Wednesday, 4/29/2015

“Submission is not about authority and it is not obedience; it is all about relationships of love and respect.” ~ Wm. Paul Young

2 SAMUEL 23

David's last words...

1These are the last words of David:

“The inspired utterance of David son of Jesse,

the utterance of the man exalted by the Most High,

the man anointed by the God of Jacob,

the hero of Israel’s songs:

2“The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me;

his word was on my tongue.

3The God of Israel spoke,

the Rock of Israel said to me:

‘When one rules over people in righteousness,

when he rules in the fear of God,

4he is like the light of morning at sunrise

on a cloudless morning,

like the brightness after rain

that brings grass from the earth.’

LUKE 22:39-45

Jesus advises Peter that he will betray him...

39Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 40On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” 41He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.^c

45When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. 46“Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”

JOURNAL

David at the end of his life gives all praise and glory to God.  David has learned that nothing good in life comes without God.  He realizes that great leadership comes from a heart surrendered to following God.  

Here we see that Jesus is coming in surrender to God...seeking permission in all honesty.  Jesus has authority to do as he wishes, yet he always surrenders to God in directing his path.  In doing so he knows the disciples are giving in to their sorrow...he knows that although they will fail. They will learn from this lesson and their devotion will change the course of history.

“Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. (John 5:19)