The Notes

This coming Wednesday night, September 17, 2025, is week 11 of our Bible study series called, "Journey with King David."  This week, we look at how David blessed the grandson of Saul, and his relationship with Bathsheba.  It's the good and bad of David's life, and this message needs to be heard.   Join us at 6:30 p.m. for in-person worship and some mid-week encouragement for the soul.

This Bible study series looks at the places of David's life that shaped him and trained him; those places and events can teach us valuable lessons and give us spiritual insight.  Join us each Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. for some mid-week encouragement for the soul.  You don't want to miss this series!   

If you can't join us in person, you can always participate through our Facebook page - we go "live" at 6:30 p.m., and you will have a front row seat.  If you can't join us live at 6:30 p.m., you can always listen to the message later, either from Facebook, or YouTube, on here on our website.  Messages are posted the following day and you can watch a replay of any message anytime!  

If you want to keep some notes from a message, you can download the notes for a specific message from the "Past and Future Messages" page of our website.  There are many ways to be spiritually fed and encouraged.

This past Wednesday night, September 10, 2025, our Bible study series "Journey with King David" focused on two events in David's life- the ridicule he faced when he danced in praise to God while returning the Ark and God saying "no" to David's plans.  Both of these events happen in Jerusalem, where David is establishing his throne.  

Last week, we looked at the first ttempt to return the Ark of God (also known as the Ark of the Covenant) to the people of Israel.  (2 Samuel 6).  It didn't go well, but David didn't just get angry, feel guilt, and settle into depression.  David got educated.  David turned back to the Word of God and learned 

that God had ordained a specific way to move the Ark.  We can't substitute our good intentions for God's plan for holiness. 

Importantly, David learned fromm his mistake.  But people who don't learn the life lessons we must learn will repeat them over and over, living in a cycle because we can't move forward until we are ready. 

David learns, and is now ready to lead a procession of praisse as the Ark is brought to Jerusalem with great celebration.  And David danced before God “with all his might” – 2 Sam 6:14.

But verse 16 says that "as the Ark of the LORD entered the City of David, Michal, the daughter of Saul, looked down from her window. When she saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, she was filled with contempt for him."

Now here is another point we need to see - Michal is watching, not participating.  She's not fully in, keeping her distance from the worship experience.  And she looked down on it from her window.  Michal is identified as “the daughter of Saul,” three times in 2 Samuel 6.  The emphasis is to remind us that Saul had no interest in the Ark or God or worship.  Michal shows same attitude.  Disdain. Distance.  Michal sees David as foolish, as dishonoring himself, and embarrassing to her.  David, however, was willing to dishonor himself to honor God.  David was more concerned about praising God than looking perfect.  He chose worship & God over pleasing others.  In other words, he cared more about what God thought than other people.

Here is the question for us - do we do the same?  There will be people who belittle our worship… who make fun of our faith.  Because God is not important in their lives, they don't want God to be important in our lives.  So they will make comments, and they will try to lead us away from God to be with them, aligned with them, having fun with them.  Will we choose God over others?   Will we put God in first place in our lives, prioritizing Him over all else?  If we are working God into our lives, fitting in a little time here and there, God is not the priority He deserves to be.  Remember that God is a jealous God; He is faithful to us and expects that we will be faithful to Him. We aren't faithful when we give Him such little time . . . when time with Him is the easiest thing to move off our calendars. Don't let the "Michals" of your life deprive you of the relationship with God.  He should be the first love of your heart.  And when He is, God puts us in direct line to His blessings and everything else falls in place.  Learn from David's story - he was successful in all He did because David sought out God and made him the priority of his heart and his life.  Everything then came to David - he didn't have to go searching for it.  The prophet came to him . . . the people of Israel came to him, asking for him to be their king.  God blesses those who love him and are devoted to him.  And those blessings happen even when God says "no."

In 2 Samuel 7, David wants to do something good for God.  He feels blessed, so he wants to bless God.   David said, “I am living in a beautiful cedar palace, but the Ark of God is out there in a tent!”  David tells this to Nathan, a prophet.  He tells of his plan to build a temple for God, and Nathan initially says yes.  But that same night, God gave a message to Nathan for David.  The message was no.  God said David was not the one who should build the Lord a temple.  There had too much blood shed in David's life; he was a warrior.  But when God rejects David’s plan, God doesn’t reject David.  “No” from God doesn’t mean God doesn’t love us; it doesn't mean God is punishing us.  No means God has a better plan for us.  Think about the fact that God had chosen and selected David; and remember – God has always been the Provider.  God didn't need David to provide or take care of God, and He doesn't need us to do so either.  God takes care of us, and provides for us, and even when He says "no," God bless us with even more, even better.  God’s plan is to bless David and He shares 4 promises:

1 - I will make your name famous.  

We know now that David is known as the greatest King of Israel.  And Jerusalem is known as the City of David.  Promise fulfilled.

2 - I will provide a secure homeland, and make the people secure.

Jerusalem is still the Capital of Israel.  It is known as the “City of Peace,” and the homeland of Israel.  Promise fulfilled.

3 - I will give you rest from all your enemies.

David’s thrown had no challenges from outside enemies.  2 Sam. 8 shows how David was the conqueror . . .  he was not conquered.   Promise fulfilled.

4 - I will make a house for you.

Now here is an interesting play on words. 

David wanted to build a temple – a building – but God wants to build a house – a dynasty - for David. God wants David and his descendants to have a throne that will last forever.   Promise fulfilled.

David’s son Solomon will eventually build the temple, and the throne that lasts forever is the throne of Jesus.  Jesus is a descendant of David; Jesus is from the “root of Jesse” – See Isaiah 11.  And this is the prophecy of Isaiah 9 - "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.  He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever."

There are promises that God gives to us as well. 

God promises that He will never leave us or forsake us.  He promises to be our comfort in times of grief, our strength when we are weak.  He promises to leave the 99 and search for us.  he promises to be our Shepherd and lead us safely to a place of peace.  He promises to be a Father to the fatherless and not leave us as orphans.  He promises to put the lonely in families.  He promises to love us forever with an unconditional love.  And He promises us an eternal home, which Jesus is now preparing for us.  Will we promise to love and worship Him, making God the first love of our hearts?  He is worthy of our love, devotion, and praise.