The Lord Sees

2 Samuel 16:12

"It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day."

David was far from perfect, as we all are. However, in his dealings early on with Saul, David sought the Lord and acted righteously. Several times David could have killed Saul but he didn't even though Saul have him every motivation.

So when David is cursed and reviled, he does not reach in kind nor lash out in anger. Instead he bears up under it, knowing that the only opinion that matters is God's. David knew where he stood with God, therefore no word of man could shake him

If I live righteously, striving through my failings to please and honor God, I will be able to ignore these "light, momentary afflictions," looking ahead to a reward in Heaven.

Am I living righteously? What afflictions am I going through that I can look at in a different way?

Unexpected Answer

2 Samuel 15:12

"And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counsellor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom."

2 Samuel 15:31

"And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness."

2 Samuel 15:34

"But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy father's servant hitherto, so will I now also be thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel."

God governs in the affairs of man. After all, He is the King of kings. David was betrayed by Ahithophel, his own counselor and apparently a very good counselor. David seemed to know that with Ahithophel on the side of Absalom's conspiracy, dark days were ahead. So David did what each of us should do when confronted with insurmountable odds - he humbled himself before God, prayed with all his heart, but he did not stop there.

David took these steps, then he acted. Hushai was brought into David's path and there king did not hesitate. David knew God has provided an answer to his prayer.

No matter what is going on, we must humble ourselves and pray continually. However we can not then sit back and hope God does something. We must be attentive and alert to Him answering our prayers, maybe in ways we did not expect and then be ready to act.

What have I been praying about for a long time? Have I been missing God's answer? How can I take righteous action now?

He Stole the Hearts

2 Samuel 15:6

"And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel."

With all that is going on in the American political system in the year 2026, this verse has significant meaning. Every human wants to be hears. Every person wants their opinion listened to and validated. All wish to know that someone will hear their case and do something about it.

However, government and anyone in it are not the ones to address our problem to. Can man truly give a solution to man? Human wisdom is not wisdom at all. No law of man can offer a solution to murder. Laws of man are impotent against the ferocious, sinful passions of man's fleshly heart.

Only God's wisdom gets to the heart. Only God can govern a heart through His Holy Spirit

Government is a tool that God uses there is no doubt. But it in and of itself is never the solution.

Where is my trust and confidence for solutions? Man or God? Am I seeking the true Wisdom?

Justice in the Wrong Way

2 Samuel 13:28

"Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant."

Absalom's admonition here some eerily similar to admonitions that God gave to his servants such as Joshua. The difference is that Absalom was acting out of personal hatred while God's command came from love and righteousness.

Amnon sinned gravely. David saw it and did nothing. Absalom bided his time, hate brewing deep inside until he could exact his own revenge.

Here we learn two lessons. One, those in authority must carry out timely justice without partiality. Two, how you go about doing the right thing is just as important as doing the right thing.

What is the right thing in my life that I am afraid of doing in the right way?

Sin: A Rotting Corpse in Beautiful Clothing

2 Samuel 13:15

"Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone."

James 1:14-15

"But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death."

Sin is like a hideous, rotting corpse in bright, beautiful clothing. From afar, it appeals, calls and attracts us. But once we have had it, has our fill we are left with nothing but the decay, disease and death.

Sin destroys all it touches. Can a man take fire in his bosom and his clothes not be burned? Death is the end result every single time.

Our lust commands us and our flesh willingly follows. We desire and desire, want and want. And when we finally attain that evil desire, it turns to gravel in our mouths. Then what we thought we wanted, the one thing that we make us happy and finally satisfy that gnawing in our soul, turns suddenly to something we despise and loath because it has worked our ruin.

The Devil attempts to package sin as attractive and exciting and God's righteousness and dull, restrictive, boring. Nothing could be further from the truth. God and His love is life itself. The pure, satisfying water of life. The nourishing, hunger abating bread that our bodies require. These can only be found in Him.

Sin on the other hand is death. No life has ever been ruined by loving God and others "too much". Countless lives have been ruined and continue to be ruined by loving self too much.

How do I view the righteousness of God that I am to be seeking daily? Is sin more attractive to me than spending time with my Savoir?

He Has Put Away My Sin

2 Samuel 12:13

"And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die."

It's not that we sin, it's that we are sinners. We have a fleshly nature within that loves sin and is constantly pulling us in that direction.

The first act of obedience must be repentance. Repentance is turning from one direction and going the other. David realized his sin was against the Lord and he turned from that sin back to God.

Read Psalm 51. Verse 17 says,

"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise."

Death is the result of sin, every time. However Jesus offers to take that death and give us life. Have I accepted His mercy and grace today in my life?

"Thou Art the Man"

2 Samuel 12:7a

" And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man..."

In the majority of David's life we see a man, humble, who knew what and who he was in comparison to the living God. Here, we see a man who had no idea who or what he had let himself become. It took God's voice through Nathan the prophet to point out to David how far he had come.

I must be so utterly and completely sensitive to temptation so that I can flee at the first sign. David talked in the Psalms about how he desired God "as the deer pants for the water". A deer is also highly alert and will flee danger, warning others in the process. I must swiftly run away from temptation and all lust. But it is not enough to run from something if you don't have a place to run to. The Water of Life is waiting for you to drink deeply of His Love. If I simply run with no destination, I will quickly be lost and confused, because temptation is everywhere and only the strength gained by constant communication with God is strong enough to overcome

Do I know who and what I am in comparison to God? Do I let that humble me and keep me close to Him? Am I alert and wary of temptation?