2 Samuel 22

Hello Project Ezra!  I pray you are all doing well.  This week we will be reading from 2 Samuel, Chapter 22, another chapter which demonstrates that God is the not the simple, one-dimensional being many people hope and wish He were.  He is a God of love, but also a God of wrath and anger.  He is a God of mercy and compassion, but also a God of justice.  He is a God who forgives the most horrific of sins, but also the God that is too pure to look on evil, and who will punish even the least of sins completely.  A God of so many apparent paradoxes and supposed contrarieties may be difficult for many people to understand, or to accept, but the truth of His existence is impossible to deny, and what He demands of us and calls us to is very clear, and simple.  The one thing that clears the confusion and brings all these apparent contradictions into harmony is the cross of Jesus Christ. 

I believe to truly understand who God is, we need not only to see His work in the cross, but to see His work leading up to the cross.  God’s saving work in the Old Testament, and His wrath and justice in the New Testament are clear.  Those perspectives may seem odd, since the emphasis we hear from the popular culture, and often even from the pulpit, is exactly the opposite.  We talk about God’s law given in the Old Testament and His grace given in the New Testament, as if suddenly God changed His mind and had a new plan from AD 33 onward.  But we MUST see the Bible as a whole, and when we take a more holistic approach we will see God’s character as consistent throughout.  And when we look at scripture in that manner, many difficulties and supposed contradictions disappear, and the trustworthiness of the Bible is clearly evident.

So, In this week’s reading we will be touching on these truths as the foundation for our reading.  It is because the God’s revelation in the Bible is true and trustworthy that our public reading of it is relevant.  And because God tells us His word will not return void, and because we know that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation, that we can stand and read His word and know His will is accomplished, whether we see the fruit immediately or not.

I pray this week’s outline is a blessing, and that God is greatly glorified by your reading, and by His grace, through the saving of souls.

Dan

INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND THE PROJECT

READ 2 SAMUEL 22

Reading from God’s word

Why should you care what the word of God says?

This chapter tells us God’s way is perfect

Also says the word of the Lord is true

The Bible demonstrates itself to be true

If you will look with an open mind and heart, you will see this is so

The Bible is God’s revelation to man

Tells us what He is like, and what we are like

What is God like?

A God powerful and frightening in His judgment

Says of God “Your eyes are on the haughty, to bring them down”

But David, who wrote this, knew more than a God of judgment

David trusted in God to save him, both his life and his soul

He said “You have given me the shield of your salvation”

David saved from his enemies by trust in God

We can be saved from our enemies in the same way

Must recognize our enemies first

Your greatest enemies not like David’s, but no less deadly

The enemies of the world, the flesh, the devil

Sin is crouching at your door, it’s desire is for you (Gen 4:6-7)

1 John 2:15-17 says “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.  (1 Peter 5:8)

All draw you away from God, enticing you to break His law

All of us are law breakers.  Look at God’s law, and you will see this is true

GO THROUGH THE LAW TO BRING CONVICTION OF SIN

These enemies are killing us

God is holy.  Perfect, pure, cannot allow sin in His presence

Will insure that justice is satisfied

If a good human judge must insure justice is done, how much more God

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.  (2 Corinthians 5:10 ESV)

And those who have continued in rebellion against Him will be thrown into the eternal fire created for the devil and his angels (Mt. 25:41)

But God is indeed mighty to save.

 No question of victory for children of God.  The battle is the Lord’s

Victory and defeat are in His hands, and His alone

But not all man are God’s children

The Jewish leaders said “We have one Father—even God.” But  Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.  (John 8:41-44 ESV)

What must you do to be adopted into God’s family?  (Gal 4:5, Eph 1:5)

David saved through repentance and trusting in the mercy of God

He said in this chapter “You save a humble people” and “He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him”

Humble yourself, confess your sins as David did

Take refuge in Christ alone

Why Christ? He was our substitute, and is our mediator and advocate with God

Through the cross, justice was satisfied.  The penalty for sin paid, once for all

Justice and Mercy meet, both are satisfied.

Now, repent of your sins, and trust in Christ alone

Take your eyes off your sin, and fix them on Christ. 

Only name under heaven by which we must be saved. 

Turn to Christ today and be saved!