DOING THINGS PROPERLY
2 Samuel 6:6-11
Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is the life Proverbs 4:13
Many people have died (physically or spiritually) or experienced untold hardships solely because they ignored instructions. When God prescribes a certain way of doing a thing, it should be obeyed strictly. In Exodus 25:14-15, God instructed the children of Israel to put staves in the rings by the side of the ark and carry it. The staves were not to be removed. However, here we see that David put the ark in a new cart contrary to God’s instructions. Also, in Numbers 4, only the Levites were permitted to work within the tent or handle the ark and the holiest things; they were also instructed and trained that touching any of the holy things or looking into the ark itself would result in immediate death – Numbers 4:4,15.
From our text, King David, in his euphoria, neglected the instructions of God as touching the ark. We can see how Uzzah tried to help the ark of God which carried the presence of the Highest. Uzzah wasn’t thinking about right and wrong, he simply reacted to the situation. Unfortunately, he was caught in the crossfire. He was thinking only of protecting the ark from falling to the ground but was struck down for his error (2 Samuel 6:6). Sometimes, we feel we can help God do His job or neglect clear instructions from Him. God is the Almighty; He is the helper that cannot be helped. All He wants from us is total obedience to His instructions. Perhaps if David, all the elders, and Uzzah had remembered God’s instructions as regards handling the ark, Uzzah wouldn’t have died. Maybe if David had remembered to seek God’s will first before embarking on the journey, the death would have been averted. This should be a pointer to us that we ought to know all of God’s instructions and commit them to our hearts so that we won’t offend Him in our service.
Prayer: Lord, please help me to always be in line with your will and not trifle with your mercy in Jesus’ name. Amen.
ONE YEAR BIBLE READING
DAY 1671Kings 1,-1Kings2:1-12; Acts 10:23-48-Acts11:1-18; Psalm 74:10-17
MISSING THE POINT
2 Samuel 6:6-11
There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. Proverbs 16:25
Several things can cloud our good sense of judgment, and this can be costly. King David did not pause to think of the reason behind Uzzah’s death, rather, he became angry with God. He named the place ‘Perez-Uzzah’ – “to burst out against Uzzah.” He also abruptly left the ark of God at the house of Obed-edom. He abandoned the presence of God out of fear of God’s wrath. God expects us to seek His face whenever strange occurrences befall us rather than throw fitful tantrums and jump to hasty conclusions. In today’s society, some people who feel offended by God express their disappointment by abandoning their relationship with God, leaving the church, sulking, complaining, etc., rather than seeking God’s face.
Have you ever wondered why some people face instant judgment? Do you sometimes feel that God is unfair? David felt this way, so he got angry at the fact that God struck Uzzah to death. He didn’t seek God’s face to ascertain why God took that action. If he had sought the face of God, he would have gotten answers and pleaded for mercy. He thought in his mind, “How can the ark of God come to me?” So he sent the ark to the house of Obed-edom. He allowed Obed-edom to face the aftermath of their actions. Do not allow your emotions to cloud your sense of judgment, instead, seek God’s face.
Prayer
Lord, help me to put my emotions under control always even when I don’t understand why some things happen in Jesus’ name. Amen.
ONE YEAR BIBLE READING
DAY 168 1Kings2:13-46,-1Kings3:1-15;Acts11:19-30,-Acts12:1-19; Proverbs15:1-10
BEING HUMBLE BEFORE GOD
2 Samuel 6:14-23
And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour. 2 Samuel 6:22
Here, we see David humbling himself before the Lord. He did not go around parading himself like a king. He honoured the Lord, not himself. This is how the New Testament describes Jesus also. Think about how he lived and what he did while on the earth. He did not go around acting like a king. The only crown that was put on his head while on earth was a crown of thorns. He honoured others, healing them, helping them, teaching them, and even washing his disciples’ feet. Apostle Paul makes the point explicit in his letter to the Philippians – “He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross” – (Philippians 2:8).
The humility of David is amazing because kings simply do not act that way. In David, we see a picture of humility, a picture that was perfectly replicated when Jesus came. David danced before his servants shamelessly to the point that his wife Michal despised him but that didn’t stop Him from glorifying God. Likewise, Jesus was also despised by men but that didn’t stop Him from doing what He was supposed to do and living in humility. Michal spoke wrongly of David’s dancing to God and was left without a child till her death. That was her punishment for the criticism. So no matter the position we have or get to in life, let us cultivate a lifestyle of humility. Even in criticism, our lips should be filled with praises to the God Most High.
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, help me to emulate Your lifestyle of humility in Jesus’ name. Amen.
ONE YEAR BIBLE READING
DAY 169 1Kings 3:16-28, -1Kings5:Acts12:19-25,-Acts13:1-12;Psalm74:18-23
BLESSING WITH A PURPOSE
2 Samuel 7:1-5, 11
And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing Genesis 12:2
Peace is a blessing from the Lord (Psalm 29:11) and every blessing from God comes with Kingdom responsibilities attached. For instance, God told Abraham in Genesis 12, “I will bless thee…and thou shalt be a blessing,” implying that Abraham would be responsible for being a blessing to others. In our text, when God blessed David with peace, the first thought that came to the heart of David was about the ark of God and building God a befitting sanctuary.
This is a principle that is upheld by some persons in the Bible: Joseph eventually became the Prime Minister in the land of Egypt, yet, his responsibility was to preserve Israel. Esther was a Queen in a foreign land – planted there for the preservation of the Jewish race –a type of the Church. We should realise that when God blesses us with certain platforms, gifts and capacities, there are some responsibilities attached. Hence, we must identify and pursue the fulfilment of these responsibilities. Some people seek the blessings of God for material needs and not to promote God’s kingdom. David was different in that he had God’s interest as his priority and as a result, God promised to build a house for David. When you make God your priority, He will take care of your needs. Do you put God’s blessings to good use?
Prayer
Lord, help me to have your kingdom at heart in Jesus’ name. Amen.
ONE YEAR BIBLE READING
DAY 170 1Kings 6,-1kings 7:1-22; Acts13:13-41;Psalm75:1-10
ASSURANCE OF VICTORY
2 Samuel 7:6-10
The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. Exodus 14:14
Whenever a particular name of God is used in the scriptures, it is vital to note that the Bible is disclosing a message based on the name in context. Our text introduces God as “the Lord of Hosts” and not any other nomenclature. The name with which the Lord is introduced in a given scripture proves the capacity and character of God demonstrated in the context of that scripture. The Lord of Hosts in this context presents the Lord as the commander of the armies of heaven. It represents God as the all-powerful ruler of the universe who has the supreme authority to intervene in the affairs of men.
God affirms that He had been with King David everywhere he went, and had been responsible for the victories that David had enjoyed; it was God who cut off all the enemies of David from the earth. By implication, each time David inquired of the Lord regarding any war, he was not just given the strategies for his victory but was also supported by the host of heaven, because God went with him to battle. This is also true about you. When you know and understand God as the Lord of hosts, you will experience Him amid challenges and battles of life and he will make you great on earth. Do you know God as the Lord of hosts?
Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you for Your presence and power that emboldens and empowers me to face challenges with the assurance of victory.
ONE YEAR BIBLE READING
DAY 171 I Kings8:22-66, 1 Kings 9:1-9;Acts 14:8-28, Proverbs 15:11-20
PEOPLE OF PROPHECY
2 Samuel 7:8-12
In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will Ephesians 1:11.
We are a people of Prophecy. Our lives have been spoken about even before we came into being. Hence, our lives and experiences should be regulated by the Prophecies in the word of God. Hebrews 10:7 says, “In the volume of the book, it is written of me, to do your will, O God.” We are aware that God spoke great things concerning the welfare and future of Israel and specifically Solomon, the son of King David.
As Christians, we have both collective and individual prophetic mandates over our lives, and as we study God’s word and yield to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, our hearts are gently stirred in the direction of the prophecy written about us in the word of God. There is something written about you in the volume of the book. Remember, we are not ordinary people because it is written of us “but ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9). Let’s endeavour to live our lives in accordance with what God has spoken.
Prayer: Oh Lord, I claim every word spoken about me in your word and ask that they be fulfilled in Jesus’ name. Amen.
ONE YEAR BIBLE READING
DAY 172 1Kings 9:10-28,- 1Kings 11:1-13,-Acts 15:1-21; Psalm 77:1-9
CONTINUITY
2 Samuel 7:10-16
And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. 2 Samuel 7:12
The promises of God do not die with a man. There is the hope of continuity even with our seed. God does not indulge in eye service. His promises to David extended to his seed after him. You will either leave a stigma or a blessing for your children. Your actions today will affect your seeds tomorrow. A wrong decision taken today may be the trigger for a closed door tomorrow. Living your life in obedience to God sets you up for generational blessings that won’t be exhausted in your lifetime.
Also, by serving God, we introduce our children to the safety and benefits of a deeper relationship with God. They have the opportunity to experience God on a more intimate level. God honoured David and committed Himself never to allow His mercy to depart from Solomon. These days, a lot of parents have left battles and hardships for their children. We are called to remembrance today that our services to God have a great effect on our children.
What legacy will you leave behind?
Prayer
Lord, help me to leave a blessed legacy for my children in Jesus’ name. Amen.
ONE YEAR BIBLE READING
DAY 173 1Kings 11:14-43,-1Kings12:1-24; Acts15:22-41;Psalm77:10-20
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