Hi, everyone...
before I begin, I must apologize for the drug induced coma I was typing in earlier today. I was determined to get that study typed before the benadryl hit, but I couldn't type fast enough!!! Benadryl hits me like a brick wall. So, if the study wasn't clear, please forgive me. We had a wonderful treatment @ Duke, but I slept most of the day afterwards. Hence the reason I am up at 1 am. Two of my liver functions were up like 4 points a piece, but they are still within normal range. The doctor said to expect them to go up because of the chemo drugs...it is perfectly normal at this point.
Today's Treasure:
"David reigned over Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people"
2 Samuel 8: 15
Today we are going to discuss a third virtue that belonged to David. He always dedicated his success and the rewards to his success in these passages to the Lord. He knew his favor and ability to rise above his enemies was a gift from God. Each time he made achievements, he gave to glory to God. God knew He could trust David to do this; therefore, God trusted David with many blessings. I heard a sermon once on why everyone in the world is not a millionare. The pastor simply stated that God cannot trust the majority of us to that sum of money. Too many of us would turn away from Him and begin to trust our money to take care of us. That wasn't an issue between God and David. God knew He could trust David to know where his blessings came from
Read 2 Samuel 8: 1 - 18
Write in one sentence what you believe to be the point of this chapter:
God's protection gave David success, and David acknowledged his success by dedicating the rewards to the Lord.
David spared a third of the Moabite army and left 100 of the Zobahite chariot horses mobile. Why do you think he left any alive?
He didn't want to destroy the race. David just wanted them to be submissive to him.
What did David do with all of the gold and silver he acquired from the nations he had subdued?
He dedicated them to the Lord
2 Samuel 8: 13
"And David became famous after he returned from striking down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt."
Describe David's leadership at this point in his reign
David was just and right for all of his people of Israel
There are five characteristics of a Christ follower who is seeking God's own heart:
1. A spirit of cooperation - do not sit around and wait on everything to come from God. We must be willing to do our part. We must be willing to go out and fight for the glory of God. That is how we cooperate in our relationship with Him. We do not have the power and majesty that God has, but we can love Him with all of our heart. It is important that we seek out ways to love Him and glorify Him.
Where do you believe you fit on a scale in reference to a cooperative spirit toward God?
uncooperative --------------------------------------------------------cooperative
Have you exhibited a spirit of cooperation with God recently?
I really feel as though making my journey with cancer so public was a way to show the glory of God each day in my life. It is hard to open your heart and mind to so many people. Fighting cancer is a very difficult battle, and your mind races constantly. Satan is always in the background trying to build doubt in you. You have to bind him daily from your life. It is hard to admit your weaknesses to people, even your best friends. I just felt that I had to share this journey with everyone because it is going to be amazing to watch God work!!! If I didn't share, then no one would realize what a how God is the reason for my healing!!! Now. look at how God has blessed me by bringing all of you into my life!!!
2. A ray of hope - This is the reason David did not kill every person in the tribes he came up against. He had to give them hope of renewing their people. I am sure David longed for them to remember his mercy and dedicate their new lives to God.
Compare 2 Samuel 8: 2 to 8:6. How did the Moabites and the Arameans similarly respond to their defeat?
They both became subject to him and paid tribute to him
Inspired by the Holy Spirit, David wrote the following Scriptures. Read each one and record David's intentions toward the nations.
Psalm 9:11 - To sing praise to the Lord and proclaim His name
Psalm 9:20 - For the Lord to strike men with terror so they realize they are only human (men)
Psalm 22: 27 - 28 - To express the dominion of the Lord over the nations
Our God is a God of hope. He wants us to find hope in our relationship with Him. Without hope, it is difficult to overcome so many situations in our lives.
3. A literal dedication to God - We can never confuse where our strength comes from when we belong to God. We must give God the credit and glory for all of our success in life. Remember, every thing on this earth belongs to God. It was created by Him. If we are entrusted with it for the short time we are here on earth, then we owe our praise to our Father for His willingness to share!!!
Read the definition several times; then consider how much dedication has to do with purity. If we immediately dedicate all our successes to God - verbal praises, positions, paychecks- how will purity be a factor?
If our motives are pure, then God knows He can trust us with them.
Beth states here, that we are the treasure Christ received because He exhibited a spirit of cooperation and hope when He agreed to die on the cross.
Read John 17: 9 - 11
What did Christ do with the treasure His Father had given Him?
He acknowledged that He and God were one. They were one and Christ dedicated all He had to God. We were the treasure that the Father had given to him. He promised not to pray for the world, but to pray for us.
Name several kinds of treasures God has specifically given to you
Faith, family (my spouse and children especially), love, support and friendships
In what ways have you dedicated these treasures to God?
I try to put God first in all of these relationships. I realize that my children are treasures entrusted to us. I know it is our responsibility to raise them in the light of the Lord.
4. Justice and righteousness - According to 2 Samuel 8: 15, David did what was fair and what was right. Jeremiah 22: 3 describes several specific examples of justice and righteousness. List them:
Rescue one who has been robbed
Do not wrong or violate the alien, the fatherless or the widow
Do not shed innocent blood
Justice and righteousness bring specific response in the heart of God. Identify the response in Jeremiah 9:24
"Let him who boasts and boasts about this; that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight"
In Acts 13:22 we have the perfect opportunity to highlight the description God placed on David. How is David described?
As a man after God's own heart
God delivered a marvelous prophecy about the Messiah, Jesus Christ, in Jeremiah 33:15. Write the verse in the space below, and then circle the similarities between David's reign and Christ's reign:
"In those days and at that time, I will make a righteous branch sprout from David's line. He will do what is just and right in the land"
5. The wisdom of administration - A wise king knows that growth means a great need for administration. David expressed this in verses 16 - 18 when he filled various positions to help run his kingdom. He appointed military leaders, a recorder, priests, a secretary and royal advisers (who were his sons)
He learned this lesson when he was given the discontented men to lead while he was running from Saul.
Whether we realize it or not, most of us are in administrative positions in the home, workplace or church. Are you overloaded right now?
I was way too overloaded prior to my diagnosis. I was trying to be a wife, mother, student and caretaker. It left zero time for me to spend with my friends and relax. I am looking to this time of healing to teach me the importance of taking deep breaths and putting the important things first.
In the margin describe what stops you from delegating responsibilities
Thinking I am the only one that can do it well/right
Describe any ways in which carrying too much responsibility might hurt those you are trying to serve
My children are not learning responsibility
My husband may feel that I do not think he is adequate enough to handle the major decisions in our home
Even God has delegated responsibility to us so that we will be witness to the lost around us. It is our responsibility as Christ followers to have all of these virtues we are studying this week about David. It is not only a privilege to have a heart like God's...it is our responsibility to seek it out!!!
I love you all!
In Him
Tiffany
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