Then the king said to Zadok, "Carry the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the LORD, He will bring me back and show me both it and His dwelling place. "But if He says thus: 'I have no delight in you,' here I am, let Him do to me as seems good to Him." (2 Samuel 15:25-26)

After David’s sin with Bathsheba, he was confronted by Nathan, the prophet.  David accepted the blame for his transgression.  Nathan promised David the “sword would not depart” from his house.  The days following were dark times in David’s household.  However, the words above demonstrate David’s full acceptance of the sin he has committed and the consequences to follow.  David placed his future in the hands of God.

In this context, trouble came to David’s house in the form of his own son.  Absalom gained popularity with the people and was ready to seize the throne.  It became apparent that David’s life was in danger, thus he and his followers left Jerusalem.  Included in the procession is Zadok, the priest with the Ark of the Covenant.  However, David urges Zadok to convey the Ark back to the city confident that if it is God’s will he will see it again.

From a human viewpoint, it might seem unfair that God would allow one as vain as Absalom to humiliate a godly man like David.  Yet, there is not a word of complaint from David.  He readily placed his life in the hands of a just God.  He knew the Lord reigns in righteousness and would perform only what was best.

Life often brings adversity.  Sometimes it is because of our poor choices, as was the case of David.  On other occasions, it may come because of the neglect or sin of others.  Many tragedies seem inexplicable.  “Why did this happen to me?”  Yet, often our greatest virtues grow out of such adversity.  It is during these times we may acknowledge our unworthiness and need for God’s mercy.

What a remarkable attitude in David!  “He will”, if He “delights” in me.  There is not an ounce of selfishness or bitterness here.  God is over all and can do all!  It’s in God’s hands; he will do what is best.  Peter says: Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:6-7)  

George Slover
 

The LORD God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer's feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills.   (Habakkuk 3:19)

The prayer recorded here is one of the Bible’s most encouraging passages.  God has promised Habakkuk that he will judge Judah with the Chaldeans.  That God would allow such an idolatrous nation to conquer Judah greatly perplexes Habakkuk.  (Habakkuk 1:12,13) However, at the conclusion, the prophet’s faith triumphs over circumstances, and he submissively rejoices (Habakkuk 3:17,18) solely in the Lord.  Habakkuk thus anticipates three treasures from God.

The Lord is my Strength.  This Divine strength is indispensable in aiding one in every phase of his life.  (Ephesians 3:20)  God provides the armor to withstand the temptation to sin.  God’s word calms the soul and strengthens in times of adversity.  He encourages us to be bold in sharing our faith, and zealous in our service to others.

He will make my feet like deer's feet.  The imagery here is of one who is as sure-footed as a deer traversing a forest or mountainside.  The one who rejoices in God will be assisted in avoiding or escaping those things that endanger his soul.  God will guide him to the path of safety.

He will make me walk on my high hills.  This represents a position of conquering and victory.  In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, we are told that those who are redeemed by Jesus are made to “sit in the heavenly places”. (Ephesians 2:6)  This lofty position is offered on the basis of God’s grace.  Thus, the redeemed ones are given an exalted posture of safety, a high moral ethic to follow, and a promise of higher things in glory.

Fellowship with God provides a place far above the despairs and doubts of the world.  “Faith is the victory, Faith is the victory.  Oh, glorious victory that overcomes the world.”  John H. Yates 

By George Slover
 

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” (1 John 2:15-17)
 
It is impossible for one to claim fellowship with God and to pattern their life after the world.  John repeats this theme throughout this letter.  He informs us that we must (I John 1:7)  “walk in the light” and that we cannot simultaneously walk in the light and walk in darkness.   “Don’t love the world’s ways or the world’s goods”, John says.  To John, the “world” represents everything that is contrary to keeping the faith.
 
Indeed, the world has a different view of how we should live.  Our postmodern culture believes that all ideas are valid.  We are free to believe and practice whatever we desire, in the name of diversity and tolerance.  In our broadminded world more and more folks have gravitated toward the hedonistic view – “Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die”.  It is easy for the Christian, in this environment, to have a Playboy view of the world rather than a biblical view.
 
Before his departure, Jesus told his disciples, "If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” (John 15:19)   James said, “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”(James 4:4-5)  Looking, dressing, acting, and talking like the world are not the marks of followers of Christ.
 
If I intend to be all that God wants me to be, I must hear and do what he says day by day, and moment by moment.  So determine to stop that affair you’ve been having with sin.  Get busy enjoying the rewards of living for God.
 
by George Slover

You shall rise before the gray headed and honor the presence of an old man, and fear your God: I am the LORD. (Leviticus 19:32)

In this context respect for the elderly is enjoined in connection with the fear of God.  To revere is to defer or to yield.  One can picture one who is older walking into a room and all others rising in honor, or offering them the best seat.  Our society has lost that sense of propriety and has certainly lost its fear of God.

To whom shall we give such honor?  It belongs first, to those who carry the weight of years, who have walked the roads and fought the battles.  Second, it should be given to those who by reason of experience have greater wisdom.  It behooves us to listen carefully to them and consider.  Third such honor belongs to those who have unselfishly served others.  (I Timothy 5:10)  To these, we owe a great debt.  Finally, it belongs to those with whom we have a special relationship (like mothers and fathers).  “Thanks mom and dad for your example of love and devotion to God and others.”

Find that special one this week and tell them how much you admire them.  Take time to listen to their stories and give heed to their advice.  Show them the respect and dignity they deserve.

By George Slover

As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father pities his children, So the LORD pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust. (Psalms 103:12-14)

There is no God like Jehovah!  There is no deed that reaches the heart of a man like Jesus’ death on the cross.  Here Jehovah is reaching out to mankind with pity and forgiveness.  The verse above gives us a poetic description of God’s forgiveness and mercy.

The imagery of verse 12 beautifully describes God’s boundless forgiveness.  Unlike the distance from north to south, the distance from east to west is not measured.  To “cast sin behind the back” means it is “out of sight, and out of mind”.  When something is cast into the sea, it is irretrievable.  In those days and in that time," says the LORD, "The iniquity of Israel shall be sought, but there shall be none; And the sins of Judah, but they shall not be found; For I will pardon those whom I preserve. (Jeremiah 50:20)  When God forgives sin he removes it entirely.

Coupled with God’s limitless forgiveness is his pity (verse 13).  There is nothing like the pity of a parent for their child.  A father’s pity would include shelter from the elements, sympathy in times of distress, strength when times get tough, encouragement to persevere, instruction in how to live, and correction when in the wrong.  Like any good father, God will do everything within his will to help his children.

For what reason did God bestow such sympathy?  The Psalmist says:  He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust. (vs. 14)  Man is weak in body and mind.  "The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Matthew 26:41)  At times a man is feeble in his power of conviction, poor in his power of will, and woefully ignorant of God’s way.

Even though our service to God is imperfect, if one will fear Him, if our devotion is rooted in faith and sincerity, if it is motivated by love, and purified by prayer, it is accepted by God!

By George Slover