In a sense, listening is easy – or hearing is easy. It doesn’t demand the initiative and energy required in speaking. But despite this ease, or perhaps precisely because of it, we often struggle against it. In our sin, we’d rather trust in ourselves than another, accumulate our own righteousness than receive another’s, speak our thoughts rather than listen to someone else.

In chapter 15 of The Story, we see that Israel has forgotten what it means to listen. They have become complacent, disobedient, and rebellious. They no longer show the love of God to the surrounding nations. But God is still speaking today. Will we listen, or will we ignore his message like the Israelites did?

In military aviation, it is said, “The accident occurred already; we’re just waiting for the plane to arrive at the crash site.” When there is an accident, it is an indicator that a fatal error has been made miles earlier. Back in Chapter 13, 1 Kings 11, we see the fatal error that caused the crash of the nation of Israel, but it’s not Jeroboam’s error. It’s Solomon’s. At one time or another all of us are impacted by someone else’s decisions or actions. When we suffer the negative consequences of another’s wrongheaded decision, God can redeem the situation. God can work, and often does what seems to us as his best work, in situations that seem the most difficult.

Much like the frog in the kettle analogy, Solomon – the wealthiest and wisest of kings – started swimming in lukewarm waters. As the waters heated up, Solomon ignored the signs until his life was ruined, and his kingdom eventually divided by civil war. This week in The Story, we learn from King Solomon the importance of keeping watch over our heart and the consequence of not living in godly community.

As Christians, we are called to point people to God by the way we live our lives, prioritise, make decisions, treat people, and speak to people. We are to live each day with the conviction that we are to be Jesus to the people around us. This also includes how we handle life when we sin. This week in The Story, we see how David’s response to the consequences of his sin reveals the character of God. We see that God maintains his role as holy and just. But we also see a gracious and loving God who restored his relationship with David.

Jesus once told a group of people that in order to judge correctly they needed to look beneath the surface. Our world judges on externals, by how we look on the outside. God does not make judgments on externals. God looks at the heart. God also wants his people to resist judging on externals. We see this truth in The Story as we come to the anointing of David as Israel’s king.

This week in The Story we read about people who distorted God’s message. Webster defines distortion as follows: “To twist something out of its original shape.” The Church should be a representative of God. As the Church we are the body of Christ. We represent Christ to others. If we are the only Bible some people will ever read, then we don’t want to distort the image of Jesus to others. This doesn’t mean being perfect, it means not pretending we are! Authenticity is the mark of a true representative of Christ. Phoniness in Christians keeps people from Christ.

A letter came that had a postcard in it with these words “You’re accepted.” Those were powerful words. I knew where I was going and could not have been more ecstatic. A few days later another letter arrived – with the cost of going to university. Being accepted and knowing where you are going comes at a high price. This Sunday, in The Story, we discover a woman who found that she was accepted, knew where she was going, and it cost a high price. It is the story of Ruth the Moabitess.

In chapter 8 of The Story we come to a 300-year period known as the period of the Judges. A book in the Bible is named Judges. In the Old Testament while these judges not only could throw you in jail, they are known mostly for getting God’s people out of jail. Seven hundred years after God’s promise to Abraham, the people of God are in their own land, God is present in the tabernacle, a law guides their lives and a sacrificial system exists for forgiveness of sins. The people were truly blessed by God. But there is a problem. Sin. Sin still reigns in the hearts of the people.