Salt & Light Blog

Life of David Part 17: The Curse of Sin Defeated with Forgiveness

9/3/2016

Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, Acts 3:19-20

Yesterday we read about David’s sin with Bathsheba, his repentance and his punishment. The Lord forgave David, completely but he still had to deal with the curse (the consequences) of his sin. Our sins do not go without consequences. God forgives and though we must deal with the curse of sin, God will still bless us. The curse cannot overcome or win over God’s blessings, ever.
After David and Bathsheba’s son died, God blessed them by giving them. Solomon 2 Samuel 12:24-25 describes the special love the Lord had for Solomon.
Then David comforted his wife, Bathsheba, and went in to her and lay with her, and she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon. And the Lord loved him 25 and sent a message by Nathan the prophet. So he called his name Jedidiah, because of the LORD.

Jedidiah means beloved of the LORD. He was a special blessing for David and Bathsheba after losing their first son. God continued to bless David as He gave him the royal city of Ammon called Rabbah, the Ammonite crown, and eventually all of Ammon. But David’s sin had resulted in a curse 2 Samuel 12:10-12 records that curse.
“Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’11 Thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. 12 For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.’”
Today we see some of that curse come to pass. 2 Samuel 13 records the tale of David’s son Amnon and his desire for his half-sister Tamar. Amnon’s cousin and close friend Jonadab came up with a plan and carried it out. Amnon pretended to be ill and asked David to send him Tamar to cook for him. She did as her father requested. When she made food for her brother, he refused to eat. He sent everyone out of the house and asked Tamar to feed him in his bedroom. But when she went in to do that, Amnon raped her. His lust became hatred and he sent his sister out of the house to live in shame. Verses 18-22 continue the account.
Now she was wearing a long robe with sleeves, for thus were the virgin daughters of the king dressed. So his servant put her out and bolted the door after her. 19 And Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the long robe that she wore. And she laid her hand on her head and went away, crying aloud as she went.
20 And her brother Absalom said to her, “Has Amnon your brother been with you? Now hold your peace, my sister. He is your brother; do not take this to heart.” So Tamar lived, a desolate woman, in her brother Absalom's house.21 When King David heard of all these things, he was very angry. 22 But Absalom spoke to Amnon neither good nor bad, for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had violated his sister Tamar.
Absalom was angry. He was furious with Amnon but since Amnon was the firstborn son, David would not punish him and so he was angry with his father as well. He repressed his fury as he plotted his revenge. Two years passed and Absalom saw his chance for vengeance. He was having the sheepshearers come and there would be a party to celebrate. He invited his family but David would not consent to having the entire family there. Absalom finally convinced David to let Amnon and the rest of his brothers and half-brothers attend.
When Amnon was drunk, Absalom commanded his servant kill his brother. The rest of his brothers saw it and fled for their lives. Absalom had not been able to kill his father but he had killed the man who raped and shamed his sister.
But the news that reached David was much different. He heard that every one of his sons had been killed. He was in agony, but his nephew Jonadab told him that only Amnon was dead and that Absalom had repaid him for Tamar’s rape. Verses 34-39 resume the story.
But Absalom fled. And the young man who kept the watch lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, many people were coming from the road behind him by the side of the mountain. 35 And Jonadab said to the king, “Behold, the king's sons have come; as your servant said, so it has come about.” 36 And as soon as he had finished speaking, behold, the king's sons came and lifted up their voice and wept. And the king also and all his servants wept very bitterly.
37 But Absalom fled and went to Talmai the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son day after day. 38 So Absalom fled and went to Geshur, and was there three years. 39 And the spirit of the king longed to go out to Absalom, because he was comforted about Amnon, since he was dead.

David had lost Amnon and now he had lost Absalom. He longed to reunite with Absalom and tell him he was forgiven, but how could he? Absalom would be killed if he came back to Jerusalem. Joab saw David’s grief-stricken heart and wanted to help him. 2 Samuel 14 picks up the account. Joab got the help of a wise woman and told her to dress and behave like a mourning woman and told her what to say to the king. She told him a story about her two sons, one who killed the other exiled and threatened with death. Verses 11-17 reads,
Then she said, “Please let the king invoke the Lord your God, that the avenger of blood kill no more, and my son be not destroyed.” He said, “As the Lordlives, not one hair of your son shall fall to the ground.”
12 Then the woman said, “Please let your servant speak a word to my lord the king.” He said, “Speak.” 13 And the woman said, “Why then have you planned such a thing against the people of God? For in giving this decision the king convicts himself, inasmuch as the king does not bring his banished one home again. 14 We must all die; we are like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. But God will not take away life, and he devises means so that the banished one will not remain an outcast. 15 Now I have come to say this to my lord the king because the people have made me afraid, and your servant thought, ‘I will speak to the king; it may be that the king will perform the request of his servant. 16 For the king will hear and deliver his servant from the hand of the man who would destroy me and my son together from the heritage of God.’ 17 And your servant thought, ‘The word of my lord the king will set me at rest,’ for my lord the king is like the angel of God to discern good and evil. The Lord your God be with you!”
She began by reminding David of his power in God. David had the position and right to carry out God’s will and to make judgements and decisions in God’s name. David was moved by her story. He was also a very smart man and recognized Joab in her words and understood he could bring Absalom home again. As God had forgiven David, he could forgive his son as well.
David had to live the curse of his sin but he could overcome it through the LORD. God forgives. And David forgave as well. We have no right to withhold forgiveness from anyone considering all we were forgiven for. In Matthew 6:14-15 Jesus said it this way,
For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Forgiveness overcomes the curse of sins. Jesus’ blood overcomes all sin and His Resurrection overcame death. We pursue God’s heart, we put on the new self which is the image of Christ and we will experience conquering the curse of our sins with the blessing of salvation in Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:55-58 reads,
When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
55 “O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
So David forgave Absalom and allowed him to come back to Jerusalem, though he was not allowed in the king’s presence. He still owed a debt of blood for Amnon. He himself had never asked for forgiveness or shown remorse for the murder of his brother. But he wanted to be in the household of the king again.
He didn’t want it because he longed to be with his father, he wanted it because he assumed he would been next in line to be king. He was vain and self-obsessed and wanted to live like a prince again. We will continue this thrilling chronicle tomorrow.
Today, remember that sin has consequences; the curse of sin is real. But Jesus overcame sin and death. His forgiveness is our blessing. Sin separated us from God, but forgiveness opens the way for us to be reconciled to Him. Repent, believe, and confess and we become the sons and daughters of the King of kings through the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38 reads,
And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

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Life of David Part 16: A Repentant Heart

9/2/2016

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And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6 On photo of Evening Sky by Lani Campbell

None of us is perfect nor can anyone of us say we do not sin. If that isn’t true for you, stop reading right now, this devotional isn’t for you. This devotional is for those of us who have stumbled, fallen short, or even turned away from the Lord.
David, though he was a man after God’s own heart, who did all of God’s will, also sinned. Sin can really throw us for a loop, especially the “big” ones. Those sins that affect other people, those sins that affect our entire lives, and those sins that could label us as just as evil as the rest of the world can stop our forward progression with Christ if we let them. It depends on our response to our sins. We’ll begin today reading in 2 Samuel 11. Verses 1-4 read,
In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.
2 It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking on the roof of the king's house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful. 3 And David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, “Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” 4 So David sent messengers and took her, and she came to him, and he lay with her. (Now she had been purifying herself from her uncleanness.)

David, for whatever reason was denying part of who he was in God. Instead of leading his army in battle as was the norm for the spring, David was in Jerusalem. He was walking on his roof and there she was, this beautiful woman bathing and purifying herself. David was tempted. He could have gone inside and laid with one of his wives. He could have gone inside and written to Joab to find out how the battle was going. He could have embraced who he was as a mighty warrior and joined Joab in the battle. He had many doors out of the sin he was about to commit but he didn’t take the way out. He ordered her to come to him and she did.
Whenever we are tempted as David was, there is a way out. God will not let us be tempted beyond what we are able to withstand. He will always provide a way out of the situation so we won’t have to sin. 1 Corinthians 10:11-14 says,
Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. 12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

We don’t have to sin; we can avoid it. But we all do anyway. We close our eyes to who we are in Christ. We close our eyes to the ways out. We give in to our flesh and satiate those desires, and we sin. But sin has consequences. Bathsheba, the woman David took found out she was pregnant. She sent a message to the king and now he was stuck. Her husband Uriah was at war and that meant he couldn’t be the father. He would find out what Bathsheba had done and might disgrace her and divorce her or even kill her. David panicked. He didn’t pray about it and ask God what to do. He came up with a plan. He called Uriah to him. Verses 8-13 record what happened.
Then David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” And Uriah went out of the king's house, and there followed him a present from the king. 9 But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord, and did not go down to his house. 10 When they told David, “Uriah did not go down to his house,” David said to Uriah, “Have you not come from a journey? Why did you not go down to your house?” 11 Uriah said to David, “The ark and Israel and Judah dwell in booths, and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are camping in the open field. Shall I then go to my house, to eat and to drink and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing.” 12 Then David said to Uriah, “Remain here today also, and tomorrow I will send you back.” So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day and the next. 13 And David invited him, and he ate in his presence and drank, so that he made him drunk. And in the evening he went out to lie on his couch with the servants of his lord, but he did not go down to his house.

David was desperate to have Uriah sleep with his wife so that he would assume the baby was his. But Uriah wouldn’t give himself that pleasure when the rest of the army couldn’t enjoy their homes and wives. Even drunk, Uriah did not go see Bathsheba. So David had to come up with something else to save Bathsheba and to keep his secret safe. He wrote a letter to Joab to put Uriah with the stronger more valiant men in the frontlines. Uriah was not the same caliber fighter as the men on the frontlines. His experience was further back. And so being less of a warrior, he was killed in battle.
Joab, perhaps didn’t know why David wanted Uriah dead but it was clear to him that he did. He, himself had murdered someone and when he sent his message to David letting him know how the battle went and that men had died with a postscript “and by the way Uriah died too” he let David know that his murderous plan had succeeded. Verses 26-27 read,
When the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she lamented over her husband. 27 And when the mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord.

David and Bathsheba’s reputations were safe. 2 Samuel 12 continues the harrowing tale. David had sinned and that sin had snowballed into more sin. David had lied, brought people into his lies, murdered a man, and spread the blood guilt to another person as well. David had stopped pursuing God’s heart. But God had not stopped pursuing David’s heart. God does not give up on us. He knows who we are truly meant to be, because He made us. He loves us deeply and so He will discipline us and bring us back to Himself. Proverbs 3:11-14 reads,
My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline
    or be weary of his reproof,
12 for the Lord reproves him whom he loves,
    as a father the son in whom he delights.
13 Blessed is the one who finds wisdom,
    and the one who gets understanding,
14 for the gain from her is better than gain from silver
    and her profit better than gold.
The Lord loves us and He disciplines those whom He loves. He disciplines because He wants our faith perfected, He wants us to be the image of Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:3). He wants us to know the joy of that profound unity with Him (Romans 6:5). Hebrews 12:10-11 says,
For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

So while David lived satisfying his flesh, God did not give up on Him. Verses 1-12 in The Message read,
1-3 and sent Nathan to David. Nathan said to him, “There were two men in the same city—one rich, the other poor. The rich man had huge flocks of sheep, herds of cattle. The poor man had nothing but one little female lamb, which he had bought and raised. It grew up with him and his children as a member of the family. It ate off his plate and drank from his cup and slept on his bed. It was like a daughter to him.
4 “One day a traveler dropped in on the rich man. He was too stingy to take an animal from his own herds or flocks to make a meal for his visitor, so he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared a meal to set before his guest.”
5-6 David exploded in anger. “As surely as God lives,” he said to Nathan, “the man who did this ought to be lynched! He must repay for the lamb four times over for his crime and his stinginess!”
7-12 “You’re the man!” said Nathan. “And here’s what God, the God of Israel, has to say to you: I made you king over Israel. I freed you from the fist of Saul. I gave you your master’s daughter and other wives to have and to hold. I gave you both Israel and Judah. And if that hadn’t been enough, I’d have gladly thrown in much more. So why have you treated the word of God with brazen contempt, doing this great evil? You murdered Uriah the Hittite, then took his wife as your wife. Worse, you killed him with an Ammonite sword! And now, because you treated God with such contempt and took Uriah the Hittite’s wife as your wife, killing and murder will continually plague your family. This is God speaking, remember! I’ll make trouble for you out of your own family. I’ll take your wives from right out in front of you. I’ll give them to some neighbor, and he’ll go to bed with them openly. You did your deed in secret; I’m doing mine with the whole country watching!”

David had been so wrapped up in his own desires that he had not even seen his sins. But when God showed it to him, he humbled himself and was convicted! And He immediately confessed and repented of his sins. Verses 13-15a read,
David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die.14 Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child who is born to you shall die.” 15 Then Nathan went to his house.

God forgave David, but He knew full well that His punishment had to stand. David and Bathsheba’s child would die. It is a horrible and severe penalty but God knew best. Verses 15b-20 continue the narrative.
And the Lord afflicted the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and he became sick. 16 David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. 17 And the elders of his house stood beside him, to raise him from the ground, but he would not, nor did he eat food with them. 18 On the seventh day the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, “Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he did not listen to us. How then can we say to him the child is dead? He may do himself some harm.” 19 But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David understood that the child was dead. And David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” They said, “He is dead.” 20 Then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes. And he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. He then went to his own house. And when he asked, they set food before him, and he ate.

David knew why the child was sick and he knew that the child’s death would be his penance. Yet he prayed hard that the Lord would let his beloved son live. But God did not change his mind. David’s servants couldn’t understand why David had lamented and fasted while the baby was alive and stopped at the baby’s death. So David explained in verses 22-23,
“While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ 23 But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.”

When David stopped pursuing God and began chasing his own desires, God remained faithful, He did what David needed Him to do and brought Him back. 1 Corinthians 1:4-9 reads,
I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— 6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
God loves you! He wants you to be blameless on the Day of Jesus Christ. He wants you to live up to the purpose He has for you. When we are faithless, He is faithful ( 2 Timothy 2:13). When we are weak, He is strong (2 Corinthians 12:9). He disciplines but never without a purpose. That purpose is your perfection and His glory. Being a man after God’s own heart meant that when David realized his sin, he was convicted. He didn’t wallow in guilt and shame. He confessed and repented and turned back to God. Being a person after God’s own heart means we too will confess and repent. Rather than flounder about in condemnation, we’ll turn back to the Lord and keep walking, keep letting Him perfect us, and keep glorifying Him.

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Life of David Part 15: Merciful King

8/31/2016

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Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:36

David was a man who kept his word. If he pledged his loyalty, if he made a vow, whatever it was, he kept his word. David had made a vow to Saul though certainly Saul had done nothing to deserve his kindness, David showed him mercy. 1 Samuel 24:21-22 reads,
Swear to me therefore by the Lord that you will not cut off my offspring after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father's house.” 22 And David swore this to Saul. Then Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
There was also a covenant between Jonathan and David. 1 Samuel 20:42a reads,
Then Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, because we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘The Lord shall be between me and you, and between my offspring and your offspring, forever.’”

In 2 Samuel 9 David remembered his pledges and made sure he was being faithful to the Lord in keeping them. Verses 1-8 read,
And David said, “Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?” 2 Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David. And the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” And he said, “I am your servant.” 3 And the king said, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God to him?” Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in his feet.” 4 The king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “He is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar.” 5 Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar. 6 And Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and paid homage. And David said, “Mephibosheth!” And he answered, “Behold, I am your servant.” 7 And David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always.” 8 And he paid homage and said, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog such as I?”
Can you imagine the trepidation that filled Mephibosheth as he was called to stand before the king? His mind must have swirled with what his grandfather had done to David. He couldn’t know if David intended to kill him for Saul’s evil. The king had a right to do so. But David was a man after God’s own heart and he was merciful. He had made vows and he stood faithfully by his word. He made Mephibosheth a member of his household, as if he were one of his own sons. David gave Jonathan’s son all of Saul’s lands and ensured that Ziba and his servants would care for the land and increase Mephibosheth’s wealth even though he would always eat at the king’s table.
David echoed God’s heart in his treatment of Mephibosheth. We did nothing to deserve God’s mercy. We submitted to Him and He brought us into his household, made us coheirs with Christ, and let us eat at His table (His altar) as His sons and daughters (Ephesians 2:19, Romans 8:17, 1 Corinthians 10:16-17). God ensures our provision. He made many promises to us and He keeps every one. Being a person after God’s own heart means we will be merciful as God is merciful.
But not everyone is willing to accept our faithfulness or mercy. Some people will view us or view God in light of their own evil desires and they will assume you are like them. They cannot be merciful, so they will not comprehend or receive our mercy. 2 Samuel 10 tells such a story about David and King Hanun of Ammon. Verses 1-2 read,
After this the king of the Ammonites died, and Hanun his son reigned in his place. 2 And David said, “I will deal loyally with Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father dealt loyally with me.” So David sent by his servants to console him concerning his father. And David's servants came into the land of the Ammonites.

David had not made any pledge to Nahash regarding his children. David had a great reputation as a mighty warrior. Israel had become great under his reign and some people assumed things about David which were not true. They made those assumptions based on their unrighteousness not God’s righteousness. Verses 3-5 continue the story.
But the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun their lord, “Do you think, because David has sent comforters to you, that he is honoring your father? Has not David sent his servants to you to search the city and to spy it out and to overthrow it?” 4 So Hanun took David's servants and shaved off half the beard of each and cut off their garments in the middle, at their hips, and sent them away. 5 When it was told David, he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, “Remain at Jericho until your beards have grown and then return.”

