by Pastor Cecil | Jun 7, 2017 | 2 Samuel
2 Samuel 22:28
“You will save the humble people; but Your eyes are on the haughty, that You may bring them down.”
Some of the most tragic people are those who characterize themselves as being humble. One of the most despicable characters in Charles Dickens’s David Copperfield was Uriah Heep. He would often reveal his pride in frequent references to his humility. Do you know any Uriah Heeps? Are you one?
One of the greatest issues of humility is self, but the moment we strive to become humble we have lost the battle. In the attempt to be humble, our focus becomes centered on what WE are doing. Without intending to, we stress how we act or behave, thereby revealing that SELF is on stage.
It is a battle, but there is a way to find victory over self. It is in one word: OTHERS! The more we let go of our own self-image and become concerned in making others successful, the more we will show Godly humility.
Jesus was the Son of God, but He set it all aside in order that others might find everlasting life. I want to be devoted to giving more effort toward helping others become victorious in thought, word, and deed.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jun 6, 2017 | 2 Samuel
2 Samuel 22:28
“You will save the humble people; but Your eyes are on the haughty, that You may bring them down.”
Some of the most tragic people are those who characterize themselves as being humble. One of the most despicable characters in Charles Dickens’s David Copperfield was Uriah Heep. He would often reveal his pride in frequent references to his humility. Do you know any Uriah Heeps? Are you one?
One of the greatest issues of humility is self, but the moment we strive to become humble we have lost the battle. In the attempt to be humble, our focus becomes centered on what WE are doing. Without intending to, we stress how we act or behave, thereby revealing that SELF is on stage.
It is a battle, but there is a way to find victory over self. It is in one word: OTHERS! The more we let go of our own self-image and become concerned in making others successful, the more we will show Godly humility.
Jesus was the Son of God, but He set it all aside in order that others might find everlasting life. I want to be devoted to giving more effort toward helping others become victorious in thought word and deed.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jun 3, 2014 | 2 Samuel
2 Samuel 12:4-7a
‘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.’ David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, ‘As surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this deserves to die! He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity.’ Then Nathan said to David, ‘You are the man!’
Back in the 1970’s I was working for the State of Idaho and also teaching a Bible class at the Idaho State Penitentiary. One of the men had been convicted of murder and was serving a life sentence. During one of our Bible study classes, he shared with the group the story of what had happened. His unlawful act was accomplished in the heat of emotion. The consequences of an evening that began in a festive atmosphere ended with him behind bars for life.
The result of our actions will always result in consequences. The result of doing things God’s was will result in honor and blessing. Refusal to obey God and His commands will carry shame and dire consequences.
David was God’s selection to be the mighty King of Israel. David had served the Lord faithfully for many years and God had showered him with honor and blessings. As the King he was to lead his troops into battle. However in II Samuel 11:1, we find that when the kings go off to war, David didn’t! KINGS are supposed to lead—THEY DO NOT SEND!
You no doubt recall the sad story of David’s sin. He STAYED—He STARED—He STOLE—He SLEW! He was guilty of not going into battle with his men; BUT of committing adultery and of killing Bathsheba’s faithful husband.
David’s conscience may have bothered him, but it is possible that he may have thought he had escaped the consequences. But God knew! Not only did God know, but God sent a prophet named Nathan to confront David about his sin.
As we read today’s Scripture, David is enraged by a wealthy and powerful neighbor who would steal his poor neighbor’s one ewe lamb. He fumed out his vengeance on such a vile man but was stopped in his tracks by Nathan’s words of judgment: “You are the man!”
David repented of his sin, but there were serious consequences. Like my friend at the Penitentiary, a consequence was required. In David’s case it was the death of his baby and chaos between his sons.
Repentance also had its consequences. My friend became a born again Christian and led many other inmates to Jesus. David felt the touch of the Lord and wrote many Psalms with a broken heart. He became known as a man after God’s own heart. Where are you right now? I urge you to repent and reap the consequences of God’s love and forgiveness.
God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 23, 2012 | 2 Samuel
2 Samuel 24:10
David was conscience-stricken after he had counted the fighting men, and he said to the LORD, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, O LORD, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing.”
Do you remember the story of Gideon, whom God raised up to deliver Israel from the hand of a mighty army of Midianites and Amalekites? God called Gideon to lead Israel into battle against this mighty army. He could only muster 32,000 men.
What could so few do against so many? But God is not, nor has He ever been interested in numbers. He had Gideon whittle the number down to only 300 men of Israel to defeat that mighty army. Why did God want only a few? The answer is that He did not want Israel to think they were the ones who won the battle.
As a young man David had confronted Goliath with only a sling and five smooth stones. It only took one of those stones to drop the giant! When we follow close to the Lord and rely on His strength, we will see our own giants fall.
So why are numbers so important to so many? Why do we exert so much effort to achieve numerical gain? Pride! Do you want to know a secret? Our desire to be bigger or better than others is repulsive to the Lord.
In today’s Scripture we read of David’s repentance for requiring a census of the number of fighting men. Why David wanted to do this is known only to him and God. He was an old man and his fighting days were over.
We disguise the counting of numbers (people, contacts, giving, etc.) as proof that God is blessing us more than others. Did I just say that? Yes, I certainly did. We need to be honest with ourselves it is God who must bring the increase.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 28, 2012 | 2 Samuel
2 Samuel 12:4-7a
“‘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.’ David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, ‘As surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this deserves to die! He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity.’ Then Nathan said to David, ‘You are the man!’”
Back in the 1970’s I taught a Bible class at the Idaho State Penitentiary. One of the men had been convicted of murder and was serving a life sentence. One night he was sharing with the group what had happened. His crime was accomplished in the heat of emotion. His evening had begun in a festive atmosphere but ended with murder and ultimately a life behind bars for the rest of his life.
The result of our actions will always result in consequences. The result of doing things God’s way will result in honor and blessing. Refusal to obey God and His commands will carry shame and dire consequences.
In 2 Samuel 11:1, we read; “In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army.” What a sad verse. At a time when David should have been with his army he stayed at home. I am sure that he rationalized that he was needed back home, but that was not the place he was called to serve. KINGS LEAD—THEY DO NOT SEND!
You no doubt recall the sad story of David’s sin. He STAYED—He STARED—He STOLE—He SLEW! He was guilty of not going into battle with his men; of committing adultery and of killing Bathsheba’s faithful husband.
David repented of his sin, but there were serious consequences. Like my friend at the Penitentiary, a consequence was required. In David’s case it was the death of his baby and chaos between his sons. It is essential that we stay close to the Lord and live a life that is in His will, not our own self will.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing to others!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 3, 2009 | 2 Samuel
2 Samuel 11:1-3a
“In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem. One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, and David sent someone to find out about her.”
All too often we hear the tragic news that someone has left their husband or wife for another. Believe me when I say that this did not happen in a single day. The offending party did not wake up one morning and decide to give their heart to another person. It was a process.
We once had a new house built. A friend of mine urged me to do my own wiring. He said he knew all about it and together we would get it done and save quite a bit of money.
We proceeded with that plan with one “minor” factor. My friend who talked me into this left town on an extended business trip and I was on my own. I muddled my way through stringing the wires from the power box to each room. As I was starting to install the plug and switches, another well-meaning friend said I should install the plugs and switches “hot.”
I should have known what was coming, but I proceeded. Installing “hot” means that the power is turned on and, by carefully attaching the live wires, you can test to see if you have done it right without having to go back and forth to the power box.
It was not long before I had my first shock. I mean that literally! Jolt! I jumped as I realized that my finger had touched negative and positive leads accidentally. Such shocks do not kill you (evidently) but they sure grab your attention.
It is too bad that we cannot have such warnings in the area of our relationships. Warnings can be given about danger looming ahead, but like sheep led to the slaughter, couples begin flirting with their eyes, making suggestive comments, touching the other’s hand, being overly polite and—well, you know the score.
It all began in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve looked longingly at the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The more they looked longingly at that forbidden fruit, the better it looked. Because of their preoccupation with the forbidden fruit, the serpent had easy prey and they succumbed to temptation.
In today’s Scripture, David was not where he should have been. As the King of Israel he should have been leading his army, not ogling Bathsheba from his balcony. No one is exempt from God’s demand for moral purity.
In contrast to David was Joseph. He was tempted in many different ways, but he never placed himself in compromising situations. It was only by subterfuge and deceit that he was falsely accused.
I will spend at least one more day on this delicate subject. In preparation for tomorrow’s Daily-E-Votional please read Genesis chapter 39.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
