Devotions ChopChop

Relying on Counsel

But the men said, "You must not go out; if we are forced to flee, they won't care about us. Even if half of us die, they won't care; but you are worth ten thousand of us. [k] It would be better now for you to give us support from the city."  The king answered, "I will do whatever seems best to you."
So the king stood beside the gate while all the men marched out in units of hundreds and of thousands. 2 Samuel 18:3-4

At this point in David's reign, his authority had been undermined, Absalom hated him and wanted him killed, and David had to flee for his life. He was at the mercy of a few good men. Throughout David's life he had good men around him counseling him, giving him valuable advice on what to do. These were men that David could trust. David even trusted Aphithophel, who later betrayed him.

Having good friends around is helpful when you're in trouble. It has been said that it's better to have friends before you need them. David did that well. So when he was running for his life, his friends were around to help him to think straight. Later we'll see that Joab spoke truth into David's life and questioned why he was weeping over a man who was out to kill him! That's the kind of friendship that most people truly value (despite the temporary heartache it could cause).

Who are you surrounded by? Can you trust those people with your life? Are you also a trusted friend to others so that when they can lean on you in their times of darkness and uncertainty? If these are not real situations for you, pray that God would provide you with these people.

Encouraging Others

David mustered the men who were with him and appointed over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. 2 Samuel 18:1

Even in the midst of enemies all around him, David encouraged his men. I'm certain David himself was discouraged. After all, he was the King! But he was on the run from his own son. Every step he took must have been painful for David, knowing that he was fleeing from his son.

But he rallied the troops and encouraged them. Great leaders do that. Fortunately, you and I don't have to be great leaders to do that. We can encourage every day. Encouragement, though, takes effort. It's not easy always to see the good in people (especially when you're having a rotten day), but it's there.

The encouragement doesn't need to be earth shattering or dramatic. A smile works. A simple compliment on an article of clothing is fitting. Kind words go a long way. A card, a telephone call, an email, a snail-mail letter. All done without coersion or secondary agendas.

It's a great habit to get into, for I have found that most people need to be encouraged regularly. I've mentioned it before, but Mark Twain is famous for saying, "I can live for two months on a good compliment."

I can understand that.

Worth Dying For

After the men had gone, the two climbed out of the well and went to inform King David. They said to him, "Set out and cross the river at once; Ahithophel has advised such and such against you." So David and all the people with him set out and crossed the Jordan. By daybreak, no one was left who had not crossed the Jordan. 2 Samuel 17:21-22

This is the beginning of many who would be willing to risk their lives for David. They had hid in a well (and a woman covered for them while Absalom searched for them) and ran to tell David all they knew. What causes people to do this? I've wrestled with that question all my life. All around us we see many people risking their lives for odd causes, many misguided and misinformed.

For instance, many Muslim leaders have convinced younger people that if they sacrificed their lives by blowing others up, Allah would bless them with 72 virgins. If it's such a wonderful idea, why don't those leaders do it? There are other causes that are like this: animal rights, extreme environmentalists, etc. I suspect that many of these people have substituted God with their cause. They have made their cause their god. (again, that view is based on what I've observed and not hard evidence)

Some time ago, I overheard someone say, "this current generation doesn't have anything worth dying for." It's sad, but I understand it.

How about you? Do you have anything worth dying for? Is there anything you can say, "I'd rather die than to do this?" Perhaps it's your kids or your spouse or the Gospel. As Eternity draws nearer for each of us, it's good to look inward occasionally and ask these tough questions.

And thankfully, Jesus saw something worth dying for in us. I'll never understand it.

Rock Solid

Now in those days the advice Ahithophel gave was like that of one who inquires of God. That was how both David and Absalom regarded all of Ahithophel's advice. 2 Samuel 16:23

As you recall, David prayed that Ahithophel's counsel would be foolishness. The passage continues with Absalom asking Hushai whether or not to take Ahithophel's advice. Long story short (but worth the read), Absalom doesn't take Ahithophel's counsel (and Ahithophel's advice was foolish).

