Deception and Disobedience…the Bedrock of Sin!

04 Sep 2024 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

2 Samuel 12:9a.       Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in his sight?

Well friends, it’s Wednesday, and although we’ve only worked one day so far, our tired bodies and spirits are crying out for refreshing from all the festivities of the Labour Day weekend. And hard as it is to drag ourselves through the remainder of the week, we rise to the occasion and do it, all the time eagerly looking forward to Friday and the upcoming weekend to catch up on some rest and relaxation. (smile) It is indeed a steep price we pay when we practice to disobey! 

And Sir Walter Scott got it quite right when he said: ‘Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.’ And that’s the gospel truth my people; deception always carries a harsh price when it’s found out. And so does disobedience, for which there are always consequences, especially in the eyes of God. As this commentary says; ‘The result of disobedience can be an inconvenience, or it can be life altering. For Saul, disobedience in not following God’s instructions had severe consequences. In 1 Samuel 31 many fell dead, all the Israelites were forced to flee, and Saul’s army along with his sons were killed.’ 

And if we don’t listen, God will discipline us, as He sees fit. The scriptures rightly and wisely give us these gems on obedience. ‘Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct (make smooth) thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel (body), and marrow (strength) to thy bones.’ (Prov. 3:5-8) 

Oh friends, there are no wiser words to be found in all the Bible. If you were to choose any small portion to live by, those would be it. For as Uncle Charles  – the late Dr. Charles Stanley always impressed upon us: ‘Obey God, and leave all the consequences to him.’ That is certainly wisdom in spades! But, unfortunately mankind was born with a sin nature and with it comes the free will of God, which so often leads to disobedience. But what’s even worse than disobedience itself, is trying to hide or excuse the disobedience, especially from God. Remember God sees and knows all, and it’s impossible to hide anything from Him. 

Case in point, the man that the Lord called His friend and a man after His own heart; Bruh David. He fell into the sinful trap of adultery with his friend’s wife Bathsheba, then wove a heinous crime to have her husband killed when he found her pregnant. Now, generally speaking, Bruh David took his problems and faults to the Lord quite quickly after they happened, but on this one he said nothing at all. But let’s remember that the Lord’s hands are long and His reach is over a thousand generations. 

And about a year later, as Bruh David was comfortably ensconced in his throne, the prophet Nathan came and told him a story about two men in a city, one rich with many flocks, but the other poor with just one lamb that was like a child to him. However, one day a visitor came to the rich man and instead of killing one of his own flock to feed the visitor, he killed that one lamb belonging to the poor man. Obviously Bruh David rose up in rage against the rich man for such a travesty of justice. ‘And he said to Nathan, As the Lord liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die (deserves to die).  And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.’ (2 Sam. 12:5-6)  

But can you imagine Bruh David’s surprise and anguish when Nathan said to him,: ‘Thou art the man. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul. And I gave thee thy master’s house, and thy master’s wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things (many more things). Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. 

Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will raise up evil (adversity) against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of the sun. For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.’ (2 Sam. 12:7-12) Yes friends, that’s the kind of punishment disobedience to God can bring, especially on one who’s been so blessed by the Lord. 

And though Bruh David sincerely repented as we can read in that famous Plea for Forgiveness, Psalm 51, and though the Lord forgave him, he nonetheless never fully knew rest again, for the Lord did indeed cause him much pain from right within his own family. Starting with the death of his son with Bathsheba. Then Ammon, one of  David’s son, raped his half sister Tamar, and a couple of years later another son, Absalom had his revenge by killing Ammon. And to top it all off, that same Absalom rose up in rebellion against his father that led to civil war, during which Bruh David was deceived and betrayed by supposed faithful followers, and Absalom was killed. 

When Bruh David heard the news, the Bible says: ‘And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son.’ (2 Sam. 18:33) Yes, my fellow believers, although the Lord forgives our sins, we usually have to pay a penalty for them, especially such glaring and evil ones as Bruh David’s. As the scholars advise: David’s sin brought the name of the Lord into disrepute. Such knowledge ought to serve as a deterrent to willful sin the part of believers.’ That’s why it’s wise to stay in God’s good graces as much as possible. 

Now let’s go home declaring (steupsss!!!) our Wednesday Wail, letting all and sundry know of our wonderful position in Christ Jesus. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’ 

And on an even brighter note friends, it’s been promised that if we endure with Jesus right to the very end, then that future will be even more glorious than we can ever ask or imagine! Hope to see you there! Much LOVE!

