The thankfulness towards God’s promise 2 Samuel 7:18-29

18 Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and he said: “Who am I, O Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?

In the position of David, it was such a grateful thing for him to be taken from a shepherd to a ruler of Israel. (7:8)

But when he heard the promise of God that he will give to David and his descendants, he was more overwhelmed.

We need to be careful that our thankfulness towards God’s promise would be cold.

When we first believed in Jesus, we shed tears that God has forgiven our sins and has made us his children.

However, as time passes by, our gratefulness towards God’s promise grows cold and our hearts become dull.

Jesus said to the Ephesus church who has forsaken the first love and became dull to repent and do the things they did at first. Otherwise, God would remove the lampstand. (Rv 2:4,5)

I hope that we would restore the new gratefulness towards God’s promise.

Shalom and God bless!

Unfeasible pursuit 2 Samuel 2:12-32

23 But Asahel refused to give up the pursuit; so Abner thrust the butt of his spear into Asahel’s stomach, and the spear came out through his back. He fell there and died on the spot. And every man stopped when he came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died.

A battle broke out. The army of Joab, David’s general, was chasing after the army of Abner.

The brother of Joab who was fast chased after Asahel.

Though Asahel was speedy, young and brave, he couldn’t defeat experienced Abner.

In order not to become an enemy of Joab, he told Asahel not to chase after him, but Asahel didn’t listen to him. So he had to kill Asahel.

In order to build his own attributes, Asabel overly chased after Abner.

We shouldn’t overly chase after our competitors. It’s important to maintain our conditions in front of God and walk on our own path.

Shalom and God bless!

Stand on God’s side! 2 Samuel 2:8-11

10 Ish-Bosheth son of Saul was forty years old when he became king over Israel, and he reigned two years. The house of Judah, however, followed David.
11 The length of time David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.

The general of Saul Abner made the son of Saul Ish-Bosheth as Israel king.

However, God already forsaken Saul and made David a king.

Ish-Bosheth was a king of Israel 11 tribes and David was just a king of one tribe, Judah.

However, the family of Saul was like a falling sun-it was destroyed after two years. And the family of David was like a rising sun-it became prosperous.

Therefore, we need to stand on the side of a person whom God established. Then whatever we do will be God’s work.

Shalom and God bless!

Sharing 1 Samuel 30:21-31

24 Who will listen to what you say? The share of the man who stayed with the supplies is to be the same as that of him who went down to the battle. All will share alike.”

When 400 people who participated the war with David came back, those who did not participate the war due to tiredness came and welcomed them.

The evil men and troublemakers among 400 said, “Because they did not go out with us, we will not share with them the plunder we recovered. However, each man may take his wife and children and go.”

However, David said that because God is the one who protected them and allowed them to win the battle and gave them the things that they plundered, so all the things should be shared alike.

The evil men and troublemakers thought that they won because of themselves, but David believed that they won because of God.

He did not just share the plunder with 200 people who did not participate the war but also the elders of Judea and other towns that he went.

Have the perception of community like David. And share the grace given by the Lord.

Shalom and God bless!

Principle of life 1 Samuel 24:1-15

4 The men said, “This is the day the LORD spoke of when he said to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.’ ” Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.

When the group of David was in a cave, Saul entered the cave and David had a chance to kill him.

David’s men told him to kill Saul, but he didn’t but cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.

Though Saul became corrupt as an evil king, but David had life principle of not harming the king anointed by the Lord with his own hand.

He was a man who feared God just by cutting off a corner of Saul’s robe and his heart smote him.

Have God’s words as the philosophy of your life. And absolutely obey it.

Shalom and God bless!

The protection of the almighty 1 Samuel 23:14-29

14 David stayed in the desert strongholds and in the hills of the Desert of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God did not give David into his hands.

Saul tried to kill David, but God did not give David into his hands.

Therefore, though David can see Saul, but in Saul’s eyes, David was invisible.

If God is determined not to give us into anyone’s hands, nobody can hurt us.

Therefore, the one who trusts God completely will have true peace in stillness like a weaned child with its mother. (Ps 131:2)

Rest completely like a child, rely on the almighty God in his embrace.

Shalom and God bless!

Love where God is the center 1 Samuel 20:1-42

42 Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the LORD, saying, ‘The LORD is witness between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants forever.’ ” Then David left, and Jonathan went back to the town.

When Saul tried to kill David, Jonathan, the son of Saul, protested David. This is because Jonathan loved David as his own life. (20:17)

They swore in the name of God and they wanted God to be eternally between them.

Between them, there was God. They loved each other having God as the center. That love transcended position, wealth and age. That was the love thicker than family.

I hope among us there will be such kind of love. I hope there will be love centered with Jesus Christ and transcends nation, people, race, wealth, education and age.

Shalom and God bless!

Set a mentor!

1 Samuel 19:18 When David had fled and made his escape, he went to Samuel at Ramah and told him all that Saul had done to him. Then he and Samuel went to Naioth and stayed there.

David trying to avoid Saul who tired to kill him went to Samuel. And David told everything that Saul did to him to Samuel.

Young David might have received much teachings from aged Samuel who served God.

He might have been taught the attitude in suffering and how he should serve God.

Likewise, a person who has a holy mentor who one can freely talk to and shares the difficulties with is a blessed one.

If you have a holy leader around you, make that person your mentor. If you do not have one make many holy people in the Bible as your mentor. Especially, make Jesus Christ as your mentor and receive his guidance.

Shalom and God bless!

God protects the life! 1 Samuel 19:1-17

10 The next day an evil spirit from God came forcefully upon Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the harp, as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand

When Saul tried to kill David, he was protected by Jonathan defending him.

One day, Saul threw a spear at David, he avoided it and got away from the danger.

Once, Saul sent his servants to kill David, Merab let him got away from it.

Though Saul really tried to kill David but he couldn’t.

It’s because David was in God’s hand.

Even one sparrow would’t die, if God doesn’t allow. God is the one who counts even our hairs. (Mt10:29, 30)

Therefore, rest in God who absolutely protects us.

Shalom and God bless!

The result of fear 1 Samuel 18:12-30

12 Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had left Saul.

If Saul knew that the Lord left him and was with David, he just needed to repent and let God be with him. But Saul did not try to fix himself but was afraid of David.

And in order to kill David, he tricked David to kill 100 Philistines and then he would give his daughter Merab as David’s wife.

However, David killed 200 Philistines and became king’s son-in-law and Merab also loved David. Saul was afraid of David more and became David’s lifelong enemy. (28, 29)

If we are afraid of people, we would trick people. However, if we are afraid of God, we would live a holy life.

If there’s a person who God is with, respect him. And take his example. And get away from the jealousy and have a clean and pure heart like a child so that God will be with us.

Shalom and God bless!