Tuesday May 31, 2011 Painful pleas

Today's treasure:  2 Samuel 12:24

Read 2 Samuel 12:15-25

  In what ways did David respond to his child's sudden illness?
Read David's immediate response in verse 20.
  What was God's attitude toward David and Bathsheba's second child?  

  Nathan had hardly turned the doorknob to leave before David's child fell ill.  David had been warned that his son would die, and still he "pleaded with God for the child" for seven days.  When the child died, the servants were terrified David would do something desperate.  They were stunned when David received the news, got up, washed his face, changed clothes and went into the house of the Lord and worshipped.

  Did David waster his time pleading with God over the life of the child?  After all, God's message through Nathan was painfully clear.  As we attempt to determine whether David's efforts were wasted, we have the privilege to peek at just a little of the intense intimacy David shared with God.  When he fell on his face before God, the prodigal returned home to the place he belonged.  He was bankrupt in soul, demoralized, and terrified, but he was back.  Too many months had passed since he had last entered into God's presence.  

  Through David's crisis, he was reminded of all he knew of God's ways.  David did not plead with God out of ignorance but out of his intimate knowledge of God.  God does indeed hear our prayers and reserves the right to relent if the change does not compromise an eternal necessity.  

  David knew something about his God that we need to realize as well.  God did not create man in His own image to be unaffected by Him.  We are products of His heart.  The God of Scripture is One who feels.
  Unlike us, God is never compromised by His feelings, but He does care.  

  David's painful please forced him back to a crucial place of depending on God.  David had mistaken the power of God as his own.  He had so often been told he could do anything, he started to believe it.  God demands we depend on Him because only He can keep us safe.  When we seek security in other places, He is obligated to turn us back toward home.  Tragedy caused David to depend on God.  God's judgment seems harsh until we reconsider David's many transgressions.  

  David's pleas would satisfy his spirit in the many months of mourning to come.  As he grieved the loss, he needed to know he had done everything he could to prevent the child's death.  David did not want his child to die because he did not ask God. (See Jas. 4:2)
 In our relationship with God, we must feel freedom to bring the desires of our heart to Him in prayer.

  David's please ultimately ensured his survival through the tragedy he and his wife would suffer.  The return positioned him to make it through such loss with victory.  When tragedy hits, if we cast ourselves on the Savior and rely on Him for the very breath we draw, we will one day get up again. 

  Do you remember ever returning to the Lord in worship after a painful loss you believe He could have stopped?

  David's pleas touched the heart of God to respond.  God loved this man--just as He loves us.  The one He loves He must discipline (Heb 12:6) But does God's heart ache as He disciplines?  God could not give David what he asked because He had to perform an eternal work and teach an eternal lesson.  But He did something else: "Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and he went to her and lay with her.  She gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon.  The Lord loved him, and because the Lord loved him, he sent word through Nathan the prophet to name him Jedidiah" (2 Samuel 12:24-25)


  Out of grace God removed the curse on the sinful union of David and Bathsheba.  Their union had been wrong.  Their motive wrong.  Now we see them drawn together by terrible tragedy.  God removed the curse of their marriage and brought a child from the union.  Jedidiah means "beloved of the Lord"
  
  God never turns His back on us.  He will discipline but not forsake us.  He will always seek to draw us back to a place where He can bless us once more.

Monday, May 30, 2011 You are the man!! Happy Memorial Day

  Today's treasure:  2 Samuel 12:5-7

  Read 2 Samuel 12:1-14
Note that Nathan used an analogy involving sheep.

 At what point did David admit his sin?

How did Nathan respond to David with good and bad news?

  The scene unfolds with Nathan sent to confront David's sin.  We need to be careful not to confront for any other reason.  We need to resist self-appointed confrontation with a fallen brother.  Galatians 6:1 records one of those reasons.

  Nathan was God's man for the job, but he still needed the protection and leadership of God as he confronted the powerful, persuasive king.  Virtually a year had passed since David's initial sin with Bathsheba.  We know the baby had been born, but we do not know exactly how old he was.
  The time is so important because no sign of repentance had yet occurred.  David appeared to be moving on with his life as if nothing had happened, but how do you suppose his sin affected his relationship with God?  Our unwillingness to repent has internal effects. 
  Daved wrote exactly how he felt during his season of unrepentance.  Psalm 32: 3-5


  What obvious toll did David's unwillingness to repent have on him?


