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After finishing 2 Samuel and before we start 1 Peter this fall, we are going to pause and listen to some of our brothers and sisters share about what God is doing in their lives and how they see Him working in the world around them. Luke 24 tells the story of two disciples walking along the road to the village of Emmaus. This happened the same day that Jesus was raised from the dead. As they walked and talked, Jesus joined them. Scripture says the disciples were kept from recognizing him. Jesus walked and talked with them for 7 miles. When they arrived at the village, the disciples urged Jesus to stay, and he did. When Jesus broke bread with them, the disciples’ eyes were opened, and they recognized that it was Jesus. And then Jesus vanished. Like the two disciples in the story, sometimes we don’t see where God is working around us. Sometimes Jesus is teaching us things, and we don’t realize it. We don’t always recognize when the Lord is speaking to us. Sometimes we go about our lives and easily miss what God is doing. Stories are one of the best teachers. It’s no coincidence that the Bible’s primary style is narrative – telling the stories of people who have gone before us. We learn from their successes and failures. We learn about their experience with God. Similarly, when we hear each other's stories of triumph, struggle, and God’s goodness, it draws us together. It grows our collective faith and reminds us that we are all walking this same road together with Jesus. So, this morning we'll hear several stories that are different from each other, but at the core is the same story: God’s people walking with Jesus. Each of these stories is a part of OUR story as WE all walk through life with Jesus together.  This is important, so we are taking time in our Sunday gathering to do this now, which is great. But I want to encourage us to do this more often, wherever we are. We need to build the habit of sharing our stories and experiences about Jesus with each other.

In 2 samuel 24, King David predifully leans on his own understanding, looking to his own strength to prevail, instead of depending on the Lord to guard him. As a result, Israel pays a hefty price, and though we are left with yet another story of David’s failure, God’s mercy shines through as god continues to make a way to be with his people.  King Jesus is… -A perfect King -An all-powerful King -A merciful King 2 Samuel 24 -1-9: David sinfully counts his fighting men, against the counsel of Joab.  -10-14: David repents of his sin, ultimately depending on the Lord’s mercy as he chooses between three consequences. -15-17: 70,000 people die of the plague, as the angel of the Lord enters Jerusalem, David asks God to spare his people. -18-25: The Lord tells David to build an altar on what would later become the temple mount; David offers costly sacrifices, and the Lord stops the plague  Principles for interpreting, and applying the Bible: -Approach the Bible on its own terms -Context is key  -Use what’s clear to interpret what’s unclear

1. God is faithful 2. Community is necessary Three Themes of Samuel: 1. God opposes the proud and exalts the humble 2. Despite human evil, God is at work 3. God will raise up a Messianic King

-God, our REFUGE in distress -God, our RESCUER from distress -God alone is WORTHY of our trust & praise

A SUMMARY OF THE 2 SAMUEL EPILOGUE (21-24): -Don’t idolize or romanticize this king.  OUR COMMON GROUND WITH KING DAVID: -Like David, we are often slow in recognizing and responding to injustice experienced by others.  -Like David, we are limited in making things right after a wrong has been done. -By contrast, we are challenged by the courage and persistence of Rizpah. -Like David, our physical strength will fail. REMEMBER, JESUS IS THE BETTER KING! -He hears our cries when deprived of justice  -He awakens us to care about the plight of others -He gives us courage to stand for what is right and true -He invites us to ask for wisdom when leading others -He is strong to deliver us when we are weak -And, as perfect justice AND mercy, Jesus is our Comfort and Hope

Hope in God’s promise of a completely reconstructed future -Jesus will conquer evil (Rev. 17-20) -Jesus will renew the world (Rev. 21-22) Walking down the road of reconstruction today -The road is long & bumpy (but good) -God is with us on the road -The road is paved with mercy

-God opposes the proud & exalts the humble -Despite human evil, God is at work -God will raise up a messianic King