This verse, however, stood out to me. The reputation of Ahithophel was widespread for he was a man of good counsel. He was a traitor, yes, but up until that time, his advice was solid. His reputation is the key portion I'd like to flesh out.

How's your reputation among the Godly and ungodly? Is your word as good as gold, so to speak? Are you reliable? Do you need to be told a half dozen times before something gets done? Is your counsel "like that of one who inquires of God?" I know, those are large shoes to climb into but if we are to make a significant impact in this world, our reputation and counsel has to be rock solid.

Fortunately for us, though, we can be grounded on the Rock of Ages and rely on Him for our wisdom. Ask him daily, if not more often, for that wisdom for he loves to give it out generously (James 1:5).

Wronged

David then said to Abishai and all his officials, "My son, who is of my own flesh, is trying to take my life. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone; let him curse, for the LORD has told him to. 12 It may be that the LORD will see my distress and repay me with good for the cursing I am receiving today." 2 Samuel 16:11-12

There's a similar passage in Matthew 5:11 "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me." A man named Shimei came out to curse David, the King. One of the King's men, Abishai wants to kill him for his utter disdain for King David. David saw the futility in it and perhaps the truth in Shimei's words ("for all the blood you shed in the household of Saul"). Killing Shimei would not have solved anything.

Recently my wife and I were debating the concept of "turning the other cheek." Matthew 5 lays out the concept. "Turning the other cheek" in America or Europe is different than it would be in China or parts of Africa. We Westerners tend to think in terms of rights and not having others walk all over us. In parts of Asia and Africa, standing up for your rights can get you killed. Literally.

Under the law, David had every right to kill Shimei for his blatant disrespect for the King. It appears David did the right thing.

Have you been wronged or persecuted for what you believe recently? What was your reaction? Looking back on it, was it the right action?

Honest Prayers

Now David had been told, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. So David prayed, "O Lord, turn Ahithophel's counsel into foolishness." 2 Samuel 15:31

Earlier in 2 Samuel 15:12, we read that Ahithophel was one of David's advisors. Now, though, it is apparent that Ahithophel has sided with Absalom (and against David). It's one of David's many honest prayers. It's a kind of prayer that you wish you never have to pray because and it's regarding someone who was probably close to you. Ahithophel would no longer be valuable to David as a counselor. That was obvious.

But there are times when you are opposed to the strategic direction of leadership in general that it is very appropriate to pray this.

God wants us to pray honest prayers; I firmly believe that. Wrestle with the issues, then seek God. Seek God and wrestle with the issues. We should be passionate about what we pray for and not let anything hinder us, and especially not the English language. I know when I pray in public, I get all tongue-tied and don't really know what to say. It's different in private.

If someone is a "stumbling block," pray that the person would be removed. If someone is conniving and dishonest, pray that their wisdom will be as foolishness.

The Hound of Heaven

Then David said to all his officials who were with him in Jerusalem, "Come! We must flee, or none of us will escape from Absalom. We must leave immediately, or he will move quickly to overtake us and bring ruin upon us and put the city to the sword." 2 Samuel 15:14

Once again, Absalom began to sow seeds of discord among the people, and David realized it was time to flee for his life. The Bible said that the hearts of the people had turned toward Absalom.

King David, mighty man of valor and accomplishment, reduced to flee from his own son. It certainly gives new meaning to the term "dysfunctional." How sad was that! Couldn't he just muster enough of an army to go and defeat his son? Evidently he couldn't or wouldn't. So he fled.

It would be easy to make two opposite conclusions here: 1) David knew when his reign was over, and 2) why didn't he just go out and defeat the man who was his own flesh and blood? Could that have been so difficult? Absolutely!

So David fled with all of his servants. With a massive entourage of servants and helpers, it wasn't exactly like he could hide wherever he was going. Throughout his entire reign up to this point, it was as if David was pursuing the love of those who were supposed to be closest to him, his children. Now the object of David's love was chasing him or would soon do so.