  Psalm 32:3-5 describes a malady we might call sin sickness.  Have you ever noticed God helps us accept His forgiveness, but He does not make us forget our sins?
  Psalm 32:3-5 teaches an important truth.  Spiritual illness (unrepentance) can lead to emotional illness (groaning, heaviness) and physical illness.  Of course not all emotional and physical illness is caused by an unrepententant heart, but a refusal to repent takes a serious emotional and physical toll.
  Nathan used a good preaching method to confront David.  He used an illustration familiar to his hearer and drove the illustration home with the Word of God.
  Sometimes the further we wander outside of God's will, the more we judge others and the less we show mercy.  David was ready to fine the man "four times over" and kill him--until he found out he was the man.  God may have wanted David to recognize the grace of God in the midst of the grave consequences of his sin.  God wanted David to recognize he deserved to die.  Bathsheba also deserved death, according to Hebrew law.  So did Joab for setting up another person's death.  God allowed David to sit as judge over his own life and pronounce a death sentence on himself so his Heavenly Father could grant him the undeserved gift of life.  David no doubt, never forgot that moment.
  David, through his behavior, wounded the heart of God by despising His Word.  David's heinous, progressive sin did a terrible thing.  It gave "great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme" (v. 14, KJV)
  The word blaspheme means to 'revile, scorn, despise, reject; to condemn, to deride'.  What other nations saw in David caused them to cast their eyes on David's God.  Though many had not turned to the God of Israel, He had captured their attention and respect.  David's actions caused the nations to lose their respect for God. 
  David placed God in an excruciating position.  As God's foremost teaching instrument, even the eyes of the heathen nations were on David.  Through David's failures, God would reveal something more of Himself.  God's actions regarding David's sin teach the very foundation of salvation--God will forgive the sinner, but will still judge the sin. 

Friday May 27, 2011 Contrasts in Character

 Today's treasure:  2 Samuel 11:11

 Read 2 Samuel 11:1-27

  Why did David bring Uriah home?
 In 2 Samuel  11:1-17 a stark contrast becomes evident in the character of Uriah and David..what evidences do you find?

  Uriah:  evidences of strong character
  David:  evidences of flawed character

consider the words of verse 25 and describe David's heart at this point. 
  Imagine how the Father's heart is wounded when we behave so unlike one of His children.  Considering the 
 events, David's heart was further away from God than we imagined. 

David's faraway heart:

  1.  David resisted many opportunities to repent of his sin and lessen the charges against himself.  Most of us have been carried away by an overwhelming and sudden craving of the flesh, but we've often cried out for help before sin was heaped on sin.  Other times people can get themselves in the revolving door of sin and continue in a destructive cycle.
  After he committed the act adultery, even though the consequences of pregnancy were already at work, David could have fallen on his face before God, repented, asked for mercy and begged God to help clean up the mess. 
  David had God's Spirit in him.  David had quenched the Spirit to such a degree that he was able to resist repeated conviction. 

  2.  David was unmoved by Uriah's integrity.  His faraway heart was unaffected by an encounter with authentic integrity.
  How had David once shepherded his people (Ps. 78:72)

  Uriah's integrity should have spurred such a sense of loss in David that he could not bear to remain so far from the Father.  David surely recognized integrity.  
  If Uriah were on trial for integrity, there would be ample evidence to convict him.  

  3.  David tried to cover his own sins.  
  Who is blessed according to Psalm 32:1 ?
  Whom did God inspire to write that Psalm?

  The word covered in original Hebrew is kasah: to cover, conceal, hide, to keep secret, wrap oneself up..
When we try to cover up our sinful ways, we are bound for disaster as sin perpetuates.  Only through repentance will God cover and clothe us with His loving forgiveness.  

  4.  He involved many others in his sin.  David never stopped to consider the position in which he was placing others.  We can be too self absorbed  that we do not care what we are asking from others.  Intense selfishness accompanies a faraway heart.  We can measure intimacy with God as a heart near God is characterized by the marked selflessness of Christ .

  David navigated his way to the negative extreme of this spectrum.  In David's selfishness, he involved a servant in his plans,; he invited Bathsheba to a season of guilt and grief; he attempted to entice Uriah to compromise his values; he involved Joab in his sin, and had Uriah killed, and most importantly displeased God.
  
