After King David confessed his sin to God, he was relieved, not only about his past but also about his future. Find out why you can trust God with your future fears as well as your past regrets. That’s the focus on Truth For Life with Alistair Begg.
From the Sermon
“I Will Instruct You” — Part One
Psalm 32:8 Sermon • Includes Transcript • 38:15 • ID: 2543Sharing in Service
The body of Christ is no place for one-man bands, at least when it comes to the work of ministry. The Christian life is a team game, not a competition. The apostle Paul reminds us of this time and time again in his letters to the early church.
Even in the infancy of the Corinthian church, Paul knew turf wars were a threat and that some people favored Apollos’s care over his own (1 Corinthians 3:3-7). If Paul himself had been looking out for his own interests and to bolster his own reputation and this church’s reliance on him, he could have made certain that Apollos never returned to Corinth. But we read that he didn’t do that. Quite the opposite, in fact. All he wanted was for God’s people to be ministered to. He knew that ministry was designed to be a shared effort.
God chose to put the early-church ministry team together in wonderful ways. Take Timothy, for example. Paul told the Corinthians, “When Timothy comes, see that you put him at ease among you, for he is doing the work of the Lord, as I am. So let no one despise him. Help him on his way in peace, that he may return to me, for I am expecting him with the brothers” (1 Corinthians 16:10-11) To many, Timothy would have appeared inadequate for service: he was naturally timid (which is likely why Paul reminded the church to treat him kindly), physically frail (he was known to take a little wine for the sake of his stomach), and younger than most (1 Timothy 4:12; 5:23). But Paul knew that God had assigned a task to Timothy, and he meant to help him fulfill it.
A host of others—men and women such as Phoebe, Prisca, Aquila, Fortunatus, and Achaicus—rallied round in ministry with Paul too. None of them looked or acted the same. They weren’t gifted in the same ways. But they were still all vital in the work of ministry. The same is true of the church body today: we are all entrusted with different tasks by the Lord. It is therefore crucial that we resist the urge to serve only with those to whom we are most similar or with whom we are most impressed. We shouldn’t say, “Well, I only like the way he preaches,” “I can listen only to her voice,” or “I just don’t get on with him.” Instead, we should be grateful for all of God’s servants.
Most of us will live our lives without anybody knowing about us beyond our immediate circle of influence. But it can be enough for our epitaphs to read, “Here lies So-and-So: a great help to those she knew.” Do you believe that “there’s a work for Jesus none but you can do”?[1] When God puts His hand on you and assigns you a task, do you take it seriously, even if it seems inconsequential? We are meant to serve Him together in community, as a unified team on behalf of His kingdom. There will be joy and satisfaction in playing your part, and in encouraging others as they play theirs, today.
How is God calling me to think differently?
How is God reordering my heart’s affections — what I love?
What is God calling me to do as I go about my day today?
Divisions in the Church
1But I, brothers,1 could not address you as aspiritual people, but as bpeople of the flesh, as cinfants in Christ. 2dI fed you with milk, not solid food, for eyou were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, 3for you are still of the flesh. For while there is fjealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? 4For gwhen one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” hare you not being merely human?
5What then is Apollos? What is Paul? iServants through whom you believed, jas the Lord assigned to each. 6kI planted, lApollos watered, mbut God gave the growth. 7So nneither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 8He who plants and he who waters are one, and each owill receive his wages according to his labor. 9For we are pGod's fellow workers. You are God's field, qGod's building.
10rAccording to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled2 master builder I laid a sfoundation, and tsomeone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. 11For no one can lay a ufoundation other vthan that which is laid, wwhich is Jesus Christ. 12Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13xeach one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed yby fire, and zthe fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, ahe will receive a reward. 15If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, bbut only as through fire.
16cDo you not know that you3 are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? 17If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For dGod's temple is holy, and you are that temple.
18eLet no one deceive himself. fIf anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. 19For gthe wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, h“He catches the wise in their craftiness,” 20and again, i“The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” 21So jlet no one boast in men. For kall things are yours, 22whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, 23and lyou are Christ's, and mChrist is God's.
Devotional material is taken from the Truth For Life daily devotionals by Alistair Begg, published by The Good Book Company, thegoodbook.com. Used by Truth For Life with permission. Copyright © 2021, 2022, The Good Book Company.
Grieving Sin
I acknowledged my sin unto you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.
David's grief for sin was bitter. Its effects were visible on his outward frame: His bones wasted away; his strength dried up like the drought of summer. He was unable to find a remedy until he made a full confession before the throne of heavenly grace. He tells us that for a time he kept silent, and his heart was filled with grief and his lips with groaning: Like a mountain stream that is blocked, his soul was swollen with torrents of sorrow. He created excuses, he tried to divert his thoughts, but it was all to no purpose; like a festering sore his anguish gathered, and, unwilling to use the scalpel of confession, his spirit was tormented and knew no peace.
At last it came to this, that he must return to God in humble penitence or die outright; so he hurried to the mercy-seat and there unrolled the volume of his iniquities before the all-seeing God, acknowledging all the evil of his ways in the terms of the Fifty-first and other penitential Psalms. Having confessed, a task so simple and yet so hard for the proud, he immediately received the token of divine forgiveness; the bones that had been wasted were made to rejoice, and he emerged from his prayers to sing the joyful songs of the one whose transgression is forgiven.
Do you see the value of this grace-led confession of sin? It is to be prized above everything, for in every case where there is a genuine, gracious confession, mercy is freely given—not because the repentance and confession deserve mercy, but for Christ's sake. May God be praised, there is always healing for the broken heart; the fountain is ever flowing to cleanse us from our sins. Truly, O Lord, You are a God “ready to forgive.”1 Therefore will we humbly acknowledge our iniquities.
1) Nehemiah 9:17
Devotional material is taken from Morning and Evening, written by C. H. Spurgeon, revised and updated by Alistair Begg. Copyright © 2003, Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.org. Used by Truth For Life with written permission.
Daily Bible Reading for September 14
David Defeats Ammon and Syria
1sAfter this the king of the Ammonites died, and Hanun his son reigned in his place. 2And David said, “I will deal loyally1 with Hanun the son of tNahash, as his father dealt loyally with me.” So David sent by his servants to console him concerning his father. And David's servants came into the land of the Ammonites. 3But the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun their lord, “Do you think, because David has sent comforters to you, that he is honoring your father? Has not David sent his servants to you to search the city and to spy it out and to overthrow it?” 4So Hanun took David's servants and shaved off half the beard of each and cut off their garments in the middle, uat their hips, and sent them away. 5When it was told David, he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, “Remain at Jericho until your beards have grown and then return.”
6When the Ammonites saw that they had become a stench to David, the Ammonites sent and hired the Syrians of vBeth-rehob, and wthe Syrians of Zobah, 20,000 foot soldiers, and the king of xMaacah with 1,000 men, and the men of yTob, 12,000 men. 7And when David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the host of zthe mighty men. 8And the Ammonites came out and drew up in battle array at the entrance of the gate, and wthe Syrians of Zobah and of Rehob and ythe men of Tob and Maacah were by themselves in the open country.
9When Joab saw that the battle was set against him both in front and in the rear, he chose some of the best men of Israel and arrayed them against the Syrians. 10The rest of his men he put in the charge of Abishai his brother, and he arrayed them against the Ammonites. 11And he said, “If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me, but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come and help you. 12aBe of good courage, and blet us be courageous for our people, and for the cities of our God, and cmay the Lord do what seems good to him.” 13So Joab and the people who were with him drew near to battle against the Syrians, and they fled before him. 14And when the Ammonites saw that the Syrians fled, they likewise fled before Abishai and entered the city. Then Joab returned from fighting against the Ammonites and came to Jerusalem.
15But when the Syrians saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they gathered themselves together. 16And Hadadezer sent and brought out the Syrians who were beyond dthe Euphrates.2 They came to Helam, with eShobach the commander of the army of Hadadezer at their head. 17And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together and crossed the Jordan and came to Helam. The Syrians arrayed themselves against David and fought with him. 18And the Syrians fled before Israel, and David killed of the Syrians the men of 700 chariots, and 40,000 horsemen, and wounded fShobach the commander of their army, so that he died there. 19And when all the kings who were servants of Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel gand became subject to them. So the Syrians were afraid to save the Ammonites anymore.
Ministers of the New Covenant
1qAre we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, ras some do, sletters of recommendation to you, or from you? 2tYou yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our1 hearts, to be known and read by all. 3And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of uthe living God, not on vtablets of stone but on wtablets of xhuman hearts.2
4ySuch is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5zNot that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but aour sufficiency is from God, 6who has made us sufficient to be bministers of ca new covenant, not of dthe letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but ethe Spirit gives life.
7Now if fthe ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory gthat the Israelites could not gaze at Moses' face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, 8will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? 9For if there was glory in hthe ministry of condemnation, ithe ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. 10Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. 11For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.
12Since we have such a hope, jwe are very bold, 13not like Moses, kwho would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. 14But ltheir minds were mhardened. For to this day, nwhen they read othe old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. 15Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. 16But when pone3 turns to the Lord, qthe veil is removed. 17Now the Lord4 is the Spirit, and where rthe Spirit of the Lord is, there is sfreedom. 18And we all, with unveiled face, tbeholding uthe glory of the Lord,5 vare being transformed into the same image wfrom one degree of glory to another.6 For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
Parable of Two Eagles and a Vine
1The word of the Lord came to me: 2c“Son of man, dpropound a riddle, and speak a parable to the house of Israel; 3say, Thus says the Lord God: eA great eagle fwith great wings and long pinions, frich in plumage of many colors, came gto Lebanon hand took the top of the cedar. 4He broke off the topmost of its young twigs and carried it to a land of trade and set it in a city of merchants. 5Then he took of the seed of the land iand planted it in fertile soil.1 He placed it beside abundant waters. jHe set it like a willow twig, 6and it sprouted and became a klow lspreading vine, and its branches turned toward him, and its roots remained where it stood. So it became a vine and produced branches and put out boughs.