We are much too much like David. We go chasing after things and people and peace but don't find it until we relent and allow God to pursue us. And in reality it was God who had been chasing us all along, looking for ways to draw us closer while we kept searching "in all the wrong places." Francis Thompson wrote a poem about the "Hound of Heaven," always pursuing, always wooing. Without His constant Draw or Tug or Pull on our lives, I wouldn't be writing this and you wouldn't be reading this.

Below is the beginning of Francis Thompson's Hound of Heaven

"I fled Him down the nights and down the days
I fled Him down the arches of the years
I fled Him down the labyrinthine ways
Of my own mind, and in the midst of tears
I hid from him."

Victory in Jesus

Absalom behaved in this way toward all the Israelites who came to the king asking for justice, and so he stole the hearts of the men of Israel. 2 Samuel 15:6

If King David was intriguing, his son Absalom was even more so. After quite a long time, Absalom finally got to see the King, his father. Then for some reason, Absalom turned against his father and began to "steal the hearts of the men of Israel." Absalom also had good looks to go with his convincing demeanor.

Absalom seemed to have held on to the bitterness of his sister being raped, and the King doing nothing about it when he found out about it. Shakespeare said that bitterness was the poison you drink hoping the other person will die.

Perhaps you are wrestling with bitterness and resentment. Maybe something happened last week; or maybe it was thirty years ago. Holding on to it only hurts you. You have to let it go. Keeping it is only hurting you. Let it go, Brother. Let it go, Sister. Give it over to Jesus once and for all. And if it creeps back into your life in a month, let it go again.

Being able to let it go and turning it over to Jesus is just one of the true Victories in Jesus.

Longing's a Good Thing

Joab son of Zeruiah knew that the king's heart longed for Absalom. 2 Samuel 15:1

King David is certainly an interesting study. He wept over Amnon and longed to see Absalom, the son who had murdered Amnon. It had been three years since Amnon's death and David was growing anxious in wanting to see Absalom. We don't hear much about the affairs of the kingdom, but we get a great sense that King David was trying to bring his family together. For whatever reason, Absalom would have nothing of it.

Have you ever longed for something only to be rejected time and time again? Have you ever set your heart on a trip you were taking and just couldn't wait to get there? We all have and we all know the feeling of almost getting there or getting that thing but being turned away. Disappointment. Rejection. Sadness. Frustration.

Focus on the Family's well known theme is "Turn Your Hearts Toward Home." In a sense David was doing that. We should too.

Are you longing for that Home? Are you longing for the day when you will be with Jesus? Yes, day by day we get frustrated and disappointed at the things we see around us, but every day we live is just one day closer to when His Glory will be revealed.

The King Wept Bitterly

As he finished speaking, the king's sons came in, wailing loudly. The king, too, and all his servants wept very bitterly. 2 Samuel 14:36

Absalom had just killed his brother Amnon. A few years earlier Amnon had raped his sister, Tamar. It was obvious to all around (and they said so) that Absalom had killed him to avenge the rape. The King of Israel, King David, wept.

The king is weeping over his family. He had everything a man could want and yet his children were out of control. One son was a rapist; another was a murderer. Even David himself was a rapist who had his lover's husband murdered. It's not hard at all to imagine David weeping and weeping over what his family had become. His weeping showed his sorrow and his compassion.

It's not hard nowadays to weep when we read the news. Children are slaughtered senselessly; homes and fortunes are confiscated by ruthless dictators; genocidal evil men roam many countrysides in Africa. Unfortunately the list could go for pages on as there is a great amount of wickedness in the world.

Fortunately, though, we can weep in our prayers to God. We can weep over the wickedness; we can weep over the injustice; we can even weep over the state of our own souls.

When was the last time you wept?

Righteous Anger

When King David heard all this, he was furious. Absalom never said a word to Amnon, either good or bad; he hated Amnon because he had disgraced his sister Tamar. 2 Samuel 13:21-22

After the kids are all grown up, David began to see just how dysfunctional his own family had become. David got furious at Amnon for what he did to Tamar, but you know he was probably recalling his own sin in that same household. Amnon was a grown young man with his own choices and tastes. His sin and actions were his own. By law he could have been put to death for what he had done to Tamar.