 1 Corinthians 10:11-12 gives us several reasons why God has given us accounts like David's.

 

Thursday May 26, 2011 Up on a rooftop

Today's treasure:  2 Samuel 11: 2-3

Read 2 Samuel 11: 1-5

  What was David supposed to be doing in the spring?
  The sin between David and Bathsheba had numerous repercussions.  What was the first result according to verse 5?

  We too could be persons of character and integrity yet destroy our ministries and ourselves through the choice to gratify our sudden lusts.  In our culture we justify immoral behavior with the excuse that two people were "in love" .
David and Bathsheba were not in love.  They simply chose to act in a dishonorable and destructive way.  
  In the gap between wanting and getting we must flex the muscle of self-control to protect ourselves.  David rose to a position where his every wish was someone else's command. He ceased to hear a very important word--one without which integrity cannot be maintained.  The word is NO.

  Like most of us, David probably could say no rather easily to some things but had great difficulty saying no to others.  
  In the midst of all his integrity in the other areas of his life.  (2 Sam 5:13).  God clearly stated the consequences of multiplying wives in Deut. 17:17
  Just as God warned, David's heart had gone astray.  For a season the heart so much like God's wandered to an abyss of no resemblance.  The Word of God makes over 500 references to the heart, but in 2 the words "above all".
  David, the man of God, the Lord's anointed who enjoyed God's complete provision, took what did not belong to him and cast himself headlong into scandal.  The threatened institution of marriage in our day, beckons us to confront the actions of King David.  
  David was in the wrong place at the wrong time.  David had been an effective administrator and delegator, but he had exceeded the wise bounds of delegation.  He left himself with little responsibility and idle hands.  
  David failed to protect himself with a network of accountability.  At one time David had been sensitive to the thought of offending God.  He sought the counsel of prophets and allowed himself to be held accountable.  All of us need to be surrounded by people who are invited to hold us accountable and question the questionable.
  David grew accustomed to wanting and getting.  This time he went too far.  David was lonely.  He allowed himself to be placed so high on the throne that he found himself all alone.  (2 Sam 9:1)
  Be careful to fulfill the responsibilities God has given.
  Deliberately set up a network of accountability partners.
  Avoid lengthy periods of isolation.
  Be aware of the progressive nature of sin. 

  David sinned in thought.  David saw the woman bathing and concluded she was beautiful.  Sight turned into desire.  If the sin of the mind is not confessed and repented, it virtually always gives birth to the next stage. 

  David sinned in word.  God knows that our meditations of our hearts.  Think how often sin not squelched in the mind makes its way to the mouth.  
  David sinned in deed.  He flirted with adultery in thought and word, stopping at neither to repent and ask God for help.  Action followed.  We must learn to allow God to halt sin in the place it begins--the thoughts.  We're wise to aggressively confess the sins of our thoughts.  
  A heightened awareness  of wrong thoughts will work greatly to our advantage.  Getting in the habit of confessing sin in the thought life is reminding us what victors we are. 
  Scriptures to remind us through purity of thought, word and deed before God: 

  Psalm 139:23-24  thoughts
  Psalm 19:14  words
  Psalm  12:1-2  deeds
  
  The greatest danger are those who think they could never be tempted and those presently being tempted.  May we cast ourselves on the mercy of God and find help in the time of trouble.

Wednesday May 25, 2011 Shunned Sympathy

Today's treasure:  2 Samuel 10:2
Read 2 Samuel 10: 1-19

For what reasons did David want to show kindness to Hanun?
  
The Ammonite nobles led Hanun to believe David had sinister motives.  What do you think Hanun was trying to accomplish by treating David's men as he did?


  who joined the battle according to verse 17?


  The account of this battle contains many virtues of David, each further representing the God who chose him and place His Spirit on him.  Three outstanding evidences of God's character at work in David.
  
 1.  Active sympathy for the suffering.  David knew better than anyone that a crown did not make a person void of feelings or oblivious to losses.  Though Saul was not his father and had often treated him with malice, David had grieved his death.  David's throne had been seasoned with bittersweetness because of the tragedy prompting it. 
  David believed in showing kindness, especially to those who had shown him kindness.  
Read David's word in Psalm 69:20.  What happened when he had looked among men for sympathy?


