IBS is Coming to an End ~ Amanda
IBS (Institute of Biblical Studies) is quickly coming to an end. After hours of homework each night and pouring over 2 Samuel 9 for 3 and a half weeks I’m preparing to give my message to my class. In the two classes that I’m taking we’ve learned how to delve into the background information of a text. We’ve learned how to discover the historical context that permeates the text. We’ve learned how to relate the message in the text to all of history. And we’ve learned how to relate the text to our world today. Finally we’re preparing ourselves to be able to give a message with confidence, focusing on what the Lord would like to say to our audience rather than on our own performance. On Thursday I will give a message (to the other 5 students in my group and my coach) on 2 Samuel 9.
Out of all the things I’ve learned in these classes, the biggest impact has been on how I look at the scriptures. We’ve talked a lot about where any passage fits into redemptive history. Redemptive history is simply God’s story. Did the passage take place in the Garden of Eden before man sinned? Did it take place after the fall? Did it take place before Christ came back? Did it take place after Christ died for our sins? Also, we spent a significant time figuring out how the passage fit into this larger story of God.
2 Samuel 9 is a picture of what God has done for us through Jesus Christ. Not all passages can be studied as a picture like this but we are given reason to beleive that 2 Samuel 9 can. God promised David to establish his kingdom forever and the scholars agree that he was a picture of the king that was to come, namely Jesus. 2 Samuel 9 paints this awesome picture for us of the amount of kindness God show’s us.
David had every right to kill off every member of Saul’s family, including Mephibosheth. He also previously had said that he did not like crippled people. Yet he invites Mephibosheth to eat always at his table.
God detests our sin and has every right to kill us yet he invites us to have eternal communion with him. This is the awesome God that we get to serve each day.