Tuesday Thought -- November 1, 2011

Good Morning Friends,

“On that day Gad went to David and said to him, ‘Go up and build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.’  So David went up, as the Lord had commanded through Gad.  When Araunah looked and saw the king and his men coming toward him, he went out and bowed down before the king with his face to the ground.  Araunah said, ‘Why has my lord the king come to his servant?’  ‘To buy your threshing floor,’ David answered, ‘so I can build an altar to the Lord, that the plague on the people may be stopped.’  Araunah said to David, ‘Let my lord the king take whatever pleases him and offer it up.  Here are oxen for the burnt offering, and here are threshing sledges and ox yokes for the wood.  O king, Araunah gives all this to the king.’  Araunah also said to him, ‘May the Lord your God accept you.’  But the king replied to Araunah, ‘No, I insist on paying you for it.  I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.’  So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them.  David built an altar to the Lord there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings.  Then the Lord answered prayer in behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.” (2 Samuel 24:18-25)

As punishment for disobedience, God sent a plague upon the people of Israel and 70,000 died.  When the plague reached Jerusalem, David was deeply grieved, realizing the guilt for the disobedience was his but the punishment had fallen upon his people.  He pled to the Lord and the Lord, through a prophet, told David to make a sacrifice at a particular spot, the threshing floor of Araunah.  David immediately acted to obey and went to Araunah to buy the threshing floor so an altar could be built and a sacrifice made.

In a gesture of great respect, Araunah offered the threshing floor to David as a gift.  David refused the gift and wanted to pay fully for the land he was taking.  His reasoning was this, “I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”

There is a principle of giving to the Lord that comes clearly out of David’s statement:  If it doesn’t cost, it doesn’t count.

God is not pleased with gifts that are just leftovers, with gifts that are things we don’t want anyway, or with gifts we give that someone ekse paid for and cost us nothing.  God is pleased with gifts that come out of our sacrifice.  He is pleased when we give time that we have to take away from things that we enjoy doing.  He is pleased when we take on tasks that require an effort of us.  He is pleased with financial gifts that represent giving up things that would bring us pleasure.

You see, it is not the value of the gift that impresses God.  God doesn’t need our gifts.  Rather, it is what a gift expresses about our heart that God seeks.  God seeks hearts that are so in love with Him, so committed to Him, that they are willing to sacrifice on His behalf.

So – if it doesn’t cost, it doesn’t count!

Does what you are giving to the Lord cost you anything?  Does it represent a sacrifice that comes from a heart of love for Him?

His, by Grace,

Steve

PS  In an interesting historical note, the threshing floor of Araunah which David bought for this altar and sacrifice would become the site of the Temple that Solomon would build!

Monday Thought -- October 31, 2011

Good Morning Friends,

“These are the last words of David:  The oracle of David son of Jesse, the oracle of the man exalted by the Most High, the man anointed by the God of Jacob, Israel’s singer of songs:  The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me; his word was on my tongue.” (2 Samuel 23:1-2)

David was aging and knew his days on earth were growing short.  He had written many psalms that expressed his heart and now he wrote a final psalm.  It’s interesting to see how David identified himself as he began his final message.  He could have identified himself as the great king of Israel, the great warrior who was victorious over all of his enemies, even the victor over the giant Goliath.  David accomplished many great things during his life on earth.  But none of those great things would be the things by which David would identify himself in this final psalm.

David called himself, “the man exalted by the Most High.”  David knew where all that he had came from.  He knew it did not come from his own effort or merit.  What David had accomplished came through the blessing of the Lord.  It was all to God’s glory, not to David’s and David was sure to give that glory to the One who deserved it.

David called himself, “the man anointed by the God of Jacob.”  He wanted everyone to know that his life had been touched by God.  That was most important to him in his final days.  What he had accomplished was not high on the list of the things on his mind.  It was his relationship with God that was on his mind.  And he wanted all to know that the God he served was the God of his people, the God of Jacob.  It was an encouragement to Israel to remain to true to the God of their fathers.

David called himself, “Israel’s singer of songs.”  David didn’t choose to be known as king or soldier, but as worshiper of God.  What was closest to David’s heart was that God would speak to him and through him.

