The Everyday Prayer

Re:Verse passage – 2 Samuel 11 (day seven)

Studying 2 Samuel 11 this week I found myself going to 1 Corinthians 10:13 often:

No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

This is a verse you should have memorized and use as your lifeboat in the raging sea of temptation. Two truths are revealed here that keep us steady and safe though the world is tossed to and fro.  1. All temptation is common.  No matter what you face many before you have endured the same struggle, and God is never surprised by the situation you find yourself in.  2. There is a way of escape at the hand of God.  You can say “no”, you can make it out, you can overcome, but only by the work of the Holy Spirit in your life.

Re:Verse passage – 2 Samuel 11 (day six)

David’s fall into tragedy did not happen overnight. It took time. It was a steady, but slow decline into spiritually lethargy and indifference. See how far David had come; it is not until he is confronted by Nathan that he smells the decaying stench of his sin. Not in a million years could he have imagined how far he would fall.

The small things tend to add up. An inch here, a couple there, a small detour over there; at first you can’t notice but soon the decline really begins to show itself, and it is only after you are forced to take a step back and look that you see just how far you have fallen.

That’s why Paul encourages us, “Run as if to when the prize,” or “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” In the Christian life lethargy is not an option; it’s deadly.

Re:Verse passage – 2 Samuel 11 (day five)

Then it happened in the spring, at the time when kings go out to battle… But David stayed at Jerusalem.

David’s perspective had changed. His willingness to get the counsel of the Lord was gone. His perception and actions towards others was dramatically different (remember chapter 8, David administered justice and righteousness for all his people). David was leading in an unhealthy way- inward and selfish motivations.  The result was weakness and vulnerability to sin when temptations were encountered.

Maybe there is a lesson to be learned about leadership. As a parent, spouse, supervisor, pastor, teacher, deacon, employer etc. – we must learn and desire to always lead for the glory of God and the good of others. That is a worthy task and perspective.  David has lost this perspective. “When leaders begin to view their leadership in terms of status rather than in terms of task, it is more than likely that they will begin to fail at the task and therefore to cease, in any meaningful sense, to be leaders”- Mary J Evans

Re:Verse passage – 2 Samuel 11 (day four)

What was David thinking?  He knew God’s laws.  He knew it was wrong to lay with another man’s wife.  Levitical law called for them both to be executed.  David was the king though and he thought he might get away with his sin.  Uh-ohh…David is found out…God knew all along.

We learn through David the power of repentance.  David responds correctly in contrition when Nathan confronts him with his sin.  (Chapter 12)  Psalm 51 is David’s prayer of repentance following his sin.  Further evidence of God’s forgiveness is seen later as Bathsheba takes her place in the lineage of Christ Jesus.  (Consequence is realized, but forgiveness is given.)

We are all sinners.  We fall short of God’s plan and commands.  Sin and judgement are what result following our fall.  What happens following our sin is determined by our response to our failure.  Do we cover up our sin?  Do we ignore our sin?  Or, do we repent in humility before God?  David found forgiveness…so can we.  It is all a matter of our heart’s response!

Re:Verse passage – 2 Samuel 11 (day three)

“Say this to encourage Joab.”

In bravery and artistry and ability to inspire loyalty, David literally ruled. His possession of such characteristics makes his abuse of those qualities that much more depressing. The sense of the scripture is that Uriah the Hittite was a consummate soldier—skilled, courageous, and devoted to his king. David understood Joab’s likely mood of displeasure and disquiet at losing a trooper like Uriah. David’s indiscretion meant taking care of business to cover his tracks, but at the same time, he risked his general’s disgruntlement. Let’s get this straight: David used his unparalleled leadership skills to comfort the commander of the nation’s fighting forces in the wake of a killing David arranged of that commander’s finest soldier in order to conceal his own misdeed. Right. This is what David’s stewardship of his God-given abilities had come to.

Re:Verse passage – 2 Samuel 11 (day two) 

Then David sent to Joab, saying, “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” So Joab sent Uriah to David. vs. 6

This is a hard read, make no mistake. A man who we revere succumbs to sin. We want to believe there are those above reproach, and that those we esteem would never stoop to such degradation. We must remind ourselves that it is Jesus alone who walked a sinless life.

What strikes me as I reread this passage today is that David’s actions to cover up his sin came only after Bathsheba sent word that she was pregnant. It seems he would have been content to ignore his lust and subsequent adulterous actions had pregnancy not been the result. Does this just sicken you? It does me, but perhaps not the way you would think. I am wounded because I recognize that tendency. If I’m in no danger of being caught, then I won’t have to acknowledge the action. We can all recognize the error in this thinking, but that does not stop our sinful tendencies. We are often content to just keep walking with sin corroding our hearts simply because nobody noticed.

The old axiom states: Truth will out. Whether or not anyone else ever finds out, you can bet you will be held accountable before God.

Re:Verse passage – 2 Samuel 8 (day seven)

Prosperity is an enormous temptation.  When we are given blessed moments of peace on every side often we find ourselves falling into one of three traps. One, we start to think we are autonomous.  When things are good we steal the credit from God and believe the lie that we did all this on our own.  Two, we forget God and how to pray all together.  For ages Christians have only known how to pray foxhole prayers.  Three, we bask in the comfort of prosperity, and become weak and apathetic forgetting how to work as hard as those who are uncomfortable.

May we never fall into these traps, but be more like David, who even in prosperity, dedicated his incoming abundance unto the Lord:
King David also dedicated these to the Lord, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated from all the nations which he had subdued (2 Samuel 8:11)

Even when God blesses we will sing unto the Lord, and dedicate our lives unto Him.

Re:Verse passage – 2 Samuel 8 (day six)

“So, David reigned over all Israel.”

2 Samuel 8 is a brief overview of David establishing himself as king of Israel. It retells his military exploits, securing and expanding the kingdom. The writer wants us to know what kind of king David is; he is strong, shrewd, wise and just. Twice, we are told that David’s rise as king is attributed to “the Lord.” 

In the Old Testament stories of David often point us to Jesus. He is the embodiment of a promise of an even better king. So as David establishes himself as king so long ago, it also is a picture of Jesus establishing his kingship over our lives, marriages, families, and yes even the nations.

So, here’s the question, is Jesus’ kingship on the rise in your life? More and more is he gaining victory over strongholds and barriers to greater intimacy, unity, and purpose? From big to small things, are you yielding to Him more and more? Will you let him reign?

Re:Verse passage – 2 Samuel 8 (day five)

“King David dedicated these articles to the Lord, as he had done with the silver and gold from all the nations he had subdued: The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.”
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I believe David’s main goal or priority in the battles and wars in chapter 8 was not victory. He was indeed a mighty warrior and effective leader. Yet, I think His objective/purpose was something more meaningful and significant- obedience (to God). From David’s obedience came victory. There’s is a dramatic and noticeable difference between the two.  If victory was the main goal, the focus and attention would have been on David. His own efforts, his own skill, and wisdom. There would have been no room for praise and gratitude to God. No place for dependence on Him.  But, there was. Plenty!  Obedience to God keeps the focus and attention on Him. Obedience causes thankfulness, humility, and dependence.  We see these in David’s relationship with God in chapter 8. Is your goal only victory or something larger and more meaningful-obedience?