The Pain of Transition

1st Sunday of Advent

READ:  1 Kings 1-2 (The story of King David's death), Psalm 22

Psalm 22:1-2

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

Why are you so far from helping me,

from the words of my groaning?

O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer; 

and by night, but find no rest.

Psa. 22:14-15

I am poured out like water, 

and all my bones are out of joint; 

my heart is like wax; 

it is melted within my breast; 

my mouth is dried up like a potsherd, 

and my tongue sticks to my jaws; 

you lay me in the dust of death.

SERMON:  THE PAIN OF TRANSITION

Questions from Pastor Sizer

This week we completed our sermon series on the life of King David–seeing him in his greatness and in his weakness.  The transition between him and Solomon (his son) was painful.

1. If you could go back to a certain age, or era, what would you choose and why?
2. Does change come easily for you?
3. How high is your threshold for change?  Has it been higher and lower at different times or periods in your life?  Why?
4. Is there something about David's life that encourages you? Disillusions you?
5. Peterson writes, "Death brings out the worst in many people: we'll be treated as a problem to fixed, or as an opportunity to be seized, or as a responsibility to be carried out and put right. Like David. The David story doesn't trade in illusion and doesn't sentimentalize" (224). How does our culture deal with death and dying?  How important is it for the Christian to be a witness to the dignity of death?
6. During Advent we wait for the coming King, the Christ, Jesus. Has this time spent in David's story helped prepare you to live as a Christ follower with more anticipation, joy and integrity?