last chapter on King David
Dan Dutcher gave us men an intersting assignment for our last Saturday together. We are looking at 2 Sam 22, which is bascially David's reflection upon his life and what God has done with and through him. I aske Dan to lead us this week and to come up with a creative way to do it.
The assignment is to see ourselves in the story...really, it's a poem. How does it reflect our lives? What God has done? What we have been through in life? For myself, I came up with 4 different reflections on this chapter.
1. Ch 22:2-3. David refers to God with 9 different terms, each preceded by the word 'my'. David's God is personal. The words he uses (rock, fortress, deliverer, strength, stronghold, salvation, refuge, shield and Savior) can all be used somewhat interchangeably. David' is defining God in relationship to how God has acted in David's life. So with me. I want to treat God in a personal way. At time, He has been all these things to me and more.
2. Ch 22:20. DAvid says that God "delivered me because He delighted in me". God did not deliver David because He had to in a theological way, or because He was obligated to because that is just what God does. No, He did it because He delighted in David. I need to remember this as well. God acts in my life because He likes me, because He delights in me.
3. Ch 22:30. One of my favorite phrases in the DAvid canon. It says, "For by You I can run against a troop. By My God, I can leap over a wall." The imagery here is strong. I can realte. I am a pastor because God has called me to be one. But it is only by His Grace that I can be one. Like David, because of God I can do mighty things for His Kingdom.
4. Ch 23:5. DAvid becomes humble here, as I should. He writes that a Godly king should be a breath of fresh air, that he must be just in ruling the people God has given him. But then the humility kicks in. He says, "Although my house is not so with God, yet He has made with me an everlasting covenant." DAvid know that he has not always lived up to the standard that God calls him to, but he knows that God has still established a covenant with him. So also with me, I am not a perfect pastor. Never will be. I will fail people and at times probably do things with less integrity than I would like. Although I am a pastor, I am still prone to sin. God still works with me. He does not abandon me.
The assignment is to see ourselves in the story...really, it's a poem. How does it reflect our lives? What God has done? What we have been through in life? For myself, I came up with 4 different reflections on this chapter.
1. Ch 22:2-3. David refers to God with 9 different terms, each preceded by the word 'my'. David's God is personal. The words he uses (rock, fortress, deliverer, strength, stronghold, salvation, refuge, shield and Savior) can all be used somewhat interchangeably. David' is defining God in relationship to how God has acted in David's life. So with me. I want to treat God in a personal way. At time, He has been all these things to me and more.
2. Ch 22:20. DAvid says that God "delivered me because He delighted in me". God did not deliver David because He had to in a theological way, or because He was obligated to because that is just what God does. No, He did it because He delighted in David. I need to remember this as well. God acts in my life because He likes me, because He delights in me.
3. Ch 22:30. One of my favorite phrases in the DAvid canon. It says, "For by You I can run against a troop. By My God, I can leap over a wall." The imagery here is strong. I can realte. I am a pastor because God has called me to be one. But it is only by His Grace that I can be one. Like David, because of God I can do mighty things for His Kingdom.
4. Ch 23:5. DAvid becomes humble here, as I should. He writes that a Godly king should be a breath of fresh air, that he must be just in ruling the people God has given him. But then the humility kicks in. He says, "Although my house is not so with God, yet He has made with me an everlasting covenant." DAvid know that he has not always lived up to the standard that God calls him to, but he knows that God has still established a covenant with him. So also with me, I am not a perfect pastor. Never will be. I will fail people and at times probably do things with less integrity than I would like. Although I am a pastor, I am still prone to sin. God still works with me. He does not abandon me.
posted by jeff miller at 9:26 PM
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