GOODNEWSLETTER
Number 378 July 6, 2011
The Prayers of David
God "...raised up David to be their king, concerning whom He also testified and said, 'I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My heart, who will do all My will,'" Acts 13:22.
The quote comes from Ist Samuel 13:14. Saul had just annointed himself, causing the Prophet Samuel to declare: "You have acted foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God ... your kingdom shall not endure" (I Sam. 13:13, 14a).
Although, everyone knows of David's sin with Bathsheba, David's heart was always fixed upon the will of the God. David loved the promise made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
The best information we can obtain from David's prayer in the Psalms is that man must be aware of God at all times. David, certainly was, acknowledging His dependency from Psalm 1 to the 72nd Psalm; here, the NASB says, "The prayers of Daivd the son of Jesse are ended" (Ps 72:20).
Beginning with the first Psalm, we see what moved David's heart. Although we read of David's apparent doubts and fears, he knew where his bread was buttered; so to speak. David's heart was fixed upon God at all times. His delight was in the law of the Lord. David meditated in God's law "day and night" (Psalm 1:2).
Doctrine explains God's plan. Doctrine is everywhere in the Psalms. The THREE DESTINY APPROACH is in the very 1st Psalm; where David says, "Therefore the wicked will not stand in judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous" (V5). Notice the wicked and, also notice the sinners. Both of these are separated from God; which, brings out the meaning of man's final destiny and spells out the the Three Destiny Approach. In man's final abode, we read of three eternal palces existing for all of us - everyone born of Adam.
Breaking down the THREE DESTINY APPROACH, we see that the FIRST ABODE is for the lost. They rejected God's salvation and were never saved. They shall be in Hell, eternally separated from God (See Lk. 16). Because the wicked rejected God's salvation, they miss life altogether.
"Sinners" are also separated from God. But, they are saved, we think. However, they are not allowed to be in the assembly of the righteous. These miss our because they become impatient and fail to follow on in God's love. And remember, Saul was rejected for the same sin. One Biblical truth that is needed for harmony of the Word of God is that many of the saved shall be among the nations. They shall not inherit the kingdom (See Mt 7:21; Gal. 5:21). Once this is known, a lot of things fall into place. The Bible comes alive!
David understood that God has a plan. In the beginning, the earth was given to Adam. But, after the Fall, God renewed the plan in the promise He gave to Abraham. This really makes sense when we hear Jesus say, "The meek shall inherit the earth" (Matt. 5:5). The plan was to be worked out within Israel, but, when Jesus came to save them, Jewish nation rejected their Savior.
When Israel denied the truth, they pushed God far away from them. However, at the establishment of the New Testament, God again called men to His Holiness. The church replaced the nation of Israel as God's witnesses. Since then, the church has preached the Kingdom that the Jews rejected by scoffing their Messiah.
Since the church was established, a great number has been saved because of Jesus. But, far too many miss out on the plan. They are just like Saul and Israel. They reject God's way with many adding to God's plan or replacing it with their own choice. Even though Jesus said, "The gates of hell shall not prevail against her" (the church, Mt. 28:20), mankind misses it; just look at all the churches that man has established since Jerusalem.
In a nut shell, the kingdom truth teaches that God calls all men to come to Him and be saved; to follow His teaching and honor His Holy Name. Man cannot make God's plan better because the Lord sent His Son just as He promised to Abraham and Abraham's Seed, Jesus (Jn. 3:16; Gal. 3:16). In salvation; whether, it means saved from hell or, in service, man is relative to God through Jesus, alone.
Thus, to trust Jesus is to be saved from condemnation; but, to follow Him, allows one to be His disciple. At the Second Coming, the difference will be clearly seen. Jesus will resurrect all men who have been saved and place each one according to the relationship with God while on earth. Some shall inherit the promise with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. But, the majority will live among the nations for, at least, a thousand years (Rev 20:5).
Without God's Son, man is Hell bound. And, although Jesus came to save and to reconcile man back to God, man goes on his own way. He rejects God by refusing Jesus. While, the saved are raised at the judgment Seat of Christ, the unsaved shall miss this resurrection. We read of them standing before God at the other judgment; the GREAT WHITE THRONE. They are without a Savior.
Having no Savior means that these are dead, spiritually speaking. Their names are not found in the book of life; even, though God searches for it with His eternal eye. Consequently, "And if anyone's name is not found written in the book of life , he was thrown into the LAKE OF FIRE (See Rev. 20:11-15).
When Israel denied God's truth by rejecting Jesus, the New Testament began. Christ established His church to preach the Kingdom that the Jews missed. While, a great number are and have been saved because of Jesus, far too many miss out on the plan. They are just like Saul and Israel, rejecting God's way; while, replacing it with their own choice. Clearly, most are not like David, a man after God's own heart.