King David certainly was not a perfect man. He sinned; he made mistakes, but he loved God with all his heart and purposed to live for and please Him. In Psalm 26, we read of six “I have’s” that the King of Israel purposed to do with his life because of his loyalty to the Lord and His principles. They are:
- “Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: …” Psalm 26:1a
The leader knew that his faith was not just a one-day a week exhibition, but that an attempt at doing right was “genuine, pure, and consistent.” So much so did David know that his consistent character would be pleasing to the Lord, that he asked the Lord to “Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart” (Psalm 26:2). - “… I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide.” Psalm 26:1b
King David believed and obeyed what the Lord showed him to do. He knew his obedience would keep him from backsliding away from the Lord. - “For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.” Psalm 26:3
David also obeyed the truths from the Scriptures. - “I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers.” Psalm 26:4
To keep his testimony clean and pure, the king was very careful with whom he kept company. He knew that associations with certain people reflected what others thought of him.To keep his character from being tainted he kept away from people that were “worthless, fruitless, proud, showy, deceitful” (vain persons) and those that were hypocritical (dissemblers). He knew what people thought of him reflected on his testimony for the Lord. - “I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.” Psalm 26:5
David had a tremendous disdain for sin, and kept as far away from it as he could. His attitude certainly did not show any toleration of sin. - “LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.” Psalm 26:8
The king may have hated the things God hates, but he loved the things God loves, especially the House of the Lord. He liked being around the people of God and places that honored Him.
David was a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22). Oh, if we would purpose with all our heart and actions to have such a testimony and desires as did the great king.
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Sometimes Jesus choses those who have done very bad and makes them whole and uses them for his plan like Paul so who are we to judge another when God will judge us all ?
Yes it is funny how men back then could have many wives but the women could not have many husbands or she would be stoned to death . Like now muzzies have many wives and mormans did and some still do too . I think it is nasty .
I don’t recall in the O. T. anyone getting stone for having multiple husbands or wives, only if they committed adultery.
Muslims do much of what is in the Bible, as Mohammend broke away from Judism and formed his own cult.
Star,
Do a quick study of polygamous mormons and you will find that it is a culture (cult) fueled by male lust and female servitude. It is wicked.
Google Warren Jeffs…. a leader of one of the polygamous Mormon sects. He was nothing short of a pedophile.
In my opinion modern polygamy has nothing to do with being husband and wife, but a device of the enemy to misuse one of God’s sacred institutions.
Having said that, I have to admit that I don’t know any personally, nor have I been around them, only what I have read and observed….so take what I say as opinion only.
Bro Brinkworth,
Your first point is very comforting to me. I know I am not perfect, but I also know my own heart and I know that I want to be pleasing to him. I know Jesus shed his blood for my sin and that it is as far as the east is from the west, but I still want to do what is right in his eyes. I want to learn about Him, learn about and from His Word. I want to be Consistent and prove myself worthy to be used for His sake.
Thank you sir, this was a very encouraging devotion.
Studying the life of David, God chastised David for his sin with Bathsheba (II Samuel 11-12), but God never punished David for his sin of polygamy (I Samuel 27:3) – I’ve never understood that!
Brothers,
I would love to hear commentary and reference from Bro Brinkworth regarding Bro Doug’s point here…not necessarily about the point regarding David’s punishment, but what the Bible says about Marriage, divorce, and remarriage. Obviously, Bro Doug sees polygamy as sin (as I do…it is driven by a spirit of lust). Some see multiple marriages as polygamy or at least serial polygamy, therefore just as sinful.
It obviously is more complicated than it appears. The Bible talks a lot more about the permanence of marriage than it does about the ending of marriage. Jesus addressed it, but my understanding is that we need to be very careful about how we interpret His statement about divorce and remarriage, that one needs to understand that statement in context with Jewish practice at the time and by the original language, (it puts it in a different light).
I know that Paul addressed this topic in some of his letters.
Things that come to mind are:
When/if ever is a person allowed to divorce? I think this is obvious.
When/if is a person allowed to remarry? Less obvious…if at all.
