2 Samuel 15:1-6 NLT
“After this, Absalom bought a chariot and horses, and he hired fifty bodyguards to run ahead of him. He got up early every morning and went out to the gate of the city. When people brought a case to the king for judgment, Absalom would ask where in Israel they were from, and they would tell him their tribe. Then Absalom would say, “You’ve really got a strong case here! It’s too bad the king doesn’t have anyone to hear it. I wish I were the judge. Then everyone could bring their cases to me for judgment, and I would give them justice!” When people tried to bow before him, Absalom wouldn’t let them. Instead, he took them by the hand and kissed them. Absalom did this with everyone who came to the king for judgment, and so he stole the hearts of all the people of Israel.”
1 Samuel 24:1-7 NLT
“After Saul returned from fighting the Philistines, he was told that David had gone into the wilderness of En-gedi. So Saul chose 3,000 elite troops from all Israel and went to search for David and his men near the rocks of the wild goats. At the place where the road passes some sheepfolds, Saul went into a cave to relieve himself. But as it happened, David and his men were hiding farther back in that very cave! “Now’s your opportunity!” David’s men whispered to him. “Today the Lord is telling you, ‘I will certainly put your enemy into your power, to do with as you wish.’” So David crept forward and cut off a piece of the hem of Saul’s robe. But then David’s conscience began bothering him because he had cut Saul’s robe. He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this to my Lord the king. I shouldn’t attack the Lord’s anointed one, for the Lord himself has chosen him.” So David restrained his men and did not let them kill Saul. After Saul had left the cave and gone on his way,”
- Old covenant people were not born again
- In the new God created a new heart, put His Spirit within us, and wrote His law in our hearts.
- We are the new creation, with incredible potential, made for big things, God’s masterpiece in Christ
- Called, appointed, anointed, chosen
- In the OT, enemy’s plan was to have God’s people break the laws God set in place for His people. As consequence God would lift His hand of protection, and enemy would have the right to start messing with Israel (anything to tempt, cause, meddle, harass, stir to cause Israel to go against what God has said in His Word)
- In the NT, it is the law of love, and to keep a pure heart, your RESPONSIBILITY is to live free from all offenses, unforgiveness, bitterness, hatred.
“To the pure [in heart and conscience] all things are pure, but to the defiled and corrupt and unbelieving nothing is pure; their very minds and consciences are defiled and polluted.”
Titus 1:15 AMPC
- Impurity of the heart
- Unbelieving heart
Guard you heart, and your mind.
Your mind is a battleground. Every day you are flooded with opinions, thoughts, information, and really: offenses and issues of others that they are “sharing”.
- Don’t pick up the offenses of others.
“Never return evil for evil or insult for insult (scolding, tongue-lashing, berating), but on the contrary blessing [praying for their welfare, happiness, and protection, and truly pitying and loving them]. For know that to this you have been called, that you may yourselves inherit a blessing [from God–that you may obtain a blessing as heirs, bringing welfare and happiness and protection].”
1 Peter 3:9 AMPC
Keep your heart pure, and continue to walk in God’s blessing!
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