The Lord is my rock….. David sings…..

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;

my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,

my shield  and the horn of my salvation.

He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior—

from violent people you save me.”

JOURNEYING FROM GENESIS TO REVELATION

(2 SAMUEL 22)

Songs have power and there is power in songs! Songs bring ‘relief’; songs ‘soothes’ anxiety, no matter the situation. Sing a song; a good song unto the Lord; Just sing whole heartedly with an absolute faith and a total trust, and God Almighty will do something with the song! What’s the challenge? What’s the ‘battle’? Only sing. Their hands did not only win, but their song; 7

22As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated

The walls of Jericho did not go down by hands but by songs! 20When the trumpets sounded, the army shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the men gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so everyone charged straight in, and they took the city. How often do we sing from our hearts unto God?

Hope was ‘gone’, and they seemed to have been ‘trapped’ 25But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. What is impossible unto the LORD? 15

The hymn writer Frances Ridley Havergal  wrote,

Take my voice and let me sing always, only, for my King. Take my lips and let them be filled with messages from thee, filled with messages from thee.

David did not give his emotions and thinking to the ‘battles’ he faced, or the ‘detractions’ but singing; considering all that God had done for him, he took to singing

And he said:

“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
The God of my strength, in whom I will trust;
My shield and the horn of my salvation,
My stronghold and my refuge;
My Savior, You save me from violence.
4I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised;
So shall I be saved from my enemies.

“When the waves of death surrounded me,
The floods of ungodliness made me afraid.
The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me;
The snares of death confronted me.
7In my distress I called upon the Lord,
And cried out to my God;
He heard my voice from His temple,
And my cry entered His ears.

“Then the earth shook and trembled;
The foundations of heaven quaked and were shaken,
Because He was angry.
Smoke went up from His nostrils,
And devouring fire from His mouth;
Coals were kindled by it.
He bowed the heavens also, and came down
With darkness under His feet.
He rode upon a cherub, and flew;
And He was seen upon the wings of the wind.
12He made darkness canopies around Him,
Dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.
From the brightness before Him
Coals of fire were kindled.

14“The Lord thundered from heaven,
And the Most High uttered His voice.
He sent out arrows and scattered them;
Lightning bolts, and He vanquished them.
16Then the channels of the sea were seen,
The foundations of the world were uncovered,
At the rebuke of the Lord,
At the blast of the breath of His nostrils.

“He sent from above, He took me,
He drew me out of many waters.
18He delivered me from my strong enemy,
From those who hated me;
For they were too strong for me.
19They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
But the Lord was my support.
20He also brought me out into a broad place;
He delivered me because He delighted in me.

Sing a song; sing from your heart; sing a song, believe God to do something with your song;sing, sing! Make each day a singing day! Make each day a ‘singing day’ 47“The Lord lives!
Blessed be my Rock!
Let God be exalted,
The Rock of my salvation

PLEASE NOTE. THIS DEVOTIONAL MUST NOT BE TAKEN AS PERSONAL, POLITICAL OR SECT, BUT only A BIBLICAL JOURNEY FROM GENESIS TO REVELATION FOR ‘RELEVANT’ LESSONS TO HELP OUR JOURNEY ON EARTH TO OUR HEAVENLY FATHER . THE DEVOTIONAL HAS NO EXPRESS “RELATION” OR “AGREEMENT” WITH ANY ADVERTISEMENT HERE. BE CAREFUL THEN HAVING ANYTHING TO DO WITH SUCH BECAUSE OF THIS DEVOTIONAL JOURNEY. THANK YOU.

!

Taunted; a huge man; six toes…. Twenty four in all….

In still another battle, which took place at Gath, there was a huge man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot—twenty-four in all. He also was descended from Rapha. 21When he taunted Israel, Jonathan son of Shimeah, David’s brother, killed him.

JOURNEYING FROM GENESIS TO REVELATION

(2 SAMUEL 21)

From where comes fear? We mostly meet what renders our hope nothing and our fears something, like the days of the huge man who could speak and ‘trained hands’ for battle could only seek refuge from ‘fears’: 11 Goliath! 8 Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me.” …. He was taunting them; he was taunting them, but a man from ‘nowhere’ God had ‘trained’, 1 came to the ‘scene’, and to their rescue!

32David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.”

33Saul replied, “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth.”

Life is full of battles in different forms, and certain ‘battles’ bring fear! Yes fears, but God Almighty always does something when fears seem taunting faith! The battles of their days, might not be the ‘battles’ we face, but God still remains The Almighty God, able to do something. 14

Why not wake The Savior up, but ‘waste’ your efforts in such battle and storm? God allows certain things to happen for a purpose 3 Everything was going well in the boat but Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

26He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm

What or who is taunting our hope and faith today?

20In still another battle, which took place at Gath, there was a huge man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot—twenty-four in all. He also was descended from Rapha. 21When he taunted Israel, Jonathan son of Shimeah, David’s brother, killed him.

David was there for them against Goliath and here comes his brother against another huge man, but why could this brother not be there when Goliath came? Could that not have changed the ‘story line’ of David? God uses different vessels for different purposes at different times; we must not let what taunts us override what God seeks to do with us 28 14 33

20In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. 21Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.

If fear can have ‘power’; faith can also conquer! Have Faith! Fear not o brother; fear not o sister, 7For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. From nowhere Sanballat and Tobiah came taunting Nehemiah, but that could not increase his fears than His faith. 2 22

Why must we be anxious, when we are precious to God? 6 9 Is there anything taunting us? Let us leave anger 8 22 ; let us leave anxiety 7 ; let us take a joyful journey to God, in prayer 4 , He will answer! When we seem bieng taunted; when we seem facing yet another ‘battle’; when we seem loosing heart, let us call upon the Savior; let us ‘kneel before the cross’ in faith! He can come from ‘nowhere’ to rescue the perishing, and care for the dying! We do not need to ‘kill’ 52 17 19; we only need to kneel. We kneel beneath Thy Cross , o Lord, with our faith, with our heart!  E

1 Beneath the cross of Jesus
I fain would take my stand,
the shadow of a mighty Rock
within a weary land;
a home within the wilderness,
a rest upon the way,
from the burning of the noontide heat
and the burden of the day.

