Listening to the Word

2 Samuel 19-20; Psalms 55; Matthew 28   “I said, ‘Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest - I would flee far away and stay in the desert; I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm.’…My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant. His speech is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords. Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.” Psalm 55:6-8, 20-22 David’s “tempest and storm” was the betrayal of a close friend which divided his kingdom and eroded his leadership-authority. Rather than open rebellion, this was a hidden battle with smooth, soothing words, disguising swords and war. From the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks. When bitterness and anger reside in our heart, they will eventually be expressed in our speech and actions. David’s selfish fantasy was to fly away from the conflict and hide in hi...

2 Samuel 18; Psalms 56; Matthew 27 “Be merciful to me, O God, for men hotly pursue me; all day long they press their attack. My slanderers pursue me all day long; many are attacking me in their pride. When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?” Psalm 56:1-4 For most of his life, David lived with the relentless attack of enemies. The call of God on his life was as a worshiping warrior-leader. Yet, at every step throughout David’s life, the enemy of his soul opposed the mission of God for his life. In response, David found refuge in the presence of the Lord. David trusted in God’s Word to him, more than even his circumstances. When men threatened to kill him, David remembered God’s promises and he took refuge in worship and prayer. Pride spawns many conflicts into opportunities for intercession, worship, and the gospel to be revealed. Will we, too, find our refuge in the Lord? “Lord Jesus, I trus...

2 Samuel 17; Psalms 71; Matthew 26   “’Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.’ He went away a second time and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.’” Matthew 26:41, 42 Jesus’ last hours before his crucifixion were agonizing as he wrestled in prayer for both his own path to the cross and the faithfulness of his disciples. The cup of suffering and redemption that Christ drank was in fulfillment of the third Passover cup he had drunk with his disciples at the Last Supper. We, too, as disciples of Christ, have a cup of suffering to drink as we walk the path of denying ourselves, taking up our cross, and following Christ. Our bodies are weak, even when our spirit is willing to follow Jesus. We, too, must develop the discipline to “watch and pray” so we will not fall into the temptation of self-indulgence, self-preservation, and self-centered living....

  2 Samuel 15-16; Psalms 32; Matthew 25   “Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit. When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity…I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.” Psalm 32:2-5, 8 David understood that un-confessed sin blocked his communication with the Holy Spirit and weighed down his own spirit. The conviction of the Holy Spirit is God’s gift to keep us accountable and walking in God’s ways. David enjoyed God’s instruction, teaching, counsel, and watchful care over his life, and so can we. When our primary focus is maintaining unbroken fellowship with the Holy Spirit, we, too, enjoy the peace, joy, protection, wisdom, and blessing of the Creator of the universe in ...

2 Samuel 13-14; Matthew 24   “’Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other…Because of the increase in wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.’” Matthew 24:9, 10, 12-14 Jesus described the end times in which we are living as a time of great Gospel advance, along with great persecution and wickedness. We should expect to be betrayed and even hated because of the gospel, sometimes by those who once shared faith with us. Jesus calls his disciples to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow him. His journey of mission is our journey, sometimes resulting in death for the sake of the Gospel. This outcome is inconceivable for much of the western Church...

  2 Samuel 11-12; Psalms 51; Matthew 23   “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and grant a willing spirit, to sustain me.” Psalm 51:10-12 David’s adultery with Bathsheba, his murder of Uriah, and his attempt to cover it up, grieved the Spirit of God. While we receive the Holy Spirit at salvation, our capacity to grow in the fruit and gifts of the Holy Spirit requires obedience, faith, and surrender. We do not grow in the power of the Holy Spirit on our terms. David’s primary concern was restoring fellowship with the Holy Spirit as evidenced by the joy of his salvation. Are we this dependent on the Holy Spirit that we, too, will do whatever is required to restore fellowship with God? The testimony of a steadfast spirit and a willing spirit point to the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We are forgiven and restored through Christ...