Tag Archive - Grace

Daily David, Week 10, Day 2

November 1, 2011 in David with 0 Comments

Happy All Saints Day. This is a day we celebrate those who have died in the faith who have gone before. Not only do we celebrate the victory that is theirs, but we also anticipate the time when we will be joined together with them.

Our reading today is from 2 Samuel 24. This is a curious story when David decides to take a census of the nation.

Why does David want to take a census of the fighting men (24:1-2)? Why is Joab against it (24:3)?

At the end of verse 2 it says David took this census to know how many people there were. The text does not specifically state the motivation for taking this census. We can speculate it was an issue of pride for David. David wanted to see how vast his kingdom was. Another purpose of the census was to see how many men were fit to fight in battle. This might have been done for David to consider his ability to build an empire beyond the nation of Israel.

Joab does not support David and tells David upfront he should not take the census. He tells David that there is no reason to take the census. God is on their side and that is all that matters. If they do what God calls them to do it does not matter the size of the army.

Why is David conscience stricken after taking the census (24:10)? How is it that we can sin even when we have good intentions?

David realized he was putting more trust in man than trust in God. We can sin when we have good intentions but we realize that we are doing what we think is best rather than what God thinks is best. There is a way that seems right to us, but ultimately leads to destruction.

Why did David insist on paying for the threshing floor (24:24)?

He says that a sacrifice that costs him nothing is not really a sacrifice. Later Jesus would tell the story of the widows might. The offering people were giving in that story did not really cost them anything. They were giving out of their wealth. But the widow gave everything that she had. Even though she gave less, it cost her more. Do we offer to the Lord sacrifices that cost us nothing? Can we really call that a sacrifice?

What was the main purpose of making sacrifices in the Old Testament (see Leviticus 1:4)? Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said “grace is free, but it is not cheap.” What do you think this means(Romans 3:25)?

Sacrifices are made for the purpose of cleansing God’s people from sin. The animal that died would be killed in the place of one who sinned. When Bonhoeffer says that grace is free, it means that forgiveness does not cost us. But it is not cheap because it cost Jesus his life.

What would eventually be built upon the threshing floor of Araunah (see 2 Chronicles 3:1)?

This would be the sight for the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. This temple would be built by David’s son Solomon.

Daily David, Week 9, Day 2

October 25, 2011 in David with 0 Comments

An extraordinary promise of God. It was not because of anything David had done. It was simply out of the grace of God. God speaks this undeserved promise to David found in 2 Samuel 7.

God speaks undeserved promises to us as well. It is the promise of salvation. It is the promise of life. It is the promise of provision. None of these promises do we deserve. We are sinful human beings. But God in his mercy and love has compassion upon us and gives us these gifts. Amazing!

What promises does God give to David (7:9-16)?

God promises to make David’s name famous. He will provide a homeland for his people. He promises they will be safe and secure. They will not be oppressed and will be given rest from their enemies. God tells David he will establish a dynasty among his family and his kingdom will be strong. One of David’s offspring will will build the temple. God also says he will correct and discipline David’s offspring when they are out of line. Finally, God says David’s kingdom will endure forever.

What made David so worthy of this honor (7:18)?

Nothing!

Why is God’s way of dealing with David (and us) so unusual (7:19)?

God does not treat us as we deserve. Our unfaithfulness is matched by his faithfulness. We continually let him down. He never lets us down.

Who redeems God’s people (7:23)? Who makes God’s people to be God’s people (7:24)?

God redeems his own people. God makes his own people to be his people. It is all him!

Why does David want God to keep his promise forever (7:25-26)?

Because we need God each and every moment. The air we breath is from him. The food we eat is from him. Our salvation is from him. There is nothing we have that does not come from him. We could not live apart from him for even one second.

What does it mean that God’s words are trustworthy (7:28)?

God’s words are the most reliable thing there are. We can put our trust in many things. But anything else will eventually at some point in time let us down. Jesus says the one who hears and obeys God’s word is like the wise man who built his house on the rock. Anything else we put our trust in is like sinking sand.