 Sometimes not finding what we feel we need from others can ultimately bring us benefit.  Two direct benefits can result if we are willing. 
  First we can become more sympathetic when others are in need.  We can become far more sensitive and caring.  1 Peter 3:8


  Second, we can reach out to a sympathetic God.  David exhibited the character of God as he extended sympathy to someone who had experienced loss.  David knew the disappointment of reaching out to others for sympathy and not receiving it, but he learned from his experience that God is always compassionate and sympathetic. 
  David wrote the following psalms, think how he described the sympathetic heart of God:
  Psalm 103:13
  Psalm 116:5,15
  Psalm 145:9


  God is always sympathetic, but His sympathy is not always accepted.  David experienced something similar as his extension of sympathy was rejected by Hanun (2 Sam 10:3)
  Hanun responded by humiliating David's men.  By cutting off their garments and half their beards, he was symbolically making them half the men they see.  


  According to Hebrews 4:15, how is Christ able to sympathize with us?


  God sent Christ as the delegate of His sympathy to the misery of men somewhat like David sent delegates of sympathy to Hanun.  Christ was also met by those who stirred up misunderstanding among the people, just like the Ammonite nobles.  


 2.  A fierce protectiveness toward his own.  David sent messengers to meet the men so they would not be publicly humiliated.  In effect, he threw a cloak around their exposed bodies and formed a plan to spare their dignity.
  To a Hebrew, such humiliation as being exposed was virtually worse than a fate of death.  Their enemy preyed on their worst nightmares.  David fiercely protected the dignity of his men.  God is even more protective of us.  (Ezekiel 16: 8-14)


  Ever since Satan exposed shame in the garden of Eden, God's redemptive plan has been to cover it and relieve man of shame's chains.  He did so by His own blood.  


 3.  Vengeance toward the enemies of his people and mockers of his mercy.  
  David did not just formulate a plan to spare the dignity of his men.  God takes on our enemies when we've been shamed.


  Verses that prove God's defensiveness toward those who hurt or shame His children:


  Lamentations 3:58
  Isaiah 35:3-4
  Matthew 18:6-7


  God can take on your enemy with far more power and might than you ever could.  
  When someone persecutes you, your Father takes the oppression very personally, especially when you are treated ill for obeying Him, as David's men were.
  God has extended mercy to every member of the human race.  Pray for your enemies.  Pray they will accept God's delegate of mercy toward them.  Pray for a willingness to be a vessel of God's mercy in their lives.  A battle is coming and all captives will be kept eternally.

  David was humble, accountable, and worshipful.  He was cooperative, hopeful, dedicated and just.  He was a righteous king and an effective administrator.  He was an initiator of relationships:  kind, loving, accepting, restoring, and welcoming.  He was sympathetic, protective and defensive against the wrongs done to his people.  For a time, he was the greatest king who ever lived---the apple of God's eye.

Tuesday May 24, 2011 A room in the Palace

Today's treasure:  2 Samuel 9:1

Read 2 Samuel 9:1-13 

In verse 1, what emotions do you think David might have been feeling that caused him to ask this question?

Whose kindness was David wanting to show according to verse 3?

 How did Ziba describe the son of Jonathan?


  Don't you love God's Word?  The Bible is a book of the heart, reflecting God's ways.  
  David knew well the feeling we all know as loneliness.  David had conquered kingdoms and subdued enemies.  All was momentarily quiet and peaceful and he missed his best friend.
   God fulfilled Jonathan's wish and gave David everything, but Jonathan wasn't there to share it.  David sought the next best thing, Ziba, a servant of the house of Saul, told him about Jonathan's son Mephibosheth.  In the encounter between David and Mephibosheth we see several characteristics of God displayed.
  1.  His loving kindness.  David was searching for someone of the house of Saul to whom he could show God's kindness, not his own.  (v. 3)
The Lord is first of all kind.  Compassionate.  He desires to deal with us first in mercy.  If we refuse to accept His mercy, He often deals with us in the way He must; but He is above all kind.  
  2.  His initiation of the relationship.  "Where is he?"  David inquired and summoned Mephibosheth immediately.  Note he did not seek David.  David sought him.  He wanted someone to whom he could show God's kindness.  
  3.  His complete acceptance.  David did not hesitate when Ziba informed him of Mephibosheth's handicap.  In the Old Testament people considered physical imperfection shameful, but David summoned him as he was.  God calls people just the way they are.  
  What does MAtthew 9:12 tell you about the heart of God?
  
  Picture the king sitting on the throne, surrounded by splendor.  His brightly adorned servants open the door and before him stands a crippled man.  With crippled legs he crept before the king, then he bowed before him.  Imagine the difficulty!  Mephibosheth was obviously humiliated. 
  
