The Obvious Choice

2 Samuel 6:9

"And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, How shall the ark of the LORD come to me?"

Seek God's guidance, take a step. Seek God's guidance, take a step. There is no other way to live. What David did seemed like a complete 'no-brainer'. What he did seemed right... In his own eyes.

This is the first time we hear of David being afraid of the Lord. I believe prior to this David has a proper fear and reverence of the Lord, but this time it was different. David knew something was wrong.

There are times in our life where the next step seems ridiculously obvious. If we keep only our own counsel this will happen more often than not. But God's ways are not our ways.

As James admonished, "Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall beon the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that." (James 4:13-15)

Do I live my life daily, moment by moment asking, does the Lord will?

Define: Success

2 Samuel 5:25

"And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer."

Many people have wondered, and many have guessed at the secret of success. What is that something that allowed some to excel and causes others to flounder? In this short verse we find the simple answer.

David did as the Lord commanded him and he succeeded. When David disobeyed God later on in his life, we saw the harm it caused, not only him, but many around him.

Some may ask, if this is the case, how is it that Jesus said we will have trouble and persecution in this world? Certainly bring persecuted and dragged before judges is not success. The answer hinges on definition. What is success?

If we define success as an easy life with wealth and prosperity then success will not always follow obeying God. However, if we define success as God defines success, being conformed to His image, then we will see that trials and tribulation written toward our best interest when we obey God and trust Him.

What is my definition of success? How will I know when I achieve it? How am I seeking to obtain success?

Define: Success

2 Samuel 5:25

"And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer."

Many people have wondered, and many have guessed at the secret of success. What is that something that allowed some to excel and causes others to flounder? In this short verse we find the simple answer.

David did as the Lord commanded him and he succeeded. When David disobeyed God later on in his life, we saw the harm it caused, not only him, but many around him.

Some may ask, if this is the case, how is it that Jesus said we will have trouble and persecution in this world? Certainly bring persecuted and dragged before judges is not success. The answer hinges on definition. What is success?

If we define success as an easy life with wealth and prosperity then success will not always follow obeying God. However, if we define success as God defines success, being conformed to His image, then we will see that trials and tribulation written toward our best interest when we obey God and trust Him.

What is my definition of success? How will I know when I achieve it? How am I seeking to obtain success?

Every Single Step

2 Samuel 5:19, 23-24

"And David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand....

And when David enquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines."

We are called to walk by faith. Walking by definition involves one foot in front of the other, one step after another. Taking more than one step at a time doesn't usually end very well.

David here gives a perfect example of walking by faith. He seeks God's will, then take a step. However the next step after that looks exactly the same. The Philistines are there, David has an army, just like before. Except it wasn't. And if David has not walked by faith, there could have been very different results.

Seek God. Take a step. Seek God. Take a step. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path.

Have I sought God's direction today? Am I taking each step only after seeking God's will?

Submissive Service

2 Samuel 5:12

"And David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake."

David realized two vital things: God was the ultimate authority, and David's success was not to be for his own benefit.

God is know as the King of kings. Any ruler, authority, or leader holds no sway save what is given by God. David knew this and for the majority of his life was humble and submissive to God's authority in his life as ruler of Israel.

When God blesses us, it is because He loves us. He is giving us an example to follow, a guideline. He loves us to show us how to love. Selfishness will attempt to horde the blessings God bestows, but love for God and others will see that God gave so that we can give.

Do I recognize God's authority in my life? Do I use what He gives for my own benefit, or for the benefit of others?

Closeness

2 Samuel 5:10

"And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him."

What better recommendation could there possibly be? A man on his own is nothing. A man, walking with the Lord of Hosts, is a force to be reckoned with.

Names are important and mean something. The Bible says the Lord God of Hosts was with David. There are many, many names used for God in the Bible, why was this name used here? I think it emphasizes that David, who started as a shepherd boy attacking a giant with a sling and stone was not alone. God is in charge of the hosts, so no matter what came at David, it was not a matter of concern. As long as David walked with God, he had the most powerful ally on his side.

Am I waking with God? In that closeness that brings His praise always to my lips? That closeness that steals away any thought of fear?

Bad Things, New Light

2 Samuel 4:9

"And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said unto them, As the LORD liveth, who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity,"

David's praise of God was natural, a way of life. He had seen God work in miraculous and amazing ways in his life, and his response was praise and adoration.

Where else so you find such voluminous and copious praise of the Lord besides the Psalms of David? It is difficult to go one verse without David extolling his God.

He praised God realizing that it was from Him that ALL blessings flow. Any and every good thing is a gift from our loving Heavenly Father. Our automatic response ought to be continual praise.

What have I murmured about today? How can I look at these "bad" things in a different light, recognizing that God is using it for my good and His glory?