IS IT GOD'S WILL?

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

After the king was settled in his palace and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him, he said to Nathan the prophet, "Here I am, living in a palace of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent."

Nathan replied to the king, "Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for the Lord is with you."

That night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying:

"Go and tell my servant David, 'This is what the Lord says: Are you the one to build Me a house to dwell in? I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as My dwelling. Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?" '

“Now then, tell my servant David, 'This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture and from following the flock to be ruler over My people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men of the earth. And I will provide a place for My people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over My people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies.

" 'The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you: When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for My Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be My son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with the rod of men, with floggings inflicted by men. But My love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before Me; your throne will be established forever.' "

Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation.

2 Samuel 7:1-17

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

In chapter 6 of 2nd Samuel, we read where David brought the ark of God to Jerusalem where he had established his throne. As chapter 7 begins, we see where David starts to think about what to do with the ark.

Scripture tells us that after David “was settled in his palace”, the Lord “had given him rest from all his enemies around him”. During this time, David voiced a concern to the prophet Nathan saying, “Here I am, living in a palace of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent." To which Nathan replied, “Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for the Lord is with you."

All this sounded good on the surface. For there was little doubt the ark of God was to be treated with reverence and respect for the infinite holiness it represented. And there was little doubt that the Lord was with David. But there was one problem with the exchange between David and Nathan. Neither of them inquired of the Lord to see if it was His will for them to build a special structure to house the ark. And so, the Lord came to them instead.

For we read where “that night the word of the Lord came to Nathan” saying:

"Go and tell my servant David, 'This is what the Lord says: Are you the one to build Me a house to dwell in? I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as My dwelling. Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?’"

“Now then, tell my servant David, 'This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture and from following the flock to be ruler over My people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men of the earth. And I will provide a place for My people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over My people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies.

" 'The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you: When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for My Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be My son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with the rod of men, with floggings inflicted by men. But My love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before Me; your throne will be established forever.' "

If only David had asked the Lord how He felt about his idea, we wouldn’t have gotten to this point. But David didn’t do that and so the Lord had to set him straight through Nathan.

The Lord first asks David, “Are you the one to build Me a house to dwell in?” In other words, the Lord is saying, “Did I tell you to build Me a house to dwell in?” The answer to the question is obvious because we know David did not consult the Lord first. And we see where the Lord underscores his point by asking David if he knew of any time that the Lord had asked the rulers of Israel to build him a house of cedar. Of course, the Lord had never asked them just as He had not asked David.

What was the Lord’s point?

He was trying to let David know that He would tell David what He wanted David to do. Or more specifically, David would always know he was doing God’s will if he first asked God and then carried out His guidance. He didn’t do this in this case and thus was moving in a way that was not God’s will.

So what was God’s will? He tells David in the second and third paragraphs.

First, it was His will to make David’s “name great…like the names of the greatest men on earth.”

Second, it was His will to “provide a place for (His) people Israel”, planting them “so that they (could) have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed”.

Third, it was His will to prevent wicked people from oppressing the Israelites “as they did at the beginning” and had done ever since the Lord appointed leaders over His people Israel.

Fourth, it was His will for David to have “rest from all (his) enemies.”

Fifth, it was God’s will to establish a house for David.

Sixth, it was God’s will to raise up offspring from David’s body to succeed him David after his days were over and he was at rest with his fathers.

Seventh, it was God’s will to establish the throne of the kingdom of David’s offspring forever.

Eighth, it was God’s will for David’s offspring to “build a house” for the Lord’s name.

Ninth, it was God’s will to punish David’s offspring “with the rod of men…with floggings inflicted by men” when “he does wrong”.

Tenth, it was God’s will that His love would “never be taken away” from David’s offspring like it had been taken away from Saul.

And finally…eleventh…it was God’s will for David’s “house and…kingdom” as well as his throne to “endure forever”.

All told, eleven assurances from God highlighting His will for David…eleven assurances that Nathan then reported to David.

How often are we like David? How often do we develop plans on what we think we should do in our lives without ever asking God whether our plans are in accordance with His will?

I think the answer to these questions is pretty simple. For we do this way too often…and I have to think that this frustrates God just as much as it did back in the days of David.

The remedy is simple. We need only ask God whether what we would like to do is in accordance with His will and then be obedient to His answer. This point is validated by the following scripture passage from 1st John:

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him. 1 John 5:14-15

Indeed, we have a confidence when we approach God to ask about what His will is for us. For scripture assures us that He will hear us and grant what we ask of Him. In other words, God will reveal His will to us when we ask.

Pretty simple because it is. Ask God for His will and He will let you know what His will is for you.

Pretty simple? Yes…we just need to put it into practice more.

Have you asked God about what His will is for you today?

He’s standing by with an answer. Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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DON'T LET ANYONE STEAL YOUR JOY

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

David again brought together out of Israel chosen men, thirty thousand in all. He and all his men set out from Baalah of Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name, the name of the Lord Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim that are on the ark. They set the ark of God on a new cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart with the ark of God on it, and Ahio was walking in front of it. David and the whole house of Israel were celebrating with all their might before the Lord, with songs and with harps, lyres, tambourines, sistrums and cymbals.

When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. The Lord's anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down and he died there beside the ark of God.

Then David was angry because the Lord's wrath had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah.

David was afraid of the Lord that day and said, "How can the ark of the Lord ever come to me?" He was not willing to take the ark of the Lord to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it aside to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. The ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months, and the Lord blessed him and his entire household.

Now King David was told, "The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he has, because of the ark of God." So David went down and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing. When those who were carrying the ark of the Lord had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the Lord with all his might, while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets.

As the ark of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart.

They brought the ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and David sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before the Lord. After he had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord Almighty. Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins to each person in the whole crowd of Israelites, both men and women. And all the people went to their homes.

When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, "How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, disrobing in the sight of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!"

David said to Michal, "It was before the Lord, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the Lord's people Israel—I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor."

And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.

2 Samuel 6

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Once David had established his throne in Jerusalem, there was one other important item that needed established there as well. For the ark of God was not with David. In fact, this mention of the ark in 2nd Samuel, Chapter 6, is the first since early in the Book of 1st Samuel (Chapter 7 to be exact) as the ark was turned back over to Israel by the Philistines and kept in the home of Abinadab (1 Samuel 7:1). This underscores how much Saul had turned away from God during his rule…that he would give little respect or credence to the vessel that Israel was to revere and protect since it represented God’s presence with them. Instead, he left it sit idle and unused.

In our scripture today, we see where this changed with David…the man after God’s own heart. For he “brought together out of Israel chosen men, thirty thousand in all” and “set out from Baalah of Judah to bring up from there the ark of God”

Once they retrieved the ark from “the house of Abinadab”, they set the ark of God on a new cart guided by “Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab”. And “David and the whole house of Israel” were with them, “celebrating with all their might before the Lord, with songs and with harps, lyres, tambourines, sistrums and cymbals.” Indeed, the ark of God was on its way to Jerusalem where it could once again be placed in a position of holy reverence and esteem.

But there was one slight problem with the procession. You see, God had given clear direction as to how the ark was to be moved…and that was to be done by the Levites who would carry the ark using poles on their shoulders. Instead of this, Uzzah and Ahio guided the ark on the cart and disaster would strike as “they came to the threshing floor of Nacon”. For as “the oxen stumbled”, we read where “Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God” and this resulted in the Lord’s wrath coming on Uzzah “because of his irreverent act”…an act that wouldn’t have even taken place if God’s commands would have been followed. But since Uzzah didn’t follow God’s expectations, he was struck down by God and “died…beside the ark of God”.

Well, this event struck David hard and he was “angry because the Lord’s wrath had broken out against Uzzah”. David didn’t fully understand that Uzzah had broken God’s command by touching the ark and thus the punishment. Instead, he became afraid, wondering if he might be struck down next if he took custody of the ark.

And so David “was not willing to take the ark of the Lord to be with him in the City of David” and “took it aside to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite”…where it remained for three months during which time “the Lord blessed him and his entire household”. This news reached David who was told, “The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he has, because of the ark of God."

