Monday, February 15, 2010

Bible in 90 days - #3

I've been thinking a lot about King David, and his fall from grace. When you read the whole story in such a short time, the contract is stark. He was an amazing man, with such strong faith and trust in God. He refused to kill Saul, even though he would be justified in doing so, and had multiple chances. But when life became much easier, he let Satan creep in. It's interesting to think about what was a sin, and what wasn't. David stayed home from war. A sin? Not sure, as we don't know the circumstances. Then he was hanging out on the roof of his home, and noticed a beautiful woman bathing. A sin only when he continued to watch. He wanted to know who she was. No outright sin there. But when he found out she was married, he should have stopped there. Even after he laid with her and got her pregnant, he could have admitted his wrong. But instead he tries to cover it up. When that doesn't work, he makes sure her husband is killed in battle.

The man that was unwilling to defend himself against the King that chased him down, was willing to kill one of his trusted soldiers to steal his wife and cover up his sin. How quickly he fell!


On a different topic, two Psalms that struck me as I read them:


Psalm 13
1 How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?
2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?
3 Consider and hear me, O Lord my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;
4 Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.
5 But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.
6 I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.

If you think of the enemy as being Satan, the verse takes on a whole new meaning.


Psalm 37
37 Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.

I want to make this into a plaque on my wall. Beautiful, simple, and profound.

I am now halfway through the bible, and almost caught up again. I'm in the middle of yesterday's reading.