If I Find Favor

Read Job 15

Read 2 Samuel 15

King David's son, Absalom, stole the hearts of the men of Israel. He was hungry for power and honor, and he didn't care about his father or his father's love. Yes, David had extended mercy to Absalom, and even after the initial rebellion, David forgave his son and took him back.

But Absalom was crafty and devious. After biding his time for a number of years he slowly gained his father's trust back and was able to get into a position to steal the hearts of men again.

You know, the devil stole the hearts of men too. Initially, all creation belonged to God, even Adam and Eve, true perfect human beings. But through crafty deception and enticing temptation, the Devil stole their hearts away from God and cast humanity into its current fallen nature.

We shouldn't belong to the Devil. But by nature all people do.

But while the Devil steals hearts, God buys them back. And so it was the Jesus ascended the Mount of Olives (just as David does in our reading) for a spiritual war against the Devil. And then Jesus, defeating him, continues on to pay for us. The price is the very body and blood of Jesus Christ, which he offered on the cross as the ransom price. His innocent suffering and death is what purchased and won us from the Devil, and from his weapons sin and death.

Yes, we are bought back by God and belong to him. So like David we can cast ourselves upon the mercy of the Lord. Even when our world is turned upside down. Even if deception is ripping away what God has given to us. Even when evil people seek to take our livelihood and even our life - we can cast ourselves upon God. David confesses "If I find favor in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me back and let me see both it [the ark of the covenant] and his dwelling place [the temple]."

David recognizes that the only thing that will restore him is the favor of God. Favor is a Gospel word. Favor means grace.

When we desire forgiveness, blessing, help, strength, rescue, and victory, we too must rely only on God's favor. Absalom trusting his own ability to deceive and scheme, and it gets him places. But we'll see soon that it doesn't get him very far. In fact it brings him destruction.

But David will be restored. There is hope for us as well. Thanks be to God!

Ask Yourself:

What blessing, rescue, or strength are you desiring right now? On what are you relying to receive it?

How can you better rely on God and rely on yourself less?

What other encouragement in today's reading brings you hope today?

Pray:

"O Lord Jesus Christ, by the blood of Your eternal covenant, preserve our faith and bring us at last into Your Jerusalem above. Amen." (TLSB p. 510).

Study with me tomorrow,

Pastor Jon

Soli Deo Gloria!