The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Samuel 5:1-2,
"All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, 'We are your own flesh and blood. In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the Lord said to you, "You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler."'"
All the tribes of Israel knew all along the Lord had Samuel anoint David to be King Saul's replacement. Yet, following Saul's death, they had followed Ish-Bosheth, Saul's son, who Abner manipulated onto the throne.
What does this tell us about Abner? What does this tell us about Israel? It could not be more clear that the nation had turned its collective back on God and gone their own way. They simply did not care what the Lord wanted, what his intentions were.
It was not just Israel. All mankind is afflicted with the disease of rebellion and rejection of their Creator. As astonishing as this is- from the standpoint of stark reality, it simply points to the schizophrenia that dominates what we think, do, and say as fallen creatures. "There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." Romans 3:10-12.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son."
"All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, 'We are your own flesh and blood. In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the Lord said to you, "You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler."'"
All the tribes of Israel knew all along the Lord had Samuel anoint David to be King Saul's replacement. Yet, following Saul's death, they had followed Ish-Bosheth, Saul's son, who Abner manipulated onto the throne.
What does this tell us about Abner? What does this tell us about Israel? It could not be more clear that the nation had turned its collective back on God and gone their own way. They simply did not care what the Lord wanted, what his intentions were.
It was not just Israel. All mankind is afflicted with the disease of rebellion and rejection of their Creator. As astonishing as this is- from the standpoint of stark reality, it simply points to the schizophrenia that dominates what we think, do, and say as fallen creatures. "There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." Romans 3:10-12.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son."
What an incomprehensible love this is! How remarkable that God would express his love of us such that he would send his Son to save rebellious mankind from his own judgement!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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