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It is Tuesday April 21, 2009 and we are completing our studies on the book of II Samuel. Please read chapters 21-24 in your Bible or you can Click Here to read them online. If the link does not work you can copy and paste this one into your browser: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II%20Samuel%2021-24&version=9

Today's Message: Honoring God
A Christian should strive to be a trustworthy and dependable person in order to bring honor to God.

There was a famine in the land, the misery of the famine was accompanied by a sense of judgment from God. After three years, David turned to God for answers. "Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David enquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites." (II Samuel 21:1). Saul had broken the covenant that Joshua had made with the Gibeonites about 400 years before. "And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them. And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a league with them, that they heard that they were their neighbours, and that they dwelt among them." (Joshua 9:15-16). That treaty was still sacred because the covenant had been sworn to in the Name of God.

Since God was the real King of Israel, His integrity and honor were at stake in what Saul had done. David recognized that he had to meet their request. The surviving Gibeonites did not ask for silver or gold to compensate for the murder of loved ones or for the loss of their property, they asked for seven men from the house of Saul. "Wherefore David said unto the Gibeonites, What shall I do for you? and wherewith shall I make the atonement, that ye may bless the inheritance of the LORD? And the Gibeonites said unto him, We will have no silver nor gold of Saul, nor of his house; neither for us shalt thou kill any man in Israel. And he said, What ye shall say, that will I do for you. And they answered the king, The man that consumed us, and that devised against us that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the coasts of Israel, Let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we will hang them up unto the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, whom the LORD did choose. And the king said, I will give them." (21:3-6). David was responsible before God to deliver the seven men to the Gibeonites. Because of David's covenant with Jonathan, an exception was made for his crippled son, Mephibosheth.

Throughout the Old Testament, we learn the value God has placed on keeping our promises. Let us recognize the danger of disregarding our moral and spiritual responsibilities. In God's eyes, not even the king of a nation is above its laws. "For there is no respect of persons with God. For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;" (Romans 2:11-12). Although David's life was filled with many disappointments, sufferings, and sorrows, he readily acknowledged that it was the Lord who gave every deliverance from his enemies. He wrote a song, praising God through all his success and sorrows, "Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name." (II Samuel 22:50).

The greatness of a person's life is measured by his surrender to God's will and purpose and then gives Him the credit for any success. It's not what we get, but it's what we give that measures our spiritual maturity. If we give with no ulterior motives for personal gain then we are receiving the the true spirit of Christ whom truly dwells in us. There is a harmony between sacrifice to God and sacrifice for others. Your relationship with God needs to be one of sincerity, and wholly to honor Him. Therefore, our daily association with others becomes an opportunity of offering ourselves to meet their needs, then thanking the Lord for that privilege. "Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour." (Ephesians 5:1-2).

Today's Psalm: 18:49
"Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name."

Have a wonderful night/day
God Bless,
Christina

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