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<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">“<b>TWO
ARE BETTER THAN ONE” MINISTRIES</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Jim
& Marie Watt</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Tel:
<a href="tel:253-517-9195" target="_blank">253-517-9195</a> - Email:
<a href="mailto:jmbetter@gmail.com" target="_blank">jmbetter@gmail.com</a></b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Web:
<a href="http://www.2rbetter.org/" target="_blank">www.2rbetter.org</a></b></p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">October 5, 2012</p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">
<br></p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">
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</p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b>JUN
1 - 2 SAMUEL 11-12 - DAVID’S LAPSE</b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b>1.
11:1 (11:1-5, ESV) DAVID: SINS BECAUSE OF INACTIVITY. <font size="3">“In
the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David
sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they
ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in
Jerusalem.” </font></b><span style="font-weight:normal">This was a
foolish and unpardonable sin on David’s part, and would not have
happened had David been on the battlefield where he belonged. He
violated a Kingdom principle. </span><b><i>Hallowed be your :name.</i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="font-style:normal">2.
11:14-15 (11:6-25) DAVID: SEEKS TO COVER HIS SIN. </span><font size="3"><span style="font-style:normal">“In
the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of
Uriah. </span></font><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1"><span style="font-style:normal">15
</span></font><font size="3"><span style="font-style:normal">In the
letter he wrote, ‘Set Uriah in the forefront of the hardest
fighting, and then draw back from him, that he may be struck down and
die.” </span></font></b><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:normal">David
now commits a more dastardly sin to cover the first sin. This
scarcely reads like the David we know. Father, remind us to pray for
grace to walk in Kingdom principle</span></span><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:normal">s</span></span><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:normal">.
</span></span><b><i>Your :kingdom come.</i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="font-style:normal">3.
11:27 (11:26-27) DAVID: DISPLEASES THE LORD THROUH HIS SIN. </span><font size="3"><span style="font-style:normal">“And
when the mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house,
and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David
had done displeased the LORD.” </span></font></b><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:normal">It
looks like David got off scot-free: but </span></span><span style="font-style:normal"><u><span style="font-weight:normal">not</span></u></span><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
with </span></span></span><span style="font-style:normal"><u><span style="font-weight:normal">You</span></u></span><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">,
Father! Your Name was hurt by this. </span></span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">Your
:will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.</span></i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">4.
12:13-14 (12:1-14) DAVID’S REPENTANCE. </span></span><font size="3"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">“David
said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the LORD.’ And Nathan said
to David, ‘The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die.
</span></span></font><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">14
</span></span></font><font size="3"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">Nevertheless,
because of this deed you have utterly scorned the LORD, the child who
is born to you shall die.’” </span></span></font></b><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">What
a serious judgment! From now on a cloud was over the li</span></span></span><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">f</span></span></span><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">e
of David. O forgive us Father, that we take sin so lightly! We thank
You for Your love that will not let us go, but chastises us as sons!
</span></span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">Our
:daily :bread Give us this day.</span></i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">5.
12:15-16 (12:15-23) DAVID’S REAPING BECAUSE OF SIN. </span></span><font size="3"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">“And
the LORD afflicted the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and
he became sick. </span></span></font><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">16
</span></span></font><font size="3"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">David
therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and
went in and lay all night on the ground.” </span></span></font></b><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">It
was </span></span></span><span style="font-style:normal"><u><span style="font-weight:normal">You</span></u></span><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">,
O Great Jehovah Father Who struck this child! It had to be done to
clear Your Name, upon which Your servant had brought blasphemy from
Your enemies. </span></span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">And
forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.</span></i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">6.
12:24 (12:24-25) DAVID: FATHERS SOLOMON THROUGH BATHSHEBA. </span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“The
David comforted his wife, Bathsheba, and went in to her and lay with
her, and she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon. And the LORD
loved him.” </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">What
a curious statement: You, Jehovah Father, loved Solomon, the fruit of
</span></span><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">a
</span></span><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">match
that ought not to have been! </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">This</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
is Your grace! </span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">And
bring us not into temptation.</span></i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">7.
12:29 (12:26-31) DAVID: CONCLUDES AMMONITE WAR IN VICTORY. </span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“So
David gathered all the people together and went to Rabbah and fought
against it and took it.” </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">This
is what David ought to have done from the beginning, and it looks at
this point that David has again got off free: but not so! </span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">But
deliver us from the evil one!</span></i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><u><b>NOTE</b></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><b>:
12:23 (12:24-25) DAVID: ACCEPTS GOD’S JUDGMENT OF DEATH FOR HIS
SON! </b></span><b><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“But
now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I
shall go to him, but he will not return to me.” </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">I</span></span><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">n
this David submitted to You, Father. We too should always follow this
example that flows out of a Romans 6 experience.</span></span></font></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">So
what more can we learn from this lesson on David? For me, I see two
insight</span></span><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">s</span></span><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
coming from David’s lapse and sin. Number one - it is dangerous to
become inactive, when he should have been out with his men on the
battle-field. Idle hands find evil deeds to do!</span></span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">But
for us - the opposite - if not </span></span><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">correctly
directed, can also cause us to miss God. An over-active life for God
in doing good works - can keep us from </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">intimacy</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
with God, where we become one with Him, and develop Christ in us to
maturity, where He can </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">through
us</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
fulfill the Sermon on the Mount, and bring forth </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">His
Heredity</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
within us, in character that affects individuals in the world with
conviction and salvation.</span></span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">The
above reveals two ditches - and Satan would have us fall into either
one. It’s the </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">balance</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
that ensures the pleasure of God in our lives.</span></span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">But
the immediate repentance of David over his sin - when confronted -
reveals him as a man after God’s own heart. For us - this patter
will do </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">the same</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
for us, for God is no respecter of persons. We too can become people
after God’s own heart!</span></span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">How
often should we repent? </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">Each
time</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
when we sin, like David!</span></span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">There
are many more lessons in the above. As we search them out together,
and </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">walk in them</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">,
God’s smile will be upon us!</span></span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">q</span></span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">Our
Chapter of Proverbs for the Day: 1:4-5 THE BEGINNING OF KNOWLEDGE.
</span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“To give
prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth - </span></font><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1"><span style="text-decoration:none">5
</span></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">Let
the wise hear and increase in learning and the one who understands
obtain guidance.” </span></font></b><u><span style="font-weight:normal">This</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
is the design of the Book of Proverbs from Your point of view,
Father. We receive these words as You intended, that by them we may
develop the gift of friendship and the circle of Covenant love with
You, and with our fellow man. </span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">Hallowed
be your :name!</span></i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><span style="text-decoration:none">
</span><span style="text-decoration:none"> </span><span style="text-decoration:none">
</span>
</p>
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