David, 5of6

~ Because of David’s Position He Had Extra Responsibility ~

David’s Responsibility  ~  Regarding David the Scriptures say he was given great responsibility, “Thus shall you say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: “I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people Israel.  And I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and have made you a name like the name of the great men who are on the earth.  Moreover I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own and move no more; nor shall the sons of wickedness oppress them anymore, as previously, since the time that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel.  Also I will subdue all your enemies.  Furthermore I tell you that the Lord will build you a house.  And it shall be, when your days are fulfilled, when you must go to be with your fathers, that I will set up your seed after you, who will be of your sons; and I will establish his kingdom.  He shall build Me a house, and I will establish his throne forever.  I will be his Father, and he shall be My son; and I will not take My mercy away from him, as I took it from him who was before you.  And I will establish him in My house and in My kingdom forever; and his throne shall be established forever”’” (1 Chronicles 17:7-14). 

David’s Accountability  ~  In the New Testament Jesus clearly stated a principle found throughout Scripture, “For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more” Luke 12:47b).  We find a related thought in the book of James, “Brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment” (James 3:1).

David’s God of Love  ~  It is almost paradoxical that even though David failed so miserably at times God was delighted with him.  How could this be?  God sees our hearts and our intentions—He knows our true desires.  “For He knows the secrets of the heart” (Psalm 44:21b).

“But the Lord said to my father David, ‘Whereas it was in your heart to build a temple for My name, you did well that it was in your heart” (1 Kings 8:18).  “And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’  From this man's seed, according to the promise, God raised up for Israel a Savior—Jesus—after John had first preached, before His coming, the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.” (Acts 13:22-25).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

David, 4of6

~ Repentance Did Not Remove The Consequences of David’s Sin ~

The General Principle  ~  Forgiveness did not wipe away all the consequences of sin.  

“‘When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.  He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.  I will be his Father, and he shall be My son.  If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men.  But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you.  And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you.  Your throne shall be established forever.’  According to all these words and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David” (2 Samuel 7:12-17).

David was reconciled to God but had to bear the judgment of God.  “Then Nathan said to David, ‘You are the man!  Thus says the Lord God of Israel: “I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul.  I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your keeping, and gave you the house of Israel and Judah.  And if that had been too little, I also would have given you much more!  Why have you despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in His sight?  You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the people of Ammon.  Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.” Thus says the Lord: “Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun.  For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, before the sun.”’  So David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the Lord’” (2 Samuel 12:7-13).

Consider Four Specifics  ~  When Nathan confronted David about his sins through the use of a parable David made a pronouncement.  “David’s anger was greatly aroused against the man, and he said to Nathan, ‘As the Lord lives, the man who has done this shall surely die!  And he shall restore fourfold for the lamb, because he did this thing and because he had no pity’” (2 Samuel 12:6).  David, in essence, prophesied his own judgment—and four of his sons were later taken from him. 

David’s Child Died  ~  “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’  …  When David saw that his servants were whispering, David perceived that the child was dead.  Therefore David said to his servants, ‘Is the child dead?’  And they said, ‘He is dead’” (2 Samuel 12:14, 19).

Amnon Was Killed by Absalom  ~  “Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, "Watch now, when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, “Strike Amnon!” then kill him.  Do not be afraid.  Have I not commanded you?  Be courageous and valiant.’  So the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded.  Then all the king's sons arose, and each one got on his mule and fled” (2 Samuel 13:28-29).   

Absalom, David’s Favorite Son Dies  ~  “Then Absalom met the servants of David.  Absalom rode on a mule.  The mule went under the thick boughs of a great terebinth tree, and his head caught in the terebinth; so he was left hanging between heaven and earth.  And the mule which was under him went on.  Now a certain man saw it and told Joab, and said, ‘I just saw Absalom hanging in a terebinth tree!’” (2 Samuel 18:9-10).

Adonijah, David’s Fourth Son, Was Also Taken  ~  “Then King Solomon swore by the Lord, saying, ‘May God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah has not spoken this word against his own life!  Now therefore, as the Lord lives, who has confirmed me and set me on the throne of David my father, and who has established a house for me, as He promised, Adonijah shall be put to death today!’  So King Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he struck him down, and he died” (1 Kings 2:23-25). 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Identity in Christ, 103

~ I Am Identified With Christ’s Death ~

Introduction  ~  When Christians understand the various characteristics and aspects of the birthright which came with their second birth, they comprehend their identity in Christ.  Once Christians understand their identity, their destiny is also clear!  This series of “Abundant Life Now” posts will look at one of those facets each week. 

This Week’s Verse  ~  “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.  Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.  For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory” (Colossians 3:1-4). 

~~~ EXPLANATORY “IDENTITY IN CHRIST” NOTES ~~~  

(1)  Each Monday ALN posts an example of Scripture’s description of aspects/characteristics of Christians—those who have personally trusted in Jesus Christ, The Messiah, as their personal Savior.

(2)  This series is not intended to be an exhaustive list.

(3)  God the Father described Himself to Moses as the great “I AM” (Exodus 3:14).  God the Son also said “I AM” (John 8:58). 

(4)  Jesus Christ is the Son of God and several times in the Gospel of John He refers to Himself as “I am.”  “I am the Bread of Life” (6:35-51), “I am the Light of the World” (8:12, 9:5), “I am the Door” (10:7-9), “I am the Good Shepherd” (10:11-14), “I am the Son of God” (10:36), “I am the Resurrection and the Life” (11:25), “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (14:6), “I am in the Father, and the Father in Me … Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me” (John 14:10-11), and “I am the True Vine” (15:1-5). 

(5)  Individual Christians are also sons and daughters of God.  This series will show some of the various “I am” aspects of a Christian. 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .