Bible Reading Reflection from 2 Samuel 9-16

 [Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (SSEU) as a reading update (reflection) from one chapter of the Bible a day]

𝟚 𝕊𝔸𝕄𝕌𝔼𝕃 𝟡:𝟙

"And David said, "Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?"

So, David, when he became king, remembered his friend Jonathan.

Somebody said, "Be kind to people on your way up because you will be meeting them on your way down." David indeed had his down moment. Mephibosheth no doubt would have met the king, but Ziba, his servant cheated him.

A movie, Cinderella (2015) has a captivating line, "Have courage and be kind." David exemplifies this!

 

𝟚 𝕊𝔸𝕄𝕌𝔼𝕃 1𝟘:𝟝

"When they told it to David, he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly humiliated. And the king said, "Stay at Jericho until your beards grow, and then return."

Man seeks glory for himself. He will do great things to receive glory. If he cannot do those, he will humiliate others to exercise glory over the oppressed ones.

Why do we do anything? Think.

Seeking glory can be godly and sinful like a knife can be used to slice an apple or stab a man. When our seeking for glory is aligned with God’s seeking for His glory, it's godly. When it's not, it's sinful. Simple as that!

Why about glory? Because we find humiliation in the quest for glory. Hanun exercised his glory over David and his messengers by humiliating them.

Or substitute with "hurt". Man wants to hurt others. That's why you shout when you get angry—to hurt others. That's why they kill [more than hurt]. Some hurting led to humiliation, others to death!

Let's reduce the way of hurting and humiliation in our quest for glory.

 

𝟚 𝕊𝕒𝕞𝕦𝕖𝕝 𝟙𝟙:𝟚𝟟

"When the time of mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house and she became his wife; then she bore him a son. But the thing that David had done was evil in the sight of the LORD."

Perhaps the blackest chapter in David's life! Yes, the whole episode recorded in this chapter is.

What a contrast of characters: David, an undisciplined human, and Uriah, a disciplined human even when he was forced to get drunk; Uriah, a true defender of Israelites, David a traitor.

Is there anything David can boast of? Is there anything any man may boast of (for that matter)? Your sins are really your sins, but your godliness from the least to the greatest is of God.

David would have lived in such type of sin forever, if not by the grace of God. See, how he moved from one sin to a chain of a greater sin. It's God who restrains a sinner. It's God who grants repentance. It's God who brings a change of heart towards God. Or else, David's destiny would have been no better than Saul’s.

Also in the New Testament, Peter was no better than Judas Iscariot. Jesus prayed for Peter and granted him faith and repentance, and entrusted him to be the leader. As Steve Lawson says, "The perseverance of the saints is the perseverance of the Saviour in the saints"

We will not fail. We will not be lost. We will not be cast away. Because it's Him who holds us. We are too incompetent even to run away from God. Breathe the Grace of God!

 

𝟚 𝕊𝔸𝕄𝕌𝔼𝕃 𝟙𝟚:𝟙

"Then the LORD sent Nathan to David. And he came to him and said, "There were two men in one city, the one rich and the other poor."

This is one of the most helpful, relevant, and powerful parables in the Old Testament. I can find and see the reality of this parable almost every day.

This kind of injustice is everywhere. But what can we do!? Only God knows how to judge righteously and He does! So, be cool, relax!

I have been treated this way many times, and I'm sure (unfortunately) I must have treated others as well. And I don't think anyone is morally superior to you or me when it comes to this. We all have done this to some extent.

I had only 100 rupees for my monthly expenditure. My roommate had thousands, being richer. He lived eating whatever he wanted whenever he liked. While I had to live by a budget, not by my desires. There were times he asked me to lend him some money to buy something because he didn't have cash, and he never paid back. Yeah, Stephen Leacock’s story, My Lost Dollar comes to mind.

I, a poorer man never owed him anything. Never borrowed anything from him. Never needed his help. I knew how to live my life comfortably with whatever I had. He, a richer guy, owed me, often borrowed from me, never returned. This rich friend of mine lived in debt to poorer me!

