Posts
timewithgod.blog-city.com — May 2010
1 Samuel 26 & 27 -- Why Does Our Faith Waver At Times?
There's something about David that I'm having trouble figuring out. When he's sneaking up on Saul, he seems fully assured of God's protection. But when Saul is after him, it's a whole different matter. What ki
There's something about David that I'm having trouble figuring out. When he's sneaking up on Saul, he seems fully assured of God's protection. But when Saul is after him, it's a whole different matter.
What kind of guts does it take to tiptoe into the center of Saul's camp at night and steal his spear and water jug, with Saul's troops sleeping all around? David showed a sense of peace that could only come from God as he did this.
Yet right after that, it seems to dawn on David that he's been living on the edge, and that his "luck" may soon run out. He said, "Saul will catch me someday. The best thing I can do is escape to the land of the Philistines." Why not instead decide that, as he'd often said about Saul, that David, too, was Israel's anointed king and that God was fully capable of protecting him, too? David never seemed afraid of being killed in all of the raids he made on Philistine border cities, yet he worried about Saul, whom God had told David he would replace. It just goes to show that even the greatest faiths and the closest people to God can waver at times.
Father, I love the saying You showed me one day a long time ago: That You have given us a work to do on this earth, and until we have completed it, we are immortal. And after that we get to be immortal in Your presence forever. That's not such a bad deal!
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
What kind of guts does it take to tiptoe into the center of Saul's camp at night and steal his spear and water jug, with Saul's troops sleeping all around? David showed a sense of peace that could only come from God as he did this.
Yet right after that, it seems to dawn on David that he's been living on the edge, and that his "luck" may soon run out. He said, "Saul will catch me someday. The best thing I can do is escape to the land of the Philistines." Why not instead decide that, as he'd often said about Saul, that David, too, was Israel's anointed king and that God was fully capable of protecting him, too? David never seemed afraid of being killed in all of the raids he made on Philistine border cities, yet he worried about Saul, whom God had told David he would replace. It just goes to show that even the greatest faiths and the closest people to God can waver at times.
Father, I love the saying You showed me one day a long time ago: That You have given us a work to do on this earth, and until we have completed it, we are immortal. And after that we get to be immortal in Your presence forever. That's not such a bad deal!
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
1 Samuel 28 & 29 -- God Moves His Chess Pieces
These two chapters have all the allure of modern politics. King Saul bans all mediums and fortune-tellers from Israel as the law required, then ends up having to secretly consult one when God stops speaking to him permanently. It represen
These two chapters have all the allure of modern politics. King Saul bans all mediums and fortune-tellers from Israel as the law required, then ends up having to secretly consult one when God stops speaking to him permanently. It represents the height of hypocrisy.
Saul asks this witch of Endor to conjure up the spirit of Samuel, who'd recently died. My commentary said that God interrupted the forbidden séance by allowing the real Samuel to appear and pronounce Saul's doom.
Saul told Samuel, "God has left me. He won't answer me anymore ..." Saul had at one time been indwelt with the Holy Spirit. Now, with the Holy Spirit gone, that closeness with God was gone, too. The God-shaped hole in his heart had permanently returned.
David, who'd been living with the Philistines as he ran from Saul, appeared to be readying to battle the Israelites as all armies moved to the valley of Armageddon. His patron - a Philistine king named Achish - had promoted him to the position of his chief bodyguard. It certainly seemed that David would either soon be fighting his fellow countrymen, or positioned to help them win by attacking the Philistines from within their own ranks. Yet, as the sidebar in my Bible said, "God helps us avoid situations that would divide our loyalties and break our hearts." I've seen Him do that several times in my own life. At those times, I remember hating the fact that I was otherwise detained, but with foresight, I can see God was doing this very thing!
The other Philistine kings didn't like the idea of having an Israelite in their midst during battle, and they ordered Achish to send David home, to which he reluctantly agreed. My commentary said, "David would not be allowed to use Goliath's sword against Israel."
God had now positioned everyone for the final showdown. The dishonored king had been told that he and his sons would die during the battle the next day. And the new king had been removed from the fighting and no tainting of his record or image would be possible as a result.