4.  His calming spirit.  As Mephibosheth practically came crawling before the king, David exclaimed "Mephibosheth!" and his next words were, "Don't be afraid."  How many times have we seen those words come from the precious lips of our Lord?  
 Matthew 10:31
 Matthew 14:27
 Matthew 17:7
 Mark 5:36


5.  His delight in restoration.  David's first desire was to restore Mephibosheth.  (v. 7)  He had been so hurt by the fall.  He had lived with such shame. The king could hardly wait to see Mephibosheth's shame removed and his life restored.  David knew about restoration.  Perhaps the most grateful response we could ever offer God for our restoration is to help another be restored. 
  Mephibosheth's name means 'shame destroyer'' or 'image breaker'


  6.  His desire for another son. 
The king came to make him a son.  He was family--invited to sit at the king's table to partake of his fellowship as one of his own.  No matter how many sons the Father has, He still wants more to conform to the image of His first and only begotten, the virgin born.  
  
  One day when we sit down to the ultimate wedding feast. the lame will be healed, the blind will see, the restored will leap and skip with joy!  AMEN

Monday May 23, 2011 A virtuous man

Today's treasure:  2 Samuel 8:15

Read 2 Samuel 8:1-18

  David spared one third of the Moabite army and left 100 of the Zobahite chariot horses mobile. Why do you think he left any alive?  
  What did David do with all the gold and silver he had acquired from the nations he had subdued?

  We've seen virtues of David presented as subtle themes in God's shadow.  Now God directly pinpointed some of David's virtues, allowing him to take a momentary spotlight.  The psalms constantly testify of David's ambitious desire in battle to bring glory to God.  
  Though our hearts may not be drawn to 2 Samuel 8, this chapter represents the zenith of David's career.  God had given him success.  For just a while, David handles the unabashed blessings of God with brilliant integrity.  We take the following virtues from reading today:

  A spirit of cooperation.  In 2 Samuel 7:10-11 God promised David He would give the nation of Israel rest from her enemies.  David did not sit on the throne and wait for God to fulfill His promise.  He obeyed God's beckoning to the battlefield to participate in the victory.  
  When God assures of a promise, He desires we respond by assuming a posture of cooperation in the fulfillment of that promise.  Other times God directs us to sit still and wait.  Wisdom involves learning the difference.  Each name listed in the "Hall of Faith" in Hebrews 11 represents a spirit of cooperation.  
  Have you exhibited a spirit of cooperation with God recently?


  A ray of hope.  David did not annihilate his enemy and simply leave the nations destroyed.  God didn't tell him to do so.  Maybe the God given motive was to bring the other nations to a place of subservience rather than a place of nonexistence.
  How did the Moabites and Arameans respond similarly to defeat?  2 Sam 8: 2,6
  What was David's intentions in these Scriptures he wrote?
  Psalm 9:11
  Psalm 9:20
  Psalm 22:27-28


  King David lived in a harsh and cruel time.  That he would measure people with a line a kill two thirds of them naturally offends our modern sensibilities.  Those killed were Moabite soldiers or that the reprisal was because the Moabites slaughtered David's family entrusted to their care.  
  We must remember David lived before the time of Christ.  He did not have the advantage of completed revelation.  We cannot judge this.  What we do see is that David had a concern for the spiritual welfare of the nations.  David exhibited hope for the nations to bend their knees to the King of all kings.


  A literal dedication to God.  At this point David had never confused the source of his strength.  He gave praise to God.  When he returned with gold, silver and bronze, he dedicated them immediately to the Lord.  The Hebrew word for dedicate is qadhash, meaning to 'hallow, dedicate, consecrate to God, declare as holy, treat as holy, purify..'
  Centuries later, Christ also dedicated the treasure He had received to God.  
 Read John 17:9-11
  What did Christ do with the treasure His Father had given Him?


  Justice and righteousness.  Consider the two virtues of justice and righteousness together because God often treated them as a pair.  According to 2 Samuel 8:15, David did was fair and what was right.  Jeremiah 22:3 describes several specific examples of justice and righteousness.
  2 Samuel 8:15  describes the moment David most clearly and completely fulfilled his calling.  The kingdom of David reflected the kingdom of the supreme King of all kings.  These were the glory days of David's kingdom.  