2 Upon the cross of Jesus
mine eye at times can see
the very dying form of One
who suffered there for me:
and from my stricken heart with tears
two wonders I confess,
the wonders of redeeming love
and my unworthiness.

3 I take, O cross, thy shadow
for my abiding place:
I ask no other sunshine than
the sunshine of his face;
content to let the world go by,
to know no gain nor loss;
my sinful self my only shame,
my glory all the cross.

WHAT IS YET OUR ANOTHER ‘BATTLE’? WHAT OR WHO IS TAUNTING? THERE IS THE GOD ALMIGHTY, CREATOR OF ALL, 17 OUR SAVIOR FROM ‘NOWHERE’; OUR TAUNTING TO HIS POWER; OUR SHAME TO HIS GLORY; TO HIS GLORY; TO HIS GLORY; GOD IS ABLE !!! 33

‘Situations’ taunt; ‘falsehoods’ taunts; people taunt; ‘battles’ taunt; ‘ certain things’ taunts, and we may meet seeming saviours 14 , but there comes always a rescuer from ‘nowhere’, not only like Isaiah1 , but our dear Lord Jesus Christ from The Father, a Savior from ‘nowhere’ 7 Who is able to handle our ‘battles’ 15 for us! We just have to call on Him in faith according to His Word, and according to the word of The ALMIGHTY GOD that says, 15Call upon Me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.”

EAY DEVOTIONS IS NON PERSONAL, POLITICAL OR SECT BUT A BIBLICAL JOURNEY FROM GENESIS TO REVELATION FOR ‘RELEVANT’ LESSONS TO HELP OUR JOURNEY ON EARTH TO HEAVENLY FATHER, CREATOR OF HEAVE AND EARTH

The reason?… seek HIS face..

During the reign of David, there was a famine for three successive years; so David sought the face of the Lord. The Lord said, “It is on account of Saul and his blood-stained house; it is because he put the Gibeonites to death.”

JOURNEYING FROM GENESIS TO REVELATION

(2 SAMUEL 21)

We must always not forget that God cares for the ‘helpless’, the ‘needy’, those who ‘bear pain in silence’ 17 3 and those who cannot ‘fight’ for themselves 7 The Lord sent Nathan to David. When he came to him, he said, “There were two men in a certain town, one rich and the other poor. The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle, 3but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him.

4“Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it for the one who had come to him.”

5David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, “As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this must die! 6He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity.”

7Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! 

David was not just the man, but the man to pay ‘penalties’ for pain he caused someone! Saul’s annihilations resulted in the famine in David’s reign; no speck of ‘evil’ goes in vain! Souls are weeping, 10 a blood is speaking, a sighing is talking 12 ; none free from woes! The dead seeks vengeance; 37 the living seeks to be ‘appeased’ to be at peace as John reveals,

When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained.10They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?”

Seek the The Lord; seek HIS face! Seek the Lord, but not in the ‘Saul’s way’ 6 7. Seek the Lord; pray, trust and obey! 126

1 Kum ba yah, my Lord, kum ba yah!
Kum ba yah, my Lord, kum ba yah!
Kum ba yah, my Lord, kum ba yah!
O Lord, kum ba yah!

2 Someone’s crying, Lord, kum ba yah!
Someone’s crying, Lord, kum ba yah!
Someone’s crying, Lord, kum ba yah!
O Lord, kum ba yah!

3 Someone’s singing, Lord, kum ba yah!
Someone’s singing, Lord, kum ba yah!
Someone’s singing, Lord, kum ba yah!
O Lord, kum ba yah!

4 Someone’s praying, Lord, kum ba yah!
Someone’s praying, Lord, kum ba yah!
Someone’s praying, Lord, kum ba yah!
O Lord, kum ba yah!

Things do not just happen in vain; there is always a certain reason ( to our understanding or not) behind ‘woes’, and not until we seek that understanding of why woes truly come, we shall always remain in woes and suffer 4 from our ‘ignorance’! One thing about David, that was not with Saul, David always sought the face of God, accepted his 12 ‘wrongs’ 9 and heeded to ‘corrections’ and so God was pleased with David! When we plant, 10 it should grow and efforts must not yield unsatisfactory fruits to result in famine 13 . 10 Woes of famine on the land, but why 29 ? Mistreatment from the man Saul, Saul! 6 37

Pharaoh was not free from ‘touching’ Sarah17, and they were not free from woes for keeping the Ark of ‘peace’! 37

2the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the Lord? Tell us how we should send it back to its place.”

3They answered, “If you return the ark of the god of Israel, do not send it back to him without a gift; by all means send a guilt offering to him. Then you will be healed, and you will know why his hand has not been lifted from you.”

4The Philistines asked, “What guilt offering should we send to him?”

Famine on the land because of Saul, but God warned them of their quest for a king, yet they would not listen, and for their hearts not to depart from HIM, He granted their plea but warned them of woes ahead 17 9 19 17

The whole people are suffering from famine because of wrongs done against a ‘few’ God was pleased with. A ‘simple’ wrong done against one can bring woes on many  7 ! 1 ‘Compensate’ well and be free, 8 not adding ‘sin’ upon ‘sin’, for the CREATOR of all hates something as Proverbs 6 says! 9

“What do you want me to do for you?” David asked.

5They answered the king, “As for the man who destroyed us and plotted against us so that we have been decimated and have no place anywhere in Israel, 6let seven of his male descendants be given to us to be killed and their bodies exposed before the Lord at Gibeah of Saul—the Lord’s chosen one.”