This news caused David’s heart to soar with praise and he “went down and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing”. And “when those who were carrying the ark of the Lord had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf”. David was wearing a “linen ephod” as he “danced before the Lord with all his might, while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets”. Such was the level of joy felt while they were in the presence of God.

But not everyone was rejoicing. For “as the ark of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window” and “when she saw…David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart”. This was definitely a big change in Michal who once loved David deeply (1 Samuel 18) and even helped him escape as her father sought to kill him (1 Samuel 19). Perhaps, she fell out of love for him as she was married to Paltiel and now resented that she was forced to return to him. Whatever the reason, it’s obvious that things aren’t well in David’s marriage to her.

Going back to David’s procession, we read where the “ark of the Lord” was “set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it” and once there, “David sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before the Lord” after which “he blessed the people in the name of the Lord Almighty” and “gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins to each person in the whole crowd of Israelites, both men and women” before “all the people went to their homes”.

As David “returned home to bless his household”, he encountered an unhappy Michal who said to him, “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, disrobing in the sight of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!" Her words were laced with sarcasm and contempt and from this day on, she would have “no children to the day of her death”.

But David, unmoved by his wife’s words, replies, “It was before the Lord, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the Lord's people Israel—I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor."

You have to love David’s words as he responds to his wife’s inappropriate remarks. For as she attempts to steal away David’s joy from bringing the ark to Jerusalem, David simply tells her that he was rejoicing to the One who chose him and appointed him ruler over His people…and so David did and will continue to celebrate before the Lord.

Has this ever happened to you?

Have you, like David, ever been in the midst of circumstances that brought you to the place of rejoicing before the Lord, only to have someone or something come and try and steal your joy away?

I know I have.

And so how do we respond when this happens?

Like David, we stay true to our Lord just as He is true to us…and refuse to allow anyone to take away our joy. For when we do this, then we can freely come to a place of celebrating, praising and rejoicing before Him. And there is no better place to be than that as we revel in every day that the Lord blesses us with. Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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SHOULD I GO...AND IF SO, WHERE?

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went down to the stronghold.

Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; so David inquired of the Lord, "Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?"

The Lord answered him, "Go, for I will surely hand the Philistines over to you."

So David went to Baal Perazim, and there he defeated them. He said, "As waters break out, the Lord has broken out against my enemies before me." So that place was called Baal Perazim. The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them off.

Once more the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; so David inquired of the Lord, and he answered, "Do not go straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees. As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because that will mean the Lord has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army." So David did as the Lord commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.

2 Samuel 5:17-25

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

It’s been a few years now since I had to make a very difficult decision. Grace and I had been members of a congregation for over 14 years and during that time, I had been very involved in the life of the church…serving as an elder, committee chairperson for evangelism and witness, worship leader, Sunday School teacher, and singer during my tenure.

The church was everything you would expect a church to be. Loving to one another inside… active locally and globally…with solid preaching from an experienced pastor. It was as good as it could get.

But then something happened, not inside our church but outside, that led to me having to make my difficult decision. For my church was associated with a denomination that decided to change it’s doctrine in a direction that was in violation of God’s word…and in the end, it was a change I couldn’t ignore in good conscience as I was led to the point where I needed to ask the Lord what I should do…stay at the church or go. And when I asked the Lord what I should do, the answer came to me loud and clear. I was to go.

And so Grace and I did go. It was so difficult. We had so many loving relationships established within the congregation and as I stated, I was very actively involved in many ministry areas. But in the end, our relationship with the Lord was more important and so we obediently followed the Lord’s lead and resigned our membership. The Lord had answered our question, “Should we go?” with great clarity, telling us to move on. Now we had a second question for Him, “Where do we go now?”

Confident that the Lord had a place in mind for us, we began to attend different churches, praying for the Lord to guide and lead us to the place He wanted us to be. And after several months of seeking, we settled on a church and its associated denomination that we felt was holding strong to the foundation of God’s word in all things. And after being there a few years now, we have been richly blessed by becoming part of a new church family and I have returned to many of the same roles I held while at my former church.

Well, as we look at our scriptures from 2nd Samuel, we find David also at a point where he needed to ask the Lord some questions. He had just assumed rule over all of Israel and Judah, attributing his ascension to the Lord which came as little surprise when we consider David was a man after God’s own heart.

As he came into rule, it didn’t take long for David to face a challenge in the way of the Philistines who went in “full force to search for him”. Yes…this was the same Philistine army that he nearly ended up fighting with against Saul and Israel…the same Philistine army that saw its monster warrior Goliath killed by David well before he ascended to the throne. Needless to say, the Philistines weren’t looking for David to exchange pleasantries.

So David, having heard that the Philistines were looking for him, “went down to the stronghold” and “inquired of the Lord asking, “Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?" Note that David could have just made the decision himself. But if he did that, how could be sure that what he was doing was in step with the Lord’s expectations?

And so David, wisely asked the Lord if he should go and if the Lord was going to bring him victory. We that the Lord tells him to go for He was indeed going to hand over the Philistines to David and his army.

And so this is what David did. He went where the Lord told him to go and attacked the Philistines as they were “spread out in the Valley of Rephaim”…to Baal Perazim where “he defeated them”. Then David did something as important as being obedient to the Lord’s wishes. For He gave the Lord all the praise and glory from his victory saying, “As waters break out, the Lord has broken out against my enemies before me."

But we see that the Philistines weren’t about to give up. For once more they “came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim”. And again, “David inquired of the Lord” as to if and where he should go. The Lord answered him saying, "Do not go straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees. As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because that will mean the Lord has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army." And so David, armed with the knowledge that the Lord wanted him to go coupled with where and when He wanted him to go, “did as the Lord commanded”…and “struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer”.

David and his men gained victory but none of it would have been possible if David had not communicated with the Lord to find out if he should go and. If so, where he should go. In the end, the Lord placed David and his men where He wanted them to be so He could deliver them to success…just as He guided Grace and me to our new church home.

So what do we learn from this passage?

First, the Lord always has a place where He wants us to be. We need only ask Him where we are to go and He will lead us.

And secondly, we need only ask the Lord where He wants us to go and He will tell us. Then we need only go where He wants us to go and experience success and victory in Him while we’re there.

The end result of this glorious submissive experience…this surrendering our sense of direction for the Lord’s…is that we will always be led to the place where we give the Lord all the praise, honor and glory…for His goodness…for His faithfulness…and for His guidance that always will out us where He wants us…when He wants us there…to fulfill His blessed purpose. Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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GIVING CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

The king and his men marched to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites, who lived there. The Jebusites said to David, "You will not get in here; even the blind and the lame can ward you off." They thought, "David cannot get in here." Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion, the City of David.

On that day, David said, "Anyone who conquers the Jebusites will have to use the water shaft to reach those 'lame and blind' who are David's enemies. " That is why they say, "The 'blind and lame' will not enter the palace."

David then took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built up the area around it, from the supporting terraces inward. And he became more and more powerful, because the Lord God Almighty was with him.

Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs and carpenters and stonemasons, and they built a palace for David. And David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.

After he left Hebron, David took more concubines and wives in Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him. These are the names of the children born to him there: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Eliada and Eliphelet.

2 Samuel 5:6-16

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Once anointed and recognized as king over all of Israel and Judah, David wasted little time flexing his military muscle and establishing himself on the throne. For we read in our scriptures that David and his men “marched to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites, who lived there”.

Now the Jebusites were a very confident adversary and mocked David saying, "You will not get in here; even the blind and the lame can ward you off.” But the Jebusites were forgetting one very important point. For they weren’t just up against David but the Lord as well who was leading His anointed king to victory.

And the Lord did lead David to victory as he “captured the fortress of Zion”…”took up residence in the fortress” and named it “the City of David”. And after establishing his throne in Jerusalem, David “built up the area around it, from the supporting terraces inward”, all the while becoming “more and more powerful”…not by his own might…but “because the Lord God Almighty was with him”.

It’s estimated that some 20 years later, “Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs and carpenters and stonemasons” and these materials were used to build “a palace for David”. Again, David didn’t glorify himself but instead “knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel” and had “exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel”.