Another illustration

I wanted to charge (up) my phone but didn't trust the plug. There was a younger guy (btw, most young guys are always poor, being unemployed) with a cheaper phone. I suggested, "Hey, your phone is cheaper than mine. Let's try first with your phone before I plug in mine."😂😬

David, a rich man was robbing a poor man whose only means of joy was that lamb.

John Wick's wife [a Hollywood movie scene] was dead. His delight was only the dog that his wife gave him. Somebody killed that dog! And there you have Nathan's parable even in Hollywood! 😂😂 Eagerly waiting for John Wick 4 BTW. May we look out for the interests of others too!

 

𝟚 𝕊𝔸𝕄𝕌𝔼𝕃 𝟙𝟛:𝟙𝟝

"Then Amnon hated her with very great hatred, so that the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, "Get up! Go!"

Have you ever loved someone more than others, and then at some point of time, you began to hate that person?

Over the years, I have increased my understanding of this verse, but still, I don't understand enough how love can turn into hatred.

Well, there is one girl whom I liked to text often, but now, I don't want even to have her number! 😂 So, I think, I understand, now!

 

𝟚 𝕊𝔸𝕄𝕌𝔼𝕃 𝟙𝟜:𝟛𝟘

"Then he said to his servants, "See, Joab's field is next to mine, and he has barley there; go and set it on fire." So Absalom's servants set the field on fire."

Absalom was totally desperate, and he decided to do what would really catch Joab’s attention. Are you ever desperate like that?

Well, sometimes, I want God desperately that I told God (confessed) that “if I know where God's field is, I will set it on fire that He may listen to me.”

Well, Absalom was manipulating Joab and David, instead of repenting. He was successful but of course, led him to his early death later on.

But, desperate for God, for God's blessings, for God's mercy, for deliverance is good. Psalter is full of that. Even Jacob wrestled with God till the daybreak. The Syrophoenician woman was arguing with Jesus about the crumbs under the table.

BTW, nobody can manipulate God; one can (may, must) only beg, ask, and wait on Him.

 

𝟚 𝕊𝔸𝕄𝕌𝔼𝕃 𝟙𝟝:𝟚𝟞

"But if He should say thus, 'I have no delight in you,' behold, here I am, let Him do to me as seems good to Him."

David didn't want to see Absalom anymore, but Absalom manipulated the situation by burning down the field of Joab.

In the case of David, when God had chastised him, by removing him away from the throne, he would not manipulate the situation. He just submitted to the will of God.

The Greater King, Christ Jesus submitted Himself to the will of God in the garden of Gethsemane! Bearing punishment, not His but of His people!

Christian Living is submission to the will of God. David suffered for his sins; Christ suffered for the sins of others. Whether we are righteous or not, suffering is inevitable. All in the good purpose of God. Let Him do whatever seems good to Him!

 

𝟚 𝕊𝔸𝕄𝕌𝔼𝕃 𝟙𝟞:𝟚𝟚

"So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and Absalom went in to his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel."

Alas! What a horrendous thing! But God allowed so. Actually, God planned so, because Nathan prophesied of this as a punishment upon David.

What had those ladies done to deserve this? According to the narrative, It was David's sin. Ahithophel suggested this, possibly, partly as revenge on David for committing adultery with his [Ahithophel's] granddaughter, Bathsheba.

Elsewhere, as a punishment, God made the disobedient Israelites eat their own babies, and let the enemies rip off the pregnant women. And yet, many people want to rescue God and defend God. Well, who made the world bad, was it not God? He cursed the woman to be rebellious, He cursed the man to be abusive and live in suffering. He cursed the ground and so there are calamities.

Viruses, Floods, Violence, Bloodshed, Rape, Diseases everything bad and evil are the instruments of God. Nothing is random, nothing is accidental, everything is planned.

So, in conclusion, God is the solution for all things. David knew that. So, he didn't even kill Shimei, the dead dog in the words of Abishai. David let himself and his men be cursed, abused, stoned because he knew ‘it’s God who is in the background’ (v10, 12) And God was pleased to exalt David again.

Imagine walking along with David, and Shimei, throwing stones and pebbles and dust upon you all. Not just the insult, but you really have to cover your head from the stones. Maybe David was hit once or twice as well! 🤔

Bible Reading Reflection from 2 Samuel 1-8

 [Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (SSEU), a reading update (reflection) from one chapter of the Bible a day]

𝟚 𝕊𝔸𝕄𝕌𝔼𝕃 𝟙:𝟚𝟞

"I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; very pleasant have you been to me; your love to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women."

Well, this verse is only a thing of imagination for me! 😅

I have never known the love of a woman nor do I have any such good friends ever! But I know the love of Someone which is greater than any love. His love surpasses all understanding and imagination: The Love of God!

Nobody is in love deficit those who have the love of God!

 

𝟚 𝕊𝔸𝕄𝕌𝔼𝕃 𝟚:𝟚𝟙

"Abner said to him, "Turn aside to your right hand or to your left, and seize one of the young men and take his spoil." But Asahel would not turn aside from following him."

This chapter, its war is grotesque, but I admire the respect the leaders had for each other!

I remember from my Social Science textbook in my school days how Alexander conquered India and captured King Porus. When Alexander asked the defeated Porus how he should be treated, Porus was said to have replied, "A king must be treated like a king." Wow!

David respected King Saul till his death. Even Jehu ordered his men to give a proper burial for Jezebel. Even the angel Michael just said "The Lord rebuke you" to the Devil. Respect one another!

 

𝟚 𝕊𝔸𝕄𝕌𝔼𝕃 𝟛:𝟟

"Now Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. And Ish-bosheth said to Abner, ‘Why have you gone in to my father's concubine?’"

God is Great!

God used the sin of Abner to solidify the kingship of David. Abner was sinful in committing adultery. When Ish-bosheth confronted him, instead of repenting, he was angry sinfully.

He switched his loyalty to David. Well, David accepted him for his political gain. [BTW, the politics of Israel mattered because they were under God, unique among nations. And, in this case, it was not wrong to accept the sinfully arrogant unrepentant Abner to be his commander].

Well, in an interesting way, Abner was killed on that day. Did his sin find him out? And another interesting narration is that David eulogized Abner!

Now, if an unrepentant sinner left his church and come to my church for a membership, should I accept him? Well, that's a different question. I would want to reply with a line from one of Shania Twain's songs, "Don't be stupid!" Hahaha!

 

𝟚 𝕊𝔸𝕄𝕌𝔼𝕃 𝟜:𝟙𝟙

"How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteous man in his own house on his bed, shall I not now require his blood at your hand and destroy you from the earth?"

Jonathan, a righteous man fought by his father's side and died as a war hero. Saul was unworthy of Jonathan, but Jonathan knew the big picture.

Ishbosheth didn't go to war. Yet he died anyway, a cold-blooded murder! The Hebrew meaning of his name is "Man of shame" perhaps because he abdicated his responsibility in choosing not to go and die [fight] with his dad and brother.

Well, David lamented the death of Jonathan. And he killed the murderer of Ishbosheth. He was not happy with the news of their death, though they were necessary for his enthronement. And no surprise the Scriptures said that God is not pleased with the death of the wicked.

The Bible authors narrated in such a way that God used the stupidity and the sins of others to exalt David. And we often see David weeping for their sins. Not that he was unhappy with God, but with the sins of his people.

Happiness or a smiley face is certainly not the best representation of a godly man even in his successes. Have you ever seen Jesus laughing or smiling? For that matter, anyone in the Bible? Yet we want to present ourselves on social media, online like that, that life is cool, and happy, which we ourselves never have and will never have. And we feel jealous when we see others 'pretending' to be.

All the cool updates on Instagram, WhatsApp, and wherever are wrong! 😅 They aren't as cool as they presented (pretended) to be.... 😅😎 Take time to weep for others, both in prayer and action!

 

𝟚 𝕊𝔸𝕄𝕌𝔼𝕃 𝟝:𝟜

"David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years."

Most of us in this group [a WhatsApp group] are older or as old as this David. He was a mature man. He had written a lot of Psalms already by now!

