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Seeking His Kingdom Ministries

The Day of the Lord

Introduction

Focus on the things you know and understand.

Focus on living a life pleasing to the Lord rather than putting your efforts into predicting dates of the Lord’s return.

¹¹So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 NLT
The Day of the Lord
^5:1 Now concerning how and when all this will happen, dear brothers and sisters, we don’t really need to write you. ²For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. ³When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape.
⁴But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief. ⁵For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night. ⁶So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded. ⁷Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk. ⁸But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.
⁹For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. ¹⁰Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever. ¹¹So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.

Examine the Scriptures:

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 NLT

The Day of the Lord

^5:1 Now concerning how and when all this will happen,

Questions about Christ’s return have always occupied the thoughts of many.

dear brothers and sisters,

Once again we see “dear brothers and sisters”.

Paul truly loved the Thessalonians.

we don’t really need to write you. ²For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night.

Christ’s return will be unexpected and unwelcome by those not ready for it.

Matthew 24:36, 43-44 (Luke 12:3540) NLT
³⁶“However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.
⁴²So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming.
⁴³Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. ⁴⁴You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.

2 Peter 3:10 NLT
¹⁰But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief.

Revelation 3:3 NLT
³Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to me again. If you don’t wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief.

Revelation 16:15 NLT
¹⁵“Look, I will come as unexpectedly as a thief! Blessed are all who are watching for me, who keep their clothing ready so they will not have to walk around naked and ashamed.”

The day of the Lord will include both judgment and blessing.

We don’t know the timing of God’s final judgment, but we do know that it is coming.

Prepare for Christ’s return by living godly lives.

Live godly lives in light of coming judgment on the world.

³When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape.

This will be a time of judgment and destruction for the unbeliever.

God’s ultimate judgment comes unexpectedly to the unbeliever and is inescapable.

2 Thessalonians 1:9 NLT
⁹They will be punished with eternal destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from his glorious power.

⁴But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief.

Christ’s return will not take believers by surprise (however, the timing might).

The signs of Christ’s return are discernable to Christians, but we do not know the exact time.

Christians will not face destruction on judgment day.

⁵For you are all children of the light and of the day;

Colossians 1:11-14 NLT
¹¹… May you be filled with joy, ¹²always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. ¹³For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, ¹⁴who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.

John 12:36 NLT
³⁶Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light.”

Acts 26:17-18 NLT
¹⁷… Yes, I am sending you (Paul) to the Gentiles ¹⁸to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in me.’

Ephesians 5:8 NLT
⁸For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!

1 Peter 2:9 NLT
⁹But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

we don’t belong to darkness and night.

Christians are children of light and of the day—people transformed by Christ.

⁶So be on your guard, not asleep like the others.

Unbelievers are spiritually insensitive. Living without considering the coming Day of Judgment.

Stay alert and be clearheaded.

Matthew 24:42 NLT
⁴²“So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming.

Matthew 25:13 NLT
¹³“So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.

Anticipate the Lord’s return.

Be watchful and clearheaded, waiting for the Lord’s return.

⁷Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk.

Matthew 24:48-51 NLT
>⁴⁸But what if the servant is evil and thinks, ‘My master won’t be back for a while,’ ⁴⁹and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk? ⁵⁰The master will return unannounced and unexpected, ⁵¹and he will cut the servant to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

The drunk are unable to respond properly.

The drunk lack self-control.

The drunk are unprepared for the master’s return.

⁸But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.

Know that God has equipped you with faith, hope, and love to protect your heart and mind until Christ returns.

A good prayer to pray for those preparing for Christ’s return:

Philippians 1:9-11 NLT
⁹I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. ¹⁰For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. ¹¹May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.

⁹For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us.

Ephesians 1:4-5 NLT
4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.

John 15:16 NLT
16 You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit,

1 Thessalonians 1:10 NLT
¹⁰And they speak of how you are looking forward to the coming of God’s Son from heaven—Jesus, whom God raised from the dead. He is the one who has rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment.

Romans 5:9 NLT
⁹And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation.

Jesus has rescued Christians from the terrors of the coming judgment.

¹⁰Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever.

Review verses from previous lesson:

1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 NLT
¹⁵We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. ¹⁶For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. ¹⁷Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.

Additional verses:

2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT
²¹For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

John 14:1-3 NLT
^14:1 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. ²There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? ³When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.

Christians will live with the Lord for all of eternity.

¹¹So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.

Remind each other of the promises of God that we already know.

The church is a community that encourages and builds others up in preparation for Christ’s return.

David’s Last Words

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David’s Last Words

2 Samuel 23:1-7 NLT
David’s Last Words
^23:1 These are the last words of David:
“David, the son of Jesse, speaks—
David, the man who was raised up so high,
David, the man anointed by the God of Jacob,
David, the sweet psalmist of Israel.
²“The Spirit of the Lord speaks through me;
his words are upon my tongue.
³The God of Israel spoke.
The Rock of Israel said to me:
‘The one who rules righteously,
who rules in the fear of God,
⁴is like the light of morning at sunrise,
like a morning without clouds,
like the gleaming of the sun
on new grass after rain.’
⁵“Is it not my family God has chosen?
Yes, he has made an everlasting covenant with me.
His agreement is arranged and guaranteed in every detail.
He will ensure my safety and success.
⁶But the godless are like thorns to be thrown away,
for they tear the hand that touches them.
⁷One must use iron tools to chop them down;
they will be totally consumed by fire.”

Examine the Scriptures

2 Samuel 23:1-7 NLT
David’s Last Words

^23:1 These are the last words of David:

David’s “last words” were not necessarily the last words he actually spoke.

Most likely his last words were recorded in 1 Kings Chapter 2.

1 Kings 2:1-10 NLT
David’s Final Instructions to Solomon
^2:1 As the time of King David’s death approached, he gave this charge to his son Solomon:
²“I am going where everyone on earth must someday go. Take courage and be a man. ³Observe the requirements of the Lord your God, and follow all his ways. Keep the decrees, commands, regulations, and laws written in the Law of Moses so that you will be successful in all you do and wherever you go. ⁴If you do this, then the Lord will keep the promise he made to me. He told me, ‘If your descendants live as they should and follow me faithfully with all their heart and soul, one of them will always sit on the throne of Israel.’
⁵“And there is something else. You know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me when he murdered my two army commanders, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. He pretended that it was an act of war, but it was done in a time of peace,
^a staining his belt and sandals with innocent blood. ⁶Do with him what you think best, but don’t let him grow old and go to his grave in peace.
⁷“Be kind to the sons of Barzillai of Gilead. Make them permanent guests at your table, for they took care of me when I fled from your brother Absalom.
⁸“And remember Shimei son of Gera, the man from Bahurim in Benjamin. He cursed me with a terrible curse as I was fleeing to Mahanaim. When he came down to meet me at the Jordan River, I swore by the Lord that I would not kill him. ⁹But that oath does not make him innocent. You are a wise man, and you will know how to arrange a bloody death for him.”
¹⁰Then David died and was buried with his ancestors in the City of David.

These “last words” of David were most likely his final formal, Spirit-inspired declaration to Israel.

Many scholars view this passage of scripture as David’s final poetic oracle (a prophetic speech from the king), similar in tone and structure to a psalm.

“David, the son of Jesse, speaks—

David as a boy.

1 Samuel 16:10-11, 13 NLT
¹⁰In the same way all seven of Jesse’s sons were presented to Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen any of these.” ¹¹Then Samuel asked, “Are these all the sons you have?”
“There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied. “But he’s out in the fields watching the sheep and goats.”

¹³So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on.

When Samuel came to anoint the next king, Jesse didn’t even bring David at first. He was considered the least likely in the family.

- - David was youngest of eight sons. (1 Samuel 16:10)

- - David was not considered important enough to attend the sacrifice (the celebration) with Samuel, Jesse, and his older brothers.

- - David was out tending the sheep.

This shows David began life in humble obscurity.

David began life in humble obscurity.

David, the man who was raised up so high,

David became the king of Israel.

David, the man anointed by the God of Jacob,

David was anointed by God to be the king of Israel. (1 Samuel 16)

1 Samuel 13:14 NLT
¹⁴But now your (Saul) kingdom must end, for the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart (David). The Lord has already appointed him to be the leader of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.”

Those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.

Daniel 2:21 NLT
²¹He (God) controls the course of world events;
he removes kings and sets up other kings.
He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to the scholars.

Romans 13:1 NLT
^13:1 Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.

John 19:11
Jesus to Pilate:
¹¹Then Jesus said, “You would have no power over me at all unless it were given to you from above. So the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.”

It was God who enabled David to rule righteously.

David ruled as an agent of God.

Those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.

David, the sweet psalmist of Israel.

David was not only a king, he was a musician and poet.

David wrote about half of the psalms in the book of Psalms.

David identifies himself as a poetically gifted king of Israel.

²“The Spirit of the Lord speaks through me;

David was aware of God’s Spirit at work in him enabling him to speak under the Spirit’s guidance.

his words are upon my tongue.

David describes himself as a prophet, whose songs and wise sayings come from God.

2 Peter 1:20-21 NLT
²⁰Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding, ²¹or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God.

Acts 1:16 NLT
¹⁶“Brothers,” he said, “the Scriptures had to be fulfilled concerning Judas, who guided those who arrested Jesus. This was predicted long ago by the Holy Spirit, speaking through King David.

Acts 4:25 NLT (Quoting Psalm 2:1-2)
²⁵you spoke long ago by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor David, your servant, saying,
‘Why were the nations so angry?
Why did they waste their time with futile plans?
²⁶The kings of the earth prepared for battle;
the rulers gathered together
against the Lord
and against his Messiah.

The Spirit of the Lord spoke to David and through him to the nation of Israel.

³The God of Israel spoke.
The Rock of Israel said to me:

The Rock of Israel

‘The one who rules righteously,
who rules in the fear of God,

A ruler is to rule righteously.

A good ruler acts with justice, fairness, and moral integrity.

A ruler is to rule in the fear of God, recognizing God’s ultimate authority.

⁴is like the light of morning at sunrise,
like a morning without clouds,
like the gleaming of the sun
on new grass after rain.’

David stated that a king who rules as an agent of God is “like the light of morning at sunrise
on a cloudless morning” and “like the brightness after rain
that brings grass from the earth”.

This gives us a reason to pray for our president.

1 Timothy 2:1-2 NLT
^2:1 I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. ²Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.

⁵“Is it not my family God has chosen?

Yes, he has made an everlasting covenant with me.

See chapter 7:12-16

2 Samuel 7:12-16 NLT
⁸ “Now go and say to my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has declared: I took you from tending sheep in the pasture and selected you to be the leader of my people Israel. ⁹ I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before your eyes. Now I will make your name as famous as anyone who has ever lived on the earth! ¹⁰ And I will provide a homeland for my people Israel, planting them in a secure place where they will never be disturbed. Evil nations won’t oppress them as they’ve done in the past, ¹¹ starting from the time I appointed judges to rule my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies.

“‘Furthermore, the Lord declares that he will make a house for you—a dynasty of kings! ¹²For when you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, your own offspring, and I will make his kingdom strong. ¹³He is the one who will build a house—a temple—for my name. And I will secure his royal throne forever. ¹⁴I will be his father, and he will be my son. If he sins, I will correct and discipline him with the rod, like any father would do. ¹⁵But my favor will not be taken from him as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from your sight. ¹⁶Your house and your kingdom will continue before me for all time, and your throne will be secure forever.’”

God’s covenant with David points beyond David to the future Messianic King, Jesus Christ—the perfect righteous ruler.

Jesus is the everlasting king who is the “son of David”.

Matthew 1:1 NLT
¹ This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of David and of Abraham:

Psalm 89:29, 34-37
²⁹I will preserve an heir for him;
his throne will be as endless as the days of heaven.

³⁴No, I will not break my covenant;
I will not take back a single word I said.
³⁵I have sworn an oath to David,
and in my holiness I cannot lie:
³⁶His dynasty will go on forever;
his kingdom will endure as the sun.
³⁷It will be as eternal as the moon,
my faithful witness in the sky!”

His agreement is arranged and guaranteed in every detail.

He will ensure my safety and success.

David believes and trusts God’s covenant.

God’s promises stand.

In contrast:

⁶But the godless are like thorns to be thrown away,
for they tear the hand that touches them.
⁷One must use iron tools to chop them down;
they will be totally consumed by fire.”

The enemies of God will be cast aside in judgment.

Matthew 13:30 NLT
³⁰Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds, tie them into bundles, and burn them, and to put the wheat in the barn.’”

Matthew 13:41 NLT
⁴¹The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will remove from his Kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil.

Psalm 1:4-5 NLT
⁴But not the wicked!
They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.
⁵They will be condemned at the time of judgment.
Sinners will have no place among the godly.

Psalm 2:9 ( Speaking about nations who plot against the Lord.)
⁹You will break them with an iron rod
and smash them like clay pots.’”

God’s kingdom brings blessing to the righteous but judgment on the unrepentant.

The Hope of the Resurrection

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The Hope of the Resurrection

Introduction

Focus on the things you know. We have hope. As Christians, we are citizens of Heaven.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 NLT
¹³And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. ¹⁴For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.
¹⁵We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. ¹⁶For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. ¹⁷Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. ¹⁸So encourage each other with these words.

Examine the Scriptures:

The Hope of the Resurrection
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 NLT

¹³And now, dear brothers and sisters,

Dear brothers and sisters used 20 times in 1^st & 2^nd Thessalonians.

This is a clear indication of Paul’s love for the Thessalonians.

we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died

We do not want you to be uninformed … NIV & ESV

There were some things the Thessalonians needed to know.

Review:

1 Thessalonians 3:9-10 NLT
⁹How we thank God for you! Because of you we have great joy as we enter God’s presence. ¹⁰Night and day we pray earnestly for you, asking God to let us see you again to fill the gaps in your faith.

The Thessalonians were concerned about what would happen to the Christians who have already died.

Some Thessalonian Christians had died before Christ’s return, and the church worried they would somehow miss out on the blessings of the Second Coming.

Paul is about to tell the Thessalonians what will happened to the Christians who have died.

so you will not grieve like people who have no hope.

Grieving is not wrong.

Godly people grieve.

Acts 8:2 NLT
²(Some devout men came and buried Stephen with great mourning.)

However, it is wrong for Christians to exhibit hopelessness in their grief.

The grief of a believer differs from that of unbelievers.

Unbelievers have no hope of a bodily resurrection. Believers do have hope.

Christ transforms grief. Christians grieve, but not hopelessly.

¹⁴For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again,

Christ’s resurrection is the center of God’s plan …

1 Corinthians 15:12-14
¹²But tell me this—since we preach that Christ rose from the dead, why are some of you saying there will be no resurrection of the dead? ¹³For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either. ¹⁴And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless.

The death and resurrection of Jesus is a well-known recorded fact of history.

People Who Saw the Resurrected Christ

Mary Magdalene
Other women
The disciples (multiple appearances)
Over 500 believers at once
Paul

The certainty of our resurrection rests entirely on Christ’s resurrection.

1 Corinthians 15:23 NLT
²³But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back.

we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.

¹⁵We tell you this directly from the Lord:

This is a message from the Lord, not from Paul.

This is not speculation; it is divine revelation.

We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died.

There is no advantage for the living over the dead.

Picture this in your mind.

¹⁶For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves.

1 Corinthians 15:42-44
⁴²It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. ⁴³Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. ⁴⁴They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies.

Christ’s return will be a powerful, public, unmistakable, transforming, and triumphant event.

After the dead come forth, their spirits, already with the Lord, are now being joined to resurrected bodies

2 Corinthians 5:6–8 NLT
“To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.”
⁶So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. ⁷For we live by believing and not by seeing. ⁸Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord.

Luke 23:42–43 NLT
Jesus tells the repentant thief:
“Today you will be with Me in paradise.”
⁴²Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”
⁴³And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

John 11:25–26 NLT
Whoever believes in Christ will live even though he dies.
²⁵Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. ²⁶Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?”

¹⁷Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.

1 Corinthians 15:51-55 NLT
⁵¹But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! ⁵²It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. ⁵³For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.
⁵⁴Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled:
“Death is swallowed up in victory
⁵⁵O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”

All believers — resurrected and transformed — are united.

Death is permanently defeated.

All Christians will be with the Lord forever.

¹⁸So encourage each other with these words.

The primary purpose of this passage is to provide encouragement to those Christians whose (Christian) loved ones have died.

The dead will be resurrected and will participate in the Lord’s coming for His own.

When Christ comes the living will be reunited forever with their loved ones.

Believers will spend eternity with the Lord.

Understanding about the Lord’s return should give us comfort and encouragement.

Believers can and should encourage other believers in the face of death.

Other scripture passages to reflect on: (this list is not all inclusive)

Philippians 3:20-21
²⁰But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. ²¹He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.

1 Peter 1:3-4 NLT
³All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, ⁴and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.

1 John 3:2 NLT
²Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.

Revelation 21:3-4 NLT
³I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. ⁴He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

2 Peter 3:13 NLT
¹³But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness.

David’s Psalm of Thanksgiving

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David’s Psalm of Thanksgiving

Introduction:

David’s Psalm of Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving

(Giving Thanks)

This lesson is our final look at David’s Psalm of Thanksgiving found in 2 Samuel 22:1-51.

David’s song is a song of praise and thanksgiving to God. (Also found in Psalm 18:1-50)

A song of worship to the Lord.

2 Samuel 22:31-51 is the concluding section of David’s Song.

David closes his song by celebrating the character of God, the power God extended to him, and the victories God granted.

David sings about God’s perfect character and His divine enablement.

God’s divine resources were made available to David (and are also available to us).

Our focus today will be on the things mentioned in this passage that we should be thankful for.

Giving thanks.

A quick look at the introduction of another of David’s Psalm of Thanks.

1 Chronicles 16:8-12 NLT
⁸Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness.
Let the whole world know what he has done.
⁹Sing to him; yes, sing his praises.
Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds.
¹⁰Exult in his holy name;
rejoice, you who worship the Lord.
¹¹Search for the Lord and for his strength;
continually seek him.
¹²Remember the wonders he has performed,
his miracles, and the rulings he has given,

A call to praise and remember the Lord’s mighty works.

This is a good set-up for today’s passage, 2 Samuel 22:31-51.

David’s Psalm of Thanksgiving

2 Samuel 22:31-51 NLT

³¹“God’s way is perfect.
All the Lord’s promises prove true.
He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.
³²For who is God except the Lord?
Who but our God is a solid rock?
³³God is my strong fortress,
and he makes my way perfect.
³⁴He makes me as surefooted as a deer,
enabling me to stand on mountain heights.
³⁵He trains my hands for battle;
he strengthens my arm to draw a bronze bow.
³⁶You have given me your shield of victory;
your help has made me great.
³⁷You have made a wide path for my feet
to keep them from slipping.
³⁸“I chased my enemies and destroyed them;
I did not stop until they were conquered.
³⁹I consumed them;
I struck them down so they did not get up;
they fell beneath my feet.
⁴⁰You have armed me with strength for the battle;
you have subdued my enemies under my feet.
⁴¹You placed my foot on their necks.
I have destroyed all who hated me.
⁴²They looked for help, but no one came to their rescue.
They even cried to the Lord, but he refused to answer.
⁴³I ground them as fine as the dust of the earth;
I trampled them in the gutter like dirt.
⁴⁴“You gave me victory over my accusers.
You preserved me as the ruler over nations;
people I don’t even know now serve me.
⁴⁵Foreign nations cringe before me;
as soon as they hear of me, they submit.
⁴⁶They all lose their courage
and come trembling from their strongholds.
⁴⁷“The Lord lives! Praise to my Rock!
May God, the Rock of my salvation, be exalted!
⁴⁸He is the God who pays back those who harm me;
he brings down the nations under me
⁴⁹ and delivers me from my enemies.
You hold me safe beyond the reach of my enemies;
you save me from violent opponents.
⁵⁰For this, O Lord, I will praise you among the nations;
I will sing praises to your name.
⁵¹You give great victories to your king;
you show unfailing love to your anointed,
to David and all his descendants forever.”

Examine the Scriptures

David’s Psalm of Thanksgiving

2 Samuel 22:31-51 NLT

³¹“God’s way is perfect.

Deuteronomy 32:3-4 NLT
³I will proclaim the name of the Lord;
how glorious is our God!
⁴He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect.
Everything he does is just and fair.
He is a faithful God who does no wrong;
how just and upright he is!

God’s way is perfect.

His actions, His timing, His decisions, and His methods are flawless.

All the Lord’s promises prove true.

Some of God’s promises to David:

2 Samuel 7:8-16 NLT
The heart of the Davidic Covenant
⁸“Now go and say to my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has declared: I took you from tending sheep in the pasture and selected you to be the leader of my people Israel. ⁹I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before your eyes. Now I will make your name as famous as anyone who has ever lived on the earth! ¹⁰And I will provide a homeland for my people Israel, planting them in a secure place where they will never be disturbed. Evil nations won’t oppress them as they’ve done in the past, ¹¹starting from the time I appointed judges to rule my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies.
“‘Furthermore, the Lord declares that he will make a house for you—a dynasty of kings! ¹²For when you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, your own offspring, and I will make his kingdom strong. ¹³He is the one who will build a house—a temple—for my name. And I will secure his royal throne forever. ¹⁴I will be his father, and he will be my son. If he sins, I will correct and discipline him with the rod, like any father would do. ¹⁵But my favor will not be taken from him as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from your sight. ¹⁶Your house and your kingdom will continue before me for all time, and your throne will be secure forever.’”

All the LORD’s promises prove true.

Numbers 23:19 NLT
¹⁹God is not a man, so he does not lie.
He is not human, so he does not change his mind.
Has he ever spoken and failed to act?
Has he ever promised and not carried it through?

Hebrews 6:18 NLT
¹⁸So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie.

He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.

Psalm 28:7 NLT
⁷The Lord is my strength and shield.
I trust him with all my heart.
He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.
I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.

Proverbs 30:5 NLT
⁵Every word of God proves true.
He is a shield to all who come to him for protection.

God is a shield for all who look to him for protection.

³²For who is God except the Lord?

There is no other God.

Who but our God is a solid rock?

Isaiah 44:6 NLT
⁶This is what the Lord says—Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies:
“I am the First and the Last;
there is no other God.

Isaiah 44:8 NLT
⁸Do not tremble; do not be afraid.
Did I not proclaim my purposes for you long ago?
You are my witnesses—is there any other God?
No! There is no other Rock—not one!”

Isaiah 45:21 NLT
²¹…
For there is no other God but me,
a righteous God and Savior.
There is none but me.

Only the LORD (Yahweh) is truly God. There is no other. No one compares with Him. Only He deserves our worship, trust, and obedience.

LORD – Yahweh – YHWH

³³God is my strong fortress,
and he makes my way perfect.

Other translations:

many say perfect

some say blameless

some say upright

some say safe

He makes my way: straight

safe

upright.

He leads me: toward righteousness

toward obedience

He helps me: mature

live faithfully

God shapes our character.

³⁴He makes me as surefooted as a deer,
enabling me to stand on mountain heights.
³⁵He trains my hands for battle;
he strengthens my arm to draw a bronze bow.

A bow of bronze would be powerful, but difficult to draw

³⁶You have given me your shield of victory;
your help has made me great.
³⁷You have made a wide path for my feet
to keep them from slipping.

God equipped David.

God equips us to deal with life’s battles.

God strengthens His people and prepares them for the battles they must face.

³⁸“I chased my enemies and destroyed them;
I did not stop until they were conquered.
³⁹I consumed them;
I struck them down so they did not get up;
they fell beneath my feet.
⁴⁰You have armed me with strength for the battle;
you have subdued my enemies under my feet.
⁴¹You placed my foot on their necks.
I have destroyed all who hated me.

God gives us victory over our enemies.

God strengthens His people and prepares them for the hardships they must face.

⁴²They looked for help, but no one came to their rescue.
They even cried to the Lord, but he refused to answer.
⁴³I ground them as fine as the dust of the earth;
I trampled them in the gutter like dirt.
⁴⁴“You gave me victory over my accusers.
You preserved me as the ruler over nations;
people I don’t even know now serve me.
⁴⁵Foreign nations cringe before me;
as soon as they hear of me, they submit.
⁴⁶They all lose their courage
and come trembling from their strongholds.

God despises the wicked.

⁴⁷“The Lord lives! Praise to my Rock!
May God, the Rock of my salvation, be exalted!
⁴⁸He is the God who pays back those who harm me;
he brings down the nations under me
⁴⁹ and delivers me from my enemies.
You hold me safe beyond the reach of my enemies;
you save me from violent opponents.
⁵⁰For this, O Lord, I will praise you among the nations;
I will sing praises to your name.
⁵¹You give great victories to your king;
you show unfailing love to your anointed,
to David and all his descendants forever.”

God is to be exalted.

God deserves our praise

I will sing praises to your name.

Psalm 145:1-3 NLT
A psalm of praise of David.
¹I will exalt you, my God and King,
and praise your name forever and ever.
²I will praise you every day;
yes, I will praise you forever.
³Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise!
No one can measure his greatness.

Psalm 113:1-4 NLT
¹Praise the Lord!
Yes, give praise, O servants of the Lord.
Praise the name of the Lord!
²Blessed be the name of the Lord
now and forever.
³Everywhere—from east to west—
praise the name of the Lord.
⁴For the Lord is high above the nations;
his glory is higher than the heavens.

Psalm 18:2-3 NLT (nearly identical to 2 Samuel 22:3-4)
²The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;
my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.
He is my shield, the power that saves me,
and my place of safety.
³I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
and he saved me from my enemies.

List things we should be thankful for.

Instructions for Practical Christian Living.

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Instructions for Practical Christian Living.

Introduction

Living a Life Pleasing to God

Instructions for Practical Christian Living.

A Life Pleasing to God
Practical Christian Living
1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 NLT
⁹But we don’t need to write to you about the importance of loving each other, for God himself has taught you to love one another. ¹⁰Indeed, you already show your love for all the believers throughout Macedonia. Even so, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you to love them even more.
¹¹Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before. ¹²Then people who are not believers will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others.

Examine the Scriptures:

A Life Pleasing to God

Instructions for Practical Christian Living.

1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 NLT

⁹But we don’t need to write to you about the importance of loving each other, for God himself has taught you to love one another.

Some instructions for Christian living come through God’s Word (reading God’s Word or being taught by people like Paul who are teaching God’s Word).

Other lessons are taught by God Himself to his children directly.

This verse tells us that the ability for loving others comes directly from God’s (the Holy Spirit’s) work in the believer’s heart.

Christian love is not merely a human effort but a divine enablement.

God himself had taught the Thessalonians to love one another.

Reflect on the following passages of scripture:

Jeremiah 31:33-34 NLT
³³“But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel after those days,” says the Lord. “I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. ³⁴And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, ‘You should know the Lord.’ For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already,” says the Lord. “And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.”

Isaiah 54:13 NLT
¹³I will teach all your children,
and they will enjoy great peace.

John 6:45 NLT
⁴⁵As it is written in the Scriptures, ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me.

1 Corinthians 2:13 NLT
13 When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths.

Romans 1:19-20 NLT
¹⁹They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. ²⁰For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.

God has made Himself known to all people, so humanity is without excuse for ignoring or rejecting Him.

Paul teaches that God has made certain truths about Himself plainly evident to all humanity.

Review:

The greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.
The second is to love your neighbor as yourself.

Romans 13:8-10 NLT
Love Fulfills God’s Requirements
⁸Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. ⁹For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.” These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁰Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.

John 13: 35 NLT
³⁵Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

Ephesians 5:1-2 NLT
5 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. ²Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

Galatians 5:22 NLT
²²But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

Romans 5:5 NLT
⁵And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

1 John 4:7, 8, 12 NLT
Loving One Another
⁷Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God.
⁸But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
¹²No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.

Love is a work of the Spirit.

Christian love is not merely commanded—it is God-produced in those who walk with Him.

¹⁰Indeed, you already show your love for all the believers throughout Macedonia.

The Thessalonians already showed their love for all the believers throughout Macedonia.

Their love wasn’t confined to their local church; they extended it “toward all the brothers in all Macedonia,” demonstrating a vibrant and expansive Christian network.

We read about that in:

1 Thessalonians 1:7-8
⁷As a result, you have become an example to all the believers in Greece—throughout both Macedonia and Achaia.
⁸And now the word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere, even beyond Macedonia and Achaia, for wherever we go we find people telling us about your faith in God. We don’t need to tell them about it,

2 Corinthians 8:1-5 NLT
⁸^:1 Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. ²They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.
³For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. ⁴They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem. ⁵They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.

Paul is talking about the Macedonian believers— specifically, the believers in Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea. These believers were poor, persecuted Christians whose joyful generosity became a model of Christlike giving for the Corinthian church.

Even so, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you to love them even more.

The Thessalonians already showed their love for all the believers throughout Macedonia, but Paul urged them to love them even more.

There was still room for improvement.

Even in something they do well, Paul encourages continuous growth and greater application.

Christian maturity is an ongoing process.

Even though the Thessalonians loved well, Paul encourages them to love even more.

In the Christian life, love is never a completed task.

¹¹Make it your goal to live a quiet life,

Make it your goal to live a quiet life.

1 Timothy 2:2 NLT
²Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.

1 Peter 3:4 NLT
⁴You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.

Live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.

Clothe yourself with a gentle and quiet spirit.

Live peacefully with others instead of interfering in others affairs.

Be a person who strives to be at peace with himself and God.

Proverbs 25:17 NLT
¹⁷Don’t visit your neighbors too often,
or you will wear out your welcome.

minding your own business

Mind your own business.

Don’t be a busybody.

Apparently some Thessalonians, probably because of their idleness, were taking undo interest in other people’s affairs.

This directly addresses the busybodies—those who were meddling in others’ lives because of their idleness. Christian love does not involve intrusive gossip or unsolicited interference.

and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before.

Earn your own living.

Work itself is a blessing, and working with one’s hands should never be despised by Christians.

Don’t look to be supported by others.

It appears that some Thessalonians were neglecting work and were relying on others to support them.

Some members, perhaps fueled by the expectation of Christ’s imminent return (the next chapter addresses this), may have become idle, neglecting work, and interfering in others’ business.

Diligent, honest labor is presented as a spiritual discipline and a necessary component of a godly, quiet life. This corrects any notion that intense focus on the Second Coming excuses laziness or dependence on others.

2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 NLT
¹⁰Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.”
¹¹Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people’s business. ¹²We command such people and urge them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work to earn their own living.

A self-supporting person is not a burden to others.

Paul’s own example:

2 Thessalonians 3:7-9 NLT
⁷For you know that you ought to imitate us. We were not idle when we were with you. ⁸We never accepted food from anyone without paying for it. We worked hard day and night so we would not be a burden to any of you. ⁹We certainly had the right to ask you to feed us, but we wanted to give you an example to follow.

Love is shown through responsible living, hard work, and not burdening others.

¹²Then people who are not believers will respect the way you live,

NIV so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

ESV so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.

Putting verses 11-12 into practice wins the respect of non-Christians.

Walk properly before outsiders.

Earn the respect of the unbelievers.

The Christian community’s conduct directly impacts its witness to the non-believing world.

1 Peter 2:12 NLT
¹²Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.

Matthew 5:16 NLT
¹⁶In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Titus 2:7-8
⁷And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching. ⁸Teach the truth so that your teaching can’t be criticized. Then those who oppose us will be ashamed and have nothing bad to say about us.

This kind of behavior also wins the respect of believers.

Christians should display integrity, industry, and decency so that outsiders see the gospel lived out.

and you will not need to depend on others.

Paul is not saying every Christian must be completely self-sufficient.

Paul is advocating personal responsibility.

Working prevents the believer from becoming a financial burden on the church or the community, maintaining their dignity and independence.

The combination of love, quietness, and work ensures the church functions with internal harmony and external respectability.

Live to Please God

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Live to Please God

Introduction

Paul wrote this letter to the church in Thessalonica, but it is certainly applicable to us 2000 years later.

1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 NLT
Live to Please God
^4:1 Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live in a way that pleases God, as we have taught you. You live this way already, and we encourage you to do so even more. ²For you remember what we taught you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
³God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. ⁴Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor— ⁵not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways. ⁶Never harm or cheat a fellow believer in this matter by violating his wife, for the Lord avenges all such sins, as we have solemnly warned you before. ⁷God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives. ⁸Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

Examine the Scriptures:

1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 NLT

Live to Please God

^4:1 Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus

“dear brothers and sisters”

“We urge you”

“in the name of the Lord Jesus” Paul taught with authority from Jesus Christ. Paul’s teaching carries divine authority, not just personal advice.

Paul is saying “This is important!”

to live in a way that pleases God, as we have taught you.

Live in a way that pleases God.

“as we have taught you”

Do what you know you should be doing.

Scripture instructs us to live lives that please God.

2 Corinthians 5:9 NLT
⁹So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him.

Ephesians 5:8-10 NLT
⁸For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! ⁹For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.
¹⁰Carefully determine what pleases the Lord.

Ephesians 5:17 NLT
¹⁷Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.

