Listening to the Word

2 Samuel 8-9; 1 Chronicles 18-19; Matthew 21   “In the course of time, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and he took Gath and its surrounding villages from the control of the Philistines. David also defeated the Moabites, and they became subject to him and brought tribute.” 1 Chronicles 18:1, 2 When David fled from Saul he found refuge in Gath and then negotiated with the king of Moab to shelter his family. When David became king he defeated both Gath and Moab. Both the Philistines (Gath) and the Moabites were threatened by David’s leadership and represented compromise with his past. As we come to Christ, we, too, must break with that which seeks to weaken our spiritual authority in Christ. Habits and relationships in which we formerly found refuge are not going to help us going forward if they are not reflecting God’s ways. Paul reminds us to “put to death” whatever belongs to our earthly nature, including sexual immorality, lust, evil desires, and greed (Colossians...

2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17; Psalms 2; Matthew 20 “Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.” Psalm 2:8 “…’Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’ ‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered. He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’” Matthew 20:6, 7 Have we been “hired” in the Kingdom, or are we still “standing around”? God gives both the call and the willingness to serve. God invites us to “ask of me”. Our will must be engaged. We have not because we ask not. However, the Lord of the harvest must also “hire” us and send us. What are we asking God for? Does our asking mostly focus on our needs and wants, or God’s glory and kingdom mission? When we align our hearts with God’s kingdom priorities and values we can ask whatever we desire. God values people, created in his image, covenanting their lives to him. This mission to “make disciples of all nations” can be our life-mission as well. “Lord Jesu...

1 Chronicles 16; Psalms 106; Matthew 19 “…Obed-Edom son of Jeduthun, and also Hosah, were gatekeepers…With them were Heman and Jeduthun and the rest of those chosen and designated by name to give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever!.” 1 Chronicles 16:38, 41 “…Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Who can proclaim the mighty acts of the Lord or fully declare his praise?...Remember me, O Lord, when you show favor to your people, come to my aid when you save them, that I may enjoy the prosperity of your chosen ones, that I may share in the joy of your nation and join your inheritance in giving praise.” Psalm 106:1, 2, 4, 5 Obed-Edom from Gath was a Philistine son of Jeduthun who had been sanctified by the presence of God as he hosted the ark of the Presence in his home. This Gentile and his family were chosen and designated by David to be singers and gatekeepers in the tabernacle. They led the praises of God, “for his love endures forever”. Later ...

1 Chronicles 14-15; Psalms 132; Matthew 18   “’I will allow no sleep to my eyes, no slumber to my eyelids, till I find a place for the Lord, a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob…arise, O Lord, and come to your resting place, you and the ark of your might.” Psalm 132:4, 5, 8 David’s passion for the presence of the Lord became a priority in his desire to build a temple for God. David desired a dwelling and a resting place for the glory of God. Later, it was the prophet Isaiah who heard the Lord ask the same question, “Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be (Isaiah 66:1)?” The Lord’s answer to his own question was, “This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word” (Isaiah 66:2). While David looked for a place to house God’s presence, the Lord looked for a person. David was that person, and so can we be the temple of the Lord, containing the glory of the “Mighty One”. Yet, we focus more on the buildings of wo...

2 Samuel 6; 1 Chronicles 13; Psalms 68; Matthew 17   “David was afraid of God that day and asked, ‘How can I ever bring the ark of God to me?’ He did not take the ark to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it aside to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. The ark of God remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house for three months, and the Lord blessed his household and everything he had.” 1 Chronicles 13:12-14 This is an astounding story! In transporting the ark of the Presence, a priest named Uzziah touched the ark and it was struck down by the Lord. The Hebrew word to describe God’s anger here is to “explode.” The Lord was burning with anger, and David was afraid of God. So the ark was set aside at the house of a a foreigner. Obed-Edom (son of Edom), from Gath, then hosted the ark of the Presence. However, rather than exploding, God blessed Obed-Edom, his family of eight sons, and everything he had. God blessed the foreigner so much that word of this testimony...

2 Samuel 4-5; Psalms 139; Matthew 16 “You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar…How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!” Psalm 139:2, 17 David understood that the Lord could know his thoughts and value the state of his heart (mind, will, and emotions). But David also knew the intimacy of knowing God’s thoughts through the Spirit of God. This level of intimacy and relationship with God as expressed through the Psalms (David’s prayer and worship journal) is now available to every Spirit-filled child of God. This communion with the Father and the Son through the Spirit when God makes his “home” within us is the greatest miracle on earth! This is the reason Jesus was so excited to send the Spirit of Truth to his disciples following the resurrection. The Spirit would make known to the disciples the truths, teachings, and will of the Father. How precious are God’s thoughts to us? “Lord Jesus, thank you for sending the Holy Spiri...