How many times did David fall to his knees in desperation, fully acknowledging and proclaiming to Almighty God that without Divine intervention he would certainly have perished?  With absolute clarity David knew there was nothing that could be done apart from God.  This factor was repeatedly emphasized in David’s worship music, poetry and prayers to God seen throughout the early Old Testament.  It is instructive to consider that the only lasting troubles with which David contended were always preceded by his lack of inquiry of God’s Will.  When David acted on his “own” understanding, he always ran into trouble from which he arose crying out to God for assistance.  Considering these factors it is safe to assume that asking and following God’s direction is always the best course of action, especially for those of us eager to avoid temptation, sin and disaster.

My admiration for David lay in his steadfast faith in the promises of God.  Sure there are those who will always point out his human failings, and this is rightful, as God would have us learn from our Brother’s grave mistakes in departure from God’s Will.  However, we should fairly look upon David’s knowledge, belief and dependance on Almighty God for every good thing that came to him, his family and the Nation of Israel.  David also understood his own shame, knowing that God would forgive him in his humility and repentance, that the sins of a Father may last for generations.  I so much look forward to speaking with David and loving him for the stance that he took in defense of the faith.  I may not avoid my own fall from Grace, but with reflection and remembrance of David’s misgivings, I have a greater opportunity to avoid sin and shame.  Thanks be to God for the knowledge He has provided through review of the lives of prophets, kings, saints and unbelievers.

Those of us in disaster must follow David’s example and cry out to God for mercy, intervention and succor.  There is no salvation but God through Jesus Christ.  Often I weep seeing Christians who have yet to give up on their steadfast independence and self reliance.  I feel that God must be waiting on so many of us to surrender.  It is a travesty to see Christians who will not cry out to the Father to heal them from illness, save them from circumstances, provide strength through wisdom or feed their hungry bodies and spirit.  The Lord is waiting for us to give up and seek His guidance, love, mercy, provision and grace.  We must remember that we serve a patient God to whom a thousand years is but a day.  We do not have that same luxury.  My advice is learn from David’s devout dependance on God and his catastrophes when he neglected to seek God’s Will, both pointing toward the same wisdom in consulting, crying out to and obeying God’s direction.  I see your pain, suffering and frustration, I too once denied my resistance to God’s Will.  Please cry out to God for relief, He is faithful to complete the work that He started in each of us, work that can never be done without His intervention.

Father, this is Your life I am living.  Have Your way, guide me, teach me and deliver me to freedom through wisdom, grace and hope in Your Loving Kindness.  Forgive me for the times I set out on my own path, especially those where I avoided Your counsel.  Let me never stray from this blessed relationship.  Don’t allow me to make mistakes that will have lasting impact upon my children and their children’s children.  Let me be remembered as a man after Your Heart.  In Jesus’ Name I pray.