by Bonnie Ricks
– 2 Samuel 3:2-5 NIV
Sons were born to David in Hebron :
His firstborn was Amnon the son of Ahinoam of Jezreel;
His firstborn was Amnon the son of Ahinoam of Jezreel;
his second, Kileab the son of Abigail the widow of Nabal of
Carmel ;
the third, Absalom the son of Maacah daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;
the third, Absalom the son of Maacah daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;
the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith;
the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;
the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;
and the sixth, Ithream the son of David's wife Eglah.
These were born to David in Hebron .
These were born to David in Hebron .
David had many wives. The social customs of the time accepted a
polygamous king. All the kings in the area did it. So David did,
too. Even though God had specifically warned against it. In Deuteronomy
17:17a (NIV), God says, “He (the king of
Israel ) must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray,”
Even so, David ignored God’s word and went with the accepted social
practice - a harem. And what did it get him? Lots of children and
lots of problems. Amnon, David’s firstborn and the son of Ahinoam
of Jezreel, raped his half-sister Tamar, the daughter of Maacah, one of
David’s other wives. In revenge, Absalom, Tamar’s brother,
had his men murder Amnon. Absalom’s rebellion and Adonijah’s
greed were both the result of the half-brother’s jealous rivalry with
each other. Eventually, God’s specific warning was fulfilled in the
life of Solomon when his many wives turned him away from God. All of this
happened because what David and Solomon did was the social norm.
Everybody else was doing it, so why shouldn’t they?
Just because something is socially accepted, that doesn’t mean
it’s right. Just because everybody’s doing it, doesn’t
mean we should. It’s socially acceptable to sleep around and to
live together outside of marriage, but that does not make it right.
It’s “politically correct” to condone homosexuality and call
it an “alternative lifestyle,” but that does not change the fact
that God calls homosexuality an “abomination,” along with adultery,
murder and gossip. The majority of Americans (according to a recent poll)
are “pro choice,” but that does not mean God condones the murder of
millions of babies. It’s socially acceptable to cheat on your
income taxes, if you don’t get caught. Does that negate
Jesus’ words when He said to “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s?”
(Matthew
22:15-22 NIV) It’s socially acceptable to throw a few dollars
in the collection plate at church and keep the rest for ourselves, but does
that eliminate the fact that we should be giving to God our first and our
best?
In every action you take, in every decision you make, look to
God’s Word for guidance. Don’t go with the flow just because
everybody’s doing it.
Today's Bible Verse...
God "will give to each person according to what he has done." To those
who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he
will give eternal life.
Thoughts on Today's Verse...
God
not only seeks after us, he desires relationship with us — i.e., he
longs for us to seek after him and after matters that are important to
him. When we persistently seek his glory and honor by doing good, when
we seek after eternal rather than temporal things, he is overjoyed to
give us what he has always designed for us: eternal life with him. In
other words, the seeking God is always looking for those seeking him!
My Prayer...
Abba Father, I thank you for loving me when I was lost and
in sin. I thank you for not just loving me, but also seeking me by
sending Jesus. Thank you for your justice that you met with your grace
in your Son Jesus. I confess that I at times get distracted and upset
with things that don't really matter very much. Please bless me as I
seek to discipline my heart and focus my desires on eternal things. As I
seek your glory and honor in the way I conduct my life, it is
reassuring that your desire to bless me with eternal life is even
greater still. In Jesus' precious name I pray. Amen.
The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.
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