Unto you is born a savior in a manger

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. -  Luke 2:1‭-‬7 ESV

Rev. Charles Han

This historically of Christmas

This event is embedded in history. During Roman rule, a census is called. Most likely for the purpose of taxation. The story is written by the author of Luke with the decided aim of writing down all the details. It is anchored in history. Unlike other religions, it is not based upon ideas of men. The source is verifiable. Christianity is based upon the life and words of Jesus. Paul stated that if Christ was a fairy tale of myth, Christians are to be pitied. Our faith is meaningless.

The fulfillment of prophecy

Luke speaks of the lineage of Joseph. This is to prove that Jesus was the long awaited savior. He is the fulfillment of all the prophesies. Not just a couple, but dozens. The probability of this is incomprehensible. Joseph and Mary had to make a journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem. There is no mention of a donkey. They most likely walked. What are they thinking or feeling about this? They are probably thinking of how this was such an arduous journey with a woman late in pregnancy.

God in a manger

This is no flowery or ornate language. Just a matter of fact. This is a culture that prized hospitality. There is a guest room but there is no mean innkeeper. It was likely a shared room. So why the manger? It was likely the only private quiet spot. This is how the most important person ever came into this world. More like a refugee than the son of God. He was born into humble poverty. His first throne would be a manger. He came to be God of the poor & the outcast. He did not come for the righteous. He was not born in a palace. He is approachable to the lowest of the lowly. He came in a dirty feeding trough. It is fitting, not for a king, but for a sacrificial lamb. He does not avoid messes. He enters into the mess of our unruly, unclean, disgusting lives. That is the son of God. He comes for those who are unfit to receive him. This is the one who came in a manger.

Paul: thoughts on marriage

Now concerning the betrothed, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy. I think that in view of the present distress it is good for a person to remain as he is. Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife. But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if a betrothed woman marries, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that. This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away. I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband. I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord. - 1CO 7:25‭-‬35 ESV

Rev. Dwight Yoo

This world is passing away. The gospel should be above our marriage. It should shape and mold our perspective on married life.

Married men should live as if they have no wife.

This is not saying we ignore our wives. It is saying God's kingdom is ultimate, not our marriage. We should not expect perfection from our significant other.

Those who mourn and rejoice should do it as if they are not

When we mourn, it is not as if the world is ending. When we celebrate, it is knowing that this will also pass away. It is tempered by our knowledge of the kingdom of God.

Married have worldly trouble.

Married people have commitments. They took care of their immediate family and also their extended family. Single people could be devoted single mindedly to God.

Are you living your life in this world prioritizing the world to come?

The Gospel according to David: David's Repentance

And the Lord sent Nathan to David. He came to him and said to him, "There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. The rich man had very many flocks and herds, but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. And he brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children. It used to eat of his morsel and drink from his cup and lie in his arms, and it was like a daughter to him. Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest who had come to him, but he took the poor man's lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him." Then David's anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, "As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die, and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity." Nathan said to David, "You are the man! Thus says the Lord , the God of Israel, 'I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul. And I gave you your master's house and your master's wives into your arms and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were too little, I would add to you as much more. Why have you despised the word of the Lord , to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.' Thus says the Lord , 'Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.'" David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the Lord ." And Nathan said to David, "The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord , the child who is born to you shall die." Then Nathan went to his house. And the Lord afflicted the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and he became sick. - 2 Samuel 12:1‭-‬15 ESV

Rev. Dwight Yoo

The man after God's own heart fell into lust, adultery, and murder. This should give us pause. No one of us should say, I would never do that. Like we can do any better. This is the man after God's own heart.

But even so, God did not turn away. Through David, we have the lineage of Jesus. God continues his work. God's grace is greater than any of our sins.

In the last chapter, David was the active party. He sent for Bathsheba. He sent for Uriah. He sent Uriah to his death. This chapter sees God act. God sends Nathan, the prophet, to David. Sin is deceptive. It appears life-giving, but it is life-threatening. From giving into anger, unhealthy relationships, and disordered priorities for success, comfort, & things other than God... They all can feel so right, but are killing us.

The things that need to change are the things we see the least. The arrogant person does not think they are being prideful. They are just "being truthful." David was deceived. He thought he was okay, until Nathan came. God sent the prophet to wound, so that David could be healed.

True repentance

Worldly repentance has sorrow and shame, but never moves on from there. Self centered repentance only focuses on our image before others. We were caught.

True repentance is God centered. When we break the first commandment, we break the rest. Our relationship with God first breaks before the other commands. We fail to keep God first and everything breaks down from there. God's judgement is right and true.

We see not just that sin, but rather we grasp that we are sinners. Therefore we, Christians, must live our lives in perpetual repentance. How does this look? To turn and go back in God's direction. Some are like a pedestrian turning around, others are like bicyclists turning around, finally since sins are like oil tankers slowing to a stop and turning around... It can take forever.

Repentance comes to change our understanding and perception of sin, to change our understanding of ourselves, and to change our understanding of God. We will learn to recognize and stop sinning. We will know that we are sinners to be in perpetual repentance. We will know that God is gracious and just. How? Jesus is God incarnate. He was just, but He also hung out with the dregs of society, tax collectors & prostitutes. Radically holy and radically gracious.

David sinned, but his son died. The baby was innocent. But remember that God too lost a son. A son who was innocent.

Repentance comes from God's kindness. The grace of God seen in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. This is what drives us to change. The love of God seen in the one who sacrificed it all for us. That is what will drive us to change from our sin and filth.