Pray

For us:

Psalm 19:14 NLT
¹⁴May the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing to you,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

For others:

Colossians 1:9-10 NLT
⁹So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. ¹⁰Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.

You live this way already, and we encourage you to do so even more.

The words “even more” show sanctification is a lifelong process—there is always room to grow in holiness and love.

²For you remember what we taught you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

³God’s will is for you to be holy,

Set apart from sin.

Romans 6:6 NLT
⁶We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin.

To be holy is to belong fully to God — to live for His purposes, not just our own.

“God’s will is for you to be holy.”

Ephesians 1:4 NLT
⁴Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.

This means our values, priorities, and behavior should be different from the world’s — guided by God’s truth rather than culture or self-interest.

Romans 12:1-2 NLT
^12:1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. ²Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

so stay away from all sexual sin.

You have been set apart for God’s purposes and you need to be growing in moral purity.

For former pagans, the lure of sexual sins was strong.

In the first century moral standards were generally very low.

Sexual immorality was tolerated in the Mediterranean world.

Prostitution was allowed.

In many Greco-Roman cities (like Corinth, Ephesus, and Rome), temple prostitution was part of pagan religion.

In the Greco-Roman world, sexual immorality was common and socially accepted, so Paul’s teaching marked Christians as distinct.

Ephesians 5:3 NLT
³Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people.

Stay away from all sexual sin.

⁴Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor—

Holiness begins in the body; what we do with our bodies matters to God.

1 Corinthians 6:18-20 NLT
¹⁸Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. ¹⁹Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, ²⁰for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

2 Timothy 2:21 NLT
²¹If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.

⁵not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways.

Ephesians 4:17-19 NLT
Living as Children of Light
¹⁷With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. ¹⁸Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. ¹⁹They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.

Don’t live like pagans.

A Christian, with God’s help, can overcome sexual temptations.

Knowing God is basic to living a holy life.

True knowledge of God transforms moral behavior.

⁶Never harm or cheat a fellow believer in this matter by violating his wife,

Sexual sin harms others besides those who engage in it.

Sexual sin is not private; it offends both God and others, resulting in destructive social and spiritual implications.

Sexual sin doesn’t just defile the sinner; it harms others, violating trust and community.

for the Lord avenges all such sins, as we have solemnly warned you before.

Colossians 3:5-7 NLT
⁵So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. ⁶Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. ⁷You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world.

David experienced this.

2 Samuel 11:27 NLT
²⁷When the period of mourning was over, David sent for her and brought her to the palace, and she became one of his wives. Then she gave birth to a son. But the Lord was displeased with what David had done.

2 Samuel 12:11 NLT
¹¹“This is what the Lord says: Because of what you have done, (referring to David’s sin with Bathsheba) I will cause your own household to rebel against you.

Hebrews 13:4 NLT
⁴Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery.

God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery.

⁷God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives.

³God’s will is for you to be holy,

To live a holy life means to be devoted to God, transformed by His Spirit, guided by His Word, and marked by love and purity in every area of life.

God’s plan for a Christian includes purifying his life.

A holy life demonstrates God’s supernatural power at work overcoming what is natural and it glorifies God.

⁸Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God,

Other translations of this verse:

Therefore, whoever rejects these instructions isn’t rejecting a human authority. They are rejecting God, (CEB)

So anyone who refuses to obey this teaching is refusing to obey God, not us. (ERV)

Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God (NIV)

The one who turns away from this teaching does not turn away from man, but from God. (NLV)

Sexual sin is against God.

To reject Paul’s teaching on sex is to reject God’s teaching, the source of Paul’s instruction.

who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

Galatians 5:16 NLT
Living by the Spirit’s Power
¹⁶So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.

The Holy Spirit enables us to avoid sexual immorality.

Holiness, then, is not achieved by self-effort but by yielding to the Spirit’s work within.

God Rewards Righteousness and Punishes Wickedness

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God Rewards Righteousness and Punishes Wickedness

Introduction:

This is not a lesson about salvation; rather, this is a lesson about faithful perseverance in godliness.

2 Samuel 22:21-31 NLT
²¹The Lord rewarded me for doing right;
    he restored me because of my innocence.
²²For I have kept the ways of the Lord;
    I have not turned from my God to follow evil.
²³I have followed all his regulations;
    I have never abandoned his decrees.
²⁴I am blameless before God;
    I have kept myself from sin.
²⁵The Lord rewarded me for doing right.
    He has seen my innocence.
²⁶“To the faithful you show yourself faithful;
    to those with integrity you show integrity.
²⁷To the pure you show yourself pure,
    but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd.
²⁸You rescue the humble,
    but your eyes watch the proud and humiliate them.
²⁹O Lord, you are my lamp.
    The Lord lights up my darkness.
³⁰In your strength I can crush an army;
    with my God I can scale any wall.
³¹“God’s way is perfect.
    All the Lord’s promises prove true.
    He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.

Examine the Scriptures

God rewards righteousness and punishes wickedness.

This is clearly a Biblical principle:

Isaiah 3:10-11 NLT
¹⁰Tell the godly that all will be well for them.
They will enjoy the rich reward they have earned!
¹¹But the wicked are doomed,
for they will get exactly what they deserve.

Psalm 1:6 NLT
⁶For the Lord watches over the path of the godly,
but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.

Psalm 37:28 NLT
²⁸For the Lord loves justice,
and he will never abandon the godly.
He will keep them safe forever,
but the children of the wicked will die.

Galatians 6:7-8 NLT
⁷Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. ⁸Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.

Matthew 16:27 NLT
²⁷For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds.

2 Corinthians 5:10 NLT
¹⁰For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.

Our previous lesson ended with 2 Samuel 22:20

2 Samuel 22:20 NLT
²⁰He led me to a place of safety;
he rescued me because he delights in me.

“He delights in me.”

This expression that the Lord “delights in me” provides a transition to verses 21-28, where David describes the basis of God’s saving deliverance.

David did not suggest that works are necessary for salvation, which is not the issue here. He was saying, however, that the benefits of God are often obtained in this life by faithful perseverance in godliness.

2 Samuel 22:21-31 NLT

²¹The Lord rewarded me for doing right;

A few examples of David doing right:

David viewed Saul as God’s appointed king.

David deeply loved his son Absalom, even though Absalom rebelled against him.

There’s no record of David expressing personal animosity toward Ishbosheth. He didn’t seek vengeance or try to assassinate him. When Ishbosheth was murdered by two of his own captains, David was deeply displeased, and had them executed.

David demonstrated moral integrity and respect for the Lord’s anointed line — he refused to advance his own position through treachery or bloodshed.

he restored me because of my innocence.

David needed restoration.

²²For I have kept the ways of the Lord;
I have not turned from my God to follow evil.

David kept the ways of the Lord.*

David did not turn to other gods.

²³I have followed all his regulations;
I have never abandoned his decrees.

David followed God’s regulations.*

David valued God’s decrees.

²⁴I am blameless before God;
I have kept myself from sin.

*See comments following v. 25.

²⁵The Lord rewarded me for doing right.
He has seen my innocence.

God honored David’s devotion and integrity.

David is not claiming to be sinless (he knew his failures, like with Bathsheba), but rather that his heart was loyal to God.

The Bible describes David as “a man after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22). That phrase doesn’t mean David was perfect — far from it — but it points to the deep qualities of his inner life and relationship with God.

David lived as a man after God’s heart.

Acts 13:22 NLT
²²But God removed Saul and replaced him with David, a man about whom God said, ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do.’

David’s humility after sin showed why he was still a man after God’s heart — he always turned back to God.

David’s deliverance flowed from his relationship with God—one marked by integrity, repentance, and obedience.

God values the heart — integrity and faithfulness matter more than outward perfection.

David lived a life of obedience, repentance, and loyalty to God, even when he failed.

David was not claiming to be righteous or sinless in any absolute sense. Rather David

(1) believed God,

(2) was considered righteous by faith, and

(3) desired to please the Lord and be obedient to His commands.

(4) David recognized that the Lord rewards those who faithfully serve Him.

God rewarded David and showed mercy to him as He does to all who are upright (faithful . . . blameless . . . pure . . . humble).

²⁶“To the faithful you show yourself faithful;
to those with integrity you show integrity.
²⁷To the pure you show yourself pure,
but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd.

Application:

God honors those who honor Him.

Proverbs 3:9-10 NLT
⁹Honor the Lord with your wealth,
with the firstfruits of all your crops;
¹⁰then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
and your vats will brim over with new wine.

