If you tell Nate and Ryker to look “tough”, this is what you get!

2 Samuel 9ff

The next 10 chapters are going to expose the extreme humanness of David. David is chosen of God, blessed by God and appointed to a lofty position in God’s plan through the Davidic Covenant. But he is so human; emotionally volatile, undisciplined and morally weak. For many of us, David gives us hope. If God can love and use David, then He can love and use us.  In some ways, David is going to act with greater evil than Saul. However, be reminded that in 7:15 God made a promise about David’s son when He said, “but My lovingkindness shall not depart from him (Solomon) as I took it away from Saul.”

The difference

David is the precedent to this promise despite David’s sin and failures. God will continue to extend His grace and loving kindness to David, to Solomon and beyond. The only difference I can really see between Saul and David is that when David sinned he afterwards took full responsibility and in sincere brokenness, repented, fell to his knees and mourned over his sins toward God. Saul tended to make excuses, continue to do it his way and responded with pride.

Earning God’s favor???

What can we learn? It’s not about earning God’s favor by doing more good and less bad. We all fall far short of living up to the standard of the good required to be perfect. What we need is a Savior. And our Savior despises the proud and those that trust in their own good deeds.  But He accepts the humble. Our pursuit of holiness is a response to God’s grace not something that earns His favor. So let us be humble today, tender hearted, immediately contrite when we fail and always seeking God’s guidance. Lord, we are humbly dependent upon You! Amen.