6:1 LOVE the idea of not punishing someone while in "hot displeasure", it reminds me of a saying I've picked up since working at my school. "Girl, you look like a hot mess."
David is not delusional, thats what I'm beginning to like about him. He continues to say, I know I am not perfect but....
I can see why this may be Jamie's favorite book. For the most part they are all positive and leave you with a very calming feeling. Even the ones I have read that seem written at an angry time, give me a since of humanity. I feel it shows the range of human emotion, we are what we are.
1 Chronicles 1-2 a review of the line from Adam on.... I must admit I skimmed over this. I trust that Jamie will let me know if there was something I was to notice.
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David feels afflicted in every way - physically, mentally, and emotionally. He asks [and expects] God to heal him in every way. I think we forget abou that sometimes. We ask God to heal us of cancer and other physical ailments, but sometimes forget that He's capable of healing us in every way. David let's us know here that God does hear us. David says that we are crowned with glory and honor. He speaks of God's great creation and our importance to God and our place in the order of those things. We have been given dominion over all the earth and above all its creatures and life forms. We should be good stewards of that. I know if I was given charge over all of Crystal's art work, I wouldn't be flippant about caring for it. And by doing so, would show my respect and love for her. We should do the same for God's creation.
David is intent on praising and glorifying and seeking God with his whole heart, not just with part of it part of the time, like Saul. These verses are really about David giving the glory to God. vs. 10 & 14 are of great timing in our recent discussions.
David in 16:2 is really releasing all pride. I'm sure David knows he's talented and handsome, etc., but he's giving all the glory to God. Giving God credit for all that is good in him. This is different than belittling himself. I think it's a great testimony. Pride is a huge problem for many of us. How many times has your pride been the foundation of your troubles?
vs. 19 says the majesty and vastness of all creation is a testimony to God's greatness. Aren't we all made great by the greatness of our creations? Isn't that how people become renown? Look at the great composers of history, the great artists, scientists, etc. Look at them as people apart from their creations/discoveries. Would they be thought of as great? Most of them, no. In fact, most of them would be thought of as blind, autistic, weirdos, paupers, etc. But in the greatness and majesty of their creations, they have become renowned.
I like how David asks God to clear him "from hidden [and unconscious] faults." To keep him back from presumptuous sins; AND let them not have DOMINION over him. David knows that he cannot be perfect, that he will still sin, but he asks God to not let his sins rule him. 19:14 is great. He asks God to help him with what is typically the hardest of all things/sins to conqueor - our thoughts and our speech. Crystal and I have talked about his before. They (esp. our thoughts) are the hardest to gain control over, but it can be done. Later, in the New Testament, it will tell us that out of the abundance of our heart, our mouth speaks. The mind (our thoughts) is where the battle field really is.
In chpt 21 we see that God wants and may give us our hearts desires, even material things. Just like any parent He wants us to be successful and have nice things. There's nothing wrong with that. I know, as a parent, I want my kids to have nice things, and most of what they want. But also, as a parent, I know that some things they want aren't what's best for them. How much more would our Heavenly Father know what's best for His children here on Earth. And if we choose to serve Him and let Him work in and through us, He will guide us onto the path that is best for that purpose.
Tomorrow, Ps. 43-45, 49, 84-85, 87; 1 Chron. 3-5
For believers, it is obvious why so many prayers are answered. In the Bible, Jesus promises many times that he will answer our prayers.
For example, in Matthew 7:7 Jesus says:
Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
Ask and you will receive. What could be simpler than that?
In Matthew 18:19 Jesus says it again:
Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Jesus is actually in our midst and God answers our prayers.
This contradicts what we know to be true. As Jamie mentions, people who engage and believe in prayer ask god to heal them of ailments, cancer, and otherwise....but those prayers are often unanswered, which is rationalized often as such:
"god answered in a different way than you asked, but gave you what you really, and truly needed...."
"It's not part of god's plan."
Here is a good test to determine if prayer works. Go back and read what Jesus says about prayer. Read it and really examine the promise he's made to you with regards to prayer.
Ask yourself why god won't heal amputees.
Ever. Not one prayer by an amputee has ever been answered with a regrown limb.
He's demonstrated that he will violate the laws of physics and science, by raising the dead, or healing lepers with a touch, per the bible...but healing amputees?
Never. Ever. Ever.
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