Father, I suppose we won't know until we get to heaven how many times You've protected us from ourselves, but I'm sure glad You do that! How very differently my life would have turned out without You. Thank You for loving and caring for me so much that You involved Yourself in my life. Please continue to direct me away from stupid choices I might otherwise be tempted to accept. What would I do without You?
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Saul asks this witch of Endor to conjure up the spirit of Samuel, who'd recently died. My commentary said that God interrupted the forbidden séance by allowing the real Samuel to appear and pronounce Saul's doom.
Saul told Samuel, "God has left me. He won't answer me anymore ..." Saul had at one time been indwelt with the Holy Spirit. Now, with the Holy Spirit gone, that closeness with God was gone, too. The God-shaped hole in his heart had permanently returned.
David, who'd been living with the Philistines as he ran from Saul, appeared to be readying to battle the Israelites as all armies moved to the valley of Armageddon. His patron - a Philistine king named Achish - had promoted him to the position of his chief bodyguard. It certainly seemed that David would either soon be fighting his fellow countrymen, or positioned to help them win by attacking the Philistines from within their own ranks. Yet, as the sidebar in my Bible said, "God helps us avoid situations that would divide our loyalties and break our hearts." I've seen Him do that several times in my own life. At those times, I remember hating the fact that I was otherwise detained, but with foresight, I can see God was doing this very thing!
The other Philistine kings didn't like the idea of having an Israelite in their midst during battle, and they ordered Achish to send David home, to which he reluctantly agreed. My commentary said, "David would not be allowed to use Goliath's sword against Israel."
God had now positioned everyone for the final showdown. The dishonored king had been told that he and his sons would die during the battle the next day. And the new king had been removed from the fighting and no tainting of his record or image would be possible as a result.
Father, I suppose we won't know until we get to heaven how many times You've protected us from ourselves, but I'm sure glad You do that! How very differently my life would have turned out without You. Thank You for loving and caring for me so much that You involved Yourself in my life. Please continue to direct me away from stupid choices I might otherwise be tempted to accept. What would I do without You?
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
1 Samuel 30 & 31 -- Where Do YOU Run For Strength In Crisis?
David and his men returned to the city of Ziklag where he'd been given refuge by the Philistine king, only to find the city burned to the ground by the Amalekites and every inhabitant missing. David and all his men mourned greatly, "Bu
David and his men returned to the city of Ziklag where he'd been given refuge by the Philistine king, only to find the city burned to the ground by the Amalekites and every inhabitant missing. David and all his men mourned greatly, "But David found strength in the Lord his God." David had the high priest bring the holy vest, and he asked God whether he should pursue the attackers. Getting a favorable response, he and his men chased and eventually overtook the band of raiders, recovering every person who'd been captured plus an amazing amount of spoils taken from many raids.
One thing I'd noted before: "But the evil men and troublemakers among those who followed David" wanted to not share this treasure with their fellow soldiers who'd remained with the supplies. It seems like we always have to have some of them present, don't we? How terrible to think that, even among this victorious army blessed by God, some few people have to play the negative side! Perhaps they should inquire of God regarding their attitudes.
My commentary noted this about David: "He showed his great insight into the character of God, because he went to Him for comfort when everything and everyone was against him. He knew there was no one to turn to for strength in such an overwhelming crisis except the Lord, of whom it is said, ‘He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up.' "
At the end of 1 Samuel, we find Saul dead along with Jonathan and his other sons. The Philistines beheaded him and hung the bodies on a wall for show. Perhaps a fitting end for Saul, but I can't help but mourn Jonathan's death. David had never had a truer friend!
Father, I pray that I never have to endure the horror of finding my family missing, unsure of their well-being. Please protect us, yet also help us to know that, in times of great distress, You ARE our source of strength and comfort, and to You ONLY should we run.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
One thing I'd noted before: "But the evil men and troublemakers among those who followed David" wanted to not share this treasure with their fellow soldiers who'd remained with the supplies. It seems like we always have to have some of them present, don't we? How terrible to think that, even among this victorious army blessed by God, some few people have to play the negative side! Perhaps they should inquire of God regarding their attitudes.
My commentary noted this about David: "He showed his great insight into the character of God, because he went to Him for comfort when everything and everyone was against him. He knew there was no one to turn to for strength in such an overwhelming crisis except the Lord, of whom it is said, ‘He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up.' "
At the end of 1 Samuel, we find Saul dead along with Jonathan and his other sons. The Philistines beheaded him and hung the bodies on a wall for show. Perhaps a fitting end for Saul, but I can't help but mourn Jonathan's death. David had never had a truer friend!
Father, I pray that I never have to endure the horror of finding my family missing, unsure of their well-being. Please protect us, yet also help us to know that, in times of great distress, You ARE our source of strength and comfort, and to You ONLY should we run.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
2 Samuel 1 -- How Have YOU Been Sharpened?
David is sitting among the ruins of his adopted city - Ziklag. His wives and his possessions have been recovered, but he looks over the disaster in front of him. As he surveys his situation, a young man comes to him, and by his appearance
David is sitting among the ruins of his adopted city - Ziklag. His wives and his possessions have been recovered, but he looks over the disaster in front of him. As he surveys his situation, a young man comes to him, and by his appearance David can tell that the news can't be good, and he's traveled from the direction of the battle raging in the hills. "The people have run away from the battle, and many of them have fallen and are dead," he reported. "Saul and his son Jonathan are dead also."
How that new must have shaken David to the core. On a national scale, it rivaled America's reaction to the news that President Kennedy had been assassinated. Israel's king was dead. Despite Saul's continued attempts to kill him, David had remained faithful to him, knowing that Saul was God's appointed king for that time. David had been anointed for kingship years before, and suddenly this young messenger had appeared with Saul's crown and royal bracelet, which with the battle loss should have ended up in a Philistine palace, and with them came the transfer of the office to David.
Yet on a much sadder note, David's closest friend, Jonathan - Saul's son, has also had his life snuffed out. I can feel David's agony at this news by the words he spoke near the end of the chapter: "I cry for you, my brother Jonathan. I enjoyed your friendship so much. Your love to me was wonderful, better than the love of women."
David is acknowledging that, though women play a vital role in nurturing, consoling, loving, and supporting their husbands, only another man can understand the conflicts, hesitancies, and oftentimes even the insecurities that men can feel while at the same time striving to portray strength. That mismatch is where character is honed.
I experienced it myself just a few weeks ago when I was called to the school where my youngest son had cut his leg badly in an accident. My heart hurt for hours as I saw what my son had endured and would endure as the wound was treated. Yet I had to be strong for him. I was torn inside, and thankfully I had a "Jonathan" I could share my sadness and struggles with. I could remain strong for my son to reassure him that everything would be fine.
Jonathan had shared those times with David. In part, Jonathan had a hand in making David who he'd become. "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." In what seems a juxtaposition, we men are strengthened as we allow ourselves to reveal our weaknesses to our male friends and receive their support.
Father, I thank You immensely for the men You've blessed me with knowing in this life. I praise You for how You've grown me spiritually through their examples and their encouragement and support. I pray that You will allow me to continue doing the same with my sons and with all my "third sons" who are such a vital part of my life today. Watch over us all and protect us all, Father. Sharpen us so that we can sharpen each other.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
How that new must have shaken David to the core. On a national scale, it rivaled America's reaction to the news that President Kennedy had been assassinated. Israel's king was dead. Despite Saul's continued attempts to kill him, David had remained faithful to him, knowing that Saul was God's appointed king for that time. David had been anointed for kingship years before, and suddenly this young messenger had appeared with Saul's crown and royal bracelet, which with the battle loss should have ended up in a Philistine palace, and with them came the transfer of the office to David.
Yet on a much sadder note, David's closest friend, Jonathan - Saul's son, has also had his life snuffed out. I can feel David's agony at this news by the words he spoke near the end of the chapter: "I cry for you, my brother Jonathan. I enjoyed your friendship so much. Your love to me was wonderful, better than the love of women."
