Legacy

¹¹ Therefore the LORD said to Solomon, “Because you have done this, and have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant. ¹² Nevertheless I will not do it in your days, for the sake of your father David; I will tear it out of the hand of your son. ¹³ However I will not tear away the whole kingdom; I will give one tribe to your son for the sake of My servant David, and for the sake of Jerusalem which I have chosen.” - 1 Kings 11:11-13

     The choices we make will impact future generations. This truth is seen throughout the Bible but is always a humbling reminder and challenge. The older I get, the more I think about the future. Kind of ironic considering how badly I wanted the future to hurry up when I was a kid. As a kid, the future just meant getting older and cooler and smarter and richer and getting the authority to boss people around. Now, getting older means being responsible and considering my impact on the world. How am I going to lead my family? What am I going to leave behind? How much money should I have for retirement? Most importantly is what I will leave behind spiritually. David left a strong legacy with blessings passing on to Solomon even in his sinfulness. Solomon, however, brought trials and troubles to the generation after him. His sin led others astray and would ultimately lead to civil war. He knew of David's legacy. He followed in his father's footsteps. Then he fell, and he continued to fall, and he didn't turn things back around. Because of his selfish desires, Solomon bestowed a tainted and painful legacy upon his children. What legacy will I leave? Am I willing to do what is right so that future generations may be blessed? Will I choose to follow my selfish desires at the expense of the future? Our actions are not confined to our lives only. I must stay true to God for not only my own sake, but for the sake of those who will follow after me.

Relationships

For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the LORD his God, as was the heart of his father David. - 1 Kings 11:4

     Relationships are crucial to our well-being. Family, friends, love interests, and even strangers all play an important role in our lives. We just saw the impact that Solomon was able to have on a stranger. The queen of Sheba was greatly impressed with what she found. We have seen the influence of David upon his son, Solomon. Now Solomon is face to face with the results of his relationship choices. God had warned Israel about the surrounding nations. God had commanded that Israel avoid intermarrying with their pagan neighbors. Solomon refused to listen. His lust and desire drove him to play with fire and he has now been burned. His many unbelieving wives turned his heart away from his God and led him to idol worship and pagan rituals. Where do my relationships lead me? I know that throughout my life I have had many relationships that were not healthy. I often lowered my standards to hang onto a friendship. I often did things with the "crowd" that I knew I should not do. As I Christian I don't believe in religion, I believe in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. This is the most important relationship of all. He is the only one who will never forsake me. Hebrews 13:5b - For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Working in a school, I see relationship problems every single day. Often someone is upset because their friend is spending more time with other people rather than them. It seems like silly, high school drama until I compare it with my spiritual life. How often is my life filled with spiritual "teenage drama" as I put other relationships before Jesus? How often do I turn away from Jesus because He isn't "cool" enough at the moment? I know I am guilty of keeping Him as a secret friend all too often. Like the nerd you are friends with outside of school, but never where you might be seen. Solomon in all of his wisdom threw away the most important relationship in his life. May my wisdom exceed that of Solomon and may my relationships always be in the right order of importance.

The Queen's Report

⁸ Happy are your men and happy are these your servants, who stand continually before you and hear your wisdom! ⁹ Blessed be the LORD your God, who delighted in you, setting you on the throne of Israel! Because the LORD has loved Israel forever, therefore He made you king, to do justice and righteousness.” - 1 Kings 10:8-9

     In verses eight and nine we see the culmination of the queen of Sheba's visit to Solomon. She has tested him with difficult questions. She has examined his character and kingdom and found that they live up to the reputation that preceded him. She now states how impressed she is by the happiness of the people around him and praises the Lord for all that Solomon represents. Once again I must challenge myself and my fellow Christians. If the queen of Sheba visited our churches would she be impressed by the happiness of the members? Would she have any reason to bless the name of God? I know there are many times that she would not be impressed by the happiness, or lack thereof, that I am emanating. Often I seem to go to church out of some sense of duty or tradition rather than to praise, worship, and learn about my Savior. I'm frequently so consumed with my church family that I don't reach out to a visitor. What about her view of me and my church? Would she praise the Lord for what she found? There are times when I feel like the only thing a visitor would be able to praise is our social calendar. She might be impressed by our youth program or our choir or our after church socials or our softball team, but would she be impressed by our God? If Jesus Christ is not the focus of every Sunday, we are failing. The other aspects of church are important but not important enough to outshine Jesus. I wonder what the queen of Sheba would find. I know I have plenty of work to do before I would want to see her answer.

