Pastor Bob DuPar
May 24, 2008

Journal Entry


Scripture

2 Samuel 4:1-6:23; John 13:31-14:14; Psalm 119:17-32; Proverbs 15:31-32.

Observation

David’s response to Recab & Baanah in 2 Samuel 4:10-11 is humorous:

“When a man told me, ‘Saul is dead,’ and thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and put him to death… That was the reward I gave him for his news! How much more – when wicked men have killed an innocent man in his own house and on his own bed.”

2 Samuel 5:13 tells us that David added to the number of wives and concubines in his household and he had more sons and daughters through them. It would seem that Solomon took after the example of his father.

Jesus’ statement to Philip in John 14:9 is powerful. To see Jesus is the same thing as seeing God the Father. To really know Jesus is to really know God.

Finally, Proverbs 15:31-32 is good wisdom. A rebuke given in love can be a blessing, helping us to mature in much needed ways and keeping us from potential heartache and trouble.


Application

Much of the teaching I have been listening to lately has to do with learning to receive rebukes. I respect people that are able to learn from correction and receive it gracefully. Someday I would like to be one of these people.

Prayer

“God, I pray that You would give me the strength and wisdom to learn from all people, particularly those who say things I don’t want to hear. Grant me the maturity to truly listen and discern Your truth as it relates to areas of my life that need to change.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
May 23, 2008

Journal Entry


Scripture

2 Samuel 2:12-3:39; John 13:1-30; Psalm 119:1-16; Proverbs 15:29-30.

Observation

Wow! I guess I had forgotten how many wives David had. I counted 7 just in today’s OT reading alone. And, what a sad story as Michal is taken away from her husband Paltiel – he follows her, weeping all the way. That is a picture of love and devotion! Something tells me she was his only wife, and he loved her dearly.

I love John 13 – what a story of love and servanthood. John says in verse 1 “having loved His own who were in the world, He (Jesus) now showed them the full extent of His love.” And then, like the amazing teacher He was, Jesus asks His disciples in verse 12, “Do you understand what I have done for you?” Jesus tells His disciples that they are to follow His model. Jesus told His disciples that God’s blessing was something which would be experienced, not by those who merely heard His teaching, but by those who applied it by putting it into action.

Psalm 119:9-11 is beautiful:

“How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to Your word. I seek You with all my heart; do not let me stray from Your commands. I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.”

This is Hebrew parallelism where a thought is stated and then restated a little differently. Understanding this, it seems as though one way in which we “seek God with all our heart” is by “hiding His word in our heart.”

Application
How often I stop at merely hearing God’s word, reflecting upon it, admiring it at a distance, but not putting it into practice in my life. The blessing comes in “doing” what God says, not in simply reading, listening and taking notes on what He has said. Perhaps this is because it is in the “doing” that God shapes us and transforms us to be more like Him.

Prayer

“God, may I not stop short of the transformation You desire. Help me on my follow-through. I don’t want to merely be a hearer. I want to be a doer as well. I want to experience the full extent of Your blessing in my life.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
May 22, 2008

Journal Entry


Scripture

2 Samuel 1:1-2:11; John 12:20-50; Psalm 118:19-29; Proverbs 15:27-28.

Observation

It seems like David was a bit harsh with the Amalekite who admitted to helping Saul die. He brought David Saul’s crown and arm band. It seems like he was only trying to do the right thing. I don’t understand why David had him killed. God allowed Saul to be mortally wounded in battle. This man was not killing the Lord’s anointed.

I think it would have been quite an experience to hear God’s voice talking to His Son from heaven in John 12:28. Even Jesus said that it was for the benefit of the people (witnesses) and not for Him.

Application

John 12 is such a testimony of Jesus’ all-consuming desire to bring glory to His heavenly Father in all things. Jesus does not draw attention to Himself. He does not go to great lengths to get people to realize who He is and give Him credit. He is content in His role of directing people to His Father.

Prayer

“God, help me to direct people to You and not myself. May I bring glory to You in all that I do. Guard me from attempts to seek my own glory.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
May 21, 2008

Journal Entry


Scripture

1 Samuel 29:1-31:13; John 11:54-12:19; Psalm 118:1-18; Proverbs 15:24-26.

Observation

It’s a small line, a short phrase, in our OT reading today – but very powerful:

“But, David found strength in the Lord His God.”

Despite the opposition, circumstances and discouragement, David found strength in God. And, David sought God’s counsel continually – particularly about whether to go to war or not.

I like David’s attitude toward the 200 men who did not help him fight the battle. He still shared the plunder with them because he recognized that the Lord had fought and won the battle – not David and his men:

“…the Lord has protected us and handed over to us the forces that came against us.” (1 Samuel 30:23)

What a sad day when Saul and his three sons are all killed (31:6). The text does not elaborate about it, but Jonathan was David’s dear friend. This was a huge loss.

