There was a man of the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Micah. 2 And he said to his mother, “The 1,100 pieces of silver that were taken from you, about which you uttered a curse, and also spoke it in my ears, behold, the silver is with me; I took it.” And his mother said, “Blessed be my son by the Lord.” 3 And he restored the 1,100 pieces of silver to his mother. And his mother said, “I dedicate the silver to the Lord from my hand for my son, to make a carved image and a metal image. Now therefore I will restore it to you.” 4 So when he restored the money to his mother, his mother took 200 pieces of silver and gave it to the silversmith, who made it into a carved image and a metal image. And it was in the house of Micah. 5 And the man Micah had a shrine, and he made an ephod and household gods, and ordained one of his sons, who became his priest. 6 In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
7 Now there was a young man of Bethlehem in Judah, of the family of Judah, who was a Levite, and he sojourned there. 8 And the man departed from the town of Bethlehem in Judah to sojourn where he could find a place. And as he journeyed, he came to the hill country of Ephraim to the house of Micah. 9 And Micah said to him, “Where do you come from?” And he said to him, “I am a Levite of Bethlehem in Judah, and I am going to sojourn where I may find a place.” 10 And Micah said to him, “Stay with me, and be to me a father and a priest, and I will give you ten pieces of silver a year and a suit of clothes and your living.” And the Levite went in. 11 And the Levite was content to dwell with the man, and the young man became to him like one of his sons. 12 And Micah ordained the Levite, and the young man became his priest, and was in the house of Micah. 13 Then Micah said, “Now I know that the Lord will prosper me, because I have a Levite as priest.”
 
Meditation
Ruin is the result of doing what is right in our own eyes. Sin grows from submitting to the standard of living that we see and take. Life spirals downward when the eyes of our heart do not look to The Lord of heaven and earth.
 
The ruin rising from the rebellion of God’s people is recorded with a repeated refrain: “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in their own eyes” (17:6; 21:25). Ruin cascades from disordered worship, flooding all of society.
 
Micah did what was right in his own eyes in regards to religion, rejecting God’s design for worship and synchronizing his faith with cultural practices. Micah’s house was “a house of gods” (5) so adding new idols was no big deal. To baptize his backward practices, Micah ordained a Levite. Levites were a tribe set apart for service and worship of the Lord (Numbers 8), but with eyes looking to justify distorted worship, this Levite abandoned his call so that he could serve a wealthy man who wanted religion his way. Everything, beginning with worship, spirals downward when we do what is right in our own eyes.
 
The book of Judges will not have another rescue, leaving readers looking for God’s mercy. Our eyes must see God’s mercy to eventually give Israel a king, and how this king points to the true King, Jesus. God ultimately redeems the ruin of the world through Jesus, offering mercy to those who look to Him not only for salvation but holistic restoration.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you about the distorted worship in Micah’s house- his lack of authority in his family, accepted idolatry, rewiring God’s religion to work his way, or his syncretism? Why?
 
-We do not see the ruin, yet, but the refrain is introduced. Why is it important for the narrator to highlight Israel doing what is right in their own sight? Where do you identify?
 
-How does lifting the eyes of our hearts to look at Jesus lead to restoration and renewal? What area of your life do you need to look to Jesus alone for salvation and restoration?
 
Key verse
6 In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them, 2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose. 3 Then the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.” 4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown.
5 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. 7 So the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.
Noah and the Flood
9 These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God. 10 And Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
 
11 Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence. 12 And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. 13 And God said to Noah, “I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth. 14 Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch. 15 This is how you are to make it: the length of the ark 300 cubits, its breadth 50 cubits, and its height 30 cubits. 16 Make a roof for the ark, and finish it to a cubit above, and set the door of the ark in its side. Make it with lower, second, and third decks. 17 For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life under heaven. Everything that is on the earth shall die. 18 But I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. 19 And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every sort into the ark to keep them alive with you. They shall be male and female. 20 Of the birds according to their kinds, and of the animals according to their kinds, of every creeping thing of the ground, according to its kind, two of every sort shall come in to you to keep them alive. 21 Also take with you every sort of food that is eaten, and store it up. It shall serve as food for you and for them.” 22 Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him.
 
Meditation
God demonstrates His covenant commitment in the midst of the chaos and corruption of this fallen world. God’s grip of sovereign grace will not let go of His promises and purposes. God wants you to know: Through Christ, He will never let you go.
 
The “people of the earth” followed the pattern of Adam and Eve- “seeing… desiring… taking” (2). The Lord’s heart was grieved by the evil in the hearts of humanity (5), quickly revealing His will to bring judgement. The Lord’s lament reveals His love. God did not let go- Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord (6-8).
 
God’s covenant grip is demonstrated by His astonishing grace. When humanity rejects God wholeheartedly, God walks with Noah (9-10). When the corruption of the earth is emphasized (repeated three times in 11-12!), God keeps His covenant (18). When God determines to bring judgement to the earth, God details a way of salvation through Noah building an ark (13-22). Noah’s faith is demonstrated in his obedience, doing all the Lord directed. God’s faithfulness is revealed by never letting go of His promises and purpose.
 
The grip of God’s covenant faithfulness is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus. Christ entered the chaos and corruption of this world to become a curse for His people. The flood of God’ judgement came on Jesus so the grip of God’s grace can eternally grasp the hearts of His people.
 
Richly Dwelling
-Which headline are you more inclined to believe: “The world is corrupt and chaos reigns- there is no hope!” OR “God is faithful to keep His promises and is working things according to His purposes and He will never let us go!” Why?
 
-Noah believed the latter headline, and He followed God’s plan of salvation. What is hindering you from hearing, believing, and obeying?
 
-How does God’s covenant faithfulness through the finished work of Christ empower us for security in the steadfast love of Christ? Where do you need to believe, dropping the burden of the brokenness of this world to take up the easy yoke of Jesus?
 
Key verse
18 But I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you.
 

After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2 And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. 3 Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” 6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. 14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”
15 Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.
Jesus Walks on Water
16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. 20 But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” 21 Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.
I Am the Bread of Life
22 On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. 23 Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.
 
25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” 28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” 30 So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ” 32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”
 
35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
 
41 So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” 43 Jesus answered them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. 44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me— 46 not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father. 47 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
 
52 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” 53 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. 55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” 59 Jesus said these things in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum.
The Words of Eternal Life
60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” 61 But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? 62 Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) 65 And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”
 
66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. 67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” 70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” 71 He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray him.
 
Meditation
Jesus is sufficient to satisfy the deepest desires of your soul.
 
Humans are driven by basic needs and desires, Jesus uses one of these needs, physical hunger, as the backdrop for His’ miracle of feeding thousands with one boy’s lunch. After eating their fill, the people were eager to see the sign that Jesus was Divine (1-15).
 
Jesus meets this basic need in order to invite those gathered into deeper realities. Jesus rightly diagnosis the crowd’s hunger to see more signs and eat more bread, but He points to the greater reality of working for the food that will not perish. The work of God is to believe and believing is the key to receiving “the bread of God come down from heaven to give life to the world” (22-34).
 
Jesus is the bread of life and whoever feasts on Him will never hunger again (35, 48-51). The Israelites ate bread from heaven to hunger again, as did the crowds at the beginning of the chapter… and people today who are driven by cravings. Feasting on Jesus in faith is the only way to truly satisfy your soul.
 
Christians often seek to satisfy heart hungers by snacking on the empty promises of our culture. Our Father desires to redirect our hungers by inviting us to feast on the Bread of Life. Our Father draws us to Himself through Love.  Believing His words and living by His Spirit gives life (63).
 
Feasting on Jesus in faith is an audacious invitation with an even more bold promise- You will never hunger again. Jesus invites you to believe.
 
Richly Dwelling
-Why do people struggle with the truth that feasting on Jesus in faith is the path to satisfaction of the deepest desires of our soul? Do you struggle with this personally?
 
-The work of Jesus is to believe. Do you find it easier to work for bread or to have faith in Christ and His work, the bread of life, who showed the Father’s love for you by working for you in his life, death, and resurrection?
 
-How can you feast on Jesus in faith? This is to ask, where are you misdirecting your hungers to places or people not designed to satisfy the deepest desires of your soul? Jesus invites you to feast on Him to know true satisfaction.
 
Key verse
66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. 67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life,

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And the word of Samuel came to all Israel.
Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines. They encamped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines encamped at Aphek. 2 The Philistines drew up in line against Israel, and when the battle spread, Israel was defeated before the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men on the field of battle. 3 And when the people came to the camp, the elders of Israel said, “Why has the Lord defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord here from Shiloh, that it may come among us and save us from the power of our enemies.” 4 So the people sent to Shiloh and brought from there the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts, who is enthroned on the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.
 
5 As soon as the ark of the covenant of the Lord came into the camp, all Israel gave a mighty shout, so that the earth resounded. 6 And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shouting, they said, “What does this great shouting in the camp of the Hebrews mean?” And when they learned that the ark of the Lord had come to the camp, 7 the Philistines were afraid, for they said, “A god has come into the camp.” And they said, “Woe to us! For nothing like this has happened before. 8 Woe to us! Who can deliver us from the power of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with every sort of plague in the wilderness. 9 Take courage, and be men, O Philistines, lest you become slaves to the Hebrews as they have been to you; be men and fight.”
 
10 So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and they fled, every man to his home. And there was a very great slaughter, for thirty thousand foot soldiers of Israel fell. 11 And the ark of God was captured, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.
The Death of Eli
12 A man of Benjamin ran from the battle line and came to Shiloh the same day, with his clothes torn and with dirt on his head. 13 When he arrived, Eli was sitting on his seat by the road watching, for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city and told the news, all the city cried out. 14 When Eli heard the sound of the outcry, he said, “What is this uproar?” Then the man hurried and came and told Eli. 15 Now Eli was ninety-eight years old and his eyes were set so that he could not see. 16 And the man said to Eli, “I am he who has come from the battle; I fled from the battle today.” And he said, “How did it go, my son?” 17 He who brought the news answered and said, “Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has also been a great defeat among the people. Your two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been captured.” 18 As soon as he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell over backward from his seat by the side of the gate, and his neck was broken and he died, for the man was old and heavy. He had judged Israel forty years.
 
19 Now his daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant, about to give birth. And when she heard the news that the ark of God was captured, and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed and gave birth, for her pains came upon her. 20 And about the time of her death the women attending her said to her, “Do not be afraid, for you have borne a son.” But she did not answer or pay attention. 21 And she named the child Ichabod, saying, “The glory has departed from Israel!” because the ark of God had been captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband. 22 And she said, “The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured.”
 
Meditation
God orchestrates history to reclaim presence with His people, real relationship restored by His sovereign grace. The sin of humanity exiled us from the garden originally and God’s presence ultimately. God’s solution is to go into exile Himself to bring us back to Himself.
 
God’s word came to Israel through Samuel (1) because God desired to speak to His people. God’s “glory departed from Israel” (22) because they refused to humbly return to God and repent of their sins.
 
Israel treated God in a utilitarian way, using the ark of the covenant as a good luck charm to alter their fortunes in a fight against the Philistines.  The ark of  the covenant was a manifestation of God’s desire to dwell with His people (Exodus 25), not a means to change their mess. Israel brought the ark into their camp but the Philistines soon took it away- a holy God was taken into exile because God’s people would not receive Him.
 
The ark was captured and God’s glory departed, just as it would again later in history when Israel would not repent of their sin (See Ezekiel 10). Eventually, God Himself entered history to change things permanently. Jesus is God’s glory come to restore real relationship (John 1:1-14), showing God’s love by dying for us- even while we were still His enemies (Romans 5:8-10). Jesus went into exile in His death, crying out “My God, why have you forsaken me!?” So His sinful people could be brought near.
 
God’s word has come to us. God’s love was exiled to bring us home.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you about the utter lack of willingness of Israel to hear God’s word from Samuel?
 
-Where do you identify by not listening to God’s word and trying to use Him as a good luck charm to make your circumstances better?
 
-How does the amazing love of God shown in the work of Jesus going into exile for us compel us not only to return to His love but listen to His word?

Key Verse
22 And she said, “The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured.”

​

So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2 Then Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned with anger. He burned with anger at Job because he justified himself rather than God. 3 He burned with anger also at Job’s three friends because they had found no answer, although they had declared Job to be in the wrong. 4 Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he. 5 And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, he burned with anger.
6 And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said:
       “I am young in years,
and you are aged;
       therefore I was timid and afraid
to declare my opinion to you.
7     I said, ‘Let days speak,
and many years teach wisdom.’
8     But it is the spirit in man,
the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand.
9     It is not the old who are wise,
nor the aged who understand what is right.
10    Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me;
let me also declare my opinion.’
11    “Behold, I waited for your words,
I listened for your wise sayings,
while you searched out what to say.
12    I gave you my attention,
and, behold, there was none among you who refuted Job
or who answered his words.
13    Beware lest you say, ‘We have found wisdom;
God may vanquish him, not a man.’
14    He has not directed his words against me,
and I will not answer him with your speeches.
15    “They are dismayed; they answer no more;
they have not a word to say.
16    And shall I wait, because they do not speak,
because they stand there, and answer no more?
17    I also will answer with my share;
I also will declare my opinion.
18    For I am full of words;
the spirit within me constrains me.
19    Behold, my belly is like wine that has no vent;
like new wineskins ready to burst.
20    I must speak, that I may find relief;
I must open my lips and answer.
21    I will not show partiality to any man
or use flattery toward any person.
22    For I do not know how to flatter,
else my Maker would soon take me away.
 