John 12:26 NLT
²⁶Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

²⁸You rescue the humble,
but your eyes watch the proud and humiliate them.

David summarizes the contrast between the proud and the humble:

This is a timeless truth echoed in Scripture:

God lifts the humble, those who depend on Him.

God humbles the proud, those who rely on themselves.

“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Humility attracts God’s favor, but pride invites His resistance.

James 4:6 NLT
⁶And he (God) gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say,
“God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble.”

1 Peter 5:5 NLT
⁵In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for
“God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble.”

Proverbs 3:34 NLT
³⁴The Lord mocks the mockers
but is gracious to the humble.

God treats people according to their character — merciful to the merciful, opposed to the proud.

Psalm 18:25 NLT (The same as verse 28)
²⁵To the faithful you show yourself faithful;
to those with integrity you show integrity.

²⁹O Lord, you are my lamp.
The Lord lights up my darkness.

In 2 Samuel 21:17 David is referred to as the light of Israel.

2 Samuel 21:17 NLT
¹⁷But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to David’s rescue and killed the Philistine. Then David’s men declared, “You are not going out to battle with us again! Why risk snuffing out the light of Israel?”

Here David refers to the Lord as his lamp.

God is the one who enabled David to see clearly, walk uprightly, and live securely.

David life reflected the light of God’s glory.

For us:

Psalm 119:105 NLT
¹⁰⁵Your word is a lamp to guide my feet
and a light for my path.

Matthew 5:14-16 NLT
¹⁴“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Our lives should also reflect the light of God’s glory.

³⁰In your strength I can crush an army;
with my God I can scale any wall.

David is experiencing the Lord’s favor.

The Lord caused David’s life and undertakings to flourish.

Divine strength replaces human limitation — “with my God I can scale any wall.”

For us:

Philippians 4:13 NLT
¹³For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

³¹“God’s way is perfect.
All the Lord’s promises prove true.
He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.

David’s divine rescue and success were related to his own obedience.

After reflecting on God’s justice, David turns again to personal praise for God’s help and faithfulness.

God enlightens, empowers, and protects all who trust Him. His way and His word are flawless.

Conclusion

God Rewards Righteousness and Punishes Wickedness

Proverbs 13:21 NLT
²¹Trouble chases sinners,
while blessings reward the righteous.

Psalm 18:20 NLT
²⁰The Lord rewarded me for doing right;
he restored me because of my innocence.

1 Corinthians 15:58 NLT
⁵⁸So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.

Galatians 6:9 NLT
⁹So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.

Hebrews 10:36 NLT
³⁶Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.

Philippians 3:13-14 NLT
¹³No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

God as the Divine Warrior

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God as the Divine Warrior

Introduction:

As you listen to our passage of scripture for today, 2 Samuel 22:8-20, I want you to make a real effort to visualize what you are hearing. What pictures come to your mind? What do you see?

2 Samuel 22:7-20 NLT (repeating verse 7 from the previous lesson)
⁷But in my distress I cried out to the Lord;
yes, I cried to my God for help.
He heard me from his sanctuary;
my cry reached his ears.
⁸“Then the earth quaked and trembled.
The foundations of the heavens shook;
they quaked because of his anger.
⁹Smoke poured from his nostrils;
fierce flames leaped from his mouth.
Glowing coals blazed forth from him.
¹⁰He opened the heavens and came down;
dark storm clouds were beneath his feet.
¹¹Mounted on a mighty angelic being, he flew,
soaring on the wings of the wind.
¹²He shrouded himself in darkness,
veiling his approach with dense rain clouds.
¹³A great brightness shone around him,
and burning coals blazed forth.
¹⁴The Lord thundered from heaven;
the voice of the Most High resounded.
¹⁵He shot arrows and scattered his enemies;
his lightning flashed, and they were confused.
¹⁶Then at the command of the Lord,
at the blast of his breath,
the bottom of the sea could be seen,
and the foundations of the earth were laid bare.
¹⁷“He reached down from heaven and rescued me;
he drew me out of deep waters.
¹⁸He rescued me from my powerful enemies,
from those who hated me and were too strong for me.
¹⁹They attacked me at a moment when I was in distress,
but the Lord supported me.
²⁰He led me to a place of safety;
he rescued me because he delights in me.

What did you visualize?

Share with the group what you saw.

David describes God’s coming in power from heaven to earth.

This is a picture of a Warrior-King is descending from heaven to earth.

Here we have a vivid, poetic description of God’s majestic and powerful intervention to rescue David from his enemies when David is in utter distress.

These images present God as being angry with David’s adversaries as he intervenes in David’s crisis.

The primary message is that God responded with spectacular, cosmic force to David’s cry for help.

Define theophany.

David describes God’s rescue as a theophany.

A theophany is a vivid poetic description of God’s appearance in power and glory.

A theophany in the Bible is a tangible manifestation of God, an encounter with God.

Theophanies are appearances of God in the Bible.

Theophanies are events where God visibly manifests Himself to people.

There are other theophanies in the Bible.

Here are two examples,

Exodus 19:16-20 NLT
¹⁶On the morning of the third day, thunder roared and lightning flashed, and a dense cloud came down on the mountain. There was a long, loud blast from a ram’s horn, and all the people trembled. ¹⁷Moses led them out from the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. ¹⁸All of Mount Sinai was covered with smoke because the Lord had descended on it in the form of fire. The smoke billowed into the sky like smoke from a brick kiln, and the whole mountain shook violently. ¹⁹As the blast of the ram’s horn grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God thundered his reply. ²⁰The Lord came down on the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses climbed the mountain.

Habakkuk 3:3-15 NLT
Habakkuk’s Prayer
³I see God moving across the deserts from Edom,
the Holy One coming from Mount Paran.
His brilliant splendor fills the heavens,
and the earth is filled with his praise.
⁴His coming is as brilliant as the sunrise.
Rays of light flash from his hands,
where his awesome power is hidden.
⁵Pestilence marches before him;
plague follows close behind.
⁶When he stops, the earth shakes.
When he looks, the nations tremble.
He shatters the everlasting mountains
and levels the eternal hills.
He is the Eternal One!
⁷I see the people of Cushan in distress,
and the nation of Midian trembling in terror.
⁸Was it in anger, Lord, that you struck the rivers
and parted the sea?
Were you displeased with them?
No, you were sending your chariots of salvation!
⁹You brandished your bow
and your quiver of arrows.
You split open the earth with flowing rivers.
¹⁰The mountains watched and trembled.
Onward swept the raging waters.
The mighty deep cried out,
lifting its hands in submission.
¹¹The sun and moon stood still in the sky
as your brilliant arrows flew
and your glittering spear flashed.
¹²You marched across the land in anger
and trampled the nations in your fury.
¹³You went out to rescue your chosen people,
to save your anointed ones.
You crushed the heads of the wicked
and stripped their bones from head to toe.
¹⁴With his own weapons,
you destroyed the chief of those
who rushed out like a whirlwind,
thinking Israel would be easy prey.
¹⁵You trampled the sea with your horses,
and the mighty waters piled high.

Other theophanies in the Bible.

God appearing to Abraham – Genesis 18:1–2

The burning bush

The pillar of cloud and fire

The cloud over the tabernacle

The angel of the Lord appearing to Gideon

Isaiah’s vision in the temple

Ezekiel’s vision of God’s glory

Examine the Scriptures

Read (review) 2 Samuel 22:1-7 NLT

David’s Song of Praise
^22:1 David sang this song to the Lord on the day the Lord rescued him from all his enemies and from Saul. ²He sang:
“The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;
³ my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.
He is my shield, the power that saves me,
and my place of safety.
He is my refuge, my savior,
the one who saves me from violence.
⁴I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
and he saved me from my enemies.
⁵“The waves of death overwhelmed me;
floods of destruction swept over me.
⁶The grave wrapped its ropes around me;
death laid a trap in my path.
⁷But in my distress I cried out to the Lord;
yes, I cried to my God for help.
He heard me from his sanctuary;
my cry reached his ears.

2 Samuel 22:8-20 NLT

God as the Divine Warrior

(This song is nearly identical to Psalm 18:7–19.)

David poetically recounts how God’s power shook creation itself to come to his aid. The imagery is vivid—earthquakes, storms, thunder, and lightning—revealing God’s majesty and wrath against evil.

⁸“Then the earth quaked and trembled.
The foundations of the heavens shook;
they quaked because of his anger.

