DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- MUCH MORE

MUCH MORE
II Samuel 12:7b-9a
 
"Thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave you your master's house and your master's wives into your keeping and gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if that had been too little, I also would have given you much more! Why have you despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight?' "
 
That is a great question -- "Why?"  God recounted the blessing He had given David. Yet David had despised God's law and treated it as unworthy of obedience. God has been so good to me, He has favored me with such abundant blessing and entrusted me with so much. Why in the world do I sometimes treat His commandments as worth nothing? How many blessings have I missed because of my unfaithfulness? How "much more" would He have given me if I had been obedient? "No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly" (Psalm 84:11b). "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him" (I Corinthians 2:9). Does it pay to live righteous? Yes! Yes!! Yes!!!
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: The dividends for obeying God's commandments are out of this world.
 
[end]
 
Have a "much more" day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- JUDGING OTHERS

 JUDGING OTHERS
II Samuel 12:5-7a
 
"So David's anger was greatly aroused, and he said to Nathan, 'As the LORD lives, the man who has done this shall surely die! And he shall restore fourfold for the lamb, because he did this thing and had no pity.' Then Nathan said to David, 'You are the man!' "
 
It is so easy to be like David – ready to condemn the sin of other people while I am guilty of the same or greater transgression. I can see clearly the faults of others and judge them, while I look past my own failures. No wonder Jesus said, "Judge not that you be not judged ....Why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye but do not consider the plank in your own?" (Matthew 7:1, 3). I have 20/20 vision when it come to seeing the shortcomings of my neighbor, but I have cataracts when it comes to seeing myself. In my old age, I find myself unaware that food is dribble down my chin, and my wife has to tell me to clean it off. "If we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged" (I Corinthians 11:31). Lord, help me to see myself clearly!
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: God calls us to judge ourselves before we judge others.
 
[end]
.
Have a self-inspection day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- WORD PICTURES

 WORD PICTURES
II Samuel 12:1b, 5a
 
"And [Nathan] came to [David], and said to him: 'There were two men in one city, one rich and the other poor.'....And David's anger was greatly aroused."
 
Nathan painted a word picture to David about a rich man who had many sheep, but who took a poor man's only ewe lamb. Jesus also taught in parables to convey His messages. Word pictures are powerful because they impact the emotions more than just telling facts. Instead of just telling David how he had sinned, Nathan got David involved to the point that David's anger was aroused. My son-in-law, Ted, has that gift of writing that draws you into the story. (Visit his blog at www.lbgtmsf.com – "Life's Been Good To Me So Far." ) I can only  wish I could tell stories like that, because it is such a powerful way to convey truth. 
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Word pictures are a powerful way to communicate because they touch the emotions.
 
[end]
 
Have an emotional day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- SENT

 SENT
II Samuel 12:1a
 
"Then the LORD sent Nathan to David."
 
God loved David too much to allow him to continue in his sin, and he sent a prophet to speak truth to David. God speaks to me in many forms if I will listen – through His Word, through a personal encounter, through a posting on Facebook, and through circumstances. He even speaks to me through my spouse and through the preacher at church if I have an open heart. It isn't always easy to hear a word of correction when someone talks to me about a blind spot. But I have a choice whether I will listen and heed, or reject and keep going down the same ugly path. David listened and repented. Lord God, attune my heart to hear Your words of correction in the words of the people You send into my life.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: God uses other people to speak His truth into my life.
 
[end]
 
Have a listening day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- SIN BY PROXY

SIN BY PROXY
II Samuel 11:14-15
 
"In the morning it happened that David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah. And he wrote the letter saying, 'Set Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retreat from him, that he may be struck down and die.' "
 
David! David! Is there no end to your evil scheme? That's one of the problems with sin. It is never satisfied. One sin calls for another. When Uriah frustrated David's effort to cover his sin with Bathsheba, there was only one option left: murder Uriah. Poor innocent Uriah carried the orders for his own execution to Joab. Even though David tried to keep a distance between himself and Uriah's murder by getting Joab and the enemy involved, his hands were still stained with guilt because he was the mastermind. Even though I may incite others to do the dirty work, I am as guilty for the crime as if I had done it with my own hands. Sin by proxy is still sin.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Getting someone else to do evil does not alleviate the guilt of the person who incites another person to
sin.
 
[end]
 
Have a guiltless day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE COVERUP

 THE COVERUP
II Samuel 11:6-8
 
"Then David sent to Joab, saying, 'Send me Uriah the Hittite.' And Joab sent Uriah to David....And David said to Uriah, 'Go own to your house and wash your feet.' So Uriah departed from the king's house, and a gift of food from the king followed him."
 
The rest of this chapter is one sordid coverup involving intrigue, deception, and murder. President Nixon's coverup of Watergate doesn't come close, and President Clinton's Lewinski affair pales in comparison. David's plan was to make it appear that Uriah was the father. So when Uriah was brought home from the war, David feigned interest in how the war was going (vs. 5), and then sent him home to Bathsheba. Perhaps in an attempt to assuage his guilty conscience, David also sent a gift to Uriah. But the conscience is not so easily cleared, even by trying to make up for the transgression by doing a good deed. How much differently this episode would have turned out if David had gone directly to his prayer of repentance in Psalm 51: "Have mercy upon me, O God ... Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgression, and my sin is always before me" (Psalm 51:1-3). He would have saved himself and others a lot of pain and distress.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Covering up sin by doing good does not cleanse the conscience; only repentance can take care of guilt.
 
[end]
 
Have a "clear conscience" day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- DELAYED EVIDENCE

 DELAYED EVIDENCE
II Samuel 11:5
 
"And the woman conceived; so she sent and told David, and said, 'I am with child.'
 
It may take awhile for sin to be exposed, and the guilty person may think he has gotten away with it. But just as surely as it took three months of missed menstrual cycles for Bathsheba to know she was pregnant, and she began to have morning sickness, and her tummy began to grow, so the sinner can be sure that the sin conceived will become evident in due time. Just because there is no immediate evidence does not mean that I am guiltless. The Bible is true when it says, "Be sure your sin will find you out" (Numbers 32:23).
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: The consequence of sin may be delayed, but it will become evident in time.
 
[end]
 
Have a pure day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- SELF-CONTROL

 SELF-CONTROL
II Samuel 11:3b-4
 
"And someone said, 'Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?' The David sent messengers and took her; and she came to him and he lay with her, for she was cleansed from her impurity; and she returned to her house.' "
 
Unrestrained sexual appetite is a powerful force in a man's life and has humbled more than one godly man. David's was out of control. He already had at least seven wives (Ahinoam, Abigail, Maacah, Haggith, Abital, Eglah ((II Sam. 3:2-5)), and Michal). But these were not enough. He wanted more. That's the trouble. When lust is not controlled, it is never satisfied. It seems that there was nothing that could stop David. He knew he was violating God's Law #10 – "You shall not covet your neighbor's wife" (20:17). He knew that Bathsheba's chance of conception was high because she was cleansed of her impurity; that is, she was past her menstrual cycle and was in her peak of fertility. He knew that she was married, and off-limits. He knew his reputation was at stake because other people were aware of his improprieties. But his passion was greater than his knowledge; he wanted what he wanted! Even the greatest, most gifted, and God-anointed person can succumb to his lusts if he does not control his hormones. It takes inner strength to live a disciplined life.  The only way to control fleshly lusts is by Spirit control  (Galatians 5:23). I am determined to live the "straight" life.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Knowledge is not enough. The Spirit-controlled life is the only way to overcome the lusts of the flesh.
 
[end]
 
Have a Spirit-controlled day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- TEMPTATION

 TEMPTATION
II Samuel 11:2-3a
 
"Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king's house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold. So David sent and inquired about the woman."
 
The problem was not the king's insomnia, nor the woman's private bathing, nor the woman's beauty, nor the accidental view from the roof-top. It was the lingering gaze and eventual pursuit of the woman that caused the problem. It is difficult to avoid seeing such images, especially in such a blatantly sexualized society as ours. Surfing the TV channels will often show indecent and inappropriate scenes. Uninvited pornography pops up on the computer. What do I do with these situations? Do I linger there, or go back for another look, or even seek out more? What I do with accidental encounters is the issue. This I know: "Each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death" (James 1:14-15). Conception happens by laying together with it. The best way to avoid sin is to refuse to sleep with the temptation.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Temptation is unavoidable, but the pursuit of it is not.
 
[end]
 
Have a chaste day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBINGS -- KEEPING OCCUPIED

 KEEPING OCCUPIED
II Samuel 11:1
 
"I happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem."
 
It has been observed that David was abdicating his position of leadership. As king, he was the Commander In Chief of the army, and should have been with his troops instead of lollygagging in Jerusalem. His idleness, physically and mentally, provided opportunity to misuse his position as king. The old adage says, "An idle mind is the devil's worship." Proper use of my time and keeping my mind occupied with godly thoughts will leave less room for temptation to sin.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Idle time and an idle mind provide empty rooms that can be filled with ungodly thoughts and actions.
 
[end]
 
Have a "occupied" day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- REVENGE

REVENGE
II Samuel 10:6-7
 
"When the people of Ammon saw that they had made themselves repulsive to David, the people of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians...20,000 foot soldiers; and from the king of Maacah, 1,000 men, and from Ish-Tob 12,000 men. Now when David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army of the mighty men."
 
The Ammonites not only humiliated the servants of David themselves, but they enlisted others to join them. The servants who were abused by the Ammonites did not avenge themselves. They told King David, and the king took the matter into his own hands to fight for them. The natural response when I suffer humiliation is to fight back. But it is not my place or responsibility to defend myself and retaliate. It is a losing battle because I will not just be defending against one, but the mob will join the attack against me. Rather, I should tell my King and let Him and His hosts fight the battle. And, as Joab said, "May the LORD do what is good in His sight" (vs. 12). The Apostle Paul, who suffered much at the hands of the ungodly, counseled, "Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord" (Romans 12:19). When people misuse and abuse me, I need to give it to Jesus instead of fighting back.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: We should trust God to fight for us, and then let Him do what is good in His sight.
 
[end]
 
Have a "committing" day.  Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- ASHAMED

 ASHAMED
II Samuel 10:4-5
 
"Therefore Hanun took David's servants, shaved off half of their beards, cut off their garments in the middle, at their buttocks, and sent them away. When they told David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, 'Wait at Jerusalem until your beards have grown, then return.' "
 
One tactic the world uses to silence Christians is humiliation. They try to strip us of our dignity by exposing us to ridicule. They call us "weak," "ignorant," "old-fashioned and out of date," because of our faith. But God says, "Wait." The story is not finished yet. God will vindicate His people. We serve a great King who will triumph over all those who resist His goodness. I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Christians will be humiliated but they should not be ashamed, because they serve a Great King who will vindicate His people.
 
[end]
 
Have an "unashamed" day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- MISUNDERSTOOD

 MISUNDERSTOOD
II Samuel 10:2b-3
 
"And David's servants came into the land of the people of Ammon. And the princes of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, 'Do you think that David really honors your father because he has sent comforters to you? Has not David rather sent his servants to you to search the city, to spy it out, and to overthrow it?' "
 
The Ammonites did not receive well David's expression of kindness. David's motives were pure, but his actions were misunderstood. I am too much like the people of Ammon. Why am I so suspicious of other peoples' motives, thinking that they have some hidden agenda? But I have also been misunderstood. When people do an act of kindness, they are not usually trying to take advantage of another person. More often than not, it is out of a pure heart (unless it is a salesman). Receiving their kindness with thanksgiving will help avoid a lot of hard feelings and broken relationships. Lord, help me to receive gifts from other people without looking for ulterior motives.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: It is better to receive acts of kindness with thanksgiving than to be suspicious of impure motives.
 
[end]
 
Have a thankful day.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- APPRECIATION

 APPRECIATION
II Samuel 10:1-2
 
"And it happened after this that the king of the people of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his place. Then David said, 'I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father showed kindness to me.' So David sent by the hand of his servants to comfort him concerning his father."
 
It is good to look back over my past and remember the kindness people have shown to me. But wouldn't it be better to tell them how much I appreciate their kindness while they are still alive, instead of waiting until they are dead when all I can do is tell their children? How many times do we wait until the funeral to express our gratefulness to the family for some good deed, rather than telling the person while he can be blessed by our thanks? Perhaps today should be a letter-writing day to people who have blessed my life.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: It is better to thank someone for a kindness while they are alive than to tell their children.
 
[end]
 
Have a thankful day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- MEPHIBOSHETH

 MEPHIBOSHETH
II Samuel 9:2a, 3, 5-7, 13
 
"And there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba .... Then the king said, 'Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, to whom I can show the kindness of God?' And Ziba said to the king, 'There is still a son of Jonathan, who is lame in his feet.' .... Then the king sent and brought him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo Debar. Now when Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, had come to David, he fell on his face and prostrated himself. Then David said, 'Mephibosheth?' And he answered, 'Here is your servant!' So David said to him, 'Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father's sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather; and you shall eat bread at my table continually.' .... So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the king's table. And he was lame in both his feet."
 
What a wonderful story. It is one of my favorites in all the Bible because it is a picture of God's love to me. The story begins back in the early days of King David's reign over Judah, when Saul and Jonathan were killed in battle. The nursemaid of Jonathan's son, Mephibosheth who was only five years old, fled in fear because she thought Mephibosheth would also be killed. As they ran, Mephibosheth fell and broke his legs, becoming lame for the rest of his life (II Samuel 4:4). But King David sought out Mephibosheth, the son of his enemy, because of his love for Jonathan and the covenant they had made. What a picture of God's love for me. I was damaged by the Fall – lame, a child of His enemy, with nothing to offer, separated from God by my sin. But God, by the Holy Spirit, sought me out and brought me to the King for the sake of Jesus. When I fell on my face before God, He invited me to eat at His table as a part of His household. How marvelous that God would accept me, broken and lame as I am. Oh, what a wonderful God!!!
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: God seeks out lame and damaged people and brings them to Himself for the sake of Jesus, to make them a part of his household.
 
[end]
 
Have an accepted day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE COVENANT OF KINDNESS

 THE COVENANT OF KINDNESS
II Samuel 9:1
 
"Now David said, 'Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?' "
 
The margin reading for "kindness" is "covenant faithfulness." The Hebrew word is checed or kesed, and is often translated as "mercy" or "lovingkindness." In his younger years, David had made a covenant with Jonathan that he would not cut off his kindness to the house of Jonathan (see I Samuel 18:3-4; 20:14-16). Even though David had risen to the top rung of success, he did not forget his covenant. It so easy to forget the promises that we made in our youth when we get older and get involved with life. I'm so glad that God never forgets His covenant with us. He keeps His covenant for Jesus' sake, and keeps showing His mercy and lovingkindness to me. No wonder David sang the song, "Because Your lovingkindness (kesed) us better than life, my lips shall praise You" (Psalm 63:3).
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: We received God's mercy and lovingkindness because of His covenant through Jesus.
 
[end]
 
Have a kesed day. Love you.

DELEGATING

 DELEGATING
II Samuel 8:15-18
 
"So David reigned over all Israel; and David administered judgment and justice to all his people. Joab...was over the army; Jehoshaphat...was recorder; Zadak...and Ahimelech...were priests; Seraiah was the scribe...and David's sons were chief ministers."
 
David ruled well with justice and fairness, but he was not a one-man show. He knew how to delegate responsibility. I find delegating – without micro-managing – is hard because other people do things differently than I do – and not as well!!!! LOL   Even though it is difficult to relinquish control to other people, it is essential if the job is to be accomplished. One person cannot do it all. There may be some training involved, but the secret is to find people with the same heart and then trust them with the responsibility – in government, in the church, and in the family.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Delegation is the key to a successful organization.
 
[end]
 
Have a "delegation" day. Love you.

PRESERVED

 PRESERVED
II Samuel 8:14b
 
"And the LORD preserved David wherever He went."
 
Chapter 8 describes David's conquests of various kingdoms – the Philistines, Moab, Zobah, Syria, Ammon, and Edom. It was through the power of God that He was able to conquer these enemies. It is God who preserves and gives victory over my enemies – the world, the flesh, and the devil. I confess my weakness. It is not my cleverness, strength, ability, or determination that causes me to triumph. I do nor have the power in myself. In Christ alone I have the victory. "Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ" (II Corinthians 2:14). Jesus said to His disciples "Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, an nothing shall by any means hurt you" (Luke 10:19). There is a song that bothers me every time I hear it. The words say, "I am determined to be invincible." The fact is that I am not invincible. My faith is in Jesus who preserves me. Praise be to His name.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: God keeps His people and gives them victory over all the power of the enemy.
 
[end]
 
Have a preserved day.  Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- GOD'S BLESSING

 GOD'S BLESSING
II Samuel 7:29
 
[David continued praying]: " 'Now therefore, let it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue before You forever; for You, Lord GOD have spoke it, and with Your blessing let the house of Your servant be blessed forever.' "
 
David's prayer is my prayer: "Lord GOD, bless my house." My great desire is that my children, my grandchildren, my great-grandchildren, and my posterity until Jesus returns, will know the blessing of serving the Lord. Not only that, but that they will in turn bless the world. Through David's lineage came the Messiah Who blessed the world with Salvation. I think it would bless my father to know that His great-grandchildren are being called as missionaries to Spain and to Muslim countries, and being raised up as preachers and worship leaders. I pray that through my "house" will come prophets, evangelists, missionaries, pastors, teachers, and godly children who will also bless the world with the Good News of Jesus Christ. So be it, Lord GOD!
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: God's blessings on a "house" can last through many generations.
 
[end]
 
Have a blessed day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE GREATNESS OF GOD

 THE GREATNESS OF GOD
II Samuel 7:22, 26a, 28
 
[David continued his prayer], " 'Therefore You are great, O Lord GOD. For there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears .... So let Your name be magnified forever .... And now, O Lord GOD, You are God, and Your words are true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant.' "
 
David's prayer was totally focused on the greatness of God and His faithfulness to His people. God's word and His promises are true because He is the one and only God. Through Jesus, we have been given "exceedingly great and precious promises" (II Peter 1:4), and "all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him, Amen, to the glory of God through us" (II Corinthians 1:20).
The greatest promise is "hope of eternal life which God, Who cannot lie, promised before time began" (Titus 1:2). I live by the promises of God Who is faithful and true, and Who cannot lie.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: The one and only God is true to His promises because He cannot lie.
 
[end]
 
Have a God-focused day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE MANNER OF MAN

 THE MANNER OF MAN
II Samuel 7:19-21
 
[David continued his prayer], " 'And yet this was a small thing in Your sight, O Lord GOD; for You have also spoken of Your servant's house for a great while to come. Is this the manner of man, O Lord GOD? Now what more can David say to You? For You, Lord GOD know Your servant. For Your word's sake, and according to Your own heart, You have done all these great things, to make Your servant know them.' "
 
David sat in amazement before the Lord GOD (Adonai Yahweh) – that He, the God of the universe -- would have in His heart to know a mere man. Is this the manner of man? Is this how God deals with the human race? God, Who has multiple solar systems to maintain, and Who has the angels of heaven ("Lord of hosts," vs. 8) under His domain, and Who has the affairs of earth to deal with – that very God takes time to reveal Himself and His plans to a mortal being through His word and through His deeds! No wonder David was amazed. Oh, the grace of the Lord Jesus – Adonai Yahweh – that He knows me, a mere man, and include me in His eternal plan. How marvelous! How wonderful! I am amazed! As the hymns goes: "I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene, and wonder how He could love me, a sinner condemned, unclean. How marvelous, How wonderful, and my song shall ever be; How marvelous, how wonderful is the Savior's love for me!"
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: It is truly amazing that the God of the universe should care about an insignificant man.
 
[end]
 
Have an amazing day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- WHO AM I?

 WHO AM I?
II Samuel 7:18
 
"The King David went in and sat before the LORD; and he said, 'Who am I, O Lord GOD? And what is my house, that You have brought me this far?' "
 
New Year's Day is a time of looking forward with anticipation to see what the future holds. But it is also a time of looking back, reflecting on what has happened in the past. Today, I sit in awe  before the Lord GOD, and ask the same question David asked: "Who am I, that You have brought me this far?" God has blessed me so abundantly. I have not deserved it, but His grace has flowed to me and my house – my family. How wonderful is the Lord GOD – Adonai Yaweh!
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: God blesses even those who do not deserve it.
 
[end]
 
Happy New Year's Day. Love you much.