David had offered his condolences and gave Hanun the chance to continue the peace between them. Hanun had repaid David’s mercy by shaming the men sent to him. David gave the men great mercy and did not let their shame follow them home. Until their beards grew back they would stay in Jericho. Moreover, David still did not repay Ammon for the evil. But Ammon made more assumptions and gathered an army against Isreal. They hired Syria to help them and together created a force to fight David’s army. David then showed Ammon the treatment they requested from him.
When David heard about the preparations for war, he sent Joab and his army to fight them. Joab and his brother Abishai led the army to fight Syria and Ammon. Do you remember Joab and Abishai? They had murdered Abner against David’s wishes. They had deserved death, but David gave them mercy and cursed Joab but still let the men be chiefs of his army (2 Samuel 3). David’s mercy had resulted in increased faith and loyalty. In verse 12 Joab said, “Be of good courage, and let us be courageous for our people, and for the cities of our God, and may the Lord do what seems good to him.”
Ammon and Syria ran from the battle but Syria regrouped to fight again. So David led the army this time. Verses 15-19 read,
But when the Syrians saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they gathered themselves together. 16 And Hadadezer sent and brought out the Syrians who were beyond the Euphrates.[b] They came to Helam, with Shobach the commander of the army of Hadadezer at their head. 17 And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together and crossed the Jordan and came to Helam. The Syrians arrayed themselves against David and fought with him.18 And the Syrians fled before Israel, and David killed of the Syrians the men of 700 chariots, and 40,000 horsemen, and wounded Shobach the commander of their army, so that he died there. 19 And when all the kings who were servants of Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and became subject to them. So the Syrians were afraid to save the Ammonites anymore.

Hanun could have chosen to believe David and accept his merciful kindness. Instead he chose to believe his men who assumed that David sent spies and chose the wrath of God over His mercy.
We are sometimes the only interaction anyone will have with God. We have His Holy Spirit and should manifest His fruit. This is how people will see who Jesus really is. We are His love manifested to people. We should be loving, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled (Galatians 5:22-23). We should be demonstrating God’s love to the world. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 a tells us what love looks like.
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends

God is never-endingly merciful. David was merciful. We are called to be merciful too so the world can come to know Jesus. In Luke 6:32-36 Jesus said,
“If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

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Life of David Part 14: Warrior King

8/30/2016

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Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears; let the weak say, “I am a warrior.” Joel 3:10

Yesterday we read that one reason David was disqualified from building the Temple of God was because he was a man of war. This would infer that God saw a problem with David as a man of war. But this was not the case. It was just not a trait the LORD wanted associated with His house which would foreshadow Heaven for us. New Jerusalem will be a place where no more death and war occur. Isaiah 2:4 reads,
He shall judge between the nations,
    and shall decide disputes for many peoples;
and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
    and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
    neither shall they learn war anymore.
But before New Jerusalem is established there must be war. We are fighting it now. Joel 3:9-10 reads,
Proclaim this among the nations:
Consecrate for war;
    stir up the mighty men.
Let all the men of war draw near;
    let them come up.
10 Beat your plowshares into swords,
    and your pruning hooks into spears;
    let the weak say, “I am a warrior.”
David was a man after God’s own heart and he was a warrior king. It was necessary for him to lead the army and fight and defeat Israel’s enemies. 2 Samuel 8 records his military might. Verses 1-8 read,
After this David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and David took Metheg-ammah out of the hand of the Philistines.
2 And he defeated Moab and he measured them with a line, making them lie down on the ground. Two lines he measured to be put to death, and one full line to be spared. And the Moabites became servants to David and brought tribute.
3 David also defeated Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to restore his power at the river Euphrates. 4 And David took from him 1,700 horsemen, and 20,000 foot soldiers. And David hamstrung all the chariot horses but left enough for 100 chariots. 5 And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck down 22,000 men of the Syrians.6 Then David put garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Syrians became servants to David and brought tribute. And the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went. 7 And David took the shields of gold that were carried by the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. 8 And from Betah and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took very much bronze.
God used David, his warrior king to conquer the surrounding nations, to build Israel’s wealth, to build David’s reputation and spread His glory to the nations. David was as Jesus is a warrior king. God’s name LORD of Hosts means He leads the angel armies. The angel armies are not meek, weak, or gentle. They are fierce, they are the instruments of God’s wrath, and the bringers of God’s justice. Revelation 19:11-16 describes Jesus as the LORD God of Hosts, the Warrior King.
Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

We will have eternal peace one day, but now we are in a war and we are expected to do our part. Paul describes it in Ephesians 6:10-20
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
This war is not a normal war where earthly armor would do. Like earthly armor impeded David in order to fight Goliath (1 Samuel 17:38-40) we do not use earthly methods to fight the war. It is spiritual armor, truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and the word of God. It is fought with prayer and it is fought with speaking and doing God’s word. We are doers of the word and not hearers only (James 1:22). We aren’t fighting people; we are fighting demonic forces under the lead of Satan. The lost are blindly ignorant prisoners of war to whom we can bring the freedom of Christ. Believer, we have nothing to fear in fighting him. He prowls around, seeks to devour, steal, kill, and destroy (1 Peter 5:8, John 10:10) but he is a coward, easily defeated now, and eternally defeated in the future. We don’t glorify the enemy. We don’t battle him with our words or our power. We battle him with the tools described in the armor of God. We don’t even have to battle, we pray, we have faith, we take thoughts captive (2 Corinthians 10:5), we remember the truth and throw out the lies of the accuser. We resist him, not fight him. He is a coward and he doesn’t stick around for losing battles. James 4:6-8 describes the best way to deal with that gutless enemy.
But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Be humble, submit yourself to God, resist the devil, draw near to God and cleanse your hands of sin. Resist is defined as to “remain strong against the force or effect of: to not be affected or harmed by.” If we engage the enemy, he remains engaged. If we resist, he flees.
Jesus is the Warrior King. He already won the war when He resurrected after laying down His life for us (Revelation 1:18). Soon, Satan will face defeat and eternal torment (Revelation 20:10).
David the warrior king gained great glory for God and built the fame and reputation of Israel as a people to be feared. Some kings, rather than fight David and his army, chose to submit to him before he could combat them. They recognized his enemies were theirs as well and joined him. Verses 9-14 read,
When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the whole army of Hadadezer, 10 Toi sent his son Joram to King David, to ask about his health and to bless him because he had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him, for Hadadezer had often been at war with Toi. And Joram brought with him articles of silver, of gold, and of bronze. 11 These also King David dedicated to the Lord, together with the silver and gold that he dedicated from all the nations he subdued, 12 from Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, Amalek, and from the spoil of Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
13 And David made a name for himself when he returned from striking down 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. 14 Then he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom he put garrisons, and all the Edomites became David's servants. And the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went.

When we are wearing God’s armor and fighting as God has told us to do, we too will glorify the LORD and people will join His side. When we signed on, we were given a commission. Our commission does not say fight people, hate those who hate you, or argue with non-believers until they believe. Jesus told us,
All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:18-20).
Jesus gave us a commandment and told us that by this commandment people would know we were His followers. John 13:34-35 reads,
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

We have our commission and we have our commandment. We cannot carry these out alone. Jesus didn’t. He had had his disciples. David didn’t. He was surrounded by support. Verses 15-18 read,
So David reigned over all Israel. And David administered justice and equity to all his people. 16 Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army, and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder, 17 and Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were priests, and Seraiah was secretary, 18 and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and David's sons were priests.[1]

Jesus was not alone. David was not alone. How can we think we can fight the good fight alone? Being together, gathering together in our King’s name is powerful. I can show you verse after verse in God’s Word which shows He expects us to live and walk as a community. In Matthew 18:18-20 Jesus described just how powerful even a few of us together can be.
Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.  For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.

Believer, do you want to be a person after God’s own heart? Then you must take part in the resistance! You are a warrior. You were made to overcome the bondage of evil. You are victorious. Perhaps you should live that way. Put on the whole armor of God.

[1] David’s son were priests more properly translates to David’s sons were chief officials. They carried out not Godly priestly duties, but ministry and duties to David and officiated as princes and officials in David’s name. See 1 Chronicles 18:17 “… and David's sons were the chief officials in the service of the king.”

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Life of David Part 13: Choosing God’s Heart

8/29/2016

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And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6

There are times when it seems that what we want must be God’s will. Perhaps we want a huge ministry to encourage missionaries, or we want to make a place for single mothers to rest, or build a church. These are all God-glorifying endeavors but sometimes we are not the people best-suited for the job. Sometimes God has someone else in mind for that ministry and something different for us.
David had brought the Ark of the Covenant back to Israel and he realized he lived in an amazing cedar home but the Ark stayed in a tent, the Tabernacle. He wanted to build a cedar house for the Ark. Let’s read about it in 2 Samuel 7. Verses 1-3 read,
Now when the king lived in his house and the Lord had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies, 2 the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent.” 3 And Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you.”
David was excited for his idea. He checked with Nathan the prophet and Nathan was excited for the project and assumed God’s approval. Why wouldn’t God approve of being glorified with a home constructed of the finest Cedar? How often have we said to ourselves “God is with me, I should do whatever is in my heart?” Our plans are not always God’s plans, even when they appear to be what He would want. Verses 4-7 read,
But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, 5 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: Would you build me a house to dwell in? 6 I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling. 7 In all places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’

First, though David had the idea and not a command, and Nathan presumed God’s approval rather than inquire, The Lord was gentle with them both. He spoke to Nathan in a dream and gave him the message for David. He could have given David the message directly since David was also a prophet (Acts 3:20). But he included Nathan in the honor of receiving His Word and discipline.
God told David and Nathan He had never had a ‘house’ before and He had done His great works, miracles, and care for His people without having one. He had never asked for one. Sometimes we think we are doing something great for God. But what can we do for God, really? God doesn’t need us to do a thing for Him. It is His people He wants us to do and care for. What could we imagine God needs from us? Stephen said it this way in Acts 7:48-50,
Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says,
49 “‘Heaven is my throne,
    and the earth is my footstool.
What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord,
    or what is the place of my rest?
50 Did not my hand make all these things?’
We do not find God by doing what we assume He needs. He doesn’t need anything. We find God by seeking what He wants and wills. We repent. We abide in Him, spend time with Him, read His Word, listen to Him, and share our heart with Him as He shares His heart with us. We draw close to Him and He will draw close to us (James 4:8). Paul said it this way in Acts 17:24-28,
The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man,25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. 26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, 27 that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, 28 for
“‘In him we live and move and have our being’;
as even some of your own poets have said,
“‘For we are indeed his offspring.’

