Israel

The Difference Between Saul and David

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Today’s sermon was all about David and Bathsheba. You don’t have to be a rocket surgeon to realize that David messed up. Badly. He wasn’t where he should have been, he let his eyes control his mind instead of the other way around, and he let his desires control his actions. Basically, he screwed up big time.

In order to cover up adultery, he added the murder of Bathsheba’s husband Uriah, as well as those who just happened to be nearby, to his rap sheet. At some point, he had become spiritually numb to sin and was heading down a path to swift destruction. But God had mercy.

Nathan confronted David about his sin. That was God’s mercy. God could have let David keep going down the road to where his desires were taking him to a tragic end, but God intervened. Were there natural consequences to David’s sin? Absolutely. But it was nowhere near as bad as it could have been had David continued on his original path.

The difference between David and his predecessor Saul was in the way they reacted to being confronted with sin. Saul’s heart was hardened and doubled down on his defense and self-justification. David’s heart was broken and he showed real remorse and repentance. He told God that ultimately his sin was only against Him because it was a kind of cosmic treason.

By no means does David’s sorrow negate the egregious nature of what he did. It was awful. Ultimately, it lead to a divided kingdom as the seeds were sown that would eventually lead to strife and conflict between Judah and the rest of the tribes. But if you continue to read your Bible, you’ll find that God called David “a man after my own heart.”

Every one of us will mess up at some point. Maybe our sin won’t be as obviously blatant as adultery and murder, but sin is sin and all sin is rebellion against a holy God. The key is what we do with our sin. What do we do when someone confronts us? Do we make excuses or do we make it right? Do we harden our hearts or do we let the Spirit break our hearts?

The beauty of it all is that the seed from David’s line, Jesus, took all of David’s sins upon Him on the cross. He took all of your sins and all of my sins. He paid the infinite and eternal punishment that those sins merited and gave forgiveness and freedom to all who would believe in His name.

I think David understood a little of this Messiah and put his faith in what he understood and that’s what saved him. We on the other side of the cross can believe in the fully revealed, fully finished work of Jesus on the cross. That is our salvation.

May we never become callous to sin or disregard the consequences to the choices we make. May we always seek accountability from others who will tell us the truth even when it’s uncomfortable or painful. May we seek above and pleasure or profit to be people who are after God’s own heart.

The Blessing of No

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In my daily Bible reading, I ran across a bit of a strange event in the life of David. The text says that God was angry with David, so He incited David to to a count the number of people in Israel. Even Joab, the commander of David’s army who mostly looked out for himself, didn’t think this was a good idea. But why would God incite David to sin?

I think by this point, David has become a bit prideful and probably had the idea of taking a census so he could feed his own ego about how strong he was militarily. What God did was allow him to get what he wanted and to find out how bad that would turn out.

I think one of the hardest yet most worthwhile lessons we can ever learn as believers is that sometimes God not giving us what we ask for is a blessing rather than a punishment. He knows that if we got what we wanted when we were not ready for it, it would destroy us. Or He has something different and better in store for us that we would ask for if we knew what He knew.

Conversely, God often disciplines us by allowing us to have our own way for the sole purpose of seeing where our own desires lead us apart from God. One of the major points of Romans 1 was that one of the consequences of rejecting God was that they got everything they wanted and it only further alienated them from God, each other, and their very selves.

Sometimes, a NO from God is a blessing. He’s protecting you. He knows that you’re not asking from a place of faith but of lustful desire or a thirst for power or selfish ambition. He also knows that ultimately He can’t give you peace or security apart from Himself because He is our peace and security. He is the ultimate fulfillment of every longing and desire, even though we may not see it at the time.

Thank God for every time He says no or not yet. Trust that what He has for you is better. Believe and live in the knowledge that He is enough. Seek Him and His kingdom first above all else and everything else will fall into place.

Palm Sunday 2026

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Something I read today has stuck with me all day. Today we celebrate Palm Sunday, when the crowds were yelling and singing as Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey in clear fulfillment of an Old Testament Messianic prophecy. Yet those were the same ones who were weeping over His death just a few days later.

I wonder what they were expecting. Were they hoping that Jesus would somehow lead an overthrow of Rome and restore independence to Israel? Were they hoping He would set Himself up as a King over Israel?

He didn’t have an army that they could see. He never once spoke about raising up an army. He never told them they needed to rebel against Roman rule. In fact, He’s the one who told them to pay their raxes because the coins which bore Ceasar’s likeness belonged to Caesar.

I wonder how many understood that the kingdom Jesus kept talking about was not one of this world. It wasn’t defined by boundaries or geography. It was God’s active rule in the hearts of all who would believe in His name and have eternal life and be indwelled by His Holy Spirit. It was the Church that would explode in numbers after He ascended back into heaven.

But most of them didn’t get it. Jesus even said they wouldn’t. Their hardness of heart and spiritual blindness kept them from seeing what was right in front of them. Only a few understood, and even they didn’t fully realize what was happening until after Jesus rose from the dead. Even the twelve were most likely expecting what the crowds were expecting.

No one could have foreseen a suffering Messiah. No one predicted that instead of leading a rebellion against Rome, He would lay down His life for them and His own people and the whole world. No one was prepared for Him to die, especially not on a cross reserved for the worst of criminals in a manner that was the worst kind of torture the human mind could conceive.

But to those who believed, He gave the right to become sons and daughters of the living God.

Lamb

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Recently, I discovered an old-school CCM group. Technically, they’re a Messianic Jewish group that’s a little bit country and a little bit rock and roll (if you got that reference, it’s probably time to schedule your next colonoscopy).

This record definitely has a Jewish feel to it. Primarily, the lyrics are partly in Hebrew (spelled phonetically and thankfully with translations so I can follow along). It’s about as Scriptural as you can get. In fact, many of the songs are straight from Scripture.

Lately, I’ve been appreciating more and more the Jewish roots of my Christian faith. I think churches do a disservice when they try to separate Christianity from Judaism, especially considering that Jesus Himself was Jewish and took the Law very seriously (not so much with the extra traditions and man-made laws the religious leaders created to further burden the people they were supposed to be helping).

I imagine these songs are probably on a streaming service somewhere, but I still love putting the record on the turntable and dropping the needle and hearing music from 1976 (or whatever year the music was recorded) coming out of my speakers. It’s still just as magical for me as it was when I was little.

Also, this music is a reminder that God still cares about His people. The Bible says that in the last days a multitude of Jewish people will embrace Yeshua as Messiah. I’m praying that day comes soon. I long to see true Israel finally recognize Jesus as the one they have been waiting for all these years.

My next quest (or one of my next quests) is to find more old Lamb records. The hunt continues!

One Final CAFO Takeaway (from September 20, 2024)

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I was able to attend the final session of the CAFO 2024 conference for which I was a volunteer. It was an incredible experience hearing from MaryBeth Chapman about the journey of adoption through grief and healing and beyond. Then I heard an amazing sermon that I’m still processing. I don’t remember the name of the preacher, but the message hit home.

Basically, Caesar issued a dirty decree that made all the inhabitants of the Roman world go back to their ancestral hometown to be registered (so that he could later raise their taxes significantly). It was a hardship for many, especially Joseph and Mary, who was with child at the time.

But God used that dirty decree to accomplish His own divine decree, born before the foundation of the world and prophesied 700 years before Caesar made his decree. Caesar was the instrument God used to accomplish the purpose of bringing Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem to fulfill the prophecy that the Messiah would arise from that little town.

I look back and see that me being out of a job enabled me to participate in this conference as a volunteer where I would normally have not been able. I could not have foreseen this back in February, but God already knew. God’s plan means there is a purpose for my pain and a special joy for me if I will step out in faith and join Him in the journey He has for me.

God is not surprised by my setbacks or my (occasional) stupidity. He’s factored those into His plan. In fact, Romans 8:28-30 says, “We know that God makes all things work together for the good of those who love Him and are chosen to be a part of His plan. God knew from the beginning who would put their trust in Him. So He chose them and made them to be like His Son. Christ was first and all those who belong to God are His brothers. He called to Himself also those He chose. Those He called, He made right with Himself. Then He shared His shining-greatness with those He made right with Himself” (Romans 8:28-30, NLV).

Ultimately, the goal is to be like Jesus and to know that He is coming back. We will see the grand purpose in God’s plan, knowing that behind every dirty decree is a divine decree of God directing us toward His perfect will for us.

Good Words from Dietrich Bonhoeffer

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“Do not worry! Earthly goods deceive the human heart into believing that they give it security and freedom from worry. But in truth, they are what cause anxiety. The heart which clings to goods receives with them the choking burden of worry. Worry collects treasures, and treasures produce more worries. We desire to secure our lives with earthly goods; we want our worrying to make us worry-free, but the truth is the opposite. The chains which bind us to earthly goods, the clutches which hold the goods tight, are themselves worries.

Abuse of earthly goods consists of using them as a security for the next day. Worry is always directed toward tomorrow. But the goods are intended only for today in the strictest sense. It is our securing things for tomorrow which makes us so insecure today. It is enough that each day should have its own troubles. Only those who put tomorrow completely into God’s hand and receive fully today what they need for their lives are really secure. Receiving daily liberates me from tomorrow” (Dietrich Bonhoeffer).

That reminds me of something Jesus taught His disciples to pray. It was something about God giving us each day our daily bread. Something like that.

Of course, I jest a bit. We are told to ask daily for daily bread. Just like the manna in the desert for the children of God, we can’t stockpile or horde our daily bread. We only get enough for today. Tomorrow will take care of itself.

Worry doubts tomorrow’s provision. Worry doubts the heart of God. Worry forgets about all the days up to this one where God provided. But faith trusts not in the daily bread but in the Bread of Life.

Lord, give me today exactly what I need for today. Help me to trust you in the present and leave tomorrow’s troubles until tomorrow. Help me remember that you are already there and have already made provisions for me there. Amen.

The God Who Gives and Takes Away

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“Oh Lord our God, before we ask anything from your hands, we desire to praise and magnify your name; for you are good in yourself, and in all your thoughts, and all your acts, and in all that you do toward us. You are good when you lay us low, when the bed of sickness becomes hard, and our bones are weary. You are good when you strip us of all earthly comforts; good when we stand at the grave’s mouth and bury our dearest love. You are good in everything. Shall we not bless the God who takes, as well as the God who gives? We would not follow you as a dog follows a stranger for a bone; but we would love you as loving children, who love even a chastising Father and have learned to say, “Though he slay me yet will I trust in him.” If ever, even for a moment, the thought of complaint should flit across our spirit, we beg to be forgiven.
Amen” (Charles Spurgeon).

I heard about a panel of godly leaders who were leading a conference. Someone in the crowd asked the question of all questions — how would they define Christianity in one word.

They huddled together for a bit before coming up with the answer. What they came up with is probably not what I would have come up with but it certainly makes more and more sense as I think about it.

The one word for Christianity is wilderness. Mind blown.

That certainly does seem to sum up our experience this side of heaven. While there are moments and seasons of blessing and joy, there is so much that is just plain wrong. So much is broken and distorted in this post-sin world. So much hate, disease, hunger, suffering, war, pain, and death.

The more I see, the more I pray the last verse of the Bible. “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

The world only seems to get weirder and crazier and harder to figure out as I get older. There seems to be less holding me here as so many people I love have passed away and so much of what I have known is fading away. But I know the story’s not ending just yet.

The wilderness is definitely not a prime vacation spot. But it is a place for testing and preparation. Think of Moses spending 40 years in the wilderness. Think of those Israelites wandering around in the desert for the next 40 years. Think of Jesus fasting 40 days in the wilderness.

The wilderness is God’s school for growing up up and making us more like Jesus. It’s where God shows up in burning bushes and pillars of fire and in a very hungry and thirsty yet very obedient Messiah. It’s where we learn the most intimate name of God – YHWH – and learn to speak with God face to face as a man speaks with his friend.

God, help us to remain steadfast wherever we are, whether in the valley or the mountaintop, in harvest or in the wilderness. God, be present to us wherever we are so that we will always know the way to go and who is leading us.

Speak, Lord

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Right now, I’m having a random memory. I don’t know why, but the words that Chris Brooks always spoke before reading a Bible passage are coming back to me. He’d pray, “Lord, would you go before us in this text and make a way. And together we say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servants are listening.'”

Sometimes, I invite God into my Bible reading. Sometimes, I just plow right in. Sometimes, it feels like God is speaking to me as if He’s been reading my diary. Sometimes, it’s like reading words off of a page that I forget as soon as I’ve read them. Hmm, I wonder if there’s a connection.

I don’t necessarily think that there are magic words that force God to give us new insights into Scripture. There’s not an Abracadabra and then suddenly you understand everything about John 3:16 or 2 Timothy 3:16. But I think praying God’s blessing over the reading of His word helps us to understand that these are His words we’re reading more than simply being an ancient text.

There are lots of ancient texts. Especially religious ones. But none of the others are living and active. None of them can transform. In none of them can a passage you might have read hundreds of times suddenly jump out at you with new insight and application.

I’ve loved reading through the Bible again this year. Even the parts that aren’t always easy reading are divinely inspired. I know that in the more depressing moments that the meta-narrative is still leading me to Jesus. As badly as God’s people fail, that’s how much grace Jesus showed us when He arrived. More and more, I can relate to all the bone-headed decisions and choices that these people made. More and more, I see my need to preach the gospel to myself over and over because I still see my deep need of it every day.

So as we open the pages of the Bible to seek God’s face more than gain new knowledge, we invite You, Lord, to speak, for we are listening.

Courage

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“But Moses told the people, ‘Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm'” (Exodus 14:13-14, New Living Translation).

I think that we live in a culture where we are programmed to fear. A lot of advertising is based off the notion that you need a particular product or program if you want to avoid a dreaded catastrophe and if you want to stay safe and secure.

We live in a society where many fear what they don’t understand. Much of the time, that fear expresses itself in anger and outrage and putting up a wall toward anyone who has a different viewpoint than us.

But Jesus says, “Take courage. It is I.”

The way I look at courage has changed over the years. I used to see courage as bravely charging into a fearful situation or boldly standing up for an unpopular cause.

Now, I see that sometimes courage can be that quiet voice that tells you to try again tomorrow. Courage can be as small as taking that next step when everything in you is crying out for you to quit.

Courage can be showing up every single day, regardless of how bad the day before was or how bleak the future looks. Courage knows that while I myself may be at my weakest, what lies ahead of me is no match to what dwells within me– namely, the indwelling Spirit of Jesus.

Courage may indeed sometimes be bold and decisive, but often it’s continuing to be obedient in the minutiae, knowing that every little step matters. Sometimes, courage looks a lot like perseverance and patience.

My prayer is for courage for all of us not just in the dramatic moments but in the ordinary minutes and hours of every day humdrum. May we heed that quiet voice to always try again tomorrow.

 

Judges: A Book Review

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So here I am, reading through the Bible again. I just finished the book of Judges. In my opinion, that has to be the most depressing book in the Bible.

In the first few verses of the book, it tells us that after the generation that claimed the Promised Land died out, the very next generation that came after didn’t know the Lord or what He had done for His people.

That didn’t take long.

There is a familiar pattern in judges, repeated ad nauseum. The people run after the next available god, fall into sin, get into trouble, and call on God. God sends a deliverer who bails them out and there is peace in the land — until another cheap idol shows up.

I read the Bible and I see the people of God by and large acting like anything but the people of God. It can be very frustrating.

Then I remember that I am one of those people of God. I find myself falling into familiar patterns of sin over and over, despite the guilt that remains from the last time. I find myself renewing the old promise of “never again,” which lasts until the next opportunity presents itself.

So I can relate.

I’m not excusing my (or anyone else’s sin). I’m just saying that doesn’t have to be the end of the story. It doesn’t have to be the familiar refrain.

I’m thankful for a grace that goes deeper and longer than any sin. I’m also thankful for a God who refuses to let me wallow in my self-destructive sin, but will provide me a way out. He won’t rest or quit with me until I am 100% sin-free.

I know that my story is your story. It’s the story of every child of God. But I also know that story doesn’t end with sin. It ends with grace.