David's words here can be seen as Christ's prayer for deliverance at the crucifixion, but He entrusts Himself to the Father and chooses to go to the cross to save us. He prays for His enemies to be confounded, and the cross is the devil's defeat. This prayer gives hope in our troubles: whatever happens to us, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. He prays here for His people, and we are kept by His intercession for us.
Paul is a man of prayer; a model for Christians to be people of prayer, not losing hope. One element that Paul was praying for the church in Rome was unity, and there needs to be unity in the church today. The hope and certainty Paul writes about is found in Christ. The joy is found in trusting in Him for sins forgiven and His future return.
Jesus says here that He is the true vine. He is what Israel should have been: obedient and fruitful. John's gospel tells us Christ will keep His own, but there are warnings about departing from the faith. Dead branches are cut away but those that bear fruit are pruned to bear more fruit. Which branch are we?
The disciples' minds were fixed on an earthly Messiah who would deliver Israel. Now Jesus speaks about His death and they are troubled. Despite knowing what is ahead of Him, Jesus comforts them. He knows our anxieties and has the remedy for them. The remedy is to believe in Him. It is faith in Christ alone that brings us to a true knowledge of God.
As Jesus speaks of His departure He lifts His disciples' eyes above an earthly kingdom to a higher one. Heaven is the place where the immediate presence of God can be known. We have it on the authority of the Son of God that there is such a place. His purpose was to prepare a place for His disciples, and for us. Heaven is in no way incomplete, but His going is the preparation for ourselves who are not ready. He will come again to take believers to be with Him.
This chapter is a summary of David's victories over his enemies. He knows rest because of his defeating them. This foreshadows Christ's return and victory. He will conquer all His and our enemies by His might. Every knee will bow to Him. It is better to submit to Him now than then. He rules and defends His people.
It is important that we think correctly about God. He is a God we can delight in, and a correct understanding leads us to worship. The Bible teaches that there is one God, and He is one; He cannot be divided. He is infinite in all of His attributes: infinitely just and infinitely merciful. His love for us is not a reluctant kind of love. He is fully present everywhere, and with us in our situations.
Just as Mephibosheth wasn't born crippled, Adam was created in a state of innocence. Since his sin, all human beings have been born sinful, like Mephibosheth condemned because of his ancestry. David makes an enquiry for Jonathan's sake, pointing to God taking the initiative and forgiving us for Jesus' sake. David will give Mephibosheth all Saul's land and he shall eat at his table as a member of his family. Christians are adopted into the family of God.
God speaks of Himself as more than one in the Old Testament, and Isaiah writes of God sending the child who is Emmanuel: God. The Trinity is not revealed merely in words but in action; in the sending of the Son. The Son is eternally begotten and so the Father has always been the Father. There was never a time when there was not love within the Trinity. God is completely self-sufficient; not dependant on creation to love. We are made in His image and have a longing to be loved. He shows His love in that while we were sinners Christ died for us.
David extends kindness to his enemies, the Ammonites. The Christian should seek to do good to everyone, and preach the gospel to all. David's servants are rejected and humiliated, just as the gospel can be rejected. The Ammonites form an army. Joab tells the Israelites to be of good courage as the Lord will do what seems good to Him. This is also our command. The Syrians flee, raise a greater army, and are defeated by David, just as the Lord had promised. Ultimate victory is certain: God will bring peace to this world.
The Son Fully Possesses the Divine EssenceThe Trinity
All of what it is to be God is true of each of the three persons of the Trinity; none is more divine than the others. Jesus was considered guilty of blasphemy because He claimed to be fully God. The New Testament writers clearly refer to Him as God. However, it matters for our salvation that He is also fully man. He turns away God's wrath from us. In giving the Son, God is giving Himself to us.
David has become idle and does not go out to battle. We become susceptible to sin when we are idle. David looks on Bathsheba bathing and one sin leads to another. Letting things in through our eyes feeds sinful desire. David ignores the warnings that Bathsheba is married, and the wife of one of his mighty men. She becomes pregnant, and this will plague David for the rest of his life. This is a warning that even those who are saved can fall into serious sin. However, David was a true believer and is forgiven. We don't despair, because we have a Saviour.
