After the many conspiracies and plots against David and a sense that he is growing older and less able to lead militarily, 2 Samuel 22 comes as an oasis of praise. It is a song of praise (very similar to Psalm 18) and reminds us of David’s talents as a musician and songwriter. Author of over 70 of the 150 psalms, David’s songs speak of many things, including lament, contrition, sorrow and, as here, praise. This is a song of salvation and deliverance, a reminder that God hears and answers us when we cry out to Him.

Songs are ways of absorbing truth about God – and proclaiming truth about Him – which seem to transcend other methods of learning. This is partly because music helps us to remember words, partly because the words themselves use imagery and poetic language to convey truth in ways that stir our imaginations and hearts. David uses many metaphors in this song about God, calling him a rock, a fortress, a shield, a horn of salvation, a deliverer, a lamp. None of these things may be literally true, but as we recall those objects, we learn new aspects of who God is. David uses language relating to weather and nature (earthquakes, smoke, thunder, water all feature in the psalm) to describe God’s miraculous intervention in his life. He also ascribes God’s help to even the victories he achieves, focussing firmly on God’s divine grace and help.

The chapter ends with praise, wanting to glorify God for all His help and saving actions. Just as the book of Psalms ends with the five ‘Hallelujah’ psalms which use that word (meaning ‘praise the Lord’) repeatedly to remind us of the primacy of praise, so we end this summary of David’s reign by remembering God’s part in all His victories. David is not a secular king. He may have been blessed with many talents and skills, but ultimately, he is aware of God’s help in everything. We, too, can know God’s help in our difficult times, in our days of distress, and do not need to fear, for He is with us in everything. Singing these truths is a good way of keeping our eyes fixed on God. It worked for David; it can work for us too!

We enjoyed another family fun day working with other local churches for the half-term holiday, with 89 people coming to join us to look at two miracles of healing which Jesus did. We used stories by Andrew McDonagh and learned about four friends who brought a crippled man to Jesus to be healed… only to find they had to climb to the roof and lower him down that way because of the crowds! Needless to say, Jesus not only healed the man but forgave his sins too! Our second story was about a man with leprosy whom Jesus healed.

We did lots of building based on the first story, with children enjoying building out of cardboard boxes, Lego, Duplo and Megabloks. We also celebrated friendship by making friendship bracelets and decorated biscuits to look like wounds that were bandaged (strawberry jam and icing to the rescue!) Our final craft celebrated doctors and nurses whom God also uses to heal us.

As always, there was lots of delicious food and we are grateful to Gregg’s for supplying sandwiches, pasties, pizza slices, sausage rolls and desserts and to others who provided sandwiches, cupcakes and hot dogs!

This morning we learned about our identity as people invited to share in God’s nature (see 2 Pet 1:1-9). To partake in the divine nature seems fanciful and impossible, but Peter is adamant that God’s divine power enables us to do this. Human nature outside of Christ is doomed to sin and failure (see Eph 2:1-3). We are cut off from God (Eph 2:12) and we are slaves to sin (Rom 7:14), but Christ is the second Adam, the one who brings righteousness to us (see Rom 5:15-17). God has done all that is necessary for us to be reconciled to Him and our part is to receive the free gifts He offers us.

To receive God’s promises, we must believe in the One He sent and accept all He offers us, just as Mephibosheth (Saul’s son) was welcomed into the king’s palace to share in David’s wealth (see 2 Samuel 9.) Our new identity means we are being shaped to be like God (which Peter expands on in 2 Pet 1:5-8). God’s Spirit, living in us, produces the fruit of the Spirit, characteristics which reflect God’s own nature. (Gal 5:22-23)

Peter’s challenge for us all is to live with a true appreciation of all God has done for us and a forward-looking attitude which does not forget what we used to be but also understands who we are now by God’s grace. We have full access to God’s promises, power and potential; we do not have to remain nearsighted and blind, forgetting that we have been cleansed from our past sins. God has given us everything we need to live a godly life as we dwell in Him.

Our Parent & Toddler group meets twice a week in term-time on Wednesday and Friday mornings between 9 and 11 a.m. We are very grateful to Coalfields Regeneration Trust for their ongoing financial support of the group, giving us £2000 this year towards the running costs of the group (energy bills, refreshments etc.)

It’s an opportunity for children to learn through play, with role play equipment, dressing up costumes, ride-on vehicles and much more available. We have a craft activity every week for the older toddlers which helps them to learn the basics of making marks on paper, using stickers and glue and so on. There is a special area for babies to learn to explore their environment and we provide drinks and toast for all. For parents and carers, the group provides a safe place and the chance to chat with others who are also in the same position of caregivers, one of the loneliest jobs in the world. Eachj session ends with percussion instruments and singing nursery rhymes, thus developing children’s understanding and language skills.

Thanks to funding from the Snap Tin Community Hub, we have some planters outside and have been planting seeds to grow carrots, tomatoes, basil, cress, strawberries and sunflowers, teaching children about the provenance of food and the importance of caring for what we grow. When the weather’s sunny, we love to play outside.

It’s just £1 per family (no matter how many children!) per session, with drinks and toast included, so do pop in today!