Monday, September 14, 2009

Today's Passage: 2 Samuel 23-24

In this passage we find the end of David's psalm of thanksgiving that he started in chapter 22. This is followed by an account of who David's mighty men were, but we will read more about them in 1 Chronicles 11. The passage that God drew me to was chapter 24 and David's census.

We have reached the end of 2 Samuel and by now we have seen that David has experienced quite a bit. We have witnessed that things haven't been the same since the situation with Bathsheba and that David has caused more than just his own suffering. Now to complicate things even more, in chapter 24 David follows God's command to take a census, but does so for the wrong reasons. I have to admit that when I read this passage for the first time I didn't understand why David was saying that he had sinned. My thought was "he did what God asked him to do, take a census of Israel and Judah." It wasn't until I looked up this passage in a commentary and read that David's sin wasn't his actions but the motives behind his actions. See David did what God wanted him to, but he did so thinking that he would find Judah (his people) with the stronger numbers. When he was faced with the reverse it brought his true desires to light.

The actions that David took after realizing his mistake is what makes him a great role model for us as believers. He recognizes his mistake and instead of making an excuse he does everything in his power to make it right with God. That is a man after God's own heart. I want you to ask yourself something honestly. Judging by your actions and motives could you be described as being a man or woman after God's own heart? I challenge you to make it a goal this week to question your motives when it comes to doing something "for God." Ask yourself: Am I doing this to bring God the attention and respect that He deserves, or am I doing this to make myself feel or look better?

Let all thing be for His glory... even how we handle our mistakes.