David is acknowledging that, though women play a vital role in nurturing, consoling, loving, and supporting their husbands, only another man can understand the conflicts, hesitancies, and oftentimes even the insecurities that men can feel while at the same time striving to portray strength. That mismatch is where character is honed.
I experienced it myself just a few weeks ago when I was called to the school where my youngest son had cut his leg badly in an accident. My heart hurt for hours as I saw what my son had endured and would endure as the wound was treated. Yet I had to be strong for him. I was torn inside, and thankfully I had a "Jonathan" I could share my sadness and struggles with. I could remain strong for my son to reassure him that everything would be fine.
Jonathan had shared those times with David. In part, Jonathan had a hand in making David who he'd become. "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." In what seems a juxtaposition, we men are strengthened as we allow ourselves to reveal our weaknesses to our male friends and receive their support.
Father, I thank You immensely for the men You've blessed me with knowing in this life. I praise You for how You've grown me spiritually through their examples and their encouragement and support. I pray that You will allow me to continue doing the same with my sons and with all my "third sons" who are such a vital part of my life today. Watch over us all and protect us all, Father. Sharpen us so that we can sharpen each other.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
2 Samuel 2&3 -- Politics Hasn't Changed A Bit. It's Infected With The Sin Of Pride
Transitions are never easy, especially in politics. Desire for power motivates men to look out for themselves rather than to discover God's will in a matter. Such was happening in David's world. God had declared that David w
Transitions are never easy, especially in politics. Desire for power motivates men to look out for themselves rather than to discover God's will in a matter. Such was happening in David's world. God had declared that David was to be the next king of Israel, but the army commander at the time had other ideas. He decided to foolishly back Saul's son Ish-Bosheth, and arranged a coronation. This led to a civil war between the tribe of Judah and the other tribes of Israel (a precursor to what would come much later).
Abner began to see the tide turning in David's favor and finally switched allegiances, but his earlier decisions caught up with him as the avenging brother of a man Abner had killed paid him back by killing him, and this occurred in Hebron, one of the cities of sanctuary God had ordained when the Israelites first entered the Promised Land!
It seemed that a sin problem was infecting the nation of Israel. People were rising up against the anointed leader, civil war was starting, and God's law was being ignored. It was even happening to David, who'd now collected seven wives, and his six sons were beginning to become rivals. That sin problem was primarily caused by pride, and it would only get worse.
Father, even in America today pride is causing tremendous problems in politics. People are more concerned with their position before men than their position before You. Help us as a nation to learn from history so that we will not be doomed to repeat it. And help me as one man to not let pride ever get in the way of my relationship with You.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Abner began to see the tide turning in David's favor and finally switched allegiances, but his earlier decisions caught up with him as the avenging brother of a man Abner had killed paid him back by killing him, and this occurred in Hebron, one of the cities of sanctuary God had ordained when the Israelites first entered the Promised Land!
It seemed that a sin problem was infecting the nation of Israel. People were rising up against the anointed leader, civil war was starting, and God's law was being ignored. It was even happening to David, who'd now collected seven wives, and his six sons were beginning to become rivals. That sin problem was primarily caused by pride, and it would only get worse.
Father, even in America today pride is causing tremendous problems in politics. People are more concerned with their position before men than their position before You. Help us as a nation to learn from history so that we will not be doomed to repeat it. And help me as one man to not let pride ever get in the way of my relationship with You.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
2 Samuel 4&5 -- Training Time
The Bible doesn't really say how old David was when Samuel first sought him out as Israel's future king, but since he wasn't brought in for the line-up with his brothers, it's possible that he might have been younger than 12 - the age
The Bible doesn't really say how old David was when Samuel first sought him out as Israel's future king, but since he wasn't brought in for the line-up with his brothers, it's possible that he might have been younger than 12 - the age that boys began to be considered men in Jewish culture. If so, he waited 18 years to become king of Judah, then another 7.5 years before Saul was killed and Ish-Bosheth was murdered before David finally became king of all Israel.
Yet through it all, David was content to wait on the Lord. Telling an eleven-year-old, "When you're 30 you'll start your kingship, but you'll be 38 before you realize it all," would have probably discouraged him greatly. It was during this long wait, which included being chased by Saul, who was attempting multiple times to kill him, that David began to know God, to trust Him, and to seek after Him and inquire of Him. David was training for reigning.
