Today’s Reading:  2 Sam 11:1–12:31, 2 Pet 1:1–8, Ps 139:1–24

Today’s Theme: The Deceitfulness of Sin

Today’s theme is about the deceitful and deadly allure of sin and how God has made provision for us to live godly lives.

2 Samuel 11:1–12:31

Small Compromises

In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. 2 Samuel 11:1 (ESV)

The scripture makes a point of telling us that it was the time of year when kings go out to battle and that David decided to send the army without him.

It is the areas of seemingly insignificant compromise where we open an opportunity for temptation and give a foothold to the enemy.

Ephesians 4:27 reminds us “and give no opportunity to the devil.”

Our flesh with its evil desires and sin by its nature are both very deceptive in leading us astray. The devil will encourage us to make small compromises and concessions in a larger scheme to entice our souls through desire, temptation, sin and finally leading to death. James 1:14–15.

Ask God to show you any subtle areas of compromise that could be leaving holes in your defence against the enemy today, so they can be addressed.

Sin destroys relationships

Uriah said to David, “The ark and Israel and Judah dwell in booths, and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are camping in the open field. Shall I then go to my house, to eat and to drink and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing.” 2 Samuel 11:11 (ESV)

Later in 2 Samuel 23:39 Uriah the Hittie is named as one of David’s crack team of commandos known as the thirty. These were the most skilful, brave and loyal of all the warriors in David’s Army.

Uriah was a man who risked his life for David and was with him from the Cave of Adullam all the way to victory in Jerusalem. He was a loyal servant and friend and here acts with great nobility.*

All of this makes the betrayal of David and the current conspiracy to cover up his sin so much worse. The deceitful slave master of sin has caused David to betray one of his loyalist friends and has blinded him to the man’s faithful heart.

Sin will destroy relationships because at its core is selfishness and deceit, seeking only the satisfaction and justification of the offender. Don’t allow relationships to be maligned, cheapened, betrayed and destroyed through the deceitfulness of sin.

*It is probable that as one of the 30 he had an esteemed place in society as his home would have been close to the king for the king to see his wife on the roof.

Sin damages your brain

David said to the messenger, “Thus shall you say to Joab, ‘Do not let this matter displease you, for the sword devours now one and now another. Strengthen your attack against the city and overthrow it.’ And encourage him.” 2 Samuel 11:25 (ESV)

I have a note in my Bible from a couple of years ago from Pastor Dennis it simply says “Sin damages your brain, then it hardens your heart”

This is so true, the deceitfulness of sin will infect our thinking, we will be so drunk on lust and consumed with our own interest that we will not think clearly.

This self gratifying way of thinking will inevitably harden our hearts, making us cold and indifferent to sin and those around us.

Guard against hardness of heart today with Ephesians 4:32 which says “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

Sin brings death

When the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she lamented over her husband. 2 Samuel 11:26 (ESV)

This verse vindicates the character of Uriah’s wife and gives context to the events.

Contrary to common misconceptions, Bathsheba was not bathing on the roof to try and entice the king and so implicit in the betrayal of her husband, rather the king abused his power and in a sense raped Bathsheba because she had no power to reject the king’s advances when she was summoned.

Bathsheba wept for her husband who had been killed as a result of David’s failed cover up of his sin.

Sin brings mourning, regret, shame and death to all those it touches.

The root of Sin

Why have you despised the word of the LORD, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. 2 Samuel 12:9 (ESV)

The root of our sin is a hatred for God, His word and ways in favour of our own lust.

David is so driven by his sinful desires that he takes another man’s wife by force to satisfy his lust when he had a large number of wives and concubines himself. This proves the point that lust is never satisfied.

We find true satisfaction and contentment in Jesus. John 6:35.

So sin at it’s heart turns us or worst still our lust into a false idol god that must be served and is never satisfied. We need to trade the idol of self for the true and living God who has spoken, today.

The consequences of sin

Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the LORD, the child who is born to you shall die.” 2 Samuel 12:14 (ESV)

Sin leaves scars and consequences follow sin. God was merciful to David by forgiving him but at the same time the sin needed to be judged and it was by the fruit of the sin (the baby) dying by God’s decree.

Sin always leads to death and is a very serious thing before God. We should not take sin and repentance lightly. We need to realise that God will still allow judgement, discipline and even remedial punishment in our lives because of sin.

Consider this today, sin always has consequences. Thank God for the mercy He has shown to us and for the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross which makes atonement for us 1 Peter 3:18.

2 Peter 1:1–8

Equipped by God

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 2 Peter 1:3 (ESV)

We have been given everything we need from God to live a godly life. We have been given His word in the Bible, the help of God the Holy Spirit and have been drawn into an intimate relationship with God Himself.

We escape the deceptive allure and destruction of sin by living the godly life God has empowered us to live by His Spirit. We have been equipped to live for the glory of God.

