Tag: God’s character

Musings on Miscellaneous Regulations

*Deuteronomy 25-26

Psalm 30

Mark 14

-Devotion by Emilee Christian (MO)

Our Scripture from Deuteronomy chapter 25 is part of a larger section subtitled “Miscellaneous Regulations” in Moses’ goodbye speech. It seems these were pithy statements that didn’t quite fit into his main message and so were added here towards the end of his sermon. To the modern day Christian, some of these statements definitely seem odd or extreme. When looking at Old Testament law, it is always important to examine the heart behind the law. I used to not enjoy the books of the law as they seemed extreme, sexist, and outdated. Since writing devotions for Seek Grow Love and being assigned Old Testament law scripture, I’ve come to have an appreciation for these passages. I approach these scriptures by asking: What can I learn about God’s character? What is important to Him? What does He detest? Often, the heart behind what many of these laws say is later reflected in the teachings of the Early Church. Let’s look at today’s reading as an example. 

In Deuteronomy 25:1-3, there is a brief discussion on the rules of flogging. The purpose of these rules is to show that justice should not be cruel or greedy as the punishment is not meant to “publically humiliate” as described in verse 3 (NLT). In 1 Timothy 5:19-21, Paul gives Timothy instructions on how to deal with church conflict. These instructions similarly reflect that justice is not meant to be cruel or greedy, in that accusations are to be confirmed by multiple witnesses to prevent favoritism. 

Deuteronomy 25:4 commands respect and fair treatment towards workers. This scripture is even quoted by Paul in 1 Timothy 5:17 to support the idea church leaders should receive pay or compensation for their service. Fair treatment is also encouraged in Ephesians 6:9 and Colossians 4:11 when Paul is instructing Christian masters how to treat their slaves. 

I’ll admit, Deuteronomy 25:5-10 is a lot and very weird to us in our culture. Yet, the heart behind the matter was to encourage family responsibility. The whole sandal thing is meant to demonstrate how shame is brought upon those who do not care for their family. This idea is reflected in Paul’s teachings to Timothy in 1 Timothy 5:3-8: 

3 Take care of any widow who has no one else to care for her. 4 But if she has children or grandchildren, their first responsibility is to show godliness at home and repay their parents by taking care of them. This is something that pleases God. 5 Now a true widow, a woman who is truly alone in this world, has placed her hope in God. She prays night and day, asking God for his help. 6 But the widow who lives only for pleasure is spiritually dead even while she lives. 7 Give these instructions to the church so that no one will be open to criticism. 8 But those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers.

God is not wanting us to marry our dead husband’s brothers. He is wanting us to take responsibility for family members in need. 

Deuteronomy 25:11 & 12 reminded me of something my cat loving grandmother drilled into our heads growing up. There was often more than one cat living in her house and to protect us grandkids she always warned “Never get in between two fighting cats”.  The take away from this law is mind your own business. Stay out of other people’s quarrels. The call to avoid disputes and quarrels is mentioned in many of Paul’s writings to the early church. Paul urges Timothy to avoid “foolish ignorant arguments that only start fights” (2 Timothy 2:23 NLT).  Paul tells Titus believers should avoid quarrels and “be gentle and show true humility to everyone” (Titus 3:2 NLT). Later in verses 9-11 Pauls explains how quarrels cause division amongst the body and calls them a useless waste of time. In 1 Thessalonians 4:11 Paul instructs Christians to mind your own business. Sometimes we need to let people work things out on their own. Us getting involved may only make things worse. Obviously, this is not the case in all situations. Christians are certainly called to defend the weak and downtrodden. But let’s say you’re made aware of a feud between two coworkers. It may be best not to pick sides, that by gossiping about it with others you are only adding fuel to the fire. Or maybe you know of two family members on radically different sides of the political spectrum. You getting involved, forcing them to have conversations neither party is ready to have, is not the way to go. Try, as best you can, to live in peace and harmony with everyone, and prayerfully consider when it is time to get involved. 

Deuteronomy 25:13-16 is pretty straight forward. Don’t cheat, don’t be dishonest. All throughout the New Testament Christians are called to live truthful, honest lives. This idea could not be made any clearer than in the story of Ananias and Sapphira and the swift punishment they received for stealing from the church. 

Finally, the last bit of miscellaneous instruction calls for the destruction of the Amalekites. While this may seem like harsh judgment for a loving and merciful God, it’s worth noting why they are being punished. The Amalekites attacked those who were exhausted, weary, straggling behind the group trying to keep up as the Israelites made their exit from Egypt. Think about who these people were. When you see a large family walking together at the zoo, who is often in the back? It’s the small children with tired legs and grandparents with old legs. That’s who the Amalekites most likely attacked. The vulnerable. That’s why God is so angry with them, for God cares greatly for the downtrodden, the helpless, the victims. This same idea, offering care and protection to the weak, is carried throughout church culture. James specifically writes “Pure and genuine religion in the eyes of the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress”  (1:27 NLT). 

Let’s be real, Old Testament law is weird, confusing, and hard to relate to – at times. We are no longer in the business of offering animal sacrifices. However, when you take a further look behind the reasons for such laws, you begin to see how God remains unchanging throughout both Old and New Testaments. His desires and love for us remains the same. 

Questions:

  1. How has conflict within your own church been handled in the past? Was it done in a godly just way? What about within your family? At your place of work? How can you personally ensure justice is served when conflicts do arise?
  2. Do you feel your boss treats you with respect? Are your needs met by your employer? If you are personally in charge of a group of people, do you act fair and just?
  3. Are there members of your family you should be caring for? We love our families, but sometimes things get forgotten in the day to day grind of life. Is there someone in your family who could use your help today, whether that be financially or emotionally?
  4. Why do you think God wants us to avoid petty conflict?

Prayer:

Dear God, 

Every part of Your word is precious. Thank You for giving us a way to know You. Teach us to understand Your ways in all parts of scripture. 

In your son’s name we pray,

Amen

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Idolatrous Attachments

Ezekiel 5-8

Devotion by Pastor Jeff Fletcher – originally posted for SeekGrowLove on March 20, 2017, for Ezekiel 5-9.

This portion of Ezekiel is, admittedly, difficult to read.  It’s a pretty graphic account of God impending judgment against the city of Jerusalem and his people, Israel.  God tells Ezekiel to shave his head and beard.  This would have been an act of mourning for most people, but it was double disturbing for Ezekiel, since he was a priest and normally forbidden from shaving his head or beard.  Ezekiel was told to burn, take a sword to, and scatter his cut hair.  This was to symbolize what was to happen to Israel.  A few hairs were kept back, symbolic of the remnant who would not be destroyed.

God accuses his people, Israel, the chosen nation, of being worse than the other nations.  They broke the law more than the nations that did not have the law.  God was bringing his judgment against His own people.  The description of the siege almost defies comprehension, including cannibalism of both parents and children.  This was to serve as a warning to the other nations: if this is how God treats his own people for their idolatry, beware of what he will do to you.

In Ezekiel six God makes it clear that their judgement is upon them because of their idolatry. However, there is a remnant that will be spared and live in captivity and will come to repentance.

In Ezekiel seven, a special emphasis is made regarding their idolatrous attachment to gold and silver.  This wealth that they turned to and fashioned into idols will be unable to save them from the coming judgment.  All the money in the world can’t save you from judgment.

In Chapter eight Ezekiel has a vision of the temple in Jerusalem.  This includes the “Idol of jealousy” which we discover is the pagan god Tammuz.  Tammuz was the Sumerian god of food and vegetation.  At the summer solstice there was a period of mourning as the people saw the shortening of days and the approaching drought.  Sacrifices were made to Tammuz at the door of the Jerusalem Temple.  This was an absolute abomination to Israel’s God, YHWH as He made it clear that He alone was to be worshipped as God (see Deuteronomy 6:4-5).

