Author: Brian

Follower of Jesus, Husband, Dad, Grandpa, and Pastor

Reflections on II Samuel 12-14

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

David’s sin had dire consequences for himself and his family:

  • Consequences of sin – David confesses his sin, and God forgives him, but the consequences of his sin remain. His family and all of Israel will suffer because of his sin.  God will forgive your sin when you confess it to him, but the consequences of your sin may remain to hurt you and your loved ones.  Again – guard your life!
  • Following their father – Amnon follows his dad’s example by taking Tamar. Absalom responds by following his dad’s example and killing Amnon.  David’s adultery and murder are passed on to the next generation.  What sins do you need to overcome lest you pass them down to the next generation?

Current

On By BrianIn Current Collection1 Comment

Here are some helpful and informative posts about the transgender issue:

National Geographic’s “Gender Revolution”: Bad Argument and Biased Ideology – Andrew Walker ad Denny Burk (PD)

Federal Court Protects Children and Doctors from Harmful Transgender Regulation– Joe Carter (TGC)

The Transgender Conversation You Need to Have With Your Family – Tim Challies

Alarmism And Transgendered Kids – Rod Dreher (TAC)

What Christianity Alone Offers Transgender Persons – Sam Allberry (TGC)

Reflections on II Samuel 8-11

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

Our passage today is the turning point of the book, as David begins in triumph, but then yields to temptation and sins against God.

  • Triumph – The Lord gave David victory after victory over his enemies. With what triumphs has God blessed you?  How do you think you should respond?
  • Temptation and sin – David goes for a walk and sees a woman bathing. At that point, he should have just turned away.  Instead he pursues it, and by the end he has committed adultery and murder.  How quickly we can fall!  Do you toy with temptations or do you run?  Are you on guard?

II Samuel 8-14: Triumph and Failure

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(8, 10) What reason is given for David’s many victories (8:6, 14)?

What does this suggest about our victories, and how should we live in light of this truth?

How do Joab’s words balance the twin truths of man’s responsibility and God’s sovereignty?  What would it look like to err by stressing either truth?

(8-10) How does 8:15 point forward to a greater King (Isaiah 9:7)?

How is David’s kindness to Mephibosheth a picture of God’s kindness towards us (chapter 9)?

How do the actions of Hanun remind us of the consequences of rejecting God’s kindness (10:1-5, John 3:36)?

(11-14) David’s triumphs give way to failure.  Trace David’s path into sin (11:1-4).  What should David have done differently to overcome temptation?

One sin often leads to another sin.  How does David’s first sin snowball into many more?

Describe David’s sin from God’s point of view (11:27; 12:9, 14).  How might seeing sin in this way help us to overcome temptation?

David repents and God forgives, but consequences remain.  What consequences does Nathan mention in 12:10-14, and how do you see these consequences play out in chapters 12-14?

How should the reality of sin’s consequences help us overcome temptation?  Why does it often not?

Passion Points

On By BrianIn PASSION Points

Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:

10 Things You Should Know about the Presence of God – J. Ryan Lister (Crossway)
Scripture is clear that all of life—and, principally, the gospel life—is about being in God’s relational presence.

Self-Control and the Power of Christ– David Mathis (DG)
True self-control is a gift from above, produced in and through us by the Holy Spirit. Until we own that it is received from outside ourselves, rather than whipped up from within, the effort we give to control our own selves will redound to our praise, rather than God’s. But we also need to note that self-control is not a gift we receive passively, but actively. We are not the source, but we are intimately involved. We open the gift and live it. Receiving the grace of self-control means taking it all the way in and then out into the actual exercise of the grace.

Things Christians Just Don’t Get To Do – Tim Challies
These are all things—just a few of the things—Christians don’t get to do. These are things we don’t get to do because they are associated with godlessness rather than godliness, with sin rather than salvation. In every case God has freed us by his gospel to a new and better way of living—a way of love, forgiveness, generosity, encouragement, community, submission, industry, purity, and freedom. We don’t get to do those things that would only ever harm us and the people around us.

Keeping Our Commitment – Jeremy Walker
Are you not part of the body? Are you not a living stone in that divinely-indwelt temple? Are you not covenanted together with those fellow saints to minister to them and to be ministered to by them? Are you not persuaded that in this service heaven will draw near to earth, that the Lord will speak, more or less powerfully, through the preaching of the Word? That you will genuinely and really render prayers and praises to the Most High God in your participation in the whole service? That heavenly manna will be there for you to eat? That this might be the morning or the evening when you might obtain an unusual blessing, or your friend, or your child, or your neighbour, attending with you, might be converted? That, if nothing else, you have said, more or less formally, that you will not forsake the assembling together of those saints to whom you have made a commitment to love them and to be loved by them?

Hope you have a great Lord’s Day with your local church in the presence of our great God!

Reflections on II Samuel 6-7

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

David brings the ark to Jerusalem and receives a covenant promise from God.  Consider:

  • Proper Worship – Uzzah touches the ark which was not to be touched. God kills him, and the worship service is done.  We must worship God according to his commands.  Later they finish moving the ark.  David is dancing and rejoicing before the Lord.  Do you worship with this kind of joy and enthusiasm?
  • Davidic Covenant – God promises David that his kingdom and throne will never end. Ultimately this promise is fulfilled in Jesus, the Son of David, who receives the same promises in Luke 1:32-33.  Have you bowed your life before your king?

Reflections on II Samuel 1-5

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

With Saul dead, David becomes king of Judah, and then over all Israel.  Observe:

  • Attitude towards leaders – Saul has been hunting David for several years, but David doesn’t rejoice when he hears that Saul died. Instead he mourns.  Saul was God’s anointed leader, and even though he didn’t follow the Lord, his death was a tragedy.  What is your attitude towards your leaders?
  • Seeking direction – When the Philistines hear that David is king, they prepare for battle. David seeks the Lord’s direction and follows it, and wins the battle.  For what in your life do you need to seek God’s direction?  As you read his Word, are you seeking to follow his directions?

II Samuel 1-7: David Becomes King

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(1) How does David respond to Saul’s death (v17-27)?  How does this relate to Jesus’ call to love our enemies?

What should this call look like in our own lives today?  Be specific.

(1) How might David’s response to the Amalekite relate to our culture’s current obsession with assisted suicide?

(2-4) Why does Joab kill Abner?  How does David respond?  Why?

How does David respond to the murder of Ishbosheth?  Why?

How are David’s responses informative for us today as we think about our own leaders?

(5) How does David respond when the Philistines come against him, and how is his response instructive for us?

When did you respond in this way during the past week?

(6) What principles do we learn about worship in v1-11?  In v12-19?

How might we apply these principles to our worship today?

(7) David wants to build a house for the Lord, but instead God will build a house for David.  What promises does God make to David in v12-16?

In what ways are these verses fulfilled in Solomon?

In what ways are these verses fulfilled in Jesus?

How does David respond to God’s promises in v18-29?  What principles about worship can we learn from his response?