Day #86
Scripture Reading: I Chronicles 10 - 14 ...
After Saul and his sons had been killed in battle,
David was anointed king in Hebron. Scripture is quick to say, "Saul
died because he was unfaithful to the LORD" (10:13). David had
sought the LORD, his God, since his childhood, and now that he was king, he
knew where his might and power and wisdom to rule would come from. Having captured the fortress at Jerusalem,
David decided to reign over Israel from there and it became known as the "City
of David" (11:7). Men flocked to serve David because it was he
who had won victory after victory even during the reign of King Saul. We
read, "David became more and more powerful, because the LORD Almighty
was with him" (11:9). There was no doubt throughout all of Israel
that David knew God and worshiped God from his heart. His many Psalms are
evidence of that.
David was also surrounded by what the Bible calls "mighty
men" of God. God gave them power to overcome incredible odds and
through their service to David the kingdom of Israel was expanded over the
whole land of Canaan, as God had promised (11:10). While Saul had
contacted mediums and sorcerers to determine whether to go out into battle,
David consulted the LORD, his God. He was not about to make the same
mistake Saul had made. One by one, the tribes of Israel sent fighting men
to join David's army, so David and Israel ... and their GOD, became known
throughout the whole world.
As chaotic as our world is today, it is exciting
and challenging to live during this time when these same people, the
descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, possess the very land God gave to
Abraham. God made Israel a great nation in order to display His glory,
His wisdom and His power to all the world. And in these last days God is
about to do the same thing. At the present time most of the Jewish people
do not acknowledge Jesus as their Messiah, but there will come a time when they
will. In fact, the whole world will see the glory of Israel's God, even
more clearly than during the days of David. Jesus will reign ... in
JERUSALEM, and all the nations will bring tribute to Him (Zechariah 14:9-21).
Out of his devotion to the LORD, David desired to
bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. David said to his leaders and the people, "If
it seems good to you and if it is the will of the LORD our God, let us send
word far and wide to the rest of our brothers throughout the territories of
Israel ... Let us bring the ark of our God back to us, for we did not inquire
of it (him) during the reign of Saul" (13:2-3). So they moved
the ark from the house where it had been kept, placing it on a new cart, with
two men, Uzzah and Ahio, guiding it. When the oxen pulling the cart
stumbled, Uzzah reached out to steady it and God struck him down on the spot
... he died.
Why would God do such a thing?! There is more
here than meets the eye. God had instructed Moses to place rings on the
sides of the Ark of the Covenant and to make poles that would go through the
rings. The Ark was then to be carried by the priests by the poles. No
one was to touch the Ark. Uzzah's mistake was that he thought his hand
touching the Ark would be better than if it fell off the cart and landed in the
dirt. The truth is, because of sin we are "dirtier" than the
ground. God is HOLY! He cannot be "touched" by
sinful man. The Ark represented the presence of God and was to be treated
with honor. It was not some "magic box," but rather, a symbol
that God had given to Israel that He was their God and they were His people,
and that He was with them wherever they went.
We would do well to remember today that God is
everywhere-present. He is with those who come to Him through faith in
Jesus Christ in a special way. In fact, God says in His Word that we who
believe are the very "temple of the Holy Spirit" (I
Corinthians 6:19). God empowered the mighty men who surrounded David and
who led his army against their enemies, and God just as certainly empowers you
and me today as we engage in spiritual battles for the Lord, OUR God!
Every time David was about to go into battle, he inquired of the LORD ...
he prayed and asked God to direct him. Do YOU do that?
Our battles for the glory of God are different
today, but they are no less important in the final outcome of millions in this
world. "David's fame spread throughout every land, and the LORD
made all the nations fear him" (14:17). We use the "sword
of the Spirit" (Ephesians 6:17), which is the Word of God, to do
battle against the enemies of Christ and His Church. Paul would write to
his young friend, Timothy, "God did not give us a spirit of timidity,
but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline" (II Timothy
1:7).
Join with other believers in rallying around our
King, Jesus! He leads us into battle for the glory of His Name and
together we are strong and mighty in the Lord. We dare not shrink back
from the mission to make disciples of Jesus, for we are ambassadors of God's
kingdom and soldiers in Christ's army. The enemies are strong, but we are
stronger, for the Lord, our God, is with us. Be an active part in the
body of Christ. Engage in the ministry with others ... don't stand on the
sidelines. Too much is at stake and it is God's desire to receive honor
and praise on our account. For the glory of God seek His guidance in your
life, asking Him to show you how you can serve others and proclaim the truth of
the Gospel. He uses willing servants and molds us into mighty men and
women of God.
Draw near to God today, knowing that whatever
battles you are fighting, with God's help and the strength and power that only
HE can give, you will have victory in the name and power of Jesus, our risen
Savior and Lord!!
"Almighty and Everlasting God, by the power of
Your name we conquer our enemies and overcome all of the obstacles that stand
in the way of giving You glory. It is not for my sake, but for Your glory
and for the sake of YOUR name that I stand firm, declaring Your truth and being
an instrument in Your hand to lead others to Christ. Keep my mind and
heart focused on You as I live each day as a soldier of Christ and empower me
to be a bold witness to declare that JESUS IS KING! In Jesus' name,
Amen"
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