In Chapter Nine an angel is sent out to put a mark on all of the people of the city who did not commit idolatry and worship Tammuz.  They would be spared.  But then all those who did not receive a mark would be destroyed.  This is reminiscent of the story of Exodus, when the doorposts of the Israelites were to be marked with the blood of the sacrificial lamb, and those with the mark were spared their firstborn sons dying when the Angel of Death passed over their houses.  It also points to the future (See Revelation 13) when the beast will cause people to have a mark on their forehead or they would not be able to buy or sell.  This is contrasted with those in Revelation 14 who have the name of God and of the lamb on their foreheads.

God is a God of love and mercy.  God has provided a means for us to be rescued from the consequences of sin.  There is a way for each of us to be spared the final judgment of God that is coming.  Jesus Christ, the lamb of God is the only means by which we can escape judgment.  Along with God’s mercy is His holiness.  God will not allow sin and rebellion to continue on earth forever.  A day of judgment is coming for all the earth just as it did for the nation of Israel.  God tolerated their sin for only so long, and then came the time for judgment.  Mercifully, God spared those who repented by placing His mark upon them.  God has been tolerating sinful rebellion on earth, but a day is coming when He will destroy sin and sinners who have not repented and turned away from their sins and turned to him through Jesus Christ.  Ezekiel’s harsh imagery should remind us that we must not forget that God’s wrath is coming from which we all need to escape, and we need to warn others.  This won’t make us popular, but doing God’s will is seldom popular among the rebellious.

Reflection Questions

  1. What idols are present in the world today? And in your life?
  2. How does God’s love and mercy work with His justice?
  3. Has popularity ever been an idol for you over God’s will? When have you chosen popularity over God’s will? When have you chosen God’s will over popularity?
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God’s mercy (hesed) endures forever!!

2 Chronicles 6-7

Psalm 136

Psalms 136:1-9(NKJV) Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.
2 Oh, give thanks to the God of gods!
For His mercy endures forever.
3 Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords!
For His mercy endures forever:
4 To Him who alone does great wonders,
For His mercy endures forever;
5 To Him who by wisdom made the heavens,
For His mercy endures forever;
6 To Him who laid out the earth above the waters,
For His mercy endures forever;
7 To Him who made great lights,
For His mercy endures forever—
8 The sun to rule by day,
For His mercy endures forever;
9 The moon and stars to rule by night,
For His mercy endures forever.

(I quoted the above section in the NKJV version because of the familiarity of the phrase “His mercy endures forever” but encourage you to read it in a different version as the word “mercy” is translated many ways.)

The Hebrew word “hesed” is found about 250 times in the Old Testament.  It is translated “love and faithfulness,” “unfailing love,” “faithful love,” “steadfast love,” and “loyal love,” depending on the Bible version used.  It has a bigger concept than just God’s love or mercy.  His love for His people is an central and essential part of God’s character.  The core idea of this term communicates loyalty or faithfulness within our relationship. Hesed is closely intertwined with God’s covenant with His people Israel in the OT.  

We see this in our section of reading from 2 Chronicles today where Solomon is dedicating the Temple.  The Temple in the OT is the dwelling place of God, specifically at the holy of holies, in the ark of the covenant.  God’s “hesed” is in the perfect performance of His commitments expressed by the tablets that God gave Moses on Mt Sinai. 

2 Chronicles 6:7-11(NLT) Then Solomon said, “My father, David, wanted to build this Temple to honor the name of the LORD, the God of Israel. 8 But the LORD told him, ‘You wanted to build the Temple to honor my name. Your intention is good, 9 but you are not the one to do it. One of your own sons will build the Temple to honor me.’ 10 “And now the LORD has fulfilled the promise he made, for I have become king in my father’s place, and now I sit on the throne of Israel, just as the LORD promised. I have built this Temple to honor the name of the LORD, the God of Israel. 11 There I have placed the Ark, which contains the covenant that the LORD made with the people of Israel.”

After a dedication service in Chapter 6, in Chapter 7 we see where God approves and accepts the sacrifices made there by the people.  He does this by sending fire down, which we see as God’s approval of the sacrifice.  God’s fire and presence are put in this Temple building giving His presence to that place.

2 Chronicles 7:1-3(NLT) When Solomon finished praying, fire flashed down from heaven and burned up the burnt offerings and sacrifices, and the glorious presence of the LORD filled the Temple. 2 The priests could not enter the Temple of the LORD because the glorious presence of the LORD filled it. 3 When all the people of Israel saw the fire coming down and the glorious presence of the LORD filling the Temple, they fell face down on the ground and worshiped and praised the LORD, saying, “He is good! His faithful love endures forever!”

Think about the day of Pentecost at the start of the church that we are part of.  God’s fire came down and rested on each of the apostles showing God’s approval and acceptance of the sacrifice of Christ.  The holy spirit is given to those that follow Christ from that day.  We are the Temple of God’s building, the church of the body of Christ.  God’s enduring love is given to us with the same commitment and intensity as He has shown Israel in the OT.  Our relationship with God is based on the covenantal sacrifice of the blood of Christ which allows us into the place and presence of Him. 

Have a great day today with the mighty hesed of God watching over and keeping you in all you do!

-Tom Siderius

Reflection Questions

  1. What verses of Psalm 136 really stand out to you? Are there any surprising verses? What do you notice about God’s character?
  2. Where have you seen God’s hesed in Scripture? Where have you seen it in your lifetime? Are you confident it will endure forever?
  3. Are you living in the place and presence of God?
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Personal Prayer Journal

Psalms 102-104

1 Chronicles 9-10

Today we are reading three brief, but powerful, psalms, totaling 85 verses.  The phrase “Praise God” (or some similar variation) is found 12 times in these passages.  And that’s just that phrase, not the verses describing why God is worthy of praise, which make up the majority of the text!  

Much of the praises today are focused on God’s compassionate character as the Creator of the world and everything in it.  The praise is focused on God’s works, and forgiveness, despite humanity’s faults. Even in Psalms 102, where the author is lamenting over their life circumstances, they still give praise and recognition to an eternal and compassionate God before the psalm ends!

Most Psalms have all these similar themes of praise and recognition of God’s character, just phrased differently and from different perspectives in different life situations.  They are not written to recount a story from long ago like most of the other books in the Bible, but are written by people experiencing very real, raw, emotions.  It’s basically like reading someone’s personal prayer journal!  Because these authors were real people, there is a strong likelihood you resonate with their real feelings of real life situations.  And because we praise an unchanging God, we can have confidence that we too, can experience the same comfort and joy when we praise Him.  No matter if you are in a time of lament, a time of needing redemption, or a time of awesome recognition of our creator, you can find a way to Praise Yahweh.  

Sarah Johnson

Reflection Questions

  1. How’s your “praise life” been lately? Are you taking opportunities to Praise God instead of just petition Him in your prayers? How can you improve this week?
  2. Pick your favorite “praise” verse from today’s reading to focus on this week.  Consider memorizing it to add to your own prayers! 
  3. In our 1 Chronicles passages today we read about the death of Saul due to his unfaithfulness towards God.  Saul began consulting others instead of God, and certainly did not praise Him for all the provision he had been provided.  Read Psalms 103 again, keeping this story in mind.  What can you apply from the message of this Psalm to Saul’s life and death?
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Purpose in the Waiting

Genesis 27-30

Today, I’d like to zero in on just one verse: Genesis 30:22, “Then God remembered Rachel; he listened to her and opened her womb.”

Let’s break this down.

Then God – When I read these two words together, I think that other events had to take place first, before God took action on Rachel’s behalf. The ten sons born to Leah and the two maidservants had to be before Joseph and later Benjamin were born to Rachel. There was a purpose to the waiting. If Joseph had been born before his brothers, he would have had more clout in the family and probably wouldn’t have been sold off as a slave by his brothers and ended up working in the house of Pharaoh.

Remembered Rachel – According to my Bible notes, “remember” doesn’t imply that God forgot. It implies that God expresses concern and He acts with loving care; He shows favor.

