South Valley Community Church

Family dysfunction is millennia old, and King David had no shortage of it. The snowball effect of his indiscretion with Bathsheba and murderous judgment on Uriah have led not just to a dark place, but a dangerous one. A powerful and enraged son may be his undoing. The horror of the scene with Amnon and Tamar seems a prelude to further mayhem and strife. Absalom is incensed and his father is to blame. While the details are likely different than the story of David and Absalom, family strife can dominate our lives at times.

The passage from this week sounds more like a scene from one of Shakespeare’s tragedies than something you would find in the Bible. David’s reign as king has become haunted by the judgment he brought upon his household in his sin with Bathsheba and Uriah. Not only has it cost him the life of their first child as told in 2 Samuel 12, but here in chapter 13 we read of ongoing tragedy. His first son Amnon has become obsessed with his halfsister Tamar, and the scriptures tell us that he was so tormented that he made himself ill which lead to a horrifying assault. Raped and forsaken by Amnon, Tamar is reduced to a desolate woman living in shame with her brother Absalom. Sin, loss, grief, deception, and discord. It brings to mind the passage in Galatians 6:7 that says, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked. For whatever one sows, that will he also reap.” Our sin is NEVER just about us and, once unleashed, we have no control over its ripple effects.

The passage from this week sounds more like a scene from one of Shakespeare’s tragedies than something you would find in the Bible. David’s reign as king has become haunted by the judgment he brought upon his household in his sin with Bathsheba and Uriah. Not only has it cost him the life of their first child as told in 2 Samuel 12, but here in chapter 13 we read of ongoing tragedy. His first son Amnon has become obsessed with his halfsister Tamar, and the scriptures tell us that he was so tormented that he made himself ill which lead to a horrifying assault. Raped and forsaken by Amnon, Tamar is reduced to a desolate woman living in shame with her brother Absalom. Sin, loss, grief, deception, and discord. It brings to mind the passage in Galatians 6:7 that says, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked. For whatever one sows, that will he also reap.” Our sin is NEVER just about us and, once unleashed, we have no control over its ripple effects.

The headlines in Israel day after day had proclaimed their new spectacular king David whose heart for God is as God’s own heart. He’s been seen dancing like a fool in the streets bringing the ark of the covenant back to Jerusalem, God’s favor returning to Israel. One by one, enemies are falling at Israel’s feet under David’s lead. To say that times are good would be a great understatement, and surely no one is more excited and passionate for the Lord than King David. Then suddenly, the book of 2 Samuel delivers a story painfully inconsistent with the way things have been going. Their highly esteemed leader is falling fast in a shameful scandal that’s unfolding quickly, dangerously, and painfully. The same brilliant king of Israel now makes the reader cringe with every turn of the story and his shameful attempts to cover up his actions. God delivers a verdict over the situation and brings David to a state of repentance, but we’re left saddened with little esteem for this king who once radiated greatness.

David was anointed king of Israel while Saul was still alive and Saul became jealous of David since the Lord was with David. Saul’s jealousy was so intense that he tried to kill David using the royal spear (see 1 Samuel 19:9-10). After that day, David was forced to live as a fugitive of the country God had called him to rule. In the following years, Saul hunted down David and his men whenever he had the chance. 1 Samuel 26 tells the story of the last time Saul and David interacted before Saul’s death at the hands of the Philistines. This story shows how God was able to deliver David from a hopeless situation and is an example of how we should respond to those who seek to hurt us. God shows Himself faithful even in these times of difficulty, but in an interesting way, His faithfulness is more visible when our faithfulness comes in response.

Saul has made mistakes. He tends to come up with excuses and blame-shifts rather than owning up to his missteps. Now, God has rejected him which puts Samuel, who anointed Saul king, in a challenging situation—anoint another king. While Saul was the strapping, tall, dark, and handsome one, we are introduced to a new scene where Samuel is tempted to look for Saul-like outward strength and stature. A parade of candidates from the family of Jesse are showcased, and if it were Samuel’s choice, it is clear there would have been multiple winners. God had other plans. This job would require the faithful one in the pastures, the one who gets overlooked. Like Saul, David is handsome, but young and clearly not what his family would consider a “leader” since he wasn’t even invited to Samuel’s party.

The story of God forming the nation of Israel in the Old Testament tells of the special relationship between God and his people; a theocracy. God Himself was Israel’s King who guided His people using leaders He had called and directed. Moses was called by God to lead the Israelites out of the bondage of Egypt. Joshua was called to lead the military campaigns to possess the land of Canaan. After the Canaanites were militarily defeated, all that was left was the cleanup action. The land was divided among the twelve tribes and they were told to finish the job. The book of Joshua concludes with a renewal of the covenant with God and acknowledgment that God has fulfilled His promise. As the generation of Joshua passes away, the book of Judges records the unfaithfulness that emerges over the next 350 years as the Israelites take on the unacceptable religious practices of those they neglected to remove from the land. As a result, the Israelites come under the political influence and oppression of those around them, spiraling downward in a cyclone of failure. This is the Israel that demands a king and the story into which David is born.

Sacraments: Communion by Isaac Serrano May 27, 2018 by Gospel Centered Mission Focused

Sacraments: Baptism by Sam Whittaker May 20, 2018 by Gospel Centered Mission Focused

Acts 17:16-34 ESV: Paul in Athens 16 Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. 18 Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, “What does this babbler wish to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities”—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection. 19 And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? 20 For you bring some strange things to our ears. We wish to know therefore what these things mean.” 21 Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new. Paul Addresses the Areopagus 22 So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. 24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. 26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, 27 that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, 28 for “‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, “‘For we are indeed his offspring.’ 29 Being then God's offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. 30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” 32 Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.” 33 So Paul went out from their midst. 34 But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.