David’s song of
thanksgiving in 2samuel 22:1-51 was a celebration of God’s grace in his life.
It was a summary of his life. In spite of David’s sin, he still claimed
righteousness and uprightness because he understood God’s forgiveness. He
understood God’s grace. God say “even though your sins be as scarlet, they
shall be as white as snow, even though they be red like crimson, they shall be
as wool”.
LESSON: No matter how
deep we have been in sin, the lord is ready to forgive us and start all over
with us if we are repentant. He will remember our sins no more and before him,
we shall be perfect.
David also summarized
God’s expectation of every leader in 2sam 23:3-4 “He that ruleth over men must
be just, ruling with the fear of God and he shall be as the light of the
morning”.
David made another
fatal mistake towards the end of his life. He requested that a census be
carried out in Israel. Every attempt by Joab and his cabinet members to
dissuade him failed. He went ahead with his plans only to realize his
foolishness after the deed was done. He repented whole heartedly again but the
consequences followed. David was asked to choose the punishment out of three
options; he chose to fall into the hands of God because he knew God is
merciful. About 70,000 people were destroyed in the pestilence before God
stayed the hand of the angel of destruction.
LESSON: When leaders
fail to listen to advice especially on issues that may affect followers, if and
when it backfires, the impact is not only on the leaders but also on the
followers. Leaders should therefore give thoughtful consideration and seek
God’s face before embarking on such projects.
They should not turn
deaf ears to the advice of the people because no man is infallible. The end of
David’s life, Adoniyah started projecting himself as king. David was not
ignorant of it but he never rebuked him. This again shows the permissiveness of
David as a father. Not until Nathan and Bathsheba approached him did he take a
decisive action to pronounce Solomon king after him.
David loved God with
all his heart. Even though God did not allow him to build a temple for Him as
he desired, yet he made all the necessary preparations in terms of materials,
systems and procedure. All of which he carefully handed over to his son Solomon.
David was indeed a man
after God’s heart. He fallible, made many mistakes but this man like Joab clung
to God all through saying “I will not let you go until you bless me”. God
indeed blessed, gave him a son to sit on his throne, God was faithful to his
covenant to David all through. Through this sinful but repentant man, Jesus
came unto the world and was called the son of David. What a privilege, the lord
is faithful.
To all leaders who like
David will submit to God’s leading and chastisement God will be faithful as he
was to his servant David.
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