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Tuesday, April 22, 2014

April 21 "Mourning for your Enemy" 2 Samuel 1-4


Here David sat in a city with his 600 men.
Defeated and distraught.  At a low.
And the news comes . . . Saul is dead.
"The blow which opened David's way to the throne was given about the time he had been sorely distressed.  Those who commit their concerns to the Lord, will quietly abide his will.  It shows that David desired not Saul's death, and he was not impatient to come to the throne."  Matthew Henry

David mourned the deaths of Saul and Jonathan.
Yet, the houses of David and Saul still warred against each other.
David mourns Abner's death.
"And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them, as everything that the king did pleased all the people." 1 Samuel 3:36

David's life is so beautiful.  And we know the rest of the story.  He is just a man who needs God just as much on a balcony secretly watching Bathsheba as in a cave hiding from a King, his own father-in-law.  No man is to be worshipped high on a pedestal.

David has already faced strong temptation in such distress and degradation.  What does it truly mean to encourage ourselves in the Lord, as David did?  What does it look like to not touch the garment of the anointed one, even when you could justify revenge.

The funeral song, "The Bow," says nothing of Saul's righteousness or goodness.  But it does speak of two souls knit together in a strong bond of love---Jonathan and David.  They both would overlook the carnal man that resided in both.  Love covered their sins.  It's interesting that Jonathan would never see the side of David that we are about to see.

COME BOLDLY:  Timeless Prayers
Father, help us to live by those convictions that we hold dear.  When we face haunting temptations this fresh new week, may we cry out for more of you and less of us.  Make us into the people you have called us to be.  May the song we sing this day be of praise to you and honor to all we know, even those who have done us wrong.

PHOTO:  Annette's Fig Tree.  Jesus cursed the fig tree when it would not produce.  Wondering about that story.  Wondering about life.

3 comments:

  1. Saul had been commanded by God to destroy the Amalekites. He left some of them alive, and the irony of it all is that an Amalekite struck and killed him. Saul's lack of full obedience left a chink in the wall of his defense which ultimately was his downfall.
    Warren Wiersbe puts it this way: “The sin we fail to slay is the one that slays us.”
    Purify our hearts, Lord.
    Looking at my own shortcomings and sin but overflowing this Resurrection Monday with much gratitude that these are the things for which my Savior died.
    This Easter Monday, I am cleansed and forgiven. Sin has no victory.
    David had nothing but respect for Saul and his house which was out to destroy him. Saul was the Lord's anointed and David understood that he was under the umbrella of leadership to his Lord, not Saul. He mourned for Saul and Jonathan. He had a pure heart motive for them. He knew Where his protection and help came. And his faith was properly placed in the Lord, not his circumstances. Lord, slay that sin within us.
    Help us to not have bitterness in our hearts against another. Do not allow our own sin to slay us.
    Your Son died for this very cause.
    Thank You for the Cross.
    Thank You for the mercy that You show us each day.
    Because of Your Love,
    Amen.

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  2. I am 99% sure that is your fig tree. I'll have to go back to my photos of the ranch---but it wasn't the last time, it was the time before.

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  3. Someone who loves me so would say----that's not real cause leaves are not blue. You over edited it. i am heavy handed on the editing. My kids don't like it. They want the real thing. Give me the brown water---don't make it blue like the Caribbean. Not me. Give me the blue---if it's in the filter, I want it. Kind of surprises me that young people don't like filters----but I'm sure there are some that do.

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