Arise and Abide

This week’s passage is 2 Samuel 16:15-17:23. Absalom turns to his advisors but does not seek the Lord’s council. A warning against following our own ideas. Proverbs 19:20, it’s not wrong to seek the advice of others but the LORD’s voice should (and will) have the final say on every matter. Ahithophel, Bathsheba’s grandfather, had his own motives as did Hushai. Despite the schemes of man, the Lord’s outcome prevails. The futileness of trying to manipulate how life goes. We must come to a place of trust in the LORD.  Ahithophel’s story’s similarity to Judas’ story.

This week’s passage is 2 Samuel 15:13-37. The picture of David’s great faith in the LORD. God said that the rebellion would happen.  David owning the consequences of his sin. David cared more for the people and the city than for his position.  Laying it all down, letting go, is the cost of being a disciple. David letting go of his home and the Ark. God’s faithfulness seen in the people who remained loyal to David. The hope we have is the same hope David had, that God does not just sweep life away but makes ways to bring us back to Himself. There is nothing compared to the presence of God.

This week’s passage is 2 Samuel 14:25-15:12. Absalom’s desire to be seen and heard.  Absalom’s words, “I wish I was judge, I would give you justice”. God is the one who sees all and brings the right judgment. 2 Samuel 12:11, I will cause your own house to turn against you. Absalom’s pride, he believed he could bring justice, but his justice was really vengeance. People can sometimes let their free will lead them into believing they know best. God is the only King who can bring true justice and reign in true love. He sees everyone and hears everyone. No king in the history of kings can compare to God. We enter life when we surrender it to God.

This week’s passage is 2 Samuel 14:1-24. We see David long to see Absalom and Joab wanting David to see the situation from a different perspective. It can be hard to look at things differently. Looking at things from someone else’s perspective helps us see things more clearly. David is experiencing literal and figurative death. God is the same in both the Old and New Testaments, “God does not just sweep life away, instead, he devises ways to bring us back when we have been separated from him.” 2 Samuel 14:14; this has always been and always will be God’s heart for people. Everything gets really messy in Davids’s life as a result of his sin. Without Jesus, our lives can spiral downward just as David’s. Changing our perspective requires us to let go of our judgments and opinions. My life is without peace when I try to hold on to “my way”. The promise that God’s character is always the same and that God’s heart is for reconciliation. Despite our messes God has always had the heart to brings us back to Himself and has made the way through Jesus.  

This week’s passage is 2 Samuel 13:23-39. Summary of chapters 11, 12 and the beginning of chapter 13.  How people can fixate on what they want, or they just take it. A picture of the human condition. Amnon’s “love” was completely selfish and contrasts with the Love of God. Vengeance is mine says the LORD Deuteronomy 32:35, Romans 12:19. The painting of the Human conditions reveals the flaw of human love. Each person plays a part in every situation. David missed the opportunity to go to God before sinning with Bathsheba. Absalom was full of anger, and everyone ended up in a worse situation. How do you keep anger from overcoming your heart? Jesus is the way.   Picking up your cross daily vs going after whatever you want. What you obsess about can bring out of you an ungodly response or action because it is the fruit of your selfishness. The promise is that God has given us everything and wants to give us abundantly more. Vengeance is not satisfied until blood is spilled. God spilled His blood for you.

This week’s passage is 2 Samuel 12:13-31. David responds by confessing his sin and fasting and mourning. David asks God to change the circumstances but when nothing changes David goes and worships the LORD. David recognizes his mortality in the repercussions of it all. Even in all the ugliness of people’s sin, we can see the goodness of God. God does not force His way and will on other people’s actions. He gives each of us room to make our own decisions in response to our circumstances, and when we mess up we can count on God’s goodness to correct us. God did not pull his favor completely and still gives Joab victory, though Joab doesn’t take the credit. The challenge of remaining dependent on God when everything is going well of us. We should follow David’s example Going to God when things don’t go our way, it’s all part of dying to self and living for Christ.

This week’s passage is 2 Samuel 11:1-12:12. David was in a good place before he sinned, but he stopped going after God and focused on what he wanted and how to avoid consequences. It’s a loving act of God to show him what he’s done. The awareness of sin brought about conviction. God wants us to put our attention to the reality of our situation. How people lose sight of God when they “are in a good place”. The comfort of the good place can cause us to become stagnant, even lazy when it comes to seeking God. Much like Adam and Eve, David had everything available but took what wasn’t his. Every person is susceptible to their sin nature, God loves us still and has made a way for us. God corrects and disciplines because He loves His children. We can trust that God loves us and that when we mess up, He will set us straight.

This week’s passage is 2 Samuel 10:1--19. God is faithful to lead the Israelites into victory. David’s attempts at peace are met with doubt and fear. Lies and fear are often the basis of conflicts. Hanun only had voices of his commanders when He needed to go to God.  Without the LORD’s guidance we are lost in our own ideas. Sometimes good intentions are not reciprocated or received well. Joab, “let the LORD’s will be done. When we are attacked, we need to remember we are in a spiritual battle that requires the community of the Kingdom of God. To surrender the battle to the LORD they had to let go of everything and trust Him. The mess of this chapter is not unlike the messes in life today. We just need to keep our eyes on God and He will help us through. James 4:7-8 Come close to God and God will come close to you.

This week’s passage is 2 Samuel 9:1-13. David remembering the promise he made to Jonathan in 1 Samuel 20:14&15. David restores Mephibosheth and gives him a place at the table. David took him from living in fear and restored him. David knew that everything he had was from God. David was not afraid to be generous. We have to let go of our fears to receive what God has for us. Sometimes we get to a low spot and forget our true value as children of God. To see the restoration in this story is beautiful. The Faithfulness of God to pull us from our situation and restore us to where we should be, in His presence.   

This week’s passage is 2 Samuel 7:18-29. The faith behind David’s prayer of thanks. David wants to bless God and God blesses David beyond what David could ever give. David reflects on his life and where he came from. The Promise of Jesus and everlasting life. Jesus has redeemed us. God made us His people through His redemptive power. David understands how intimately God sees him. David was bold because he knew God’s promises were true and everlasting. We have the benefit of seeing the promise played out and the benefit of knowing the goodness of God and that His promises are true for this everlasting promise we have in front of us. David wanted to build God a temple. God gave us Jesus, the Living Temple, Jesus gives us His Holy Spirit, now we become His Temple.