The Gospel According to David: David's Fall

In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking on the roof of the king's house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful. And David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, "Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?" So David sent messengers and took her, and she came to him, and he lay with her. (Now she had been purifying herself from her uncleanness.) Then she returned to her house. And the woman conceived, and she sent and told David, "I am pregnant." So David sent word to Joab, "Send me Uriah the Hittite." And Joab sent Uriah to David. When Uriah came to him, David asked how Joab was doing and how the people were doing and how the war was going. Then David said to Uriah, "Go down to your house and wash your feet." And Uriah went out of the king's house, and there followed him a present from the king. But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his Lord, and did not go down to his house. When they told David, "Uriah did not go down to his house," David said to Uriah, "Have you not come from a journey? Why did you not go down to your house?" Uriah said to David, "The ark and Israel and Judah dwell in booths, and my Lord Joab and the servants of my Lord are camping in the open field. Shall I then go to my house, to eat and to drink and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing." Then David said to Uriah, "Remain here today also, and tomorrow I will send you back." So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day and the next. And David invited him, and he ate in his presence and drank, so that he made him drunk. And in the evening he went out to lie on his couch with the servants of his Lord, but he did not go down to his house. In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah. In the letter he wrote, "Set Uriah in the forefront of the hardest fighting, and then draw back from him, that he may be struck down, and die." And as Joab was besieging the city, he assigned Uriah to the place where he knew there were valiant men. And the men of the city came out and fought with Joab, and some of the servants of David among the people fell. Uriah the Hittite also died. Then Joab sent and told David all the news about the fighting. And he instructed the messenger, "When you have finished telling all the news about the fighting to the king, then, if the king's anger rises, and if he says to you, 'Why did you go so near the city to fight? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall? Who killed Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? Did not a woman cast an upper millstone on him from the wall, so that he died at Thebez? Why did you go so near the wall?' then you shall say, 'Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.'" So the messenger went and came and told David all that Joab had sent him to tell. The messenger said to David, "The men gained an advantage over us and came out against us in the field, but we drove them back to the entrance of the gate. Then the archers shot at your servants from the wall. Some of the king's servants are dead, and your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also." David said to the messenger, "Thus shall you say to Joab, 'Do not let this matter displease you, for the sword devours now one and now another. Strengthen your attack against the city and overthrow it.' And encourage him." When the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she lamented over her husband. And when the mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord. - 2 Samuel 11:1‭-‬27 ESV

Rev. Dan Whang

We think that our politicians are bad. David is no better. He has a huge moral failure. There is no human hero worship.

David is not where he should be. It is the time of war. Kings customarily go out to war during this time. But David stayed at home. He sent Joab in his place.

  David is laying on his couch and decides to go for a walk. He goes out on his roof. He isn't looking for sin and temptation. But we need to remember, sin and temptation does not take a vacation. David does not remember his integrity and forgets God. When sin comes to tempt, Satan does not make God evil, he makes us forget God. He makes us feel that we are justified in sinning.

  David sees this beautiful woman. And he sends messengers. They tell him, this is the wife of one of his men. He sends his men to go get her. And he sleeps with her. He goes from lazing about to actively seeking out the desire of his flesh. He actively seeks it out.

  David has been in control this whole time. Not any more. Things are out of David's control. Bathsheba becomes pregnant. David sends for her husband. Uriah comes and the king talks nicely to him. David tries to send him home to sleep with his wife. But Uriah won't cooperate. So he gets him drunk. But Uriah has more integrity drunk than king David. David doesn't repent. He plots murder. David sends Uriah with a note to the commander that was his death warrant.

  Uriah was one of his mighty men. A close comrade who fought for the David.  The king who invited the descendent of Saul to his table also murdered and stole the wife of a close friend and brother in arms. David is a monster. The man after God's own heart has become a murdering adulterer.

Application

Close your eyes (to sin)

Sin attacks with a visual attack. Not the first look, but the lingering second look. The first is a temptation. What happens after is where we can fall to sin.

Divine silence

After all these things, we see no reference to God. Until the very end. Then we hear that God was displeased. Not that God rejected or withdrew from David, but that God saw David's sin. David did all these things out of fear of man. He wanted to hide and cover over his sin in the eyes of men, but God sees.

"Be killing sin or sin will be killing you."

The Gospel According to David: You Won't Build Me a House, I Will Build You a House

Now when the king lived in his house and the Lord had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies, the king said to Nathan the prophet, "See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent." And Nathan said to the king, "Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you." But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, "Go and tell my servant David, 'Thus says the Lord : Would you build me a house to dwell in? I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling. In all places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?"' Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, 'Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel. And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.'" In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David. Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and said, "Who am I, O Lord God , and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord God . You have spoken also of your servant's house for a great while to come, and this is instruction for mankind, O Lord God ! And what more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord God ! Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness, to make your servant know it. Therefore you are great, O Lord God. For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. And who is like your people Israel, the one nation on earth whom God went to redeem to be his people, making himself a name and doing for them great and awesome things by driving out before your people, whom you redeemed for yourself from Egypt, a nation and its gods? And you established for yourself your people Israel to be your people forever. And you, O Lord , became their God. And now, O Lord God, confirm forever the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house, and do as you have spoken. And your name will be magnified forever, saying, 'The Lord of hosts is God over Israel,' and the house of your servant David will be established before you. For you, O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, have made this revelation to your servant, saying, 'I will build you a house.' Therefore your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you. And now, O Lord God , you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. Now therefore may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. For you, O Lord God , have spoken, and with your blessing shall the house of your servant be blessed forever." - 2 Samuel 7:1‭-‬29 ESV

Rev. Charles Han

David has come a long way from a shepherd boy. He was a warrior, musician, fugitive, rival for the throne, to finally ruler over all of Israel. And finally, David comes upon a period of peace.

The God of all grace

David is in a house of cedar. He is in a peaceful and good place. But David is discontent, the ark and tabernacle sits in a tent. He goes to the prophet, Nathan, and proposes that a temple be built for God. Nathan says yes, absolutely. But God says no. God says David will not build him a house. God chose the tent over the temple. This is to show that God stoops to serve us. He is among us and with us.

God serves us. We are commanded to serve Him. But God doesn't need our service. Pagan gods of that day needed a temple. Building a house for one of these gods will allow is to curry their favor. God is not like one of these. He is not like the other gods. He operates on grace, not karma.

The God of covenant promise

God makes a promise to David. Most covenants if this time are mutually agreed. But God does not, he does it unconditionally, no matter what.

What kind of promise is being made here? God will raise up David's lineage as kings. He will deal with his progeny as sons. His kingdom will last forever. Not hyperbole, but literally forever. It is like hitting the jackpot. Out of nowhere, God promises such great things. But what is this to us? This promise refers to Jesus. Those who have faith in Jesus as saviour and Lord, have claim to this promise.

As followers of Christ, we are treated as sons and daughters of God. Death will not keep us down. We will be a part of this kingdom that will last into eternity.

God lives in a tent, sure. But how sure can we be of God as Emmanuel, God with us? Jesus came and became one of us. He was homeless and experienced all the suffering that we encounter in this life. This should bring us peace and contentment.

"Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.  Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. - Luke 12:32‭-‬33 ESV

We can rest knowing that God is giving us the kingdom. He is giving us an ultimate home. A place that absolutely fits and suits us. This does not exist on this side of eternity. We can find inns and hotels that give some measure of this feeling, but with no permanence. We will stay unsatisfied until heaven comes. A kingdom and home is what God is making for us... in heaven. That is our inheritance.

Our response

David reacts to God's response with a long prayer. He is marveled by the grace of God. He is without words. This king is the one who wrote so many songs of praise in Psalms. This is the heart of gratitude for a debt that cannot be repaid. We should be gripped by a gratefulness that we cannot even put into words. The proper response is repentance and worship.