So the king said, “I will give them to you.”

They demanded for an ‘eye for an eye’, but Jesus Christ says, You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor  and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Saul is gone, though he was punished for wrong pursuance, but the result of his annihilations is here for people to bear! Consciously and or unconsciously, in our per second and daily words, thoughts, actions and deeds we ‘sow seeds’ that will yield fruits for a certain comfort or famine in different forms a coming tomorrow! We ought to be careful how we deal with people, no matter what, and how ‘fallible’ they seem to be! Nothing goes in vain! Let us find someone we have annihilated, and let compensate well to ‘avert’ future woes

And now, Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

PLEASE NOTE:

EAY DEVOTIONS IS NON PERSONAL OR POLITICAL, BUT A BIBLICAL JOURNEY FROM GENESIS TO REVELATION FOR ‘RELEVANT’ LESSONS TO HELP OUR JOURNEY ON EARTH TO HEAVEN

The trouble makers; the discord sowers…

Now a troublemaker named Sheba son of Bikri, a Benjamite, happened to be there. He sounded the trumpet and shouted,

“We have no share in David,

no part in Jesse’s son!

Every man to his tent, Israel!”

JOURNEYING FROM GENESIS TO REVELATION

(2 SAMUEL 20)

Whilst some gather, some scatter! There are some who are good at sowing discord 27 .There are some who always seek trouble, 2 to trouble others 6 and that is what God Almighty hates! Who is free from doing what God hates? 35 Everybody has something he or she hates and if the creation hates something, then the CREATOR also hates something. Who is sounding that ‘trumpet’ of discord 18 ? King Solomon’s Proverbs says,

16There are six things the Lord hates,

seven that are detestable to him:

17haughty eyes,

a lying tongue,

hands that shed innocent blood,

18a heart that devises wicked schemes,

feet that are quick to rush into evil,

19a false witness who pours out lies

and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.

Life comes in phases, and you may sometimes meet certain phase of the journey of life where people are deserted because of ‘people’, discord sowers and ‘traitors’! David experienced it, Apostle Paul 16 17 32 came to that point and Jesus Christ was not ‘exempted’, as He saw many departing, Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. 70Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? 71He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve. Not who leaves; not the ‘trouble makers’, but the courage to continue… as  Norman MacLeod  hymn says,

 Courage, brother! do not stumble,
though your path be dark as night;
there’s a star to guide the humble:
trust in God, and do the right.
Let the road be rough and dreary,
and its end far out of sight;
foot it bravely; strong or weary,
trust in God, trust in God, 
trust in God, and do the right.

2 Perish policy and cunning,
perish all that fears the light!
Whether losing, whether winning,
trust in God, and do the right.
Some will hate you, some will love you,
some will flatter, some will slight;
heed them not, and look above you:
trust in God, trust in God, 
trust in God, and do the right.

3 Simple rule and safest guiding,
inward peace, and inward might,
star upon our path abiding,
trust in God, and do the right.
Courage, sister! do not stumble,
though your path be dark as night;
there’s a star to guide the humble:
trust in God, trust in God, 
trust in God, and do the right.

Many people will go, but there are some who shall always remain loyal to the ‘royal journey’ full of ‘battles’, ‘conspiracy’ and ‘trouble makers’. They left because of Sheba, the discord sower; the trouble maker 2So all the men of Israel deserted David to follow Sheba son of Bikri. But the men of Judah stayed by their king all the way from the Jordan to Jerusalem. Beware of the Sheba’ s 6 21agenda, lest you discard a worthy ‘journey’.

Where are the loyal women of our days? Where are the Anna’s kind who can ‘stay’ faithful and true, wise, loyal and noble 10 to the end 36 ? But some shall fall by the alluring and cunning ways of the ‘trouble makers’; let us hear Apostle Paul’s deep concern for them as written, 2I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. 3But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

Some women, like Esther, like Abigail 32 , like Rahab 4 and the likes save situations, but some, like Delilah and the Jezebel’s pursues the blood of innocent people of God. The ‘destruction’ of a trouble maker bring peace, but the destruction and death of one innocent blood before God, like Jeremiah 14 35 results in calamities upon cities. When that situation comes, wise women are needed. A siege is here; a reason to hear and listen,

16a wise woman called from the city, “Listen! Listen! Tell Joab to come here so I can speak to him.”17He went toward her, and she asked, “Are you Joab?”

“I am,” he answered.

She said, “Listen to what your servant has to say.”

“I’m listening,” he said.

18She continued, “Long ago they used to say, ‘Get your answer at Abel,’ and that settled it. 19We are the peaceful and faithful in Israel. You are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why do you want to swallow up the Lord’s inheritance?”

Are there still the wise and the otherwise women? Let their words, steps, actions and deeds tell!

the journey of David back to his palace must be a not giving up inspiring lesson for us. Many people meet ‘unthinkable’ situations where all they see are trouble makers, and feel deserted, feel ’empty’ , unworthy of life and living, but there is always a certain hope of ‘rightful restitution’ in a certain tomorrow . Be convinced of the end; be courageous to get to the end. 4 Must we just give up on good people and purpose because of certain phases of life we meet 20? 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,  neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

‘Across’ Jordan; behold, our King comes..

Then the king returned and went as far as the Jordan.

Now the men of Judah had come to Gilgal to go out and meet the king and bring him across the Jordan. 

JOURNEYING FROM GENESIS TO REVELATION

(2 SAMUEL 19)

He met the storm when crossing to the other side, but He did something; 39He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

Elisha needed to get back so to continue duty, but no way out, 13Elisha then picked up Elijah’s cloak that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14He took the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and struck the water with it. “Where now is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over. We sometimes meet that ‘impossible’ 26 circumstance that renders our hope and lives nothing to be joyful of, but that is when we need to take that ‘cloth’ of faith 16 to get back to duty!

The king returns; he returns to reign I to the ‘end’. The king returns; he returns to give redemption 38 32. Behold our King comes 17 17! The king returns; he returns to show pardon 11 23 1 . The king returns; he returns to bring joy to the hearts of the ‘ Mephibosheths’ 14 24 . David, a man with a heart for people. The people were happy David was returning, because they knew he would be there for them; to fear God 2 in his reign as a king, and to remember the forgotten! David their redeemer; Jesus Christ our ‘all’ and Savior! There, there is, an undone task for us; an unending call of duty that demands our ‘all’; as Fanny Crosby tells us to,

 Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,
snatch them in pity from sin and the grave;
weep o’er the erring one, lift up the fallen,
tell them of Jesus the mighty to save.

Refrain:
Rescue the perishing,
care for the dying;
Jesus is merciful,
Jesus will save.

2 Though they are slighting Him, still He is waiting,
waiting the penitent child to receive;
plead with them earnestly, plead with them gently,
He will forgive if they only believe. [Refrain]

3 Down in the human heart, crushed by the tempter,
feelings lie buried that grace can restore;
touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness,
chords that are broken will vibrate once more. [Refrain]

4 Rescue the perishing, duty demands it;
Strength for thy labor the Lord will provide;
back to the narrow way patiently win them,
tell the poor wanderer a Savior has died. [Refrain]

Joy filled the heart of Zaccheous 6 ; and Joshua had his clothes changed 4. Something good always happens in the presence of a 2 good king! Sins are forgiven; the ‘arrested’ 11 gets pardon and joy is restored, but we ought to meet the king ‘rightly’, for that grace 1 11! When Shimei son of Gera crossed the Jordan, he fell prostrate before the king 19and said to him, “May my lord not hold me guilty. Do not remember how your servant did wrong on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem. May the king put it out of his mind. 20For I your servant know that I have sinned, but today I have come here as the first from the tribes of Joseph to come down and meet my lord the king.”23

It is written, 1Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 2Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit. He came sincerely for pardon, and it was granted unto him 19 9 15 .When sin rules the mind, true freedom is ‘questioned’ until there comes a pardon and redemption. Hope for the sinner; rememberance for the ‘forgotten’; a ‘different’ life to live; Jesus is calling; true redemption, pardon and eternal freedom for free! We only need to humbly come as we are 24 14 ; Jesus Christ is calling; why waiting when tomorrow is uncertain. He is calling; He is calling; Lewis Hartsough response in his words,

1. I hear Thy welcome voice
That calls me, Lord, to Thee,
For cleansing in Thy precious blood
That flowed on Calvary.

I am coming, Lord!
Coming now to Thee!
Wash me, cleanse me in the blood
That flowed on Calvary!

2. Tho’ coming weak and vile,
Thou dost my strength assure;
Thou dost my vileness fully cleanse,
Till spotless all, and pure.

I am coming, Lord!
Coming now to Thee!
Wash me, cleanse me in the blood
That flowed on Calvary!

3. ‘Tis Jesus calls me on
To perfect faith and love,
To perfect hope and peace and trust,
For earth and heav’n above.

I am coming, Lord!
Coming now to Thee!
Wash me, cleanse me in the blood
That flowed on Calvary!

4. All hail! atoning blood!
All hail! redeeming grace!
All hail! the gift of Christ our Lord,
Our strength and righteousness.

I am coming, Lord!
Coming now to Thee!
Wash me, cleanse me in the blood
That flowed on Calvary!

Some people always seek the destruction and death of others, and they forget Mordicai and Haman are good examples for us 8 . Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said, “Shouldn’t Shimei be put to death for this? He cursed the Lord’s anointed.”

22David replied, “What does this have to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? What right do you have to interfere? … Who thinks he has that right to question the things of God and of the Spirit of The Lord Jesus Christ, because of ‘fallibles’ 26 9 16 16 ? Let such take heed, lest he goes with the very wrath of God 32 and meet the ‘Saul to Paul’s’ experience on the way. The law of the flesh condemns, but the law of The Holy Spirit of God grants redemption and eternal freedom for the saints of God 1. 30

39So all the people crossed the Jordan, and then the king crossed over. The king kissed Barzillai and bid him farewell, and Barzillai returned to his home.

We may surely meet that Jordan of obstructions in our journey of life, and we shall surely somewhat along the journey of life be met with hatred or acceptance, but no matter what, we ought not to forget our faith in God Almighty and our true duty to HIS KINGDOM! The king is not yet in his palace, yet someone seeks another’s death 21 ; so it is in our days, many seek the fall, destruction 14 and death of others, 2 and they forget lessons from the past with Mordicai and Haman an example. 21 Many seek the Lord’s favor for different agenda 19Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”

who loves who… who hates who.. the king returns…

You love those who hate you and hate those who love you. You have made it clear today that the commanders and their men mean nothing to you. I see that you would be pleased if Absalom were alive today and all of us were dead. Now go out and encourage your men. I swear by the Lord that if you don’t go out, not a man will be left with you by nightfall. This will be worse for you than all the calamities that have come on you from your youth till now.”

JOURNEYING FROM GENESIS TO REVELATION

(2 SAMUEL 19)

Victory turns sorrow; joy turns a dirge; the pity of an untimely departure of a son a father loves, “The king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.” 2And for the whole army the victory that day was turned into mourning, because on that day the troops heard it said, “The king is grieving for his son.” One of the ‘hard’ things 21 in life: loving your enemy, but Apostle Paul admonishes us in our walk with God; Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;12rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; And he adds, 15Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Is it really practicable in our days30 ? 12 .

