David, the good, the bad and the legacy (Part 3)

Since this is our last reading of 2009, I thought it would be great to examine the legacy of David. Beginning in January, our church is starting a series on Legacy through the book of Kings.

Look at II Samuel 23; “These are the last words of David. The oracle of David, son of Jesse, the oracle of the man exalted by the Most High, the man anointed by the God of Jacob, Israel’s singer of songs. The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me; his word was on my tongue. The God of Israel spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me; when one rules over men in righteousness, when he rules in the fear of God, he is like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning, like the brightness after rain that brings the grass from the earth.”

I almost feel like it is unnecessary to add any commentary to the last thoughts of the King. So, I will make it brief and encourage you to read his words again. First of all, David is always clear that God called, God equipped and God moved among the people. David was just the vehicle God chose to use. But secondly, God did choose to use him. His light and connectedness to God is always the measurement of all the kings to follow.

The legacy David has left, should be ours as well. Remember who God is constantly. He is the one telling the story. David Chadwick says God is in management and we are in sales. So be faithful to reflect His character in your life and follow after him closely.

Did you know that the moon is just a big heap of dirt, but when it is facing the sun, it is brilliant? People fall in love under the moonlight. And if you faced the Son constantly and help others fall in love with him, it would be an amazing legacy. What’s your new years resolution?

Tips for Reading - (Application tip #17)

Note: This section is help for Bible Reading in general. It has been building throughout the year under the topics of Observation (what the Scripture says), Interpretation (what it means) and Application (what it means to your life). Feel free to look back over past weeks to get the whole picture.

On this last week of 2009, our last step is Application – specifically Practice.

The ultimate goal of Bible Study is practicing the truth. You can’t apply every truth you find in your study, but you can consistently apply something. You should always ask yourself, is there some area of my life for which this truth is needed? A great example is Psalm 139. Acknowledging the truth that God knows all I am doing, then praying honestly to Him so He will reveal my real motives. When I see what my motive is in a particular area, I ask God for wisdom of how to address it.

My daughters have been participating in sports this year at South Meck High School. If they don’t get enough food, this can lead to a lack of energy to finish the race. This is the same for our spiritual race. The Scriptures give us energy to run the course well.

Remember, the Word of God is the best place to receive refreshment and it is to be experienced and enjoyed again and again. Happy New Year!

Notes from David’s Journal

Here’s what I would like for all of you to do: go back and look at how David treated Absalom. Absalom, I think, was David’s choice to succeed him as king. He had many leadership qualities. He was bright, attractive, insightful and gregarious.

He also had a temper. As you do your study, look for the time Absalom lost his temper. When he did, now notice what David did NOT do to his son.

Our kids, as we raise them, are looking for two things. They want unconditional love. And, they want strict limits. Love and limits: these are the two keys to parenting, in my opinion. They are basically asking two questions over and over again:
1. Do you love me? Then, we must answer over and over again, “Yes, I love you unconditionally!”

2. May I have my own way? Then, we must answer over and over again, “No, you may not”

This love with strict limits allows children to grow up in a secure love, maturing into adulthood as God intended.

Now, back to David. He didn’t do either with Absalom! As a result, Absalom eventually led a rebellion against his father, trying to overthrow him! He didn’t respect his father, which is what often happens with children who have either uninvolved parents, or parents who have no limits and discipline in their lives. That’s why Paul exhorts fathers not to exasperate or frustrate their children, either by giving all discipline without love or all love without limits. To do one without the other frustrates a child. A part of them never develops.

David’s parenting with Absalom is a powerful reminder to all of us about the need for love with limits. The option? You may cause rebellion in the hearts of your children. Absalom is a great example of this truth.

David, the good, the bad and the legacy (Part 2)

It seems counterintuitive, but some of the strongest temptations come when we are at ease. During intense struggles we see the need to depend on God and walk in the Spirit, but when life is going well and we are taking a break, disaster could be around the corner. So it is with David. Our reading this week examines the dark side of his reign and it finds him restless, foolish, and not careful. Chapter 11 starts out with the phrase, “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.”