Daily David, Week 8, Day 4

October 20, 2011 in David with 0 Comments

In 2 Samuel 16-17

Who was Ziba (16:1; see 2 Samuel 9:1-13)? Mephibosheth?

Ziba was the servant of Mephibosheth. David had put Ziba in charge of all Mephibosheth’s property. Mephibosheth was a son of Jonathan, son of Saul and friend of David. David had made a promise to Jonathan that he would not destroy his family. David desired to honor Mephibosheth and so he provided for Mephibosheth and had him live in his royal palace.

What is Ziba’s motive in this story (16:1-4)?

Ziba’s motive was to acquire Mephibosheth’s property. He saw an opportunity in this moment.

Why is it easy to taunt, criticize, ridicule someone when they are down? Is it the godly response to gloat over someone else’s misfortune? How about the misfortune of our enemy?

It is much easier to be a part of the crowd than to go against the crowd. We see in the world of celebrities that when one of these celebrities is going through a rough patch, it is easy for the world to pile on. It is dangerous to gloat over someone’s misfortune because the same misfortune might be lying just around the corner for us. God calls us to encourage those who are down and to speak hope into their lives. This is hard to do when it comes to our enemies. Jesus teaches us to pray for their well-being.

Compare David’s response to Abashai (16:9-10) to that of Jesus’ response to Peter in the Garden of Gethsemane (John 18:10-11)?

David has a response of mercy. He does not have Abashai killed because it would do no good. It would only cause more pain. It would have been easy for David or Jesus to have desired to have harm done to those who insulted them. But instead their response is one of grace.

Where did Ahithophel’s advice come from (16:23)? Why is Ahithophel’s advice confused (see 1 Corinthians 1:18-31)?

Ahithophel’s advice seemed like it came directly from the Lord. But not everything that appears to be from God, is from God. Satan is the great deceiver. He does not come to us as the prince of darkness, but clothed as the prince of light. We must carefully seek and discern that which is from the Lord and that which is not. Do not take anything for granted no matter who it is from.

Ahithophel’s wisdom is confused because it is not from the Lord. If it had been from the Lord, Ahithophel would have advised Absalom to make peace with his father and to submit to the king rather than claim the throne for himself. Absalom was not the rightful king.

In 1 Corinthians 1, Paul tells us that God will destroy the wisdom of the wise and discard the intelligence of the intelligent. It cannot stand in the face of God’s wisdom.

Why does Ahithophel commit suicide (17:23)? Does his reaction seem extreme?

He commits suicide because he knows how this is going to end. He likely understood that he was going up against God and that was not a battle he was going to win. He likely did this out of shame that he could not bear to face the consequences of his actions.

His action does seem a bit extreme. But in the same way, the consequences of our sin are extreme. They exact a heavy burden. The full extent we will not fully realize until the final day of judgment.

Who do you seek advice from? Is it godly advice or worldly advice you are receiving? What will happen if you follow the right advice? What will happen if you follow the wrong advice? How do you determine between the right and the wrong advice?

Too often I do not seek advice or wisdom. I do what I think is best. This is a bad mistake. God has given wisdom as a gift. There are things we can learn from believers and non-believers alike. But above all, we seek wisdom that is godly. There is nothing better for seeking wisdom than turning to the Word of the Lord in the Scriptures.

When we follow wise advice we will prosper. When we follow ungodly advice we may prosper for a time, but that prosperity will not last. When determining right from wrong the only way to know is to hear from the Lord. This takes time and it takes effort.

Some thoughts on sin

October 19, 2011 in Weekly Email with 0 Comments

Whether we admit it or not, we are all experts on the subject of sin. Unfortunately, we are experts for all the wrong reasons. It is a topic we know all too well.

Sin is something that must be dealt with. Romans 6:23 says the wages of sin is death. Sin is what separates us from God and creates a barrier between us.

I share with you this week’s email, some thoughts on sin from last Sunday’s message on David and Bathsheba.

  • We like sin. Sin tastes good and feels good. There is no doubt that sin brings pleasure. It is desirous.