When the heart crows cold, ‘any’ thought holds; when the heart is discouraged, wickedness is encouraged! The man who has seen many ‘difficulties’ and ‘tyranny’, from facing Goliath to the pursuance of Saul, to the Hand of God bieng against him for shedding the blood of Uriah 15 6 , and the Absalom’s ‘uprising’, must not continue without learning his lessons 3

We sometimes least show appreciation for hands that help in certain victory we gain, 18 and repay good with evil, encouragement with 6 discouragement, sincerity with partiality, oblivious of the fact that the hand that ‘builds’ can be the the same that can destroy! Simple admonishing to stay safe; go and show appreciation; go and encourage the people. The battle might be over 13 , and the heart of the people must be appeased! David, a man of understanding!

Now go out and encourage your men. I swear by the Lord that if you don’t go out, not a man will be left with you by nightfall. This will be worse for you than all the calamities that have come on you from your youth till now.”

8So the king got up and took his seat in the gateway. When the men were told, “The king is sitting in the gateway,” they all came before him.

Meanwhile, the Israelites had fled to their homes.

We sometimes stumble in difficult times! We sometimes feel ‘devastated’ during trying times; it’s sometimes hard to ‘decide’ for ourselves during such times, and that’s when we need that good counsel; that’s when encouragement sees it’s importance! Encouragement to be courageous not to do evil, and not to ‘discourage’ those who help in ‘battles’ for an otherwise effects, as Norman MacLeod words speaks it all in the hymn

Courage, brother! do not stumble,
though your path be dark as night;
there’s a star to guide the humble:
trust in God, and do the right.
Let the road be rough and dreary,
and its end far out of sight;
foot it bravely; strong or weary,
trust in God, trust in God, 
trust in God, and do the right.

2 Perish policy and cunning,
perish all that fears the light!
Whether losing, whether winning,
trust in God, and do the right.
Some will hate you, some will love you,
some will flatter, some will slight;
heed them not, and look above you:
trust in God, trust in God, 
trust in God, and do the right.

3 Simple rule and safest guiding,
inward peace, and inward might,
star upon our path abiding,
trust in God, and do the right.
Courage, sister! do not stumble,
though your path be dark as night;
there’s a star to guide the humble:
trust in God, trust in God, 
trust in God, and do the right.

Battles put things assunder 31 , 9 but peace gather! Who speaks conspicuously about the king 20? Who blasphames against the Spirit of the LORD God Almighty 9 11? The people were devastated, but the king returns 12 ! David returns, and how prepared are the people? It is certain David will return, but when? A message was sent to the people, 11 and there is a message for us in our days; the very hour unknown, but we can still trust and obey! Jesus Christ is coming again! The generation 39 unknown; the hour hidden; the very time a secret, but we can remain prepared always to meet our King all the time and at any passing second of the clock hand. A message is sent to John in his Revelation unto us: Jesus Christ is coming again

Then he told me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this scroll, because the time is near.11Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy.”

“Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. 13I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

14“Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.15Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

16“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”

We have one simple duty as we prepare to meet our KING OF kings: to be steadfast in the LORD and be encouraged to do what is right in His sight, no matter what! What do we encourage and what do we discourage? How Christians are we in our days? How God fearing are we? Encourage somebody; duty demands! 22strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.

PLEASE NOTE: EAY DEVOTIONS IS NON POLITICAL OR SECT RELATED AND ONLY A BIBLICAL JOURNEY FOR ‘REAL LESSONS’ FROM THE BIBLE IN OUR DAYS!

One worth more than one…O Absalom… O Absalom

The king was shaken. He went up to the room over the gateway and wept. As he went, he said: “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you—O Absalom, my son, my son!” 

(JOURNEYING FROM GENESIS TO REVELATION)

(2 SAMUEL 18)

The mind is ‘questioned’; suspense; the heart ‘beats’ ; a news to hear; ‘envoy’ on the way; behold, is he coming with a good news? 7

Then the watchman cried out and told the king. And the king said, “If he is alone, there is news in his mouth.” And he came rapidly and drew near. 26

Then the watchman saw anotherman running, and the watchman called to the gatekeeper and said, “There is another man, running alone!”

And the king said, “He also brings news.”

Two men ‘carrying’ same news? 4 A father who loves his son, 8 regardless of how the son seeks his life, wishing to hear that good news about a battle and his son, but no; a dirge! Certain news bring joy, but we hear certain news, and we shake 33 . Who would not be happy to hear the destruction of his ‘enemy’? But David did not, even upon hearing the news of Saul’s end 12 55. Who ‘takes pride’ in shedding blood precious 19 in the sight of God?15 4 Let ‘such’ take a lesson from David, knowing that the very sins of man will 13 yield the deserving fruits, and The Lord God Almighty is capable of ‘enacting’ vengeance, as The Apostle Paul’s admonishing goes,

Repay no one evil for evil. Have[e]regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20Therefore

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”

21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Who pursues those God has blessed, and stays free from HIS curses. 3 . And who touches the apple of God’s eye and be free from ‘cries’, 10 3 for David had prayed, 8Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings, 9From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.

Saul tried it, but after all he did, it ended in his own tragic abrupt end by a sword 52 4 5 And now, Absalom! God knew why Saul and Jonathan ‘had to go’, and just imagine the tyrannical battle that would come between Absalom and Solomon, who would be enthroned to reign in peace, knowledge, wisdom and understanding; something must happen 20 for Absalom to go likewise!

To David, Absalom must live, but how can he go free from rising against God, though he thinks he is against a ‘mere’ mortal David and his men? There are certain things pardonable by God 25 ,16 17 but there are certain things God never forgives, even if men after HIS heart show compassion 5 , 22 as Jesus Christ said,

… every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men.32Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.

The abominable before God; 21 O Absalom, a ‘deserving’ death? 3 He should have considered the words of David 5 14But Joab declared, “I am not going to wait like this with you!” And he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the oak tree. 15And ten young men who carried Joab’s armor surrounded Absalom, struck him, and killed him.