Actions speak louder

⁶ Then she said to the king: “It was a true report which I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom. ⁷ However I did not believe the words until I came and saw with my own eyes; and indeed the half was not told me. Your wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame of which I heard. - 1 Kings 10:6-7

     Following yesterday's verses and the queens questioning of Solomon, we see her response. The queen of Sheba finds all of the rumors about Solomon to be true. In fact, she finds that he truly exceeds her expectations. Could the lost say the same about me? Each day there are hundreds of people around me that are waiting to see with their own eyes. I talk and witness and preach. I share the Gospel in word, but the world does not believe. They need more than words. The unsaved are looking for a reason to become a Christian. I'm afraid when they begin looking that they often don't see someone any different than they are. They hear about God's grace and forgiveness and about turning the other cheek and then they watch us devour our fellow believers over petty disputes. They watch churches split and crumble over the color of the new carpet. They watch secular corporations raise money and send relief to people in need while Christians plan their next church social. They hear us speak about holiness and righteousness and then listen as we curse, take God's name in vain, and gossip. They have heard of the patience of Job, but they see us when we're stuck in traffic. They have heard of the faith of Abraham, but they see us despondent over our jobs. They have watched hypocrisy grow and grow until it blocks out the light that God is shining toward them. How many people have I turned away with my sinfulness? How many people are now closer to hell because I was living closer to hell? I pray that in the future, my "queens of Sheba" will find that all they have heard is true. May they find that my life of service to Christ far exceeds their expectations.

Hard Questions

Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to test him with hard questions. - 1 Kings 10:1

     How true this is! I constantly have students testing me with hard questions about my faith. I have come to realize how incredibly important it is to have an answer. False doctrine runs rampant in our society. We live in a time when "thought" and "science" rule and only stupid people believe in God. Christianity is constantly under attack from Satan's lies. Do I have an answer? How foolish we often look when we stutter and stammer and say "I don't know." The devil is somewhere smiling every time a Christian is cornered and flustered. I must constantly grow in knowledge. The more I learn the more sure I will become in my faith as well. As I searched for answers to these hard questions, the first thing I realized was my avoidance of major issues. Why do I believe what I believe? How do I explain certain theological issues? How do I justify certain actions seen in the Bible? It became clear that I had just floated along with the pastor's answers all my life and had never really searched out my own personal response. I feel that many Christians today are just like me. This is a major problem for our faith. A Christian who has never searched for answers, who has never solidified what they believe, will crumble under pressure. 1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear. This verse was written for a reason. We must always be ready to give a defense. We must know how to answer the hard questions. We will all have to give an answer to our own queen of Sheba. One day we may be startled to find a testing queen living on our own heart and mind. Be ready to give your answers.

Dwelling

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. - John 1:14

     Heard an amazing message from this passage this morning. Touched on a lot of things that I have been thinking about and convicted about for a while. The past few years have been a challenge for me to grasp the true meaning of church and my part in the church. I've done a lot of studying and a lot of searching and the one sure conclusion I have come to is that we have it all wrong. God really spoke to me this morning. This verse tells us that Jesus came and dwelt among us. He didn't walk among us, he didn't pass through us, he DWELT among us. The God of the universe was willing to spend His time surrounded by sinners. He sat and ate with men who had done things absolutely repulsive to His holiness and righteousness. He showed compassion and love and understanding to people who never even acknowledged their Creator. If my Lord and Savior could dwell among such people, why do I struggle to commune with my church family? Church is filled with so many cliques and clubs and so much gossip and backstabbing it's like an episode of reality television. I'm not following the simple example of Jesus. We're not showing the outstretched hand of our Savior. I'm not showing the compassion of my King, nor am I dwelling with my family as I should. The first step to fixing the church is realizing that it isn't about any of us. It's about Jesus and Him alone. He is the Head of the church and we should follow His example. An example that shows grace and love to the most lost of sinners and especially to His own family. If the Holy God of the universe can dwell among sinful men, I think it is the least that I can do to dwell among my brothers and sisters peacefully as we work toward a common goal.

Psaturday Psalm

An amazing Psalm to read and meditate on after a busy week. May we all revere our Lord in such a high fashion as the God of our cities and countries.

Psalm 48

A Song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.

¹ Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised
         In the city of our God,
         In His holy mountain.
 ² Beautiful in elevation,
         The joy of the whole earth,
         Is Mount Zion on the sides of the north,
         The city of the great King.
 ³ God is in her palaces;
         He is known as her refuge.
        
 ⁴ For behold, the kings assembled,
         They passed by together.
 ⁵ They saw it, and so they marveled;
         They were troubled, they hastened away.
 ⁶ Fear took hold of them there,
         And pain, as of a woman in birth pangs,
 ⁷ As when You break the ships of Tarshish
         With an east wind.
        
 ⁸ As we have heard,
         So we have seen
         In the city of the LORD of hosts,
         In the city of our God:
         God will establish it forever.  Selah 
        
 ⁹ We have thought, O God, on Your lovingkindness,
         In the midst of Your temple.
 ¹⁰ According to Your name, O God,
         So is Your praise to the ends of the earth;
         Your right hand is full of righteousness.
 ¹¹ Let Mount Zion rejoice,
         Let the daughters of Judah be glad,
         Because of Your judgments.
        
 ¹² Walk about Zion,
         And go all around her.
         Count her towers;
 ¹³ Mark well her bulwarks;
         Consider her palaces;
         That you may tell it to the generation following.
 ¹⁴ For this is God,
         Our God forever and ever;
         He will be our guide
         Even to death.

On the shelf

And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had rendered; and they feared the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice. - 1 Kings 3:28

     Yesterday I was really challenged about asking the Lord for gifts that will benefit others. Today I am challenged to go one step further. After receiving wisdom from the Lord, Solomon immediately puts it to use by solving a domestic dispute. Not only did Solomon ask for a gift to benefit others, but he also used it! I think back to my childhood and all of the toys I wanted. The newest action figure or game or whatever looked so amazing on the shelf. I would beg my parents for it or put it on a birthday or Christmas wish list or save my allowance to eventually purchase it. Many times after all of this anticipation and desire I would stick the item on a shelf and forget about it so quickly. None of it ever really lived up to my imaginations. Am I doing that with my spiritual gifts? Am I too busy asking for a new gift while I have unused gifts in my life? Often I get excited and ask God for help with something and I use His help for a while, but then I kind of fade away. I get busy and preoccupied and I lay God's gift on a shelf somewhere in my heart. It's time that I cleaned off the shelf and used my gifts to the best of my ability, all the time. Like each of our real-life closets, we may be surprised what we find within us if we take the time to look.

For Others

⁶And Solomon said: “You have shown great mercy to Your servant David my father, because he walked before You in truth, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with You; You have continued this great kindness for him, and You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. ⁷ Now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. ⁸ And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted. ⁹ Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?” ¹⁰ The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. 

- 1 Kings 3:6-10

     I feel that sometimes Solomon is lost in David's wake. I hear so many references to David and his Godliness and his example, but very few references to Solomon. Like David, Solomon had his ups and downs too. He is well-known mostly because if his many wives and because of his knowledge and riches. The story of God granting him this knowledge gives us a glimpse inside of this great man. Solomon is given a chance that many people would kill to have. God offers to give Solomon a gift. He could have asked for riches or women or long life or revenge or a million other things. He could have even asked for wisdom for himself. However, he asks for wisdom to rule God's people. He asks for something that will benefit those under his leadership. If this is not the sign of a true leader I don't know what is. I have to ask myself how often I actually desire something from God that will benefit others. I'm so consumed with my needs and desires and my struggles. This passage shows me that God is pleased when I look past myself and desire for my life to benefit others. My Savior and Example Jesus Christ gave up what He wanted in order to benefit others. What is it that my life needs so that I may impact those around me? I'm not always sure. Guess I'll pray for wisdom like Solomon, that God may show me how to lead others into His Kingdom.

High Places

² Meanwhile the people sacrificed at the high places, because there was no house built for the name of the LORD until those days. ³ And Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of his father David, except that he sacrificed and burned incense at the high places.⁴ Now the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place: Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. ⁵ At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask! What shall I give you?”- 1 Kings 3:2-5

     A sad reality and a handful of questions all in one. Verse two is all too real in my own life and the lives of those around me. I so quickly fall away from the Lord if there is not a support system around me. Don't get me wrong, a church family and Godly friends and Bible studies are all a wonderful part of our Christian walk. The problem comes when I rely on these "extras" to support me. When I get right down to the facts, the only thing that matters is my personal relationship with Jesus. I have to be able to keep myself focused. What if I lose my church family? What if I'm called somewhere without a church? What if I have no friends who know God? What if there are no Bible studies? What if I lose all connection to Christianity whatsoever? Have I then lost my relationship, my salvation, my Lord? What a crazy idea! The people in this passage seem to be sacrificing to idols simply because there is no temple. How sad. 

     This brings me to the many questions this passage raises for me. High places is primarily used to describe locations of pagan worship. If that is the meaning here, why does the Bible seem so casual with the mention of Solomon doing the same? Verse three says that Solomon loved God, yet he is making major sacrifices at the largest altar around. How does this make sense? God appears to Solomon and offers him whatever he wants. Would God do this with an idolatrous man? What are your thoughts? Opinions? Please comment below.

Maturity

Forsake foolishness and live, and go in the way of understanding. - Proverbs 9:6 

 

     Later this week I will be speaking to some of my students about several life issues. One of the main issues is immaturity. As I searched for verses today I was convicted about my own immaturity. The main problems I face as a teacher are students talking in class, not listening to instructions, and speaking Chinese instead of English. So often I am consumed with talking about me and my life and what I want, instead of talking about what God wants. I'm doing way too much talking and never enough listening. This brings me to the second point: listening to instructions. I get so upset with my student's entire lack of attention sometimes. How much better am I? Am I listening to God? Am I following His instructions? God tells me so plainly what He wants done on a daily basis and I play dumb and plod along in my own world. The third point seems a little odd. Being in an American school in Taiwan means that we are all English, and the goal is for all of our students to be comfortable and fluent in English as well. However, in their daily conversations, my students prefer to speak in their mother tongue rather than practice their English skills. How does this relate to me? Well, I find that I often want to speak and act the way I used to act. I want to speak the language and live the life I had before I knew God's "language." It's so much easier to fall back into what I know rather than work hard at the new life. Proverbs says, "forsake foolishness." I need to get over my foolishness and immaturity and start acting like a spiritual "man."

