God's king will return to his kingdom - how will we receive him?

In God's kingdom justice must be served. In God's kingdom the bonds of love cannot be broken. Where can justice and love meet?

Absalom's rebellion against David requires justice for the son, David loves. A tension that is only fully resolved with great King David's greater Son, the Lord Jesus, at the cross.

In meeting the Lord Jesus we reveal who we are. Disciples stay with and serve king Jesus, while others manipulate, curse and fail him. True discipleship though diverse, has a distinctive pattern, activity and grace.

Since the garden of Eden the story of humanity has been one of exile. Jesus follows in the footsteps of exiled king David to restore God's children home.

God's power never comes through worldly methods. God never judges things by results but by the methods we use. We must therefore beware of Counterfeit wisdom, leadership and strength.

In the midst of evil and darkness God speaks. He shows us sin's doggedness in God's kingdom yet we can know goodness because God has spoken. Even when God is silent we must learn to hear him speak.

God's grace is shrewd and savvy. He shows mercy in sending a messenger, revealing the hypocrisy of David's response, the consequences of sinning. He reveals the heart of the deceiver and the shock of the removing of sin.

The disaster and deceit of sin that is evil in the eyes of the Lord.