Song 1 – Sing We the Song of Emmanuel

Hear God call you to worship:

“It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it, and many peoples shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord.”

Isaiah 2:2–5

Let us worship the Lord!

Song 2 – Come Light Our Hearts 

Song 3 – Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

Song 4 – The Lord Almighty Reigns

Our welcome team members will pass an offering basket during this song.

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Praise God, from whom all blessings flow
Praise Him, all creatures here below
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

Praise God for all that he has done
Praise Him for Jesus’ reign begun!
He came with love to make us one;
He will return, His kingdom come

Amen

A warm welcome to all, and especially to any visitors joining us today – if you’d like to get connected or find out more about UCC, please see our digital visitors card or speak to us after the service!

If you have children, they are welcome to join our Sunday school classes! 

Our Scripture reading today is 2 Samuel 21:1–3; 22:31–33; & 23:3–5 (ESV).  Hear the Word of God.

21 Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year. And David sought the face of the Lord. And the Lord said, “There is bloodguilt on Saul and on his house, because he put the Gibeonites to death.” 2 So the king called the Gibeonites and spoke to them. Now the Gibeonites were not of the people of Israel but of the remnant of the Amorites. Although the people of Israel had sworn to spare them, Saul had sought to strike them down in his zeal for the people of Israel and Judah. 3 And David said to the Gibeonites, “What shall I do for you? And how shall I make atonement, that you may bless the heritage of the Lord?” 

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(2 Samuel 22:31–33)

31 This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true;
      he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.
32 “For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God?
33 This God is my strong refuge and has made my way blameless.

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(2 Samuel 23:3–5)

3 The God of Israel has spoken; the Rock of Israel has said to me:
When one rules justly over men, ruling in the fear of God,
4 he dawns on them like the morning light, like the sun shining forth on a cloudless morning, like rain that makes grass to sprout from the earth.
5 “For does not my house stand so with God? For he has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and secure. For will he not cause to prosper all my help and my desire? 

This is the Word of the Lord.

The King, The Covenant, The Conqueror
2 Samuel 21–23

I. The King Who Restores (2 Samuel 21:1–14)
II. The Covenant That Endures (2 Samuel 22:1–23:7)
III.The Conqueror Who Delivers (2 Samuel 21:15–22, 23:8–39)

Song 5 – O Come, All You Unfaithful

If you believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, you are welcome to receive the elements of communion.

The bread and the cup will be distributed as we sing together. You are welcome to join in singing or spend time in silent meditation or prayer.

Please hold the elements until all have received; we will all partake together as one body. 

Song 6 – Nothing But the Blood

Song 7 – He Is Exalted

Our Father in heaven, 
hallowed be your name;
your kingdom come;
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven. 
Give us this day our daily bread. 
And forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who have sinned against us.
And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. 
For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.
Amen.

“‘The Lord bless you
    and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you
    and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
    and give you peace.”’

– Numbers 6:24-26

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Introduction

1. John Newton states “When you cannot see your way, be satisfied that He knows your path; He will not leave you to sink.” Consider this quote and how it applies to David’s life and ours. Give some examples of how this might be true.

Into the Text:

2. In light of David’s mercy and justice reflecting God’s mercy and justice in 2 Samuel 21, how does this deepen your appreciation for Christ’s atonement for your sins accomplished on the cross?
3. What are some of the ways that David depicted God’s wrath, mercy, and grace in his song in 2 Samuel 22? 

Applying the Text:

4. The judgment of God on Saul’s sin came well after Saul’s death. What does this teach us about the devastation of sin? Have you seen this in your own life? What does this show us about God?
5. What do we learn about the Davidic covenant from David, though marred by sin and brokenness, still recounting God’s faithfulness so deeply?
6. Richard Phillips in reference to 2 Samuel 23:8-39 states that “these men are remembered not for their independence but for their dependence – on God, on one another, and their king.” What are the different ways that these men show Christian love to David? How can we mimic it? How is this ultimately foreshadowing Christ?