The Gospel According to David: David Dances

David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. And David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baale-judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the Lord of hosts who sits enthroned on the cherubim. And they carried the ark of God on a new cart and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. And Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were driving the new cart, with the ark of God, and Ahio went before the ark. And David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the Lord , with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals. And when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and God struck him down there because of his error, and he died there beside the ark of God. And David was angry because the Lord had broken out against Uzzah. And that place is called Perez-uzzah to this day. And David was afraid of the Lord that day, and he said, "How can the ark of the Lord come to me?" So David was not willing to take the ark of the Lord into the city of David. But David took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. And the ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months, and the Lord blessed Obed-edom and all his household. And it was told King David, "The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God." So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the city of David with rejoicing. And when those who bore the ark of the Lord had gone six steps, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened animal. And David danced before the Lord with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the horn. As the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord , and she despised him in her heart. And they brought in the ark of the Lord and set it in its place, inside the tent that David had pitched for it. And David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord . And when David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts and distributed among all the people, the whole multitude of Israel, both men and women, a cake of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins to each one. Then all the people departed, each to his house. And David returned to bless his household. But Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, "How the king of Israel honored himself today, uncovering himself today before the eyes of his servants' female servants, as one of the vulgar fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!" And David said to Michal, "It was before the Lord , who chose me above your father and above all his house, to appoint me as prince over Israel, the people of the Lord —and I will celebrate before the Lord . I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be abased in your eyes. But by the female servants of whom you have spoken, by them I shall be held in honor." And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death. - 2 Samuel 6:1‭-‬23 ESV

Rev. Dwight Yoo

The ark of the covenant is a sacramental object for the nation of Israel. It is the physical representation of God's presence.

David has become king. The opponents of David have all died. The first priority for David is bringing the ark back.

The terror of God's presence

David was bringing the ark back. One of his men touched the ark to keep it from falling when the oxen had stumbled. And the man died. Immediately. Uzzah was of the tribe of the Levite's. He should have known how the ark was to be treated, right down to how it was to be transported. It was not to be moved by a cart and oxen. It was to be carried by a group of Levites on poles. God is holy. He cannot stand impurity.

When people meet God, they are terrified. Abraham wanted to see God, God allowed him to see his backside. When Abraham came back down from the mountain, his glowing face terrified the people. Isaiah saw God and cried out that he was unclean, undone. Angels cover their faces around God.

It was grace that God only struck down one man. David and the rest of his men lived. They had treated the ark without due respect and reverence.

The tension of God's presence

So king David brought it to the house of Obed-edom. David was afraid to bring the ark near. But
Obed-edom and his household are blessed. God is holy, but we are impure. We would be undone if God brought his entire presence near.

So David comes back, and this time it is done reverently. It is held by Levites. And every six steps, they sacrificed an ox and a fattened animal. They walked ten miles. It would have been a trail of dead animals and blood. This is the holiness of God displayed for all to see.

The telltale signs of being in God's presence

We cannot fully grasp the gospel unless we understand the character of God.  Unless we have an idea of who God is, we cannot take the gospel properly. If we sing and dance for other things, but God and the gospel does not make you dance, something is wrong. We should have greater enthusiasm for God and His salvation. Not to day that we should fake it. We should meditate on God and His grace towards us.

Firstly, we will care first and foremost for God's opinion. We care less for what people think of us. Rather we seek out the pleasure of God rather than the pleasure of other people.

Secondly, we will have joy. We are content and gracious towards others. It is not self righteousness that drives us, but rather gratitude and humility.

We will dance with all our might, like David.

The Gospel According to David: David stays his hand

When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, "Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi." Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel and went to seek David and his men in front of the Wildgoats' Rocks. And he came to the sheepfolds by the way, where there was a cave, and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts of the cave. And the men of David said to him, "Here is the day of which the Lord said to you, 'Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.'" Then David arose and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul's robe. And afterward David's heart struck him, because he had cut off a corner of Saul's robe. He said to his men, "The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my Lord, the Lord 's anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the Lord 's anointed." So David persuaded his men with these words and did not permit them to attack Saul. And Saul rose up and left the cave and went on his way. Afterward David also arose and went out of the cave, and called after Saul, "My Lord the king!" And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth and paid homage. And David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to the words of men who say, 'Behold, David seeks your harm'? Behold, this day your eyes have seen how the Lord gave you today into my hand in the cave. And some told me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, 'I will not put out my hand against my Lord, for he is the Lord 's anointed.' See, my father, see the corner of your robe in my hand. For by the fact that I cut off the corner of your robe and did not kill you, you may know and see that there is no wrong or treason in my hands. I have not sinned against you, though you hunt my life to take it. May the Lord judge between me and you, may the Lord avenge me against you, but my hand shall not be against you. As the proverb of the ancients says, 'Out of the wicked comes wickedness.' But my hand shall not be against you. After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom do you pursue? After a dead dog! After a flea! May the Lord therefore be judge and give sentence between me and you, and see to it and plead my cause and deliver me from your hand." As soon as David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. He said to David, "You are more righteous than I, for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil. And you have declared this day how you have dealt well with me, in that you did not kill me when the Lord put me into your hands. For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away safe? So may the Lord reward you with good for what you have done to me this day. And now, behold, I know that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand. Swear to me therefore by the Lord that you will not cut off my offspring after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father's house." And David swore this to Saul. Then Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold. - 1SA 24:1‭-‬22 ESV

Rev. Dwight Yoo

Decision making

Just because a door is open, does not mean God desires it. We need to be careful of interpreting opportunities or circumstances as God's will for us. We can easily go down the wrong path.

Guidelines

1) If you have a choice and there is a biblical injunction in your path, don't do it.

For instance, dating non-Christians. We are not to marry non-Christians. Do not be unequally yoked. Don't do it.

2) God's ways are not always the most practical or convenient.

David could have killed Saul. Killing Saul would have been the easiest way out. By not killing Saul, David was ensuring a longer wait for kingship... And a continued life as a fugitive. Impractical and inefficient... But God can call us to these things. He can and does call us to tough places.

3) Can you walk away from this and still be content?

If not, then you need to walk away. If you can't walk away, then this is a temptation and likely an idol for you. We are led down a path of impatience and discontent by whatever this is. We must walk away. It is not for the glory of God, but selfish ambition and desire.

4) Does this maximize my time & talent?

Dealing with difficult people

David was on the run for years. He could have killed Saul as payback for all these things. But David does not kill Saul. He shows restraint. Even when he addresses Saul, it was full of respect and reverence. He calls him Lord, father... Not only that, but Saul goes on the hunt for David again later.

