2 Samuel 13:1-22; John 16:17-33; Psalms 119:73-80; Proverbs 26:1-2

NT: ““Truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice. You will become sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn to joy. When a woman is in labor, she has pain because her time has come. But when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the suffering because of the joy that a person has been born into the world. So you also have sorrow now. But I will see you again. Your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy from you… I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”” (‭‭John‬ ‭16:20-22, 33‬ ‭CSB)

Jesus told His disciples that when He left to go to the Father, they would be sorrowful while the world rejoiced over His demise… but there would come a day, if they endured through the sorrow, that their sorrow would be turned to joy when they saw Him in glory. Most people try to get rid of their sorrow by removing the source of their sorrow. God, on the other hand, uses the sorrow as a means to produce joy. When a woman is in labor, the baby is the cause of the pain. The woman could get rid of the baby and her pain would be gone… but she would have no joy – just and absence of pain. However, if the woman endures the pain, the source of her pain is transformed into the source of immense joy. That is what God does: He uses the inevitable painful and sorrowful things of life to mature us and produce joy, if we trust Him in the process. Pain and sorrow is a part of life in this sinful and fallen world we live in… if we just remove sorrowful things or try to escape pain, the relief may be gone for a moment, but more sorrow and pain will return to replace what we have removed or numbed ourselves to. People who “cope” in that way, never learn how to endure and conquer… they just keep removing and canceling and growing more and more empty. If we, by God’s grace through faith in Him, embrace the sorrow and pain and allow it to have its work in us. God will transform the sorrow into joy… and we will grow in maturity and fullness. Jesus then summarized His entire conversation after the last supper with this statement: “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.” You will have suffering in the world… it is inevitable… but have faith in Me, for I have conquered the world… and in Me, you will conquer the world as well.

Psalms: “Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding so that I can learn your commands. Those who fear you will see me and rejoice, for I put my hope in your word. I know, Lord, that your judgments are just and that you have afflicted me fairly. May your faithful love comfort me as you promised your servant. May your compassion come to me so that I may live, for your instruction is my delight. Let the arrogant be put to shame for slandering me with lies; I will meditate on your precepts. Let those who fear you, those who know your decrees, turn to me. May my heart be blameless regarding your statutes so that I will not be put to shame.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119:73-80‬ ‭CSB)

The psalmist wrote of affliction that he suffered… but he also wrote of God’s faithful love that comforted him… God’s compassion that gave him life… God’s word that gave him hope. If we are faithful to the Lord, His word, His will, and His ways; though we will go through affliction, we will not be put to shame… and through the affliction, we will have hope, comfort, and abundant life… and those around us who also fear the Lord, will see us and rejoice for the good that God produces in our life.

2 Samuel 12:15-31; John 16:1-16; Psalms 119:65-72; Proverbs 25:28

NT: “But now I am going away to him who sent me, and not one of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ Yet, because I have spoken these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless, I am telling you the truth. It is for your benefit that I go away, because if I don’t go away the Counselor will not come to you. If I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment: About sin, because they do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me; and about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged. I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak on his own, but he will speak whatever he hears. He will also declare to you what is to come. He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.” (‭‭John‬ ‭16:5-14‬ ‭CSB)

The remaining eleven disciples were understandably sorrowful as Jesus talked about His impending death. The master that they had devoted three years of their lives to… the person that they hung all of their hopes on… the man that they gave up everything to follow was going to be gone. Jesus was attempting to comfort them and encourage them… but I imagine that the disappointment and pain was too great to fully hear and accept what Jesus was saying. So Jesus once again said, “despite what you are feeling – and despite your inability to see beyond your current sadness, I am telling you the truth: My going away is only going to benefit you…. It is for your good.” God’s destiny for humanity goes far beyond salvation and deliverance. The Jewish people expected the Messiah to save them and deliver them from their oppressors… and the Messiah couldn’t do that if He was dead and gone. But God’s plan was far greater. Jesus was going to save them from their sin and deliver them from bondage to the devil… and then He was going to make a way for the very life of God to fill all those who believed in Him. For centuries, God had been telling he people through the prophets that He was going to give His people new hearts of flesh that would be able to fully obey His word, will, and ways. God’s desire was to turn mere humans into “super humans,” who were filled with the very Spirit of God… and for the Father to do that, Jesus had to go away. Once Jesus went away and the Spirit of God came, everything would change. With the Spirit poured out on all flesh, the Spirit would convict people of sin, righteousness, and judgement. With the Spirit poured out on all flesh, the unlimited Spirit would be the one who would lead people into all truth. Jesus, though He is the Son of God, limited Himself to the confines of human flesh. Jesus, as a man, is not omnipresent. He could only minister to and teach a few people at a time. The Holy Spirit, however, is unlimited – and can fill people everywhere and can be convicting and teaching people in Nashville, Tennessee at the same time He is convicting and teaching people in Baghdad, Iraq. For God to reach the entire world with the good news of His kingdom, Jesus had to return to the Father so that the Spirit could come. Because Jesus went away, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father interceding for us… all who have believed in Him over the millennia have benefited.

2 Samuel 12:1-14; John 15:18-27; Psalms 119:59-64; Proverbs 25:25-27

OT: “Nathan replied to David, “You are the man! This is what the Lord God of Israel says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I rescued you from Saul. I gave your master’s house to you and your master’s wives into your arms, and I gave you the house of Israel and Judah, and if that was not enough, I would have given you even more. Why then have you despised the Lord’s command by doing what I consider evil? You struck down Uriah the Hethite with the sword and took his wife as your own wife — you murdered him with the Ammonite’s sword… David responded to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Then Nathan replied to David, “And the Lord has taken away your sin; you will not die. However, because you treated the Lord with such contempt in this matter, the son born to you will die.”” (‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭12:7-9, 13-14‬ ‭CSB)

David, the man after God’s own heart, was not immune from falling into a sordid scandal. Sin is always lurking at the ready to consume us, and often times, we become the most vulnerable after our greatest victories and mountain-top experiences. Those highs, if we let down our guard, have a way of causing us to become too confident in ourselves. David had just been given an amazing prophetic word about his legacy, and I wonder if he was feeling a little indestructible. Whatever the reason, he used his authority to take advantage of a woman, and then had her husband killed to cover up his indiscretions. He would have gotten away from it, were it not for God’s love for David. Sometimes true love requires us getting angry when someone does something that will destroy them… and that is what God did. He got angry, and He sent Nathan to confront David. By confronting David with his sin, Nathan was taking risking his life. David had already killed someone to cover up his scandal, and he was known for killing people who brought him bad news. David had the choice to defend himself and further harden his heart, or humble himself and repent of his sin. Thankfully, when Nathan brought his word from the Lord, David realized the evil that he committed and quickly repented. There would be consequences to his sin, but because David repented, his relationship with the Lord remained intact.

Psalms: “The Lord is my portion; I have promised to keep your words. I have sought your favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise. I thought about my ways and turned my steps back to your decrees. I hurried, not hesitating to keep your commands. Though the ropes of the wicked were wrapped around me, I did not forget your instruction. I rise at midnight to thank you for your righteous judgments. I am a friend to all who fear you, to those who keep your precepts. Lord, the earth is filled with your faithful love; teach me your statutes.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119:57-64‬ ‭CSB)

This eight verse stanza in Psalm 119 speaks of rapid repentance. The writer spoke of his desire and his vow to pursue God and keep His words – but apparently, at some point, the writer strayed from God’s ways for his own. The psalmist then wrote, “I thought about my ways and turned my steps back to Your decrees. I hurried, not hesitating to keep your commands.” If that is not rapid repentance, I don’t know what is. Once we are confronted with our sin, it is so important that we rapidly repent. The longer we hold on to the sin that we have been confronted with, the harder our hearts become, and the harder it becomes to confess and come clean. The Bible teaches that it is God’s kindness that leads us to repentance. He is faithful to forgive once we humble ourselves, admit our wrong and repent. God’s mercy is new every morning to those who remain clean before him. The way that we stay clean is through humble confession and rapid repentance.

2 Samuel 11:1-27; John 15:1-17; Psalms 119:49-58; Proverbs 25:23-24

NT: ““I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. Every branch in me that does not produce fruit he removes, and he prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me. If anyone does not remain in me, he is thrown aside like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, I have also loved you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commands you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. This is my command: Love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants anymore, because a servant doesn’t know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me, but I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you. This is what I command you: Love one another.”” (‭‭John‬ ‭15:1-17‬ ‭CSB)

This is the seventh and last “I AM” statement given by Jesus in the gospel of John. Jesus said, “I AM the true vine…” Jesus is not just a vine. He is the true vine… true, meaning not counterfeit nor defective in anyway. There are many people and things that will claim to give us life… but only Jesus is the true vine. We (Jesus’ faithful followers and disciples) are the branches and God the Father is the gardener or vine dresser. Branches on a grape vine have one purpose: to produce fruit which blesses the consumer by receiving life from the vine. The vine dresser wants the branches to produce the best quality fruit possible, so He cuts away anything that would prevent the branch from producing good fruit. A branch has no ability to produce fruit on its own, much less survive. If a branch is severed from the vine, it withers and dies. Jesus is the true vine. It is by Him and through Him that we are able to fully live out our destiny and purpose. Apart from Jesus, we can do nothing of eternal value and are not able to produce fruit that glorifies. In order for us to fully be who we were created to be and fully live out our purpose, we must remain connected to the vine. How do we do that? By treasuring the Lord’s words within us, lovingly obeying His commandments, and thus abiding in His love. Jesus said, “You are my friends IF you do what I command you.” Christians love to claim to be Jesus’ friend… but Jesus will only claim you or me as friend if we obey Him… and His primary command is to love one another sacrificially… as He loved us. If we do that, we will be His friend, we will abide in His love, He will show us what He is doing so that we can partner with Him in it, and we will bear good fruit that will glorify God and be a blessing to those around us. We can’t fully obey His commands unless we choose to abide in Him… and we can’t fully abide in Him unless we obey His commands. As we choose to abide in faith, He gives us grace to obey, which strengthens our abiding relationship, which allows for more grace to obey, all the while submitting to the Father’s pruning in our lives… and on and on the cycle goes as we are transformed from glory to glory, bearing good fruit along the way.

2 Samuel 9:1-10:19; John 14:27-31; Psalm 119:41-48; Proverbs 25:20-22

NT: ““Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful. You have heard me tell you, ‘I am going away and I am coming to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. I have told you now before it happens so that when it does happen you may believe. I will not talk with you much longer, because the ruler of the world is coming. He has no power over me. On the contrary, so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do as the Father commanded me.”” (‭‭John‬ ‭14:27-31‬ ‭CSB)

Peace (eirene in Greek) is not an absence of conflict. It is a state of tranquility in the midst of the conflict. It is security, safety, and harmony. The disciples were about to go through the most troubling and fearful time in their lives, but Jesus told them before hand to not be troubled of fearful, but to receive His peace. Jesus wasn’t giving the disciples a dose of worldly peace. He was leaving behind His peace, which is founded on a living and harmonious relationship with the Father. The devil, who had been waiting for an opportune time to strike, was about to make his move… and it would seem that God’s purposes were defeated. However, as troubling as the inevitable events would be, Jesus was at peace because He knew that the devil had no power over Him because He was in complete harmony with the Father. As long as we are found within that relationship through faith in Christ, no matter what turmoil is thrown our way, we can be safe, secure, and at peace.

Psalms: “Let your faithful love come to me, Lord, your salvation, as you promised. Then I can answer the one who taunts me, for I trust in your word. Never take the word of truth from my mouth, for I hope in your judgments. I will always obey your instruction, forever and ever. I will walk freely in an open place because I study your precepts. I will speak of your decrees before kings and not be ashamed. I delight in your commands, which I love. I will lift up my hands to your commands, which I love, and will meditate on your statutes.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119:41-48‬ ‭CSB)

The devil is referred to as the “accuser of the brethren.” It is his desire to whittle away at our faith in God through constantly taunting us to sin and accusing us when we do. When Jesus was taunted and tempted in the wilderness, He answered the devils taunts with the word which was hidden in His heart. The psalmist states here, that by trusting in God’s word and remaining secure in God’s faithful love (checed), he will be able to answer the taunts of the enemy… by studying and living out God’s ways, he can walk unashamedly in peace. Faith in God and a loving relationship with God brings peace… and all of that comes through trusting and obeying His word.