God had chosen David for an important job. He had chosen someone else to build His Temple. If David had built it, it would not have been as God commanded. It would have taken Solomon’s job away from Him. David was not right for the job of building the Temple. Other than already having a great job for God, he was disqualified from building the Temple because he was a warrior as God had made him. God wanted no human blood or war on the Temple. He wanted the Temple to be built by His provision not men’s efforts. He wanted a house of peace and prayer. In 1 Chronicles 28:2-5 David said,
“Hear me, my brothers and my people. I had it in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord and for the footstool of our God, and I made preparations for building. 3 But God said to me, ‘You may not build a house for my name, for you are a man of war and have shed blood.’ 4 Yet the Lord God of Israel chose me from all my father's house to be king over Israel forever. For he chose Judah as leader, and in the house of Judah my father's house, and among my father's sons he took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel.
David, the warrior king, the shepherd king, and the man after God’s own heart had been chosen to establish Israel’s throne to seed the Messiah who would be the Eternal King and Lion of Judah. Verses 8-11a read,
Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel. 9 And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. 10 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, 11 from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel.

God had great plans for David and he was fulfilling them. He had great plans for the Davidic line as well; The Messiah would come out of this line. The Lord spoke and gave David a beautiful promise about the Messiah Jesus and also about David’s son Solomon Verses 11b-14a read,
And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. 12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son.

The Lord doesn’t need anything from you or me! He gives us rest. He builds us a house. Jesus said, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.  In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” (John 14:1-4).
Jesus gave us His Holy Spirit and established His house in us to dwell in us. We are the Temple of God (1 Corinthians 3:16). In doing so, He cares for us and He sanctifies us. That requires love and discipline. God becomes our Father and we His sons and daughters. Verses 14-17 read,
I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, 15 but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’” 17 In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.

David wanted to build the Temple. But that wasn’t the plans God had for him. David was disappointed but God had encouraged the king by reminding him of his great purpose and by telling him the Temple would be built by his son. God had encouraged David by showing him a glimpse of Jesus. He encouraged the king by telling him it would be He who made a house for David and not David who made a house for God.
Why would God allow one person to do what you desire to do, but not you? David’s prayer of praise to God answers that for us. Verses 18-21 read,
Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and said, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? 19 And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord God. You have spoken also of your servant's house for a great while to come, and this is instruction for mankind, O Lord God! 20 And what more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord God! 21 Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness, to make your servant know it.

The Lord showed David His greatness. He showed Israel His greatness and He showed the world His greatness. God will be glorified through His promises, through His will and through our obedience to Him. Maybe you want to begin that ministry, but maybe God wants Susie B to have that ministry because He knows the future and how it will flourish and be done as He wants in her hands. He has something different for you that will thrive in your hands and glorify Him all the more. God is bigger and better than we can imagine! He knows more and He knows better. He will let you become who you are meant to be (the image of Christ) and He will have you fulfill your purposes if you submit to His will, not yours. Verses 22-29 read,
Therefore you are great, O Lord God. For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 23 And who is like your people Israel, the one nation on earth whom God went to redeem to be his people, making himself a name and doing for them great and awesome things by driving out before your people, whom you redeemed for yourself from Egypt, a nation and its gods? 24 And you established for yourself your people Israel to be your people forever. And you, O Lord, became their God. 25 And now, O Lord God, confirm forever the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house, and do as you have spoken. 26 And your name will be magnified forever, saying, ‘The Lord of hosts is God over Israel,’ and the house of your servant David will be established before you. 27 For you, O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, have made this revelation to your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you. 28 And now, O Lord God, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. 29 Now therefore may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. For you, O Lord God, have spoken, and with your blessing shall the house of your servant be blessed forever.”

Believer, God has made you promises. God has made a new covenant with you. Trust Him to keep His word and complete His work in you. Be about your Father’s business, and let Him make His business yours.

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Life of David Part 12: A Heart of Worship

8/28/2016

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God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth John 4:24

David was a man after God’s own heart and did all His will. Part of God’s will is that we can worship Him freely and experience His presence in our lives. Deuteronomy 6:4-6 tells us,
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.
To love God with our entire being means to worship Him, the word love here, aheb אָהַב means to demonstrate love, to dearly love, and be a friend and lover. Loving God like that is a description of true worship.
The ark had been out of its rightful place for some time. 1 Samuel 7:1-4 reads,
And the men of Kiriath-jearim came and took up the ark of the Lord and brought it to the house of Abinadab on the hill. And they consecrated his son Eleazar to have charge of the ark of the Lord. 2 From the day that the ark was lodged at Kiriath-jearim, a long time passed, some twenty years, and all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord.
3 And Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the Lordwith all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your heart to the Lord and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.” 4 So the people of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and they served the Lord only.

David knew God wanted the Ark of the Covenant returned to a place where people could worship in God’s presence. He had a heart of worship. The Ark had been largely ignored during Saul’s reign and David brought it and the remembrance of The LORD back to Israel. The Ark represented God’s presence. Today, we have the Holy Spirit, but then to worship as God commanded required the Tabernacle be just as God had prescribed. Bringing the Ark home was God’s will and this is what David did. We continue our reading today in 2 Samuel 6. Verses 1-5 read,
David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. 2 And David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baale-judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the Lord of hosts who sits enthroned on the cherubim. 3 And they carried the ark of God on a new cart and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. And Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were driving the new cart, 4 with the ark of God, and Ahio went before the ark. 5 And David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the Lord, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals

David had a heart of worship and he wrote Psalm 68 as a song of worship. It may have been the Psalm he wrote to sing as they carried the Ark to the Tabernacle. Psalm 68:24-27 reads,
Your procession is seen, O God,
    the procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary--
25 the singers in front, the musicians last,
    between them virgins playing tambourines:
26 “Bless God in the great congregation,
    the Lord, O you who are of Israel's fountain!”
27 There is Benjamin, the least of them, in the lead,
    the princes of Judah in their throng,
    the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.

Can you just picture the dancing and singing and worship of the people as the Ark of the LORD was brought back to them? But not everyone had their mind staid on the Lord, some had their minds on protecting an object. Some did not trust the Lord to be God and keep His Ark safe. Some were worried that the procession looked upright. Verses 6-7 read,
And when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled.7 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and God struck him down there because of his error, and he died there beside the ark of God.
Had Uzzah been worshipping with the rest of Israel, he would not have been worried about oxen stumbling or the Ark falling. He would have been trusting God and remembering His statues. No one was allowed to touch the Ark and only Levites could carry it with poles on their shoulders (Exodus 25:14). When David saw what had happened, his humanity overtook him for a time and he became terrified and angry. He decided the Ark might be too dangerous to continue the journey to the Tabneracle. Verses 8-11 read,
And David was angry because the Lord had broken out against Uzzah. And that place is called Perez-uzzah to this day. 9 And David was afraid of the Lord that day, and he said, “How can the ark of the Lord come to me?”10 So David was not willing to take the ark of the Lord into the city of David. But David took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. 11 And the ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months, and the Lord blessed Obed-edom and all his household.

The Lord was gentle and patient with David. Rather than pour His wrath out on David for his fear, He blessed Obed-edom’s entire household. David came to his senses when he saw how good and loving God is and he got back on the ball. Verses 12-15 record it.
And it was told King David, “The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.” So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the city of David with rejoicing. 13 And when those who bore the ark of theLord had gone six steps, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened animal. 14 And David danced before the Lord with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod. 15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the horn.

David’s ability to freely worship God, his heart of worship is something I long for, for myself. I want to be able to dance and sing before God that way. I pray for that. I am too aware of the people watching and judging me, even if they are not. Michal was watching David and she judged David as foolish and egotistical. She felt he was trying to look good before the people by faking his fervor. Maybe that is because she did not have that passion for God. She didn’t have a heart of worship. Verses 16-23 read,
As the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, and she despised him in her heart. 17 And they brought in the ark of the Lord and set it in its place, inside the tent that David had pitched for it. And David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. 18 And when David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts19 and distributed among all the people, the whole multitude of Israel, both men and women, a cake of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins to each one. Then all the people departed, each to his house.
20 And David returned to bless his household. But Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, “How the king of Israel honored himself today, uncovering himself today before the eyes of his servants' female servants, as one of the vulgar fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!” 21 And David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me above your father and above all his house, to appoint me as prince over Israel, the people of the Lord—and I will celebrate before the Lord.22 I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be abased in your eyes. But by the female servants of whom you have spoken, by them I shall be held in honor.” 23 And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.

David did not let Michal’s judgement deter his worship. He said, “If you didn’t like this, you won’t like it when I get even more ardent in worship. I’m doing this because I love the Lord, not because I want to look good.” He obviously didn’t look good while he worshipped; he apparently looked a bit nuts. He left it to God to deal with Michal and He did.

I have already confessed that I do not worship as freely as I would like. I love to worship my Lord, but I would love, like David to just dance and sing and unreservedly give myself over to Him. How about you, where is your heart when you are worshiping? Is it on how you look, is it on the order of service, is it on the rules and rituals, is it on how you feel, or is it on the LORD? He wants your mind on Him, your heart on Him, your soul with Him, and your strength for Him.

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Life of David Part 10: Seeking God’s Will and Glory

8/26/2016

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Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

David chose to seek God’s will and glory in everything he did. He was a man after God’s own heart. In Acts 13:22 Paul described David this way,
And when he had removed him[Saul], he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’
Being a person after God’s own heart means we care about and do all God’s will. It means wanting what God wants and being active in glorifying God through doing His will.
Samuel had died. Saul and Jonathan had died. David had been anointed as the next king of Israel years earlier but he didn’t assume he should just march into Judah and take it, he sought God’s will. In 2 Samuel 2 we read about David’s becoming king. Verses 1-7 read,
After this David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?” And the Lord said to him, “Go up.” David said, “To which shall I go up?” And he said, “To Hebron.” 2 So David went up there, and his two wives also, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 3 And David brought up his men who were with him, everyone with his household, and they lived in the towns of Hebron. 4 And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah.
When they told David, “It was the men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul,”5 David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead and said to them, “May you be blessed by the Lord, because you showed this loyalty to Saul your lord and buried him. 6 Now may the Lord show steadfast love and faithfulness to you. And I will do good to you because you have done this thing. 7 Now therefore let your hands be strong, and be valiant, for Saul your lord is dead, and the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.”

You see although Saul had made himself an enemy to David, David never became the king’s enemy. He remained loyal because he was faithful to the LORD. He trusted God and even through the hardship of so many years of living in hiding, running from constant death threats, and having to prove himself repeatedly he chose to remain steadfast in the LORD. He was even able to commend the men who had ensured Saul was properly buried. He honored Saul, because God had given him the title and job of king. God had anointed Saul and David always remembered that.
David did not have to assert himself to anyone as king, the men came to him and made him king. But some chose to forget who God had chosen and anointed. Some men, like Abner ignored God’s will and anoint whom he thought it would be. Remember who Abner was. He was he commander of Saul’s army who rather than stay awake and guard his king, had fallen asleep and left him open to being killed when David stole his spear and water jar and spared Saul life. Abner and the men of Israel who followed him judged by logic and themselves rather than seeking God’s will. Verses 8-11 describe it,
But Abner the son of Ner, commander of Saul's army, took Ish-bosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim, 9 and he made him king over Gilead and the Ashurites and Jezreel and Ephraim and Benjamin and all Israel. 10 Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David. 11 And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.

It was not God’s will for Saul’s son Ish-bosheth to be king. He had anointed David not Ish-bosheth. Verses 12-21 in The Message describe what happened because of the discord and disunity of Israel following their own king rather than the LORD’s chosen.
12-13 One day Abner son of Ner set out from Mahanaim with the soldiers of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, headed for Gibeon. Joab son of Zeruiah, with David’s soldiers, also set out. They met at the Pool of Gibeon, Abner’s group on one side, Joab’s on the other.
14 Abner challenged Joab, “Put up your best fighters. Let’s see them do their stuff.”
Joab said, “Good! Let them go at it!”
15-16 So they lined up for the fight, twelve Benjaminites from the side of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, and twelve soldiers from David’s side. The men from each side grabbed their opponents’ heads and stabbed them with their daggers. They all fell dead—the whole bunch together. So, they called the place Slaughter Park. It’s right there at Gibeon.
17-19 The fighting went from bad to worse throughout the day. Abner and the men of Israel were beaten to a pulp by David’s men. The three sons of Zeruiah were present: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Asahel, as fast as a wild antelope on the open plain, chased Abner, staying hard on his heels.
20 Abner turned and said, “Is that you, Asahel?”
“It surely is,” he said.
21 Abner said, “Let up on me. Pick on someone you have a chance of beating and be content with those spoils!” But Asahel wouldn’t let up.

What began as a small sporting fight became a fierce battle. Abner continued to show his unworthiness for his position. And he tried to get Asahel to end the fight but he wouldn’t. Verses 22-28 read,
And Abner said again to Asahel, “Turn aside from following me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How then could I lift up my face to your brother Joab?” 23 But he refused to turn aside. Therefore Abner struck him in the stomach with the butt of his spear, so that the spear came out at his back. And he fell there and died where he was. And all who came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died, stood still.
24 But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner. And as the sun was going down they came to the hill of Ammah, which lies before Giah on the way to the wilderness of Gibeon. 25 And the people of Benjamin gathered themselves together behind Abner and became one group and took their stand on the top of a hill.26 Then Abner called to Joab, “Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that the end will be bitter? How long will it be before you tell your people to turn from the pursuit of their brothers?” 27 And Joab said, “As God lives, if you had not spoken, surely the men would not have given up the pursuit of their brothers until the morning.” 28 So Joab blew the trumpet, and all the men stopped and pursued Israel no more, nor did they fight anymore.
Abner didn’t ask Joab to end the fight out of understanding God’s will or even caring about God’s will. He was losing and asked Joab to end the fight because he didn’t want to die. But Joab heard what Abner said and was convicted. God doesn’t want His children fighting one another. Judah would have slaughtered Israel, they were winning. But they stopped the pursuit. Verses 29-32 record the outcome of the battle.
And Abner and his men went all that night through the Arabah. They crossed the Jordan, and marching the whole morning, they came to Mahanaim. 30 Joab returned from the pursuit of Abner. And when he had gathered all the people together, there were missing from David's servants nineteen men besides Asahel. 31 But the servants of David had struck down of Benjamin 360 of Abner's men. 32 And they took up Asahel and buried him in the tomb of his father, which was at Bethlehem. And Joab and his men marched all night, and the day broke upon them at Hebron.
The war had begun though and it would be finished. One side fought for national pride and a king chosen by men. One side fought for God’s glory. 2 Samuel 3 continues the story. What happens when a country or a person fights for self is that the people involved think too much of themselves, consider unimportant things as important, and otherwise mess up their priorities. This happened in Israel. Abner was proud of how hard he worked to protect Israel and Ish-bosheth. He was envisioning Saul’s line continuing because of him and he wanted some glory and power for his efforts. He went into the harem and took a concubine for himself. But Ish-bosheth was too obsessed with the idea of being powerful and didn’t give Abner and regard. Verses 8-11 in The Message read,
Abner lost his temper with Ish-Bosheth, “Treat me like a dog, will you! Is this the thanks I get for sticking by the house of your father, Saul, and all his family and friends? I personally saved you from certain capture by David, and you make an issue out of my going to bed with a woman! What God promised David, I’ll help accomplish—transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and make David ruler over the whole country, both Israel and Judah, from Dan to Beersheba. If not, may God do his worst to me.”
11 Ish-Bosheth, cowed by Abner’s outburst, couldn’t say another word.

Abner could see that although he should have plenty of power, he would not be respected and would never have glory. He cared so much for himself that changing sides was just no big deal. Verses 12-16 read,
And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf,[a] saying, “To whom does the land belong? Make your covenant with me, and behold, my hand shall be with you to bring over all Israel to you.” 13 And he said, “Good; I will make a covenant with you. But one thing I require of you; that is, you shall not see my face unless you first bring Michal, Saul's daughter, when you come to see my face.” 14 Then David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, saying, “Give me my wife Michal, for whom I paid the bridal price of a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.” 15 And Ish-bosheth sent and took her from her husband Paltiel the son of Laish. 16 But her husband went with her, weeping after her all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go, return.” And he returned.

Abner had to prove himself to David by bringing Michal back to him. He had to pay a price. He did even through the agony of the husband she had been given when she was taken from David. Abner wasted no time in using his power in Israel to bring David into his rightful place as king. He didn’t do it out of obedience to God. He did it out of selfishness and self-pride. But God used his schemes to bring about His plan, His will, and His glory. He even used Abner’s anger and pride to eventually bring about his conviction and repentance. According to David, Abner had become a prince and a great man (Verse 38).
Verses 17-21 in The Message read,
17-18 Abner got the elders of Israel together and said, “Only yesterday, it seems, you were looking for a way to make David your king. So do it—now! For God has given the go-ahead on David: ‘By my servant David’s hand, I’ll save my people Israel from the oppression of the Philistines and all their other enemies.’”
19 Abner took the Benjaminites aside and spoke to them. Then he went to Hebron for a private talk with David, telling him everything that Israel in general and Benjamin in particular were planning to do.
20 When Abner and the twenty men who were with him met with David in Hebron, David laid out a feast for them.
21 Abner then said, “I’m ready. Let me go now to rally everyone in Israel for my master, the king. They’ll make a treaty with you, authorizing you to rule them however you see fit.” Abner was sent off with David’s blessing.
David was God’s chosen king. Although it does not say that he inquired of The LORD, I have no doubt that he did, since that was what he did before all his big decisions. He was a man after God’s own heart; a man who did all God’s will. He knew it was God’s will that Abner do what he did. But not every man loyal to David always remembered that God had anointed David and so they should obey David wholeheartedly as if they were obeying God. Verses 26-30 describe Joab’s reaction to seeing Abner, the man responsible for his brother’s death go free.
When Joab came out from David's presence, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern of Sirah. But David did not know about it. 27 And when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him privately, and there he struck him in the stomach, so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.28 Afterward, when David heard of it, he said, “I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the Lord for the blood of Abner the son of Ner. 29 May it fall upon the head of Joab and upon all his father's house, and may the house of Joab never be without one who has a discharge or who is leprous or who holds a spindle or who falls by the sword or who lacks bread!” 30 So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had put their brother Asahel to death in the battle at Gibeon.

Joab and Abishai avenged their brother and murdered Abner. They didn’t do it for God’s glory but for Joab’s pride. Joab made the plan and he would have to pay for the assumptions he made based on his own egotism. David mourned Abner publicly and privately. It was clear to the entire nation that David had nothing to do with Abner’s death. He fasted and refused to eat until the day was over. Verse 36 reads,
And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them, as everything that the king did pleased all the people.
David understood God’s will because he actively pursued a relationship with God; he consistently asked God what his will was and what he would have him do. He cursed Joab and his descendants and said, “I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the Lord for the blood of Abner the son of Ner. May it fall upon the head of Joab and upon all his father's house, and may the house of Joab never be without one who has a discharge or who is leprous or who holds a spindle or who falls by the sword or who lacks bread!” (Verses 28-30). And he said, “Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel? And I was gentle today, though anointed king. These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are more severe than I. The Lord repay the evildoer according to his wickedness!” (Verses 38-39).

Tomorrow we will continue to read about how the Lord brought about His will and made David king of all of Israel. Believer, do you consistently pursue God’s will or do you like me too often assume your own will is the same as God’s? Our will can look right. It can seem like it would be what God wants. To Joab, it seemed God would want Abner to pay for killing his brother, but it was not God’s will nor David’s. Remember this, being a person after God’s own heart means we actively seek God’s will, God’s kingdom, and God’s righteousness. When we do that, God will take care of everything (Matthew 6:33). He is a big God. He is can do it.

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Life of David Part 9: Faith to Let Vengeance be the Lord’s

8/25/2016

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Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” Romans 12:19

David was a man who trusted God to be his Justice and Avenger. That is not the easiest thing, especially when someone hates you passionately and is consistently trying to hurt you. Saul had chased David relentlessly for no reason other reason than his own jealousy and personal vendetta. Other men too wanted David to die, both at this time in his life and later. But David trusted God’s promise and command that vengeance is His. Deuteronomy 32:34-36 reads,
Is not this laid up in store with me,
    sealed up in my treasuries?
35 Vengeance is mine, and recompense,
    for the time when their foot shall slip;
for the day of their calamity is at hand,
    and their doom comes swiftly.’
36 For the Lord will vindicate his people
    and have compassion on his servants,
when he sees that their power is gone
    and there is none remaining, bond or free.

And Leviticus 19:15-18 commands us,
You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor. 16 You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor: I am the LORD.
17 You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. 18 You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.

It takes a great deal of faith in God not to hurt the people who hurt us, not to take vengeance on people who attack us, and not to hate the people who hate us. But David was a man after God’s own heart who did all the will of God. He trusted and loved the LORD, He knew God well enough to know that he would rather please his Lord than please himself or people. We begin today in 1 Samuel 26. David once again was given an opportunity to kill Saul who had again come after David in Ziph with 3,000 men. Saul and his men were encamped and asleep. Saul was in the center of the army, surrounded by soldiers and sleeping next to Abner, the commander of the army. Saul trusted his life to his men and to Abner. But David saw them all asleep. He asked two of his men Ahimelech the Hittite, and Joab's brother Abishai and aksed them to enter the encampment with him. Abishai went with him. Abishai was a courageous and mighty military man in his own right. The daughter of David’s sister Zeruiah, he alone was brave enough to trust God and follow David into the camp. He had the command of one of the three divisions of David's army at the battle with Absalom ( 2 Samuel 18:2 2 Samuel 18:5 2 Samuel 18:12 ). He defeated and killed the Philistine giant Ishbi-benob, who threatened David's life (2 Samuel 21:15-17 ). He was the chief of the second rank of the three "mighties" ( 2 Samuel 23:18 2 Samuel 23:19 ; 1 Chronicles 11:20 1 Chronicles 11:21 ); and on one occasion killed 300 men with his own spear ( 2 Samuel 23:18). He followed David as David followed the LORD and seeing all David did gave him faith in God.
The two men entered the army’s camp. They could be captured or killed, especially since the army’s sole reason for being there was to kill David. But no one stirred, no one was awake guarding the king. David and Abishai went directly to the sleeping Saul whose spear was in the ground at his head along with his jar of water. Abishai said, “God has given your enemy into your hand this day. Now please let me pin him to the earth with one stroke of the spear, and I will not strike him twice.” (Verse 8). Verses 9-12 record David’s response,
But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can put out his hand against the Lord's anointed and be guiltless?” 10 And David said, “As the Lord lives, the Lord will strike him, or his day will come to die, or he will go down into battle and perish. 11 The Lord forbid that I should put out my hand against the Lord's anointed. But take now the spear that is at his head and the jar of water, and let us go.” 12 So David took the spear and the jar of water from Saul's head, and they went away. No man saw it or knew it, nor did any awake, for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen upon them.

David could have been murdered as Saul so deeply desired, but he trusted God to protect him and God did. David refused to sin against Saul though he desired Saul to pay for his sins. God honored David’s faith and obedience and protected the man by putting the entire army into a deep sleep. David went to a place outside the camp and called to Abner who should have been alert in protection of the king. Now awake the commander, army, and king were shown the spear and water jar David had taken. It was proved that though he could easily have killed Saul, David had spared his life again. David was hurt that he had been vanquished to serve other gods, though he refused to serve them and to serve other armies. David was innocent yet he was pursued as guilty.
Saul was once again convicted of his guilt in chasing this man who had once been so trusted and loved by him. Their exchange is recorded in verses 21-25.
Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Behold, I have acted foolishly, and have made a great mistake.” 22 And David answered and said, “Here is the spear, O king! Let one of the young men come over and take it. 23 The Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness, for the Lord gave you into my hand today, and I would not put out my hand against the Lord's anointed. 24 Behold, as your life was precious this day in my sight, so may my life be precious in the sight of the Lord, and may he deliver me out of all tribulation.” 25 Then Saul said to David, “Blessed be you, my son David! You will do many things and will succeed in them.” So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place.

Saul once again swore he would not pursue David any longer. But David’s response showed he did not have to trust Saul, he trusted the Lord. Saul could keep trying to kill him, but David trusted justice to God not Saul.
1 Samuel 27 records that David left his beloved Israel and went to Philistia to escape Saul’s unyielding pursuit. He found favor with Achish who gave him a home in Ziklag, a home that remained the property of Judah’s kings. Verses 8-9 record some of David’s actions for Achish.
Now David and his men went up and made raids against the Geshurites,the Girzites, and the Amalekites, for these were the inhabitants of the land from of old, as far as Shur, to the land of Egypt. 9 And David would strike the land and would leave neither man nor woman alive, but would take away the sheep, the oxen, the donkeys, the camels, and the garments, and come back to Achish.
David battled and killed the people Saul was rejected for sparing (1 Samuel 15). He made the Achish think he had utterly turned his back on Israel and Achish trusted David enough to bring him to war with him and let him be his personal bodyguard.
Saul meantime had been unable to hear any word from the LORD and knew a battle with the Philistines was coming. So although he knew it was a sin and had banned any necromancers and mediums form Israel he sought a witch and had her raise Samuel from his rest to implore of him what the battle would bring. 1 Samuel 28:16-19 records the ghost of Samuel’s response.
And Samuel said, “Why then do you ask me, since the Lord has turned from you and become your enemy? 17 The Lord has done to you as he spoke by me, for the Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David.18 Because you did not obey the voice of the Lord and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek, therefore the Lord has done this thing to you this day. 19 Moreover, the Lord will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me. The Lord will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines.”
David was about to go to that same battle but as we find out in 1 Samuel 29, the Philistines would not allow this devoted Israelite to fight with them against Israel. David was not safe in Israel and could not fight for Philistia. In 1 Samuel 30 he returned to Ziklag to find it had been burned to the ground and his wives captured by the Amalekites. I can imagine how frustrated and angry David was. I am sure he wanted to take his anger out on the Philistines, Amalekites, and Saul. But instead he turned to God and asked his will. Verses 7-10 record it.
And David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought the ephod to David. 8 And David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I pursue after this band? Shall I overtake them?” He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake and shall surely rescue.” 9 So David set out, and the six hundred men who were with him, and they came to the brook Besor, where those who were left behind stayed. 10 But David pursued, he and four hundred men. Two hundred stayed behind, who were too exhausted to cross the brook Besor.
They came upon an Egyptian servant of an Amalekite who fed them, confessed to all the Amalekites had done and led David to the camp. Verses 16-20 read,
And when he had taken him down, behold, they were spread abroad over all the land, eating and drinking and dancing, because of all the great spoil they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah.17 And David struck them down from twilight until the evening of the next day, and not a man of them escaped, except four hundred young men, who mounted camels and fled. 18 David recovered all that the Amalekites had taken, and David rescued his two wives. 19 Nothing was missing, whether small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything that had been taken. David brought back all. 20 David also captured all the flocks and herds, and the people drove the livestock before him, and said, “This is David's spoil.”