Guys, never think you are still young. We are too old already. Slap, punch, box anyone who treats you like you're a kid. 😅 Do yourselves this favor if you are acting like kids. Let's act like a mature man: in thinking, action, and responsibility.

Another man, whose name is David, changed the modern mission world when he was at this age, the great David Brainerd!

 

𝟚 𝕊𝔸𝕄𝕌𝔼𝕃 𝟞:𝟞-𝟟

"And when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah, and God struck him down there because of his error, and he died there beside the ark of God."

It's a mercy of God that we are still alive! God has the right to strike us anytime. It's stupid to question, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" Nobody is good. Even as redeemed people, we are still filthy. Forget about God, even I want to kill these and those people sometimes! 😅

God struck Uzzah! He struck Ananias and Saphira too! Remember the Mercy and Justice of God!

 

𝟚 𝕊𝔸𝕄𝕌𝔼𝕃 𝟟:𝟛-𝟜

"And Nathan said to the king, "Go, do all that is in your heart, for the LORD is with you." But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan"

I am wowed with this narration. Very relevant and yet sublime.

Obviously, David knew Nathan to be a man of God. So, he concurred with what he wanted to do. Nathan also recognized David to be a man after God's own heart, so he trusted him. What a trust between them! Nathan had no suggestion, no objection, no interference, no competition, no agenda, and no opinion!

People love to give opinions. This is about the temple, which Nathan [being a prophet] would know more [from God] than David. David was more of a political man. Nathan was the right person to be consulted for an opinion. Nathan had no opinion. He would speak only the word of God.

And as expected of him, when the word of God came to him, he was brave enough to break David’s heart's desire; to tell, David was disqualified to build the temple. He forbade him. He withdrew his support!

 

𝟚 𝕊𝔸𝕄𝕌𝔼𝕃 𝟠:𝟙𝟝

"So David reigned over all Israel. And David administered justice and equity to all his people."

That's what’s expected of a godly leader. He administers justice and equity. Not all the time because nobody can. Not in all things, because nobody can.

So, let's be wise when we hear praises and criticism of leaders. They may be better or worse. Steve Lawson said that when people criticize you, probably you are not as bad as they say; also, when they compliment you, you aren't as good as they say.

Well, God, who knows all things, vindicates a person. And here we have an inspired account about David. God chose to overlook some of the injustices of David and declared him and his administration just.

Bible Reading Reflection from 1 Samuel 27-31

 [Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (SSEU), a reading update (reflection) from one chapter of the Bible a day]

𝟙 𝕊𝔸𝕄𝕌𝔼𝕃 𝟚𝟟:𝟙𝟙

"And David would leave neither man nor woman alive to bring news to Gath, thinking, "lest they should tell about us and say, 'So David has done.'" Such was his custom all the while he lived in the country of the Philistines."

If you steal from a thief, does that make you more guilty or vindicated? Is it a virtue or a doubly vice?

David was a cunning guy. A masterful deceiver. Really, a descendant of Jacob!

BTW, in the parable of the shrewd manager, the master praised that wicked guy, and Jesus asked us to be like that guy in making friends for the kingdom. Let those who have spiritual ears hear what that means!

What would I do then if I were David!!??? 🤔🤔🤔

 

𝟙 𝕊𝔸𝕄𝕌𝔼𝕃 𝟚𝟠:𝟟

"Then Saul said to his servants, ‘Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.’ And his servants said to him, ‘Behold, there is a medium at En-dor.’"

One can write a book analyzing the character of Saul from this chapter alone!

But for a WhatsApp post, this I have to say: Saul is so desperate that he went back to what he has banned. I remember 2 Peter 2:22, "a dog returns to his own vomit."

Well, remnant sin in life is also like this. We fight and avoid and do whatever it takes, but there are someday we just return to it. And it's the mercy of God that we receive grace upon grace. Saul perished from that battle!

 

𝟙 𝕊𝔸𝕄𝕌𝔼𝕃 𝟚𝟡:𝟠

"And David said to Achish, ‘But what have I done? What have you found in your servant from the day I entered your service until now, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?’"

What a bluff master! Anyway, he wasted his time there and his town was raided by enemies.

