Day 119

2 Samuel 17:15-19:30; Psalms 3, 63.  “Death Results from Sin”

“When Adam sinned, sin entered the entire human race.  Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.  Yes, people sinned even before the law was given.  And though there was no law to break, since it had not yet been given, they all died anyway…” (Romans 5:12-14a).
Absalom’s death was tragic and unnecessary.  It deeply impacted his father, David, as is obvious from the narrative.  Had either David or Absalom made some different choices, this tragedy could have been avoided.
The reality is that this instance of death and pain is representative of human life and history.  Death was not a part of God’s perfect creation.  Rather, death was introduced into the human race as a result of Adam’s sin.  Death is wrong and this is why we grieve when it happens.
The hope that we have in Christ is because He defeated sin and death through His redemptive work on the cross (Col. 2:13-15).

The theme for this week is sin.  I know it is not very glamorous and not so fun to think about, but it is a reality that we all live with.  This week’s readings have us right in the heart of David’s kingship.  We will see him at his highest point and his lowest point during this week.  
Some of the topics we will think about are judging, depravity, confession, forgiveness, consequences and death.  Because of our broken nature, sin permeates our lives.  We live with the impact of sin all around us.  I hope that through the devotionals and Bible reading this week, you will have a better handle on how to manage the impact of sin in your life.

General Questions for each day:
Summarize the day’s Bible passage in your own words.
What thoughts, actions, attitudes or beliefs are addressed in the passage?
How is the Holy Spirit leading you to apply this passage to your life today?

Bible Discussion Guide:

How can we balance helping other Christians in their struggle with sin and judging someone inappropriately?

How can we know when our judging of others is overstepping our bounds and moving into God’s territory?

Why are we unable to win the battle against sin on our own?

How do you respond to the realization that you have sinned in some way?

Why is regular confession important for Christians?

Why doesn’t God remove the consequences of sin when He forgives us for our sin?

Are you living with consequences from past sin?  Would you be willing to share your situation with the group?

How do you respond when you are wronged?

Do you find it easy to forgive others?  Why or why not?

How is the Christian supposed to deal with death?  

Is all death tragic?

What must we do in order to receive God’s grace and forgiveness for our sins?