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2 Samuel_12

Scripture
 
2 Samuel 12:20
 
Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate.
 
Observation
 
David has just committed a horrible sin against God by committing adultery with Bathsheba and murdering her husband. Nathan, the prophet, confronts David and reveals that the Lord is so hurt by what he did. David, a man after God’s own heart, has done a terrible thing and now brings consequences against his whole family for years to come.
 
Understanding
 
Romans 3:23  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
 
Here is David, a man slaying giants and leading armies. At one point he had Saul in his perfect view to kill him, instead. David would not touch God’s anointed. God gave him more than he could have dreamed and would have given even more had he asked. He spoke of Davids future for his family promising to establish his throne and build a temple with his son.
 
After all we read about him I seriously thought...this guy is it! He has got this God thing down. He does so many things right, he has amazing faith, he wrote all these Psalms, of course God chose his line to send his Son to us!
 
2 Samuel 12:9 Why did you despise the word of the Lord by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own.
 
David!!!! Noooooo! Heartbreaking.
 
Then God speaks through Nathan and issues a judgement on David and his family. Then he pays the price for his sin, the loss of his son. David humbled himself as he always did, fasted and lied on the floor for seven days. After the consequence had been fulfilled David got up, got dressed, and ate. He had to move forward with being king.
 
Application
 
Philippians 3:13-14  Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
 
I have never committed the exact sin that David did but one thing for sure… I have fallen super short of the glory of God on many occasions. Humility and gratitude will always be the right response but then we need to get up, get dressed, and move on. Sometimes we like to sit in our dirt and feel sorry for ourselves that we are such wretched losers and we stop moving.
 
God forgives us through Jesus and we need to accept it and move on. Father, thank you for loving and forgiving me even though I clearly don’t deserve it. Holy Spirit help me to live out my life as Jesus did, receive forgiveness from our Father, and empower me to move forward in the path God has paved for me. In Jesus name Amen!

Deborah Lee

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Matthew__14

Scripture

Matthew 14: 19

"And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the people."
 
Observation
 
Ironically, Jesus is seeking solitude after learning that his cousin John the Baptist is dead. There is met by people who long to just be with Him and hear Him speak and preach. Rather than turning them away He delights in their company and even feeds the “mere” five thousand people there. But before feeding them, He does one important thing: He gives thanks.
 
Understanding

In order to be effectively used by God to do His work, we must come before Him with a heart of humility and thanksgiving.

Over the many years of reading this story I always got hung up on the idea that Jesus fed five thousand people with a tiny amount of food, but this time something else stood out to me. It doesn’t just say “Jesus took the bread and the fish and miraculously gave it to everyone there” it emphasizes that Jesus gave thanks. The Son of the Most High gave thanks, even though He was God in the flesh. He didn’t thank Himself either, He humbled Himself, and looking to heaven lifted up gratitude and thanksgiving. He honors His Heavenly Father by giving Him all the glory, honor, and praise.

If I am to live a Christ-centered life, then I am to model Christ in all my actions. I constantly find myself saying: “I want to be used by God, I want to carry out His will,” yet I hype myself up when God uses me in His plan. Then I find myself once again in a “dry time” where I feel that God isn’t using me. I simply haven’t come before the Father with a heart of adoration and thanksgiving. Zechariah 4:6 sums it up perfectly:

“’Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.”

We are not people of circumstance, nor are we people of divine power, we are a people living for a mighty God. A God who deserves all the praise imaginable. Jesus models to us how to be used by the Father. In order to truly be used, we must rid ourselves of any boast or brag. God is breaking us to promote us and place us to where we need to be, and it all begins with a heart of thanks and humility. Let’s face it, without Him we are nothing.
 
Life Application

If we are to be people of God, we must break this idea that self is at the center of everything. It’s time for a change of culture where we honor the one who created us no matter how big or small the miracle is. The miracle is the fact that we are alive and have the pleasure of living freely for the King!

-Allison Khan
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2 Samuel_10

Scripture

2 Samuel 10:3

“The Ammonite commanders said to Hanun, their master, “Do you really think these men are coming here to honor your father? No! David has sent them to spy out the city so they can come in and conquer it!”

Observation-What does it say?

King Nahash of the Ammonites has just died. His son Hanun has just replaced him as king. David wants to show loyalty to Hanun, just as his father was always loyal to him. So David sends ambassadors to Ammon to give the new king his condolences. But rather than take the simplicity of David's act of compassion, Hanun takes the advice of his commanders. Hanun and his commanders believe that David has some sort of ulterior motive behind his act. They believe he sent his ambassadors to spy on them, so they can conquer them.

Understanding-What does it mean?

Through presumption comes nothing but strife, but with those who receive counsel is wisdom. (Proverbs 13:10)

I believe Hanun was surrounded by very cynical people. People who were out to climb their own "political ladder" and who were out for their own selfish gain when they gave Hanun this advice. These men presumed the worst out of people, instead of expecting the best from God's people.

Hanun on the other hand should have took a page out of David's book and seeked God for counsel. Maybe if he did that and surrounded himself with Godly men's advice, it wouldn't have ended so badly for him and his people.

Life Application

He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. (Proverbs 13:20)

Seek God in everything I do. Surround myself with Godly and righteous people. Seek counsel from these God fearing men and women that God has put in my life when life throws me for a loop.

Father God thank You for my church family. Thank You for the leadership here at DSC that shepherds me to grow in my faith. May you continue to bless these men and women for their leadership and their commitment to You. Lord, I don't have it all together and I do need help. Help me to humbly seek You and Your people in those times of need. In Your Holy and precious name Jesus, Amen.

-Moses Gaddi

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