First Week of Advent
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Scripture: Matthew 1:1-23; Revelation 21:1-5
The prophet Isaiah promised a day when a miraculous son would be born to a young virgin girl. He would even be called “God with us” (Isaiah 7:14). This marked the first coming of Jesus. The apostle John promised another day also distinguished as “God with us” (Revelation 21:2-5). The reason we long for the second coming is because that is when all the hopes we sing about will be fulfilled. Until then, we wait like the engaged wait for their wedding day, in that already and not yet time. Our hope is tied to the pledge he has given and faith that he will make good on his promise (2 Corinthians 1:22).
The Price of Worship
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Scripture: 2 Samuel 24:1-25
At the same site where Abraham once held a knife over his son (Genesis 22:1–19), David sees the angel of the Lord with sword ready to plunge into Jerusalem. In both cases death is averted by sacrifice. The temple is established there as the place where Israel was perpetually reminded that without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin (Hebrews 9:22). Death for Isaac and for David’s Jerusalem was averted because the sword of divine justice would ultimately find its mark in the Son of God, Jesus. Small wonder, then, that the New Testament should begin with “the book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham” (Matthew 1:1).
Collateral Damage
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Scripture: 2 Samuel 19:4-7
It is much easier to do what is right when everything is going right, but it is much more necessary to do what is right when things go wrong. Usually things go wrong because of things we’ve done wrong. David suffers the loss of four sons, and he learns to obey through what he suffers. The kindness of God is meant to lead us to change, but when it doesn’t, pain is God’s megaphone to get our attention and change our direction.
Learning to Obey
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Scripture: 2 Samuel 12:1-31
The greatness of David is not in his perfection but in his willingness to face his sin and to return wholeheartedly to God. Like David, we should expect discipline when we sin from our heavenly Father, because he loves us. Unless we are already conformed to the likeness of Jesus, unless we have come to the place where we don’t need the Spirit’s help, we should expect that there will be times when the Father needs to discipline us that we might continue to learn to walk in his ways.
