Week 15

Week 15 has had some great lessons, hasn't it?


Topic of interest:

* There are many wonderful promises from God in the Psalms that we have began reading. Some of my favorites are from Psalm 34. Although Christianity in the U.S. has not experienced persecution (yet), there are many countries in the world where Christians are persecuted even to death. Jesus told the disciples that if people persecuted Him, they can be certain that they would be persecuted as well. But through it all, Jesus said, He would not leave them or forsake them. That promise is extended to His disciples today.

Psalm 34:7 - The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, And rescues them.
Psalm 34:19 - A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all.
Psa 34:22 - The LORD redeems the soul of His servants, and none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned.



Point to consider:

I've decided this week to continue looking at the character of David.

God called Abraham His friend (Isaiah 41:8). God spoke with Moses face to face just as a man speaks with his friend (Exodus 33:11, Numbers 12:6-8). But David is identified as a man after God's own heart (1 Samuel 13:14) as we read last week.

One particular point of David's character stood out with me this week as an aspect of being a man after God's own heart.

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His
life. (Romans 5:8, 10)

This passage from Romans shows that God extended His love to us even when we all were sinners, lost and spiritually dead, and His enemies. The salvation He offers is free for the taking for anyone who accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Certainly, Saul was David's enemy. We have read over and again the times that Saul attempted to kill David, or sent men to kill David. David fled before him and prayed to God for deliverence (as we read in his psalms). But even so, David refused to raise his hand against Saul, even when pressed by his followers, because Saul was annointed by God. David revered God's annointing even though the man who had been annointed was seeking to murder him.

Then Saul and Jonathan were killed in battle with the Philistines. When David learned of their deaths, he wept, mourned, and lamented for them both (2 Samuel 1:11, 12, 17). Saul and Jonathan represent polar opposites in David's life. Saul was David's enemy yet Jonathan was David's dearest friend - closer than a brother. David lamented the death of his enemy just as deeply and earnestly as he did for his dearest friend.

David's reverence for God's annointed and the love he had for those who hated him shows one aspect of being a man after God's own heart.

Jesus would later teach:

But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? (Matthew 5:44, 46, 47)

As with everything else, Jesus didn't just teach it verbally, He taught it by living it for our example:

When they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. But Jesus was saying, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23:33-34)

Being a man after God's own heart doesn't mean that person is perfect as God is perfect. As evidence, we will see sins and bad choices in David's life in the coming chapters. But, I do have to reflect on my life in light of these examples and commands. Certainly, we all know that not everyone is "loveable", but Jesus didn't just die for the sins of the "loveable" people. Do I love people the way God loves people?