What happens next is grievous on many levels. Obviously, David commits adultery. He then attempts to cover his guilt by bringing the husband home to hide the issue. Unfortunately for the plot, the husband is an idealist and faithful to his military responsibilities in terms of his covenantal faith (11:11), so he is killed. David’s extraordinary manipulation of the military, and political levers of power, show that he has become intoxicated by power. He thinks he can arrange anything; he thinks he has the right to use the state to advance and then cover up his own sin. This is nothing but corruption.

At the very least, this chapter provides a dramatic witness to the blinding effects of sin. Here is David, a godly man, who we have seen in previous weeks walk humbly before God, and has now become alienated from God thinking he has gotten away with his sins. I believe this led him into more sins such as refusing to punish his son who raped his daughter (2 Samuel 13), and as a result creating a murderous rebellion in another son.

The lesson I hear in my own heart is to be very aware that the enemy is ready to devour me, and the vehicles he uses are right here in this text. It starts with a distance from God and rationalization of my position, my own sins and the cover-ups. I need daily to ask for the Lord’s deliverance and to walk humbly with him, like David did in the beginning.

Tips for Reading - (Application tip # 16)

Note: This section is help for Bible Reading in general. It has been building throughout the year under the topics of Observation (what the Scripture says), Interpretation (what it means) and Application (what it means to your life). Feel free to look back over past weeks to get the whole picture.

Psalm 131, “Lord, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty. I do not get involved with thing too great or too difficult for me. Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself like a little weaned child with its mother; I am like a little child. Israel put your hope in the Lord both now and forever.”

This Psalm brings us to the third step, Meditation. Remember when we discussed this in the Observation section? True meditation is pondering the truth with a view of letting the truth help and readjust our loves. Most of us are moving so fast we don’t have any think time. We may even think that meditation is for profession Christians (pastors) or, worse yet, only for Eastern Religions. The practice is throughout the Scriptures (Joshua 1:8 and Psalm 1:1-2) and is key to spiritual prosperity.

My sweet wife makes a great taco soup that has to cook in the crock-pot all day. The best way for Scriptures to affect our everyday life is to take time just listening to God through His word. Then, we should allow the Spirit to guide us based on what we have just read.

Notes from David’s Journal

The story that obviously stands out the most in this section of readings is 2 Samuel 11. It’s the story of David and Bathsheba, the child they conceived in an adulterous relationship, David killing Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah, by placing him in the front of battle, knowing this act would assuredly cost him his life. David was trying to cover up his sin of adultery and only complicated the matters with murder.

Adultery and murder were David’s sin. If any of you think your sin is too great for God’s forgiveness and grace, please read and reread Psalm 51, the psalm David surely wrote after his sin was exposed and his brokenness occurred. He received God’s mercy and grace, His kindness and forgiveness. It’s a beautiful expose of God’s grace always being stronger than our sin.

However, also spend some time realizing what caused David’s adultery, what I like to call “the anatomy of adultery.” Note, he was not out in battle with his troops. They are fighting for their lives, yet the commander and chief is back in Jerusalem, resting. He evidently was “sleeping in” when he spotted Bathsheba bathing outside. His mind wandered, probably fantasized. The thought led to action, the action to grievous sin. Bottom line: David was not guarding his heart. He was not guarding his eyes (see Job 31:1). He was casual with his walk with God and temptation took over.

Make no mistake about it: the evil one is like a prowling lion, looking for any chance to take advantage of our lazy attitude toward sin. Fighting against temptation is a daily exercise. It cannot be taken lightly.

Finally, you need to realize that even though God forgave David, he never returned to the zenith of success in his leadership like before. Yes, he was forgiven. But people did not trust him like before. Though God forgives, there are still consequences in this life when we sin. That’s a reminder to all of us about the importance of guarding our heart and thoughts every minute of every day against that which can defile us before God.

David, the good, the bad and the legacy (Part 1)

My lovely wife, Janet, has a running list of coolest people in the world. Who would you put on that list? I would probably have singers Bono and Jon Foreman, John Cusack (a great actor and a Chicago Cubs fan by the way!) and Walter Payton, among others. If you went into the annals of history, King David would probably come out the winner of them all. More books have been written about him than anyone in history. He was such an intense man. He was exuberant in his pleasure and crushed in his discouragements. He was caring toward his people, powerful in his leadership and unrestrained in his worship. We are going to end the year discussing his life in three parts; the good, the bad and the legacy.

