Finding Faith Lesson 1 - Introduction (the What and the Who) @Unshaken

Updated September 2026, 3 days ago

Finding Faith Lesson 1 - Introduction (the What and the Who)

Come Follow Me - Exodus 7-13 - Let My People Go

Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement) and the Scapegoat Ritual (Two Goats: Which One is Jesus?)

The Heavens Declare the Glory of God: Psalms of Awe

$Feeling Betrayed? The Emotions of Psalms 52-64 Unshaken Daily Devotional #240 - Doubt and Disloyalty What hurts worse than an open attack from an enemy? A dagger in the back from a trusted friend. In Psalms 52–64, King David walks through the rawest trials of his life—betrayal by his closest advisor, hiding in caves from King Sauls assassins, and wandering thirsty in the barren wilderness of Judah. Discover how David processed his deepest emotional pain, why God keeps a record of every tear you shed, and how to climb to the Rock that is higher than I when your own heart is completely overwhelmed. Summary of the Lesson: In this deep-dive study of Psalms 52–64, Jared Halverson explores the raw emotional undercurrents behind Davids most harrowing historical trials: Psalms 52–54 (Doegs Betrayal & The Fools Atheism): We contrast Doeg the Edomite’s sharp, deceitful tongue with David’s identity as a flourishing green olive tree in Gods house. We examine why God balances evidence of His existence to preserve room for faith. Psalm 55 (The Agony of Treason): Exploring the heartbreak of betrayal by an equal—likely David’s counselor Ahithophel (and prophetically pointing to Judas Iscariot). We learn what it means to cast our burdens on the Lord and walk slander beneath our feet. Psalms 56 & 57 (Captured in Gath & Hiding in Caves): Moving from fear to faith (What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee), we uncover the tender reality that God counts our wanderings and bottles our tears, and discover how hiding in a cave became finding refuge under the shadow of His wings. Psalms 58–60 (Divine Justice & The Banner of Truth): Why vengeance must be left entirely in Gods merciful hands, and how the Lord raises a standard of truth that no unhallowed hand can stop. Psalms 61–64 (The Overwhelmed Heart & Wilderness Thirst): Climbing to the higher Rock when life causes anxiety and sorrow, guarding against the vanity of wealth, and thirsting for the living waters of the temple when wandering in dry and weary lands. Key Doctrinal Insights: The Unkindest Cut of Betrayal (Psalm 55:12–22): Betrayal by a friend with whom you once took sweet counsel cuts deeper than any enemys sword. We learn to lay down the desire for retaliation and let the Lord sustain our souls. God Bottles Our Tears (Psalm 56:8): God does not miss your private grief. He knows every wandering step, chronicles your pain in His book, and wept alongside you in Gethsemane so He could wipe away every tear. The Fixed Heart (Psalm 57:7): When surrounded by adversaries whose words are drawn swords, David declares his heart is fixed. We explore how faith both stabilizes our resolve and repairs our fractured hearts. The Rock of Heaven (Psalm 61:1–4): Connecting Psalm 61 to Moses 7:53. Christ is the Rock that is simultaneously beneath our feet to keep us from falling and towering above us as a refuge, shelter, and vantage point. Thirsting in the Wilderness (Psalm 63:1–5): How physical exhaustion in the Judean desert mirrors spiritual parchedness, and why returning to the sanctuary of the temple satisfies the soul as with marrow and fatness. The Words of the Psalmist: From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah. (Psalm 61:2–4) Call-to-Action: Have you ever experienced a trial where you felt completely overwhelmed, but turning to the Rock that is higher than I brought you peace? Which of these psalms speaks most directly to your current challenges? Share your thoughts and testimonies in the comments below! Like and Subscribe to Unshaken for more deep-dive scripture study! Tags: Psalm 52, Psalm 53, Psalm 54, Psalm 55, Psalm 56, Psalm 57, Psalm 58, Psalm 59, Psalm 60, Psalm 61, Psalm 62, Psalm 63, Psalm 64, Book of Psalms, The Lord Is My Shepherd, Lead Me to the Rock, When My Heart Is Overwhelmed, Tears in Thy Bottle, Cast Thy Burden Upon the Lord, Standard of Truth, David in the Cave, Betrayed by a Friend, Temple Sanctuary, Jared Halverson, Unshaken, LDS Scripture Study, Old Testament 2026, Faith in Anxiety, Come Follow Me$

Finding Mercy When You Feel Unworthy: Psalms 101-103

$3 Kings and 3 Temptations: Taking Aim at the Kings of Israel Unshaken Daily Devotional #174 - 3 Kings and 3 Temptations It is easy to celebrate when an enemy who has hunted you for decades finally falls. But when a battlefield scavenger brought King Saul’s crown to David, expecting a massive reward, David didnt throw a victory party—he rent his clothes, wept, and ordered the execution of the man who claimed to have slain the Lords anointed. In 2 Samuel 1–2, we witness the transition of power in Israel and discover the blueprint for mastering the three great temptations that conquer kings, but could never conquer the King of kings. Summary: In this episode, Jared Halverson initiates our journey through the Second Book of Samuel, contrasting the downfalls of Israels three united monarchs. We analyze Saul (who fell to pride), David (who would eventually fall to lust), and Solomon (who succumbed to worldliness)—comparing them directly to the three wilderness temptations conquered by Jesus Christ. We deep-dive into the legal and emotional aftermath of Sauls death on Mount Gilboa, debunking the Amalekites self-serving lie, and analyzing the poetic depths of David’s Song of the Bow. Finally, we trace the division of the kingdom between David at Hebron and Ish-bosheth at Mahanaim, breaking down the catastrophic civil clash at the pool of Gibeon and exploring the urgent gospel mandate to end contention before it brings bitterness in the latter end. Key doctrinal insights include: The Three Wilderness Vulnerabilities: An analysis of the three kings of United Israel. We explore how Saul’s pride, David’s lust, and Solomon’s materialism perfectly mirror the three avenues of temptation Satan used against Christ in the wilderness. We discuss why what took down the kings of Israel could not shake the King of kings. The Scaffold of a Scavengers Lie: We expose the fictional story told by the Amalekite runner in chapter 1. He portrayed Saul as a cornered coward to flatter David, failing to realize that David possessed a sensitive conscience that honored the position of the king regardless of the flaws of the person. Your own mouth will testify against you when you treat sacred callings with casual disrespect. The Song of the Bow: Understanding Davids beautiful lamentation. We explore how David deliberately filtered out all of Saul’s toxic years, choosing to elegize both Saul and Jonathan as lovely and pleasant. We look at Jonathan’s pioneering use of archery, asking if we are currently mastering modern spiritual weapons to win todays battles. Philia over Eros: We clarify the profound phrase thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women. We rescue this text from modern revisionist interpretations, demonstrating that the bond between David and Jonathan is the premier scriptural monument to pure, covenant-based brotherly friendship (philia) built entirely upon a shared love for Jehovah. The Field of Foes and Mutually Assured Destruction: An analysis of the 12-on-12 tragedy at the pool of Gibeon. We look at the grim image of brothers plunging blades into each others sides simultaneously, showing how entering into the devils gear of contention always results in collective ruin. Shall the Sword Devour Forever? Abner’s desperate call to Joab to halt the slaughter. We explore the powerful realization that often, the other side doesnt want to keep fighting either. True leadership requires the spiritual maturity to blow the trumpet, stand still, and give others a reason to be their best selves by acting as a peacemaker first. This lesson serves as a sober reminder that conflict inside the covenant family is a zero-sum game. Whether you are currently trying to heal a fractured relationship within your own family or trying to maintain your spiritual standards when the world around you is dividing into tribal camps, this video will give you the gospel anchors needed to move forward in peace. Call-to-Action: Abner asked Joab, Knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? Have you ever had a moment where a minor disagreement with a friend, family member, or ward member began to escalate, but someone had the spiritual courage to hit the brakes and make peace before it turned into a personal civil war? How did that act of early reconciliation change the outcome? Share your stories of peacemaking in the comments! Like and Subscribe to Unshaken for more deep-dive scripture study! Tags: 2 Samuel 1, 2 Samuel 2, King David, King Sauls Death, Jonathan, Song of the Bow, Abner and Joab, Pool of Gibeon, Field of Foes, Jared Halverson, Unshaken, LDS Scripture Study, Old Testament 2026, Contention is of the Devil, Peacemaking, Free Agency, Three Temptations of Christ, Come Follow Me$

Evolution of Iniquity: The Descent of King Ahaz

Rationalizing Away Our Repentance: Why We Sometimes Opt for Self-Destruction

The Riddle They Couldnt Answer: Psalms of Victory and Vindication