There’s much to admire about the life of King David.
Resourceful. Expressive. Good with people. A vibrant, heartfelt worshipper.
A fierce warrior when it came time to protect God’s people.
Yes, he had his bad moments. As in really bad.
But he accepted his punishment for those choices without shaking his fist at God.
I’m convinced that David knew he was always treated better by God than he deserved.
That’s why, I’m also convinced, David was SO prone to a proper perspective of faith as later described by the writer of Psalm 132:1.
“LORD, remember David and all his self-denial.”
Wow, what a concise legacy the shepherd boy-turned-king left in the minds of Israelites who followed him.
To be known as a believer who embraced the holy call of self-denial…. that’s a powerful testimony.
For years, David lived a nomadic existence because of King Saul’s unjust, jealous desire to kill him. David had multiple oppotunities to kill Saul, but rejected the cry of his flesh and waited on the Lord to arrange an opportunity for David to assume the throne.
Many other times, David embraced self-denial and the kingdom was stronger as a result, as was his testimony.
He wasn’t perfect, of course. He should have had just one wife. He should have turned away from gazing upon Bathsheba. He shouldn’t have relied on the size of his army.
But like for you and like me, the plurality of our faithful actions and the pervasiveness of our faithful attitudes show God that we do understand the place of self-denial and generally embrace the idea of putting God and others ahead of ourselves.
When you pass from this life, will you be seen as one who too often lived to have things just so? Or will people recall you as one who demonstrated a deep understanding and application of self-denial and patience toward your reward in heaven?
I know which attitude that I should have — David’s attitude. I pray that you’ll have the same.
As always, I love you
Martin