In this week’s readings, I am struck by David’s humility seen in three different pictures. First of all, in relation to the nation of Israel, he sees himself as a shepherd, called by God for the good of the people and not for his own advantage. “And David knew that the Lord had established him as King…for the sake of the people, Israel.” (5:12)

Secondly, in relation to God, David has a humility that is reflective in his worship. In chapter 5, David sends 30,000 troops and representatives from the whole house of Israel, plus musicians and choirs to bring back the Ark of the Covenant, and presumably the entire tabernacle up to Jerusalem. When things initially do not go in the right direction, David is both angry and afraid of God (6:8-9), but that intense emotion soon turns to a charismatic service like Israel had not seen in sometime. When David is chastised for the worship he replies, “I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes.” (6:21-22).

Lastly, in relation to his own biography, David is aware that this is not his work, but God’s alone. “Who am I Sovereign Lord, and what is my family that you have brought me this far?” (7:18). Let’s use these three aspects to ask ourselves hard questions in the application section.

Tips for Reading - (Application tip # 15)

Note: This section is help for Bible Reading in general. It has been building throughout the year under the topics of Observation (what the Scripture says), Interpretation (what it means) and Application (what it means to your life). Feel free to look back over past weeks to get the whole picture.

The second step in application is connected with the word Relate. The scriptures should be related to every aspect of your life.

First of all, like David with the kingdom of Israel, scriptures should relate to other people. You can discover they are not the enemies, but many times victims of the enemy. You can see them as folks God has put in your life and learn treat them as Jesus would.

Secondly, scripture should relate to your relationship with God. In Christ, He is your heavenly Father. You have a personal and intimate relationship with Him. He’s given you new life through Jesus, and has given you the Holy Spirit to help you grow and accomplish His purposes. Do you see changes in this relationship as you grow? What does your worship look like in church, at home and work?

Lastly, the scriptures should relate to a new you. If you follow the first couple steps, your life takes on a new meaning and purpose. How does this affect your self-esteem?

The scriptures also relate back to the last nine questions we discussed a few weeks ago, your sins, God’s promises and commands, and examples to follow. All of these are for life change. Have you noticed yourself change lately? God wants to continually change us.

Notes from David’s Journal

In 2 Samuel 6, after David is made king over all of Israel, he decides it’s time to bring the Ark of the Covenant (the place of God’s presence) to Jerusalem from Philistia. David wants the Ark to be central to Israel’s worship of the One, true God.

During the trek from Philistia to Jerusalem, the Ark becomes unsteady. Uzzah, one of the people overseeing the Ark’s transportation, casually reaches out his hand to balance the Ark. He is struck dead by God and dies immediately.

Some have asked, “How could this be? He was just trying to steady the Ark?” It does seem unexplainable, until one remembers all the commands by God to Moses about the building of the Tabernacle and the construction of the Ark of the Covenant in Exodus. Moreover, God gave Moses specific instructions about how the Ark should be handled, carried and used among the people. The Ark was God’s presence among his people. Therefore, it needed to be handled with the utmost holiness and care. It could never be handled “casually,” without great respect. The reason God gave these instructions to Moses was so the people of God would see God as holy and would desire to be holy themselves. God knew that if His people ever started thinking of Him as a casual God, as just a friend, they themselves would start to behave in casual ways toward sin and things which defile God.

That’s why Uzzah died. He failed to follow God’s prescriptions for how to handle the Ark. He “casually” touched it, irreverently, not understanding the holiness of God. It may seem like a harsh punishment to us, until we realize Jesus Himself came to die for our sins so that we can enter into the presence of God Himself, reverently, humbly, thankfully, realizing that without Jesus’ death on the Cross we too should die if we ever try to come into God’s presence as casual sinners, not having experienced the cleansing of our sin which makes us “holy.”

God said in His word, “Be holy as I am holy.” The story of Uzzah reminds us how important holiness is to the God we love and serve through Jesus our Lord.

