Causes of Affliction - Day 145 Through the Bible

The Historic Independent Presbyterian Church in Savannah, GA - "A Branch of the  Church of Scotland" - about 5 1/2 hours from Mt. Celo Church

Personal Meditations on Today's Readings

How David is Remembered at End / What David Remembers at End - (2 Sam 23)  He was: 1) the son of Jesse; 2) the man raised up on high; 3) the anointed of the God of Jacob; 4) the sweet psalmist of Israel.  He remembers: 1) the Spirit of the Lord spoke to him; 2) God's word was on his tongue; 3) God spoke to him that he who rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God; 3) David's house was not so with God, yet He made with him an everlasting covenant, ordered and secure; 4) David recalls the 37 valiant men he had and their deeds.

My Lessons and Applications:  Lineage was important in the Old Testament and was included with the mention of most names - both in commendation and condemnation.  Son of Jesse is known to be the tribe of Judah, and this is the tribe of the promised Messiah, from the covenant God made with David.  Mentioning the father Jesse first, also evokes memories of David's humble beginnings as a shepherd, as a mere man, not Israel's greatest king from the beginning.  The next 2 attributes emphasize that the greatness of King David was all from God - he "was raised" - not "he raised himself" up on high, and he was God's anointed.  That David was the "sweet psalmist of Israel" leads into what David acknowledged of himself - that God had given him, spoken to him, put upon his tongue His word through the Holy Spirit.  The great triumph of David's life was a walk of obedience (and occasional disobedience) always lived out in humble submission to His God, an open book of faith, warts and all, that continues to sing the souls and hearts of the people of God.

David's Sin of Commission at the End and the Resulting Affliction: (2 Sam 24) Samuel commands Joab to take a census of all the men in Israel ready for war.  David should have relied on the LORD to provide the needed men.  This is confusing in that the beginning paragraph indicates God moved David to take the census.  1 Chronicles 21:1 says it was Satan that moved David to do the consensus.  One commentary says that the capitalized "He" in 2 Sam probably should not be.  It is clear that David knew he had done wrong, confessed his sin, repented, and knew there would be a consequence.  God gives him three choices for punishment.  David chooses the punishment by God's Hand rather than the other two by men's hands.  "I am in great distress.  Please let us fall into the hand of the LORD, for His mercies are great; but do not let me fall into the hand of man." God sends a plague; 70,000 die.  David begs God to end the punishment of the innocent "sheep", to bring it only on his house and his father's since the sin was his.  God tells David to build an altar at the threshing floor of Araunah where the angel of the Lord was completing the vengeance.  David refuses Araunah's offer of the place and oxen as gifts.  David wants this to be "his" sacrificial burnt offering to God that he pays for himself.

Jesus on Afflictions That Are Not a Result of Sin - (John 4) The disciples wanted to know why the man was blind.  Was it the man's own sin or his parents?  Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him."

My Lessons and Applications  As we have learned through the months of study through the Bible, sin is forgiven to a repentant heart, but there are still consequences - often severe.  Even worse, often innocent people suffer as the result of the sin of others.  As with David, my offerings to God must be mine alone.  My prayers, petitions, meditation on His Word, vows (covenants before God) must be from my heart to God's heart - no intermediaries.  However, not all afflictions are the result of sin.  John 4 is an example.  Sometimes afflictions are allowed that God may reveal His works.

Dr. Charles Stanley: Life Examples:  

"Life is hard, often unjustly so, and people are often critical.  But God loves you, and He is your hope.  Count on Him to be your strength, and His glory will be shown through you."