Biblical Narratives Versus Imperatives – Commands in Scripture Have More Weight Than Stories

It is important to understand biblical narratives versus imperatives. Imperatives are commands while narratives are stories or accounts in Scripture that should not be given as much weight. Christians should build their theology with imperatives (or commands, such as Romans 13, 1 Peter 2, and Titus 3) supported by narratives (or accounts) versus the other way around. https://youtu.be/xrdTXz7Xb6g It is important to understand biblical narratives versus imperatives. Imperatives, or commands, should have more weight than narratives. Receive a FREE copy of my book, Seven Biblical Insights for Healthy, Joyful, Christ-Centered Marriages.Visit my speaking page for conference and speaking information, including testimonies, endorsements, and contact info.View all my books on my Amazon author page. Table of ContentsLessons for Biblical Narratives Versus ImperativesFamily Worship Guide for Biblical Narratives Versus ImperativesSermon Notes for Biblical Narratives Versus ImperativesLesson 1: we don’t submit to sin.Lesson 2: Moses appealed to Pharaoh.Lesson 3: David appealed to Saul.Lesson 4: Esther appealed to the king.Lesson 5: let’s not waste this trial. Lessons for Biblical Narratives Versus Imperatives Lesson 1: We don’t submit ____ ______ (Exo 1:15-17). Lesson 2: __________ appealed to ______________ (Exo 3:18-19, 5:2-8). Lesson 3: __________ appealed to ________ (1 Sam 24:4-10, 26:8-25). Lesson 4: ____________ appealed to the ________ (Est 3:13-16, 5:1-2; 9:5, 13-14; Pro 21:1). Lesson 5: Let’s not __________ this __________ (Dan 9:13-14). Family Worship Guide for Biblical Narratives Versus Imperatives Day 1: Read Exo 3:18-19 and 5:2-8 and discuss: Do you see any similarities between the Israelites in Egypt and our current situation? Why did God send Moses to appeal to Pharaoh when He knew Pharaoh would disobey? What implications does this have for us? Day 2: Read 1 Sam 24:4-10, 26:8-25 and discuss: Why was David convicted when he cut off a corner of Saul’s robe? What application does this have for us? Why did it look like God would want David to kill Saul? Why wouldn’t he, and what application does this have for us? Was there a point at which David “disobeyed” Saul or at least wouldn’t go along with his request? What can we learn from this? Day 3: Read Est 3:13-16, 5:1-2; 9:5, 13-14; Pro 21:1, Dan 9:13-14 and discuss: How would you expect the Jews to respond when they learned they’d be slaughtered? How would you expect God to tell them to respond? How did Esther respond? What application does Pro 21:1 have to our current situation? How could we waste the trial we’re experiencing? How can we ensure we don’t waste it? What do you think God wants us to learn? Sermon Notes for Biblical Narratives Versus Imperatives On Wednesday, April 29th, the elders joined me in the sanctuary to share w/ all of you that at this point in time we feel led to submit to the government and appeal through letters, praying, and fasting. There might be a point at which we disobey, but we don’t believe we’ve reached that point yet. We tend to project ourselves on others, and b/c if I was in your position I would want to know how my elders came to this decision, I felt like you’re entitled to an explanation. So I’ve been explaining how we came to this decision over the last two Sundays, and this morning will be the third and final message. I could be wrong, but I don’t think another sermon on this topic is necessary. I feel like people are pretty settled where they are more teaching won’t be beneficial. One thing I’ve shared w/ you is that there are godly people on both sides of this issue, and they can quote other godly people. In the first sermon I told you that I’ve landed where I have b/c I think we should build our theology w/ imperatives – or commands – supported by narratives – or accounts…versus the other way around. In other words: We should look for imperatives, such as those found in 1 Pet 2, Rom 13, and Titus 2.Then see if narratives – or accounts in Scripture – support those imperatives. When we talked as elders we found many narratives supporting the imperatives…and this helped convince us to go in this direction. This morning we’ll look at some of these narratives, but b/c I want to conclude w/ this sermon, I can’t cover all of them that I’d like; therefore, I’ve simply chosen three. Let’s begin w/ Exodus 1… Exodus 1:15 Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, 16 “When you serve as midwife to the Hebrew women and see them on the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him, but if it is a daughter, she shall live.” 17 But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live. This is similar to: Daniel 6 when Daniel disobeyed