The Gospel Project Devotion: August 4-August 10, 2013

Unit 11, Session 6: David Sinned and Was Restored

2 Samuel 11:1–12:14; Psalm 51

Christ Connection: When David sinned against God, God forgave him, but sin always comes with a price. God spared David’s life, but David’s son died. When we sin, we can receive God’s forgiveness because God sent His Son, Jesus, to pay the price for our sin. Jesus died the death we deserve so that we could be made right with God.

Adult Connection Point:

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the fulfillment of the Old Testament priesthood. Whereas the former priestly ministry was temporal, the ministry of Christ is eternal (Heb. 7:23-25). Whereas the blood of bulls and goats could never atone for sin, the blood of Christ was sufficient (10:4,10). Whereas the Levitical priests stood daily to signify that their work was never complete, Christ sat down at the right hand of the Father (10:11-12). Whereas sacrifices were offered daily, Christ has offered one full and final offering (10:14).

As Christians, we are called to mirror Jesus in His priestly role. The Bible calls us a royal and holy priesthood (1 Pet. 2:5,9). We do not function as priests by offering sacrifices but rather by carrying out two duties: reconciliation and intercession.

As the Levitical priests would lift up the sacrifice of a beast for all to see, so we lift up the gospel and proclaim the sufficiency of Christ for a lost and dying world. Additionally, as Christ intercedes for the people as the great high priest, so we are called to a life of intercession for the world. We pray for others, weep for their salvation, and run with arms outstretched to the places where humans need God’s merciful response.

Family Devotion:

Play a game of “David Says” in which participants only do what “David” says to do. They do not do it if an instruction does not begin with “David says.” Recall last week’s devotion in which David was called a man after God’s own heart. Help your family recall that David was loyal to God.

Say: “Even though David wanted to obey God, he did not live a perfect life. David sinned. He needed God to take away his sin. In our game we followed the person giving the instructions. Did you always obey perfectly? We all have sinned, but Jesus died on the cross to take away our sin. When we trust in Him, God forgives us.”

Play the game again, and end with a responsive prayer; say a word or phrase and your family echoes your words and phrases.

 Sing a praise song of your choosing or use the key passage song from the family app.