Psalm 26 ~ I do not sit with the wicked

Ziklag Tel Se. Dirt. The giant ditch David lived in as a mercenary - learning to be in battle. Does not look good in the high heat of a dry summer. Where David believed he was anointed of God and looked for work with other nations. These malcontents would be the backbone of his army. Later David would welcome warmly the rest of the nation who had shunned him - David knew was their Shepherd.

Psalm 26

Of David.

Vindicate me, O Lord,
for I have walked in my integrity,
and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.
Prove me, O Lord, and try me;
test my heart and my mind.

For your steadfast love is before my eyes,
and I walk in your faithfulness.

I do not sit with men of falsehood,
nor do I consort with hypocrites.
I hate the assembly of evildoers,
and I will not sit with the wicked.

I wash my hands in innocence
and go around your altar, O Lord,
proclaiming thanksgiving aloud,
and telling all your wondrous deeds.

O Lord, I love the habitation of your house
and the place where your glory dwells.

Do not sweep my soul away with sinners,
nor my life with bloodthirsty men,
in whose hands are evil devices,
and whose right hands are full of bribes.

But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity;
redeem me, and be gracious to me.
My foot stands on level ground;
in the great assembly I will bless the Lord.

What a long road David traveled. And how off course he seemed to go, being a mercenary to learn to train men for war. Having his family kidnapped in Ziklag. Losing his first wife. Being chased as a criminal. Living in a glorified ditch. Loosing the crown to Saul's concubine's son. Regaining the crown. Being shunned by some of the children of Israel. Taking Jerusalem. Killing Saul's sons by concubines. Having mercy on their mothers. Doing the wrong thing as a father. Killing Uriah. Ignoring when his daughter was incestuously raped. Having a family of children who were at war with each other. Winning every battle even in fear and sorrow. Finding this anointed path wobbles and continuing with God to go so far. God proclaiming David's heart in the midst of all this path and trouble. Being given the Kingdom! David's absolute belief and heart cry of thanksgiving and wonder. A warrior king - Loved - by Abba God.


2 Samuel 7

‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel. 9 And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. 10And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, 11 from the time that I appointed judges over my people. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. 

Moreover, the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house. 12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, 15 but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. 

16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me.  Your throne shall be established forever.’”

 17 In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.

18 Then King David went in and sat before the LORD and said, “Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? 19And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord GOD. You have spoken also of your servant’s house for a great while to come, and this is instruction for mankind, O Lord GOD! 20 And what more can David say to you?

 For you know your servant, O Lord GOD! 

21 Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness, to make your servant know it.

22 Therefore you are great, O LORD God. For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

Does Faith make a good person?

The Bible is very honest. We see people at their worst. Perhaps if David had not been part of the Word of God, just a king somewhere, then David would have been shown to have made Israel secure for the first time since the Exodus. David overcame battles, withstood plague, conquered civil war. Established his line. Was known to be merciful and gathered a country in chaos. Established trade. Gathered national alliances. Two of his wives were shown to always adore him. The prophetic Nathan stayed with him always. His generals all stayed, even the ones David really didn't like.

The conclusion would be David was an absolute success.

Would we say this made him a good person? God would say so. And God and David understand God sees all the potholes life can put down. All the emotional crippling things like David's first wife not only marrying another man, but publicly disdaining him nationally. David withstood a national man hunt for him - because of the Word of God. Rabbis and High Priests were slaughtered for merely being kind to a hungry David. David's father refused to call him to be considered by the Prophet Samuel, who chastised Jesse by having them all stand while David was gathered from shepherding the flock. God put all of these things in David's life and considered David to be a wonderful heart. Even as the first wife Michal was put away from her next husband and away from David. Even when David put away his concubine for the result of civil war. God allowed David to have all the heart ache of bigamous life. David remains God's favorite earthly king. And a fine example of the reason for Christian man and wife.




Abba our Father,

You Lord God reign,
    let the nations tremble;
You sits enthroned between the cherubim,
    let the earth shake.

Great is the Lord of Zion;
   You is exalted over all the nations.
Let the people praise Your great and awesome name— Jesus -
    HE is holy.

You our King are mighty, and loves justice—
    You have established equity;
in Jacob You have done
    what is just and right.

Exalt the Lord our God
    and worship at Your footstool;
    You is holy.

Moses and Aaron were among Your priests,
    Samuel was among those who called on Your name;
they called on the Lord
    and You answered them.

You spoke to them from the pillar of cloud;
    they kept Your statutes and the decrees You gave them.
Lord our God,
    You answered them;
You were to Israel a forgiving God,
    though You punished their misdeeds.
Exalt You Lord our God
    and worship at Your holy mountain,
    for the Lord our God is holy.

We thank You, Father God, we give the ones we Love to You.
We give the people You have given us to pray for.

We give You incredible Thanks for Your Great and Astonishing Mercy.

Today I have heard of miracles God has provided. Of Protection and the acknowledgement of Your Protection going forth and give incredulous thanks and knowledge of Your Promises. Live is us and let goodness, love and gratitude go forth always, please Abba, in Jesus Christ our Lord.

And let our prayers circle the earth You created and found good - yesterday, today and tomorrow.
And with our hope and faith in You, we will see our Nation protected and the world pray with believing prayer.

Jesus is God and that is where we will rest. Amen.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †