See & Share
Look to the Lord Jesus and then be a person of encouragement by helping others know about Him.
“David…and all his men went…to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name, the name of the Lord Almighty…David and all Israel were celebrating with all their might before the Lord…Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. The Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; and he died there beside the ark of God. David was afraid of the Lord that day…Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might, As the ark of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart. After he had finished sacrificing…he blessed the people…Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins to each person in the whole crowd of Israelites, both men and women. And all the people went to their homes. When David returned home to bless his household, Michal…said, “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, going around half-naked in full view of the slave girls…David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.” 2 Samuel 6:1-22
The connections between the passages of the scripture today are uncanny. David is committed to bringing the presence of God to the place where he resides and all the people. As he looks to the Lord and considers all that God has done, he celebrates with all his might. He dances like no one is watching and he sings as one in the shower. David is free and finds his delight in the Lord.
David’s response to the goodness of God and his presence is to be generous by giving bread and going out to tell everyone about God’s presence. As he delights in God, his foucs shifts. His heart turns to feeding and finding ways to help other people. Ironically, it is his wife, the one who should be closest to him, that gives him the hardest time. David’s response reveals his heart. He holds the word of God and worshipping God above any worry about what others might think.
Who are you in the story? Are you participating in bringing God’s presence to others? Are you ready to celebrate God all day with abandon? Or are you like Michal, quick to judge and careless with her words? Are you a person of praise or a person of pride? You can see how the upbringing of each of them influenced them. David was poor in spirit and full of joy for all God had done. Michal grew up wealthy and could not imagine being undignified in the eyes of others.
“I lift up my eyes to you, to you who sit enthroned in heaven…so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he shows us his mercy. Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us, for we have endured no end of contempt. We have endured no end of ridicule from the arrogant, of contempt from the proud.” Psalms 123:1-4
How do you respond when others make fun of you or speak poorly of you? Harsh words can happen to us all. All of us will have to learn to deal with how we process offense. What does David do?
He focused on God. He lifted his eyes to the Lord and looked for mercy knowing that he needed mercy. He was not perfect and neither are we. He did not fight back or figure out how he could repay evil for evil. He held fast to his faith in God and in doing so brought a song that could help others. What are you thinking about today? How did your week go? Where is your focus?
“An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends and against all sound judgment starts quarrels. When wickedness comes, so does contempt, The mouths of fools are their undoing, and their lips are a snare to their very lives. The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor. To answer before listening— that is folly and shame. A gift opens the way and ushers the giver into the presence of the great. From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled; with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied. The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly.”
Proverbs 18:1-23
What do your words say about your heart? Do you casually curse and condemn? Uzzah was casual about his relationship and died when he stumbled. In this chapter, Solomon celebrates humility and warns against what can harm our relationships. The entire chapter is focused on our words. Our words flow fom our hearts and reveal who we really are.
Solomon said gossip tastes good. Doesn't it? Unfortunately, gossip only has empty calories and does not satisfy anyone. Solomon said there is a direct correlation between wickedness and contempt. Michal had contempt and we can too if we do not guard our hearts. Consider for a moment if there’s anyone you do not like, anyone you have contempt for in your heart. Ask yourself why? Is your thinking about that person aligned with what Jesus thinks about that person? Are you seeing them like God does?
Solomon told us that our words have the power of life and death. Solomon said that a gift opens the way to the presence of the great. One of the greatest gifts you can give another person is an encouraging word that helps connect that person with Jesus. He is the healer, He is our comfort, He is our strength. Often, we do not know what to say to help others while they are going through difficult times, but Jesus does. As we use our words the right ways, led by the presence of God, we have the power to bring life to other people. How will you use your words today? Will you speak life?
“What troubles you now, that you have all gone up on the roofs, you town so full of commotion, you city of tumult and revelry? All your leaders have fled together; they have been captured without using the bow…having fled while the enemy was still far away. You saw that the walls of the City of David were broken through in many places; you stored up water in the Lower Pool. You built a reservoir…but you did not look to the One who made it…I will summon my servant...I will clothe him with your robe and fasten your sash around him and hand your authority over to him. He will be a father to those who live in Jerusalem…I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David…what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.” Isaiah 22:1-22
Isaiah sees people who have run to the rooftops and fled in fear. Interestingly, God asks why. Why are you running in fear while the enemy is still far away? Why have you allowed the water you stored to become worthless? If you think about your own life and how this relates, you can see the same impact that fear or neglect can have on your heart. Fear causes you to go into fight or flight mode. Fear tells you to run and hide. Fear wants you to feel small and alone. Do you have any fear stored up in your heart?
Isaiah tells the people that they did not store up the words of God. Water is life. These people remain thirsty because they did not look to God. This is the opposite of what David did in Psalm 123. David looked to God and found mercy. These people did not manage to stay strong in their faith and what they stored led to their downfall. If you want to know what is stored in your heart to listen to the words that come out of your mouth.
The Lord says that he has a servant who will come. He says that my servant will have authority. What he speaks will come to pass just like Solomon who said your words have power. The same is true for us today as we speak with the authority we have been given by Jesus. There is power in your prayers. You have the authority as you encourage. Life can feel like survival mode when all you do is flee from fear or store up sin. The servant of the Lord Almighty not only conquers fear but brings hope and help through the power that they have been given. You have a role to play and it begins by looking to God for what to say.
“On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests and pleased Herod so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted…When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place…When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. Jesus replied, “You give them something to eat.” “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. “Bring them here to me…Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand…After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night…Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake…Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water…But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink…Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him…when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country.” Matthew 14:5-35
We have two stories today about dancing. David danced before the Lord because his heart's desire was to please God. He did not worry about his own pride or what other people would think. Herodias’daughter danced before Herod and he got caught by careless words. When given the choice, the daughter chose to harm another with her words and Herod did as well with his oath because he was worried about what others would think. How often do we let the opinions of others influence whether we are faithful to God?
Look at Jesus' pattern for living. When he is sad after hearing about John, he goes off to pray. He looks to God. When he is joyful after the miracle of feeding 5000 he goes off to pray and looks to God. Whether he was on the hill or in the valley He looked to God. Do your circumstances determine whether or not your focus stays on Christ? Or like David do you look to God and praise through the storm.
What happens when we look to Jesus and listen to him? He says encourages us and says do not be afraid. Do not let fear influence you or cause you to flee like the people in Isaiah. Stand firm in your faith and be courageous. He said and showed that He is the Messiah. I walk on water and work miracles feeding five thousand with lunchables.
When Peter’s eyes were on Jesus, he stood firm even when it made no sense. People do not walk on water, but he did. When he took his eyes off of Jesus, he sank. But don’t miss the beauty of God’s mercy. The text said that immediately Jesus caught him. Every day, Jesus is reaching out a hand to catch you as you stumble that you would regain your strength.
The chapter closes with a call to encouragement. The men who recognized Jesus as the Son of God immediately shared the good news with others. It says they sent words to the surrounding country and people came to be healed. The call today is to lift your eyes to heaven and let your words reflect a heart devoted to Jesus. We live in a world that desperately needs more holy singing and holy dancing. The world needs more help and hope, and there is no better place to find all that we need than in the loving arms of Jesus Christ. So let your words point to Him and your heart experience the joy of your salvation as you hear Him speak.