As you age and your time on earth grows short, consider what will be most on your mind.  Like David, it won’t be the list of your grand accomplishments.  It will be your relationship with God and what He accomplished in you and through you.  And if that will be most on your mind at that critical time of your life, why not make it most on your mind today, too!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Friday Thought -- October 28, 2011

Good Morning Friends,

Much of David’s time as king was time spent at war.  His kingship started with Saul pursuing him and trying to kill him.  The rest of his kingship was filled with other enemies.  Some of them came from within his household and from within his army.  His son betrayed him and tried to take the kingdom from him and some of his advisors and leaders of his army would also betray him and try to remove him from the throne.  There were internal struggles and there were enemies from outside Israel who were intent on destroying David.  Time and again the Philistines gathered an army and rose up against Israel and David.

And throughout David’s reign, God delivered David from all of his enemies.  Though sometimes outnumbered, David and his army would come out victorious in the end.  David understood that it was the Lord’s blessing and protection that gave him victory over his enemies.  So David wrote a song and sang it before the Lord to declare his gratitude to God.

It began with these words,

“The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior - from violent men you save me. I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies.” (2 Samuel 22:2-4)

It concluded in similar praise,

“The LORD lives!  Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God, the Rock, my Savior! He is the God who avenges me, who puts the nations under me, who sets me free from my enemies. You exalted me above my foes; from violent men you rescued me. Therefore I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations; I will sing praises to your name. He gives his king great victories; he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed, to David and his descendants forever.” (2 Samuel 22:47-51)

David clearly understood that the honor for the victories that he had won in battle did not belong to him, but to the Lord.  David gave praise to Him to whom it was due!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Thursday Thought -- October 27, 2011

Good Morning Friends,

After Absalom’s death, David returned to Jerusalem as king.  Among those who greeted him were some who had betrayed him.  They had gone over to Absalom and left behind their loyalty to David.  Some wanted these traitors killed.  “Abishai son of Zeruiah said, ‘Shouldn't Shimei be put to death for this?  He cursed the Lord's anointed.’" (2 Samuel 19:21)  Putting David’s enemies to death seemed the reasonable and right thing to do.  After all, could he ever trust them again?

Here is David’s response, “David replied, ‘What do you and I have in common, you sons of Zeruiah?  This day you have become my adversaries!  Should anyone be put to death in Israel today?  Do I not know that today I am king over Israel?’  So the king said to Shimei, ‘You shall not die.’  And the king promised him on oath.”  (2 Samuel 19:22-23)

David wanted no more fighting among the people of Israel.  There had been enough bloodshed in the civil war.  Now it was time to put that enmity behind them.  It was time for forgiveness, reconciliation and restoration and David would lead the way with that.  David forgave and restored those who betrayed him and went to Absalom.

That could not have been easy for David.  He had been betrayed and there must have been a sense in which David wanted vengeance for that betrayal.  But David said “no” to vengeance in order to say “yes” to what would bring healing to Israel.  There was also the matter of trust.  How could David trust men who had betrayed him?  Would there always be doubt in David’s mind about those men?  Could he trust them again?  David made a choice to trust them.  It may not have been reasonable for him to do so, but it was what the Lord wanted him to do.  Israel was to be brought back together again and David was the one to do it by his willingness to forgive and trust again.

It’s hard to be betrayed, especially by those you have trusted.  And having been betrayed, it’s hard to forgive and harder still to trust those same people again.  David trusted God first and in trusting God he was able to set aside his own desire for vengeance and his desire to turn away from those who had betrayed him.  You will probably never be betrayed to the extent that David was – after all, they were seeking to kill him!  But you will be betrayed in some less drastic ways, we all face betrayal at times.  And we all face the opportunity to show forgiveness and to trust again.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Wednesday Thought -- October 26, 2011

Good Morning Friends,

Absalom, David’s son, betrayed him.  He plotted and schemed to take the throne from David and succeed in doing so.  David and those who were loyal to him marched out of Jerusalem and Absalom and his army marched into the city.  Absalom took up residence in the palace that David had built and he was king in Israel.  Still Absalom was not content.  He was afraid to leave David alone and so brought his army out of Jerusalem to find David, attack him, and put an end to any threat he might be.

But God was with David and when the battle came to him, God gave David’s army victory over the much larger army that Absalom had under his command.  Absalom himself died in disgrace.  “Now Absalom happened to meet David's men. He was riding his mule, and as the mule went under the thick branches of a large oak, Absalom's head got caught in the tree.  He was left hanging in midair, while the mule he was riding kept on going.” (2 Samuel 18:9)  While hanging there by his hair, Joab’s men found Absalom and killed him.

This news reached David and here was David’s response to Absalom’s death.  “The king was shaken.  He went up to the room over the gateway and wept.  As he went, he said: ‘O my son Absalom!  My son, my son Absalom!  If only I had died instead of you – O Absalom, my son, my son!’"  (2 Samuel 18:33)

Absalom was David’s enemy, his betrayer.  Absalom had taken David’s throne and now sought to take David’s life.  But Absalom was also David’s son and the love David had for Absalom far outweighed his fear and distress over what Absalom had done to him.  David did not rejoice in the death of an enemy, instead he deeply mourned the loss of his son.  David’s heart was broken by the disaster that had come upon Absalom.

God delivered Absalom and his army into the hands of David’s men.  Logic said the battle should have gone the other way, but God intervened to help David.  But that didn’t mean that David needed to rejoice in the disaster that befell his enemy.

When we see those who oppose us disciplined and punished by the Lord, do we rejoice in their suffering or weep because of their pain?  How we respond to the pain of others, and especially to the pain of those who oppose us, says a lot about our hearts.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Tuesday Thought -- October 25, 2011

Good Morning Friends,

David forgave his son Absalom.  He took him back into relationship.  He loved Absalom and trusted him.  But Absalom tread upon the forgiveness of his father and brought rebellion to the house of David.

First, Absalom won the hearts of the people of Israel through treachery and deceit.  “In the course of time, Absalom provided himself with a chariot and horses and with fifty men to run ahead of him.  He would get up early and stand by the side of the road leading to the city gate.  Whenever anyone came with a complaint to be placed before the king for a decision, Absalom would call out to him, ‘What town are you from?’  He would answer, ‘Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel.’  Then Absalom would say to him, ‘Look, your claims are valid and proper, but there is no representative of the king to hear you.’  And Absalom would add, ‘If only I were appointed judge in the land!  Then everyone who has a complaint or case could come to me and I would see that he gets justice.’  Also, whenever anyone approached him to bow down before him, Absalom would reach out his hand, take hold of him and kiss him.  Absalom behaved in this way toward all the Israelites who came to the king asking for justice, and so he stole the hearts of the men of Israel.” (2 Samuel 15:1-6)

Finally, Absalom acted on his rebellion.  He asked permission of David to travel to Hebron saying that he was going to worship the Lord there.  While in Hebron, Absalom declared himself king.  “Then Absalom sent secret messengers throughout the tribes of Israel to say, ‘As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpets, then say, “Absalom is king in Hebron.”’” (2 Samuel 15:10)

Rather than go to war against Absalom and those who were rallying to support him, David chose to flee from the city of Jerusalem and trust God to restore him to the throne.   David said to the priest, "Take the ark of God back into the city.  If I find favor in the Lord's eyes, he will bring me back and let me see it and his dwelling place again.  But if he says, ‘I am not pleased with you,’ then I am ready; let him do to me whatever seems good to him." (2 Samuel 15:25-26)

After David had fled Jerusalem, Absalom entered the city and declared himself king there.

It wasn’t right.  David was the rightful, God-appointed king of Israel.  It was rebellion against David and against God.  It was done with deceit, not with honor.  Absalom lied to the people of Israel and he lied to David in order to gain power and to put himself in a place where he could declare himself king.  There was no gratitude in Absalom.  David had forgiven him for murdering his half-brother, but Absalom turned his back on that forgiveness, he ignored that restored relationship.

Yet, though it wasn’t right and wasn’t done in a godly way, David did not fight for his own rights.  He cared too much for Absalom and he cared too much for the people of Israel.  He was unwilling to start a civil war and see brother killing brother.  Instead, he trusted God to restore him to the throne at the right time and in His own way.

When you are deceived and hurt by treachery, do you take matters of revenge, of righting the wrong, into your own hands … or do you trust God?

His, by Grace,

Steve

Monday Thought -- October 24, 2011

Good Morning Friends,

David’s son, Absalom, killed his half-brother Amnon because Amnon had raped Absalom’s sister.  Absalom then fled from Jerusalem and hid lest he be caught and executed for his crime.  After some time a woman came to David to plead with him to allow Absalom to return and to forgive him.  She said to David, "Why then have you devised a thing like this against the people of God?  When the king says this, does he not convict himself, for the king has not brought back his banished son?  Like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be recovered, so we must die.  But God does not take away life; instead, he devises ways so that a banished person may not remain estranged from him.” (2 Samuel 14:13-14)

God’s forgiving spirit is the perfect example of the forgiveness we should be willing to show to others.  No one deserves God’s forgiveness.  What we deserve is for God to take away our life because of the sins we have committed.  But that is not God’s plan.  God’s plan is a plan of reconciliation, a plan to restore those who have broken covenant with Him by their sin.  He does not hold our sins against us, but has devised a way to wipe the slate clean.

Paul reminded the Romans, “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.  But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:  While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:6-8)

God’s marvelous grace is seen in the sacrifice of Jesus.  He didn’t wait until we pled for forgiveness to offer His sacrifice.  He didn’t wait until we had somehow earned forgiveness before He provided it.  While we were still totally estranged from God by our unrighteousness, Jesus paid the price of reconciliation and forgiveness.

It’s human nature to continue to hold a wrong against the person who committed it.  It seems like the right thing to do.  They must be made to feel sorry for their sin.  They must be made to pay for their sin.

But aren’t you glad that God doesn’t do that with us!

It was time for David to be willing to forgive his son and be reconciled to him.  Is it time for you to do the same toward someone in your life?

His, by Grace,

Steve

Friday Thought -- October 21, 2011

Good Morning Friends,

David had acted very selfishly in taking Bathsheba.  He was concerned only with what he wanted.  He saw what he wanted and he took it, without considering the consequences.  And as is so often the case, David lived to see his own weaknesses manifest themselves in the lives of his children!

Amnon was one of David’s many sons and Amnon wanted Tamar, who was his half-sister, David’s daughter by another of his many wives.  He was afraid that his father would not allow him to marry Tamar because she was his half-sister.  He was too afraid to even ask.  Instead, he plotted and planned to take Tamar.  He pretended to be ill and asked his father to have Tamar come fix food for him.  While she was in his home, he had the servants all sent away and then he took Tamar by force, against her will.  It was an act of great selfishness.  He wasn’t concerned about how his actions would affect Tamar.  He wasn’t concerned with how his family would respond, what the people would think, or even what God would think.  He was only concerned with what he wanted – so he took her. (2 Samuel 13:6-14)

He thought he loved Tamar, but having gotten what he wanted, his love turned to hatred.  His action was not an act of love it was simply an act of selfishness.  Now that his desire was satisfied, his attitude changed.  He sent Tamar away in disgrace and she lived her life in the home of her brother, Absalom, a desolate woman. (2 Samuel 13:20)

Amnon did not get away with his sin.  Absalom seethed with hatred toward Amnon because he had defiled his sister and Absalom plotted and planned to take revenge.  He patiently waited for two years until the opportunity finally came and then he killed Amnon and fled from the country in fear that David would punish or even kill him. (2 Samuel 13:28-34)

Amnon and Absalom both acted in selfishness and David sat idly by and did nothing to discipline.  David’s own sins and weaknesses were being manifest in his children.

I wonder what weaknesses of yours will show themselves in your children?  Your sins won’t just affect you.  They’ll affect your family and the people around you.  That’s a powerful motivation to live a righteous life.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Thursday Thought -- October 20, 2011

Good Morning Friends,

When confronted with his sin by the prophet Nathan, David acknowledged it before the Lord.  “David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the Lord.’"  (2 Samuel 12:13)

God forgave David’s sin, but there were still consequences for it.  The son born of his adulterous relationship with Bathsheba would die.  “Nathan replied, ‘The Lord has taken away your sin.  You are not going to die.  But because by doing this you have made the enemies of the Lord show utter contempt, the son born to you will die.’" (2 Samuel 12:13-14)

David’s response provides a remarkable illustration about prayer.  Immediately when Nathan told David what would happen to the child, David began pleading with the Lord in prayer to save the child’s life.  “David pleaded with God for the child.  He fasted and went into his house and spent the nights lying on the ground.  The elders of his household stood beside him to get him up from the ground, but he refused, and he would not eat any food with them.” (2 Samuel 12:16-17)

But God did not grant David’s request.  The child died.  Upon the child’s death, David’s servants hesitated to bring the news to their king.  They were afraid of what David might do.   “On the seventh day the child died.  David's servants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they thought, ‘While the child was still living, we spoke to David but he would not listen to us.  How can we tell him the child is dead?  He may do something desperate.’" (2 Samuel 12:18)

