Reading Tale of Three Kings by Gene Edwards during our discipleship course at Calvary Chapel Sydney has yielded some amazing discussions. What impresses me greatly about David is how he responded when word came his son Absalom proclaimed himself king in Hebron. The conspiracy was strong, and King David - the anointed of God - chose to voluntarily flee his fortified position in Jerusalem to prevent bloodshed. He knew Absalom's ruthless nature, and he would not hesitate to kill even those of the king's house to accomplish his end.
Consider how David did not act like any other king before or since. What king has ever fled the citadel barefoot and weeping when he had every right to stay, strengthen his defenses, and command his loyal subjects to fight for him? When the high priest brought the Ark of the Covenant out of the Tabernacle after David, he commanded it be returned to the most holy place. King Saul was glad to carry the Ark with him so on a whim he could inquire of the LORD, but David would entertain no such convenience. 2 Samuel 15:25-26 reads, "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. 26 But if He says thus: 'I have no delight in you,' here I am, let Him do to me as seems good to Him." So humble and contrite was David that he laid no claim or right to the throne. David allowed God the possibility to remove him from the throne. God had freely given, and David maintained God had the right (and his blessing!) to take away.
The following days revealed God was not finished with David, but would end the rebellion started by Absalom by granting David's loyal men a great victory. Yet even when the victory was secured through the death of usurping Absalom, David did not immediately return to the throne. He waited until the people requested his return, confirming his ordination by God to rule over all Israel. It is shocking to see such a heart of humility in a king, and is a foreshadowing of the meekness and humility of the King of kings, Jesus Christ. He was the King of the Jews, yet He laid down His life without resistance. He offered His cheeks to the smiters, and gave His back to the scourge. He bore the weight of the mockery and spitting, and Jesus did not recoil when the crown of thorns was pressed rudely into His scalp. He bore His own cross to Calvary in His humiliation, and He presented His hands and feet to the cruel nails. He could have insulated Himself from all pain and suffering, calling legions of angels to His aid. But He did nothing, except commit Himself fully to His heavenly Father who loved Him and called Him to suffer.
As one anointed by the Holy Spirit, do you still fight for your rights? Or have you learned from the example of men like David and Jesus who committed themselves to He who judges righteously? Jesus was not passive as He went to the cross, for it was an act of a will submitted to the Father's will. He actively sought God's favour for those ignorant souls who hated and murdered Him without cause. Even as David was restored to his former glory, Jesus was exalted above all others as the firstfruits from the dead, raised in eternal glory. He is both King and High Priest, having ascended to the Father and will someday return to judge the unbelieving world and rule with a rod of iron. There are many Absaloms around, usurping the authority of the true King, but they will all be overthrown and slaughtered by the sword which comes from the mouth of the Ancient of Days.
God will fight for us, and it is not weakness to meekly commit ourselves into His hand for He delights in us. He will do to us what seems good to Him, whose ways are grace, mercy, and truth.
Consider how David did not act like any other king before or since. What king has ever fled the citadel barefoot and weeping when he had every right to stay, strengthen his defenses, and command his loyal subjects to fight for him? When the high priest brought the Ark of the Covenant out of the Tabernacle after David, he commanded it be returned to the most holy place. King Saul was glad to carry the Ark with him so on a whim he could inquire of the LORD, but David would entertain no such convenience. 2 Samuel 15:25-26 reads, "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. 26 But if He says thus: 'I have no delight in you,' here I am, let Him do to me as seems good to Him." So humble and contrite was David that he laid no claim or right to the throne. David allowed God the possibility to remove him from the throne. God had freely given, and David maintained God had the right (and his blessing!) to take away.
The following days revealed God was not finished with David, but would end the rebellion started by Absalom by granting David's loyal men a great victory. Yet even when the victory was secured through the death of usurping Absalom, David did not immediately return to the throne. He waited until the people requested his return, confirming his ordination by God to rule over all Israel. It is shocking to see such a heart of humility in a king, and is a foreshadowing of the meekness and humility of the King of kings, Jesus Christ. He was the King of the Jews, yet He laid down His life without resistance. He offered His cheeks to the smiters, and gave His back to the scourge. He bore the weight of the mockery and spitting, and Jesus did not recoil when the crown of thorns was pressed rudely into His scalp. He bore His own cross to Calvary in His humiliation, and He presented His hands and feet to the cruel nails. He could have insulated Himself from all pain and suffering, calling legions of angels to His aid. But He did nothing, except commit Himself fully to His heavenly Father who loved Him and called Him to suffer.
As one anointed by the Holy Spirit, do you still fight for your rights? Or have you learned from the example of men like David and Jesus who committed themselves to He who judges righteously? Jesus was not passive as He went to the cross, for it was an act of a will submitted to the Father's will. He actively sought God's favour for those ignorant souls who hated and murdered Him without cause. Even as David was restored to his former glory, Jesus was exalted above all others as the firstfruits from the dead, raised in eternal glory. He is both King and High Priest, having ascended to the Father and will someday return to judge the unbelieving world and rule with a rod of iron. There are many Absaloms around, usurping the authority of the true King, but they will all be overthrown and slaughtered by the sword which comes from the mouth of the Ancient of Days.
God will fight for us, and it is not weakness to meekly commit ourselves into His hand for He delights in us. He will do to us what seems good to Him, whose ways are grace, mercy, and truth.
No comments:
Post a Comment
To uphold the integrity of this site, no comments with links for advertising will be posted. No ads here! :)