Have you ever wondered what to say to those who have lost a loved one? May I suggest “A Comfort That Lasts”
Psalm 40:1-5 (NASB95)
1 I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me and heard my cry.
2 He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm.
3 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; Many will see and fear And will trust in the LORD.
4 How blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust, And has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood.
5 Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders which You have done, And Your thoughts toward us; There is none to compare with You. If I would declare and speak of them, They would be too numerous to count.
INTRODUCTION:
Where is God when it hurts? That is a familiar, yet very personal, question that rises from the depths of our soul; into our minds; and sometimes those words escape and even leave our mouth.
Where is God when it hurts? It’s a good question that we can unpack in these few moments we have together. One thing that we can be very sure of is that God cares for us and in His care, He will provide all of us a Comfort That Lasts.
1. A Comfort That Comes At The Right Time—40:1
1 I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me and heard my cry.
Death is a dark companion to the human experience. We do not like it; we seek to do everything we know to avoid it; and yet it comes with a vengeance with no respect to person. It plays no favorites; and it never plays fair.
Death is like a pit of destruction. It swallows us and the people we love. And if we allow it, the very shadow of death will depress us and pull us down into the pit too.
And yet, as believers in the Risen Lord Jesus, we can have a unique perspective that the unbeliever cannot grasp: WE WIN
1 Corinthians 15:51-58 (NASB95)
51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed,
52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory.
55 "O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?"
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law;
57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.
Note the testimony of David, the Psalmist of Psalm 40: He waited patiently for the Lord.
He trusted in the character of God; that God is good and that God loves him. Even while finding himself in the most difficult of circumstances, the Psalmist waited patiently for the Lord…to deliver him.
He believed in his heart that God cared for him; and then one day, it happened!
God inclined His ear to the Psalmist and heard the cry of his child.
God knows where we are today. God hears the cry of our heart. God will transport us from the pit.
The comfort that lasts will come in the right time—and God is never late, never.
2. A Comfort That Comes In The Right Way—40:2-3
2 He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm.
3 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; Many will see and fear And will trust in the LORD.
The comfort we need is not earned by having enough human strength to muster it up.
The comfort we need is not gained by denying the reality of our circumstances
The comfort we need is GRACE-DRIVEN. That simply means that God is on a mission to engage us and help us do something we can never do on our own.
Listen to this example of being GRACE-DRIVEN:
It is God who brings us up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay.
It is God who sets our feet upon a rock making our footsteps firm.
It is God who puts a new song in our mouth, a song of praise to our God.
It is God who will use our difficult circumstances to help others who are watching us and who place their trust in the Lord.
Grace says that God never wastes anything in our life—even the most difficult of things.
Romans 8:28 (NASB95)
28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
The comfort that lasts will come in the right way—by the GRACE of God.
3. A Comfort That Comes From The Right Source—40:4
4 How blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust, And has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood.
The Psalmist testifies about his own life. He claims that we are blessed when we make the Lord our trust.
For the believer, it comes down to trust. Do we trust Him only when our circumstances are easy and most desirable or do we trust Him even when life is most difficult?
In other words, how real, how authentic is our faith? Is our faith experience best described as a “Churchianity” or a biblical “Christianity”? Do we have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ or do we just know about Him? How we come to grips with these questions will make all the difference in this world . . . and in the next.
What does it mean to trust the Lord? It means we accept His free gift of eternal life that came by His death and sacrifice on the Cross. We believe that “Jesus paid it all.” We believe that His grace is sufficient always. We believe that we can do exactly what the writer of Proverbs said:
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NASB95)
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.
The comfort that lasts comes from the right source—our trust in the Lord.
4. A Comfort That Comes At The Right Time, In The Right Way, and From The Right Source is a Comfort That Will Last—40:5
5 Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders which You have done, And Your thoughts toward us; There is none to compare with You. If I would declare and speak of them, They would be too numerous to count.
It has been granted to the believer the challenge to try and count the blessings that God has bestowed upon us.
Quickly we run out of fingers and toes. We can never grasp how much God loves us.
The Psalmist was enamored with his God. He was in awe of not only what God has done, but was just as impressed by all of the thoughts that God was thinking about him.
Can you even fathom this: God, the Maker of Heaven and Earth; the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe makes time to think of me and makes time to think of you.
Would you close your eyes or at least focus your attention and try to picture the colorful images that King David is painting in your mind with these precious words.
Psalm 139:1-18 (NASB95)
1 O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar.
3 You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And are intimately acquainted with all my ways.
4 Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O LORD, You know it all.
5 You have enclosed me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high, I cannot attain to it.
7 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?
8 If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there.
9 If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,
10 Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me.
11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, And the light around me will be night,"
12 Even the darkness is not dark to You, And the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to You.
13 For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb.
14 I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;
16 Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them.
17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them!
18 If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand. When I awake, I am still with You.
This is God’s wonderful promise to His children today:
He has given us a Comfort That Lasts
God knows us. God loves us. And God has a place for us when He calls us home to live with Him forever.
Psalm 23:1-6 (NASB95)
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.
3 He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Principle #16--Psalms of Discipleship--April 24, 2010
A warm greeting to each of you my friends!
We live in a day and time where there has been an erosion of values, an erosion of families, and even an erosion of faith. Like most cases of erosion, it seldom happens quickly, but over time. Until one day, we look around and notice that things are just not the same. We have slipped. We have slided. We have surrendered.
Erosion is also possible in our worship of God. For me, at least, I need a fresh revival of the heart every day that will cause me to walk closer to Him. May the Lord remind us this week that our worship is not meant to be a picture of erosion, but a bedrock of His special work in our heart as we worship the Lord.
Worship Him!
Denny
Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #16
Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life
Key Scripture: 1 I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wonders. 2 I will be glad and exult in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High. Psalm 9:1-2
Core Value: Worship
Is it reasonable to say that one’s worship of God can be directly linked to one’s spiritual growth? For instance, if one’s worship is shallow and superficial there will be little spiritual growth because there will be no intimacy; there will be no relationship; there will be no transformational growth. In contrast, if one’s worship is deep and authentic there will be measurable spiritual growth because it is real; it is personal; it is intentional: “I will” worship God with a passionate heart that sets out to know Him.
