King David And His Indulgences

A Daily Walk - Along The Way:  King David

(06.11.17)

King David “grew greater and greater, for the Lord of Host was with Him” (2 Samuel 5:10). The Lord was pleased with David and caused his kingdom to grow. In this I find a God who considers the totality of a person. The Lord loved David. There was nothing in David’s life that was hidden from God – this includes his moral indulgences. David was a womanizer, still “a man after God’s own heart”. This is no excuse for sinful living, but his life serves as an example for every believer in the pursuit of God. Even before David took the throne, he was already adding to his wives. 

One wife is enough! "Believe Me! 

This has been God's plan from the beginning (Genesis 2:20-25). By the time we get to Hebron, when king David assumes the throne, the word of God states “Meanwhile, David took more wives and concubines from Jerusalem…” (5:13). David had a weakness that was never satisfied. He followed the example of many leaders before him. Some of these marriages were for territorial alliances, but regardless of the reason, we cannot ignore God’s guidelines and expect a blessed outcome.

                A King of Israel was encouraged not to “multiply wives for himself, or else his heart will turn away” (Deut. 17:17). David ignored this part of God’s word and it brought him tremendous pain in the latter part of his life. Not because it has been done, does it mean it is profitable. This principle still applies to us today and should be an ecclesiological consideration for ministry and life. Not because things seemingly are blessed, does it mean God agrees with everything I do. David was a godly man, a man after God's own heart; but his life reminds me that none of us are perfect. The journey of life is filled with indulgences and compromises. The question is - Do we continue in sin because we know God is grace-full? The Lord was with king David, so too with all Christians. God loved David, so too all Christians. Hey, He died for us! (John 3:16) But rest assured, He will not turn a blind eye to disregard for holy living. If we are honest, he shows that compromises can lead to great pain. David became a recipient of the seeds he planted - read the last half of his story; a life filled with internal turmoil.

            My encouragement as we Walk Along The Way: Consider our beloved David. His love for God was exemplary. He was one of a few men in the Bible of whom it was written "The Lord was with him". I love that he shows how imperfect we all are. We will be imperfect till the day Jesus returns and gives us a new body (Hebrews 10:9-10). But till then - watch out for those compromises. Watch out for those indulgences. They can become our undoing. It was the Apostle Paul who said "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return. The one who sows to please his flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; but the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest, if we do not give up (Galatians 6:7-9).

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