Meditate on it

Worth more thought, from Bob Deffinbaugh's article on David mourning the loss of his first son by Bathsheba. I'm intrigued by his bend on things---that a person's response to the natural world and their understanding of God in that sphere is telling of their response to Him had they been given a fuller revelation. I'm not sure whether I agree or not---here it is: "I believe the argument goes like this. God has revealed Himself to all men through nature. This revelation is not complete, and it does not include the good news of the forgiveness of sins through the substitutionary work of Christ on the cross of Calvary. Even so, a person’s response to what God has revealed to them in nature is a demonstration of how they would have responded if more had been revealed to them. Those who have received the revelation of God in nature have rejected it, twisting it into a religion of their own making, so that they worship God’s creation rather than God the Creator. &

A Bob Deffinbaugh fest of commentary excerpts: "But now David was the king of all Israel. He needed a capital that was farther north. He needed a capital which would be more centrally located, and one which would unify the nation. Jebus was the perfect city. Israel's victory over the Jebusites would unite the nation. The possession of Jebus as David's new capital would do likewise. The city was virtually on the border of Judah and Benjamin. It was a city that neither the sons of Judah nor the sons of Benjamin had been able to capture. Thus, taking this city as his capital would not seem to favor either of these two tribes. In addition to all of this, its natural setting made it difficult to defeat (which is why the Israelites had not taken and held it before). It was in the hill country, on the top of more than one mountain, and with valleys around it. With a little work, it was a virtual fortress (5:9)" -Bob Deffinbaugh, Study on 2 Samuel, Bible.org **********

I've been hashing over the life of David this summer.  I find his life like a kaleidoscope--each way I turn it, I find another pattern to think through.  Publically, his journey to the throne was a long one.  It begins after an inauspicious visit by Samuel, followed by a long season of waiting and strife. From a fleshly perspective, what does David get for his anointing?  He faithfully serves Saul only to be attacked intimately by Saul's spear then more corporately hunted as a fugitive.  David's integrity toward God and his men through these years is sterling.   Though he has opportunity to take Saul's life twice, he refuses.    TBC....