In Front of My Eyes

2 Samuel 22:23

"For all his judgments were before me: and as for his statutes, I did not depart from them."

David attempted to keep God's command before him, in front of him, in his face, where he could not escape then or ignore them. How does one do that?

First, memorizing God's Word. Hide His words in your heart. They should be within you, not something you have to go find. When a situation confronts you, the Word of God should be your guide.

Second, read His Word daily. But don't just read, study. Seek to understand through prayer and research what God is saying to you.

Third, listen to the Holy Spirit. God's own Spirit resides in each of His children. He is the "Still Small Voice" that we must strive to hear. Block out the distractions. Focus.

How have I tried to keep God's command before me today?

Humble: He Delights in Me

2 Samuel 22:18-20

"He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated me: for they were too strong for me. They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay. He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me."

We see two very striking things here. One, David, a mighty man of valor, fearless warrior, admits "they were too strong for me." And two, the reason David cites for his deliverance was "because He delighted in me."

A humble man knows who he is in light of Who God is -a wretched, sinful, powerless human. No matter my accomplishments, are we really so arrogant as to believe that there is something we can do that God cannot? Or is it that we generally are just not mindful of His workings in our lives?

A humble man knows who he is in light of Who God is - a wretched, sinful, powerless human...who is loved beyond the limits of man's cognition. Humility is recognizing my unworthiness and at the same time my worthiness in God's eyes because of Christ's sacrifice for me. Humility sees the marvelous dichotomy that is the grace and mercy of God. His mercy withholds the punishment and hell that we deserve. His grace showers us with the love and "all spiritual riches" that we do not, and cannot deserve.

Am I humble today, in the trust sense of the word?

My Rock

2 Samuel 21:2

"And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;"

Rocks are unmoving, grounded, steady. A rock doesn't change on a whim or move from its place.

A fortress is a place of safety. It if defended from attacks. It is secure, impenetrable. It is a place where people of like mind, on the same side of a cause can take refuge and find succor.

A deliverer has others in mind, thinking not of their own needs but of the needs of others. A deliverer risks life and limb to aid another. A deliverer sees evil or harm and moves to protect the victims.

All this and more is our God. David knew it from direct personal experience. Can I say the same about the God that I have experienced? Where is my fortress, rock and refuge? Where do I go when times are hard? Entertainment? Amusement? Lustful passion? Carnal appetites? Or do I forsake that which will only cause me harm, that which He came to deliver me from, and instead run to the One Who satisfies and truly fulfills?

Where Are You Leading?

2 Samuel 18:5-7

"And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, which this day have saved thy life, and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy concubines; In that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends. For thou hast declared this day, that thou regardest neither princes nor servants: for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well. Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto thy servants: for I swear by the LORD, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry one with thee this night: and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil that befell thee from thy youth until now.

Proverbs 29:8a

"Where there is no vision the people perish..."

David's mourning not only confused his followers, but also discouraged them. Risking life and limb they had fought for David. They had won a great victory but instead of gladness they saw sorrow and regret from their leader.

As Christians we are all to be leaders, leading the lost to Christ, leading our brothers and sisters in Christ to know Him better. As Paul said, follow me as I follow Christ. A good leader though must look ahead, not back.

In David's regret of the past his followers almost all left him. Do I look back on my past with regret? Do I regret having to forsake my sin? Do I miss the wickedness of my past? Sin is always that well dressed corpse and in hindsight it appears beautiful and alluring.

We cannot ever think of ourselves alone. Think of those who are following you. There are people you may not even realize are following you, using you as an unknowing example. What result will my actions have on them? Where am I leading? Am I leading forward with purpose and vision? Or standing still in regret?

Absalom

2 Samuel 18:33

"And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!"

Here we see the heart of a father and the endless love he had for a son that betrayed and tried to ruin him. There is little doubt that David would have forgiven Absalom if he had only asked. But instead he rebelled and fled from the only person that could restore peace. And in so doing sealed his death.

Are not we the Absalom to our Heavenly Father? He loves us with a love unfathomable. Yet we run from Him, rebel against His love. But still He never give up and He never will.

Am I honoring my Heavenly Father today? Or am I being a rebellious Absalom?

"I exhort you..."

1 Timothy 2:1-4

"I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth."

God desires that all should come to know Him. A quiet and peaceable life in godliness and honesty is good, acceptable and the best way to bring all to the knowledge of the truth. Therefore, because of these stated reasons, pray for your leaders, those in authority.

The Bible tells us when the righteous are in authority the people rejoice (peace) but when the wicked rule the people mourn (no peace). It follows that praying for our leaders, praying for righteous leaders, will bring peace, and peace allows us to share the Gospel with the world.

Now, this peace Paul is talking about does not depend on outward circumstances, it is that inner peace that passes all understanding that comes from the presence of God in our lives. Whether times are peaceful or full of tribulation, a believer trusting in Christ will not be moved.

Pray for your leaders, so that we can live quiet and peaceable lives, so we can share the Gospel.

Have I prayed for my leaders today and those that are running to be my leaders?

Neglecting to Trust

2 Samuel 17:14

"And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the LORD had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom."

"God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his knowledge, is it likely that an empire can rise without his assistance?" -Benjamin Franklin (paraphrased)

"Why should I be discouraged? Why should my heart be sad? His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me."

Life is incomprehensible. To our human minds, nothing much makes sense in our limited view of the grand scheme. The illustration has been used - life is like a pile of puzzle pieces with no picture to guide you. God is putting each piece in place, but someday we will see the "picture on the box" and suddenly everything will make perfect sense.

Worry is pointless. Grumbling and complaining is sin. God is in control in ways we cannot even fathom. Trust Him, not your flawed understanding of how things would work.

What do I need to trust God for that I am neglecting to? Are there things in my past that I am bitter toward God about because they didn't make sense at the time?