Spiritual growth is not considered an option for those who desire to have a biblical relationship with the Lord Jesus. Spiritual growth is a must. It is the life of discipleship that shepherds the desiring soul into a closer walk with Him. The Scriptures clearly teach that everyone is needy for the Lord, desperately so. Every believer is in need of the discipled life, because without it, one can fool oneself into thinking that they are something that they are not—spiritually sufficient. We need to worship God with a passion or else we will simply fade away into a life of meaningless religious activities. Worship is the marvelous tool that God uses to give Him great glory and to give us great good.
Principle #16 & Personal Application: The quality disciple of Jesus Christ practices an active and vibrant worship of God.
As I worship God:
• I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart
• I will tell of all His wonders
• I will be glad and exult in Him
• I will sing praise to His name
Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…
How would my view of my life’s circumstances be different if I began to give thanks to the Lord with all my heart?
What do I have to cultivate in my life that will make my worship of God active and vibrant?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, may I worship You: not with a half-hearted effort, but with a whole and devoted heart. May I tell of all of Your wonders: to tell others what I have seen You do in my own life. May I be glad and exult in You: to make the choice to give You the glory and honor and praise You so deserve from me. And Lord, May I sing praise to Your name: I will let no rock or any other created thing out-praise me (Luke 19:40; Psalm 69:34).
The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism
Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2010 All rights reserved.
We live in a day and time where there has been an erosion of values, an erosion of families, and even an erosion of faith. Like most cases of erosion, it seldom happens quickly, but over time. Until one day, we look around and notice that things are just not the same. We have slipped. We have slided. We have surrendered.
Erosion is also possible in our worship of God. For me, at least, I need a fresh revival of the heart every day that will cause me to walk closer to Him. May the Lord remind us this week that our worship is not meant to be a picture of erosion, but a bedrock of His special work in our heart as we worship the Lord.
Worship Him!
Denny
Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #16
Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life
Key Scripture: 1 I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wonders. 2 I will be glad and exult in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High. Psalm 9:1-2
Core Value: Worship
Is it reasonable to say that one’s worship of God can be directly linked to one’s spiritual growth? For instance, if one’s worship is shallow and superficial there will be little spiritual growth because there will be no intimacy; there will be no relationship; there will be no transformational growth. In contrast, if one’s worship is deep and authentic there will be measurable spiritual growth because it is real; it is personal; it is intentional: “I will” worship God with a passionate heart that sets out to know Him.
Spiritual growth is not considered an option for those who desire to have a biblical relationship with the Lord Jesus. Spiritual growth is a must. It is the life of discipleship that shepherds the desiring soul into a closer walk with Him. The Scriptures clearly teach that everyone is needy for the Lord, desperately so. Every believer is in need of the discipled life, because without it, one can fool oneself into thinking that they are something that they are not—spiritually sufficient. We need to worship God with a passion or else we will simply fade away into a life of meaningless religious activities. Worship is the marvelous tool that God uses to give Him great glory and to give us great good.
Principle #16 & Personal Application: The quality disciple of Jesus Christ practices an active and vibrant worship of God.
As I worship God:
• I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart
• I will tell of all His wonders
• I will be glad and exult in Him
• I will sing praise to His name
Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…
How would my view of my life’s circumstances be different if I began to give thanks to the Lord with all my heart?
What do I have to cultivate in my life that will make my worship of God active and vibrant?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, may I worship You: not with a half-hearted effort, but with a whole and devoted heart. May I tell of all of Your wonders: to tell others what I have seen You do in my own life. May I be glad and exult in You: to make the choice to give You the glory and honor and praise You so deserve from me. And Lord, May I sing praise to Your name: I will let no rock or any other created thing out-praise me (Luke 19:40; Psalm 69:34).
The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism
Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2010 All rights reserved.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Principle #15--Psalms of Discipleship
Good day to you my friends! In sunny South Carolina the pollen is still with us, but at least the yellow clouds are gone and you can now see across the road as the beautiful plants are in full bloom. In other words, things are growing around here. People are also growing; especially those who are serving the Lord and serving others.
It was the great song writer and singer of the 60's who reminded us "You're gonna have to serve somebody." I'm sure you remember Bob Dylan's catchy chorus:
You’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You’re gonna have to serve somebody.
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody.
The quality disciple is also going to serve somebody. This is the theme of this week's Psalms of Discipleship devotion. God has given us the incredible blessing of being able to serve. May we serve Him with a fresh awareness of how He can use each one of us today to be an incredible blessing to others.
Serving Him with you,
Denny
Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #15
Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life
Key Scripture: 4 What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him? 5 Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty! 6 You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, Psalm 8:4-6
Core Value: Service
Many have wondered why God did not take them immediately into heaven upon the point of their conversion. Why did He delay their departure? It is because He has a plan for their life here on planet earth. It is a plan that was set in place before they were even born. It is a plan of service, of doing good works (Eph. 2:10). God has prepared the disciple to be His servant. All one needs is a little bit of encouragement from the Scriptures in order to learn what He has gifted one to do; and then to get involved in what He has already prepared the believer to do—to serve. What a phenomenal thought: God had a plan of service for the Christian’s life before they were born. What a comfort, what a joy, to serve within the structure of His will for His people.
The pressure is off! God’s people do not need to worry what to do for the Lord. He has gifted them, equipped them, and prepared them to do His will. The quality disciple comes to have this great assurance of God’s sovereignty in their life—God has prepared each believer to serve Him. Brad Waggoner reminds us that service is not an option to the disciple of Jesus Christ. “Since we are created to produce good works, serving others simply isn’t an option (pg.110). . . . Every Christian is created to produce good works. Service to God and others is not an a` la carte offering on a spiritual menu; it’s part of the main course” (pg. 111). Waggoner, Brad J. 2008. The shape of faith to come: spiritual formation and the future of discipleship. Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group.
Principle #15 & Personal Application: The quality disciple of Jesus Christ is a responsible and devoted manager of God’s assets.
• It is a great honor to be created and cared for by the Creator God of the universe
• It is a great honor to be given the privilege to be crowned with glory and majesty
• It is a great honor to be tasked with the job of managing His assets
Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…
What is the most important task that God has given me to manage for Him?