That's what God does with us through our difficult times as well. He builds character and trust in Him as we lean on Him during our hurts, and we bring our disappointments to Him and begin to understand that everything is within His control and nothing is outside of His ability to guide and protect us. Our reigning will come when He comes back someday, and the wait will, like David's, have been worth it, for the reigning will be for eternity.
Father, don't let me mess up this training time. Continue to grow me spiritually. Develop my character and my trust in You, and let me not get discouraged by what life presents.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Yet through it all, David was content to wait on the Lord. Telling an eleven-year-old, "When you're 30 you'll start your kingship, but you'll be 38 before you realize it all," would have probably discouraged him greatly. It was during this long wait, which included being chased by Saul, who was attempting multiple times to kill him, that David began to know God, to trust Him, and to seek after Him and inquire of Him. David was training for reigning.
That's what God does with us through our difficult times as well. He builds character and trust in Him as we lean on Him during our hurts, and we bring our disappointments to Him and begin to understand that everything is within His control and nothing is outside of His ability to guide and protect us. Our reigning will come when He comes back someday, and the wait will, like David's, have been worth it, for the reigning will be for eternity.
Father, don't let me mess up this training time. Continue to grow me spiritually. Develop my character and my trust in You, and let me not get discouraged by what life presents.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
2 Samuel 6 -- Serving God With Reserve And Contempt?
David wanted to make Jerusalem the religious capital of Israel as well as the new capital of government. Part of that task included bringing the Ark Of The Covenant to Jerusalem. (It had been kept in Kiriath Jearim at the house of Abinada
David wanted to make Jerusalem the religious capital of Israel as well as the new capital of government. Part of that task included bringing the Ark Of The Covenant to Jerusalem. (It had been kept in Kiriath Jearim at the house of Abinadab since being returned by the Philistines.)
In his haste to get things done, David had not properly researched God's protocols for moving the Ark and the respect that was required to be shown by those handling it. As a result, one man died, and the Ark remained in that area until David could gather the information he needed and felt it was safe to move it again.
"The Ark was as close to a visible representation of God Himself as men would see until Jesus," my commentary said. After six cautious steps to insure that all was being done right, David sacrificed oxen and fatted sheep. David then was so filled with joy in the Lord that he danced before the Lord with every fiber of his being.
As they entered Jerusalem, David's wife Michal saw his actions from her window, and decided for herself that his actions were unworthy of a king. She falsely accused him of indecently dancing in public.
The sidebar in my Bible, by Lloyd John Ogilvie, said "David's abandoned freedom to express his praise is contrasted with his wife Michal's reserve and contempt.... Her emotional energy was not guided by firm beliefs about God's sovereignty and grace. There was little in her mind about God's loving-kindness, and therefore, little capacity of emotional delight in Him ... There are Michals in all our lives, people whose minds are starved for liberating truth about God and whose emotions are stunted by malnutrition of lively belief. The conviction of God's grace results in the expression on joy.... The tragedy of RELIGION is that it produces more Michals than Davids ... A heart that has never felt God's presence in sorrow or pain will seldom express his delight in adoration and praise."
When I was perhaps six years old, I so vividly remember our music minister starting every Sunday morning service with "The Lord Is In His Holy Temple", which repeated four times "Keep silent before Him". It purposefully set a mood of "no joy" in our worship service - only reverence. We were unfortunately experiencing that tragedy of religion, and sadly there are still some that were so indoctrinated by that mindset that they still today are just like Michal. It's worth noting that God's response to Michal's reserve and contempt was "the reproach of bearing no children to the day of her death. This is a needed reminder that a critical spirit STIFLES fruitfulness," my commentary said.
Father, thank You for helping me overcome that probably well-meant but horribly misguided brainwashing. I revel in giving You praise and expressing my emotions in doing so. You are the giver of life and the giver of emotions, and I praise You by giving them back to You in my worship!
