April 13, 2006 - I Samuel 22-24 and Luke 12:1-31
It is wrong to try to do God's will in our own human ways. If our hearts are right with God, we will realize this, and we will seek to do God's will in His way. This is difficult because God's ways are often slower and more thorough, and we get impatient. However, if we want God's results, we must follow His ways. This passage shows us this truth in several ways.
In chapter 22 David realizes that his lies to Ahimelech, the priest at Nob, caused the deaths of 85 people. David confesses his sin, and he begins to seek the Lord's will from that point. (v.22) He had tried to use his own judgement and trickery to do God's will, but it had been a dismal failure. That is always how it works, even if on the outside it looks alright for a while. In the end it will fail to produce God's results.
In chapter 23 we see how David began to consistently pray for God's direction about going to war with the Philistines. His men did not think it was wise, but when God said to go, they went. David kept praying, and God kept directing him. This was the only way David could truly be safe from Saul, and he finally realized this. He could not do it his way. When Saul had him surrounded, God caused Saul to be called away to fight the Philistines. Isn't that how God works? He is able to deliver, even when we can't see a way out.
Then, in chapter 24 we see the ultimate example of following God against human judgement. David could have killed Saul in the cave, but he only cut off the corner of his robe. What a testimony to trusting God! David was not going to remove Saul as king. God put him there, so David would let God remove him. His men told him to kill Saul. It made a lot sense according to the world's way of thinking, but it was not God's way. Even Saul recognized how righteous David was in this action of mercy. It brought him to see that David would be the next king and to ask for David to spare his family. Saul would not have felt he could ask that of a lesser person. He would know they would kill his family, but David had proved to be different. Do people know that you are different? Do they see you doing God's will in His way? I hope that is so.
Luke 12 has much the same theme in that it emphasizes our heart condition in what we do. We must not be hypocritical in what we do. Our hearts must match our actions, or God can see the difference. He knows everything we say and think. We can't keep it from Him. Therefore, if we say that He is Lord of our lives, we will confess Him before other people. If we won't do it outwardly, it is not really in our hearts. This even extends to how we can be greedy and how we worry. Those are two heart conditions that are not God's way. We might think it makes good human sense to lay up a lot of riches, but God says no. We might think that worrying is just fine, but God says no. In fact, He tells us that to do His will in His way, we should trust Him enough to refrain from greed and from worry. We need to let Him take care of us. That is hard for us as humans, but it is God's way. Stop and ask God to show you anything in your heart that is against His way of doing His will. When you find it, confess it like David did, and begin trusting God.
Tomorrow, I intend to read I Samuel 25-26 and Luke 12:32-59.
In chapter 22 David realizes that his lies to Ahimelech, the priest at Nob, caused the deaths of 85 people. David confesses his sin, and he begins to seek the Lord's will from that point. (v.22) He had tried to use his own judgement and trickery to do God's will, but it had been a dismal failure. That is always how it works, even if on the outside it looks alright for a while. In the end it will fail to produce God's results.
In chapter 23 we see how David began to consistently pray for God's direction about going to war with the Philistines. His men did not think it was wise, but when God said to go, they went. David kept praying, and God kept directing him. This was the only way David could truly be safe from Saul, and he finally realized this. He could not do it his way. When Saul had him surrounded, God caused Saul to be called away to fight the Philistines. Isn't that how God works? He is able to deliver, even when we can't see a way out.
Then, in chapter 24 we see the ultimate example of following God against human judgement. David could have killed Saul in the cave, but he only cut off the corner of his robe. What a testimony to trusting God! David was not going to remove Saul as king. God put him there, so David would let God remove him. His men told him to kill Saul. It made a lot sense according to the world's way of thinking, but it was not God's way. Even Saul recognized how righteous David was in this action of mercy. It brought him to see that David would be the next king and to ask for David to spare his family. Saul would not have felt he could ask that of a lesser person. He would know they would kill his family, but David had proved to be different. Do people know that you are different? Do they see you doing God's will in His way? I hope that is so.
Luke 12 has much the same theme in that it emphasizes our heart condition in what we do. We must not be hypocritical in what we do. Our hearts must match our actions, or God can see the difference. He knows everything we say and think. We can't keep it from Him. Therefore, if we say that He is Lord of our lives, we will confess Him before other people. If we won't do it outwardly, it is not really in our hearts. This even extends to how we can be greedy and how we worry. Those are two heart conditions that are not God's way. We might think it makes good human sense to lay up a lot of riches, but God says no. We might think that worrying is just fine, but God says no. In fact, He tells us that to do His will in His way, we should trust Him enough to refrain from greed and from worry. We need to let Him take care of us. That is hard for us as humans, but it is God's way. Stop and ask God to show you anything in your heart that is against His way of doing His will. When you find it, confess it like David did, and begin trusting God.
Tomorrow, I intend to read I Samuel 25-26 and Luke 12:32-59.