David treated Saul this way not because of God. Not because Saul treated David well, but because Saul was God's anointed. We are all image bearers of God. So they are should be treated with respect.

David trusted God will deliver justice. For those who trust in God, God will not allow anyone to get away with it. It will be accounted for either in hell or at the cross. We aren't to add to God's justice. This is not to say not to defend yourself. We are not to just take abuse, but protect ourselves. David stayed far away from Saul. However, we are to avoid revenge and vengeance.

Application

Commit your heart fully to God

How? Look at Jesus. He could have taken the easy way. Instead he chose God's will in God's way. Jesus took the path of suffering and a crown of thorns for us. That will make us bend our knees to Him. Not only that, but God is for us. He is more for us than we are for ourselves.

Keep your eyes on God

When God could have struck you down, He stayed his hand. Jesus is the greater David because Jesus took our punishment in our stead. He took the penalty of our sin to save us.

Not only are we to not avenge, but we are to do good to our enemies. Love them, because God loved us while we were still His enemies. This is neither practical nor convenient. But that is how God works.

Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." To the contrary, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. - ROM 12:17‭-‬21 ESV

The Gospel According to David: Like Father, Not Like Son

As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father's house. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt. And David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him, so that Saul set him over the men of war. And this was good in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul's servants. As they were coming home, when David returned from striking down the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments. And the women sang to one another as they celebrated, "Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands." And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, "They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but the kingdom?" And Saul eyed David from that day on. The next day a harmful spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved within his house while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand. And Saul hurled the spear, for he thought, "I will pin David to the wall." But David evaded him twice. Saul was afraid of David because the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul. So Saul removed him from his presence and made him a commander of a thousand. And he went out and came in before the people. And David had success in all his undertakings, for the Lord was with him. And when Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in fearful awe of him. - 1 Samuel 18:1‭-‬15 ESV

Rev. Dwight Yoo

King Saul and his son, Jonathan are the focus of this passage. They are two very different people. So different. We'll be jumping around a bit in the Bible.

Jonathan is a man of faith, seeking the glory of God.

Here's an example:
Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor, "Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that the Lord will work for us, for nothing can hinder the Lord from saving by many or by few." - 1SA 14:6 ESV

The army of Israel had run low in weapons, so fighting had died down. Jonathan decides to take his weapon and fight, even though the odds were against him.

Saul is not. He does not depend on God.

Here's an example:
He waited seven days, the time appointed by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from him. So Saul said, "Bring the burnt offering here to me, and the peace offerings." And he offered the burnt offering. As soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came. And Saul went out to meet him and greet him. Samuel said, "What have you done?" And Saul said, "When I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines had mustered at Michmash, I said, 'Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the favor of the Lord .' So I forced myself, and offered the burnt offering." And Samuel said to Saul, "You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the Lord your God, with which he commanded you. For then the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. - 1SA 13:8‭-‬13 ESV

The army of Israel was in a panic. They were vastly outmatched. Samuel tells him to sit tight and wait for him to come and sacrifice to God. Saul waits and waits and can't wait any longer. He offers a sacrifice to keep his army from deserting him. Just as he's sacrificed, Samuel finally arrives. Saul is more concerned about the people than God.

And Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, "Blessed be you to the Lord . I have performed the commandment of the Lord ." And Samuel said, "What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears and the lowing of the oxen that I hear?" Saul said, "They have brought them from the Amalekites, for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen to sacrifice to the Lord your God, and the rest we have devoted to destruction." Then Samuel said to Saul, "Stop! I will tell you what the Lord said to me this night." And he said to him, "Speak." Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. Now therefore, please pardon my sin and return with me that I may bow before the Lord ." - 1SA 15:13‭-‬16‭, ‬24‭-‬25 ESV

Even in confessing his sin, his concern is for his standing with the people rather than his offense against God. Saul wanted the admiration, loyalty, and approval of the people more than glorifying/loving God. That is what his life was centered on. Not God. Because of this, there is always this insecurity and fear. We can also live this way. God is not the ends, but the means of getting what we want. Our problem is not outright atheism, but rather having something else as the ultimate thing in this life.

Jonathan should be fearful; he is not.

This is the son of the king. If there is someone who should fear David, it was him. But no, it is not fear. Rather Jonathan makes a covenant with him. They have a common bond in chasing after God. Kindred spirits.

As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt. - 1SA 18:1‭, ‬3‭-‬4 ESV

David is a competitor for the throne. But Jonathan doesn't try to kill him, instead he gives David his sword and armor. He is a loyal friend who protects David even against his father, the king, Saul.

So what does this mean?

When we have God as the ultimate one, we will not treat people as pawns or as obstacles to our goals. Saul used his daughters as bait to try and get David killed. He saw David as one who was taking what he wanted away: the love and admiration of the people. Saul could not see David as one who chased after God and a defender of the nation of Israel.

We are more like Saul than we are willing to admit. So what then? Are we stuck this way? We have a Jonathan. It is Jesus. He was struck down by the sword for us and through him we are royalty. He protects and loves us. We don't have to stay as people-pleasers. When the gospel has taken root, we will change.

