Reading With the People of God #10 Kingdomنموونە

Focus of the month: (Kingdom)

7 Now, therefore, thus shall you say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be prince over my people Israel, 8 and I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. 9 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall waste them no more, as formerly, 10 from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will subdue all your enemies. Moreover, I declare to you that the LORD will build you a house. 11 When your days are fulfilled to walk with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. 12 He shall build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. 13 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. I will not take my steadfast love from him, as I took it from him who was before you, 14 but I will confirm him in my house and in my kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established forever.’ ”.

- 1 Chronicles 17:7-14

Sin is as Real as My Right Arm

Today’s readings both center on sin; 2 Samuel deals with King David’s sin, and Romans puts every one of us under sin. 2 Samuel 11 is a watershed moment as David has been presented as the ideal servant of the Lord so far, but will now, for a moment, rebel against the Lord’s covenant. David’s twin sins of adultery and murder are woven together in this narrative for all to see. Although David does repent, irreparable damage will be done. The life lessons for all of us are priceless. We cannot presume on the forgiveness of God to always remove the consequences of our sins. Please notice the effects of David’s sin on Bathsheba, the unborn child, the faithful husband Uriah, and the entire nation of Israel.

Romans 3 will show Paul clearly putting all Jews and Gentiles on the same level before a Holy God. Paul will string together a list of Old Testament passages leading up to the ultimate condemnation in verse 18, “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” No matter what modern man comes up with, all of us are accountable to God. But the great news of the gospel shines forth in verse 22, “the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.” We can be made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus. Some people don’t feel like they have a problem with sin or they have been told by someone there is no sin. Someone once said,

“Sin is as real as your right arm!”

We all know our right arm. We use it every day. It’s the same with sin. Will we believe it? God’s Word is clear that when we are honest with our sins, then we are ready to experience God’s wonderful grace.

* Primer contributed by Brian Mott, Ministering Elder & Middle School Bible Teacher