David was certainly a stark contrast to his predecessor Saul. For you’ll recall that Saul built a monument to his own honor in Carmel as he was in the midst of the rule that the Lord anointed him to (1 Samuel 15). Saul never seemed to fully grasp that it was the Lord who was in control and not him…that it was the Lord who exalted His kingdom for the sake of His people Israel…and thus it was the Lord and the Lord alone who deserved to be exalted and praised.

And David did just that…he gave credit where credit was due…to the Lord Almighty. For unlike Saul, David was a man after God’s heart.

So what about us? Do we give the Lord credit where credit is due? Do we exalt, glorify and praise Him in any and all circumstances? Or do we seek to steal God’s glory away from him and take credit for things ourselves?

I think we all could look to David and model his humble and praiseworthy attitude toward God…a prayerful attitude that was maybe reflected best in these words he wrote:

Hear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.

Guard my life, for I am devoted to You. You are my God; save your servant who trusts in You.

Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I call to you all day long.

Bring joy to your servant, for to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to You.

Hear my prayer, O Lord; listen to my cry for mercy.

In the day of my trouble, I will call to You, for You will answer me.

Among the gods there is none like You, O Lord; no deeds can compare with Yours.

All the nations You have made will come and worship before You, O Lord; they will bring glory to Your name.

For You are great and do marvelous deeds; You alone are God.

Teach me Your way, O Lord, and I will walk in Your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your name.

I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify Your name forever.

For great is Your love toward me; You have delivered me from the depths of the grave.

The arrogant are attacking me, O God; a band of ruthless men seeks my life — men without regard for You.

But You, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.

Turn to me and have mercy on me; grant Your strength to Your servant and save the son of Your maidservant.

Give me a sign of Your goodness, that my enemies may see it and be put to shame, for You, O Lord, have helped me and comforted me.

Psalm 86

Indeed, Dear Lord, grant us Your provision and protection…Your mercy and forgiveness and compassion and grace…Your joy and peace and love and comfort…Your forgiveness and goodness and faithfulness and greatness…Your wisdom and works. For Lord nothing compares to the greatness of knowing You fully in our lives…and understanding that without you, we are without hope. So to You, O Lord, we give all the glory, honor and praise…all the credit where credit is due…all to You. Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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RECOGNIZING YOUR SHEPHERD

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, "We are your own flesh and blood. In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the Lord said to you, 'You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.' "

When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a compact with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel.

David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. In Hebron, he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.

2 Samuel 5:1-5

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

In Chapter 3 of 2nd Samuel, we read where Abner and David came to an agreement. Abner, who was the commander of Saul’s army but now sought to be in alliance with David, promised to convince the Israelites to recognize David as their king so he would be king over all Israel. In return, David asked that his wife, Michal, be returned to him. And so it was but unfortunately Abner didn’t get to see his end of the bargain play out because he was murdered in revenge by Joab at the end of chapter 3.

Still, God’s plan came to full fruition as Chapter 5 opens with “all the tribes of Israel” coming to David at Hebron saying, “We are your own flesh and blood. In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the Lord said to you, 'You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.' " And so with that, David and “all the elders of Israel” made a “compact…at Hebron before the Lord” and David was “anointed… king over Israel”…a reign that scripture tells us lasted thirty-three years beyond the seven years and six months he had ruled over Judah.

Note that before David was anointed, the people of Israel stated three main points about him. Let’s examine each one.

1. The people of Israel were David’s flesh and blood.

We know that David was an Israelite, the son of Jesse of Bethlehem. And so to the Israelites, he was like them…a brother who followed the same God…the almighty God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Moses. Yes…David was family and this helped the Israelites feel comfortable about embracing him as their leader.

2. David was already a proven leader.

David established his bravery and fighting prowess the he defeated the mammoth Philistine warrior named Goliath. He further cemented his reputation through his many battle victories while leading Israel on their military campaigns. Saul might have been king but David was recognized as a leader as well and now worthy of replacing Saul as king.

3. God had appointed David to be king.

It goes without saying that of these three main points, this was the most critical and important. For the Israelites knew that David had been selected by God to be their ruler and shepherd and if it was God’s will for David to be king, then it would be the will of the people of Israel as well. And so it was as David became the leader of all the Israelites in Israel and Judah.

So all of Israel now had a shepherd…one who would protect and watch over them…one who would care for them and provide for their needs. And ironically, this new King David had been a shepherd boy when God chose him to follow Saul.

Indeed, David knew all about being a shepherd. It was in his blood and he had lots of experience in taking care of flocks. And this King David also knew that he had a Shepherd who led and watched over him…a Shepherd who he wrote these words about:

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul.

He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Psalm 23

As we see, David knew who his Shepherd was…the One who led him, guided him, protected him, comforted him and anointed him…the One who had appointed him to shepherd His people. All David had to do to shepherd Israel was to follow the lead of the Lord…who was his Shepherd.

And all we need to do to lead others in the Lord is to do likewise…to follow the lead of the Shepherd.

Well, it’s little surprise that Jesus, God’s one and only Son, would also have words to share with us regarding the matter of being a shepherd. Consider these words He spoke in the Gospel of John:

“I am the good Shepherd. The good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the Shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

"I am the good Shepherd; I know My sheep and My sheep know Me — just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father — and I lay down My life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to My voice, and there shall be one flock and one Shepherd.

John 10:11-16

David knew his Shepherd and all his Shepherd did for him. This helped him know how to be a shepherd himself.

As we read the words of our Savior…the good Shepherd…we’re reminded of all we gain from knowing Him in our lives. For He knows us and we know Him…and He protects us from our enemies even if it means He must lay down His life for us. And He does it because He loves us…His sheep…so very much.

Are you a part of the flock of the good Shepherd? If so, follow His lead and allow Him to teach you how to lead others…just as David learned to shepherd from his Shepherd.

And if you aren’t a part of the flock…if you are one of His sheep that are not yet of His sheep pen…then the time is now to join Him and the only one true flock…the flock led by the good Shepherd…our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

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NO EXCEPTIONS

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Just then David's men and Joab returned from a raid and brought with them a great deal of plunder. But Abner was no longer with David in Hebron, because David had sent him away, and he had gone in peace. When Joab and all the soldiers with him arrived, he was told that Abner son of Ner had come to the king and that the king had sent him away and that he had gone in peace.

So Joab went to the king and said, "What have you done? Look, Abner came to you. Why did you let him go? Now he is gone! You know Abner son of Ner; he came to deceive you and observe your movements and find out everything you are doing."

Joab then left David and sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah. But David did not know it. Now when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the gateway, as though to speak with him privately. And there, to avenge the blood of his brother Asahel, Joab stabbed him in the stomach, and he died.

Later, when David heard about this, he said, "I and my kingdom are forever innocent before the Lord concerning the blood of Abner son of Ner. May his blood fall upon the head of Joab and upon all his father's house! May Joab's house never be without someone who has a running sore or leprosy or who leans on a crutch or who falls by the sword or who lacks food."

(Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.)

Then David said to Joab and all the people with him, "Tear your clothes and put on sackcloth and walk in mourning in front of Abner." King David himself walked behind the bier. They buried Abner in Hebron, and the king wept aloud at Abner's tomb. All the people wept also.

The king sang this lament for Abner: "Should Abner have died as the lawless die? Your hands were not bound, your feet were not fettered. You fell as one falls before wicked men."

And all the people wept over him again.

Then they all came and urged David to eat something while it was still day; but David took an oath, saying, "May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun sets!"

All the people took note and were pleased; indeed, everything the king did pleased them. So on that day all the people and all Israel knew that the king had no part in the murder of Abner son of Ner.

Then the king said to his men, "Do you not realize that a prince and a great man has fallen in Israel this day? And today, though I am the anointed king, I am weak, and these sons of Zeruiah are too strong for me. May the Lord repay the evildoer according to his evil deeds!"

