Kinlochleven Church - the next service is on Sunday, 28 July at 10.00 am led by the Rev. Malcolm Kinnear.

Duror Church - the next service is on Sunday 28 July at 10.30 am led by the Rev. Marion Kinnear.

Nether Lochaber Church - the next service is on Sunday 4 August at 11.30 am led by the Rev. Malcolm Kinnear.

St. Munda's Church - the next  service is on Sunday 4 August at 10.30 am in the Shinty Pavilion led by the Rev. Marion Kinnear.

South Lochaber Parish : Bible Study - Tuesday 30 July at 10.45 am in Jeremy's home led by Tony.

Kinlochleven : Bible Study -  Tuesday 23 July at 7.00 pm, led by Rev. Malcolm Kinnear.

Opening Verse 

Sunday 21 July 2024 South Lochaber Churches - available on YouTube at https://youtu.be/LwWBqaTscVs

Opening Verse  ‘Why art thou cast down, O my soul? Hope thou in God’ (Psalm 42:11)

Psalm 122

I joy’d when to the house of God,

Go up, they said to me.

Jerusalem, within thy gates

our feet shall standing be.

Pray that Jerusalem may have

peace and felicity:

Let them that love thee and thy peace

have still prosperity.

Prayer Almighty God, you alone are our strength and shield. Your love lasts for ever. We trust in you. Be gracious to us, for Jesus’ sake Amen.

Bible Reading 2 Samuel 7:4-12 The word of the Lord came to Nathan, “Tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in? I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling. Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of the rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’ “Tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler over my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone. I have cut off all your enemies from before you. I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth. I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning and have done since I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies. The Lord declares: I will establish a house for you: When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your own son to succeed you. I will establish his kingdom’.

Message When in 1843 the Church of Scotland divided, a great many in Argyllshire and Inverness-shire came out to form the Free Church. At Strontian, the local landowner would not allow them land to build a church. Other options were used. The people gathered on a hill and were summoned by someone shouting from a boat that went up the shore, ‘sermon at six o’clock!’ Many came. Rev Dr James Begg, a prominent churchman was visiting, and observed: ‘the Spirit of the living God seemed to accompany the Word with divine power’.

David had wanted to build a temple for the Lord, but it was not to be. That come later. God calls a people to himself, and to worship him, and the building is for that is secondary. In time God did provide a grand building under Solomon. The reason is given elsewhere in Scripture, that during David’s reign much blood had been spilt in conflict.

It can happen that a person becomes disqualified for a particular task or office because of something they have said or done. We have seen this in candidates in the election being disowned by their party. How we live has a bearing on our fitness for public service. In the Christian life we are forgiven but may remain disqualified for an office.

This passage also speaks about the reality of disappointment. It had been something David really longed to accomplish. Now he was being told, not you. But God is still good. Hebrews 11:40 speaks of ‘God having provided some better thing for us.’ When Solomon did oversee the construction of the Temple it was arguably better than it would have been under David, because of Solomon’s skill at building alliances with other nations. Often in life we have disappointments, and yet God has planned something else, even better, for us.

This speaks of the need for discernment. The prophet Nathan had previously encouraged David in his plans, but now was told by God to say something different. If we are to do God’s work more effectively, we need both wisdom and discernment. This means seeking God and his will and listening for what the Spirit says. We are told that we both should and can. Jesus says: ‘My sheep hear my voice’. And Paul writes, ‘Be not unwise but understand what the will of the Lord is’. 

Prayer O God, our guardian and guide, help us discern your plans and purpose, and make yourself known to us always, for Jesus’ sake, Amen.