Provisions

²⁷ Now it happened, when David had come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash from Rabbah of the people of Ammon, Machir the son of Ammiel from Lo Debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim, ²⁸ brought beds and basins, earthen vessels and wheat, barley and flour, parched grain and beans, lentils and parched seeds, ²⁹ honey and curds, sheep and cheese of the herd, for David and the people who were with him to eat. For they said, “The people are hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness.” - 2 Samuel 17:27-29

     A simple and comforting thought today. David has run for his life from his own son Absalom. He is in the wilderness as Absalom takes over his city and throne. He is back on the run; fearing for his life. Here, in the middle of calamity, those who are faithful meet David in the wild and bring supplies for him and his men. No matter how deep in the wilderness I must run, I know God will always provide. When Satan seems to have won, when I must run from his power and minions, God offers a place of refuge. Psalm 9:9 The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. God never forgets about His children. Not only is this a great reminder of God's provision, but also of His provision through His servants as well. How great it must have been to be able to support David during such a difficult time. We are all one body and one family. We must always support each other, even in physical and monetary ways. God will never leave us alone. May my heart always be open to the hungry, weary, and thirsty and may my hands always be open to receive God's overwhelming provision.

The Power of Absalom

¹³ Now a messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.”
¹⁴ So David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise, and let us flee, or we shall not escape from Absalom. Make haste to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly and bring disaster upon us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.”- 2 Samuel 15:13-14

     Is this really the same David I have been studying? Is this the brave warrior who has defeated so many of the enemies of the Lord? Is this not the king who was chosen and anointed by God? Why is David running away? Absalom has successfully turned many against David, but God is still in control. I'm not sure what is going through David's mind. Perhaps it was far worse than the text implies and David is being very wise. Perhaps he is still just avoiding the situation with his son for fear of what may happen. I don't know. What I do know is that I face the same situation every day. All around me people are with "Absalom". Satan's grip is strong and sometimes seems unshakable. Do I run away? Unfortunately I often do. I convince myself that people have chosen to side with "Absalom" and I run away. I decide that they are too loyal and that to share the Gospel would be a waste. And perhaps I am much more like David than I care to think. Justifying my cowardice to keep peace with family members who do not believe. What am I worried about? Why do I doubt? David actually says, "we shall not escape from Absalom." Surprise! The same God that helped a young, scrawny David topple Goliath is the same God Who would protect him from Absalom. And though I often seem to forget, He is the same God who works through me in the hearts of even the most devout followers of "Absalom."

At the Gate

¹In the course of time, Absalom provided himself with a chariot and horses and with fifty men to run ahead of him. ²He 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.” ³Then Absalom would say to him,“Look, your claims are valid and proper, but there is no representative of the king to hear you.” ⁴And 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 they receive justice.” ⁵Also, whenever anyone approached him to bow down before him, Absalom would reach out his hand, take hold of him and kiss him. ⁶Absalom behaved in this way toward all the Israelites who came to the king asking for justice, and so he stole the hearts of the people of Israel.

- 2 Samuel 15:1-6

     Where was David during all of this? More importantly, where were those who were faithful to David? Absalom slowly won over enough people to lead a coup and it seems he had no opposition. Every day false prophets and the servants of the devil are waiting by the gate and calling out to the lost. They may try to incite bitterness against the Lord and His "apparent" lack of help, or they may truly be offering some helpful advice. The world is stealing the hearts of the people and Christians are nowhere to be found. How many days to I get up early and stand at the gate? What does that even mean for me? Well, make it what you want. To me, getting up early shows dedication and strong desire. Being the first one at the gate means me sharing the Gospel before someone else leads that soul in the wrong direction. All of this also convicts me to simply "be there." Where am I when someone is looking for advice? Where am I when someone needs help? Where am I when there is a need for justice? My place is at the gate. I must be there first and be there faithfully, so that no one has the opportunity to say, "there is no representative of the king to hear you."

Perceptive Servant

So Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king’s heart was concerned about Absalom. ² And Joab sent to Tekoa and brought from there a wise woman, and said to her, “Please pretend to be a mourner, and put on mourning apparel; do not anoint yourself with oil, but act like a woman who has been mourning a long time for the dead. ³ Go to the king and speak to him in this manner.” So Joab put the words in her mouth. - 2 Samuel 14:1-3

     Once again I am reminded of what a great man Joab was. He had his faults like any man, but his loyalty is outstanding. He really cares about his king and serves him well. In this passage he is perceptive of David's current internal struggles and goes through a lot of hassle to put a very elaborate plan in motion. He basically hires an actress to try to open David's eyes to what is going on around him. Am I perceptive to what my King is concerned about? When I am close to the Lord I will be able to sense His care and concerns. I will want to serve Him in any way I can. I don't need to hire an actress or "fix" God, but I will go to any length to help do what is best for His plan. This not only challenges me in my relationship with God but also in my relationship with others. How much energy do I exert to help my brothers and sisters in Christ? Do I find a way to help them or just let them deal with their own "personal" issues. I think I often excuse my lack of help by trying not to "interfere" or go "too far" in someone's personal issues. God calls us to help our family. If we are a family, personal issues are personal to us all. May God open my heart to be more in tune with Him and my fellow servants.

Pride or Praise?

²⁶ Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the people of Ammon, and took the royal city. ²⁷ And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, “I have fought against Rabbah, and I have taken the city’s water supply. ²⁸Now therefore, gather the rest of the people together and encamp against the city and take it, lest I take the city and it be called after my name.²⁹ So David gathered all the people together and went to Rabbah, fought against it, and took it. ” - 2 Samuel 12:26-29

     This passage completely blows my mind. I can't imagine the effort and pain of fighting and besieging a city only to stop and wait for someone else to come finish it off and take the glory. Joab's dedication to David is amazing. I've been around a lot of guys in my life and if guys are anything, guys are competitive. Another man taking credit for my awesomeness is not acceptable! However, Joab was more concerned about David's name and legacy. Joab was interested in helping and pleasing his king. While some healthy competition between men is perfectly acceptable, me competing with God is never acceptable. Am I like Joab? Am I concerned with helping and pleasing my King? God gets no glory when I boast of my actions. I get no reward when I try to take credit for my accomplishments. God works with those who realize how truly small they are. In the Bible we consistently see "nobodies" becoming powerful men and women of God. Even in the surrounding passages we find everyday men rising to fill the large shoes God has set out for them. When Samuel speaks to Saul about becoming king, Saul replies, “Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak like this to me?” 1 Samuel 9:21 When Samuel goes to anoint a new king, Jesse doesn't even consider David to be a possible option. And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all the young men here?” Then he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep.”1 Samuel 16:11 Saul and David both went on to do great things for the Lord. I must keep my pride in check and run the race for God's glory. I fear that I often ruin a perfectly good action by my selfish motivation. I often throw away some glorifying deed for a few seconds of ego-boosting babble. If Joab could be so selfless for a flawed, sinful king, why do I struggle to give the Holy Creator the credit He is worthy of receiving?

    

Acceptance

¹⁹ When David saw that his servants were whispering, David perceived that the child was dead. Therefore David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” And they said, “He is dead.” ²⁰ So David arose from the ground, washed and anointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house; and when he requested, they set food before him, and he ate. ²¹ Then his servants said to him, “What is this that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive, but when the child died, you arose and ate food.”
²² And he said, “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who can tell 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 shall not return to me.” - 2 Samuel 12:19-23

     This is obviously a very well-known passage because of the implications in the area of infant salvation and the age of accountability. David is confident that he will see his child again someday. However, I want to focus on David's actions throughout the child's sickness and his response to the servants. David prayed and fasted and mourned for the child in hopes that God would show mercy. As soon as the child has passed away David goes back to his normal routine. The servants are confused. Many of us may be confused as well, or feel that David is uncaring and calloused. In reality, if I could learn to respond as David did my life would be so much easier. I must accept God's will in my life. I must accept His answer and His plan whether I like it or not. Why do I insist on crying and complaining and begging for a different response? I have the choice to either except the reality and move forward, or dwell or what I want and what could have been. David chose to get up and worship God. It is hard for me to even fathom worshiping God right after things "go wrong."  My acceptance needs to mirror that of David. God knows what is best and He has a plan figured out. Romans 8:28 - And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Am I going to stay on my face, immobilized by the unchangeable or am I going to get on my feet and go worship my Lord?

"A man after God's own heart"

Today's thought is a little different. Thanks to my friend Ben for opening up some discussion! Here is his comment in case you missed it:

      "I would love to get your feedback about David being a man after God's own heart. I have always wondered about the way that this should translate into our personal search for God. For some people this is a trump card that is used to redefine David as a superior spiritual being. Do you think he was? Do you think we make too much of David being this "man after God's own heart?" Perhaps since he was the only man who was called this maybe we make too little of it. I would love to hear your perspective?"

    I thought about this a lot today and read some other opinions and read pretty much all of the Biblical account of David. Here is my perspective...

     It sounds wimpy, but I believe that we make too much out of David's title and I believe that we make too little of it. When it comes to the actual title I think we tend to go overboard. Yes, David is the only one christened with such a grand title, but in context I don't think it was intended to be so grand. Let's look at the source: 

     1 Samuel 13:13-14 And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which He commanded you. For now the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.” 

     Acts 13:22 And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’

     Saul has just directly disobeyed the Lord and taken matters into his own hands. He has finally pushed the limits too much and God has removed the kingdom from him. I think in a literal, logical sense, the statement "a man after His own heart" is simply providing a contrast to Saul's attitude and behavior. When we see this title again in Acts there seems to be more clarification. Behind this famous title we have “Who will do My will.” This also seems to imply that David was being compared and contrasted to Saul. Saul had definitely not been following God or obeying Him or showing any signs of having a heart in tune with the Lord. At this point in David's life he had a heart that was seeking to do exactly what God wanted. God needed someone faithful to lead His chosen nation.

    On the flip side, while I do not believe this title means David has reached a solitary spiritual level, I do wholeheartedly believe that David is an amazing example to follow in our Christian walk. David was young when the Lord chose him as king. We know that even as a young shepherd his heart was right with God and his trust and confidence was great. We see David’s willingness to obey the Lord’s command over and over again. In 1 Kings we see an amazing summary of David’s actions.

1 Kings 15:5 - because David did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, and had not turned aside from anything that He commanded him all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.

     David’s sin with Bathsheba and the resulting fall is appalling. However, when David is confronted by Nathan he does not shift the blame, point fingers, or make excuses.

2 Samuel 12:13 - So 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.

     David shows remorse and immediately gets his life back on track. David pays horribly for his sins both with the death of his newborn and the ongoing fallout with his children. There are plenty of moments where we can both question and admire David’s parenting skills. He was still a human, and like all humans had faults and sins. I believe the true test comes in consistency. David always seems able to overcome his faults and realign his heart with God’s desires. There are few examples of men with such consistency.

