Last week we learned a valuable
lesson from David. He kept his promise to look after the
descendants of Jonathan and Saul. He didn't back down, even though
no one would have expected him to keep his promise. The same is
true of us. We should keep our promises. We should do what we said
we will do and we should keep to engagements that we committed to.
We are children of the Most High God and people should be able to
trust us. So in future remember, your 'Yes' should be your 'Yes'
and your 'No', 'No'.
This is now my 36th
devotion on the life of David and so far his life has been
exemplary. He hasn't set one foot wrong and consulted God on all
his decisions. He didn't move if he didn't have God's permission.
He truly was a devoted man of God. But unfortunately his misstep
also became one of the things people remember about his life. If
you asked most Christians what they know of David's life, they will
tell you of how he defeated Goliath and they will tell you about
his encounter with Bathsheba. It is just sad for me that this one
misstep tainted his character, as he was truly an exceptional
man.
It was during spring, at the time
that kings go to battle, that David sent Joab and his men to
destroy Ammon and to besiege Rabbah. David stayed in Jerusalem. One
night David walked on his roof and he saw Bathsheba bathing. She
was very beautiful and he sent for her and slept with her and she
became pregnant due to this. She told David about it and David
tried to rectify his mistake. He sent for her husband, Uriah, who
was away with Joab and his men. He hoped by sending for him that
Uriah would sleep with his wife, then no one would suspect that the
child was David's. But unfortunately for David, Uriah was a just
man and refused to go to his wife while the armies of Israel were
out fighting. David tried everything, he even got him drunk, but to
no avail, Uriah stayed true to his principles. David then resorted
to evil measures. He wrote a letter to Joab to ensure that Uriah be
killed in battle. This happened indeed. And after Bathsheba's time
of mourning, she became David's wife and bore him a son. David
thought he had gotten away with his evil act, but God was not
pleased.
David was a man after God's heart,
God gave him everything his heart could ever desire and once He
did, sin started creeping up on David. David was bored at home
while his army was away and his boredom led to adultery and murder.
At the pinnacle of his success, he displeased the Lord. God gave
him everything he could ever want, and yet he wanted more.
The same happened with the
Israelites if you read their whole history. The moment they had
peace and were prosperous, they forgot all about God and served
other gods. And then God would send enemies to suppress them, then
they would repent and cry out to the Lord to save them. Then He
does and the moment that they have peace again and are prosperous,
the cycle starts all over again. It went on like this for
centuries. And I am afraid that we are no different. Yes, we are
fortunately under a New Covenant and our sins have been forgiven,
but the moment all goes well, we tend to spend less time with God.
But the very next moment we are experiencing stress then we rush to
Him to help us. Wouldn't it just be better if we stayed close to
Him all the time? Wouldn't it be better if we can humble ourselves
before Him when it goes well as well as when it doesn't? Shouldn't
we praise Him when we win and also praise Him when we lose? Why do
we do this yo-yo act? Close to Him, far from Him, close to Him, far
from Him?
Stay close to God, especially when
all is well, when your dreams have become a reality and when all
you have hoped have materialized. Stay within the Holy of Holies
and breathe in His will for your life. When you stay there the bad
times will become less and less, because you will be so consumed
with Him, you will be living in Heaven already, and you will be
breathing in His presence. Then your actions will be in line with
His will and your pathway will be marked clearly by His Spirit.
Just stay there; that is all He asks of you.
Father, thank you so much that we
can come into Your presence at all times. Thank you for the
wonderful privilege. You are such an awesome, amazing God. In Your
presence is all the answers to life and everything we need to know.
We want to stay close to You, no matter our circumstances. Jesus,
you made it all possible and we praise You. Amen