2 SAMUEL 11:1-4: David sees Bathsheba
1 In the spring when kings march out to war, David sent Joab with his officers and all Israel. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah, but David remained in Jerusalem.
2 One evening David got up from his bed and strolled around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing — a very beautiful woman. 3 So David sent someone to inquire about her, and he said, “Isn’t this Bathsheba, daughter of Eliam and wife of Uriah the Hethite? ”
4 David sent messengers to get her, and when she came to him, he slept with her. Now she had just been purifying herself from her uncleanness. Afterward, she returned home.
MATTHEW 4:1-11: Jesus resists Temptation
1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 Then the tempter approached him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
4 He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city, had him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written:
He will give his angels orders concerning you,
and they will support you with their hands
so that you will not strike
your foot against a stone.”
7 Jesus told him, “It is also written: Do not test the Lord your God.”
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 And he said to him, “I will give you all these things if you will fall down and worship me.”
10 Then Jesus told him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.”
11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and began to serve him.
HEAR:
We see both Jesus and David faced with temptation, and both of them are surveying vast kingdoms. David falls into temptation, but Jesus resists. Today, survey your own domain, your own “kingdom” and pray:
Determine what holds the most influence in your Kingdom. For what do you care so deeply that it holds power over you? (not only sinful things)
In the past, what has been the habit of your heart for sin? (e.g. control, happiness, love, anger, reputation, etc.)
Listen to what the Holy Spirit is highlighting; what is elusive, uncomfortable or painful? Listen to and name your Kingdom’s trajectory.
RESPOND:
God’s kindness is meant to lead us to repentance (Romans 2:4). Respond to His kindness today. God finds great joy in restoring His people and using them for great things.
Ask God to build His Kingdom within us, without reservation. Confess what is in competition with His Kingdom. (Matthew 6:9-13)
Ask God to remind you of the beautiful vision of His Kingdom. (Isaiah 2:1-4)
Prayerfully dream of a domain where Jesus would happily live, in your life, Boston, and beyond. (Psalm 126:1-3)
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