2 Samuel 8:1-18; John 14:15-26; Psalms 119:33-40; Proverbs 25:18-19

NT: ““If you love me, you will keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive him because it doesn’t see him or know him. But you do know him, because he remains with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Because I live, you will live too. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, you are in me, and I am in you. The one who has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. And the one who loves me will be loved by my Father. I also will love him and will reveal myself to him.” …Jesus answered, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. The one who doesn’t love me will not keep my words. The word that you hear is not mine but is from the Father who sent me. I have spoken these things to you while I remain with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.”” (‭‭John‬ ‭14:15-21, 23-26‬ ‭CSB)

It is important to note that everything Jesus promised in this passage is predicated on one’s unconditional love for Christ that is evidenced by an obedience to His words. Jesus repeated this truth multiple times to make sure His disciples (and His followers through the ages) understood this: “If you love Me, you will obey Me… The one who obeys Me and keeps My words is the one who loves Me… The one who doesn’t love Me will not obey Me nor keep My words.” To those who love Him, Jesus promised to send The Counselor, the Holy Spirit. The word translated Counselor here is the Greek word ‘parakletos.’ A parakletos is someone who comes along side you to be your advocate, your comforter and consoler, your intercessor, and your legal counsel. The Holy Spirit isn’t sent to us to help us do whatever we want to do. The Holy Spirit is sent to us to counsel us, encourage us, and empower us in the ways of the Lord… the ways that we desire to obey because we love Him. To those who love Him, Jesus said, “I won’t leave you orphans.” How does He do that? Through the Holy Spirit. Jesus said to those who love Him, “I will reveal Myself to you.” How does He do that? Through the Holy Spirit. Jesus said to those who love Him, “My Father and I will make our home with you.” How does He do that? Through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the gift that keeps on giving, if we allow Him. As our counselor, He continues to teach us the ways of the Lord and continually reminds us of the Lord’s words – that we may continually grow in the love and obedience for the Lord that secures the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Psalms: “Teach me, Lord, the meaning of your statutes, and I will always keep them. Help me understand your instruction, and I will obey it and follow it with all my heart. Help me stay on the path of your commands, for I take pleasure in it. Turn my heart to your decrees and not to dishonest profit. Turn my eyes from looking at what is worthless; give me life in your ways. Confirm what you said to your servant, for it produces reverence for you. Turn away the disgrace I dread; indeed, your judgments are good. How I long for your precepts! Give me life through your righteousness.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119:33-40‬ ‭CSB)

The way the psalmist expresses his desire to obey the Lord and walk in His ways is beautiful and inspiring. But the psalmist knew that the only way he could continually walk in God’s ways and continually obey God’s word was if God helped him. Paul described in Romans 7 the predicament that all people who love the Lord find themselves in. He talked about the sin that was in him that caused him to not do the righteousness he desired to do, but instead caused him to do the unrighteousness he didn’t want to do. The answer to this age-old predicament is described by Paul in Romans 8: living according to the Spirit through faith in Jesus Christ. The psalmist prayed, “Teach me, Lord.” The Lord does that through the Holy Spirit. The psalmist prayed, “Help me to understand, Lord.” The Lord does that through the Holy Spirit. The psalmist prayed, “Help me stay on Your path… help me to look away from worthless things and look to You instead.” The Lord does that through the Holy Spirit. If we will place our faith in Christ and love Him unconditionally, He will give us the Holy Spirit Who will confirm in us the words of our Lord and give us life as He empowers us to walk in His righteousness.