When Ish-Bosheth son of Saul heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he lost courage, and all Israel became alarmed. Now Saul's son had two men who were leaders of raiding bands. One was named Baanah and the other Recab; they were sons of Rimmon the Beerothite from the tribe of Benjamin—Beeroth is considered part of Benjamin, because the people of Beeroth fled to Gittaim and have lived there as aliens to this day.

(Jonathan son of Saul had a son who was lame in both feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up and fled, but as she hurried to leave, he fell and became crippled. His name was Mephibosheth.)

Now Recab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, set out for the house of Ish-Bosheth, and they arrived there in the heat of the day while he was taking his noonday rest. They went into the inner part of the house as if to get some wheat, and they stabbed him in the stomach. Then Recab and his brother Baanah slipped away.

They had gone into the house while he was lying on the bed in his bedroom. After they stabbed and killed him, they cut off his head. Taking it with them, they traveled all night by way of the Arabah. They brought the head of Ish-Bosheth to David at Hebron and said to the king, "Here is the head of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, your enemy, who tried to take your life. This day the Lord has avenged my lord the king against Saul and his offspring."

David answered Recab and his brother Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, "As surely as the Lord lives, who has delivered me out of all trouble, when a man told me, 'Saul is dead,' and thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and put him to death in Ziklag. That was the reward I gave him for his news! How much more—when wicked men have killed an innocent man in his own house and on his own bed—should I not now demand his blood from your hand and rid the earth of you!"

So David gave an order to his men, and they killed them. They cut off their hands and feet and hung the bodies by the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-Bosheth and buried it in Abner's tomb at Hebron.

2 Samuel 3:22-39, 4:1-12

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

The middle part of Chapter 3 of 2nd Samuel sees events take place that elevate David to the point of assuming leadership over all Israel as king. Everything seems to be looking up, not just for David, but for the people as well as another of God’s anointed is ready to assume the throne.

But how often do we see evil enter into the midst of things when good is happening? For no matter how much good God is making happen, Satan is right there offering equal measures of disruption and chaos.

We see a perfect example of this in the two sections of scripture from Chapters 3 and 4.

First, we see Joab returning to Hebron from a raid, bringing with him a “great deal of plunder”. And as he and his soldiers arrive, they learn that Abner had come to David, conferred with him and then was “sent away…in peace”.

Well, Joab bristled at this news and went directly to David saying, “What have you done? Look, Abner came to you. Why did you let him go? Now he is gone! You know Abner son of Ner; he came to deceive you and observe your movements and find out everything you are doing." We see where Joab makes Abner’s visit seem as if it was done with an evil, scheming intent. Actually, it was Joab who was evil and scheming, attempting to hide his own personal contempt for Abner behind a concern for Israel’s safety. It was far easier to paint Abner as an untrustworthy ally then try and paint him a murderer…the one who had killed his brother Asahel.

So unable to convince David to eliminate Abner, Joab decides to take matters into his own hands. For he “sent messengers after Abner” without David’s knowledge and they “brought (Abner) back from the well of Sirah to Hebron. Once there, scripture tells us “Joab took (Abner) aside into the gateway, as though to speak with him privately” and “stabbed him in the stomach” killing him. In doing so, he felt he had avenged “the blood of his brother Asahel” but all he really did was murder Abner, plain and simple.

For Abner didn’t murder Asahel. He killed him in the line of battle…and there’s a difference. You’ll recall that Asahel was pursuing Abner and his intent wasn’t just to share pleasantries. No…Asahel wanted to slay Abner. And you’ll also recall that Abner tried to convince Asahel to stop his pursuit but Asahel refused to listen. So in self defense, Abner turned and protected himself against Asahel, killing him with his sword. This was far from what happened with Joab who didn’t have the guts to challenge Abner to a fight. Instead, he made it appear as if he wanted to speak to him before stabbing him to death. Joab’s actions were cunning and premeditated. They were also sinful and in violation of God’s commandment to not murder.

We read where David later heard about Joab’s actions and proclaimed, "I and my kingdom are forever innocent before the Lord concerning the blood of Abner son of Ner. May his blood fall upon the head of Joab and upon all his father's house! May Joab's house never be without someone who has a running sore or leprosy or who leans on a crutch or who falls by the sword or who lacks food." David did not want the people of Israel to think that he had ordered the murder one of their key military leaders. Nor did he want there to be a perception that he condoned the actions of Joab. Instead, we read words of condemnation for what Joab had done, highlighting the sinful nature of his actions before the Lord. Additionally, David commands all his people and Joab to tear their clothes and put on sackcloth to express their sorrow and mourning over Abner’s death.

David particularly took the death hard as Abner was buried in Hebron. We read the words of his lament as he said, “Should Abner have died as the lawless die? Your hands were not bound, your feet were not fettered. You fell as one falls before wicked men." And with this, David refused to eat as he grieved saying, “May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun sets!" His actions were effective. For that day, “al the people took note and were pleased” with David and everything he did, knowing that he “had no part in the murder of Abner”…a murder that broke God’s command to not murder.

The second excerpt, taken from Chapter 4, involves Saul’s remaining son, Ish-Bosheth. You’ll remember that Abner had appointed Ish-Bosheth as leader over of Israel with the exception of Judah where David had been anointed king. But when Ish-Bosheth “heard that Abner had died in Hebron”, scripture tells us “he lost courage” leading to “all Israel (becoming) alarmed”.

Whether this had anything to do with what took place next or not is unknown but nonetheless “two men who were leaders of raiding bands” for Ish-Bosheth, Baanah and Recab, “set out for the house of Ish-Bosheth”, arriving “in the heat of the day while he was taking his noonday rest”. And after slipping into the “inner part of the house as if to get some wheat”, they found Ish-Bosheth asleep in his bedroom and “stabbed him in the stomach”, killing him before cutting off his head.

Thinking they had done something noble by killing Israel’s leader so David could rule over all, Baanah and Recab took the “head of Ish-Bosheth to David at Hebron” and said to him, "Here is the head of Ish-Bosheth, son of Saul, your enemy, who tried to take your life. This day the Lord has avenged my lord the king against Saul and his offspring." Of course, there was only one problem with their statement. For they had never asked the Lord if it was His will that they kill Ish-Bosheth and so there was no way they could have been carrying out the Lord’s will. They were about to find out that there is a heavy price for sinning and then acting as if the Lord endorsed it.

For “David answered Recab and his brother Baanah” saying, “As surely as the Lord lives, who has delivered me out of all trouble, when a man told me, 'Saul is dead,' and thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and put him to death in Ziklag. That was the reward I gave him for his news! How much more — when wicked men have killed an innocent man in his own house and on his own bed—should I not now demand his blood from your hand and rid the earth of you!" And with that, “David gave an order to his men” to kill Bannah and Recab, cutting off “their hands and feet” and hanging “the bodies by the pool in Hebron”…a public display of the judgment any man would face for sinning against God by taking the life of another. Meanwhile, the “head of Ish-Bosheth” was given a proper burial “in Abner's tomb at Hebron”.

Question: What part of God’s commands do we have such a problem understanding?

For when God tells us to not do something, He expects us not to do it...plain and simple. And we’re to do it because He said so. No questions needed…and no exceptions provided.

For God commanded, “You shall have no other gods before me” and yet the world chooses to lift up and adore many things above God…the One by which all things were possible.

For God commanded, “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below” and yet we worship many worldly people and possessions as if they are gods. In fact, we even name a show, American Idol, and millions watch weekly.

For God commanded, “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God” and yet not a day goes by where someone doesn’t use profanity and take the Lord’s name in vain.

For God commanded, “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy and yet so many people treat it just like any other day of the week.

For God commanded, “Honor your father and your mother” and yet we choose to disregard and disrespect them at will.

For God commanded, “You shall not murder” and yet people needlessly kill every day.

For God commanded, “You shall not commit adultery” and yet people so easily choose to be unfaithful to their spouses.

For God commanded, “You shall not steal” and yet we read of people stealing in some fashion nearly every day.

For God commanded, “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor” and yet people don’t hesitate a moment to spread gossip or smear the name of another person.

For God commanded, “You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor” and yet we are so quick to envy others who have more than we have.