The Gospel According to David: An unexpected champion

Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle. And they were gathered at Socoh, which belongs to Judah, and encamped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim. And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered, and encamped in the Valley of Elah, and drew up in line of battle against the Philistines. And the Philistines stood on the mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with a valley between them. And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. He had a helmet of bronze on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. And he had bronze armor on his legs, and a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders. The shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron. And his shield-bearer went before him. He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, "Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us." And the Philistine said, "I defy the ranks of Israel this day. Give me a man, that we may fight together." When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid. Now David was the son of an Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, named Jesse, who had eight sons. In the days of Saul the man was already old and advanced in years. The three oldest sons of Jesse had followed Saul to the battle. And the names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah. David was the youngest. The three eldest followed Saul, but David went back and forth from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem. For forty days the Philistine came forward and took his stand, morning and evening. And Jesse said to David his son, "Take for your brothers an ephah of this parched grain, and these ten loaves, and carry them quickly to the camp to your brothers. Also take these ten cheeses to the commander of their thousand. See if your brothers are well, and bring some token from them." Now Saul and they and all the men of Israel were in the Valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines. And David rose early in the morning and left the sheep with a keeper and took the provisions and went, as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the encampment as the host was going out to the battle line, shouting the war cry. And Israel and the Philistines drew up for battle, army against army. And David left the things in charge of the keeper of the baggage and ran to the ranks and went and greeted his brothers. As he talked with them, behold, the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, came up out of the ranks of the Philistines and spoke the same words as before. And David heard him. All the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were much afraid. And the men of Israel said, "Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel. And the king will enrich the man who kills him with great riches and will give him his daughter and make his father's house free in Israel." And David said to the men who stood by him, "What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?" And the people answered him in the same way, "So shall it be done to the man who kills him." Now Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spoke to the men. And Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, "Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your presumption and the evil of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle." And David said, "What have I done now? Was it not but a word?" And he turned away from him toward another, and spoke in the same way, and the people answered him again as before. When the words that David spoke were heard, they repeated them before Saul, and he sent for him. And David said to Saul, "Let no man's heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine." And Saul said to David, "You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth." But David said to Saul, "Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God." And David said, "The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." And Saul said to David, "Go, and the Lord be with you!" Then Saul clothed David with his armor. He put a helmet of bronze on his head and clothed him with a coat of mail, and David strapped his sword over his armor. And he tried in vain to go, for he had not tested them. Then David said to Saul, "I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them." So David put them off. Then he took his staff in his hand and chose five smooth stones from the brook and put them in his shepherd's pouch. His sling was in his hand, and he approached the Philistine. And the Philistine moved forward and came near to David, with his shield-bearer in front of him. And when the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was but a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance. And the Philistine said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. The Philistine said to David, "Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field." Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord 's, and he will give you into our hand." When the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. And David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone and slung it and struck the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. There was no sword in the hand of David. Then David ran and stood over the Philistine and took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. And the men of Israel and Judah rose with a shout and pursued the Philistines as far as Gath and the gates of Ekron, so that the wounded Philistines fell on the way from Shaaraim as far as Gath and Ekron. And the people of Israel came back from chasing the Philistines, and they plundered their camp. And David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his armor in his tent. As soon as Saul saw David go out against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the commander of the army, "Abner, whose son is this youth?" And Abner said, "As your soul lives, O king, I do not know." And the king said, "Inquire whose son the boy is." And as soon as David returned from the striking down of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand. And Saul said to him, "Whose son are you, young man?" And David answered, "I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite." - 1 Samuel 17 ESV

Rev. Dwight Yoo

David's Passion

Sometimes wars were fought by singular people. Instead of two armies, they pick champions to fight on their behalf. Each side picks their best and they fight.

Goliath stood nine feet tall. His armor was over a hundred pounds. His spear tip was fifteen pounds. Not the spear, but just the tip. This was a monster of a man. The army of Israel was fearfully intimidated for forty days. The Philistines mocked the Israelites and their God day after day.

So David comes and hears this mockery coming from the enemies of Israel. And he is prodded into action. He is concerned that God's name is not glorified, but openly mocked. When nations fought, it wasn't just one army being greater than another. It was also seen as a fight to see who's God/gods are stronger.

What do you and I get worked up over? Is God first and foremost? Or are we more concerned with our sports team, how the food is at a restaurant, etc? Our priorities are a jumbled mess.

David's Preparation

When David comes before Saul, he asks him, what makes David think he has a chance? David says that he has been defending his sheep from lions and bears... Goliath is going to be like just one of these. A mundane detail of David's life, a shepherd, becomes a vital component in this fight for his life with Goliath.

David's Power

David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell... Unpacks how advantages can actually be disadvantages. Seeming strengths are actually weaknesses. But that's the typical view. Look again at this passage. The actual fight is such a small portion of this text. The vast majority is devoted to the conversation between David and other people. David does not speak of his strength or advantage. David speaks of God who will give the victory. David doesn't win by grit. That's not the moral of this story. David isn't speaking of faith in his own strength or abilities.

We are to have faith in God. We can't just believe our way to victory or healing. Believing harder is not the moral of this story. David comes out to the battlefield with no armor and no sword. Who goes to battle without these things? No one. David is vulnerable and comes out with a stuck and a sling.

We are weaker than we think. Our faith is much weaker than we believe. We all want to identify with David, but we are really Saul and the Israelite army. We are fearful and in need of a savior. We need a champion to come in and save us.

Jesus came to be our champion. He came vulnerable and weak. And he went into the valley of death. He fought without a sword to defeat our greatest enemy. He has won the greatest battle of our life. Everything else is minor in comparison. He has conquered sin and death.

Application

Because of Christ, all things in this life will work out for our good.

We are not to hide our weakness, but rather to celebrate them. Why? Because we will stop putting on weak armor and rather depend on God and His power. God works through our weakness.

The Gospel According to David: The Surprising King

The Lord said to Samuel, "How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons." And Samuel said, "How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me." And the Lord said, "Take a heifer with you and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to the Lord .' And invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. And you shall anoint for me him whom I declare to you." Samuel did what the Lord commanded and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling and said, "Do you come peaceably?" And he said, "Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord . Consecrate yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice." And he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, "Surely the Lord 's anointed is before him." But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, "Neither has the Lord chosen this one." Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, "Neither has the Lord chosen this one." And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, "The Lord has not chosen these." Then Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all your sons here?" And he said, "There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here." And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the Lord said, "Arise, anoint him, for this is he." Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah. Now the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the Lord tormented him. And Saul's servants said to him, "Behold now, a harmful spirit from God is tormenting you. Let our Lord now command your servants who are before you to seek out a man who is skillful in playing the lyre, and when the harmful spirit from God is upon you, he will play it, and you will be well." So Saul said to his servants, "Provide for me a man who can play well and bring him to me." One of the young men answered, "Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a man of good presence, and the Lord is with him." Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, "Send me David your son, who is with the sheep." And Jesse took a donkey laden with bread and a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them by David his son to Saul. And David came to Saul and entered his service. And Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armor-bearer. And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, "Let David remain in my service, for he has found favor in my sight." And whenever the harmful spirit from God was upon Saul, David took the lyre and played it with his hand. So Saul was refreshed and was well, and the harmful spirit departed from him. - 1 Samuel 16:1‭-‬23 ESV

Rev. Dwight Yoo

Samuel had anointed a king, Saul. Saul was a big, imposing man. He was what people wanted a king to look like. A man who looked impressive for battle. But this was not the king that God wanted.

So God sends Samuel to anoint a new king. Samuel goes to where God directs to find the new king. He goes to see Jesse and his sons. And he sees the firstborn, and thinks to himself, ah this must be the one, so large, so impressive. But God says no. God says no to all seven sons. Samuel asks if Jesse has another son. And there is one more. He is the youngest, overlooked, and left out of the feast. He is short and looks like the runt of the litter. God says, this one... And Samuel anoints him. This is not the one a man would have picked. But God looks at the heart.

God cares about heart and character. The Pharisees were impressive with their religious knowledge, but Jesus rebuked them. Their hearts were far from God. The hypocrisy is visible to God and it is abhorrent. But don't be so hard on them, because the church suffers from this as well. Always trying to appear good in front of the pastors.

So David is anointed, he's going to be king. All will end well, right? The spirit comes upon David. And then trouble comes! David was anointed in his teenaged years. He would not become king till he was 30. He becomes hunted, hiding in caves, and running for his life. This is a recurring theme. It happens to David, Jesus, and others. God will refine our character through trial and trouble. This is the normal pattern.

God would later save us through another son of Jesse. Another son born in Bethlehem will show us God's way. He will not pick up a sword to save, but he will die a shameful death to give life and salvation.

The Spirit poured out on all flesh for all the nations

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God." And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" But others mocking said, "They are filled with new wine." But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: "'And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.' - Acts 2:1‭-‬21 ESV

Won Ho Kim

I am a believer in Bible translation. You may think I am about to say that this passage supports having God's word in different languages. But I think there another way to look at this passage.

Pentecost is one of the Jewish pilgrimage festivals. Jews from all over the world came to Jerusalem. The scene is one of all these people being touched by these tongues of fire. Then a plethora of languages are heard. Finally, a sermon to explain what has occurred.

New Demeanor

The disciples were mocked for being drunk, but it is too early. People have barely had breakfast. Places were named, but no languages. Rome, Judea, and other places. So Greek and Aramaic, languages other than Hebrew. Jews from the west spoke Greek. Jews from the east spoke Aramaic. These were the native tongues. So the disciples also spoke these as their native language. So why does the author say that they were using "other" languages. What's the big deal? Why's the crowd surprised by this? Hebrew is considered the religious/holy language. For hundreds of years, Hebrew is the holy language. Then, suddenly, this group of disciples starts praising/worshipping God in other languages. It would have been shocking and scandalous to first century Jews. That's why people said they were drunk. These Galileans were suddenly bold and brazen. They had a reputation as being uneducated. So they had a new attitude and perspective. This is the miracle that happened that day.

New Day

Peter is telling us that we living in the last days. That was two thousand years ago. How is this the last days? After Christ is the last days, there is no age after Christ. It is the last chapter. The day of the Lord is coming for both salvation and judgement. Jesus sits upon the throne. He does not need to win an election. His day of return approaches.

New Distribution

The spirit goes out to all people. Pentecost is a festival about the end of the harvest. It is the gathering of the harvest. So it is with the Pentecost, but the gathering is of God's people. Not just the Jews, but also the gentiles.

Joshua project is about translating the Bible into minority languages. Why spend all this time on a language only used by so few? Because the gospel is for all people, all languages. We are here to work towards the kingdom of God rather than our own ends.

New Direction

We are to call upon Jesus and be saved. The Jews always knew they were to call upon the Lord. But now, there is a new twist. Jesus is Lord. He is the only name by which all can be saved. We are not just to tell people to come and see. We are to go and tell. It does not mean that we need to go overseas. We might just need to go and tell our classmates, friends, and neighbors. We need to pray for workers for the harvest. God will send workers. He will compete His mission.

Restored to Humility

So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen. By Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it. She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings, and so does Mark, my son. Greet one another with the kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ. - 1 Peter 5:1‭-‬14 ESV

Help the younger in the faith

Help them for themselves. Not under compulsion.  Not because you are forced to do so. Do not do it for selfish glory or ulterior motive, but out of love. Build a foundation of trust with them. Walk alongside them in patience. Be an example to those who are new to the faith and the young. To the younger, be subject to the elder. Desire good authority.

Humble yourself before God

It is easy to be humble with those who are better than you. God is the greatest. Yet, he humbled himself before mere men. This is the humility of God. Humility is the willingness to serve others sacrificially. Are you willing to serve in a way that costs you something? If not, perhaps we need to look again at the cross.

Be sober minded

Be free from confusion and improper passions. Do not become intoxicated with your own abilities and talents. How can you tell? How often and feverently do you pray? If not, then you may trust yourself more than God. Or perhaps you are intoxicated with the things of this world. You are distracted from the invisible, eternal things. The devil is waiting for a time of weakness to attack. We are to be vigilant and watchful. He doesn't tell us to flee the devil, but to resist. To resist in the faith that we have. The lion attacks by separating the weaker from the body. We are to be a warm and welcoming community. To remain in fellowship with one another. This life is short, it will pass.

Peter is not saying we have a choice. Humility happens to you by the grace of God. He will restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish us. Peter knows failure. He is the one who refused to let Jesus wash him. The one who denied Jesus three times. The one who struck the soldier who came to arrest Jesus. When Jesus restored him, Jesus tells Peter to feed his sheep. Three times. The chief Shepherd, Jesus, is the one who restored, confirmed, and established Peter. We have all these things through the cross.

Rejoice in Suffering

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And "If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?" Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. - 1 Peter 4:12‭-‬19 ESV

Rev. Dan Whang

For God's people, there is suffering in store. God will not keep us from hard times and trouble. Recently in the news, an entire missionary family died in a car accident. They were driving from Minnesota to Colorado to be trained to become overseas missionaries. How can a family obeying God perish this way? We all ask these kinds of questions in one way or another. Why do we struggle with family relationships? Or finding a steady job? Or maybe trying to get good grades, good friends, or marriage... No matter what it is, God has let it come to pass.

Rejoice in suffering as a Christian

Suffering is not a surprise

God has a purpose in our suffering. God is using this suffering to test and purify us. It is not to discourage, but to show us our character. It shows us where we are spiritually. How loving are really? How patient?

We share is Christ's suffering. We experience a small taste of what Christ did for us. And it means being focused on the coming glory that he has bought for us.

Suffering as a Christian

Our suffering is only of worth, if it is for Christ. Not suffering as a result of something criminal.

Called to blessed

Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. For "Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.- 1 Peter 3:8‭-‬22 ESV

Rev. Dwight Yoo

Having a self effacing attitude

For the good of others, leaving behind comfort whether physical, emotional, or spirit. To love people whether they agree with us or not. But to start with loving our fellow brothers and sisters.

The church is meant to be a refuge for believers. It is supposed to equip and refresh us.

The church is where we grow and mature our spiritual gifts. We cannot love by ourselves; this can only come out in community. We can only see how hard it is to love when we go to community group and try to love those different personalities.

Unity, sympathy, and love towards one another that acts as a witness to the world of God. It is a testimony to those around us of what the gospel really is. It is a peacemaker between even cultural enemies. It breaks down walls and barriers between every race, nation, personality, life stage, socioeconomic class, etc.

Even if you set about doing good to everyone, sometimes people will do you wrong. But keep doing good, but keeping Jesus separate. What does this mean? It is to know that God is in control and Jesus has risen.

