Have 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 redemption, grace, forgivenessAnd now what? David was in a difficult position. He knew that Samuel had anointed him to be king, and that Samuel was acting from God. Saul may be dead, but he had many supporters who were still living. How was this supposed to work out?
David was careful.
Read More discipleship, leadership, characterHave 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, appearancesThere 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, honourDavid had learned through years of experience that when he was desperate for God, he could overcome great obstacles. But now, he’s getting older and more settled. The kingdom is running well and David is feeling entitled to the perks of kingship.
What happens next serves to remind us that success in earthly affairs can sap spiritual awareness and vitality. When David became self-satisfied, he acted thoughtlessly and caused great pain.
Read More temptation, selfishness, entitlementIt seems incredible that David could remain blind to his complicity in a terrible crime, oblivious to the grievous injuries he inflicted. Yet he did, and he’s not the only one with a problem coming to terms with his own misdeeds.
How telling that it took a storyteller to get him to see things through a proper moral lens.
Read More sin, blind spots, rationalizing, friend