These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob, each with his household: 2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, 3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, 4 Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher. 5 All the descendants of Jacob were seventy persons; Joseph was already in Egypt. 6 Then Joseph died, and all his brothers and all that generation. 7 But the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them.
Pharaoh Oppresses Israel 8 Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. 9 And he said to his people, “Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us. 10 Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if war breaks out, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.” 11 Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy burdens. They built for Pharaoh store cities, Pithom and Raamses. 12 But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And the Egyptians were in dread of the people of Israel. 13 So they ruthlessly made the people of Israel work as slaves 14 and made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and brick, and in all kinds of work in the field. In all their work they ruthlessly made them work as slaves. 15 Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, 16 “When you serve as midwife to the Hebrew women and see them on the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him, but if it is a daughter, she shall live.” 17 But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live. 18 So the king of Egypt called the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this, and let the male children live?” 19 The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them.” 20 So God dealt well with the midwives. And the people multiplied and grew very strong. 21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families. 22 Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, “Every son that is born to the Hebrews you shall cast into the Nile, but you shall let every daughter live. Meditation The God who orders history for His purposes is greater than the governments or kings who rule over the peoples of the earth. Wisdom compels Christians to fear God more than any ruler, government, or human authority. Exodus begins with the refreshing reality that God is resilient to keep His promises before quickly descending into a confrontation between God and Pharaoh. Israel became a great nation (1-7) leading to confrontation with a Pharaoh who “did not know Joseph.” Pharaoh’s fear of Israel led to extreme measures of hard labor (8-14), ordering midwives to kill male babies (15-21), and demanding male babies be cast into the Nile River (22). Egypt raged and plotted in vain, setting themselves against the Lord (Psalm 2). “But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded.” (17) Hebrew midwives refused Pharaoh’s directive because they feared God more than the king. God blessed the midwives for their civil disobedience (20-21). Fruitful life grows from fearing God more than humanity. Christians are commanded to obey God ordained governments (Romans 13:1-5) but not when they conflict with God’s ordained design for life. Daniel rejected emperor worship (Daniel 3) and refused to stop praying to the Lord (Daniel 6). The early church continued sharing the gospel against direct from authorities to stop (Acts 4:17-20; 5:27-29; 5:40-42). Christians must reclaim a fear of God that is greater than fear of earthly authorities, whether people or political. We must celebrate our freedom to obey the one true King who is ordering His-story for His purposes. Richly Dwelling -What observations do you make from today’s reading, especially in regards to the conflict of powers between God and the Egyptian king? -Where do you see parallels in today’s world, the authorities of our world establishing laws in direct contrast with God’s authoritative design? -Where do you need to fear God more than authorities of our world? Do you believe God will give fruitfulness when you do? Key Verse 17 But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live.
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In you, O Lord, do I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me! 2 Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily! Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me! 3 For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me; 4 you take me out of the net they have hidden for me, for you are my refuge. 5 Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God. 6 I hate those who pay regard to worthless idols, but I trust in the Lord. 7 I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love, because you have seen my affliction; you have known the distress of my soul, 8 and you have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy; you have set my feet in a broad place. 9 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eye is wasted from grief; my soul and my body also. 10 For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away. 11 Because of all my adversaries I have become a reproach, especially to my neighbors, and an object of dread to my acquaintances; those who see me in the street flee from me. 12 I have been forgotten like one who is dead; I have become like a broken vessel. 13 For I hear the whispering of many— terror on every side!— as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life. 14 But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” 15 My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors! 16 Make your face shine on your servant; save me in your steadfast love! 17 O Lord, let me not be put to shame, for I call upon you; let the wicked be put to shame; let them go silently to Sheol. 18 Let the lying lips be mute, which speak insolently against the righteous in pride and contempt. 19 Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind! 20 In the cover of your presence you hide them from the plots of men; you store them in your shelter from the strife of tongues. 21 Blessed be the Lord, for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me when I was in a besieged city. 22 I had said in my alarm, “I am cut off from your sight.” But you heard the voice of my pleas for mercy when I cried to you for help. 23 Love the Lord, all you his saints! The Lord preserves the faithful but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride. 24 Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord! Meditation The ultimate picture of trust is surrendering our spirit to the sovereign care of the Lord. Today’s psalm is saturated with trust, has been stewarded for trust, and invites Christians to surrender in trust. Singing with this psalm locates our trust IN the Lord for refuge (1, 6) from the depths of our spirit (5). We trust because the Lord is our God (14) and His abundant goodness awaits those who take refuge in Him (19). Trust in the Lord is validated by past deliverance (6-8) and fuels prayer for present deliverance (14-18). Praise and courage grow from the soil of trust in God’s sovereignty (19-24) and trust invites believers to join other saints in stewarding the lyrics of this song through our lives. Jonah used this psalm in his prayer from the belly of the fish (Jonah 2), Jeremiah repeated the phrase, “terror on every side” (13) as a running theme throughout his writings (Jeremiah 6:25; Lamentations 2:22), the author of Psalm 71 uses this Psalm to fuel their own journey, and to cover our sin for trusting in other people and places, Jesus uses the language of the Psalm in his deepest moment of agony on the cross (Luke 23:46). Jesus trusted where we fail so from His grace we can turn to trust in the Lord. Knowing the grace of Jesus leads believers to have the word of Jesus dwell richly in our hearts (Colossians 3:16) to give footing for faith in frustrating days, helping us trust IN the word of God and the God of the word. Richly Dwelling -What stands out to you from today’s psalm, specifically along the theme of trust? -Where or who do you trust outside the Lord? How is that working for you? -How does the faithfulness of Jesus compel you to cast your trust in Jesus? He used this Psalm in His death, totally trusting in the Father, so you can find life through forgiveness, the ground of grace to begin again by trusting in Him! Key Verse 5 Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God. In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God. And he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his god.3 Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility, 4 youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king's palace, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans. 5 The king assigned them a daily portion of the food that the king ate, and of the wine that he drank. They were to be educated for three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand before the king.6 Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the tribe of Judah. 7 And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego.
Daniel's Faithfulness 8 But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself. 9 And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs, 10 and the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who assigned your food and your drink; for why should he see that you were in worse condition than the youths who are of your own age? So you would endanger my head with the king.” 11 Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had assigned over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 “Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the king's food be observed by you, and deal with your servants according to what you see.” 14 So he listened to them in this matter, and tested them for ten days. 15 At the end of ten days it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate the king's food.16 So the steward took away their food and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables. 17 As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. 18 At the end of the time, when the king had commanded that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 19 And the king spoke with them, and among all of them none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore they stood before the king.20 And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom. 21 And Daniel was there until the first year of King Cyrus. Meditation The rule and work of God give identity to the people of God. Deep belief in identity from God drives behavior of devotion and discipleship. Daniel and his friends were in exile. Competent leaders (4) taken from Judah in the first wave of exiles (2 Kings 24:14) to be trained and educated in Babylonian culture (5-6, 17-21). Babylon’s reorientation program included changing names, changing gods, and training allegiances. Daniel and his friends had a greater identity from a greater King, and belief in this identity fueled resolve to not defile themselves with Babylonian culture and customs (8). The king gave food and wine. Daniel asked for restrictions and God gave Daniel favor and compassion (9-11).Daniel’s diet maintained distinction from Babylonian culture and the ten day test resulted in “better in appearance and fatter in flesh” than the others in training (12-15). God’s sovereign grace sent Judah into exile (1-2). God’s sovereign grace sustained during exile. God’s rule and God's work gave God's people an identity to live FROM during exile, security to strengthen and sustain devotion to the Lord. Jesus went into exile for His people without compromising His identity as the Son of God, faithful unto death to forgive us for not living faithfully as His people. Through the work of God in Christ, Christians receive identity as children of God. With Daniel we can discover how living from belief in our God-given identity in Christ gives fruit to a life lived in distinction from a pagan culture that is “ten times better” (at least!) in wisdom and understanding (20), a more abundant life marked with devotion and discipleship to King Jesus. Richly Dwelling -What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially the distinction and devotion of Daniel and his friends as they lived from their identity as God’s people during exile. -Where do you struggle living from your identity in Christ, welcoming the reorientation program of our pagan culture by believing truths of the world and behaving in patterns prioritized by the world? -How does the work of Jesus give you a new identity in Christ and how should His grace indoctrinate your believes and, therefore, transform your behaviors? Be specific in a place you need to repent to be reoriented by God’s word and work, living from the identity He gives you. Key Verse 8 But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself Then Joseph fell on his father’s face and wept over him and kissed him. 2 And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel. 3 Forty days were required for it, for that is how many are required for embalming. And the Egyptians wept for him seventy days.
4 And when the days of weeping for him were past, Joseph spoke to the household of Pharaoh, saying, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, please speak in the ears of Pharaoh, saying, 5 ‘My father made me swear, saying, “I am about to die: in my tomb that I hewed out for myself in the land of Canaan, there shall you bury me.” Now therefore, let me please go up and bury my father. Then I will return.’ ” 6 And Pharaoh answered, “Go up, and bury your father, as he made you swear.” 7 So Joseph went up to bury his father. With him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his household, and all the elders of the land of Egypt, 8 as well as all the household of Joseph, his brothers, and his father’s household. Only their children, their flocks, and their herds were left in the land of Goshen. 9 And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen. It was a very great company. 10 When they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, they lamented there with a very great and grievous lamentation, and he made a mourning for his father seven days. 11 When the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning on the threshing floor of Atad, they said, “This is a grievous mourning by the Egyptians.” Therefore the place was named Abel-mizraim; it is beyond the Jordan. 12 Thus his sons did for him as he had commanded them, 13 for his sons carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave of the field at Machpelah, to the east of Mamre, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite to possess as a burying place. 14 After he had buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt with his brothers and all who had gone up with him to bury his father. God’s Good Purposes 15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.” 16 So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died: 17 ‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.” ’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18 His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” 19 But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. 21 So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them. The Death of Joseph 22 So Joseph remained in Egypt, he and his father’s house. Joseph lived 110 years. 23 And Joseph saw Ephraim’s children of the third generation. The children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were counted as Joseph’s own. 24 And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” 25 Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.” 26 So Joseph died, being 110 years old. They embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt. Meditation God’s sovereign grace transforms attempts of evil into good and glory. God works in ways we would never imagine, using circumstances we would never script. Jacob dies and his offspring who had been promised the land of Canaan returned to Egypt after his burial (1-14). Genesis began with God’s beautiful creation and ends with Joseph in a coffin (26). The light is now dark. Life is now death. The garden is now exile in Egypt. Buried in the soil of frustrating life in a fallen world is the seed of God’s sovereign grace. Joseph’s brothers fear their father’s death will be a death sentence for themselves, repenting to Joseph using three different, powerful, words for sin: “transgression…sin…evil.” (17) Joseph re-orients the whole narrative by pointing the climax to God- Joseph was not God (19) and none of us understands God’s ways. God uses evil for good (20). God uses the trafficking, slavery, and injustice of Joseph’s story so that “many people may be kept alive.” The end of Genesis is not the end of the story. Scripture’s redemptive narrative climax centers on the person and work of Jesus who, in His moment of crisis, re-orients the whole narrative of Scripture to the truth of God working good and glory through sin and suffering. Jesus was an innocent man who suffered and died as a criminal. Jesus rose from the grave, redeeming suffering and fueling hope for all who trust in Him. God is sovereign, actively using evil for the good of His people and the glory of His name. Richly Dwelling -What stands out to you from this narrative, especially how God demonstrates His sovereignty over Joseph’s story through Joseph’s words in vs 20? -Why is it difficult to believe that God is sovereign in this way, to use the evil of this world for the good of His people and the glory of His name? -How does the finished work of Jesus, the One who entered into suffering to redeem suffering and death to be tools for life and love, fuel your faith and empower hope? Where do you need to believe this reality in your life? Be specific. Key Verse 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. 1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, 6 including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,
7 To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Longing to Go to Rome 8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you 10 always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— 12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. 13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. 14 I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. 15 So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. The Righteous Shall Live by Faith 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” God’s Wrath on Unrighteousness 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. 28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. Meditation The gospel is the power of God for all who believe. Faith is the key to unlock God’s power for redemption, renewal, reconciliation, and restoration. Paul was set apart for the gospel (1), God’s ancient plan of salvation centered on the work of Jesus and celebrating Jesus as King over everything (2-5). From gratitude (8-12), Paul wrote to proclaim gospel power for all people (13-15). The gospel is the power of God for all who believe (16), the righteousness of God that is from faith and for faith (17). Quoting Habakkuk Paul announces, “The righteous shall live by faith!” God’s sovereign grace is revealed in God’s saving act through Jesus, and faith alone is the key for enemies to move from wrath to welcome into God’s family. Paul quickly pivots from this astounding invitation to unpack reality for those without faith, the unrighteousness who deserve God’s wrath. God’s righteousness is revealed by faith (17) just as God’s wrath is revealed against those who suppress the truth and celebrate ungodliness (18). God is creator, leaving people without excuse (19-20). Humanity suppresses the truth and lives in lies, idolatry, and abominations (almost two dozen abominable fruit fill the picture of an unrighteous life welcoming the wrath of God- 21-32). The problem