Summary: God's judgments are warnings to repent. Some Philistines escaped, but many died with their idols. Amos 4 shows escalating judgments meant to lead to repentance, but delay can be fatal.

Evidence: Amos 4:6-12 describes increasing judgments and the final call to 'prepare to meet thy God.' The Philistines who died with their gods had no second chance.

America's Idolatry and Impending Judgment

Summary: America trusts in false gods like government, money, and military might. National failures and crises are signs of God's judgment, calling for national repentance.

Evidence: Failed policies, lost wars, crime, and corruption are cited as evidence that 'God is judging us.' The sermon parallels America to the Philistines.

Turning to the One True God Through Christ

Summary: The only true God is revealed in Jesus Christ. Salvation is exclusively through Him. Repentance involves forsaking all idols and serving the living God.

Evidence: John 14:6 is quoted: 'I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.' 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 describes turning from idols to God.

Key Arguments

False gods are identified by their inability to save in crisis.

Summary: The Philistines abandoned their gods when they proved useless in battle. Similarly, modern false gods like medicine, government, and wealth cannot deliver from divine judgment.

Evidence: The Philistines 'left their gods there' after being slaughtered. The sermon asks, 'What good is a God who cannot deliver?'

God's providential defeats are warnings to forsake idols.

Summary: When plans fail, danger looms, and defeats occur, it signals God's hand of judgment. These are clues to repent, as seen in the Philistines' experience and Amos 4.

Evidence: The three clues (failed plans, danger, military defeat) are drawn from the Philistines' defeat and applied to America's crises.

Trusting in human effort or institutions is idolatry.

Summary: Relying on one's own work, money, or government provision is a form of idolatry. Scripture calls such trust 'vanity' and warns that riches cannot redeem a soul.

Evidence: Proverbs 11:4 and Psalm 49:7 are cited to show that wealth cannot save. The sermon states, 'their wealth and their riches can equally be an idol.'

The fear of God is necessary to depart from evil.

Summary: A proper fear of God leads to repentance and forsaking sin. The lack of fear of God explains widespread evil, and fear can be a healthy response to danger.

Evidence: Proverbs 16:6: 'By the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.' Hebrews 11:7 shows Noah moved by fear. Romans 3:18 says there is no fear of God before their eyes.

America's national decline mirrors the Philistines' defeat.

Summary: Failed social programs, lost wars, and moral decay are evidence that God is judging America. Like the Philistines, Americans must abandon their false gods or face destruction.

Evidence: Examples include Social Security, Fannie Mae, lost wars in Korea and Vietnam, and the failure of the war on drugs and poverty.

Scripture References

1 Chronicles 14:8-17

Context: The main text: David defeats the Philistines, who leave their gods, and David burns them.

Ephesians 4:18

Context: Cited to show that people are alienated from God through ignorance, lacking understanding.

2 Kings 17:15

Context: Used to demonstrate that 'vanity' refers to idols and false gods.

Isaiah 41:29

Context: Shows that idols and their makers are vanity.

Isaiah 44:9

Context: Those who make graven images are vanity; their works profit nothing.

Jeremiah 18:15

Context: God's people have forgotten Him and burned incense to vanity (idols).

Proverbs 11:4

Context: Riches profit not in the day of wrath; righteousness delivers from death.

Psalm 49:7

Context: No one can redeem another or give a ransom to God.

John 14:6

Context: Jesus is the only way to the Father; there is no other path to God.

1 Samuel 21:10

Context: David fled to Achish, king of Gath, showing his time among the Philistines.

1 Samuel 27:1-12

Context: David dwelt with Achish for 16 months, learning Philistine territory.

1 Samuel 31:8-10

Context: The Philistines killed Saul and Jonathan, mutilated their bodies, and praised their gods.

2 Samuel 1:17-27

Context: David's lament over Saul and Jonathan, showing his grief and patriotism.

2 Samuel 5:19

Context: Parallel account where God promises to 'doubtless deliver' the Philistines.

Isaiah 28:21

Context: God will rise up as at Mount Perazim to do His strange work of judgment.

Proverbs 16:9

Context: A man's heart devises his way, but the Lord directs his steps.

Proverbs 19:21

Context: Many devices are in a man's heart, but the Lord's counsel shall stand.

Proverbs 21:30

Context: There is no wisdom, understanding, or counsel against the Lord.

Acts 5:38-39

Context: Gamaliel's advice: if a work is of men, it will fail; if of God, it cannot be overthrown.

Matthew 21:32

Context: Jesus rebukes Pharisees for not repenting after seeing God's work in publicans and harlots.

Historical References

Philistine dominance over Israel in the time of Saul and David

Context: The Philistines controlled weapon-making and had military superiority, as seen in 1 Samuel 13:19-22. They killed Saul and Jonathan and mutilated their bodies.

David's time with Achish, king of Gath

Context: David lived among the Philistines for 16 months, learning their territory, which later gave him an advantage when they attacked.

The death of Saul and Jonathan at Gilboa

Context: The Philistines killed Saul and his sons, mutilated their bodies, and hung their armor in the temple of Ashtaroth, creating a reproach that David later avenged.

Modern American government programs and failures

Context: Social Security, FHA, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, HUD, and foreign policies are cited as failed schemes, along with lost wars in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and the war on poverty, drugs, and terrorism.

The United Nations

Context: Described as an agency meant to stop war but which has created more wars.

Important Quotes

False gods may suffice in a time of pleasure, plenty, and prosperity, but they cannot and will not suffice in a time of danger, destruction, and damnation.

Significance: Introduces the central thesis that false gods fail when truly needed, setting up the sermon's call to forsake them.

What good is a God who cannot deliver? What good is a God who cannot save?

Significance: Rhetorical questions highlighting the impotence of idols, directly tied to the Philistines abandoning their gods.

Our sin in America is this, folks, we love our false gods. We love our conveniences. We love our comfort. We love our money. We love our socialism. We love our welfarism. We love our humanism. We love our materialism. We love our secularism.

Significance: Directly applies the Philistine example to modern American idolatry, listing specific false gods.

There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord.

Significance: Quoting Proverbs 21:30 to emphasize God's sovereignty over human plans, a key argument for why schemes fail.

By the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.

Significance: Quoting Proverbs 16:6 to argue that fear of God is necessary for repentance and forsaking sin.

You will never flee to Christ until you realize the danger that you're in. You will never repent of your sins until you realize the devastation of your sins. You will never seek forgiveness until you realize that unless you are forgiven, you will die.

Significance: Explains the role of fear and recognition of danger in driving people to repentance and faith.

Prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.

Significance: Quoting Amos 4:12 as the climax of God's escalating judgments, a warning that judgment is final if repentance is delayed.

It's time to forsake our false gods. It's time we wised up to the clues, not only from Scripture, but from the hand of God in Providence in our country.

Significance: The sermon's applicatory climax, urging immediate action based on the evidence of God's judgment.

Discussion Questions

What are some modern 'false gods' that people trust in today, and how do they parallel the Philistines' idols?

Context: The sermon lists money, medicine, government, and human effort as false gods. Discussion could explore personal and cultural idols.

How can we discern when God is using failures and crises as warnings to repent?

Context: The sermon presents three clues: failed plans, danger, and defeat. How should believers interpret national or personal setbacks?

In what ways does the fear of God lead to repentance, and how can we cultivate a healthy fear of the Lord?

Context: Proverbs 16:6 and Luke 12:5 are cited. Discuss the difference between servile fear and reverential awe.

