2 Samuel 4:1-6:23, John 13:31-14:14, Psalms 119:17-32, Proverbs 15:31-32
Today is the 24th day of May welcome to the Daily Audio Bible I’m Brian it’s great to be here with you today as we gather and take the next step forward together moving through the Scriptures. And that leads us back toward the book of…well not toward…leads us back into the book of second Samuel, which we are just getting going on. And, so, our focus between first Samuel and second Samuel, as we’ve always already mentioned really deals with the transition between Saul and David. So, in first Samuel we were getting to know and really watch and observe Saul. Now in second Samuel we’re doing the same thing with David. And, so, we are watching David’s character and integrity, but we are also seeing that David wasn’t just handed the kingdom. There is a rival king who has the authority to be sitting on Israel’s throne one of Saul’s sons, his name is Ish-bosheth. And, so, David is now the King of a tribe of Israel, the tribe of Judah while Ish-bosheth is trying to secure his kingdom. So, let’s pick up the story. Second Samuel chapters 4, 5, and 6 today.
Commentary:
Okay. So, in the Gospel of John, we are clearly moving toward the passion narrative and Jesus crucifixion and this is the last time that we will move through this territory and this year and so we need to pay attention to it, but some of the things that Jesus said today as His kind of last words with His disciples while there alone while they can have this kind of conversation, what He chooses to say to them is profound to us. For example, “I give you a new commandment to love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. Everyone will know by this that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” So, this is Jesus’ charge to his disciples before He enters a time of suffering and death. Like, this is the last time that they get to be together in some sort of serene environment. This is what He had to say and it’s not like a nice posture to take on or a suggestion. It’s a new commandment. That’s the thing we can’t sidestep here is that we are commanded by the Savior to love one another. So, why are we so often at enmity or war with one another when we are commanded to love one another. And it’s fleshed out. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. In other words, this isn’t just an esoteric concept. It’s something that was modeled so that when the commandment was given it would be understood what is being talked about. Jesus love for humanity is supposed to be our love for one another. And it even goes further than that. Jesus is saying that if we obey this command and love one another as He has loved us, that is our witness to His love within us. The way Jesus said it is, “everyone will know by this that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” I think…I think if we don’t get this we’re not going to get anywhere. And in no way am I saying all of you who are listening to me you need to get your act together and love one another. Like I’m standing here wanting to fall to my knees, knowing that this is something that I break almost every day if not every day. Like I’m not 100%, even close to 100% being able to get my act together enough to show love in the face of some sort of offense. And yet that’s what Jesus modeled and that’s what He said would be the witness to the world, that something has shifted, that things are different. That we would be known as disciples of Jesus because of our love for one another. And the Bible tells us love conquers all. And, so, Jesus is giving us an example and a commandment of the fact that we can use the most powerful force known to humankind to break the chains and tear down the walls and reveal this kingdom that is happening among us. Like, how do we miss that loving one another is God’s work in this world? We could just hang on that one statement all day, and for that matter for the rest of our lives. But there are a couple of other profound things that Jesus chose to share this last moment alone with His disciples. For example, “do not let your hearts be distressed. You believe in God. Believe also in me. There are many dwelling places in my father’s house. Otherwise, I would’ve told you, because I am going away to make ready a place for you if I go and make ready a place for you, I will come back again and take you to be with me, so that where I am, you may be too.” So, much comfort there, so much reassurance there. That verse when we come to it every year…well…it’s deeply meaningful for me. That verse comforted me greatly after losing my mom a few years ago. It’s the otherwise I would’ve told you part for me. I was reading this verse and I am reading these words of Jesus and Him saying, “if this weren’t true, if this weren’t so, I would have told you.” I can only imagine the comfort that that would’ve brought to the disciples who would need to remember these things in mere hours because Jesus would be taken from them. I also think about the comfort that we need to lean into every day, the hope that we need to hold onto every day. And those words, “if it weren’t so I would’ve told you.” They really resonated in my heart anyway. But there’s still kind of this monumental blockbuster thing that Jesus says in our reading