Thank you for listening to Servants for Christ. In all that we do, in all that we say, we want to give glory and honor to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Thank you for tuning us in as we get into the wonderful Word of God. For the next few minutes, let's take the beautiful Word of God and share it with each and every one of you as we have a sense of anticipation to take the Word of God and to listen to its truth for each and every one. Thank you for tuning us in. I'm Darrell Bailey, Servants for Christ, where we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. Here in our Journey of Faith series, we look at how these series retract the footsteps of remarkable Bible characters whose lives often profound lessons for our own spiritual walk. and reveals how their journeys illuminate the path of their ongoing dependence on God. I'm glad that as we trust in God to guide us through the unpredictable twists and turns of our journeys of life, much like our personal faith journeys, the road can be challenging and uncertain, but just as God blessed the faith of those great Bible characters, He continues to bless and sustain our faith today. One of the very first ones that we saw that we talked about in our journeys of faith was Noah, a path of obedience and grace out of Genesis chapter 6. Noah's journey to Mount Arad is a testament of faith and obedience to God's grace. We witness in Genesis 6 a world steeped in corruption and weakness leading to God to choose Noah as the man to preserve creation. And Noah's response to God's call reflects deep faith that not only transformed his life, but altered the course of human history. Amen. And so it reminds us of how grace is available to all who seek it. Just as God provided a way for Noah's family to be saved, He's provided a way for humanity through Jesus Christ. And in our lives, we must recognize, regardless of our past failures or storms that we face, God's grace offers a new beginning. And we're called to share this grace with others, extending that hope and that redemption. Then we look and realize that the second character that we saw in our journeys of faith was Abraham, called to testing and sacrifice out of Genesis chapter 22, because God is our provider. Abraham's journey of faith to Mount Moriah did not end with Isaac's sacrifice, but with the reaffirmation of God's covenant promises. And because of Abraham's obedience and faith, God confirmed that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars, and that through his offspring, all nations would be blessed. Here we look as Abraham experienced God in a new way, as the God who provides. His faith deepened as he saw God's faithfulness in the moment of the ultimate testing. And Abraham's willingness to obey led to a covenant ensuring that his descendants would inherit the promised land and the blessings to all the nations, foreshadowing of Christ's sacrifice. And so, Abraham's journey to Mount Moriah teaches us that faith involves obedience, trust, and willingness to sacrifice. He learned that God's provision is always faithful, and through his obedience, the covenant blessings were reaffirmed. Thirdly, our third character in our journeys of faith was Jochebed, trusting in God's plan and provision. When we look and we see in Exodus chapter one and Exodus chapter two, Jochebed's journey of faith, and I'm glad that Jochebed, the mother of Moses, faced a journey of profound faith, courage, and trust in God's providence during one of the darkest periods of Israelites' history. And so, Jochebed demonstrates reliance on God's protection and provision and her faith ultimately plays a pivotal role in Israel's deliverance from slavery as well, amen. And then we look and we see after Jochebed that we see Joseph trusting God's plan, amen, in Genesis chapter 37. because I'm glad that each and every one of us in today's world, we learn that through Joseph, Joseph's journey of faith to Egypt was filled with difficulties, but it ultimately revealed God's sovereignty, province, and ability to turn suffering into salvation. And Joseph learned to trust God's plan, even when he didn't understand it, and he remained faithful through every trial. And for us today, Joseph's story serves as a reminder to trust in God's plan, Even when the journey is difficult or unclear, just as God was with Joseph in every situation, He is with us, working behind the scenes to fulfill His good purposes in our lives. And the fifth character in our journeys, as we look at our journeys of life that we go through today, our journeys of faith, amen. We see Moses' lessons in patience and faith, in Exodus chapter 31 and Exodus chapter 32. Moses' journey of faith to Sinai, when we look and realize that Moses' journey to Sinai was rich with lessons in patience, faith, and leadership, that he learned that God's timing is always perfect, that sin has real consequences, and that intercession is a vital part of leadership. And for us today, Moses' experience is a powerful reminder to wait on God, to resist the urge to create our own solutions, and always approach God with a heart of humility and reverence, and God's journey with Moses to Sinai set the stage for Israel's future, and it offers timeless truths that can guide our faith journey today. Then we see the sixth character, Joshua, from faith to the promised land, and in it we see Joshua chapter 1, verses 1 through 9, how that we see that Joshua led Israel to conquer Canaan, fulfilling God's promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, And under Joshua's leadership, the Israelites defeated their enemies, took possession of the land that God had sworn to give them, and the cities of Jericho and Ai were captured, and Israel settled in the land of Canaan. And so, we see that Joshua's journey reinforced the truth that God's presence brings victory. And the people of Israel saw firsthand how God fought for them when they trusted and obeyed Him, and the presence of God with Joshua and Israel was the key to their success and security. And so, it marked a learning to trust God's promises and presence, leading with courage and obedience, experiencing the power of God's Word, and witnessing the fulfillment of God's promises. The seventh character that we see in the journeys of faith is Gideon, discouragement to destiny in Judges chapter 6 verses 1 through 13. When we look and we realize that God uses the weak to display his strength. Gideon's initial fear and doubts were transformed as he learned that God works through weakness. The reduction of his army to 300 men was a clear sign that God doesn't need human strength to achieve his purposes. The principle applies to us as God chooses the humble and the weak to display his power. Faith requires action and obedience, and victory belongs to God, not man. Pride and idolatry are constant threats against all of us. And so, Gideon's journey teaches that even after spiritual success, there is a need to guard against pride and the temptation to seek glory for oneself. The eighth character of the Journeys of Faith series is Rahab, from shame to salvation, in Joshua chapter two, verses one through nine. When we look at them, we begin to see that Rahab made a pact with the spies and so asking for protection for herself and her family in exchange for her help. And so the scarlet cord became a symbol of salvation much like the blood of the Passover lamb that protected the Israelites in Egypt. It foreshadowed the blood of Christ offering protection and redemption to all who believed. that scarlet cord that represents God's provision for salvation. Rahab's had redemption and Jericho had a fall. And so, when we look at Rahab's legacy of faith, amen, when we look at her, we are reminded of what God can do in all of our lives, amen, today. And so, as we look and realize that faith in Rahab's journey reminds us that no matter how flawed or broken we are, God's grace is available to all. Rahab didn't just believe in God, she took bold action based on that belief. And just as Rahab's faith impacted future generations, our faith has the potential to leave a lasting legacy because in today's world, We're called to live in such a way that our faith in Christ influences not only our own lives, but also the lives of those that are in generations to come. And so, we see our ninth character of the journeys of faith, Hannah, from desperation to divine purpose. Amen. and through it, Hannah's example of faith in worship and perseverance became a model of prayer and devotion. Her willingness to surrender her deepest desires to God's will and trust in his plan is a powerful example for believers today that her legacy of trust and sacrifice, the journey to Shiloh, left a lasting legacy of Samuel, someone that would be able to be a prophet that was needed to secure the future of the nation of Israel. Hannah's story teaches us today about the power of persistent prayer, the trust in God's timing, and the importance of fulfilling our commitments to Him. Amen. Then it brings us to our tenth character in our journeys of faith, Samuel navigating to the leading of God. And through this, we look in 1 Samuel chapter 16, verses 1 through 13, we see that Samuel learned that God's choices often defy human expectations. While the world may value status and appearance, God values the condition of the heart. And so, we saw that by the Spirit of God, Samuel's journey to the Valley of Elah serves as a profound lesson in obedience, discernment, and the importance of looking at the heart, because he anointed a man after God's own heart, David, that went to the battlefield of the Valley of Elah, and it reminds us that God's plan often is different from our expectations, and His choices are rooted in His divine wisdom. And as we navigate our own journeys of faith, May we, like Samuel, remain open to God's leading, trusting in his purpose, and relying on the empowerment of the Holy Spirit of God. Then, it brings us currently to our 11th character, David, a man after God's own heart. Because in this, we explore David's journey to Zion, the city of David that represents not just a geographical location, but also a spiritual and a relational journey to David's life because after being anointed by Samuel and becoming a warrior for Israel, David begins to take on the challenge of leadership, friendship, and his own failures. And that journey reveals the complexities of being a man after God's own heart while facing the human weaknesses of life that are out there today. Amen. And so, I'm glad that here In 1 Samuel chapter 18 and 2 Samuel chapter 11 and 12, we're not going to read all of these scriptures, but we're going to focus in on 2 Samuel chapter 12 verse 13 because that's going to be the highlight of the message instead of taking all the time to read all that scripture, but it will come from that. It's 2 Samuel chapter 12 verse 13. Amen and so As we start out as Christians, we're going to face trials and temptations on our journeys of faith. David faced an intense trial for an extended period when King Saul was trying to kill him. His response to the trial is an example for us to follow, because when David became king, he faced a great temptation and he chose to sin. And throughout this lesson, we examine David's life, the consequences of his sin, and the and fellowship with the Holy God. We want to look at how that we can seek the Lord in the response to our trials, find rest in God when discouraged and weary, and flee when faced with temptation, and understand the consequences of sinning against God, and learn to confess sin in order to experience victory through Christ. Let's open up with a word of prayer before I read the mighty word of God in 2 Samuel 12, verse 13. We acknowledge your greatness and incredible stories of your people found in the scripture. And Lord, in the life of David, his friendship, his failures, we seek your wisdom and your understanding. Teach us, Lord, the importance of genuine relationship demonstrated by the bond of David and Jonathan, and help us to be the kind of friends who uplift and encourage one another. And may we recognize the weight of sin, the importance of accountability, as seen in David's story of temptation and fall. And we ask that you open our eyes to the areas of our lives where we may be blind to our own shortcomings. Help us to seek you wholeheartedly for forgiveness and restoration. And may your Holy Spirit guide our thoughts and hearts as we explore these powerful truths, to learn to walk in humility and grace, striving to reflect your love and mercy in our relationships and actions. Take your Bibles, as I said, it'll all come out of 1 Samuel 18, verses 1 through 9, 2 Samuel chapter 11, and 2 Samuel chapter 12. But I want to go ahead and put you all the way to 2 Samuel chapter 12, verse 13. Here, Nathan's parable of the Iwi Lamb that causes David to be his own judge. In verse 13, and David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord, and Nathan said unto David, The Lord also hath put away thy sin. Thou shalt not die, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme. The child also is born unto thee shall surely die. It goes on, And Nathan departed unto his house, and the Lord struck the child that Uriah's wife bare, under David, and it was very sick. And David therefore besought God for the child. And David fasted. He went in and lay all nine upon the earth. And the elders of his house arose and went in to him to raise him up from the earth, but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them. And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died, and the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice. How will he then vex himself if we tell him that the child is dead? But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead, and therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And he said, He is dead. Then David arose from the earth, washed and anointed himself, changed his apparel, came into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he came to his own house, and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat. Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? Thou didst fast and weep for the child while he was alive, but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread. And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, Who can tell whether God will be gracious to me, that the child may live. But now he is dead, and wherefore should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.' And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her, and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon. And the Lord loved him, and he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet, and he called him Jedediah because of the Lord." I'm going to stop right there. When we look at, as Christians, we all face temptations on our journey of faith. David faced an intense trial for this extended period of time with King Saul. And when we look at David, the heart of a king, the lesson of sin, we see a soldier of the Lord, amen? We look at how in the journey to Elah, we saw David's anointing and victory over Goliath. But today we learn about David's journey to Zion, because Zion is the word for Jerusalem. And after David became the king, he moved the capital from Hebron to Jerusalem. And here in the middle of David's life, we see some of the greatest tragedies and triumphs of a man of God. when we look and realize of what He did and the results of those that will strengthen a man. And so through those, I'm glad that there was a popular company. Two employees, Alex and Jordan, they start off as good friends. As Alex receives a promotion, Jordan's jealousy begins to fester. Instead of celebrating Alex's success, Jordan starts to undermine him, spreading rumors, trying to sabotage his work. Ultimately, this jealousy leads to conflict and distrust, causing both men to lose their jobs and friendship. You know, just as Saul's jealousy of David led to destructive behavior, we must be cautious about envy in our lives. When we allow jealousy to take root, it can destroy relationships and hinder our personal growth. We reflect on our feelings toward other successes. And so, you know what? When we look at David, the heart of a king, and the lessons of sin, I remember reading about a well-respected community leader after years of service is found to have been embezzling funds for personal gain. His actions come to light after an investigation resulted in loss of trust, damage to his family, and severe legal consequences. The leader's initial success and charisma could not save him. from the consequences of his betrayal. David's sin with Bathsheba serves as a stark reminder that our actions have consequences. Even a moment of weakness can lead to a lifetime of regret. In today's society, we must be vigilant in our choices, understanding that our decisions can impact not just our lives, but also those around