Why is it dangerous to delay repentance, and what does Amos 4 teach about God's escalating judgments?

Context: The sermon warns that some Philistines died with their idols. Amos 4 shows judgments increasing until the final 'prepare to meet thy God.'

How should Christians respond to national decline and moral decay according to this sermon?

Context: The sermon calls for forsaking unbiblical isms and turning to God. Discuss practical steps for personal and corporate repentance.

Applications

Examine your heart for false gods.

Summary: Identify and forsake any trust in money, government, medicine, or self-effort that replaces reliance on God alone.

Evidence: The sermon repeatedly warns against trusting in these things and calls for turning from idols to the living God.

Recognize God's hand in personal and national crises.

Summary: View failures, dangers, and defeats as providential warnings to repent and seek God, rather than merely natural or political problems.

Evidence: The three clues from the Philistines' defeat are applied to America's situation as signs of God's judgment.

Cultivate the fear of the Lord.

Summary: Develop a reverent fear of God that leads to departing from evil, recognizing His holiness and justice.

Evidence: Proverbs 16:6 and Luke 12:5 are used to show that fear of God is essential for repentance.

Repent without delay.

Summary: Do not wait for greater judgment; turn to God now while He may be found, as Isaiah 55:6-7 urges.

Evidence: The warning that some Philistines died with their idols and the escalating judgments in Amos 4 emphasize urgency.

Turn to God through Jesus Christ alone.

Summary: Forsake all unbiblical beliefs and practices, and serve the one true God revealed in Jesus, who delivers from wrath.

Evidence: John 14:6 and 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 are cited as the pattern for conversion from idols to Christ.

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-06T03:47:41Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T16:28:09Z