Notice the verse mentions us living a godly life though our knowledge of God. In this context hearing and understanding the Bible is key.

The virtues of God

by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 2 Peter 1:4 (ESV)

Through the promises of God’s word we gain two benefits, the first is that we participate in the divine nature and the second is that we escape the corruption in the world caused by desires.

When Peter is talking about us being partakers in the divine nature he is not saying we become little gods, that is absurd. He is talking about moral transformation and acquiring moral character which is from God and based on God’s own virtues of love etc.

This moral transformation into godlike or godly character is the only real escape from moral corruption, which comes from our drive or desire to please ourselves.

By the promises of God’s word and His Holy Spirit, as believers our desires are changed and our very nature is changed when we are born again. This is the only way that we can escape the constant pull of sin.

Verses 5 to 7 go on to give us a practical map for cultivating a godly character and growing in Christ, in light of God’s promises.

Make an effort

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 2 Peter 1:5–7 (ESV)

We need to make an effort to live a godly life. I don’t have time to go through each of the 8 virtues listed but each one is crucial to the life of the Christian.

Here is a plain list which you can think on (meditate) and ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you about:

1. Faith
2. Virtue
3. Knowledge
4. Self Control
5. Steadfastness
6. Godliness
7. Brotherly Affection
8. Love

Make an effort or you will be carried away by the deceitfulness of sin.

Psalm 139:1–24

The all knowing God is everywhere

Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? Psalm 139:7 (ESV)

This is such a beautiful psalm. It exalts two of God’s unique attributes which should fill us with awe and encouragement if we love Him but fear if we are living in sin and rebellion. These attributes are God’s Omni-Presence (God is everywhere) and Omni-Science (God knows everything).

We cannot sin and win. So whether this encourages or frightens you today, learn the lesson that God sees all our sin, none are done in secret so do not be deceived.

Search me, O God

Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! Psalm 139:23–24 (ESV)

We end today’s study by asking God to search us, to try our thoughts, motives and intentions to see if there is any sin in us and that God would lead us to truth and freedom.

Verse 17 reminds us that God’s thoughts for us are many and good. We should seek to please Him by making our thoughts compatible with His by His word and Holy Spirit and not be deceived by the false promise of sin.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on 2 Peter 1

Today’s Reading:  2 Sam 9:1–10:19, 1 Pet 5:1–14, Ps 138:1–8

Today’s Theme: The Way of Kindness and Humility

Today’s themes are the kindness of God which is expressed in His grace and love towards us, and humility which God shows in both revelation and the incarnation and that we must clothe ourselves with and have towards God to receive His kindness.

The following definitions may be useful as you meditate on these two concepts which are dependant on each other for the revelation and reception of grace:

Kindness*

Generosity, humaneness and tenderness. The word can also refer to a particular instance of kind behaviour like a token of friendliness, good will or affection. In the OT (Old Testament) it is associated with words like mercy, loyalty, grace and love. In the NT (New Testament) it is associated with love or concern for humanity, benevolence, goodness, uprightness and generosity.

The Greek word for kindness is where we get our modern English term philanthropy from. Kindness is also an attribute of God and a characteristic of true love.

Humility**

The proper attitude of human beings towards their Creator. Humility is a grateful and spontaneous awareness that life is a gift It is manifested as an ungrudging and unhypocritical acknowledgment of absolute dependence upon God.

2 Samuel 9:1–10:19

The Kindness of God

And the king said, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God to him?” Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in his feet.” 2 Samuel 9:3 (ESV)

We should be able to identify with both sides of this narrative.

Firstly, we are Mephibosheth, we are the ones crippled and discarded by the consequences and curse of sin. We are the ones from man’s fallen royal line, Adam. Jesus is like David, in this sense showing us great kindness and grace.

The grace God shows us is so earth shatteringly amazing that He calls cursed, crippled, forsaken, fallen and hopeless people like us (well like me anyway) to sit at his table and fellowship with Him, the King, daily. How marvellous is the love, mercy, grace and kindness of God to underserving sinners like us. See 1 John 3:1, 1 John 4:10, Romans 5:10 and Hebrews 7:25.

Secondly, we are David; we have been called to be like our God, to follow in the glorious footsteps of Christ. We must look for the Mephibosheth’s in life and show them the kindness of God.

We can do this through hospitality, acts of service, showing mercy and love, Christian social action, child sponsorship and any other way the Holy Spirit leads us to show the world, the unreached, the lost, forgotten and ostracised the amazing kindness of God! see 1 John 3:17, Hebrews 13:2 and Matthew 25:40.

Trust in the Kindness of God

Be of good courage, and let us be courageous for our people, and for the cities of our God, and may the LORD do what seems good to him.” 2 Samuel 10:12 (ESV)

David had shown great humility in seeking to establish a good relationship with the king of the Ammonites, but fear caused the new king of Ammon to act foolishly.