He listened to her – Apparently, Rachel never stopped asking God for a son. She believed that it was possible for God to grant her this request, even though many years had gone by.

So what does this mean to us?

  1. God’s timing is perfect. More than likely something needs to take place before our heart’s desire becomes a reality. Maybe it’s a sequence of events or maybe it’s a change in attitude. Whatever it is, we have to trust that God knows what He’s doing.
  2. God hasn’t forgotten about you. “The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17
  3. Have Big Faith and keep talking to God. Keep seeking after Him. “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13

Many Blessings,

-Bethany Ligon

(Originally posted for SeekGrowLove August 1, 2016)

Reflection Questions

  1. Looking back on your life can you think of a time when you discovered purpose in the waiting?
  2. When have you experienced God’s perfect timing?
  3. In what area are you working on having Big Faith?
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Past, Present and Future

OLD TESTAMENT: Nahum 1-3

POETRY: Psalm 119:137-144

NEW TESTAMENT: Revelation 11

Nahum 1:2-3 (LEB):

“A jealous and avenging God is Yahweh;

Yahweh is avenging and has wrath.

Yahweh takes vengeance on his adversaries

and reserves wrath for his enemies.

Yahweh is slow to anger and great in power,

and he will not leave the guilty unpunished.

In whirlwind and storm is his way,

and clouds are the dust of his feet.”

Psalm 119:137-144 (LEB):

“Righteous are you, O Yahweh,

and upright are your judgments.

You have commanded your testimonies

in righteousness and exceeding faithfulness.

My zeal has consumed me,

because my enemies have forgotten your words.

Your word is very pure,

and your servant loves it.

I am small and despised,

yet I do not forget your precepts.

Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness,

and your law is true.

Trouble and anguish have found me out,

but your commandments are my delight.

Your testimonies are righteous forever;

give me understanding, and I will live.”

Revelation 11:15-16 (LEB):

“And the seventh angel sounded the trumpet,

and there were loud voices in heaven, saying,

‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ,

and he will reign forever and ever!’

And the twenty-four elders who were seated before God on their thrones

fell on their faces and worshiped God.”

The book of Nahum reveals God’s sovereignty over the nations and His fierce justice against those who oppose Him. Specifically, it proclaims God’s impending judgment against Nineveh, a city known for its wickedness and cruelty. The opening verses declare God as a “jealous and avenging God,” emphasizing His commitment to righteousness and the protection of His people. God’s slowness to anger highlights His patience, but His ultimate justice is assured; the guilty will not escape unpunished.

Nahum reminds us that while God is loving and merciful, He is also just. His judgment against Nineveh serves as a reminder that evil cannot persist forever without consequence. This gives us hope, especially in a world where injustice and oppression often seem rampant. As we witness suffering and wrongdoing, we can trust in God’s righteous judgment and His commitment to setting things right in His perfect timing.

In Psalm 119, the psalmist expresses a deep love and reverence for God’s law and testimonies. The declaration of God’s righteousness sets the foundation for understanding His judgments. The psalmist’s zealous love for God’s word is driven by the reality of his enemies and the challenges he faces. Despite being small and despised, he finds delight and strength in God’s commandments.

This passage encourages us to anchor ourselves in God’s word, especially during trials. The psalmist recognizes that while trouble and anguish are inevitable, God’s commandments are a source of delight and guidance. When we immerse ourselves in Scripture, we find wisdom, comfort, and a reminder of God’s faithfulness. The law becomes a light in our darkness, guiding us toward a path of righteousness and understanding.

Revelation 11 culminates in the triumphant announcement of God’s kingdom. The seventh trumpet sounds, proclaiming that the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ. This proclamation signifies a pivotal moment in redemptive history—where God’s reign is fully established, and the powers of darkness are defeated.

The response of the twenty-four elders, who fall on their faces in worship, reflects the rightful reaction to God’s sovereignty and majesty. In this vision, we see the culmination of God’s justice and the fulfillment of His promises. As believers, we are invited to participate in this celebration, anticipating the day when God’s kingdom is established forever.

-Jeff Ransom

Reflection Questions:

How does the concept of God’s jealousy and justice in Nahum impact your understanding of His character? In what ways does this knowledge provide comfort during difficult times?

Reflect on the importance of God’s word in your life. How can you cultivate a deeper love and delight for Scripture, especially when facing challenges or opposition?

How does the promise of God’s kingdom in Revelation encourage you in your daily walk with Christ? In what ways can you live in anticipation of the kingdom?

Consider the response of the twenty-four elders in Revelation 11. How can you incorporate worship into your daily life, acknowledging God’s sovereignty and majesty?

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The Lord Is..

Old Testament: Joel 2

Poetry: Psalm 103 (day 2)

New Testament: 2 Timothy 2

Today we continue what we started yesterday – a list of questions to consider for each verse of Psalm 103. Open your Bible and let’s get to work on five more verses.

VERSE 6 – What groups of people do you think would make up the “oppressed” spoken of here? Who do you know personally who falls into the oppressed category? What might adding righteousness look like in their life? What might adding justice look like? Have you seen God working righteousness and justice in their situation – yet? In what ways have you seen and heard of the oppressed receiving righteousness and justice? If this is important to God should it be important to us? How might God want to see you work righteousness and justice for the oppressed?

VERSE 7 – What did God make known to Moses about Himself and His ways? Why? What deeds did God do for the people of Israel? Why? What is the spiritual use of learning history and studying the Old Testament? What about in more recent history? What did God make known about Himself and what deeds did He perform in the New Testament? What about in your family’s history? What ways of God does He want us to know about today? What deeds has He done for you?

VERSE 8 – Where else in the Bible do we find a similar description of God as we find here in Psalm 103 verse 8? (There are multiple places, but don’t miss it in our Old Testament reading for today. God lined that up pretty well for us today! It is also included when God reveals Himself and His ways to Moses as referenced in the previous verse. Where is that passage? HINT: the search feature in BibleGateway.com is pretty useful. Try searching something like compassionate gracious. Sometimes searching in different Bible versions helps.) How would you define/describe and give a Biblical example for each of these qualities of God: compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in love. Now, when have you experienced each of these characteristics from God in your own life? When have you shown others God’s character by reflecting these characteristics to others in the way you treat them? Which one is the biggest struggle for you? How can remembering God’s character help you act more godly towards others?

VERSE 9 – Have you ever known someone who is ALWAYS accusing? What is it like to be with him/her? Would the perfect God still be RIGHT if He was always accusing – could he always find something wrong with what we do/have done? Why do you think He chooses not to always be accusing? When, in history or in your life, have you seen or experienced God giving up His right to accuse or be angry? When have you seen or experienced God letting go of His anger, not “harboring his anger forever”? How can we mirror His attitude?

VERSE 10 – What are your sins? Wait. Stop – don’t go on yet. Seriously – spend more than 2 seconds thinking about this answer. It is important. What are you guilty of? What have you done that has grieved God’s heart and the heart of others? What are you ashamed of? Also, are there sins you haven’t even acknowledged yet or feel guilty of yet, perhaps because of your pride or selfishness – 2 other sinful attitudes? When has your sins blocked the opportunity you have to share God’s characteristics with others? What do you deserve because of your sins? What repayment would be just because of your iniquities? Has God given you everything your sins deserve?

It’s not the most pleasant place to end for the day. But, recognizing our sin and what we deserve is such a vital point before we can truly appreciate the incredible verses that come next. See you again tomorrow as we Seek Grow & Love together.