To truly do good, we must share the gospel. We cannot serve without sharing the hope in which we believe. We cannot share only when people are friendly. We must be prepared to share and defend the faith. We must have answers to the current day objections to believing in Jesus. Accusations of bigotry, intolerance, and disbelief. We need to be prepared. This is why there is apologetics. Tim Keller's book, The Reason for Good, is a good staying point. But even better is to just talk to non-Christians and these barriers to belief will come up over and over again.

Hypocrisy is speaking of the love and grace of Christ and going nothing for the poor and the downtrodden. It is not just action, but inaction. Sin is not just what we do, but also what we fail to do. If the doors of our church were to close, would the community notice? Would they weep for the loss of a light and a help here in this place? Or would they just shrug? May this be true not only for our church, but also for us individually. May they see our good works and wonder about Christ. Not for our glory, but His alone.

The living temple

As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture: "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame." So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone," and "A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense." They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. - 1 Peter 2:4‭-‬12 ESV

Rev. Kyu Lee

What is church?

We have ideas, but many of them can cloud. Many Americans have decided that they do not need church; they can commune with God without it. Some of us see church as a store of spiritual products. Christian celebrity culture is the result. We idolize specific personalities and ministry heads. We go church "shopping" to find a church that fits our needs. The vast majority of church goers become pew warmers who leave the work to the "professional" ministers (pastors, elders, & deacons). All of these things fall shirt of the biblical vision of church given to us by God. We, the church, are called to a higher purpose. Church is more than just for our own individual needs & desires.

History (background) of the church

The temple is where people can meet with God. This is His address, so to speak. If there is a temple in your city, then you know God is in your place. The tabernacle is the first temple of God. In Exodus, God gives some very detailed instructions about the tabernacle. Everything down to the furniture, even the recipe for the oil to be used for the lamp stands.

The tabernacle actually resembles the garden of Eden. Both entrances face the east. They are guarded by cherubim. The angels with wings guard the ark of the covenant. In Eden, Adam meets with God. The tabernacle is also where the presence of God can be found. The tabernacle represents things that we have lost after the fall. It is a taste of what we had before. The temple is the same, but brick and some rather than tents.

It (the church) is a model of the coming redemption of the earth. The new heavens and the new earth are represented in the temple and the tabernacle. Jesus supersedes both. He is the presence of God. The tabernacle and the temple are a sign/reflection of Jesus. The temple was a place of sacrifice. Animals were brought and sacrificed for their sins. Jesus is both the sacrifice and the priest. We no longer need animal sacrifices, because Jesus was the sacrifice. So the church is the new temple. The church is where God lives and dwells. The church should reflect and give a taste of the new world to come. We are a model of the coming restoration of creation.

Cornerstone of this temple is Jesus

The cornerstone is the first stone set down. It must be perfectly straight and perfectly aligned. Any deviation would threaten the integrity of the building. Jesus is the cornerstone. We are to align ourselves according to Christ. We can distort or lose sight of this. Jesus was rejected by the religious leaders and the political powers of his day. He is not the successful one. He's not the prospering one. He makes his place with the marginalized and the poor. Not the successful, not the prospering... but the lowly.

He (Jesus) stumbles people. We often make others stumble. We don't reflect Christ well. Or we are proud and self promoting rather than Christ promoting. Let them stumble over Christ instead. Let then struggle with God instead. That is the life of faith. We are marked by God. We have a calling, a charge from God. We are prophets. We are to proclaim Jesus and the good news. We are priests. We lay down our lives for the sake of our friends. We pray for them and sacrifice our lives for them. We are royal. We are to extend God's kingdom and his rule. We are to expand the number of those who worship and obey Jesus. We aren't here to make money to buy bigger and better toys. We aren't here for ourselves. We are to love a life on mission for God. We are to love and respect people around us.

Hope leading to holiness

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. - 1 Peter 1:13‭-‬21 ESV

Rev. Dwight Yoo

Meaning of holiness

What does it mean to be holy? What is it exactly? It is embedded in the verse. Be holy as God is holy. It is a communicable attribute. We can't be omniscient or omnipotent like God. But we can be God-like.

So how can we be like him? He is totally other. He is set apart from everything else. He is transcendent. We can be other in regards to our relationship with others. We are totally other in how we live our lives. We should be distinct from the world and the culture around us. We are called to be thermostats, not thermometers. We don't reflect the culture around us, but rather we are to set and change the environment.

We are supposed to look like God. How does God look like in human form? That's easy. Jesus is the word in flesh. He accurately reflects God's character to the world. Holiness should not be confused with haughtiness. Holiness comes along with humility; we know this because of what we see in Jesus' life.

Motivation for holiness

Paul uses the word, therefore. This means that he has an important point to make. The command to be holy, comes after talking about what Jesus has already done. In Christ, we are elect exiles, saved. Because Jesus has done for us, we are to do these things. This is a pattern in many parts of the Bible. The ten commandments, for instance, tells is all these things to do. But right before, God says
"I am the Lord, your God..." God has saved and claimed them as his, therefore, act like this. We aren't earning anything. It is the response to what God has already done. Indicative comes before imperative.

We are compelled because Christ has died for us. We are commanded for the same reason. We are not doing these things to be saved. But rather as a way to express gratitude, thankfulness, and joyfulness for salvation. We can obey because of what has already been done.

The faith that saves is always accompanied by good works. A faith that does not result in a desire for good works is a dead faith.

We were slaves to sin and death. Our fathers both biological and thinking give us ways of thinking that are futile. From cultural, philosophical, and other modes of thinking... we have inherited ways of living and thinking that are useless. But God frees is from these things. We no longer need to live according to those rules. We have a new Master.

Maturing in holiness

Even though we were enemies of God, He saved us. In Christ, we have an eternal inheritance. God's salvation of us frees us from having to impress others. We can do good works without looking for other's approval. We are already loved and approved by God through the death and life of Jesus. This allows us to genuinely love others. Without envy, without pride, without ulterior motives, without needing their approval.

The glorious gospel

Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look. who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for "All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever." And this word is the good news that was preached to you.
1 Peter 1:10‭-‬12‭, ‬21‭-‬25 ESV

So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
1 Peter 2:1‭-‬3 ESV

Rev. Dwight Yoo

The central focus of the Word of God is the Gospel, the good news. It is news, as in history. It is not good advice. It is what has already happened.

Centrality of the Gospel

Suffering comes before glory. There are many examples of this in the Bible, but the death and resurrection of Christ is foundational. The prophets, though prior to Christ, knew of the foretold suffering Messiah. From 1400BC, in Genesis, there is a passage prophesying about the coming Christ. "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel." (Gen 3:15 ESV) The old testament is not just a historic record, but it is about Christ.

