August 31, Reading 1 – 2 Samuel 15

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Absalom’s faith is not his father’s. David said: the LORD forbid that I should lay a hand on the LORD’s anointed (Christ). 1 Samuel 26:9 Absalom did not scruple to lay hands on the LORD’s Christ. Absalom’s kingdom cannot stand.

SJA Notes

* How lovely is Your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts! Our soul longs for Your courts, our heart and flesh sing for joy to You, the living God.

“And at the end of four years Absalom said to the king, …”

Across the span of four years Absalom engineered a coup, taking control of the kingdom at the expense of his father.

Four years of patient and intentional subterfuge, stealing the hearts of the men of Israel.

He roused Israel in support, and when David heard he fled the throne.

Stealing hearts.

What for us then, but to be thankful and grateful that in Jesus we have the sure and steady hope of our hearts having being created anew, born again!

In Christ Jesus, our hearts cannot be stolen. He is the great Shepherd of the sheep who holds us close in His arms.

We read in John ch 10,

“I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”

It is a wonderful hope we read in these words, a strong and steady assurance.

Jesus, God in the Person of the Son, holds us tight.

God, the Person of the Father, holds us tight.

Jesus and the Father are one! One God. Three Persons.

We are held close by God and no power, no strong man, no principality or entity can steal our hearts away.

Praise God for His everlasting arms!

* Gracious Loving God,

The whole earth is Yours, praise You O God!

You are the King that never loses, is never undermined and can never be dethroned.

You hold us in Your everlasting arms, and no-one can steal our hearts from You.

Thank You Lord!

Amen.

August 31, Reading 2 – Zephaniah 3

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Jerusalem Above is the future God has for His people. Jerusalem Below (earthly, present Jerusalem) is the city of oppressors, rebellious and defiled. It has no future with God.

SJA Notes

* Father God, please give us Your wisdom today.

“But I will leave in your midst a people humble and lowly. They shall seek refuge in the name of the LORD, those who are left in Israel; they shall do no injustice and speak no lies, nor shall there be found in their mouth a deceitful tongue.”

This can be a strange world we live in today.

What wisdom does God have for us as we experience world-altering events?

It is the same wisdom that is for us in times of peace and plenty.

God’s people are to be humble and lowly.

God’s people are to seek refuge in His Name.

God’s people are to uphold justice, rejecting any opportunity for injustice.

God’s people are to be truthful, ignoring the temptation to lie.

God’s people are to hold our words tightly to His truthful standard, rejecting even the hint of deceit.

As we wrestle with what happens in our lives, let us continue to be brought back to God’s word.

He is faithful. His love is steadfast. His Name is wonderful. His word is true.

This is a word for us today!

* Dear Lord God,

You are the Good Shepherd – Please protect us Your flock as we go about our lives in this broken world.

You are the Great Physician – Please heal the divisions and ruptures amongst Your people that we see today.

You are the Creator, Sustainer, Life-Giver – Please grow us each day toward You!

Amen.

August 31, Reading 3 – Galatians 3:1-14

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Paul’s teaching is salvation by grace through faith unto good works. The false teaching he fights is salvation by your good works. What purposes does Paul give for the Law of Moses?

SJA Notes

* God of Mercy, please teach us from Your word today, we would see Jesus.

“And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, ‘In you shall all the nations be blessed.'”

In Genesis chapter 18 and chapter 22 we read that God would work in such a way through Abraham.

Paul draws from Genesis directly, and surmises that,

“So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.”

In faith we are blessed, in Jesus!

Jesus redeemed us from the curse of the law – He became a curse for us so that we would get blessing.

What a Saviour we have, Hallelujah!

* Father God,

You worked such that through Abraham Your love would be shown to all nations.

Hallelujah Lord! We thank You for this and praise You.

We look forward to that day when we can meet Abraham, and together live with You.

What a day that will be!

Amen.