by Pastor Steve Ellison
David’s life was a roller coaster ride if there ever was one. He lived a quiet life away from the crowds as a shepherd boy. He saved his nation’s army from embarrassment and the nation from destruction by slaying Goliath. The resulting adulation of his countrymen caused a jealous King Saul to hunt him for years as if he were a dangerous criminal. David eventually became not only king but a very successful and blessed king, who greatly enlarged the country’s borders and presided over a time of great peace and prosperity. But David refused to be satisfied.
All was well with David until one spring he did not go out to battle with his men as he should have. His wandering eye lingered on a prize that was not his and never should be his. He took another man’s wife and had that man killed in order to cover up the crime. Nathan, the prophet, creatively and deliberately led David to see that his crimes were not only heinous but also not the secret that David thought they were. The Lord spoke to David through Nathan saying, It is I who anointed you king over Israel and it is I who delivered you from the hand of Saul. ‘I also gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your care, and I gave you the house of Israel and Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added to you many more things like these! ‘Why have you despised the word of the Lord by doing evil in His sight? (2 Samuel 12:7-9, NASU) Just how did David despise the word of the Lord? God makes it plain in the next verse. We despise God’s word by disobeying it or by simply ignoring it. Why David despised the word of the Lord is a great question. An even better question is: why do you and I despise the word of the Lord?
God wants to bless us. God wants to provide for us just like He provided for David. God wants only the best for us. He wants us to trust Him. He has given us His Word, which is divinely written to lead us into the best possible life. When we disobey or ignore His Word, we fail to have that great and abundant life that He desires for us. We, like David, try to gain abundant life in some other manner than that which God has ordained. The avenues or methods that we use are as varied as our personalities, but they all involve sin. We believe we know how to bring pleasure, satisfaction, and joy to our lives by following our own selfish desires. That is proof of our lack of faith in our Creator. Following your Maker’s manual will cause you to stay in tip-top condition just like following the manual for your automobile will keep your automobile in tip-top condition. Showing your faith in Him by trusting and obeying His Word will cause Him to further bless you. God says to you and me like He said to David, “if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more.” Please do not despise His word, follow it. Will the blessing be financial? Maybe. Will the blessing be health? Maybe. Will the blessing be spiritual? Of course. Will you regret your obedience? Never. Will you be disappointed? Certainly not. Psalms 19:8 sums it up, “The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.” (NASU)
