'Appreciating God's Love'
A) Knowledgeable in God
I Sam 17:45 Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied."
The lad David's faith in God was complete that he surrendered his life to Him. He fought the giant Goliath in the name of the Lord of hosts by using only a sling and five smooth pebbles.
He was after God's heart, so he constantly meditated on God's word. He knew God's heart, will and ways, that is why he was able to write so many Psalms.
He loved God by keeping all His commandnents. In all his ways, he trusted God by inquirying of Him all the time.
He wanted to be near to God so he brought the Ark of God to Jerusalem but God prevented him from building the temple of God.
2 Sam 2:1 It happened after this that David inquired of the Lord, saying, "Shall I go up to any of the cities of Judah?" And the Lord said to him, "Go up." David said, "Where shall I go up?" And He said, "To Hebron."
Loyal to God's Anointed
I Sam 24:6-7 And he said to his men, "The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord's anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord." So David restrained his servants with these words, and did not allow them to rise against Saul. And Saul got up from the cave and went on his way.
David was loyal to King Saul God's anointed though he was the victim of his jealousy, David would not raise his hands to kill him.
He even forbade his men from killing King Saul though King Saul sought his life and made him suffer much while fleeing from him.
After the death of King Saul, David protected his descendents and killed all those harming them.
King David was truly a godly man, who loved both his neighbours and enemies. Please learn more from him by reading and meditating on the book of Psalms.
B) Weaknesses of King David
1. Adultery with Uriah's Wife
2 Sam 11:4-5 Then David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her, for she was cleansed from her impurity; and she returned to her house. And the woman conceived; so she sent and told David, and said, "I am with child."
King David committed adultery with Uriah's wife Bathsheba and got her pregnant.
2. Trying to Deceive Uriah
2 Sam 11:11 And Uriah said to David, "The ark and Israel and Judah are dwelling in tents, and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are encamped in the open fields. Shall I then go to my house to eat and drink, and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing."
When King David tried to persuade Uriah to go home, Uriah refused for he could not enjoy home while the Israeli army were dwelling in tents and fighting the war.
3. Killed Uriah his Loyal Soldier
2 Sam 11:15 And he (David) wrote in the letter, saying, "Set Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retreat from him, that he may be struck down and die."
King David wrote to his army commander to ensure that Uriah was killed in the battle.
Brethren, if the godly, blessed and knowledgeable King David having sinned could continue to become more and more sinful even to the extent of murdering his loyal soldier, let's be very careful. It is often that our flesh is stronger the Spirit.
Once a person sins, he is under bondage and in darkness. Unless there is repentance, unconsciously one sin will lead to another for a little leaven leavens the whole lump (Gal 5:9)
Please repent immediately at every little sin so that the Holy Spirit will no longer be grieved. The Holy Spirit dwelling in you will then be able to continue to convict, guide and help us from further sins.
C) Humble and Repentant David
2 Sam 12:13-14 So David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the Lord." And Nathan said to David, "The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die."
At the rebuke by the Prophet Nathan, King David immediately confessed his sin, which was forgiven. However, this sin would lead the enemies of the Lord (devil) to blaspheme His name, and because of this deadly sin the child conceived by King David must die.
Similarly, when Christians (esp pastors and church leaders) sin, in heaven the devil (accuser of our brethren) will blaspheme and mock God in front of all His angels. Since Your Christians claimed that they loved You, have surrendered their lives to You and have kept Your words, yet they are so selfish, covetous, worldly, carnal and merciless. You have been deceived by these Christians, who are hypocrites.
How painful and humiliating it is that out of His great love for us, the Almighty God daily in heaven has to face these types of mockeries and accusations, all because of our disobedience and sins.
Rev 12:10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.
More Grace Given to the Humble
Jam 4:6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
The proud are those who twist, corrupt, distort or reject His word to justify their ignorance or heresies.
The humble makes Him their Lord and Master by obeying His words and commandments. God can then give him another Helper as His additional grace. The Spirit of truth will help free Christians from bondages especially worldliness and then leads them into holiness.
John 14:15-17a "If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth..."