Was David stupid or extraordinarily cunning? But the Lord prevented him from the battle. At the same time, the Lord sent enemies to raid his own town.

He was busy bluffing when his own home was burnt down!

Just an observation for tonight!

 

𝟙 𝕊𝔸𝕄𝕌𝔼𝕃 𝟛𝟘:𝟞

"And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God."

For years I have been thinking and contending that this is the lowest moment of David's life, even lower than fleeing from Absalom. Here, even his people were wanting to stone him to death.

In the words of Lloyd Jones, "Thank God for "But" in the Bible." There's a "but" in this episode, in this very verse. What a powerful contrast it is! What a strategy! David strengthened himself in Yahweh his God.

There, I see why and how David is different from the rest, that he is known as a man after God's own heart!

Job was told by His wife to curse God and die, but...

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were told to bow down, but...

Polycarp was told to deny Christ and be free, but...

Bunyan was asked to stop preaching and walk out of jail, but...

They put their trust in God! Trusting is the strength when everything fails.

Let God be our dwelling place, our fortress, our refuge, our defender, our protector, our strength, our joy, our life!

 

𝟙 𝕊𝔸𝕄𝕌𝔼𝕃 𝟛𝟙:𝟜

"Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, "Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and mistreat me." But his armor-bearer would not, for he feared greatly. Therefore Saul took his own sword and fell upon it."

What a contrast of character between David and Saul! And what a tragedy to die in this way and to end the book of 1 Samuel!

David strengthened himself in the Lord in his lowest moment: Trusting. Saul took his own life in his lowest moment.

Saul feared men that they might abuse him. David trusted God when the people even tried to stone him to death.

Saul's situation was a probability. David’s situation was already happening!

If you have tasted and known the lovingkindness of God, no situation is too bad to abandon God. Those who haven't trusted God won't trust Him even if the dead come back to life. BTW, Samuel’s spirit was raised up to speak to Saul; nothing changed. And here lies Saul, decapitated.

Postscript: Even his armor-bearer refused to kill Saul. No euthanasia for him!

Bible Reading Reflection from 1 Samuel 21-26

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (SSEU), a reading update (reflection) from one chapter of the Bible a day] 

𝟙 𝕊𝔸𝕄𝕌𝔼𝕃 𝟚𝟙:𝟙𝟛

"So he disguised his sanity before them, and acted insanely in their hands, and scribbled on the doors of the gate, and let his saliva run down into his beard."

Positively:

1. David never thought highly of himself; he didn't mind being treated as a fool.

2. David would do anything to survive; some people loved their honor and would die.

3. David didn't revolt against the anointed king.

Negatively:

1. David lacked trust in God, for which he would confess and repent later on.

Well, If I were David, I can't think of a better way than what he did. He was sinful, but in this episode, I might even be more sinful than him. Whether we like it or hate it, whether we can do better or worse, sin is sin!

Peter denied Christ when he feared the guards. Peter sank when he feared the waves. Abraham abandoned his wife Sarah when he feared Abimelech, so was Isaac. There's sin in fear! May we be people of courage!

 

𝟙 𝕊𝔸𝕄𝕌𝔼𝕃 𝟚𝟚:𝟙𝟠

"Then the king said to Doeg, "You turn around and attack the priests." And Doeg the Edomite turned around and attacked the priests, and he killed that day eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod."

Saul dared to kill the priests of God. He massacred 85 people. Last time, Samuel mentioned that Saul could kill him. This Saul is a blood-monger.

Not surprising that people are attacking churches and preachers. How many churches, even in the civilized west, Canada are burnt down this year? No surprise if persecution, allegation, lynching come up anytime anywhere!

The priest Ahimelech stood his ground, even when all his households were at stake. How many will give up the Gospel if they [persecutors] threaten to kill their children?

The 2016 movie, The Silence portrayed such scene. A priest was asked to deny Christ or be dead. That was easy for him. But when the persecutors threatened to torture and started to torture his people, he apostatized.

Ahimelech stood his ground and all his family members up to 85 people were killed! Just for David that also! Hmmm! Some things are worth suffering and sacrificing, and dying for. Top among them is the Gospel! Oh! May I be found willing and ready when the time comes!