David and his men came back with all their possessions and more and when they came upon the two hundred who had not joined in the battle some of the 400 did not want to give them their possessions or any of the spoil. That would be the natural response of most of us. “You didn’t fight, you didn’t help. You lose out.” It seemed like the right payback for the 200 who were too exhausted to fight. But David was a man after God’s own heart and he said, “You shall not do so, my brothers, with what the Lord has given us. He has preserved us and given into our hand the band that came against us.  Who would listen to you in this matter? For as his share is who goes down into the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage. They shall share alike.”  And he made it a statute and a rule for Israel from that day forward to this day. (Verses 23-25). David even sent part of the spoils to the elders of Judah, whom he still loved and honored as friends.
1 Samuel 31 records what happened to Saul and his sons fighting the Phillistines. Verses 1-7 read,
Now the Philistines were fighting against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines and fell slainon Mount Gilboa. 2 And the Philistines overtook Saul and his sons, and the Philistines struck down Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul. 3 The battle pressed hard against Saul, and the archers found him, and he was badly wounded by the archers. 4 Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and mistreat me.” But his armor-bearer would not, for he feared greatly. Therefore Saul took his own sword and fell upon it. 5 And when his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell upon his sword and died with him. 6 Thus Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor-bearer, and all his men, on the same day together. 7 And when the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley and those beyond the Jordan saw that the men of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities and fled. And the Philistines came and lived in them.

David did not have to lift a finger to harm Saul. Saul’s own avarice and pride killed him. The Lord had avenged David and David never had to sin against Saul, show him hate, or even be unkind for God to justify him. 2 Samuel 1 records David’s reaction to Saul and Jonathan’s death. He did not rejoice, he lamented. He mourned his friend and he mourned the king, God’s anointed.
Believer, you do not ever have to worry about taking vengeance against the wrongs done to you. Every person on the face of the earth from the beginning of creation to the end of this earth will face Justice. He will either pay for his sins by his own blood or Jesus will have paid with His. We do not have to seek vengeance. We trust and love God. We seek God, His will, His kingdom, His heart, and to know Him. We have a different view of our enemies. In Matthew 5:35-45 Jesus said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”
Paul echoes Jesus’ sentiment in Romans 12:14-20,
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

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Life of David Part 8: Faith Enough to be Generous

8/24/2016

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give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you. Luke 6:38

David had convinced Saul that he was not his enemy, but he was wise enough not to go home just yet. We’ll read in 1 Samuel 25 today. He and his men remained in the wilderness away from Saul’s mercurial mood and spirit. Samuel died and the prophet was mourned by all of Israel (1 Samuel 25:1a). David and his men went to Paran since being near the safety and counsel of Samuel was no longer an option. While he was there, he stayed near the land of a man named Nabal and as David tended to do, he was generous with his gifts and traits and cared for and protected the man’s property including his servants and sheep. A feast day was upon them, and David being obedient to God wanted to ensure he and his men honored the Lord by celebrating it. 1 Samuel 25:1b-8 describe it.
Then David rose and went down to the wilderness of Paran. 2 And there was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel. The man was very rich; he had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. He was shearing his sheep in Carmel. 3 Now the name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife Abigail. The woman was discerning and beautiful, but the man was harsh and badly behaved; he was a Calebite.4 David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep. 5 So David sent ten young men. And David said to the young men, “Go up to Carmel, and go to Nabal and greet him in my name. 6 And thus you shall greet him: ‘Peace be to you, and peace be to your house, and peace be to all that you have. 7 I hear that you have shearers. Now your shepherds have been with us, and we did them no harm, and they missed nothing all the time they were in Carmel. 8 Ask your young men, and they will tell you. Therefore let my young men find favor in your eyes, for we come on a feast day. Please give whatever you have at hand to your servants and to your son David.’”
This man Nabal was very wealthy and could easily accommodate David’s request. More so, David had protected his men and his property and saw no reason this man should not agree to keep the Lord’s commandment to share the festival day with his fellow Israelites and sojourners. David was not too proud to have to beg. He knew his own heart would not turn away a beggar on a feast day and he knew that God commanded his children not to do so as well (Leviticus 23:22, Zechariah 7:9-10). The Lord is generous and gives to those who ask. David, a man after God’s own heart would do the same. Psalm 37:25-26 reminds us of God’s generosity and that we should also be generous.
I have been young, and now am old,
    yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
    or his children begging for bread.
26 He is ever lending generously,
    and his children become a blessing.

Nabal did not answer David with any kind of respect. David deserved a great deal of respect for all he had done, but he didn’t expect it or ask for it. And Nabal didn’t give it. He was in fact quite insulting. Maybe he was afraid of receiving the same punishment as Abimelech received for giving David help (1 Samuel 22:18-19), but regardless his answer was foolish and hateful. Verses 9-13 read,
When David's young men came, they said all this to Nabal in the name of David, and then they waited. 10 And Nabal answered David's servants, “Who is David? Who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants these days who are breaking away from their masters. 11 Shall I take my bread and my water and my meat that I have killed for my shearers and give it to men who come from I do not know where?” 12 So David's young men turned away and came back and told him all this. 13 And David said to his men, “Every man strap on his sword!” And every man of them strapped on his sword. David also strapped on his sword. And about four hundred men went up after David, while two hundred remained with the baggage.
Nabal was not a man after God’s own heart. It seemed he was selfish, thoughtless, and spiteful. Jesus told us that even imperfect father’s give good gifts to their children and evil men will justice to people and so we can expect our Good and Perfect Father to do more (Matthew 7:7-11, Luke 18:1-8). Pursuing God’s heart means we too will be generous with good gifts. But Nabal was anything except what God desires for his children. The ability to be generous is a visible sign, a testimony to our faith in God and results in God’s glory. Paul said it this way in 2 Corinthians 9:6-12
The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 9 As it is written,
“He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;
    his righteousness endures forever.”
10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.
Nabal paid David’s kindness back with evil and David was angry. He reacted wrongly and strapped on his sword. He was about to seek his own vengeance instead of waiting for God. But God was there and did not let that happen. He intervened through a faithful servant and a faithful wife. Verses 14-27 in The Message read,
14-17 Meanwhile, one of the young shepherds told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, what had happened: “David sent messengers from the backcountry to salute our master, but he tore into them with insults. Yet these men treated us very well. They took nothing from us and didn’t take advantage of us all the time we were in the fields. They formed a wall around us, protecting us day and night all the time we were out tending the sheep. Do something quickly because big trouble is ahead for our master and all of us. Nobody can talk to him. He’s impossible—a real brute!”
18-19 Abigail flew into action. She took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five sheep dressed out and ready for cooking, a bushel of roasted grain, a hundred raisin cakes, and two hundred fig cakes, and she had it all loaded on some donkeys. Then she said to her young servants, “Go ahead and pave the way for me. I’m right behind you.” But she said nothing to her husband Nabal.
20-22 As she was riding her donkey, descending into a ravine, David and his men were descending from the other end, so they met there on the road. David had just said, “That sure was a waste, guarding everything this man had out in the wild so that nothing he had was lost—and now he rewards me with insults. A real slap in the face! May God do his worst to me if Nabal and every cur in his misbegotten brood aren’t dead meat by morning!”
23-25 As soon as Abigail saw David, she got off her donkey and fell on her knees at his feet, her face to the ground in homage, saying, “My master, let me take the blame! Let me speak to you. Listen to what I have to say. Don’t dwell on what that brute Nabal did. He acts out the meaning of his name: Nabal, Fool. Foolishness oozes from him.
25-27 “I wasn’t there when the young men my master sent arrived. I didn’t see them. And now, my master, as God lives and as you live, God has kept you from this avenging murder—and may your enemies, all who seek my master’s harm, end up like Nabal! Now take this gift that I, your servant girl, have brought to my master, and give it to the young men who follow in the steps of my master.

Abigail understood exactly who David was and the respect he deserved. Even if he had not been God’s anointed she could still see his kindness and generosity toward Nabal’s shepherds and property. She acted quickly to stop any fight. She not only gave them the foods they asked for and more, she praised what God was doing in David for Israel. She reminded David through her prophetic words that his faith was in the LORD, not his own strength. She called David, lord. He the beggar and she the lady of the house still knew David was her master and would one day be king. David had the LORD with him and was anointed. Verses 28-31 read,
Please forgive the trespass of your servant. For the Lord will certainly make my lord a sure house, because my lord is fighting the battles of the Lord, and evil shall not be found in you so long as you live. 29 If men rise up to pursue you and to seek your life, the life of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living in the care of the Lord your God. And the lives of your enemies he shall sling out as from the hollow of a sling. 30 And when the Lord has done to my lord according to all the good that he has spoken concerning you and has appointed you prince over Israel, 31 my lord shall have no cause of grief or pangs of conscience for having shed blood without cause or for my lord working salvation himself. And when the Lord has dealt well with my lord, then remember your servant.”

David allowed Abigail’s well-worded exhortation to work on him. He was not only generous with what he had, he was generous in spirit and willing to listen to the counsel of others and understand that God can and does work through His followers. Verses 32-35 record his response.
And David said to Abigail, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! 33 Blessed be your discretion, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from bloodguilt and from working salvation with my own hand! 34 For as surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, who has restrained me from hurting you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, truly by morning there had not been left to Nabal so much as one male.” 35 Then David received from her hand what she had brought him. And he said to her, “Go up in peace to your house. See, I have obeyed your voice, and I have granted your petition.”

Abigail reminded David of who God is and so enabled him to trust vengeance, salvation, protection and provision to God. He was able again to be generous and chose not to harm Nabal or his men. He would leave it to God. And God did not ignore Nabals’ wickedness. Verses 36-39a record God’s response.
And Abigail came to Nabal, and behold, he was holding a feast in his house, like the feast of a king. And Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunk. So she told him nothing at all until the morning light. 37 In the morning, when the wine had gone out of Nabal, his wife told him these things, and his heart died within him, and he became as a stone. 38 And about ten days later the Lord struck Nabal, and he died.
39 When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, “Blessed be the Lord who has avenged the insult I received at the hand of Nabal, and has kept back his servant from wrongdoing. The Lord has returned the evil of Nabal on his own head.”
What Abigail told her husband made him realize his grievous sin. It gave him the chance to repent. It doesn’t record in the story if he did or didn’t but since his heart became like stone, I think he did not. When David heard what had happened, he was generous with his praise and thanks and praised the Lord for keeping him from sin. He acknowledged that vengeance belongs to the Lord and God is Justice.
God is generous. He is lavish with the good, provision, and joy He gives to those willing to trust Him. Verses 39b-44 read,
Then David sent and spoke to Abigail, to take her as his wife. 40 When the servants of David came to Abigail at Carmel, they said to her, “David has sent us to you to take you to him as his wife.” 41 And she rose and bowed with her face to the ground and said, “Behold, your handmaid is a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.” 42 And Abigail hurried and rose and mounted a donkey, and her five young women attended her. She followed the messengers of David and became his wife.
43 David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel, and both of them became his wives. 44 Saul had given Michal his daughter, David's wife, to Palti the son of Laish, who was of Gallim.
Since Saul had taken Michal and given her to someone else, God replaced her with Abigail. It was not God’s will for David to take a second wife, but he did anyway. David was not perfect, but he was forgiven and he was a man after God’s own heart. We too are not perfect. Yet we can be forgiven and seen as blameless through Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:22). Gratitude for God’s deep love allows us and encourages us to pursue God’s heart as David did. The faith God gives us enables us to be people after God’s own heart. Romans 1:16-17 says it like this,
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
Ingratitude, results not in spiritual growth but spiritual decay. Romans 1:21-23 reads,
For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

Your giving takes nothing from you! You can give because you have faith in God’s promise to take care of you. In Luke 6:38 Jesus said,
give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.

Believer, are you faithful enough to be generous? Are you faithful enough to share your gifts, provision, and thanksgiving with those around you? Are you generous with God’s glory? Don’t be afraid to step out in faith and cheerfully give all you have and see how generous your Lord will be with you.

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Life of David Part 7: Seeking God’s Will

8/23/2016

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And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23

God will always have His way. We have the choice of doing His will and being a part of His work and ending on the side of blessing and justice or disobeying and ending on the side of wrath and vengeance. Today as we read more about David’s days as a fugitive from Saul, we will see how he was free to choose to glorify God in obedience or glorify himself in disobedience. Obedience to God is often a result of trusting Him. David chose to trust the LORD. In 1 Samuel 23 although David was on the run hiding from Saul, he still chose to be concerned for the people in the towns and cities of Israel. One such city, Keilah was under attack from the Philistines. So David inquired of the LORD who told him to attack the Philistines and He would give them to David. So David and his men saved the city.
When Saul heard, he completely ignored what David had done for Israel, what his own army should have done and considered the circumstances to be providential. David had inquired of God to see if saving Keiliah was God’s will. Saul assumed that God had made it so that he could murder David. Verses 7-8 put it this way,
Now it was told Saul that David had come to Keilah. And Saul said, “God has given him into my hand, for he has shut himself in by entering a town that has gates and bars.” 8 And Saul summoned all the people to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.

He had not been concerned about Philistia attacking Keilah, but he gathered his army to fight David who had just saved the city. Saul assumed he knew God’s will, he assumed the Lord was with him in his vindictive pursuit of David. David did not assume he knew God’s will. David prayed. And when he heard that Saul was coming after him, he used the ephod brought by Abiathar, the last remaining priest from Nob, and asked the Lord what would happen if he stayed in Keliah. The Lord told him that Saul was coming after him and that rather than let the king destroy their city the people would give David up to Saul. So David and his men left and hid in the surrounding country.
David was hiding in Horesh when Jonathan found him and encouraged his friend in the Lord. Verses 17-18 read,
And he said to him, “Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. Saul my father also knows this.” 18 And the two of them made a covenant before the Lord. David remained at Horesh, and Jonathan went home.

Jonathan knew David would be king and Saul knew it too. It was God’s will and He had not hidden His will from anyone. That is why Saul hated David so desperately. David was God’s chosen king, but Saul didn’t care for God’s will, he wanted his will. Saul’s will was for Jonathan to succeed him, even against his son’s wishes.
The Ziphites knew David and his men were hiding in the countryside and they told King Saul about it. Saul again assumed the Lord was on his side and even went so far as to bless the Ziphites in God’s name for the information they gave him. Saul chased David but had to call off the search when he learned the Philistines were attacking the land again. God would protect His plan to make David king. 1 Samuel 24 takes place after Saul finished dealing with Philistia. David was in the wilderness of Engedi with his 400 men. Saul took 3,000 men to capture him. Verses 3-4 take up the narrative,
And he [Saul] came to the sheepfolds by the way, where there was a cave, and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts of the cave.4 And the men of David said to him, “Here is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.’”
The LORD had given Saul into David’s hand but what seemed good David was God’s will, sovereignty and lordship, not what seemed to make sense to his men. David could kill Saul or not. Verses 4-7 read,
Then David arose and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul's robe. 5 And afterward David's heart struck him, because he had cut off a corner of Saul's robe. 6 He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord's anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the Lord's anointed.” 7 So David persuaded his men with these words and did not permit them to attack Saul. And Saul rose up and left the cave and went on his way.

David could easily have killed Saul. His men could easily have killed him. But he cut off a corner of Saul’s robe and even that hurt him. He knew then killing the king was not what God would want him to do. He had treated Saul with disrespect. David was tired of running from Saul. He wanted it to end. He could have ended it by killing the king, but he trusted God and refused to harm God’s anointed king. Verses 8-15 in The Message read,
Then David stood at the mouth of the cave and called to Saul, “My master! My king!” Saul looked back. David fell to his knees and bowed in reverence. He called out, “Why do you listen to those who say ‘David is out to get you’? This very day with your very own eyes you have seen that just now in the cave God put you in my hands. My men wanted me to kill you, but I wouldn’t do it. I told them that I won’t lift a finger against my master—he’s God’s anointed. Oh, my father, look at this, look at this piece that I cut from your robe. I could have cut you—killed you!—but I didn’t. Look at the evidence! I’m not against you. I’m no rebel. I haven’t sinned against you, and yet you’re hunting me down to kill me. Let’s decide which of us is in the right. God may avenge me, but it is in his hands, not mine. An old proverb says, ‘Evil deeds come from evil people.’ So be assured that my hand won’t touch you.
14-15 “What does the king of Israel think he’s doing? Who do you think you’re chasing? A dead dog? A flea? God is our judge. He’ll decide who is right. Oh, that he would look down right now, decide right now—and set me free of you!”
Now it was up to Saul what would happen. David waited for the king’s response. Verses 16-22 read,
As soon as David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. 17 He said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil. 18 And you have declared this day how you have dealt well with me, in that you did not kill me when the Lord put me into your hands. 19 For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away safe? So may the Lord reward you with good for what you have done to me this day. 20 And now, behold, I know that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand. 21 Swear to me therefore by the Lord that you will not cut off my offspring after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father's house.” 22 And David swore this to Saul. Then Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.

David stayed in his stronghold. He knew Saul too well to trust that he would remain penitent for long. I have a feeling that David wanted to inquire of God first before heading back to Saul’s place.
Every step of the way, David turned to God and asked God’s will. He knew Him well enough as well that the right thing, the good thing was what would please the Lord. That was to fight for a city, even if he wouldn’t win their loyalty. That was to spare the king even if it meant the king might kill him at long last. David was a man after God’s own heart. He wanted God’s will, not his own. He trusted God to take care of him and was not afraid to obey Him.
Believer, what about you? Do you concern yourself with seeking God’s will for each day of your life or do you assume God is great with all your choices because you know he loves you and chose you? God chose Saul and loved him, but Saul’s choices were not in God’s will but for his own satisfaction.

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Life of David Part 17: The Curse of Sin Defeated with Forgiveness

Life of David Part 16: A Repentant Heart

Life of David Part 15: Merciful King

Life of David Part 14: Warrior King

Life of David Part 13: Choosing God’s Heart

Life of David Part 12: A Heart of Worship

Life of David Part 10: Seeking God’s Will and Glory

Life of David Part 9: Faith to Let Vengeance be the Lord’s

Life of David Part 8: Faith Enough to be Generous

Life of David Part 7: Seeking God’s Will

Donna Campbell

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