We Need a Better King

...and Jesse the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife...

Matthew 1:6

When Matthew mentions Bathsheba in Jesus' genealogy, he doesn’t refer to her by name. Instead, he goes out of his way to remind us that she "had been Uriah’s wife.” Why?

I think Matthew wants to remind us of David’s greatest failure, before he tells us the story of Christmas. Matthew wants us to remember that even King David was an adulterer and a murderer! The greatest king in Israel’s history… the man after God’s own heart… the man who defeated Goliath and conquered God’s enemies all around… couldn’t conquer the sin within his own heart.

This is a subtle, but powerful reminder that we need a better king. Matthew is helping us begin to understand that the Messiah he is about to introduce us to isn’t just another King David. No! We need a Messiah who surpasses even David. We need a king who won’t fall into sin like David did (and even like his son Solomon did). And that is exactly what God gives us in Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 4:15 says that Jesus was “tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.” Jesus passed the test that David failed! And that’s why He can save us. For Jesus to be the perfect King who could make us righteous He had to be sinless, and that’s what He was. And that’s what He is.

Thank God that Jesus passed the test that David failed! Thank God for sending us a better King. But that raises a very important question. Is Jesus your king?

I think that sometimes we have a tendency to fix our eyes and our loyalties on great men like David. Sometimes we build our faith on a pastor, a parent, a teacher, a family member or friend who appears to be a giant in the faith to us. And then, when they fail… like David did… it shakes our faith greatly.

Make sure that your faith isn’t founded on any man but Jesus. Not a pastor or parent or anyone! Only Jesus is worthy to be your king. Only He passes the test. Everyone else will disappoint you. Build your faith on Him.

Cleanse Me with Hyssop

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;

wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

Psalm 51:7

Hyssop was a type of plant that God’s people used for ceremonial cleansing. It must have grown in leafy or spriggy bunches allowing Israel to use it almost like a paintbrush. This is the plant they used to paint the blood on their doorposts in Egypt when God struck down all the firstborn. But, more to the point, they also used hyssop to sprinkle people with water in purification ceremonies. You can read about this in Numbers 19 or Leviticus 14. But basically if a person had an infectious skin disease or if they had touched a dead body they were declared unclean and cut off from fellowship with the people and from the sanctuary of God. They had to be cleansed before they could return. The cleansing ceremony involved dipping a bunch of hyssop into water mixed with either sacrificial blood or ashes and then sprinkling it on the person.

Now, we read right over “cleanse me with hyssop” and don’t give it a second thought, but this was a powerful image to the Israelite. David is saying, “I feel unclean. I’m unworthy to come before you, God. I’m as polluted as someone who has touched a dead body or who has leprosy. Make me clean again, Lord, so I can enter Your presence!”

Sin has consequences. It threatens your intimacy with God. David understands this. In verse 11 he asks God, “Don’t cast me out of your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.” David is thinking about the king of Israel that came before him, King Saul, whose sin resulted in him being rejected as king and losing the Spirit’s anointing. David doesn’t want the same thing to happen to him, but he fears it will because of his sin.

Even for believers, your sin matters! Your spot in heaven may be secure but your intimacy with God must be maintained. Sin separates you from God. It stuffs cotton in your ears and makes it difficult for you to hear His voice. It smears mud on your eyes and makes it hard for you to see His glory. It turns your heart of flesh into a heart of stone so that you are no longer drawn to love the things of God. And it offends God and makes Him want to move away from you.

So again, I say, your sin matters! Some of you are believers who have no intimacy with God. You have no desire to draw near to Him, and when you do He seems distant from you and you can’t figure out why. There are multiple reasons that can happen, but for many of you it’s because you are sinning against God. He has withdrawn His presence from you because you are spitting in His face day after day after day by willingly sinning against Him. You love money and horde possessions instead of giving generously to care for the poor and build His kingdom. That’s why God is far from you! Or you have pushed Jesus off the throne of your heart and are living in sin by putting sex before marriage, and yet somehow you think that it doesn’t matter. Sin matters! Whatever your sin is, understand that you can’t disobey God and expect Him to bless you and draw near to you like it isn’t happening.

For further reading...

• Psalm 51- Read all of this psalm confession psalm to learn more about sin and forgiveness. 

