April 27, 2016

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”  ~ William Churchill

2 SAMUEL 17-18

The kingdom is restored to David but Absalom is killed...

31Then the Cushite arrived and said, “My lord the king, hear the good news! The Lord has vindicated you today by delivering you from the hand of all who rose up against you.”

32The king asked the Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom safe?”

The Cushite replied, “May the enemies of my lord the king and all who rise up to harm you be like that young man.”

33The king was shaken. He went up to the room over the gateway and wept. As he went, he said: “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you—O Absalom, my son, my son!”^g

LUKE 21

Jesus confirms that it is the heart and not wealth that God is after...

1As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. 2He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 3“Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

JOURNAL

This is such a sad picture of David...being forced out of the kingdom.  It is again a reminder of David's humility and humanity.  Athough he is a great warrior and the greatest King of Israel...he has his weak and humbling moments.  He is not immune to failure and to heartache.  

This is why Jesus is so hard on the teachers of the law...their arrogance feigns false righteousness.  Jesus knows their hearts and knows that they are just as wicked as the rest of us.  

37“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. (Luke 6:37)