wright impression; wrong interpretation … misunderstanding that brings woes

In the course of time, the king of the Ammonites died, and his son Hanun succeeded him as king. David thought, “I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, just as his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent a delegation to express his sympathy to Hanun concerning his father.

When David’s men came to the land of the Ammonites, the Ammonite commanders said to Hanun their lord, “Do you think David is honoring your father by sending envoys to you to express sympathy? Hasn’t David sent them to you only to explore the city and spy it out and overthrow it?” So Hanun seized David’s envoys, shaved off half of each man’s beard, cut off their garments at the buttocks, and sent them away.

When David was told about this, he sent messengers to meet the men, for they were greatly humiliated. The king said, “Stay at Jericho till your beards have grown, and then come back.”

(JOURNEYING FROM GENESIS TO REVELATION; 2 SAMUEL  10)

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Peter and his people were misunderstood, 13Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.” The people of Sodom, not knowing what was comiing upon them, wanted the angels for wrong reasons! “They called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them.”

Lot went outside to meet them and shut the door behind him 7and said, “No, my friends. Don’t do this wicked thing. 8Look, I have two daughters who have never slept with a man. Let me bring them out to you, and you can do what you like with them. But don’t do anything to these men, for they have come under the protection of my roof.” 9“Get out of our way,” they replied. “This fellow came here as a foreigner, and now he wants to play the judge! We’ll treat you worse than them.” They kept bringing pressure on Lot and moved forward to break down the door.

Misrepresentation can be dangerous, and wrong interpretation can ruin so many things! Many people thought of doing something with a good intention and with an open heart, but their intends were misunderstood for a different reason and purpose! Just imagine thinking of doing good to people and receiving evil as a payback?

In the course of time, the king of the Ammonites died, and his son Hanun succeeded him as king. David thought, “I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, just as his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent a delegation to express his sympathy to Hanun concerning his father.

When David’s men came to the land of the Ammonites, the Ammonite commanders said to Hanun their lord, “Do you think David is honoring your father by sending envoys to you to express sympathy? Hasn’t David sent them to you only to explore the city and spy it out and overthrow it?” 4So Hanun seized David’s envoys, shaved off half of each man’s beard, cut off their garments at the buttocks, and sent them away.

5When David was told about this, he sent messengers to meet the men, for they were greatly humiliated. The king said, “Stay at Jericho till your beards have grown, and then come back.”

We must not just judge, for it is written, 1“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. We need the right understanding  for the right interpretation! We mostly misrepresent because we miss that understanding! Solomon says,  ‘Though it cost all you have, ^b get understanding.’ If there is anything so precious we must get in our generation, it must be the right understanding!

So many people have lost not just their true dignity and reputation, but lives because of slander and misrepresentation! So many people have vowed never to do certain good because their right intentions were miss understood by people as it is written,  2Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. How are we misinterpreting right intentions today? Think of how they took the works of Jesus Christ and let us be mindful of the written cautions, 

Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see. All the people were astonished and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”

24But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.”

25Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. 26If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? 27And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 28But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

29“Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house.

30“Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

33“Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. 34You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. 35A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

It was not just the fault of Hanun that the good heart of David turned into a ‘massacre’, but the people surrounding him who interpreted the good heart of David wrongfully to Hanun! Beware of the people surrounding you, and always seek the right confirmation before you act, lest a simple wrong step can portray your true weakness you thought was your true strength! Hanun and his men thought they could do it, but in the end, they realized it was a wrong step they took! A good panacea, is that true understanding and love of God for people 20 27  9 ! The hymn writer Horatius Bonar    says,

1 Beloved, let us love: 
for love is of God;
in God alone love has its true abode.

2 Beloved, let us love: 
for those who love,
they only, are his children from above.

3 Beloved, let us love: 
for love is rest,
and those who do not love cannot be blessed.

4 Beloved, let us love: 
for love is light,
and those who do not love still live in night.

5 Beloved, let us love: 
for only thus
shall we see God, the Lord who first loved us.

 

if the hands of time can change again, so many people will never misinterpret others right thought, actions and deeds! We ought to be truly sure before we talk; we need to have a full understanding before we take any action; we must be careful in all we do! Beloved, let us love! Isaiah says,

20Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. 21 

 

 

Days of remembrance; Mephibosheth & co …

David asked, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”Now there was a servant of Saul’s household named Ziba. They summoned him to appear before David, and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?”

“At your service,” he replied.

The king asked, “Is there no one still alive from the house of Saul to whom I can show God’s kindness?” Ziba answered the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is lame in both feet.”

“Where is he?” the king asked.

(JOURNEYING FROM GENESIS TO REVELATION; 2 SAMUEL  9)

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What are we going to be remembered for? Who will be favored tomorrow because of our today’s deeds? Who will frown tomorrow because of us? For Jonathan’s sake; for Jonathan’s sake! But what did Jonathan do? 1David asked, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”  Some people are rejoicing today because of certain people, and some are pondering today because of certain people!  There shall surely be a day of remembrance, for the good and for the bad; on what ‘sheet’ shall we find our names? Make that ‘cripple’ walk; if you cannot do that miracle, buy that ‘wheel chair’; do something!

Different days bring different moments of remembrance, the good and the bad, and reasons for taking certain good and bad actions; we must be mindful of the seeds we are sowing today; there shall surely be ‘germination’ and ‘fruit bearing’; 3 the good and the bad, for the next generation! Jonathan did his all to save David, least did he know that his son would one day reap the fruits of his efforts in a surprising way! What shall your children’s children reap because of you? 7. So many people do not see the need to do certain things today, and they only wait for a tomorrow to come and give them ‘a lesson of had I known’! How many Jonathan’s do we have in our days?

Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do for you.”

So David said, “Look, tomorrow is the New Moon feast, and I am supposed to dine with the king; but let me go and hide in the field until the evening of the day after tomorrow. If your father misses me at all, tell him, ‘David earnestly asked my permission to hurry to Bethlehem, his hometown, because an annual sacrifice is being made there for his whole clan.’ If he says, ‘Very well,’ then your servant is safe. But if he loses his temper, you can be sure that he is determined to harm me. As for you, show kindness to your servant, for you have brought him into a covenant with you before the Lord. If I am guilty, then kill me yourself! Why hand me over to your father?”

9“Never!” Jonathan said. “If I had the least inkling that my father was determined to harm you, wouldn’t I tell you?”

10David asked, “Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?”

11“Come,” Jonathan said, “let’s go out into the field.” So they went there together.

12Then Jonathan said to David, “I swear by the Lord, the God of Israel, that I will surely sound out my father by this time the day after tomorrow! If he is favorably disposed toward you, will I not send you word and let you know? 13But if my father intends to harm you, may the Lord deal with Jonathan, be it ever so severely, if I do not let you know and send you away in peace. May the Lord be with you as he has been with my father. 14But show me unfailing kindness like the Lord’s kindness as long as I live, so that I may not be killed, 15and do not ever cut off your kindness from my family—not even when the Lord has cut off every one of David’s enemies from the face of the earth.”

16So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, “May the Lord call David’s enemies to account.” 

David did not consider the nature of Mephibosheth as a cripple who least deserves a kings favor, but for the good of it, and for the sake of Jonathan! Was it the fault of Mephibosheth to be a cripple?1 2 8 20 “As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” There has always been a day of remembrance in peoples lives; do something worthwhile each day to be remembered for the good tomorrow! When a ‘great light falls from the skies’, it shall be a day of remembrance, for the good, and for the bad; as long as it is day, do something, for night cometh when no one can do anything! 23 . Is there anyone you can do good to? Remember somebody for the good, not just because of somebody, but for the Lord’s sake!

Go and bring somebody unto the table of God, for one day, in a glorious choral, we shall sing  our songs of joy to the Sovereign Lord God Almighty, for His redemption in Christ Jesus our Lord 1 9 10 16 , as we see others perish in hell fire without salvation! 12 

“Where is he?” the king asked.

Ziba answered, “He is at the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar.”

So King David had him brought from Lo Debar, from the house of Makir son of Ammiel.

6When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honor.

David said, “Mephibosheth!”

“At your service,” he replied.

7“Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.”

8Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?”

Surely restore somebody! Save, restore, guard and guide; go bring somebody; duty demands! Make each day a day of remembrance for somebody; it’s a non-negotiable duty! Be a good Jonathan today, for a surprising and smiling Mephibosheth tomorrow; why wait? Seek the lost; save the lost; duty demands; it’s a true charge to keep; a strict account to give! 12

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.

When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”

8But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”

9Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Are we on the Lord’s side? Who will serve the king? Frances R. Havergal (1877) admonishes us in the hymn,

1. Who is on the Lord’s side? Who will serve the King?
Who will be His helpers, other lives to bring?
Who will leave the world’s side? Who will face the foe?
Who is on the Lord’s side? Who for Him will go?
By Thy call of mercy, by Thy grace divine,
We are on the Lord’s side—Savior, we are Thine!

2. Not for weight of glory, nor for crown and palm,
Enter we the army, raise the warrior psalm;
But for love that claimeth lives for whom He died:
He whom Jesus saveth marches on His side.
By Thy love constraining, by Thy grace divine,
We are on the Lord’s side—Savior, we are Thine!

3. Jesus, Thou hast bought us, not with gold or gem,
But with Thine own lifeblood, for Thy diadem;
With Thy blessing filling each who comes to Thee,
Thou hast made us willing, Thou hast made us free.
By Thy grand redemption, by Thy grace divine,
We are on the Lord’s side—Savior, we are Thine!

4. Fierce may be the conflict, strong may be the foe,
But the King’s own army none can overthrow;
’Round His standard ranging, vict’ry is secure,
For His truth unchanging makes the triumph sure.
Joyfully enlisting, by Thy grace divine,
We are on the Lord’s side—Savior, we are Thine!

5. Chosen to be soldiers, in an alien land,
Chosen, called, and faithful, for our Captain’s band;
In the service royal, let us not grow cold,
Let us be right loyal, noble, true and bold.
Master, wilt Thou keep us, by Thy grace divine,
Always on the Lord’s side—Savior, always Thine!

Be on the Lord’s side; serve the king! 12

 

a true act of goodness, is the selfless act of doing good! a true act of doing good lifts someone from one state to another, in a somewhat an undeserving way, ‘piecing’ through the heart of the beneficiary, for a certain relief, redemption and salvation! There is no service to God as pleasant and true as the true service that truly pleases Him! James says,  27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

David’s victories… David’s dedication

When Tou  king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer, he sent his son Joram  to King David to greet him and congratulate him on his victory in battle over Hadadezer, who had been at war with Tou. Joram brought with him articles of silver, of gold and of bronze.

King David dedicated these articles to the Lord, as he had done with the silver and gold from all the nations he had subdued: Edom  and Moab, the Ammonites and the Philistines, and Amalek. He also dedicated the plunder taken from Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

(JOURNEYING FROM GENESIS TO REVELATION; 2 SAMUEL  8)

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Days may end; weeks may come to an end; months may see their ebbs, but the hurdles of life, big and small, which take our big and small joy, somewhat never come to an end! There are sometimes that it only takes the uplifting Mighty Hand of God Almighty to win certain battles of life! 31 45 Think of dedicating something to God, for He is good and His mercies and steadfast love endures forever 23. Like David who took account of the goodness of God and dedicated precious articles to HIM, Count your blessings and do something for God! Sometimes, the nature of the battles of life makes us forget what we must do to show our appreciation to God, when certain ‘battles’ are over! They were ten, but only one returned with thanksgiving and praises! 17Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?”   The hymn writer Johnson Oatman (1897) says,

1 When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Refrain:
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your blessings, see what God hath done;
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.

2 Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, ev’ry doubt will fly,
And you will be singing as the days go by. [Refrain]

3 When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings, money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high. [Refrain]

4 So, amid the conflict, whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end. [Refrain]

David was never without praises to God! David was never without thanksgiving! David was never without songs of exaltation! David was never without showing his deepest appreciation to God! David was never without dedication! Like the days gone, God still fight for us, even when we are not aware 12 and we must always enter His gates with thanksgiving, and dedicate something to Him! What must we dedicate unto the Lord? A total us 4 6 ! How can we be perfect before God? 48

Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”

“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”

18“Which ones?” he inquired.

Jesus replied, “ ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ ^c and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’ ^d ”

20“All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”

Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

3To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

We may seek to dedicate something to God, but let us never forget doing what is right and just before the Lord! If David had not obeyed  his father Jesse to send food to his brothers at the battlefield, he would would never have become the David who brought a certain salvation and liberation to the people, from the hands of Saul! 15  Someones salvation; someones joy; someones peace; someones liberation is in your hands; do something! Seek thy kingship above 15   20; dedicate something precious unto the Lord!

 1 Hark, the voice of Jesus crying,
“Who will go and work today?
Fields are white and harvests waiting;
Who will bear the sheaves away?”
Loud and long the Master calls us,
rich reward He offers free;
who will answer, gladly saying,
“Here am I, send me, send me”?

2 If you cannot cross the ocean,
and the distant lands explore,
you can find the lost around you,
you can help them at your door.
If you cannot give your thousands,
you can give the widow’s mite;
what you truly give for Jesus,
will be precious in His sight.

3 If you cannot be the watchman
standing high on Zion’s wall,
pointing out the path to heaven,
off’ring life and peace to all,
with your pray’rs and with your bounties
you can do what heav’n demands;
you can be like faithful Aaron
holding up the prophet’s hands.

4 Let none hear you idly saying,
“There is nothing I can do,”
while the lost of earth are dying,
and the Master calls for you:
take the task He gives you gladly;
let His work your pleasure be;
answer quickly when He calls you,
“Here am I, send me, send me.”

We must never forget we shall surely account for our just and unjust lives before the Living God Almighty! Let us therefore live right right now! Let the leader remember the people; let the king not forget the people, for it was because of the people, and His name sake, God brought the king; David did as such; pleasing God, and doing what is right for the people, unlike Saul! 15David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people. Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder; Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelek son of Abiathar were priests; Seraiah was secretary; 18Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites; and David’s sons were priests.

 

each day is a seen and unseen battle day of life, and God does so many things for us we must always endeavor to show not just our appreciation, but a total dedication unto Him 37 ! of all we can do for God, nothing surpasses doing what is just and right before the Lord 13 14 19 ! Live right!