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

It Should Have Been Me - II Samuel 18:1-18

The word of the LORD came through the prophet Nathan, who told David that, as a consequence of David’s sin with Bathsheba and the death of Uriah, a sword would come to his house. Since that time it seems his family is that sword, particularly his son, Absalom. Absalom is dealing blow after blow to David aiming at his heart and his throne.

In this passage, we find father and son on opposing sides in a battle to the death. David’s heart still embraces Absalom but recognizes his own advantage in warfare. David needs to win the battle but prevails on his commanders to spare the life of Absalom.

Many may recall Sunday School pictures of handsome Absalom dangling by his long, thick hair tangled in the branches of a tree. Our passage actually says his head was caught in the tree branches. Absalom was trapped without hope of rescue.

I find a sentence in verse 9 very thought-provoking. Most translations read similarly; “and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth…” Absalom’s unrepented sin toward his father led him to a terrible death, hanging from a tree, forsaken by both heaven and earth.

Absalom is a picture of you and me. His terrible betrayal of his father through his sins ultimately put him on that tree. His punishment was a certain, fearsome end.

My sin against my Father led One who knew no sin to become my sin. Unlike Absalom who had no substitute, no savior to take his place, My Father put Himself on that tree in my place through His Son. The death rightfully mine was replaced by grace and mercy, a second chance, and a new life offered.

My substitute was hung from a wooden cross on my behalf, taken up between heaven and earth, forsaken by both. His death and resurrection brought me, dying in my sin, hope of rescue. My Father called out for me to be saved, given the very life of His Son, so I could live a different life, a new life.

By the Mercies of God - Romans 12

Paul follows a pattern in most of his letters, he begins with theology, what God has done for us, then follows with our response to God in light of these facts. This is where application of the Word comes in, it’s called sanctification. Living the Christ-like life.

Verse 1 begins with the word “therefore,” telling us that what is to follow is the logical response to what came before. What came before? Paul’s letter had progressed from telling his readers why they needed to be saved, through how they were saved, then to what salvation meant to them and to God. It highlighted grace and mercy.

Paul continues on the assumption that those who have internalized the message of salvation in Christ will want to know how to respond appropriately. Like Christ, who lived to please God without wavering, he tells us that we must also sacrifice our lives to please God. He says it is our spiritual worship.

It’s called spiritual worship because God is interested in the inner motivations of our hearts. Worship may begin in the mind and heart, but it must serve as motivation to what is done outwardly. The inward experience of salvation must have an outward action. It must be lived out as an expression of worship. We present our bodies, our lives, our lifestyles, and our possessions, all as a thank offering to the Lord for the great and wonderful gift He has given us in His dear Son.

In chapters 6-8, Paul also gives some wonderful insights into the Christian life. Paul wants us to understand that real faith is revealed through obedience, not the outward obedience that comes from the Law but an inward obedience that rises from love and devotion to God in response to Christ.

All that follows in chapter 12 is possible because of a renewed mind, transformed to the Word of God, and lived out to the praise of His glory. Our spiritual worship.

* primer contributed by Jinet Troost