So David's fury against Amnon was short-lived for David had committed a similar sin. (Even as I write this, I can see that the family was a complete mess).

We too need to get angry at the things that are destroying the family (the church, so to speak). Sexual sin, greed, love of things, coldness of heart, and many others are great examples of things we need a righteous anger over. And that's not even to mention the multitude of events outside of the church that we need to become furious over.

Pray that god will give you the fury David had and the passion he had later in life towards God

Sin Has Consequences

Then David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." Nathan replied, "The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. But because by doing this you have made the enemies of the LORD show utter contempt, the son born to you will die." 2 Samuel 13:13-14

I'll be honest, these kinds of passages trouble me. My first tendency is to avoid them because they don't really fit into my idea of a compassionate and caring God. But there's a lesson in all of this mess (and make no mistake, it is a mess) that is easy to miss.

I read this passage and continued on to the next, and as I thought about it, it all became clearer to me: sin has dire consequences. I know, it's not exactly material that changes the world, but it is true nonetheless. I don't think we really realize what kinds of consequences sin has on families and friends. Sometimes the effects are obvious; often they are not.

We don't have to look far to see the devastation that sin has on families and societies: broken homes, out of control crime, sensless violence, children having children. The list could go on for pages.

And yet, there is forgiveness in Christ. That bears repeating: there is forgiveness in Christ no matter what you've done. Sin devastates; Christ rebuilds. Christ heals and mends the brokenness.

David, You are the Man!

The LORD sent Nathan to David. When he came to him, he said, "There were two men in a certain town, one rich and the other poor.The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle, but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him.

"Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it for the one who had come to him."

David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, "As surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this deserves to die! He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity."

Then Nathan said to David, "You are the man!"  2 Samuel 12:1-7

This is not the first time that Nathan appeared before David. In 2 Samuel 7, Nathan told David that someone from David's lineage would build a house for the Lord. David trusted Nathan. In the present story, Nathan got David angry about a story character that Nathan had presented.

Then, out of nowhere, Nathan said to David, "You are the man!" Then Nathan revealed to David what he had done.

The last two devotionals have talked about God knowing all. We just cannot hide from the eyes of the Lord. As the Psalmist wrote in Psalm 139, "if I make my bed in the depths, ah, you are there!" No place on earth, under the earth, above the earth, or in the seas can we hide from God. Do you think He doesn't see it all? Do you think he is able to see watch six billion people at once?

Praise God that He is all-seeing and all-knowing. Then pray that He will continue to smile upon your actions.

Bathsheba's Pain

When the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she lamented over her husband. And when the mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD. 2 Samuel 11:26-27

David essentially raped a woman, then had her husband killed. King David tried to cover up his actions with Bathsheba. If it had come out what he had done, it would be scandalous. He would probably lose a great following. It troubles me that the situation wasn't dealt with more harshly on the spot (because at the very least Joab knew what David had done with Uriah).

But I find great comfort in verse 27: But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD. As far as I can tell, displeasing the Lord is not a good thing. And it was written down for generations and generations to see: David had displeased the Lord.

As I mentioned in yesterday's devotional, God knew what David had done even though most of his Kingdom hadn't a clue. He knew and He was displeased.

Maybe you have been wronged; God knows it. Perhaps you have been cheated or robbed; God knows it. Or even yet, maybe you have been abused, violated, or raped; God knows it.

God's heart breaks at your pain and your suffering, and am convinced He wants to be your Comfort and Strength.

In the story above, Bathsheba was all of that, and yet it seemed like King David, Mighty King David, got away with it. It seemed like God just turned away from Bathsheba while all of this happened to her. He didn't turn away and David didn't get away with it. I don't have a lot of answers that can explain all of that, but I do know that God is worthy. Just as he was Bathsheba's strength, He will be yours as well.

He Knew It

So David sent this word to Joab: "Send me Uriah the Hittite."
In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. In it he wrote, "Put Uriah in the front line where the fighting is fiercest. Then withdraw from him so he will be struck down and die." 2 Samuel 11:6, 14-15

Coverups are usually more disastrous than the actual event being covered up. David's dealing with Uriah is a clear case of this. Rather than dealing with his own sin, David covered it up. Bathsheba knew it. David knew it. And God knew it.