7m“And there was another great eagle with great wings and much plumage, mand behold, this vine bent its roots toward him and shot forth its branches toward him from nthe bed where it was planted, that he might water it. 8iIt had been planted on good soil by abundant waters, that it might produce branches and bear fruit and become a noble vine.
9“Say, Thus says the Lord God: mWill it thrive? Will he not pull up its roots and cut off its fruit, so that it withers, so that all its fresh sprouting leaves wither? It will not take a strong arm or many people to pull it from its roots. 10Behold, it is planted; will it thrive? oWill it not utterly wither when the east wind strikes it—wither away on the bed where it sprouted?”
11Then the word of the Lord came to me: 12“Say now to pthe rebellious house, qDo you not know what these things mean? Tell them, behold, rthe king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, and took her king and her princes and brought them to him to Babylon. 13sAnd he took one of the royal offspring2 tand made a covenant with him, uputting him under oath (vthe chief men of the land he had taken away), 14that the kingdom might be humble and not lift itself up, and keep his covenant that it might stand. 15wBut he rebelled against him by sending his ambassadors xto Egypt, that they might give him horses and a large army. yWill he thrive? Can one escape who does such things? Can he zbreak the covenant and yet escape?
16a“As I live, declares the Lord God, surely bin the place where the king dwells cwho made him king, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant with him he broke, in Babylon he shall die. 17dPharaoh with his mighty army and great company will not help him in war, ewhen mounds are cast up and siege walls built to cut off many lives. 18He despised the oath in breaking the covenant, and behold, he gave his hand and did all these things; he shall not escape. 19Therefore thus says the Lord God: As I live, surely it is my oath that he despised, and my covenant that he broke. I will return it upon his head. 20fI will spread my net over him, and he shall be taken in my snare, and I will bring him to Babylon gand enter into judgment with him there hfor the treachery he has committed against me. 21And all the pick3 of his troops shall fall by the sword, iand the survivors shall be scattered to every wind, and you shall know that jI am the Lord; I have spoken.”
22Thus says the Lord God: k“I myself will take a sprig from the lofty top of the cedar and will set it out. lI will break off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one, and mI myself will plant it on a high and lofty mountain. 23nOn the mountain height of Israel will I plant it, that it may bear branches and produce fruit and become a noble cedar. oAnd under it will dwell every kind of bird; in the shade of its branches birds of every sort will nest. 24And all the trees of the field shall know that I am the Lord; pI bring low the high tree, and make high the low tree, dry up qthe green tree, and make qthe dry tree flourish. rI am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it.”
Psalm 60
He Will Tread Down Our Foes
To the choirmaster: according to fShushan Eduth. A gMiktam1 of David; hfor instruction; when he istrove with Aram-naharaim and with Aram-zobah, and when Joab on his return struck down twelve thousand of Edom in the Valley of Salt.
1O God, jyou have rejected us, kbroken our defenses;
you have been angry; loh, restore us.
2You have made the land to quake; you have torn it open;
mrepair its breaches, for it totters.
3nYou have made your people see hard things;
oyou have given us pwine to drink that made us stagger.
4You have set up qa banner for those who fear you,
that they may flee to it rfrom the bow.2 Selah
5sThat your tbeloved ones may be delivered,
give salvation by your right hand and answer us!
6God has spoken uin his holiness:3
“With exultation vI will divide up wShechem
and portion out the Vale of xSuccoth.
7yGilead is mine; Manasseh is mine;
Judah is my bscepter.
8cMoab is my washbasin;
upon Edom I dcast my shoe;
over ePhilistia I shout in triumph.”4
9Who will bring me to the fortified city?
fWho will lead me to Edom?
10Have you not grejected us, O God?
You hdo not go forth, O God, with our armies.
11Oh, grant us help against the foe,
for ivain is the salvation of man!
12With God we shall jdo valiantly;
it is he who will ktread down our foes.
Psalm 61
Lead Me to the Rock
To the choirmaster: with lstringed instruments. Of David.
1Hear my cry, O God,
mlisten to my prayer;
2from the end of the earth I call to you
when my heart is nfaint.
Lead me to othe rock
that is higher than I,
3for you have been pmy refuge,
a strong qtower against the enemy.
4Let me rdwell in your tent forever!
Let me take refuge under sthe shelter of your wings! Selah
5For you, O God, have heard my vows;
you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.
6tProlong uthe life of the king;
may his years endure to all generations!
7May he be enthroned forever before God;
appoint vsteadfast love and faithfulness to watch over him!
8So will I ever sing praises to your name,
as I wperform my vows day after day.
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