I found it odd that David so easily accepted the word of Ziba against Mephisbosheth as being the truth. He could have been lying, but David didn't even check into it. How often are we not guilty of the same thing? Being hasty about accepting a negative report about someone? We too are often quick to judge. It's said that there are three sides to every story - one side, the other side, and the truth. We should never be quick to believe the worst about someone, especially not without verifying the facts first.
In chapter 16 we also see Nathan's prophecy fulfilled - that because of David's sin with Bathsheba, another man would sleep with his wives. We would do well to remember since we reap what we sow, we need to be careful what we're sowing!
Nathan also said that because David had killed Uriah, his own sons would rebel against him. We see this in Absalom's rebellion as well.
David may have been an excellent king, but scripture also bears witness to the fact that by all accounts he was not a very good father, failing to discipline his sons when they were younger, and paying a steep price for that in their adulthood.
This stood out for me in our NT passage....
2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.
I have heard the saying that God calls us to holiness not happiness. And to a certain extent that is true. God calls us to holiness over the world's idea of happiness and the pursuit of that superficial counterfeit of joy. But it is not a choice between holiness and true happiness. In fact, the pursuit of holiness will result in our greatest joy.
Randy Alcorn says Holiness doesn’t mean abstaining from pleasure; holiness means recognizing Jesus as the source of life’s greatest pleasure.
If we love God we will obey his commandments, and when we do so, we will find that they are not burdensome, but the path to true happiness.
Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage: 2 Samuel 19-20; 2 John
3 comments:
Even though David's flaws are evident in the past few readings, we see again the love he has for his enemies and for those who betray him and want him dead. Both Saul and Absalem were after David, yet when both were finally put to death, David felt deep sadness. We see both sides of King David, and how he wasn't perfect, but he also shows wisdom, and gives God the glory for his successes.
I thought about how David mourned for his son despite of their strained relationship and Absolam's rebellious behaviour. It makes me think about the love between a parent and a child and that no matter what a child does that a parent will still love them and mourn them. How much does our Heavenly Father mourn for us as we make bad choices?
"I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life." 1 John 5:13
Some people question whether we can ever be completely sure of our salvation. The Bible was written so that we would have that assurance. Assurance is rooted in the eternal love of the God who chose us as His own and who holds us in His hands.
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