The Spirit Fully Possesses the Divine EssenceThe Trinity
The Holy Spirit is not a force, but a person, and this person is fully God. The New Testament speaks of Him in many places as a person. The Spirit is also in full possession of the divine essence; all it means to be God is true of the Spirit. The Bible speaks of the Spirit having the attributes of God. In salvation, the Spirit brings life and stays within us. He reveals the love of God to us, revealing the wonder of the Son.
Something Remarkable and Reassuring for Christ's Sheep
Jesus speaks of a relationship when He says, "My sheep". There is a great blessing in being able to say we belong to Jesus, bit those whom He never knew will be told to depart from Him. The most remarkable statement we will ever make is that He loved me and gave Himself for me. When the world is panicking, the Christian can know calm. If He says we are His sheep, that is our eternal status.
Matthew was a tax collector for the Roman administration; likely well off and dishonest, and therefore a social outcast. Jesus' other disciples would have hated him. Jesus didn't tell Matthew to sort himself but simply calls him to follow Him. When He speaks, anyone and everyone can follow Him. Matthew leaves everything and follows Him, and invites everyone to come and meet Jesus.
David had a choice; he could have confessed his sin to God and to Uriah instead of covering it up. When Uriah refuses to go home, David has to commit another sin. We do not sin in isolation but there is a chain of events. Our sin gives others courage to sin: Joab obeys David's order so that Uriah is killed. David did all this so it would be hidden, yet it is of one of the best known stories in the Old Testament! It is better to confess our sins to God. David was restored and so there is hope for the greatest of sinners.
There is only one being who is God, but that being is fully shared by three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We are finite but God is infinite and His being is unlimited, shared fully by the three. However, the three are distinct from each other, and commune with each other. These things are a mystery but have been revealed for our benefit, so we can know the depth of God, and what each person has done for our redemption.
There are four grounds for comfort in Paul's description of the end of the world here. Jesus will return, and wants us to be with Him forever. There will be a sure resurrection with incorruptible bodies. There will be rapture. Death separates but the Christian will be caught up with others in the clouds. There will be a great reunion that will never end. Best of all is that we will see Him. We should be living for that day.
There is an order in the Trinity; not that the Father existed first or is more senior, but in relationship. The Son is begotten by the Father. It's the Son who makes God known. We have confidence and security because our salvation was not an afterthought but is built on the foundation of who the Son is eternally. We have clarity and truly know God when we read about Christ; He is not just an illustration. As He submitted to the Father, there is dignity in submission in the family, the workplace and in society.
A Powerful Personality, A Mighty Voice: John Elias, Wales' Greatest Preacher
Alun Ebenezer presents “A Powerful Personality, A Mighty Voice: John Elias, Wales’ Greatest Preacher”. John Elias was born near Pwllheli in 1774 and became a Methodist minister, serving on Anglesey. He has been described as the greatest Welsh preacher, and an estimated 10,000 attended his funeral in 1841.
It's not easy to live with sin. We see the Lord's grace in sending Nathan to David; his repentance starts with God. Nathan takes a wise approach and David is outraged with the man in the parable but can't see his own sin. Although there is complete forgiveness in Christ, sin has consequences in this life. The sword shall not depart from David's house, and the child born to him dies. David makes no excuses but simply confesses that he has sinned against the Lord, and there is immediate assurance.
The Eternal Procession of the Holy SpiritThe Trinity
The Holy Spirit is who He is because of the Father and the Son. John speaks of the Spirit proceeding from the Father. This is an eternal procession; not something that happened in time. Other verses speak of the Spirit proceeding from the Son, or from the Father and Son together. This is something we can rejoice in: it is by the Spirit that we come to know God, and the Spirit dwells in us. He focuses our hearts on Christ by the means of His word.
God afflicts David's child. Our sin can have consequences in this life, but David has hope, knowing the God who listens to the prayers of His people. Knowing this, do we pray? Sometimes our prayers are not answered in the way we would hope, but God's judgements are always merciful discipline. The child dies but David is able to worship because he entrusts himself to the Lord. God restores sinners to service.
The Trinity is not a mystery in the sense that we can't understand what is being said, but we wonder how it is the case. Illustrations fall short and can lead us into heresy. The doctrine is essential for salvation; all three persons are involved in our redemption. It should lead us to worship. Creation reflects the principle: there is unity and diversity. The doctrine is appealing and brings stability. It should renew our love for one another.
John places all people in either one of two categories: born of God or belonging to the devil. Sin exists in everyone and offends God, but it pleased God to provide the perfect sacrifice for sin in the person of His Son. It was the only way for us to be brought back into relationship with Him. John's words confront professing believers: true Christians do not and cannot sin! Believers will never achieve sinless perfection but the question is, do we hate sin and strive with all our strength to be rid of it? If we love Him, our desire will be to walk in His ways, for His glory.
Paul exhorts us to shine like lights in the world. He sets us an example with his concern for his fellow believers. The second example is Timothy who was of like mind with Paul. We should cherish Christian friendship. Timothy had a burden, as should we, for the church to be reaching out. The third example is Epaphroditus, a man of integrity and honesty, a fellow worker and soldier. The church needs workers who long to serve Christ.
Christ silently endured accusation so that our accusers are forever silenced; no sin is left unforgiven. Jesus was crowned with thorns, which are associated with the curse of sin. He has redeemed us from the curse. He was stripped and shamed because the consequence of sin was shame, taking our shame on Himself so that we might be clothed with the robes of His righteousness. God's anger had to be turned aside. Jesus endured the darkness that we might see the light. He was abandoned so that we might be adopted.
The angel of the Lord tells the women coming to the tomb that Jesus has risen. The evidence for the resurrection is there. If we believe it, then it should change everything. Jesus really came for sinners to be saved and we should act upon it. We must give up both our comfort and our sins. It is arduous and intense but Jesus promised to be with us always.
The Grace That Greets us and the Wonder That Grips Us
Here is a word of grace for Peter who has fallen dramatically. We fail, but we have a Saviour who restores failures. The women were fearful. Are we ever filled with fear and overwhelmed with the wonder of the gospel? Jesus is raised and glorified but remains a man, to intercede for man. In His resurrection we see the plan of God to restore creation and all of humanity.
Anointing Jesus was an obvious thing for Mary to do. Everyone knew of the plot to kill Jesus. His time on earth would soon end but He chose to spend it with His people, and He still delights to be present when we gather. Judas responds that it was wasteful. He is a warning to us, having been with Jesus for three years. There may be some who portray faith but do not have new life. All that really matters is Jesus' response. He says Mary's anointing was a beautiful thing to do. It demonstrates her understanding and her extravagant love.
Paul says the truth of the resurrection gives us a reason to be steadfast in the gospel. The resurrection of Christ is our only hope and we have good reason to be steadfast, because it is true. Secondly, it gives us a reason to stay active in service. Our service in this world counts for eternity. We not only share the gospel but live it. Finally, it is a reason to remain confident for the future. There are eternal rewards for faithfully serving Christ.
Amnon is infatuated with his half-sister Tamar and Jonadab advises him to act. We need to avoid anything that will encourage us to act on evil desires. Amnon rapes Tamar and then hates her. According to the law, he was obligated to marry her and pay a financial penalty. David is angry but the text doesn't tell us that he did anything about it; perhaps paralyzed by his own sexual immorality. If parents set a bad example, children will feel free to commit the same sins. There is grace for victims and sinners in Christ. In Jesus' sight they are pure and clean.
This epistle shows us how rich we are in Christ. It is a lifting up for the downcast. It is from Paul who claims to be an apostle – making these the very words of Christ – by the will of God. It was not by his own will, and he is incredulous, remembering what he used to be. Do we feel undeserving like Paul? God has a will and purpose for all of history and we can rest in the assurance that everything happening in the world today is according to His will.
Absalom instructs his servants to kill Amnon for what he did to Tamar. This is not justice but vengeance. Vengeance is forbidden, and we should leave judgement with God because we too deserve judgement. A false story is reported to David but Jonadab, who had been a venomous counsellor to Amnon, brings the truth; perhaps he was in on it and advised Absalom? If someone gives us advice contrary to the word of God, they are not a true counsellor or friend. David is spent but his heart goes out to Absalom. God is not spent by our sin. There is victorious mercy in Christ.