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
In his haste to get things done, David had not properly researched God's protocols for moving the Ark and the respect that was required to be shown by those handling it. As a result, one man died, and the Ark remained in that area until David could gather the information he needed and felt it was safe to move it again.
"The Ark was as close to a visible representation of God Himself as men would see until Jesus," my commentary said. After six cautious steps to insure that all was being done right, David sacrificed oxen and fatted sheep. David then was so filled with joy in the Lord that he danced before the Lord with every fiber of his being.
As they entered Jerusalem, David's wife Michal saw his actions from her window, and decided for herself that his actions were unworthy of a king. She falsely accused him of indecently dancing in public.
The sidebar in my Bible, by Lloyd John Ogilvie, said "David's abandoned freedom to express his praise is contrasted with his wife Michal's reserve and contempt.... Her emotional energy was not guided by firm beliefs about God's sovereignty and grace. There was little in her mind about God's loving-kindness, and therefore, little capacity of emotional delight in Him ... There are Michals in all our lives, people whose minds are starved for liberating truth about God and whose emotions are stunted by malnutrition of lively belief. The conviction of God's grace results in the expression on joy.... The tragedy of RELIGION is that it produces more Michals than Davids ... A heart that has never felt God's presence in sorrow or pain will seldom express his delight in adoration and praise."
When I was perhaps six years old, I so vividly remember our music minister starting every Sunday morning service with "The Lord Is In His Holy Temple", which repeated four times "Keep silent before Him". It purposefully set a mood of "no joy" in our worship service - only reverence. We were unfortunately experiencing that tragedy of religion, and sadly there are still some that were so indoctrinated by that mindset that they still today are just like Michal. It's worth noting that God's response to Michal's reserve and contempt was "the reproach of bearing no children to the day of her death. This is a needed reminder that a critical spirit STIFLES fruitfulness," my commentary said.
Father, thank You for helping me overcome that probably well-meant but horribly misguided brainwashing. I revel in giving You praise and expressing my emotions in doing so. You are the giver of life and the giver of emotions, and I praise You by giving them back to You in my worship!
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
2 Samuel 7 -- A Realization Of Unworthiness
King David had a realization of unworthiness as he sat in his palace, having defeated his enemies with God's help: "Look, I am living in a palace made of cedar wood, but the Ark of God is in a tent!" I believe it was similar
King David had a realization of unworthiness as he sat in his palace, having defeated his enemies with God's help: "Look, I am living in a palace made of cedar wood, but the Ark of God is in a tent!" I believe it was similar to where we find ourselves today when we look closely enough at our bank statements and see what percent of our income God gets as opposed to everyone and everything else. David proposed to build a Temple where the Ark (and God) could reside. But God had other plans, and through Nathan, He leads David to understand much about Himself and about David's future. Just count the "I's" and "my's" in verses 8-16 (I think there are 18 in all) to see how personally God answered David about what God had done and would do.
Hearing all of this, David really felt unworthy. He went into the tent housing the Ark and sat in front of the Lord, and began to ask the questions God wants all of us to ask: "Lord God, who am I? What is my family? Why did You bring me to this point? But even this is not enough for You, Lord God. You have also made promises about my future family. This is not normal, Lord God!"
It wasn't normal up to that time. But it was totally normal for God. David couldn't understand why God had chosen to love him so. I can't understand why He loves me so, either - why He would choose to take me when I'd let myself doubt Him so and bring me back and call me to the other side of the world, not once, but twice, to show me His love for me by giving me a family exactly suited for me.
Who am I, God, that You care so much for me, that You answer when I call? You have blessed us and watched over us. You care about us. It is all too amazing! Thank You for communing with me. Help me to pass this along to my sons. Commune with them as You have with me. The greatest inheritance I could ever leave them would be to know You more fully and to understand the depths of Your love for our family. As David concluded, Father, "Lord God, You have said so. With Your blessing let my family always be blessed. I love You!
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Hearing all of this, David really felt unworthy. He went into the tent housing the Ark and sat in front of the Lord, and began to ask the questions God wants all of us to ask: "Lord God, who am I? What is my family? Why did You bring me to this point? But even this is not enough for You, Lord God. You have also made promises about my future family. This is not normal, Lord God!"