A "How To" for Reconciliation

Reconciling with someone is to change their mind or renew your friendship with them after your sin has caused a rift in your relationship. It normally requires much more than a simple apology. If all you offer those you have wronged is a half-hearted “I’m sorry,” then you will most likely fail in your attempts, so how do you go about reconciling with those you have wronged?

Here I believe that the story of Abigail and David, which can be found in I Samuel 25, is immensely helpful. Even though Abigail is apologizing for her husband’s sin and not her own, she provides us with a wonderful, biblical example of how to reconcile with our enemies.

During the time David was on the run from King Saul, he and his men provided protection in the wilderness to the flocks of a man named Nabal. It was the custom in those days that when Nabal sheared his sheep he should throw a big feast and give some food to David and his men in gratitude for their service. But, when David’s men came to kindly request their share of the food Nabal insulted David and them and then sent them away empty-handed. David was enraged! He strapped on his sword and rode out with his men intent on killing Nabal and every man in his house. But before David could carry out his plan, one of Nabal’s servants told Nabal’s wife Abigail what had happened. Now Abigail was certainly Nabal’s better half. She was very wise, so she immediately saddled her donkey and loaded it down with provisions. Then she rode out to intercept David and his men.

As Abigail meets David, her speech of reconciliation gives us five steps we can follow to reconcile with our own enemies.

When Abigail saw David, she hurried and got down from the donkey and fell before David on her face and bowed to the ground. She fell at his feet and said, “On me alone, my lord, be the guilt. Please let your servant speak in your ears, and hear the words of your servant. 

I Samuel 25:23-24

• First, Abigail humbled herself. She knelt before David and called him "my lord." She called herself his "servant." Reconciling with someone requires humbling yourself before them. This is why reconciling is so hard for us. It’s a humbling experience that hurts our pride

• Second, notice that Abigail fully accepted the blame. It's hard to apologize if you won't admit you have done anything wrong.

Let not my lord regard this worthless fellow, Nabal, for as his name is, so is he. Fool is his name, [Nabal means fool] and folly is with him. But I your servant did not see the young men of my lord, whom you sent. 

I Samuel 25:25

• Third, Abigail validated his feelings. In essence she says “I understand why you're angry, and you have every right to feel this way.” It's hard to reconcile with someone until we understand and acknowledge all the ways our sin affected them. 

And now let this present that your servant has brought to my lord be given to the young men who follow my lord.

I Samuel 25:27

• Fourth, she made restitution. Abigail made it right. She generously provided food for David and his men. Whenever you can make up for how you wronged someone, no apology feels complete until you try to do so.

Please forgive the trespass of your servant.

I Samuel 25:28

• Only then did she ask for his forgiveness. The timing on this is important. It often does no good to ask someone to forgive you if you won’t follow these other steps first. If you don’t 1) Humble yourself, 2) Accept the Blame, 3) Validate their Feelings, and 4) Make Restitution then your apology feels hollow and meaningless.

Who do you need to reconcile with? Have you been trying to apologize to someone and haven't understood why they won't forgive you. Hopefully this helps! I leave you with the words of Romans 12:18- "If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all."

A Primer for Praise

On that day David first delivered this psalm into the hand of Asaph and his brethren, to thank the Lord:

Oh, give thanks to the Lord! 

Call upon His name;

Make known His deeds among the peoples!

Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; 

Talk of all His wondrous works!

Glory in His holy name; 

Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord!

I Chronicles 16:7-10

Upon bringing the ark up to Jerusalem and establishing the worshiping order of priests, David gives them this psalm to sing. I wonder if that means this was the very first psalm in the Hebrew psalter we now know as the book of psalms? If so it would have been a very good place to start because it walks God's people through all the basic methods of worshiping God. It's like a primer for praise. 

First we give thanks. What a simple but effective way to begin worship! Everyone knows how to say thank you, plus by fixing our mind on the blessings God has given us we are naturally led into other forms of praise. 

Next, we're urged to call on God in prayer which we should never forget to do. Then we give Him glory among the nations by telling of all His glorious deeds. Following that we lift our voices in songs and conversations of praise. Finally, we lose ourselves in worship, seeking nothing from God, but only God Himself.

Verse 10 serves as a powerful reminder of how different God is from other gods. Whether we consider the idols worshiped in King David's day or the idols of Hinduism and Buddhism worshiped today, these gods are all pursued as a means to an end. Worshipers pray to them and offer sacrifices to them to get something from them. They seek a good harvest of crops, or a child amid infertility, or more success and prosperity. We seek all of these things from God as well, but they are not the core reason why we seek Him. God is the only god who is good enough and worthy enough to be sought not as a means to something else but as an end in Himself. We come before God in worship to seek Him, not just gifts from His hand. 

So, use this pattern of praise to seek God's face today (v11). He is worth it, and you'll find a joy like no other in His presence.

God Sees You!

The Lord said to Samuel, "...I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.”

... [Jesse] sent for [David] and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.” So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David.

I Samuel 16:1-13

The great prophet Samuel had come to town and invited Jesse and his sons to a sacrificial feast. David’s seven older brothers and his father went to meet this great man no doubt wearing their best clothes, while David was left behind in the fields to tend the family's sheep. David appears to have been a bit overlooked and even taken for granted by his family.

David was the youngest and the least physically impressive of Jesse's eight sons. His family appears to have had no great wealth or social standing. He lived in a small, unremarkable village on the fertile edge of a desert and spent his days tending sheep and playing music. No one looked out on that young man sitting in the fields and saw greatness. No one but God!

Maybe you know that feeling. No one ever seems to notice you. No one thinks you’re all that special. Maybe you even feel a bit taken for granted. You do everything you’re supposed to, but instead of appreciation, all you get is more work or worse, complaints. Whether it's your parents, spouse, kids, boyfriend/girlfriend, or even your boss; most of us know what it feels like to be taken for granted, forgotten, or overlooked in one way or another.

Sometimes it can be tempting to think, “What am I killing myself for? It isn’t worth it. I should do what everyone else does and do just enough to get by. Do the bare minimum” But in young David, we find encouragement to keep going. God saw David sitting out in those fields by himself, and God sees you!

Today if you feel ignored or forgotten, know that He sees you. He sees you working long hours at your desk. He sees you rising before dawn to work your land, tend your animals or make lunches for your kids. God sees you doing good, hard, honest work to provide your family

In this way, David reminds us of what Galatians 6:9 says. "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Don’t grow weary in doing good. It’s not for nothing. God hasn’t forgotten you. Continue to be faithful in the little things and in due time God will reward you. It may be in this life, as it was for David, or it may be in the next. But make no mistake. God sees you. It matters. And you will be rewarded.

I Love the Church!

And who is like your people Israel—the one nation on earth that God went out to redeem as a people for himself, and to make a name for himself, and to perform great and awesome wonders by driving out nations and their gods from before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt?

2 Samuel 7:23

What David couldn't have known when he said these words was that a community even greater than Israel would come. A people taken from every nation, tribe, and tongue. A community redeemed not from slavery in Egypt but from slavery to sin and from living after the pattern of this world. This is the church. An imperfect group of people plucked from the hand of the enemy. 

Why has God done all of this for us? "To make a name for himself"! So it is truly a shame that so many refuse to give God glory for His church and instead enjoy heaping slander and accusations on His people. Even Christians seem to enjoy saying awful things about the bride of Christ, God's church. Do they not know that Satan is the one who slanders the saints? For 'slanderer' is what 'Satan' means in Hebrew, and that is his nature. He slanders and accuses, and they cast their lot in with the enemy to attack their brothers and sisters in Christ. They accuse the church of being hypocritical, fake and judgmental failing to see how they are hypocritically sitting in judgment of the church.  They are the proverbial pot calling the kettle black. They cast dispersion and judgment on all churches for the sins of but a handful of people they dislike.

I refuse to join in! Yes, the community of Christ is imperfect. We do often get things wrong, and we do need to become more like Christ; but often the reason why we struggle to live up to our lofty goals is because we are so open. We could kick out all those who struggle, but we do not. We accept people as they are and then seek to move them toward Christlikeness from there. This takes time and patience and grace. And oftentimes things get messy along the way.

In any church you walk into there are committed believers who were addicted to drugs just a few years ago. There are teens and children who have suffered so much that they have contemplated suicide. There are married couples struggling to hold it together. And there are senior adults whose children and grandchildren have broken their hearts and taken advantage of them. And there is probably a pastor desperately trying to serve the Lord without letting his own ego get in the way.

With all this hurt and weakness and imperfection and humanness, we don't always get things right. But it sure is beautiful to watch God's people try. What a sight it is to see a community of people offer one another grace and forgiveness when they fail. To watch people encourage each other to keep moving forward.

I love God's church, and no matter how often we get it wrong I know eventually we will get it right; because I believe in the power of God's Spirit. Ultimately, it is the Spirit who is conforming each of us individually and collectively into the image of the Son; and He will complete the good work He has begun in us (Philippians 1:6). So don't give up on the church. If you have had a bad experience with one then try another, or better yet stay where you were hurt and be the example of grace that church needs.

A man named Fool

One of the young men told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, saying, “Behold, David sent messengers from the wilderness to greet our master, and he scorned them... Now therefore…consider what you should do, for evil is plotted against our master and against all his household; and he is such a worthless man that no one can speak to him.”

Excerpts from I Samuel 25:14-17 

Have you ever known someone who was their own worst enemy? They seem to go from one crisis to the next and are completely unaware that much of it is due to their own poor decisions. Maybe you tried to tell them this, but you learned your lesson. No one can tell them anything. They're convinced that everything is someone else's fault. Even when they do take responsibility for something they are careful to point out that they weren't as wrong as everyone else thinks they were.

Nabal was kind of like that. He was a rich man, but his name means fool and his loved ones describe him in the most unflattering of terms. One of his employees said he was harsh, evil in his dealings, and completely unwilling to receive correction. You see David sent men to Nabal asking him for food as repayment for David's army protecting his flocks. This was in keeping with the custom of the day, and David's men were very respectful. But Nabal dealt harshly with them, insulted David and his family, and sent them away empty-handed. In a fit of rage, David and his men strap on their swords and ride out exact revenge. But Nabal's household intervenes. 

One of his young men runs to tell Nabal's wife, Abigail. Abigail knows that Nabal is a "worthless fool" who will never listen so she is forced to go behind his back and clean up his mess. She gathers food and rides out to meet David with an apology. David relents, Abigail is praised, and Nabal is struck dead by the Lord ten days later.

One of the things we can't help but notice in this passage is how much better off Nabal would have been had he been willing to receive correction from those who loved him. Those around him knew his flaws better than he did. Don't think for a second that your co-workers, spouse, and friends don't know yours. Believe me, they do. They know them all too well, even the ones you're blind to. You see just like Nabal we are often blind or overly dismissive of our faults. That's why we all need people we can trust to lovingly confront us when we are headed for disaster. 

Do you listen to those around you? Do you intentionally give the people you trust permission to draw your attention to your struggles and failings? Is anyone holding you accountable? If not, then I would challenge you to choose someone you love and trust and ask them these questions:

• What sin do you see in my life?
• Do you think I am harsh or that I mistreat people in any way?
• What faults or poor choices do you see in my life that you think maybe I am blind to or overly dismissive of?

Go ahead, ask someone. I dare you!

A Stone in the Lord's Hand

So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.

David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine’s sword and drew it from the sheath. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword.

1 Samuel 17:50-51

When we read the story of David and Goliath, many of us want to read ourselves into David's role. We are the underdog fighting an epic battle, and whoever or whatever opposes us is our Goliath. If we will only trust God, then we know we can defeat our problem with His help. 

I once heard a pastor note that this reading of the story is all wrong. David foreshadows the Messiah, not the modern believer. If anyone is David in the story it's Christ. He is the great warrior who saves His people from the enemy who is too big for them. 

Well, if I can't be David, then perhaps I can be the stone. 

The above passage goes out of its way to point out that God ordained for this mighty warrior Goliath to be killed not by a sword or a javelin or a spear but by an ordinary stone. Verse 50 tells us that there was no sword in David's hand when he killed the giant. And verse 51 re-emphasizes that Goliath was already dead (from the stone) before David cut off his head. 

It was an ordinary, small, smooth stone which was hurled at that giant and killed him. A stone which had sat in a stream bed being rubbed smooth by the passing of water and time for who knows how long before its day of glory came.

I'm not saying that this is allegorical. This is a real story. And the stone doesn't represent us in an allegorical sense. Rather, this very real stone reveals something to us about how God works and what types of things (and people) He uses. God often uses small, overlooked, weak, and despised things and people to do glorious things to advance His cause. We see this in countless other Bible stories and characters as well. I could recount stories of fishermen who turned into apostles, of a small boy's lunch that fed 5,000 people, of a prisoner who became second in command over all Egypt, and a nursing cow who proved to the Philistines that Israel's God was real. But today it was this little stone that resonated with me.

Lord, I may be more of a blunt instrument than a sharp tool. I may be ordinary, but I know that You make a habit of using ordinary people and things to glorify Your name. Let me be a stone in Your hand, Lord. For even a little stone in Your hand is far superior to the sharpest weapon in the hand of the enemy. Send me out to do Your will. Keep me on the narrow path, aimed directly at all You would have me do. And when my life is over, Lord, when my purpose has been served, let none of the glory fall on me. Let me be as forgotten as that stone in Goliath's forehead, so that the name of my Savior may abound more and more.

When Enemies Loom Large

Psalm 5 tells the troubled heart where to find hope in the face of circumstances or enemies more powerful than itself. I can imagine Israel singing this psalm in times of trouble and learning from it the best course of action.

Listen to my words, Lord, consider my lament. Hear my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. (Psalm 5:1-3)

There were many places David could have taken his cry for help when his enemies abounded. He could have assembled his mighty warriors to create a battle plan. He could have entreated a neighboring country to come to his aide. He could have tried to blunt the worry of his troubles through drink and other pleasures. But David runs to the Lord. He prays persistently morning by morning, placing his needs before the Lord while he waits in faith.

Do you face troubles or enemies today that are more than you can handle on your own? Pray persistently in faith.

But David does not stop at prayer. He intentionally shifts his perspective from the difficulty of his circumstances to the excellence of his God.

For you are not a God who is pleased with wickedness; with you, evil people are not welcome. The arrogant cannot stand in your presence. You hate all who do wrong; you destroy those who tell lies. The bloodthirsty and deceitful you, Lord, detest. But I, by your great love, can come into your house; in reverence I bow down toward your holy temple. (Psalm 5:4-7)

There are times in this world, when your circumstances will not align with what you know to be true of God's character. In those times you can either focus on your circumstances or you can focus on God's character. This world is unjust. It is filled with our sin and thus is filled with pain. This is the very reason we look forward to heaven. It is there that justice will be served finally. It is there that every tear will be wiped away. In the meantime, when the cruelty of this world finds your door, run to the Lord for help. Comfort yourself with the truth that He intervenes even in the here and now. And remind yourself of His righteous character: that He judges the wicked and upholds the righteous. When your whole world seems hopeless, take comfort in the truths of who God is. Trust that His character has not changed and that He will bring justice eventually.

Having reminded himself of God's impending judgment on the wicked, David appeals to the Lord for aid in maintaining his own righteousness.

Lead me, Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies— make your way straight before me. (Psalm 5:8)

Apart from some level of righteousness we have no reason to expect God to rescue us from our enemies. If we are in fact the wicked, then our circumstances just may be God's judgment on our sin. Thankfully, God has extended an offer of grace to all sinners. Because of Christ, we can all accept His forgiveness and ask Him to lead us in righteousness from this point forward.

David prays specifically for God to defeat his enemies in verses nine and ten then finishes his song with one last request of the Lord and one statement of praise.

But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield. (Psalm 5:11-12)

After lifting his prayer up persistently to the Lord, reminding Himself of God's great character, and establishing his right relationship with the Lord, David is now free to praise God in faith. David honors the Lord by stating that He blesses and protects the righteous. This act of worship is also an act of expectant faith for David. He praises God, and in the same sentence foreshadows what His faith tells him the Lord will do for Him.

Sooner or later trouble finds us all. It is the nature of the world we live in. When it does find you, remember this psalm. Pray persistently to the only one who controls your destiny. Shift your perspective from focusing on how big your problems are to focusing on how great your God is. Make sure that you are right with the Lord so that nothing in your relationship prevents Him from acting on your behalf. Then praise the Lord in faith for all that you expect He will do for you.

For further reading...

• Luke 11:1-13 & Luke 18:1-8- Some passages on persistence in prayer.
• Exodus 34:6-7 & Isaiah 40- A few favorite passages on God's character.
• Psalm 34 & Psalm 75- A few psalms of praise.

God is Our Refuge

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.

 

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Psalm 46:1-7

 

How do you plan to protect yourself? Our culture today seems obsessed with security, comfort, and protection. We have insurance plans, seat belts, pepper spray...the list could go on and on. But none of these things really have the power to prevent bad things from happening to us; they just help blunt the blow a little. In Psalm 46 we are introduced to a much superior protection plan.

 

This Psalm is written to God's people dwelling in God's city known as Zion or Jerusalem. Jerusalem was built on a hill that is surrounded by valleys and other hills. It was thought by many to be impenetrable until King David captured it and made it the capital of Israel (2 Sam. 5:6-12). Like most major cities of its day it was surrounded by high walls. These walls were designed to keep enemies out. It was their refuge. Anytime a warring nation attacked the Israelites they would run to the city where they would be safe. They would trust in their strategic placement on the mount, in their walls, and in their military might to keep their enemies out. This is human nature.

 

Yet the psalmist argues something else is the true source of Israel's (and by extension the Christian's) security. God alone is our refuge. He is an ever-present help in trouble. When trouble is headed your way, He is always easy to find. He is right there by your side. As the apostle Paul says- "If God be for us, then who can be against us?" (Rom. 8:31). The answer of course is no one of any consequence.

All of this carries important implications for the believer. Because God is our protection, "we will not fear." No matter how bad things are, there can be no reason to fear when you rest securely inside a fortress as strong and impenetrable as our God. He is the reason Christians for centuries have been able to stand before enemies of the cross and boldly proclaim the truth of Jesus without fear even when they knew it might mean their life. They knew that nothing could hurt them apart from God's will.

 

Even when God is your refuge bad things can still happen to you. But when Christians suffer it is not for lack of defense, or lack of refuge, or lack of preparation on God's part, it is because He has allowed it to happen. There are times when God allows us to suffer. Sometimes it is to discipline us and bring us back to Him. Sometimes it is to challenge us toward growth and spiritual maturity. Sometimes it is because He knows that it is through our suffering that His name will be glorified and an audience will be won for the gospel. But no Christian suffers in vain. As Psalm 116:15 says, "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His faithful servants." God does not take the death or suffering of believers lightly, any more than He took the suffering of His Son lightly. And even when we suffer, He is there with us in our pain.

 

So what do you trust in for your protection? I'm not saying that insurance plans or seat belts are bad, but they shouldn't be your hope for protection. David didn't tear down the walls around Jerusalem, but He knew from where His true protection came. Only God has the power to prevent bad things from happening to you. And with Him you can be sure that when suffering does find you it isn't because of a loophole in your insurance underwriter or because your seat belt malfunctioned. He allowed it for a reason and He will see you through it. Remind yourself today that God is your refuge. Whatever trouble you are facing run to Him for help. Run to God right now. Tell Him what troubles you are facing and ask Him for protection.

 

For further reading...

• Psalm 46- Read the whole Psalm.
• Romans 8:18-39- A beautiful passage on suffering and God's protection.
• Isaiah 30- Read of God's anger when Israel turns to Egypt's military might for refuge instead of turning to Him.

Make a Show

Praise the Lord, all you nations;
    extol him, all you peoples.
For great is his love toward us,
    and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.

Praise the Lord.

Psalm 117

 

 

This is the shortest chapter in the Bible. Just two verses. Yet, even this small chapter calls for a response. The psalmist calls upon the whole world and all the peoples in it to praise God. When the Jews sang this in their worship it must have reminded them that ultimately God deserves and will receive praise from all nations not just the children of Abraham. Paul quotes this Psalm in Romans 15:11 as proof that God had always intended to bring the Gentiles into His family so they might praise Him (see ESV Study Bible notes on Psalm 117 and Romans 15:9-12). The psalm goes beyond simply calling for praise however, by giving us the impetus for praise: the great love and faithfulness that He has shown to us.

 

According to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance the Hebrew word for "praise" in verse one has among its possible translations to make a show, boast, rave, or celebrate. While the Hebrew word for "extol" can mean to address in a loud tone or commend. Taken together this presents a clear image of what it means for us to praise God.

 

Because of the love and faithfulness God has shown you, you should celebrate Him, rave about Him, even make a show declaring in a loud voice all the good He has done for you. When was the last time your praise of God met this description? I know that we don't want to make a show to draw attention to ourselves, but that's not what this is. The psalmist asks us to make a show to call attention to God! David himself gave us an excellent example of what this might look like when he danced and leapt before the ark of the covenant as it entered Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6). So how can you celebrate God's faithfulness this week? What would it look like for you to rave about the goodness He's shown to you and your family? Find a way this week to proclaim loudly how good God has been to you in Jesus.

 

 

For further reading...

• The Psalms speak often about praising God in front of other people. See Ps 35:18, Ps 68:26, Ps 96, Ps 107:32, & Ps 145:10-12 among others.
• Read about David making a show of himself to celebrate the return of God's presence to Jerusalem. 2 Samuel 6

Be Zealous for God's Glory

As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, stepped out from his lines and shouted his usual defiance, and David heard it. Whenever the Israelites saw the man, they all fled from him in great fear.

Now the Israelites had been saying, “Do you see how this man keeps coming out? He comes out to defy Israel. The king will give great wealth to the man who kills him. He will also give him his daughter in marriage and will exempt his family from taxes in Israel.”

David asked the men standing near him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

What David said was overheard and reported to Saul, and Saul sent for him.

David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.”

1 Samuel 17:23-26 & 31-32

There are some moments in life that are just BIG. You can just tell when they are happening to you that this is a BIG moment. For me one of those moments occurred when I was four years old and my parents told me I had to start going to school. I don't even know if I knew what school was, but I remember being devastated. I bargained with them. I begged, but to no avail. It was time for me to start school, and I just knew that this was going to change my life forever. That was 1987, and now some 25 years later I am still in school (currently working on my MDiv). Perhaps, I was right to be so devastated. Well, today we are going to look at a story in the Bible about one of these BIG moments. Not only is this story a BIG moment for the main character but it is also a BIG moment in the unfolding of God’s plan of redemption for His people. This is the story of the coming of age, the big entrance, of the king through whom the true Messiah would come. This is the story of David and Goliath.

I encourage you to read all of I Samuel 17. It is a very interesting read, but for now I will set the stage for you. After years of relative peace, the Philistines invade Israelite territory and the two armies encamp on either side of the great Valley of Elah. (Baker Commentary on the Bible). One Philistine makes his way down into the valley: a 9' 9" impenetrable giant named Goliath. There he defies the armies of Israel, offering to engage in representative battle wherein instead of the two armies killing thousands, just two men fight on their behalf.

But verse 11 tells us that Israel's champion is cowering in fear along with the rest of the people. King Saul should have been the one to fight Goliath. Not only was he head and soldiers above everyone else in Israel (I Samuel 9:2 & 10:23) and therefore the only one in the camp physically qualified to fight Goliath; but it was quite literally what he had been recruited to do (I Samuel 8:20). Scripture tells us that one of the reasons the people of Israel originally approached the prophet Samuel to give them a king was so they would have someone to lead them out to war and fight their battles for them. Saul literally has a chance to fight their battle for them, but he is cowering in fear. (c.f. Numbers 13:31-33).

Goliath’s challenges continued twice a day for forty days! That is more than a month and no one is willing to accept the challenge. The onus is on Saul. He is the guy. It has to be him. In the verses above, you can almost see how eager Saul is to find someone to fight in his place. He has put together an incentive program to entice someone, anyone into battle in his place. But not even that is enough to prompt a volunteer. That is, until David comes to visit his brothers.

David does two things that are most interesting. First, David sees things differently. He is not primarily worried about his honor or glory or even his safety. He is concerned with God’s glory. The men of Israel call Goliath “this man,” David refers to him as “this uncircumcised Philistine.” In David's eyes Goliath is a foreigner who is outside the covenant of God and therefore not in His favor. Moreover, he isn't simply “defying Israel” as the other men say, he is “defying the armies of the living God.” David sees Goliath's defiance as an affront to God, and he acts immediately because he is zealous for God's glory (Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary). The men of Israel and Saul have heard Goliath issue this challenge 80 times and none have been willing to accept it. David has heard the challenge one time, and he acts immediately. He expresses interest right away.

The second amazing thing David does is he acts on his own because he is zealous for God's glory. Notice, God doesn’t tell David to do this. David takes the initiative. There are some things that we don’t need God to tell us to do. David already knows the story of the 10 spies who were afraid of the giants (Numbers 13:31-33). He also knows that God promised Israel that she would possess the Promised Land and that when she fought against the inhabitants, He would fight on her behalf. David doesn’t need an invitation. He needs to act. He needs to put into practice what he knows to be true about God... what he knows God has commanded him to do. He needs to trust in the promises God has given. David simply saw an opportunity and seized it.

What about you? Do you ever sit around waiting for some special word from God to do what you already know is His will? You don’t wait for God to tell you to go see the hottest new movie or to do anything else you want to do. Don’t wait for some special word to do the things you know you ought to do. Be zealous for God's glory and act! You don't need a special word from the Lord to share the gospel with that family member. You don't need a special word from the Lord to give your extra coat or money to the poor. You don't need a special word from the Lord to serve Him with your whole heart. He has already commanded these things. You simply need to act! What will you be zealous for? What is worth spending your life on? David is concerned for God’s glory not his own. He looks to build a name and a legacy for God, not for himself. What will you build? As you answer that question, remember that God’s glory is the only thing that will last for eternity.

For further reading...

•  I Samuel 17- Read the whole story.

Dangerous Faith: David

[God] testified concerning him: "I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do."

Acts 13:22

David has been called a man after God’s own heart.  Much has been made about this title. Many a preacher has ventured a guess as to what it means, but today I would like us to focus on the statement that directly follows that one. “…he will do everything I want him to do.” I don’t think there could be a truer definition of dangerous faith.

Dangerous faith is faith that has been put into action. It’s dangerous in the sense that it is bursting with the potential to impact the world in significant ways. What could be more dangerous than a person who is willing to do anything that God asks him/her to do? God’s divine power and wisdom working through a willing human instrument—what could be more effective or dangerous than that? The real question before us though, is how did David get faith like that and how can we get it? As always, we turn to Scripture for clues. 

Looking at the classic story of David's battle with Goliath we see how he responds when he first hears Goliath’s chant: “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?"  Notice David isn’t filled with anger out of national pride that Goliath would dare defy Israel. He is filled with anger that Goliath would dare defy God. This is made even clearer later when David tells Goliath that, “Today…the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.”

David was passionate about God’s glory. He was jealous for the honor that was due God’s name. In fact, in the Psalms David often praises God’s name publicly. “I will declare your name to my brothers; in the congregation I will praise you” (Psalm 22:22). It is this passion for God’s glory that gives rise to the desire to obey God. He was energized and focused on bringing glory and honor to God’s name. But this desire to do God’s will wasn’t enough. He also had to be willing to act on that desire.   

Look at what David said to Goliath right before he killed him:

"You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied… All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you into our hands."

David understood that the battle belonged to the Lord. You get the sense that David actually believed that God was fighting the battle with him. In Psalm 18:29 David says, “With your help I can advance against a troop.” This carries weight because David had actually experienced it. David stood on battle fields watching entire armies advance against him and his men and he knew militarily that he ought to be killed that day. But even in those moments when ten thousand men wanted to kill him, he trusted the Lord. The battle belonged to the Lord. He might have a sword in his hand, but his sword wasn’t going to win the battle. It was the Lord who fought on David’s behalf.

So David was willing to do anything God asked him to do because 1) he was passionate about bringing glory to God’s name and 2) he trusted in the Lord to fight his battles for him and to protect him.

Are you passionate about God’s glory? When was the last time you bragged on God? David says, “I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among throngs of people I will praise you” (Psalm 35:18). Are you passionate enough about bringing honor to God’s name that you are willing to praise him in front of other people? If not, pray and ask God to give you a heart for his glory. I believe that the entire purpose for our existence is to bring glory to God and that we will spend all of eternity doing just that.

Also, do you trust God to fight your battles for you? Do you believe that the battle is the Lord’s? When your spouse is diagnosed with cancer, or your mother dies, or you get laid off at work, or you feel like everyone you know is out to destroy you…do you believe that the battle belongs to the Lord? Are you willing to step out on faith to do what God has called you to do and trust God to take care of you? If not, ask God to help you trust Him with your life. This is the very foundation of the Christian faith. 

For further reading this week:

• I Samuel 17:20-54: Check out the whole story of David and Goliath.
• Psalm 18, 22, 35: See how David praised his God.
• Acts 13: Read's God's proclamation about David in context.