Joab as the commander of the Army is now outnumbered and surrounded by the Ammonites and the Syrians and it is now, under pressure that we see one of Joab’s better moments where he responds with faith in God, courage and wisdom.

Joab in his statement makes himself reliant on the kindness and mercy of God. We must think, pray and act in this way. We can act with courage and faith because we know our God is benevolent, He is good and does good and seeks to shower us with His kindness and favour.

Like brave Joab set your mind in a place to be ready to battle for the Lord’s cause today. Have courageous faith as you entrust yourself to the God who delights to show you kindness. 2 Corinthians 3:12.

1 Peter 5:1–14

Thank God for our Shepherds

shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 1 Peter 5:2–3 (ESV)

We give God thanks for our Pastors and Elders who serve as a reflection of the Father’s heart to His people.

God has called them to shepherd the church, guiding our straying feet back to the path and in a spirit of kindness and humility, showing us the example of discipleship to Jesus through their own lives.

Give God thanks for our Pastors today, ask that God would encourage and strengthen them and that they would look forward to that wonderful day when the chief shepherd Jesus will appear to reward them with an eternal crown of glory.

Be clothed in humility

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6–7 (ESV)

The image Peter uses is of humility as an item of clothing that we need to put on. That means it will take effort to be humble, we need the help of the Holy Spirit but we also need to actively “humble ourselves”.

Humility is our responsibility before God, it is not easy to be humble we need to work at it everyday. We need to literally put it on everyday like a coat because it is not natural.

The young are encouraged to be subject to elders for obvious reasons, but we must all clothe ourselves with humility because God resists the proud. If we embrace humility in Christ, God will exalt us at the right time.

We should not become distracted or consumed with our own fears and anxieties. God cares for us with loving kindness so we can give all our concerns, worries and anxiety to Him.

Trust God the one who cares for you today, don’t try to solve it all on your own in pride, humble yourself before God.

The God of all grace

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 1 Peter 5:10 (ESV)

Our God from whom the kindness of grace comes to us will personally restore and replenish us, confirm His word and promises to us, strengthen us and cause our roots to go down deep.

This will lead to us having a full bodied, confirmed character. We will have firm, settled faith. We will be strong in the spirit and so secure in God that nothing will move us.

God does this for us for our everyday suffering but also will do this ultimately in the new heaven and new earth.

We have eternal glory waiting for us which puts the sufferings and just everyday life in this flesh into it’s true perspective.

Focus again today on the God who is the source of all grace in your life and be encouraged to press on because He has supplied the kindness of grace to see you through the trials.

We have a glorious eternal inheritance in Christ, take a moment to think about it and look forward to it.

Psalm 138:1–8

The Humility of God

I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word. Psalm 138:2 (ESV)

God in His own way humbles Himself to the words He has spoken because God does not lie like men do. God has revealed Himself and His will to us in His word and declares here that His word is the final authority above all things.

This is why God’s word is a sure foundation to build our lives upon. We can take God at His word (some corrupt this verse and say we can boss God around according to His word, this is foolishness and blasphemy).

God’s greatest act of humility was when The Word became flesh in John 1:14.

In God’s kindness to man He has has revealed Himself and even in humility constrained Himself to the promises of His word. Man can approach God, comprehend God and enter into relationship with God all according to His word.

If God did not show such kindness and humility to us through revealing His written word and guaranteeing that word, we would be without hope.

Today, thank God for the humility of His revelation of the word and incarnation as the Word.

High God, humble people

For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar. Psalm 138:6 (ESV)

God is high, there is none higher. God is so great and awesome that it is baffling that some people think they can bark commands at God when they pray… truly baffling!!

God will come down to help the humble, God comes close to the humble, we must be humble before God in thought, word and deed and God who is the most high and exalted there is will come down, see us and help us.

This is a clear view of glory which finds its ultimate expression in Christ, where the glory of God is not just power but God’s magnanimity. It is God’s kindness, as well as His sovereign power that is His glory.

As Pastor always says the way up is the way down. It is through humility that grace and exaltation come. If man is responsible to do anything before God it is to humble ourselves.

Cast pride aside today and be humble before God and receive the kindness of His grace.

God, who fulfils

The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands. Psalm 138:8 (ESV)

Our God is good and kind, He makes promises and keeps them and as we read here, is actively working to fulfil His purposes for us His people. Hallelujah!

Fulfilling our purpose is not founded on planners, calendars, and hard work although all these things are good and have their place, we can only fulfil our purpose through God’s loving kindness to us.

*Adapted from the Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible

**Taken from the Tyndale Bible dictionary

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

Desiring God on 1 Peter 5

Today’s Reading:  2 Sam 7:1–8:18, 1 Pet 4:12–19, Ps 137:1–9

Today’s Theme: God of Covenants

Today’s theme is about the covenants God makes with His people. This is one of the most important covenants alongside the Abrahamic one, it is called the Davidic covenant which finds it’s fulfilment in Jesus Christ. We also explore important themes like the theology of place and the activity of God.

2 Samuel 7:1–8:18

A place to dwell

And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, 2 Samuel 7:10 (ESV)

We pick up another theme here which is the importance of a dwelling place. It is part of God’s plan that people have a place to live, a safe place, a place called home (including his covenant people Israel).*

This is evident throughout God’s word. In creation God made a habitation for man called the garden of Eden (Genesis 2:8). Jesus told his disciples that He would go and prepare a place for them (John 14:2-3) and in the final revelation we see the new heaven and earth (Revelation 21:1-2).

There is a difference between spaces which are empty of meaning or definition and places which are endowed with meaning and value. We live in a day where the theology and importance of place has been forgotten. Many people are displaced physically and spiritually. It is important that we recognise the importance of place in fulfilling the great commission and reaching all peoples.

The places God plants us are not random, God has a great purpose in places. He has set the boundaries (Acts 17:26). Ask God to give you a clear understanding of the importance of place and dwelling in your own life and mission today.

*While giving Nathan the prophetic decree of covenant for David, God reminds him of the existing covenant He made with Abraham. Part of the covenant with Abraham was that God would secure a land for the people of Israel.

The land that God assigned for Israel includes modern day Israel and more of the land in modern day Jordan. God’s promise to keep a land that the children of Israel can call their own is still true today. God has not cast off the children of Israel.

We must consider the irrational behaviour and beliefs of the nations surrounding modern day Israel, who in a racist rage demand that Israel not live in the land or exist as a nation. This is driven by a demonic agenda to fight against God’s covenants, promises and purposes.

The House of David

from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house. 2 Samuel 7:11 (ESV)

David had a heart to worship and honour God and it was not contrived he genuinely loved the Lord. In his desire to build a house for God, God turns and commits to build David a house.

This is the foundation to the Davidic covenant which saw David’s family rule from Jerusalem for almost 400 years and finds it’s ultimate fulfilment in David’s greatest son, Jesus the Christ (Mark 10:47).

As we commit or ways to the Lord and seek to build a house for him, we are actually building a house and legacy for ourselves, so we must as Paul said be careful how we build (1 Corinthians 3:10).

The Active God

Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness, to make your servant know it. Therefore you are great, O LORD God. For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 2 Samuel 7:21–22 (ESV)

David recognised God as the great active God, God is not passive. Many false philosophies have crept into our thinking in the West, disarming God of the power to act.

For example; those who reject the Biblical revelation of God as creator and embrace the false story of evolution have in recent years acknowledged the shaky ground of their proposition that nothing gave rise to everything and so have embraced or at least entertained the idea of Deism. The idea that God like a great watchmaker got the universe started and now leaves it to run itself without the need or ability to intervene.

We reject this view of God for two major reasons, 1) this is not the Biblical revelation of God, the Bible tells us God is active and intervenes in the affairs of man and has plans which He actively engages with and brings to pass. 2) Our own experience with God is in accord with the God of the Bible.

God actively brings His purpose to pass today, He actively keeps His covenants. This should fill us with awe, praise and faith.

Be active

These also King David dedicated to the LORD, together with the silver and gold that he dedicated from all the nations he subdued, 2 Samuel 8:11 (ESV)

We have established that God is active in fulfilling the covenants He has made. We too have a part to play, we need to have faith and invest in God’s purpose, plans and kingdom.

David played his part by giving all the treasure to God to be used for God’s purposes.

We can be active in bringing God’s word to pass by giving our money, time, abilities and energy to God’s mission.

How can you be active today?

1 Peter 4:12–19

Conflict and Glory

If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 1 Peter 4:14 (ESV)

There is no glory without conflict and suffering. This is true for the glory of winning a battle or winning a race, to reach the desired end the fighter or runner needs to go through suffering to achieve the glorious result.

It is the same for us as Christians we must not be shocked when we go through difficulty and suffering for being a Christian. This is almost guaranteed, because we live lives contrary to the world around us which will inevitably lead to conflict.

We should encourage ourselves by looking forward to the glory we will one day receive, knowing that our covenant keeping God will not fail us.

We entrust our souls to our faithful Creator, just like Jesus did on the cross.

Thank God that the Holy Spirit rests upon you as you endure trials and suffering for the name of Christ. It is through suffering and trials that the promises of the covenant will be ours in Christ.

Psalm 137:1–9

Sing, even when you don’t feel like it

How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a foreign land? Psalm 137:4 (ESV)

We should continue to sing to the Lord even in the middle of difficulty and trials, because God will bring His word to pass we should continue to praise Him in faith.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on 1 Peter 4