It wasn't normal up to that time. But it was totally normal for God. David couldn't understand why God had chosen to love him so. I can't understand why He loves me so, either - why He would choose to take me when I'd let myself doubt Him so and bring me back and call me to the other side of the world, not once, but twice, to show me His love for me by giving me a family exactly suited for me.
Who am I, God, that You care so much for me, that You answer when I call? You have blessed us and watched over us. You care about us. It is all too amazing! Thank You for communing with me. Help me to pass this along to my sons. Commune with them as You have with me. The greatest inheritance I could ever leave them would be to know You more fully and to understand the depths of Your love for our family. As David concluded, Father, "Lord God, You have said so. With Your blessing let my family always be blessed. I love You!
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
2 Samuel 8-10 Remembering What Once Was
David and Jonathan had been best friends. That friendship ended when Jonathan died in battle. Yet years later, after David had firmly established his kingship, his mind must have wandered back to the best friend he'd ever had. I
David and Jonathan had been best friends. That friendship ended when Jonathan died in battle. Yet years later, after David had firmly established his kingship, his mind must have wandered back to the best friend he'd ever had. I'm sure he longed to recapture those moments.
He didn't just want to remember, though. He wanted to do something. He thought, "What if some descendant of Jonathan is still alive out there?" David could not have understood about DNA, but he knew about bloodlines, and it was as if Jonathan's heart would be figuratively still beating in and through his descendants. So David decided to search. What he found was a young man who hardly looked the part of a prince. He was crippled in both feet, living outside the established borders of Israel. The rest of the world would have cast him off as damaged goods, but David looked at him and saw Jonathan. He brought him and his son to live in the palace and restored their ancestral lands to them. Of course, this was totally contrary to what "new kings" usually did, but David was listening to God, not to men.
Father, I was reminded just this week of old friendships which have for one reason or another fallen by the wayside. I thank You for how You blessed me with them. Help me to do something as David did - to reach out and let them know how much that friendship meant to me. Through each one, You were being active in my life.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
He didn't just want to remember, though. He wanted to do something. He thought, "What if some descendant of Jonathan is still alive out there?" David could not have understood about DNA, but he knew about bloodlines, and it was as if Jonathan's heart would be figuratively still beating in and through his descendants. So David decided to search. What he found was a young man who hardly looked the part of a prince. He was crippled in both feet, living outside the established borders of Israel. The rest of the world would have cast him off as damaged goods, but David looked at him and saw Jonathan. He brought him and his son to live in the palace and restored their ancestral lands to them. Of course, this was totally contrary to what "new kings" usually did, but David was listening to God, not to men.
Father, I was reminded just this week of old friendships which have for one reason or another fallen by the wayside. I thank You for how You blessed me with them. Help me to do something as David did - to reach out and let them know how much that friendship meant to me. Through each one, You were being active in my life.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
2 Samuel 11 -- The Mother Of All Battles
The women of Israel previously sang of David's mighty battle deeds, and the song they'd come up with had angered Saul. As a commander, I suppose David seemed like the General Patton of his time. This chapter reveals a time, howeve
The women of Israel previously sang of David's mighty battle deeds, and the song they'd come up with had angered Saul. As a commander, I suppose David seemed like the General Patton of his time. This chapter reveals a time, however, when he let himself be conquered - by lust.
The sidebar in my Bible says: "Sin is always the anxious pride of the creature by which we try to be our own god ..." That took just a minute to soak in, and Satan never helps by trying to confuse our thinking when he doesn't want us to grasp truth. I sin when I decide that I don't care what God's laws may say, but instead I elect to make my own set of laws that conveniently fit my circumstances. When I do, I'm actually trying to justify my sin! "This isn't sin because ... It won't hurt just to think about it ... If they're attracted to me, then ... What's one time gonna hurt? ..."
Every one of those amounts to justification. What we forget is that, if it wasn't sin, there'd be no need to justify it! We only do that when we feel that someone else might be disagreeing with how we're assessing it. For Christians, that's actually the Holy Spirit showing us that we're wrong.