Clean Transcript

Time to Forsake Our False Gods

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

Let's open our Bibles to 1 Chronicles chapter 14. 1 Chronicles chapter 14. We're going to read verses 8 through 17. 1 Chronicles chapter 14 verses 8 through 17. The title of the message today is "Time to Forsake Our False Gods." Time to forsake our false gods. I'm going to make Hobie preach last because he always preaches my sermon. All right. Well, you know, the Bible says, let everything be established by two or three witnesses. So this is witness number two. First Chronicles, chapter 14, beginning there with verse eight.
#1 | 0:03 to 0:45 | cleaned
And when the Philistines heard that David was anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David and David heard of it and went out against them. And the Philistines came and spread themselves in the Valley of Rephaim. And David inquired of God, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines, and wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the Lord said unto him, Go up, for I will deliver them into thine hand. So they came up to Baal-perazim, and David smote them there. Then David said, God hath broken in upon mine enemies by mine hand like the breaking forth of waters. Therefore they call the name of that place Baal-perazim. And when they had left their gods there, David gave the commandment, and they were burned with fire. And the Philistines yet again spread themselves abroad in the valley. Therefore, David inquired again of God, and God spake unto him, Go not up after them, turn away from them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. It shall be when thou shalt hear a sound of going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt go out to battle.
#2 | 0:46 to 1:51 | cleaned
For God is going forth before thee to smite the host of the Philistines. David therefore did as God commanded him. And they smote the host of the Philistines, from Gibeon even to Gezer. And the fame of David went out into all the lands, and the Lord brought the fear of him upon all nations." Time to forsake our false gods. Do you realize that false gods may suffice in a time of pleasure, plenty, and prosperity, but they cannot and will not suffice in a time of danger, destruction, and damnation. False gods are always wicked, wrong, and ungodly. However, it is a fact that many hold to false gods and at the same time deny the one true living God who has revealed himself in Jesus Christ. There are many professing Christians that hold to false gods. In fact, many of them hold to some god of their imagination. Others serve the God of convenience, or the God of prosperity, or the God of lustful desires, or the God of comfort. And the sad fact is that many hold to these false gods to their own destruction.
#3 | 1:52 to 3:06 | cleaned
Here's the really, really sad part. Many do not have sense enough to see the vanity, the uselessness, and the worthlessness of false gods. Now, when I say they don't have sense enough, I'm just saying what Scripture says. You remember that passage in Ephesians 4, verse 18, being alienated from God through the ignorance that is in them? In other words, they just simply do not have the understanding. They do not have the sense.
#4 | 3:07 to 3:39 | cleaned
Now, there's an apt illustration given to us in 1 Chronicles, chapter 14, when it's time to forsake our false gods. The Philistines, although they were idolaters and unconverted, and certainly had no respect for the one true and living God, the God of Israel, yet they at least had enough sense to know that it was time to forsake their false gods.
#5 | 3:40 to 4:05 | cleaned
Now, Scripture is very clear about trusting in vanity. Now, let me just tell you, whenever you see the word vanity in the Bible, it does not only refer to that which is just simply useless and worthless and vain. Vanity is often used as a word for idols and idolatry. Let me show you. Hold 1 Chronicles 14, but turn in your Bibles to 2 Kings chapter 17 and look at verse 15. 2 Kings chapter 17 and verse 15.
#6 | 4:05 to 4:37 | cleaned
Watch carefully, 2 Kings 17 and verse 15. Notice what the Bible says. 2 Kings 17 and verse 15, the Bible tells us, "And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the Lord had charged them that they should not do like them." Now, when the Bible said that they followed vanity, all it means is they're following false gods or false idols.
#7 | 4:46 to 5:29 | cleaned
Look in your Bibles, if you would please, to the book of Isaiah, chapter 41. Isaiah 41. And notice, if you would please, verse 29. Just showing you how the word vanity oftentimes, it not only refers to that which is worthless and useless, but to idolatry and even to those who make idols. In Isaiah 41, verse 29, we read this, "Behold, they are all vanity; their works are nothing."
#8 | 5:30 to 6:00 | cleaned
"Their molten images are wind and confusion." Notice, he says, "Behold, they are all vanity."
#9 | 6:01 to 6:08 | cleaned
Now look in Isaiah 44, and verse 9. Isaiah 44 verse 9. "They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed." And then he goes on, "Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing?" So once again, it's not just the idols that are called vanity, but also those who make those idols. And then if you will look in Jeremiah chapter 18 and verse 15. Jeremiah 18 and verse 15. Notice if you would, what God says concerning His people in general.
#10 | 6:09 to 6:57 | cleaned
We could use this same scripture today. Jeremiah 18 and verse 15. God says, "Because my people have forgotten me, they have burned incense to vanity," that is, to false gods, to idols, "and they have caused them to stumble in their ways from the ancient paths, to walk in paths, in a way not cast up." Now, God says, it's my people that have forgotten me. And what do you do when you forget the one true and living God? You turn to idols. You turn to vanity. Now, there are a multitude of professing Christians today who will tell you, well, we don't trust in false gods.
#11 | 6:58 to 7:38 | cleaned
What we do is we just believe that we need to work it out and listen. Everything I've got I made and I work for. What are you saying when you say that? You're saying I'm trusting in my own efforts. I'm trusting in my own money. I'm trusting in my own riches. And you don't realize that many people do not understand that their wealth and their riches can equally be an idol. In fact, let me just quote these two verses for you. The Bible says in Proverbs 11 and verse 4 that riches profit not in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivereth from death. Riches profit not in the day of death.
#12 | 7:42 to 8:24 | cleaned
I never shall forget hearing about a very, very wealthy man who died, multimillionaire. And at his funeral, one man leaned over to another and asked, "How much did he leave?" To which the man responded, "He left it all." Riches profit not in the day of wrath. And the Bible says in Psalm 49 and verse 7, "None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him." Do you realize that if you possess all the wealth that has ever been in this world, you could not only not redeem yourself, you could not redeem anyone else as well.
#13 | 8:25 to 9:12 | cleaned
See, Scripture teaches us that it's the love of money that is the root of all evil. You know, our so-called money in this country has the motto on it, "In God we trust," except for some of the newer coins. Someone has aptly suggested that we need to add one word to that motto and put it like this: "In this God we trust," because that's exactly what so many do. But we've got so many false gods in this country. We've got the false god of medicine.
#14 | 9:13 to 9:47 | cleaned
Stop and think about this. God himself is the great physician. He is the healer. I've often been asked whether or not I believe in divine healing. Well, let me just clarify that for you. All healing is divine. If God doesn't heal you, you're never ever going to be healed.
#15 | 9:49 to 10:07 | cleaned
Now the fact of the matter is, God may use means or God may not use means. But it doesn't matter what remedy you apply to your illness or your sickness. If God does not bless that remedy, you will never ever be healed. If God blesses the remedy, anything can work. Have you ever stopped to think, that as sick as Hezekiah was, and the Bible says he was sick unto death, he's about to die. You know what God used to heal Hezekiah? A lump of figs. I mean, you know, I don't know what disease he had, but that lump of figs took care of it with the blessing of God. Do you remember that Egyptian slave that was wandering around in the wilderness that his master left because he was sick?
#16 | 10:08 to 11:00 | cleaned
And when David then found him, he had fasted for three days. No food and no water. And guess what? The fasting healed him. He was well when David found him. May I remind you that it only took a dip in the Jordan River to cure Naaman of his leprosy. And may I remind you that in the New Testament, it only took some clay and some spittle to open the eyes of a man who was blind. And when our Lord went to Peter's mother, he just simply took her hand.
#17 | 11:01 to 11:30 | cleaned
Now, all I'm trying to show you is this. With the blessing and the power of God upon the remedy, you're going to get well. But I don't care what you take and I don't care what you do. If a blessing in the power of God is not on it, you will not get well. That's just simply it. But let me show you what I'm talking about when I'm saying that so many trust in the God of medicine. In our country, in the land of the enlightened, civilized, intellectual citizens, we believe that we can sin against God, violate his law, break his commandments, and get away with it. Why? Because we believe that if we're smitten with some sexually transmitted disease, well listen, penicillin will take care of it. Medicine will take care of it. How many depend upon medicine to cure their HIV and their AIDS? All I'm trying to show you is so many think that they can sin against God and get away with it just simply because they've made a God out of medicine.
#18 | 11:30 to 12:44 | cleaned
We've also made a God out of government. We do not need to work, earn our living by the sweat of our brow. We do not need to plan and save and plan ahead and be frugal. No, no, no, no. Because in this day and time, we believe the government will take care of us. We don't even believe that we need to know how to protect ourselves. Why? Because the government is going to protect us. We don't believe that we need a sound money system like silver and gold because the government assures us that paper and ink is money.
#19 | 12:45 to 13:19 | cleaned
I probably told you this, but I bought some gas not too long ago. Sixteen bucks. I handed the young lady a 20. She handed me back four ones and I just stood there and I looked at it. I said, "Something's wrong." She said, "Did I not give you back the correct change?" I said, "Yes, but do you realize I now have your gas and I have four times as much money as I had before I paid for it? I've got four pieces of paper when I only gave you one piece of paper." Oh, she said, "But the one piece you gave me was a 20 and those are all ones." I said, "Oh, so the value then is in the numbers that are printed on the paper. Is that it?"
#20 | 13:25 to 14:18 | cleaned
I mean, it went right over her head. If paper is valuable, I should have had more from four pieces than one piece. If ink is valuable, I should have had more because I had more ink on the paper than on the one piece of paper. All I'm trying to show you is this. We think that, look, we don't need a sound money system because the government is going to take care of us. Who needs freedom? Who needs liberty? Who needs a constitutional republic? Why?
#21 | 14:19 to 14:49 | cleaned
We believe that socialism and fascism will work equally as well. And we don't need to worry about a thing. Why? They will take care of us. The elite will work it out. We don't need to concern ourselves about anything. We don't need to worry. We don't need to be upset. After all, we as Americans believe that our government is looking out after our best interests and our welfare. We love to trust in the God of civil government.
#22 | 14:49 to 15:23 | cleaned
It gives us a kind of a warm, soft, safe, tingling feeling. Doesn't it? We know that they'll take care of us. There are so many false gods in this country, I could not even begin to list them. Suffice it to say this, if your God is not the one true and the living God who has revealed Himself in Jesus Christ, you're worshipping an idol. The only God that exists is the God of the Bible. The only God that exists is the God who has manifested Himself in Jesus Christ. Our Lord Himself said in John 14 in verse 6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." Are you listening?
#23 | 15:25 to 16:10 | cleaned
"And no man cometh unto the Father but by me." There are not a multitude of ways to get to God. There's only one way, and that's through the Mediator, the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, I said the title of this message was "Time to Forsake Our False Gods." I want you to look back in your Bibles to 1 Chronicles chapter 14. And I want to read to you verse 12. I want you to look at this.
#24 | 16:11 to 16:43 | cleaned
Please keep in mind that the Philistines were heathen. They were wicked. They were ungodly. They were unconverted. They had no regard for the God of Israel, but yet they did, at least, have a little common sense. In 1 Chronicles 14, verse 12, the Bible says this, "And when they," that is the Philistines, "had left their gods there, David gave a commandment and they were burned with fire."
#25 | 16:43 to 17:11 | cleaned
Now, before we look at this, I want us to consider the context of verse 12. You can ask yourself this question. Why were the Philistines so foolish to pick a fight with David? You know, I love that one scene in William Wallace, where Mel Gibson turns there as he is William Wallace, and the men ask him, "Where are you going?" He said, "I'm going to pick a fight." Yeah, I'm going to pick a fight. Why would the Philistines be so stupid as to pick a fight with David? Look in verse 8. "And when the Philistines heard that David was anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David, and David heard of it and went out against them." Listen, look in your Bibles. I can quote this, but look in your Bibles, 1 Samuel chapter 2. I want you to see that the Philistines certainly were not ignorant of David and his military skills. I want you to look in 1 Samuel chapter 2, because there in verse 11, here's what the Philistines themselves say concerning David.
#26 | 17:14 to 18:39 | cleaned
I say 1 Samuel 2:11, I've given you the wrong passage. Well, let me just quote it. 1 Samuel—well, I said 2:11, but it's not 2:11. Here it is. "And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? Did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?" So they knew who David was. They knew all about David. So very obviously then, they knew about his military skills. They knew about his fighting ability. Now, turn in your Bibles, if you would please, to 1 Samuel chapter 21.
#27 | 18:43 to 19:31 | cleaned
Let me show you this. 1 Samuel chapter 21. And look, if you would please, at verse 10.
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Now, let me ask this question again. Why did they pick a fight with David? First, you have to remember that when David was fleeing from Saul, he escaped to Achish, king of Gath, who was the Philistine, and he was the lord and ruler. So in 1 Samuel chapter 21 and verse 10, the Bible says David's fleeing from Saul now, "And David arose and fled that day for fear of Saul and went to Achish, the king of Gath." Ok, now turn in your Bibles to 1 Samuel chapter 27. 1 Samuel 27. David stayed with Achish for a long time. Notice this. 1 Samuel 27 beginning with verse 1. "And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul."
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"There is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand. And David arose, and he passed over with the six hundred men that were with him unto Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath. And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, even David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal's wife. And it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath: and he sought no more again for him. And David said unto Achish, If I have now found grace in thine eyes, let them give me a place in some town in the country, that I may dwell there: for why should thy servant dwell in the royal city with thee?"
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"Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day: wherefore Ziklag pertaineth unto the kings of Judah unto this day. And the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was a full year and four months. And David and his men went up, and invaded the Geshurites, and the Girzites, and the Amalekites."
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"For those nations were of old the inhabitants of the land, as thou goest to Shur, even unto the land of Egypt. And David smote the land, and left neither man nor woman alive, and took away the sheep, and the oxen, and the asses, and the camels, and the apparel, and returned, and came to Achish. And Achish said, Whither have ye made a road today? And David said, Against the south of Judah, and against the south of the Jerahmeelites, and against the south of the Kenites. And David saved neither man nor woman alive, to bring tidings to Gath, saying, Lest they should tell on us, saying, So did David, and so will be his manner all the while he dwelleth in the country of the Philistines. And Achish believed David, saying, He hath made his people Israel utterly to abhor him."
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"Therefore he shall be my servant forever." Now, what did David do for 14 months? He lived in the land of the Philistines. And yes, he fought against his enemies, but he lied to Achish, and he said, "I've been fighting against the south of Judah," and Achish believed him.
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Now, the point I'm trying to make is this. David has been in the Philistines' land for 14 months. What does that mean? It means this. He knew their strong cities. He knew their weak cities. He knew their strong points. He knew their weak points. He knew their rulers. He knew their cities. He knew their roads. If David ever wanted to invade the Philistines, he would have the advantage. Because according to their thinking, David knows all about us.
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Therefore, it would be better to take him out of the picture before he gains enough power and turns around and invades us. Why did they pick a fight with David? They knew that he knew everything about them.
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Secondly, you have to remember that the Philistines had killed Saul and Jonathan. They not only killed them, they had mutilated their bodies and praised their false gods and hung their armor in their temple. Look in your Bibles to 1 Samuel chapter 31. 1 Samuel 31 and begin reading there with verse 8. 1 Samuel 31 verse 8. "And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen in mount Gilboa. And they cut off his head, and stripped off his armor, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to publish it in the house of their idols, and among the people. And they put his armor in the house of Ashtaroth: and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan." So it wasn't enough that they had killed Saul and Jonathan and his other two sons. No, no, no, no. They had to mutilate their bodies. They had to hang their bodies on a wall. They had to put their armor in the idol's temple and praise their false gods.
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Now, if you look at 2 Samuel 1, beginning there, verse 17, David laments the deaths of Saul and Jonathan. Now, it is true that Saul and David had no relationship whatsoever, because Saul kept trying to murder David. But you will remember that Saul and Jonathan had entered into a covenant, yet David lamented the loss of both of them. Look in 2 Samuel 1, verse 17. "And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son."
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"Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jashar. The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen! Tell it not in Gath." These are Philistine cities. "Publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph. Ye mountains of Gilboa." That's where they were slain.
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"Let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil. From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty. Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided."
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"They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions." And then of course he goes on and tells the children of Israel to lament for Saul and Jonathan. So David lamented over their deaths. Now the Philistines knew that since David was a patriot, it would not be long before his love for his country and his love for Jonathan would lead him to take away the reproach of Gilboa for Saul and Jonathan and his sons were slain.
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They said we'll have to stop him because he will plan an attack upon us. Thirdly, here's the third reason they attacked him. David had just assumed and ascended to the throne of the kingdom. And in all probability, here was their thinking. We need to strike him now before he has time to consolidate his power and consolidate his people. In other words, they were planning a surprise attack and they were thinking that David is now in a weakened condition, although he assumed the kingdom. He hasn't had time to consolidate everything. And therefore, they were going to attack him while he is weak.
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You know, the enemies of God and the enemies of faith never, ever take into account the One True and the Living God. Never. They presume, based upon their humanistic thoughts and plans, they presume, based upon their secularism, they presume, based upon their humanism, and they never count in the fact that God is the defense of His people. Yet we're going to find out that the sovereign God of the universe had a hand in all of this because now He is confusing and confounding the minds of the Philistines and bringing them together so that David may destroy them and wipe away the reproach of Gilboa. So what do the Philistines do?
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Look in verse 9 of 1 Chronicles chapter 14. 1 Chronicles chapter 14 verse 9, "And when the Philistines came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim." Wow. They spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
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Now, interestingly, the word Rephaim has two meanings. First of all, it has reference to the Valley of the Giants. In fact, this word, Rephaim, is translated giants in our Bible 17 times. It is translated Rephaim 8 times. So the reference is in all probability first to an old tribe of giants. They probably dwelt in that valley. The second meaning is given to us in the Septuagint, and that means the valley of the dead. So, the Philistines spread themselves out in the valley of the dead. You know, I think I would want to spread myself out in the valley of the living. But they spread themselves out in the valley of the dead, which was pictorial of the fact that they would soon be dead.
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because God Himself was against them. Now, look what David does. Verse 10, "And David inquired of God, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? And wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the Lord said unto him, Go up, I will deliver them into thine hand." So God now has told David, You want to know, will you go up? And if you go up, will you deliver, will I deliver them into your hand?
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And the answer is yes. I will allow you to go up and yes, I will deliver them into your hand.
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Now, I want you to hold 1 Chronicles chapter 14, but I want you to turn back to 2 Samuel chapter 5. Because you have the same identical story in 2 Samuel chapter 5. But I want to show you an additional word. Look in 2 Samuel chapter 5 at verse 19. Same story. 2 Samuel chapter 5 verse 19. "And David inquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines?"
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"Wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the Lord said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand." Now, wait a minute. Now, when you and I read that, we understand that when God says, "I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into your hands," it means without a doubt, it means absolutely certain they shall be delivered. But let me tell you something that you cannot discern in the English. In the Hebrew, the word doubtless and the word deliver are one and the same word. Literally what God says to David, "I will deliver, deliver the Philistines into your hands."
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How much more assurance could you give? God says, David, you go up, whether you translate it doubtless or double deliver. He says, you make sure that you understand. I will put them in your hand.
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Now go back to 1 Chronicles chapter 14. Look, if you would please, at verse 11. "So they came up to Baal-perazim and David smote them there. Then David said, God hath broken in upon mine enemies by mine hand like the breaking forth of waters. Therefore they call the name of that place Baal-perazim." Now, look, if you would, at the word smote. The Bible said, then David smote them there. Let me tell you what the word smote means. It literally means to slay, to slaughter, to kill, to be fatally smitten. You and I could put it like this. David virtually slaughtered them. It was like shooting ducks in a pool where the ducks can't get out. David literally wiped them out. Now, here's the question. How could David accomplish such a victory? Look what David says in verse 11. "So they came up to Baal-perazim, and David smote them there. Then David said, God hath broken in upon mine enemies by mine hand like the breaking forth of waters." Now, David said, I did the fighting.
