Devotionary

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Ep 643 – 2 Samuel 6:12-23 Sep 20, 2018

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David's first attempt to relocate the Ark of the Covenant into his new capital, Jerusalem, had been an abysmal failure. And all because he had chosen to ignore God's commands concerning the proper handling of the ark. David's enthusiasm and haste had resulted in the death of Uzzah. But now, three months later, David would try a second time to bring the ark into the city. This time, he would do it God's way. And yet, in his obedience, David would meet with resistance, from one of his own wives. In 2 Samuel 6:12-23, we have the story of David dancing before the ark and Michal looking on in disdain. This is a story filled with contrasts and conflicts. It reveals an interesting aspect of David's life, who in his heart wanted to do what was right, but was always seeming to suffer from things he had done wrong. He would always find himself fighting against the consequences of his own impulsive tendencies and his human nature that too often led him to make unwise choices that resulted in uncomfortable outcomes.

Ep 642 – 2 Samuel 6:1-11 Sep 19, 2018

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Enthusiasm can be a great attribute. But it can also get you in trouble. Especially if your excitement causes you to step out of the will of God. That's what happened to David and we can read about it in 2 Samuel 6:1-11. It seems that David was so pumped about his new capital of Jerusalem, that he wanted to move the Ark of the Covenant there as soon as possible. But in his excitement, he got in such a hurry that he failed to do things according to God's standards. And his over-zealousness had some deadly ramifications. David's heart was in the right place. He was well-intended. But disobedience is disobedience. And being in a hurry to honor God is no excuse for disobeying Him. David was in a position that came with huge responsibilities. He was God's shepherd over the entire flock of Israel. And His sins carried corporate weight. As king, when David sinned, everyone suffered. And even zeal for God was not an excuse.

Ep 641 – 2 Samuel 5:17-25 Sep 18, 2018

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David had been crowned the king of all Israel, but that didn't mean his problems were over. As a matter of fact, they were just about to begin. As the newly crowned sovereign over the state of Israel, David was going to discover that his list of potential enemies was long. And at the top of that list were the Philistines. They saw the crowning of David and the unification of the nation as a threat to their well-being. So, they set out to defeat David while his reign was in its infancy and the Israelites were getting over their recent internal battles. And in 2 Samuel 5:17-25, we see David approaching his problems with a slightly different perspective. Rather than taking matters into his own hands and acting impulsively, David took his problem to the Lord. He sought divine counsel. And He received it. Along with a rousing victory over his enemies. He was learning that God's battles, fought on God's terms and in God's power, brought God-ordained victories.

Ep 640 – 2 Samuel 5:11-16 Sep 17, 2018

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David was now the king of all Israel. God had brought about what He had promised so many years earlier. But now that David was king, he was going to learn that God would hold him to a higher standard. He was not free to rule and reign as he saw fit. Everything he did was going to be judged by God and would result in either blessing or discipline from God. His decisions would have consequences. His sins would have ramifications. As the king of Israel, David was expected to live a life of submission and obedience to God. He was to reign according to God's standards, not his own. He was to do things God's way, not his own. But David would find himself constantly challenged by his own desire to put his own personal touch on his reign. And in 2 Samuel 5:11-16, we'll get a subtle glimpse into one of the areas where David will leave the fingerprints of his personal touch.

Ep 639 – 2 Samuel 5:1-10 Sep 16, 2018

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David had waited a long time for this day. In fact, it had been seven years since he had been anointed king by the tribe of Judah. Now, he would finally receive the approval and anointing from the 11 other tribes, unifying the kingdom under his rule and reign. In 2 Samuel 5:1-10, we are provided with details surrounding this most important day in David's life. We are also shown how he established Jerusalem as his capital. And if we look closely, behind the scenes, God is orchestrating His divine plan that will one day set up the arrival of the Son of David, the Messiah. He too would one day be crowned in the city of Jerusalem, but His crown would be made of thorns. He would be dressed in a royal robe, but only in an attempt to mock Him for His claim to be the King of the Jews. And one day, He will return to Jerusalem, where He will set up His kingdom on earth and rule from the throne of David.

Ep 638 – 2 Samuel 4 Sep 15, 2018

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Sometimes, it's when things begin to look up that we find ourselves getting into trouble. We see what we believe to be the light at the end of the tunnel, only to discover that it's actually an oncoming train. In 2 Samuel 4, a relatively short chapter, we get an important insight into the potential train wreck that that seems to be headed David's way. Ever since the death of Saul, things have not gone well. When David should have been experiencing great relief and extreme joy over his anointing as the king over Israel, he found himself facing stiff competition for the crown. And he tried to take matters into his own hands, making plans and alliances that only made matters worse. After years of learning to lean on God for provision and protection, David seems to have suddenly decided to do things his way. And in doing so, he only made things more difficult for himself and those around him.

Ep 637 – 2 Samuel 3:31-39 Sep 14, 2018

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Why is it that we think that God somehow needs our help? And before you're too quick to deny it, just consider how many times you've made decisions without God's input. And yet, we'd all probably agree that God is sovereign and the one who is in ultimate control of all things. So, why is it that we think our plans are an improvement on His? David certainly felt that way at times. And in 2 Samuel 3:31-39, we see him orchestrating a whole series of events designed to turn the unexpected death of Abner into a positive PR opportunity. His main objective was the unification of the kingdom under his rule, and he was willing to do whatever it took to make that happen, whether his actions were God's will or not. But when we take matters into our own hands, it rarely turns out well. Seeking to accomplish God's will, but without seeking God's input is a dangerous game to play.

Ep 636 – 2 Samuel 3:22-30 Sep 13, 2018

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While sin is simple to commit, it is anything but simple in its ramifications. Sin brings consequences, regardless of the size of the sin. And in 2 Samuel 3:22-30, the sins of David and all those around him, were going to create a maelstrom of increasingly more complicated problems. Doing things apart from the will of God always produces less-than-satisfactory outcomes. David's desire to have his wife Michal returned to him led him to make some bad decisions. He made unwise allegiances with a traitor. He refused to act as king and punish those who were guilty of murder. He became obsessed with expediency and was willing to do whatever he thought best to fulfill his own desires. Sin is complex and results in complicated outcomes. It may start out with a simple decision, but it has a way of growing in intensity and infecting all those around us.

Ep 635 – 2 Samuel 3:6-21 Sep 12, 2018

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We all struggle with indwelling sin. It comes with being human. Even those of us who have placed our faith in Christ, still find ourselves battling the persistent presence of our own sin natures. And David was no different. In 2 Samuel 3:6-21, we see this man after God's own heart making some rather ungodly decisions, because his thinking was clouded by sin. We have already seen that David could be impulsive. And, in his effort to unify the kingdom and establish his reign over all Israel, David made some unwise decisions that would come back to haunt him. He allowed himself to forget that his reign as the king of Israel was God's will and, therefore, up to God to bring about. God didn't need David's help. But as David sensed the opportunity to help speed up the unification of the nation, he grabbed for it. He allowed himself to be swayed by the flattering words of Abner. But rather than make his life easier and establish his kingdom quicker, it was going to produce even greater problems.

Ep 634 – 2 Samuel 3:1-5 Sep 11, 2018

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As we will see in 2 Samuel 3:1-5, there was conflict between the house of Saul and the house of David. Saul was dead, but Abner had made his son the king. Now, there were two kings over Israel, David and Ish-bosheth. But that wasn't the only conflict brewing behind the scenes. David was battling his own inner demon, his love affair with the opposite sex. His attraction to women had proved to be an ongoing issue for him, resulting in his marriage to multiple women. And, now that he was king over the tribe of Judah, this predilection for the female sex was going to become a problem for him. David probably thought Ish-bosheth and Abner were the greatest threats to his kingdom, but he would soon find out that his inner passions were just as deadly as any outside threat he might face. David may have been a man after God's own heart, but he was going to learn that God wanted all his heart.

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