O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever! 1 Chronicles 16:34 AMPC
Let's put today's extract in the right context. Just a few months earlier, David had carelessly placed the ark of God, recovered from the Philistines, on a new cart driven by oxen, and tried to bring it into Jerusalem. We all know how that went. The oxen stumbled, a man reached out his hand to 'help' the ark, and God struck the man dead. Of course, the journey couldn't continue and Obed-Edom became the unwilling recipient of the ark of God. Fortunately, the man knew and understood what he needed to do, and he ended up being amazingly blessed. In this, leasons abound. When you are dealing with God, ignorance of who He is and demands can be fatal. You cannot drag God down to your level; you must rise up to his standard if you will enjoy all He is and has.
Daivd knew he had done wrong and he took steps to remedy it. He ensured the rightful people were assigned to carry the ark, and he prepared a special place for the ark to dwell. Anyone who carries the Presence of God does not live anyhow or carelessly. God is a Holy God, and he DOES NOT toy or excuse sin. No matter the laxity or freedom any generation assumes is its, it must remember: God is the same yesterday, today and forever. If he calls something wrong then, my opinion wouldn't count now. It will still be wrong if it is wrong.
David had learnt his lessons. In bringing in the ark, he appointed praise leaders and singers and they sang and danced before the Lord. Today's extract is part of that song. No matter the evil going on in the world, God is good. His nature and person is good. The fall of man has introduced evil to the earth, but God continues to shine through the darkness and hurt. Is my life a vessel through which God is shining? David also speaks about the mercy and loving kindness of God as being eternal. As you look through your life, wouldn't you see instances that convince you that you are alive simply because God made it so? We all have had earth-moving experiences, which could have taken the lives of other people, but here we are, alive. It is never about what we have done, but about who God is. David understood this; it is no wonder he is called 'a man after God's heart'.
Praise must be a natural outflow from a life that knows what it has received isn't from merit but from grace. And it does not matter whether other people see it the same way; David's wife despised him when she saw him dancing with all his might before the Lord and she despised him in her heart. Nobody was there but the God who sees all judged and she ended up barren all her life. Don't live to please people; strive to please God. He is the One who has eternity in His hands. All who come to Him enjoy all He is and has. Like David, let us learn about who God is and what he has done. The natural output will always be praise and thanksgiving. Don't forget: God is eternal. It doesn't just end down here; all of life is a preparation for the real life, which is eternal life. His time of favour is here.
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