     In my opinion there is one last thing that makes David great. No other Biblical man of God seemed to have such a tender heart and close connection with the Lord. I believe the Psalms are perfect evidence of this. If we read David’s Psalms we see deeper into his soul than any other Old Testament hero. David was open and honest about the struggles and desires within his heart. He documented his feelings both on the mountains and in the valleys. He was never too proud to mention his faults or express his fears. Any Christian who shows obedience, consistency, humbleness, and faithfulness in the way David did is truly a “Man after God’s own heart.”

What are your thoughts? Please feel free to add to the discussion in the comments below.

Sheep

²⁷ My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. ²⁸ And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. - John 10:27-28

     A very reassuring and comforting passage from church today. The promise of eternal life and the promise that there is nothing we can do to lose this gift. The very idea that we could lose our salvation is to say that Jesus is not powerful enough to keep us in His hand. A thought that is both blasphemous and absurd. What is even more amazing from this passage is the order of events in the first verse. Jesus tells us that as the sheep we hear His voice. However, when we hear His voice, He knows us. This is backwards to our human minds. Even in the very act of salvation it is always God doing the work. Epeshians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. There is nothing we do to deserve salvation or to find it. How great is the love of our Father and Shepherd to search us out and call us even in the blackest of sin! Just like real sheep, once the Shepherd has found us our natural sheeply duty is simply to follow Him.

Strangers

⁴⁷ Fear and a snare have come upon us,
      Desolation and destruction.
       ⁴⁸ My eyes overflow with rivers of water
      For the destruction of the daughter of my people.
       ⁴⁹ My eyes flow and do not cease,
      Without interruption,
       ⁵⁰ Till the LORD from heaven
      Looks down and sees.
       ⁵¹ My eyes bring suffering to my soul
      Because of all the daughters of my city.
       ⁵² My enemies without cause
      Hunted me down like a bird.
       ⁵³ They silenced my life in the pit
      And threw stones at me.
       ⁵⁴ The waters flowed over my head;
      I said, “I am cut off!”
       ⁵⁵ I called on Your name, O LORD,
      From the lowest pit.
       ⁵⁶ You have heard my voice: 

“ Do not hide Your ear
      From my sighing, from my cry for help.”
       ⁵⁷ You drew near on the day I called on You,
      And said, “Do not fear!” 

Lamentations 3:47-57

     When tragedy strikes we must cry out to God. He is our support. He is there to say, "Do not fear!"  Japan is going through tremendous tragedy right now. The news is full of stories and Facebook statuses are covered with the word Japan. What is my response? What am I doing as a Christian in response to this tragedy? The Lord really challenged me about this. So many things happen around us and I may acknowledge the horrible circumstances and "pray" for those involved, but do I really pray? Do I really care, or does it just seem like some distant, alter-reality? If a dear friend or family member was involved, myself and the church would be on our knees weeping and crying out to God. Why not now? Why must it be close to home for us to respond? God puts us here to help those around us. He expects us to call out to Him and pray for the lost and be an example of Christ's love. Verse 51 says, "My eyes bring suffering to my soul because of all the daughters of my city." How often do I suffer because of the tragedy of someone else? How many secular institutions will raise money to support Japan? I'm not sure, but I bet there will be less churches doing the same. I feel that the Church is failing the world around them; myself included. May God clear the calluses from our hearts. Even a child knows not to take a gift from someone they don't know. How will the lost accept the Gospel from someone who has always been a stranger to them?

(For anyone following along faithfully, I experienced many computer issues yesterday and was unable to post. A long look at David is still on its way...but will have to wait until Monday when I retrieve it from my work computer.)

David's Prayer

Today's thought is simply the prayer of King David before passing on the throne to his son, Solomon. I read this today as I was working on a long "thought" that will be coming tomorrow. Powerful words from the heart of a great man.

¹⁰ Therefore David blessed the LORD before all the assembly; and David said:

      “ Blessed are You, LORD God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever.

 ¹¹ Yours, O LORD, is the greatness,
      The power and the glory,
      The victory and the majesty;
      For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours;
      Yours is the kingdom, O LORD,
      And You are exalted as head over all.

 ¹² Both riches and honor come from You,
      And You reign over all.
      In Your hand is power and might;
      In Your hand it is to make great
      And to give strength to all.

 ¹³ “Now therefore, our God,
      We thank You
      And praise Your glorious name.

 ¹⁴ But who am I, and who are my people,
      That we should be able to offer so willingly as this?
      For all things come from You,
      And of Your own we have given You.

1 Chronicles 29:10-14

Complacency

It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. - 2 Samuel 11:1

     In my studying I'm now getting into the low part of David's life story. His relationship with Bathsheba and all of the resulting sin is a sad time but eye-opening nonetheless. The first part of the story seems to imply some complacency on David's part. It seems that this was the time of year when kings were expected to fight wars. David knows this and has sent his trusted leaders and all of his army into battle. Why then is David in Jerusalem? In the preceding chapters we see other instances of David sending Joab to fight without him. I have no idea why David is not participating but in my life I see it as complacency. The entire reason for starting this blog, and the inspiration for the title, has to do with keeping forward movement in my spiritual life. When David got comfortable, when he had trusted helpers, when he felt like he had done enough, he stayed away from the battle. In this moment of complacency Satan chose to strike. Can I expect any less in my own life? If the man God claims is a man after His own heart is capable of such a tremendous fall, what lies in store for me when I become complacent? When I decide that I have fought enough and choose to sit out of the battle, will Satan strike? Why wouldn't he? Attacking an unprepared enemy is one of the best options for success. Ephesians 6:11 - Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. I'm not wearing armor if I'm not in the battle...

Forgiveness?

¹ Now David said, “Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” ⁷ So David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather; and you shall eat bread at my table continually.”- 2 Samuel 9:1, 7

     Wow! If only I could practice this type of forgiveness in my life. And then it hits me that this isn't even forgiveness. This man had done nothing wrong to David, he was merely associated with someone who had made David's life miserable for years. A humbling thought for me. How often do I hold a grudge against someone who has done me no wrong? How often do I shy away from someone merely because they are associated with someone I don't get along with? David had every right to avoid anyone in Saul's family who came begging for a handout, but David didn't avoid, he sought. He searched and found someone to bestow kindness upon, all because of Jonathan. This leads me to the idea of real friendship. Jonathan was the driving factor behind David's desire in this situation. How many friendships do I have that would overcome their father hunting me like an animal? How quickly would I associate them with their family and hate them all? David gives a shining example of friendship, love and kindness. Do I care about my friends as much as David? Am I willing to share the Gospel with people who may have reason to hate me? Do I love my enemies and their families enough to share God's blessings with them? Embarrassing questions to answer. Definitely an area to work on in my life.

The Stronghold

¹⁷ Now when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. And David heard of it and went down to the stronghold. - 2 Samuel 5:17

     Today's thought is quick, but it hit home really hard. The parallel between David's life and our Christian walk is sometimes uncanny. What jumped out at me today was the response of the Philistines, followed by David's own response. This verse tells us that when David became king, all the Philistines came after him. I believe that Satan is often a Philistine just waiting for someone to become a child of the King. He then sends out all of his minions in an attempt to destroy their new life. As brothers and sisters it is dangerous for us to forget this fact. We often lead others to Christ and then kind of leave them to the devil's wolves. I believe Satan follows this same procedure when a Christian moves into a position of power as well. They may not be a "king" but once they are in the spotlight they become clear targets. We must notice what David does. He immediately goes down to the stronghold. Our stronghold is in our Rock, Jesus Christ, and His Word. We must run there when the "Philistines" come, and we must make sure we teach the babes in Christ how to run there as well.

Grace is Enough

¹¹ For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, ¹² teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, ¹³ looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, ¹⁴ who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. - Titus 2:11-14

     A wonderful reminder passage to go over in church today. As we were studying, I think the most amazing revelation about this was the power of God's grace. Verse 11 states the obvious, that God's grace brought salvation to us. The amazing part comes in the following verses. Verse 12 tells us that this grace teaches us to deny ungodly things, live righteously and be zealous for good works as we await the appearing of our Savior. All of that from grace? Sounds absurd, yet makes so much sense. Why is it that I seem to need so much more to stay on track in my personal walk? God's grace is enough. When I am tempted to go back to the ways of the flesh if I just remember God's grace toward me it helps put me in focus. When I struggle to find a reason to live righteously I just need to remember God's grace. If I need a reason to be zealous for what is right, God's grace is enough. When I remember my sinful nature and a life without God, and then remember God's grace even in my sinful state, it is enough. What argument can I ever have against God's grace? I deserve punishment, hell, separation from God; yet I have none of these things. I instead have blessings, eternal life and a personal Redeemer. God can never ask too much of me when He has given everything. What sacrifice could I make that would even come close to His only Son? What hardship could I endure that could even come close to Christ's separation from His Father? Everything I need to live a daily life for Him is wrapped up in one single aspect; God's grace.

The Blessed Man

 ¹ Blessed is the man
         Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
         Nor stands in the path of sinners,
         Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
 ² But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
         And in His law he meditates day and night.
 ³ He shall be like a tree
         Planted by the rivers of water,
         That brings forth its fruit in its season,
         Whose leaf also shall not wither;
         And whatever he does shall prosper. - Psalm 1:1-3

     Very well-known verses, but still great verses! A few things stood out as I read these today that I don't think I've really ever thought about. The first coming from verse 1. I always associate verse one with acting like an ungodly person, but today it stood out a little deeper. Not walking in the counsel of these people means that I don't look at life the same way a non-christian does. Their instruction and attitude and worldview and all of these things would be wrapped up in their counsel. If I am focusing on Christ alone and God's Word I will have no room for any other opinions. Proverbs 14:12 - There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. The second thing that stood out was the word "stands". Why would I stand in someone's path? I can think of only two reasons: to block them or to wait for them to arrive. Neither of these options are good options. I must always be extremely careful not to block someone from God. I think Christians can often be the very reason why the unsaved don't want to be Christians. My life can often scream hypocrisy and sinfulness. My attitude can drive away the interested. I must not allow my failures to block someone's path or become a stumbling block. 1 Corinthians 8:9 - But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. I also should not wait around for a "sinner" to arrive. I must separate myself from temptations and bad influences. If I stand in the path where I know sin and trouble will arrive, I am bound to get involved.

