Growing Through 2 Samuel

The book of 2 Samuel begins where the book of 1 Samuel ends. Saul is gone, so the people of Judah give their allegiance to King David. However, the northern tribes give their allegiance to King Ishbosheth (Saul's youngest son). David rules in Hebron for over 7 years before all Israel acknowledges him as their king. He reigns in Jerusalem for 33 years. As you read 2 Samuel, you'll learn about...

David, the Shepherd

Then all the tribes of Israel went to David at Hebron and told him, "We are your own flesh and blood. In the past, when Saul was our king, you were the one who really led the forces of Israel. And the Lord told you, 'You will be the shepherd of My people Israel. You will be Israel's leader.'"--2 Samuel 5:1-2

The northern and southern tribes of Israel unite under the leadership of David. He leads the people to shift from tribal independence to national unity. David, a man after God's own heart, brings the ark to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6). God affirms the fact that one of David's distant descendants would always reign on his throne--realized in the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 2:30-31).

David, the Scopophiliac

Late one afternoon, after his midday rest, David got out of bed and was walking on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath. He sent someone to find out who she was...--2 Samuel 11:2-3

At the peak of his influence, David abandons his principles and commits adultery with his neighbor's wife, Bathsheba. One sin leads to another as his morals continue to erode. From this point on David's life spins out-of-control. God is displeased!

David, the Sniper

So the Lord sent Nathan the prophet to tell David..."Why, then, have you despised the word of the Lord and done this horrible deed?--2 Samuel 12:1; 12:9

The prophet Nathan confronts David about his sins--adultery and murder! David had his neighbor killed. While he didn't actually "pull the trigger," he was solely responsible for the plan that led to the death of Uriah. David's elaborate murder plot was a feeble attempt to cover up his adultery. God sends Nathan the prophet who utters the infamous biblical phrase: "You are the man!"

David, the Statistician

But after he had taken the census, David's conscience began to bother him. And he said to the Lord, "I have sinned greatly by taking this census. Please forgive my guilt, Lord, for doing this foolish thing."--2 Samuel 24:10

By taking the census, David chose to walk by sight rather than faith. He expected to know the extent of his resources. Instead of placing his trust in the Lord, he put his trust in people, horses, and chariots. We live in an age of statistics. Numbers! Numbers! This is all some churches live for! Instead of focusing on quality of ministry, they focus on quantity of ministry. Far too many church leaders become obsessed with how many butts are in the seats and how many bucks are in the plate.

Here's the life lesson for today's church from 2 Samuel 24: Instead of counting numbers, may God give us numbers that count! After all, the Lord said to Zerubbabel (Zechariah 4:6):

"It is not by force nor by strength, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven's Armies."

Growing Through 1 Samuel

Saul then said to his attendants, "Find a woman who is a medium, so I may go and inquire of her." "There is one in Endor," they said. So Saul disguised himself, putting on other clothes, and at night he and two men went to the woman. "Consult a spirit for me," he said, "and bring up for me the one I name."--1 Samuel 28:7-8

 There are some people who use 1 Samuel 28:5-20 as justification for practicing the occult practice of seances. However, the Bible clearly states that any attempt to contact the spirit-world or communicate with the dead is strictly forbidden (Leviticus 19:31; Deuteronomy 18:10-12). The punishment for ignoring God in this matter could be severe.

Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord; he did not keep the word of the Lord and even consulted a medium for guidance, and did not inquire of the Lord. So the Lord put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.--1 Chronicles 10:13-14

Saul's disobedience resulted in death!

Years ago I had the unique opportunity to spend time with a former spiritualist medium, Ben Alexander, the founder of Exposing Satan's Power Ministries. A ministry dedicated to fighting the cults and the occult. Ben became fascinated with the occult at an early age. His involvement in Spiritualism became more and more profound, until he was fully practicing as a trance medium, believing that he was contacting the dead for beneficial purposes. However, his life in the occult ultimately brought him face to face with a demon! An experience that was so frightening (reminiscent of the witch at Endor's experience in 1 Samuel 28:12)--that Ben immediately reevaluated his occultic practices. Soon afterward, a friend led Ben to Christ through the power of "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Ephesians 6:17).

Ephesians 6:12 reminds us that we aren't in a battle against flesh and blood, but "against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Until the return of Christ, we are living in enemy territory (Romans 8:20; 1 Peter 5:8). By getting involved with witchcraft, Ouija boards, horoscopes (1 Samuel 15:23), and other demonic practices--we make ourselves vulnerable to a dark world whose dangers should never be underestimated.

Growing Through Judges

And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord. He said, "If you give me victory over the Ammonites, I will give to the Lord whatever comes out of my house to meet me when I return in triumph. I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering" (Judges 11:30-31).

Jephthah made a vow to God as he headed out to battle. He was trying to bargain with the Lord. Jephthah promised to sacrifice to God whatever came out of his house when he got back home to Mizpah.

Israelites were permitted to make vows as long as they followed the laws given by God that governed vows (Deuteronomy 23:21-23). If a person made a vow, then the Lord expected him or her to keep it (Ecclesiastes 5:1-6).

When Jephthah returned home to Mizpah, his daughter came out to meet him, playing on the tambourine and dancing for joy. She was his one and only child; he had no other sons or daughters (Judges 11:34).

Nowhere in the text are we told that Jephthah actually killed his one and only child. But one vital lesson we can learn from this account is that if we want our promises to be taken seriously we must be willing to do what we say we will do (Matthew 5:33-37). More importantly, we better make sure we don't make a vow that's too painful to keep!

Growing Through Joshua

So the Israelites did as Joshua commanded them. They took twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, as the Lord had told Joshua; and they carried them over with them to their camp where they put them down. Joshua set up the twelve stones that had been in the middle of the Jordan at the spot where the priests who carried the ark of the covenant had stood...--Joshua 4:8-9

To gain the full significance of these verses, consider Romans 6:1-5 from The Message:

So what do we do? Keep on sinning so God can keep on forgiving? I should hope not! If we've left the country where sin is sovereign, how can we still live in our old house there? Or didn't you realize we packed up and left there for good? That is what happened in baptism. When we went under the water, we left the old country of sin behind; when we came up out of the water, we entered into the new country of grace—a new life in a new land!That's what baptism into the life of Jesus means. When we are lowered into the water, it is like the burial of Jesus; when we are raised up out of the water, it is like the resurrection of Jesus. Each of us is raised into a light-filled world by our Father so that we can see where we're going in our new grace-sovereign country.

Now when did we die to sin? "All of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death" (Romans 6:3). You see, Christ died for you and me--and that is the picture we see here in the book of Joshua. Twelve stones were put into the water of death. Those twelve stones were put into the Jordan to ultimately proclaim the death of Jesus Christ. And the twelve stones taken out of the Jordan and moved to the west bank represent the resurrection of Christ.

When you're baptized, you make a personal identification with Jesus Christ--with his death, with his burial, and with his resurrection. It is only in the measure that we are identified with him that we can enjoy all the spiritual blessings afforded to us.

Now, when the Israelites crossed over the river, they became citizens of a new land. When you become a Christian, you become a citizen of a new land--heaven:

Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ...--Philippians 1:27

What God did for the children of Israel he did for their benefit, your benefit, and mine. He did it that all the people of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful (Joshua 4:24). Not only that, he did it so all the people throughout all the world would have the opportunity to be his "chosen people."

Have you been baptized into Jesus Christ?

Growing Through Deuteronomy

Editor's Note: This week's post is extremely late due to technical difficulties...sorry.

What does the Lord your God require of you? He requires only that you fear the Lord your God, and live in a way that pleases Him, and love Him and serve Him with all your heart and soul.--Deuteronomy 10:12

The book of Deuteronomy takes place in the final weeks of Moses' life. It has been 40 years since the Israelites made their exodus from Egypt. A new generation is poised on the east side of the Jordan River ready to cross over and enter the new land of promise.

The theme of Deuteronomy is obedience as this new generation receives their final instructions from the Lord. Moses reminds the people of God's character and reviews for them how God honors obedience to his commandments and punishes disobedience. After all, disobedience brings consequences so Moses recounts the Israelite's history of stubbornness (Deut. 9:27) and rebellion (Deut. 1:26).

Deuteronomy teaches us that God is absolute truth and that a holy, happy life is one lived by his standards. Life without the Lord's standards becomes anti-holy and is characterized by unhappiness and emptiness (Deut. 30:19).

God's Word is the foundation for true freedom and real satisfaction. God is the standard. As a Christian, you are called to be holy as he is holy. Not only that, you are love him "with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength" (Deut. 6:5).

Join us this Sunday at 10:30a as we continue growing together through the fifth book of the Bible--Deuteronomy. Remember, read and review God's Word regularly--it will guide your steps.