in the world is unrighteousness that suppresses the truth and celebrates lies. Faith alone unlocks the gospel solution, seeing God Himself in Jesus Christ taking the wrath we deserve and bearing our unrighteousness to death, so we can be made alive in Jesus to walk in a newness of life. Richly Dwelling -What stands out to you more from this chapter, God’s just wrath or God’s gracious gospel welcome to all who have faith? -Where do you see parallels between the unrighteous and ungodly lives that suppress the truth, described in 18-32, and today’s culture? -How does seeing the alignment help diagnose the need for the gospel to be proclaimed by God’s people? With whom is Jesus calling you to share the hope of good news in His work? Take a moment to ask Holy Spirit to lead you to not be ashamed to proclaim the power of God for salvation. Key Verse 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” After the death of Saul, when David had returned from striking down the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag. 2 And on the third day, behold, a man came from Saul’s camp, with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. And when he came to David, he fell to the ground and paid homage. 3 David said to him, “Where do you come from?” And he said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.” 4 And David said to him, “How did it go? Tell me.” And he answered, “The people fled from the battle, and also many of the people have fallen and are dead, and Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.” 5 Then David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?” 6 And the young man who told him said, “By chance I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and there was Saul leaning on his spear, and behold, the chariots and the horsemen were close upon him. 7 And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. And I answered, ‘Here I am.’ 8 And he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’ 9 And he said to me, ‘Stand beside me and kill me, for anguish has seized me, and yet my life still lingers.’ 10 So I stood beside him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown that was on his head and the armlet that was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord.”
11 Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him. 12 And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son and for the people of the Lordand for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword. 13 And David said to the young man who told him, “Where do you come from?” And he answered, “I am the son of a sojourner, an Amalekite.” 14 David said to him, “How is it you were not afraid to put out your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?” 15 Then David called one of the young men and said, “Go, execute him.” And he struck him down so that he died. 16 And David said to him, “Your blood be on your head, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have killed the Lord’s anointed.’ ” David’s Lament for Saul and Jonathan 17 And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and Jonathan his son, 18 and he said it should be taught to the people of Judah; behold, it is written in the Book of Jashar. He said: 19 “Your glory, O Israel, is slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen! 20 Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised exult. 21 “You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain upon you, nor fields of offerings! For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul, not anointed with oil. 22 “From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty. 23 “Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely! In life and in death they were not divided; they were swifter than eagles; they were stronger than lions. 24 “You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet, who put ornaments of gold on your apparel. 25 “How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! “Jonathan lies slain on your high places. 26 I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; very pleasant have you been to me; your love to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women. 27 “How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war perished!” Meditation The sovereign rule of God moves His kingdom forward through the groaning of life, working our pain to fulfill His promises. Lament is language helping our hearts move forward in faith, bridging the gap between trials and trust in God’s sovereign grace. David quietly received the crown for Israel’s king along with the news of Saul’s death (1-10). David could have joyfully taken the promised throne. But David paused to honor the pain of loss before walking into God’s promise. David lamented, and commanded his people to learn to lament too (17-18). Lament bridges the gap between the already and not yet in the kingdom of the Lord’s anointed. Lament is a voice of faith crying out to God from burdens and brokenness, a prayer from pain that pushes Christian faith to the person and promises of God. The Psalms offer language for lament; Jeremiah wrote a book called Lamentations; Jesus lamented. This story of David teaches us we must learn to stop. Lament. David’s lament celebrated Saul, even though Saul sought David’s life (as Israel’s greater king! See Luke 23:34). David’s lament reveals his elevated respect for the office of king and his deep love for Jonathan. Christian lament elevates our faith to help us see God’s rule over His enemies and their handiwork, bridging the place of grief and the glory of His good plan. Jesus has already come, but His kingdom is not yet fully consummated. Lament lays a bridge for us to walk in faith from our pain to the person and promises of God. Richly Dwelling -The greater king has already come! But His kingdom is not yet fully consummated. How does this passage help you see the need to stop. Lament. Learning to get real with pain as you push into the promises of God? -God is worthy of our trust, and He is pushing His plan forward through our pain and problems. Do you trust God and His promises? Practice lament. Be real with your pain- give it language. Then look to God and His promises, knowing Jesus will make “all sad things become untrue.” -How does the finished work of Jesus give your hope and fuel faith to enter into the pain and problems of life? Where do you need to do this, constructing a bridge with lament to move from pain to God’s promises? Be specific. Key Verse 17 And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and Jonathan his son, 18 and he said it should be taught to the people of Judah… |
AuthorPastor Mitchell celebrates twenty-four years of marriage with Lisa and together they have four adventurous children. Mitchell is a pastor at First Presbyterian Church in San Antonio, TX. |