  • Sin is debt. There is literally hell to pay for sin. We might receive pleasure from sin upfront, but there is a cost that follows. Long after the pleasure we derived from our sin is gone, we will still be paying the consequences.

  • Sin has an irresistible pull. As irrational as it may be, we are still attracted to sin. If David had knew what his sin with Bathsheba would cost him, he would have ran as fast as he could. But the pull of sin is so strong, we let our guard down, and forget the consequences.

  • We can try to resist. There are certainly efforts we can make to avoid sin. We can get an accountability partner who will pray with and for us while holding us accountable for our actions. We can safeguard ourselves by avoiding situations where we are tempted towards sin. These are good, but . . .

  • The only thing that overcomes temptation is divine power. As much as we rely upon human will-power for over-coming temptation, we will eventually fall without God’s divine power. This is why Jesus teaches us to pray, lead us not into temptation. Jesu knows that without the Spirit of God at work in us we will never be able to overcome temptation.

  • When you stumble into sin, admit it. Sin loves to hide in the dark. It does not want to be exposed. When the time comes that you fall into sin, don’t keep it inside. Confess it to another believer or pastor. Write it down. Don’t make excuses or try to rationalize it. Just come clean. Do more than just think thoughts about how you are sorry. Externalize it. Until you get it out of you, it is going to continue to hurt you.

  • After you admit your sin, ask God for forgiveness. Don’t ask for forgiveness expecting him to forgive you. There is nothing that you have done to make you worthy of God’s forgiveness. It is not God’s obligation to forgive you. There is no reason he should forgive you. Ask humbly. Appeal to his mercy and kindness.

  • Receive God’s forgiveness by faith. Know that your sins are forgiven because Jesus died on the cross. There is no sin that God cannot forgive. If God can forgive David, who was a murderer and adulterer, then he can forgive you. To say that my sin is so bad that God cannot forgive me is to say that the cross is not sufficient enough. It is to say that Jesus needed to do more than be beaten and die an excruciatingly painful death. Don’t think your sin is so bad that God’s love cannot cover it.

  • Make restitution for your sins. You can see the word restore. Making restitution is about making right was is wrong. Unfortunately, sometimes we cannot fully restore the damage we have done. In these moments we do everything that we can in our power no matter how much it costs us, trusting God will do the rest of the work.

  • Live a 180° life. This is what we call repentance. In the ancient Greek of the New Testament the word for repentance means to turn around and go the other direction. When I receive God’s forgiveness, I now seek to live differently than I lived before. I take a different road to travel. Jesus has given me a new life and a fresh start. I desire to honor him by doing everything possible to avoid going down the same road again and falling into that sin.

Worshipping When You Don’t Feel Like Worshipping

October 12, 2011 in Weekly Email with 0 Comments

There are times when life is so hard. You feel down and depressed. You are overwhelmed and frustrated. There is not much happening that makes you very happy. All you can see is the bad. You don’t feel much like thanking God. Sure you recognize a few blessings here and there. You try to think good thoughts. You try to look at the bright side. You want to see the cup half full. This human effort to make yourself feel better works for a short time, but eventually you end up back in the same place. Reality hits you in the face and you find yourself imagining that dark future.

It is like aprison you cannot escape. If you have ever seen the movie Groundhog Day, you feel like Bill Murray living the same day over and over. You want so desperately for things to change. Things to get better. You want something you can celebrate, but all you find is another dead end. It is the same story lived over and over.

You long to go to that place you can escape these frustrations. You try to distract yourself with television or the internet. You try to numb your mind with alcohol, drugs, or sexual promiscuity. But none of that does much good. Your problems are still there. Nothing has made them go away. The things you have tried have only compounded the burden you bear.

You open up your Bible. You try to loose yourself in the Scripture. But your mind is spinning so fast. You are so distracted and off somewhere else. The Word may be present before you, but you are not present in the Word.