To the Saints Who are in Ephesus and are Faithful in Christ JesusEphesians
Paul is writing to the "saints". All who trust in Christ are saints; not because of what we have done, but because of what Christ has done for us. We must live in the light of this, pointing others to Christ as they see the transformation in us. Paul writes to real believers at Ephesus who faced great opposition. They were faithful, and we must depend on the truths of the faith. They were "in Christ Jesus", expressing a vital union.
Joab engineers a reconciliation between David and Absalom. This widow comes to David with a story that is designed to arouse his feelings over against his conscience. We can be moved by feelings and put them above conscience. We must be wary of being moved by our feelings. There is no indication of repentance on the part of Absalom. The gospel message does not come at the expense of justice. Forgiveness comes at the great price of the blood of the Son of God. We come as we are, but we don't stay as we are; it's a life of repentance and turning from sin.
Paul takes these words that might have been a common greeting in Ephesus and uses them in a Christian sense; grace and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace is the fountain or source of peace. We need the grace of Jesus Christ to be at peace. Peace comes from realising our created purpose, to know God. Our greatest problem is sin that makes us at war with God. God gives us everything when we deserve nothing: forgiveness and a right standing before Him.
Absalom sets himself up to steal the hearts of the ordinary people and overthrow David as king. David flees Jerusalem, fulfilling Nathan's prophecy of judgement upon David. However, even in this we see the love of God; He does not want our prosperity but our hearts. David commits himself to the Lord's will. Are we content with whatever the Lord brings our way? David crosses the Kidron and ascends the Mount of Olives, just as Christ would do. David crosses bearing house own sins, but Christ bearing the sins of others.
Paul writes about people who have spiritual blessings in the heavenly places; the unseen realm of spiritual realities that will last forever. People can't see these blessings, and won't blink when we die, but we will receive a welcome in heaven. These blessings are ours if we are in Christ. Every believer possesses every single promise. With God as our Father we can be in no safer place.
Manoah and his wife stand out as faithful in the dark days of the judges. They believe the promise of the angel of the Lord that a child will be born. The life of Sampson is not just a moral lesson or a precautionary tale, but it is all about Christ. Sampson would only "begin to save Israel". We need the One who brings about complete redemption.
The Christian is restored from ruin but still a mess. Sampson's life had been a mess and now He gives in to Delilah and loses his strength. The Spirit leaves him and he doesn't even notice. Would we notice if God left us? Sampson, who had gone after things he saw, has his eyes plucked out. We were made for more than what we can see and touch. There is hope for Sampson as his hair begins to grow again. God gives him a second chance and uses him, as He wants to use us. In his death, Sampson is a picture of Christ.
God helps his people in need. David had fled with little time to prepare, but Ziba arrives with supplies. He is the means God uses, though he is out to get something for himself. David unwisely makes a quick judgement and gives him Mephibosheth's land. Shimei curses David, but David accepts this is part of the humiliation God has ordained for him because of his guilt. We are all guilty of many things but David says God may repay him with goodness. Even in our messy circumstances, God conforms our characters to Christ.
The first in Paul's long list of spiritual blessings is that the Christian is someone chosen by God in eternity past. We are chosen in Christ: all the blessings are found in Him. This doctrine did not originate with John Calvin but is confirmed by Scripture. It is not arrogant to say we are chosen; if it's all of His grace then we receive no glory. This doctrine must lead us to praise. The purpose is to make us holy and blameless like Christ.
There is permissible prevarication as Hushai infiltrates Absalom's camp to thwart the counsel of Ahithophel. There are rare instances in Scripture where deception is used to protect innocent life. We see providential prevention of Absalom's actions. The world is not as wicked as it could be, thanks to God's restraining hand. Finally we see promised performance: God's word is always fulfilled. Just as God brings about His word in judgment, He is equally faithful to His promises of salvation, forgiveness, and His presence with His people, even in the midst of suffering.
By nature, humanity is in a state of guilt, separated from God. Through the work of the Trinity believers move from guilt to a state of grace, as new creatures. The final prospect for the believer is a future state of glory in the presence of the Lord, beyond the sufferings of the present time. Believers are called to be ambassadors for Christ, carrying the message of reconciliation to the world.
We see God's sovereignty as He ordained to defeat the counsel of Ahithophel and preserve David. God remains in control of events, even when the church appears to be on the ropes. There is supplication as David prays to God. We should pray, trusting that God orchestrates circumstances in response to our petitions. Even though God is sovereign, He works through the courageous service of His people. Hushai has to take a risk. The option is never to do nothing; believers are called to serve faithfully with whatever means they have. There is true joy in submitting to Christ as Saviour.
Two Trees: The Rebel's Curse and the Saviour's Cross2 Samuel
We see the Lord's care in providing for David, and He provides for His weary people today. David is the Lord's anointed and points us to Christ. We can have the same confidence as David that victory is coming because Christ is building His church. Absalom is left hanging in a tree and then buried under stones after being killed by Joab; both signs of the curse of God. Jesus Christ also hung on a tree, bearing the curse of God in our place.
There is another purpose to our election: that we might praise God's glorious grace. It is glorious because it is sinners who receive it. It is glorious because of what it cost the Father, giving His Son. It is glorious in accomplishing mercy without compromising justice. It is gloriously revealed in the redemption of sinners.
With Absalom dead, David can return to his throne in Jerusalem, but he grieves for his son. Grief is real. David is also full of regret. He groans, yearning for what now cannot be changed. However, there is hope. God is able to bring good out of human sin and failure. We want to do something to put things right, but we can go to Christ who came to take our sin and redeem us.
The centre of the Christian faith is the death of Jesus Christ. The word redemption means buying something back, and there are various examples in the Old Testament of slaves being redeemed. We are born as slaves to sin. The good news is that Jesus came to redeem His people and save them from the debt of sin.
David asks his own tribe, Judah, why they have not invited him back as king. There is division in Israel but amazingly Israel is preserved. So it is with the church. David makes the first move, reaching out to Judah, and typifies Christ. There is pardon and forgiveness even for Amasa and Shemei. How could David withhold forgiveness? If we understand what it is to be forgiven for our offences to God, we will forgive others.
Jesus makes the payment to buy our redemption, and the payment is His blood. It was a vicarious death in place of sinful people. This is what all the sacrifices of the Old Testament were pointing to. They could not take away sins but were a shadow of things to come. Christ's blood is of infinitely greater worth; He suffered once and for all. It removes our guilt and propitiates the wrath of God.
As David returns to Jerusalem he is reunited with three individuals. While Shimei asks for forgiveness, his motivation may be political self-preservation. Is our repentance genuine or are we simply trying to avoid consequences? David’s attempt to resolve the dispute between Mephibosheth and Ziba is pragmatic and imperfect earthly justice. Believers can take comfort that a day is coming when Christ will render true, ultimate justice. Barzillai is aged but has served faithfully, and is an encouragement to the elderly to do likewise. However, we should prepare for eternity rather than being too preoccupied with the temporary affairs of this world.
At the Name of Jesus Every Knee Shall BowEphesians
Here is a fourth blessing: God gives wisdom and insight to His people by revealing to us the mystery of His will. Without this we would not know the way of salvation. The future has been revealed according to God's purpose. His plan is for the fullness of time. All things will be under the lordship of Christ. All of history is about Christ building His church.
Paul addresses church trouble in Galatia: additional rituals beyond the gospel, and personality-driven division. No preacher is infallible. God desires Christians to be hot or cold, not lukewarm. We should be passionate and focused entirely on the Lord Jesus Christ rather than human teachers. Paul longs for the Galatians to have Christ formed in them. God's purpose for every believer is to be conformed to the image of His Son. The Christian life is a lifelong process of being made more like Jesus; a radical, ongoing transformation of one's character and life.
In his terrible suffering, Job makes a striking confession of certain faith. He says he knows his Redeemer lives. Much of life is confusing and uncertain but this is something we know if God has sought us. Job calls Him his personal Redeemer. A redeemer is someone who frees somebody else from slavery by the payment of a price. We believe in a living Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ. Job speaks of Jesus' return in glory. He knew there would be a resurrection of the body. The Christian always has hope.