Pray for your enemies

As we reach the end of Saul’s reign as King and a new beginning with David, let’s take a walk in their shoes and reflect on our relationships. Is there someone in your life that has it out for you? Maybe it’s a relative that you can’t get along with, or a boss who mistreats you. Whoever it is, get that person squarely in your mind and then ask, “If tragedy hit their life, what would you do, celebrate or weep? If you had an opportunity to cut them down to size would you take it or ask for God’s blessings for them?” Now, let’s look at the story.

Saul has become a jealous man and has been actively pursuing the death of David. Some of the reasons are political. Saul knew that God called David to be the next king, and not his son Jonathon. His linage to the throne would not continue. Some of the reasons were centered on jealousy, “Isn’t this the David, they sang about in their dances; Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands?” (I Samuel 29:5). Some of the reasons were because Saul had resisted God for so long that he lost his sanity.

Whatever the reasons, the integrity of David is astounding. He has opportunities to eliminate his problem, Saul, and it looks like God has opened the door (I Samuel 24, 26 and in 29 by possibly fighting in a war against Saul). Yet, the principle that David comes back to over and over again is respect for the position of authority God has put Saul in. He shows patience, submission and grace.

Finally, in our reading this week, Saul dies. However, instead of the feeling of vindication, David creates a sorrowful tune. “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” (2 Samuel 1:17). This is another shocker! We are taught an amazing lesson that Jesus will echo many years later, “Pray for your enemies.”

Tips for Reading - (Application tip #14)

Note: This section is help for Bible Reading in general. It has been building throughout the year under the topics of Observation (what the Scripture says), Interpretation (what it means) and Application (what it means to your life). Feel free to look back over past weeks to get the whole picture.

We are ending the year with four steps to the application process. As a reminder, if you like these hints go back over them again and again, or get the book, “Living by the Book,” by Howard Hendricks which includes a lot of them. Before we go into the four steps I want to say again, the main focus of Bible study is life change. The idea is not getting a lot of great info, but, instead, allowing God to transform your heart through His Word to conform you into the image of Christ. This is a life long process rooted in the study of the Scriptures.

The first key word is Know. You need to know both the text and yourself. There should be one interpretation, but many applications. This story of David and Saul covers the traits of the righteous.

What are your traits? Do you know what your strengths are? Could you write down three right now on an index card? What about your weaknesses? If you put these two together, you’ll see the value in application. Your strengths will build confidence in you. It shows you what God has done in you. In your weaknesses, God can develop faith. The weaknesses show you what God needs to develop in you. The reason most of us don’t grow more is because we don’t know what we need. Insight is the first step toward spiritual growth.

Notes from David’s Journal

In I Samuel 28, Saul becomes increasingly corrupt and paranoid. We read the remarkable story of Saul consulting with a medium, a “witch” if you will. He is trying to find out spiritually how to handle David, his growing unpopularity and the loss of his leadership.

This is indeed remarkable because of the number of times Moses, hearing from God, warned the Israelites NOT to seek mediums or witches for any kind of spiritual guidance. Why would the Lord give such clear warnings? Because, when we seek spiritual help from these sources, we are flirting with the demonic world, the world of darkness. Don’t doubt for a moment that the spirit who appeared to Saul was nothing short of a demonic visitation, a spiritual creature from the world of darkness, coming to give Saul wrong guidance. As you can see, God was not pleased with this action from Saul. It was one step down the slippery road to decadence for this once-great leader of Israel.

Please be aware of this truth: for all of us who love Jesus, we are in a war that is not physical. Please read and reread Ephesians 6, starting with verse 10 to the end of the chapter. We are at war with powers and principalities of the darkness, from the eternal, spiritual world that seek to destroy us at every corner. Any time we open ourselves up to the world of evil, either through mediums, or ouija boards, or palm readers, or tarot cards, etc., we are inviting that world to guide our lives and the evil one is gladly willing to do so.

If you lack wisdom, according to James 1, go to God and ask Him to give it to you! He is more than willing to do so. Go to His Word and seek God’s heart. Talk to Godly counselors, men and women who can rightly guide you. But, don’t go to the dark world. You will never find God’s heart there!