I recently had the honour of conducting a memorial service for a family member who had committed suicide. He left behind a wife and 2 month old daughter, his parents, a brother and a long list of relatives and friends. Leading the memorial gathering was a tough assignment!
The questions in the minds of the mourners were obvious. Why did he resort to such drastic action?
Read More grace, mercy, hope, vision, suicideHave you ever wanted something but knew that your desire was wrong? Perhaps it was improper relationship with a member of the opposite sex. Maybe it was taking a little extra money from the company’s bank account. Maybe it was cheating on your income taxes or that final exam at school?
We are constantly bombarded with opportunities to serve our own desires.
Read More obedience, ambition, submission to GodI recall being hurt by a “brother.” He claimed to believe, live and love the same God as I did and yet he hurt me. And the hurt he caused me was real and unjustified!
I can remember thinking, “One day he will pay for how he hurt me. God, either I or both of us will be able to make him pay! And when he does, I hope they won’t ask me to ever pay him tribute!”
Read More forgiveness, redemption, graceHave you ever tried to resist what you clearly knew was God’s plan? What were the results? Frustration? Loss? Disappointment? Confusion? All of these and more?
In this text, we read of the final resolution of the leaders of Israel to accept God’s directive to have David serve as king of his chosen people. But reaching this resolution took years and cost plenty.
Read More blessing, king, planHaving captured Zion, David resolved to make it God’s city, and to establish there the chest containing the holy things that the Philistines had captured. He recognized the ark as a symbol of God’s throne, and bringing it to Jerusalem was a sign that he recognized God as the real king of the Israelites. The death of Uzzah seems strange to us, but David had failed to obey the stipulations for moving the holy things (Numbers 4:4–6, 15, 17–20). God took these actions of David with the utmost seriousness.
Read More judging, perspective, appearancesOne of my weekly joys is helping a group of youth at our church prepare for their “rotation” as music worship leaders each month. Each week we meet to choose and rehearse songs that we believe will be meaningful and serve as a means to lead people into a deeper and closer relationship with Jesus.
The talent of my group eclipses my own – by several degrees – and I am sure the members of the congregation recognize and appreciate that.
Read More worship, testimony, songThere is so much in this text that can teach us but the one thing that is shouting out at me is Nathan’s 180 degree turn of advice. Why?
When David first had the brainwave to erect an appropriate dwelling for the God of Heaven’s armies, he summoned a trusted prophet – Nathan. Surely with Nathan’s approval, this must be something David should pursue.
Read More plans, God’s willWhat is God up to? Why does he do what he does? What is his purpose?
David knew. God’s desire and the purpose of his divinely orchestrated action was to be glorified. That’s a nice word – glorified – but what does it mean?
Someone once gave me an illustration that helped me appreciate and better understand the concept of “glorifying God.”
Read More gloryMany of the narratives from David’s life humble me. What can I do to be more like this person who often displayed a heart that was totally committed to God and to living in a way that brought honour to his Lord.
In this text we see David making much ado about something many of us might miss. He was a busy person. He was the king of the nation. He was the commander of the army.
Read More commitment, faithfulness, honour