No Condemnation

“David’s heart condemned him for he had numbered the people.”  2 Samuel 24:10

Our hearts may condemn us, but Jesus does not.

Thank You Lord, for the conviction of the Holy Spirit that leads us to repentance.  And here’s a simple poem . . .

Our Diffuser

Condemnation sits
shockingly heavy
blocking the light
and all hope of the truth

til Jesus comes
then it trembles and crumbles
as He offers forgiveness
and a peace we can trust.

Last Words

“Although my house is not so with God,
Yet He has made with me an everlasting covenant,
Ordered in all things and secure.
For this is all my salvation and all my desire. . .”  2 Samuel 23:5

Everything wasn’t perfect in David’s world . . .but God was.

Father, thank You for making an everlasting covenant with us through Your Son.  And here’s a simple poem . . .

Secured

By Your blood
we are secure

a covenant given
eternal and sure

all things ordered
promised and planned

our salvation, our desire
in the palm of Your hand.

Being Made Great

“You have also given me the shield of your salvation.
And Your gentleness has made me great.”  2 Samuel 22:36

David fought many battles. Yet it wasn’t his physical strength or leadership skills that saved him and made him great.

Oh Lord, thank You for saving me into greatness and being my Fiercely Gentle  Hero King.  And here’s a simple poem . . .

He Saves Me Gently

I am held
by Your salvation

loved greatly
by the One made small

I am saved
from the destroyer

gently humbled
by my All in All.

Year After Year

“Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David inquired of the Lord.  And the Lord answered, ‘It is because of Saul and his bloodthirsty house, because he killed the Gibeonites’.”  2 Samuel 21:1

Year after year . . .then David inquired.

Oh Lord, what is there on going in my life that You want me to inquire about?  And here is a simple poem . . .

Just Asking

Year after year
time upon time
until I believe
it’s simply mine.

Now I’m asking
and I need to know,
“Is there a way, Lord,
to make it go?”

Delayed

“Then the king said to Amasa, ‘Assemble the men of Judah for me within three days, and be present here yourself.’  So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah.”  2 Samuel 20:4
“But he delayed longer than the set time which David had appointed him.”  2 Samuel 20:5

Amasa wouldn’t get another chance to respond quicker.  Joab made sure of that.

Lord, thank You for this lifetime You give us to come to You and brings others too.  And here is a simple poem . . .

Assemble

You are calling us to come
and to bring others too

now is the time
to do what we must do

You are gracious and patient
You are love through and through

all the more reason
for us to eagerly obey you.

My Bone and My Flesh

“You are my brethren, you are my bone and my flesh.  Why then are you the last to bring back the king?”  2 Samuel 19:12

David found himself a king without a home.

Thank You, Lord, for wearing flesh and bone, for being a king that walks among us.  And here is a simple poem . . .

A King For Us

Of our flesh
and of our bone
this King came down
from His throne
appealing to
the common man
to desire His Lordship
over them.

Deal Gently

“Now the king had commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, saying, ‘Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom’.  And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains orders concerning Absalom.”  2 Samuel 18:5

But Absalom would not be dealt with gently.

Lord, please cover us when our wishes and expectations are not honored.  And here’s a simple poem . . .

Unmet

How I love the gentle way
and when people respond
just the way I want them to
but that’s not what life is made of.

So when my expectations
are unmet and duly crushed
hide me in that place where You were
in a tomb, a grave, on a cross.

Purposed To Defeat

“So Absalom and all the men of Israel said, ‘The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel’.  For the Lord had purposed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the Lord might bring disaster on Absalom.”  2 Samuel 17:14

Have you ever known someone was making plans that would affect you in a bad way?

Lord, we thank You for having the final say about what happens to us.  And here’s a simple poem . . .

When I Consider

Plans are made every day
and all of them aren’t good

like when we tried to kill You
as if we ever could

and I can worry about
what is being done

or consider the resurrection
glory of the Son.

Ordered Ordeals

“Let him alone, and let him curse; for so the Lord has ordered him.” 2 Samuel 16:11

David knew what he was going through was from God’s hand, as Nathan the prophet had foretold it.

Lord, thank You for reminding me often of the importance of listening to You, so I’m not surprised by what happens next.  And here’s a simple poem . . .

What You Said

I long to hear
Your voice

then after a bit
I forget

so may Your Holy Spirit
please remind me

when I’m in
the midst of it.

In Whatever Place

“And Ittai answered the king and said, ‘As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in whatever place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also your servant will be.”  2 Samuel 15:21

Servants stay with their masters.

Oh Lord, I desire to stay with You, wherever You go, even to follow You across into the outer places.  And here is a simple poem . . .

Even There

At the cross
and with the Father
where He is
we shall be.

All is not lost
when we follow
and His glory
we will see.