Sit before God

"David" - by Rembrandt

TODAY'S SPECIAL: 2 Samuel 4-8; Psalm 88

TO CHEW ON: "Then King David went in a sat before the Lord ...." 2 Samuel 7:18

In today's reading we see how David became king over all Israel and Judah, consolidated his rule, and buitd a house for himself. Then it occurred to him to build a permanent home for the ark. He told Nathan the prophet, who gave his blessing to this plan. But God thought otherwise. He told Nathan to return to David and tell him, 'No. You are not to build Me a house.'

Did David feel shock and disappointment at the change? Did he have the urge to question and argue? Nathan's message obviously got him thinking and wanting to be in touch with God about what was going on. So he went in and "... sat before the Lord."

"'Sat' actually means remained," says my Bible footnote to this verse. "David spends a lengthy time before the Lord, that is, in the tent where the ark stood"- Jerry Cook,  commentary on 2 Samuel, New Spirit-Filled Life Bible, p. 411.

As he sat there, his thoughts ranged:

• He saw his own puniness and insignificance - 2 Samuel 7:18.

• He marveled at God's grace and favour to his family, given for reasons only God knows - 2 Samuel 7:18-21.

• In God's blessing of him and the nation of Israel, he recognized God's greatness and he foresaw Israel becoming a blessing to the whole earth - 2 Samuel 7:22-24.

By the end of his time of sitting before God any vestige of a snit is gone. He was completely back in sync with God's plan - 2 Samuel 7:27-29.

What a great example David is to us. When things catch us by surprise, when our expectations come crashing down in disappointment or failure, when the road forks and we sense God tugging us in a direction we hadn't planned on going—and tens of other times—is a good time for us to stop and sit before God.

There we can let Him impress us with His person. He may reassure us with memories of His help in the past. And no doubt He will feed our imaginations with the possibilities of the course He is setting us on for the future.

PRAYER: Dear God, in the hustle and bustle of life, I don't take enough time to sit before You. Please draw me aside to do this, and to make a habit to spend time regularly sitting in Your presence. Amen.

PSALM TO PRAY: Psalm 88


The Bible Project VIDEO: Messiah (Theme series) 




MORE: His presence—a cure for anxiety

"Our eyes should be taken off self, removed from our own weakness and allowed to rest implicitly upon God's strength .... A simple confiding faith, living day by day and casting its burden on the Lord, each hour of the day, will dissipate fear, drive away misgiving and deliver from doubt (Philippians 4:6).

"That is the divine cure for all fear, anxiety and undue concern of soul, all of which are closely akin to doubt and unbelief" - E. M. Bounds, E. M. Bounds on Prayer, Kindle location p. 20)

******
Unless otherwise noted all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Spirit-led Simeon

Simeon - Artist unknown

TODAY'S SPECIAL: Luke 2:22-40

TO CHEW ON: "And behold there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him." Luke 2:25

The characters in this short incident fascinate. Two years ago on this day we took a look at Anna. Today let's look closely at Simeon to learn what kind of a man God tells His secrets to.

1. He was a spiritually attuned man, focusing on the spiritual solution to the political and natural situation as he lived in expectation "...waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel" - Luke 2:24 NLT (compare to Isaiah 40:1,2).

2. The Holy Spirit was active in his life. Luke refers to the Holy Spirit in relation to Simeon three times in this short segment. The Spirit's presence seems to have been visible or obvious in some way. Luke wasn't there, so some eye-witness must have told him about these things. Who? Mary perhaps? What did she see that told her the Spirit was on Simeon? Or maybe the Holy Spirit within her gave witness in some way that here was a Spirit-filled and -controlled man.

3. Simeon's relationship with God the Holy Spirit was one of unquestioning obedience. Simeon went to the temple that day, even though he didn't know what was in store for him there. E. M. Bounds says of obedience:

"Unquestionably obedience is a high virtue, a soldier quality. To obey belongs eminently to the soldier. It is his first and last lesson, and he must learn how to practice it all the time without question, uncomplainingly.... The gift of the Holy Spirit in full measure and in richer experience depends upon loving obedience." E. M. Bounds, Complete Works of E. M. Bounds, Kindle Edition, p. 52.

4. He was bold in his blessing. Upon meeting Joseph, Mary and Jesus, he took the infant in his arms and prayed a blessing of thanks to God and prophecy Jesus, saying things that were outrageous if they weren't true (Luke 2:29-32).

5. He held nothing back, even the uncomfortable bad news. After blessing Joseph and Mary, Simeon said some things to Mary ("yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also" - Luke 2:35) that must have puzzled her and made her heart sink.

Let's determine to be like Simeon in these ways, looking to God for solutions to our problems and situations, allowing the Spirit access to our lives, responding to His promptings with obedience, even to the extent of uttering His words of blessing—and warning.

PRAYER: Dear God, may Your Spirit have full access to me today. Help me to grow in "loving obedience." Amen.

MORE: Feast of the Presentation
Today the church celebrates the Feast of the Presentation. The liturgy for today begin with this collect:

"Almighty and ever living God, we humbly pray that, as your only-begotten Son was this day presented in the temple, so we may be presented to you with pure and clean hearts by Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen."

********
Unless otherwise noted all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.