SOVEREIGN GOD OF MERCY AND GRACE HAS NOT CHANGED!

David has learned of the deaths of Saul and Jonathan in the reading of 2 Samuel 1.  We are told that he and his men tear their clothes, mourn, weep , and fast in their grief.  I have seen the tearing of clothing in Scripture by other Biblical characters, and I am curious about that custom.  I find that tearing the clothing is a public and powerful expression of mourning, grief, and loss.  It can be accompanied with other acts which suggest humility: shaving the head, throwing dust on oneself as reported in Job, and the wearing of the roughly woven sackcloth.  

David has been on the run for twenty-five years, and I think it interesting that the writer or writers, who may have been the prophets Nathan and or Gad, do not mention any other emotions except grief, distress, and love expressed by David in his song or poem that he speaks concerning the men.  At the beginning of chapter 2, David is anointed king over the house of Judah.  Twenty-five grueling years of running for his life!

 David is probably about the age of 40, and I wonder why God hasn't removed Saul from the scene and the pursuit of David years before?  Several thoughts come to mind which I can see and apply to my own life with questions always beginning with the words of why, when, and how.
  • How like God to show mercy and grace giving Saul opportunities to return to Him.  
  • David has much to learn about reigning as king, and God uses difficulties to shape David from trusting in his abilities to a willingness to believe and trust God.
  • Because God is sovereign, He has a plan and a purpose which seems to be long term in fruition.  The Lord Jesus will come out of the lineage of David.  
Isaiah 46:10b-11b: "...My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all MY good pleasure. ...Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.  I have planned  it, surely I will do it."  It seems that God's transactions with me are the same as with David.  Of course, no king will come out of my lineage, but the wonderful and sometimes misunderstood fact which I tell myself daily, "MY FATHER KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT HE IS DOING!"   I get to obey and trust Him or fret, stew, and be miserable.  Forever learning!  In process! #IHAVETHREESONS

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

THOSE SEEING CAN BECOME BLIND

Image
John 9 is the story of the healing of the blind beggar.  Not only is it a marvelous story of the miraculous healing of the man as he is given his sight, but a sad story of the religious of whom Jesus said, "For judgment, I have come into this world, so that the blind will see, and those who see will become blind ." The religious have seen the miracle, even though it has taken place on a Sabbath, and they interview the man and his parents for their stories and understanding. I find it so thrilling that the healed man speaks so articulately and logically with the religious in their "interview" with him.  His statement, " Now that is remarkable!  You don't know where HE comes from, yet HE opened my eyes.  We know that God does not listen to sinners.  He listens to the godly man who does His will.  Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, He could do nothing." What truth he has spoken to the religious wh
Read more

REHEARSALS

Image
  I wonder how much time do I give to rehearsing God's goodness and how He has intervened in my life to "save" me from myself?  How alike the Israelites I can be, complaining about what goes wrong, how it affects me, and what I lack.  As a Christ follower, I have the Indwelling Holy Spirit to give me remembrance NOT of my complaining and grumbling, but of a recall of God's faithfulness to me.  It is recorded in Psalms 78 and 106 that " They forgot what He had done, the wonder He had shown them", "They did not remember His power--the day He redeemed them from the oppressor...", "They did not remember Your many kindnesses, and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea.", "But they soon forgot what He had done and did not wait for His counsel.", and "They forgot the God who saved them, who had done great things in Egypt...". Contrast with me, God's remembrance: Ps. 106:44-46, "But He took note of their distress
Read more

ORDER AND DESIGN

Image
    I do not have OCD, but I do confess that I like order in my home.  Now that I am retired, I am not so much into spotless, but "picked up" and "kinda" clean. (Do not open drawers and closets!) I might go to more trouble when I know I am having company, but otherwise, I remove the clutter that seems to reproduce on its own.   When I began the reading in Genesis in January, I was again taken with the with the orderliness and design of God in creation, and have seen Him use Moses and Aaron to ORDERLY marshal the Israelites to move out of Egypt. How do you move some 600+ males and that is not even wives and children? Animals also?  They have been one year+ out of Egypt, and have been camped at Mt. Sinai where God has given them laws for their spiritual and physical welfare.  God gives Moses the design of the Tabernacle and Moses is able to bring together the workers to complete the Tabernacle.   The clip art at the top is the positioning of the 12 Tribes and the
Read more