-Marcia Railton

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Utter Betrayal

Old Testament: 2 Samuel 15

Poetry: Proverbs 3

New Testament: Ephesians 1

We have had a particularly rough week with our four year old son. He has been pushing hard on the boundaries of our well-established routines. One more episode. One more toy. One more minute. One more game. One more snack. One more destination. Seemingly an infinite amount of times my wife and I have offered correction in punitive, redirective, and rehabilitative forms.  In particular, these insistences led to an implosion at bedtime a few days ago.   In that moment, his unrelenting barrage was a challenge to my authority as a parent, and down swung the hammer. I know this is only the beginning. Each of the remaining years of my life as his father, both his will and his physical strength will increase, and it will be well within his power to usurp me when there is more at stake than a night of rest.

This is where David finds himself with his son, Absalom. This prince wanted just one more thing, the kingship for himself. He was skipped in favor of Solomon, leading him down a path of familial betrayal, worthy of a primetime drama. Furthermore, this act of mutiny runs even deeper.  Absalom was pitting himself against God’s anointed. This leads to deep emotional turmoil for David. A king who wishes to remain in power should squash any hint of rebellion; however, David submits to his role as a father and more importantly, trusting God to provide him with an answer and response which can be found in 2 Samuel 15:25: “Carry the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the Lord, He will bring me back and let me see both it and His dwelling place.  But if he says, ‘I have no pleasure in you,’ behold, here I am, let Him do to me what seems good to Him.’”

When faced with betrayal David did not respond with bitterness nor retaliation. He tested his methods in the fires of the Heavenly Father, trusting in the sovereignty of God over the product of pride.  Did this put David in a strategically weak position?  Absolutely, but David’s goal was not to snuff out an insurrection, but to ultimately realign himself with Absalom and restore him back into his presence. When I see David in this moment, I see a father I want to be, but I also see the actions of someone who mimics the attributes of God. Proverbs 3:5-6 beckons our battle with betrayal with this well-known wisdom “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.” While we cannot test with the presence of God existing in an ark, we do have the Holy Spirit living in us. We don’t bring the hammer first, but are merciful, gracious, compassionate, faithful,  slow to anger, and abounding in love and forgiveness (Psa. 86:15)

Let us never forget that we are, first, the ones that have trespassed against God and have spilled the blood of Christ. Yet those in Ephesus in the first century and those across the world today who put their trust in Jesus have the same greeting:“[God] has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him.” (Eph. 1:3b-4) In our betrayal there is a sovereign and loving plan that brings restoration, so that none might perish but all may have everlasting life (John 3:17). Stephen, whose stoning is attributed to the action of Ephesians’s author, might tell you to trust the process, taking action and direction from God and choosing his goodness over vengeance.

From time to time, a good Father will bring down the hammer, and in fact, Our Sovereign God’s final attribute is not leaving the guilty unpunished. Nevertheless, when feeling there is a knife in our back or heart, our first and foremost reaction should be to lean on the Heavenly Father not on our hubris.  In this way, we go beyond obedience and restoration to an earthly parent or monarch. We become an example of our Creator, bringing obedience and restoration to Him that provides an eternal answer to utter betrayal, restoring us to His family line and an enduring rest.

-Aaron Winner

Reflection Questions

  1. What is your experience with betrayal? Were you the betrayer or the betrayed? Was bitterness and/or retaliation involved? What can you learn from David in 2 Samuel 15?
  2. If you are a parent or you know a parent, how can parents mirror God’s mercy, grace, compassion, faithfulness,  slowness to anger, and abounding in love and forgiveness ? Why are those attributes important to establish? What role does the hammer, justice and judgment play?
  3. When did you trust in God by not following what human nature says is right? How can this be helpful in a situation that you face today?
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God’s Amazing Character

Old Testament: 2 Samuel 9 & 10

Poetry: Psalm 72

New Testament: Galatians 5:22

We previously read the Seek.Grow.Love year’s readings with the objective of focusing on what we could discover and celebrate about God’s character. Today’s reading in Psalm 72 paints a beautiful picture of the kingdom and highlights wonderful attributes of God’s amazing character. We read in verses 4 and 12-14 about His heart for the afflicted, the crushed and the needy.

Give the king Your judgments, O God,

And Your righteousness to the king’s son.

4 

May he vindicate the afflicted of the people,

Save the children of the needy

And crush the oppressor.