But when David did learn the news he did not respond in the way his servants feared.  “Then David got up from the ground.  After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped.  Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate.   His servants asked him, ‘Why are you acting this way?  While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat!’  He answered, ‘While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept.  I thought, “Who knows?  The Lord may be gracious to me and let the child live.”  But now that he is dead, why should I fast?  Can I bring him back again?  I will go to him, but he will not return to me.’” (2 Samuel 12:20-23)

As long as there was hope, David prayed with great fervency.  But as soon as God answered, even though He did not answer in the way David wanted Him to, David stopped praying and accepted God’s answer in faith.

I don’t know what you are praying for.  It’s probably not as desperate a prayer as the one David prayed.  But whatever it is, pray and keep praying until you see God’s answer.  When you see God’s answer, accept it in faith, even if it isn’t the answer you wanted to receive.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Wednesday Thought -- October 19, 2011

Good Morning Friends,

God would not allow David to get away with his sins.  The Lord loved David too much to remain silent.  There was something wrong with David’s relationship with God, a barrier had been built by David’s sin and God wanted it removed.  God chose an obscure prophet about whom we know very little to be the one who would confront David.  What an assignment that was!  Imagine standing before the most powerful man in the world and being told by God to point a finger at him and tell him that he had sinned.  That was the assignment God gave Nathan.  David could have had him executed for his audacity.  He’d already proven that he would stoop to murder to cover his sin, so Nathan couldn’t be sure how David would respond.  But with obedience and boldness Nathan did exactly what God asked him to do and trusted the outcome to God.

He approached David with a story.  "There were two men in a certain town, one rich and the other poor.  The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle, but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought.  He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children.  It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms.  It was like a daughter to him.  Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him.  Instead, he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it for the one who had come to him." (2 Samuel 12:1-4)

David responded with fury – fury at the rich man who had stolen the poor man’s only sheep.  David was ready to have the man punished severely:  "As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this deserves to die!  He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity." (2 Samuel 12:5-6)

Nathan’s next statement cut David right to his heart.  "You are the man!” (2 Samuel 12:7)  And Nathan proceeded to reveal to David that he knew about David’s sin.

Then came the critical point:  how would David respond to the rebuke God had sent him?  In evidence that his relationship with God was real, David admitted his sin.  "I have sinned against the Lord." (2 Samuel 12:13)

If you had been Nathan, given such a dangerous and important responsibility by God, how would have responded?  Would you have been obedient?  Would you have obeyed with the kind of boldness with which Nathan obeyed?  Would you have trusted God with the outcome?

If you had been David, how would you have responded to Nathan’s rebuke?  Would you try to keep covering your sin by silencing Nathan?  Would you deny the charge and hope that it would go away?  Would you find some excuses that would minimize your guilt?  Would you try to shift the blame to Bathsheba?

Nathan obeyed and David admitted – they both responded right to the Lord.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Tuesday Thought -- October 18, 2011

Good Morning Friends,

Bathsheba was pregnant because of David’s sin.  Her husband would know she had been unfaithful because he was with the army at war.  David sought to cover his sin by sending for Uriah, thinking that if he was home for a few days he would lie with his wife and would never know that the child she carried was not his.  But David’s plotting did not turn out the way he planned.  Because the army was in the midst of the battle, Uriah was unwilling to spend any time at home.  He stayed at David’s palace and slept with David’s servants.  He could not enjoy his home and his wife while his fellow soldiers were suffering.

So, David devised a second plan to cover his sin:  “In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah.  In it he wrote, ‘Put Uriah in the front line where the fighting is fiercest.  Then withdraw from him so he will be struck down and die.’" (2 Samuel 11:14-15)  David plotted to have Uriah killed!

David’s sin started with idleness.  It moved to lust and then quickly to adultery.  Next came lies and treachery.  Finally, it ended with murder.

If you had told David before this episode started that he would have a good man killed, David would have been shocked and angered by that thought.  He would never have imagined that he would stoop to such sinful behavior.  But giving in to one temptation put him on a path that ended in murder.  Of course, at any time he could have turned back to God in repentance and got off the road -- but his sin had blinded him and he kept walking from one sin to the next -- from bad to worse.

