Category: 2 Samuel

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

The sin was not in the census – Moses was told to take censuses. The sin was in placing his pride and trust on his growing power and military might. “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,” says the LORD Almighty. Zechariah 4:6 The place where mercy stayed the judgment of God was the future site for the altar!

SJA Notes

“I will not offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God that cost me nothing.”

How clearly David understands the importance of worship! The gravity with which we are to take our Lord God!

“But the king’s word prevailed against Joab and the commanders of the army.”

How broken is David’s pride; in his might, his army, his victories.

There are two starkly different David’s here. The stubborn sinner whose pride will not let him be swayed by wisdom. And the repentant disciple who throws himself at the feet of the Almighty.

We can learn from David here. Because my own heart is full of pride at times, and at times I am broken before the Lord at my own folly.

This passage can help us look forward, in a little way, to meeting with our brother David in glory.

Covered and washed and clean in Jesus, without our pride that threatens to overwhelm us at times.

How good will that be! To gather with the multitudes of God’s people from age to age, brothers and sisters, to sing praises before the Lamb, before the throne of God!

* Dear Lord,

We see in today’s passage again the foolishness of trusting in humanity, whether our own or someone else’s.

We are broken. You are not.

You are holy, we are in need of salvation and of Your ongoing work in us, guiding and prompting and exhorting us onwards to glory.

Lord please help us today to honour You with our lips, our deeds, our thoughts.

Please write Your word on our hearts.

May we hold Your Name holy today.

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

The Thirty was an elite group within the kingdom. All those who were part of this group are listed. David would not treat as common, water brought with so high a price. How do you and I treat Christ who has brought us living water?

SJA Notes

How dense and layered God’s word is, across its entire span!

You can hear Psalm 1 resonating here in David’s words,

“The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.”

Jesus deepens our understanding in John 15 when He says,

“If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.”

These final words of David point us to his life: His reliance on the Lord (v5); God’s response to just rule (v4); David’s relationship with the Lord (v3); And God’s blessing through the covenant He has made (v5).

These are good words for anyone in leadership. Any kind of leader. Whether we lead in our biological families, our church families, whether we lead in our places of work or recreation.

Too, deeper perhaps, David’s words point to Jesus.

He is the King who the Spirit of the LORD spoke too! More, He is God’s word become flesh!

He is the King who rules justly over men, the one who enacted the everlasting covenant (God keeping both sides, Jesus making it possible for us to be held within that covenant).

And while we can lead at times and in places, He is the King who must lead us at ALL times!

In Revelation 17 we read of Jesus, who the frail and broken but faithful conquering king we see in David points us more and more toward,

“They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is the Lord of lords and the King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”

Hallelujah!

* Dearest Heavenly Father Above,

Thank You for Jesus, our King who rules justly over us, dawning on us like the morning light, like the sun shining forth on a cloudless morning, like the rain that makes grass to sprout from the earth.

Please plant Your word within us today Lord God, and grow it, that we might be good soil and bear much fruit.

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

What do you see of faith in this psalm by David at the end of his life? Is there some further knowledge of God or something that stands out to you about Him? Think about the words in verse 51: He shows unfailing kindness to His Christ!

SJA Notes

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

What do you see of faith in this psalm by David at the end of his life? Is there some further knowledge of God or something that stands out to you about Him? Think about the words in verse 51: He shows unfailing kindness to His Christ!

SJA Notes

“The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my delivered, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,”

Here is David that we can replicate, glorifying God, bringing praise to the Lord, showing a depth of faith and understanding that is a blessing for all who read these words, time after time, over and over.

This is a Lord’s Christ psalm, a Messiah song. One written by a king that the Lord blessed mightily, a king who conquered the enemies of God’s people.

This song points us to Jesus. We see the truths found in His word, that the cords of Sheol entangled Him, the snares of death confronted Him.

And at the cross and in the tomb the LORD bowed the heavens and came down!

“In my distress I called upon the LORD; to my God I called. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry came to his ears.”

As well though, this is a servant’s prayer, a song for the disciple of Jesus.

“He rescued me, because he delighted in me.”

“He is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.”

“The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock, and exalted be my God, the rock of my salvation,”

This is a most wonderful reading, a song that we can sing and wrestle with – Onwards, often and always. There is so much depth here, hope and love and wisdom.

What a wonderful heavenly Father we have, the He would give us encouragement such as this, from His word down through the ages.

Hallelujah!

* God Above, Heavenly Father,

You are the God who lives, is alive, the only and true and real God.

You are the rock of our salvation – You and You alone.

You are the only one worthy and deserving of our worship.

Lord please forgive us today for our sin, the muck and the bad decisions, the folly chosen and the error of our ways as we walk this road.

Please aright our hearts today, set our minds on You – Please Lord God, show us Jesus today, and may we point others to Him.