Read Through the Bible in a Year 2018 Day 98: David Does Nothing

Good afternoon, everyone.

Today I read 2 Samuel 13-15.

Now, today's post is going to deal with a difficult topic, so if you're squeamish, you didn't do the reading beforehand and have no idea what I'm talking about, you might want to exercise caution. I'm going to do my best to give just enough information but not too much, and then I'll move quickly into my point today.

Okay.

So, David has a lot of children.

And his son Amnon is in love with his half-sister, Tamar.

At his friend's suggestion, he tricks her into coming to his bedroom where he takes advantage of her. And then he gets angry with her and sends her away.

Her full-brother Absalom finds out, instructs her not to say anything, and not to let it bother her.

But it clearly bothers him. His anger is now kindled against his half-brother. And he later kills him, and takes the throne from David, just as God had said David's kingdom would be divided because of his sin with Bathsheba.

Now, my point:

This is the part where David should have done something. Saul was God's anointed king, yet he tried to kill David. He still had the man who claimed to have killed Saul put to death.

But for David's daughter, he does nothing. He sees how badly she is hurt. He sees the anger of his son Absalom. He sees the division in his family.

And he does nothing.

Now, before we all pass judgment like we want to, let me ask this question:

How many times have you and I seen an injustice and done nothing?

"Oh, but those weren't as big as this was!"

Well, is that true? Certainly, what happened to Tamar was a big deal. An awful thing. And I'm not trying to downplay it.

But how often do we see injustice in our world and do nothing?

How often do we see a problem in our families and do nothing?

How often do we think it will all blow over? How often do we think "Someone else will take care of it." or that there's nothing we can do?

David did nothing.

But sometimes, we do nothing too.

It's not exactly the same. Or is it? I'll let you decide what you think about that.

My point today is that we can't pass judgment on David, even when we want to, because no one is perfect. It's easy to look back at history and think "I would have done this differently." And yet, so often in our lives, we do nothing.

I am guilty of this too.

And I don't know about you, but I'm tired of doing nothing. It's time for God's people to stand. To move. To stop doing nothing, and to start doing what God has told us to do.

Love your neighbor (everybody).

Even the really gross one across the street.

Feed the hungry.

Physical and spiritual.

Take care of the poor.

Those who have fallen on hard times.

Preach God's Word.

To all people. Not just the ones who smell nice, or are free to go to church.

Steward God's earth.

Take care of what God has given us.

Serve God.

Do what He has called us to do.

Okay. That was a heavy point today, so I'll stop there.

I have been feeling like this lately, as though there's more I need to be doing.

I haven't quite figured out where God wants me yet, but I'm actively searching for new ways to serve Him.

I hope this post inspires you to search out new ways to serve God, or even to re-double your efforts to serve Him where He has placed you now. 

Just don't do nothing.

Tomorrow, I'll be reading 2 Samuel 16-18. I hope you'll still be with me then.

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13).