How is my service to God impacting those who are closest to me?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, what a blessing it is to know that I am in Your thoughts and that You really care for me. What an honor it is that You would desire to crown me with glory and majesty. What a responsibility You have given to me: to rule over the works of Your hands. May I always be found faithful as I serve You.
The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism
Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2010 All rights reserved.
It was the great song writer and singer of the 60's who reminded us "You're gonna have to serve somebody." I'm sure you remember Bob Dylan's catchy chorus:
You’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You’re gonna have to serve somebody.
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody.
The quality disciple is also going to serve somebody. This is the theme of this week's Psalms of Discipleship devotion. God has given us the incredible blessing of being able to serve. May we serve Him with a fresh awareness of how He can use each one of us today to be an incredible blessing to others.
Serving Him with you,
Denny
Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #15
Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life
Key Scripture: 4 What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him? 5 Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty! 6 You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, Psalm 8:4-6
Core Value: Service
Many have wondered why God did not take them immediately into heaven upon the point of their conversion. Why did He delay their departure? It is because He has a plan for their life here on planet earth. It is a plan that was set in place before they were even born. It is a plan of service, of doing good works (Eph. 2:10). God has prepared the disciple to be His servant. All one needs is a little bit of encouragement from the Scriptures in order to learn what He has gifted one to do; and then to get involved in what He has already prepared the believer to do—to serve. What a phenomenal thought: God had a plan of service for the Christian’s life before they were born. What a comfort, what a joy, to serve within the structure of His will for His people.
The pressure is off! God’s people do not need to worry what to do for the Lord. He has gifted them, equipped them, and prepared them to do His will. The quality disciple comes to have this great assurance of God’s sovereignty in their life—God has prepared each believer to serve Him. Brad Waggoner reminds us that service is not an option to the disciple of Jesus Christ. “Since we are created to produce good works, serving others simply isn’t an option (pg.110). . . . Every Christian is created to produce good works. Service to God and others is not an a` la carte offering on a spiritual menu; it’s part of the main course” (pg. 111). Waggoner, Brad J. 2008. The shape of faith to come: spiritual formation and the future of discipleship. Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group.
Principle #15 & Personal Application: The quality disciple of Jesus Christ is a responsible and devoted manager of God’s assets.
• It is a great honor to be created and cared for by the Creator God of the universe
• It is a great honor to be given the privilege to be crowned with glory and majesty
• It is a great honor to be tasked with the job of managing His assets
Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…
What is the most important task that God has given me to manage for Him?
How is my service to God impacting those who are closest to me?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, what a blessing it is to know that I am in Your thoughts and that You really care for me. What an honor it is that You would desire to crown me with glory and majesty. What a responsibility You have given to me: to rule over the works of Your hands. May I always be found faithful as I serve You.
The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism
Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2010 All rights reserved.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Principle #13--Psalms of Discipleship
He is Risen...He is Risen, Indeed!
Good morning my friends. All over the world this holy weekend will be the joyous cries of praise and adoration to Jesus, the Risen Savior. And as important as Easter is to the Christian calendar, Jesus should be thanked and praised everyday. The theme of this week's Psalms of Discipleship underscores the responsibility of every disciple of Jesus Christ: to worship Him.
For you, may this Easter season be filled with hope and joy. Joy to the world the Lord has come, has died, has risen and is coming again. Until then,
Maranatha (Lord, Come!),
Denny
Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #13
Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life
Key Scripture: I will give thanks to the LORD according to His righteousness And will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High. Psalm 7:17
Core Value: Worship
Giving thanks and singing praise is an act of worship to God. But it must be done so with a whole heart. As the Scripture clearly states, the disciple is to “Love God with all of your heart, Love God with all your soul, Love God with all your mind, Love God with all your strength” (Mk.12:30). According to this verse in the Gospel, one can make at least three observations: The big ideas in this passage are…
• It is a personal love—“You shall love the Lord your God.”
• It is a committed love—“You shall love the Lord your God will ALL” you have got.
• It is a consummate love—“You shall love the Lord your God with all your HEART . . . your SOUL . . . your MIND . . . your STRENGTH.”
This kind of love is based upon a sacrifice: “How can you tell if you love the Lord Jesus Christ? It hinges on whether you are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for His will as a daily thing” (John MacArthur). This kind of love and worship is single minded and focused upon obedience.
Principle #13 & Personal Application: The quality disciple of Jesus Christ practices a worship that is centered upon the character and majesty of God.
• Worship of Jesus must be based upon who God is (the God of the Bible), not what we want Him to be (the God of our own expectation).
• Worship of Jesus is a worship that evokes a vibrant thanksgiving to the Lord.
• Worship of Jesus is filled with songs of praise to His name, to the Lord Most High.
Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…
When I worship the Lord, is my mind focused upon His character and greatness or is it upon what I want Him to do for me?
How can the use of my Bible enhance my worship of God?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, You are so beautiful to me. For me, You are my Wonderful Counselor, my Mighty God, my Everlasting Father, and my Prince of Peace. You are Faithful and True, Mighty to Save, the Alpha and Omega, the Bright and Morning Star, the Lily of the Valley, the Fairest of Ten Thousand, the Good Shepherd, the Great I AM, the Author and Finisher of my Faith, the Bread of Life, the Chief Cornerstone, the Rock, the Messiah, the Vine, the Great High Priest, the King of kings and Lord of Lords, the King of Glory, the Lamb of God, the Light of the World, the Resurrection and the Life, the Living Word of God. You are all this…and so much more. You are my Lord.
The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism
Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2010 All rights reserved.
Good morning my friends. All over the world this holy weekend will be the joyous cries of praise and adoration to Jesus, the Risen Savior. And as important as Easter is to the Christian calendar, Jesus should be thanked and praised everyday. The theme of this week's Psalms of Discipleship underscores the responsibility of every disciple of Jesus Christ: to worship Him.
For you, may this Easter season be filled with hope and joy. Joy to the world the Lord has come, has died, has risen and is coming again. Until then,
Maranatha (Lord, Come!),
Denny
Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #13
Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life
Key Scripture: I will give thanks to the LORD according to His righteousness And will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High. Psalm 7:17
Core Value: Worship
Giving thanks and singing praise is an act of worship to God. But it must be done so with a whole heart. As the Scripture clearly states, the disciple is to “Love God with all of your heart, Love God with all your soul, Love God with all your mind, Love God with all your strength” (Mk.12:30). According to this verse in the Gospel, one can make at least three observations: The big ideas in this passage are…
• It is a personal love—“You shall love the Lord your God.”
• It is a committed love—“You shall love the Lord your God will ALL” you have got.
• It is a consummate love—“You shall love the Lord your God with all your HEART . . . your SOUL . . . your MIND . . . your STRENGTH.”
This kind of love is based upon a sacrifice: “How can you tell if you love the Lord Jesus Christ? It hinges on whether you are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for His will as a daily thing” (John MacArthur). This kind of love and worship is single minded and focused upon obedience.
Principle #13 & Personal Application: The quality disciple of Jesus Christ practices a worship that is centered upon the character and majesty of God.
• Worship of Jesus must be based upon who God is (the God of the Bible), not what we want Him to be (the God of our own expectation).
• Worship of Jesus is a worship that evokes a vibrant thanksgiving to the Lord.
• Worship of Jesus is filled with songs of praise to His name, to the Lord Most High.
Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…
When I worship the Lord, is my mind focused upon His character and greatness or is it upon what I want Him to do for me?
How can the use of my Bible enhance my worship of God?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, You are so beautiful to me. For me, You are my Wonderful Counselor, my Mighty God, my Everlasting Father, and my Prince of Peace. You are Faithful and True, Mighty to Save, the Alpha and Omega, the Bright and Morning Star, the Lily of the Valley, the Fairest of Ten Thousand, the Good Shepherd, the Great I AM, the Author and Finisher of my Faith, the Bread of Life, the Chief Cornerstone, the Rock, the Messiah, the Vine, the Great High Priest, the King of kings and Lord of Lords, the King of Glory, the Lamb of God, the Light of the World, the Resurrection and the Life, the Living Word of God. You are all this…and so much more. You are my Lord.
The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism
Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2010 All rights reserved.
Principle #14--Psalms of Discipleship
Warm greetings to you my friends,
For many of us life comes fast, quick, and sometimes hard. On the path of our life journey, the pace can become so rapid that we miss the wonder of what it means to follow Jesus Christ. You have most likely heard the expression, "the rat race." Think about this. Who would want to win the kind of race where we become physically, emotionally, and spiritually exhausted; and at the end of our life, have nothing to show except for what the world places supreme value upon: material possessions, fame, and as the record shows, I took the blows and "I did it my way" (thanks, Frank Sinatra). Really, is this the best way?
There is a far better way. It is the way of worship. May the Lord grant us a heart to experience the awe and wonder of knowing Jesus Christ and follow Him.
Amazed by His wonder,
Denny
Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #14
Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life
Key Scripture: O LORD, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth, Who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens! Psalm 8:1
Core Value: Worship
Worship that focuses upon the Lord will lead us to an even greater depth of love. That we can even love God, others, or even ourselves is because He took the initiative first (this is called “grace”) and loved us (Rom. 5:8; 1 Jn. 4:19-21). The point of discipleship is not the creation of another church program that occupies the time of already busy believers. The point of discipleship is not even about doing all of the spiritual exercises well and knowing all of the Bible trivia answers. Discipleship is all about love.
This “Great Command” to love and worship God (Mark 12:30) is the very foundation of the Christian life, and consequently, living out the discipled life as the Bible teaches. Everything we do is measured by the way we love God, the way we love our neighbors, the way we love our self. In other words, the command to love God completely and to love our neighbor as we love our self is an expectation for everyone who claims the name of Christ. Biblical discipleship is an all or nothing proposition. Far too many have watered down the kind of love commitment Jesus wants His followers to embrace.
Principle #14 & Personal Application: The quality disciple of Jesus Christ is overwhelmed with awe and wonder of who God is.
• There is a worship that is personal: the Lord is my Lord
• There is a worship that is corporate: the Lord is our Lord
• There is a worship that celebrates the majesty of His name: there is no name like His name
• There is a worship that helps me focus upon the greatness and magnificence of God: there is no one like my great and mighty Lord
Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…
What do I need to do in order to expand my view of God’s greatness and majesty?
Every disciple has a distinctive worship personality. What is my pathway or “style” of worship? Do I best respond in my worship of Jesus Christ when (1) I commune with God in nature; (2) I am alone in solitude, reading, reflecting, praying; (3) I am in a “worship” service with many other believers; (4) I am surrounded by a wide array of appealing sights, smells, and sounds that stimulate; (5) I am with a small group of other disciples of Christ; (6) I am serving others by using the gifts God has given me? (This thought inspired by Gary Thomas in “Sacred Pathways”; Zondervan)
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, there is no one like You. You are the Lord, my Lord, our Lord. Your name is majestic. When I say Your name out loud, worship for You rises up in my soul. Your greatness is everywhere on the earth and in the heavens above. May I never lose my sense of awe and wonder for who You are.
The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism
Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2010 All rights reserved.
For many of us life comes fast, quick, and sometimes hard. On the path of our life journey, the pace can become so rapid that we miss the wonder of what it means to follow Jesus Christ. You have most likely heard the expression, "the rat race." Think about this. Who would want to win the kind of race where we become physically, emotionally, and spiritually exhausted; and at the end of our life, have nothing to show except for what the world places supreme value upon: material possessions, fame, and as the record shows, I took the blows and "I did it my way" (thanks, Frank Sinatra). Really, is this the best way?
There is a far better way. It is the way of worship. May the Lord grant us a heart to experience the awe and wonder of knowing Jesus Christ and follow Him.
Amazed by His wonder,
Denny
Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #14
Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life
Key Scripture: O LORD, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth, Who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens! Psalm 8:1
Core Value: Worship
Worship that focuses upon the Lord will lead us to an even greater depth of love. That we can even love God, others, or even ourselves is because He took the initiative first (this is called “grace”) and loved us (Rom. 5:8; 1 Jn. 4:19-21). The point of discipleship is not the creation of another church program that occupies the time of already busy believers. The point of discipleship is not even about doing all of the spiritual exercises well and knowing all of the Bible trivia answers. Discipleship is all about love.
This “Great Command” to love and worship God (Mark 12:30) is the very foundation of the Christian life, and consequently, living out the discipled life as the Bible teaches. Everything we do is measured by the way we love God, the way we love our neighbors, the way we love our self. In other words, the command to love God completely and to love our neighbor as we love our self is an expectation for everyone who claims the name of Christ. Biblical discipleship is an all or nothing proposition. Far too many have watered down the kind of love commitment Jesus wants His followers to embrace.
Principle #14 & Personal Application: The quality disciple of Jesus Christ is overwhelmed with awe and wonder of who God is.
• There is a worship that is personal: the Lord is my Lord
• There is a worship that is corporate: the Lord is our Lord
• There is a worship that celebrates the majesty of His name: there is no name like His name
• There is a worship that helps me focus upon the greatness and magnificence of God: there is no one like my great and mighty Lord
Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…
What do I need to do in order to expand my view of God’s greatness and majesty?
Every disciple has a distinctive worship personality. What is my pathway or “style” of worship? Do I best respond in my worship of Jesus Christ when (1) I commune with God in nature; (2) I am alone in solitude, reading, reflecting, praying; (3) I am in a “worship” service with many other believers; (4) I am surrounded by a wide array of appealing sights, smells, and sounds that stimulate; (5) I am with a small group of other disciples of Christ; (6) I am serving others by using the gifts God has given me? (This thought inspired by Gary Thomas in “Sacred Pathways”; Zondervan)
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, there is no one like You. You are the Lord, my Lord, our Lord. Your name is majestic. When I say Your name out loud, worship for You rises up in my soul. Your greatness is everywhere on the earth and in the heavens above. May I never lose my sense of awe and wonder for who You are.
The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism
Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2010 All rights reserved.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
“THE FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN DAVID AND GOD—A FRIENDSHIP THAT ENDURED HEARTBREAK AND FAILURE”
When you’re down and troubled And you need a helping hand And nothing, whoa nothing is going right. Close your eyes and think of me And soon I will be there To brighten up even your darkest nights. You just call out my name, And you know wherever I am I’ll come running, oh yeah baby To see you again.
Winter, spring, summer, or fall, All you have to do is call And I’ll be there, yeah, yeah, yeah. You’ve got a friend.
—Carol King
9Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: 10If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! 11Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? 12Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Eccles. 4:9-12
Introduction:
Have you ever had a friend who broke your heart? Someone who really disappointed you? This is what happened between God and David. You remember it was David who was a “man after God’s own heart.” And yet, David—King of Israel, a friend of God—broke his communion with God with his premeditated sin with Bathsheba and Uriah. There are many relationships that are so fractured by moral failure, that they can never be repaired. Most stories, like David’s, conclude in the destruction of a friendship. As we will see from the record of the Scriptures, the friendship between David and God endured heartbreak and moral failure. It is a story that should give every believer who has messed up great hope in the redemption that comes from God. God offers us a friendship founded upon His grace, mercy and forgiveness. Let’s ask the Lord to grant us special insight as we study about the friendship between David and God. “Lord, You know our frame, of how fragile we are, how prone we are to break fellowship with you. But it is our heart to cultivate the kind of friendship with You that when we do fall short of what You expect, we will grow even deeper in our love for You. Amen.
Outline:
A. The Bible Record
B. Qualities That Made This Friendship Special
C. Unique Challenges This Friendship Faced
D. Practical Lessons From This Friendship That I Can Apply To My Life
E. Exercise In Friendship
F. Final Questions To Ponder
G. Conclusion
A. The Bible Record:
1. The Chain Of Eight Events That Broke God’s Heart: How David Displeased The Lord And Harmed The Friendship
1) David Remained in Jerusalem when kings go off to war (2 Sam. 11:1)
2) David Saw a woman bathing (2 Sam. 11:2)
3) David Sent someone to find out about her (2 Sam. 11:3)
4) David Knew Bathsheba was a married woman (2 Sam. 11:3)
5) David Sinned when he slept with her (2 Sam. 11:4)
6) David Deceived her husband, Uriah (2 Sam. 11:6-14)
7) David Murdered Uriah (2 Sam. 11:15-17)
8) David Married Uriah’s widow, Bathsheba (2 Sam. 11:27)
11:1In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king's men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem. 2One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, 3and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, "Isn't this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite?" 4Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her. (She had purified herself from her uncleanness.) Then she went back home. 5The woman conceived and sent word to David, saying, "I am pregnant." 6So David sent this word to Joab: "Send me Uriah the Hittite." And Joab sent him to David. 7When Uriah came to him, David asked him how Joab was, how the soldiers were and how the war was going. 8Then David said to Uriah, "Go down to your house and wash your feet." So Uriah left the palace, and a gift from the king was sent after him. 9But Uriah slept at the entrance to the palace with all his master's servants and did not go down to his house. 10When David was told, "Uriah did not go home," he asked him, "Haven't you just come from a distance? Why didn't you go home?" 11Uriah said to David, "The ark and Israel and Judah are staying in tents, and my master Joab and my lord's men are camped in the open fields. How could I go to my house to eat and drink and lie with my wife? As surely as you live, I will not do such a thing!" 12Then David said to him, "Stay here one more day, and tomorrow I will send you back." So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day and the next. 13At David's invitation, he ate and drank with him, and David made him drunk. But in the evening Uriah went out to sleep on his mat among his master's servants; he did not go home. 14In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. 15In it he wrote, "Put Uriah in the front line where the fighting is fiercest. Then withdraw from him so he will be struck down and die." 16So while Joab had the city under siege, he put Uriah at a place where he knew the strongest defenders were. 17When the men of the city came out and fought against Joab, some of the men in David's army fell; moreover, Uriah the Hittite died. 18Joab sent David a full account of the battle. 19He instructed the messenger: "When you have finished giving the king this account of the battle, 20the king's anger may flare up, and he may ask you, 'Why did you get so close to the city to fight? Didn't you know they would shoot arrows from the wall? 21Who killed Abimelech son of Jerub-Besheth? Didn't a woman throw an upper millstone on him from the wall, so that he died in Thebez? Why did you get so close to the wall?' If he asks you this, then say to him, 'Also, your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead.' " 22The messenger set out, and when he arrived he told David everything Joab had sent him to say. 23The messenger said to David, "The men overpowered us and came out against us in the open, but we drove them back to the entrance to the city gate. 24Then the archers shot arrows at your servants from the wall, and some of the king's men died. Moreover, your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead." 25David told the messenger, "Say this to Joab: 'Don't let this upset you; the sword devours one as well as another. Press the attack against the city and destroy it.' Say this to encourage Joab." 26When Uriah's wife heard that her husband was dead, she mourned for him. 27After the time of mourning was over, David had her brought to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing David had done displeased the LORD. 2 Samuel 11:1-27
Questions To Ponder:
If you could have given David any advice, what would your counsel be?
In your opinion, why didn’t God intervene during any of these tragic events? What does that tell you about God’s character and man’s free will?
2. The Aftermath Of David’s Sin: The Way A Friendship Can Be Restored
1) David Was Empathetic with the person mentioned in Nathan’s story (2 Sam. 12:1-6)
2) David Was Exposed for what he did (2 Sam. 12:7-9)
3) David Was Judged for what he did (2 Sam. 12:10-12)
4) David Was Sorry for what he did (2 Sam. 12:13-25; Ps. 51)
12:1The LORD sent Nathan to David. When he came to him, he said, "There were two men in a certain town, one rich and the other poor. 2The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle, 3but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him. 4"Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it for the one who had come to him." 5David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, "As surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this deserves to die! 6He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity." 7Then Nathan said to David, "You are the man! This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. 8I gave your master's house to you, and your master's wives into your arms. I gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more. 9Why 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. You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. 10Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.' 11"This is what the LORD says: 'Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity upon you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will lie with your wives in broad daylight. 12You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.' " 13Then David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD."Nathan replied, "The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. 14But because by doing this you have made the enemies of the LORD show utter contempt, the son born to you will die." 15After Nathan had gone home, the LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife had borne to David, and he became ill. 16David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and went into his house and spent the nights lying on the ground. 17The elders of his household stood beside him to get him up from the ground, but he refused, and he would not eat any food with them. 18On the seventh day the child died. David's servants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they thought, "While the child was still living, we spoke to David but he would not listen to us. How can we tell him the child is dead? He may do something desperate." 19David noticed that his servants were whispering among themselves and he realized the child was dead. "Is the child dead?" he asked."Yes," they replied, "he is dead." 20Then 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. 21His servants asked him, "Why are you acting this way? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat!" 22He answered, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, 'Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let the child live.' 23But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me." 24Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and he went to her and lay with her. She gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon. The LORD loved him; 25and because the LORD loved him, he sent word through Nathan the prophet to name him Jedidiah. 2 Samuel 12:1-25
51:1 For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge. 5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. 6 Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place. 7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. 10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. 13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you. 14 Save me from bloodguilt, O God, the God who saves me, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. 15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. 16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. 18 In your good pleasure make Zion prosper; build up the walls of Jerusalem. 19 Then there will be righteous sacrifices, whole burnt offerings to delight you; then bulls will be offered on your altar. Psalm 51:1-19
Questions To Ponder:
Why did David have such compassion for the person in the story who owned the stolen lamb?
What can you learn about taking responsibility for your actions from David’s response to Nathan?
B. The Qualities That Made This Friendship Special:
1. There was a relationship that was established from David’s youth as a shepherd boy.
He chose David his servant and took him from the sheep pens; Psalm 78:70
2. There was the calling to be the king of God’s people.
In the past, even while Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the LORD your God said to you, 'You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.' " 1 Chron. 11:2
3. There was the testimony of the New Testament Scriptures that spoke of David’s special relationship with God:
22After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: 'I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.' 23"From this man's descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised. Acts 13:22-23
"For when David had served God's purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his fathers and his body decayed. Acts 13:36
Questions To Ponder:
As you think about David’s life, what hope does it give you about being useful to God when you make a mistake of judgment?
What qualities were in David’s life that made him a “man after God’s own heart?”
C. The Unique Challenges This Friendship Faced:
1. As one of God’s choice leaders, David willfully sinned, breaking fellowship with God and incurring God’s judgment upon him.
2. David’s sin went from bad (adultery with Bathsheba) to worse (murder of Uriah & the death of his new born son).
3. Would David have the passion to make things right with God again?
D. The Practical Lessons From This Friendship That I Can Apply To My Life:
1. David Remained in Jerusalem when kings go off to war: (2 Sam. 11:1) I need to make sure that I do not find myself in the wrong place at the wrong time.
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 1 Cor. 10:13
2. David Saw a woman bathing (2 Sam. 11:2): I need to guard my eyes when temptation comes my way.
He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe. Proverbs 28:26
3. David Sent someone to find out about her (2 Sam. 11:3): I need to deny my curiosity and keep my mind focused upon whatever is right.
Avoid every kind of evil. 1 Thes. 5:22
4. David Knew Bathsheba was a married woman (2 Sam. 11:3):
I need to keep my heart from rationalizing a sin.
7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:7-8
5. David Sinned when he slept with her (2 Sam. 11:4): I need to never become so callus in my heart that I allow myself to enjoy the rotten fruit of sin.
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 1 Cor. 6:9
6. David Deceived her husband, Uriah (2 Sam. 11:6-14): I need to walk in the truth, to live in the light.
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:7
7. David Murdered Uriah (2 Sam. 11:15-17): I need to stay far away from plots that destroy the lives of others.
For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. Matthew 15:19
8. David Married Uriah’s widow, Bathsheba (2 Sam. 11:27): I need to never accept the reward for my sin.
He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy. Proverbs 28:13
And when I do sin and harm my friendship with God, I need to learn from David’s experience:
9. David Was Empathetic with the person mentioned in Nathan’s story (2 Sam. 12:1-6): I need to be empathetic with anyone who has been hurt.
Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. 1 Peter 3:8
10. David Was Exposed for what he did (2 Sam. 12:7-9): I need to open my life to the Lord’s righteous light.
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24
11. David Was Judged for what he did (2 Sam. 12:10-12): I need to accept the Lord’s discipline for my actions.
because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. Proverbs 3:12
12. David Was Sorry for what he did (2 Sam. 12:13-25; Ps. 51):
I need to be truly sorry, to repent when I have sinned against God.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
E. An Exercise In Friendship:
One of the greatest gifts you can give any friendship is to be able to say “I’m sorry” when you offend. Is there anyone in your circle of friends who need to hear those words from you today?
