Today’s Reading: 1 Sam 26:1–27:12, 1 Pet 2:1–12, Ps 128:1–129:8
Today’s Theme: God’s chosen people
Today’s theme is about God’s elect and chosen people. We are one new man in Christ, consisting of both Jews and Gentiles, from all cultures and walks of life. We are the body of Christ, the true Church for whom Christ suffered and died. As God’s people, we are blessed and kept by God, we are also called to live in God’s ways according to His word.
1 Samuel 26:1–27:12
God at work for His people
So David took the spear and the jar of water from Saul’s head, and they went away. No man saw it or knew it, nor did any awake, for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen upon them. 1 Samuel 26:12 (ESV)
As we read about the brave and noble exploits of David, we see that he was not alone, God had orchestrated that everyone in the camp was in a deep sleep.
We can rely on the Lord today, to put the enemy in a deep sleep so that we can accomplish the tasks that God has set before us.
Unlike the enemy who God caused to sleep, we are called to be alert, awake and sober as God’s people.
Paul captures this in 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8, “So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation”.
You reap what you plant
The LORD rewards every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness, for the LORD gave you into my hand today, and I would not put out my hand against the LORD’s anointed. 1 Samuel 26:23 (ESV)
David’s understanding of God’s ways is right. The bible teaches us that whatever someone plants is what they will reap. This is why as God’s people, we are called to live in accordance with God’s word.
Paul reminds us in Galatians 6:7-8 “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” Also see John 4:36 and 2 Corinthians 9:6
We must determine to do what is right today, even when it seems like we have a right to do what is wrong, we must chose to plant righteous seeds by doing what is right. God rewards us with fruitfulness if we remain faithful.
Walk in wisdom
And Achish trusted David, thinking, “He has made himself an utter stench to his people Israel; therefore he shall always be my servant.” 1 Samuel 27:12 (ESV)
Like David, we are called to walk in wisdom as God’s people, to outsiders. Paul mentions this in Colossians 4:5–6 “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”
Jesus warns us in Matthew 10:16, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”
1 Peter 2:1–12
Drink milk to grow
Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 1 Peter 2:2 (ESV)
Peter has been talking to us about our new birth in Christ. With this in mind, he calls for us to have a desire for the sincere milk of God’s word, to grow by it, like babies who need to drink milk in order to grow.
When Peter talks about this spiritual milk, he is not only speaking about the bible, he is talking about deliberate Christian conduct. In the previous verse, we read about putting away malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy and slander. This is basic conduct for God’s people and living in this way, is like drinking milk as a baby in Christ, it will cause us to grow.
The purpose of the new birth is to restore relationship between God and man, but also between people. The vices listed in verse 1 destroys communities and relationships, so we need to put those things off, if we want to grow as God’s people.
Precious people
As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 1 Peter 2:4 (ESV)
In God’s eyes, we as God’s people, are chosen and precious and this is not because of anything that we have done or can do. Thank God today that He sees you as precious, we need to see God and one another as precious also.
God has made you His treasure, you should make God your most prized treasure too.
God’s own possession
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9 (ESV)
This verse should fill us with great encouragement. We as God’s people, who obey His word, are a chosen and holy nation. We are no longer just one physical nation, we are now a spiritual nation consisting of Jews and gentiles. We are a royal priesthood, replacing the Levitical priesthood.
We have been called to be God’s people for a particular purpose and it is made clear here; it is to proclaim the truth and wonder of God, through the Gospel, that God would be glorified.
We have been chosen to bring glory to God through the proclamation of the Gospel.
Psalm 128:1–129:8
Blessed at work and home
You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you. Psalm 128:2 (ESV)
As God’s people, walking in the reverential fear of the Lord, God will bless us in the work that we do, literally at our place of work. The blessings will also be seen in our family relationships and with our children. Thank God that as His chosen people, we are blessed.
Jesus suffered for His people
The plowers plowed upon my back; they made long their furrows.” Psalm 129:3 (ESV)
Jesus suffered and died for His people, this prophecy is regarding the beating He received, which left His back looking like a ploughed field after being beaten by the Romans. Thank you Jesus for your sacrifice of love for us.
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 2