Bernard Gabbott - Sunday, 11 July 2021
How can I have the Good Life?
Scripture References: Psalms 51:1-19, 2 Samuel 11:1-13, 2 Samuel 12:1-15
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CloseWe have the word of God here with a very clear historical backdrop: the events of 2 Samuel 11-12. And, as we read that account of avoidance of responsibility, of adultery and corruption and murder, we cannot help asking ourselves, ‘How can a man like that have the good life?’ And then we consider ourselves—either with a ‘big’ sin that dominates our lives, or besetting sin that runs our lives, or even just the realization that we are ‘normal sinners’. And we ask the same question: ‘How can a sinner like me have the good life?’ It was a question God’s people asked as they returned from Exile. It is a question we ask continually. Psalm 51 answers it: the sinner can have the good life by throwing themselves upon the character of God with a contrite and broken heart. The Bible calls such an action ‘repentance’: to return to God with the appropriate brokenness.
Scripture References: Psalms 51:1-19, 2 Samuel 11:1-13, 2 Samuel 12:1-15
Related Topics: Psalms, Trust | More Messages from Bernard Gabbott | Download Audio
Howard McFetridge
Jesus deals with the question of ‘Who belongs in the kingdom?’ Is it children? Is it the good? Is it the godly? And, how and what does this look like? This question of ‘belonging’ is one that is constant in our lives – where do I belong, do I belong, what does belonging look like? And Jesus is very clear: the kingdom of heaven is made up of the dependent, the reliant, the weak – just like children.
The book of Esther recounts a period where God's people are in exile, aliens in a foreign land. Sounds like our time doesn't it? Even when God seems absent, He is at work. The great reversal of power at the heart of the universe has already taken place. Jesus won victory over death on the cross and in His resurrection. Satan the great enemy of God and His people, has been defeated. We wait in the now but not yet. Waiting for the Lord Jesus to return and give His people relief and rest. But as we wait, we share the good news of the gospel, call people to faith in Jesus, faithfully endure persecution, knowing that our deliverance is assured.
We love a turning point. Whether it is a story or a football game. Hope dawning at the darkest time. Where is the great turning point in Esther? It could be our memory verse, when Esther is persuaded by Mordecai to act to save her people. It could be when the king looks with favour upon Esther and holds out the golden scepter to her. It could be when Haman is forced to lead Mordecai through the city mounted on the king’s horse and proclaims that he is the man the king delights to honour. They are major events in the story of Esther. They are turning points of a sort. But the writer of Esther points us to another event. That looks so trivial.
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