Inspirational Message
Inspirational Message: David, God’s Anointed King
David was known extensively throughout the Middle East as a warrior King. He defeated all of Israel’s enemies! Only thirty years of age when he began reigning as king, he completed a forty year term. As we read Samuel 1 and 2 we can easily conclude that God helped David establish Israel as a strong nation capable of securing its borders against enemies. 2 Samuel 22 expresses David’s praises to God for His deliverance from enemies in a song of praise which also is repeated in Psalm 18. This Psalm of David describes his feelings on the day that the Lord delivered him from all of his enemies. 2 Samuel 22 and Psalm 18 are quite similar in recognition of God’s help for the Israelites and for us today in our stressful situations. None of us can ever thank God enough for all He has done for us or for all He will do in the future!
According to 2 Samuel 7: 1-13, was there a transition by God in David’s life? This was somewhat of a peaceful period of time from David’s enemies. David wanted to house the ark of God. Nathan used a parable to show David his weaknesses and their consequences of sin against God (2 Samuel 7: 2-13). What had God promised David in a covenant? Some possible answers may include securing a permanent dwelling place for the Israelites, to establish David’s house (family/dynasty) forever, allowing Solomon, David’s son, to build the temple after his death, and that this son’s throne and kingdom would last throughout eternity! These promises were later known through Solomon, David’s son and successor.
We learn of a partial glimpse of the new covenant that Jesus Christ later established. How is God’s covenant with David fulfilled in Jesus Christ and the new covenant? First and foremost, Jesus is a son of David and His kingdom is forever! Jesus’ blood sealed the new covenant. He is the key provider for the forgiveness of sins. David saw himself as a warrior-king, a flawed family man with several wives, a father, King of Israel and he much later became an ancestor to Jesus Christ. David was Israel’s greatest king, but with major flaws. 2 Samuel 7 describes how God reminded King David of how far He had brought him from being a shepherd to the throne of Israel. God knows when and how to exalt all of us.
Is it worthwhile to give God the honor and glory for our progress? God has allowed us to enhance our talents, our productive services to others, and to edify fellow human beings in our Christian endeavors. God has brought us from selfish purposeless lives into dynamic service for Him. We could never have done for ourselves what God has done for us! We must, in all fairness, give God unlimited praise and honor often. Just thinking of the goodness of God should inspire us to want to give back to God as we have been blessed.
When we read 2 Samuel 7: 18-29, we should be impressed with David’s sense of amazement towards God’s past blessings and hints of more awesome blessings that will be coming in the future. Of course it is impossible for us to visualize the concept of eternal life. We are painfully aware of our short comings like David was in Psalm 18, but we try to remain faithful to God.
From one time to another we must confess to occasions when our faith has grown weak and our obedience has been imperfect. God never wavers in His faithfulness to His covenant promises. How can we grow stronger spiritually? We can spend more time studying God’s word with other like-minded believers wherever we are situated. Let us continue to be careful not to despise the commandments of God and not to do evil in His sight (2 Samuel 12:9).
It may be helpful to remember that faithful people may still sin. Repentance does bring forgiveness from God, but it does not eliminate the consequences of sin. Our consequences may come in the form of physical, mental, financial, or otherwise. Only God determines our punishments.
We should frequently remind ourselves that earth’s death-shadowed existence will become a glorious life of endless hopes and joys in Jesus Christ. Meditate on many Biblical assurances of God’s faithfulness, knowing that we can prevail over doubts and follow God through His Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
Mrs. Gladys R. McElmore, a resident of Norfolk’s Middle Town Arch Community, is a New Journal and Guide Freelance Contributor on religion. She is a native of Essex County, Va.