God knew it.

God knows when we're false and when we try to cover our own sinful tracks. Rather than taking the blame for our faults and actions (or inactions), we try to shift blame whenever possible. It's human nature. Adam and Eve tried to point fingers and shift the blame. David did the same. In Adam and Eve's case, God responded by "searching" for them. In David's case he would later send the prophet Nathan. There will come a day "when God shall judge the secrets of man by Jesus Christ according to my gospel" (Romans 2:16). In other words, we're not going to get away with sin or its coverup. They are not a secret to God.

Praise the Lord that He knows our hearts and our actions. Praise HIm that He is there to rescue us from our sin and the coverup it can lead to.

David and Bathsheba

One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, "Isn't this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite?" 2 Samuel 11:2-3

This is perhaps one of the most well-known stories in the Old Testament. David sinned. It wasn't Bathsheba's fault because refusing the King could have meant death for her. No, David sinned. He should have been at war but he wasn't. He couldn't sleep so he got up and roamed his palace. He was bored. We could even use the adage, "idle hands are the devil's tools."

When you're bored and have time on your hands, you can get into trouble. It happens to celebrities all the time. They have unstructured time between movies, so they do whatever they want and often it lands them in jail or worse.

So, this paragraph is geared for the guys in my audience. Be extremely careful of your unstructured time, especially if you're on the internet a lot. You don't have to be a genius to realize that photos and videos of nude women are all over the internet. Guard your hearts and your minds, gentlemen. Don't go there. Don't even think of going there. Run from it. Flee fast. Don't put yourself in that situation.

And ladies, don't think you're not immune to the temptations that idleness brings you. Perhaps you're lonely or your husband isn't giving you enough attention. You too can get bored. So you naturally gravitate towards online friendships, because they're "safe.". Be very careful of the kinds of relationships you build online. If you think your husband might be jealous if he found out how much time you are "chatting" with a guy online, then it's probably not a good idea to pursue that relationship further.

So, men and women are tempted by our idleness in very different ways. We need to honestly examine these temptations and act accordingly.God will provide a way out but we have to acknowledge that before the fact.

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)

In-The-Dark Character

In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king's men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem. 2 Samuel 11:1

Up to this point, David had been heroic and victorious in battle. He was defeating his enemies left and right. It was the duty of kings to lead their men into battle. David didn't. We've read the story. We know what's coming ahead. David had a lot of idle time on his hands. His mind wandered; his eyes wandered.

Four thousand years later we're still talking about what happened next. In a nutshell, David fell because he apparently had neglected the little things: what would he do when his men were away and the wives were all alone? what would he do with his ample free time? The King of Israel could do what the wanted when he wanted, and besides who would stop him?

So I ask, what do you do in your free time when no one's watching? Where do your thoughts and mind roam? When there's no one around but you and God, what do you do?

D.L. Moody said it best, "Character is what you are in the dark." Ask God to help you "take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:5

Just Because

When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honor. David said, Mephibosheth!"
 "Your servant," he replied. 2 Samuel 9:6

This is an interesting little story tucked away in the pages of 2 Samuel. David wanted to show kindness to someone in Jonathan's lineage because he had been good friends with Jonathan, despite his extremely rough relationship with Saul, Jonathan's father. The Scriptures pointed out twice that Jonathan's son Mephibosheth was crippled in both feet. Mephibosheth knew royalty as the grandson of Saul. He had probably lived in the royal palace with his father. And David treated him like an old friend.

There's something warm and refreshing about that, especially considering all the heartache that Mephibosheth's grandfather had caused David. Mephibosheth wasn't forgotten, nor was his father or grandfather. In many countries, Mephibosheth would never be heard from again.

But God is merciful. We too are like Mephibosheth. We're broken down and worn. He treats us like his long lost children. Nothing but the best for his children. Take a few minutes to just praise the God of the Universe. Why, you ask? Because He's worthy. Because He deserves what we can give him a million times over.

Just because.