Meditation
Human hearts seek to justify ourselves before God and others. BUT GOD is both just and the justifier of those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:26).
 
Job has rested his final defense, celebrating God’s covenant truths as the conclusion of his self-justification. Job’s self-righteous “friends” have concluded their self-appointed roles as Job’s judge and jury.  Enter Elihu, the final character in Job’s difficult drama. Elihu is distinct from Bildad, Eliphaz, and Zophar because he speaks on behalf of God like a prophet. Elihu’s bold words emphasize God seeing and speaking into human suffering.
 
Elihu “burns with anger” (2, 3, 5) because Job was righteous in his own eyes (1) and justified himself (2- he is also angry with the three friends!). Elihu turns the tables to accuse Job of using language we are familiar hearing associated with Pharisees (Luke 18:9-14). God later affirms Job’s godliness (42:7) yet Elihu is right in his anger. Job was not suffering in his sin, but Job was not sinless in his suffering, either.
 
Elihu does not speak by the cultural authority of age or the historic authority of tradition, but by “the breath of the almighty” (6-10). God’s word is necessary (11-16) as it is urgent (17-22). Job (along with all of us) must realize it is God alone who justifies.
 
Jesus not only suffered unjustly but He endured without sin (Hebrews 4:15). Christ’s death was a pure and innocent sacrifice to atone for our sin, the only place where sinful humanity can find justification before a holy God.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you about Elihu’s anger and claims of authority?
 
-Where do you seek to justify yourself before God and others?
 
-How does the finished work of Jesus, justifying believers through HIS suffering, free us to trust God’s sovereignty in our own suffering?

Key Verse
2 Then Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned with anger. He burned with anger at Job because he justified himself rather than God.

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Lord, how many are my foes!
Many are rising against me;
2     many are saying of my soul,
“There is no salvation for him in God.” Selah
3     But you, O Lord, are a shield about me,
my glory, and the lifter of my head.
4     I cried aloud to the Lord,
and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah
5     I lay down and slept;
I woke again, for the Lord sustained me.
6     I will not be afraid of many thousands of people
who have set themselves against me all around.
7     Arise, O Lord!
Save me, O my God!
       For you strike all my enemies on the cheek;
you break the teeth of the wicked.
8     Salvation belongs to the Lord;
your blessing be on your people! Selah
 
Meditation
God’s sovereign grace transforms dysfunction to delight, redeeming family disorder for His glory.
 
We can all joke about keeping the “fun” in dysfunctional regarding some part of our family makeup.  But it never really is a laughing matter, and no one laughs at the family dysfunction revealed in the historical background of Psalm 3. 2 Samuel 15 is the crown jewel of family dysfunction for King David’s family. David’s son Absalom formed a coup, seeking his father’s throne and his life as a reaction to David’s absentee parenting in response to the sexual assault of Tamar (David’s daughter and Absalom’s sister).  Psalm 3 was written as David was on the run for his life.
 
David’s “foes” are his son and former trusted leaders, dismissing David as being beyond divine help (1-2). David directs his faith above the dysfunction to God Himself, looking to the Lord as His shield, glory, salvation, and strength (3-4). God answers David who rests in the Lord’s sovereignty (5), trusting God for salvation from the struggle of family disorder and dysfunction (6-8). God will redeem all He allows and His people can be at peace in Him.
 
God’s historic pattern is to redeem family dysfunction in His time and His way. We see this in the story of Joseph and His brothers, God’s sovereign grace transforming evil intentions for the good of His purposes and the glory of His name (Genesis 50). God’s sovereign grace invites us to find security in His steadfast love, lifting our eyes to see Him, opening our hearts to trust Him.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you about a Psalm of worship written from the context of family dysfunction? How does this historical context immediately change how you look at the difficulty of dysfunction in your family and life?
 
-Where do you need to lift your eyes off the dysfunction to see God as your protector, provider, redeemer, and sustainer? How would this change your engagement with difficult relationships?
 
-Jesus’ work demonstrates and fulfills God’s promises, specifically His promise to transform evil intentions for His purposes, the good of His people, and the glory of His name. Where do you need to turn from your lack of faith to more fully trust God’s sovereign grace?

Key Verse
3     But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.
            4           I cried aloud to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy hill.

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