12 

For he will deliver the needy when he cries for help,

The afflicted also, and him who has no helper.

13 

He will have compassion on the poor and needy,

And the lives of the needy he will save.

14 

He will rescue their life from oppression and violence,

And their blood will be precious in his sight;

I am always blown away that we are blessed enough to have a Heavenly Father with such compassion and unconditional love for us. Let that sink in for a minute. This passage actually made me think of a few other passages. One was from the story of Ruth and Naomi and we read how they were able to glean the fields per the provision of God’s law. Those harvesting the land were not to clear the grounds of the crops that had fallen or clear all the way to the edges so that the needy could glean the field. 

We can read about this law in Leviticus 19:9 “‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10 Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the Lord your God.

Here are a couple of other passages that came to mind:

James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Isaiah 1:17: learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.

If reading these passages doesn’t give you pause, it really should. Take a moment to really think about God’s heart and what that means for you. Take time to deeply celebrate and appreciate who He is! May we seek to imitate His character by looking after the needy, the fatherless and the widow.

-Kristy Cisneros

ReFLection Questions

  1. Where have you seen evidence of God’s amazing character?
  2. How would you describe God’s heart?
  3. How can you pass on God’s compassion and helping hand to others?
  4. Can the fruits of the Spirit of love, kindness and goodness be seen in you?
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All His Wonders

Old Testament: Genesis 23 & 24

Poetry: Psalm 9

New Testament: Matthew 9

Psalm 9 is packed with so many insights into God’s character! Take a moment and read this Psalm if you haven’t yet. Keep an eye out for where David talks about God and His character. 

In this Psalm, David is comparing those who know God and those who are wicked. He mentions God’s holiness, justness, and provision – contrasting God’s response to both groups of people. David also mentions multiple times that he will “tell of your deeds” as he reminisces on the wonders that God has done in his life. David has confidence and faith in God because he knows that the LORD is faithful. 

Ok just a second though… in David’s time, Jesus hadn’t died and risen yet, let alone even been born. But look at how firm David is in his praise! He knows that God has done wonders and will do even more. He knows that God cares about His people.

How much more thankful can we be because we know of Jesus? We can have a beautiful perspective when we read the Old Testament because we know what happens in the New. The hope of God’s throne, of His provision, and judgment have an exponentially greater meaning to us with the hope of the Kingdom. 

Like David in verse 11, we can tell those around us the wonderful things God has done (and will do). We can even see this topic in the New Testament. If we flip to the other side of our Bibles, we see in Hebrews 10:23-25 that we have a steadfast hope because of the faithfulness of God through the sacrifice of Jesus. With this foundation, we can encourage each other as brothers and sisters. This encouragement will lead to love and good deeds – loving God and loving others!

Let’s take some time today to praise God for His faithfulness. That He has done wonderful deeds (Psalm 9:1), that He is a stronghold in times of trouble (9:9), that He hears the cry of the afflicted (9:12), and that He does not forget the needy (9:18). I find it so amazing that Matthew 9 reveals the heart of God even more. Jesus’ mission was to do his Father’s will, which means that we can see God’s character through the actions of Jesus. 

In Matthew 9:12-13, Jesus says that he isn’t calling the righteous, but the sinners – the ones who are sick and need healing. WOW! Friends, that’s all of us. Even those of us who have been believers for a while. We must remember that we too were and are sinners and have been saved! Thank you God for seeing the needy, the poor, the hurt, and the sinners. Now THAT is something to praise God with our WHOLE HEART (Psalm 9:1) for. Let us be glad in that. 

Today, I want to encourage you to think about the wonderful deeds that God has done in your life. See if you could ask that same question to another believer in your life. Sharing God’s faithfulness encourages and edifies both ourselves and those around us.

-Katelyn Salyers

Reflection Questions

  1. What wonderful deeds has God done in your life?
  2. Today who will you ask to tell you what wonderful deeds God has done in their life?
  3. Why is it important to tell yourself and others what God has done? What happens when we forget?
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