Have you ever felt that your rights were infringed upon by someone? Did a co-worker get promoted, praised, rewarded for something that you were really responsible for? Did a fellow church member get credit for a ministry accomplishment that you spent more time working at? Or, have you ever felt that someone else simply stole your blessing? We often times react with righteous indignation or plain ol' anger and jealousy. We too often lose patience and feel as though God has forgotten our hard work or diligent effort. We start to question if God is really fighting for us. We resort to taking matters into our own hands. We many times act with an air of entitlement. Shame on us!
If anyone had reason to feel entitled it was David. In 2 Samuel 2, David finds himself still in Ziklag - his hometown in the Philistian territory. Saul is dead. God had chosen David as Saul's successor and Samuel confirmed this by anointing David when he was still a shepherd boy. The throne was David's to claim. And here, we find David once again consulting God for direction. He asks God if he should now return to his tribe of Judah. God says "Yes". He then asks to what town should he return. God responds, "Go to Hebron". David is maturing isn't he? I seem to remember that he failed to ask God if he should go to Ziklag when he was running from Saul. And look at the trouble it brought him. He did not want to make the same mistake again. David's showing his repentance by turning away from past mistakes. He won't move now without God's direction.
When David settles in Hebron, his tribe anoints him king of Judah. And as a gesture of good will, David sends word to Abner and the rest of Israel's leaders and blesses them. David tells them that Judah has anointed him king. But Abner, Saul's cousin and military leader did not want to relinquish control of Israel so easily. Abner props up a falsely claimed son of Saul, Ish-bosheth, as king over the rest of Israel. And Ish-bosheth reigns for two years without incident. But then, a contest of military skills between David's servants and Ish-bosheth's quickly escalates to a bloody battle that starts a civil war.
For the first two years of Ish-bosheth's reign in Israel and even through the initial stages of the civil war, David stayed remarkably controlled and patient. His mistakes running from Saul and taking matters into his own hands had matured him. He could have easily gathered his men and marched to Mahanaim where Ish-bosheth reigned as king and claimed the throne that was rightfully his. He was God's anointed afterall! How dare this illegitimate son of Saul sit on HIS throne?! It wasn't right! But I believe David knew God had other plans. David had faith that when the time was right, God would remove all obstacles to David reigning over a united kingdom. David was careful not to get ahead of God's timing and purpose. And most importantly, David realized he was not entitled to anything but for God!
One of the most difficult lessons for me to learn in my life is to wait on the Lord's timing. And whenever I start to feel a sense of entitlement about anything, I need to remind myself that I am nothing...but for God. I have nothing...but for God. I would not exist...but for God.
Prayer: Forgive me Father when I have the audacity to lash out at others when I do not get what I feel I am justly entitled to. Do not ever let me forget that it is only by and through You that I am or have anything. And thank You that you still so graciously pour out blessing after blessing on my life!
No comments:
Post a Comment