David

I know many Davids, and probably you do also, for it is a very common name for a male.

The David of the Bible - who incidently all Davids since him probably have been named - was a man who you could easily know. Not only because there is so much biblical history written about him, but maybe more so because fo his writings; primarily in the Psalms. So a reader might ask, "Why would you write about him this morning if we already know so much about him?"

The reason is because of my great, personal admiration for the man. There are so many characteristics about David - courage, godliness, merciful, wise, obedient and fairmindedness - that a person could write books about him, and still not be exhaustive.

A single character trait has dominated my personal admiration for David since I was a lad, and it is his innate humility. This is demonstrated so many times throughout David's life that it seems to me that it was a major motivation in all he thought, decided and did. I will refer to just one time of his life - when his son Absalom conspired to kill his father and assume the kingdom of Israel.

When David knew about it, the very first thing he did was to plan to leave Jerusalem. He did not "flee" as some suppose. David was not a coward in any cirsumstance, and all Bible readers know this. The reason he hurriedly left Jerusalem is discovered in 2 Samuel 7:14d, "...Arise and let us flee, lest...he smite the city with the edge of the sword". David was more concerned with the plight of the people, with the tabernacle, and with the city if the battle would rage in Jerusalem.

A few verses later in the same chapter, Ittai, a recent convert to Israel and a king's son, offered to go with David, and he told him not to because (in verse 20, and I am paraphrasing this) "Ittai, I do not know where I am going or what will happen to me, or if I will ever return. Stay here where it is safe". Ittai's answer to go with David even if it meant his death is one of my favorite readings, but it is not Ittai's loyalty and courage and commitment to David that impresses me now. Here again you can see the basic humility of David as he thinks more of this stranger than himself.

When Zadok, the priest came with the Levites, carrying the precious ark of the covenant with them, (the ark symbolizing the very presence of God), David told them to return it to the tabernacle in Jerusalem with the words that (in verse 25), "Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favor in the eyes of the Lord, He will bring me again, and show me both it, and His habitation". What a beautiful spirit!

And then catch the atmosphere of the entire scene as King David and those who were loyal to him and his God as they departed Jerusalem (and it is almost reminiscent of Jesus many centuries later) in verse 30 of 2 Samuel 7: "And David went up by the ascent of Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people who were with him covered every man his head, and they went up (emphasis mine) weeping as they went up".

The broken, lowly, and humble spirit of God's servant follows him from his earliest days of youth, and right down to his last days on earth. God cares for, and pays special attention to, persons with an humble spirit!

We Can "Control" God

Not in the sense that we tell Him what to do... or change His mind... but there are things we can do that guarantee a response from Him.

Moses did. Jonathan did. David did. Daniel did. Elijah did. Hezekiah did. In fact, many, if not all, biblical personages did.

The woman with the issue of blood did when she touched the hem of Jesus' garment. His healing virtue was "on demand" to her trusting request. As best as we can tell from the reading in Matthew 9:20, there was no deciding, Divine permission that occurred in the transfer of healing virtue from Jesus to this woman's need.

I realize that this is poor grammar, but God does not do nothing in a great many, personal ventures into His grace and power. We "control" God when we surrender to Him. We "control" God when we line up our wills with His will. He does not do nothing when we do.

God does something when we yield to Him, and when we obey Him, and when we get on His side of any issue or matter, and when we yearn to see things His way, and when we search and pry into His nature and heart and thoughts and attitudes.

God does something when we love Him, and when we set ourselves to sit at His feet and hear His words.

This is an irrefutable fact as (SEE Luke 10:4) Mary discovered when she chose to sit at Jesus' feet and hear what He had to say. The weeping woman (SEE Mark 14:9) "controlled" Jesus with her contrite brokenness as she lovingly poured her expensive perfume upon His feet. Her love drew a concentrated, personal, immediate, Divine response as others who watched missed it!

For most of my ministry this verse from Isaiah 57:15 has had a prominent place on my study walls: I dwell...with the person who has a contrite and humble spirit...", and another from Isaiah 66:2: "...to this person will I look, even to him who is of a poor (one who claims nothing) and contrite spirit, and trembleth at My word".

There are "automatic" responses from God anytime we enter His presence via His throne of grace. He is there! He is never not there! He is never unreachable, or untouchable, or unavailable. There are no office hours at the throne of grace. Admittance and advocacy are assured through the death of our Savior on His cross of Calvary. If and when we go there, He is there!

Up is Down

When is down, up? When is bad, good? When is loss, gain? When is sad, happy? When is last, first?

When is failure, success? When is suffering, health? When is foolishness, wisdom? When is death, life?

All of the answers are single... and the same: AT THE CROSS.

One of the most perplexing discussions in the Bible is described by Mark, chapter 9:33-37. Jesus' followers were actually arguing between themselves who of the twelve of them was the greatest; the most important; should be accorded the highest position?

"It has to be me," claimed Peter, "for me and Andrew were the first men Jesus selected...and Andrew here, always does what I say."

"Well now, wait just a minute here," declared James. "You, Brother Peter, are just too reckless, forward and opinionated. A leader must be more steady, cool headed, thoughtful and wise than you are."

Young John quietly observed, "I know that you older guys think that way, but who of us does Jesus favor the most and have the most intimate, personal chats with? Me."

"But I'm the one He trusts with the money," says Judas.

It is mind-boggling that such thinking would erupt into an open argument. Merely thinking about it suggests questionable motives. Openly expressing it among themselves reveals a nearly complete ignorance of both the teachings and disposition of their Lord.

Jesus dealt with this ambitious posturing so directly and decisively that it cuts a wide swath for Christian behavior through all church history into our own lives today. He plainly stated that, "If any person desires to be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all."

This is NOT normal, human thinking. "Being number 1" is probably the most dominant goal of us humans - from the cradle to the grave. "My" world revolves around "me."

We must make the journey to the cross to change the "me" concept into an "others" one. Jesus clearly stated that to follow Him meant a lifetime of shouldering the cross, and that if we want to live for Him, we must die to self. (SEE Luke 9:23)

Paul made it clear that the only way he could live for Christ was to be crucified with Him. (SEE Galatians 2:20). Carnality will always be in conflict with the cross. One or the other will dominate and reign.

Our minds noticeably soften as we "see" Jesus clearly demonstrate what He meant about heaven's greatest persons "being the servant of all" by sitting a small child on His lap. He said that heaven's greatest would display the characteristics of a small child: humility; the absence of posturing for rank; yeildedness; subservience; teachableness; lowliness of mind - but most of all, a nature in harmony with God's.

Jesus sensed in a little child a nature as His own - a kindred, mutual spirit.

God Doesn't Strut

It is true. Those who know the most, advertise it the least. We are correct to be suspicious of those who promote themselves.

If any person has a right to strut, God does... but He does not. He does not strut because He has nothing to prove. He does not strut because strutting is intended to impress. God is impressive in every aspect of His Person, but He never tries to be impressive.

You have noticed (as I have) that strutting is generally disliked very much! Few of us consider it a positive. Self confidence, yes. A PMA (positive mental attitude), yes. Optimism, yes. Leadership, yes. Success and winning and victory and overcoming, yes. But generally, most of us disdain and reject strutting.

It comes as a surprise to most of our minds that God is characteristically an humble Being, for pride is of satanic origin. Satan's heart was "lifted up with pride" when he sought to be like the Most High (see Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28) and failed in his effort to displace God.

The biggest proof of God's intrinsic humility is in His perfection. A perfect Being needs nothing, cannot evolve, appreciate, develop, mature, age or improve. And yet! He created other beings! Not for Himself, for He needed nothing or no one, but He created other beings to know Him, and have a personal, everlasting relationship with Him.

And the method He used to tell the human family about His great plan of the ages farther proves His humility. He made the connection between Himself and us humans by allowing His divine Son to become one of us, and eventually become the sin sacrifice for us after Satan has plunged us all into helpless lostness.

The Bible explains it all in incredible terms found in Philippians 2:6-11, and I quote from Nestle's Greek New Testament:

"Christ Jesus, Who subsisting in the form of God, deemed it not robbery to be equal with God,
"But emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave, becoming in likeness of men. And being found in fashion as a man,
"He humbled Himself, becoming obedient unto death, and the death of a cross.
"Wherefore God highly exalted Him, and gave to Him the name above every name,
"In order that in the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of heavenly beings, and earthly beings, and beings under the earth,
"And every tongue should acknowledge that the Lord Jesus Christ is to the glory of God the Father."

The only appropriate response here is to bow and weep before Him in humility, gratitude and submission for doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.

AMAZED!
by W.L. Boone
I am amazed! That God would think of me
When robed in heavenly glory.
That One who wore eternity
Would start the human story.

I am amazed! That he would plan
Beings such as we--
Endowing minds and wills that can
Decide our destiny.

I am amazed! That He would move our way,
Reserving a special place
Within His great and gracious heart--
Room for the human race.

I am amazed! That He who saw it all
And knew the deepest cost;
Looked far beyond our miserable fall
Agreeing to save the lost.

I am amazed! At these great Three
Who sees end from end;
Would effect a plan so perfectly
Designed to be man's friend.

I am amazed! That He would care
Enough to invite the pain --
Long before He started there,
Knew would pierce His heart again.

I am amazed! That He could see
It clearly at the start;
Knowing it would surely be
The blade aimed at His heart.

What kind of God is this
Who suffers in man's place?
What hope? What help? What love? What bliss?
IT'S CALLED AMAZING GRACE!

Copyright by W.L. Boone.