Our world is not just concerned about outward appearances…we are pathologically obsessed with how we look.
People spend untold amounts of money on just the right clothes, the perfect pair of shoes, sports jerseys of their favorite team, hairstyles, jewelry, the right car, and all sorts of other things that will help us improve our appearance. Some people will do almost anything to “look right” and “fit in,” to the point of paying for surgeries that tuck, lift, flatten, and even enhance body features.
In youth culture the trends and styles seem to change faster and faster, and teenagers who can’t stay current are considered “out of it.” This obsession is even pressing down into children’s styles and appearance.
We might think this fixation on outward appearance is the product of our modern world or birthed in the back rooms of the marketing machine of Madison Avenue. The truth is: the human tendency to focus on outward appearance goes all the way back to the ancient world of the Bible. It is as old as human history.
Reading The Story we discover that David had his share of struggles and sin. But through it all he was a man whose heart sought after God. Reflect on some things that tend to district your heart and pull it away from God. Consider some ways we can keep our hearts focused on God and growing more in love with him.
The above is taken from The Story: Getting to the Heart of God’s Story, pages 73 and 77.
1. What was the fundamental reason for David’s choice to spare Saul’s life in their encounter at En-Gedi (p. 123-124)? How does this choice reflect David’s view of submission, and of God?
2. In humility David offered to build a house for God, but instead God promised to build a “house” for David. What prompted David’s concern for God’s dwelling place?
3. Through no merit of his own, David received God’s grace through God’s covenant with him. (p. 129). What specific covenant promises did God make with David? How is this covenant with David later fulfilled in Christ? (Luke 1:32 – 33).
4. Identify some episodes from David’s life that demonstrate David’s clear view of God’s Upper Story. How were his choices influenced by that macro view?
When David spared Saul’s life, he was doing God’s will. It was not up to him to kill a man who was anointed by God to be king. God had protected David and shown him mercy and David in turn did the same for Saul.
God spoke to Nathan about the building of a “house” for the ark. He told Nathan to relay the message to David that God had always been with the people of Israel since their exit from Egypt. There had been no house to dwell in. He had been with David wherever David went and He would build a house for David. This, I believe, was a view of God’s Upper Story.
ReplyDeletePoint to ponder…
Our world is not just concerned about outward appearances…we are pathologically obsessed with how we look.
People spend untold amounts of money on just the right clothes, the perfect pair of shoes, sports jerseys of their favorite team, hairstyles, jewelry, the right car, and all sorts of other things that will help us improve our appearance. Some people will do almost anything to “look right” and “fit in,” to the point of paying for surgeries that tuck, lift, flatten, and even enhance body features.
In youth culture the trends and styles seem to change faster and faster, and teenagers who can’t stay current are considered “out of it.” This obsession is even pressing down into children’s styles and appearance.
We might think this fixation on outward appearance is the product of our modern world or birthed in the back rooms of the marketing machine of Madison Avenue. The truth is: the human tendency to focus on outward appearance goes all the way back to the ancient world of the Bible. It is as old as human history.
Reading The Story we discover that David had his share of struggles and sin. But through it all he was a man whose heart sought after God. Reflect on some things that tend to district your heart and pull it away from God. Consider some ways we can keep our hearts focused on God and growing more in love with him.
The above is taken from The Story: Getting to the Heart of God’s Story, pages 73 and 77.
ReplyDeleteQuestions to consider…
1. What was the fundamental reason for David’s choice to spare Saul’s life in their encounter at En-Gedi (p. 123-124)? How does this choice reflect David’s view of submission, and of God?
2. In humility David offered to build a house for God, but instead God promised to build a “house” for David. What prompted David’s concern for God’s dwelling place?
3. Through no merit of his own, David received God’s grace through God’s covenant with him. (p. 129). What specific covenant promises did God make with David? How is this covenant with David later fulfilled in Christ? (Luke 1:32 – 33).
4. Identify some episodes from David’s life that demonstrate David’s clear view of God’s Upper Story. How were his choices influenced by that macro view?
When David spared Saul’s life, he was doing God’s will. It was not up to him to kill a man who was anointed by God to be king. God had protected David and shown him mercy and David in turn did the same for Saul.
ReplyDeleteGod spoke to Nathan about the building of a “house” for the ark. He told Nathan to relay the message to David that God had always been with the people of Israel since their exit from Egypt. There had been no house to dwell in. He had been with David wherever David went and He would build a house for David. This, I believe, was a view of God’s Upper Story.