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But it was God who gave the victory. And he says, "God has broken forth upon mine enemies," then he says, "like the breaking forth of waters."
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Now, let me ask you. Have you ever seen an earthen pitcher that's full of water? And that earthen pitcher break. What happens? The water just gushes out everywhere. Those of us who've lived on farms have seen dams break. And guess what happens to all that water that's backed up in that pond? It just rushes right out. It goes everywhere. David said God hath broken forth upon my enemies, as water breaks forth. Water rushes out rapidly. God broke in on those Philistines in righteous anger and righteous fury by the hand of David. David called the place of his victory Baal-perazim. Now, Baal-perazim is also known as Mount Perazim. Watch this. Hold 1 Chronicles 14. But look in your Bibles to Isaiah 28 and verse 21. Isaiah 28, verse 21. Isaiah 28, verse 21. Baal-perazim is Mount Perazim. "For the Lord shall rise up as in mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act."
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Now isn't that interesting? Here God is going to rise up and God is going to break forth again just like He did in Mount Perazim under the hand of David. And now it's called His strange work or His strange act. Why? Well, I'll tell you in just a little while. Let's ask and answer this question. What was the result of God breaking forth upon the Philistines through David's hand?
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It meant simply that they were slaughtered, that they were defeated. And they were so devastated. Go back to 1 Chronicles chapter 14 in verse 12. Watch what happens. When God broke forth upon them, they were so defeated, so devastated. They left their gods there. And David commanded and they were burned with fire. They left their gods there. Let me ask you a question. What good is a God who cannot deliver? What good is a God who cannot save?
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You know what these Philistines found out? You know what they discovered? They found out their gods were no gods. They found out their gods were impotent. They were worthless. They were vain. They were useless. They were no good. They were no account. Guess what they did? They left them on the battlefield. David also recognized their worthlessness. Therefore, David had them burned. Now watch this. In this instance, as wicked, as vile, and as heathenistic as the Philistines were, at least they had enough sense to realize their gods were useless. Oh, that America had that much sense. that we could recognize the impotence and the worthlessness of our false gods. Our sin in America is this, folks, we love our false gods. We love our conveniences. We love our comfort. We love our money. We love our socialism. We love our welfarism. We love our humanism. We love our materialism. We love our secularism. What in the world would it take to get us to the point, like these Philistines, that we're willing to forsake our false gods?
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What will it take? Well, let me try to answer that question by showing you several things in this passage. I'm going to show you what it took to bring the Philistines to the point that they were willing to leave their false gods. First, there was the overthrow of their plans and schemes. What did they plan? They planned to come up, attack David, whip him, take the cities, and go home. All their plans, all their schemes failed. You know something?
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It should make us stop and think. As a nation, as a family, as a church, as individuals, it should make us stop and think. When all of our plans and all of our schemes go awry. When nothing works. You know what that shows us? It teaches us that man is not in control. Man may plan and scheme, but he cannot work it out. We like to think that, look, we can plan this thing out. We can think this thing through. We can prepare.
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And with all of our carefulness, we will succeed. We will work it out. You know what Scripture says? Proverbs 16 verse 9. Listen to this. "A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps." You can scheme and plan and prepare all you want to, but the Lord is in control. Neither the multitude nor the magnitude of our devices will accomplish our end. The Bible says in Proverbs 19 in verse 21, "There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand." Did you hear that? There are many devices in a man's heart. There are many plans and schemes. Nevertheless, the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.
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You look at how our nation, you look at how our politicians, you look at how our leaders have planned and schemed against God, against his word, against his people. And yet, everything goes awry. It just simply does no good to fight against God. When you fight against God, you are fighting a losing battle. You will lose every time. So when things begin to go wrong, when we fail over and over, it's time to examine ourselves. It's time to examine and ask, are we fighting against the Lord?
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Now listen, Proverbs 21 verse 30 says it like this. "There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord." There is no wisdom or understanding or counsel against the Lord. So that means this: all of the plans and all the schemes fail if God does not work it out. Do you remember Gamaliel? He gave some good advice in Acts chapter 5 to the Jews. They were going to persecute the disciples, you remember? The apostles. And here's what Gamaliel said to them. Listen carefully. Acts 5 verses 38 and 39.
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He said, "And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God."
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Now listen to what he said. If this thing is of men, it'll fizzle out all by itself. And he's talking about Christianity. By the way, that ought to show you that Christianity is indeed the true faith because it has not fizzled out and it's not going to fizzle out. He said if this thing be of men, it'll come to nought. But if it's of God, you can't stop it. Why? Because God is in control, not man. That means this, folks.
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We need to keep our eyes upon God's providential dealings. I want you to look in your Bibles to Matthew 21. I could quote this, but I do want you to see this. Look in Matthew 21, and verse 32. I want to show you that you and I are responsible to learn from God's providential dealings, not only in our lives, but in the lives of other people as well. Notice, if you would, Matthew chapter 21, and look, if you would please, at verse 32. Look what the Bible says.
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"For John came unto you in the way of righteousness," that is, John the Baptist, "and ye believed him not." Now our Lord's talking to the Pharisees here. He says you believed him not. "But the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him."
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Now what did our Lord just get through saying? He's telling these self-righteous religious Pharisees, look, John came to you in the way of righteousness. You didn't believe him. But the publicans and the harlots believed him. You saw the work of God in their lives. You saw what the power of the gospel did in their lives. And you, when you had seen it, believed not and repented not that you might believe. What is he saying? He's saying you better watch the providence of God and you're responsible to profit from the providential acts of God in your life and in the lives of other people as well.
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The first clue, the first clue that Scripture gives us as to when it's time to forsake our false gods is when nothing is working out for us. The first clue as to when it's time to forsake our false god is when we realize nothing is working out for us. We are not in control and neither are our false gods. We are unable to accomplish those plans and schemes that we prepare. When's it time to forsake our false gods? When nothing is working out. Nothing worked out for these Philistines. Secondly, if you want to know when to forsake your false gods.
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The second point is when there is a realization of danger, defeat, death and destruction. David said God broke out upon those Philistines by his hand, and I told you the word smote there literally means slaughtered. Let me ask you a question. How long do you think it took those Philistines to realize that they were in danger? They were in a desperate state. How long do you think it took them to realize, if we stay here, we're going to die.
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We better get out while we can get out. How long do you think it took them to analyze in their mind, boy, everybody's being slaughtered. Red flags should have been up everywhere. All of them should be filled with fear and trepidation. Let me tell you something, folks, fear is not necessarily a bad thing all of the time. I realize that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but when you and I are afraid, it's a siren going off in our brain saying, danger is all around us.
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You know what the Bible says in Hebrews 11, verse 7, talking about Noah? "By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house." In that instance, fear is good. He feared God. Then he realized that what was going on around him, he needed to get out of there. He needed to believe God and do that which was right. These Philistines, some of them had enough sense to say to themselves, well, if we stay here in this valley, we're going to die. David's going to kill us all. We're leaving. And we're leaving these worthless gods on the battlefield. You know what the Bible says in Proverbs 16 and verse 6? I love this verse. The Bible says, "By mercy and truth iniquity is purged." Are you listening? "And by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil." You will never depart from evil until you fear the Lord. You know why there is so much evil in this world? The Apostle Paul tells us, because there is no fear of God before their eyes.
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If you feared God, you wouldn't do those things. I can assure you that the one thing that we need in this nation desperately is a good case of the fear of God. You know, I've used this illustration so many times. I don't know how many couples and individuals I've counseled in 43 years of preaching. But every now and then you get someone, it seems like, just never hears anything. It's like water off a duck's back.
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There have been times I have really, in the flesh, wanted to reach out, catch that man by the shirt, hold him up against the wall, slap his face four or five times and say, "What in the world is wrong with you? Wake up!" I got news for you folks. I believe that's basically what needs to be done to this country. You know what our Lord said in Luke 12 and verse 5, listen to this.
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He says, "But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him." Do you realize you will never flee to Christ until you realize the danger that you're in? You will never repent of your sins until you realize the devastation of your sins. You will never seek forgiveness until you realize that unless you are forgiven, you will die. What we need is a good dose and a good case of a fear of God.
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What was the first clue? Nothing was working out for them. What was the second clue? They were in danger and defeat and death. What was the third clue? There was indeed a military defeat. It was not just an individual defeat. It was not just that a few Philistines died. It was not just a few regiments got killed. No, no, no, no. David defeated the entire Philistine army.
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Now, it would behoove us to take note of the fact that Israel was a relatively young kingdom. David was only the second king. The Philistines had occupied their land for years and had king after king after king. Saul, the first king, only reigned 40 years, and David had just taken over the kingdom. You might say that the kingdom of Israel was an upstart. It was a young kingdom.
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And let me show you something. Look in your Bibles, 1 Samuel, chapter 13. This is amazing. Remember now, David had just taken over. 1 Samuel chapter 13. And let me show you how the Philistines had absolute control over the people of Israel. Did you know that the Philistines had an arms registration and control program? I think some of the people of this land today probably descended from these folks. Look, if you would, in 1 Samuel, chapter 13, beginning there, verse 19. 1 Samuel 13, verse 19. Watch. "Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears: But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock."