So as we read about the murderous actions of Joab, Recab and Baanah, we might think that this scripture isn’t applicable to me because I have never murdered anyone nor will I ever murder anyone. But that would be a shallow approach to interpreting the message that God is trying to convey here.

For God doesn’t expect us to just conform to one of His commandments…He commands and expects that we obey all of them.

No debate needed.

And no exceptions granted.

My prayer for us all is that we will follow the guidance spoken by Moses when he said, “It is the Lord your God you must follow, and Him you must revere. Keep His commands and obey Him; serve Him and hold fast to Him. Deuteronomy 13:4

Indeed, this verse gives us the solution to ensuring we conform to and uphold all of the Lord’s commands. For all we need to do is to follow Him…revere Him…obey Him…serve Him…and, most of all, hold fast to Him. If we do, then we can be assured that we will live lives that are full of righteousness…lives that are favorable to God.

So what are we waiting for? The time is now to become fully obedient to what the Lord commands with no exceptions.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

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THE JOY IS IN THE JOURNEY

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner had been strengthening his own position in the house of Saul. Now Saul had had a concubine named Rizpah daughter of Aiah. And Ish-Bosheth said to Abner, "Why did you sleep with my father's concubine?"

Abner was very angry because of what Ish-Bosheth said and he answered, "Am I a dog's head—on Judah's side? This very day I am loyal to the house of your father Saul and to his family and friends. I haven't handed you over to David. Yet now you accuse me of an offense involving this woman! May God deal with Abner, be it ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the Lord promised him on oath and transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and establish David's throne over Israel and Judah from Dan to Beersheba." Ish-Bosheth did not dare to say another word to Abner, because he was afraid of him.

Then Abner sent messengers on his behalf to say to David, "Whose land is it? Make an agreement with me, and I will help you bring all Israel over to you."

"Good," said David. "I will make an agreement with you. But I demand one thing of you: Do not come into my presence unless you bring Michal daughter of Saul when you come to see me." Then David sent messengers to Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, demanding, "Give me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to myself for the price of a hundred Philistine foreskins."

So Ish-Bosheth gave orders and had her taken away from her husband Paltiel son of Laish. Her husband, however, went with her, weeping behind her all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, "Go back home!" So he went back.

Abner conferred with the elders of Israel and said, "For some time you have wanted to make David your king. Now do it! For the Lord promised David, 'By my servant David I will rescue my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from the hand of all their enemies.' "

Abner also spoke to the Benjamites in person. Then he went to Hebron to tell David everything that Israel and the whole house of Benjamin wanted to do. When Abner, who had twenty men with him, came to David at Hebron, David prepared a feast for him and his men. Then Abner said to David, "Let me go at once and assemble all Israel for my lord the king, so that they may make a compact with you, and that you may rule over all that your heart desires." So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.

2 Samuel 3:6-21

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

In chapter 2 of 2nd Samuel, we read about the battle that took place between Israel and Judah. Israel’s group, led by Abner, who had been the commander of Saul’s army, first met David’s group, led by Joab at the pool of Gibeon. There, Abner and Joab agreed to each send twelve men into hand-to-hand combat with one another which resulted in all twenty-four men dying. This was followed with a fierce battle between the two sides with 360 Benjamites and 19 of David’s men dying in the conflict, including Joab’s brother Asahel who was killed in the heat of battle after refusing to give up his pursuit of Abner. The fighting ended only after Abner and Joab agreed to stop fighting with both sides returning to their home camps.

We also learned in Chapter 2 that Saul still had a surviving son after the fatal battle with the Philistines. That son, Ish-Bosheth, was made “king over Gilead, Ashuri and Jezreel, and also over Ephraim, Benjamin and all Israel” by Abner. At that time, they had a good relationship but as we continue study in Chapter 3, we see where that didn’t last long.

For we read that Abner “had been strengthening his own position in the house of Saul” during the “war between the house of Saul and the house of David”. We don’t know if this had caused Ish-Bosheth to grow jealous or not but it is a possibility. Nonetheless, Saul’s remaining son accused Abner of sleeping with Saul’s concubine, Rizpah. This greatly angered Abner who said to Ish-Bosheth:

"Am I a dog's head — on Judah's side? This very day I am loyal to the house of your father Saul and to his family and friends. I haven't handed you over to David. Yet now you accuse me of an offense involving this woman! May God deal with Abner, be it ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the Lord promised him on oath and transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and establish David's throne over Israel and Judah from Dan to Beersheba."

And with these words from Abner, scripture tells us that Ish-Bosheth “did not dare to say another word to (him) because he was afraid of him”.

And so Abner made good on his word and sent messengers to make and offer to David. The offer presented for David to gain rule over all Israel if he would make an agreement with Abner. David agrees but on one condition. He wanted Saul’s daughter Michal brought to him.

Now, you’ll recall that David had earned the hand of Michal in marriage by bringing Saul two hundred Philistine foreskins. (1 Samuel 18) You’ll also recall that Michal helped David escape Saul’s men who were sent to kill him and after David fled Saul’s kingdom, Saul had given Michal to Paltiel as his wife. And so after David sent his demand to Ish-Bosheth, orders were given to take Michal “away from her husband Paltiel” who was saddened by the loss and wanted to accompany Michal but was sent home by Abner.

Abner then “conferred with the elders of Israel” saying, "For some time you have wanted to make David your king. Now do it! For the Lord promised David, 'By my servant David I will rescue my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from the hand of all their enemies.' " And “Abner also spoke to the Benjamites in person” before going to “Hebron to tell David everything that Israel and the whole house of Benjamin wanted to do”. David, in turn, “prepared a feast for (Abner) and his men after which Abner went to “assemble all Israel for my lord the king, so that they may make a compact with you, and that you may rule over all that your heart desires." And so “David sent Abner away, and he went in peace”. God’s plan was about to be fulfilled.

As I pondered this scripture, I couldn’t help but think about the matter of how God’s plan became fulfilled in David’s case…and, in turn, think about how His plan is played out in our lives as well.

For remember this…David was selected by God when he was just a young shepherd boy and anointed to be the coming king of Israel back in 1st Samuel, Chapter 16. Eighteen chapters and a lot of events later, we just now see everything fall into place where David will be king over all of Israel. And in examining this, we find out a lot about how we need to approach life and God’s plan for us in our respective lives.

Now if we were writing the script for David’s anointing and call to leadership, we would have probably had God select him and Saul die so David could just inherit everything that Saul had. It would be short and sweet…neat and tidy…smooth with excellent fluidity and continuity. Yes…if it were up to us, we would take the direct route…for in our limited human wisdom, we often just take the closest route between two points…a straight line. And with that attitude, we too often expect that God will act that way as well to meet our expectations only to find that God doesn’t usually act that way.

No…we see that God often takes us to a lot of different places before He gets us to His final destination…to the place where His plan is fulfilled. David did.

Consider all that took place between Samuel’s anointing and David actually sealing the deal to be king over all of Israel:

He left his father Jesse and lived with Saul, soothing him with his harp playing.

He fought and defeated the Philistine giant warrior, Goliath.

He eluded multiple attempts on his life both by Saul and then by the men Saul sent.

He married Saul’s daughter, Michal, after meeting Saul’s demand for one hundred Philistine foreskins (David actually brought Saul two hundred foreskins).

He befriended and formed a special alliance with Saul’s son, Jonathan.

He escaped Saul’s men when Michal deceived the men into believing David was in bed ill. David had actually fled.

He escaped to seek guidance from Samuel at Ramah and when Saul’s men and then Saul pursued, they were all brought to prophesying at Naioth.

He hid in a field while Jonathan tested his father, Saul, to see if David was in danger or not. After discovering that Saul did indeed wish to still kill David, Jonathan warned him and sent him away.

He visited and received supplies from Ahimelech at Nob.

He had to act crazy in order to escape King Achish at Gath.

He assembled 400 men who supported him and traveled with them from the cave at Adullam to Moab to the forest of Horeth where he was joined by Abiathar, son of the priest Ahimelech who Saul had killed.

He took his men and drove the Philistines out of the town of Keilah.

He eluded Saul and his men along a mountainside near the desert of Maon.

He spared Saul’s life while hiding in a cave with his men and later would spare him again as Saul slept in his camp.

After a wealthy man named Nabal refused to give David provisions, David was prepared to go to battle against Nabal but changed his mind after Nabal’s wife Abigail made restitution by bringing him two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five dressed sheep, five seahs of roasted grain, a hundred cakes of raisins and two hundred cakes of pressed figs.

He lived amongst the Philistines in the town of Ziklag and was favored by King Achish.

He was sent back to Ziklag and not allowed to fight against Israel with the Philistines after the Philistine commanders complained to King Achish feeling David might turn on them and begin fighting for Israel.

As he and his men returned to Ziklag, they found the town destroyed by the Amalekites who took their families and possessions.

He pursued and fought the Amalekites, winning the conflict and getting everything back that had been taken.

He received word of Saul and Jonathan’s death and deeply mourned, writing a lament. He also killed the Amalekite messenger who had claimed to kill Saul although scripture clearly stated that Saul had killed himself.

He was anointed king of Judah.

He blessed the people of Jabesh Gilead after they retrieved the bodies of Saul and his sons from the Beth Shan and gave them a proper burial.

Wow. Just look at all that happened in David’s life during this time. It definitely wasn’t a road traveled in a straight line. Instead, God had many stops for David to make along his journey to full kingship…stops that each had a special purpose in shaping and molding David into the man God wanted him to be.

And friends, God does the same with us. He has a plan for us but seldom takes us to the end of that plan without taking us on a journey that includes many stops along the way…stops where He is seeking to mold us into the person He wants us to be.

One thing is certain. God has a plan and that plan will be fulfilled. So as we travel along on this Christian Walk, let us enjoy the trip and seek to richly experience all God has in store for us along the way to His final intended destination…the place where His present plan ends and His new plan begins. For the joy is in the journey…now and forever. Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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CONFLICT RESOLUTION

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul's army, had taken Ish-Bosheth son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim. He made him king over Gilead, Ashuri and Jezreel, and also over Ephraim, Benjamin and all Israel.

Ish-Bosheth son of Saul was forty years old when he became king over Israel, and he reigned two years. The house of Judah, however, followed David. The length of time David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.

Abner son of Ner, together with the men of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, left Mahanaim and went to Gibeon. Joab son of Zeruiah and David's men went out and met them at the pool of Gibeon. One group sat down on one side of the pool and one group on the other side.

Then Abner said to Joab, "Let's have some of the young men get up and fight hand to hand in front of us."

"All right, let them do it," Joab said.

So they stood up and were counted off—twelve men for Benjamin and Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, and twelve for David. Then each man grabbed his opponent by the head and thrust his dagger into his opponent's side, and they fell down together. So that place in Gibeon was called Helkath Hazzurim.

The battle that day was very fierce, and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated by David's men.

The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai and Asahel. Now Asahel was as fleet-footed as a wild gazelle. He chased Abner, turning neither to the right nor to the left as he pursued him. Abner looked behind him and asked, "Is that you, Asahel?"

"It is," he answered.

Then Abner said to him, "Turn aside to the right or to the left; take on one of the young men and strip him of his weapons." But Asahel would not stop chasing him.

Again Abner warned Asahel, "Stop chasing me! Why should I strike you down? How could I look your brother Joab in the face?"

But Asahel refused to give up the pursuit; so Abner thrust the butt of his spear into Asahel's stomach, and the spear came out through his back. He fell there and died on the spot. And every man stopped when he came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died.

But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner, and as the sun was setting, they came to the hill of Ammah, near Giah on the way to the wasteland of Gibeon. Then the men of Benjamin rallied behind Abner. They formed themselves into a group and took their stand on top of a hill.

Abner called out to Joab, "Must the sword devour forever? Don't you realize that this will end in bitterness? How long before you order your men to stop pursuing their brothers?"

Joab answered, "As surely as God lives, if you had not spoken, the men would have continued the pursuit of their brothers until morning. "

So Joab blew the trumpet, and all the men came to a halt; they no longer pursued Israel, nor did they fight anymore.

All that night Abner and his men marched through the Arabah. They crossed the Jordan, continued through the whole Bithron and came to Mahanaim.

Then Joab returned from pursuing Abner and assembled all his men. Besides Asahel, nineteen of David's men were found missing. But David's men had killed three hundred and sixty Benjamites who were with Abner. They took Asahel and buried him in his father's tomb at Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men marched all night and arrived at Hebron by daybreak.

The war between the house of Saul and the house of David lasted a long time. David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.

Sons were born to David in Hebron:

His firstborn was Amnon the son of Ahinoam of Jezreel; his second, Kileab the son of Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; the third, Absalom the son of Maacah daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;
and the sixth, Ithream the son of David's wife Eglah. These were born to David in Hebron.

2 Samuel 2:8-32, 3:1-5

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

With David anointed king of Judah and Saul dead, Israel was left without a king, although it was already determined by God that David would become king of all Israel. But for now, that had not taken place.

For we read in Chapter 2 of 2nd Samuel that “Abner…the commander of Saul's army” had appointed “Ish-Bosheth son of Saul” to be king over Gilead, Ashuri and Jezreel, and also over Ephraim, Benjamin and all Israel. In this, we see where all of Saul’s sons were not killed by the Philistines and see where Saul’s army commander also survived the battle.

Abner’s actions resulted in two ruling parties in Israel and laid the foundation for what was to come. For these ruling parties soon became competing parties, seeking to wrestle absolute power, property and authority from the other…and clearly displaying the amount of cost that comes with conflict.

The attempt to determine who would have ultimate power began at “the pool of Gibeon”. There, “Abner…together with the men of Ish-Bosheth” met “Joab…and David's men” with one group (sitting) down on one side of the pool and one group (sitting) on the other side”. Once there, Abner and Joab agree to try and settle the matter through hand-to-hand combat between a small faction of each group.

And so each group stood and “were counted off — twelve men for Benjamin and Ish-Bosheth…and twelve for David. Ironically, the number of men chosen coincided with the number of tribes in Israel. And so the combat began but ended quickly when “each man grabbed his opponent by the head and thrust his dagger into his opponent's side, and they fell down together” All men, twelve from each side, fell dead and so nothing was resolved except for needless killing.

Note that neither Abner or Joab asked God what they should do before they did it. No…they went on their own idea of how to resolve the conflict and the outcome was tragic. So would they learn from that mistake and ask God now? Sadly, no.

For after the twenty-four men fell dead from the hand-to-hand combat, a very fierce battle ensued which resulted in “Abner and the men of Israel” being “defeated by David's men”. Not wishing to die himself, Abner fled the battle scene but he was far from out of danger. For hot in pursuit was Joab’s brother Asahel who was described as being “as fleet-footed as a wild gazelle”. Asahel used his speed to chase Abner, “turning neither to the right nor to the left as he pursued him”.

Abner, seeing Asahel following him, asks him to break off his chase and “turn aside to the right or to the left” to “take on one of the young men”. Abner, not wanting to harm Asahel, tried to get him to go after another of his men…one that Asahel had a better chance of defeating. But Asahel refused to listen and continued the chase.

Scripture tells us that Abner warned Asahel again saying, “Stop chasing me! Why should I strike you down? How could I look your brother Joab in the face?" Clearly, Abner knew he would easily be able to kill Asahel if he had to. Stubborn in his desire to fight Abner, “Asahel refused to give up the pursuit” and it led to his death as Abner turned and “thrust the butt of his spear into Asahel's stomach”. Asahel’s forward momentum was so great that “the spear came out through his back” and “he fell there and died on the spot”.

As the rest of David’s men ran forward and “came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died”, they stopped, not wanting to die as he did. But we read where “Joab and Abishai pursued Abner” obviously wanting to avenge their brother’s death. Would more bloodshed follow as “the sun was setting” and both groups met again and took their stand on “the hill of Ammah, near Giah”? Without a change in attitude from each side, surely more bloodshed and death were imminent.

And change is what we see happen.

