Passages: 2 Samuel 11&12, Psalm 51

The Sin

As we continue to look at the life of David we are in a period were David is ‘not a man after God’s heart’, and this passage looks at how The Lord brings David back to being ‘a man after God’s heart’.

David broke the commandments of The Lord, he broke 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. 

2 Samuel 11:27b But the thing David had done was evil in the eyes of The Lord.

This was because he forgot and broke the first commandments, he put himself before God, he basically made an idol of himself and worshipped himself, doing as he pleased thinking he was above correction or consequences.

The wonderful thing about The Lord is that He doesn’t want to leave us in our sin and unforgiven state. He wants to restore us back to a right relationship with Him.

The Rebuke

The Lord took control and sent Nathan to David, but Nathan didn’t immediately rebuke but he told him a parable, about the rich man with many sheep who took the poor man’s precious lamb.

This acted to awaken David from his spiritual slumber. David’s heart for justice exploded.

In David’s rage, Nathan with a broken heart to someone he loved, said “You are the man!”.

A rebuke should always be done in love and never anger. 

Anger provokes and love heals. 

Next in 2 Samuel 12:7-10 the Lord through Nathan set out before David:

• all God had achieved for him
• the sin he had committed
• the consequences

As we think about our sin:

• Why is it important that we are confronted with these and how do these allow us to deal with our sin?

The Repentance

David realised that he had sinned against God.

• He Admitted he had done wrong – 2 Samuel 12:13 Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.”
• He didn’t try to Justify himself
• He Accepted the consequences 
• He was Devastated
• He looked to The Lord 

Why are all of these important as we Repent?

The Restoration

God blessed David and Bathsheba.

Joab helped to restore David as he called him to act like a king and be where a king should be.

David was now focused on the right thing, in the right place, and with the right attitude, humbly following God.

As we are restored may this be our experience.

It could be said that restoration is the hardest element of this whole process, why are guilt and shame so difficult to deal with? How can we overcome them

As we allow God to deal with our sin and face up to what is required of us it will help us to become more like Jesus and introduce others to him, as we Worship God Wholeheartedly.

Next Week

As we journey through the Bible let us ask, how does knowing this help me to become wise for salvation through faith in Jesus?

1. What does it teach me? 
2. How does it rebuke me?
3. Is it correcting something in my life?
4. What training can I put into place to help me live a righteous life?
5. How is this equipping me for every good work?

Additional questions you may wish to consider for personal study or in Life Groups.

Apply

As I reflect what have I found interesting? 

As I reflect what has challenged my life, attitudes and actions? 

Is there one practical step I can apply to my life to help me to become more like Jesus?

How would this help me to introduce others to Jesus?

Is there there anything I need to pray about, explore further or extra help I need?

Is there someone I should share with, pray with or encourage?

Passages: 2 Samuel 6:13-23, 1 Chronicles 13, 15&16

Wholehearted Worship

As David led the Ark of the Covenant into the City we see his response to the presence of God and David responded with Wholehearted Worship.

As Christians we have the presence of God within us by the Holy Spirit, we have been saved because of all He has done for us in Jesus, therefore we must respond in Wholehearted Worship God.

In this episode of David’s Life we get a picture of what Wholehearted Worship is.

In Wholehearted Worship we use our Bodies

David danced with all his might before The Lord as he engaged his whole body in wholehearted worship.

In his joy David simply couldn’t do anything else but dance and we see that the people around David also celebrated.

1 Chronicles 15:28 So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouts, with the sounding of rams’ horns and trumpets, and of cymbals, and the playing of lyres and harps.

Imagine the sights and sounds of this day, dancing, music and singing.

• Why is it important that we use our bodies?
• How does movement and dance add to our worship?
• What can stop us engaging our bodies in worship?

In Wholehearted Worship we use our Minds

The first time David tried to move the Ark it was a disaster. Uzzah died, David got angry with God and the Ark was left at Obed-Edom’s house.

Even though David was worshiping with all his might he wasn’t doing things God’s way. He had allowed himself to get caught up in all that had happened, this along with his success meant that he didn’t consult God as to how to move the Ark.

Only after 3 months and learning from the word of God was David able to move the Ark God’s way and fully worship God.

• Why is it important that our minds are fully engaged in worship?
• How does knowing God’s word help us to be Wholehearted Worshippers?
• What can get in the way of us doing things God’s way?

In Wholehearted Worship we Desire God’s Blessings

During the time the Ark was with Obed-Edom he was blessed.

1 Chronicles 13:14 The ark of God remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house for three months, and the LORD blessed his household and everything he had.

David desired the blessing of God and it was only when he lived God’s way that he was in the right place to receive it.

We have the presence of God through the Holy Spirit in us. We are blessed as we discern the will and guidance of the Holy Spirit, use the gifts and show the fruit. Blessed means happy and have the Holy Spirit within us knowing that our sins are forgiven and that we are safe with God, is the ultimate blessing. 

• Why is it important that we desire God’s presence and the blessing it brings?
• How does desiring God’s blessing help us to be wholehearted Worshippers?
• What can hinder us from desiring God’s blessings and diserning the guidance of the Holy Spirit?

In Wholehearted Worship we bring our Offerings

As part of his Wholehearted Worship David brought offerings to God, the Burnt Offering and the Fellowship Offering.

• The Burnt Offering: This sacrifice represented complete dedication and surrender to God. As the animal was usually an unblemished male, worshippers were expected to present their best animals and the entire animal was burned upon the altar. The animal was a substitute, which bore the worshipers sins and died in their place, to restore the broken relationship between God and humans.
• The Fellowship/Peace Offering: most of the meat from the sacrificial animal was retained by the worshippers for a festive meal. The peace offering could be used to express thankfulness, fulfil a vow or serve as a free will offering. Peace “shalom” in Hebrew thought refers to well-being in general it is likely that an important element of the peace offering was the acknowledgement that God is the source of true peace.

As Christians Jesus is the sacrifice that atones for our sins and gives us peace with God. In Wholehearted worship we offer our lives in complete dedication and surrender to God and we celebrate together giving thanks to God. In the offerings there was a cost in time and money.

• Why is it important that we bring our offering to God and celebrate together?
• How does bringing our offerings help us to be wholehearted Worshippers?
• What can hinder us from bringing our offering to God and celebrate together?

In Wholehearted Worship we Bless others

David was blessed by the presence of God and as he organised the transport of the Ark, worshipped, danced and brought offerings this blessed God. As a continuing part of his Wholehearted Worship David blessed others.

• He Spoke blessing: Probably the Priestly blessing of Number 6:22-27
• He Gave practically: 19 Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins to each person in the whole crowd of Israelites, both men and women.

• Why is it important that we bring our offering to God and celebrate together?
• How does bringing our offerings help us to be wholehearted Worshippers?
• What can hinder us from bringing our offering to God and celebrate together?

What can hinder our Wholehearted Worship?

Michal didn’t wholeheartedly worship God, we see that:

• she focused on what David was doing
• she was in the wrong place
• she was Proud

As Christians it can be easy for us to allow our heart to stray from Wholehearted Worship.

• How can these hinder us from Wholeheartedly Worshipping God?
• What can we do to not fall into these traps?

In Wholehearted Worship we Worship God

As David worshipped as we worship God we must remember the ‘audience of one principle’ and come to God in Humility.

• How do these help us to Wholeheartedly Worshipping God?

As we seek to become more like Jesus and introduce others to him, let us learn from David and Worship God Wholeheartedly.

Next Week

As we journey through the Bible let us ask, how does knowing this help me to become wise for salvation through faith in Jesus?

1. What does it teach me? 
2. How does it rebuke me?
3. Is it correcting something in my life?
4. What training can I put into place to help me live a righteous life?
5. How is this equipping me for every good work?

Additional questions you may wish to consider for personal study or in Life Groups.

Apply

As I reflect what have I found interesting? 

As I reflect what has challenged my life, attitudes and actions? 

Is there one practical step I can apply to my life to help me to become more like Jesus?

How would this help me to introduce others to Jesus?

Is there there anything I need to pray about, explore further or extra help I need?

Is there someone I should share with, pray with or encourage?