Then you are told, “worship the Lord.” You think to yourself, “I don’t feel much like worshipping the Lord or anything.” Your heart is so heavy. You feel your life is collapsing around you. You feel you sinking more and more into a pit you cannot climb out of. Worship? Are you serious?

Yep! Worship! Sing! Praise him! Your heart may not be into it, but that doesn’t matter. Keep singing a song of praise to God.

How great is our God!
Great is his faithfulness! True are his promises! Blessed be his name! Amazing Grace! Hallelujah!

Even though you may not feel very confident in this moment, speak confidence unto the Lord. Give it voice. Make it know that the Lord is on your side. Tell your despair of how nothing in all creation can separate you from his love.

You might think to yourself, “what good is that going to do? It seems like foolishness.” You might feel like a hypocrite. You have these feelings of despair in your heart and at the same time you are praising God for his victory and triumph over your burdens. It does not make sense.

As we have studied the life of David we learn he was a passionate worshipper of the Lord. Yet, there are many times David was not in a good place. He was on the run from Saul. He was deserted by many of his so-called friends. There were times when his family was in turmoil. His own son, Absalom, tried to murder him. Many of the Psalms express David’s despair and sense of hopelessness.

In Psalm 22 David cries out, “my God, my God, why have you foresaken me.” These words would later be echoed by Jesus on the cross. In so many ways this is a depressing Psalm. But we find hope in verse 3. Psalm 22:3 says, “God is enthroned on the praises of Isreal.” Essentially what this means is that when you are worshipping and praising God, that God is present in the words that are said and sung. You may not feel like reading your Bible. You may not feel like praying. Then just start singing! God’s presence will come upon you. His presence will displace the doubt, the fear, the despair, the frustration, and the anxiety. God is your healer. If you’ve got nothing else, then start signing.

There is a story in the book of Acts (16:16-40) where Paul and Silas find themselves in prison. If there was anyone who ever had a right to a pity party it would be Paul in this moment. There is no hope. Both he and Silas had been severly beaten and whipped. Surely they were suffering from an intense physical and emotional pain. But of all the things they did, it says, “Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners where listening to them.” (16:25) In the very next verse the hand of God moved. An earthquake shakes the prison and prison doors flung wide open. Their entire circumstance was changed in a moment in such a miraculous way.

So what do you say? Let’s start singing. Let’s raise the roof. Let’s watch what God will do and free you from your prison. Believe, he is the Lord! He is able!

Daily David, Week 5, Day 4

September 29, 2011 in David with 0 Comments

Today, we take a break from the story in 1 and 2 Samuel and look at the Psalms. Today’s reading is Psalm 2.

Psalm 2 is often referred to as a royal coronation Psalm. What are the promises God makes in this Psalm?

The promise is that God will place his chosen king on the throne. He says the king will be his son and God will be his father. The nations will be given as an inheritance to the king.

What is the attitude of “the world” towards those the Lord has anointed (2:1-3)? Why do we need not be afraid (2:4-6)?

They are angry. They plot for the destruction of the Lord’s anointed. But the text says that God laughs at them. And God will establish his anointed one in spite of the plans of others.

What does it mean to be a son of God (2:7)? What are the expectations? What is the benefits (2:8-9)?

It is special to be a son. The son will receive the inheritance of the father. The father loves the son like no other. The son is part of the family. At times the son may be disciplined, but it is always done out of love.

The expectation of the son is for the son to be loyal to the father. He is to listen and obey the father. He does what the father says. The son honors the father and praises his father.

The benefit is that the father cares for his son. He provides for his son. He gives his son everything he needs. He also entrusts his son with great responsibility in line with the son’s ability.

Who does this Psalm ultimately point towards?

This Psalm ultimately points us to Jesus. Jesus is the Son of God and will come as the Prince of Peace to take his Father’s throne. Jesus now rules with the approval of his Father and all the nations will be gathered before him on the last day.

We are also sons and daughters of the king. We are loved by him and anointed for service in his kingdom.

What does it mean to fear the Lord (2:11)? Should we be afraid of God? How should we interpret the first three lines of verse 12 in light of the last line of the same verse?

