2 Sam 12:7 Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. 8 I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your keeping, and gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if that had been too little, I also would have given you much more! NKJV
It is such an encouragement to me that God says He would have given him more.
Should we not then feel free to ask God for more things to glorify Him?
To me this part of David’s life is the second saddest part of scripture and I just break down crying, stopping and starting again as I struggle to read through this passage, hurting over all of my past sins where I have tried to cover it, thinking God wouldn’t see or care. How foolish and shameful to me and despicable to God and the Angels who look on.
And Can you imagine how Joab must have felt when he found out why David had him kill Uriah and the other soldiers as a result? Joab would have discovered he was made to be a party to the murder of several men in a foolish failed attempt to cover someone else’s sin. And David suffered knowing that he caused all this and the death of a child and brought disgrace to God for the nation and shame before the people who would learn that he did this after having to take Bathsheba to wife.
And in the midst of this horrible dreadful rebuke God says: He would have given him more if he asked.
David could have asked for another wife or anything instead of doing evil.
And so can we ask for anything instead of doing evil.
Should we not then be free, even duty bound, to ask for more, rather than murmur or complain, rather than cheat or steal, rather than be discontent with His providence in our lives. Ask for more rather than be depressed an unhappy and not experiencing joy, peace and rejoicing knowing and believing that He is working all for good. Rather than pouting as though we did not have enough and God was not good to us?
If what you have is not enough, ask God for more, but do not sin, do not be discontent. Accept His providential working in your life no matter how hard the trials and look to others who have it worse in this life and then by faith look beyond this life to eternity and think of those who will spend it in hell because God did not give them mercy. And dare we be sad, and complain. Dare we not rejoice before God all our days for 2 Cor 9:15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! NKJV
Do you really need more than this? Are you really lacking anything that matters? Is God’s strength and grace not sufficient for you? Then ask God for more.
And amazing to me more so today was how once the child dies, he rises and goes to the temple to worship.
I have often been so prone to hide from God as Adam and Eve did once I come to my senses and out of the drunkenness that arose in me as I entertained the temptation to sin.
But David prayed for mercy, fasting and laying on the floor for 7 days and nights and then when mercy was not shown to him, the child died, he accepts this strange justice and goes to worship God immediately.
We should also quickly return to God and worship Him and give thanks even for our chastisement, though we have sinned. Worship Him even when we are suffering and have sinned. Worship Him for He is still the same, He is changeless. Worship Him with humbled repentant heart turning to new obedience and resolve, recognizing our weakness and need of the Spirit each moment and crying out for this blessing as Jacob did with the angel all night because he knew he could not have success without the blessing of God.
Cling to our Father and Ask for more that He may be glorified through our prayers as much as our working.
Do not be idle because of lack, ask God for more. More to do, more to give, more desire to pray, ask God for more, but do not sin and take it ourselves in un-Biblical ways.
These are the lessons brought home to me stronger today as we read of David in our morning devotions.
2 Sam 12:8 And if that had been too little, I also would have given you much more! 9 Why have you despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in His sight? NKJV
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2 Peter 1:3- as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. NKJV
Given all of this, WHY would we despise the commandments of the Lord and do evil?
Rom 6:2 How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? NKJV
If it is God’s will and He orders life so that our joy is full and we are content, then whose fault is it if we are not experiencing joy, peace and contentment? It is our choice and our sin only. We are not using our faith to experience that what is happening is good, and God is good to us. Or we are not converted and one of those people He is good to in all things. So solve that and you will have joy and contentment in spite of your circumstances.
Here is the truth. What do you believe instead?
1 Thess 5:16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Phil 2:14 Do all things without complaining and disputing, NKJV
Jude 15 to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.” 16 These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage.
1 Cor 6:10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you.
1 Cor 10:9 nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; 10 nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. NKJV
Heb 13:5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we may boldly say: “The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” NKJV
1 Tim 6:6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. NKJV
1 John 1:4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.
1 Peter 1:8-Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith — the salvation of your souls.
James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
Phil 2:17 Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.
2 Cor 8:2 that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality.
Rom 14:7 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice,
Heb 13:15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name
Ps 100
Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!
2 Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
3 Know that the LORD, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
5 For the LORD is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.
Rom 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. NKJV
