LEARNING DAILY

 

Hebrews 11:32-34, Well how much more do I need to say?  It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets.  By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God has promised them.  They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword.  Their weakness was turned to strength.  They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight.  (NLT)

 

“In the Hall of Faith, David alone represents the age of kings in Israel – because he lived a life of complete devotion to God, and because he faithfully trusted in God’s promise to make him king despite all the hardship he endured (Read 1 Samuel 16-17).” (DJSB).  David was chosen to be the replacement for King Saul; but this did not happen right away. King Saul would become very jealous of David and would try to kill him.  David would hide in caves choosing to believe God that he would become king.  That is the kind of trust that you and I need to have as followers of Jesus Christ.  No matter what our situation might be, even when facing death, we remember that God is in control of every situation moving it to bring Him glory and honor.  David had opportunity to kill Saul and become king.  Instead of taking matters into his own hands, he chose to let God make him king in His timing.  What a great lesson for each of us to learn!

 

David was a great king.  In 1 Samuel 13:14, David is said to be “a man after God’s own heart”. David was a man who actively pursued to live in obedience to God.  He knew that this was the only way to live appropriately and responds in the right way when confronted with sin.  This is what sets David apart from most of us – probably all of us.  David admitted his sin and repented; by doing so his heart was cleansed and purified to be like the heart of God.  I Samuel 16:7 tells us that God looks at our heart to see if we are obedient to Him.  Matthew 5:8 tells us the pure in heart are blessed and will see God.

 

David had some serious flaws - just as you and I do.  The first think we do is think of David’s sin with Bathsheba, the cover up, and the consequences of that sin.  We know that David had multiple wives and the trouble resulting from that later on.  Let us not be too quick to judge.  Jesus said to a crowd that the one without sin should cast the first stone.  David was a great king because God used him.  He was also a humble man.  His humility was the result of His love for God used that to achieve great things that honored Him.

 

God uses flawed men and women to do His work!  You and I should be grateful for that.  Yes, there are consequences from sin.  God loves us so much that He may allow us to experience the consequences of our sins.  David’s life reflects that.  But God never takes His love for us away.  The Bible tells us that He loved us even when we were deep in our sinfulness.  I wonder if He even continues to love those who died rejecting Him.

 

Let the following verses from the New Living Translation encourage and bless you this morning.  Proverbs 3:5-6, Trust in the Lord with all your heart, do not depend on your own understanding.  Seek His will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.”  Psalm 139:23-24, Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts.  Point out anything in me that offends You, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”  That’s the narrow way!

 

From now on DJSB will be used to note information or quotes from the David Jeremiah Study Bible and LSSB will refer to information and quotes from the Life in the Spirit Study Bible.  I have added Jimmy Swaggart’s Expositor’s Study Bible to be referred to from now on as JSESB