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"Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads. So it came to pass," look now, "in the day of battle," and this is when Saul and Jonathan are there fighting. "So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found." Notice if you would, Saul and Jonathan were the only two that had swords or spears. Why? Philistines had taken away every means of making weapons and sharpening weapons and said, look, you can't have those things.
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Now, let me ask you a question. Would it be considered and construed as a warning and a thing of wonder when a young, upstart kingdom, basically untrained and unarmed kingdom like Israel, could defeat a powerful empire like the Philistines? It would be akin to Cuba invading and conquering America. You know that such a thing has happened in time past. If you would look in your Bibles to 2 Chronicles 24 and verse 24, watch this. 2 Chronicles 24 and verse 24 just to show you that the mighty do not always win. 2 Chronicles 24 verse 24. Look what the Bible says. "For the army of the Syrians came with a small company of men, and the Lord delivered a very great host into their hand, because they," that is Israel, "had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers."
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"So they executed judgment against Joash." So Judah and Jerusalem were defeated by a small group of Syrians. Why? Because they had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers. You see, folks, it doesn't take many to whip you if God is against you. And here this young upstart kingdom, Israel, under David, whipped the socks off of the Philistine Empire. You know, Solomon stated in Ecclesiastes 9 and verse 11 that the battle is not to the strong. And I've got news for you, folks. If God is not for us, it does not matter how many weapons we have or how many military men that we have or what we have. If God is against us, we shall lose and we shall fail.
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Now, before I go further, let's put these three things together. When is it time to forsake our false gods? The first clue is when our plans and our schemes go awry. The second clue is when we're in danger, when we're facing death and destruction. The third clue is when there are military defeats. Now, let's put this together with the fourth one. When it's very obvious, there is the judgment of God. What did David say? David said, God hath broken forth upon the Philistines through my hands. It was not David's mighty powerful hand. It was God's mighty, powerful hand.
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And Nahum 1 in verse 6 of Scripture asks, "Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him." No one can abide the anger and the fury of God. There is indeed a time to forsake our false gods. But I want to point out, there is also a time when it's too late to forsake your false gods. Yes, some of these Philistines in 1 Chronicles chapter 14, they got to leave their false gods on the battlefield.
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They realized, man, they're useless, they're worthless. But let me ask you, what about all of those men who died with their false gods? It's too late for them. Too late for them. You know, over and over, just read the book of Judges. Israel sinned against God, deserted Him and turned to their false gods. God always sent judgment. And in that judgment, they began to whine and complain and bellyache and say, oh, it's our fault, God, we've sinned against you. And they had turned from their false gods and God would deliver them. But what about those who died holding on to their false gods? It is true that God is gracious and God is merciful. But it's equally true that God is also just. And God is holy. You know, the amazing thing is this.
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For those who have eyes to see and ears to hear, the judgment of God is just like that little trickle that begins to come through the dam. Those who have eyes to see and ears to hear say, you know, this dam is not safe. That's just a little trickle now. But the more it trickles, the bigger that crack is going to get. And one day, this dam is going to blow out and all those waters are going to come down. And so, you know, the wise thing for me to do is to prepare and just get out of the way of this flood. Those who have eyes to see and ears to hear, and pick up on the clues and say I better be doing some repenting now. Look in your Bibles. Hold 1 Chronicles, but look in your Bibles to Amos chapter 4. Amos chapter 4. Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos. Notice if you would. Amos chapter 4. Let me just show you what I'm talking about when I refer to the trickle and finally the dam bursting.
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Look in Amos chapter four, verse six. Look what God says. "And I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord." Here is that little trickle of famine. God said it didn't get your attention. Now, the trickle gets a little bigger in verse 7. "And also I have withholden the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest: and I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered. So two or three cities wandered unto one city, to drink water; but they were not satisfied: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord." Now the trickle gets a little larger.
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"I have smitten you with blasting and mildew: when your gardens and your vineyards and your fig trees and your olive trees increased, the palmerworm devoured them: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord." Oh, now it starts to run and pour more fiercely. Verse 10, "I have sent among you the pestilence after the manner of Egypt: your young men have I slain with the sword, and have taken away your horses; and I have made the stink of your camps to come up unto your nostrils: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord." Watch this.
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Now it begins to really flood. "I have overthrown some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord." Now the dam burst. "Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel." I'll wipe you out.
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Now, I want you to apply what I have just taught you from the Scripture to America. I want you to listen. I hope that you have noticed and clued in on the fact that all of our national plans and schemes have failed. Social Security is a misnomer. FHA is in trouble. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are worthless. HUD is a failure. Every foreign policy that we have pursued has proved to be fruitless.
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The United Nations, an agency to stop war, has created more wars than you can count. Try to name one policy, one plan, one scheme that the federal government has made that has been successful. The only one that I could ever think of is that our politicians have successfully destroyed our sovereignty, our freedom and our liberty. We've been made homeless and we've been made paupers in our own land. We have gone down the hill and we've gone down quickly. Ask yourself this question. Are Americans safe? The answer is no. We're not safe abroad and we're not safe at home. There is more crime in this country than ever before.
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Are we fearful, apprehensive, frightened? The answer is yes. Where is the confidence in our police departments? Where's the confidence in our sheriffs? Most law enforcement officers are simply that. Law enforcement, that is, equals revenue enhancement agents. Where's the confidence in our economy? Where's the confidence in our executive branch? Where's the confidence in our judicial branch? Where's the confidence in our executive branch? Let me tell you folks, Congress is nothing but a gaffe in this land today. Who has any respect for the judicial system?
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When justice can be bought by the highest bidder. When innocent people are thrown in prison and those who commit rape and murder and pillage and armed robbery are let go in just a few short months. Who in the world trusts a politician? Who trusts Washington? And our state capitals are no better. I don't want to be in Atlanta. If I could drive around Atlanta, I would drive around it. I don't even want to go through it.
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Corruption and fraud and immorality abound in every sphere of government and on every hand. Let's go a little further. Not just if our plans and schemes fail, but if we've been defeated. Let's see. We lost Korea. We lost Vietnam. We're hopelessly locked up in no-win situations all over the world. Not just in Iraq, but now they're planning to invade Iran as well. Let me tell you something, folks. There's no way in the world we can win in Iraq or Iran unless we just bomb everybody and destroy everybody and everything. Are you listening?
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You cannot change a culture with bombs. You can devastate, but you cannot change a culture. You cannot win a people with death. We've lost the war on poverty. We've lost the war on drugs. We've lost the war on terrorism. We've lost the war to secure our borders. We've lost the war on common sense. We have gone absolutely stark raving mad in this country. We have been defeated. God is judging us.
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And according to Scripture, it's going to get a lot worse. It's time to forsake our false gods. It's time we wised up to the clues, not only from Scripture, but from the hand of God in Providence in our country. It's time to repent and turn to God the Father who has revealed Himself in Jesus Christ. I hate to say this, but those wicked, rebellious, God-hating, God-denying Philistines in 1 Chronicles 14 had more sense than a lot of Americans today. At least they knew it's time to leave these worthless gods alone.
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Let me make just two applications. The first one is this. We need to learn from the heathen in this instance. You know, our Lord said the children of men are oftentimes more wiser than the children of light in some things they are. In this instance, the Philistines were. It's time that you and I forsake everything that's unbiblical, unscriptural, ungodly. We need to forsake our materialism, our secularism, our humanism and all of our other isms and turn to the word of God. Our God has promised, in Isaiah 55, verses 6 and 7, He said this, "Seek ye the Lord while he may be found."
#93 | 1:06:51 to 1:07:31 | cleaned
"Call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." You know, a good illustration of what I've preached today is found in 1 Thessalonians chapter 1, verses 9 and 10. Let me just quote there. This is what the Apostle Paul said to those Thessalonians.
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He said, "For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come." What did they do? They turned to God from idols. We need to turn to God from idols. We need to drop all of these false gods and come back to the one true, the living God.
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Now, what did God tell David the second time? God told David, now, David, don't do a frontal attack this time. You go around behind him. And when you hear the moving in the tops of the mulberry trees, that's when you strike. Because I've gone out. Folks, I want to tell you something. I do believe with all of my heart, we're hearing the divine moving in the tops of the mulberry trees.
#96 | 1:08:30 to 1:09:01 | cleaned
And as John the Baptist preached, flee from the wrath to come. What did God say in Isaiah 28 and verse 21? He would do His strange work. His strange act. And that strange work and that strange act is judgment. We need to wise up and say, we're going to turn from any and everything that is unbiblical, unscriptural and ungodly. We need to serve one God, and that is the God who revealed himself in Jesus Christ. because Jesus Christ is King of Kings and Lord of Lords and God of Gods. Let's serve Him. Let's pray. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we ask for Your blessing, for Your grace, for Your help. And, O God, open our eyes, open our ears, give us eyes to see and ears to hear. And may we turn, Lord, from our false gods and serve the one true and living God, and Jesus Christ our Lord, in whose name we pray, Amen. Amen.
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This program was produced by Dominion Ministry. For more information about Pastor Weaver's sermons, you may contact Dominion Ministry by mail at 7400 Abercorn, that's A-B-E-R-C-O-R-N, Street, Suite 705, PMD 175, Savannah, Georgia, 31406. Or give us a call at 912-925-7000.
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You can also visit our website at www.dominionministry.com
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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-06T03:47:41Z

