We have already praised and questioned David this week. We might as well stay on the trail of a man who God Himself says was after His own heart.
When David refused to deal with his family problem and Absalom killed his half/brother to avenge his sister, David needed to deal with this problem head on; however, he instead tried to put the problem away by isolating Absalom from his presence.
So Absalom rose up because he assumed he could shove his father out. And for a while he did. David fled from Jerusalem, from his own son, to save his household.....but why? Because David had gotten so used to relying on his own decisions that he had left God out of the loop. Would God have said, "Flee from this arrogant upstart!" Doubtful.
But, who knows, because He wasn't asked. We are coming to interesting times. I have to ask, when are we going back to church? Well, if you've been paying attention, we've been in church. (It's not the building) But obviously, when are we going to open the doors? The answer is, for me, when God directs me to.
We have willingly and graciously complied with this lock down, but as other places open up, if churches are left off I will have to ask if this is an attack (not by any person) on the kingdom itself. And, if so, I will say that I must obey God rather than man.
But I will not do that because I think it's time or any other selfish reason but simply under the guidance and protection of God.
My feelings and prejudices aside, (which is hard) I want to be led by God and not by political or peer pressure of any kind. I simply want what God wants and I hope you use this time to want the same thing.
Pastor Brent