We cannot live to please the LORD, so to have His divine protection and ‘saving’, without obedience to HIS WORD, 3 H. W. Baker (1861) speaks to us with the hymn,

1 Lord, thy word abideth,
and our footsteps guideth;
who its truth believeth
light and joy receiveth.

2 When our foes are near us,
then thy word doth cheer us,
word of consolation,
message of salvation.

3 When the storms are o’er us,
and dark clouds before us,
then its light directeth,
and our way protecteth.

4 Who can tell the pleasure,
who recount the treasure
by thy word imparted
to the simple-hearted?

5 Word of mercy, giving
succour to the living;
word of life, supplying
comfort to the dying.

6 O that we discerning
its most holy learning,
Lord, may love and fear thee,
evermore be near thee!

Absalom’s death brought an end to the battle, but what did Absalom leave behind 18 ? A monument; a monument! We ought to leave a ‘legacy’ 22 ; we ought to leave a ‘monument’ ; 2 17 a ‘monument’ pleasant unto God! What is said of Absalom? The son who wanted to take the life of his father God was pleased with; a monument of remembrance! Could Absalom not have that right counsel 19 to learn lessons from Saul, so to repent, retreat and be pardoned by God? 2 but… same story 9. What are we learning in our days from history so not to repeat, as written, there is nothing new under the sun. 9

13Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.14For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil

David and his men were people God was with 31. The people cherished David, for he was worth more than one to them. 28 . 3 . And so are we unto God; we are worth more than one in HIS sight, and our redemption is a great joy in Heaven.7 10. Since God value us, as more than more , we ought to be obedient to His word, with all sincerity, so He will always be against those who rise against us! 26 7

‘Right’ motive; wrong pursuit; This plan seemed good but…

Ahithophel said to Absalom, “I would choose twelve thousand men and set out tonight in pursuit of David. I would attack him while he is weary and weak. I would strike him with terror, and then all the people with him will flee. I would strike down only the king 3and bring all the people back to you. The death of the man you seek will mean the return of all; all the people will be unharmed.” This plan seemed good to Absalom and to all the elders of Israel. But Absalom said, “Summon also Hushai the Arkite, so we can hear what he has to say as well.” When Hushai came to him, Absalom said, “Ahithophel has given this advice. Should we do what he says? If not, give us your opinion.”

(JOURNEYING FROM GENESIS TO REVELATION)

2 SAMUEL 17

Twelve thousand men in pursuit of a man after the heart of God, but the Almighty is mightier than the foes of David His chosen 19 . Many countless times of pursuits of people after the heart of their Creator 38 , but the lessons from the woes of wrong pursuance always remain ‘latent’ to the pursuers until they meet the ‘Absalom’ woes in another chapter.14. The thought of Pharaoh; the thought of Absalom. Pursue! Pursue! Pursue whilst he is weary and weak 9, but there is A Creator above; hearing and watching 9, able to save the wandering 31! Lessons from the days of Moses and his pursuers remained for them in their days, 26 and would they heed to the warnings of Jeremiah, as they tyrannically handled him at the displeasure of The Creator 15? Many always remain oblivious of what comes with pursuing ‘persons’ after the heart of God. 1. The people at heart, but a man to strike 3 ! O Absalom, ye not know what the writings mean, 14He allowed no one to oppress them; for their sake he rebuked kings: 15“Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm.” Why should many go after ‘one’ God is with, and even if they succeed, will The Creator, The Lord God Almighty not avenge? 6 4 9

35It is mine to avenge; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; their day of disaster is near and their doom rushes upon them.” 36The Lord will vindicate his people and relent concerning his servants when he sees their strength is gone and no one is left, slave or free.

Pharaoh got his counsel together; decision: go after them 4 ; Who will give that good counsel 38 and who will tell him of the end of the matter 13? The had I known of Pharaoh: right but wrong counsel. Whose counsel must we go with, the Ahithophel or the Hushai? King Solomon’s Proverbs says, 14For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers. So many people had good thoughts, but the people around them made them do the ‘Pharaoh and Absalom’s thing’ .9 .

Be like Hushai; be there for someone! Be like Hushai; save the innocent, even in their absence! 14Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Arkite is better than that of Ahithophel.” For the Lord had determined to frustrate the good advice of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom. 15Hushai told Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, “Ahithophel has advised Absalom and the elders of Israel to do such and such, but I have advised them to do so and so. 16Now send a message at once and tell David, ‘Do not spend the night at the fords in the wilderness; cross over without fail, or the king and all the people with him will be swallowed up.’ ”

Many people have that ‘good counsel’ to destroy, but God knows how to save His people! Many seek all the wisdom, understanding and counsel of creation to enact ‘agenda’, but how can we ‘know it all’. Job realized the real source of true counsel 28And he said to the human race, “The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.”

A servant saved Naaman 13! A servant saved David by the message and we must always have a listening ears for people, no matter who they are; they may have a saving message for us! 17Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at En Rogel. A female servant was to go and inform them, and they were to go and tell King David, for they could not risk being seen entering the city. 18But a young man saw them and told Absalom. So the two of them left at once and went to the house of a man in Bahurim. He had a well in his courtyard, and they climbed down into it. 19His wife took a covering and spread it out over the opening of the well and scattered grain over it. No one knew anything about it.

in all we do, directly and or indirectly, our actions and inaction’s, save or mar lives! In all we say, directly and or indirectly, our words are a good or the otherwise counsel to make or mar lives! in all we do, directly and or indirectly, we stand for or against God ; we ought to be careful therefore with what we do each passing moment of time! What do we ponder over? The outcomes of our discussions and counsels produce steps and actions! How wrong are our counsels, and how right are our actions?

8Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you

PLEASE NOTE: EAY DEVOTIONS IS NON POLITICAL, AND ONLY A BIBLICAL JOURNEY !

Journeying to the ‘mountains’; curses on the way!

As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the same clan as Saul’s family came out from there. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and he cursed as he came out. He pelted David and all the king’s officials with stones, though all the troops and the special guard were on David’s right and left. As he cursed, Shimei said, “Get out, get out, you murderer, you scoundrel!

(JOURNEYING FROM GENESIS TO REVELATION;  2 SAMUEL 16)

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Sooner or later the deeds that bringeth ‘curses’ will meet ‘us’ on the way!  Sooner or  later, the good we do will ‘revisit’ us! The good intentions and act of goodness done to a ‘forgotten’ Mephibosheth becomes an ‘unforgettable’ act of goodness to comfort the king in a future, but a ‘certain’ Ziba  seeks a certain favor at the expense of the true owner. Ziba is here because of Mephibosheth, but …

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.”

4“Where is he?” the king asked.

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

5So 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.”

For the sake of Jonathan; for the sake of Jonathan, but what did he do? Jonathan; the saviour of David!  16  . A life saved today, can be a life to save a life tomorrow! Least did David ‘know’ that the good acts to Mephibosheth the cripple he raised to his table, would come and ‘cloth’ him in his ‘cold’ moment: do good today, ‘save yourself’ tomorrow! A fovor done to a cripple who finds favour of a king, through a servant now becomes a favour to a king, by a servant; a paradox; all because of Jonathan! Sow good seeds for your yet descendants today; you may never know how you might be destroying your ‘tomorrows’ savior   and ‘comforter’ today! The Galatians admonishing goes,

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers 12 

By and because of someone from the same root of Saul blessings come to a king in distress; by another,  curses meet him, 11 but the recipient of both, David the king, had a heart of understanding! He was just coming out; he was just coming out, and with curses!  Many people can just curse, but King Solomon says, 2Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow,  an undeserved curse does not come to rest.

Patience is all we need to understand people. True humility and an absolute repentance can change curses into blessings.1 14   12

5As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the family of the house of Saul was just coming out. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and as he approached, he kept yelling out curses. 6He threw stones at David and at all the servants of the king, though the troops and all the mighty men were on David’s right and left

7And as he yelled curses, Shimei said, “Get out, get out, you worthless man of bloodshed! 8The LORD has paid you back for all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned, and the LORD has delivered the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. See, you have come to ruin because you are a man of bloodshed!”

Why should David’s own son rise against him? Did Shimei really understand what he was doing? people may not understand the journey, and so they may ‘curse’ you along the way! People may not understand the journey, and so they may misinterpret the journey; sometimes respond 3, but most times, allow the ‘journey’ to go on! In the end, the true nature of the ‘Ahithophels’, and the conspiracy of the ‘Absaloms’ will surely see a certain end! 15   3   . Courage, o king David, do not stumble. Sing as you journey on!  N . 1   2

1 Courage, brother! do not stumble,
though your path be dark as night;
there’s a star to guide the humble:
trust in God, and do the right.
Let the road be rough and dreary,
and its end far out of sight;
foot it bravely; strong or weary,
trust in God, trust in God, 
trust in God, and do the right.

2 Perish policy and cunning,
perish all that fears the light!
Whether losing, whether winning,
trust in God, and do the right.
Some will hate you, some will love you,
some will flatter, some will slight;
heed them not, and look above you:
trust in God, trust in God, 
trust in God, and do the right.

3 Simple rule and safest guiding,
inward peace, and inward might,
star upon our path abiding,
trust in God, and do the right.
Courage, sister! do not stumble,
though your path be dark as night;
there’s a star to guide the humble:
trust in God, trust in God, 
trust in God, and do the right.

Beware of that ‘Ahithophel’; 20 becareful of that ‘Absalom’! 22 Beware of those ‘conspirators’! Some people can give a very good advice, but with a bad ending! Beware; not all are from God Almighty 23  . Not all belongs to Jesus Christ, the son of The Living God though they are in the vineyard.    5  5   18 13 3 37

David was on a journey; a journey to the summit, and we are also on journey; a journey to ‘a land above’; a journey to our Captain; The Captain of ‘Israel’s’ host; we have a land to seek; a ‘land above’ to seek! We come, o Lord; we come, o Lord; for Thy comfort, we come 25! For Thy protection we beseech! For Thy salvation we yearn; o Lord receive us; gladly and warmly; may all Thy your be ours; may all for us be unto Thee 4  3! We come, o Lord; we journey on, o Dear Lord Jesus Christ! Charles Wesley speaks to encourage  us as we journey on in his hymn

1 Captain of Israel’s host, and guide 
of all who seek the land above,
beneath your shadow we abide, 
the cloud of your protecting love;
our strength, your grace; our rule, your word:
our end, the glory of the Lord.

2 By your unerring Spirit led,
we shall not in the desert stray;
we shall not full direction need,
nor miss our providential way;
as far from danger as from fear
while love, almighty love, is near.

What journey are we taking? Where are we heading towards? What things are just ‘popping up’? Not what we meet, but how we ‘handle’ what we meet!

 

life is a journey, and we are on a journey! Many have come to take this journey, and many things happened to them along the way; some met blessings, and some met curses, and it is a different same journey for us today; And just as  Shimei just appeared, the  very minute and the very moment of ‘that uncertainty’ of life, is truly uncertain to us!  36

David did not see the man who just came to curse him, all the more he journeyed on! In our journey also to the ‘mountains’, we may meet certain things and we may pass by many things; when you pass by the sign post of the town, you know you are nearer to the town, and you least see the sign post, all the more you go farther from it, you draw nearer to the town!

There is a rest on the mountains, and the Ark rested on the mountain. 5 . When  we least and seldom see that ‘sign post’: the rainbow of the seal 12  13 16  of the Lord’s anger, vengeance and ‘curses’ 22   on land, as we should see it, though we see the heavy clouds which brings sudden ‘woes’, we should know, we are passing by that sign post, and we are really heading towards the ‘mountains’ , for rest and comfort  22 , or for fire destruction.  39 29 56

O Lord, grant us THY grace and strength, to journey on well with a good understanding!  24To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— 25to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.

 

Stolen hearts

But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went; his head was covered and he was barefoot. All the people with him covered their heads too and were weeping as they went up. Now David had been told, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David prayed, “Lord, turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness.”

(JOURNEYING FROM GENESIS TO REVELATION;  2 SAMUEL 15)

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Are we the reason why someone is ‘crying’? Are we the reason why someone is on a wrong ‘journey’? Are our hands part of that ‘conspiracy’? Are we truly innocent of transgressions? Are we stealing peoples’ heart wrongly? 1 O Absalom, ‘where from you’? The Absalom David had a heart for, now becomes the Absalom to teach David a lesson; the paradoxes of life! Imagine a king weeping! Many people think it takes just ‘a step’ to get to God’s divine will, and they forget they need the Hand of the Almighty in their endeavors so to do His will pleasantly, enduring the ‘training’ in obedience and staying steadfast to the commands of the Lord whole heatedly.

We may do all things possible to ‘thwart’ 31  what God has purported, but the Alpha and the Omega knows the true ways of all. 2. Think of the journey of David, obeying God’s divine training, as a shepherd protecting his flock from wolves, 15 2 to facing Goliath, his ‘battle’ with Saul, and all he went through by the divine protecting Hand of God, and now Absalom is here to ‘sow bad seeds’ 32 with conspiracy to ‘reign’! 27. Behold,  there are some in our days who are showing a different way.6. Behold, there are some in our days who are conspiring to assume ‘wrong’ position. 19   34

Beware of the alluring ways of the world! Be very careful of things that are diverting your attention from God. Mind the very things that are ‘stealing’ your heart before such things ‘steal’ your whole body! If possible, stay from they that turn hearts 27 away from the Way; do not journey on their path except you can lead them from there to the Way, 8 and do not ‘dress’ like them 14 ! Becareful of the ‘little foxes’; mind the Absaloms’ 15

In the course of time, Absalom provided himself with a chariot and horses and with fifty men to run ahead of him. 2He would get up early and stand by the side of the road leading to the city gate. Whenever anyone came with a complaint to be placed before the king for a decision, Absalom would call out to him, “What town are you from?” He would answer, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel.” 3Then Absalom would say to him, “Look, your claims are valid and proper, but there is no representative of the king to hear you.”

There is no representative of the king, but Absalom is here; many seem to take God to the ‘backstage’, claim to know Him and act on His behalf with all manner of ‘conspiracy’, 19Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”

David’s woes is resulting from trusting much; appending ‘any request at all’ 22 ;  o king, do not just trust 7 anyone at all; o king, mind and discern the hearts of people well; o king, granting certain request can be such a good bait and a strategic hook for thy own woes!

7At the end of four ^a years, Absalom said to the king, “Let me go to Hebron and fulfill a vow I made to the Lord. 8While your servant was living at Geshur in Aram, I made this vow: ‘If the Lord takes me back to Jerusalem, I will worship the Lord in Hebron. ^b ’ ”

9The king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he went to Hebron.

We ought to depend on God, always and always; we need to rely on Him, all the time, so to have His interventions in unaware conspiracies which can render us ‘crying’! It could have been a simple ‘stop’ to the whole ‘process’ of Absalom’s conspiracy, should David have stopped granting that request, but how can we know what is truly  in the hearts and minds of people; they stand before you nicely, but with a hidden agenda! Jesus Christ told them,

34And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 35For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

Some people who become a part of conspiracy may be innocent 11 , but for conspiracy to ‘gain grounds’ , there must be someone with you who knows your very ‘secret, loopholes and strength’. 31Now David had been told, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David prayed, “Lord, turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness.”

Sometimes, it gets to the point where our strength and certain efforts cannot solve situations, and we must only depend on prayers! David prayed! Our world today finds itself  ‘hijacked’ by certain conspiracies; many are in the mid of certain situations, but there is a ‘weapon’ for us: prayer. Prayer brings relief; prayer gives strength to the body, soul and Spirit therefore, 17pray continually.  In Apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, he encouraged them to

10, … be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

May the Word of God be our guide in this alluring journey of life full of conspiracies.   H. W. Baker (1861) says

1 Lord, thy word abideth,
and our footsteps guideth;
who its truth believeth
light and joy receiveth.

2 When our foes are near us,
then thy word doth cheer us,
word of consolation,
message of salvation.

3 When the storms are o’er us,
and dark clouds before us,
then its light directeth,
and our way protecteth.

4 Who can tell the pleasure,
who recount the treasure
by thy word imparted
to the simple-hearted?

5 Word of mercy, giving
succour to the living;
word of life  supplying
comfort to the dying.

6 O that we discerning
its most holy learning,
Lord, may love and fear thee,
evermore be near thee!

When the ‘storms’ come,  like David, pray, act well and ‘climb the mountain’. 32.22 . David’s kingship on Earth could experience a certain invasion, but we have a kingship above which is solid and strong. Many seek to rule and reign on Earth at all cost and through all means, by all conspiracy and ‘falsehood’   20But our citizenship is in heaven.  28Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29for our “God is a consuming fire.”

 

some have trusted people and they are now in a certain ‘danger’; some have approved certain request and it has become a woe unto them; some have helped others only to be paid back with conspiracy and ‘evil’ .

There are so many issues in our hearts driving our daily thoughts, quest and desires, decisions and choices for actions, and we must always be careful in all we do. 13 14

All things we do have their roots in our hearts and minds and so it is written,

23Above all else, guard your heart,

for everything you do flows from it.