F. Final Questions To Ponder:
Am I keeping short accounts with God?
Am I guarding my heart in order to protect my friendship with God?
G. CONCLUSION
David was one of the greatest characters in the Bible. And even as great as he was, he still was willing to throw away his friendship with God for a fleeting moment of sensual pleasure. It’s a lesson to every believer: there is nothing worth experiencing if it means harming my friendship with God.
Respond and Reflect: Worship / Season of Prayer
INSTANT IMPACT THOUGHTS FOR YOUR JOURNAL
From this session, the truth that impacted me the most was…
Growing A Little Bit Deeper…
What three things can I do in order to better protect my testimony?
When I feel like I am about to give in to sexual temptation, who can I call upon for protection?
Is there any brokenness in any of your relationships that need to be restored?
The Disciple’s Prayer (Write your own)
Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2010 All rights reserved.
Winter, spring, summer, or fall, All you have to do is call And I’ll be there, yeah, yeah, yeah. You’ve got a friend.
—Carol King
9Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: 10If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! 11Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? 12Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Eccles. 4:9-12
Introduction:
Have you ever had a friend who broke your heart? Someone who really disappointed you? This is what happened between God and David. You remember it was David who was a “man after God’s own heart.” And yet, David—King of Israel, a friend of God—broke his communion with God with his premeditated sin with Bathsheba and Uriah. There are many relationships that are so fractured by moral failure, that they can never be repaired. Most stories, like David’s, conclude in the destruction of a friendship. As we will see from the record of the Scriptures, the friendship between David and God endured heartbreak and moral failure. It is a story that should give every believer who has messed up great hope in the redemption that comes from God. God offers us a friendship founded upon His grace, mercy and forgiveness. Let’s ask the Lord to grant us special insight as we study about the friendship between David and God. “Lord, You know our frame, of how fragile we are, how prone we are to break fellowship with you. But it is our heart to cultivate the kind of friendship with You that when we do fall short of what You expect, we will grow even deeper in our love for You. Amen.
Outline:
A. The Bible Record
B. Qualities That Made This Friendship Special
C. Unique Challenges This Friendship Faced
D. Practical Lessons From This Friendship That I Can Apply To My Life
E. Exercise In Friendship
F. Final Questions To Ponder
G. Conclusion
A. The Bible Record:
1. The Chain Of Eight Events That Broke God’s Heart: How David Displeased The Lord And Harmed The Friendship
1) David Remained in Jerusalem when kings go off to war (2 Sam. 11:1)
2) David Saw a woman bathing (2 Sam. 11:2)
3) David Sent someone to find out about her (2 Sam. 11:3)
4) David Knew Bathsheba was a married woman (2 Sam. 11:3)
5) David Sinned when he slept with her (2 Sam. 11:4)
6) David Deceived her husband, Uriah (2 Sam. 11:6-14)
7) David Murdered Uriah (2 Sam. 11:15-17)
8) David Married Uriah’s widow, Bathsheba (2 Sam. 11:27)
11:1In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king's men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem. 2One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, 3and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, "Isn't this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite?" 4Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her. (She had purified herself from her uncleanness.) Then she went back home. 5The woman conceived and sent word to David, saying, "I am pregnant." 6So David sent this word to Joab: "Send me Uriah the Hittite." And Joab sent him to David. 7When Uriah came to him, David asked him how Joab was, how the soldiers were and how the war was going. 8Then David said to Uriah, "Go down to your house and wash your feet." So Uriah left the palace, and a gift from the king was sent after him. 9But Uriah slept at the entrance to the palace with all his master's servants and did not go down to his house. 10When David was told, "Uriah did not go home," he asked him, "Haven't you just come from a distance? Why didn't you go home?" 11Uriah said to David, "The ark and Israel and Judah are staying in tents, and my master Joab and my lord's men are camped in the open fields. How could I go to my house to eat and drink and lie with my wife? As surely as you live, I will not do such a thing!" 12Then David said to him, "Stay here one more day, and tomorrow I will send you back." So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day and the next. 13At David's invitation, he ate and drank with him, and David made him drunk. But in the evening Uriah went out to sleep on his mat among his master's servants; he did not go home. 14In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. 15In it he wrote, "Put Uriah in the front line where the fighting is fiercest. Then withdraw from him so he will be struck down and die." 16So while Joab had the city under siege, he put Uriah at a place where he knew the strongest defenders were. 17When the men of the city came out and fought against Joab, some of the men in David's army fell; moreover, Uriah the Hittite died. 18Joab sent David a full account of the battle. 19He instructed the messenger: "When you have finished giving the king this account of the battle, 20the king's anger may flare up, and he may ask you, 'Why did you get so close to the city to fight? Didn't you know they would shoot arrows from the wall? 21Who killed Abimelech son of Jerub-Besheth? Didn't a woman throw an upper millstone on him from the wall, so that he died in Thebez? Why did you get so close to the wall?' If he asks you this, then say to him, 'Also, your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead.' " 22The messenger set out, and when he arrived he told David everything Joab had sent him to say. 23The messenger said to David, "The men overpowered us and came out against us in the open, but we drove them back to the entrance to the city gate. 24Then the archers shot arrows at your servants from the wall, and some of the king's men died. Moreover, your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead." 25David told the messenger, "Say this to Joab: 'Don't let this upset you; the sword devours one as well as another. Press the attack against the city and destroy it.' Say this to encourage Joab." 26When Uriah's wife heard that her husband was dead, she mourned for him. 27After the time of mourning was over, David had her brought to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing David had done displeased the LORD. 2 Samuel 11:1-27
Questions To Ponder:
If you could have given David any advice, what would your counsel be?
In your opinion, why didn’t God intervene during any of these tragic events? What does that tell you about God’s character and man’s free will?
2. The Aftermath Of David’s Sin: The Way A Friendship Can Be Restored
1) David Was Empathetic with the person mentioned in Nathan’s story (2 Sam. 12:1-6)
2) David Was Exposed for what he did (2 Sam. 12:7-9)
3) David Was Judged for what he did (2 Sam. 12:10-12)
4) David Was Sorry for what he did (2 Sam. 12:13-25; Ps. 51)
12:1The LORD sent Nathan to David. When he came to him, he said, "There were two men in a certain town, one rich and the other poor. 2The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle, 3but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him. 4"Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it for the one who had come to him." 5David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, "As surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this deserves to die! 6He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity." 7Then Nathan said to David, "You are the man! This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. 8I gave your master's house to you, and your master's wives into your arms. I gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more. 9Why 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. You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. 10Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.' 11"This is what the LORD says: 'Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity upon you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will lie with your wives in broad daylight. 12You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.' " 13Then David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD."Nathan replied, "The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. 14But because by doing this you have made the enemies of the LORD show utter contempt, the son born to you will die." 15After Nathan had gone home, the LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife had borne to David, and he became ill. 16David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and went into his house and spent the nights lying on the ground. 17The elders of his household stood beside him to get him up from the ground, but he refused, and he would not eat any food with them. 18On the seventh day the child died. David's servants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they thought, "While the child was still living, we spoke to David but he would not listen to us. How can we tell him the child is dead? He may do something desperate." 19David noticed that his servants were whispering among themselves and he realized the child was dead. "Is the child dead?" he asked."Yes," they replied, "he is dead." 20Then 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. 21His servants asked him, "Why are you acting this way? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat!" 22He answered, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, 'Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let the child live.' 23But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me." 24Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and he went to her and lay with her. She gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon. The LORD loved him; 25and because the LORD loved him, he sent word through Nathan the prophet to name him Jedidiah. 2 Samuel 12:1-25
51:1 For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge. 5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. 6 Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place. 7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. 10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. 13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you. 14 Save me from bloodguilt, O God, the God who saves me, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. 15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. 16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. 18 In your good pleasure make Zion prosper; build up the walls of Jerusalem. 19 Then there will be righteous sacrifices, whole burnt offerings to delight you; then bulls will be offered on your altar. Psalm 51:1-19
Questions To Ponder:
Why did David have such compassion for the person in the story who owned the stolen lamb?
What can you learn about taking responsibility for your actions from David’s response to Nathan?
B. The Qualities That Made This Friendship Special:
1. There was a relationship that was established from David’s youth as a shepherd boy.
He chose David his servant and took him from the sheep pens; Psalm 78:70
2. There was the calling to be the king of God’s people.
In the past, even while Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the LORD your God said to you, 'You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.' " 1 Chron. 11:2
3. There was the testimony of the New Testament Scriptures that spoke of David’s special relationship with God:
22After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: 'I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.' 23"From this man's descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised. Acts 13:22-23
"For when David had served God's purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his fathers and his body decayed. Acts 13:36
Questions To Ponder:
As you think about David’s life, what hope does it give you about being useful to God when you make a mistake of judgment?
What qualities were in David’s life that made him a “man after God’s own heart?”
C. The Unique Challenges This Friendship Faced:
1. As one of God’s choice leaders, David willfully sinned, breaking fellowship with God and incurring God’s judgment upon him.
2. David’s sin went from bad (adultery with Bathsheba) to worse (murder of Uriah & the death of his new born son).
3. Would David have the passion to make things right with God again?
D. The Practical Lessons From This Friendship That I Can Apply To My Life:
1. David Remained in Jerusalem when kings go off to war: (2 Sam. 11:1) I need to make sure that I do not find myself in the wrong place at the wrong time.
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 1 Cor. 10:13
2. David Saw a woman bathing (2 Sam. 11:2): I need to guard my eyes when temptation comes my way.
He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe. Proverbs 28:26
3. David Sent someone to find out about her (2 Sam. 11:3): I need to deny my curiosity and keep my mind focused upon whatever is right.
Avoid every kind of evil. 1 Thes. 5:22
4. David Knew Bathsheba was a married woman (2 Sam. 11:3):
I need to keep my heart from rationalizing a sin.
7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:7-8
5. David Sinned when he slept with her (2 Sam. 11:4): I need to never become so callus in my heart that I allow myself to enjoy the rotten fruit of sin.
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 1 Cor. 6:9
6. David Deceived her husband, Uriah (2 Sam. 11:6-14): I need to walk in the truth, to live in the light.
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:7
7. David Murdered Uriah (2 Sam. 11:15-17): I need to stay far away from plots that destroy the lives of others.
For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. Matthew 15:19
8. David Married Uriah’s widow, Bathsheba (2 Sam. 11:27): I need to never accept the reward for my sin.
He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy. Proverbs 28:13
And when I do sin and harm my friendship with God, I need to learn from David’s experience:
9. David Was Empathetic with the person mentioned in Nathan’s story (2 Sam. 12:1-6): I need to be empathetic with anyone who has been hurt.
Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. 1 Peter 3:8
10. David Was Exposed for what he did (2 Sam. 12:7-9): I need to open my life to the Lord’s righteous light.
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24
11. David Was Judged for what he did (2 Sam. 12:10-12): I need to accept the Lord’s discipline for my actions.
because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. Proverbs 3:12
12. David Was Sorry for what he did (2 Sam. 12:13-25; Ps. 51):
I need to be truly sorry, to repent when I have sinned against God.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
E. An Exercise In Friendship:
One of the greatest gifts you can give any friendship is to be able to say “I’m sorry” when you offend. Is there anyone in your circle of friends who need to hear those words from you today?
F. Final Questions To Ponder:
Am I keeping short accounts with God?
Am I guarding my heart in order to protect my friendship with God?
G. CONCLUSION
David was one of the greatest characters in the Bible. And even as great as he was, he still was willing to throw away his friendship with God for a fleeting moment of sensual pleasure. It’s a lesson to every believer: there is nothing worth experiencing if it means harming my friendship with God.
Respond and Reflect: Worship / Season of Prayer
INSTANT IMPACT THOUGHTS FOR YOUR JOURNAL
From this session, the truth that impacted me the most was…
Growing A Little Bit Deeper…
What three things can I do in order to better protect my testimony?
When I feel like I am about to give in to sexual temptation, who can I call upon for protection?
Is there any brokenness in any of your relationships that need to be restored?
The Disciple’s Prayer (Write your own)
Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2010 All rights reserved.
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