Bible reading for September 14.
2 Samuel 10.
"And David said to him, 'Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always.'" (2 Samuel 9:7)
VICTORIES AND MERCIES. Chapters 8 and 10 highlight the victorious battles of Israel led by King David. The nation is united, expanding to fill its borders, and now at peace with many of the surrounding nations. Israel was not expanding beyond what God had allotted to them, but the nation's borders were often challenged by powerful encroaching neighbors, and fighting was inevitable. Chapter 9 records a beautiful act by David that was not common among near-eastern kings. If one dynasty took over from another, usually all the descendants of the former dynasty were killed. This is done to insure that the former house does not seek to regain the throne. Mephibosheth was Jonathan's invalid son, Saul's descendant, who is hiding out in Lo-debar, which means literally, "No thing". In other words, a place called "No-wheres-ville". David shows kindness to Mephibosheth (9:3, 7). His land, servants, and property are restored to him, and he will dine daily at the king's table in Jerusalem. This was remarkable treatment for a deposed royal family member.
THE KINDNESS OF GRACE. David wanted to show the kindness (Heb., hesed) of the Lord to Mephibosheth. Hesed has a wonderful range of meanings, depending on context. It can be translated "kindness", "loyalty", or "steadfast love." We saw this word used in the story of Ruth, David's great grandmother (Ruth 1:8; 2:20; 3:10). David himself knew and felt this loving kindness from God and frequently sang about it (e.g., Ps 18:50; 25:10). The Bible tells us that steadfast love is a character trait of God (Ex 20:6; 34:6-7; Deut 5:10). Mephibosheth becomes a marvelous picture of you and me, with all our liabilities, inabilities, and lostness, being brought by our King into the Father's house forever. From being outsiders we now dine at the royal table! As our King (Jesus) tells us, "In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also" (John 14:2-3). Such amazing grace! We must ask ourselves often, is God's grace still amazing to us? Do we daily live in gratitude for what the Lord has done (Eph 2:1-7, 11-13)?
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2 Corinthians 3.
"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:17-18)
MINISTRY OF THE SPIRIT. There is much continuity between the Old and New Testaments. That is, there is much that is the same under both the Mosaic and New covenants -- the same God, the same moral law, and the same call to faith. But anyone who has read both can see the discontinuity, too. Paul highlights those differences in this chapter. In the Old Testament (the covenant given through Moses) God dealt kindly with Israel, but most people's hearts were hardened and unperceiving, as they outwardly honored the law but inwardly were not beholding, or being changed by, the glory of God. In the New Testament, the new covenant enacted by Jesus, the Holy Spirit is at work in our hearts to soften them and to reveal the glory of God to us (John 16:14; Ezek 36:26-27). Sanctification (growth in holiness) is accomplished by the Spirit's work in us as we steadfastly focus upon the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul's ministry was carried out differently than what many Jews, or Greeks, of that time might expect (1 Cor 2:4-5). As you read this chapter, make note of the many differences between the two covenants. Have you beheld the glory of God in Christ? Are you keeping your gaze transfixed upon Jesus? How would the truths of this chapter affect the way you share Christ and serve others?
We are following the Robert Murray M'Cheyne (RMM) two-year reading schedule, as arranged by D. A. Carson. Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The NET Bible is a free, online resource, and a ministry of bible.org.
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