Dave spoke this morning from Luke 12:16-20 on ‘Just Another Sunday?’ It’s very easy for us to feel that one day is little different from another, and certainly it can come as a shock when God breaks into our everyday ordinariness and does amazing things. Imagine how Noah felt after years of building the ark when the rain waters finally started to come! Imagine how Moses felt after years of being a shepherd when suddenly a bush began to burn and not be consumed! Imagine how David felt when he was plucked from the obscurity of being the youngest in his family and a shepherd boy and was anointed by Samuel to be the future king of Israel. Imagine Mary’s ordinary day being disrupted by an angelic visit from Gabriel.

Garry spoke from Colossians 1:9-14, Paul’s prayer that the Colossians may have great endurance and patience. Sometimes we possess innate gifts from God, talents that we have from birth and which can be nurtured and developed. Other gifts come directly from the Holy Spirit, often termed the ‘gifts of the Spirit‘ (listed in 1 Cor 12, including gifts of inspiration such as the ability to speak in other languages or interpret these or the gift of prophecy, gifts of revelation (e.g. messages of wisdom and knowledge and the discernment of spirits) and gifts of power (faith, healing, miraculous powers.)) The Holy Spirit gives other gifts, however. In Ex 31:1-6 we read how He gave Bezalel ‘wisdom… understanding… knowledge… and… all kinds of skills to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all knids of crafts.’ God is able to give us different gifts to fulfil His purpose at specific times.

David’s return to ruling was not without problems. In 2 Samuel 20 we see how Sheba, a Benjamite described as a troublemaker, led a rebellion which many tribes of Israel joined. We are reminded of the fickleness of followers and how easy it is to influence people through catchy slogans which can seem to promise much but which lack substance. David, frustrated by Amasa’s delays, sends Abishai to deal with Sheba, and once more we see the influence of Joab when Amasa is ruthlessly killed by Joab in the manner of Judas (greeting him as ‘brother’ with a kiss and then stabbing him to death.) Joab’s ruthlessness and tendency to violence would have seen a greater death toll as he went on to pursue Sheba, wholesale slaughter of the town of Abel Beth Maakah being prevented by a wise woman who sacrificed Sheba to save the lives of the rest of the people in the town. Throughout this chapter, we see the violence and ruthlessness which are an inevitable part of war and how Joab’s influence remains a part of David’s life, even when he has apparently been removed from power.

Dave spoke this morning from Song of Songs 2:16-3:4 on the intimacy of salvation. This book, which deals on one level with the love of Solomon for a woman, has long been perceived as being an allegory describing the relationship between God and mankind (though God is not mentioned at all in the book itself.) The imagery of wedding feasts points to the glorious banquet which awaits Christ’s return. In the book, the woman waits for the return of the Beloved with longing and yearning; this reminds us of our longing for Christ’s return. There is no rest until the Bridegroom returns.

Throughout Lent we have been looking at the book ‘Living Hope’ and have seen how God deals with imperfect people and how hope is fostered and grown as we notice what He has done and is doing, as we do this in community, not just in isolation and as we step up with courage to mirror God’s heart in our communities. On Good Friday we looked at the Phil Wickham song ‘Living Hope’ to see what it has to tell us about our new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. (1 Pet 1:3-4)