Fear of the Lord does not mean to be afraid of God. The fear of the Lord is to have a deep respect and reverence. It is to realize that God is gracious and loving, but he also has the ability to take everything away from us that we have ever been given. We are special to God and that is important. But we are only special to him out of his grace and love. We have done nothing to deserve this love.

The beginning of this last verse is seemingly contrasted with the last line. In the last line it talks about finding joy in taking refuge in God’s son. In the first line is says to submit so that the Son does not become angry. That does not seem like a joyful thing. There is seemingly a contradiction here, but this is the paradox of grace. Jesus says take up your cross and follow me. Whoever wants to save his life, must lose his life. It is only in the Son of God, Jesus, we find refuge. He is our judge, but he is also Savior.

Daily David, Week 4, Day 1

September 18, 2011 in David with 0 Comments

This week we approach the fourth message of the King David Series at Lord of Life. It is hard to believe we are coming up on one month into our study. The first reading for this week is from 1 Samuel 29-30.

In this reading David is faced with an awkward situation. He must choose to fight against his own people or betray those who had protected him for the past year and a half. Think of a time where you faced a dilemma where there seemed no easy answer.

There are a few examples I can think of where there seemed to be no right answer or no right way. There is no option that seems like a good option. These are the times when we get on our knees and we pray that God would make a way where there seems to be no way. We go to him to pray that he will provide a way out.

I do want to offer word of caution here. Make sure that when there seems to be no way, that it is not just because the right thing is the hard thing to do. There are times we don’t take action because the right thing to do is the hard thing to do and we perceive it as too difficult and wait for an easier answer. The right thing will often be the more difficult thing.

How did God provided to deliver an alternative response to David’s dilemma (29:6-7)? Do you believe God provides answers to our dilemmas and possibilities we never thought of or imagined? If so, how do we discover them?

The Philistine leaders did not want David to go with them. They send David back to Ziklag. This essentially solved the dilemma that David faced at this time. Of course we need to remember that the only reason David found himself in this dilemma was because he failed to consult the Lord about his decision to go to Philistia. I am not so sure if he had asked the Lord about that decision that he would have found himself in this situation.

Why did the Amalekites raid Ziklag (see 1 Samuel 27:6-9)? Why did the men want to stone David (30:6)? How might you have felt in this moment towards these men you had gone to battle with and now wanted to stone you? What was David’s response (30:6)?

The Amalekites had raided Ziklag because David had been raiding their towns. After the Amalekites had captured the town they took the people away as prisoners. The men wanted to stone David because they felt that it was David’s fault that this happened. When something bad happens to us, we often want revenge. We want someone to pay. In this case, they felt like David was the one to blame.

If I had been David, my first instinct might have been to run. But it says David found his strength in the Lord. I find it interesting that the thing David does in the face of such opposition is to stand up and lead. He doesn’t condemn the men. He simply takes action and waits for the men to follow.

In this moment of distress, what is the first thing David does (30:7-8)?

After having failed to consult the Lord previously when he moved to Philistia, David now eagerly does so. It is never too late. We mess up once, we mess up twice, we mess up three times, we can still go back to God. He will help us out of the difficult situations we put ourselves in if we turn to him.

Some of the men did not carry their fair share of the burden through the battle (30:9-10), after the battle is over, there were some in the army who did not want to allow these men to receive their share of the spoils (30:21-22). What reward did these men desire to receive? What was David’s response (30:23-25)? What was David’s reward?

I am sure at this point in time all they cared about was their wives and children. That was what they wanted more than anything else. At this point in time they probably could have cared less about the other spoils that had been taken from the Amalekites.

David however says that everyone will receive their fair share. It was a matter of grace. It was not based upon works. The person fighting the battle was given as much as the person guarding the equipment.

As a result David gained a loyal following. They were thankful to him for his kindness. These men had not done anything, but David still offered a blessing to them. It is a great picture of how God will reward us on the last day. There are many different roles we all play. Some are more prominent that others, but each role is recognized as being just as important as the next.