In John 11:10-11 the Pharisees are so insane that they want to kill Lazarus because of the number of people who are putting their faith in Jesus as a result of his testimony. You can hear the exasperation of the Pharisees in their comment in 12:19: “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look the whole world has gone after Him!”

Finally, I like Psalm 118:6,8-9:
“The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.”

Application

It’s one thing to enquire of the Lord about whether to fight a battle. It’s another thing altogether to follow-through and fight the battle upon hearing God’s answer. So often we read these passages and say, “Well, if God spoke to me and told me I was going to win a battle, sure I would go and fight it. That would be easy.” But, battles are still scary and real. Battles still take a toll. They require bloodshed. They leave unpleasant memories. Stepping out in faith and fighting battles takes a lot of faith – faith that you heard God correctly, and faith that He will protect you and deliver on His promise.

Prayer

“God, help me not to shrink back from the battles You have called me to fight. Help me to have courage and faith. Help me to seek Your counsel before the battle. Help me to trust in Your protection.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
May 20, 2008

Journal Entry


Scripture

1 Samuel 26:1-28:25; John 11:1-53; Psalm 117:1-2; Proverbs 15:22-23.

Observation

It’s commendable that Saul “expelled the mediums and spiritists from the land” (1 Samuel 28:3), but a few verses later (5-7) he’s desiring to consult with a medium because God won’t speak to him and give him counsel anymore.

I’m always impressed by Martha’s faith in John 11. Martha says to Jesus, “If You had been here, my brother would not have died.” Most of us would stop there – angry, disillusioned and feeling pretty justified in our frustration. But, Martha goes on: “But I know that even now…” Faith in the midst of the impossible! This is belief in the face of extreme sorrow. She believed that Jesus was the resurrection and the life, the Christ, the Son of God, who had come into the world.

Jesus’ emotions and compassion in John 11:33-38 are encouraging since He (being God) gives us a window into the heart of God – a view and perspective that few Jews had ever seen or experienced.

Jesus says in 11:40, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”

Finally, I have always liked Proverbs 15:22: “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.”

Application

Saul is a great example of how our actions to eradicate sin don’t mean much if we turn around and dig it up and seek it out all over again.
I’m also struck by John 11:40. I wonder how many times I miss seeing the glory of God at work because I lack belief.

Prayer

“God, fill me with tremendous faith that takes You at Your word, that believes that nothing is too difficult for You, and which never rules out the possibility of a miracle, divinely intervening and crashing through into my life.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
May 19, 2008

Journal Entry


Scripture

1 Samuel 24:1-25:44; John 10:22-42; Psalm 116:1-19; Proverbs 15:20-21.

Observation

David’s words to Saul in 1 Samuel 24:9 are telling, “Why do you listen to men?” King Saul had listened to the foolish counsel of men who led him astray rather than examining David’s actions as evidence of his faithfulness and godliness. Saul’s response in 24:16 is sweet but unfortunately very late:

“He wept aloud. ‘You are more righteous than I. You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly.”

I’m always confused over the polygamy of OT leaders – especially those who God described as “a man after His own heart.”

I love John 10:27-28,

“My sheep hear My voice and I know them, and they follow Me. I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one can snatch them out of My hand.”

Jesus’ words in John 10:30: “I and the Father are one,” have to be construed as a claim to divinity. The Jews themselves confirm this in 10:33: “We are stoning You for blasphemy, because You, a mere man, claim to be God.” How can people say that Jesus never claimed to be God?

Finally, I like Proverbs 15:21, “Folly delights a man who lacks judgment, but a man of understanding keeps a straight course.”

Application

David’s dealings with Saul & Nabal are a great example of letting God deal with people in His time and way rather than taking justice into our own hands. I believe our security as believers is based on God’s power to hold on to us, not our ability to mess things up (God has already factored this in.)

Prayer

“God, thank You for counting me as a lamb in Your fold/care. Thank You for loving me and holding on to me with a grip so secure that no power or person can snatch me from Your Almighty hand.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
May 18, 2008

Journal Entry


Scripture

1 Samuel 22:1-23:29; John 10:1-21; Psalm 115:1-18; Proverbs 15:18-19.

Observation

What a motley crew David attracted in 1 Samuel 22:2:

“All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented…” Sounds like a fun group! Who wouldn’t want to be their leader?

Saul definitely went psycho to kill 85 innocent priests and their families and children – all over jealousy. Why could he not have just accepted that his life circumstances were the result of his own sin?

I like the phrasing of 1 Samuel 23:15: “Jonathan …helped him (David) find strength in God.” I’m sure that this involved encouragement and just reminding David of what he knew to be true about God.

I love the description of the Good Shepherd in John 10. The hired hand does not have the investment and ownership in the sheep. But, the Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep, knows the sheep and they follow Him.

Application

I want to shepherd like an “owner” and as one who has an investment in the sheep rather than like the hired hand. I want to help others find strength in God.

Prayer

“God, continue to use me to be a blessing to others. Help me to shepherd like You. Teach me Your ways, Your heart & Your love for the sheep.”