Sunday, October 20, 2013

Sunday Sharing: Guard Your Thoughts

David, a man after God's own heart, was at the top of his game so to speak in II Samuel 8:14b-15 which says:
The Lord gave David victory everywhere he went. David was King over all Israel. His decisions were fair and right for all his people.

Then, just three chapters later in II Samuel 11, he totally blows it. First he covets another man's wife, then commits adultery, then he arranges to have her husband killed in battle. He obviously did not seek God's will in any of this and it took him nine months or more to even admit he sinned. The Lord did not like what David did and although he forgave David, there were still consequences. Not only would his descendants die by the sword, and his baby died. but he would also have his wives taken from him.

This is what the Lord says: I am bringing trouble to you from your own family. While you watch, I will take your wives from you. And I will give them to someone who is very close to you. He will have sexual relations with your wives and everyone will know it. (12) You had sexual relations with Bathsheba in secret. But I will do this so all the people of Israel can see it.--II Samuel 12:11-12

Wow, isn't it amazing how much trouble one bad thought can lead to? My key verse of the week was Proverbs 4:23:

Be very careful about what you think. Your thoughts run your life. (ICB)

Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. (KJV)

Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. (NIV)

Carefully guard your thoughts because they are the source of true life. (Contemporary English version)
David's fall is sad, but it serves as a warning to us all.  A point Beth Moore made that I thought was interesting was to seek forgiveness as soon as we realize we have an bad thought before we act on it.

So, what was your scripture highlight from last week?  Please share it in the comments or feel free to comment on this post.

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2 comments:

Sandee said...

Sounded pretty cruel. I'm just saying. I thought God was all about love.

Have a terrific day. :)

Karen, author of MY FUNNY DAD, HARRY said...

He is, but also about holiness, justice and righteousness. David really screwed up which reflected poorly on his God before the other nations. It's really cool how Nathan the prophet confronted him about his sin with Bathsheba by using an allegory about a rich man taking a poor man's only sheep and killing it for a meal instead of using his own. David's reaction was the man should pay back 4x and be killed! Then Nathan said, "You are the man!" That's when David finally seemed to wake up and admit he sinned.

God was merciful, he still let David live and go on and have another son with Bathsheba who lived and did very well--Solomon.

Thanks for stopping by and commenting.

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