authority and prayedAnd Acts 5 when the apostles disobeyed authority and preached I wanted to briefly look at this account, b/c it comes to mind when thinking of disobeying the government, and b/c it gives me the opportunity to repeat a point that I’ve made at the beginning of each sermon… Lesson 1: we don’t submit to sin. Understandably when you’re talking about submission, you wonder how far it extends. I’ve said we’re submitting now, but that doesn’t mean we’ll submit forever. The account w/ the Hebrew midwives is close to what happened in Nazi Germany when Jews were being murdered. Understandably Nazi Germany keeps coming up, b/c that was a time to disobey the government and not submit to sin. The idea is this… “ The people who hid Jews were disobeying the government. The people who killed them were obeying.” Nazi Germany – like the king of Egypt – was trying to murder people. But our government – at least so far – hasn’t asked us to murder anyone. If they do, we’ll disobey. Look at Exodus 3:18…the context is God is speaking to Moses from the burning bush… Exodus 3:18 And they will listen to your voice, and you and the elders of Israel shall go to the king of Egypt and say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us; and now, please let us go a three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.’ Pharaoh was the authority over the Israelites in Moses’ day, and instead of telling the Jews to rebel, God sent Moses to appeal to Pharaoh…and this brings us to Lesson 2… Lesson 2: Moses appealed to Pharaoh. At least four times that I could find in Exodus Moses requested that Pharaoh allow them to worship and serve the Lord…which gives this some similarities to our situation… We’re requesting to open our churches to worship and serve the Lord. Look at verse 19… Exodus 3:19 But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless compelled by a mighty hand. It’s worth noticing that from the very beginning God told Moses that Pharaoh would not release the people. So here’s what’s interesting… God could’ve wiped out Egypt w/ the plaguesHe could’ve jumped right to the last plague that did cause Pharaoh to release the people But instead, He first had Moses repeatedly appeal to Pharaoh. And our plan is to repeatedly appeal to the governor to allow us to worship: We sent one letter, and we plan on sending moreWe called for one day of fasting, and we plan on calling for more Look at Exodus 5:2 to see what happened after Moses appealed to Pharaoh… Exodus 5:2 But Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and moreover, I will not let Israel go.” I’m convinced many of our politicians don’t know God any better than Pharaoh did, but that didn’t change Moses’ need to appeal, and it doesn’t change our need to appeal. Now watch something that could be very instructive for us… Exodus 5:4 But the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you take the people away from their work? Get back to your burdens.” 5 And Pharaoh said, “Behold, the people of the land are now many, and you make them rest from their burdens!” 6 The same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their foremen, 7 “You shall no longer give the people straw to make bricks, as in the past; let them go and gather straw for themselves. 8 But the number of bricks that they made in the past you shall impose on them, you shall by no means reduce it, for they are idle. Therefore they cry, ‘Let us go and offer sacrifice to our God.’” Here’s what stuck out to me: Moses appealed to PharaohHe was doing God’s willHe didn’t have to wonder if this is what God wanted…God told him this is what He wantedBut Pharaoh still didn’t let the people go. Instead things actually got worse. I’m mentioning this b/c: Even though things weren’t going the way Moses wanted, it didn’t mean he was doing anything wrong.We’re appealing, and maybe it won’t go the way we want, but it doesn’t mean we’re doing anything wrong. I mention this to encourage you, b/c as a pastor any time you invite your people to pray and fast you have this nagging concern that God might not answer the way we want or as quickly as we want…but we can still be in God’s will. Let’s look at the second example by turning to 1 Samuel 24… Here’s the background… David and his men are on the run from Saul who’s trying to kill them. Saul unknowingly entered the cave David and his men were hiding in. Look at verse 4… 1 Samuel 24:4 And the men of David said to him, “Here is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.’” Then David arose and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul's robe. When David’s men saw him rise with his sword and move toward Saul, they must’ve thought, “This is it. Our exile is finally over. We can return home. We don’t need to be afraid for our lives anymore....