Power to Be Just

David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people. 2 Samuel 8:15

After an entire chapter of explaining David's military exploits, the Bible tells us that as David reigned over Israel he was "just and right for all his people." As we read in the chapter, David was quite brutal and unpredictable towards his enemies. Leaders and commanders from opposing armies came bearing gifts for this mighty warrior. They knew that they didn't stand a chance against their fiercest opponent.

As a military leader, David was the best. As a King over a nation, David was just and right. As the Sovereign in his country, he had power and authority like no other. At his command, people could be put to death. Also at his command, peasants could be elevated to authority. With that position came great moral responsibility.

You don't have to look far to see abuses of that power. Many leaders (in every level of government in many governments around the world) view their position as a personal playground to please their every hedonistic whim. Some view the power as a means to controlling the lives of countless thousands. It may not be as overt as that, but the end is the same: power for power's sake, and greed unlimited. Power is intoxicating.

Once again, pray for your leaders. Pray that they, like David, will be just and right for their people. Pray against abuses of power.

Waiting Before the Lord

Then King David went in and sat before the LORD...2 Samuel 7:18

What follows after this text is a great prayer, a prayer I've heard over the years. It's a prayer of praise and worship and gratefulness. But it came from a man who was desperately seeking God. He sat before the LORD. I'm not sure what that means precisely but it implies that he just waited. I can see in my mind's eye a man sitting in the presence of true greatness waiting to hear wisdom and truth.

It's a simple thing really, to wait for the LORD. Certainly David prayed, but I suspect that he did more waiting than praying. Of course I don't know that for a fact but based on his previous encounters in worship and dancing, he was giving it all he had. He seemed to be spiritually in tuned with God (remember he gave up the ark of the LORD for three months because someone in his party had touched the ark).

We all know that sitting in the LORD's presence is worthwhile. We know benefits us in ways we don't even know, and yet it's very difficult for us to do. Perhaps we're expecting too much of ourselves. Maybe we fail because we think that we could never sit in His presence for an hour or more. Who says we have to do that?

Try it for two minutes, then five minutes, then ten. The more we practice it, the easier it becomes.

He'll wait with us.

It Matters.

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. 2 Samuel 6:9-10

I read these verses and I am struck by one phrase: "David was afraid of the LORD." David had a sense of awe and fear of the Lord. It seems to be missing today in leadership and among the people. We don't fear consequences for our actions; we don't fear the wrath of God when we dishonor his name; we're not afraid of God anymore. Granted, we are in an age of Grace, and God's not One to "zap" us every time we sin. Still, though, the reverent fear we in the West once had seems to have departed. This should concern us, because we have to ask, "why don't we have that fear anymore?"

Many of our persecuted Brothers and Sisters seem to have that fear and reverence. They know that worshiping and meeting together is illegal in their nation, so the things they do ought to matter.

Praying matters. Meeting together matters. Reading Scripture matters. Worshiping and humbling yourself before Almighty God matters. We can certainly learn from their eagerness and desire to serve God. Likewise, we can help them with our prayers. Our prayers may make the difference between life and death. Literally.

Let 'er Rip!

David again brought together out of Israel chosen men, thirty thousand in all. ...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. 2 Samuel 6:1, 5

David loved to celebrate before the Lord! I don't even know what sistrums are, but he used them.

I can see it now, 30,000 men dancing and singing and playing all of those instruments. As a harpist himself, David probably led the entire worship team. He had wars to fight, enemies to conquer, an entire Kingdom to rule, but he took the time to worship. It's very clear how we can apply this to our frantic lives.

But there's another little phrase that we can't overlook: "with all their might." Sometimes we just need to get caught up into worship, just let it all go, forgetting that there are others around us, forgetting that you're dignified and proper. It may be in private or it may be when the church is full, but we need to do it. How often we do it is entirely up to you, but sometimes we just need to "let 'er rip."

Just Do It

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 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 5:19, 23,25

'So David inquired of the LORD' is written twice, and 'David did as the LORD commanded him' is recorded once in 6 verses. David asked, then obeyed. It's a simple principle for us to learn but very difficult to put into motion. We ask and ask and ask, but when the Lord tells us something to do, we question and make up 1001 excuses why we should do it the way we think it should be done.