How would you respond to someone that reasons that God would not want a person to live out their life alone? Less obvious as well…. especially in cases where the person disobeyed the admonition to NOT be unequally yoked…sin always has consequences.
I know this is a lot more than a response to Bro Doug…I was hoping any of you would have some wisdom in this area…it is something that comes up occasionally, in fact just this weekend I had to tell someone I could not give them a solid answer about remarrying.
I write about many subjects, but not about remarriage. I studied it more than any other subject for years, and have concluded that I cannot show from the Bible if it is forbidden or not. It is a very complex subject, at least to me anyway. Those that stand against it, many times have not done the research and may be taking someone’s answer. Those that are okay with it, often are not totally biblical in their opinions. I have never met anyone that had all the answers in that subject, and I have spoken with many knowledgable preachers about it.
Polygamy is somewhat complicated to me also. As David and Solomon had many wives as did many of the Old Testament saints. Those marriages were tolerated, but not outright condoned by God.
I am sorry. These are two areas are ones I am not clear in. I never want to be responsible for anyone doing the wrong thing, because of something I said or wrote. So,I shut my mouth when not sure. Sometimes those in that situation need to study for themselves and let the Hoy Spirit show them what to do. :>)
Brothers.
Bro Brinkworth’s response is all I am able to give as well. I have heard it reasoned both ways equally well.
As usual, where scripture is unclear or silent, the Holy Ghost is our best guide.
I appreciate the back and forth, it is excellent!
David, I’m sort of in the same boat as Bro. Bill! I don’t have a clear response about divorce and remarriage. I’ve had many people ask me over the years about divorce and remarriage. I’ve also been asked about the “husband of one wife” debate.
With me, all sin (including divorce and remarriage) is forgivable, but I try to remain silent on the issue too and let the person pray about it. The best answer I have is we’ll know the answer when we get to Heaven!!!
Love the interaction with all of yall!
One more thing I’d like to add: I know some pastors (some are my teachers in Bible College) that had a divorce in the past and are remarried and are pastoring today. Is it right for them to be behind the pulpit preaching because they’ve been divorced? I don’t know and it’s not for me to say!
I can tell you this though: God is still using them and I guess that’s all that matters!
That I am sure of. They have no right to be in the pulpit!
1Ti 3:2 “A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;” — I know the arguments about using this verse for defending the issue, but do not believe it for a minute.
1Ti 3:12 “Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.” These two verses about two different positions in church leadership show one thing — that a leader must have an exemplary testimony to lead and show his “flock” the right way. Think of the message divorced and remarried preachers are showing those that they counsel about marital problems. This is one reason that remarriage amongst Christians is so prevalent these days; ’cause leadership is not setting a good example and not teaching that marriage is supposed to last.
“For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; 8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; 9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. 10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: 11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.” Tit 1:7-11
Bro. Bill, If a church stuck solely to the qualifications of I Timothy 3 in looking for a pastor/deacon, then no one would ever qualify! I myself have been “given to wine”, I myself have been a “brawler”, I myself have been “covetous” (desiring money, someone else’s possessions), and at times I have not ruled my house well as in the case of my oldest daughter!
So I don’t qualify to be a pastor! But I know beyond a doubt God called me into the ministry! The only qualification I have not “broken” is I have never been divorced! I think it’s amazing how a church can overlook a man that was a drunk 20yrs ago, a church can overlook if someone was a fighter 10 yrs ago, a church can overlook if someone wasn’t given to hospitality 5 yrs ago, but a church for some reason AUTOMATICALLY disqualifies a man from being a pastor just because he had a divorce 30 yrs ago!
If we’re going to stick solid to the qualifications of I Timothy with no room for error, then no man would ever be able to pastor a church! Charles Stanley is divorced – that would mean he needs to step down! C.I. Scofield left his wife and family – but he continued pastoring and preaching!
I know the scriptures and have heard all the debates before – I just think churches should look at the persons entire life as a whole before they automatically disqualify him because of a divorce years ago.
You make a good point in paragraph one. We all have done others sins, but they are overlooked as qualifications. BUT, we all may have committed some of those sins, but God does not remember them, nor should we.
Bro. Bill, regardless, I love you brother! I love all that comment on here! And I still think your devotions are number one by far!