…deception and disobedience…two words that leads mankind to a multitude of sins and sorrows…

Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien

There’s no Shame in praying Desperate Prayers in Desperate Times!

24 Aug 2024 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Psalm 3:4.       I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill (mountain). Selah.

Oh friends, what a beautiful lazy-day Saturday this is turning out to be! Sunny and cool, with just the right amount of laziness attached to it. (smile) And I did take some advantage of the situation by lying in bed a little longer than usual. But it’s now time to get the Lord’s work going, and we’ll do that by offering up our Lazy-Day Saturday Prayer with heartfelt sincerity. 

As one voice: ‘Lord, I want to be with You now. Please slow my thoughts and quiet my soul. Let my muscles relax, my breath deepen. You are here with me – Your peace and LOVE are present. I marvel to think You can’t be contained, that Your LOVE both surrounds and fills me. Thank You for this tenderness, Lord. I praise You for Your unceasing nearness. Increase my awareness of You today, that I may know You all the more. Amen!’  And we know that a positive answer will soon be forthcoming because our God just LOVES those kinds of prayers that cry out for His awesome presence in our lives! 

Now, let’s continue looking at some desperate prayers from men of great faith, beginning with Bruh David, who had numerous prayers of desperation, as can be seen in his psalms while he ran from king Saul who desired to take his life. Listen to this excerpt from Psalm 143 – A Prayer for Guidance and Deliverance. 

‘Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness. and enter not into judgement with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified (righteous). For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten (crushed) my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness (dark places), as those that have been long dead. Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate. I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse (ponder) on the work of thy hands. I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land.’ (Ps. 143:1-6) 

And that’s only the tip of the iceberg, for Bruh David had numerous foes in his lifetime. Hear this prayer of desperation from Psalm 3, when he fled from the rebellion of his son Absolom. ‘Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. But thou, O Lord, art a shield for (around) me; my glory, and the lifter up of (the one who lifts up) my head. I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill (mountain). Selah. 

I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about. Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten (struck down) all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken  the teeth of the ungodly. Salvation belongeth unto the Lord: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.’ (Ps. 3:1-8) 

Please note that although Bruh David cried in desperation to the Lord for help, he never stopped believing and always acknowledged God’s power, goodness and mercy. And Bruh David wasn’t the only king to cry out in desperation to God, King Hezekiah did it too. First when the Assyrian army threatened to destroy Israel unless they paid tribute. 

The Bible tells us: ‘And Hezekiah received the letter of the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up into the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord. And Hezekiah prayed before the Lord, and said, ‘O Lord God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth. Lord, bow down thine ear, and hear: open, Lord thine eyes, and see: and hear the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent him to reproach the living God. 

Of a truth, Lord, the kings of Assyria have destroyed the nations and their lands. And have cast their gods into the fire: for they were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone: therefore thy have destroyed them. Now therefore, O Lord our God, I beseech thee, save us out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the Lord God, even thou only.’ (2 Kin. 19:14-19) 

Yes friends, the first place Hezekiah went was to the Lord. And I like how he laid out the letter before Him. And we know the outcome. After sending reassurances to Hezekiah by the prophet Isaiah, (2 Kin. 19:20 34) the Lord showed up in all power and might. The Good Book says: ‘And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the Lord went out, and smote (killed) in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they (the Israelites) arose early in the morning, behold, they (the Assyrians) were all dead corpses. So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh.’ (2 Kin. 19:35-36) 

But that wasn’t the end of Hezekiah’s woes though. The Bible says: ‘In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live. Then he (Hezekiah) turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the Lord, saying, I beseech thee, O Lord, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. and Hezekiah wept sore (bitterly). 

And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the Lord came to him, saying, Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the Lord. And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city (Jerusalem) for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake. And Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, and he (Hezekiah) recovered.’ (2 Kin. 20:1-7) 

Yes my fellow beleivers, many men of great faith endured desperate times and were forced to pray desperate prayers, men like Elijah, Jonah, Jacob, Job, Abraham, Bruh Joseph and Bruh Paul. So it’s quite okay to cry out to God in desperate times, and if you have a heart for Him, He will hear you and act on your behalf! Much LOVE!

…there’s no disgrace in desperately crying out to God…in desperate times…

Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien