Home  Ministries Adult Men dc 04/14/08
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dc 04/14/08 |
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Written by Nate Pruitt
Another comparative study: What happens once we're confronted?
(I'll keep this one shorter, I promise.)
King David- You may recall when we left the saga of King David last
week he had stopped battling and in no longer living the life of
risk God called him to had slipped into sin. The result of that is
seen as the prophet Nathan approaches him with a well-concealed
narrative of what David has done, exposing his sinful acts to him
and David is remorseful and repentant. This is found in 2 Samuel
12, and while David is not perfect, the willingness to allow others
to help him to be redirected back to service of the Lord adds to
the story of obedient righteousness by David.
King Asa- Asa was a descendant of David. He was the king of Judah.
(Judah was the southern country of the defunct kingdom of
Israel that was ruled by Saul, David and Solomon. Judah was where
Jerusalem was, while Israel was the northern kingdom which fell
into the hands of the Assyrians well before Judah fell to the hands
of the even more powerful Babylonians.) Asa did many great and
restorative things during his reign for Judah, undoing many of the
wrongs committed by his predecessors. However, much like David, as
Asa grew older his "maturity" eventually was used against him
(don't be fooled, our enemy will use anything, even the good sense
we may be praised for now) and he went from being cautious to
fearful:
2
Chronicles 16:1. In the thirty-sixth year of the reign of Asa, King
Baasha of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, to prevent
anyone from going out or coming into the territory of King Asa of
Judah. 2. Then Asa took silver and gold from the treasures of the
house of the Lord and the king's house, and sent them to King
Ben-hadad of Aram, who resided in Damascus, saying, 3. "Let there
be an alliance between me and you, like that between my father and
your father; I am sending to you silver and gold; go, break your
alliance with King Baasha of Israel, so that he may withdraw from
me."
As a result of this treachery Asa is confronted by Hanani the seer
(a prophet with a visionary gift). He is called back to the power
of God, the God who brought forth great victories (the God he has
just recently robbed to try to secure his kingdom) and how this
cowardice is in complete opposition to what his experience should
have developed into a working faith. The result of this
confrontation? Asa throws Hanani into the stocks and prison, he
attacks others, he never repents of his wickedness, and even before
he dies when he develops a disease in his feet he only seeks the
help of physicians and stubbornly refuses to turn back to God!
Yippee! More questions like last week!
1. Are you one with a heart of David or a heart of
Asa? How do you respond to the accountability and
guidance of those who have God's best interest (which will
always, ultimately, be your best interest) in mind?
2. Are you like Asa and striking out in every
direction with your anger, and also for you solutions, because you
just won't bring yourself back before God and His strength?
3. Your life is a legacy, whether you have paid
attention to that or not, so what path do you chose? One of
righteousness that will affect generations or one of a cold heart
that will leave others sorrowful? (I know Asa's story is a
sorrowful account to my heart and mind.)
Lord, I know I am to serve you with humility, but my
pride is the mask I wear to cover my fear. My fear leads me to
places apart from my faith in you. Apart from you I am lost. While
it is hard to admit as a man, I may be lost- in my relationship
with you, in my relationship with my wife, kids or other family
members, in my friendships, in my finances, in how I use my time
(even the big sense of time in that you have given me this life to
live over a limited period of time). Father, Lord, Savior- I cry
out to you now, forgive me for my sinfulness, my pride, and the
errors I have made by taking control of what Your powerful, loving
hands are much more fit to hold. No longer do I want to strike out
in anger, run to foolish plans in fear, or stubbornly grow cold and
distant from you and others. I'm lost, and only You can turn me in
the right direction. You value me and love me, and I have to admit
I need your help. Thank You for Your forgiveness, Your love, and
Your guidance. AMEN!**
**The above is not just a sinner's prayer, but a Christian's
prayer. In all of our lives there is room for improvement, and much
of that improvement is found greater surrender to
God.
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