Because “Abner called out to Joab” and said, "Must the sword devour forever? Don't you realize that this will end in bitterness? How long before you order your men to stop pursuing their brothers?"

Indeed, Joab’s brother was already dead as well as the twelve men who died in the combat at the pool of Gibeon and nineteen other men of David. The loss was even greater on Abner’s side as “three hundred and sixty Benjamites who were with him died along with the twelve men at Gibeon. With this, Abner’s words were timely and effective.

For Joab answered, "As surely as God lives, if you had not spoken, the men would have continued the pursuit of their brothers until morning.” And with that, “Joab blew the trumpet, and all the men came to a halt; they no longer pursued Israel, nor did they fight anymore”. With a truce made and fighting over, each side returned to their respective homes with Asahel being buried in his father's tomb at Bethlehem as David’s men returned to Hebron.

Unfortunately, this wouldn’t be the last clash between “the house of Saul and the house of David”. Scripture tells us that their war “lasted a long time” with David’s side growing “stronger and stronger” while “the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker”. It would only be a matter of time before David would be where God intended for him to be…king over all of Israel.

Today, scripture underscores the dangerous nature of conflict. And although, we read about war and death on the battlefield as a result of conflict, conflict doesn’t necessarily need to have to be in the context of war and with death as the outcome..

For what about when we get into disputes with others? Can’t these non-lethal conflicts spiral out of control and lead to damaged relationships with other? The answer is obviously yes and maybe you have had the displeasure of being in the midst of one of these conflicts. I know I have.

Disputes, if unchecked, sow seeds of dissent and anger…emotions that suck the very life out of the kind of relationship that God expects us to have with one another. Dissent and anger breed contempt and resentment and hatred…and these emotions, if unchecked, can lead people to enter into war with one another…sometimes with fatal results.

So what are we to do in life when we are faced with conflict? We turn to the One the Father sent to show us how to live…both now and forever. We turn to Jesus.

For Jesus has the answer for conflict as He does in all things and gave us clear guidance as to how we’re expected to deal with potential enemies. Consider this passage:

But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.

If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Luke 6:27-36

The Old Testament way of dealing with enemies was an eye for an eye. You would do unto others as they did unto you or one you loved. This attitude was conflict-driven.

Jesus turned this attitude completely around and centered it on the one thing that defined him more than any other…love.

For we read where Jesus instructs us to love our enemies and do good to those who hate us…to bless those who curse us and pray for those who mistreat us. The world would say this is crazy. And that’s what Jesus wants. To get the world’s attention by the way His people act.

For if we do the same as our enemies, how are we any better or different than they are? This is what Jesus was trying to get across when He said, “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full.” Jesus doesn’t expect is to act as the world acts. He expects us to act as He acted. And when we act as He acted, then and only then will we be able to be merciful as our Father, His Father, is merciful.

Friends, do you have enemies today…someone who you have a feeling of anger or hatred for?

If so, it’s time for conflict resolution and Jesus stands ready to make it happen within you. Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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THE LORD'S DELIGHTS

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the dead, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. They cut off his head and stripped off his armor, and they sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines to proclaim the news in the temple of their idols and among their people. They put his armor in the temple of the Ashtoreths and fastened his body to the wall of Beth Shan.

When the people of Jabesh Gilead heard of what the Philistines had done to Saul, all their valiant men journeyed through the night to Beth Shan. They took down the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth Shan and went to Jabesh, where they burned them. Then they took their bones and buried them under a tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and they fasted seven days.

1 Samuel 31:8-13
__________________________________________________________

When David was told that it was the men of Jabesh Gilead who had buried Saul, he sent messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead to say to them, "The Lord bless you for showing this kindness to Saul your master by burying him. May the Lord now show you kindness and faithfulness, and I too will show you the same favor because you have done this. Now then, be strong and brave, for Saul your master is dead, and the house of Judah has anointed me king over them."

2 Samuel 2:4b-7

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

At the end of 1st Samuel, we read of Saul’s death…how he fell on his own sword after being critically injured by the Philistines. He did this to avoid being killed by them but as we read in Chapter 31, the Philistines didn’t stop from abusing Saul even when dead.

For scripture tells us that they beheaded him, stripped him of his armor, placed his armor in the idol worshipping temple of the Ashtoreths and then fastened him and his sons to the wall of Beth Shan. One might have thought it was a fitting end to Saul given his disobedient sinfulness but not all saw Saul that way.

As we should recall, David certainly didn’t hold Saul’s murderous attitude against him but instead refused to kill Saul when the opportunity presented itself because Saul, despite his faults, was still an anointed one of God…the king of Israel.

Scripture tells us that the people of Jabesh Gilead had similar feelings for the fallen king. For after hearing about what the Philistines had done to their king, they “journeyed through the night to Beth Shan” and “took down the bodies of Saul and his sons”. They then took the bodies to Jabesh where they cremated them and gave them a proper burial, placing their bones “under a tamarisk tree” before fasting seven days in mourning for what had happened.

In the second chapter of 2nd Samuel, we read where David, the newly anointed king of Judah, gets word about what the people of Jabesh Gilead for Saul. And so he “sent messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead” to give them the following word:

"The Lord bless you for showing this kindness to Saul your master by burying him. May the Lord now show you kindness and faithfulness, and I too will show you the same favor because you have done this. Now then, be strong and brave, for Saul your master is dead, and the house of Judah has anointed me king over them."

Through these words, we see David acknowledging the actions of Jabesh Gilead as not only acts of reverence but acts of kindness. There was a degree of risk involved to go and retrieve the bodies of Saul and his sons but the people of Jabesh Gilead shirked any danger to do the right thing…the kind thing…in honor of Saul and his sons.

For their actions, we read where David wishes for the Lord’s blessings to be upon the people of Jabesh Gilead…blessings of faithfulness and kindness and favor…blessings that David himself promised them as well. And then David did something else that would be important to his coming ascent into leadership over all of Israel. He acknowledged that the people of Jabesh Gilead had lost their king but assured them that all was going to be fine…that they were to be strong and brave for he had been anointed king over them. Saul, God’s first anointed king, had died but God had anointed a relief…and his name was David.

At the heart of this passage we see the theme of kindness. Kindness showed to a deceased Saul and his sons by the people of Jabesh Gilead…kindness hoped for by the Lord for the kindness they displayed…and kindness and favor granted to them by David.

Kindness should be important to us as well. It should be important because God expects it. Consider this passage from Jeremiah:

This is what the Lord says:

"Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the Lord. Jeremiah 9:23-24

If we’re in the Lord…and we should be because He created us in His own image (Genesis 1:27)…then we should exercise all the things that He exercises…righteousness, justice and kindness on earth.

Why?

Because the Lord delights in these things. He favors and blesses those who live for Him and allow Him to guide and lead them in life. For those He leads and guides exercises all the things He delights in because He is with them and in them…embedded in their very spirit. And when the Lord is embedded in our spirit, then we begin to bear fruits of that spirit…fruits that scriptures tells us include love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)

The Lord was embedded in the hearts of the people of Jabesh Gilead and led them to bless a fallen Saul and his sons with a suitable burial.

What act of kindness will you allow the Lord to do through you?

Allow His Spirit to enter your heart and mind…fully surrender to Him and start to bear the fruit that He will harvest within you…and the Lord will take care of the rest, leading you to more opportunities to be kind and loving to others that you could ever ask for. And He’ll do it because He delights in these things…and wants to delight in you as well. Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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ASK, LISTEN, DO

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

In the course of time, David inquired of the Lord. "Shall I go up to one of the towns of Judah?" he asked.

The Lord said, "Go up."

David asked, "Where shall I go?"

"To Hebron," the Lord answered.

So David went up there with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. David also took the men who were with him, each with his family, and they settled in Hebron and its towns. Then the men of Judah came to Hebron and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah.

2 Samuel 2:1-4a

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

As we go through life, it seems we always face one question, “What should I do?”, and that question pops up in any number of situations or circumstances.

We encounter problems at work and wonder what we should do about them. We face economic issues and wonder what we should do to meet our obligations. We encounter challenges in any number of the relationships we have in life and wonder what we should do to resolve the challenges at hand. In fact, as we step back and assess life, it can be seen as an endless procession of events that continue to have us seeking what we should do while dealing with them.

OK…so what should we do? Most of the time, we do everything except what we should be doing.

I say this because we tend to do one of two things when problems arise in our lives…and neither of them provides the proper guidance that we’re looking for.

The first mistake we make is trying to deal with the problems ourselves. We think we can figure it out or work it out or find the way through by using our wisdom and intellect. And too often, we find that we fail miserably when we try to do things this way. I know I have. And when we can’t seem to work things out ourselves, we tend to turn toward another option which is mistake number two.

For after we can’t seem to get things straightened out, we turn to someone else to try and help us figure out what we should do. And there is no shortage of “experts” out there who are ready to give us their opinion or advice. In fact, it’s easy to tell someone else what to do when there’s nothing at stake for you in it. If you give them bad advice, then they suffer and the worst thing that happens to you is that they don’t ask your advice again. And that’s fine because there are plenty of other people who will ask. Meanwhile, the one who is trying to find their way through their problems often finds themselves mired deeper in those problems, feeling like they are at the end of what they can do…and they’re right. Sadly, it’s at this point, when a person seems to have exhausted every earthly asset available, that they end up turning to the One they should have turned to at the beginning…the One who would have instructed them properly and placed them on the road to resolution immediately while offering comfort and peace at the same time.

For God and God alone is our help in times of trouble and our trusting Counselor when we need guidance.

David knew this and demonstrated the right way to approach our need for direction in our scripture today. For we read that he was unsure about whether the time was right for him to leave the Philistine territory and his town of Ziklag to return to Israel and “one of the towns of Judah”. And so David, in need of knowing what to do, turned to the Lord and asked him if he should go to Judah and the Lord answered him and told him to go.

Well, Judah was a large territory and David wanted to make sure he went where the Lord wanted him to go. And so he followed up his first question with a second asking, “Where shall I go?” to which the Lord answered, “To Hebron." And so David knew exactly what he needed to do and where the Lord wanted him to go. And with this, he also knew the Lord approved of him doing it.

So David went to “Hebron and its towns” and settled in “with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel” as well as “the men who were with him, each with his family”. And once there, “the men of Judah came” and officially “anointed David king over the house of Judah”.

Through David’s actions we are given a three step formula toward dealing with our life circumstances so we can ensure that we are going the way God wants us to go and doing what He wants us to do.

First, we need to ask…and not ask just anyone. We need to ask the Lord…first. Not after we have thought about what we should do on our own. Not after we have asked someone else what we should do. No…God expects that we turn to Him and Him alone when we need guidance…to Him first. For He and He alone is the One who will always have us going the right way and doing the right thing…every time we ask.

Secondly, David shows us that we need to listen. When God told him what to do, David listened to Him…and we need to do the same. David didn’t challenge God’s answer saying, “Are you sure you want me to go to Judah Lord?” or “Wouldn’t another town be better than Hebron Lord?” No…David asked and then David listened to God’s reply before showing us the final important step. Because after David asked and listened, he did what God told him to do.

We have seen throughout Old Testament study from Genesis up to now, that God expects and blesses obedience more than almost anything else. And yet, over and over again, we have watched the people of Israel be anything but obedient…and we are still watching it happen today. In our scripture passage, we see that David was anything but disobedient. God told him to go to Judah and settle in Hebron…and David took his family as well as his men and their families and did as God ordered. And in return, we see where David is anointed king of Judah…and soon will become king over all Israel, just as God has said he would. God had a specific purpose for David being in Judah and Hebron…for he was to be the new king there. And we need to remember that God has a specific purpose for us in our lives as well…no matter where He leads us.

So in 4 verses from the second chapter of 2nd Samuel, we are given three simple steps…ask, listen and do…three steps modeled by David to show us how to make sure we are heading in the direction that God wants us to go in life.

Rest assured of this, God will always put us where He wants us and will reveal His purpose for us in whatever place He puts us.

For David, it was to go to Judah and settle in Hebron to become king.

What will it be for you and me? Well, all we need do is ask God, listen to Him and do what he tells us to do…and do it obediently. If we do, then and only then will we discover the glory of God’s plan for us in life.

Friends…what an assurance we have that God is ever standing by to answer us when we call and provide divine guidance. And with that, we need never wonder what He wants us to do, no matter what the circumstance. We only need to ask, listen and do. Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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FORGIVENESS AND THEN LAMENT

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

David took up this lament concerning Saul and his son Jonathan, and ordered that the men of Judah be taught this lament of the bow (it is written in the Book of Jashar):

"Your glory, O Israel, lies slain on your heights. How the mighty have fallen!

Tell it not in Gath, proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines be glad, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised rejoice.

O mountains of Gilboa, may you have neither dew nor rain, nor fields that yield offerings of grain.

For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul—no longer rubbed with oil. From the blood of the slain, from the flesh of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan did not turn back, the sword of Saul did not return unsatisfied.

Saul and Jonathan — in life they were loved and gracious, and in death they were not parted. They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.

O daughters of Israel, weep for Saul, who clothed you in scarlet and finery, who adorned your garments with ornaments of gold.

How the mighty have fallen in battle! Jonathan lies slain on your heights. I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother; you were very dear to me. Your love for me was wonderful, more wonderful than that of women.

How the mighty have fallen! The weapons of war have perished!"

2 Samuel 1:17-27

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

The first chapter of Samuel begins with bad news. Fresh off his victory over the Amalekites and the rescue of his abducted people and livestock, David receives news that Saul and Jonathan had died in the battle with the Philistines. The news brings David and his men to mourn, weep and fast over the loss before David pens a lament for his fallen friends…a lament that comprises the passage for today.

Checking the dictionary, we find that to lament means “to express sorrow, mourning, or regret for often demonstratively…to regret strongly. Certainly, we feel the deep love and caring that David had for both Saul and Jonathan…surprising in a way because of the way that Saul had pursued David in a quest to kill him. Despite this, David doesn’t curse Saul but instead praises him.

I wonder if we, in the same circumstances as David, would have praised Saul.

For it would be easy to sing the admiration of one who was in the same spirit as you were…one who loved you as himself…one that would place himself in grave danger just to protect you. Jonathan did all these things and so it was easy to see how David could say, “Your love for me was wonderful, more wonderful than that of women.” There’s little doubt we would feel the same.

But when it comes to one who has done wrong to you for no good reason…one who tried multiple times to pin you to the wall with a spear…one who pursued you relentlessly with murderous purpose and caused you to be constantly on the run to stay alive…I think any average person would not even consider having anything nice to say about that person, no matter how much good they may have done at some time in their life. No…praise would not be in order. Instead, the natural reaction might be one of relief and satisfaction that one’s enemy had met his demise and would no longer be a problem.

Maybe you’ve had an enemy or two in your life. And maybe that person seemed to never take a break from harassing you or mistreating you in some way with their actions breeding contempt within your heart for them. Now, imagine that person dies. Would you mourn their passing? Would you turn around and deliver a praise-filled eulogy at their funeral? Most people wouldn’t. But David wasn’t like most people.

No…David chose to focus on the good things about Saul and not the bad. He underscored Saul and Jonathan’s bravery in battle…their strength and agility in vanquishing Israel’s foes during Saul’s reign. And he exhorted other in Israel to join him in mourning “the mighty ones” who had fallen…the “weapons of war” that had perished…the ones who were “loved and gracious” in life.

Yes, David could have cursed Saul but instead he lamented. Perhaps, this is because he was a man after God’s own heart…a God that is merciful and forgiving and loving…a God who will bring the same out in us when we surrender our hearts and minds to Him…and become like-minded with Him.

So where are you at in your life attitude with your enemies?

If they were to die tomorrow, would you rejoice or lament…celebrate or mourn…revel or remorse?

Before you answer that question on your own, why don’t you seek God first and ask Him how you should respond?

And when you do, you’ll find as David did that there is to be forgiveness first…forgiveness that will then turn our hearts to lament. Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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