     The last thing that grabbed me from Psalm 1 was the relationship between verses 2 and 3. I know the connection but often forget about it. I like to focus on verse 3 and God's promise of prosperity. However, this prosperity is linked to verse 2 and my personal behavior. If I want to be prosperous then I must delight in God's Word and meditate daily. My desires must be God's desires. When I am in tune with God my desires will match His. When my desires match God's desires there is nothing He would rather do than make these things real in my life. Psalm 37:4 - Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Ego

⁷ So the women sang as they danced, and said: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” ⁸ Then Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased him; and he said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed only thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?” - 1 Samuel 18:7-8

     Jealousy and pride are best friends. As a man, the pride issue is always present in my life. I understand exactly what Saul is feeling in this passage, but I also understand exactly how silly and childish this feeling really is. Number one, Saul is taking out his anger at himself on David. David has done nothing but what God wanted him to do which is exactly what Saul has not been doing. Saul's guilty conscience burns greater and greater as he witnesses David being the man that he should have been. Second, Saul is jealous of the people's love and respect for David rather than their current king. And third, Saul's pride is hurt by his "thousands" being less than David's "ten thousands". I must be cautious of these very same issues in my daily life. The godliness of those around me can either inspire me to do better or do bitter. If I don't see fellow Christians as an encouragement, Satan will use them as a discouragement. Second, I must not allow other people's popularity and lifestyles make me jealous of the life God has blessed me with. I know deep down that if I actually shared my jealousy with those people they would probably be shocked and tell me how they wanted my life or some other life that seems better. Satan always makes the grass look greener somewhere else. And third, I must rejoice in the fact that I have "thousands". A thousand is a lot, maybe not compared to ten thousand, but it's still a lot. We must learn to be content where we are. If I am unwilling to be aware of these three dangers I know I will soon find myself in Saul's shoes. A man quickly falling from the head of Israel to a bitter reject fighting against the family of God. May I always be aware of the pride and jealousy lurking within.

    

Abnormal

⁴⁸ So it was, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.

⁵⁵ When Saul saw David going out against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the commander of the army, “Abner, whose son is this youth?” 

1 Samuel 17:48, 55

     Overall I would like to think that I am a decently brave person. I don't have too many phobias and I've done some things that terrify other people, but I can say with certainty that I am not as brave as David. Think about it. This guy was psycho-crazy brave. He shrugs off Goliath by talking about killing a lion and a bear. Not as a muscular, middle-aged master hunter, but as a scrawny teenage shepherd. He then volunteers to fight Goliath by himself. Think about that. Saul who is larger than anyone in Israel, and all of his greatest, bravest soldiers have refused to go out and fight Goliath. Then, to top it all off, David goes out to meet Goliath with no armor, no sword, no shield. The kid with just a sling starts RUNNING at the giant and topples him before Goliath can say, "Look, a rock." However, throughout all of his bravery, David never fails to give the credit to God. He recognizes that God has given him the strength and has delivered him in these times of trouble. So what do I get from all of this? It's verse 55 that stands out. After witnessing David's heroic achievement, the first thing Saul wants to know is the identity of David's dad. When I learn to trust God, I can certainly find some of the bravery and confidence that David had, but there are more important things at stake. The best part is not God's deliverance from my giant, but rather that my attitude during the battle can turn others to Him. When my heart is right and my trust is in God, I won't act "normal" in trying situations. This psycho-crazy, David-like behavior will make people desire to know how I can respond so differently. As others see God in me they will begin to see God for themselves. Like David, my behavior has the ability to make others ask, "Hey, who's his Father?"

Armor or No Armor?

³⁸ So Saul clothed David with his armor, and he put a bronze helmet on his head; he also clothed him with a coat of mail. ³⁹ David fastened his sword to his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. And David said to Saul, “I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them.” So David took them off. ⁴⁷ Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD’s, and He will give you into our hands. - 1 Samuel 17:38-39, 47

     Armor or no armor? Sounds like a stupid question, but is it? It is human nature and plain common sense to want to protect ourselves from danger in any way possible. The problem is that God does not work in humanly ways, nor do His ways always make sense to us. Saul offered David all of the worldly protection mankind could provide. A king's suit of armor and mail and a sword worthy of the ruler of Israel. But what good was that armor to David? God's plan for David did not include armor. Don't get me wrong, God doesn't want us to just blindly throw ourselves at danger and rely on Him to save us. But when I am consumed with decking myself out with "armor" I am focusing on myself and my ways. I am relying on my armor to protect me rather than trusting in God to do the saving. I create a sense of pride and self-achievement. Verse 47 reminds us that the goal was for everyone to know that God was in control, that God would win the battle and that God does not fight with man's weapons and ways. Humanly speaking, David had no chance against Goliath. Humanly speaking, I have no chance against Satan or even his least powerful minion. But praise God that He fought for David and He fights for me each day and He will fight for any of His children who call upon Him. The struggle lies in taking off my armor, exposing myself to danger, and trusting God to get me through. When I learn to do that my victory will be, humanly speaking, miraculous.