KIng David

All posts tagged KIng David

Has Hope Helped You?

Posted by James Jones on February 12, 2013
Posted in: Church, Encouragement, Fear, Political. Tagged: , , , , , . Leave a Comment

anxiety

 

It is amazing what mankind has accomplished in its history. It is gratifying to know that we are able to make a difference for people in need when we put our minds to it. As much as we accomplish, there will always be things out of our grasp. Does that reality frighten, unsettle or inspire us? Are we comfortable identifying and accepting our limitations?

 

King David, one of the most successful kings in Israel’s history was no slouch when it came to advancing the kingdom. He was brave and brilliant. David’s faith was second to none. He was the guy that, as a teenager, defeated a giant with stones and a slingshot. David’s heart was of such caliber that God selected him as the successor of King Saul before he even proved himself against Goliath! This is merely a reminder that King David was not known for apathy, weakness or failure.

 

David also accepted his limitations, not with stress and anxiety, but with ease and calm. He confessed: “My heart is not proud, Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me (Psalm 131:1).” With all of his accomplishments, David did not live by the idea that he could do everything. Some things were out of his control. While that might leave others in panic and despair, David was at peace with it. David described his contentment like this: “But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content (131:2).”

 

King David faced threats to his throne. He was burdened with fighting and death among his own children. King David was well aware that whatever riches and luxuries he enjoyed one day could easily be gone the next. Instead of living in fear, David learned to calm and quiet himself (131:2). How did he manage that? King David put his hope in the Lord (131:3). His bravery and intelligence could only carry him so far. At the end of the day, all matters are in God’s hands.

 

Hope in the Lord brought peace to King David in ways nothing his accomplishments ever did. Instead of fear and anxiety robbing him of his days, hope in the Lord helped calm and quiet himself. Does hope in the Lord bring you that same peace? Do you find yourself panicked and stressed when you don’t know what to do anymore? When you have something you treasure and enjoy, do you rely on it for joy and security more than you do the Lord? If so, you need to set your sights on the Lord if you want to know lasting peace. Hope can bring great joy to your day in the midst of calamity and uncertainty. Has hope done this for you lately? If not, take some time to examine upon what or in whom you have placed your hope.

Fighting God

Posted by James Jones on July 5, 2011
Posted in: Encouragement, Instruction. Tagged: , , , , , , . Leave a Comment

***We all need to forgive.  Forgiveness is what highlights our lineage as God’s children.  Choosing to fight against forgiveness is damaging to our offenders, as well as to us.  God’s heart is all about forgiveness.  Love does cover a multitude of sins.  Refusing to forgive may be prompted by the thinking that it is right not to because of the nature of the injury.  However, injuries only continue as we travel that path.  We never win fighting God, especially when we do not have the heart to forgive,***

If we are not careful, we can find ourselves fighting against God.  This can occur when we intensely desire something regardless of the harm to anybody else.  We know God wants us to look out for the needs of others as Christ did (Phil. 2:3-8).  But, our hearts can become insensitive to those needs that can put us on a different path than God wants us to walk.  When we insist on fighting against God, we will not have the fulfillment we desperately crave.

King Saul is a prime example of someone that tasted the bitter, disappointing fruit of fighting against God.  The longer Saul ruled, he began making choices that he knew were not what God commanded him to do.  Eventually, this led to the proclamation that God rejected Saul as king (1 Samuel 15:23).  Even though God announced his lineage would not continue as the kings ofIsrael, Saul was determined to fight against it, regardless of the harm to others.

David was anointed by the prophet Samuel as the next king ofIsrael(1 Samuel 16).  Even though David would not begin reigning until years later, he began rising in influence and popularity in the eyes of the people.  King Saul was bitter with jealousy and envy, and made several attempts to kill David.  David was very loyal to King Saul, and did nothing to hurt him.  Jonathon, Saul’s son, even used this truth to convince his father that his desire to kill David was not right.  Saul made an oath to Jonathon that he would not put David to death (1 Samuel 19:6).  Sadly, Saul lied, and he continued to fight against the inevitable by seeking David’s life.

How do we know that Saul’s intense desire to kill David was a result of his fighting against God?  How can we know that Saul was not deluded and thought killing David may be what God wanted?  Besides God telling Saul that he was rejected as king, Saul admitted to Jonathon that as long as David lived, Jonathon’s throne would not be established (1 Samuel 20:31).  He wanted the throne to continue through his family more than he desired to submit to God.  He did this even if it hurt David, or Jonathon.

Fighting against God left King Saul a sad man at the end of his days.  His popularity decreased.  His actions against David led to the deaths of many honorable men inIsrael.  Saul died a lonely death in his quest to kill David.  Saul’s irrationality increased as he sought to fight against what he knew was the truth.  The truth may not always be pleasant if our desires are different from it.  Regardless of how much we think we want something, if it is against what is right and true, we will end up being very miserable.  Fighting God is a losing battle.  The best thing for us to do is trust His love for us, and submit to his plan for our lives.  Life is not about me.  Life is about us all, and seeking to care for the needs of our neighbors.  That is God’s will, and fighting against it will never bring happiness.