Journals
The book of Ecclesiastes is King Solomon’s journal. In it he paints the tragic self-portrait of a man filled with regret. For us reading his journal we see his simple message—God is God and we are not.
The book of Ecclesiastes is King Solomon’s journal. In it he paints the tragic self-portrait of a man filled with regret. For us reading his journal we see his simple message—God is God and we are not.
We’re all born with a depraved heart, which can deteriorate towards evil...if not for the restraining grace of God.
We have traced David’s tragic steps downward as the consequences of his disobedience were visited upon him. Now, let’s learn to ride out the whirlwind and the storm when we go through similar times of judgment under the smarting rod of God.
How do we handle the mysteries? What do we do with those unsolved questions? How do we live in the realm of untimely pleasure? Chuck has three suggestions for us.
God gives us wisdom so we can view life with objectivity and handle it with stability. When we place our faith in Christ we have access to wisdom through the Holy Spirit.
No one is immune who compromises God’s standard. Not even a king…like David. Witness the monarch’s misery as the sword of consequences fell on David and his family. As we watch it happen, let’s take heed!
David refused to repent about his sin until a man of incredible courage and bold honesty stood eyeball-to-eyeball with David and exposed the truth of his deeds and deception. Let's honour that man—the prophet Nathan.
Those of us looking at David's life may use different words to say the same thing about his fatal experience with Bathsheba. We might call it the most distressing episode of David's life; some will see it as an exceedingly dark day; others will lament how the mighty have fallen.
Looking at 2 Samuel 7, we found David enjoying a brief time of relief from the demands of his role as king…an interlude of quietness. Now we find him in a similar context. He was thinking back over his past.
Some experiences in the Christian life are a mystery. Nothing is necessarily wrong or missing in your walk with the Lord, but for some unexplainable reason He places a definite restraint on you. His denial can lead to disillusionment or be used as a cause for continued growth in obedience. David experienced that mysterious “no” at a crucial juncture in his life. Let's see how he handled it.