2 Samuel 7:1-29; John 14:1-14; Psalms 119:25-32; Proverbs 25:17

OT: ““So now this is what you are to say to my servant David: ‘This is what the Lord of Armies says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, to be ruler over my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before you. I will make a great name for you like that of the greatest on the earth… When your time comes and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up after you your descendant, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will discipline him with a rod of men and blows from mortals. But my faithful love will never leave him as it did when I removed it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. Your house and kingdom will endure before me forever, and your throne will be established forever.’”” (‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭7:8-9, 12-16‬ ‭CSB)

After King David established Jerusalem as his capital city and brought the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem, he did not think it honoring to live in a palace while the Ark of the Covenant – the representation of God’s presence – to be housed in a tent-like tabernacle. He wanted to build God a temple to honor His name. God, however would not allow him. In answer to David’s request to build a temple, God sent this message to David via the prophet Nathan. Instead of allowing David to build God a house, God promised David an everlasting house. With most prophecies, this prophecy had an immediate fulfillment, a future fulfillment, and an ultimate fulfillment. King Solomon was the immediate fulfillment. While Solomon did end up building the temple, Solomon’s reign did not last forever. In fact, because of Solomon’s unfaithfulness, David’s line lost its reign over eleven of the twelve tribes. The future fulfillment came in Jesus Christ, who was a descendant of David, but was also the Son of God. Jesus Christ, after He ascended into heaven, has been building a spiritual kingdom, where those who believe in Him become the temple of the Holy Spirit. The ultimate fulfillment will come when the Root of Jesse, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords returns to earth for His bride (the church), defeats death, hell, and the grace, and establishes His eternal kingdom in the New Jerusalem on the New Earth.

NT: ““Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also. You know the way to where I am going.” “Lord,” Thomas said, “we don’t know where you’re going. How can we know the way?” Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him… Truly I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do. And he will do even greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”” (‭‭John‬ ‭14:1-7, 12-13‬ ‭CSB)

As Jesus spoke to His remaining eleven disciples about His imminent departure, He comforted them by explaining why He was going away and to not let their hearts be troubled. Jesus was going away to prepare a place for those who believe in Him. The language that Jesus used is marriage language… it is the language a bridegroom would say to His betrothed: I am going away to prepare a house… and then I will return for you. Those who place their faith in Christ are known as the Bride of Christ. Jesus went away to prepare a place for all who place their faith in Him… and one day, He will return to claim His bride and throw an enormous wedding feast. When Thomas wanted to know the way to get to where Jesus was going, Jesus replied with His sixth I AM statement. He said, “I AM the way, the truth, and the life.” Jesus wasn’t going to point the way… He wasn’t going to leave behind a map with instructions… He wasn’t going to give us a heavenly GPS device. He said, “I AM the way.” The only way to get to the Father in heaven is through Jesus, by placing your faith in Him. Then Jesus said something else that was very encouraging. He said, “If you believe in Me, you will do the same works that I did while on the earth… in fact, you will do greater works because I am going to the Father.” As Jesus would explain later, in going to the Father, Jesus was going to send the Holy Spirit of God to fill the lives of all who place their faith in Him… and by becoming living, breathing temples of the Holy Spirit (just like Jesus was on earth), believers in Christ would carry on the great works of Christ on the earth until He returns. The same life that abided in Jesus would abide in all who place faith in Him and believe on His name… all to the glory of God.

2 Samuel 5:13-6:23; John 13:31-38; Psalm 119:17-24; Proverbs 25:16

NT: ““I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”” (‭‭John‬ ‭13:34-35‬ ‭CSB)

After Judas left to finalize his plans to betray Jesus, Jesus once again told His disciples that He was about to leave them, and then gave them this command. The greatest command is to love God completely. The second greatest command is to love your neighbor as you love yourself. This third command is a new command given by Jesus to His disciples: that they would love each other in the same way He loved them. The word Jesus used for ‘love’ in these passages is the Greek word agapeo. Simply put, agapeo is agape love expressed toward someone. Agape is that unconditional love that is only possible with God and those to whom God graces to love in that way. It was of utmost importance to Jesus that His disciples walk in the same love that He walked in… that they would unconditionally and sacrificially love their fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord… that they would walk in a love that transcended disagreements or preferences or societal and economic differences. Love like this goes way beyond mere tolerance. Love like this is not making people ”happy” by giving them what they want. It is truly desiring the best for someone else, even if it causes us lack or suffering. If we are truly following Jesus by faith and loving obedience, then He will grace us with His love for our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. When “Christians” have animosity towards one another, they are declaring to the world that they are not truly disciples of Jesus… that they have allowed something or someone else to displace Jesus as their primary pursuit and point of focus. However, if the love of Christ is evidenced in us by our unconditional and sacrificial love for our brothers and sisters in Christ, we will stand in stark contrast to the world and everyone will know that we are walking with Jesus.

2 Samuel 4:1-5:12; John 13:21-30; Psalms 119:9-16; Proverbs 25:15

Psalms: “How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping your word. I have sought you with all my heart; don’t let me wander from your commands. I have treasured your word in my heart so that I may not sin against you. Lord, may you be blessed; teach me your statutes. With my lips I proclaim all the judgments from your mouth. I rejoice in the way revealed by your decrees as much as in all riches. I will meditate on your precepts and think about your ways. I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119:9-16‬ ‭CSB)

A consistent theme throughout the Bible is that if we search for the Lord God, we will find Him when we seek Him with all our heart. How do you seek the Lord with all your heart? According to the psalmist, you do so by meditating on, delighting in, and treasuring God’s word. The psalmist uses several different words to describe God’s word: word (something spoken or uttered), commandments (commands), statutes (prescribed limits, boundaries, and ordinances), judgements (righteous decisions and causes), decrees (revelations and testimonies), precepts (mandates), and ways (a course of living and acting). The word ‘delight’ here means to desire and value something so much that you are blinded to anything else. The word ‘treasured’ here means to hide something away for safe keeping… like a valuable treasure that you want to defend and protect. This is how we come to both know the Lord and keep our way pure: we meditate on, study, delight in, and treasure God’s word, will, and ways.

2 Samuel 3:6-39; John 13:1-20; Psalms 119:1-8; Proverbs 25:11-14

NT: “Before the Passover Festival, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end… So he got up from supper, laid aside his outer clothing, took a towel, and tied it around himself. Next, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel tied around him… When Jesus had washed their feet and put on his outer clothing, he reclined again and said to them, “Do you know what I have done for you? You call me Teacher and Lord — and you are speaking rightly, since that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done for you. Truly I tell you, a servant is not greater than his master, and a messenger is not greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.”” (‭‭John‬ ‭13:1, 4-5, 12-17‬ ‭CSB)

Unlike the other gospel accounts of the last supper, where the author focused on the meal itself, John focused on the conversation that Jesus had with His disciples after the meal. When the meal ended, Jesus got up from His place, took off his outer garments, and took the lowly place of a servant and began washing His disciples’ feet. Jesus did that to give His disciples an example of how they were to treat one another. As disciples of Jesus, we are to never think of ourselves as too important to serve others. Jesus said of Himself that He came not to be served, but to serve. That should be the attitude of all disciples of Jesus: we shouldn’t go anywhere seeking to be served, but instead, we should look for ways to serve… even those whose job it is to serve us. We shouldn’t go anywhere expecting to get the service we feel we deserve. Anywhere, means anywhere… on the job, at a restaurant, in a department store, at church, at home as we relate to our roommates, spouse, or children. Then Jesus clarified that it is not enough to know that… the blessing comes when we do that. Imagine how much peaceful life would be if we went throughout life looking to serve instead of being served. How well do we as “Christians” – especially in the U.S. – honor these specific instructions of our Lord and Master?

Psalms: “How happy are those whose way is blameless, who walk according to the Lord’s instruction! Happy are those who keep his decrees and seek him with all their heart. They do nothing wrong; they walk in his ways. You have commanded that your precepts be diligently kept. If only my ways were committed to keeping your statutes! Then I would not be ashamed when I think about all your commands. I will praise you with an upright heart when I learn your righteous judgments. I will keep your statutes; never abandon me.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119:1-8‬ ‭CSB)

Psalm 119 is a masterpiece of literature written as an ode to the word of God. It is an acrostic poem where each stanza begins with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The writer of this psalm beautifully took each letter that was used to write God’s word and used each letter to describe the abundant life and blessing that can be found as we follow God’s word. The word “happy” here can also be translated as Blessed! With an exclamation point. Just as Jesus told His disciples, “You are blessed if you do what I taught,” the psalmist declares with enthusiasm that if you live your life according to the word, will, and ways of the Lord, you will be blessed.