We’re first introduced to him as “Elijah the Tishbite” (1 Kings 17:1). Talk about stepping out of nowhere! Elijah came out of this insignificant place—out of nowhere—to make such a significant contribution to God’s plan for His people that he became one of Israel’s most famous heroes. He became what we often call today a legend.
Read MoreCategory Archives: Bible Characters
A Legacy
Finally, and naturally, David falls on his knees and utters a beautiful prayer, an extemporaneous expression of his worship of the Lord God. The first verses are expressions of praise. Praise leaves humanity out of the picture and focuses fully on the exaltation of the living God.
Read MoreThe Best I Can
David was saying, “God did not give me a yes answer. When it came to my own dream, He gave me a no answer. But He did give me other things in place of that dream, and I’m making the very most I can of those other things.” We can all glean much from David’s mature response.
Read MorePenetrating the Darkness
Are times hard? Are days of trouble upon you? When times are tough, the Lord is our only security. David assures us in his song that the Lord delights in us; He sees and cares about what is happening in our lives, this very moment.
Read MoreDownward Steps of Sin
Tracing the downward steps in David’s eroding family relationships, we now have Absalom murdering Amnon, a brother murdering a brother. “The sword will never depart out of your household, David.” Here he is groaning under the ache of that prediction.
Read MoreRiding Out the Storm
David refused to give up. When suffering the backwash of sin, our tendency is to say, “I am through. I am finished with living. Life isn’t worth it any longer.” But look at what David did: he “comforted his wife Bathsheba.”
Read MoreThe Consequences of Sin
Nathan didn’t come on his own; he was sent by God: “Then the LORD sent Nathan to David.” I think the most important word in that sentence is the first one, “then.” God’s timing is absolutely incredible.
Read MoreWho Am I?
God does not call everybody to build temples. He calls some people to be soldiers. He calls some people to do the gutsy work in the trenches. He calls some people to compose and conduct music. God has all kinds of creative ways to use us—ways we can’t even imagine and certainly can’t see up there around the next bend in the road.
Read MoreWhen God Says “No”
“David, you will know the delight of having a son by whom this temple will be built. Not through your efforts, but through your son the dream will be fulfilled.”
Read MoreThe Interludes of Life
David brought the ark of God up to Jerusalem and back to the people of Israel. It had begun to bother him that the ark of God was in a tent while he lived in a beautiful house. So he got the idea in his mind to build a permanent residence for God in which to house all the sacred furniture.
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