There's probably one thing now that each of us are inquiring of the Lord. We're asking and seeking and knocking. Actually, it's more like we're begging and pleading and cajoling. But we keep asking. You have probably heard it said, but "be careful what you ask for, you just might get it."

Our challenge is to obey even - no, especially - if we don't like what we hear. He's given us the means and the ability, we just need to do it.

A Gentle Reminder

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. 2 Samuel 5:9-10

David had just conquered the fortress of Zion, where the Jebusites lived. He made it his base. Second Samuel tells us that David was becoming more and more powerful because the Lord was with him. It certainly is an important point to note because without the Lord, David was nothing. It would be very easy for King David to forget that. He had everything going for him as a king. And he was gaining power.

It's the same for us. Without the Lord, we are nothing. It's often difficult for us in the West to hear that because we like thinking that we can do things on our own. God gives us talents and gifts to do those things, but ultimately He gets the glory. We need to be reminded of this early and often.

Justice

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. 2 Samuel 4:5-6

Ish-Bosheth was a frightened man because of what had happened to Abner, his military commander. Two of his enemies knew that and devised a plan to kill him. Later they took Ish-Bosheth's head to King David expecting to be rewarded. Instead David killed them on the spot because they had killed an innocent man.

It's not often that we in the West see instant justice. It takes a long time for the justice system to work here. It works (some might take issue with that), but it's a long process. Victims and perpetrators must wait for months or years before their case comes to court.

Pray for the officials in the Department of Justice. Pray that what they do will be honorable and fair. Due process in our system works and is what separates our system with those of Banana Republics. Pray that the Attorney General and the people on his staff will uphold the law in every case they oversee. And of course, pray for their souls.

Crises

When Ish-Bosheth son of Saul heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he lost courage, and all Israel became alarmed. 2 Samuel 4:1

Ish-Bosheth reigned over Israel for two years. Second Samuel tells that he lost his courage when he heard that his commander died. What happened next, even though only five words in English, should be a warning to all leaders: your people expect you to remain calm in the face of adversity. If a leader panics and the people see that, they become panicky as well. They figure, rightly or wrongly, if the leader is that concerned, so should we.

In the next few days, watch your leaders carefully. Most, if not all, are even keeled. When President George W. Bush was in office during the tragic events of 9-11, when you saw his face, you knew that something was very wrong. You didn't know exactly what happened, but you knew something was amiss. Leaders don't often show a lot of emotion, but when they do it has meaning. They like to give the perception that everything is fine.

Pray for the President and Congress that they will seek God now and when they are in the midst of crises.

Gratefulness

So David went up [to Hebron] 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.
      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 1:2-7

Despite David's problems with Saul, he was grateful for those who actually buried Saul. David was clearly cut from a different cloth, so to speak. He took a strong stand against any who opposed the King, and brought blessing to those who honored the King. He could have just ignored the issue, but he made it a point to call out those who would normally never get the credit.

Being grateful for the little (and not so little) things is an important part of the Christian walk. Those reading this devotional are probably grateful men and women. You're grateful for the little things in life. But you don't get a lot of credit. Despite what the world says, you are doing what's right. You are walking step by step with Christ and He sees your faithfulness. The world will not recognize it as such and may mock you for it. Hang in there. Keep at it. Continue to show your gratitude and thankfulness for what you've been brought through. As the Scriptures say, "your labor is not in vain."

Wise Leaders Pray

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. 2 Samuel 2:1

Wouldn't it be great if we were to seek God as David did and get answers right away like he did? Even though those were very different times and they used different means to "inquire of the Lord" (through the priests, ephods, Urim, Thummin, and personally), the principle is the same, they still had to humble themselves to ask. I'll take this passage at face value and understand it to mean that David heard from the Lord himself as to what he should do. The Lord answered and David obeyed.

