Woodmen Valley Chapel

David was alone. His life was in great danger and his spirit weak. When we feel isolated and disconnected there is a great temptation to turn inward or to those things which only bring further pain. David chooses to trust in God in the moment: “With my voice I cry out to the LORD; with my voice I plead for mercy to the LORD” (Ps 142:1). Though we may feel abandoned by all others, we know he will never leave us or forsake us.

David was on the run. He is separated from fellow worshippers and the future is uncertain. In the midst of his trial, David turned to God for help and in faith looked forward to his deliverance. For the follower of Jesus Christ, even the most challenging of trials can be used of God to grow our confidence and trust in him. Instead of focusing on the trial itself, we set our eyes upon him and our future hope.

David sinned grievously. He had committed adultery with a woman named Bathsheba and then had her husband murdered. The prophet, Nathan, confronted David and rather than try to cover it up, David owned his sin and sought God’s forgiveness. When life is difficult, our first step should be to turn to the Lord, confess any sins, and seek the joy of our salvation once more. 1. Turn to God. Psalm 51:1-2 2. Own your sin. Psalm 51:3-6 3. Remember the gospel. Psalm 51:7-17 a. The gospel can remove guilt. Psalm 51:7-9 b. The gospel can restore relationship. Psalm 51:10-12 c. The gospel can give purpose. Psalm 51:13-17 4. Join with others. Psalm 51:18-19 BATTLE BELONGS CCLI #7148126 | Brian Johnson and Phil Wickham PROMISES CCLI #7149439 | Aaron Moses, Carrington Gaines, Dante Bowe, Keila Alvarado, and Lemuel Marin SAME GOD CCLI #7183537 | Brandon Lake, Chris Brown, Pat Barrett, and Steven Furtick THE LORD IS MY SALVATION CCLI #7063694 | Nathan Nockels, Kristyn Getty, Keith Getty, and Jonas Myrin

HE LIVES CCLI #7133098 | Anthony Skinner, Chris McClarney, and Jonathan Smith FIRM FOUNDATION (HE WON'T) CCLI #7188203 | Austin Davis, Chandler Moore, and Cody Carnes ALL HAIL KING JESUS CCLI #7097216 | Jeremy Riddle, Peter Mattis, Ran Jackson, and Steffany Gretzinger KING OF KINGS CCLI #7127647 | Brooke Ligertwood, Jason Ingram, and Scott Ligertwood

SONGS: Hallelujah From The Cross CCLI #7107551 | Ben Glover, Chris McClarney, and Jeff Pardo There Is A King CCLI #7138218 | Brandon Lake, Steven Furtick, and Tiffany Hammer Gratitude CCLI #715841 | Brandon Lake Clean CCLI #7125215 | Hannah Hobbs, Michael Fatkin, and Taya Gaukrodger Yet Not I But Through Christ in Me CCLI #7121852 | Jonny Robinson, Rich Thompson, and Michael Farren

“You shall not covet” (Exodus 20:17). While it can be clear whether someone has murdered or stolen that which is not theirs, the prohibition against covetousness is harder to observe. We must guard our hearts against desiring that which is others’, for the failure to do so can cause us to act in ways unbecoming for the follower of Christ. As his children, we trust that he provides, and we should not covet that which he has given others.

“You shall not steal” (Exodus 20:15). For the Israelites to function as a society, the rights to ownership over one’s possessions was paramount. This, however, was not simply to be demonstrated by refraining from stealing what was not theirs, but also to care for those in and outside the community by treating them fairly. While most today recognize “theft” as wrong, there are many areas in which we can be tempted to cut corners, and we must seek to be people of integrity in all that we do.

“You shall not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14). In ancient Israel the marriage bond was to be held in high regard and they were prohibited from committing adultery. In Matthew 5:27-28, Jesus takes it a step beyond mere physical activity and includes the very thoughts of our minds that need to be taken captive. In an age with rampant pornography and the use of sex to sell all manner of products, we need to be ever diligent to keep our thoughts pure.

“You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13). Every human being bears the image of their creator and, consequently, their life matters. This means that we need uphold the dignity of every life: from the unborn to the aged and all in-between. Jesus tells us that to uphold this command we are not to think just of our actions but to consider as well the disposition of our hearts towards others (Matthew 5:21-24).

“Honor your father and your mother” (Exodus 20:12). The Israelites were called to “honor” their parents and, interestingly, this is the only commandment with a promise attached to it. While our relationship with our parents will naturally change over time, we are always called to treat them with respect and consider their needs. The challenge today is to live this out before others, recognizing that not every parent has always acted honorably.

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8). The Israelites were commanded to keep the Sabbath separate. The Lord himself patterned this in creation and we too are to demonstrate our belief that we belong to him and that, ultimately, he is our provider. In our culture that is always “on the go” it can be very difficult to slow down and acknowledge that our future is not bound up in our work but in the hands of him who continues to provide for our every need.

“You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain” (Exodus 20:7). The name of the Lord is not to be used carelessly or for our own benefit. We are to esteem his name above others and never use it to give veracity to our words. Today, the name of the LORD is not held in high honor by all. As followers of Christ, we desire to ensure the words we use to demonstrate and reflect the disposition of our hearts. Son of Heaven © 2020 Bethel Worship Publishing (Admin. by Bethel Music Publishing), Maverick City Publishing (Admin. by Heritage Worship Music Publishing), (Admin. by Heritage Worship Publishing), Maverick City Publishing Worldwide (Admin. by Heritage Worship Publishing), Bethel Music Publishing, and Remaining portion is unaffiliated God of Revival © 2019 Bethel Music Publishing and Remaining portion is unaffiliated | CCLI Song # 7133285 -- CCLI License # 420630 Worthy Of Your Name © sixsteps Music, Worship Together Music, and worshiptogether.com songs | CCLI Song # 7052927 -- CCLI L

“You shall not make for yourself a carved image” (Exodus 20:4). The Israelites were commanded not to create and/or worship any image, for God is a jealous God. The warning against doing so is that God will visit the iniquities of fathers and mothers on their future children and grandchildren. At the time, we may not realize how the idols we hold will impact others, but God is clear that the life we live matters as we seek to raise up future followers of Christ.