Basking in Blessing
Opening Prayer
Lord, You have chosen those the world overlooks. You lift up the humble who look to You.
Read 2 SAMUEL 23:1-7
[1] These are the last words of David: “The inspired utterance of David son of Jesse, the utterance of the man exalted by the Most High, the man anointed by the God of Jacob, the hero of Israel’s songs: [2] “The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me; his word was on my tongue. [3] The God of Israel spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me: ‘When one rules over people in righteousness, when he rules in the fear of God, [4] he is like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning, like the brightness after rain that brings grass from the earth.’ [5] “If my house were not right with God, surely he would not have made with me an everlasting covenant, arranged and secured in every part; surely he would not bring to fruition my salvation and grant me my every desire. [6] But evil men are all to be cast aside like thorns, which are not gathered with the hand. [7] Whoever touches thorns uses a tool of iron or the shaft of a spear; they are burned up where they lie.” Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
How has God blessed you?Maybe it was because he was the member of the family who could so easily have been forgotten or overlooked (1 Sam. 16:11) that David so reveled in the blessing of God. As his life draws to an end, there is one thing of which he is absolutely sure: he is blessed. God has raised him up and anointed him as king (1) and blessed his reign.But blessing runs on. David acts like the sun that makes the dew on the grass sparkle as it rises (4). The sun discharges its light and warmth so that everything in its path benefits from its energy. This is how David’s reign has been. God has blessed him and this blessing has radiated to the nation as a whole, so much so that one of the titles of Jesus is “Son of David.” People looked to him for blessing and found it freely given (Luke 18:35-43). Of course, it is possible to live outside the blessing of God, and the impact of such a life on others is just as noticeable, but in a negative sense. This person is like a nasty thorn bush, overflowing with harm rather than blessing (6,7).
Apply
Consider what it means to be “in Christ.” His life is in you and all that is true of Jesus is true of you.
Closing prayer
Father, I gladly receive Your blessing through Jesus. May this blessing overflow to every life I touch.
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