us. And so, when we look, We look and see, first of all, that journey to Elah, that word for Jerusalem, that's been relocated from Hebron to Jerusalem. The first thing that we see is David's significant trial. David's significant trial during this time in his life was that of Saul's relentless pursuit of him. From the time that David played the harp for David until Saul's death, the king sought to kill David. The Bible gives us a greater insight to David's trial in 1 Samuel chapter 18, verses 10, 11, and 12. And it came to pass on the morrow that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house. And David played with his hand as at other times, and there was a javelin in Saul's hand. And Saul cast the javelin, for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice. And Saul was afraid of David because the Lord was with him and was departed from Saul. And so, David's significant trial, the cause of the trial, we see in 1 Samuel chapter 18 verses 6 through 9. that talks about, that gives a record of David's increasing popularity, his lovingness being accepted among the people of Israel. But in 1 Samuel 18, verse 16, But all Israel and Judah loved David, and because he went out and came in before them. through his many victories in battle, David became a hero in Israel. And the children of Israel sang David's praises. David was not simply gaining the favor of Israel, he also obtained the favor of the Lord during this time. And David's popularity increased and it caused Saul's heart to harden. And first of all, Saul's problem involved jealousy. When the women of the city cheered, Saul has slain his thousands, but David, his 10,000. Saul thought that the praise people were giving to David belonged to him, and jealousy gripped his heart. One of the greatest mistakes Christians make is comparing themselves with other Christians. Sometimes, as people sit in church, the devil tells them that they don't belong or that they are not perfect enough. May we learn from the life of Saul the need to overcome jealousy and comparison. And so, there were two cows that were grazing in a pasture when they saw a milk truck pass by. On the side of the truck were the words, tasterize, homogenize and standardize, vitamin AA added. One cow sighed and he said to the other, makes you feel sort of inadequate, doesn't it? You know Saul's problem of fear is revealed in his dealings with David. Saul saw that God was with David and that he betrayed himself wisely and Saul was afraid. And so in 1 Samuel chapter 18 verse 12 the Bible says that Saul was afraid of David because the Lord was with him and was departed from Saul. And so when we see David's significant trial, the cause of the trial, David's rising popularity, Saul's escalating jealousy, we see the reaction to the trial because in that reaction because of Saul's jealousy, David had to flee. He knew that it would be wrong to fight against the king whom God had chosen, amen. And so it tells us in 1 Samuel 19 verse 10, so David fled and he escaped that night. And after David fled from the presence of Saul, he eventually sought refuge in the cave of Adullah and hid there. And while he was hiding from Saul, many who were distressed came to him. In 1 Samuel chapter 22 verses one and two, eventually David, became discouraged in his trial. But we notice what he said in his heart in 1 Samuel chapter 27 verses 1 and 2. And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines and Saul shall despair of me to seek me anymore in any coast of Israel. So shall I escape out of his hand. And David arose. He passed over with the 600 men that were with him Akish, the son of Moab, king of Gath. You know, every one of us as we go through life, we look and we realize the consequences of sin that happens to a man. I remember a story about a man by the name of Mark that struggled with an addiction and for years he hid his problem from his friends and family allowing guilt and shame to consume him. Eventually he confessed to a trusted friend who supported him in seeking help. Through this accountability, Mark begins his journey to recovery and redemption. David's acknowledgement of his sin through the prophet Nathan, that we're gonna see in a few minutes, teaches us the value of accountability. We all make mistakes. But, confessing and seeking help can lead to restoration and growth in our lives, and we can find the trustworthy individuals who can support us through our difficult times, reminding us that no one is perfect, but everyone deserves a second chance. And so, when we look at the peace amidst the trial, we see David's major temptation that's coming up. as I was talking about, because Paul said, There hath no temptation taken you, but such is common to man. But God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able, but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it. You know what? When we look not only at David's significant trial, but David's major temptation, we see after King Saul was killed in battle, Israel's hero began to reign as king over all Israel, and David was still a man after God's own heart. He desired more than anything else to serve and to honor God. His greatest ambition was not to be a king, but to be greatly used by God. But in 2 Samuel chapter 5 verses 3 and 4 the Bible says, So all the elders of Israel came to the king came to the king to Hebron, and King David made a league with them in Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel. And David was 30 years old when he began to reign, and he reigned 40 years. And the children of Israel still had many enemies to defeat, many battles to fight. David led the people as he followed God, and God gave victory after victory. And it was during this time when David faced a great temptation to do evil. In 2 Samuel chapter 11, verses one through five, the Bible says that it came to pass after the year was expired, at the time when the kings go forth to battle that David sent Moab and his servants with him and all Israel and they destroyed the children of Ammon and besieged Rabbath, but David tarried still at Jerusalem. I want to remind you that when we need to be on the battlefield, we don't need to be lingering behind somewhere else. We need to be in our place where God has called us to be. When we look at this, we see David's major temptation. David had a moral lapse. It was the set time every year that kings and nations would go to war, and yet David tarried still at Jerusalem in 2 Samuel chapter 11, verse 1. We, when we are out of the way of our duty, we're in the way of temptation. And so we see David's major lapse, but also David's forbidden desire. Amen. He had a glance, he had a longing, and he had an arrogance because here We see that, notice that David saw a woman washing herself. The sin came into David's life by way of the eye. He was tempted, as was Eve in Genesis, by what he saw. David, the heart of a king, the lesson of sin. When we look and realize that his glance was that of lust, amen. And so, we also see that we can get ourselves in trouble, amen. Not only was it his glance, but his longing and his arrogance, amen. In 2 Samuel chapter 11 verses 3 and 4, and David sinned and inquired after the woman. the words that he saw on the rooftop. And one said, is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Elam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? And David sent messengers and took her, and she came in unto him, and he lay with her, for she was purified from her uncleanness, and she returned unto her house. You know what? Christians often want to retreat from the spiritual battle, the war that ranges, forgetting that they will always find us. But it's better to be weary in the battle than to become apathetic, lazy, and caught off guard. Peter says, be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour. And so we see that it was his glance, his longing, and also his arrogance, amen. Because through pride and deceit, David attempted to hide his sin. Sending a message, David commanded that Uriah be placed in the front of the battle line where he was sure to be killed. And of course he tried to bring him home and see if he could cover it up that way, but that failed. And so in 2 Samuel 11 verses 15, 16, and 17 we read, and he wrote in the letter saying, set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle and retire ye from him that he may be smitten and die. And it came to pass when when Joab observed the city that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that Bajelut men were. And the men of the city went out, fought with Joab, and there fell some of the people of the servants of David, and Uriah the Hittite died also. You know, when David received the message that Uriah was indeed dead, he married Bathsheba. But the man who was once known as a man after God's own heart was now a man who grieved God's heart. Because when we look and we realize that each and every one of us, we see David's major temptation and we see David's consequences. the strain in fellowship with God and the alienation from his family because David suffered great personal losses because of this sin. The greatest loss was that of his fellowship with the Lord. David suffered severe consequences in his family life and the tragic events that came as a result of David's sin, the death of an infant, and also Ammon, David's son, rapes Tamar. Ammon killed by Absalom, and Absalom is killed by Joab. And then Amasa, David's nephew, was killed by Joab. All of this that began to take place all along our journeys of faith, we will have trials and temptations, both are inevitable. But to continue advancing on our journeys of faith, we must respond by fleeing temptation and trusting God during the times of those trials. And though we see David's significant trial, the cause of the trial, the reaction and his peace amidst that trial. David's major temptation, his moral lapse, his forbidden desire, and David's consequences. But lastly, we see David's victory. And in that victory, I'm glad that each and every one of us when we look and realize that all of us have an accountability that we've got to do. One promising athlete suffers a career-ending injury and he falls into depression. After some time, he finds purpose in coaching youth sports and using his experience to inspire and uplift young athletes. He realizes that his failure led him to a greater calling, mentoring the next generation. David's journey from failure to restoration exemplifies that our setbacks can become set ups for greater purposes. In today's society, it's important to recognize that our failures do not define us. Like David, we can choose to learn from our mistakes and find ways to contribute positively to our communities and to our families. Amen. And so, When we look and we realize that David's triumph, though David suffered immensely, because of the sin he was able to experience triumph once again. God gives record of this portion of David's journey in 2 Samuel chapter 12. And I'm glad we see a courageous confrontation. God sent the prophet Nathan to expose David's sin by recounting an illustration about two men. The first owned one little owie lamb and the other possessed many sheep. Nathan confronted King David with his sin. God's mercy was evident in David's life at this point. And because according to the law, David deserved to die. But I'm glad that when we look, Nathan proceeds to tell David that he's a man referred to in the story. In 2 Samuel chapter 12 verses 7, 8, 9, David said to David, Thou art the man, thus said the Lord God of Israel. I anointed thee king over Israel, I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul, and I gave thee thy master's house and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah, and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things. Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord to do evil in his sight? Thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with a sword, hast taken his wife to be thy wife, hast slain him with a sword of the children of Ammon. And so, when we look at David's victory, we see a courageous confrontation, but also a genuine confession. Because in 2 Samuel 12, verses 13 and 14, David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, the Lord also hath put away thy sin, thou shalt not die. In verse 14, how about, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme. The child also that is born unto thee shall surely die. Nathan exposed David's sin and he called for David's repentance. You know what? With a broken heart, David confessed, David repented, and David sought God's restoration. penning his thoughts in Psalms 51, for I acknowledge my transgression and my sin as ever before me. Against thee and thee only have I sinned and done this evil in thy sight, that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest and be clear when thou judgest. And so we see Not only through David's victory, a courageous confrontation, a genuine confession, but a restored kingdom. Because God preserved David's life and continued his kingdom. In 2 Samuel 22 verses 1-4, David spake unto the Lord the words of this song in the day that the Lord had delivered him out of the hand of all of his enemies and out of the hand of Saul. And he said, The Lord is my rock. and my fortress, and my deliverer. The God of my rock, in Him will I trust. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my high tower and my refuge, my Savior, and Thou savest me from violence. I will call on the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, so shall I be saved from mine enemies." You know what? Here, David, the heart of a king, the lessons of sin, we see David's significant trial, the cause of the trial, the reaction of it, the peace amidst that trial, David's major temptation, David's moral lapse, and David's forbidden desire, that his glance, his longing, and his arrogance of Bathsheba, that he did the wrong thing, taken the life of his servant Uriah the Hittite, and David's consequences, the strain in the fellowship with God, and the alienation from the family of God. But David's victory, a courageous confrontation that Nathan, the man of God, came and offered him the time of repentance. And I'm glad that there was a genuine confession and a restored kingdom because of all of this. I'm glad the words of David's journey design that we see, praise God. Each and every one of us as we go through this, We see David that was a man after God's own heart, praise God. But I'm glad that through this, through the journey of Zion, amen, when we look and we realize everything that David is doing, amen, through this lesson, amen, I'm glad that everything through that journey of Zion that we look at, We see what David learned to navigate the complexities of leadership. We may encounter conflict in our relationships, especially when we find ourselves in positions of influence, but David's journey reminds us to respond to jealousy and hostility with grace, seeking God's wisdom rather than retaliating, and trusting God during these times that strengthens our character and deepens our faith. David had a fall, but David learned, and I'm glad that through his repentance, And I'm glad through the journey of Zion, as Nathan's confrontation with David, David learned about the nature of God's grace despite his failures. God's mercy was extended to him, illustrating that no one is beyond redemption. As we navigate our journeys of faith, we must embrace the reality of our own imperfections. God's grace is available to all who seek it. And I'm glad David's journey design, it highlights the lows of faith and highs, illustrating that even those who are considered after God's own heart can face trials and mistakes and experience redemption because The journey reminds us that our relationship with God is not defined by our failures, but our willingness to seek him and turn back to him. Father, thank you for the insight. Thank you from the life of David and Jonathan, as well as from David's mistakes, that we're reminded of the importance of faithful friends and the impact of our choices. Help us to cultivate relationships that honor you, and hold us accountable to walk in righteousness. Lord, as we reflect on the consequences of sin and the beauty of repentance, we pray that you would help us to turn from our own failings and seek reconciliation with you and those that we have wronged. May we always be quick to acknowledge our need for your grace, just as David did. As we go forth from this place, Lord, as each and every one of us in the lessons and the journey of our life and the journey of faith, Let us carry this lesson with us of humility, accountability, and friendship in our hearts, as you empower us by your spirit to live a life that honors you, to extend grace and love to others, reflecting the heart of Christ in a world that desperately needs it so much today. In Jesus's marvelous, mighty name that we pray, amen. you