Notes from my Bible Study for February 20, 2010

Psalm 51, Genesis 46:1‐47:12, 2 Chronicles 24, Acts 18:1‐22

Psalm 51 - It had been eighteen long months of struggling for King David. The wayward king, the man after God's own heart, the great writer, the warrior, had let his relationship with God go. He had sinned with Bathsheba. He had arranged for Uriah's death. And, King David was miserable.

It was the Prophet Nathan, whom God sent to confront the king. God was no longer content to let David live in his misery. He had plans for David. And, David was ready to repent.

Psalm 51 is David's song of repentance. I love verses 10-12: 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and o renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

David knew that part of repenting was making room for God to create a right spirit within him. He also pleaded with God to not take away the Holy Spirit from him. In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit came upon very few people, for very specific purposes, for a certain amount of time. David knew that the Holy Spirit had been with his predecessor, Saul. Saul's continual sin resulted in the Spirit being taken from him. David prayed that God would have mercy on him.

He also prayed for God to restore the joy of his salvation. Some of you may need to pray the same thing. You may be struggling in your relationship with Jesus today. If so, ask Him to do His restoring work. He loves to work in you!

Genesis 46:1-47:12 - It was moving day for the family of Jacob. God told Jacob to go to Egypt and join his son Joseph. The reunion of Joesph and Jacob must have been so amazing. Jacob was thrilled to see his son.

God took care of Jacob and his family. And, Jacob, the descendant of Abraham, has an audience before the mighty Pharaoh. He uses this time to bless Pharaoh. God would one day bless all people's of the earth through the Abrahamic line.

2 Chronicles 24 - Imagine what it would be like to come to the throne at seven years old. Joash was such a king. And, for many years, Joash was a godly king.

Why? Because he had a godly mentor. Jehoiada, the priest, was as godly a man as had lived in Israel. He helped shape Joash's early reign. But, when Jehoiada died, Joash was influenced by ungodly advisers, and turned from God.

The people we hang out with make a huge difference in our lives. Joash's life is a prime example of this. His life was influenced for good when he was surrounded by godly counsel and for terrible wickedness when surrounded by the wrong men.

Acts 18:1-22 - Paul loved the people of Corinth. He spent 1 1/2 years with them, planting a church among a people who lived in a wicked town. In order to support himself, Paul worked a second job. He was a tentmaker, and was allowed to practice his craft with Aquila and his wife Priscilla.

Aquila and Priscilla were vital partners in Paul's ministry. He could not have stayed amongst the people of Corinth without the help of these two. I'm so grateful for the Aquila and Priscilla people in my life that make it possible for me to share the truth of the Gospel.