First Baptist Church, Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Devotional: 2 Samuel 3

Today’s passage: 2 Samuel 3

Helpful thoughts:

  • Over two years of conflict between the house of Saul and the house of David, David gained and Ish-bosheth waned.
  • Deuteronomy 17:17 – And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold.
    • David’s marriages were strategic and solidified support among the people and also (“The daughter of Talmai king of Geshur) added to Ish-bosheth’s list of potential enemies.  His demand for the return of Michal also placed David back within the house of Saul.
    • Jesus spoke of God’s plan for marriage (Matthew 19:3-9).  One man, one woman and the two become one flesh.
  • When Ish-bosheth accused Abner of sleeping with the king’s concubine, he was accusing him of taking control of the king’s possessions…including the throne.  This would have been considered an act of treason.
    • Ish-bosheth did the same thing his father had done, distrust a loyal servant.
    • Abner’s response seems to prove his innocence in the matter.  Furthermore, his ability to move about and do all that he did also shows he was the one who truly held power and influence.  It was only by Abner’s kindness and loyalty that Ish-bosheth had remained king as long as he had!
  • Joab’s personal vendetta could have destroyed the imminent unity of all Israel.

Questions to consider:

  1. Why did David become the king?  What did Abner acknowledge in verse 18?
  2. Should it surprise us to find evidence of sin in the lives of Old Testament figures like David (Romans 3:23)?  If God is going to accomplish good through people in this world, what kind of people are going to be used?  Can God use you to accomplish His will?
  3. How does the Lord repay the evildoer according to his wickedness?  How can God be merciful and gracious and yet, by no means clear the guilty (Exodus 34:6-7, Isaiah 53:6)?

Devotional: 2 Samuel 2

Today’s passage: 2 Samuel 2

Helpful thoughts:

  • Instead of immediate conquest after Saul’s death, David inquired of the Lord.
  • Hebron was one of, if not the most distinguished cities in Judah (David’s tribe).
    • It was a city of refuge (A safe place for people accused of manslaughter to flee).
    • It was a city for the priesthood.  David was accompanied by Abiathar the priest.
    • David probably brought over 1,000 people with him to Hebron and it’s surrounding villages counting the men who fought with him and their families.
  • David sought to show empathy and respect to those who mourned over and respected Saul.  He was trying to do the right things the right way.  Others sought the world’s methods.  We will see more examples of this in the next few chapters.
    • Regardless of how people handled themselves, God’s sovereign will would always be accomplished.

Questions to consider:

  1. If Abner saw Joab as the first in command of David’s army, what did he have to gain by taking Saul’s son and seeking to re-establish the kingdom through Saul’s descendant?
  2. How does the difference in years in verses 10-11 show David’s patience?  How long would David have reigned in Judah before Ish-bosheth even was made king over the rest of Israel?  Was David pushing things through or was he waiting on the Lord’s timing?
  3. Why did David eventually become king over all Israel?  Whose faithfulness was ultimately put to the test and proven?  What promises has God given us in His word?  Why do you know all of God’s promises will be fulfilled?

Devotional: 2 Samuel 1

Today’s passage: 2 Samuel 1

Helpful thoughts:

  • If you read 1 Samuel 31:1-5, you will see that this report of Saul’s death is false.  This man lied to David in order to get on the good side of the now most powerful man in Israel…it backfired.
  • David mourned the death of the one who would have been considered his enemy and called on all Israel to do the same.  Perhaps not the most shrewd of political moves in the eyes of those who would have an eye on the throne.
  • David and Jonathan were kindred spirits and loyal to each other because they were loyal to the LORD.  God and His will for Israel was the center of their bond.  Liberal scholars will try to inject an agenda into verse 26.  Don’t buy it.

Questions to consider:

  1. Why was it right for David to weep with those who weep and to encourage the nation to mourn the loss of their king and prince?  What was Israel’s view of Saul given the things David mentions?  What was God’s view and why would that be worth weeping as well?
  2. Many would have rejoiced in the death of the one who had been doing what Saul had done to David.  How was David’s response a proof of his readiness for leadership?  What must be the perspective of a godly leader (Matthew 23:11-12)?
  3. What unites the members of the church?  How was the glue that bound David and Jonathan together the same to what binds us together today? (Matthew 12:46-50, 1 John 3:1-2)  What is the central message that makes us an eternal family?

Devotional: Luke 24:36-53

Today’s passage: Luke 24:36-53

Helpful thoughts:

  • Jesus’ appearance was not shiny or startling in any way.  In His previous appearances, the others did not perceive Him to be anything strange.  What startled everyone was His ability to simply appear in the room.
    • Jesus, in His resurrection body was able to appear and disappear…and also to eat food, to be touched, etc.
    • The same will be true of our bodies in the resurrection (Philippians 3:20-21).
  • What Jesus did for the two on the road to Emmaus, He now does for the rest of the disciples.
    • Scripture is taught.
    • Their minds are graciously opened.
  • The Gospel (The Word of Christ) is to be preached in the power of the Spirit to all nations.

Questions to consider:

  1. Is repentance necessary for salvation?  What did Jesus say in verse 47?
  2. Sometimes we think as though we are Jerusalem and the Gospel is going out from here to the ends of the earth…but Jerusalem is Jerusalem.  What does the fact that we are in Mt. Pleasant, MI, in North America, reading and studying the Bible, believing in Jesus, and still telling others about Him prove?  How has Scripture continued to be fulfilled?
  3. Knowing that Jesus could have simply disappeared/vanished, why did He ascend in the sight of all the disciples?  What things should this affirm/confirm?

Devotional: Luke 24:13-35

Today’s passage: Luke 24:13-35

Helpful thoughts:

  • These disciples, even after hearing the testimony of the empty grave, had relegated Jesus to the level of prophet, not Messiah.  They had hoped…
    • This testimony further affirms that the disciples did not steal the body, as the Jews declared (Matthew 28:11-15).
  • Jesus death and resurrection were not a change of plans.  Jesus did exactly what the Old Testament (“Moses and all the prophets”) taught He would do!
  • The women shared eye-witness testimony, Jesus instantaneously vanished before there eyes, and the thing that elicited awe from these men…the teaching/exposition of the Word of God.
    • Romans 10:17 – So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Questions to consider:

  1. What had to happen for these men to believe?  What did they hear?  Who opened their eyes?
  2. What was Jesus’ evangelism strategy?  What did He do first?  On what basis of authority did He share the message?
  3. Who could you pray for and share the Word of God with today, that their eyes might be opened in belief?

 

Devotional: Luke 24:1-12

Today’s passage: Luke 24:1-12

Helpful thoughts:

  • Jesus is alive!  Right now!
  • The resurrection was not a twist in the plot.  The angels reminded the women that Jesus had told them this was going to happen.  This was all God’s plan and doing.
  • The disciples initial response was similar to that of the women.  “They did not believe…”  (Verse 11)

Questions to consider:

  1. If Jesus was still dead, where would the Roman soldiers have been?  What would the Jews have been doing?  Would the disciples be perplexed?  How do all of these responses give further evidence to His resurrection?
  2. Why might it be troubling that the disciples still do not believe?  Who heard Jesus the most?  Who saw all of His miracles?  How is the natural condition of our hearts being evidenced?
  3. If Jesus was a sinner or if His mission was left unfulfilled, where would His body have remained?  Why can’t you believe that Jesus was a prophet or a good teacher and also believe that He isn’t LORD and/or remains in the grave?  What kind of belief does His resurrection demand?

Devotional: Luke 23:44-56

Today’s passage: Luke 23:44-56

Helpful thoughts:

  • The sixth hour is noon, the ninth hour is three in the afternoon.  Darkness fell on the land for three hours as the cup of God’s wrath against our sin was poured out on Jesus.
  • The curtain in the temple separated man from the holiness of God because of our sin.  When Christ atoned for our sin, the veil was torn. (Hebrews 10:19-22)
  • When Jesus declared, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” we see that fellowship between the Father and Son had been restored.  This means the time of wrath had been completely fulfilled.
    • The fact that Jesus was able to cry these things out showed he still had breath in his lungs…he laid down his own life.  No one took it from him. (John 10:17-18)
  • All of these events gave everyone, Gentiles and Jews alike, reason for pause and reflection.  This was not a normal crucifixion.
  • Jesus’ burial came only after His death was confirmed and continued to fulfill prophecy (Isaiah 53:9).

Questions to consider:

  1. Did Jesus pay the devil off so that we don’t have to go to Hell?  Whose wrath did Jesus take?  To whom was the payment given?  Whose wrath will the devil have to endure?  Is the devil in Hell enjoying punishing sinners or will he too be one of the punished?
  2. If Jesus paid the penalty of our sin, and God is entirely just, who exactly did Jesus die for?  Did Jesus pay for someone’s sin who will have to pay for that sin again (God’s wrath already having been poured out) because they reject Christ? (John 10:14)
  3. How do the people in this passage model how we should respond to the cross?  If we believe Jesus was innocent of sin, and we come to understand that it was our sin that put him there, what is the only right response?