  The wisdom for administration.  The wise king knew that growth meant a greater need for administration.  As the eighth chapter concludes, we see one of the first orders of business; the delegation of authority and responsibility.  He had learned an important lesson in his initial leadership of the distressed, indebted and discontented.  (1 Samuel 22:2)
  Moses did not learn easily.  Thankfully, he had a wise father in law who offered him some advice when he saw people gathered around him from morning until night.  Exodus 18:17


  Even if we can't see how we are hurting ourselves by taking on excess responsibilities, we need to seriously consider the harm we may be doing to those around us.  Jethro said that Moses' unwillingness to let others take some of the responsibility was not hurting him, but also hurting others.


  Administration was another of David's royal virtues that directly reflects the coming of King of kings.  Christ will delegate many responsibilities of the kingdom to those who reign with Him.  (Rev. 5:10; 20:6)
  We've seen Christ's own heart illustrated over and over.  No one was more humble.  In all ways David provides a picture of Jesus.  Christ dedicated His every treasure to God.  The characteristics God saw and loved so much in David are those most like His Son. To be more like Christ is to be a man or woman after God's own heart..
  Keep staying dedicated to God's Word and stay richly blessed!


 

Friday May 20, 2011 Compulsory praise

Today's treasure:  2 Samuel 7:22

  Read 2 Samuel 7: 18-29

  Moments like those represent an indescribable intimacy in your relationship with God.  You want to go and sit before the Lord.  
  So intimate were the words God spoke to him through Nathan that he left the messenger's presence and went straight to the One who sent the message.  
  We each have countless opportunities to be overwhelmed at the goodness of God.  Praise Him for how far you've come!  Entrust the rest of the journey to the One who brought you this far.
  How like God to keep giving and giving.  David was stunned by God's words of prophecy over his family.

  At times our praises are planned.  At times our praises, though unplanned, are as quiet in our spirits as a whisper.  At other times we want to shout the praises .

  Over two thousand years ago a group of disciples were compelled to praise Christ.  How did Christ respond to the Pharisees in Luke 19:40?

  Every now and then we enjoy a moment void of doubt and full of mystery, when we're overwhelmed with humility yet stunned with possibility.  Nothing is quite like realizing that nothing is like HIM.
  According to 1 Peter 2:9, we are also a peculiar people on purpose and for a purpose, have you ever felt 'peculiar' because of who you are in Christ?

  Our human nature is self serving and ambitious.  God desires to purify all other motives of ambition in us except the ambition that God would use us to draw attention to Himself and His great name.   
  David referred to his petition for God to establish his house forever.  He would never have presumed to pray this prayer without first knowing God's will.  
  In Psalm 106:12, David possibly "believed his promises" then "sang his praise".  After all, David was accustomed to singing God's praises.  
  God doesn't care if we have perfect pitch or none at all, just sing whatever is brought to mind.  Amen on that!!!

Thursday May 16, 2011 Humble beginnings

Today's treasure:  2 Samuel 7:11

Read 2 Samuel 7:1-17

  What concern did David share with the prophet Nathan?  v.2

In your opinion, which of his virtues did David display when he expressed concern about a dwelling place for God?

  Sometimes God offers us rest we do not accept.  The body seems to rest more readily than the mind.  
  David may have had a little difficulty getting his mind to rest.  Sometimes we can be too busy to think and all sorts of plans seem to pour like a waterspout when things get settled.
  For David, life was calm, enemies subdues, perhaps he was sitting on his throne when his eyes were unveiled to the splendor around him.  Once in a cave, and now in a palace.
  Perhaps several virtues could be noted in David's sudden reaction to his surroundings, but let's not miss the virtue of humility so present in his life at that point.  He summoned the prophet Nathan the moment the thought had occurred.
  God issued several wonderful and significant promises through the prophet Nathan in verses 9-16.

  The promises capture a wonderful moment between God and His chosen king.  We get a glimpse of the highly reciprocal relationship and behold the elements of their everlasting covenant.  Nathan emerges as a new figure in Israel's history.  God apparently never intended for civil leaders to have absolute and unquestioned authority.  God calls prophets to issue His Word, not the messages leaders want to hear.  Samuel prophesied to King Saul.  Nathan served as the prophet in the royal court of David.
  King David sought Nathan's counsel, David didn't consider himself above reproach or need for advice.  David's statement assumed the question, "What am I to do about the ark?"  His sudden sense of audacity drew him to accountability.

  James 5:16 directs us to an important form of accountability.


  Sometimes even a fellow believer can offer wrong advice.  We are wise to make sure their advice agrees with God's Word.  God used David's concern as a teaching tool for both David and Nathan.  He taught them a lesson on making assumptions.
  
  God's message to His new king was so rich, He began with a gentle rebuke we must remember every time we have a good and noble idea:  "Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in?"  In other words, "Have I appointed you to do that?" God reminded David that He is fully capable of appointing a servant for specific tasks.  We need to wait on HIM even when we have a great plan.  
  These verses will tell of us waiting on the Lord.. 
  Isaiah 40:31 and Isaiah 64:4


  When we wait on God, He gives supernatural strength and accomplishes the inconceivable.  God can entrust a vision or idea that may be ours to pray and prepare for, but not participate directly.


  God's way:  we can't leave home without HIM!!


  The Greek word for dwelling is skenoo.  It means to "encamp, pitch a tent..to tabernacle.."  God was pitching a tent so He could be where His people were, so that one day they could be where He was.
  The climatic point in God's message to David was in verse 11.  We want to do so many things for God, then suddenly pale in comparison to the realization of all HE wants to do for us.  
 Read Romans 8:32
  Are we accepting all God has to offer us??


  David discovered what we often discover.  You can't out give God.  God draws His message to a close by issuing what is often called the Davidic Covenant.  He issues His promise in the form of a declaration.  (vv. 11-16)  Notice that the blessings and cursings of God on David's son might be conditional, but God's kingdom covenant was completely unconditional.


  Many years later David reflected on an additional reason why God did not choose for him to build the temple.  In i Chron. 28:3 David said, "God said to me. 'You are not to build a house for my Name, because you are a warrior and have shed blood.'"  God chose to have His temple built during a reign characterized by peace.  He allowed David's son to have the honor. 
  We will soon see that David was completely overwhelmed, as we get to see more deeply into the heart of David...

Wed May 18th ---- Turning mourning into dancing

  Today's treasure:  2 Samuel 6:14

Read 2 Samuel 6:1-11

  What did David and thirty thousand men set out to do?

  How did they transport the sacred vessel?

  What were David and "the whole house of Israel" doing as the ark was being transported?

  How did David feel toward God after Uzzah was killed?

  Imagine becoming emotionally geared for a great celebration only to greet disaster instead.  Shocking under any circumstances, Uzzah's death in the midst of such celebration must have felt like emotionally jumping off a cliff.
  David felt anger and fear toward God, yet scripture calls him"a man after God's own heart", maybe because David remained that man was his unwillingness to turn from God, even when he felt negative emotions.  David allowed his anger and fear to motivate him to seek more insight into the heart of God.  
  Attempt to follow David's example by allowing our questions and confusion to motivate us to seek God.  At first consideration, the account of Uzzah and the ark is hard to swallow.  In times like these, we find out whether we have based our faith on who God is or on what he does.  Because His ways are higher than our ways, we cannot always comprehend what God is doing or why He makes certain decisions.  When we sift His apparent activity through the standard of who He is, the fog begins to clear.  Basing our faith on who God is rather than what He appears to be doing is crucial to our spiritual health.  
  
  What is 2 Samuel 6:1-11 trying to tell us about who God is?

  God is not trying to tell us He is harsh.  He's trying to tell us He is holy

  what do you learn about the ark of the covenant from 2 Samuel 6:2?

  In the innermost place in this sanctuary, God commanded them to build the ark according to very specific directions.  The awesomeness, the holiness, the majesty of God dwelled between the cherubim on that sacred ark.  To treat the ark inappropriately was to treat God that way also.  Conclusions about what He was doing that day:

  God was setting ground rules for a new regime.  God was ushering in a new kingdom with a new king.  He had chosen to represent His heart.  He dealt with the disrespect of man through many judges and the reign of a selfish king.  Uzzah's outward act may likely have been an indicator of an inward attitude.  God does not look on the outward appearance but on the heart. 

  God wanted His children to be different from the world.  God would not accept attitudes and approaches from His children that were no different from the attitudes and approaches of the godless..some important history is written in 1 Samuel 6, shedding a little light on what went wrong many years later.  
  Read 1 Samuel 6:7-8  how did the Philistines transport the ark?  
  Israel copied the methods of the Philistines.  How careful we must be not to think that God is less holy because others seem to get away with irreverence!  
  God wanted His kingdom established on His Word.  The Israelites made the mistake of transporting the ark by the same method the Philistines without consulting God's designated commands for transportation.  God designed the transportation to literally rest on the shoulders of His reigning priests, not on the backs of beasts.  
  God was teaching the relationship between blessing and reverence.  God revealed the relationship through the effects of the ark on Obed-Edom and his household.  
  Hard lessons learned well usher in a fresh respect and new freedom.  The more we fear God, the more freedom to worship Him.  

  Why do you think David's attitude changed once he discovered that God had blessed the household of Obed-Edom?

  All worship is based on sacrifice.  David's approach that day in Jerusalem could only have acceptably followed the shed of blood of sacrifice.  David offered a sin offering first.  He was acknowledging his sin and asking God to grant him and his people forgiveness based on the blood of sacrifice (Heb 9:22)

  Worship with abandon is an intimate experience.  We see David almost oblivious to everyone around him, totally liberated in spirit, dancing through the streets.  
  Completely abandoned worship is often misunderstood.  We don't see David practice such outward worship often.  
  David went home to 'bless his household'; but he was met with ridicule and condemnation.  He did not allow Michal to quench his spirit.  

  We may not be released to fully dance before the Lord until we've learned to wail.  When we come to know God and respect Him like David, we will love Him more !!!

Tuesday May 17, 2011 The Shepherd King

  Today's treasure: 2 Samuel 5:2

   Read 2 Samuel 5:1-5

According to verse 1, who came to David at Hebron?

According to verse 3, what did the elders of Israel do after David made a compact with them? 

 Don't miss the significance of David's age when he became king.  In Israel, 30 years of age was significant for several reasons.  According to Numbers 4:3,21 a Levite could begin his service to the Lord as priest or servant at age 30. 

  Obviously God sees significance in age 30, although we cannot know for certain God's reasons, we can reflect on this general season of a person's life.  Why do you think 30 might be a prime time to begin serious ministry?

  In 2  Samuel 5:3, we see for the first time a title attributed to David that represents the culmination of God's promise.  
  According to 2 Samuel 5:2, what did God call David to do in this wonderful affirmation of his commission?  

  A shepherd and a king have more than a little in common.  God chose David in many ways because he was a shepherd.  God often referred to Himself as a shepherd and His people as sheep.  He also considered every earthly leader over His children to be a shepherd.  
  Read 1 Peter 5:2-4. In what ways does God continue to draw an analogy to shepherds and sheep in the present age? 

  We don't have the benefit of David's experience with real sheep, but God no doubt believed David's qualifications as a shepherd would enhance his leadership.  We can certainly learn from David's example.  
  We don't have to be pastor of a church to shepherd a flock.  

  Virtually all of us are leaders in some capacity whether you are a mother, preschool helper, or a Christian witness in the workplace.  Find out what happened after David became king over all Israel
  Read 2 Samuel 5:6-25
  What attitude did the Jebusites display toward David?
  Why did David become 'more and more powerful' (v. 10)

  In 2 Samue1 5:12  David knew!  Many things must have confused David in his previous 15 years.  So many things he did not know:
  Why had God chosen him?
  Why did Saul turn on him?
  Why did Jonathan have to die?
  When would God's promise of the kingdom ever be fulfilled?
  
  David did not know how he would ever live to be king.  But when God handed over the most fortified city in all Israel to David and placed favor in the heart of the king of Tyre toward him, David knew the Lord had established him.  
  If we are going through confusing times, we can be encouraged and strengthened by recalling what we know about God in the midst of uncertainties.
  David still had many unanswered questions.  He would never know for sure why God allowed certain things to happen, but he knew God had done exactly what He promised.  You may never know why or how, but you can always know who is faithful.  
  The last verses of 2 Samuel 5 represent the fulfillment of God's promise to David as stated by Abner in chapter 3..
  Strangely David had come so far, yet he was back where he started.  The hand that wrapped around his weapon as he waited for God's signal to overcome the Philistines looked far different from the hand that had searched for a smooth stone many years before.  The first time he ever used his hands in battle was against the Philistines.  Now he stood against them once more.  To a man on the run, the Philistines had been a temporary refuge.  They had taken advantage of his homeless estate by enjoying his strength.  To a king on his rightful throne, they were clearly an enemy once more.  Perhaps God inspired David to write the words of Psalm 144:1-2 on this day.

  David knew without a doubt that God had given him the victory and subdued the people under his leadership.  He still didn't know why.  He simply knew who.   
  The names David called his God fell from the lips of experience, from the things he knew.   Sometimes we stand to learn the most about God from the situations we understand the least.