 

𝟙 𝕊𝔸𝕄𝕌𝔼𝕃 𝟚𝟛:𝟙𝟙

"’Will the men of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down just as Your servant has heard? O LORD God of Israel, I pray, tell Your servant.’ And the LORD said, ‘He will come down.’"

I still remember myself getting so fascinated with this story even when I was a young boy reading my Bible. I had never heard it from anyone, but I read and understood. Till today, I have never heard anyone preach a sermon from this passage, nor have I read any exposition from anywhere. Well, it's a testimony that God's word is alive and powerful that even a young boy could understand by himself!

People say Bible is boring to read because they don't understand. Well, I don't understand why people say that. Sure, there are many things I can't make sense of when I am in my daily reading, but I almost always see something striking. How could Bible be boring!!!

All this to say: read your Bible regularly. All your excuses are funny and shall not vindicate you when you stand before its author. Having said that:

David earnestly inquired God [always] in this episode. Mentioned at least 4 times. God answered all of them; David didn't like anyone of them! 😂

God commissioned him to fight for Keilah. He did, but he wasn't allowed to enjoy the victory. Even the people of Keilah would deliver him to be executed. And Saul was still doing everything to kill David, even when he has driven away from their mutual enemies, Philistines.

God's ways are mysterious, which WhatsApp post has no time and space to reflect upon more!

 

𝟙 𝕊𝔸𝕄𝕌𝔼𝕃 𝟚𝟜:𝟠

"Afterward David also arose and went out of the cave, and called after Saul, "My lord the king!" And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth and paid homage."

What a list of contrast in this account of Saul and David.

And David would humble himself before such man, and even debased himself to a dog, oh dead dog, and to a flea (v14). Of course, he was talking about the harmlessness as doves. But why not choose a dove over a dead dog?

I struggle to respect a wicked man. I struggle to respect a foolish person. I struggle to respect an incompetent person. Oh! I can go on, but let me not disclose much of my vulnerability. 😶

It's something to learn from David. I was just listening to John Piper today, and he defined humility in this way "looking at other people and regarding them, whether they are or not, as worthy of your service." Wow! He got that from Phil2:3-4.

Well, David is that man.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mR_U9rVwEc&t=496s

 

𝟙 𝕊𝔸𝕄𝕌𝔼𝕃 𝟚𝟝: 𝟛𝟚-𝟛𝟛

"And David said to Abigail, ‘Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! Blessed be your discretion, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from bloodguilt and from working salvation with my own hand!’"

I don't like this story, but I like the demonstration of how God protected a man of God from committing sins. My years are few, but I have seen the protection of God in my life many times!

Last night I was listening to Sinclair Ferguson. He said that you will not be able to tell a difference between Peter and Judas on the night Jesus was betrayed and denied by them. It's the intercession of Jesus that leads Peter to repentance.

Spiritual victory, standing firm, spiritual discipline, repentance are the blessings of God. David Brainerd wrote in his journal many times that one of his struggles of sins is spiritual pride!

David must have been convicted heavily and deeply impressed by the approach of Abigail, he ended up marrying her! It's God who lives our spiritual life. It's we who live the life of the flesh (Galatians 2:20).

Even all these regular WhatsApp Posts!

 

𝟙 𝕊𝔸𝕄𝕌𝔼𝕃 𝟚𝟞:𝟚𝟜

"Behold, as your life was precious this day in my sight, so may my life be precious in the sight of the LORD, and may he deliver me out of all tribulation."

No wonder Jesus taught His disciples to pray, "Forgive us as we forgive others."

If David could be that merciful to a man like Saul, He knows God is better than him. There are times when we swallow our anger, hold our peace, maintain our composure; remember, God sees those and will reward you. If you being evil can do that, why won't the righteous Father do much more? (Matt. 7:11)

For every good deed we do, for every wrong thing we avoid, big or small, God sees it. May we at least learn to say like David!

If there's one thing we need to learn from David, it is how to pray. Look at how many Psalms he wrote! Let's practice praying like that. But to pray like that, we've got to do those acts of mercy, grace, goodness, etc.