May 26
2 Sam 9:1-11:27 | PS 119:49-64| Prov 16:1-3 | John 15:1-27
We plan our lives. We all do to a certain degree. Be it marriage, vocation, where to live, etc. we purpose in our heart what we want to do with our lives. But our long range plans don’t always turn out the way we think and often things change in the blink of an eye. This can be good or bad. This can be as a result of something we do or seemingly out of nowhere. Consider the story of Mephibosheth in 2 Samuel 9. In his youth as the son of Jonathon and grandson of King Saul he had it all including a bright future. Then not as a result of anything that he did, it all changed. His father and grandfather die in battle, the kingdom changes hands, he is damaged as a child while fleeing and is now crippled in both feet. Overnight his whole world changed. Now living in relative obscurity also out of seemingly nowhere, due to no act of his own he receives tremendous blessing from the hand of David. Realize for the most part in those days any rivals for the crown would be eliminated, yet we read the exchange between David and Mephibosheth in 2 Samuel 9:7-8, “Don’t be afraid!” David said. “I intend to show kindness to you because of my promise to your father, Jonathan. I will give you all the property that once belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will eat here with me at the king’s table!” Mephibosheth bowed respectfully and exclaimed, “Who is your servant, that you should show such kindness to a dead dog like me?”“
David came from very humble beginnings and had risen to become king. Not only that God showered him with victories, with success in every direction. It truly seemed as though nothing could go wrong. That was of course until it did. As opposed to Mephibosheth whose life changed overnight due to no action on his part, David’s changed overnight due to not doing what he should and falling into transgression and iniquity as we read in 2 Samuel 11:1-4, “In the spring of the year, when kings normally go out to war, David sent Joab and the Israelite army to fight the Ammonites. They destroyed the Ammonite army and laid siege to the city of Rabbah. However, David stayed behind in Jerusalem. Late one afternoon, after his midday rest, David got out of bed and was walking on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath. sent someone to find out who she was, and he was told, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” Then David sent messengers to get her; and when she came to the palace, he slept with her. She had just completed the purification rites after having her menstrual period. Then she returned home.” He transgressed with Bathsheeba as this act though unplanned it was a purposeful or presumptuous sin. He will then commit iniquity (iniquity being a more pre-meditated and deeply rooted choice) in the killing of her husband, Uriah, as he tries to cover his tracks. It was this transgression. and iniquity which altered David’s course seemingly overnight after years of it going so well.
Does this mean that it isn’t worth trying or planning? Not at all! But it means we stay close to Jesus day in, day out, moment to moment. We may not have any control in certain situations which seemingly befall us, but we certainly do over others. The closer you stay to Jesus the more likely you will have clarity when sudden events occur. We read of this concept in John 15:5-8, “”Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.” Let’s control that which we can, and that one thing is entering and remaining in a relationship with the Lord, He gives us free will, but He loves us, guides us, and will never leave us.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: