"In the spring, at the time when kings go out to war... David remained in Jerusalem" (2 Sam 11:1)
In the days when King David lived, warfare was a common experience. It was so common, kings put it in their annual schedule. They were expected to lead their troops into battle. This year David stayed behind, and his whole life spiraled out of control. He fell in love with his best friend's wife, and invited her over. While his comrades were defending their country, David was doing the unthinkable. It doesn't get much lower than than what happens next: he orchestrates the death of one of his thirty mighty men to cover up his own sin. How did it happen? How did someone who was called a man after God's own heart end up in such a place? He was so spiritually blind at the time, when the prophet Nathan came to rebuke him, he didn't even get it. Nathan confronts him with all the authority of a true prophet: "Thou art the man!" he thunders. At this moment we see who the real mighty man actually is. It is no longer David, King of Israel, slayer of giants and commander of troops. It is a courageous friend who knows his God. This is what David forgot--the source of all true courage--that which made him mighty from the beginning. The shepherd boy--who worshipped God with Psalms that have filled the world--had become a liar, a thief, and a murderer. The lesson is important. Without God, even the best of us can lose focus. The clearest sign of where we are headed is when we stop trusting and obeying--when we get too comfortable for the battle. When we walk away from the fight God has called us to, we can easily succumb to trusting in ourselves instead of the Lord. The Great Commission is such a battle, and each of us has a role in it. Now is not the time for leisure, but the time for pressing on and finishing what our Lord began at the cross.
Heavenly Father, strengthen us to fight the good fight until we see you face to face.
#undividedheart
In the days when King David lived, warfare was a common experience. It was so common, kings put it in their annual schedule. They were expected to lead their troops into battle. This year David stayed behind, and his whole life spiraled out of control. He fell in love with his best friend's wife, and invited her over. While his comrades were defending their country, David was doing the unthinkable. It doesn't get much lower than than what happens next: he orchestrates the death of one of his thirty mighty men to cover up his own sin. How did it happen? How did someone who was called a man after God's own heart end up in such a place? He was so spiritually blind at the time, when the prophet Nathan came to rebuke him, he didn't even get it. Nathan confronts him with all the authority of a true prophet: "Thou art the man!" he thunders. At this moment we see who the real mighty man actually is. It is no longer David, King of Israel, slayer of giants and commander of troops. It is a courageous friend who knows his God. This is what David forgot--the source of all true courage--that which made him mighty from the beginning. The shepherd boy--who worshipped God with Psalms that have filled the world--had become a liar, a thief, and a murderer. The lesson is important. Without God, even the best of us can lose focus. The clearest sign of where we are headed is when we stop trusting and obeying--when we get too comfortable for the battle. When we walk away from the fight God has called us to, we can easily succumb to trusting in ourselves instead of the Lord. The Great Commission is such a battle, and each of us has a role in it. Now is not the time for leisure, but the time for pressing on and finishing what our Lord began at the cross.
Heavenly Father, strengthen us to fight the good fight until we see you face to face.
#undividedheart