A man Anointed by God

2 Samuel 23:

These are the last recorded public statements of King David.  The second King of Israel, a man anointed by God who was faithful and dependent on God.  He also entered into an everlasting covenant with the Lord and had total confidence that it would happen.

“The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me, His word was on my tongue. The God of Israel spoke; the Rock of Israel said to me, “The one who rules the people with justice, who rules in the fear of God, is like the morning light when the sun rises on a cloudless morning, the glisten of rain on sprouting grass.”   How great it would be to hear a leader of any nation say; “The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me” and it be a true statement.

Shall we see more what David’s last public records were; “Is it not true my house is with God?  For He has established an everlasting covenant with me, ordered and secured in every detail.  Will He not bring about my whole salvation and my every desire?  But all the wicked are like thorns raked aside; they can never be picked up by hand.  The man who touches them must be armed with iron and the shaft of a spear.  They will be completely burned up on the spot.”  It’s exciting to see a leader confident in the relationship he has with God, David was that man.  But David also wanted us to understand that often the wicked look as if everything is going their way, but if they are not secure, they, like the thorn, will burn up for they have no value to God or man and are not part of God’s future.

Most people do not believe they are wicked, and I’m sure the people that live in total darkness have no understanding of the light.  It seems many in and out of the Church are determined to find God on their terms.  Maybe this quote from D.L. Moody will be of help. “The grace of God hath power to bring salvation to all men, and if a man is unsaved it is because he wants to work it out; he wants to receive salvation in some other way than God’s way; but we are told that “he that climbs up another way, the same is a thief and a robber.”

One of the godliest men I’ve known would say; “Bob, I’m a wicked man.”  His name was T. W. Hunt, and I came to understand it was his close fellowship with Jesus that exposed thoughts T.W. dealt with, and I long to have that walk with the Lord!

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice