Tuesday Yr B Sunday between Jul 17-23
Psalm 61 2 Samuel 8:1-18; Acts 20:17-38
2 Samuel 8:1-18 (New International Version)
2 Samuel 8
David’s Victories
1 In the course of time, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and he took Metheg Ammah from the control of the Philistines.
2 David also defeated the Moabites. He made them lie down on the ground and measured them off with a length of cord. Every two lengths of them were put to death, and the third length was allowed to live. So the Moabites became subject to David and brought tribute.
3 Moreover, David fought Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, when he went to restore his control along the Euphrates River. 4 David captured a thousand of his chariots, seven thousand charioteers [a] and twenty thousand foot soldiers. He hamstrung all but a hundred of the chariot horses.
5 When the Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand of them. 6 He put garrisons in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject to him and brought tribute. The LORD gave David victory wherever he went.
7 David took the gold shields that belonged to the officers of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. 8 From Tebah [b] and Berothai, towns that belonged to Hadadezer, King David took a great quantity of bronze.
9 When Tou [c] king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer, 10 he sent his son Joram [d] to King David to greet him and congratulate him on his victory in battle over Hadadezer, who had been at war with Tou. Joram brought with him articles of silver and gold and bronze.
11 King David dedicated these articles to the LORD, as he had done with the silver and gold from all the nations he had subdued: 12 Edom [e] and Moab, the Ammonites and the Philistines, and Amalek. He also dedicated the plunder taken from Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
13 And David became famous after he returned from striking down eighteen thousand Edomites [f] in the Valley of Salt.
14 He put garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites became subject to David. The LORD gave David victory wherever he went.
David’s Officials
15 David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people. 16 Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder; 17 Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Seraiah was secretary; 18 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites; and David’s sons were royal advisers. [g
Acts 20:17-38 (New International Version)
17From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. 18When they arrived, he said to them: "You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. 19I served the Lord with great humility and with tears, although I was severely tested by the plots of the Jews. 20You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. 21I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.
22"And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 24However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.
25"Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. 26Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. 28Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.[a] Be shepherds of the church of God,[b] which he bought with his own blood. 29I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.
32″Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. 34You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. 35In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ “
36When he had said this, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. 37They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. 38What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.
Psalm 61 (New International Version)
Psalm 61
For the director of music. With stringed instruments. Of David.
1 Hear my cry, O God;
listen to my prayer.
2 From the ends of the earth I call to you,
I call as my heart grows faint;
lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
3 For you have been my refuge,
a strong tower against the foe.
4 I long to dwell in your tent forever
and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.
Selah
5 For you have heard my vows, O God;
you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.
6 Increase the days of the king’s life,
his years for many generations.
7 May he be enthroned in God’s presence forever;
appoint your love and faithfulness to protect him.
8 Then will I ever sing praise to your name
The Whole Will of God
“Aren’t we supposed to follow the rules?” Aaron read off his card in the role play game to his team member, Stewart.
“Sure, we’re following the rules, this section of the rules.” Stewart looked up from his card and smiled, wiggling his eyebrows.
“Yes, but justice without mercy becomes no justice at all. The law is harsh if there is no grace or chance to reconcile.” Aaron’s cards rebutted Stewart’s.
“So what, this way is better because everyone is treated equally. No one gets grace. Grace is for wimps. Grace is for non-achievers.” Stewart enunciated as if explaining to a child.
“But that’s not what the organizational rules say. It says that sometimes people didn’t have the same advantages as the next person and grace helps them catch up.”
“If kids work hard, they’ll get there on their own.” Stewart read emphatically.
“But following the whole set of rules gives balance.”
“Balance between weak and strong? Nah, implementing our point of view will make us stronger. We won’t be weakened by having slower people weighing us down. We’ll achieve more than other chapters of the organization.”
Aaron and Stewart bowed in front of their classmates having finished reading the cards. Mr. Stanskilov erased the chalkboard and posed the question, “So what were the two points of view?”
Sally raised her hand and grunted, “Oooh, oooh, oooh.” Before Mr. S. called on her.
“Aaron’s point of view was the follow all the rules while Stewart was only following part.”
“Good.” Mr. S. nodded. “What are the advantages of each point of view? Aaron?”
“My part was about following all of the rules and not just part of them. The advantages are that the rules gave a chance for some who started out behind the curve to catch up. If someone didn’t have the same education, grace gave them a chance to learn enough to be included.”
“Stewart?” Mr S. pointed at Stewart’s waving hand.
“My character wanted things to be stronger by only letting the best participate. They weeded out the weaker players. Sort of like survival of the fittest.”
“Was it stronger?”
“Why wouldn’t it be?”
“How many of you know the reasons why family members aren’t supposed to have children? Wouldn’t a really smart family produce smarter kids?” Sally’s hand shot up. “Okay, Sally.”
“Some smart kids happen, but also really stupid ones happen. You get extremes and the extremes are weak in other areas.”
“Let’s not call anyone stupid, rather, mentally challenged. In fact, when you blend blood lines, stronger and more stable progeny result. They have seen pure bred animals have trouble with bone deformities and organs not functioning well. The mutt at the pound is often a healthier animal.”
“Why are we playing this game?” Aaron asked.
“Good question. Today’s youth group lesson is in Acts 20. The apostle Paul was getting ready to leave Miletus and return to Jerusalem. He cautioned the leaders of the church at Ephesus to hold to the whole will of God, not just part. He said there would be people who would try to emphasize one thing and omit other parts—to appeal to some people and draw them away.”
“People do that today. Churches emphasize one thing and act like they are better for it. Some sects or cults that claim to be Christian but they are really focused on stuff that is not from God.”
“We’ve seen sad results when a church leader tries to make people follow them instead of following God, alone. We need to be careful about following pastors or leaders. True pastors of the Word point us to God not to themselves. We must bring praise to God, not ourselves and we don’t get to pick and choose what we want to obey in the Bible.”
“God gives us grace, too, because none of us is strong enough on our own to be accepted into the family of God. We are stronger because the Holy Spirit equips us to be obedient to God’s law.” Sally pronounced with confidence.
“Well done, class. You’ve seen the point of the game and the point of our lesson. Let’s pray.” His prayer for them was that they would be equipped with the whole word of God to do service to God everyday in a way that pleased God.
Daily prayer: Dear God, we call upon your greatness and your grace to aid us in our obedience to the whole will of God. Forgive us for straying from the hard truths and focusing on things we like. Help us to be strong and faithful to your will. In Jesus holy name, we pray, Amen.
Memorize: Acts 20:27 “For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.”
Apply: Dear God, help us to include everything you want from us not just the stuff we like. Equip us to follow you as we ought. Amen.
