It was undoubtedly music to David’s ears when his servants made this bold declaration. We, however, have an even greater king to please. As the servants of Christ we should be willing to say the same, and do so without complaint. Listen to these wise words from Frances Ridley Havergal:

If we are really, and always, and equally ready to do whatsoever the King appoints, all the trials and vexations arising from any change in His  appointments, great or small, simply do not exist. If He appoints me to work there, shall I lament that I am not to work here? If He appoints me to wait in-doors to-day, am I to be annoyed because I am not to work out-of-doors? If I meant to write His messages this morning, shall I grumble because He sends interrupting visitors, rich or poor, to whom I am to speak them, or “show kindness” for His sake, or at least obey His command, “Be courteous?” If all my members are really at His disposal, why should I be put out if to-day’s appointment is some simple work for my hands or errands for my feet, instead of some seemingly more important doing of head or tongue?

If pleasing God is indeed our great desire we should not resent or resist what He commands. Our attitude should be like that of Isaiah–“Here am I; send me.”(Isaiah 6:8). It should not matter if the way be steep, or the waters be deep, or the work be hard, or the world be hateful. All that matters is that we be where God wants us to be, doing what He wants us to do. Pleasing Him is reward enough!

1 Samuel 24:16-22 describes the occasion when David had an opportunity to kill the wicked king Saul, who was trying to kill him. However, instead of ridding himself of this threat, David showed mercy and spared his life. Writing about this story, Dr. Paul Chappell has this to say:

The horrors of the Holocaust are remembered around the world through museums, memorials, and the testimonies of those who lived through that tragic time. We will never know the full magnitude of how badly the prisoners of concentration camps suffered and the torture they went through. If there were anyone whose anger and bitterness could be justified, it’s those who were wrongfully imprisoned, beaten, worked, and then killed. Yet from this cold, bitter memory springs hope in the form of a letter written by a Jewish child in the camp. Weeks after the Nazi rule was broken over Germany and American soldiers were inspecting the camps, a soldier ran across the following prayer written by a child and stuffed in the child’s coat perhaps just hours before the child was executed:

“O Lord, remember not only the men and woman of good will, but also those of ill will. But do not remember all of the suffering they have inflicted upon us: Instead remember the fruits we have borne because of this suffering, our fellowship, our loyalty to one another, our humility, our courage, our generosity, the greatness of heart that has grown from this trouble. When our persecutors come to be judged by you, let all of these fruits that we have borne be their forgiveness.”

This child’s mercy speaks volumes about God’s mercy that was evident even amidst the horror of the Nazi concentration camps.

While retaliation may feel natural after being wrongfully attacked, mercy always has the greater impact. Notice how David’s mercy impacted Saul, “And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept. And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.” Saul wept when he thought of how David had spared his life even though Saul perhaps deserved death or punishment for all he’d done to David.

Understand that had David killed Saul, he would have felt better and would have benefited from it, yet he chose the more godly response of showing mercy. He didn’t know how Saul would respond to his mercy, yet he showed mercy anyway.

God’s desire for you is that you always choose mercy. Remember Christ on the Cross when He looked down at those who mocked Him and wrongfully crucified Him and He said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).

What good will come of retaliation? Sure, it will make you feel better but it resolves nothing. Angry words spoken in haste never lead to good, yet mercy is always a cooling salve on even the rawest of situations. Choose to respond to attackers with mercy today. Meditate on Ephesians 4:31-32 as you seek to walk in mercy today, “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”

Every living thing which God creates requires food. The life that God imparts needs sustaining and nourishing. It is so with animal and vegetable life,–with birds, beasts, fishes, reptiles, insects, and plants. It is equally so with spiritual life. When the Holy Ghost raises a man from the death of sin and makes him a new creature in Christ Jesus, the new principle in that man’s heart requires food, and the only food which will sustain it is the Word of God….

Love to the Word is one of the characteristics we see in Job. Little as we know of this Patriarch and his age, this at least stands out clearly He says, “I have esteemed the words of His mouth more than my necessary food ‘” (Job 23:12).

Love to the Word is a shining feature in the character of David. Mark how it appears all through that wonderful part of Scripture, the 119th Psalm. He might well say, “Oh, how love I thy law!” (Ps. 119:97).

Love to the Word is a striking point in the character of St. Paul. What were he and his companions but men “mighty in the Scriptures?” What were his sermons but expositions and applications of the Word?

Love to the Word appears pre-eminently in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. He read it publicly. He quoted it continually. He expounded it frequently He advised the Jews to “search” it. He used it as His weapon to resist the devil. He said repeatedly, “The Scripture must be fulfilled.”–Almost the last thing He did was to open the understanding of His disciples, “that they might understand the Scriptures.” (Luke 24:45). I am afraid that man can be no true servant of Christ, who has not something of his Master’s mind and feeling towards the Bible.

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.” -Hebrews 11:6-7  

The story is told of General Douglas MacArthur, famed American general, who faced a difficult class at West Point when he studied there. As he tells it, “The first section was studying the time-space relationship later formulated by Einstein as his Theory of Relativity. The text was complex and, being unable to comprehend it, I committed the pages to memory. When I was called upon to recite, I solemnly reeled off almost word for word what the book said. Our instructor, Colonel Fieberger, looked at me somewhat quizzically and asked, ‘Do you understand this theory?’ It was a bad moment for me, but I did not hesitate in replying, ‘No, sir.’ You could have heard a pin drop. I braced myself and waited. And then the slow words of the professor: ‘Neither do I, Mr. MacArthur. Section dismissed.'”

Some things in life we will never understand. Can you explain why the earth spins counter-clockwise rather than clockwise? How about why baby birds are born in an egg while we human beings have a live birth? What about why some people are right handed while others are left handed? Our world is full of mysteries, many of which we will never understand.

Noah faced a mystery when God predicted to him that the earth would be flooded with water raining down from the sky. This message was unusual to Noah because rain had not yet occurred on earth. The earth was moistened with dew every morning and surrounded by a water canopy, so the need for rain was not present.

Imagine being in Noah’s shoes. The only source of water you had ever known were wells deep within the earth, and the small amounts of water that showed up as dew every morning. Now God was telling you that water would come down from the heavens, and not only that, but there would be so much that it would cover the face of the earth.

Noah may not have understood God’s proclamation, yet he chose to trust Him any way. God commanded Noah to build an ark so that he and his family would be spared. Noah had a choice to make. He could trust his instincts and what he knew to be true, and disobey God’s command; or he could admit he didn’t understand exactly what God was predicting, yet still obey Him. Noah chose to trust God.

We will face times in our lives like Noah did. God will command us to do something that we don’t exactly understand the reasoning behind. It might be a command to move our family somewhere new, a leading to start a new work, or a command to trust Him more with our finances. No matter what God commands us to do, we must always obey.

Has God asked you to do something you don’t really understand? Have you tried to figure out a reason behind it, or sought an answer from God regarding His command? Often God gives us a command and requires us to step out by faith before He explains His reason.

Think of Hebrews 11:6 the next time God gives you a command, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Obeying God often requires faith. Remember that God doesn’t ask for understanding, but for faithful obedience. (Daily in the Word)

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is to gain.–Philippians 1:21

The gift of life is a wonderful blessing, yet those who possess it are “of few days and full of trouble”. Durning our difficult days we often entertain the wrong attitude. Sadly some dear souls complain about things for which they ought to be thankful. For them life is a burden rather than a blessing. A few years ago I ran across a quote from a man I had never heard of, but what he said sure made a lot of sense. Maybe it will help you have a better attitude about this day.

IT is wholly impossible to live according to Divine order, and to make a proper application of heavenly principles, as long as the necessary duties which each day brings seem only like a burden grievous to be borne. Not till we are ready to throw our very life’s love into the troublesome little things can we be really faithful in that which is least and faithful also in much. Every day that dawns brings something to do, which can never be done as well again. We should, therefore, try to do it ungrudgingly and cheerfully. It is the Lord’s own work, which He has given us as surely as He gives us daily bread. We should thank Him for it with all our hearts, as much as for any other gift. It was designed to be our life, our happiness. Instead of shirking it or hurrying over it, we should put our whole heart and soul into it.–AMEN!