Wise leaders pray. They realize that they don't have all the answers. David didn't have all the answers and he was the King over Judah. As leaders and followers, we can learn this simple lesson, the great men and women of the Bible prayed to God. Sounds simple but when you're in the thick of major issues and policies, prayer goes by the wayside. Prayer then may have looked different than what we know today, but the fact remains: they humbled themselves to ask God to give them wisdom and counsel.

If there's an issue that you're wrestling with, keep wrestling with God over it. I've said it before, the wrestling may be more important than the actual answer! Keep at it; you'll come through, and when you do, God will get the glory!

Slandering Leaders

David said to the young man who brought him the report, "Where are you from?" "I am the son of an alien, an Amalekite," he answered.
David asked him, "Why were you not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the LORD's anointed?"
Then David called one of his men and said, "Go, strike him down!" So he struck him down, and he died. For David had said to him, "Your blood be on your own head. Your own mouth testified against you when you said, 'I killed the LORD's anointed.' " 2 Samuel 1:13-16

Even though King Saul hated David and wanted him killed, David still respected the office he held. In fact, the Bible records at least twice where David himself could have killed the King, but he chose not to.

Throughout this series I have emphasized the need to pray for those and to submit to those in authority (Romans 13:1). Obviously leaders are not immune to doing wrong or evil, but be careful what you say against those in authority. In other words, don't let careless or hateful words detract from your overall message.

Here's why I say that. Know it or not, like it or not, we are being watched. Our co-workers and unbelieving friends are watching to see how we react. What sets you apart in this regard? Are you like they are? Are you praying for those leaders regularly? Are you pleading with God to change their hearts? Are you asking God to fill your heart with love towards those leaders you strongly disagree with?

As I write this, there is rioting in the streets over what many perceive to be fraudulent elections. The former leader Ahmadinijab was said to have lost 15 million to 8 million but he's already claimed victory. Pray for what's happening there.

Leadership Pressures

Now the Philistines fought against Israel; the Israelites fled before them, and many fell slain on Mount Gilboa. The Philistines pressed hard after Saul and his sons, and they killed his sons Jonathan, Abinadab and Malki-Shua. The fighting grew fierce around Saul, and when the archers overtook him, they wounded him critically.
Saul said to his armor-bearer, "Draw your sword and run me through, or these uncircumcised fellows will come and run me through and abuse me."
      But his armor-bearer was terrified and would not do it; so Saul took his own sword and fell on it. When the armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his sword and died with him. So Saul and his three sons and his armor-bearer and all his men died together that same day. 1 Samuel 31:1-6

King Saul saw that there was no way out of a certain death, so rather than die at the hands of the enemies, he decides to take his life. First he implores his armor-bearer to run a sword through him. The sword-bearer refused. So, Saul fell on his own sword, and his armor-bearer did the same.

Leaders like King Saul are under pressures that you and I never have to face. Doing the right thing all the time can be burdensome, especially when it could easily affect thousands or millions of lives. In Saul's case, he knew that if he were captured, he might have been tortured or beaten.

I recall hearing stories of Sir Winston Churchill after many great political battles would go up against another difficult enemy: depression.

Pray for the leaders in your country. Pray that they will be able to bring many of their cares to God. Pray also that while they are under pressure, they will begin to seek God.

Keep Bugging God

He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets. Saul then said to his attendants, "Find me a woman who is a medium, so I may go and inquire of her."  "There is one in Endor," they said. 1 Samuel 28:6-7

This is certainly a troubling passage for Christians and rightly so. There's a lot we don't know in this passage. Did Saul actually hear Samuel and did the medium actually see Samuel? Was the voice of Samuel telling the truth about the kingdom being ripped out of Saul's hands and into David's?

Saul knew that he had turned his back on God; Samuel knew it; David and Jonathan knew it. And yet Saul tried to get answers from the Lord about what he should do next in battle against the Philistines. He got nothing, so he consulted a medium. Again, the voice of Samuel confirmed that he was turning away from the Lord.

I don't know a lot about the spirit realm, but I do know this: Christians ought not to be dabbling into divining the truth from someone other than God. If we don't get an answer from God on a matter, keep asking. Keep bugging God for your answers. You'll find that that's what He wanted you to do all along.