We cannot read the scriptures properly without a focus on Christ. This will result in legalism and self centered living. We will descend into either self righteousness or guilt ridden living. We cannot find joy in the word of God.

Children's storybook Bible
God's big picture
Getting the message

Depth of the Gospel

Angels don't need salvation. They are observing history from another perspective and the gospel is awe inspiring. While the gospel is simple, it is also full of unsearchable riches and the vastness of it's implications. The reason the gospel is mundane and boring is not the gospel, but it is the heart within us. The gospel should impact and transform all aspects of our lives and how we see things. It will take an eternity for us to wrap our minds around what the gospel is and has accomplished.

The Transformative Gospel

The gospel is an imperishable seed. It brings about eternal life. But it is not just for the start of our spiritual lives, but it is also necessary for our growth and maturity. The gospel is sustenance. The gospel is not minimal required theology, it is the full knowledge of living.

Living Hope

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. - 1 Peter 1:1‭-‬9 ESV

Rev.  Dwight Yoo

The nature of hope

We don't have the same hope as hoping for something that may or may not come. Christians have a hope based upon the resurrection of Jesus. It is based upon a promise from God. It is not wishful thinking. Hope gives our lives meaning. In the Christian view, faith is confident expectation.

The object of hope

Even of you lose all your earthly things, you h have a heavenly inheritance that no one can take away. What is this inheritance? It is not just houses. It is many things, but primarily it is God himself. God's salvation includes many rewards and heaven, but above all it is living and bring in the presence with Jesus & God.

The power of hope

The confident expectation of heaven can allow us to endure suffering. We can find joy, and sometimes, even rejoice in the midst of persecution and pain. Trials are for refining our faith. It is not God testing us, but God working on us through tough situations.

We are constantly tempted to put our hopes in other things rather than in God and heavenly things. Pain forces us to confront whether we believe what God says. Whether God and God alone is enough. All our other hopes can disappoint. How can we know that we can withstand these trials and tribulations? The word says we are guarded by God's power. God gives faith and salvation, then he guards us for that salvation.

The persuasive power of the word

I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!— I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. - 2 Corinthians 10:1‭-‬6 ESV

Pastor Paul Park

The word is for spiritual battle. The devil and demons are real. We forget or often dismiss that we are in a war. Unless you know what the word is for, it is hard to understand why we need the word. The word is referred to as a sword. Who goes to battle without a sword?

But it not just about carrying around the Bible. We must know and use it. We battle in the flesh, but not according to the flesh. All of us are human with limitations, but not all of this is sinful. We don't know everything. We are created and not divine. There is a humility in trusting in God's wisdom and not our own.

What are the strongholds?

They are rationalizations and lofty opinions that are anti-gospel. They keep us from living lives devoted and joyfully for God. We are not trying to take down the castle walls, but the inner defenses within the castle. We need renewal from these ways of thinking. Here are some questions that can guide us:

How can a good God allow suffering?
How can God send people to hell?
Why is Christianity so exclusive?
Hasn't Christianity caused many wars?
Isn't science truer than any religion?

What can take our thoughts captive? Here's some popular modes and ways of thinking.

"Be all that you can be!"
Celebrity/consumer mindset - (we follow what is flashy and attractive to our eyes and ears.)
"You can do anything you want/Chase your passions"
Relativism/intolerance - (it's true for you, not for me/don't judge me/don't offend anyone)
Materialism - (there is only what you can see/touch/taste.)

If we don't take every thought captive to Christ, then the thought is captive to something else. It is in rebellion. It is a question of autonomy. Who is in charge? Jesus or us? When we don't do take them all captive, we are effectively saying, Christ is not better than ______. We are saying we know better than God what is best. Many of our sins and addictions stem from this. Is Jesus better than any of your goals and dreams? Is Jesus better than your life? Jesus calls us to submit our thoughts, dreams, goals, and lives... Not just once, but everyday. If your heart is not captive to Christ, how can you captivate others to Christ? If Christ is not persuasive in your life, then how can you persuade others?

We are not persuasive in being argumentative. It is being gracious and loving. We aren't trying to prove a point or be correct. We are trying to rescue the other person from destructive ways and habits. We are not dropping "truth bombs" but walking with them. We need to suffer with them and love them.

The Disciplines Of The Word

How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Blessed are you, O Lord ; teach me your statutes! With my lips I declare all the rules of your mouth. In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches. I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.
Psalms 119:9‭-‬16 ESV

Teach me, O Lord , the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the end. Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart. Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it. Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain! Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways. Confirm to your servant your promise, that you may be feared. Turn away the reproach that I dread, for your rules are good. Behold, I long for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life!
Psalms 119:33‭-‬40 ESV

You have dealt well with your servant, O Lord , according to your word. Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments. Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word. You are good and do good; teach me your statutes. The insolent smear me with lies, but with my whole heart I keep your precepts; their heart is unfeeling like fat, but I delight in your law. It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes. The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
Psalms 119:65‭-‬72 ESV

Rev. Charles Han

What do we need to do to get the most out of God's word?

Prayer

Prayer and scripture go together. Prayer needs to be empowered by scripture. Bible reading needs to be approached prayerfully. We are not naturally inclined to notice the goodness nor order our lives by the word of God. Our hearts are more inclined towards worldly pleasures and gain. Prayerlessness can often make scripture reading fruitless. It can change rout reading into an life changing encounter with God.

Meditation

Do you wish to sin less? Or walk more in the way of God? Hide his word in your heart. Store it up by meditating on it. This is Christian mediation, not eastern meditation. It is not about emptying your mind, but rather about filling our minds with God who brings true peace. We need to fix ourselves on the concrete character of God in scripture. It is not just hearing or reading, but you need to chew and digest the word.

Memorize some scripture for a day or a week. Use it to shape your desires, thoughts, and actions. Even if you keep forgetting, keep going. Get back up and get back into it.

Trial

Why is this one of the main disciplines? Only in the midst of our real needs, struggles, and sins does scripture become real. Only through the bitter cold of winter do you know the glorious joy of spring.

God's word only comes with grace and truth when we are in the struggle of life and pain. Suffering brings scripture to life. We can be theological giants but with small hearts and insufficient experiential understanding. God's desire is for us to speak god's word with genuine grace and understanding... And this comes thorough suffering. God exalts scripture through our suffering. God will bring trials for our good.

How does the psalm end? He ends on a note of straying like a lost sheep, one who is backsliding. He needs a savior. There is only one blameless one with a perfect devotional life. He was the afflicted one. This is Jesus. It is not about your commitment to His word, but rather His devotion to you.