2024-12-13
2 Samuel 6:14 NLV
In 2 Samuel 6 is Dawid pas as koning van Israel gekroon. Hy het die Filistyne oorwin en Sion weer ingeneem. Hy is besig om die verbondsark, die grootste simbool van God se teenwoordigheid onder sy volk, terug na Jerusalem te neem. Nadat die volk jare daarsonder gelewe het, het die aanskoue daarvan Dawid met vreugde oorweldig. Hy het sy koninklike klere uitgetrek en met volle oorgawe in net ‘n linneskouerkleed voor die ark gedans.
Tog, wanneer jy oor God opgewonde raak, moenie verwag dat almal saam met jou opgewonde sal raak of jou opgewondenheid sal verstaan nie. Dawid se vrou, Mikal, was so ‘n persoon. Die Bybel vertel ons twee dinge van haar: 1) ‘Terwyl die ark van die Here die Dawidstad binnegekom het, het Mikal, die dogter van Saul, bo uit haar venster gekyk. Toe sy koning Dawid sien spring en dans voor die Here, het sy hom stilweg verafsku’ (vers 16 NLV). 2) ‘Mikal het haar lewe lank kinderloos gebly’ (vers 23 NLV).
Lofprysing lyk soms ‘n bietjie dwaas, nie waar nie? Jy sing vir iemand wat jy nie kan sien nie. Jy lig jou hande op na iemand waaraan jy nie kan raak nie. Of, soos in Dawid se geval, versuim jy om met koninklike waardigheid op te tree. Daar is ‘n ou gesegde wat lui: ‘Diegene wat nie die musiek hoor nie, dink die danser is mal.’ Dis wat in hierdie verhaal gebeur het. Dawid hoor die musiek en loof God met volle oorgawe. Mikal doen nie en verbeur dit waarna sy die meeste smag.
Moenie die punt hier misloop nie. Wanneer jy die kritici ignoreer en besluit om God met jou hele hart te aanbid, begin jy geestelik floreer. As jy dit nie doen nie, word jy geestelik onvrugbaar.
Sielskos: Gen 50; Hag 1-2; Joh 20:1-18; Ps 105:1-7
2 Samuel 6:14 NKJV
In 2 Samuel 6, David had just been crowned king of Israel. He had defeated the Philistines and recaptured Zion. Now he is bringing the ark of the covenant, the ultimate symbol of God’s presence among His people, back to Jerusalem. After years of living without it, the sight of it overwhelmed David with joy, causing him to strip off his kingly robes and dance before the ark with abandon wearing nothing but a loincloth.
Yet, when you get excited about God, don’t expect everybody to get excited with you or understand your excitement. David’s wife, Michal, was such a person. The Bible tells us two things about her. (1) “Michal, Saul’s daughter, looked through a window and saw King David leaping and whirling before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart” (v. 16 NKJV). (2) “Therefore Michal… had no children to the day of her death” (v. 23 NKJV).
Seemingly, worship is foolish, isn’t it? Singing to somebody you can’t see. Lifting up your hands to somebody you can’t touch. Or, in David’s case, failing to act with kingly dignity and decorum. An old proverb says, “Those who hear not the music think the dancer is mad.” That’s what is going on in this story. David hears the music and worships God with abandon. Michal doesn’t and forfeits what she longs for most.
Don’t miss the point here. When you discount the critics and naysayers and decide to worship God with all your heart, you begin to thrive spiritually. When you don’t, you end up spiritually barren.
Soul food: Gen 50; Hag 1-2; John 20:1-18; Ps 105:1-7
2024-12-12
Romans 12:17 KJV
In his poem “The Road Not Taken,” Robert Frost writes, “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I – I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference.” Sadly today, the road less traveled is honesty in small things and honesty in all things. According to Psychology Today, 70 percent of high school students and almost half of college students admit to cheating. USA Today stated that 91 percent of Americans lie regularly.
Our culture says, “If you want to get ahead, you have to break a few rules.” But the Bible warns that “the little foxes… spoil the vines” (Song of Songs 2:15 KJV). Solomon is referring to little sins that whet our appetite, distort our values, and lead to bigger sins. Bible commentator Matthew Henry writes, “Adam’s eating forbidden fruit seemed but a little sin, but it opened the door to the greatest.”
Are you being tempted to compromise your character? Tempted to deceive classmates? Pressured to be untruthful at work? Caught up in an “innocent little relationship”? Evangelist Charles Finney said, “A person who is dishonest in little things isn’t really honest in anything.” Unless the small, secret areas of your life are governed by your convictions, you endanger them to corruption from your compromises. One of the greatest promises made in Scripture is to those who are faithful in small things. “Well done… you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things” (Matthew 25:21 NKJV).
Guard your thoughts; they become your deeds. Guard your deeds; they form your character. Guard your character; it decides your destiny.
Soul food: Gen 47-49; John 19:25-42; Ps 150; Ecc 5:10-12
Romeine 12:17 DB
In sy gedig, The Road Not Taken, skryf Robert Frost: ‘Two roads diverged in a wood, and I – I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference.’ Ongelukkig is die pad wat deesdae selde gekies word die pad van eerlikheid in die klein dinge en eerlikheid in alle dinge. Volgens Psychology Today, erken 70 persent van hoërskoolleerlinge en amper die helfte van universiteitstudente dat hulle al in toetse of eksamens gekul het. USA Today sê dat 91 persent van Amerikaners gereeld leuens vertel.
Ons samelewing sê: ‘As jy sukses wil behaal, moet jy ‘n paar reëls breek.’ Die Bybel waarsku ons egter: ‘…Dit is die klein jakkalsies wat die wingerd verniel…’ (Hooglied 2:15 NLV). Salomo verwys hier na klein sondes wat ons eetlus aanwakker, ons waardes verdraai en tot groter sondes lei. Matthew Henry skryf: ‘Adam wat die verbode vrug eet lyk dalk na ‘n klein sonde, maar dit het die deur na die grootste sonde oopgemaak.’
Word jy in die versoeking gebring om jou karakter in gevaar te stel? Word jy versoek om klasmaats te mislei? Word jy onder druk geplaas om oneerlik by die werk te wees? Is jy vasgevang in ‘n ‘onskuldige klein verhouding’? Die evangelis Charles Finney het gesê: ‘Iemand wat oneerlik in die klein dinge is, is nie regtig in enigiets eerlik nie.’ Een van die grootste beloftes wat in die Skrif gemaak word, is aan diegene wat in klein dingetjies getrou is: ‘…Uitstekend!.. In die kleine het jy jou betroubaar bewys. Daarom gaan ek nog baie groter verantwoordelikhede aan jou toevertrou…’ (Matteus 25:21 NLV).
Pas jou gedagtes op; hulle word jou dade. Pas jou dade op; hulle vorm jou karakter. Pas jou karakter op; dit bepaal jou lotsbestemming.
Sielskos: Gen 47-49; Joh 19:25-42; Ps 150; Pred 5:10-12
2024-12-11
Psalm 145:4 NKJV
Fanny became blind at six weeks old at the hands of a fake doctor. But her grandmother Eunice resolved that Fanny would never grow up feeling disabled or deprived. Eunice devoted years to training Fanny in all kinds of things – teaching her the Bible, assisting her in exploring nature, and enabling her to develop incredible powers of memory. Fanny memorized large sections of the Bible. From that treasury of Scripture, she later produced some of the best-loved hymns we sing today. “Blessed Assurance,” “To God Be the Glory,” “All the Way My Saviour Leads Me,” and “He Hideth My Soul.”
In the Bible, Timothy had a grandmother named Lois, whose prayers and example helped mold him into none other than the apostle Paul’s successor. Paul writes, “I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother” (2 Timothy 1:5 NKJV).
Never underestimate the influence you have as a grandparent. As you pour yourself into your grandchildren, you may be molding servants of the Lord. If you are a grandparent, claim this promise from the Scriptures: “One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts.” Perhaps your children have disappointed you and failed to raise your grandchildren in the ways of the Lord. Don’t be discouraged, and don’t give up. “I sought for a man among them who would… stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land” (Ezekiel 22:30 NKJV). Your prayers are God’s invitation and entry point into the lives of both your children and your grandchildren. So, “stand in the gap,” and believe God for the salvation of your family.
Soul food: Gen 44-46; John 19:1-24; Ps 148:7-14; Ecc 5:4-6