I suppose that lust must be the ultimate drug. It stokes the passions within us while at the same time switching off our reasoning ability, causing us to throw caution to the winds despite every alarm bell that's going off in our head. It plants one sole purpose in our minds - "I don't care .... I want this for myself!" It turns off our judgment and it heightens the anticipation of this reward we feel that we're giving ourselves far and above what it will actually deliver. And right there is probably the hook that sinks deep into us and continues to bring us back for more, despite the ever-increasing danger.
It seems that sin has caused a programming change in our bodies. The "I am now and will forever be satisfied, having done this" switch has been ripped out, and an insidious replacement exchanged for it. We aren't even vaguely aware of the change, but it is profound, for as lust progresses, what previously satisfied soon only disappoints, which leads to a downward spiral of one-upsmanship (or one-downsmanship, as it were) that never ends.
A song I remember from years ago, sung by Truth, did a super job of illustrating this. The chorus says:
Father, it's beyond my ability to fully understand why, as Paul says, we have to have such a struggle in these bodies. Our souls seem to long for heaven and our physical bodies seem hell-bent on keeping us from getting there. I know this is not how You ever intended it to be. You gave us free choice, and immediately we blew it - each and every one of us. One line in that song nails it - "We spend our lives thinking of ourselves" - instead of You. And look what it gets us. Help me to fight lust will all my being, Father. I know that I can't do it alone. I must have Your help. I want that for my boys, too, Father. As they grow into young men, train their hearts to recognize Satan's deceptions and not fall for his lies. Don't let them have to ever live with regrets.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
The sidebar in my Bible says: "Sin is always the anxious pride of the creature by which we try to be our own god ..." That took just a minute to soak in, and Satan never helps by trying to confuse our thinking when he doesn't want us to grasp truth. I sin when I decide that I don't care what God's laws may say, but instead I elect to make my own set of laws that conveniently fit my circumstances. When I do, I'm actually trying to justify my sin! "This isn't sin because ... It won't hurt just to think about it ... If they're attracted to me, then ... What's one time gonna hurt? ..."
Every one of those amounts to justification. What we forget is that, if it wasn't sin, there'd be no need to justify it! We only do that when we feel that someone else might be disagreeing with how we're assessing it. For Christians, that's actually the Holy Spirit showing us that we're wrong.
I suppose that lust must be the ultimate drug. It stokes the passions within us while at the same time switching off our reasoning ability, causing us to throw caution to the winds despite every alarm bell that's going off in our head. It plants one sole purpose in our minds - "I don't care .... I want this for myself!" It turns off our judgment and it heightens the anticipation of this reward we feel that we're giving ourselves far and above what it will actually deliver. And right there is probably the hook that sinks deep into us and continues to bring us back for more, despite the ever-increasing danger.
It seems that sin has caused a programming change in our bodies. The "I am now and will forever be satisfied, having done this" switch has been ripped out, and an insidious replacement exchanged for it. We aren't even vaguely aware of the change, but it is profound, for as lust progresses, what previously satisfied soon only disappoints, which leads to a downward spiral of one-upsmanship (or one-downsmanship, as it were) that never ends.
A song I remember from years ago, sung by Truth, did a super job of illustrating this. The chorus says:
What if we've fallen to the bottom of a well
Thinking we've risen to the top of a mountain
What if we're knocking at the gates of hell
Thinking we're heaven bound
What if we spend our lives thinking of ourselves
When we should have been thinking of each other
What if we reach up and touch the ground
To find we're living life upside down.
Father, it's beyond my ability to fully understand why, as Paul says, we have to have such a struggle in these bodies. Our souls seem to long for heaven and our physical bodies seem hell-bent on keeping us from getting there. I know this is not how You ever intended it to be. You gave us free choice, and immediately we blew it - each and every one of us. One line in that song nails it - "We spend our lives thinking of ourselves" - instead of You. And look what it gets us. Help me to fight lust will all my being, Father. I know that I can't do it alone. I must have Your help. I want that for my boys, too, Father. As they grow into young men, train their hearts to recognize Satan's deceptions and not fall for his lies. Don't let them have to ever live with regrets.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
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