David returns to Jerusalem, led prominently by Judah. The men of Israel see Judah as receiving preferential treatment from David. Jealousy can cause division in churches. The accusation is ridiculous. Is there any substance to our own criticisms? We must not be ruled by suspicion over evidence, and must be careful how we react. Judah's response only escalates things. As those greatly forgiven, we should respond with understanding and forgiveness.
If we are in Christ, we have been predestined to the praise of His glory. He is working on us, like a potter moulding clay. Whatever our worries and burdens, we are safe in the potter's hands. In Christ we have an inheritance, but we are also God's inheritance and can be certain He is working on us to make us beautiful. The gospel was preached to the Jews first, and there are differences in the church, but we all enter the same way: through faith in Christ. There are nail prints on the hands of the potter.
Sheba leads a new rebellion against David. We see chapter after chapter of David reaping what he sowed. We should fear sin's far-reaching consequences. Joab won't stand for Amasa being in control of the army and kills him. Joab is never disciplined correctly. A church is healthy if there is discipline. Joab takes siege of the city of Abel, but through the death of one man, Sheba, many lives are spared. Similarly, through David's son, Jesus, there is life.
The next blessing in Paul's list is the sealing of the Holy Spirit. This sealing happens when we believe. It was the same sealing for the Ephesians as at Pentecost, and it is the same 2,000 years later: the mark that Christians belongs to God. We are marked out as His possession and protected by Him. We know we are sealed by our having sought forgiveness from sins. The evidence of the Spirit's indwelling will be seen in us. We will want to be holy and love our brothers and sisters in Christ. Our likeness to the Spirit will grow.
This was a period of tribulation, and this Jewish family has to move to the land of the Moabites who were enemies of Israel. Naomi then loses her husband and sons. As Naomi returns home, her daughter-in-law Ruth clings to her. She knows the God of Israel is the only true God. Orpah by contrast returns to her gods, picturing those who fall away. Faced with hard times and false teachers, we must cling to Christ. Foreshadowing what God would do with the gentiles, Ruth would become an ancestor of both David and Christ.
Obedience to the moral law remains binding but is not a means of salvation. The gospel is foreshadowed throughout the Old Testament. The system of sacrifices was important and was from God, but could not take away sins. The writer of Hebrews says God was not pleased with the sacrifices but prepared a body. This was radical and controversial to the Jews. The old system was becoming obsolete. Jesus' offering was once and for all. Sins are no longer remembered. Jesus' words, "It is finished" meant the whole system was over.
David seeks God's face during this famine, convinced that God reigns over all. The famine is revealed to be due to Saul having put the Gibeonites to death. The Lord does not forget past sin. David hands over seven of Saul's sons to be put to death. This seems unfair, but the text suggests they were not innocent men. This awful chapter is meant to remind us of the terrible consequences of sin and the enormous cost to redeem us: these men were hung but Jesus Christ was hung on a tree to redeem us from sin.
God’s Guarantee of the Inheritance of HimselfEphesians
Paul continues this Trinitarian passage with the work of the Spirit regarding the future. The Holy Spirit is God's guarantee of our full inheritance. The Christian in this life is being saved and sanctified but we are still sinful. It is certain that our salvation will be completed. The Holy Spirit lets us enjoy the inheritance now since a guarantee is of the same stuff as the full payment. God indwells His people now. When life is hard and temptations difficult, we can draw on the immeasurable wealth of His greatness.
Christ's invitation goes out to all to come to Him. His audience were those striving to keep the law, and He calls those weighed down by the pressures of life. He offers rest from the struggle. We have rest because He took our sins upon Himself on the cross. There is more "rest" to discover; Jesus gets sweeter the more we know about Him. This is not superficial rest, but in being busy serving Him we discover rest for our souls. He is gentle but also strong and defends us.
Hannah prays to God because she cannot have children. She has a big view of God but asks Him to look on her burden. He is concerned with every area of our lives and longs to hear our prayers. When we realise we can't do anything without God, we pray desperately. It is prideful to be prayerless because we think we can go on without God. He is sovereign but has called us to pray and it is through our prayers that His will is unfolded. Hannah prayed and the Lord opened her womb.
