Find True Security

"The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me: 'He who rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. ⁴ And he shall be like the light of the morning when the sun rises, a morning without clouds, like the tender grass springing out of the earth, by clear shining after rain.' ⁵ "Although my house is not so with God, yet He has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and secure. For this is all my salvation and all my desire; will He not make it increase?"

2 Samuel 23:3-5

For almost a week now, the beginning of verse 5 keeps ringing through my head.  God had revealed to David the state of the man who rules justly in the fear of God.  God compared such a man to the first light of the sunrise, warm rays warming the horizon, without a cloud or threat of storm.  He also likened that man to tender grass that springs out of the earth, providing food for beast and men.  In addition fresh growth and vibrancy, this ruler is like the clear shining after rain:  refreshed, cleansed, and satisfied.  Then comes the confession of humble David:  "Although my house is not so with God..."  God had revealed the truth, the unshakable reality of the man who walks in godliness.  David was a man after God's own heart, but he recognised he was far from perfect.  He had not achieved this ideal reality, and he wasn't afraid to admit it.

This is one thing I admire about David.  He did not pretend he was perfect, nor did he try to fool himself into believing everything was fine.  A godly man is honest, sincere, and transparent, and David was all these things.  It seems these days a man in authority - a king, minister, father, or boss - does not feel at liberty to expose his warts, sins of his past, or the troubled condition where he finds himself.  Admitting weakness or faults represents God poorly some think, and they refuse to acknowledge sin or personal problems even with their friends.  I say such think wrong.  My admission of failure and that my house is not so with God reveals clearly I need Him.  If people are stumbled because of my faults or bad decisions of my kin, perhaps they have put too much stock in following men.  People stumbled at the words and works of the infallible Christ:  how much more if they follow mere men?  David does an amazing thing as king by these admissions:  "God says a just ruler is like the light of the sunrise without clouds, but I cannot say that of me.  God revealed to me that one who rules in the fear of God is like tender grass springing from the earth, yet that does not resemble me or my family."  David knew he was deeply flawed, and this understanding made room for God's unfathomable grace. 

"Although my house is not so with God, yet He has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and secure."  Though David was not perfect, God had given him an everlasting covenant.  The agreement God had with David was eternal and secure.  This gave David great peace, for he understood physical and emotional insecurity very well.  For years he fled from the face of King Saul who tried to murder him.  Even after he was established on the throne, he fled from Jerusalem when his son Absalom tried the usurp the throne.  He found himself in danger in fields, caves, castles, and in the open field.  Could he accuse God of wrong?  No.  David nor his house was perfect before God.  His life was one of thunderstorms, screaming winds, and desolation.  Being king did not end his troubles, in fact, during his time as king is when he weathered some of the most fierce storms.  Yet in all his trials, the light of God shone through his circumstances with illuminating clarity.  The Holy Spirit was upon David to guide his fingers in battle as well as penning many prophetic Psalms in scripture.

David had times of trouble and uncertainty, and it was in these times the eternal covenant God had made with him kept him centered on what mattered.  A covenant is only as strong as the one who establishes the covenant.  God, with all wisdom, power, and grace, established a covenant with David.  He promised to establish His house forever, even though David or his house was not so with God.  He would send Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Son of David, to be the Messiah whose kingdom will endure forever and ever.  For all who repent and trust in Christ, with us Jesus has established a covenant through His own blood.  We don't need to be perfect to receive His gracious forgiveness, nor do we need to meet God's ideals before the righteousness of Christ is imputed to us.  What a wonder, that although me and my house are not so with God, God has offered to us an everlasting covenant through the Gospel.

Let us follow David's lead in admitting we are not perfect, and neither is our house.  It is by grace we have been saved through faith and not of ourselves.  Though there be storms on the horizon or floods swelling all around us, we can look to the God who has given us an everlasting covenant.  Those who seek the LORD with find Him, and with Him is everlasting security and peace.