Time to Forsake Our False Gods

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

John Weaver preaches from 1 Chronicles 14:8-17, using the Philistines' abandonment of their idols after David's victory as an illustration of the need to forsake false gods. He argues that false gods—such as money, medicine, government, and human effort—cannot save in times of danger or judgment. The sermon calls for repentance and turning to the one true God revealed in Jesus Christ, emphasizing that God's providential judgments in America are warnings to abandon idolatry before it is too late.

Opening

Introduction: The Foolishness of Trusting False Gods

Biblical Definition of Vanity as Idolatry

Watch carefully, 2 Kings 17 and verse 15. Notice what the Bible says. 2 Kings 17 and verse 15, the Bible tells us,

Scripture Reading — 2 Kings 17:15

"And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the Lord had charged them that they should not do like them."

"Their molten images are wind and confusion." Notice, he says, "Behold, they are all vanity." Now look in Isaiah 44, and verse 9. Isaiah 44 verse 9.

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 44:9

"They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed."

We could use this same scripture today. Jeremiah 18 and verse 15. God says,

Scripture Reading — Jeremiah 18:15

"Because my people have forgotten me, they have burned incense to vanity,"

that is, to false gods, to idols,

Scripture Reading — Jeremiah 18:15

"and they have caused them to stumble in their ways from the ancient paths, to walk in paths, in a way not cast up."

Modern False Gods: Medicine, Government, and Money

Americans trust in medicine to cure consequences of sin, in government for provision and protection, and in fiat currency as if it has inherent value. These are false gods that cannot save.

The Philistines' Foolish Attack on David

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 21:10

"And David arose and fled that day for fear of Saul and went to Achish, the king of Gath."

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 31:8-10

"And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen in mount Gilboa. And they cut off his head, and stripped off his armor, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to publish it in the house of their idols, and among the people. And they put his armor in the house of Ashtaroth: and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan."

Scripture Reading — 2 Samuel 1:17-27

"And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son." "Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jashar. The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen! Tell it not in Gath."

These are Philistine cities.

Scripture Reading — 2 Samuel 1:17-27

"Publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph. Ye mountains of Gilboa."

That's where they were slain.

God's Sovereign Victory and the Philistines' Abandonment of Idols

Clues That It Is Time to Forsake False Gods

Three clues from the Philistines' experience: (1) plans and schemes fail, (2) realization of danger and death, (3) military defeat. These point to God's judgment and the need to repent.

And with all of our carefulness, we will succeed. We will work it out. You know what Scripture says? Proverbs 16 verse 9. Listen to this.

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 16:9

"A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps."

Now listen, Proverbs 21 verse 30 says it like this.

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 21:30

"There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord."

The Judgment of God and the Danger of Delay

Application to America: National Failures as Divine Warnings

Call to Repentance and Faith in Christ

Time to Forsake Our False Gods

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	62308172159
Subject	Old Testament Studies
Course	Proverbs: The Fear of the Lord and Wisdom: The Doctrine of Election
Genre	Sermon
Date	2008-05-11
Dictation Name
Book	Book 081: Proverbs: The Fear of the Lord and Wisdom - Volume 1 — Chapter 5
Source Timed Segments	99

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction: The Foolishness of Trusting False Gods: False gods may seem sufficient in prosperity but fail in danger and destruction. Many professing Christians hold to gods of their imagination, convenience, or comfort, lacking sense to see their vanity.
Biblical Definition of Vanity as Idolatry: The word 'vanity' in Scripture often refers to idols and idolatry, as shown in 2 Kings 17:15, Isaiah 41:29, Isaiah 44:9, and Jeremiah 18:15. Trusting in wealth, effort, or anything other than God is idolatry.
Modern False Gods: Medicine, Government, and Money: Americans trust in medicine to cure consequences of sin, in government for provision and protection, and in fiat currency as if it has inherent value. These are false gods that cannot save.
The Philistines' Foolish Attack on David: The Philistines attacked David despite knowing his military prowess, because he knew their land from his time with Achish, they feared revenge for Saul and Jonathan, and they wanted to strike before David consolidated power.
God's Sovereign Victory and the Philistines' Abandonment of Idols: David inquired of God, received assurance of victory, and slaughtered the Philistines. In their defeat, the Philistines left their gods on the battlefield, and David burned them, recognizing their worthlessness.
Clues That It Is Time to Forsake False Gods: Three clues from the Philistines' experience: (1) plans and schemes fail, (2) realization of danger and death, (3) military defeat. These point to God's judgment and the need to repent.
The Judgment of God and the Danger of Delay: God's judgment is evident when plans fail, danger looms, and defeats occur. Amos 4 shows God's escalating judgments meant to lead to repentance. Some Philistines escaped, but many died with their idols—it can be too late.
Application to America: National Failures as Divine Warnings: America's failed policies, lost wars, crime, and corruption are signs of God's judgment. Like the Philistines, Americans must forsake false gods of materialism, humanism, and secularism and turn to God through Christ.
Call to Repentance and Faith in Christ: We must learn from the heathen Philistines and turn from idols to serve the living God, as the Thessalonians did. God promises mercy and pardon to those who seek Him. The 'sound in the mulberry trees' signals God's moving in judgment.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

False gods are identified by their inability to save in crisis.

The Philistines abandoned their gods when they proved useless in battle. Similarly, modern false gods like medicine, government, and wealth cannot deliver from divine judgment.

The Philistines 'left their gods there' after being slaughtered. The sermon asks, 'What good is a God who cannot deliver?'

God's providential defeats are warnings to forsake idols.

When plans fail, danger looms, and defeats occur, it signals God's hand of judgment. These are clues to repent, as seen in the Philistines' experience and Amos 4.

The three clues (failed plans, danger, military defeat) are drawn from the Philistines' defeat and applied to America's crises.

Trusting in human effort or institutions is idolatry.

Relying on one's own work, money, or government provision is a form of idolatry. Scripture calls such trust 'vanity' and warns that riches cannot redeem a soul.

Proverbs 11:4 and Psalm 49:7 are cited to show that wealth cannot save. The sermon states, 'their wealth and their riches can equally be an idol.'

The fear of God is necessary to depart from evil.

A proper fear of God leads to repentance and forsaking sin. The lack of fear of God explains widespread evil, and fear can be a healthy response to danger.

Proverbs 16:6: 'By the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.' Hebrews 11:7 shows Noah moved by fear. Romans 3:18 says there is no fear of God before their eyes.

America's national decline mirrors the Philistines' defeat.

Failed social programs, lost wars, and moral decay are evidence that God is judging America. Like the Philistines, Americans must abandon their false gods or face destruction.

Examples include Social Security, Fannie Mae, lost wars in Korea and Vietnam, and the failure of the war on drugs and poverty.

Scripture References

1 Chronicles 14:8-17: The main text: David defeats the Philistines, who leave their gods, and David burns them.
Ephesians 4:18: Cited to show that people are alienated from God through ignorance, lacking understanding.
2 Kings 17:15: Used to demonstrate that 'vanity' refers to idols and false gods.
Isaiah 41:29: Shows that idols and their makers are vanity.
Isaiah 44:9: Those who make graven images are vanity; their works profit nothing.
Jeremiah 18:15: God's people have forgotten Him and burned incense to vanity (idols).
Proverbs 11:4: Riches profit not in the day of wrath; righteousness delivers from death.
Psalm 49:7: No one can redeem another or give a ransom to God.
John 14:6: Jesus is the only way to the Father; there is no other path to God.
1 Samuel 21:10: David fled to Achish, king of Gath, showing his time among the Philistines.
1 Samuel 27:1-12: David dwelt with Achish for 16 months, learning Philistine territory.
1 Samuel 31:8-10: The Philistines killed Saul and Jonathan, mutilated their bodies, and praised their gods.
2 Samuel 1:17-27: David's lament over Saul and Jonathan, showing his grief and patriotism.
2 Samuel 5:19: Parallel account where God promises to 'doubtless deliver' the Philistines.
Isaiah 28:21: God will rise up as at Mount Perazim to do His strange work of judgment.
Proverbs 16:9: A man's heart devises his way, but the Lord directs his steps.
Proverbs 19:21: Many devices are in a man's heart, but the Lord's counsel shall stand.
Proverbs 21:30: There is no wisdom, understanding, or counsel against the Lord.
Acts 5:38-39: Gamaliel's advice: if a work is of men, it will fail; if of God, it cannot be overthrown.
Matthew 21:32: Jesus rebukes Pharisees for not repenting after seeing God's work in publicans and harlots.

Historical References

Philistine dominance over Israel in the time of Saul and David: The Philistines controlled weapon-making and had military superiority, as seen in 1 Samuel 13:19-22. They killed Saul and Jonathan and mutilated their bodies.
David's time with Achish, king of Gath: David lived among the Philistines for 16 months, learning their territory, which later gave him an advantage when they attacked.
The death of Saul and Jonathan at Gilboa: The Philistines killed Saul and his sons, mutilated their bodies, and hung their armor in the temple of Ashtaroth, creating a reproach that David later avenged.
Modern American government programs and failures: Social Security, FHA, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, HUD, and foreign policies are cited as failed schemes, along with lost wars in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and the war on poverty, drugs, and terrorism.
The United Nations: Described as an agency meant to stop war but which has created more wars.

Important Quotes

False gods may suffice in a time of pleasure, plenty, and prosperity, but they cannot and will not suffice in a time of danger, destruction, and damnation.

Introduces the central thesis that false gods fail when truly needed, setting up the sermon's call to forsake them.

What good is a God who cannot deliver? What good is a God who cannot save?

Rhetorical questions highlighting the impotence of idols, directly tied to the Philistines abandoning their gods.

Our sin in America is this, folks, we love our false gods. We love our conveniences. We love our comfort. We love our money. We love our socialism. We love our welfarism. We love our humanism. We love our materialism. We love our secularism.

Directly applies the Philistine example to modern American idolatry, listing specific false gods.

There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord.

Quoting Proverbs 21:30 to emphasize God's sovereignty over human plans, a key argument for why schemes fail.

By the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.

Quoting Proverbs 16:6 to argue that fear of God is necessary for repentance and forsaking sin.

You will never flee to Christ until you realize the danger that you're in. You will never repent of your sins until you realize the devastation of your sins. You will never seek forgiveness until you realize that unless you are forgiven, you will die.

Explains the role of fear and recognition of danger in driving people to repentance and faith.

Prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.

Quoting Amos 4:12 as the climax of God's escalating judgments, a warning that judgment is final if repentance is delayed.

It's time to forsake our false gods. It's time we wised up to the clues, not only from Scripture, but from the hand of God in Providence in our country.

The sermon's applicatory climax, urging immediate action based on the evidence of God's judgment.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

What are some modern 'false gods' that people trust in today, and how do they parallel the Philistines' idols?

[Context]

The sermon lists money, medicine, government, and human effort as false gods. Discussion could explore personal and cultural idols.

[Question]

How can we discern when God is using failures and crises as warnings to repent?

[Context]

The sermon presents three clues: failed plans, danger, and defeat. How should believers interpret national or personal setbacks?

[Question]

In what ways does the fear of God lead to repentance, and how can we cultivate a healthy fear of the Lord?

[Context]

Proverbs 16:6 and Luke 12:5 are cited. Discuss the difference between servile fear and reverential awe.

[Question]

Why is it dangerous to delay repentance, and what does Amos 4 teach about God's escalating judgments?

[Context]

The sermon warns that some Philistines died with their idols. Amos 4 shows judgments increasing until the final 'prepare to meet thy God.'

[Question]

How should Christians respond to national decline and moral decay according to this sermon?

[Context]

The sermon calls for forsaking unbiblical isms and turning to God. Discuss practical steps for personal and corporate repentance.

Applications

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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T16:28:09Z