This verse describes the cosmic disturbance that accompanies God’s intervention.

⁹Smoke poured from his nostrils;
fierce flames leaped from his mouth.
Glowing coals blazed forth from him.

Here God’s power is portrayed in terms similar to those applied to the awesome beast, the leviathan.

Job 41:19-21 NLT
¹⁹Lightning leaps from its mouth;
flames of fire flash out.
²⁰Smoke streams from its nostrils
like steam from a pot heated over burning rushes.
²¹Its breath would kindle coals,
for flames shoot from its mouth.

This theophany is a picture of God’s righteous anger.

God’s wrath is not arbitrary—it arises from His justice and love for His chosen ones.

“Smoke” and “fire” symbolize God’s burning anger and purifying power.

¹⁰He opened the heavens and came down;
dark storm clouds were beneath his feet.
¹¹Mounted on a mighty angelic being, he flew,
soaring on the wings of the wind.
¹²He shrouded himself in darkness,
veiling his approach with dense rain clouds.
¹³A great brightness shone around him,
and burning coals blazed forth.

God as Divine Warrior

He rides upon the storm, commanding creation to act in defense of His people.

This passage describes God descending from heaven as a Divine Warrior in a storm to rescue David.

¹⁴The Lord thundered from heaven;
the voice of the Most High resounded.
¹⁵He shot arrows and scattered his enemies;
his lightning flashed, and they were confused.

Other similar passages.

Psalm 77:18 NLT
¹⁸Your thunder roared from the whirlwind;
the lightning lit up the world!
The earth trembled and shook.

Psalm 29:3-4 NLT
³The voice of the Lord echoes above the sea.
The God of glory thunders.
The Lord thunders over the mighty sea.
⁴The voice of the Lord is powerful;
the voice of the Lord is majestic.

Job 37:2-5 NLT
²Listen carefully to the thunder of God’s voice
as it rolls from his mouth.
³It rolls across the heavens,
and his lightning flashes in every direction.
⁴Then comes the roaring of the thunder—
the tremendous voice of his majesty.
He does not restrain it when he speaks.
⁵God’s voice is glorious in the thunder.
We can’t even imagine the greatness of his power.

1 Samuel 2:10 NLT
¹⁰ Those who fight against the Lord will be shattered.
He thunders against them from heaven;

God revealed His power audibly and visibly.

God’s voice commands attention and reverence.

¹⁶Then at the command of the Lord,
at the blast of his breath,
the bottom of the sea could be seen,
and the foundations of the earth were laid bare.

God’s commands shake creation.

This verse describes an earth-shaking divine rebuke.

The forces of nature serve God’s will.

Nature and nations alike yield to God’s voice; His rule is absolute.

¹⁷“He reached down from heaven and rescued me;
he drew me out of deep waters.
¹⁸He rescued me from my powerful enemies,
from those who hated me and were too strong for me.
¹⁹They attacked me at a moment when I was in distress,
but the Lord supported me.
²⁰He led me to a place of safety;
he rescued me because he delights in me.

God reached down from heaven to rescue David from his powerful enemies.

God is not distant: He powerfully moves creation itself to rescue those who trust Him.

God rescues not because of human merit, but because He delights in His children.

For believers, this passage reminds us that God’s power is not distant or abstract. The same God who shook heaven and earth to save David still acts for His people today. When we are surrounded by “many waters,” we can trust that God hears our cry, moves heaven and earth for our good, and delivers us because He delights in us through Christ.

Paul Prays to Return to Thessalonica

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Paul Prays to Return to Thessalonica

1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 NLT
¹¹May God our Father and our Lord Jesus bring us to you very soon. ¹²And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows. ¹³May he, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people. Amen.

Examine the Scriptures:

1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 NLT
Paul Prays to Return to Thessalonica

Paul prays:

Verses 11-13 are a prayer.

Look back at verse 10.

“Night and day we pray earnestly for you…” (v. 10)

¹¹May God our Father and our Lord Jesus

God the Father and God the Son working together.

“God and Lord Jesus” are also used in verse 1 and verse 13 as well in 2 Thessalonians 1:1, 2, 8, 12; 2:16; 3:5

A lesson within a lesson.

Paul frequently pairs “God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” to show their shared divine authority and unity of purpose.

Jesus is God.

By naming both God our Father and our Lord Jesus, Paul emphasizes distinction of persons within the Godhead.

1 Corinthians 8:6 NLT
⁶But for us,
There is one God, the Father,
    by whom all things were created,
    and for whom we live.
And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ,
    through whom all things were created,
    and through whom we live.

Paul often adds “Holy Spirit”.

2 Corinthians 13:14 NLT
¹⁴May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

bring us to you very soon.

Paul longs for personal fellowship with the Thessalonians.

In person interaction is so much better than “on line” interaction.

Watching a church service on TV is just not the same as being in a church service with other believers.

¹²And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow,

The Thessalonians were already noted for their love, but Paul prayed that their love would grow and overflow even more for fellow believers and for all people.

God is the source of Love.

1 John 4:7 NLT
⁷Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God.

God is the one who causes our love for others to grow.

Genuine Christian love is one thing in the Christian life which cannot be carried to excess.

More verses about loving others. (The challenge is clear.)

1 Thessalonians 4:9 NLT
⁹But we don’t need to write to you about the importance of loving each other, for God himself has taught you to love one another.

Romans 12:10 NLT
¹⁰Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.

Romans 13:8 NLT
⁸Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law.

2 Thessalonians 1:3 NLT
³Dear brothers and sisters, we can’t help but thank God for you, because your faith is flourishing and your love for one another is growing.

1 Peter 1:22 NLT
²²You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart.

1 John 3:11 NLT
¹¹This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another.

1 John 3:23 NLT
²³And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us.

1 John 4:9-12 NLT
⁹God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. ¹⁰This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.
¹¹Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. ¹²No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.

2 John 5 NLT
⁵I am writing to remind you, dear friends, that we should love one another. This is not a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning.

Scripture tells us to love one another.

just as our love for you overflows.

¹³May he, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy

God is the one who makes our hearts strong, blameless, and holy.

Blameless

Someone whose conduct aligns with God’s will

Someone who doesn’t cause others to stumble.

The character of a person who consistently seeks to do what is right and repents when they fall short.

A life of wholehearted sincerity, integrity, and faithfulness to God, free from the willful defiance of God’s will.

To be blameless means to live with integrity, sincerity, and devotion to God—so that nothing in your life brings shame to His name or gives others cause to accuse you of hypocrisy.

Holy

Set apart for God’s purposes.

Separated from sin and dedicated to God.

Conforming more and more to God’s moral character.

Reflecting God’s purity and righteousness in your life.

This involve a lifetime process. The process of sanctification.

More verses about God turning us into the people He wants us to be. (Enjoy)

Ephesians 1:4 NLT
⁴Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.

Romans 12:2 NLT
²Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

1 Thessalonians 4:7 NLT
⁷God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives.

John 17:16-17 NLT
¹⁶They do not belong to this world any more than I (Jesus) do. ¹⁷Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.

Hebrews 10:10 NLT
¹⁰For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.

Titus 2:14 NLT
¹⁴He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.

2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT
¹⁷This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

God chose us to be holy and without fault in his eyes.

as you stand before God our Father

One day we will all stand before God. (God is preparing us for that day.)

We are being prepared (verse 12 & 13a) for the return of Christ

when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people.

All His holy people can mean either angels or believers.

Amen.

David Praises the Lord his Deliverer

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David Praises the Lord, his Deliverer

Introduction:

On March 31, 2022, we looked at:

1 Samuel 2:1-10 NLT (Near the beginning of our study of 1^st & 2^nd Samuel)

Hannah’s Prayer of Praise

Hannah’s prayer is also known as a song or a poem.

Hannah’s Prayer of Praise also has similarities to David’s Song of Praise in 2 Samuel 22. (Near the end of our study of 1^st & 2^nd Samuel)

Hannah’s prayer is a song of praise and thanksgiving to God.
(This prayer celebrated the fact that Hannah had been saved from barrenness, as well as celebrating Samuel’s dedication to the Lord’s service.)

The prayer celebrates God’s holiness, sovereignty, and justice.

David’s song is a song of praise and thanksgiving to God.
(David was saved from his enemies.)

The song expresses David’s deep gratitude and faith in God’s power and faithfulness.

2 Samuel 22:1-7 NLT
David’s Song of Praise
^22:1 David sang this song to the Lord on the day the Lord rescued him from all his enemies and from Saul. ²He sang:
“The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;
³ my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.
He is my shield, the power that saves me,
and my place of safety.
He is my refuge, my savior,
the one who saves me from violence.
⁴I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
and he saved me from my enemies.
⁵“The waves of death overwhelmed me;
floods of destruction swept over me.
⁶The grave wrapped its ropes around me;
death laid a trap in my path.
⁷But in my distress I cried out to the Lord;
yes, I cried to my God for help.
He heard me from his sanctuary;
my cry reached his ears.

Examine the Scriptures

2 Samuel 22:1-7 NLT
David’s Song of Praise

David Praises the Lord his Deliverer

^22:1 David sang this song to the Lord on the day the Lord rescued him from all his enemies and from Saul.

David’s song of thanksgiving and praise to God.

David’s song is a song of praise to the Lord for his deliverance from all his enemies and from Saul.

In this song David recognized God’s faithfulness as well as God’s power.

David’s song recorded in 2 Samuel (2 Samuel 22:1-51) is nearly identical to Psalm 18.

²He sang:
“The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;
³ my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.
He is my shield, the power that saves me,
and my place of safety.
He is my refuge, my savior,
the one who saves me from violence.

In this translation David uses words and phrases including:

rock, fortress, shield, refuge, my place of safety, my savior, and the one who saves me

to describe the Lord.

David used words and phrases including rock, fortress, shield, and refuge, my place of safety, my savior, and the one who saves me, to describe the Lord.

Many of these terms or images found in this section of David’s song came from David’s experiences as a warrior and fugitive who often hid in rocky strongholds.

These words and phrases represented God’s greatness, strength and reliability.

David knew that true security is only found in the Lord.

Rock – symbolizes strength, permanence, stability, immovable

God was David’s rock, his unshakable foundation.

God was David’s strength in times of danger.

Fortress – emphasizes security from enemies, a place of safety, protection from enemies, a secure retreat that the enemy finds inaccessible, a place of safety beyond enemy reach.

For David, God is his security and protection in times of danger.

Savior –means deliverer, rescuer, or protector.

God repeatedly intervened to rescue David from danger.

God was David’s security, protection, refuge, strength, and deliverer in the face of danger.

⁴I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
and he saved me from my enemies.

David called on the Lord and the Lord saved David from his enemies.

⁵“The waves of death overwhelmed me;
floods of destruction swept over me.

This vividly portrays David’s feeling of being overwhelmed, like a man drowning in a sudden, violent flood.

⁶The grave wrapped its ropes around me;
death laid a trap in my path.

In his lifetime David faced many near death experiences.

Many times throughout his life, David would have felt wrapped up and trapped, like a captive destined for death.

David felt entangled and trapped. David knew that he was unable to free himself. This verse highlights the finality and hopelessness of his situation without divine intervention.

But God repeatedly broke these snares.

2 Samuel 22:1
Psalm 18:1
“the Lord rescued him (David) from all his enemies and from Saul.”

God rescued David repeatedly. (This is just a partial list.)

For emphasis, I believe it is important that we review these events.

David defeats Goliath (1 Samuel 17)

David risked his life when he fought the giant Philistine warrior Goliath with only a sling and faith in God.

1 Samuel 17:41-44 NLT
⁴¹Goliath walked out toward David with his shield bearer ahead of him, ⁴²sneering in contempt at this ruddy-faced boy. ⁴³“Am I a dog,” he roared at David, “that you come at me with a stick?” And he cursed David by the names of his gods. ⁴⁴“Come over here, and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and wild animals!” Goliath yelled.

David faced Saul’s Jealous Rage (1 Samuel 18:10–11 & 1 Samuel 19:9–10)Saul tried to kill David with a spear while David was playing the harp.

This happened on at least two occasions.

1 Samuel 18:10-11 NLT
¹⁰The very next day a tormenting spirit from God overwhelmed Saul, and he began to rave in his house like a madman. David was playing the harp, as he did each day. But Saul had a spear in his hand, ¹¹and he suddenly hurled it at David, intending to pin him to the wall. But David escaped him twice.

Saul tried to have David killed in battle. 1 Samuel 18:17

1 Samuel 18:17 NLT
¹⁷One day Saul said to David, “I am ready to give you my older daughter, Merab, as your wife. But first you must prove yourself to be a real warrior by fighting the Lord’s battles.” For Saul thought, “I’ll send him out against the Philistines and let them kill him rather than doing it myself.”

Saul sent men to David’s house to kill him, but Michal (David’s wife) helped him escape through a window. 1 Samuel 19:11

1 Samuel 19:11 NLT
¹¹Then Saul sent troops to watch David’s house. They were told to kill David when he came out the next morning. But Michal, David’s wife, warned him, “If you don’t escape tonight, you will be dead by morning.”

Saul wants to kill David. 1 Samuel 20:30-31

1 Samuel 20:30-31 NLT
³⁰Saul boiled with rage at Jonathan. “You stupid son of a whore!” he swore at him. “Do you think I don’t know that you want him to be king in your place, shaming yourself and your mother? ³¹As long as that son of Jesse is alive, you’ll never be king. Now go and get him so I can kill him!”

1 Samuel 20–23

Saul repeatedly hunted David in the wilderness with his army, leading to close calls where David narrowly escaped.

David was constantly on the run, hiding in fields, caves, and deserts.

David among the Philistines at Gath.

David sought refuge in the Philistine city of Gath, the home of Goliath, where he was recognized and seized by the Philistines. He feigned madness to escape this danger.
King Achish of Gath could have killed David. 1 Samuel 21:10-15

1 Samuel 21:10-15NLT
¹⁰So David escaped from Saul and went to King Achish of Gath. ¹¹But the officers of Achish were unhappy about his being there. “Isn’t this David, the king of the land?” they asked. “Isn’t he the one the people honor with dances, singing,
‘Saul has killed his thousands,
and David his ten thousands’?”
¹²David heard these comments and was very afraid of what King Achish of Gath might do to him. ¹³So he pretended to be insane, scratching on doors and drooling down his beard.
¹⁴Finally, King Achish said to his men, “Must you bring me a madman? ¹⁵We already have enough of them around here! Why should I let someone like this be my guest?”

Saul Again Pursues David (1 Samuel 26)

When the Amalekites raided Ziklag and burned it to the ground David’s own men even spoke of stoning him.

1 Samuel 30:6 NLT
⁶David was now in great danger because all his men were very bitter about losing their sons and daughters, and they began to talk of stoning him. But David found strength in the Lord his God.

Civil War with Ish-bosheth’s supporters (2 Samuel 2–4)

David’s forces battled Abner and Ish-bosheth’s men; constantly in danger in the struggle for the throne.

Battles with the Philistines (2 Samuel 5:17–25)

The Philistines repeatedly attacked David after he became king.

2 Samuel 5:17 NLT
¹⁷When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king of Israel, they mobilized all their forces to capture him

War with the Ammonites and Arameans (2 Samuel 10–12)

David led his army in dangerous campaigns that risked his life.

Absalom’s Rebellion (2 Samuel 15–18)

David fled Jerusalem when Absalom seized power. Crossing the Jordan and hiding in the wilderness, he faced possible death if captured. Absalom’s forces actively sought to kill David.

Battles Against Giants (2 Samuel 21:15–22)

David grew weary fighting the Philistine giant Ishbi-benob, who tried to kill him. Abishai rescued him just in time.

2 Samuel 21:16 NLT
¹⁶Ishbi-benob was a descendant of the giants; his bronze spearhead weighed more than seven pounds, and he was armed with a new sword. He had cornered David and was about to kill him.

⁷But in my distress I cried out to the Lord;
yes, I cried to my God for help.

David called to the Lord in his distress.

He heard me from his sanctuary;
my cry reached his ears.

Where the Lord is enthroned as king

The temple here refers to God’s dwelling place in heaven, showing that even in his earthly peril, David’s prayer reached the divine throne room.

God heard David’s cry.

Summary:

David is reflecting back on a lifetime of deliverances, from the hand of all his enemies, by God.

David gives all the credit to God for his victories and survival, recognizing that every triumph came from divine deliverance, not his own strength.

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The Day of the Lord

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The Hope of the Resurrection

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Instructions for Practical Christian Living.

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God Rewards Righteousness and Punishes Wickedness

God as the Divine Warrior

Paul Prays to Return to Thessalonica

David Praises the Lord his Deliverer