today as we end our reading today and that is this, “I tell you the solemn truth, the person who believes in me will perform the miraculous deeds that I am doing and will perform greater deeds than these, because I am going to the Father and I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” What’s kind of shocking about this is that Jesus is kind of like saying whatever you see me do, this is normal. You can do this and greater things. This is…this is normal for those who are in Me. That blows my mind. I cannot claim in any way to have achieved any kind of status of a miracle worker even though Jesus says we can do that. What we see though is possibility. We see things are opening up to a whole new normal, that it is no longer we who live, but Christ who lives within us, and why would Jesus stop doing what Jesus does, healing the brokenhearted and setting the captives free. It’s as if we are invited into the same ministry that Jesus was doing upon this earth. We are the continuation of Jesus began to do upon this earth. We are the hands and feet of Jesus in this earth. Or to put it more in Pauline kind of terminology, we are the body of Christ in this world and the world will know this by our love for one another. So, there is an awful lot that Jesus laid down there at the last moment where they were all alone together and there’s so much for us to meditate upon and consider. And for that matter, there’s a bunch that we need to look at in contrast, in the same way that we’re contrasting say Saul and King David we need to contrast ourselves between ourselves, our own behaviors and that that has been modeled for us by the Savior and maybe finally realize that love keeps no records of wrongs. Love this love. Love doesn’t fail. Love is the way that we will be known as God’s children in this world, disciples of the Savior. We gotta find a wat to love each other better than we are, and it can’t happen fast enough. And, so, maybe it begins today for us. Maybe today we draw that line in the sand and say, okay this is a commandment, so I have got to figure out how to live this.
Prayer:
Holy Spirit, that’s what we’re asking, how? We’re in a broken world full of broken things. We’re continually reminded of what’s broken so we can buy things to fix them. We’re inundated with this constantly, every moment. And yet You’ve given us commandment to love one another as You have loved us. And as with everything else that we are learning we can’t do it on our own. We are utterly dependent upon You, and we need Your help, and we need eyes to see and ears to hear. We need vigilance and awareness. We’ve got to pay attention. Holy Spirit come, may today be a new beginning. We pray this in the powerful, mighty name of Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Announcements:
dailyaudiobible.com, that is a home base, that’s the website, and its where you can find out what’s going on around here. The Daily Audio Bible app will do that as well. So, check that out.
Check out the Daily Audio Bible Shop. We…I mean…there have been honest-to-goodness supply chain issues in the world for the last…over a year and so it’s taken a while to replenish some things, but the Shop is pretty much fully stocked now. We got our shalom fleeces back in stock. Those are always very…they’ve been popular for so long. And, so, we love those. The Global Campfire fleece is back in stock. All of the black wing pencils are back in stock. So, the Shop is available for resources to accompany us on our journey through the Scriptures in a year. And, so, check that out either on the website or on the app.
If you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible, if this mission to continue to bring the spoken word of God read fresh every day and offered freely to whoever may encounter it, whoever will listen wherever they may be both geographically and wherever they may be in their lives, no matter what time of day or night it is and to build community around the fact that we show up around the Global Campfire every day. If that is life giving to you then thank you for your partnership. There is a link on the homepage at dailyaudiobible.com. If you’re using the app, you can press the Give button in the upper right-hand corner, or the mailing address is PO Box 1996 Spring Hill Tennessee 37174.
And, as always, if you have a prayer request or encouragement, you can hit the Hotline button in the app. That’s the little red button up at the top or you can dial 877-942-4253.
And that’s it for today. I’m Brian I love you and I’ll be waiting for you here tomorrow.
Community Prayer and Praise:
Hey David Robertson of Tennessee this is Greg calling from Alaska. When I was in high school, I graduated in 1980, but they told me I had an eye disease called keratoconus and that by the time I was 40 years old I would be blind because of needing surgery. I’m 60 years old, turned 60 last year and I’m still able to see thanks to God. We…we prayed for years for healing for my eyes. I still don’t see well but I’m not blind and I can see, and I can work, and I can drive. And I love your heart. I’m believing with you for healing, and I know there’s lots of others in this community praying for you. Stands strong, believe in God and I’m standing beside you brother. Love you lots.
Hi neighbors it’s Lisa the Encourager. I just wanted to call in. I’m on May 14th and reading this story about Jesus and when the Pharisees brought the woman that had committed adultery to Him. And I was just struck and reflecting on this beautiful story, and I think what I learned from it again, you know, ‘cause we learn from the same story over and over and different facets of the story. I learned that this is a beautiful example of being slow to speak. When John put this in writing he didn’t just put in writing Jesus’ response. He also put in writing the fact that Jesus bent over and started writing in the sand and He didn’t speak. And I just love that beautiful picture of Him. And I know He was praying at that point and seeking, you know, what He would say and wisdom. And I think we could all learn from that beautiful example of Him just leaning over and writing in the sand and then coming out with His answer and waiting for the accusers to accuse her. And then He bent over again and wrote in the sand. So, He was slow to speak before and very slow to speak after what He said. He just was silent and I…I just…this is so beautiful, just a gorgeous picture of Jesus and His love, His kindness, His gentleness. And that’s what He has for all of us when our accusers are there for us. So, I hope this is encouraging to you as it was for me.
Dear heavenly father I lift up to you those of us that are struggling with anxiety, depression, feeling…being overwhelmed or feeling we’re walking in the wilderness. You oh Lord our shepherd we shall not want. You make us lie down in green pastures. You lead us beside the still waters. You O Lord restore our soul. You lead us in the path of righteousness for Your namesake. Yay that we walk through the valley of the shadow of death we will fear no evil for You are with us. Your rod and Your staff they comfort us. You prepare a table before us in the presence of our enemies. You anoint our heads with oil. Our cup O Lord runs over. Surely Your goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives. And we will dwell in Your house all Lord forever. I lift this up to You Lord in the name of Your son Jesus Christ. Amen.
Hey DAB family this is Simone calling from Houston it’s May 21st and I heard I think she wants to be called MC from Fullerton. I may have gotten it wrong. And I think I said this is Simone from Houston driving home from work. And I just wanted to encourage you. The Bible says we overcome by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony. I’ve had an extremely difficult life and I’m not ashamed of it. Was abandoned by my mother at birth, molested as a child. My first sexual experience was raped at 17. Had my first child at 20. Went on to get married and stayed in that marriage for almost 15 years and it was toxic. Walked away from it. Was divorced with three children with my youngest child being autistic. Three years ago, I heard God say to me move to Houston TX. And I fasted and prayed for six months, and God sent confirmation after confirmation after confirmation. So, I quit my job with almost 15 years, moved to Houston TX, didn’t even have a full-time job and just start it over. Fast forward three years, I’m in the medical field. I’m studying I take my…to become registered in the medical field in a certain area and I love my new career and I love my new job and God has opened so many doors and windows. I haven’t wanted for a single thing, my son and I since we got here three years ago. And I just wanted to encourage you. I’m 46 years old and I started over three years ago. You can do it. It can be done. Trust God. He is faithful and just, you know, try to tune in to Him and try to hear His voice and figure out what it is He wants you to do and where He wants you to be and go. And you can’t go wrong if you do that.
Hi, my name is Ethan and I’m just putting a prayer request. I usually…usually listen to a lot of these after every episode but this is my first time ever making my own. I really felt like I…I needed to but I really do today and I’ve been praying a lot and I just ask that some of you would keep me in your prayers. My car…I just got my car. I’m about to turn 18. I just got my new car and I’m really happy about that but the…a part it in it, the AC compressor went out and I’m not sure what I’m going to do tomorrow and it’s getting really hot, and I don’t know how much money it’s going to cost to fix it. But I’m just trying to have faith. And I just ask that any of y'all who know what I’m going through and understand the stress with this, just pray for me that everything goes well. All things work to the benefit of those who love the Lord and I’ll be OK. And hope everyone out there is doing well, you’re all OK. Remember that God loves you. So, if you’ll just pray for me, I’d appreciate it. Thank you. Have a good day. Ethan. Bye.