Here is the wonder of God in a single verse: the triune God in three persons. John takes us back to who Christ is and where He come from. He is "other"; nothing like creation in His divine nature. All things were created through Him and He upholds the universe with the word of His power. However, He became like us in His humanity in order to deliver us from darkness.
This is the exit of time and ushering in of eternity. The great white throne of judgement is great because of the One who sits on it. His judgement is perfect. The throne is white because He is sinless; all will be judged by the benchmark of His perfection, the great and the small. This is terrifying, but those who trust in Christ have passed from judgement to life. We will have glorified bodies, fit for heaven.
A Philistine giant comes to kill a weary David, but God preserves His seed, as we see throughout Scripture. David's line was preserved so that we might be saved. David's men see his significance and move to protect him. Do we value each other's gifts? Leaders and servers need support and encouragement. The battles continue, and we will continue to fight the same sins again. Satan's devices are predictable.
In the light of Paul's tremendous sentence in the preceding verses, he prays. He is always moved to pray when he hears about the Ephesians. He gives praise and thanks to God for their continuing faith because God's keeping is the only explanation for their spiritual life and ours. Faith in Jesus and love for the saints are the marks of an authentic believer. Jesus is our only hope, and our love is the outward mark of inward reality.
Paul knew what it was to suffer but was looking forward to future glory. It is right to mourn over sin in the world but we should not let the negativity overwhelm us. Believers live by the Spirit but we are susceptible to our fallen nature and need to set our minds on the Spirit. Believers are in Christ, and there is no condemnation to those in Him. Believers are free from slavery to sin and are embraced by God. He has accomplished everything so that one day we will be glorified.
The vineyard in the parable is clearly Israel, who were the most privileged nation. Today it is in the church that we have light and life and can know Jesus Christ. Jesus' audience were the murderous servants who would crucify Him. They thought they owned the vineyard, and we think we own our lives. To live a worldly life is to re-crucify Christ. The challenge is uncomfortable but gracious. God gives His own son, His first love, so that we can become His treasure.
David's song of praise describes God as his rock, fortress, and deliverer. David attributes his survival and victory entirely to the Lord's intervention, and the personal nature of faith is expressed through his frequent use of "my". Is this same God our personal rock and refuge? We should commit our ways to Him in all circumstances.
The priority of Paul's prayer for the believers in Ephesus is that they would know God. This is the central aim of the Christian life and goes beyond mere theology or intellectual assent. It is about deep, personal communion with God. The possibility of this is only through the work of the Holy Spirit, who brings illumination. The Gospel is more than just an "insurance policy" against judgment. True religion is about having one's eyes opened by the Spirit to behold the glory of the Lord and know Him personally.
David's psalm here shows the paradox of the believer. He was an adulterer and murderer, yet says he is clean. We are painfully aware of our sin but one day God will declare us good and faithful. David lists his exploits but interspersed with praise for What God has given him, allowing him to overcome. God will likewise deliver us. The final verse points to the future prospect of the believer: Jesus reigning forever.
Paul continues his prayer that the Ephesians would know the hope they have been called to. There is a general call as the gospel is preached, but the natural man does not accept the things of God. The effectual or special call is needed; a work of the Holy Spirit. Paul's emphasis is the hope. The Christian has three kinds of hope they didn't have before: hope concerning sin, hope concerning life, and hope concerning death.
The Spirit, the Shepherd, the Sinner and the Singer2 Samuel
David attributes these last words to the Spirit of the Lord. Are we eager to know what God says? David reminds us that he was a humble shepherd. God takes people who are sinful and insignificant, sets His love on them raises them up, so that we can be part of the great number in heaven. He is referred to as the God of Jacob, reminding us that God can take sinners like us and transform us. Are we worshippers like David?
Paul prays that the Ephesians may know what are the riches of God's glorious inheritance. Riches are what's ahead, in contrast to riches on earth that don't last. People are quickly forgotten. The glorious inheritance will be our sharing God's glory! Our sins hurt others but on that day we will sin no more. An inheritance is a gift, and salvation is by Grace; we have not earned it. This inheritance is "in the saints"; we will be gathered with the great company of God's people.