Sin is a trap.  That’s what James said, too.  “Each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.  Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” (James 1:14-15)  It starts with desire -- it moves to sin -- it ends in death.  No one would choose death if the end of the path was clear at the beginning.  When we give in to the temptation to sin, we are blinded by our own desire and don’t see the pain that is at the end of the road.

The time to say no to sin is early in the battle, at the desire stage.  If only David had said no to his desire for Bathsheba.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Monday Thought -- October 17, 2011

Good Morning Friends,

“In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king's men and the whole Israelite army.  They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah.  But David remained in Jerusalem.  One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace.  From the roof he saw a woman bathing.  The woman was very beautiful, and David sent someone to find out about her.  The man said, ‘Isn't this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite?’  Then David sent messengers to get her.  She came to him, and he slept with her.  (She had purified herself from her uncleanness.)  Then she went back home.  The woman conceived and sent word to David, saying, ‘I am pregnant.’" (2 Samuel 11:1-5)

David’s sin with Bathsheba began with David in a place he should not have been.  It was spring, the “time when kings go off to war.”  David’s army was sent to do battle, but David did not go with them.  He sent the army commander, Joab, and he remained in Jerusalem.  It was an idle time for David and in his idleness, the devil found an opportunity to tempt him.

David lingered in looking at Bathsheba while she bathed.  Rather than quickly turn away from the scene, David looked long enough to determine that she was a very beautiful woman.  Paul reminded the Corinthians to “Flee from sexual immorality.” (1 Corinthians 6:18)  Instead, David dwelt on the beauty of the woman before him.

David knew she was a married woman.  He sent someone to find out about her and they brought back the news of her identity.  This was no sin of ignorance.  David knew who Bathsheba was and what he was doing.  David had no right to take her, she belonged to another man.  But David wasn’t concerned about what was right that night -- he was concerned only about what he wanted.  He wanted Bathsheba -- and he took her.

God promises to always provide a way out of the temptations that come to us.  Paul told the Corinthians, “When you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

God gave at least three ways out for David:

1.  He could have gone to war with the army and avoided the temptations of idleness.

2.  He could have turned quickly away when he noticed a woman bathing at the house next door.

3.  He could have listened to the word of her marital status and stopped his plotting at that moment.

But David rejected all of those opportunities and any others God provided.

When you are tempted, look for the opportunities to get out from under it and don’t give in like David did.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Friday Thought -- October 14, 2011

Good Morning Friends,

There is a beautiful prayer of David that concludes 2 Samuel 7.  It’s a long prayer, running from verse 18 through the end of the chapter, verse 29.  Here’s just the first few verses.

"Who am I, O Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?  And as if this were not enough in your sight, O Sovereign LORD, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant. Is this your usual way of dealing with man, O Sovereign LORD?  What more can David say to you?  For you know your servant, O Sovereign LORD.  For the sake of your word and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made it known to your servant.” (2 Samuel 7:18-21)

One of the things that stands out in David’s prayer is the way he addressed God.  You can see it four times in the first four verses of the prayer above … O Sovereign LORD.  Altogether, there are eight or nine times that David addresses God that way in the full prayer.

“O Sovereign LORD” is a combination of two Hebrew words:  “Adonai Yahweh.”  You probably recognize the second word, “Yahweh” as the Hebrew name of God.  It’s the name that the Jews refused to say in Jesus’ day because they didn’t want to be guilty of taking it in vain.  Even when they translated the Old Testament, like this passage, they wouldn’t even write Yahweh, they would substitute the word LORD for it.

The first of the two words, “Adonai,” comes from a root word that means “to rule.”  So, it came to stand for the one who controlled -- whether talking about a man who was in control of something or God who was in control of all things.  And that is what David is emphasizing in his prayer -- he was acknowledging that the Lord was in control of his life -- and in control of all things.

David did not believe the position he had risen to as king of Israel came to him because he deserved it or somehow earned it.  He knew it was the gift of God.  David did not believe that the blessings that he knew as king -- his marvelous palace, his great wealth, his many fine sons, his victories over the enemies of Israel, and the peace he was enjoying … came because he was so great or so righteous.  He knew that those, too, were gifts from the Lord who was in control.

So, David prayed this prayer to acknowledge to the Lord that he understood that and to express his gratitude and praise to God for all that God had done for him and his family.  He was in awe of the blessings he knew in life.

I know that life can be hard at times for all of us and it does contain some things that are not enjoyable for us.  But who among us would admit that we have received no blessings from the Lord during our lives?  Only someone totally blind to reality could say that God had given them nothing of value in life.  We are all like David -- recipients of God’s rich blessings -- a relationship with Him, forgiveness of our sins, the promise of eternity in heaven, the presence of the Holy Spirit, a church family, a physical family, material provision, and on and on the list could go for each of us.

Have you, like David, stopped to acknowledge to God that you understand that what you have is a gift from Him?  Have you expressed your gratitude and praise to God for what He has done for you?

His, by Grace,

Steve

Thursday Thought -- October 13, 2011

Good Morning Friends,

David had one great dream left, he wanted to build a grand temple for the Lord.  He had defeated the enemies of Israel and was living in peace in Jerusalem. (2 Samuel 7:1)  He had a beautiful palace for himself and his family and was enjoying life in it. (2 Samuel 7:2)  Now, David wanted to build a temple that would honor the God he loved so much.

David approached his dream with the right kind of attitude.  Before pursuing it he inquired of the Lord through the prophet Nathan about whether or not it would please God.  Before inquiring of the Lord, the prophet Nathan gave David his own opinion that it would please the Lord and that God would bless it.  But that night the Lord spoke to Nathan and told him that David was not to build the temple.

Instead of allowing David to pursue his dream, God gave David an even better dream.  “The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you:  When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom.  He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.  I will be his father, and he will be my son.  When he does wrong, I will punish him with the rod of men, with floggings inflicted by men.  But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you.  Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.” (2 Samuel 7:11-16)

God did not offer David the opportunity to build the temple.  Instead, God promised an enduring kingdom, with his offspring sitting on the throne forever.  And God promised that it would be his son who would build the temple.  It was a dream beyond David’s wildest imagination.  His house would not be like the house of Saul, whose leadership of Israel vanished after just one generation.  David’s house would contain a long line of kings … with one King who would sit on the throne forever in an eternal kingdom of God.

Some of our dreams come true, God allows us to have our dreams, to pursue them, and to accomplish them.  Some of our dreams are thwarted – by our own mistakes, by opposition, by circumstances, sometimes even by God Himself.  Sometimes although our own dreams are thwarted, the dreams God has for us turn out to be even grander than our own.  In fact, that is what God promised to us.  What we see fulfilled in David is what God has promised to us – the dreams God has for us will be even more amazing than any dream we would ever have for ourselves.

The Apostle Paul wrote, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!  Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21)

God does more in us, through us, and for us than we could ever imagine!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Wednesday Thought -- October 12, 2011

Good Morning Friends,

After Uzzah died because he touched the ark of God, David was afraid to bring it into the city of Jerusalem.  He left the ark near the place where Uzzah had died, at the house of a man named Obed-Edom the Gittite.  It was there for three months and during that time Obed-Edom and his entire household were greatly blessed by the Lord. (2 Samuel 6:11)

David heard about the blessings that came to Obed-Edom and realized this was God’s response to the ark’s presence in his home.  David wanted the blessing of the Lord in his own city and so, “David went down and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing.” (2 Samuel 6:12)

It was in a great procession with worship and dancing that David and the people of Israel brought the ark toward Jerusalem.  “When those who were carrying the ark of the Lord had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf.  David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the Lord with all his might, while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets.” (2 Samuel 6:13-15)

David and the procession entered the city of Jerusalem and he was dancing and leaping for joy.  David was worshiping God with abandon.  He was expressing the joy that was in his heart and his appreciation for the way God had already blessed him and the prospect of further blessing for him and his people.  He loved God and he was willing for all of the people to see him express that love.  But when David’s wife, Michael, saw David dancing and leaping with such joy, she was embarrassed and despised him. (2 Samuel 6:16)  When David reached home she said to him with sarcasm, “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, disrobing in the sight of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!” (2 Samuel 6:20)

And here was David’s response:  “It was before the Lord, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the Lord's people Israel – I will celebrate before the Lord.  I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes.  But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.” (2 Samuel 6:21-22)

David didn’t really care what the people thought about the way he was expressing his joy in the Lord.  He was willing to make a fool of himself before the people, if that’s what they wanted to think.  It wasn’t the people he was trying to impress nor was it for their benefit that he was dancing and leaping.  What he was doing, he was doing only for the Lord.

I wonder, when we worship, do we ever do so with abandon, opening our heart fully to express our love and appreciation to the Lord with the fullness of joy that we feel?  And I wonder, when we worship, do we think more about what God might be thinking of how we are expressing ourselves to Him, or are we thinking about what those around us might think of us if we raise our hands, or sing a little loud, or close our eyes, or move a little?

His, by Grace,

Steve

Tuesday Thought -- October 11, 2011

Good Morning Friends,

“They set the ark of God on a new cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart with the ark of God on it, and Ahio was walking in front of it.  David and the whole house of Israel were celebrating with all their might before the Lord, with songs and with harps, lyres, tambourines, sistrums and cymbals.  When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled.  The Lord's anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down and he died there beside the ark of God.” (2 Samuel 6:3-7)

David wanted the ark of God in his new city, Jerusalem.  Until this time it had been kept at the house of the high priest.  Now, David wanted it to be near his palace.  David and the people of Israel traveled to the house of Abinadab the priest intent on bringing the ark to Jerusalem.  David had a new cart built just for the purpose and oxen were brought along to pull the cart.  Abinadab’s sons, Uzzah and Ahio walked along with the ark, Ahio in front and Uzzah in the rear.  As they were walking, with the people all around them raising their voices in praise to God, the oxen stumbled and it looked as if the ark might be thrown off the cart and damaged.  So Uzzah reached out to steady the ark, to protect it.

The problem was that God had made it clear that no man was ever to touch the ark.  When Moses had built it he had made special provision so that it would never need to be touched.  Rings had been built into it that long poles would fit through.  When it was moved, as it was often during the days of Moses when the people of Israel were wandering in the desert, the Levites put the long poles through the rings and carried the ark.  It took four men to carry it.

Two things went wrong when David was moving the ark to Jerusalem.

1.  David chose a new method for moving the ark.  It seemed like a better method.  It was easier to put the ark on a cart and have it pulled by oxen than to have it carried by four Levites.  They could move faster.  It was less of a burden.  But it was not the way that God had instructed for the ark to be moved.  David had a better idea than God!

2.  Uzzah didn’t trust God to take care of the ark on the cart.  When it looked like it was in danger, he took matters into his own hands and reached out to steady the ark.  He thought protecting the ark was more important than following God’s instructions.

Those same two problems arise in our lives over and over.  We think we have a better way than the one God has given to us, so we do our own thing.  We may even do it out of good motives and with worship accompanying it … but if we ignore God’s way and go our own we do so at great risk.  And sometimes we think God needs our help to protect His work.  We often take matters into our own hands, ignoring God’s instructions.

The point of this story is clear … God knows what He is doing and He wants us to listen to Him and follow His instructions.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Monday Thought -- October 10, 2011

Good Morning Friends,

After Saul was killed, David became king and set up his throne in Jerusalem.  The people knew that the Lord had declared David king, “All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, ‘We are your own flesh and blood.  In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns.  And the Lord said to you, “You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.”’” (2 Samuel 5:1-2)

The mark of David’s reign as king was his relationship with the Lord.

It was the Lord who established and strengthened David’s leadership, “And he became more and more powerful, because the Lord God Almighty was with him.” (2 Samuel 5:10)

David knew and acknowledged the Lord’s hand in making him king, “And David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.” (2 Samuel 5:12)

When the enemies of David and Israel came to attack, David did not respond with pride, demonstrating his own strength, but first by inquiring of the Lord about how to respond to their threats.  David understood that he was strong, only as he followed the Lord, only as the Lord provided him with strength.

“Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; so David inquired of the Lord, ‘Shall I go and attack the Philistines?  Will you hand them over to me?’  The Lord answered him, ‘Go, for I will surely hand the Philistines over to you.’  So David went to Baal Perazim, and there he defeated them.” (2 Samuel 5:18-20)

“Once more the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; so David inquired of the Lord, and he answered, ‘Do not go straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees.  As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because that will mean the Lord has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army.’  So David did as the Lord commanded him.” (2 Samuel 5:22-25)

David --

Acknowledged the Lord.

Trusted the Lord.

Inquired of the Lord.

Obeyed the Lord.

And God blessed David and his kingdom because of David’s faithfulness to Him.  The primary mark of David’s life was his relationship with God.  What is the primary mark of your life?

His, by Grace,

Steve